Chapter 326: Linya Cave Heaven

The outcome of the spar between the two quickly spread throughout the sect.

After the new generation Holy Son ascended by stepping over Ying Langtian’s corpse, he once again engaged in a fierce battle with the sect’s second prodigy, Fang Xue.

In the end, Fang Xue lost by a single move.

This news further cemented Gu Fan’s status as the Holy Son.

For a time, his reputation even surpassed that of the previous Holy Son, though these matters were never within his concern.

At this moment, Gu Fan glanced at Fang Xue, who was seated in the distance, his expression carrying a trace of doubt.

“Senior Sister, you didn’t truly intend to kill me just now, did you?”

“Why did I feel that your killing intent was overwhelming?”

Fang Xue’s face revealed a trace of unnaturalness.

“A sword cultivator only advances and never retreats. A battle fought with restraint is better not fought at all. That is the way of the sword.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. If you don’t believe me, you can ask your friend Lin Yi.”

Gu Fan nodded and did not press further. Instead, he rose to his feet and said:

“Since the Asking the Sword has ended, I shall take my leave. When you need me to assist you in breaking through to the Three Blossoms Realm, notify me anytime.”

Fang Xue nodded, her expression somewhat unnatural.

Gu Fan could not tell if it was an illusion, but he seemed to see a trace of shyness on Fang Xue’s face.

Thinking of Fang Xue’s usual cold demeanor, he immediately dismissed the thought.

It must have been because her injuries had yet to fully recover…

With this thought, Gu Fan shook his head and strode down Overlord Peak.

Meanwhile, Fang Xue remained standing still, staring blankly at Gu Fan’s departing back.

Her heart felt complicated.

“Can’t kill him… then it can only be him… so be it. Better than Ying Langtian. All of this is for the sake of a higher realm…”

At this thought, Fang Xue forcibly suppressed her inner distractions.

She then slowly walked toward her seclusion chamber. She needed to adjust herself to the most perfect state possible.

So that she could attempt to charge into the Three Blossoms Realm!

Only after reaching the Three Blossoms Realm could she go to that place…

Thus, time passed slowly—about half a year.

During this half year, Gu Fan had been cultivating the newly obtained Domain Suppression of Myriad Phenomena technique.

At the same time, he also continued to study the Qilin Step.

What puzzled him, however, was that this powerful technique acquired from the Sacred Land seemed to be connected to the Four Ultimate Combat Techniques. Yet, after consulting all the sect’s records, Gu Fan found no similarities between Qilin Step and the Four Ultimate Combat Techniques.

This left him somewhat perplexed.

Nevertheless, it did not affect the formidable power of the Qilin Step in his hands.

From the perspective of explosive force, Qilin Step was now one of his strongest offensive means.

With this in mind, Gu Fan did not dwell on it further, instead continuing to delve into the cultivation of both techniques.

But this peaceful cultivation was one day interrupted.

The sect’s higher-ups summoned Gu Fan.

Gu Fan’s heart stirred slightly, and he went to the council hall as instructed.

Upon entering, he immediately saw several familiar faces.

The purple-robed Supreme Elder from before, as well as the Grand Elder seated to the right of the center.

When the Grand Elder saw Gu Fan, he smiled faintly and nodded.

Gu Fan returned the smile, then looked toward the middle-aged man seated at the center.

This man wore a luxurious Dao robe. Unlike the others, a halo of light rotated above his head.

It rendered him awe-inspiring and divine.

At this moment, the purple-robed elder was the first to speak:

“Holy Son Gu Fan, the one summoning you today is none other than our Sect Master.”

Gu Fan’s heart trembled. So this was the legendary Sect Master!

No wonder his bearing was so lofty.

Gu Fan cupped his hands and bowed deeply.

“Disciple of Holy Son Peak, Gu Fan, pays respect to the Sect Master!”

“There is no need for formality.”

The Sect Master’s voice rumbled like thunder, echoing as though from afar.

“This time, we summoned you because there is a mission that requires you to lead the sect disciples.”

Gu Fan remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“The Linya Cave Heaven is about to open. Within this secret realm lies a treasure known as the Burial Root, a cultivation treasure urgently needed by all high-realm cultivators. At that time, the disciples of all four great sects will be dispatched to collect it.”

“This Cave Heaven secret realm is far more stable than the previous rift—it was deliberately created by a powerful expert. As long as one is below the Three Blossoms Realm, they may enter.”

“In past generations, it was always the Holy Son who led disciples into such places. This time, it is only right for you to bear the duty.”

Gu Fan was not particularly moved. He had experienced such treasure hunts before.

On the contrary, he rather enjoyed such places—so long as he handed in a sufficient number to satisfy the sect, the rest would be his to keep.

Without hesitation, Gu Fan cupped his hands and accepted:

“Your disciple accepts the command.”

His decisive answer left the elders slightly stunned.

In their view, Gu Fan surely still bore resentment toward the sect.

Though the Grand Elder had offered compensation, for a genius of Gu Fan’s stature, it might not have been enough.

Yet here he was, agreeing without a single complaint—truly unexpected.

The Grand Elder then chuckled and said:

“Gu Fan, the competition against the other three sects will be intense. If you need any support, speak freely. Whatever we can provide, we will not withhold.”

Gu Fan thought for a moment. There was nothing essential he needed. If he requested more now, wouldn’t that only mean he had to hand over more later? Why make things difficult for himself?

In the end, he voiced only one request.

“Let Lin Yi accompany me in leading the team. Our cooperation is very tacit.”

This stunned the elders for a moment.

None of them had expected Gu Fan to actually ask for someone.

The Grand Elder glanced toward the Sect Master, who nodded without hesitation.

“Granted.”

“Then there will be no problem.”

Gu Fan cupped his hands again and prepared to leave.

But just as he reached the grand doors, his steps paused.

This caused the elders to exchange knowing looks—so it was indeed as they thought.

This brat was playing hard to get! Now he would finally voice his demands.

Yet, to their surprise, Gu Fan turned back and smiled at them.

“Let me make this clear in advance to the Sect Master and elders. I am not like Ying Langtian. He liked to curry favor with others, but I am the opposite.”

“For this mission, if disciples of the other three sects offend us, I will not hold back…”

Before the Sect Master could speak, the Grand Elder laughed:

“Rest assured, do as you see fit!”

“But if I end up killing too many, the sect won’t hand me over as they did in the Rift, right?”

The elders’ faces darkened instantly.

He was clearly calling them out!

“Of course not!”

The Sect Master nodded firmly in assurance.

Gu Fan pressed further:

“And if I were to kill them all…”

At that, the Sect Master’s eyes flashed with brilliance before he faintly smiled.

“If you truly have the ability, then kill them all. Brahma God Sect will naturally protect you.”

The corners of Gu Fan’s mouth curved up. He immediately bowed with a smile:

“In that case, this disciple takes his leave!”

Once Gu Fan departed, the crowd turned to the Sect Master.

The purple-robed elder hesitated before asking:

“Sect Master… if this brat truly causes an incident, then…”

The Sect Master waved impatiently.

“If he truly has the strength to slaughter all the disciples of the other three sects, then even if it costs us dearly to protect him, it will be worth it!”

The elders exchanged glances, but in the end, none spoke further.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep