Chapter 243: Confronting Wang Yan, The Grand Hall Trials Begin!
[Ding! You touched Ying Huanhuan and received: One Portion of Earthheart Vital Essence!]
Earthheart Vital Essence—what a treasure!
As the system reward echoed in Lin Fan's mind, he was filled with delight.
This item was far more valuable than the Life-Spirit Fruit. It contained the purest essence of vitality between heaven and earth. If fully refined, even a cultivator at the advanced or peak stage of the Life Profound Realm would gain immense benefits.
But now wasn't the time to refine it.
Ying Huanhuan, hearing Lin Fan's steady and serious tone while feeling his gaze, inexplicably felt much more at ease.
"Can you come with me to see Senior Brother Wang Yan?" she asked softly, blinking her large eyes.
Lin Fan could tell there was a trace of fear hidden in her gaze.
"Let's go," he nodded without hesitation.
Seeing him agree, Ying Huanhuan's eyes flashed with gratitude. She leapt forward, and Lin Fan followed.
Soon, they arrived in front of Wang Yan.
"It's Huanhuan... you've grown into such a beautiful young lady..."
Wang Yan's cold, nearly emotionless face twitched slightly, but no smile appeared. His voice was dry and raspy as he spoke.
"Senior Brother Wang Yan, you finally returned. My sister and I… we've missed you," Ying Huanhuan said, holding back the sting in her nose with a strained smile.
Wang Yan looked at her for a moment, then slowly shook his head. "You were always clever. You must know exactly why I've returned."
He raised a hand, as if to pat her shoulder, but froze mid-motion—then walked past her without another word.
Ying Huanhuan's eyes turned red.
Watching her reaction, Lin Fan shook his head, then stepped forward to block Wang Yan's path.
The atmosphere on the platform grew suffocating. Even the air seemed to freeze.
All the surrounding Dao Sect disciples felt as though an invisible hand was clutching their hearts.
Wang Yan paused as Lin Fan stepped in front of him. His empty, emotionless gaze slowly moved to Lin Fan's face.
His expression didn't change, but a thick, bloody aura began to radiate from his body.
The killing intent was overwhelming—those who cultivated peacefully within the sect felt its suffocating weight.
Several disciples nearby visibly paled.
But Lin Fan, standing opposite him, was unmoved.
"Senior Brother Wang Yan, the number one spot in the Grand Hall Trials… I've already claimed it," he said seriously.
"Lin Fan?" Wang Yan's expression finally shifted slightly, his voice hoarse. "The one who killed Yao Ling?"
"Didn't expect you to know me," Lin Fan smiled faintly.
"Dao Sect's raised a decent disciple… But if you want first place, then you'll have to beat me in the trials. I won't hold back."
Wang Yan's tone was equally serious.
With that, he brushed past Lin Fan and walked off.
It wasn't until he was long gone that the pressure in the air finally lifted.
Disciples stared at Lin Fan in awe.
To stand in front of a killing machine like Wang Yan without flinching—and to declare his claim on first place?
Few could help but respect such boldness.
"Come on, cheer up. I'm still waiting for that music lesson. As for Wang Yan—leave him to me," Lin Fan said gently, turning to Ying Huanhuan.
She asked softly, "How confident are you?"
"Ten out of ten," Lin Fan answered with a confident smile.
"I hope you mean that." She gave him a sideways glance and added, "I'm going to tell my sister. We'll do your zither lesson after the trials."
As she rushed away, Lin Fan shook his head with a small smile, then returned to the Dan River Platform to continue cultivating.
There were only a few days left before the trials, and he didn't have enough time to refine the Earthheart Vital Essence.
…
Over the following days, Lin Fan didn't run into Ying Huanhuan again.
But news of Wang Yan's return spread quickly through the sect.
So did the words Lin Fan had spoken in front of him.
It wasn't the first time he'd made such a bold claim—he had said the same thing when he destroyed Huo Zhen of Hongya Cave.
Now, Lin Fan was a household name in Dao Sect. His declaration of claiming first place sent waves through the sect.
Before, most disciples believed that the inevitable winner of the trials would be Heaven Hall's senior disciple, Ying Xiaoxiao.
But now, with Lin Fan's meteoric rise—and Wang Yan's sudden return—this year's Grand Hall Trials were shaping up to be a chaotic, unforgettable battle.
As the two most talked-about figures, both Wang Yan and Lin Fan shut themselves away, entering secluded cultivation in preparation.
Time continued to pass.
The excitement in the sect reached a boiling point.
Until finally—the day of the trials arrived.
Creak...
A door opened quietly. Lin Fan stepped out, his aura perfectly restrained, his expression calm.
Outside, Lin Dong was already waiting.
"Let's go. It's time," Lin Fan said with a smile, and the two soared toward the heart of Dao Sect.
There, a vast mountain range stretched across the landscape.
Towering peaks reached the clouds, wreathed in mist—like an immortal realm.
Today, however, the normally peaceful peaks were alive with noise and excitement.
The combined voices of the crowd echoed far and wide—audible even from a hundred miles away.
The Grand Hall Trials were Dao Sect's grandest annual event. From disciples to elders, everyone took it seriously.
When Lin Fan and Lin Dong arrived, countless figures had already gathered.
Because of the large number of contestants, numerous battle platforms had been prepared across several peaks.
But the one that drew the most attention—was the one where Lin Fan and Lin Dong landed.
Here, the elites of all four halls would compete.
The peak was already packed with people. Lin Fan scanned the crowd and quickly found the Desolate Hall's area, where he descended.
"Senior Brother Lin Fan is here!"
The Desolate Hall disciples erupted in excitement at the sight of him.
Core disciples like Jiang Hao and Pang Tong came over to greet Lin Fan and Lin Dong warmly.
Across the other halls, many disciples also turned to look—some curious, some cautious.
They had all heard Lin Fan's bold claim.
Once all the participants had arrived, Heaven Hall's master Qi Lei stepped forward at Ying Xuanzhi's signal.
He explained the rules and then declared loudly:
"Let the Grand Hall Trials… begin!"
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Happy New Year, friends! I hope you have a great time.