22: Demon Prince Mo Yuan, First Enemy Meeting

The battle in Falling Star Garden spread through Tianjiao City like wildfire.

“Did you hear? Li Hun of the Nine Nether Yellow Springs Sect was beaten like a dead dog by that Lin Fan of the Eastern Region. Even his hundred ghosts night parade diagram was torn apart!”

“More than that! It’s said Lin Fan only used two or three moves to cripple two Disciples at the Peak Divine Power Realm. Even when Li Hun used his Lifebound Treasure, it was shattered by a single punch. In the end, he barely escaped with his life using a Blood Escape, and his Foundation is likely damaged!”

“Hiss, who on earth is this Lin Fan? His Physical Body is incredibly powerful, and his methods are so ruthless!”

“It seems the Lin Family of the Eastern Region is truly going to rise this time. I’m afraid no one will dare to touch that ancient path token for the time being.”

Amidst the swirling rumors, Lin Fan’s fierce reputation and strength were completely established. For a short while, there were indeed fewer blind fools harassing him, allowing him to quietly study the introductory chapter of the Nine Nether Reincarnation Art he had just obtained.

This Cultivation Technique was exceptionally mysterious. It did not involve cultivating sinister ghostly power but instead pointed directly to the essence of the Soul and the rules of Reincarnation, emphasizing 'Visualizing the Nine Nether, realizing Reincarnation, and condensing the Indestructible Soul Seal.' Lin Fan sat cross-legged in the quiet room. Guided by the technique, his Divine Soul sank into a peculiar state of meditation, as if he were in a void of Chaos, with only nine deep, bottomless whirlpools slowly rotating, each emitting a different Concept of Reincarnation.

Birth, death, love, hate, greed, anger, obsession, resentment, and destruction—nine types of mental fluctuations originating from the Soul's Origin struck his Divine Soul like a tide. Had he not cultivated the Star God Soul Condensation Art for a long time, possessing a stable Divine Soul Foundation and the Eternal Indestructible Body guarding his Origin, he likely would have lost his mind instantly under the impact of these chaotic Reincarnation thoughts.

He guarded his mind, using the Star God Soul Condensation Art as his base and the intent of the Eternal Indestructible Body as his anchor. He carefully guided and perceived these Reincarnation thoughts, attempting to condense the prototype of his own 'Indestructible Soul Seal.' This process was slow and dangerous, but every bit of progress made him feel his Divine Soul becoming more solid. His control over his emotions and thoughts became increasingly refined, and he even gained a new understanding of that sliver of Concept from the Other-Transformation Freedom Magic.

“The Dao of the Soul is indeed broad and profound.” After several days of Cultivation, Lin Fan had initially stabilized the Foundation of the introductory chapter. Although he hadn't condensed a true Soul Seal, his Divine Soul perception, resilience, and resistance to mental attacks had significantly improved. He felt that if he were to face a ghostly mental strike of Li Hun's level again, he could almost completely ignore it.

One day, Lin Fan finished his Cultivation and prepared to go to the Myriad Laws Tower to look up records on Soul-type Heaven And Earth Treasures to see if he could speed up his Cultivation of the Nine Nether Reincarnation Art. Just after walking a short distance from his courtyard and passing a square used by Cultivators for temporary trading and sparring, an obscure yet extremely powerful aura quietly enveloped the area like an invisible spiderweb.

The originally noisy sounds on the square instinctively quieted down. Everyone’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the center of the square.

There, at some unknown time, an extra person had appeared. It was a young man dressed in a black robe with dark gold patterns. He had a tall, straight posture, loose black hair, and a face so handsome it was almost eerie. His complexion was the pale white of someone who hadn't seen sunlight for years, and his deep eyes were like an eternal cold pool—unwavering, yet seemingly able to swallow all light. Just by standing there, he naturally exuded an aura of looking down on all living beings, an aloofness and demonic nature that disregarded everything!

“It’s Mo Yuan from the Primordial Demon Domain!”

“Demonic Son Mo Yuan! He actually came too!”

