"Where was everyone?"
When he returned to the earlier battlefield, it had long since emptied out. Not even a single corpse remained.
Although he had not counted the casualties, the fighting had been so brutal that at least tens of thousands had died.
Just how long had he been unconscious? They had cleaned up the battlefield way too fast.
He had only arrived at this "Flame Magnificence Sect" from Earth three days ago, so naturally, he felt little sense of belonging. But it was far too dangerous up ahead, and with his current strength, even with an "immortal body," he had little ability to protect himself. Returning to the "Flame Magnificence Sect" would be a little better.
He looked left and right but could not find so much as a piece of clothing. Fuck a dog.
Dressed as he was, if anyone saw him, wouldn't they laugh their teeth out?
If he kept going, he would reach the "Flame Magnificence Sect" base. He had no idea what would happen there.
An unknown amount of time passed.
"Stop! Who are you?" Suddenly, two figures appeared in front of Lin Fan, weapons in hand, staring at him warily.
Lin Fan shouted inwardly, I finally fucking found someone!
"I'm one of you. Don't do anything rash." Lin Fan hurriedly spoke. Just as he was about to produce proof, he remembered that he only had a cloth wrapped around his crotch. What could he possibly have on him?
One of them, a thin man, watched Lin Fan warily. Why was this person dressed like that? Then he asked in an unfriendly tone, "What proof do you have that you're not a spy?"
Lin Fan was speechless. Spy, my ass.
If I were a spy, would I come here dressed like this?
What a dumbass.
The tall man beside him suggested, "I think this kid's origins are suspicious, and he looks so sleazy. Why don't we just chop him down?"
The thin man said hesitantly, "Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?"
The tall man said, "What's inappropriate about it? One swing of my blade, and he's in two halves. Whoosh, and he's dead."
Listening to their conversation, Lin Fan immediately grew furious. I went to all this fucking trouble to find you, and you actually want to chop me down? I won't stand for this.
He really could not stand for it anymore.
Then he suddenly roared, "What are you trying to do? How could you chill my heart like this? I just risked my life to kill that giant beast, and after finally making it back, you actually want to kill me!"
Those words immediately stunned the two men.
The thin man in particular stared at Lin Fan in disbelief. "You're the disciple who shouted 'Fire at me' earlier?"
"Who else could it be? I threw my own life away so you could live, yet you actually want to kill me. Heartbreaking. This is truly heartbreaking. Forget it. I'd better leave." Wearing a sorrowful expression, as though he had never expected this, Lin Fan turned around to leave.
The moment Lin Fan turned, a hand caught his arm.
Lin Fan smiled. You little fools. Just a few words from yours truly, and you're drowning in guilt.
Sure enough!
"Junior brother, please don't be angry. Senior brother and I really didn't know." The thin man immediately felt terribly guilty, and even the way he looked at Lin Fan changed.
How could they not know? Their victory in this battle had been thanks to that unnamed disciple. Without him, there was truly no telling how things would have ended.
Lin Fan turned back with an easy air. "Since that's the case, I'll forgive you."
The tall disciple was powerfully built. Now he threw an arm around Lin Fan's shoulders, his eyes as wide as a bull's. "Junior brother, I was just talking about chopping you to death. Don't take it to heart. I'm just that crude when I speak."
Lin Fan muttered inwardly, Why does this big guy seem like he's missing a screw?
Still, he now had a preliminary plan. Although he possessed an "immortal body" and did not fear death, it had been far too dangerous outside. If someone kidnapped him, he really would not be able to escape.
After turning it over in his mind, he still felt this place was a little safer and could give him a safe opportunity to run away.
"May I ask your names, senior brothers?"
The thin man wore his long hair loose over his shoulders, and his features were somewhat feminine. He replied, "My name is Yin Xiaotian."
"My name is Gao Dazhuang. Just call me Dazhuang. We're family from now on, so come to me if you need anything. I love helping people." His name really did fit him perfectly. He was fucking brawny, and a little stupid too.
Also, who the fuck is family with you? Even if you're trying to build connections, you can't do it like this.
Still, judging by the situation, these two seemed fairly friendly.
"My name is Lin Fan."
Suddenly.
Yin Xiaotian exclaimed, "Right! Dazhuang, take Junior Brother Lin with you. I'll go notify senior brother right now."
