17: The Goddess of Great Xia, making friends through martial arts

The hall doors slowly opened, and sunlight poured in, casting a golden edge around Lin Fan's figure. His steps were steady and his expression calm, yet his deep eyes seemed to hold the vicissitudes of ages and the sharpness of a recently calmed storm. The medicinal power of the yun shen pill he had recently consumed slowly dissolved in his Sea of Consciousness, nourishing his Divine Soul, making his spiritual perception increasingly keen and his sense of the Power of the Stars around him a bit clearer.

"Great Xia Dynasty's Xia Qingyue," Lin Fan silently recited the name. In the fragmented memories of his predecessor, this Divine Girl's reputation was truly thunderous. The Great Xia Dynasty was a colossus that ruled over vast territories in the Eastern Region of the Divine Desolation Continent, with peak national strength and unfathomable Foundations. As the current Emperor's most beloved daughter, Xia Qingyue not only possessed an extremely noble status, but her talent and beauty were also hailed as the pinnacle of the Eastern Region's younger generation, making her an existence that countless prodigies admired but could never reach.

Why would such a person suddenly visit the Lin Family, which was settled in a remote corner?

The internal turmoil had just been settled, and the remnants of the Grand Elder's lineage had not yet been completely purged. For such a heavyweight power to visit at this time was too much of a coincidence. Was it simply to make contact for the upcoming "Myriad Races Heavenly Pride Assembly" in the Imperial Capital of the Eastern Region, or did they have other motives? Although the Lin Family were descendants of the Primordial Divine Clan, they had long since lost the glory of their ancestors. On this Divine Desolation Continent, they could barely be considered a local powerhouse, but compared to the Great Xia Dynasty that truly looked down upon all living beings, there was undoubtedly a difference as vast as clouds and mud.

As his thoughts raced, Lin Fan had already followed Lin Xuan through layers of palace corridors and arrived outside the Discussion Hall in the Family's core area.

The hall was towering, built of obsidian and white jade, with carved beams and painted rafters, exuding an ancient and majestic Aura. Before even stepping inside, one could feel several powerful Auras coming from within. One of them was as pure as ice and clean as jade, like moonlight shining through; although not intentionally ostentatious, it was impossible to ignore.

"Divine Son, please." Upon seeing Lin Fan, the guards outside the hall immediately bowed in greeting, their eyes filled with awe. Everyone in the Family now knew that this Divine Son, who was once considered mediocre, was actually a dragon lurking in the abyss. Once he experienced his Awakening, he had purged the internal traitors with thunderous methods, and his prestige was even approaching that of the Clan Chief.

Lin Fan nodded slightly and stepped into the hall.

In an instant, several gazes fell upon him simultaneously.

At the head of the hall sat Clan Chief Clan Leader, his Face calm and naturally imposing. On either side below him sat several influential Elders of the Lin Family, all sitting upright and solemn. At the head of the guest seats sat a woman dressed in a moon-white palace dress.

It was indeed Xia Qingyue. Even with Lin Fan's perspective as a transmigrator, a hint of amazement couldn't help but flash through his eyes at first sight. Her black hair was like a waterfall, with only a portion tied up by a simple jade hairpin, revealing a smooth, full forehead and a slender, jade-like neck. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like autumn waters, her nose delicate and straight, and her lips the color of light cherry blossoms. Her beauty was not the aggressive kind of gorgeousness, but rather a cold and lofty one, like a lotus blooming atop a snow mountain, something to be admired from afar but not trifled with. An indescribable noble Aura flowed around her, as if she were a natural-born ruler, making one's heart sway.

Behind Xia Qingyue stood two solemn-faced old women whose Auras were obscure and deep, clearly being expert bodyguards. On the other side was a young man dressed in a brocade robe, handsome but with a hint of arrogance. He was currently sizing up Lin Fan with burning eyes, his gaze containing scrutiny and a subtle trace of provocation.

"Fan'er, you've come." Seeing Lin Fan, a hint of imperceptible warmth appeared on Clan Leader's majestic Face as he spoke, "This is the Xia Qingyue Divine Girl of the Great Xia Dynasty. Divine Girl, this is my son, Lin Fan."

Lin Fan stepped forward a few paces and cupped his hands in a neither humble nor arrogant salute: "Lin Fan greets the Divine Girl."

Xia Qingyue rose gracefully and returned the salute, her movements extremely elegant and her voice as clear as jade striking stone: "Xia Qingyue greets the Lin Family Divine Son. I have long heard of the Lin Family Divine Son's name, and seeing you today, your reputation is indeed well-deserved."

Her words were polite, but when her clear eyes fell on Lin Fan, they carried a power that seemed to pierce through the human heart, as if she wanted to see through him completely from the inside out.

"The Divine Girl overpraises me." Lin Fan's expression was calm, but his heart tightened. This Xia Qingyue was definitely not just about outstanding appearance and temperament; her Divine Soul power also seemed exceptionally strong. The feeling she gave him was actually not much weaker than his own after consuming the yun shen pill and practicing the Star God Soul Condensation Art.

