141: Fairy's heart beats, witch's undercurrent surges

Qingyun Sect.

Spirit Peak, Meditation Pavilion.

Zhao Linger sat cross-legged on a futon, a Pill Furnace before her, its flames gently warming.

Wafts of pure medicinal fragrance permeated the quiet room.

Her expression, however, was not as serene as usual.

Her gentle, watery eyes held an indelible sense of bewilderment and shock.

Her mind echoed repeatedly with the words her father, Zhao Wuji, had just spoken to her.

"Ling'er, the news about the Secret Realm of Souls has been confirmed."

"That Lin Fan... he isn't dead."

"He withstood the Heavenly Tribulation and condensed... an Immortal Grade Nascent Soul."

"He even... devoured the Source of the Heavenly Demon in front of everyone."

As Zhao Wuji spoke these words, his usually calm and dignified face also showed an undisguised, complex expression, a mix of shock and absurdity.

Every word was like a thunderclap, stirring up monstrous waves in Zhao Linger's heart.

Immortal Grade Nascent Soul.

Devouring the Source of the Heavenly Demon.

These terms had surpassed her understanding of cultivation.

They didn't seem like things that would happen in reality, but rather ethereal chapters that would only appear in ancient myths and legends.

Yet, all of this was now linked to that name she once knew, and yet found somewhat unfamiliar.

Lin Fan.

Her fingertips trembled uncontrollably.

A wisp of unstable Spiritual Qi entered the Pill Furnace.

The medicinal liquid inside the furnace let out a faint popping sound, and a wisp of green smoke rose from it.

This precious batch of Medicinal Pills was ruined.

Zhao Linger, however, seemed oblivious.

Scenes from the past involuntarily flashed before her eyes.

The first time she saw him outside the Sect's main hall, he was still an inconspicuous Outer Sect Disciple, with a humble yet distant smile on his face.

At the time, she merely glanced at him indifferently and didn't take him to heart.

Later, in the Yao Beast Mountain Range, he "died" in front of her again and again in a way she couldn't comprehend, only to reappear repeatedly.

At that time, she only felt that he harbored some secret for preserving his life; though curious, she felt more of a subtle repulsion stemming from her own arrogance.

She felt that he was not from the same world as her.

His "cautiousness," his "fear of death," was incompatible with her accepted belief that Immortal Cultivators should be fearless, charging forward to slay Yao Beasts and eradicate demons.

She even harbored a hint of disdain for him in her heart.

But now?

That cowardly fellow, whom she had disdained, had accomplished something earth-shattering that even Nascent Soul Old Ancestors couldn't do.

And what about herself?

As the favored daughter of the Qingyun Sect, a Fairy on whom countless people placed high hopes.

What could she do in the face of true crisis?

A strong, unprecedented self-doubt, like a venomous snake, coiled around her Dao Heart.

Her long-held pride, her steadfast beliefs, seemed so fragile, so ridiculous, in the face of the incomprehensible miracle represented by the name "Lin Fan."

"Was I... wrong?"

She murmured to herself.

Her voice carried a trace of regret and confusion that even she hadn't noticed.

She began to recall every little detail of her time with Lin Fan.

He seemed timid and afraid of trouble, yet he always stood in front of everyone at the most critical moments.

He claimed to "not dare to provoke," yet he repeatedly provoked the strongest enemies.

He seemed indifferent to everyone, but his gaze, when it fell upon her, seemed to carry a hint of... something different.

What was it?

Admiration? Teasing? Or... something else?

Zhao Linger's heart was in turmoil.

An indescribable, bittersweet, complex emotion sprouted in her heart.

This emotion, like an uncontrolled flame, scorched her reason and also her "Fairy Heart," which had always been as still as an ancient well.

She found herself involuntarily thinking of him.

Wondering where he was now.

Wondering if he was injured.

Wondering if... there was anyone else by his side.

When the last thought surfaced, her heart tightened abruptly.

A nameless irritation and unease surged into her mind.

She knew something was wrong with her.

This, perhaps, was the legendary... Heart Demon.

A Heart Demon born because of him.

Crimson Sun Sect.

Inside the oppressive Sect secret chamber, Li Hanyue, clad in a fiery red close-fitting outfit, stood tall and straight like a pine.

Before her, a massive water mirror floated.

On the water mirror, lines of information flowed rapidly like water.

"Target Lin Fan, suspected Qingyun Sect Disciple, identity unconfirmed."