“What a terrifying aura. It feels even more heart-stopping than Fairy Su or Princess Zi Linger.”

Suppressed exclamations and gasps sounded from the crowd. The Primordial Demon Domain was a top-tier power on par with the Glazed Immortal Domain and the Myriad Demon Heavenly Domain. Its members acted both righteously and evilly, and its Disciples all cultivated supreme Demonic Techniques with heaven-shaking combat power. And Mo Yuan was the acknowledged Demonic Son of this generation's Primordial Demon Domain. His strength was unfathomable, and he rarely made a move, but every time he did, it was earth-shattering.

Mo Yuan’s gaze did not linger on the reverent or fearful eyes around him. Instead, it pierced through the crowd and landed precisely on Lin Fan, who had just stepped onto the square.

Their eyes met. The air seemed to freeze at this moment. There were no words, no outburst of hostility, but an invisible, mountain-heavy pressure boomed outward with the two as the center! The stone slabs on the square made slight 'crack' sounds. Some with weaker Cultivation turned pale and retreated repeatedly, unable to withstand the pressure brought by this pure clash of auras.

Lin Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly. This Mo Yuan was very strong! The pressure he gave was even a notch higher than Zi Linger using her Lifebound Divine Ability or Su Zhiqing performing 'One Sword Severs Worlds'! The Demonic Yuan contained within his body was pure and vast, carrying a complex Concept of swallowing and destruction, yet also containing a strange sliver of vitality.

Mo Yuan looked at Lin Fan, and a very faint ripple finally appeared in those cold, pool-like eyes. It was the interest of finding one of his own kind, a worthy opponent.

“Lin Fan?” Mo Yuan spoke. His voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a strange demonic power that pierced straight to the heart.

“It is I.” Lin Fan's expression was calm, his blood-qi and Soul Power circulating secretly within him, resisting the ubiquitous demonic pressure.

“Very good.” The corner of Mo Yuan’s mouth curled into an almost imperceptible arc. Instead of appearing warm, that smile added a bit more malevolence and danger. “That waste Li Hun really couldn't test your depths. Your Physical Body and your Soul are both very special.”

He paused, his gaze seemingly piercing through Lin Fan’s exterior to see the deep-seated Indestructible Origin and the Divine Soul that had just entered the Concept of Reincarnation.

“I look forward to a full-strength battle with you on the Tongtian Ancient Road.” Mo Yuan’s voice carried a hint of indisputable certainty. “I hope you don’t disappoint me.”

He didn't suggest fighting now, as if he felt that fighting in this place was an insult to opponents of their level. His goal was the broader, more unrestrained battlefield of the Ancient Road.

After speaking, Mo Yuan didn't spare Lin Fan another look, as if his only purpose in coming here was to see this recently famous opponent with his own eyes. He turned, waved his black sleeve, and his figure seemed to melt into the shadows, vanishing silently. The terrifying pressure enveloping the square also dissipated.

Long after he had left, the frozen atmosphere on the square suddenly relaxed, and even more intense discussions broke out.

“Demonic Son Mo Yuan! He actually came specifically for Lin Fan!”

“He seems to hold Lin Fan in high regard? Looking forward to fighting him on the Ancient Road?”

“My god, for even Mo Yuan to give such an evaluation, just how strong is this Lin Fan?”

Lin Fan stood where he was, watching the direction in which Mo Yuan had disappeared, his gaze deep. Mo Yuan’s strength stirred a long-lost, surging Battle Intent in his heart. An opponent of this level was the whetstone he craved!

“Primordial Demon Domain, Mo Yuan...” Lin Fan whispered the name, committing it to memory. He knew that on the Tongtian Ancient Road, there would surely be a fierce struggle between them. After this meeting, Lin Fan’s status within the top Prodigy circles of Tianjiao City rose once again. No one dared to question the strength of someone who could make Demonic Son Mo Yuan appear in person and view him as an arch-enemy.

The undercurrents were still surging, but Lin Fan’s gaze was already fixed on the grand stage that was about to open, connecting the Six Realms. There, he would engage in the most intense collisions with these true peerless Prodigies!