155: The Key of Flowing Light appears, and the demonized guardian is killed

The altar's abnormal movement was not gradual.

Instead, it was a tearing explosion.

"Buzz—"

The ancient black stone altar instantly lost its original color.

Every rune carved upon it lit up with a dazzling blood-red light, and dense, almost liquid Devilish Qi and Chaos power surged out like a black torrent breaking a dam.

The entire abandoned ancient city trembled violently under the impact of this power.

Lin Fan's expression, which had been one of helpless perfunctoriness in dealing with a "Shura Field," instantly vanished.

It was replaced by a blade-like sharpness and solemnity.

He didn't even turn to look at Zhao Linger and Li Hanyue again.

At this moment, the undercurrents between the three women seemed insignificant in his eyes.

He turned sideways, facing the soft, delicate body that was pressed close to him and trembling slightly due to the altar's anomaly, and spoke in an undeniable, deep voice.

"Protect yourself and keep an eye on them."

Su Meier's body stiffened abruptly.

She raised her enchanting, fox-like eyes that could captivate all beings, looking at Lin Fan's profile.

The man's gaze was entirely fixed on the altar, which was erupting with terrifying aura—focused and cold.

She understood the meaning of his words.

"Protect yourself" was a command.

"Keep an eye on them" was trust.

Su Meier's heart skipped a beat, then was filled with an inexplicable sense of security.

She didn't say a word.

She just nodded heavily, released Lin Fan, and stepped back.

A pink Yao power shield instantly unfolded, enveloping herself, along with Zhao Linger and Li Hanyue, who were still in shock.

As for Lin Fan...

The moment his words fell, he had already transformed into an afterimage, ignoring the terrifying Devilish Qi that could corrode a Nascent Soul Cultivator's Dao body, and charged straight towards the altar.

"Senior Brother Lin Fan!"

Zhao Linger let out a cry of surprise.

Li Hanyue's pupils also contracted sharply.

They had not expected Lin Fan to make such a move.

He actually abandoned them just like that.

He abandoned the Soul Transformation crisis that had just been averted.

He abandoned this impending "Shura Field."

Instead, he charged forward without hesitation, towards that unknown fluctuation, which was even more dangerous and eerie than the pressure of an Spirit Transformation Old Monster.

Shock.

Confusion.

And a strong sense of unease at being abandoned.

Two completely different emotions intertwined in their hearts.

But they were both favored daughters of heaven, with wills far superior to ordinary Cultivators.

Almost immediately, they realized that the target that could make Lin Fan lose his composure and charge forward so decisively must be of unimaginable importance.

The two exchanged glances, seeing the same curiosity and determination in each other's eyes.

They immediately followed him.

"Roar—"

A roar, not human-like but filled with endless pain and hatred, erupted from the center of the altar.

The blood-red light and Devilish Qi there converged into a giant vortex.

A figure was slowly, inch by inch, breaking free from the vortex.

That was a... former Immortal.

He wore Ancient Immortal armor that was already tattered beyond recognition, though its magnificent outline could still be vaguely discerned.

His body was severely damaged, his left arm was severed at the shoulder, and there was a huge hole in his chest, through which his twisted, pulsating heart, contaminated by Devilish Qi, could be seen.

Half of his face was handsomely ethereal, while the other half was disfigured with demonic patterns.

His eyes had long lost all their luster.

All that remained was a blood-red, pure desire for slaughter and destruction.

The immortal realm fragment guardian, corrupted by Devilish Qi.

It had finally appeared.

The Devilish Qi emanating from its body was the most lethal poison to all living beings in this world.

The Spiritual Qi in the air was assimilated the moment it touched the Devilish Qi, becoming turbid and violent.

The stones on the ground, infected by the Devilish Qi, quickly decayed and turned into black dust.

However...

When this Devilish Qi, capable of corroding all things, washed over Lin Fan, it seemed to encounter a natural enemy.

Inside Lin Fan's body...

The Immortal Grade Nascent Soul suddenly opened its eyes, and the chaos bell phantom, entrenched deep within the Nascent Soul, emitted a roar inaudible to the naked ear.

"Buzz!"

A pure and sacred Immortal Dao aura, centered on Lin Fan's body, spread out with a roar.

That aura was domineering, ancient, carrying a majestic pressure akin to the creation of heaven and earth.

The surging Devilish Qi, in the face of this Immortal Dao aura, was like snow meeting the scorching sun, emitting sizzling sounds, and was rapidly purified and dissolved.