"Hmph, Sister Xia Qingyue is just too polite." At this time, the young man in the brocade robe standing behind Xia Qingyue suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a bit of a lazy vibe. "In my opinion, this Lin Family Divine Son has a restrained Aura and is quite steady. However, nowadays the Divine Desolation Continent is in a state of flux and geniuses are emerging in large numbers. Just being steady is probably far from enough, right? I heard that the Lin Family seemed to have some internal turmoil not long ago. I wonder if the Lin Family Divine Son is still well?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Faces of several Lin Family Elders immediately darkened slightly. These words seemed like concern, but they were actually a needle hidden in silk, not only implying that Lin Fan might be strong on the outside but weak on the inside, but also directly mentioning the Lin Family's internal scandals, which was extremely rude.

Clan Leader frowned slightly but did not flare up immediately, turning his gaze toward Lin Fan.

Lin Fan looked up at the young man in the brocade robe, his gaze calm and waveless: "Thank you for your concern. The minor internal ailments of the Family have been cleaned up. I've made a fool of myself in front of outsiders. May I ask who this is?"

Xia Qingyue spoke indifferently, her tone revealing no emotion: "This is our Imperial Dynasty's Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo."

The Huangfu Family, one of the top families in the Great Xia Dynasty, with immense power. This Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo was clearly a figure in the Great Xia's circle of prodigies.

Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo raised his chin slightly, carrying the inherent arrogance of a noble scion: "Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo. Lin Family Divine Son, we Cultivators must ultimately speak with our strength. Sister Xia Qingyue is traveling to various places this time with the intention of meeting heroes from all over, to meet friends through martial arts and exchange insights on the Dao. I wonder if Lin Family Divine Son would be willing to give me some pointers, so that we may also witness the style of the Lin Family Divine Son?"

He directly issued a challenge with a very clear intention: to test Lin Fan's weight and even use it to diminish the Face of Lin Fan and the Lin Family.

Several Lin Family Elders showed anger; this Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo was simply too arrogant to dare be so insolent in the Lin Family's Discussion Hall. But the other party had a special status, and it was difficult for them to scold him directly.

Xia Qingyue did not stop him, but just watched Lin Fan quietly, seemingly also wanting to see how he would respond.

Hearing this, instead of anger, a very faint smile appeared on Lin Fan's Face, as if he had already expected this. He did not answer Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo immediately, but turned to Xia Qingyue and said calmly: "What is the Divine Girl's intention?"

He kicked the ball back, which was both a sign of respect and a test of Xia Qingyue's attitude.

A flash of surprise passed through Xia Qingyue's eyes. She hadn't expected Lin Fan to be so steady, able to remain calm in the Face of provocation. She lightly opened her vermilion lips: "Exchanging pointers is originally a fine thing. However, this is the Discussion Hall, not a place for martial arts. If Lin Family Divine Son doesn't mind, we can move to the plaza outside the hall and stop when the point is made. How about it?"

Her words both fulfilled the reason for Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's challenge and preserved the Lin Family's Face, controlling a potential conflict within the scope of a 'friendly exchange.' Her handling of the matter was smooth and flawless.

"The guest follows the host's convenience," Lin Fan nodded. "Since the Divine Girl and the Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo have such an interest, I, Lin Fan, shall accompany you."

He also happened to want to test what level his current strength was at compared to the prodigies of these top external powers. This Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo was undoubtedly a very good touchstone.

Seeing Lin Fan accept, a flash of pride and Battle Intent appeared in Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's eyes. Clan Leader and the Elders exchanged glances and nodded slightly. They were also extremely curious about Lin Fan's true combat power. His previous performances in the Family competition and the Meteor Star Ancient Domain were, after all, within the Family. Being able to fight with the heir of the Great Xia Dynasty would better test his quality.

The group immediately moved to the vast bluestone plaza outside the Discussion Hall.

The news spread quickly, and many young Lin Family disciples rushed over upon hearing it, watching from a distance with Faces full of excitement and anticipation. They had just witnessed the Lin Family Divine Son's heroic posture in suppressing the internal rebellion, and now seeing the Lin Family Divine Son about to spar with the heir of the Great Xia Dynasty, they were all incredibly excited.

In the center of the plaza, Lin Fan and Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo stood facing each other.

Xia Qingyue, Clan Leader, and the others stood on the steps in front of the hall to watch.

"Lin Family Divine Son, please!" Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo sneered, and the Aura around him suddenly erupted. A hot and fierce Aura soared into the sky, as if a small sun had appeared behind him, and the air became distorted with heat. His cultivation had surprisingly reached the Mid-stage Divine Power Realm, and his Foundation was extremely solid, far beyond what the previous Lin Hong could compare to.

"Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, please." Lin Fan remained in that calm and composed manner, not even changing his posture, except that a layer of faint, almost imperceptible golden light flowed around his body.

