129: Beacon Fires on the Frontier

The Lin Family, the council hall.

Lin Fan and the Clan Leader stood shoulder to shoulder before a sand table, flanked by eight core Elders, the atmosphere tense and murderous. The terrain of the Meteor Star Ancient Domain was vividly depicted on the sand table. Four markers had been blacked out, representing the eradicated branch altars of the Dark Moon Divine Cult. However, more red markers, like festering sores, were scattered along the edges of the Ancient Domain and towards the direction of the Great Xia Dynasty.

"The thirty thousand frontier troops mobilized by The Third Prince, Xia Yuanchen, under the pretext of 'bandit suppression' have reached the northern foothills of the Blackstone Mountains, a mere three hundred li from our Lin Family's mining fields," reported the Third Elder in charge of intelligence, pointing at a cluster of small red flags on the sand table. "The commander is Xia Houba, The Third Prince's trusted confidant known as the 'Blood Wolf General', a Peak Divine Power Realm cultivator. Under his command are four deputy generals at the Middle Stage Divine Power Realm, all seasoned veterans of countless battles."

"Regarding the Dark Moon Divine Cult, the news that the Cult Master, Blood Moon Demon Venerable, has emerged from seclusion early has been confirmed," the Law Enforcement Hall Elder said gravely. "Our mole within the Dark Moon Cult risked his life to send word: Blood Moon Demon Venerable emerged from seclusion three days ago, and his cultivation... **is suspected to have broken through to the Realm Lord Realm**. His four 'Demon Envoys' have already assembled. They will arrive at Star Moon Lake in force within five days at the latest."

Realm Lord Realm!

The air in the great hall instantly turned heavy.

The gap between the Divine Power Realm and the Realm Lord Realm, seemingly just one rank, was in reality a world of difference. A Realm Lord Realm powerhouse could preliminarily control the rules of a region, channeling the power of heaven and earth with a mere gesture, their strength equal to a thousand soldiers. If Blood Moon Demon Venerable had truly broken through, unless the Lin Family awakened their slumbering foundational Old Ancestor, no one could stand against him.

Unconsciously, everyone's gaze turned towards Lin Fan.

This Young Lord, who had just emerged from seclusion, was only at the Late Stage Divine Power Realm. Yet, the profound depth of his Aura and the formidable strength of his Physical Body made even the Peak Divine Power Realm Elders present feel a sense of awe. Moreover, he possessed that mysterious Star Treasure. Perhaps he had the power to fight?

"Faner, what is your opinion?" The Clan Leader looked at his son, his eyes holding worry but more importantly, trust.

Lin Fan lightly tapped the location of the thirty thousand frontier troops on the sand table, his tone calm. "We must pacify internal threats before dealing with external ones. The Dark Moon Divine Cult seeks to destroy the tomb and seize the treasure; Blood Moon Demon Venerable is a mortal threat in our heartland and must be confronted with full force. However, this Frontier Army of The Third Prince is positioned on our flank. If they join forces with the Dark Moon Divine Cult to attack us from two sides, we would be caught between enemies and doomed to fail."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Elders. "Therefore, this Frontier Army must be eliminated first. At the very least... we must cripple it, rendering it unable to pose a threat in the short term."

"Eliminate it?" One Elder frowned. "Young Lord, that's thirty thousand Great Xia frontier troops, well-equipped, highly trained, and bolstered by military formations. The maximum combat force our Lin Family can currently mobilize is barely five thousand elites. A direct confrontation would be like an egg striking a rock."

"Who said I plan a direct confrontation?" A cold, sharp curve appeared at the corner of Lin Fan's mouth. "The Frontier Army is strong, but they are campaigning far from home, their supply lines are long, and they have ventured deep into our Lin Family's sphere of influence. The geographical advantage is ours. Moreover, are they truly united?"

His finger traced across another area on the sand table. "The First Prince, Xia Yuanhao's, fiefdom, the 'Three Northern Border Counties', is only eight hundred li from here. If a battle erupts here, wouldn't he 'coincidentally' dispatch troops to 'accidentally enter' the war zone, helping us 'share the pressure'?"

Everyone's eyes lit up.

The Clan Leader pondered thoughtfully. "You want to use one force to attack another? But although the First Prince and The Third Prince contend for the throne, they are ultimately both members of the imperial clan. It's unlikely they would directly engage in armed conflict."

