7: The Grandmaster suddenly appeared and chased him for thousands of miles

After bidding farewell to his Master Lu Yuchen, Lin Fan found a secluded mountain corner that very day and burrowed himself in.

He stayed put for several days, finally solidifying the slight feeling of instability brought on by breaking through three realms in one day.

Qi Refining Ninth Level Peak, stable!

Once his cultivation stabilized, his mind became active.

It was time to go out and have some fun!

No, it was for training! And to find some good things for Foundation Establishment.

Target: South!

He heard that there were many Heaven And Earth Treasures in that area, and perhaps he would get lucky and stumble upon the Foundation Establishment spiritual items his Master mentioned.

While tidying his "belongings," an inconspicuous Jade Slip in a corner was casually swept into a pile of miscellaneous items, not given a second thought.

...

All the way South.

Just two days after leaving the mountain, he ran into a few ignorant ruffians.

The result?

Easy pickings!

Lin Fan didn't even bother to look at them. What a joke, he was a cultivator, going all out against these Martial Artists? Wasn't that bullying?

Easy pickings should know their place. If you're going to get beaten, stand at attention!

If Lu Yuchen were here, he would at least exclaim "666" and probably wonder if he had led his disciple astray.

Unfortunately, his old man was busy tricking... ah, no, searching for talented individuals throughout the Great Qian Dynasty, so he couldn't spare a thought for Lin Fan.

Just like that, after more than ten days, the name "Young Hero" Lin Fan had gained a small reputation in the Jianghu of the Great Chu Dynasty's southern region.

Public opinion was polarized.

Some said he was a chivalrous and kind-hearted young man.

Others spread rumors that his methods were utterly ruthless, leaving no stone unturned.

On this day, Lin Fan wandered to "Black Fiend Ridge."

This place had a bad reputation; to put it bluntly, it was a den of thieves. The government? It was as good as furniture here.

Passing merchant caravans would rather spend an extra ten days to half a month taking a detour than dare to pass through this gorge.

Lin Fan, being skilled and bold, walked straight in.

Not long after entering the gorge, his hair suddenly stood on end!

Not good!

Without thinking, his true essence exploded under his feet, and he moved sideways.

"Boom!"

With a loud bang, a deep, dark palm print pit appeared on the ground where he had just stood!

Shattered rocks flew, and a putrid, meaty stench assaulted him, almost making Lin Fan faint.

"Oh? You dodged quickly."

A hoarse, grating voice came from the cliff above.

Lin Fan sharply looked up.

On the cliff stood a black-robed figure, thin as a bamboo pole, with a pair of green eyes glowing in the shadows.

His aura was cold, eerie, and powerful!

This guy was stronger than anyone he had encountered before! Even stronger than the Innate Martial Artists he knew!

Grandmaster?

"Who are you? What kind of skill is a sneak attack from behind?" Lin Fan's heart pounded, but his mouth showed no fear.

"Hehehe..."

The black-robed man's laughter was like a night owl's cry, terribly unpleasant. "Little brat, I am Black Fiend Old Ancestor! Seeing your extraordinary bones, why not become my disciple? I guarantee you wealth and glory, how about it?"

"Get lost, you Demonic Path fiend!" Lin Fan spat on the ground.

Black Fiend Old Ancestor!

He had heard that name! A notorious old monster of the Demonic Sect, countless Righteous Path individuals and innocent civilians had died by his hand.

"A stone in a latrine, both smelly and hard!"

Black Fiend Old Ancestor's face instantly darkened. "You ignorant fool, I'll just use your essence blood to further my Bone Dissolving Demonic Technique!"

Before his words finished, his figure flickered, drifting down from the cliff like a ghost, a claw striking directly at Lin Fan's crown!

Too fast!

That speed almost exceeded the limit of Lin Fan's Divine Sense!

Nowhere to hide!

Lin Fan's eyes narrowed, Tai Xuan Gathering Qi Technique was pushed to its limit, and his magical power poured into his right fist. Instead of retreating, he advanced, meeting the attack with a punch!

"Bang!"

Fist and claw met, and a chillingly eerie power surged wildly into his arm, instantly numbing half of his body.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Lin Fan retreated seven or eight steps, barely managing to dissipate the force. His throat sweetened, and his blood surged.

So strong! This old monster's strength must have already reached the Late Stage of Grandmaster!

Black Fiend Old Ancestor was also stunned.

He had used eighty percent of his strength in that claw strike; an ordinary Early Stage Grandmaster Martial Artist would have their bones broken and tendons snapped, yet this kid took a direct hit and only retreated a few steps?

Moreover... this kid had no Internal Energy fluctuations on him!

Not a Martial Artist?

Treasure! This kid definitely had a great treasure on him!

Black Fiend Old Ancestor's green eyes instantly turned red, his greed no longer concealed.

"Little bastard, what Cultivation Technique are you practicing? Hand it over, and I'll spare your life!"

"Pah!"

Lin Fan spat out a mouthful of blood.

Can't win!

Then run!

Without another word, the magical power in his body erupted again, pushing the Human Path Fist Intent of Six Paths Reincarnation Fist to its limit, both fists striking out!

"Boom! Boom!"

This time, he didn't even bother to dissipate the recoil from the fist collision. He used that force to vomit blood and fly backward, turning to sprint wildly into the depths of the gorge!

His speed was like a runaway mad dog!

"Trying to run? Can you escape in front of me?!"

Black Fiend Old Ancestor sneered, tapped his foot, and his figure followed like a shadow, in hot pursuit.

The chase had lasted for seven days and seven nights.

Lin Fan's magical power was almost depleted, and his internal organs felt like they were on fire. He had crossed several prefectures, but the old man behind him was still a persistent ghost, clinging to him tightly.

He was currently holding on by a thread, his mental will stretched taut, ready to snap at any moment.

...

Another day passed.

Before him was an endless Gobi Desert, and behind him, a thousand-foot sheer cliff, icy cold.

No way up, no way down!

"Run, why aren't you running anymore?"

Black Fiend Old Ancestor's figure descended silently, his aura instantly sealing off the surroundings. That oppressive force made Lin Fan almost fall to his knees.

He had truly reached a dead end.

Lin Fan leaned against the rock wall, panting heavily, his eyes gradually turning fierce.

Die?

He'd take someone down with him!

"Damn it, I'll risk it all!"

Lin Fan's eyes sharpened, and the remaining magical power in his Qi Sea instantly reversed and boiled!

Just then.

A small voice, yet it seemed to echo directly in his Divine Soul.

"Fan'er, step back."

This voice...

Lin Fan trembled all over, and the boiling, violent magical power actually paused for a moment.

An illusion?

It was too familiar!

Before he could react, a figure in a green robe appeared before him without warning.

The person was ordinary, like a friendly uncle next door, but when he stood there, the air in the entire world seemed to solidify.

Black Fiend Old Ancestor, who had been so arrogant just moments before, instantly lost all color in his old face, more terrified than if he had seen a ghost.

"Who?!" His voice was sharp, completely losing composure.

The green-robed man didn't even look at him, only turned his head and glanced at Lin Fan with a hint of exasperation.

"You've grown, little Fan'er? Already preparing to die with someone?"

"What about the Sound Transmission Jade Slip I gave you? If you can't win, don't you know to call for help?"

This calm tone, however, made Lin Fan's nose sting, and his eyes immediately reddened.

"Master... Master..."

Only then did he remember that when he went down the mountain, his Master had indeed given him a Jade Slip, telling him to crush it if he needed help.

But... but when he was packing, he had treated it as useless junk and swept it into a corner.