The demonized guardian's blood-red eyes suddenly locked onto Lin Fan.

It felt it.

That pure Immortal Dao aura, which was inherently opposed to its Origin but also held a fatal attraction for it.

"Roar!"

It let out an even more ferocious roar, and its intact right arm suddenly stretched out.

A giant claw, entirely condensed from pitch-black Devilish Qi, tore through space, carrying power capable of shattering mountains, and clawed down at Lin Fan's head.

The power of this strike had clearly surpassed the Nascent Soul realm, reaching the true Soul Transformation stage.

Lin Fan's eyes were cold; he did not dodge or evade.

He brought his five fingers together and threw a punch.

There were no magnificent Divine Ability light effects.

Only pure Immortal Dao power, driven by the Immortal Grade Nascent Soul and infused with the aura of the chaos bell.

Fist met claw.

"Boom—"

A deafening roar exploded in the center of the ancient city.

The terrifying energy shockwave formed a visible circular air current, sweeping in all directions.

The crumbling walls, fragile as sandcastles before this power, were instantly leveled.

The entire abandoned ancient city violently shook under this single blow, as if it could collapse completely at any moment.

In the distance, Zhao Linger and Li Hanyue, who had just caught up, were protected by Su Meier's Yao power shield, and were also forced back repeatedly by the shockwave.

Unspeakable horror was etched on the faces of all three women.

Was this... Lin Fan's true strength?

Directly confronting a Soul Transformation strike.

This had completely surpassed their understanding.

At the center of the battlefield...

Lin Fan's figure flew backward, plowing a deep gully in the ground.

But he immediately stood up.

On his chest, a claw mark, deep enough to expose bone, was rapidly healing at a visible speed.

And that demonized guardian was not faring well either.

Its giant claw, condensed from Devilish Qi, was covered in cracks and on the verge of collapsing from Lin Fan's punch.

A pure Immortal Dao aura was spreading like a persistent disease on its arm, purifying its Devilish Qi Origin and causing it to emit painful roars.

"Indeed, this thing is Immortal, but Immortal Dao power is its bane."

Lin Fan understood.

Without the slightest pause, he pushed off the ground and charged forward again.

A battle beyond the imagination of Flowing Light Realm Cultivators thus unfolded.

The demonized guardian possessed Divine Rank power and the characteristic of being almost unkillable.

Each of its attacks carried the might to destroy heaven and earth.

A single beam of demonic breath could melt the earth into a giant deep pit.

With one punch, space itself would warp.

As for Lin Fan...

He had completely abandoned defense.

Or rather, he used his "Immortal" characteristic as his strongest defense.

He exchanged injuries for injuries, and lives for lives.

The demonized guardian's attacks could easily tear his body, pierce his heart, and even blast him into a cloud of blood mist.

But it was useless.

No matter how severe the injury, he could fully recover in the next instant.

Flesh and blood restructured, broken bones regenerated.

That aura of immortality was displayed vividly on his body.

And each of his attacks contained Immortal Dao power amplified by the chaos bell.

Every punch, every kick, could truly inflict purifying damage on the demonized guardian's Origin.

"Boom!"

Lin Fan's figure was once again shattered by the demonized guardian's punch, turning into a sky full of blood rain.

The three women watching from afar had their hearts in their throats.

Especially Zhao Linger, her small face was pale, and she almost couldn't resist rushing forward.

However...

The next moment...

The sky full of blood rain, as if drawn by some invisible force, suddenly converged towards the center.

With a flash of light...

Lin Fan's figure reappeared at the original spot, completely unharmed.

He even gave the demonized guardian a cold smile.

This scene...

Completely shattered the three women's understanding.

They stared blankly at the man who "died" again and again, and "resurrected" again and again, their minds blank.

Was this... his biggest secret?

An Immortal body.

So, the rumors were true.

No.

The rumors were not even one ten-thousandth as shocking as seeing it with their own eyes.

"This... how is this possible...?"

Zhao Linger murmured, her eyes filled with confusion and heartache.

Li Hanyue tightly gripped the hilt of the sword on her back, her body trembling slightly from extreme shock.

Su Meier's eyes also held shock, but more so, a sense of pride and deep infatuation.

This was her man.

Unique, awe-inspiring through the ages.

And this scene was also clearly seen by a Divine Thought hidden deep within the Void Realm.