"We don't need him to directly intervene," Lin Fan stated. "We only need his army to appear on the periphery of the battlefield, making a show of force to tie down their troops. Once Xia Houba is forced to divide his forces for defense, their military morale will be shaken. That will be our opportunity."

He paused briefly before continuing. "Furthermore, the Frontier Army itself may not be monolithic. Over the years, in his bid for the throne, The Third Prince has placed his cronies in the military, sidelining and suppressing dissenters. He has offended many. Among Xia Houba's four deputy generals, two hail from humble backgrounds and have long harbored resentment after being suppressed by The Third Prince's faction."

"Young Lord, how do you know such details?" an Elder asked in surprise.

Lin Fan smiled faintly. "When Father was purging the traitors, I found copies of some secret correspondence between You Ji and The Third Prince in his hidden chamber. It contained many military secrets."

Everyone understood, and simultaneously felt a chill—this Young Lord was not only formidable in strength but also meticulous in thought, having noticed even such details.

"Therefore, the key to this battle lies in four words: swift action, and intimidation of the heart," Lin Fan declared, his finger striking the sand table forcefully. "We strike with the speed and force of a thunderbolt, behead their leader, shatter their military formation, and break their morale. Then, the First Prince's men 'timely' appear, and the remnants will surely retreat."

"Behead their leader..." The Clan Leader mused. "Xia Houba is at the Peak Divine Power Realm, bolstered by military formations, and situated amidst ten thousand troops. Killing him would be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

"I will go," Lin Fan said, his voice calm but carrying an indisputable resolve.

"Absolutely not!" Several Elders objected simultaneously. "The Young Lord is the future of the Family! How can you personally take such a risk?!"

"Precisely because I am the Young Lord, I should be the one to go," Lin Fan's gaze was firm. "If we win this battle, we can resolve the threat on our flank and concentrate our forces to deal with Blood Moon Demon Venerable. If we lose, the Lin Family is in peril. And I am the only one with the confidence to take Xia Houba's head from amidst ten thousand troops."

He looked at the Clan Leader. "Father, my Diamond Indestructibility Body is complete. I can withstand even a strike from a Realm Lord Realm powerhouse for a brief moment. Moreover, the star pagoda possesses abilities of concealment and spatial travel. I can advance to attack and retreat to defend. After the beheading, I will immediately escape and avoid entanglement with the main army."

The Clan Leader gazed at his son for a long moment before finally nodding slowly. "I trust you, my son. But you must prioritize your own safety above all else. If the situation becomes untenable, retreat immediately. We will find another way."

"Rest assured, Father." Lin Fan bowed respectfully, then turned his gaze to the Elders. "I ask all Elders to perform your duties, stabilize the Family's defenses, and prepare for possible sneak attacks by the Dark Moon Divine Cult. For this battle, I only need three hundred elite light cavalry, all at or above the Divine Power Realm, skilled in rapid raids and precise coordination."

"Three hundred men?" The group was shocked once more.

"The quality of troops is more important than their quantity," Lin Fan stated. "Three hundred men are enough to disrupt their camp, create chaos, and create an opportunity for me to behead their leader. Third Elder and Law Enforcement Elder, please be responsible for selecting the personnel. Assemble at the training ground in one hour."

"Yes, Young Lord!" The two Elders solemnly accepted the order.

One hour later, the Lin Family training ground.

Three hundred light cavalry clad in black armor stood in formation like a forest, their Auras condensed. The lowest among them were at the Early Stage Divine Power Realm, with over thirty having reached the Middle Stage. These were the Lin Family's most elite "Dark Star Guards", usually dispersed across various posts, but today, gathered entirely at the Young Lord's command.

Lin Fan, clad in dark gold light armor, stood before the formation. He did not give any pre-battle motivational speech, only slowly swept his gaze over each face.

"This mission we embark upon is fraught with peril, with nine chances of death for one of survival," he began, his voice not loud but clearly reaching every ear. "But behind you are your parents, wives, children, and the thousand-year foundation of the Lin Family. The Third Prince seeks our clan's annihilation; the Dark Moon Divine Cult seeks to destroy our lands. This battle is not for merit or reward. It is for... survival."

The three hundred Dark Star Guards silently tightened their grips on their weapons, the killing intent in their eyes solidifying into something tangible.

