Chapter 494: Chapter 494

Lin Fan contemplated for three seconds. Rationality overcame curiosity, and he gestured decisively to withdraw.

"We’re already here. Shouldn’t we go in and take a look?" Luo Fairy asked. She couldn’t quite comprehend Lin Fan’s thought process; his change of mind was too abrupt—deciding something just based on intuition felt a bit too arbitrary.

Lin Fan replied, "No need. The eyes might be deceived, but the heart never lies. Follow your inner judgment—that’s what truly matters." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by noᴠelfire.net

"Besides, even if there are treasures, so what? Compared to one’s life, surely one’s fate is far more significant."

He harbored no deep obsession for treasures.

Often, obtaining a treasure was merely a fleeting stroke of fortune. If a treasure required him to risk his life, he hadn’t yet encountered one worth such a gamble.

"Luo Fairy, I’ve said what I needed to say. If you have your own ideas, you can stay. Just don’t blame me for not looking out for you."

The Flower List Immortal was indeed stunning.

But at moments , Lin Fan couldn’t resist reminding the Fairy to step aside and avoid getting involved. If she insisted on acting on her own, he wouldn’t intervene—but he firmly wished not to be dragged into her risk-taking.

Han Li naturally followed Lin Fan’s lead.

As for Luo Fairy, who stood dumbfounded on the spot, Lin Fan left the choice entirely to her.

Lin Fan planned to leave the area, but suddenly a light barrier appeared, blocking the path out.

"Damn! Are you kidding me?" Lin Fan exclaimed.

Touching the light barrier, his heart trembled with an ominous feeling.

Whoever set this barrier was powerful.

Had the person responsible sensed Lin Fan’s unease through the group’s conversation and preemptively locked the exit? Or had the path been sealed the moment they set foot in this place?

Xiang Fei stepped forward to inspect the barrier, furrowing his brows. "As expected, something’s wrong. And for those who’ve already gone inside..."

He pondered deeply, avoiding reckless speculation.

Then, summoning the Holy Weapon Spear, he fiercely slashed at the light barrier. A muted sound echoed as the barrier trembled faintly without a single trace of damage—not even a scratch.

Xiang Fei found this astonishing.

Light barriers capable of withstanding a strike from the Holy Weapon were exceedingly rare.

A piercing scream echoed from all directions. The voice’s origin was impossible to pinpoint, yet it lingered close to their ears.

"Step aside. Let me handle this," Lin Fan growled, gripping the World Suppressing Tripod. Harnessing his entire strength, he hurled the Tripod violently at the light barrier.

Cracks appeared on the barrier but quickly vanished, leaving the barrier unscathed once again.

A whisper resonated across the heavens. No one understood the voice’s words, yet its omnipresence resembled incessant chanting, akin to monks reciting scriptures. Though incomprehensible, its unnerving presence was undeniable.

"Look! It’s the Flower List’s tenth-ranked Fairy!" Qin Yang shouted.

A peerlessly beautiful woman appeared, elegant enough to captivate nations. Yet in that instant, a beam of light from afar pierced through her body. Her once fragrant flesh became a lifeless corpse, collapsing directly onto the ground.

"Isn’t this a bit excessive? She was a Flower List Immortal, no less!"

If there were creeps around—

One might’ve muttered perversely:

"While it’s still warm...why not give it a try?"

Heavy, resonant footsteps approached.

Each step landed with gravitas, sending waves of oppressive tension through the air—like an immense mountain weighing down on the heart. The sensation was suffocating.

Lin Fan remarked, "This place was contributed by the Heavenly Court. Could it be their doing?"

"Brother Lin, that seems unlikely. If the Heavenly Court were behind this, the Four Domains wouldn’t let them off easily," Xiang Fei responded.

Lin Fan countered, "I wouldn’t be so sure. Earlier, I carefully observed—among thousands of heavenly talents, only thirty-odd decided to turn back. That proportion is far too marginal to alert suspicion toward the Heavenly Court."

"But none of that matters anymore."

"Breaking through the barrier and escaping is now the utmost priority."

The footsteps drew nearer.

Lin Fan ceased his actions. "Brother Xiang, lend me the Holy Weapon."

"Alright." Xiang Fei sliced his finger, letting blood spill onto the Holy Weapon before using it to touch Lin Fan. "I’ve refined this weapon almost entirely; its usage rights are now yours."

When Lin Fan grasped the Holy Weapon, a surge of power transferred from it into his body, causing his mana to swell abruptly.

Indeed, the higher the refinement of the Holy Weapon, the greater the boost one received.

Looking into the distance, Lin Fan spotted a shadow approaching.

Shrouded by golden sand, the figure’s true form remained obscured. Its presence evoked unease, yet something seemed off—it appeared as though the entity consisted of two overlapping figures.

Lin Fan discerned that shadow’s appearance: a partially decayed corpse, yet animated like the living. Its hand gripped a heavenly talent, who, on closer inspection, was none other than Hong Sijing.

Hong Sijing had already perished, half his skull eaten by the corpse. Brain matter and blood were splattered across the ground—a grotesque and chilling sight.

[Puppet: Immortal Realm Eighth Layer Immortal Emperor Realm.]

