72: Chapter 72 Son of Emperor Yan

Crimson gold flames roared around Saint Son Yan Wuji, and scorching heatwaves instantly filled the air, causing the surrounding ground and vegetation to crackle and pop as hot winds swirled. The phantom of the Flame Emperor behind him radiated an overbearing, majestic, and terrifying aura, as if it would burn everything that dared to defy it into ashes.

With his cultivation at the Peak of the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, combined with the top-tier fire-element Cultivation Technique he practiced and the various secret techniques and Magic Treasures brought by his status as the "Son of the Flame Emperor," Saint Son Yan Wuji's anger was incredibly formidable. Even an ordinary Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator would likely not dare to underestimate him.

The surrounding Cultivators watching the commotion retreated one after another, afraid of being caught in the crossfire, yet their faces were filled with excitement. The Young Sect Master of the Eastern Wasteland's Skyfire Sect versus the newly emerged hegemon of the Southern Region, "True Monarch Guixu"—such a good show was rare! They could take this opportunity to gauge the measure of this "True Monarch Guixu."

"Saint Son Yan Wuji, what do you intend to do?!" Liu Ruyan stepped forward, shielding Chu Qingyao and Lin Jingyun behind her. Her pretty face was cold, and Wood-element Spiritual Qi flowed around her, forming a flexible cyan light shield that protected the three of them, resisting the scorching heatwaves. Although her cultivation was not as high as Saint Son Yan Wuji's, she had practiced the 《Wood Spring Technique》 brought back by Lin Wan. Her Foundation was solid, and with the protective treasure bestowed by Lin Wan, she could barely hold her own. Chu Qingyao also silently circulated the 《Mystic Water Heart Mantra》, emitting a cool, calming aura that offset some of the intense heat.

"What do I intend to do?" Saint Son Yan Wuji sneered, his gaze sweeping greedily over Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao before finally locking onto Lin Wan. "Lin Wan! You are nothing but a frog in a well from the Southern Region. Having luckily obtained some Legacy, you dare to be so arrogant and insult my father! Today, this Young Lord will teach you, on behalf of my father, a lesson for being an ignorant and arrogant fool! I will let you know what a true Prodigy is! What kind of existence you can never hope to reach!"

Before the words had even faded, he had already struck!

"Emperor Flame—Heaven Burning Palm!"

Saint Son Yan Wuji shouted, and the Flame Emperor phantom behind him suddenly raised its hand, striking out at Lin Wan across the air! A giant palm, entirely condensed from crimson gold flames so hot that the space itself slightly distorted, carried the overbearing, peerless power to burn mountains and boil seas as it slammed down toward Lin Wan! Wherever the palm wind passed, the air emitted explosive sounds, and even the white jade-paved ground below began to melt and char.

The power of this palm had already reached the threshold of the Nascent Soul Late Stage! It showed that Saint Son Yan Wuji, this "Son of the Flame Emperor," was not just a name; he truly possessed the capital for his arrogance.

"Watch out!" "Young Lord Yan is playing for real!" Exclamations rang out from the surrounding crowd.

"Father!" Lin Jingyun shouted anxiously, wanting to draw his sword, but Chu Qingyao gently pressed down on him, shaking her head to signal him to trust Lin Wan.

Facing this violent strike capable of threatening an ordinary Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivator, Lin Wan did not even frown. He did not draw his sword, nor did he make any move to dodge or defend. He simply stood there quietly, watching the flame giant palm that blotted out the sky slam down toward him.

It was as if this strike, capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, was merely a gentle breeze brushing against his face in his eyes.

"Seeking death!" Seeing Lin Wan being so arrogant, a hint of ferocity flashed in Saint Son Yan Wuji's eyes. He added three more points of force to his palm, determined to severely injure or even... kill him with one strike! In this Tiandu Mountain, as long as he didn't cause a death, crippling a "country bumpkin" from the Southern Region with his father, the Flame Emperor, backing him up, he figured it wouldn't be a big problem.

However, just as the giant flame palm was about to strike the top of Lin Wan's head—

Lin Wan finally moved.

He did not raise his hand, did not draw his sword, he just... gently raised his eyes and took one look at the giant flame palm.

In his pupils, a point of Chaos radiance flashed and vanished.

"Hum—!"

