Chapter 144: Ancient Key, Heaven-Shaking Destruction!
Warm sunlight shone down upon the tall stone tower as Lin Fan slowly opened his eyes after a full night of cultivation.
The night before, after returning from claiming rewards from Lin Dong and Xiao Diao, he had begun cultivating his spiritual power while wearing the Heavenly Soul Stone over his chest.
To his satisfaction, the effect was astonishing—
With the Heavenly Soul Stone, his spiritual power cultivation had increased at dozens of times the normal rate!
Just one night of training was equivalent to over a month's worth of previous effort!
The amplification was simply terrifying.
As for the Cycle of Life and Death Pill, Lin Fan hadn't lied to Xiao Diao about its existence.
Once Xiao Diao confirmed it was real, his attitude toward Lin Fan improved dramatically.
Calling Lin Fan "big brother" in exchange for that kind of opportunity? Only a fool wouldn't take that deal.
Ending his cultivation, Lin Fan stepped out of the stone tower, refreshed and in high spirits.
Suddenly, his brows twitched as he sensed three people approaching—Mo Ling, Du Yun, and Man Shan.
"Brother Lin Fan, we've gathered some info on the senior disciple from the Sacred Light Empire!" Mo Ling said excitedly.
"Oh? Let's hear it," Lin Fan smiled and asked casually.
Mo Ling quickly laid out everything they had learned.
"...Besides Li Sheng, the Sacred Light Empire has eleven more Manifestation Realm experts under that senior disciple, whose name is Jin Mu. His strength has reached half-step Nirvana Stage."
"Half-step Nirvana, huh? That's not much," Lin Fan chuckled, clearly unconcerned.
Man Shan laughed too. "With your strength, Brother Lin Fan, there's nothing to worry about. But to most people in this region, half-step Nirvana is a real threat."
Mo Ling nodded. "Jin Mu is currently in a city called Sun City, a massive gathering point with several half-step Nirvana cultivators present.
If not for you, we'd probably be running with our tails between our legs."
Lin Fan nodded thoughtfully.
Mo Ling continued, "We've also learned that Sun City has drawn in many elites from various empires. Apparently, they're all after something called the Ancient Key."
"Ancient Key…" Lin Fan murmured. "A key to the Ancient Hidden Treasures, I assume?"
"Exactly," Mo Ling confirmed. "There are ancient vaults scattered throughout the battlefield.
If you find even one, you might gather enough Nirvana Pills to break through."
"If we had to refine that many Nirvana Pills ourselves, it might take years. That's why everyone's going treasure hunting."
After hearing the whole explanation, Lin Fan said,
"In that case, let's check out this Ancient Treasure as well."
With Lin Fan's strength, tagging along would surely net the group some serious rewards.
"Wait… where's Brother Lin Dong?" Du Yun suddenly asked, noticing someone was missing.
Mo Ling and Man Shan also looked around in surprise.
"He left early this morning to train outside," Lin Fan replied casually.
In truth, Lin Dong had left the night before with Xiao Diao.
With his cultivation at the peak of the Manifestation Stage and his Devouring Physique, Lin Dong could withstand the pressure of night travel using the Devouring Ancestral Talisman's protection.
He had gone outside the gathering point to cultivate in solitude—
And to fully unleash the power of the Devouring Ancestral Talisman and rapidly ascend to half-step Nirvana.
With the one million Nirvana Pills Lin Fan had given him, he was fully confident in making that breakthrough soon.
"Brother Lin Dong really works hard," Mo Ling sighed.
Du Yun asked, "Why train outside though? Isn't it safer here in the city?"
"He probably trains faster out there," Lin Fan chuckled.
The three exchanged glances and didn't press the matter.
After a pause, Lin Fan told them,
"You guys should go cultivate too. Once Lin Dong's back, we'll head for Sun City.
In the meantime, gathering more info on the Ancient Key is your job."
"Got it!" they nodded, then returned to their own training.
Once they were gone, Lin Fan swept his spiritual sense across the area, then returned to his tower and resumed cultivation.
Two days passed, and Lin Dong still hadn't returned.
Mo Ling and the others were curious but didn't ask—Lin Fan didn't seem worried, so neither were they.
But on the evening of the third day—
From the horizon outside the gathering point came the sound of rushing wind.
A massive winged beast soared into view, riding fierce gales.
As it neared the city, its speed slowed.
On the city walls, many people looked up and spotted several figures atop the enormous beast—
Each of them radiating a chilling killing intent.
On their chests, they wore a badge that was all too familiar.
"It's the Sacred Light Empire!"
The entire city reacted in alarm.
Just three days ago, Li Sheng had led Sacred Light's experts here, forcing people to pay a "residence fee."
No one had forgotten their tyranny.
Now, everyone wondered—if Lin Fan were defeated, would they return to being oppressed?
"Who killed our Sacred Light brothers? Show yourself!"
The newcomers descended at the city gates.
Their leader roared into the city with killing intent.
The crowd turned toward the central stone tower—where Lin Fan resided.
Mo Ling, Du Yun, and Man Shan ran out of their rooms at once.
"Annoying."
A cold voice suddenly rang out from the tower.
The next moment, a massive pitch-black hand appeared above the city.
In an instant, the sky went dark—everything within a thousand meters was swallowed in shadow.
One hand to cover the heavens. Heaven and earth eclipsed.
The black hand fell, covering the Sacred Light forces in a shroud of annihilation—like the sky itself was crashing down!
Everyone inside and outside the city went pale.
Their breathing grew labored from the sheer pressure of the hand.
The Sacred Light cultivators on the beast looked terrified—faces twisted in shock.
"Run!"
But the hand descended before they could even finish the word.
BOOM!
A thunderous explosion echoed across the city.
The newcomers—along with their beast—were instantly obliterated, leaving nothing but bloody mist!
The earth trembled, and a massive handprint a thousand meters wide, dozens of meters deep, was left behind.
It was as if the heavens themselves had collapsed.
Huaaah!
An uproar shook the entire city—
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