Chapter Five: Deadly Peril at Every Step

"Incredible! Break through the third level of the physical body!"
Lin Fan was overjoyed. His body trembled, his aura growing stronger and stronger, gradually reaching the limit of the second level. He was just one step away from entering a whole new world.
Finally, a terrifying force swept across him, shattering the bottleneck of the third level. Not only did he break through, he advanced a considerable distance within this realm.
"Middle stage of third level, strength of four and a half thousand jin!"
Lin Fan could feel his newfound power; every move he made was imbued with mountain-crushing strength.
"Where did this force come from? It’s so abrupt..."
He had no clue. The shattered stones were entirely beyond his control, none of it made sense.
"What happened to Li Hua and the others’ bodies?"
Suddenly, Lin Fan noticed the corpses were gone. The surroundings were a mess, but there was no trace of blood.
"No, their bodies couldn’t just vanish."
He immediately dismissed the thought. Bending slightly, he picked up a yellowish object from the ground.
"This is human skin?!"
An incredulous cry escaped his lips as he realized what he held was indeed human skin—the remains left by Li Hua.
"Could it be that I devoured them?"
After pondering, Lin Fan reached a conclusion: rather, it was the shattered stone that absorbed them, transforming their bodies into that surge of warmth.
"How could this be? What exactly is this stone?"
A chill crept up his spine; his body trembled. He could hardly believe it.
"Lin Fan, are you all right?"
A voice called from afar, anxious, but it made Lin Fan relax a little.
"Lan, Sister."
He forced a smile, suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
"I heard Li Hua came looking for trouble. Is everything all right?"
As expected, Lan appeared at the doorway, her eyes filled with concern.
"Li Hua? What are you talking about, Sister Lan?"
Lin Fan denied everything, a hidden force shattering the human skin by his feet.
"That’s good. Li Hua is petty and insignificant, but trouble often comes from unexpected places. Miss rarely manages affairs, so their family runs all of Cloud Bamboo Peak—small but powerful."
Lan was worried. Where people gather, disputes arise. Cloud Bamboo Peak wasn’t large, but its depths were unfathomable.
"I understand, Sister Lan. Don’t worry. I’ve been cultivating here, no one’s bothered me. See, I’ve just destroyed the courtyard again."
Lin Fan smiled, offering a seamless explanation for Lan’s doubts upon seeing the ruined yard.
"That’s normal. Many strong cultivators damage their surroundings when they practice. I won’t mention it further. I came because Miss has something important for you."
Lan nodded with a smile, not suspecting a thing.
"Oh? What is it?"
Lin Fan was puzzled; Yun Xi rarely sought him out unless it was urgent.
"Actually, it’s not that urgent. Miss originally asked me, but I’ve been busy cultivating, trying to break through the seventh level, so I had to come find you."
Lan stuck out her tongue playfully, a touch embarrassed.
Lin Fan understood. Opportunities for breakthroughs were rare; she was right to focus. He hadn’t realized Lan’s realm was so high—almost qualified for the inner sect.
"Of course. Miss and Sister Lan have shown me great kindness. For small matters, come to me anytime."
Lin Fan answered without hesitation. He was grateful to Yun Xi and would never refuse.
"Good, please take this token to Hu Xia City and hand it to Aunt Yun. She’s a friend of Miss."
Lan produced a bronze token, worn with age and engraved with patterns of flowers, birds, insects, fish, and ancient ancestors.
"What is this?"
Lin Fan examined the token, sensing its extraordinary aura.
"Miss never said. Best not to ask."
Lan shook her head. She too was confused; she’d asked Yun Xi when she first received the token, but got no explanation.
"Very well, I’ll set out at once."
Lin Fan nodded. True disciples were all mysterious, their strength beyond his imagination.
He knew Hu Xia City—tens of thousands of li from Tian Du Gate, with the Unfallen Mountains in between. The round trip would take nearly two months, and in two months, the outer disciple assessment would be held. Time was of the essence.
"Fine. Hurry back and you’ll make the assessment. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait three years."
Lan agreed, not attempting to hold Lin Fan back.
After preparing everything, Lin Fan left Cloud Bamboo Peak, while Lan returned to the summit where she and Yun Xi lived.
…
"What? Hua’er still hasn’t returned?"
In a courtyard on Cloud Bamboo Peak, an old man sat in a grand chair, a middle-aged man in black robes standing beside him.
"Yes, Master. Young Master Hua has not reappeared. He vanished from Lin Fan’s residence; unless something unexpected happened, he has already perished."
The middle-aged man’s expression was blank, as if he were a corpse, his aura thick with hostility.
"Impossible! Hua’er and his four companions—all at the third level—went to deal with a second-level servant. How could they fail? I refuse to believe it."
The old man stood, eyes narrowed like a venomous snake ready to strike.
"I didn’t see what happened, but Lan appeared afterward."
The middle-aged man continued, without embellishment.
"Fine. I know you wouldn’t speak without cause. If my grandson was killed by that wretch Lan, then she has no reason to live. Even Yun Xi can’t protect her."
The old man’s voice grew colder, knowing Li Hua was surely dead, yet his expression didn’t change at all—utterly cold-blooded.
"Dare to block my path to the Meridian Condensing Realm? Follow Lin Fan. If the opportunity arises, kill him. As for Lan, leave her to me. I wonder what benefits such a furnace can offer."
The old man spoke icily, his aura erupting like a volcano. He had already reached the ninth level of the physical body—a step away from the true disciples’ cultivation, the Meridian Condensing Realm!
…
"Young Master Cheng, Lin Fan has left Cloud Bamboo Peak. Should we strike now?"
In a courtyard for outer disciples, several figures knelt, addressing two men seated above with respect.
"Ye Feng, have you confirmed this?"
One man spoke—it was Cheng Yu.
"Yes, Young Master. There’s no mistake. Lin Fan has descended the mountain, heading toward the Unfallen Mountains."
The kneeling men raised their heads—those who had beaten Lin Fan before, with Ye Feng as their leader.
"Good. But we cannot act within Tian Du Gate, or it would disgrace Yun Xi. Senior Brother Feng, I’ll trouble you to lead these men and bring me Lin Fan’s head."
Cheng Yu rejected immediate action, clasping his hands to the youth beside him, intending to use his help.
"A trivial matter, nothing more than lifting a finger. I’ll bring you his life."
Senior Brother Feng forced a smile, his sinister face resembling a corpse, sending chills down their spines.