The giant flame palm, originally violent, scorching, and capable of burning the heavens and boiling the earth, suddenly froze in mid-air as if it had encountered an incomprehensible and irresistible invisible force! The crimson gold flames raging within it were instantly dimmed, extinguished, and dissipated as if the source had been strangled by an invisible hand! The giant flame palm disintegrated and crumbled inch by inch from the fingertips at a speed visible to the naked eye, turning into countless tiny sparks, and then completely annihilated into the air, not even leaving a trace of heat behind.

It was as if it had never appeared.

"Uh...?!" The sneer on Saint Son Yan Wuji's face suddenly froze, his eyes filled with incredulous bewilderment. His full-power "Emperor Flame—Heaven Burning Palm" was just… gone? The opponent hadn't even moved, just looked at it?

How was this possible?!

Not only him, but the Prodigies from the Eastern Wasteland behind him, and all the surrounding Cultivators, were completely dumbfounded. What kind of method was this?! Staring away a Divine Ability attack at the Nascent Soul Late Stage level with just a glance? What kind of monster was this Lin Wan?!

"Flashy but useless." Lin Wan spoke calmly, his tone devoid of joy or anger, as if he were merely stating a fact. "It seems your father not only failed to teach you how to speak but also failed to teach you how to... fight."

As his words fell, Lin Wan looked at Saint Son Yan Wuji again.

This time, his gaze was no longer plain; it carried a trace of... an extremely faint, tangible, icy will that seemed to pierce the Divine Soul and freeze all things.

Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed—Divine Soul Pressure!

Although it was only an insignificant trace, with Lin Wan's current level of Nascent Soul Great Perfection and the transformation of his Dao Seed, his Divine Soul strength had long surpassed those of the same rank, even faintly touching the edge of Soul Transformation. This targeted pressure was, to a "Prodigy" like Saint Son Yan Wuji who was arrogant but actually weak inside, no less than Mount Tai pressing down, the heavens collapsing and the earth splitting!

"Pfft—!"

Saint Son Yan Wuji was struck hard, his face instantly turning as pale as paper, and a mouthful of blood sprayed out! He felt as if his Divine Soul had been fiercely gripped by an invisible hand and mercilessly crushed; boundless fear, suffocation, and the aura of death instantly drowned all his consciousness. The Flame Emperor phantom behind him collapsed with a boom. His entire body, as if his bones had been extracted, his legs went soft, and with a "thump," he slumped to his knees. He trembled violently, unable to even lift his head, and could only stare at the ground with terrified, pleading eyes, while a "he-he" sound, like a dying beast, wheezed from his throat.

"Young Lord!"

"Brother Yan!"

The Eastern Wasteland Prodigies behind him only then reacted, exclaiming in shock and wanting to step forward to support him, but under a faint sweep of Lin Wan's calm gaze, everyone was frozen on the spot as if hit by a immobilization spell. Cold sweat instantly soaked their backs, and they didn't even have the courage to move a finger. They could clearly feel that if this young man in green robes wanted to kill them, it would probably only take... a single glance.

The surroundings were deathly silent.

All the watching Cultivators were shocked out of their wits by this scene that was too thorough and too terrifying in its reversal. The Young Sect Master of the Eastern Wasteland's Skyfire Sect, the Peak Nascent Soul Middle Stage Saint Son Yan Wuji, was actually pressed to his knees and vomiting blood by "True Monarch Guixu" Lin Wan with just a single glance, without even a chance to resist?!

This was not a "lesson"; this was a complete and utter crushing! It was an absolute gap, like an adult beating a child!

It turned out that the rumors were not only not exaggerated, but perhaps... underestimated! The strength of this "True Monarch Guixu" was simply unfathomable and terrifying to the point of hair-raising!

"You... you..." Saint Son Yan Wuji slumped on his knees, struggling to lift his head, his eyes filled with resentment, fear, and a trace of unbelievable humiliation. "You dare... to hurt me... at Tiandu Mountain... My father... will not let you off..."

"Tiandu Mountain is a place for Dao discussion, not a place for a spoiled brat like you who doesn't know the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth to run wild." Lin Wan's tone remained plain, as if he were stating a trivial matter unrelated to himself. "As for your father, the Flame Emperor... If he wants to stand up for you, feel free to have him come find me. It just so happens that I also want to see how much heat the Flame Emperor of the Eastern Wasteland really has."

After saying this, he ignored Saint Son Yan Wuji, who was slumped on the ground like a dead dog, and turned to Liu Ruyan, Chu Qingyao, and Lin Jingyun, saying warmly: "Let's go. It's noisy here; let's go back and rest."

