4: Ancient rifts, stars as towers

The entrance to the Meteor Star Ancient Domain was located in a desolate valley deep within the Lin Family Ancestral Land. It wasn't a gate, but a distorted, constantly rotating chaotic light screen. Behind the screen, fragmented mountains, rivers, and dim star phantoms were vaguely visible, emitting a desolate and dangerous aura.

Dozens of young Lin Family disciples who had qualified gathered here, the atmosphere solemn and heavy. Most of these disciples' cultivations ranged from the Early Stage to the Late Stage of the Spiritual Sea Realm; they were the future backbone of the Lin Family.

Lin Fan's arrival instantly drew everyone's gaze. Those looks were incredibly complex, containing awe, curiosity, scrutiny, as well as fleeting jealousy and deeply hidden malice. The news of him crippling Lin Hong had long since spread; now, no one dared to view him as that useless Godchild who could be bullied at will.

Lin Fan ignored this. Standing alone at the edge of the crowd, he silently activated his Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, scanning the chaotic light screen and the surrounding disciples. In his vision, the light screen was composed of countless minute spatial runes and chaotic energy flows, making it extremely unstable. As for the disciples, the strength of their Spiritual Qi, their elemental leanings, and even the faint, intermittent waves of hostility directed at him from certain individuals were all as clear as the lines on his palm.

“Hmph, stop acting so aloof.” A faint, cold snort reached Lin Fan's ears, coming from a sinister-looking youth standing among several disciples. This person was named Lin Sha, a Late Stage Spiritual Sea Realm Cultivator. He was another sharp blade planted by the Grand Elder's lineage among the younger generation, and his methods were even more ruthless than Lin Hong's. Under the vision of the Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, Lin Fan could “see” the spiritual power circulating within him carried an obscure Blood Baleful Qi; he had clearly cultivated some sort of wicked Cultivation Technique.

Lin Fan only gave him a casual glance before withdrawing his gaze. A mere clown, not worth worrying about.

“The Ancient Domain is open for one month! Life and death are up to fate, and all gains belong to the individual! Now, enter the Domain!” The booming voice of a Clan Elder guarding the entrance announced the start.

In an instant, figures took to the air, shooting into the chaotic light screen like arrows released from a bow. Ripples fluctuated, and they vanished.

Lin Fan was in no hurry. He waited until most people had entered before unhurriedly stepping forward, his figure disappearing into the light screen.

A strong sensation of spatial tearing washed over him. Had it been his former self, he would likely have needed to circulate his spiritual power with all his might to resist it. But now, the Eternal Indestructible Body vibrated slightly. The spatial turbulence, which was enough to tear apart an ordinary Spiritual Sea Realm Cultivator, felt like a gentle breeze passing over him, failing to even lift the corner of his clothes.

The scene before his eyes changed abruptly.

The sky was a dull leaden gray, with no sun or moon, only several massive and broken star phantoms hanging there, casting a dismal glow. The land was desolate; on the cracked black soil lay scattered countless enormous skeletons shimmering with metallic or crystalline luster, along with fragments of broken weapons. The air was thick with intense Evil Qi, Death Qi, and a violent star energy, while Spiritual Qi was instead sparse and chaotic.

“What a perfect ancient battlefield.” Lin Fan took a deep breath. As the mixed energies flooded into his body, they were easily refined and purified by the Eternal Indestructible Body, turning into pure spiritual power that merged into his Spiritual Sea. The efficiency was even a notch higher than absorbing pure Spiritual Qi in the outside world. This Physique was practically made for such desperate lands.

He didn't immediately rush toward the mountains or ruins visible in the distance that might contain opportunities like the others did. Instead, he closed his eyes and sank his mind into the System.

【“System, sign in at the Meteor Star Ancient Domain.”】

【Ding! Sign-in location detected—Meteor Star Ancient Domain (contains fragmented Star Origins, ancient war soul wills, and thin extra-territorial Laws). Special sign-in conditions met. Sign-in successful!】

【Congratulations to the host for obtaining: star pagoda!】

Boom! Lin Fan felt his Sea of Consciousness shake as a miniature nine-layered star pagoda appeared out of thin air, hovering above his Divine Soul. The small pagoda was dark gold all over, its body covered in profound and mysterious star patterns, as if it had condensed a boundless starry sky within it. It rotated slightly, emitting an ancient, heavy, and majestic aura that seemed to suppress the heavens.