[Remark: No consciousness, no pain, no perception.]

Immortal Emperor Realm...

Lin Fan’s heart dropped. This was disconcerting—if it had been an Immortal Monarch or King, the challenge would’ve been manageable. But an Immortal Emperor? Who could survive such odds?

"Senior, we’re merely passing through this area. If our presence has offended you, forgive us," Lin Fan pleaded.

"If senior harbors rage, I’m willing to bear the entire brunt—just spare my companions."

Against an Immortal Emperor, numbers became inconsequential. Even an anomalous Emperor one posed an insurmountable threat.

"Brother Lin..." Qin Yang began, intending to question Lin Fan, but Lin Fan cut him off, speaking quietly.

"Don’t utter a word. This semi-decayed corpse is of the Immortal Emperor Realm. Staying alive itself is sheer fortune—let’s observe for now. If it lets you go, so be it. I’ve devised a way to survive on my own."

Qin Yang and Xiang Fei’s expressions changed upon hearing the term ’Immortal Emperor.’

Why had things turned out this miserably?

The Heavenly Secret Realm was a treasure discovered by the Heavenly Court, inviting Four Domains’ talents to explore it. Now they complained that it housed an Emperor-level adversary—how many talents could withstand such a force?

The animated Immortal Emperor corpse let out a low growl. Surrounding sands churned violently before the corpse hurled Hong Sijing’s remains to the ground. The soil swallowed the body whole, erasing it from sight.

Soon, red light emanated from the ground, darting toward the horizon.

Amidst the distant, pervasive sandstorms, faint light hovered, resembling a child’s figure.

Though unclear, Lin Fan speculated that someone was deliberately luring elite talents to this location—extracting their mana, blood, flesh, aptitude, and fortune for cultivation.

Such occurrences weren’t uncommon in the cultivation realm.

In the Immortal Realm, it was even likelier.

Human hearts were treacherous, and the higher one climbed, the darker they became.

Realizing further discussion was futile, Lin Fan cursed furiously:

"Hell’s sake, don’t growl at me! I’ve spelled it out clearly—senior, could you spare us some dignity?"

"There’s no need for a reply, I know your intentions—eradication."

"Even being Immortal Emperor Realm doesn’t make you invincible."

Lin Fan berated the corpse aggressively, unsure of whether survival awaited him. Still, he vented his frustration.

Martial Arts Power. Immortal Law Mana.

Two forces exploded from within his body.

Three types of Immortal Body Power manifested in their entirety for the first time.

The Master of Calamity Poison Immortal.

A phoenix engulfed in flames soared into the sky, its cry reverberating across the heavens.

The Martial Arts Ultimate Body pushed his physical form to its zenith, casting an imposing shadow in the void.

The Mixed Element Golden Gourd and World Suppressing Tripod—two mighty treasures—swirled around him. At that moment, Lin Fan exuded an aura of unparalleled dominance, as though he alone ruled heaven and earth.

"Brother Qin, Brother Xiang, don’t just stand there—break that barrier now! I doubt I’ll hold out for long," Lin Fan urged.

Qin Yang and Xiang Fei barely managed to respond—

Lin Fan roared aloud, shattering the earth as he vanished from sight, transforming into a streak of light aimed at the Emperor corpse.

With the Holy Weapon Spear in hand, he struck violently downward.

The Immortal Emperor corpse raised an arm, swinging it forcefully.

A hundred-mile radius shattered into chaos, the terrifying aftershock reverberating through the land.

Lin Fan was blasted back, his feet carving long trenches into the ground. Blood seeped from his arms clutching the Holy Weapon—the sheer intensity of the force overwhelming him.

The Emperor’s might was unimaginably fearsome.

Qin Yang and Xiang Fei tried every method to shatter the barrier.

Luo Fairy and Han Li unleashed their individual skills, yet with their abilities, they remained powerless.

Luo Fairy’s gaze shifted toward Lin Fan—the sheer struggle against the Emperor’s attacks imprinted in her mind. Time and again, he lunged forward only to be repelled.

What kind of strength kept him standing?

"Ugh!" Lin Fan tilted his head, spitting blood. The continual beatings left him fuming—he hadn’t so much as scratched the opponent’s surface. How aggravating could this get?

"An Emperor... A deceased Emperor controlled by someone else. If I, Lin Fan, fear you, then surely hell freezes over."

Lin Fan charged forward once more.

"Great Cutting Skill!"

He swung the Holy Weapon repeatedly, slicing tens of thousands of times within moments. The Void tore apart, space itself collapsed—at higher levels, perhaps even time could be severed.

The Emperor corpse stood unfazed. As the massive cutting force approached, a rift opened before him, swallowing the energy whole.

Instantaneous disappearance.

At that critical juncture—

Lin Fan appeared above the Emperor’s head, finger forming an Immortal Seal as he muttered softly.

"Demon Crossing Scripture."

Heavenly Dao-level Divine Skills erupted as countless sacred texts swirled together, smashing onto the Emperor corpse’s head.

Lin Fan hoped this would mirror the suppression of demons he’d learned in the ancient temple.

Using the Demon Crossing Scripture as a force to subdue evil.