Chapter 86: The Spear of Judgment

“Lin Fan! Stop talking nonsense, this is not the time for bravado!” Yi Xiaoxian’s voice rang out, full of anxiety and even a hint of reprimand.

If Lin Fan were to stay here alone, the outcome was all too clear: he would be devoured by the swarm of blood bats, not a trace left behind.

“What are you doing?” Yi Xiaoxian sent a message, her tone both angry and worried. She had already ascended to the Fourth Heaven of the Meridian Condensation Realm, and with her extraordinary bloodline, she could easily handle these ordinary blood bats as long as their king did not appear. Few present could be her match.

“Miss Xiaoxian, don’t worry. I have my own plans. These blood bats can’t stop me. We’ve only just entered Mount Wangwu, and we need to maintain peak fighting condition. We can’t afford any more deaths, or disaster awaits us.”

Lin Fan spoke with calm conviction, his hands moving swiftly as beams of divine light shot from his fingers, filling the air with blood mist.

“Brother Lin, your righteousness is admirable. I thank you!” Lord of Falling Petals gave Lin Fan a deep look, quickly composed himself, and, wielding his sword, carved a bloody path forward.

The old blacksmith and the others also bowed respectfully before dashing away into the distance. Soon, only Lin Fan remained. Yi Xiaoxian, after a final warning to be careful, left as well.

“At last, I can truly test my strength,” Lin Fan murmured to himself, a black spear appearing in his hand, shimmering with a ghostly light.

“Kill!” he roared, his voice shaking the heavens. He swung the spear, unleashing unprecedented might. His aura erupted like a volcano, surging skyward as he soared into the midst of the blood bat swarm.

Explosions rang out, suffocating and fierce. The spear struck like a collapsing mountain, shattering thousands of blood bats, leaving no remains behind.

Lin Fan’s gaze was icy, regarding all with utter contempt. Divine light radiated from his entire being, as if reborn through victory; every movement brimmed with overwhelming power and sovereign dominance.

“Courting death, are you!” A sharp voice pierced the air—the blood bat king struck again, this time in a rage.

Its claws, like steel, tore through the air, rending the void itself with a violent rip.

“I’ve been waiting for you!” Lin Fan moved with blinding speed, a cold smile on his lips. He had foreseen it all; the blood bat king’s ambush failed.

For the first time, the black spear gleamed brilliantly, radiating a vast and mighty aura.

A dragon’s roar followed, deafening, as if the black spear had come alive, burning hot and emanating a terrifying force.

“So you have awakened after all!” Lin Fan exclaimed with delight. He had been testing the spear’s spirit, and now it was certain.

“You are clever indeed,” a grand voice echoed in Lin Fan’s mind. Now that it had been discovered, the spirit within the black spear no longer hid itself, speaking for the first time.

“It was quite simple. When I saw the ancient golden roc’s feather, I sensed a reaction from the spear. At first, I thought it was my imagination, but after breaking through to the Meridian Condensation Realm, I was almost sure. That’s why I risked using outside forces to test your presence.”

Lin Fan remained calm and confident, having seen through everything. He already knew the spirit within the black spear had helped him reach the Meridian Condensation Realm.

“What a cunning mind! I never imagined someone like you could still exist in this era.” The black spear trembled, humming as it fully awakened, acting autonomously against the enemy. It soared skyward, blazing with dazzling light like a river of stars descending from the heavens, pinning the blood bat king to the ground.

“In ancient times, I was named the Spear of Judgment, slayer of all evils, judge of mortals, bearer of light. The blood bats are spawn of hell, their clan must be eradicated.”

The black spear shivered as it spoke, endless runes bursting from its surface, each containing terrible power. In but a moment, every blood bat was annihilated.

“The Spear of Judgment? What a fearsome name. I sense overwhelming righteousness,” Lin Fan murmured, slowly descending to the ground once more.

He had barely needed to act in the battle, yet had witnessed the majesty of an ancient power up close. He was certain that such strength was but a fraction of the spear’s true might.

“Don’t get any ideas. For certain reasons, I won’t intervene again. If I do, disaster will follow—no power, not even the gods, could save you.”

The black spear flew back, once again standing before Lin Fan.

“What do you mean? You can’t help again? Are you wary of something?” Lin Fan frowned, perplexed. In his eyes, the Spear of Judgment was a peerless force, unchallenged and unrestrained. Yet, from its own words, it was clear this was not so.

“Of course there are concerns. In fact, I am not alone—many powerful beings are like me, waiting for an impossible possibility. My master is the same. He has waited since ancient times.”

The spirit of the spear did not reveal itself to Lin Fan, still speaking only through its form, appearing as nothing more than an ordinary spear.

“You all? I want to know what you mean. And what secrets does the Great Jin Empire hide? What exactly is the Fallen Immortal?”

Lin Fan was bewildered—he felt he had stumbled across too many secrets. Though they seemed distant, he had an unshakable feeling they were intimately connected to him.

“From the beginning, it has all been fated. We believe in karma. When the time comes, you will understand everything.”

The Spear of Judgment did not answer, perhaps because these secrets were tied to certain taboos. To Lin Fan’s questions, it offered only four words: ‘No comment.’

“Karma? I don’t believe in that. In this world, only the Buddhist sects care about such things.”

Lin Fan shook his head, unconvinced by the spear’s words. In his view, karma was merely Buddhist propaganda, used to convert followers and expand their influence—nothing more.

“You simply lack understanding. Among the three thousand Great Daos, one is the Dao of Karma, famed as the Grand Art of Karma. Do you think that is mere fiction? If it were nonsense, how could it be among the Great Daos?”

The Spear of Judgment was not mocking, merely stating facts and even educating Lin Fan about the legendary Three Thousand Great Daos.

Suddenly, Lin Fan’s expression changed. He staggered and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

A figure appeared behind him, cloaked in black, shrouded in mystery. It was he who had launched the sneak attack.