96: Three days is too long, one day is enough.

Lin Fan raised his head, meeting the pair of bloody pupils without the slightest evasion.

“Based on my ability as a Martial Master to slay Luohou.”

“Based on the Heaven Rank battle armor I possess, which can resist Imperial Might.”

“Based on my ownership of an ancient Vicious Beast, whose potential is limitless.”

He paused, his tone growing heavier:

“And furthermore, based on the fact that I... have nothing to fear.”

“Whoever Your Majesty wishes to kill, I shall kill. Whichever family Your Majesty wishes to destroy, I shall slaughter. I won't ask for reasons, I won't fear Karma, and I won't leave survivors.”

“Is this blade sharp enough?”

A hint of amusement flashed in the Blood Emperor's eyes.

“Nothing to fear? What arrogance.” He leaned back, resting against the Imperial Throne again. “What if I order you to die right now?”

“Then Your Majesty will lose a fast blade that was just acquired and hasn't drunk enough blood yet.” Lin Fan answered without hesitation. “As for me, I would simply die in a different place. But before that, I will let everyone who tries to take advantage know the price of touching Your Majesty's blade.”

This statement was very direct—I can die, but before I do, I will bite off a few chunks of meat for you, intimidating the petty thieves.

The Blood Emperor fell silent.

The rhythm of his fingers tapping the armrest quickened slightly.

The pressure inside the hall quietly dissipated.

“Hehehe...” The Blood Emperor suddenly chuckled, his laughter carrying a hint of satisfaction. “Good, very good. Lin Fan, you are interesting.”

He raised a hand and pointed toward the area below the throne.

“I shall give you a chance.”

“In the East Third District, the leader of the Raging Shark Gang, Angry Sea King Zhang Han, possesses Early-stage Martial King cultivation. He commands three Peak Martial Ancestor Vice Leaders, over a thousand gang members, and controls three Blood Crystal mines and two underground black markets.”

“Three days ago, Zhang Han secretly contacted an emissary under the Bone Emperor, suspected of attempting to defect from my command and pledge allegiance to the Bone Emperor.”

The Blood Emperor's voice turned cold:

“I want you to go to the East Third District and return with the heads of Zhang Han and his three Vice Leaders.”

“The time limit is three days.”

“If you succeed, I will acknowledge you as my blade, grant you the position of Blood-Clad Guard Commander, allow you to enjoy Martial King treatment, and provide Blood Crystal, Cultivation Technique, women, and mansions for your use.”

“If you fail...”

A bloody light flashed in the Blood Emperor's eyes:

“Then bring your own head to me.”

The Blood Emperor wanted to see if Lin Fan's ability to kill a Martial King was a one-time fluke or permanent!

...Lin Fan sneered internally.

Eliminating a traitor, establishing authority through murder, and simultaneously testing his strength and loyalty.

This Blood Emperor certainly had a good plan.

But what he wanted was precisely this opportunity.

“Three days is too long.”

Lin Fan spoke, his words astonishing.

The Blood Emperor raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“One day.” Lin Fan extended his index finger. “By this time tomorrow, the heads of the four men, including Zhang Han, will surely be presented before Your Majesty.”

[Ding! Accepted the Blood Emperor's trial mission and proactively shortened the time limit. prestige value +3000!]

[Current prestige value: 143,570 points!]

The Blood Emperor's pupils contracted slightly, then he burst into loud laughter:

“Hahahaha! Good! You are arrogant enough! I shall wait for you for one day!”

He flicked his sleeve, and a blood-colored token flew toward Lin Fan.

The front of the token was engraved with the words “Blood Robe,” and the back bore the mark of a “Commander.”

“Holding this token, within the Eastern District—excluding the Imperial City Forbidden Ground and the fiefdoms of several Martial Kings—you may mobilize any grassroots force loyal to me for assistance, and you have the authority to execute first and report later.”

“Go now.”

“Let me see...”

The Blood Emperor stared at Lin Fan, the depths of his bloody pupils flickering with cold, expectant light:

“Just how fast and how sharp this blade of yours truly is!”

Lin Fan took the token; it was warm to the touch and gave a faint sense of Bloodline connection, clearly having been imprinted with some kind of mark.

He said no more, bowed respectfully, turned, and left.

Just a few steps later, the Blood Emperor's faint voice came from behind him:

“Oh, right.”

“Zhang Han has a woman named Shui Rou under him, his most favored concubine and also his strategist. This woman is skilled in enchantment and poison arts, and her mind is deceitful; you must be careful.”