"Move out." Lin Fan mounted a pitch-black steed with flaming hooves—a Dragon Blood Steed, a rare beast treasured by the Lin Family, capable of traveling three thousand li in a day and treading the skies as if on flat ground.

The three hundred riders, like a black torrent, silently departed the Lin Family estate and vanished into the night.

Northern foothills of the Blackstone Mountains, the Frontier Army encampment.

The camp of thirty thousand troops stretched for ten li, brightly lit with constant patrols, heavily guarded. Within the Central Command Tent, Xia Houba was discussing strategy with his four deputy generals.

Xia Houba was around forty, broad-shouldered and thick-chested with a full beard, a ferocious glint hidden in his eyes. Pointing at the location of the Lin Family mining fields on the map, he sneered, "His Highness's orders: in three days, our army will forcibly enter the Lin Family's mining area under the pretext of 'ineffective bandit suppression, delaying military operations'. If the Lin Family dares to resist, it will be considered treason, and they are to be executed on the spot!"

"General, the Lin Family is, after all, a major clan in the Human Realm and possesses a protective clan formation. A direct assault would likely result in heavy losses," Deputy General Chen Yan, who came from a humble background, frowned.

"Losses?" Xia Houba scoffed coldly. "What His Highness wants is for the Lin Family to be thrown into chaos, for Lin Fan to die! As for losses... they won't be His Highness's men dying, so what is there to fear?"

Another deputy general from a humble background, Zhao Meng, said gravely, "General, acting in this manner will likely cost us the army's morale. Our brothers came to the frontier to protect the borders and bring peace to the people, not to die in a private struggle between princes."

"Zhao Meng!" Xia Houba slammed the table and stood up, a murderous gleam flashing in his eyes. "Are you questioning His Highness's orders?!"

The atmosphere in the tent abruptly tensed.

At that very moment, urgent horn blasts suddenly sounded from outside the camp!

"Enemy attack!"

"Northeast direction! Enemy cavalry assaulting the camp!"

Xia Houba was stunned for a moment, then burst into wild laughter. "The Lin Family dares to take the initiative? They truly don't know what death is! Pass the order: the front camp engages the enemy, the central army holds position, the rear camp remains on alert! I want these fools who don't know their place to come and never return!"

However, before the order could be relayed, the northeastern corner of the Great Camp was already ablaze, the sounds of fierce battle and killing cries deafening!

Lin Fan took the lead, charging into the Frontier Army camp like a bolt of black lightning.

Three hundred Dark Star Guards followed closely behind, forming a wedge formation. Like a red-hot knife slicing through butter, wherever they passed, men and horses were thrown into chaos. They made no attempt to engage with ordinary soldiers, instead targeting only officers, formation nodes, and supply wagons. They struck and withdrew immediately, never lingering in battle.

Although the border garrison troops were elite, they were caught off guard by the sudden assault. Moreover, the enemy cavalry was too fast, making it impossible to organize an effective defense. Even more terrifying was the black-armored youth leading the charge—he was like a war god descended to the mortal realm!

Lin Fan didn't even use the star pagoda. He relied solely on his bare fists and an ordinary longsword at his waist.

Under the protection of his Diamond Indestructibility Body, ordinary arrows, blades, and spears couldn't even leave a white mark on him. Every punch he threw sent several soldiers flying; every sword slash he executed guaranteed the death of an officer. He was unstoppable, an irresistible force!

"Stop him! Form up! Form the Blood Wolf Battle Formation!" a lieutenant commander at the Mid-stage Divine Power Realm roared hoarsely, organizing several hundred soldiers. Their blood Qi connected, transforming into a thirty-foot-tall phantom of a crimson giant wolf that pounced towards Lin Fan.

"Break." Lin Fan merely uttered a single word softly. Golden light flashed on his right fist as he unleashed the seventh stance of the Indestructible Divine King Fist, "Shattering the Void"!

The fist force collided with the crimson wolf phantom.

"Boom!" The crimson wolf phantom shattered upon impact. The several hundred soldiers were struck as if by a heavy blow, vomiting blood and flying backward. The formation instantly crumbled. The lieutenant commander was even grazed by the residual shockwave of the punch, his chest caving in, dying on the spot.

"A devil! He's a devil!" The border garrison soldiers were terrified and began to rout.

Lin Fan's gaze was sharp as lightning, locking onto the direction of the Central Command Tent.

