Chapter 586 - 586: Changing Winds of Azure Cloud Domain

The midday sun poured like scattered light amidst the bamboo forest, scorching the dirt clear of moist. Lin Fan stood bare-chested amidst the swirling dust, his muscles corded as he circulated the blazing pathways of The Great Solar Energy Art.

With an abrupt exhale, he shifted into The Dragon Subduing Eight Trigram Fist. His fists carved heavy paths through the air, but the dragon phantom that had once shaken the heavens in the courtyard was entirely absent; only dry, whipping wind obeyed his call.

Frustrated, he drew his heavy saber, attempting the sweeping cleaves of The Mountain and Sea Parting Saber Technique, then spun across the courtyard with the Cloud Treading Feet Technique.

When his boots finally settled against the stones, Lin Fan lowered his weapon and stared down at his trembling, calloused hands with bitter helplessness.

One month. It had been an entire month since he miraculously broke through the shackles of his crippled meridians and surged directly into the Martial Master stage. By ordinary standards, his progress was terrifying. Yet, his solitary practice had borne almost no substantial fruit.

These were the exact same supreme martial arts his body had wielded with transcendent perfection when he utilized the Divine Spirit Drawing Technique. Back then, a mere flick of his palm crushed talisman-forged sword qi; a casual step split the earth. But doing it on his own? The difference was akin to heaven and earth.

"Damn it," Lin Fan cursed softly under his breath, clenching his fist until the knuckles turned white.

He had foolishly assumed that by sharing a vessel, by watching with his own eyes as the divine spirit manipulated his body, traced esoteric meridians, and unleashed world-shaking techniques, he would effortlessly grasp their profound mysteries.

But reality was a cruel master. Even though every posture, every foot placement, and every energy channeling was perfectly seared into his memory, when he tried to execute them himself, the essence vanished. He felt like an illiterate beggar attempting to paint an ancient painting, holding a brush with hollow fingers.

"Deep in thought, Young Master Lin?"

A dry, steady voice interrupted his brooding. Lin Fan looked up to see Mr. Kuang strolling along the courtyard path, his hands clasped behind his back.

Lin Fan immediately calmed his ragged breath, sheathing his saber as he gave a deep, respectful bow. "Mr. Kuang. Thank you for coming."

"Today is the day," Mr. Kuang said plainly, stopping a few paces away. "The duel with the Black Serpent Sect. The platform is already set."

Lin Fan bowed his head once more, his tone filled with sincere warmth. "I still haven't properly thanked you, Senior. If not for Mr. Kuang stepping forward that chaotic day to stay their hand and demand this formal duel, the Black Serpent Sect would have overrun our gates before I could even draw breath."

Mr. Kuang waved his broad, weathered hand, brushing aside the gratitude with a dismissive chuckle. "Do not thank this old man. You should know I had no interest in muddying my shoes with your clan's mess. I only intervened because my daughter, Danyue, begged me relentlessly on your behalf. That girl seemed quite taken by your martial techniques."

Stroking his graying beard, Mr. Kuang's playful expression settled into a solemn weight. "However, Lin Fan... today, you are truly on your own. The Black Serpent Sect Master has personally arrived, burning with vengeance for his son. You will have to face him with your own two hands."

" My Iron Blood Manor shall not step in to help you."

Lin Fan cupped his fists, standing tall with resolute eyes. "I understand, Senior. It will not be an issue."

Yet even as the confident words left his mouth, a quiet, chilling question resonated deep in the dark recesses of his heart:

For whom it won't be an issue, Me? Or... the Divine Spirit?

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SHING—!

A blinding arc of cold, ruthless light severed the howling wind.

A collective, terrified gasp sucked the air clean out of the crowded arena. For a split second, time itself seemed to freeze under the blazing sky. Then, with a bloody squelch, the formidable, towering body of the Black Serpent Sect Master split down the middle, collapsing to the left and right in a cascade of steaming blood.

In the center of the ring, 'Lin Fan' stood proud and tall, the wind billowing through his blood-spattered robes. In his hand, the heavy saber dripped steadily onto the stones, its edge singing with an eerie, lingering resonance that cowed thousands of spectating martial artists into dead silence.

"Brother!"

A tearful, overjoyed cry broke the stillness. Lin Fan's elder sister came running toward the platform, her sleeves fluttering as she leaped forward and threw her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. "You did it... Heavens, you really did it!"

At that moment, the terrifying, ancient pressure residing in Lin Fan's body receded like an ocean tide.

The cold, golden gleam vanished, and Lin Fan's eyes snapped back to their ordinary, mortal brown. The sudden void within his soul made him wobble on his feet, his knees nearly buckling as his soul took charge of his physique. Gritting his teeth, he forced his back straight, leaning into the hug just enough to disguise his weakness.

He gave his sister a reassuring, gentle pat on the shoulder, smiling faintly. "Don't cry, Sister. I told you not to worry... I am finally strong enough to protect you."

The arena erupted into thunderous, deafening praise.

"Unbelievable! A Martial Master slaying a Martial Grandmaster?! That too, Sect Master of Black Serpent Sect!!"

"The Lin Clan's dragon has truly awakened!"

From the edges of the high viewing balcony, Chu Danyue leaned over the carved railing, her silk veil fluttering against her lips. Her eyes held a sultry gleam as she cast an overtly flirtatious, unabashed invitation directly toward him.

" Hehehe, Brother Lin, don't forget our deal. Since you have won, I have to give you the reward. How about you join me in my courtyard tonight?"

Lin Fan looked at Chu Danyue with a bashful laugh as he raised his saber in dominance.

Elders cheered. Disciples bowed in awe. His sister wept with pure relief in his arms, and a peerless beauty offered herself to him. Everything a young martial artist could ever dream of had landed at his feet in a single afternoon.

Yet, as Lin Fan stood amidst the roaring adoration of the crowd, his fingers loosened around the hilt of the blade he hadn't truly swung. His smile remained, but it wasn't his true joy.

He felt... completely empty.

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Peng Clan, Central Domain.

Peng Fuguo is the leader of the Intelligence Hall in the Martial Court. As he was scribbling on the a scroll, his subordinate appeared.

" Speak, something must have happened for you to come here by yourself."

The subordinate sighed, " There are many news, Hall Master."

" First is, there has been an uprising of the Fallen Heaven Society and the Xuanzuang Cult. It's horrifying to see how deep the power of Fallen Heaven Society has seeped into the martial world. The Wandering Tiger Fengzhi turned out to be a Fallen Heaven spawn."

" Secondly, there are many figures who are rising star in current martial world. The first one is Feng Chu, the Cloud Sword Little Monarch. He already stepped into Martial Grandmaster realm before the age of 25, and even defeated numerous masters of the same realm. However, he also made a lot of enemies within the martial world."

" In fact, he killed the Third Young Master of Deng Clan. Now Deng Clan is completely after him. But he is still behind in terms of destruction than Heabenly Fragrance Witch. Her cultivation…I believe we have a new Xiantian Realm expert."

" Xiantian Realm?"

Peng Fuguo finally paused, looking at his subordinate with surprise. The subordinate nodded, " It's rumored that she is the successor of Snow Tomb Valley. Since one of the successor of lost ancient sect has appeared…And she wiped out the Netherworld Temple too."

" But there is even worse news."

" The Jun Clan has raised their Banner of Three Realms. And already gain support from the Heavenly Demon Cult."