"Appeared in the Secret Realm of Souls, cultivation suspected to be Golden Core Stage."

"Within the Secret Realm, triggered a world-destroying Heavenly Tribulation, condensed an anomaly, suspected to be the legendary Immortal Grade Nascent Soul."

"Clashed with the Source of the Heavenly Demon, result unknown, Source of the Heavenly Demon dissipated."

"After the Secret Realm collapsed, disappeared with Su Meier of the Nine-tailed Yao Fox clan, whereabouts unknown."

"According to multi-source intelligence analysis, the spatial passage he used to leave the Secret Realm ultimately points to... the Southern Barren Mountain Range region."

Upon seeing the last piece of information, a sharp glint flashed in Li Hanyue's eyes.

She did not, like Zhao Linger, fall into complex emotional entanglements.

Her thoughts were much more direct and pragmatic.

Lin Fan.

This man, once again, in a way she had completely not anticipated, redefined her understanding of a "Genius."

She still remembered the immense impact his fearless fighting style had on her in the Yao Beast Mountain Range.

She had thought she already held him in high regard.

But now, it seemed, what she had seen was perhaps just the tip of the iceberg.

Immortal Grade Nascent Soul.

Withstanding the Heavenly Tribulation.

These words made her blood subtly boil.

It wasn't jealousy.

Rather, it was a strong excitement, like meeting a worthy opponent.

And a reluctance, no matter what, to be left far behind by him.

She wanted to know.

She urgently wanted to know what kind of secrets this man harbored.

What kind of Cultivation Technique, what kind of Physique, allowed him to achieve all this.

She wanted to see it with her own eyes.

To confirm whether those rumors were true or false.

"Father."

Li Hanyue closed the water mirror, turned, and bowed towards the shadows deep within the secret chamber.

"Daughter requests to go out for experience."

Her voice was clear and firm.

"Target, Southern Barren Mountain Range."

From the shadows came a long sigh.

"Yue'er, that Lin Fan is very dangerous."

"I know."

Li Hanyue raised her head, her beautiful face showing no fear, but rather a hint of challenge.

"Precisely because it's dangerous, I must go."

"The path of Cultivation is inherently Heaven-Defying. If I don't even have the courage to pursue a peer, how can I speak of reaching the Grand Dao?"

The secret chamber fell into a long silence.

After a long while, an old voice, tinged with a hint of helplessness, finally sounded again.

"Go."

"Take the Crimson Sun Token; the Sect's intelligence network will fully cooperate with you."

"Thank you, Father."

Li Hanyue bowed again, turned, and without any hesitation, walked out of the secret chamber.

Her fiery red figure disappeared into the depths of the darkness.

In her eyes, a raging fire burned.

That fire was curiosity, unwillingness, and even more, an intense, persistent desire to thoroughly investigate everything about that man.

In the valley.

Lin Fan slowly opened his eyes from his deep meditation.

A sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes, then vanished.

The Immortal Grade Nascent Soul within him had initially completed its Fusion with the Soul-Devouring Dao Body.

An unprecedented sense of power filled his limbs and bones.

He felt as if he could now punch through a mountain with a single blow.

A single thought could make a Golden Core cultivator's Divine Soul collapse.

But he felt no joy.

Because, behind that powerful feeling, he also sensed a heavier, and clearer... pressure.

Pressure from the "Era Calamity."

He stood up and walked to the cave entrance.

Su Meier immediately noticed his movement, put down the robes in her hand, and came over to greet him.

"You're awake?"

Her voice held a hint of uncontrollable joy.

She handed Lin Fan a newly mended robe, still carrying her body warmth and a faint, subtle fragrance.

Lin Fan took the robe, but his gaze fell on her face.

"What are you thinking about?"

He asked.

He could feel that Su Meier's emotions were somewhat unsettled.

It was a complex mix of worry, attachment, and a hint of... vigilance.

"Nothing."

Su Meier instinctively shook her head, avoiding his gaze.

She didn't want him to know about the small, possessive sense of crisis in her heart.

She knew that a man like Lin Fan was like the bright moon in the dark night; no matter how much he tried to hide himself, his radiance was destined to attract countless moths.

Those so-called Fairies, Saintesses, Demonesses... in the future, many more women would be attracted to him, go crazy for him, just like her.

Thinking of this, her heart felt somewhat constricted.

