Chapter Eight: Schemes

The Boundless Mountains covered a vast expanse, ancient trees towering into the sky, savage beasts roaming unchecked. To find a single Ghostfiend Flower in such a perilous place would be no simple task. That was why Lin Fan chose to track these men; otherwise, with his temperament, he would have long since leapt out and slaughtered them all.

After more than an hour had passed, Li Feng and his three companions finally came to a halt, which surprised Lin Fan, who was watching from afar.

“Could the Ghostfiend Flower be here? But there’s nothing in sight. Or did they deliberately lure me to this spot?” Lin Fan frowned, sensing that something wasn’t right.

“Since you’ve followed us all this way, aren’t you going to show yourself? Did you really think we were about to lead you to the Ghostfiend Flower?” Li Feng suddenly turned, a cold smile on his lips. His aura surged—it was already at the sixth level of Body Tempering.

“You really take us for fools. Did you think we were unaware of your battle with the Mamba Serpent? We even saw you devour the serpent’s flesh and blood. Yet some people are still so arrogant. As for why we brought you here, you should have figured it out by now,” said Lin Zi, grinning slyly like a fox. His strength was second only to Li Feng’s, but his cunning surpassed all.

These men had earned Cheng Yu’s trust for a reason. They were not the simple lackeys Lin Fan had once thought them to be.

“I thought you were the fools, but it turns out I was,” Lin Fan murmured from his hiding place. Since he had been discovered, there was no need for further disguise—he might as well act openly.

“So it’s you! You had a way to heaven but refused to go, and instead barged into hell’s door. Looks like we’ll be the ones taking the credit this time—ha ha ha!” Xiao Liu burst out laughing, having recognized Lin Fan as the one they’d been searching for.

“I truly underestimated you all,” Lin Fan admitted, a sense of loss washing over him. This setback felt as though he had gone to hunt weak prey, only to realize too late that he was the one being hunted. It was like a bone stuck in his throat—hard to accept.

“You overestimated yourself. Still, your strength is impressive. To have slain the Mamba Serpent, which is as strong as a sixth-level Body Temperer, is no small feat. No wonder you became arrogant—like a country bumpkin who comes into a fortune and thinks himself richer than the world’s wealthiest, not realizing even the servants of the true rich outstrip him,” Li Feng sneered, his words meant to cut Lin Fan to the core and render him worthless.

“Yes, I was arrogant. From now on, I’ll be more cautious in my actions. But as for you, you’re all going to die,” Lin Fan nodded, openly admitting his mistake. The progress he’d made recently had indeed made him overconfident, and it was time for reflection.

“Ha! And do you know why we brought you here?” San Zi chimed in, his eyes mocking.

Lin Fan paused, then the truth dawned on him.

“So that’s it. I really knew too little about you all. In my mind, you were just lackeys, but now I see that not only are you not mere servants, you are formidable figures—rare even among the many outer disciples. You deliberately made me think you’d fallen out with Feng Wanchun, lessening my wariness, then used my confidence in crushing you to lure me here. Even the Ghostfiend Flower was a lie—a chain of traps drawing me into your plot. Feng Wanchun must be on his way here by now.”

Though it was hard to believe, Lin Fan felt this was the only possible answer.

“Brilliant deduction, but you realized too late. And you miscalculated one thing: the Ghostfiend Flower does exist, but we received news of its location long ago. Senior Cheng’s elders already know where it grows in the Boundless Mountains. That’s also Senior Feng’s true purpose for coming here. Killing you is effortless for him,” Li Feng said easily, convinced of victory, withholding nothing from Lin Fan.

“Then why are you still stalling for time?” Lin Fan suddenly smiled, his aura shifting in an instant from a lamb to the slaughter to a fierce and predatory hunter.

“What?!” The smiles froze on Li Feng and his companions’ faces—they had not expected Lin Fan to say that.

“So you noticed after all. Based on our calculations, Senior Feng should arrive in about fifteen minutes. Yes, stalling for time is one of our minor goals. Don’t get any wild ideas—we never fight unprepared,” Li Feng replied, recovering quickly, not taking Lin Fan seriously.

“I see. You want the secret I carry, don’t you?”

Confidence radiated from Lin Fan now, a faint smile on his lips as though he saw through everything.

“You want the secret of how I devour the flesh and blood of savage beasts, and you want the credit for killing me. Two birds with one stone—a meticulous plan, I admit. But for all your scheming, you overlooked one thing: my strength. The only reason I can face you calmly after uncovering your secrets is because none of you have the ability to resist me,” Lin Fan sneered. His aura erupted; he was a hungry wolf, killing intent unleashed.

“Ha! You really are too arrogant. You’ve made so much progress you’ve forgotten who you are. Just because you slew a Mamba Serpent as strong as a sixth-level Body Temperer, you think you can act so brazenly? Our brother Feng alone could kill you,” Xiao Liu proclaimed, supremely confident. All his prior caution in the Boundless Mountains had been an act; this cruel side was his true nature.

“That’s enough. Not only will you die here, but Feng Wanchun and Cheng Yu will die as well. You say I overestimate myself, but haven’t you all done the same? It looks like another opportunity for breakthrough is right in front of me,” Lin Fan said, advancing steadily. His aura soared to its peak, the force of 6,800 jin condensed within him, like a monstrous beast in human form, ready to suppress all around.

“Arrogant fool! Attack together—if we kill him before Senior Feng arrives, all the credit will be ours, and every secret this servant boy carries will belong to us,” Li Feng shouted. Cautious to the end, he would not take risks alone, even with his sixth-level Body Tempering.

“Fine. Let’s kill this insolent brat together. To boast in front of us—he must be tired of living,” the others echoed. As their auras flared, wild winds howled, and the ancient trees nearby snapped and were hurled aside by the force.

“If I kill you all, I’ll break through to the next realm. Then not even Feng Wanchun will be a match for me. Cheng Yu’s Ghostfiend Flower will be mine. All your scheming will come to nothing and serve only to further my own ends. So, you’d better die,” Lin Fan shouted, attacking with a roar. Behind him, the phantom of a giant white tiger appeared, raising its head to the heavens in a ferocious roar. He opened with his deadliest technique—White Tiger Devours the Corpse—a terrifying force sweeping all before him.

By devouring the power of these men, Lin Fan would immediately reach the fourth level of Body Tempering, his strength soaring past 8,000 jin. Then, whether it was swallowing clouds and rivers or slaying the so-called ten great outer disciples, it would be a task as effortless as lifting a hand.