150: Fate intertwined, a new starting point

The barren valley was as silent as a graveyard forgotten by time.

Even the wind carried a stale scent, whistling past jagged rocks, emitting a mournful moan.

Lin Fan's footsteps halted.

He led Su Meier, standing in the center of the valley, his gaze fixed forward.

There, a massive and ancient teleportation Formation, like a prostrate ancient beast, lay quietly on the ground.

The runes on the Formation had long since faded, covered in cracks from the passage of time, yet a faint, ethereal spatial fluctuation still emanated from within it.

Even stranger, a wisp of extremely faint Immortal Dao Qi lingered at the edge of the Formation.

It was like a candle in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment, yet stubbornly proving the former glory of this place.

Su Meier curiously observed the teleportation Formation; she could feel the immense power contained within it, a Law of space far beyond her comprehension.

But Lin Fan's attention was not on the teleportation Formation at all.

His head was slightly raised.

His gaze passed over the ancient Formation, looking towards a huge rock shaped like a crouching tiger not far away.

There was no one there.

But Lin Fan's Divine Thought clearly captured a familiar aura.

Cold.

Arrogant.

Sharp as a peerless treasure Sword unsheathed, as if even the surrounding air was being torn apart by it.

Lin Fan's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

Li Hanyue.

How could she be here?

This thought gave rise to a subtle sense of complexity in Lin Fan's heart.

Surprise was certain.

He hadn't expected her to be able to track him here; the intelligence capabilities of the Crimson Sun Sect were indeed not to be underestimated.

But more than that, it was an annoyance at having his plans disrupted.

He just wanted to hurry to the Flowing Light Realm as soon as possible, to solve the riddle left by the Immortal Lord, and to find the so-called “first key.”

He had no time, and no interest, in playing hide-and-seek with an overly curious woman here.

Friend or foe?

This thought flashed through Lin Fan's mind instantly.

Immediately, he laughed at himself.

For him now, this question was meaningless.

As long as they didn't block his path, what did it matter if they were friend or foe?

If they blocked his path, then they could only be an enemy.

Su Meier keenly sensed the fluctuation in Lin Fan's mood; she followed Lin Fan's gaze but saw nothing.

But she didn't ask.

She merely subconsciously tightened her grip on Lin Fan's hand a little more.

As if telling him in this way that no matter what they faced, she would be there.

Behind the rock.

Li Hanyue stood alone, her posture as straight as a pine.

Her heart beat a few times faster than usual.

She had been waiting here for an entire day.

Through her Family's intelligence network, she had almost pieced together Lin Fan's extremely vague movements, finally pinpointing her target to this long-abandoned ancient teleportation Formation.

This was a huge gamble.

She gambled that Lin Fan would come here.

Now, she had won her gamble.

The moment Lin Fan's figure appeared at the valley entrance, her Dao Heart, which had always been as still as an ancient well, actually stirred with a violent ripple.

It was him.

The man who, in the Secret Realm of Souls, repeatedly pushed the limits of her understanding.

The man who, in a way she completely failed to comprehend, toyed with all the Prodigies in the palm of his hand.

She saw him stop, saw him look in her direction.

She knew she had been discovered.

Li Hanyue took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in her heart, and restored her usual coldness and arrogance.

She slowly walked out from behind the rock.

A white robe, whiter than snow.

An ancient Sword, on her back.

She was like the only splash of color in this barren world, cold, aloof, untainted by dust.

Her appearance instantly pierced the oppressive silence in the valley with a sharp Sword Intent.

Su Meier's pupils suddenly constricted.

She felt a strong threat.

Not from cultivation.

But from a woman's intuition towards another woman.

Especially when she saw that the White-robed woman's gaze was practically glued to Lin Fan, not moving for an instant.

"Lin Fan."

Li Hanyue spoke first, her voice clear but with a hint of ice.

"Are you well?"

Her gaze was sharp as a knife, as if wanting to thoroughly dissect Lin Fan from the inside out.

"Your news has shaken the entire Cultivation World."

"May I ask where you are hurrying off to?"

Each sentence was like a probing question.

Each pause was filled with pressure.

Lin Fan looked at her, a perfectly appropriate smile on his face, calm, indifferent, even with a hint of familiarity as if reuniting with an old friend.

"So it's Fairy Li."

"Long time no see, your grace remains unchanged."

He answered irrelevantly, his tone as flat as if discussing the weather.

"I'm a restless person by nature, I like to travel around and see things."

"But Fairy Li, instead of cultivating in seclusion within your Sect, what brings you to this godforsaken place?"

The verbal sparring instantly collided.

Li Hanyue tried to pry even a tiny secret from Lin Fan's mouth.

