Chapter Sixteen: Slaying

"I never doubted you before, not once. I even thought of you as my dear sister. Yet I never imagined you would treat me like this. What exactly is this token? It must be something you stole from Senior Sister Yunxi." Lin Fan drew forth the token, its once ancient bronze hue now glaringly harsh to his eyes.

"So, my identity has been exposed. There's no point in hiding it from you any longer."

A radiance flashed, and a familiar face appeared before Lin Fan—it was Lan. But the gentleness she once exuded was gone; her gaze now was as sharp as a blade, cold and merciless.

"You shouldn't have been so clever. Otherwise, perhaps you could have kept your whole body intact."

Her voice was icy, her murderous intent unmasked.

"Aren't you curious how I saw through your disguise?"

Lin Fan shook his head. He'd already discerned that Lan's strength was at the eighth level of Mortal Flesh, and the woman in martial attire was also an eighth-level expert.

"Oh? I'm curious to hear your reasoning," the woman in martial attire sneered, speaking up instead. Clearly, Lan was no mere maid—they shared the same identity.

"I sensed something was wrong before. Senior Sister Yunxi is a true core disciple, a formidable figure wherever she goes—even in Hu City, she would be unmatched. With her personality, if she were to give someone a token, she would do it herself. That's just who she is," Lin Fan spoke calmly, as if oblivious to any danger.

"When Sister Lan asked me to deliver the token, I suspected that perhaps Senior Sister Yunxi was unaware of the matter. Still, it was only a suspicion, since Sister Lan was Yunxi's personal maid and privy to much that others wouldn't know. But when you came to find me, I realized Sister Lan must be here." Lin Fan pointed at the woman in martial attire and continued.

"In Tiandu Sect, I'm a nobody—why would anyone be so familiar with me? Given the secrecy of this mission, only someone like Sister Lan would know. And when I shattered her aura earlier, I sensed a familiar presence. That's how I deduced it. And as it turns out, I was right."

As his words faded, applause echoed across the hall.

The woman in martial attire nodded and said, "Brilliant deduction. We did consider this possibility, but paid it no mind. Unfortunately for you, your scheming is useless. Hand over the token and kneel to accept your death!"

With her intent to kill revealed, she struck immediately. Her strength was formidable; even among eighth-level practitioners, she was no weakling. In Tiandu Sect, she would have been a top inner disciple.

"Too bad you still haven't seen through it. Even if your strength doubled, what could you do? I've already comprehended the Dao—get lost!"

Suddenly, Lin Fan erupted with power, his furious roar shaking the heavens. He seemed a god awakened, domineering and unrestrained.

"Suppress!"

He unleashed a giant Kunpeng—a secret technique once belonging to Feng Wanchun, now mastered by Lin Fan. In the legends, the Kunpeng of the Northern Sea could soar across three thousand worlds, invincible and unmatched.

Though Lin Fan's strength was limited, he could already reveal a hint of the Kunpeng's divine might.

The great hall trembled, nearly collapsing; the massive Kunpeng shrieked, overwhelming all in its path.

The woman in martial attire's face paled; she spat blood and was sent flying, her body nearly shattered by that fearsome blow.

"Your strength—!" Lan's face was stricken with terror. She had only just reached the eighth level of Mortal Flesh, weaker even than her companion. Now, she dared not make a single move.

"Sister Lan, you miscalculated. Tell me the origin of this token, and I might spare your life."

Any gratitude Lin Fan once held for Lan had vanished. He stood with hands clasped behind his back, like a divine monarch surveying the mortal realm, his gaze imperious.

"I cannot say," Lan replied, shaking her head in bitter anguish. Though she could muster a formidable presence with certain means, once engaged in true combat her weaknesses were laid bare. In the face of Lin Fan's overwhelming might, she stood no chance.

"If you won't tell me, I won't force you. When I return to Tiandu Sect, I'll ask Senior Sister Yunxi. All will become clear," Lin Fan said. He didn't press further, but he wasn't about to abandon the secret hidden within the token either—not yet knowing if Yunxi herself was involved.

"Lin Fan, you should hand over the token. It's entangled with too many secrets, far beyond your ability to control. Even Yunxi is powerless before it. All I can tell you is this: the token is stained with demon blood, and only a demon can wield it."

As she spoke, Lan suddenly attacked. A dazzling radiance shot out, striking straight at Lin Fan.

A thunderous explosion rocked the hall. Lin Fan was struck, engulfed in brilliant light.

"It's done!"

Lan and the woman in martial attire exchanged glances, both seeing delight in each other's eyes. But their relief soon turned to horror.

A figure emerged slowly from the fading glow—Lin Fan, his face cold and untouched by harm.

"Unrepentant. Consider that last blow my repayment for your previous care. Today, I will show no mercy."

All thought of sparing Lan was gone. Seven stars revolved behind Lin Fan as he erupted in power, intent on slaughtering the pair as swiftly as possible.

"I am not one to repay kindness with enmity. If others treat me well, I will return it tenfold. But if you try to use me, I have no patience—few can withstand my wrath."

With a long cry, Lin Fan clenched his fist, his steps as forceful as a dragon's, his stride as fierce as a tiger's. Thirty-six thousand catties of strength exploded forth—he held nothing back.

Lan spat blood, her white garments stained crimson. She had only just stepped into the eighth level of Mortal Flesh, her strength a mere fifteen thousand catties—how could she hope to face Lin Fan?

The woman in martial attire was in even worse shape. Already wounded, she couldn't withstand even a single blow from the unleashed Lin Fan.

After a few exchanges, a massive hand came down, crushing the woman's skull into a bloody ruin—grisly and brutal.

Lin Fan's face was impassive, showing no trace of pity. He struck again, unleashing the Kunpeng secret art at Lan.

Staggering back, Lan's body was nearly shattered.

Lin Fan showed no mercy for old ties. Had his strength not increased, he would already have been slain by these two venomous women. He didn't hesitate.

"Sister Lan," Lin Fan called, flicking a finger toward Lan's brow—the killing move, giving her no chance to resist.

Despair filled her eyes. Knowing she could not withstand him, Lan gave up. Her lips parted, as though to impart some final message.

Lin Fan noticed, but it was too late to stop. His finger pierced Lan's brow, ending her life.

A powerful force of devouring spread forth, consuming the bodies of both women. Lin Fan's strength surged once again. Fifteen minutes later, with a resounding crack, Lin Fan's entire body trembled—his aura had reached the sixth level of Mortal Flesh!