With that, Yin Xiaotian ran off like the wind.
Lin Fan was rather bewildered. "Senior Brother Dazhuang, what's Senior Brother Yin doing?"
Gao Dazhuang clapped Lin Fan on the shoulder with considerable force, his voice absurdly loud. "Junior brother, you're a hero! You've rendered a great service. The senior brothers up above have all been looking for you."
It was just that little thing, and it could lead to a fancy move like this?
Lin Fan muttered inwardly.
Under Gao Dazhuang's guidance, he passed through checkpoint after checkpoint.
According to his memories, this was not the "Flame Magnificence Sect" headquarters, but a temporary base established for the war between the two sects.
What embarrassed Lin Fan a little was that Gao Dazhuang showed him off far too much, shouting to everyone he met.
"This junior brother is the hero who killed the war behemoth!"
Sure enough, absolutely everyone stared at him, though their gazes held admiration.
Involuntarily, Lin Fan raised his head and puffed out his chest, pleased with himself. Enjoying a hero's treatment before running away was not a bad choice either.
Soon, they arrived at the main camp.
This main camp was very different from the ones in the historical television dramas he had watched on Earth. No one should imagine rows of tents.
Instead, there were ancient-style buildings, grand and imposing. The command hall right in the center was especially magnificent and quite extraordinary.
"Senior brother, this is him." Yin Xiaotian appeared, and beside him stood another man, who could not help sizing Lin Fan up.
"You're Lin Fan?" The man looked at him doubtfully, puzzled inwardly. How could anyone have survived the "Divine Essence Cannon"?
Lin Fan smiled. "Yes, senior brother, I'm afraid I am Lin Fan."
"How did you survive?" the man asked.
Lin Fan had already prepared his story, and immediately began boasting. "Senior brother, you have no idea how intense the fighting was. Senior Brother Lü Qiming intended to sacrifice himself to destroy that war behemoth, but unexpectedly, someone slashed him, leaving him completely unable to move. So without the slightest hesitation, I grabbed that thing and charged straight at the war behemoth. When the 'Divine Essence Cannon' fired, I took to my heels, and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I had no idea where I'd been blasted to. It's just a shame all my clothes were gone."
The man was rather dumbfounded. Something like that could happen?
That "Divine Essence Cannon" was a middle-grade profound-tier offensive artifact. With a large quantity of "Essence Crystals" fed into it, it could unleash terrifying power. Even he, at the body tempering ninth layer and about to become an Earthly Dipper Realm expert, was no match for a single shot.
In the end, he could not figure out what had happened and could only attribute it to luck.
"Good, very good. With disciples like you, why should the Flame Magnificence Sect worry about being unable to defend our homes and sect?" The man patted Lin Fan's shoulder with great satisfaction. "Junior Brother Lin, I'll record this contribution of yours. Once we return to the sect after the war, you'll be rewarded according to your merits. Junior Brother Yin, take Junior Brother Lin back to rest."
"Yes, senior brother." Yin Xiaotian nodded, then smiled. "Junior Brother Lin, let's go. We'll head back and get you a change of clothes."
Lin Fan had not quite managed to react.
Yours truly made such a huge contribution, and you're fucking sending me off with just one sentence?
Wasn't I supposed to be a hero?
Fuck, there's no future in this. There really is no future in this. Even fucking bumbling around outside would be better.
Lin Fan was somewhat disappointed. He had thought he could reach the pinnacle of life, but had never expected things to turn out like this.
On the way.
"Senior Brother Yin, who was that senior brother just now?" Lin Fan asked.
Yin Xiaotian said admiringly, "That was Senior Brother Fang Qing. In just two years after joining the sect, he became an expert at the body tempering ninth layer, with one foot in the Earthly Dipper Realm." Then he scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Dazhuang and I have both been in the sect for three years, but we're still only at the body tempering sixth layer. Who knows when we'll become experts like Senior Brother Fang Qing?"
Lin Fan muttered inwardly, Only at the body tempering ninth layer after two years? If it were me, I'd have long since become invincible under heaven.
Still, it's fine. Yours truly has a golden finger now. Becoming an expert is a sure thing.
Gao Dazhuang grinned foolishly. "With Junior Brother Lin's ability, he'll definitely become an Earthly Dipper Realm expert too."