161: Chapter 161 Old Master Ye's Call

As the last wisp of abyssal energy was completely drained by the [Universal Sealing Grand Array]...

Those once-arrogant Abyssal Cultists had now turned into ashes scattered across the ground.

Along with Vice Minister Wei, who had died with his eyes wide open while clutching a glue trap, they completely vanished from this world.

Their entire cultivation, flesh and blood essence, and even the pure energy remaining in their souls became the nourishment for Lin Fan's promotion.

Boom!

A muffled sound echoed from within Lin Fan's body.

The bottleneck that had been hindering him shattered like thin paper under the impact of such massive energy.

Peak Grandmaster 2-Star... Breakthrough.

Grandmaster 3-Star.

An extremely tyrannical aura erupted from Lin Fan, turning into a physical golden shockwave that swept through the entire underground cave.

Under the impact of this shockwave, the surrounding rock walls cracked and fell away.

Lin Fan slowly opened his eyes, and two golden beams of light shot out from them, extending for several meters before dissipating.

He clenched his fists, feeling the power surging through his body like a vast river.

Is this the realm of a Grandmaster 3-Star?

Compared to before, he was at least three times stronger.

Moreover, after being baptized by the power of the Dragon Vein's origin, his [Indestructible Golden Body] seemed to have undergone a wonderful transformation.

Beneath his originally golden skin, a jade-like luster faintly emerged.

That was a precursor to achieving a Saintly Physique.

"Refreshing!"

Lin Fan let out a long howl, his voice echoing in the cave for a long time.

He had truly made a huge profit this time.

Not only had he resolved the major threat of Vice Minister Wei, but he had also freeloaded a wave of the Dragon God's energy, rising two levels in a row.

This feeling of treating enemies as experience packs was simply addictive.

At this moment.

The blood-colored vortex floating above the altar began to rapidly collapse and shrink because it had lost its energy support.

Eventually, it vanished completely.

And the center of the altar, which had been filled with foul-smelling blood, had now completely changed.

The filthy blood had long been purified.

In its place was a pool of liquid rippling with a pale golden halo.

A thin layer of golden mist drifted over the surface, where miniature dragons could be seen swimming and playing.

A refreshing fragrance wafted over; just a single breath made one feel invigorated, and the speed of spiritual energy circulation in the body increased slightly.

This was the true Dragon Blood Pool.

A supreme treasure left behind by the human ancestors.

A sacred place capable of nourishing geniuses and reshaping one's foundation.

It had been polluted by the Abyssal faction before, turning into a man-eating demon's cave.

Now, under Lin Fan's violent purification, it had finally regained its original appearance.

"Now this is more like it."

Lin Fan walked to the edge of the pool, looked at the golden water, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Although I absorbed more than half of the energy, what's left is enough to take a bath."

"Can't let it go to waste."

Lin Fan was just about to take off his clothes and enjoy this long-overdue Dragon Blood bath.

Buzz, buzz—

The special military communicator on his wrist suddenly vibrated violently.

Lin Fan was stunned for a moment.

This communicator was given to him by Lei Zhan, and it would only ring for the highest-level emergencies.

Moreover, this was hundreds of meters underground, isolated by multiple layers of arrays; ordinary signals couldn't get in at all.

Unless...

The other party was using the military's highest-authority quantum-encrypted channel.

Lin Fan looked down at the screen.

There was no number displayed, only a striking red code name.

[Azure Dragon].

Seeing these two words, Lin Fan's pupils constricted sharply.

In the Dragon Country military, there was only one person who could use such a code name.

That was the pillar of Dragon Country, the living fossil of the martial arts world, and the current supreme commander of the military.

The General Ye Canglan, Ye Canglan.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, calmed his emotions, and pressed the answer button.

"Hello?"

There were no pleasantries.

An old, majestic voice, yet carrying a hint of inexplicable laughter, sounded directly in his mind.

The voice seemed not to pass through his ears but acted directly on his soul.

Every word contained some profound laws of heaven and earth, making one instinctively want to submit.

