Chapter Seventy-Three: Taking Action

“You can’t possibly be my match, not even with the blood of the demon race,” Yi Yuan sneered coldly, his palm striking out. His entire being seemed to ascend to a higher state, the terrifying power of the Sixth Heaven of the Vein-Condensing Realm on full display—earth and sky trembled, and the waters of Star-Moon Lake nearly evaporated under his might.

With a thunderous crash, Yi Xiaoxian was forced back, blood at the corner of her mouth. Yet she was undaunted and struck again—an immense sea of blood descended, resplendent with radiant light, ancient trees splintering beneath its force.

But the gulf between the Second and Sixth Heavens of the Vein-Condensing Realm was simply too great. Even with the boost of her bloodline, she could not cross that chasm. In short order, Yi Xiaoxian was grievously wounded, her face ashen.

“What terrifying power—Sixth Heaven of Vein-Condensing, strength as heavy as a thousand jun. I am no match at all,” thought Lin Fan from his concealed position deep within the lush forest. He had decided his strategy from the very beginning: attack by surprise.

Lin Fan’s expression was grave. Yi Xiaoxian could still hold on for now, but defeat was only a matter of time. The key lay with him—if he could rescue Yi Xiaonu, making a safe retreat would not be difficult.

“Those burly men seem to be around the Third or Fourth Heaven of Vein-Condensing. If I strike by surprise, I can kill one instantly, maybe even two,” Lin Fan calculated as he crept forward, his heart as still as water, calm to the extreme—unmoved by heaven or earth’s collapse.

“Kill them!” Yi Yuan thundered. His body shuddered as a terrifying divine light descended from the sky. He summoned his Divine Manifestation—a colossal beast coiled in the heavens, one claw descending mercilessly.

“A Taotie! So your Divine Manifestation is this beast. No wonder you’re so ruthless,” Yi Xiaoxian’s expression changed as she recognized the monster—a legendary epic fiend, the Taotie.

“The weak are prey to the strong. The demon race has vanished, and those that remain are no better than rats on the street. Ruthless? There is no such thing. If my family doesn’t kill you, others will. In this world, only strength commands respect,” Yi Yuan replied, his expression unchanging, his will as solid as stone. Divine runes poured from his body, blotting out the sky.

“Get out of my way!” Yi Xiaoxian roared. Divine radiance blazed from her eyes, twin rivers of blood arcing across the sky, sundering the heavens.

A nine-tailed fox emerged, its massive form soaring upward, charging straight at the Taotie.

The fox’s roar shook the world. Its power erupted, dazzling treasure-light radiating from its body, mysterious symbols flashing—unyielding in the face of its foe.

“So, it’s the bloodline of the Nine-Tailed Fox. How unfortunate—your ancestor fell to the Taotie in ancient times, and even after all these ages, nothing has changed. Be suppressed!” Yi Yuan bellowed. The two colossal beasts clashed, their mighty light swallowing the heavens.

Yi Yuan appeared, his massive foot stomping down with irresistible force, sending Yi Xiaoxian flying, blood arcing through the air.

“Now!” At that instant, Lin Fan struck. He became a bolt of lightning, his fist thundering out, a wave of terrifying power surging ahead, crushing everything in its path.

A scream was cut short as the nearest brute to Yi Xiaonu was torn apart, his body exploding into fragments—dead beyond doubt.

“And you,” Lin Fan turned, his fist smashing down with the strength of a hundred jun, unstoppable in its ferocity.

“Who are you?” the other brute roared, hair bristling in fury as his Vein-Condensing Third Heaven power burst forth.

But it was futile—fifty or sixty jun was nothing to Lin Fan. After the explosive impact, not even bones remained of the man, pulverized to dust.

“So there was a little ant hiding here. Do you understand what you’re doing?” Yi Yuan snorted coldly, his gaze icy, divine light gleaming in his eyes—a killing intent sharp as a blade.

“I don’t care who you are. I know what I must do. And if anyone deserves to be called a monster, it’s you,” Lin Fan replied, cradling Yi Xiaonu as he crushed nearly a hundred Yin-Yang Pills, sending surging power into her body to preserve her last breath of life.

“In the Ancient Buddhist Domain, the Yi Family reigns supreme—even disciples of the Buddhist sect treat us with respect. Who do you think you are to speak to me like this?”

Yi Yuan raised his hand, chopping down. The air howled, shattering beneath his blow, a beam of light overturning the sky.

“Yi Family reigns supreme? I doubt it. If you ever saw the Buddhist disciples, you’d tuck your tail between your legs. And as for status, the Yi Family doesn’t even rank high in the Posa Commandery’s Ancient Buddhist Domain. You’re barely a minor clan,” Lin Fan retorted, his eyes flashing as he swiftly evaded the attack. The massive light beam struck the earth, carving a hundred-zhang-long chasm.

“So you’re from another domain. Speak—perhaps there’s some connection between us,” Yi Yuan frowned, measuring Lin Fan with a wary gaze.

It was true that the great clans and sects of the larger domains sometimes sent heirs to train in distant lands—some were indeed terrifying figures. Lin Fan was not wrong; to such people, the Yi Family was insignificant.

“Hmph, who I am is none of your concern. Our domains are separated by endless distance. But not long ago, I did encounter one of your domain’s Buddhist Lords. In fact, my journey from the Heavenly Martial Domain was meant to pay my respects to him,” Lin Fan bluffed, flying the banner of the Heavenly Capital Sect. In his eyes, the Yi Family was but a minor force, barely on par with one of the Eight Noble Clans of the Heavenly Capital. Their claim to supremacy was only valid within a religious backwater like the Ancient Buddhist Domain.

“Oh? A young elite from the Heavenly Martial Domain? What brings you here?” Yi Yuan’s face was unreadable. He could not know if the Buddhist Lord had traveled abroad, nor could he tell if Lin Fan was bluffing.

“I have long admired the Buddhist Lord and came here specifically to seek some of the sect’s secret arts. Otherwise, why would I cross three or four domains to reach this place?” Lin Fan sneered. His current strength rivaled the true disciples of the Heavenly Capital Sect; in terms of status, he was far superior to Yi Yuan. Yet Yi Yuan’s prowess was formidable—even the top thirty true disciples of the Heavenly Capital would not take him lightly.

“I cannot discern the truth behind your words, but I sense no falsehood. Still, it is futile—you cannot save this demon race child. I advise you not to interfere. If you stand down, the Yi Family will treat you as an honored guest,” Yi Yuan replied, his tone still forceful, yet with some of his wariness eased.

“And if I insist on intervening?” Lin Fan’s manner grew assertive, suiting the role he was pretending to play. His eyes narrowed, a flicker of killing intent flashing within them.