The area had become a vacuum.
"Gao Gan, you are, after all, the esteemed Heavenly Emperor. It is too much for you to personally deal with a fifth-tier Profound Emperor."
A magnificent voice boomed.
"Heh heh." Endless golden light shot from Gao Gan's eyes, as if he could see through infinite space and perceive a terrifying existence that could tread upon heaven and earth.
He coldly chuckled, "You old timers, the old guard, can't hold back any longer?"
The magnificent voice replied, "Gao Gan, do not change the subject. I simply cannot stand by and watch you obliterate talent. No matter how overbearing and powerful your Gao family is, you cannot replace the Qing Xuan Sect."
"What if I insist on killing him? Do you dare to instigate a war between our factions!"
Gao Gan sneered.
Madness flickered in his eyes.
The voice fell silent for a moment.
As if weighing the consequences.
At this moment.
Ling Fan, below, suddenly laughed. His laughter ceased, and his eyes fixed on Gao Gan. "Gao Gan, you see me as an ant, but you don't realize that in my eyes, you are merely a slightly larger ant. Just you wait, within three months, I will come to take your dog head!"
The instant Ling Fan spoke these words.
Within the vast Qing Xuan Sect.
There was a deathly silence.
Everyone stared at Ling Fan in disbelief.
They could never have imagined that Ling Fan's audacity would reach such a level, daring to openly provoke Gao Gan, the legendary prodigy and Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Emperor!
"You are dead for sure."
An unnamable rage surged within Gao Gan.
The Heavenly Emperor must not be insulted!
However, before he could act.
That Heavenly Emperor had already taken the lead.
With a sweep of his large hand,
He had already taken Ling Fan away.
Gao Gan's expression turned cold, his silence terrifying.
After a long while.
He suddenly flicked his hand, tore through the void, and vanished.
...
Deep within the Qing Xuan Sect, on a certain mountain peak.
In front of the mountain peak.
Was the vast Qing Xuan Sect Heavenly Vein.
The extremely dense spiritual energy of the Heavenly Vein had transformed into mist, permeating the mountain peak.
At this moment.
Before a cave dwelling at the summit of the mountain peak.
A figure, not tall, but ancient and aged, stood silently by the cliff's edge.
Gazing at the Heavenly Vein below, which seemed to flow eternally, he was lost in thought.
Ling Fan stood behind him.
Ling Fan did not rush to speak.
Instead, he curiously observed the mountain peak and the cave dwelling.
After a long time.
Finally, the aged figure could not help but speak.
He turned around.
As he spoke, two of his front teeth were missing.
He looked like a poor old man in the mortal world who couldn't afford to fix his teeth.
"Kid, you've done well!"
This elder, due to the missing front teeth,
His speech was slurred,
His voice sounded strange.
Ling Fan couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
The elder's face immediately fell.
"What are you laughing at? Be serious! I am, after all, a Heavenly Emperor expert. You should show some respect to an old man like me. I'm asking you a question."
Ling Fan waved his hand, "Apologies, I really couldn't help it. You know you're a Heavenly Emperor, is it that difficult to get your teeth fixed?"
The elder said, "What's there to fix? These are traces of history, constantly reminding me of things that happened in the past."
The elder did not find it funny at all and said seriously.
Ling Fan said, "You have a point. Get to the main business."
The elder stared with his eyes.
He felt something was not quite right.
He had become passive.
That kid had turned the tables and taken the initiative!
How could this be tolerated?
The elder put on a stern face and said, "You didn't have to kill Gao Zhenkuai."
Ling Fan replied, "He's a piece of trash from the Gao family. Killing him is no big deal."
The elder was furious and said, "Don't you know about developing discreetly! Now that you have a Heavenly Emperor targeting you, do you know how dangerous your situation is?"
"What's there to fear? Didn't I just warn him? I'll take that dog's head in three months."
Ling Fan said indifferently.
"I, this old man, I freaking...!"
The elder choked on his words.
"Fine, fine, you can go!"
The elder said speechlessly.
Ling Fan smiled, "Don't do that. You specifically called me over, you should at least show some appreciation. You're a Heavenly Emperor expert, if not ten or eight bottles of high-grade Emperor Pills, then three or five bottles, right? If not, give me a few high-grade Emperor Weapons. I have important use for them."
"I freaking...!"
The elder was about to go mad.
He had cultivated self-restraint his entire life.
He was almost driven to his breaking point by Ling Fan.
"No benefits. I regret bringing you here now. I just want to kick you, you little brat, out." The elder said with a dark expression.
Asking for ten bottles of high-grade Emperor Pills and a few high-grade Emperor Weapons right off the bat, did he think he was some kind of tycoon?