"Xia Houba, come out and face your death!"

His voice, like rolling thunder, spread across the entire camp.

The Central Command Tent exploded with a roar. Xia Houba shot into the sky, holding a blood-colored giant axe as large as a door plank, his eyes wide with fury: "You insolent brat, how dare you act so recklessly! This general will take your head today and present it to His Highness!"

His entire body seethed with boiling blood Qi, unleashing the full pressure of his Peak Divine Power Realm cultivation. He even drew upon the army's killing Aura for enhancement, his presence faintly brushing against the threshold of the Half-Step Realm Lord Realm!

"Blood Wolf Slash!" Xia Houba brought his axe down in a mighty chop. The blade transformed into a hundred-foot-long bloody radiance, tearing through the night sky as if to split heaven and earth apart! This axe strike concentrated the full power of his lifetime's cultivation, fused with the army formation's killing force. Its power was enough to threaten a genuine Realm Lord Realm expert!

Lin Fan still did not dodge or evade. He merely raised his right hand, his fingers curling into a loose fist.

The dark golden light of his Eternal Indestructible Body receded inward. The Power of the Stars within the acupoints throughout his body surged wildly. He didn't use his fist. Instead, he extended his fingers like a sword, a point of pure white starlight condensing to its extreme at his fingertip.

Star Radiance Finger, the second level—Pointing Star! With one finger, he aimed at the very apex of the hundred-foot bloody radiance.

"Ding!" A crisp, piercing sound rang out, like a golden needle hitting the ground.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

In the next instant, the hundred-foot bloody radiance exploded from within, dissipating into a sky full of crimson specks of light. On the blade of the giant axe—forged from Mysterious Iron and having drunk the blood of countless foes—in Xia Houba's hand, a thumb-sized hole appeared. The edges of the hole were smooth as a mirror.

And Lin Fan's finger strike, its momentum not yet spent, passed through the giant axe and landed on the center of Xia Houba's forehead.

The ferocity and fury on Xia Houba's face instantly froze. His eyes were filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound emerged.

A red dot slowly spread from the center of his forehead.

"Thud." This great general at the Peak Divine Power Realm, commander of thirty thousand border troops, fell from the sky like a ragged sack, hitting the ground and raising a cloud of dust.

His eyes remained wide open, unseeing.

With the death of the commanding general, the border army camp descended into complete chaos.

"The General is dead!"

"Run!" Panic spread like a plague. Morale, already unstable, now collapsed completely like a mountain avalanche.

Among the four deputy generals, the two who came from humble backgrounds, Chen Yan and Zhao Meng, exchanged a glance and simultaneously shouted: "All troops, heed the order! Retreat! Retreat to the southeast!"

They had been prepared. Now, they quickly gathered some of their trusted followers and were the first to disengage from the battlefield. The other two deputy generals, loyalists of The Third Prince, tried to suppress the rout but were swept away by the fleeing soldiers, unable to even protect themselves.

Lin Fan stood in the air, watching the scattering border troops below, and did not pursue.

His objective had been achieved—decapitation and routing the army. As for slaughtering ordinary soldiers, it held no meaning.

"Young Lord, an unidentified army flying the banner 'Northern Border Patrol' has appeared thirty li to the southeast and is approaching our position!" a Dark Star Guard commander reported.

The corner of Lin Fan's mouth lifted slightly: "The Eldest Prince's men. They arrived quite promptly. Pass the order: the entire force is to retreat. Avoid contact with any army. Return directly to the Family."

"Yes!" The three hundred Dark Star Guards came and went like the wind. By the time the border army had completely collapsed and the Eldest Prince's army 'coincidentally' appeared to take control of the chaotic situation, they had already vanished into the night. From the initial assault to the decapitation and the final withdrawal, the entire battle had lasted no more than half an hour.

The border army suffered over a thousand casualties, with commanding general Xia Houba slain and their morale shattered. They had lost the ability to fight again in the short term. The Lin Family, however, had paid a price of only a dozen lightly wounded.

By the time Lin Fan led his troops back to the Lin Family, the first light of dawn was breaking on the horizon.

News of the victory spread back, and the entire Lin Family erupted in jubilation. Young Lord Lin Fan's prestige, after this battle, resounded completely throughout the Meteor Star Ancient Domain and even began to spread across the entire Human Realm.