"Take this move, Great Sun Heaven Burning Palm!" Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo clearly wanted a quick resolution. As soon as he moved, he used a long-famed secret technique of the Huangfu Family. He took a step forward, his figure like lightning, and struck with his right palm. His palm condensed terrifying heat and blinding light, as if a real great sun were held in his hand, carrying the power to burn mountains and boil seas as it pressed down toward Lin Fan's head!

Wherever the palm wind passed, the bluestone ground was scorched slightly red.

A burst of exclamations sounded among the watching Lin Family disciples; the power of this palm made them feel suffocated.

Facing this violent strike, Lin Fan raised his eyes slightly. Without dodging or evading, he simply met it with a punch.

There was no brilliant light, no earth-shattering momentum, only a majestic power as heavy as a mountain, as if it could carry all things and yet shatter the stars, condensed on the tip of his fist.

Eternal Indestructible Body—Indestructible Divine King Fist!

Fist and palm collided!

"Boom!" A dull, thunderous explosion erupted. The scene of Lin Fan being sent flying by a single palm, as expected, did not occur. That "great sun" that seemed capable of incinerating everything actually shattered inch by inch like a bubble the moment it touched Lin Fan's fist, turning into a sky full of flowing fire and scattering.

The arrogance and confidence on Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo's Face instantly froze, replaced by a look of horror. He only felt an irresistible force surging through his arm. That power was not just pure ferocity, but also carried a Concept of eternal existence and indestructibility, directly crushing his palm force and his protective Divine Ability.

Thud, thud, thud.

Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo retreated seven or eight steps in a row, each step leaving a deep footprint on the hard bluestone slabs. His internal Qi and blood surged, and his right arm was incredibly numb, almost unable to be lifted.

In contrast, Lin Fan's figure was as steady as a rock, not even a corner of his clothes had fluttered. He slowly retracted his fist, as if he had only done something trivial.

The whole place was silent! Everyone's eyes widened, looking at this scene in disbelief.

Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo, who was in the Mid-stage Divine Power Realm and had performed a Huangfu Family secret technique, was actually forced back by Lin Fan with a single punch? And looking at Lin Fan's calm and relaxed appearance, he clearly hadn't used his full strength yet!

Several Lin Family Elders showed wild joy, their beards trembling with excitement. Clan Leader's eyes also burst with brilliant light, and a sense of pride rose in his heart: "Good! Good boy!"

On Xia Qingyue's beautiful Face, which had always been calm and waveless, a clear expression of emotion finally appeared. She saw clearly that Lin Fan's punch was a pure manifestation of the ultimate Physical Body and strength, without any flashiness, yet it contained a Dao rhythm that even made her heart palpitate. That level of power completely exceeded her perception of her peers.

"Is the Eternal Indestructible Body actually this powerful?" Her heart surged with waves, and her evaluation of Lin Fan instantly rose to a new height.

Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo stabilized his figure, his Face turning blue and white with shame and anger. He never expected that he wouldn't even be able to take a single punch from the other party! This was simply a great humiliation!

"You—" He was just about to say something.

"Enough, Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo." Xia Qingyue's cold voice sounded, carrying an unquestionable tone. "The sparring is over. Lin Family Divine Son's cultivation is profound and admirable."

Hearing this, Heir of the Duke of Zhenguo could only force himself to swallow his words. He retreated to the side with an ugly expression, his gaze toward Lin Fan filled with unwillingness and wariness.

Xia Qingyue stepped forward, her beautiful eyes gazing at Lin Fan. This time, there was less scrutiny in her gaze and more genuine respect and curiosity: "Lin Family Divine Son is indeed hiding his light. Xia Qingyue is impressed. I wonder if the Divine Son is interested in the Myriad Races Heavenly Pride Assembly to be held in the Imperial Capital in three months?"

Lin Fan met her gaze, understanding in his heart that this was one of the real purposes of her trip.

"With prodigies from ten thousand races gathering, such a grand event is naturally something I, Lin Fan, aspire to." His tone was peaceful yet carried a sense of confidence. "At that time, I will certainly go to the Imperial Capital to meet the heroes of the world."

"Good." The corners of Xia Qingyue's lips curved slightly, revealing a faint smile that was enough to make the moon lose its luster. "Then Xia Qingyue will be in the Imperial Capital, awaiting the Lin Family Divine Son's arrival."

Sunlight fell on the two of them, lengthening their shadows. One was a God Race Divine Son who had risen from mediocrity and carried a heaven-shaking Legacy; the other was a noble, peerless Imperial Dynasty Divine Girl with both wisdom and strength.

This brief collision seemed like a prelude. Lin Fan knew that his path to a broader world had officially begun from this moment. And this Great Xia Divine Girl might become an important character on his future path.

His gaze passed over Xia Qingyue and looked toward the distant horizon, a sense of pride gradually rising in his heart.

Divine Desolation Continent, prodigies of ten thousand races, I, Lin Fan, am coming!