"Mn." Liu Ruyan and Chu Qingyao nodded, their eyes looking at Lin Wan full of admiration and peace of mind. Lin Jingyun was even more excited, his little face flushed red, and the look he gave his father was full of boundless admiration.

The family, under the gaze of countless awe-struck, fearful, and complex eyes, returned to the villa calmly, closed the courtyard door, as if they had just casually driven away an annoying fly.

Until their figures disappeared behind the courtyard gate, the suffocating dead silence and pressure that shrouded the entire scene slowly dissipated.

"Thump, thump..."

Several Eastern Wasteland Prodigies then collapsed to the ground as if drained of energy, gasping for air, their bodies drenched in cold sweat. Looking at the tightly closed courtyard gate, their eyes were filled with lingering fear.

Saint Son Yan Wuji was also barely helped up by his companions. His face was pale, his eyes unfocused, and clearly, his Divine Soul had suffered not-insignificant trauma. He glared at the villa with immense resentment but dared not make any more clamor. With the help of his companions, he quickly left the place in a dejected manner, afraid that Lin Wan might change his mind and give him another hit.

The onlookers also woke up as if from a dream, and whispering erupted. The gazes they directed at the villa had completely changed. There was no longer any contempt or doubt, only deep awe and wariness.

"True Monarch Guixu" Lin Wan, with a "miraculous" method, suppressed the Young Sect Master of the Eastern Wasteland's Skyfire Sect, Saint Son Yan Wuji, with a single glance. His reputation, before the Dao Discussion Conference had even officially begun, had already spread like a plague throughout the entire outskirts of Tiandu Mountain and was spreading toward the depths of the five main Peaks.

The news naturally reached the ears of certain interested parties at the fastest speed.

...

Deep within Jade Lake Peak, in an exquisite pavilion shrouded in clouds and mist, as if it were an Immortal Palace.

Several figures with extraordinary bearing and unfathomable cultivation were sipping tea and playing chess. One of them was Master Liaoyin from the Western Desert's Vajra Temple, who had seen Lin Wan strike at the "Southern Region Alliance Meeting." Another was Elder Xingyan, the Pavilion Master of "Heavenly Secret Pavilion," who wore Daoist robes embroidered with the stars of the universe, with a refined face and deep eyes. There was also a beautiful woman with a graceful temperament and picturesque features, as if she were untainted by the world; she was the current Palace Master of "Yaochi Immortal Palace," Fairy Yaoguang (Soul Transformation Middle Stage). The last person was a middle-aged Daoist wearing black and white Daoist robes, with a simple face and an aura as heavy as a mountain; he was the Deputy Sect Master of "Da Yan Heaven Sect," True Monarch Daoyan (Soul Transformation Early Stage).

"Oh? A single glance and he pressed the Flame Emperor's useless son to his knees, vomiting blood and suffering Divine Soul trauma?" Elder Xingyan twisted a chess piece, star light and shadows flowing in his eyes, revealing a meaningful smile. "This 'True Monarch Guixu' is really... silent until he speaks, then he shocks the world. That old guy, the Flame Emperor, is probably going to be jumping with anger."

"Amitabha." Master Liaoyin put his hands together, his face showing no surprise. "The Dao of Benefactor Lin Wan is already close to 'True Thusness,' and his cultivation is even more unfathomable. Little Benefactor Yan Wuji is arrogant and speaks rudely; suffering this tribulation is also a cycle of Karma. I only hope Fellow Daoist Flame Emperor will not let this small matter delay the greater situation."

A flash of brilliance passed through Fairy Yaoguang's beautiful eyes, and she opened her vermilion lips, her voice clear and melodious: "What Master Liaoyin says is very true. However, this action by Fellow Daoist Lin Wan, while establishing his prestige, has also completely offended the Flame Emperor. The remnants of the Eastern Wasteland and the Northern Plains were already dissatisfied with our Central Plains leading this conference; now they are likely to take the opportunity to stir up trouble. The conference has not yet begun, and the storm has already risen; this is not a good omen."

True Monarch Daoyan put down the teacup in his hand and said in a deep voice: "The Flame Emperor has a fiery temper and is vengeful; he will definitely not let this matter rest. There will surely be waves at the Dao Discussion Conference. I just don't know if this Lin Wan is truly relying on his strength or... is young and arrogant, not knowing the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth?"

