"No, I'm just curious if there's anyone else in this world as monstrous as me," Ling Fan quipped.
"Don't flatter yourself. You are indeed monstrous, but you don't compare to her. I heard that upon entering the Heavenly Court, she only took three days to advance several major realms, reaching the Fourth Tier Xuan Emperor. In less than a month, she broke through to the Heavenly Emperor level. Now, no one knows her current realm. It's possible she might even become an Emperor Lord."
"There are rumors that this woman possesses exceptionally rare talent, one that appears only once in many generations. It's said to be the Nine Deaths Spirit Phoenix Body, and hers has awakened to a very high degree. The further this physique progresses, the more monstrous its talent becomes. With a Heavenly Venerable personally guiding her, coupled with the resources of the Heavenly Court, such achievements are understandable," Han Xiaoya said with a hint of emotion.
These words struck Ling Fan like a barrage of heavenly thunder.
"Nine Deaths Spirit Phoenix Body!"
Ling Fan was almost certain that this woman who ascended from the lower realm was likely Lan Xueyi.
It was nearly impossible for two Nine Deaths Spirit Phoenix Bodies to appear in the same era. Furthermore, for someone to awaken the Nine Deaths Spirit Phoenix Body to such a high degree in the lower realm was unprecedented.
Xueyi's growth in the lower realm was under his protection.
Apart from him, no one else in the lower realm possessed such capability.
"Heavenly Court Genius Battle!"
Ling Fan's eyes blazed with a terrifying glint.
"I'm going to participate," he stated firmly.
Han Xiaoya chuckled, "What, you want to be like those commoners, relying on the Heavenly Court's influence to live off someone else's success?"
"Whether I live off someone else's success or not isn't important. I primarily like beautiful women," Ling Fan replied with a smile.
"Moreover, I have a strong premonition that I am destined to meet this woman who ascended from the lower realm. She will be mine."
Han Xiaoya touched Ling Fan's forehead. "Are you feeling feverish? She's the adopted daughter of one of the Heavenly Court's three great Heavenly Venerables. Do you really think you can dominate the Central Heavenly Realm for an era and win her favor?"
Han Xiaoya continued, "Do you know that the Central Heavenly Court governs thirty thousand great states? Even though I am the top genius of Qi State, among the supreme prodigies of the thirty thousand great states, I know I don't even rank. In those prosperous states, the geniuses are far more monstrous than we can imagine. Some peerless prodigies are said to have already touched the realm of quasi-Heavenly Venerables. Perhaps only such individuals are worthy of that Heavenly Venerable's adopted daughter."
"You, you should just save your breath. There's no place for you," Han Xiaoya teased Ling Fan.
Ling Fan also smiled, "That's not necessarily true!"
"By the way," Ling Fan suddenly asked, "the Heavenly Court's great figures are holding a genius battle to recruit a son-in-law for their adopted daughter. What are you, a woman, doing getting involved?"
Han Xiaoya looked at Ling Fan with the gaze one reserves for someone intellectually challenged. "I'm naturally aiming for the prizes of the Genius Battle. Do you know what the reward for the champion of this Genius Battle is? Heavenly Venerable Origin! Heavenly Venerable Dao artifacts! What kind of sordid thoughts are in your head?"
"Oh! That's quite a generous prize."
Ling Fan sneered coldly.
He suddenly sensed a hint of conspiracy in the Heavenly Court's decision to hold the Genius Battle ahead of schedule.
He and the Heavenly Court were mortal enemies!
Yet, his wife had now fallen into the Heavenly Court's hands.
In his opinion, the Heavenly Venerable adopting Xueyi as his daughter was not a good thing at all; it was undoubtedly a conspiracy targeting him.
However.
Even if Ling Fan knew it was a conspiracy, he had no choice but to go.
"I'm going into seclusion. Don't call me if anything comes up," Ling Fan waved his hand.
"Hey, you brat, how can you talk to your master like that!" Han Xiaoya glared.
...
Ling Fan's place of seclusion.
Under heavy restrictions, the space where Ling Fan was located was completely isolated.
In addition, a vast phantom of a palace enveloped the area.
Spheres, each containing immense Heavenly Emperor Origin and even Emperor Lord Origin, slowly revolved around him.
With the pressure of the Heavenly Court Genius Battle looming, Ling Fan could no longer afford to proceed at his usual pace.
He had to improve his strength as much as possible before the Heavenly Court battle.
Han Xiaoya had also mentioned that some peerless prodigies from the prosperous states of the Heavenly Court might have already touched or fully entered the realm of quasi-Heavenly Venerables. Moreover, the Heavenly Court, as a colossal entity, undoubtedly harbored many terrifying prodigies. At that time, all these monstrous geniuses would emerge together.
The time left for Ling Fan was running out.
His current strength could at most contend with peak Ninth Tier Heavenly Emperors.
He was still a considerable distance from even half-step Emperor Lord.
Let alone confronting Emperor Lords, or even quasi-Heavenly Venerables.
Ling Fan swallowed the spheres containing immense origin one by one.
Because he was rushing things too much, Ling Fan was almost reduced to a "chick" by the excessive origin several times.
However, his physical body was monstrously resilient.
The Nirvana Tribulation Body, combined with the Myriad Artifact Transformation technique, had pushed his physical strength to an unimaginable level.
...
As time ticked by, Ling Fan's aura steadily rose.
His inner world also slowly but surely expanded towards the nine-thousand-zhang level.
...
Just as Ling Fan was in seclusion, a thunderous boom shook the entire Myriad Artifact Palace.
In the central hall, Han Xiaoya suddenly opened her eyes wide.
In the next moment, she appeared above the Myriad Artifact Palace. Two terrifying beams of light shot out from her beautiful eyes, directed at a towering figure as imposing as a divine demon opposite her.
"Greetings,楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building. What brings you here?" Han Xiaoya asked, neither subservient nor overbearing.
This uninvited guest who had suddenly appeared was naturally the楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building, a branch institution of the Heavenly Court.
He was an Emperor Lord responsible for managing Qi State and several other great states!
"Hand over this person," the楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building said, making a grand gesture.
The void rippled, transforming into a mirror.
It displayed the scene of Ling Fan killing the Divine Artifact Building's Crown Prince.
Upon seeing Ling Fan's appearance, Han Xiaoya's heart leaped in surprise.
Her disciple was truly a troublemaker.
He had actually killed the Divine Artifact Building's Crown Prince.
While Han Xiaoya was anxiously contemplating a solution, the楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building clearly had no intention of giving her time.
He took a step forward, and the terrifying pressure of an Emperor Lord descended upon Han Xiaoya like a collapsing mountain.
"I possess the Flowing Light Mirror to deduce the past and future, and I have identified the true culprit who murdered my son. If your Myriad Artifact Palace dares to harbor this scoundrel, do not blame me for showing no mercy and flattening your Myriad Artifact Palace along with him. Young Mistress Han, you know I have the strength. Although you have advanced to half-step Emperor Lord, there is an insurmountable chasm between you and a true Emperor Lord. You cannot stop me. It would be more appropriate if your master were here."
"Get out of the way!" the楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building roared.
Han Xiaoya gritted her teeth. "I have already accepted Ling Fan as my disciple on behalf of my master.楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building, your son's death at Ling Fan's hands was his own doing due to his lack of strength. I will absolutely not stand by and do nothing."
The楼主 of the Divine Artifact Building let out a sinister laugh. "Heh, you junior, your wings have hardened, daring to challenge me! I'll see how much of your master's true teachings you've inherited to dare block my path! I don't mind annihilating your Myriad Artifact Palace and that little thief along with you!"