Lin Fan, however, was like a ball of cotton, lightly dissolving all her questions into nothingness.

He even subtly implied that she shouldn't be here.

This journey is fraught with danger.

You shouldn't get involved in this mess.

A surge of nameless anger rose in Li Hanyue's heart.

What she hated most was Lin Fan's calm and composed demeanor, as if everything was within his grasp.

It made her feel like a jumping clown, while he was the detached spectator.

Her curiosity was completely ignited by Lin Fan's mysterious and powerful demeanor.

She refused to believe it.

She refused to believe that someone could become so powerful out of thin air.

He must have a secret.

A huge secret.

"Is that so?"

The corner of Li Hanyue's mouth curled into a cold arc.

"I, however, think the scenery here is quite nice."

"Moreover, I heard that an ancient ruin appeared deep within the Ancient Barren Domain."

"Many people died inside."

"But some also obtained great Opportunities from within."

She stared intently into Lin Fan's eyes, trying to discern even a trace of emotional fluctuation.

"Lin Fan, aren't you curious?"

"Or rather, are you the one who obtained the Opportunity?"

This was already a question bordering on an accusation.

Lin Fan's smile remained unchanged.

"Fairy Li is joking."

"Opportunity, such things, have always belonged to the virtuous."

"How could a Loose Cultivator of ordinary Aptitude like me have such good fortune."

As he spoke, he quickly calculated in his mind.

This woman was more troublesome than he had imagined.

If they continued to entangle, who knew what new troubles would arise.

He had to get away as soon as possible.

Just then.

Su Meier, who had been silent all along, suddenly moved.

She took half a step forward, subtly shielding most of her body in front of Lin Fan.

This subtle movement was filled with a strong sense of protection.

Then, her small hand, which had been held by Lin Fan, suddenly reversed, and with an undeniable force, interlocked tightly with Lin Fan's fingers.

Fingers intertwined.

Perfectly fitted.

After doing all this, Su Meier raised her captivating foxy eyes, which could charm all beings, and looked at Li Hanyue.

There was no hostility in her gaze.

But it carried an undisguised wariness.

And a clear, ultimate declaration of ownership.

He is mine.

You, stay away from him.

This silent confrontation was more intense than any words.

The air seemed to solidify at this moment.

Li Hanyue's pupils contracted imperceptibly.

She saw Su Meier's actions.

She saw their tightly clasped hands.

She saw even more the territorial stance on Su Meier's beautiful face.

An emotion she herself couldn't describe surged up from the deepest part of her heart.

Was it anger?

Was it jealousy?

Or... unwillingness?

She didn't know.

She only knew that this scene was extremely jarring.

A dignified Prodigy of the Human Race, a future pillar of the Immortal Dao.

Beside him, there was a foxy woman with overwhelming Demonic Qi.

Moreover, judging by their intimate appearance, their relationship was clearly extraordinary.

This was simply... absurd!

Li Hanyue's breathing became slightly disordered.

For the first time, a crack appeared on her ice-cold face.

She had originally only been curious about Lin Fan's secret, wanting to catch up to him and prove that she was no worse than him.

But now, her mindset had changed.

She looked at Su Meier's flawless face, and for the first time, a strong sense of comparison arose in her heart towards another woman.

Lin Fan clearly sensed the subtle change in the atmosphere around him.

He could feel that Su Meier's knuckles were white as she held his hand, like a small beast guarding its food, all its fur bristling.

He could also feel that the cold Sword Intent emanating from Li Hanyue opposite him seemed to become even sharper, mixed with an indescribable... targeted intent.

Lin Fan felt a bit helpless and amused.

He just wanted to quietly go to the next map to grind quests.

How did he inexplicably get caught in the preliminary stages of this Shura field?

His heart warmed, and he squeezed Su Meier's small hand back firmly, sending a reassuring signal.

Then, he looked up at Li Hanyue, his tone still calm.

"Fairy Li, if there's nothing else, we'll be taking our leave first."

"The road ahead is long, so we won't delay Fairy's time."

He had decided to stop talking nonsense and leave immediately.

Upon hearing this, the nameless anger in Li Hanyue's heart burned even fiercer.

Leave?

Did I say you could leave?

She was about to speak, to force Lin Fan to reveal something in a more aggressive manner.

Just then.

"Caw—"

A clear, high-pitched crane cry pierced the sky, coming from the distant horizon.

This sound carried a unique spiritual charm, clear and sacred.

Lin Fan's movements suddenly stiffened.

His expression changed for the first time.

This sound... it's Zhao Linger's spiritual crane!

How did she get here too?!

Lin Fan's Divine Thought instantly spread out like a flood.

