Chapter 486: A Forceful Challenge, Suppressed in One Move!
At the very center of the vast expanse of darkness stood a massive black stone plaza, its edges seemingly extending beyond sight.
On this plaza, countless black stone pillars stood tall and solemn. Carved into their surfaces were mysterious runes, each one bearing the name of someone who had made a significant contribution to the Hall of Darkness—legendary figures of generations past.
This place was known as the Dark Plaza—a sacred ground in Darkness City. It was only opened during the once-every-three-years ceremony, and only those with considerable status in the Northern Xuan Region were allowed to enter.
Of course, that status was one granted by the Hall of Darkness itself.
Now, the plaza was filled to the brim with an ocean of people. So many, in fact, that the end of the crowd could not even be seen. And yet, despite the terrifying number of people present, the entire space was dead silent.
At the center of the plaza stood a towering black altar, with ten thousand stone steps leading up to a dark throne at its peak.
Sitting calmly on that throne was a slender figure. She wore a long black robe adorned with dark-gold embroidery, exuding a majestic and solemn aura.
That figure was none other than Qingtan, whom Lin Fan hadn't seen in three years.
Compared to before, Qingtan now radiated a cold and mature presence. Her gaze swept across the entire crowd in the plaza—and wherever her eyes landed, not a soul dared meet her gaze.
"…She's changed a lot," Lin Fan said softly as he gazed at her from afar. "She must've gone through a lot these past three years."
Beside him, Chen Kui smiled bitterly. "She has. Especially when it came to cultivation and the tasks of the Hall's Judgment Division—she was always the first to act. Honestly, I can't even compare."
Lin Fan shook his head lightly. "That girl's just too stubborn. She didn't need to carry it all on her own…"
…
On the throne, Qingtan's cold yet regal gaze swept across the countless gathered below. Finally, she gave a faint nod.
"The ceremony—begins."
As her voice fell, it was amplified by a surge of yuan power and resounded across the heavens.
Black light erupted across the plaza like a grand festival, and the various major forces of the Northern Xuan Region began arriving one after another, respectfully offering their greetings.
Everything proceeded smoothly… until the moment Qingtan was about to perform the ancestral rite—the act that would officially cement her as the new Hall Master.
"Hold it!"
A loud shout rang out, freezing the entire plaza.
From within the Elder Council, an elder stepped forward, cold glint in his eyes.
"Grand Elder, why are you stopping the Hall Master's rite?"
Two nearby black-robed elders frowned and questioned him sharply.
The Grand Elder's face was cold as he glanced at the two men, then locked his gaze on Qingtan.
"According to the Hall's rules, only someone who has been unanimously approved by the Elder Council may conduct the ancestral rite. And we… do not believe the current candidate has received such approval."
A sharp verbal exchange ensued between Qingtan and the Grand Elder. Following that, two Supreme Elders also stepped forward, claiming that Qingtan's Dark Saint Scythe was incomplete, lacking its soul essence, and therefore she was unfit to wield the Ancestral Darkness Symbol.
Neither side backed down, and Qingtan prepared to use the Symbol to defend herself.
But the Supreme Elders had already summoned the Ancestral Spirit of the Hall, which suppressed the Ancestral Darkness Symbol's power—leaving Qingtan at a clear disadvantage.
"Little girl," one of the Supreme Elders sneered, "you think your tricks are enough to oppose the two of us? How foolish!"
They raised their hands, and two beams of black light, pulsing with Samsara fluctuations, shot from their fingers toward Qingtan.
Gritting her teeth, Qingtan gripped the Dark Saint Scythe tightly, preparing to face them head-on.
BOOM!
Suddenly, thunder roared across the sky.
Everyone looked up in shock.
Above the plaza, dark clouds had gathered without warning. A moment later, the clouds tore apart, and a massive hand of lightning, thousands of feet wide, descended from the heavens.
"Thunder Emperor's Falling Star Hand!"
A blue-robed figure stood tall in the sky, surrounded by thunder. He resembled a sovereign of lightning.
His cold voice echoed through the sky, shaking the hearts of all who heard it.
RUMBLE!
The enormous lightning hand crashed down. Within it coiled a giant lightning dragon, its oppressive aura sweeping across the land.
BOOM!
The two beams of black light were obliterated instantly.
Then the lightning hand descended further—straight at the two Supreme Elders!
Their faces changed drastically. With a shout, they gathered their power and struck at the lightning.
BOOM!
The clash triggered a devastating shockwave. Space cracked and distorted. The entire plaza shook.
THUD! THUD!
The Supreme Elders' attacks were crushed. Both men were smashed into the ground, carving two massive craters in the black stone plaza.
PUH! PUH!
Blood spewed from their mouths. Their faces were deathly pale, their eyes filled with shock.
HISSSS…
Gasps filled the plaza.
Everyone—whether from the Hall of Darkness or another faction—was shaken to their core.
"Who is that?! Who dares cause trouble at the Hall of Darkness?!"
"I don't know, but anyone who can defeat two Supreme Elders with a single move clearly has the strength to back it up!"
"He looks so young… who is he?!"
As the whispers spread like wildfire, the mood among the foreign guests shifted.
Here, in the Northern Xuan Region, the Hall of Darkness reigned supreme. Never had anyone dared to act so boldly during the Hall's own grand ceremony.
But today—someone had.
And he had done so with absolute dominance.
Lin Fan had arrived.
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