Chapter Eighty-Eight: Third Layer of the Meridians Realm

The Great Devouring Art is the supreme law among the Three Thousand Paths, capable of devouring every form of energy in heaven and earth. Even the ancestral sovereigns, hailed as immortal and undying, are utterly helpless before it.

"What! Th-this, this... how can it be the Great Devouring Art? That is a law of your human race. How could it be inside the Human Emperor's sacred statue? I do not believe it!"

Yu Zhongtian howled in misery. His body was cracking apart inch by inch, shattered by the Judgement Spear. At the same time, the power within him was rapidly draining away; in the blink of an eye, the solid form he had possessed began to fade into translucence.

"Nothing is impossible. Fall for me! Your power will be inherited by me. Go in peace!"

Lin Fan roared, driving the Great Devouring Art to its limit. A force never before seen erupted forth, radiant brilliance flooding the heavens and swallowing the nine skies. A terrifying black vortex materialized and swallowed Yu Zhongtian whole.

"Pure power, break through for me! Third level of Pulse Refinement!"

Lin Fan let out a long howl as his aura surged wildly, finally blasting through the shackles of the second level of the Pulse Refinement Realm.

"So powerful. I wonder what level my strength has reached now."

Lin Fan clenched his fists, brimming with confidence. He felt as though he could now split heaven and earth apart. That dreadful aura was enough to make anyone tremble.

"At this moment, by the ancient human standards, you would be considered a once-in-four-thousand-years genius. In other words, you can fight across four realms, though that is limited to the Pulse Refinement Realm. Once you reach the Heavenly Human stage, you will only be able to cross two minor levels."

The divine spirit of the Judgement Spear spoke. It was a divine artifact of the human race and naturally knew many of the race's secrets; this was not something that a hearsay figure like Yu Zhongtian could compare with.

"Once in four thousand years? Then does that mean I can now stand toe to toe with someone at the seventh level of Pulse Refinement?"

Lin Fan pondered. If that were true, then he could already be considered a high-tier figure within the Pulse Refinement Realm.

"In theory, yes. But you must understand that if there is a genius like you in this world, there will naturally be others as well. I will teach you a technique for reading a person's qi. It can reveal another's potential, though its limitations are great. If a strong expert conceals that person's potential, then with your present cultivation you will not be able to see through it."

A law technique was transmitted into Lin Fan's sea of consciousness, and before long he had memorized it completely.

"This is a branch of the Great Observing Qi Art among the Three Thousand Paths. Perhaps in the future you may even use it to obtain the Great Observing Qi Art."

The Judgement Spear's voice grew ever fainter as it once again sank into slumber.

"I'm at the third level of Pulse Refinement now. I reckon it won't be long before I can return to the Heavenly Martial Domain. Duanmu Ci, just wait for me."

Lin Fan put away the Judgement Spear and muttered to himself, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes.

"Leave that for now. Find Young Lady Xiaoxian and the others first."

Radiance flickered as Lin Fan moved, shooting straight toward the distance. The old blacksmith had already told him the location of the mine shaft, and he found it in very little time.

"Hmph, no need to wait any longer. By the time we stand here, who knows how many opportunities that originally belonged to us have already been taken by others."

Just as Lin Fan arrived outside the mine shaft, he heard such a voice.

"Ziming, you're going too far."

The old blacksmith's voice was firm and unquestionable. He had always been the leader and possessed sufficient authority to speak.

"What do you mean, too far? I'm stating the facts. We came here for the opportunities in the first place. If someone else snatches them away, who will bear that responsibility?"

There was hatred in Ziming's heart because Lin Fan had once intercepted him.

"I think what Young Master Ziming says makes sense. Although I am very grateful that Brother Lin stepped forward, the dead are gone. We cannot remain in the past; we must look to the future."

The speaker was another young man. Lin Fan did not have much impression of him and only knew that his name was Zhao Wei.

"If there had been no Lin Fan, what would have become of all of you now?"

A cold laugh rang out. Yi Xiaoxian's voice was icy to the bone, faintly carrying a murderous edge.

"I've already said it: I am deeply grateful for Brother Lin's efforts, but the fact remains that the dead are gone."

Zhao Wei showed no fluctuation whatsoever. After several of his companions perished, he had joined forces with Ziming and now seemed intent on standing in opposition to the rest.

"How do you know he's dead?"

Young Master Luohua spoke up. He was upright and fair-minded, valuing loyalty above all else, so he naturally looked down on these two ungrateful men.

"Is that even worth asking? I know Luohua, your maid died, but how could there not be a few deaths? So long as we can obtain the opportunities, every loss is worth it."

Ziming sneered. He knew Luohua Gongzi's identity, so it would not have been proper for Zhao Wei to say such things.

"If not for you, would Xin'er have died?"

Young Master Luohua drew his sword. Brilliant light burst forth from it like a sweeping galaxy, vast and mighty.

"Hmph, no one can be blamed for this. Since it has already happened, there is no point in dwelling on it."

Ziming unleashed a streak of purple energy that met the sword light head-on. The two dissipated at the same time, and neither could gain the upper hand.

Young Master Luohua's expression was cold, but he had no intention of striking again. According to the old blacksmith, there was a great terror inside this mine shaft, and it was best not to disturb any ominous presence.

"I still say the same thing: we depart now. It is not worth wasting time here for the sake of waiting on a dead man."

Seeing that everyone had scruples and would not act against him, Ziming became even more brazen, wearing an air of command.

"If I say no?"

Yi Xiaoxian frowned, some worry in her heart. Lin Fan was still not a sovereign of the Heavenly Human Realm; if a swarm of blood bats came surging in, he might very well be drenched in blood.

"Miss, that's not the way to put it. We should put the bigger picture first. I think we all understand the matter of choosing between gains and losses, don't we?"

Zhao Wei spoke at the right moment, turning the words back on her.

"A person's greatest value lies in the fact that he is still alive. What Brother Lin has done is worthy of our respect, but please, live in the present. If you are not sufficiently confident in your own strength, then when the time comes you may come a little closer to us. I think everyone would protect you as well."

Zhao Wei's tongue was sharp enough to make one want to retch.

"I don't need your protection."

Yi Xiaoxian sneered, her gaze icy. One look was enough to make Zhao Wei feel a chill run through his entire body.

"Miss, Zhao Wei means well. There's no need to press him so hard."

Ziming turned around, and two beams of divine light shot from his eyes, forcing Yi Xiaoxian back.

"Only now do I truly understand what it means to be ungrateful. If not for me, the two of you would already be dead. Yet now you still dare to spout such nonsense here. You are simply courting death."

At that moment, a voice came from the void. Lin Fan could no longer restrain himself. Fury burned in his chest, and he had not expected his sacrifice to be so belittled by the two of them.

"You... you're still alive?"

Ziming's expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously took several steps back.

"Was it you speaking just now? Then go with your friends."

Lin Fan ignored Ziming completely. Turning around, he flicked out a finger. The air exploded, and the entire mine shaft trembled.

"You—"

Zhao Wei stared in shock. He had never imagined that Lin Fan would be so lawless, intending to begin a slaughter the moment he arrived.

A muffled blast rang out, and Zhao Wei's head was pierced alive by a single finger. He died on the spot.