Dozens of miles away, a green streak of light was rushing madly in this direction, at a speed so urgent it disregarded the consumption of Spiritual Qi.

That aura was gentle, yet carried a hint of unprecedented stubbornness and determination.

It was Zhao Linger, no doubt!

One Li Hanyue was already troublesome enough.

Now another Zhao Linger was coming.

Alarm bells instantly blared in Lin Fan's mind.

No!

Absolutely cannot let them meet!

He could imagine, once Zhao Linger arrived, saw him, saw Su Meier by his side, and then saw the watchful Li Hanyue opposite them.

That scene... just thinking about it made Lin Fan's scalp tingle.

The path of caution he had always followed, at this moment, issued its most piercing warning.

Risk!

Extremely high risk!

Gain?

Negative gain!

Must disappear from here immediately, right now!

Lin Fan's decision was made in a flash of lightning.

He no longer hesitated.

He turned his head and looked deeply at Li Hanyue.

That gaze was complex, profound, as if it contained a thousand words, yet said nothing.

Ultimately, it only transformed into two words.

"Take care."

Before he finished speaking.

He abruptly pulled Su Meier, turned, and stepped onto the ancient teleportation Formation without hesitation.

The power of his Immortal Grade Nascent Soul erupted!

That immense Immortal Dao Qi, mixed with the might of the chaos bell's phantom, acted like a key, instantly activating this Formation that had been dormant for eons.

Buzz—

White light shot up into the sky!

The blinding brilliance instantly engulfed Lin Fan and Su Meier's figures.

Space violently twisted, emitting a groan of unbearable strain.

Li Hanyue had no time to react.

She only saw Lin Fan say a baffling "Take care" to her, then pull the fox-woman and resolutely step into the teleportation Formation.

By the time she realized what was happening and tried to stop them, it was already too late.

She could only watch helplessly as the white light erupted in front of her, then rapidly contracted, finally disappearing completely.

The entire valley once again returned to dead silence.

As if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion.

Li Hanyue stood alone, the wind rustling her robes.

For the first time, a bewildered expression appeared on her face.

Gone?

He just left like that?

A strong, uncontrollable sense of frustration welled up in her heart.

She had gone to great lengths to track him here, only to receive a casual "Take care" in return.

What was this?

A mockery?

But for some reason, beneath that frustration and unwillingness, a hint of... fateful longing, which even she herself hadn't noticed, arose in her heart.

The place he was going must be even more dangerous and exciting.

Catch up to him.

This thought became clearer and more resolute than ever before.

Just then.

The clear cry of the crane approached from afar.

A green figure, like a falling cloud, descended into this barren valley.

The immortal crane folded its wings, letting out a soft cry.

Zhao Linger leaped down from the crane's back, her face showing a hint of fatigue from the long journey, but more than that, an eagerness and anticipation of having found her target.

However.

What she saw was only the lingering spatial fluctuations on the ancient Formation, not yet fully dissipated.

And, standing not far away, the cold woman in white, whiter than snow, with a complex expression.

Li Hanyue.

Zhao Linger's footsteps halted.

Her gaze met Li Hanyue's in the air.

One gentle as water, the other cold as ice.

One filled with confusion and pursuit.

One filled with unwillingness and determination.

A silent, even more subtle tension, quietly spread between the two equally outstanding women.

Zhao Linger's heart sank little by little.

She was too late.

He had already left.

Did he leave with this woman from the Crimson Sun Sect?

A thought that made her anxious uncontrollably popped into her mind.

Her gaze subconsciously searched the ground.

Hoping to find even a trace of his presence.

Then, she saw it.

Right at the edge of the ancient Formation.

An ordinary fallen leaf lay quietly on the cracked earth.

In this barren valley, where not a blade of grass grew, this fallen leaf seemed so out of place.

It must have been inadvertently left by him.

Zhao Linger, as if possessed, walked forward, bent down, and with slightly trembling fingertips, gently picked up the fallen leaf.

The leaf in her hand was nothing special.

But the moment her fingertips touched the leaf's veins.

An extremely faint, yet incredibly pure, ancient, and profound aura, seeped into her Divine Soul along her fingertips.

That was not Spiritual Qi.

That was a kind of... Immortal Dao Qi, which she had never felt before, but which made her entire Soul tremble.

Zhao Linger's body suddenly shook.

She looked up, gazing once again at the empty teleportation Formation, the confusion and loss in her eyes gradually fading.

In its place was an unprecedented, dazzling light.

She knew she hadn't pursued the wrong path.

She also knew that from this moment on, she, and he, and this world, would all head in a completely different direction.

A grander tapestry of pursuit, growth, and destiny, thus slowly unfolded.