At the same time, information regarding the star pagoda flooded into Lin Fan's mind.

【star pagoda: A growth-type Origin Treasure. It contains nine layers of Star Domains and can absorb star power, suppress and Seal all things, protect the Divine Soul, and evolve into a starry sky world. Current status: Initial unsealing (First Layer).】

【Abilities:】

1. Suppress and Kill: Can be enlarged to suppress enemies; power increases with the host's strength and the number of unlocked layers.

2. Imprisonment: Contains its own internal space to imprison enemies.

3. Star Domain: Releases the star power within the pagoda to form a Domain, weakening enemies and buffing oneself.

4. Storage: The internal space can store both living and non-living things.】

“What a treasure!” Lin Fan was pleasantly surprised. This star pagoda integrated offense and defense, and could even assist in cultivation and storage. Its functions were comprehensive and its potential was limitless; it was exactly the Sharp Weapon he currently needed!

With a thought, he attempted to probe the first layer of the pagoda with a strand of Divine Sense. The scene changed again; he felt as if he were standing under a miniature starry sky, surrounded by scattered stars. Although the area wasn't large, the Spiritual Qi was several times denser and purer than outside. In the center, there was even a small pool of spiritual liquid condensed from star power.

“This place is perfect for cultivation and recovery.” Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction and exited the star pagoda's space.

Having obtained the core reward, one of his primary goals for this trip was achieved. Next was to explore this Ancient Domain, meet the “surprises” arranged by the Grand Elder, and collect some resources rarely seen in the outside world.

He chose a direction where the Evil Qi was most concentrated and the skeletons were largest, and began to walk forward. His Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils were active at all times, perceiving the surrounding environment.

Before he had gone far, a sudden burst of intense spiritual power fluctuations and roars came from behind a mountain of bones piled high with countless massive beast skeletons.

Lin Fan paused, silently leaping onto a massive rib bone to look down.

In the hollow below the bone mountain, three Lin Family disciples were back-to-back, struggling to hold their ground. They were surrounded by seven or eight massive monsters shaped like jackals, but their bodies were covered in black bone armor, and ghostly blue soul fires burned in their eye sockets.

“It's Baleful Soul Beasts! They're formed from the Evil Qi and remnant souls of the ancient battlefield. Their physical defense is extremely high, and they can even attack the Divine Soul!” one disciple shouted in terror. The longsword in his hand struck the bone armor of a Baleful Soul Beast, only producing a shower of sparks.

Each of these Baleful Soul Beasts had the strength of the Middle Stage Spiritual Sea Realm, and they were fearless and coordinated well. Of the three disciples, two were at the Middle Stage of the Spiritual Sea Realm and one was at the Early Stage. At this moment, they were in grave danger; one's shoulder had already been gouged with a wound deep enough to see the bone, from which black, foul blood flowed.

“Brother Lin Xuan, what should we do? We won't last much longer!” The wounded disciple's face was pale.

The youth called Lin Xuan was the highest-cultivated among the three, at the Late Stage of the Spiritual Sea Realm. His expression was grave, and his sword technique was sharp, forcing back the pouncing Baleful Soul Beasts each time, but he was also pinned down and unable to escape.

“Hold on! Look for a chance to break through!” Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. Suddenly, he spotted the figure standing still on the bone mountain.

“It's the Godchild!” A light of hope instantly erupted in his eyes. “Godchild! Please, lend us your aid!”

The other two also saw Lin Fan. Like drowning men clutching at a straw, they all began to cry out.

Lin Fan watched the battle below with a calm gaze. He knew of this Lin Xuan; he belonged to the clan's neutral faction. His grandfather was a leisurely Elder who didn't involve himself in affairs. He hadn't bullied the original host in the past, but he hadn't offered any help either.

He didn't want to meddle in others' business, but his Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils keenly captured the will to live and the faint glimmer of trust in their fellow clansman that radiated from those disciples as they cried out in despair.