"Little fellow, you've done well."

Just seven words.

Yet they were like a reassurance, instantly dispelling all the wariness in Lin Fan's heart.

Lin Fan immediately stood at attention and gave a less-than-standard military salute to the void.

"Greetings, Chief."

"Alright, enough with the formalities."

Ye Canglan's voice carried a hint of teasing.

"If you were really so law-abiding, Wei Changkong wouldn't have even had his ashes scattered by you."

Lin Fan chuckled, not feeling embarrassed at all.

"Look at what you're saying; that was legitimate self-defense."

"Besides, I didn't expect him to be so weak. I hadn't even used much strength before he fell."

"And that Dragon God or whatever was also just for show—all bark and no bite."

Ye Canglan seemed to let out a laugh on the other end of the communication.

"You brat, you're getting a bargain and still acting like a victim."

"Even this old man would have to spend some effort if I encountered a wisp of that Abyssal Dragon God's will."

"But you, you just went and devoured it all."

"If word of this gets out, those on the Abyss side will probably be spitting blood in rage."

At this point, Ye Canglan's tone suddenly became serious.

"However, you've caused too much of a commotion this time."

"Not only did you alarm the Abyss, but you also alarmed certain people in the Capital."

"Wei Changkong was just a pawn on the surface; his death will drag many things into the light."

"Your current situation is very dangerous."

The smile on Lin Fan's face also faded slightly, and his eyes grew sharp.

He knew, of course.

If you hit the small one, the old one will surely come.

There was definitely a bigger fish behind Vice Minister Wei.

"Chief, I'm not afraid."

Lin Fan said calmly.

"Since I dared to do it, I'm prepared to face the consequences."

"And..."

Lin Fan glanced at the golden Dragon Blood Pool behind him.

"I think it's better to lance some abscesses early."

"Keeping them covered will only make the rot go deeper."

"Good!"

Ye Canglan's voice revealed a sense of admiration.

"You've got guts!"

"As expected of someone I've taken an interest in."

"Don't worry, if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up."

"As long as you stand on the side of humanity, on the side of Dragon Country."

"These old bones of mine can still shield you from the wind and rain for a few more years."

Hearing this, a warm current flowed through Lin Fan's heart.

This was the backbone of Dragon Country.

Protective, domineering, and reassuring.

"Since the business is finished, don't dawdle there."

Ye Canglan's tone shifted.

"Come to the Central Command Room."

"It's time for you to know some things."

"Also, bring those little friends of yours along."

"They are also qualified to see some things now."

With that, the communication was cut off.

Lin Fan looked at the darkened screen and fell into deep thought.

The Central Command Room.

That was the brain of the entire Dragon Country military, a forbidden area that only core high-level officials could enter.

Ye Canglan asked him to go there and even bring Qin Feng and the others.

What did this mean?

It meant that from this moment on, he was no longer just a talented student, nor just an ordinary arms dealer.

He would officially step into the core of power in this country.

He would come into contact with those top secrets that truly concerned the survival of the race.

"It's time for me to know some things...?"

Lin Fan murmured to himself, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

"It seems the truth of this world is even more exciting than I imagined."

He turned around and looked at the pool of golden liquid.

Although he really wanted to take a bath, since the big boss had summoned him, he could only save it for later.

Anyway, this place now belonged to the Lin family; he could come back anytime.

With a wave of his hand, Lin Fan put away the [Myriad Phenomenon Forest · Modified] array disk.

Then he took out his phone and sent a message to Qin Feng.

[Finished.]

[Everyone, assemble.]

[I'm taking you to a good place to meet a big shot.]

After sending the message, Lin Fan took one last look at this rejuvenated underground cave.

This was the first battle of his counterattack.

It was also the starting point of his true rise.

"Capital..."

"Abyss..."

"And those rats hiding in the gutters."

"Wash your necks and wait."

"The blind box merchant's scythe has already been sharpened."

Lin Fan turned and strode toward the exit.

His back was straight, like an unsheathed sword about to pierce through the heavy mist shrouding Dragon Country.