Ling Fan was not in a hurry.
He just looked at the elder with a sincere expression.
The elder, unable to resist, said, "I must have had terrible luck to encounter a sticky nuisance like you, someone I can't shake off. Come with me. This old man doesn't have these treasures. I'm so poor I'm jingling!"
The elder grabbed Ling Fan with his hand.
The two instantly vanished from the mountain peak.
In the space deep within the Qing Xuan Sect.
The elder, bringing Ling Fan, stepped out of the void.
Ahead.
A solitary throne stood between heaven and earth.
The elder called out, "Sect Master Lu, come out."
"Old Gu! Why are you so rash? Didn't I tell you we shouldn't meet right now? If the Gao family finds out, they'll trouble me again!"
A blurry figure appeared on the throne as light flashed above it.
"Heh heh."
Old Gu chuckled.
His missing teeth made his speech slurred.
"You kid's true body must have gone to some treasure trove to get rich again! Hurry up, I've protected this kid as you asked. Now this kid is asking you for benefits. Give him something. Also, shouldn't you give me my labor fee too! Money makes the world go round. If there are no benefits, I won't exert myself next time."
"I freaking...!"
The shadowy figure on the throne almost jumped up in excitement.
"Old Gu, you can't be so shameless. Am I doing this for myself? I'm also so poor I can't even afford to eat. I, the Sect Master of the Qing Xuan Sect, have been reduced to searching for treasures myself. Do you think I'm wealthy? Old Gu, how about this, you cover it for now. Once I find treasures, I'll settle it with you."
"No way, your 'promises,' Sect Master Lu, I've already eaten too many!"
Sect Master Lu: "..."
"I'm truly scared of you!"
The shadowy figure reluctantly grabbed a treasure pouch from the void.
"Fan Lin, your cultivation of the physical body, I see traces of the Myriad Artifact Technique, and also a very powerful body refinement method. Even I cannot help you much. I have a fragment of an ancient artifact here, obtained from an ancient Heavenly Venerate's secret treasure. I've been unable to refine it, so I'll give it to you!"
"Old Gu, as for your labor fee..."
Sect Master Lu paused.
Old Gu immediately looked expectant.
Grinning with his missing-toothed mouth, he waited for the rest of the sentence.
To his surprise, Sect Master Lu said, "Your fee will be put on hold for now. After all, the more debt you have, the less you worry. I'm truly so poor I'm about to sell myself! I have to act like a subservient grandson to the Gao family every day, is it easy for me? You should understand."
"I...!"
Old Gu's eyes widened.
But before he could speak,
An irresistible force sent both him and Ling Fan out.
Ling Fan's expression sharpened.
This Sect Master Lu had terrifying strength.
At least a ninth-tier Heavenly Emperor!
And this elder.
Was likely at the eighth-tier Heavenly Emperor realm.
"Also, Fan Lin, I've never seen you before, nor have I given you any benefits. Don't use my name outside. It won't benefit either of us."
Ling Fan: "..."
This Sect Master of the Qing Xuan Sect was too peculiar.
Ling Fan weighed the treasure pouch in his hand.
And fell silent.
Old Gu, however, dejectedly squatted by the cliff edge.
Drawing circles in the dirt.
"You can go, kid."
He said.
Ling Fan did not move.
He asked, "Aren't they all rumored to say that the Sect Master of the Qing Xuan Sect is a house slave of the Gao family? It seems the reality is not so. In my opinion, Sect Master Lu is enduring humiliation and carrying a heavy burden. Is he planning something big? He should be a ninth-tier Heavenly Emperor, right? Can't his strength still contend with the Gao family?"
Old Gu chuckled.
He wore a profound expression.
"Don't try to probe me. We old timers won't reveal ourselves just yet. You young people should continue to work hard."
Old Gu was as cunning as an old fox.
Ling Fan: "..."
"You guys are truly something!"
Ling Fan gave Old Gu a thumbs-up.
Old Gu did not feel embarrassed at all.
He continued to chuckle, his speech slurred.
Ling Fan prepared to leave.
Old Gu suddenly called out to him again.
"Wait, I don't have any benefits for you, but here's a treasure map. You can take it and try to see if you can complete this mission. And perhaps, there will be unexpected gains."
Ling Fan took it.
He looked at the old man suspiciously and said, "You, this stingy old man, suddenly so generous, I suspect there's a trap! I definitely won't fall for your trick, lest I work for you for free."
"Heh heh, as you wish." Old Gu smiled enigmatically.
"Oh, you are now a seed disciple of the Qing Xuan Sect. You still have many things to attend to. You can go now. This old man won't keep you."
...