“Very well,” Lin Fan said indifferently. He just happened to want to test the power of the star pagoda.

With a thought, the miniature star pagoda in his Sea of Consciousness brightened slightly.

The next moment, a foot-high phantom of a dark gold star pagoda appeared out of thin air above the hollow, spinning rapidly. The star patterns on its body suddenly lit up, and a pressure as heavy as a mountain came crashing down!

“ Buzz!” Under this pressure, the movements of those ferocious Baleful Soul Beasts instantly became sluggish. The soul fires in their eye sockets flickered violently, revealing an instinctive fear. Their hard bone armor let out a creaking groan, as if unable to bear the weight.

“Suppress.” Lin Fan uttered softly.

The star pagoda phantom in the air suddenly expanded. Although its true form hadn't fully manifested, it was already like a small mountain pressing down!

“ Boom!!” The ground shook violently, and dust rose everywhere. When the dust cleared, the seven or eight Baleful Soul Beasts had vanished without a trace, leaving only several deep pits in their place, along with a few wisps of dissipating black Evil Qi. They had actually been crushed directly into powder by the star pagoda's phantom!

The three disciples stared at this scene, dumbfounded, as if they had been turned to stone. The pack of Baleful Soul Beasts they had struggled against had actually been insta-killed by a phantom of a star pagoda summoned casually by the Godchild?!

Just what kind of terrifying strength was this?! What kind of miraculous treasure?!

Lin Fan's figure flickered as he drifted down from the bone mountain, landing before them. With a wave of his hand, the star pagoda phantom shrank, flew back into his palm, and merged into his body.

“Thank you for saving our lives, Godchild!” Lin Xuan was the first to react, hurriedly bowing in gratitude and awe. The other two followed suit, looking at Lin Fan as if they were looking at a deity.

“It was nothing,” Lin Fan waved his hand, his gaze falling on the wounded disciple's shoulder. The black Evil Qi at the wound was eroding his flesh and Meridians. “Evil Qi has entered your body. If not treated in time, it will damage your Foundation.”

He extended a finger and pointed from a distance. A wisp of pale gold blood vitality seeped from his fingertip, shining on the wound like warm sunlight.

“ hiss” The stubborn black Evil Qi was like snow meeting boiling water, quickly melting and dissolving. The flesh at the wound began to heal and scab over at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“This...” The wounded disciple felt the warm and majestic vitality within his body, as well as the instantly dispelled cold Evil Qi, and was too excited to speak.

Lin Xuan and the others were even more shocked. Not only was his strength overwhelming and his treasure amazing, but even healing and dispelling evil were so effortless! Just what kind of Heaven-Defying fortune had this Godchild obtained?

“The Evil Qi here is dense; it's not suitable to stay for long. You should leave as soon as possible,” Lin Fan said. He didn't linger and turned to leave.

“Godchild!” Lin Xuan suddenly spoke up, his expression sincere. “Our strength is low, and we fear we can achieve little in this Ancient Domain. If the Godchild does not mind, we are willing to follow you and be at your disposal!”

The other two also nodded hurriedly, their eyes fervent. Having witnessed Lin Fan's methods, they knew very well that following such a powerhouse was much safer than wandering aimlessly on their own, and they might even gain unexpected opportunities.

Lin Fan paused and looked back at them. Under his Delusion-Breaking Divine Pupils, he could see their current sincerity.

“You can follow me,” Lin Fan said indifferently, “but remember: follow orders strictly. If there is any betrayal, you will face the consequences.”

“Yes! We shall obey the Godchild's orders!” the three replied in unison, feeling both surprised and joyful.

Lin Fan nodded, giving his tacit consent. Having a few people to handle chores and gather information would save him quite a bit of trouble.

He looked up toward the deeper, darker parts of the Ancient Domain, where the Evil Qi was almost tangible and even more powerful auras were faintly lurking.

“Let's go. The real ‘surprise’ should be waiting for us up ahead.”

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly with a cold hint of anticipation as he took the lead. Lin Xuan and the others didn't dare to be slow and immediately followed close behind.

Under the dark sky, the broken stars cast mottled shadows, stretching the figures of the four very long. The killing intent of the Ancient Domain had only just begun to show its fangs.