“Also, the Furious Sea Raging Waves Art that Zhang Han Cultivates contains a desperate forbidden technique called Sea God's Wrath. Burning his vital essence can briefly unleash Mid Martial King battle power. Don't be caught by his death throes counterattack.”

Lin Fan paused slightly, nodded, and without looking back, strode out of the Blood Emperor Palace... Outside the palace, the moonlight was still dim and red.

Lin Fan stood in the plaza in front of the Blood Emperor Palace, gripping the blood-colored token in his hand, sensing the faint, intangible thread of monitoring and connection hidden within it.

“He wants to use me as a blade, yet fears I might bite back...”

He muttered to himself, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

“Then we shall see whose hand cuts whose in the end.”

Instead of leaving immediately, Lin Fan first returned to the Blood Thorn Tavern.

The tavern had been tidied up simply; the damaged main door was replaced, and the bloodstains on the floor were washed away, but the air still held a faint scent of blood and a chilling aura.

Red Diamond, Old Blade, and the others sighed in relief seeing his safe return, but were then rendered speechless with shock by the “Blood Robe Commander Token” he brought back and the mission to “take a Martial King's head within one day.”

“Young Master Lin... this... this is too risky!”

Red Diamond said anxiously, "Zhang Han is a Martial King who has been famous for many years, and the Raging Shark Gang is deeply entrenched in the East Third District. Within one day..."

“I have my own plans.” Lin Fan interrupted her, looking toward the secret chamber where Su Muyu and Qin Yue were. “Are they awake?”

“They just woke up, their Qi is still a bit weak, and they are currently recuperating.” Red Diamond quickly replied.

Lin Fan nodded and walked toward the secret chamber.

Inside the secret chamber, Su Muyu and Qin Yue were sitting cross-legged on stone beds. Although their Faces were still somewhat pale, their eyes had regained clarity.

Seeing Lin Fan enter, both women were invigorated.

“Lin Fan!” Su Muyu spoke first, her voice a little hoarse. “Where exactly are we? Are you alright?”

Qin Yue also looked over with concern. She keenly noticed a trace of lingering weakness and... a faint bloody scent on Lin Fan's body.

“The Blood Prison Battlefield, a place called the East Seventh District. I'm fine.”

Lin Fan spoke concisely, giving them a rough summary of what happened after they fainted and their current situation.

Hearing that Lin Fan had actually slain Mid Martial King Luohou, proactively sought refuge with the Martial Emperor powerhouse here, and accepted such a dangerous mission, both women showed expressions of shock and worry.

“You are being too reckless.” Qin Yue frowned. “That Blood Emperor is clearly using you, and he might not tolerate you after the mission is complete.”

“I know.” Lin Fan's expression was calm. “But I need time to recover my strength, resources to improve my cultivation, and a relatively stable environment for you both to recover and adapt to this place. The Blood Emperor's influence is currently the best springboard.”

He looked at the two women. “How are your injuries?”

“They are no longer serious; we've recovered seventy to eighty percent.” Su Muyu replied, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes. “We're going with you.”

“Exactly. If we live, we live together. If we die, we die together.” Qin Yue agreed.

Lin Fan gave a wry smile. “I didn't die when Peak Martial Emperors besieged me; this is just a mere Martial King.”

“I will go alone for this mission.”

Before the two women could object, he continued, “First, this is the Blood Emperor's test for me and my chance to establish authority; bringing others would diminish the effect.”

“Second, the Raging Shark Gang has a Martial King overseeing it. Although your strength is not weak, you are newcomers, unfamiliar with the power system and fighting methods here, making it easy to suffer losses. Third...”

He paused, softening his tone. “I need you to stay here, help me secure the rear, and keep an eye on Red Diamond and the people in the tavern. I don't trust them.”

Lin Fan had changed.

His emotional intelligence had improved.

He clearly looked down on the two women's strength, yet felt the need to list reasons one, two, and three... If it were before, he definitely would have said—You two little weaklings, did you really think I brought you here to help? Can't you just be pretty vases?

Of course, it was understandable.

Humans are not plants; how can they be emotionless?

After all, they had been through life and death together, so he should at least give them some Face.

Su Muyu and Qin Yue exchanged glances, knowing that Lin Fan's words were reasonable, but the worry in their eyes did not diminish.

“Hurry up and recover, and familiarize yourselves with the environment. Only when I return will we truly have driven our first nail into this Blood Prison Battlefield.”

Having finished speaking, he said nothing more, turned, and left the secret chamber...