Lin Fan looked at her somewhat stubborn profile and suddenly smiled.

He reached out and gently pulled her into his embrace.

"Meier."

His voice, low and deep, sounded in her ear.

"We should leave here."

Su Meier's body stiffened slightly.

"Where to?"

She didn't ask why, but simply buried her face in his chest and asked in a muffled voice.

"To a very distant place."

Lin Fan's gaze looked towards the distant northern sky.

"A place called the 'Ancient Barren Domain.'"

That was a name he found while sorting through the residual memories of the Source of the Heavenly Demon.

It was said to be an abandoned, ancient region with chaotic Laws.

The Spiritual Qi there was mixed and violent, unsuitable for most Cultivators to survive.

But for Lin Fan, who possessed the Soul-Devouring Dao Body, that might be the most suitable place for him.

Most importantly, the Demon's memories vaguely mentioned that some clues to the so-called "Era Calamity" seemed to be hidden deep within the Ancient Barren Domain.

Moreover, it was far from the current center of the Cultivation World, which would allow him to avoid the troubles that would come looking for him because of the Secret Realm of Souls incident.

"Ancient Barren Domain..."

Su Meier softly repeated the name.

She could feel an ancient, desolate, and dangerous aura from those three words.

But she didn't hesitate at all.

She looked up, gazing into Lin Fan's eyes, her expression firm and resolute.

"Okay, I'll go with you."

Lin Fan's heart warmed as he saw the trust and love in her eyes.

He knew that his next words might overturn her understanding.

But he had to speak them.

Because he didn't want to hide anything from this woman who was willing to entrust everything to him.

The night deepened.

The two sat side by side by the bonfire, its light casting their shadows long, long.

"Meier, what I'm about to tell you might seem very absurd."

Lin Fan's voice broke the silence.

"But, I hope you can believe me."

Su Meier didn't speak, she just turned her head and looked at him quietly, her eyes full of seriousness.

Lin Fan took a deep breath.

"Actually... I've died many times."

His voice was light, yet it was like a meteor, heavily smashing into Su Meier's heart.

Su Meier's pupils contracted sharply.

Her face was filled with unbelievable shock.

"Each time I die, I come back to life in another place."

"And each time I die, I gain some... unexpected benefits."

Lin Fan didn't mention the System's existence, only revealing his biggest secret to her in a relatively easy-to-understand way.

He looked at Su Meier's face, which had turned somewhat pale from extreme shock, and felt a little uneasy.

He didn't know how she would react.

Would she see him as a monster? Or a madman?

Su Meier stared at him blankly, her lips slightly parted, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Her mind was blank.

Dying and coming back to life?

How was that possible?

This completely defied her understanding of life and the Heavenly Dao.

But... she remembered Lin Fan's repeated strange "deaths" and "resurrections" in the Yao Beast Mountain Range.

She remembered his fearless posture when facing the Heavenly Tribulation.

She remembered the fleeting excitement and ruthlessness in his eyes when facing the Demon's Possession.

So... that's how it was.

Everything had an explanation.

After the shock, what surged into her heart was not fear, not repulsion.

But a deeper, more profound... pain.

Her heart felt as if it was being fiercely squeezed by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

How many times had he... died?

To gain the power he now possessed, enough to look down on the world?

She dared not think.

Nor could she imagine.

Tears, once again, uncontrollably slid from her eyes.

This time, it wasn't grievance, not relief.

But pure, heartbreaking, anguish.

She reached out a trembling hand and gently caressed Lin Fan's cheek.

"Does it hurt?"

She asked, choking back a sob.

Lin Fan paused slightly.

He had anticipated all her possible reactions, but he had never expected her to ask such a question.

He looked at her tear-soaked eyes, full of heartache, and the softest part of his heart was heavily struck.

He shook his head, holding her cold little hand.

"It doesn't hurt."

"I'm used to it."

These understated words, however, made Su Meier's tears flow even more fiercely.

She could no longer control herself, and suddenly threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly.

She said nothing.

She just held him with all her strength, as if to transmit all her warmth to him.

Their bond, at this moment, transcended life and death, becoming even stronger.

In this warm yet poignant atmosphere.

Lin Fan's gaze, inadvertently, swept towards the dark mountain forest in the distance.

His eyes suddenly turned cold.

There, several faint, indistinct Divine Senses, carrying greed and malice, were quietly approaching.

It seemed their journey, from the very beginning, would not be peaceful.