Lü Qiming and the others rushed forward excitedly, traces of lingering fear still on their faces. "Junior Brother Lin, you really scared us to death."
Lin Fan covered his crotch with his fingers, a little embarrassed. "Senior Brother, before you say all that, at least give me something to wear so I can cover myself."
Some disciples covered their faces. They had thought Junior Brother Lin had no damn self-awareness, but apparently he did know to cover himself.
Who knew who it was who had just stood there stark naked, striking poses without the slightest shame?
Two tunics were passed over, and he tied both around his waist, covering his crotch completely.
"Junior Brother, are you all right?" Yin Xiaotian asked.
Lin Fan laughed. "Of course I'm fine. It was just a War Behemoth. What was there to fear? I unleashed my strongest ultimate move and harvested him on the spot. Now that we've driven back the Sunshine Sect, this war counts as our victory."
"Victory!"
That word reached every disciple's ears, and in an instant, they erupted.
Wild joy appeared on all the disciples' faces as they cheered.
"We won! We finally won!"
For these disciples, victory had been so hard-won. Who knew how many fellow disciples had died?
That filled them with grief.
Watching the cheering disciples, Lin Fan felt thoroughly aggrieved. Sigh, I failed to run away again.
"Junior Brother Lin, well done." Fang Qing approached from afar, covered in blood. Clearly, he too had just been through a fierce battle. Now that they had driven back the Sunshine Sect, he could not help breathing a sigh of relief.
He also felt somewhat puzzled, unsure exactly how his junior brother had killed the War Behemoth. Of course, at this moment of victory, he did not press the question.
However, his gaze turned toward the distance. He wondered how Senior Brother Lu was doing.
Suddenly.
Several figures sped toward them from afar.
All the disciples watched those figures expectantly. They had already won this war, but they did not know how things had gone on Senior Brother Lu's side.
Lin Fan looked over as well. Naturally, he knew that above the Body Tempering Realm lay the Earthly Dipper Realm. Upon reaching that realm, one transcended mortals and possessed immense abilities.
However, he believed that with his capabilities, it would not take him long to become an Earthly Dipper Realm expert.
Just then, an Earthly Dipper Realm disciple hurriedly said, "Senior Brother Lu is severely injured and needs urgent treatment. Fang Qing, command the disciples and take charge of clearing the battlefield."
"Yes, Senior Brother." Fang Qing was shocked to hear that Senior Brother Lu was severely injured. He knew Senior Brother Lu's strength very well. For him to have sustained such serious injuries, that battle must have shaken heaven and earth.
Lü Qiming looked astonished. "I never thought Senior Brother Lu would be injured. Those hateful Sunshine Sect bastards. One day, we'll fight our way to their sect."
Lin Fan comforted him. "Senior Brother Lü, I think Senior Brother Lu will be all right."
"Mm." Lü Qiming's expression eased.
Fang Qing did not dwell on it. "All disciples, clear the battlefield, then assemble to return."
It took until dawn.
The main force assembled, preparing to return.
Lin Fan turned back and looked toward that boundless horizon, sighing helplessly. This was all heaven's will.
"Junior Brother Lin, what's wrong?" Lü Qiming patted Lin Fan's shoulder. He did not know what had happened to Junior Brother Lin or why he had suddenly grown so melancholy.
Lin Fan waved a hand. "Nothing. Let's head back."
He wanted to cry but had no tears. He had had several chances to escape, yet somehow, it was as though someone did not want him running away. It made him very sad.
His wish to fly freely through the boundless sky would have to wait for now. His only thought at present was to hurry and improve his strength. At least let him reach the Earthly Dipper Realm.
If anyone else knew, they would definitely spit out an angry retort.
Do you think the Earthly Dipper Realm is as common as cabbages, something you can reach just because you say so?
The temporary wartime base camp.
After fighting all night, the disciples were all exhausted and had gone to rest.
But for Lin Fan, what was rest? No such thing existed.
"Let me see what I got earlier first." Lin Fan could hardly wait. He had barely paid attention to the things he had drawn earlier, and something incredible seemed to have slipped in among them.
"One small storage ring!"
This was good stuff, an essential for home life, travel, murder, and robbery. Without a storage ring, you would be embarrassed to call yourself a big shot.
The ring was silver all over. He slipped it onto his finger, and it fit perfectly.
He checked the next item. Not bad: a Mystic Grade, Low Rank pill, and a cultivation pill at that, one grade above the Lion-Tiger Pill from before.
He would set it aside for now and use it for cultivation later.
The final item, however, surprised Lin Fan a little.
One Type 82-2 Oval Hand Grenade manufacturing manual.
In Lin Fan's eyes, this was good stuff. With modern high-tech weaponry, there was nothing a single grenade could not resolve, and its power was there for all to see.
Qiu Li's cultivation had been at the Eighth Level of Body Tempering. Within the blast radius of that grenade he had detonated on himself, Qiu Li had only lost a hand, giving Lin Fan a rough understanding of its power.
However, that did not mean hand grenades were no good. If he put this grenade into someone's mouth, never mind Qiu Li-even an Earthly Dipper Realm expert would have to kneel before him.
Of course, that was just a thought. What idiot would put his grenade in their mouth? That War Behemoth was an exception, though.
He checked the panel.
Name: Lin Fan. Cultivation: Body Tempering Sixth Layer (+) Hard Cultivation Points: 10540. Points: 2330. Talent: Undying Body. Lottery: Bronze (100), Silver (300), further options locked.
The stats were fairly satisfying. He still had 2,330 points. When he had killed that War Behemoth earlier, he had gained over a hundred points for nothing. That counted as compensation, at least proving he had not died in vain.
He swallowed the Mystic Grade, Low Rank cultivation pill, the Dragon-Tiger Great Nourishment Pill, and immediately circulated his self-created cultivation technique, beginning to cultivate.
As far as Lin Fan was concerned, he had no other talents, but he was absolutely diligent when it came to cultivation.
As the pill entered his mouth, a vast force flooded his body.
His Hard Cultivation Points also rose rapidly.
When Lin Fan opened his eyes, he felt utterly delighted.
His Hard Cultivation Points had reached 18,540, an increase of a full 8,000. With an improvement rate like that, were they scared or what?
It seemed that using pills to assist his cultivation would also be a good choice in the future.
Being able to improve so rapidly felt simply fantastic.
But if Lin Fan knew just how expensive these Mystic Grade cultivation pills were, he probably would not have had so much inclination to think about it.
Day broke.
Then afternoon arrived.
Lin Fan felt he should go out and take a look. The disciples' voices had long since begun drifting in from outside.
But he was a little tired. Where else could anyone find someone who cultivated as hard as he did?
Enough said.
Lin Fan picked up his nine-ring broadsword, slit his throat, and promptly kicked the bucket.
Hard Cultivation Points +10.
Ten seconds later.
He revived at full health, brimming with vigor.
Perfectly composed, Lin Fan straightened his clothes and cleaned away the blood while he was at it, then swaggered out the door for a stroll.