But Lin Fan and Lin Zhan Tian showed little joy.

Inside the study, father and son sat facing each other.

"The threat of the border army is temporarily resolved, but the Blood Moon Demon Venerable... will arrive in at most four days." Lin Zhan Tian's expression was grave. "Faner, tell your father truthfully, if you were to face a genuine Realm Lord Realm expert, how confident are you?"

Lin Fan was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "If it's only someone who has just entered the Realm Lord Realm, relying on my Diamond Indestructibility Body and the star pagoda, I could hold my own and even have a chance to injure him. But winning would be difficult."

The gap between the Realm Lord Realm and the Divine Power Realm was not merely in power, but in the control over the rules of heaven and earth. It was a qualitative leap.

"Among the Family's hidden resources, we still have three 'boundary breaking talismans'. They can unleash a World Lord-level attack briefly, but can only be used once." Lin Zhan Tian said. "Additionally, if the clan protection grand formation is activated at full power, pooling the strength of the entire clan, it can also withstand a Realm Lord Realm expert for a moment. But it can only withstand."

"Therefore, we cannot fight head-on." A sharp light flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "The Blood Moon Demon Venerable's target is the Ancient Tomb, it's us. Perhaps we can... borrow the power of the Ancient Tomb itself."

"You mean?"

"The Gate Spirit." Lin Fan said. "The Gate Spirit once activated 'Elimination Mode' to erase the Blood Moon Twin Fiends, which means the Ancient Tomb itself possesses powerful defense and counterattack mechanisms. If we can lure the Blood Moon Demon Venerable to the lake bottom, close to the tomb gate, perhaps we can use the Gate Spirit's power to deal with him."

Lin Zhan Tian frowned: "Will the Gate Spirit help us? It seems to only target those bearing the resentful power of blood sacrifices."

"The Blood Moon Demon Venerable, as the leader of the Dark Moon Divine Cult, has slaughtered countless beings and performed blood sacrifices on a hundred thousand living souls. The resentful power on him must be overwhelming." Lin Fan argued. "Once the Gate Spirit senses him, it will likely trigger the Elimination Mode again. All we need is to lure him to the right location."

"The risk is too great." Lin Zhan Tian shook his head. "If the Gate Spirit doesn't act, or its power is insufficient, you would be walking right into the trap."

"Therefore, I need bait. Bait that the Blood Moon Demon Venerable cannot refuse." Lin Fan looked at his father. "Me, plus the star pagoda, plus signs of the tomb gate opening."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards the direction of Star Moon Lake: "I will set up a scene at the lake bottom, creating the illusion that I am attempting to open the depths of the Ancient Tomb. When the Blood Moon Demon Venerable arrives, he will personally make a move to capture me, seize the pagoda, and break into the tomb. And that will be our opportunity."

Lin Zhan Tian wanted to dissuade him further, but seeing the unshakable resolve in his son's eyes, it ultimately turned into a long sigh.

"Your father will make all the preparations for support. If the situation becomes untenable, even if it costs this old life, I will get you out."

"Father..." A warmth stirred in Lin Fan's heart, but he shook his head. "It won't come to that. We will both survive."

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Clan Chief, Young Lord! Urgent report from the border!" a guard's voice trembled. "The Great Xia Dynasty has officially issued an edict, accusing our Lin Family of 'recklessly killing a border army general and plotting treason'! They order our Lin Family to hand over Young Lord Lin Fan within three days to go to the imperial capital for trial. Otherwise, we will be charged with rebellion and troops will be dispatched to exterminate us!"

"At the same time, the Dark Moon Divine Cult has released news that their leader, the Blood Moon Demon Venerable, will personally visit Star Moon Lake at noon tomorrow to 'pay a visit' to the Lin Family!"

The two pieces of news arrived almost simultaneously.

One used the authority of the Imperial Dynasty to pressure them; the other used the threat of demonic force to intimidate them.

The true storm had finally arrived.

Lin Fan and Lin Zhan Tian exchanged a look, both seeing the coldness in each other's eyes.

"It seems someone doesn't want to give us time to prepare." Lin Fan slowly clenched his fist, a flash of dark golden light passing over his body.

"Then we fight."

Outside the window, the morning sun was rising.

Golden sunlight spilled down, yet it could not dispel the increasingly thick clouds of war.

On Star Moon Lake, the wind and waves were beginning to rise.