"Whether he is relying on strength or is young and arrogant." Elder Xingyan placed the chess piece down and smiled slightly. "Since he dared to come and dared to act this way, he must have his own Foundation. We just need to wait and see how much of a storm this 'True Monarch Guixu' can stir up at this conference. As for the matter of 'the end'... perhaps we need to use his hand to truly bring it to the table."

Hearing this, everyone was thoughtful and said no more, continuing to play chess and sip tea, as if what they had just discussed was just a trivial matter.

...

Inside a cave on Wuji Peak where Sword Qi soared into the sky.

A middle-aged man (the current Sword Master of the Wuji Sword Sect, Sword Master Jian Wuming, Soul Transformation Early Stage) dressed in hemp clothing, holding a scabbard-less ancient sword, with a cold face and appearing to have merged with the sword in his hand, slowly opened his eyes, as if countless sword shadows were born and died in his pupils.

"Suppressing a Nascent Soul with a glance... interesting." He muttered to himself, his cold gaze seemingly piercing through the cave, looking toward the direction of Jade Lake Peak. "I hope your sword can be as sharp as your eyes. Otherwise... this Tiandu Mountain will be your burial ground."

...

Inside the "Dan Ding Heaven Palace" of the Taishang Alchemy Sect, which was shrouded in cinnabar clouds.

An old man (Grand Elder of the Taishang Alchemy Sect, Great Elder Danchenzi, Soul Transformation Early Stage) wearing Bagua Daoist robes, with a crane-like appearance and youthful complexion, and emitting a refreshing medicinal fragrance, was carefully tending to a furnace of precious medicine about to become pills. Hearing the attendant's report, his movements paused imperceptibly.

"Five Elements Guixu Dao Seed... suppressed with a glance... it seems the rumors are not false." Great Elder Danchenzi's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he murmured in a low voice, "On this child, there may be an opportunity for my Alchemy Dao to break through... I must find a way to make friends."

...

Inside a palace at the Skyfire Sect station, which was completely shrouded in scorching flames.

"Boom—!"

A deafening roar, accompanied by a terrifying explosion of flames, blew away half of the palace dome!

"Lin Wan, you little bastard! How dare you bully my son like this! Bully my Skyfire Sect! This Emperor will surely tear him into ten thousand pieces, extract his soul and refine it, only then will I vent the hatred in my heart!"

The Flame Emperor's roar, which reached the extreme of anger, resounded through the sky, causing the entire Skyfire Sect station to tremble. Countless Skyfire Sect Disciples were silent as cicadas, shivering.

"Father, calm down!" Below, Saint Son Yan Wuji, whose face was still pale and whose aura was floating, hurriedly advised, "That Lin Wan... is indeed strange, and his strength is unfathomable. This matter... needs to be considered long-term; we cannot be reckless."

"Consider long-term? My son was publicly humiliated by him and suffered Divine Soul trauma. If this revenge is not avenged, how can I, the Flame Emperor, have the face to stand in the world?!" The Flame Emperor's beard and hair stood up in anger, flames raging in his eyes. "At the Dao Discussion Conference, this Emperor will definitely cripple him with my own hands! Make him kneel in front of you and kowtow to admit his mistakes! Make his Southern Region Anti-Calamity Alliance completely become a laughing stock!"

"But father..." Saint Son Yan Wuji wanted to advise again.

"No need to say more!" The Flame Emperor interrupted him, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "This Emperor already has a plan. You go contact those old ghosts from the Northern Plains' 'Nine Nether' and 'Corpse God,' as well as the people from the Central Plains' 'Shadow Tower.' Tell them, this Emperor is willing to pay a great price to have that Lin Wan's life! The Dao Discussion Conference will be his death date!"

...

For a time, because Lin Wan suppressed Saint Son Yan Wuji with a single glance, the undercurrents within Tiandu Mountain became even more turbulent. The eyes of all forces focused on the seemingly ordinary villa on the mountainside of Jade Lake Peak.

And Lin Wan, who was at the center of all this whirlpool, was sitting cross-legged in the quiet room of the villa, his mind calm, as if all the turmoil outside had nothing to do with him.

He was adjusting his state, deducing Divine Abilities, and waiting for the official opening of that "Five Regions Dao Discussion Conference" which was destined not to be peaceful.

He knew that today's event was just the beginning.

Greater waves and more intense collisions were yet to come.

And he, was already prepared.

With the sword in his hand and the Dao in his heart, at the Peak of this Tiandu, he would meet all the heroes under heaven and decide the situation of the Five Regions!