Old Ancestor Xuan Ming, who had retreated, had not truly left at all.

At this moment, this Spirit Transformation Old Monster who had lived for thousands of years, his Divine Soul was trembling.

He had personally witnessed what true unreasonableness and true terror meant.

"Immortal Old Ancestor..."

This title became incredibly heavy in his heart.

He was glad that he had not chosen to act just now.

The battle continued.

In his repeated "deaths," Lin Fan continuously familiarized himself with the demonized guardian's attack patterns, while also consuming its Origin Devilish Qi.

The three women also recovered from their initial shock.

They knew they couldn't just watch.

"Go!"

Zhao Linger raised her jade hand, and the exquisite Pill Furnace shot out, hovering above the battlefield.

From the Pill Furnace, large swaths of crimson flames spewed forth. These were not ordinary flames, but "Pill Heart Fire" containing a trace of pure Yang power, which had a natural suppressive effect on Devilish Qi.

The flames formed a wall of fire, restricting the demonized guardian's range of movement.

"Slash!"

Li Hanyue also made her move.

She did not approach, but simply, from a distant position, pointed her fingers like a sword and swept them forward.

A sword light, cold to the extreme and fast to the extreme, silently cut through the sky.

The sword light did not strike the guardian's body, but precisely struck the energy node where the guardian was about to launch an attack.

Although it could not cause damage, it successfully caused the guardian's attack to pause for a split second.

A pink halo flashed in Su Meier's eyes.

"Alluring Beings!"

An invisible Yao Race secret technique, targeting the Divine Soul, silently invaded the demonized guardian's chaotic will.

Although it only caused its blood-red eyes to become dazed for less than a thousandth of a second...

But for Lin Fan...

It was enough.

Now!

In that fleeting opening created by the three women's perfect cooperation...

Lin Fan's figure, like a ghost, appeared before the demonized guardian.

He did not attack.

Instead, he extended his right hand and pressed it onto the demonized heart in the guardian's chest.

"chaos bell, purify it for me!"

The chaos bell phantom deep within his Divine Soul glowed brightly at this moment.

An unprecedentedly pure Immortal Dao Origin power, flowing along his arm, furiously poured into the demonized guardian's body.

"Roar—!!!"

The demonized guardian let out its most shrill and painful roar ever.

Its body was like a painting set ablaze.

The grotesque demonic patterns rapidly receded under the cleansing of the pure Immortal Dao aura.

Its corrupted heart began to emit a soft white light.

In its blood-red eyes, destruction and slaughter faded, replaced by a trace of relief and gratitude.

Its body began to turn transparent, transforming into specks of light that dissipated into the air.

When the last speck of light completely vanished...

Only a key-shaped rune, suspended quietly and appearing as if carved from crystal, remained in its place.

It emanated a pure Immortal Dao light, without a trace of Impurities.

The glazed key.

It was obtained.

Lin Fan reached out and held it in his palm.

【Main Quest "Dao Protector's Path: First Step" completed!】

【Rewards obtained: Massive Experience Points, Immortal Dao Origin * 1, Heavenly Dao Fragment (Small) * 1】

【System detected critical node completed, undergoing self-upgrade...】

【Upgrade progress: 10%... 50%... 100%!】

【System upgrade complete!】

【New functional modules unlocked: Era Calamity Progress Bar, World Luck Panel, Immortal Dao Cultivation Technique Analysis, Fragment Purification...】

【New questline activated: Immortal Fallen Land! Host, please investigate more immortal realm fragments and find the next "key"!】

A series of System prompts exploded in Lin Fan's mind.

He didn't have time to examine them closely.

The "glazed key" in his hand suddenly grew slightly warm.

A surge of information flowed into his mind.

He saw it.

The key could not only faintly purify the surrounding Devilish Qi, but also acted like a compass, guiding him to a path deeper into the Flowing Light Realm.

However...

When he tried to perceive more information...

The key suddenly became hot.

A blurry but incredibly terrifying image flashed in his mind.

It was a dark Void Realm where the Heavenly Dao rules were completely chaotic.

Countless broken continental fragments floated within it like graves.

That area was marked as—Heavenly Dao Forbidden Zone.

And deep within the Forbidden Zone, on a huge fragment...

He saw an ancient Formation, similar in shape to the "glazed key," but billions of times larger.

But that Formation was tightly enveloped by a profound, dark power that seemed capable of devouring all light.

This key...

It seemed to have opened a Pandora's box.