164: Touch of the Void: The Prototype of the Anchor Network and the Hidden Danger

The stone door of the Immortal Cave reopened.

Fresh air from outside surged in, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, instantly dispelling the lingering silence within the cave.

Lin Fan stood tall, bathed in the long-awaited sunlight, his entire being seemingly merging with the light, his Aura as profound as an abyss.

He did not linger for a moment.

With a flicker of his figure, he appeared beneath an inconspicuous broken cliff behind Qingyun Sect.

This was a desolate place with thin Spiritual Qi, where even the lowest-level Disciples rarely bothered to come.

Yet, Lin Fan regarded this place as a treasure.

He stretched out his finger, a wisp of gray, almost imperceptible Qi flow swirling around its tip.

That was the Dao of Space.

He did not take out any Formation Flags or Formation Plates, but merely used his finger as a brush and the Void Realm as paper, beginning to sketch.

His movements were fluid and natural, every rune born spontaneously, as if it was meant to exist there.

These complex Void Realm rune chains flashed in the air and vanished, leaving no trace, yet they had silently altered the essence of this space.

A brand new anchor point was directly “woven” by him into the spatial rift.

It was here.

Yet it was everywhere.

Unless a powerful being proficient in the Great Dao of Space used their Divine Thought to crush this Void Realm inch by inch, it would be absolutely impossible to discover its existence.

Even if a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator passed by and swept their Divine Thought over it a thousand times, they would only find it unremarkable, no different from any other desolate land in the Cultivation World.

This feeling of creating from nothing and precise control filled Lin Fan's heart with extreme satisfaction.

In the following days.

Lin Fan's figure was like a ghost, appearing in various remote and perilous places across the continent.

Deep within the ancient marshlands of Southern Xinjiang, where poisonous miasma permeated, he laid down the second anchor point beside the nest of a sleeping Nascent Soul demonic alligator.

In the Western Desert, where yellow sand filled the sky, at the heart of a molten lava river ten thousand feet underground, the scorching magma could not impede his steps, and the third anchor point took root there.

On the shore of the Eastern Sea, on an unnamed isolated island ravaged by storms, perpetually surrounded by lightning, the fourth anchor point was born amidst the flashes of lightning and thunder.

In the Northern Ice Plains, beneath a layer of profound ice that had not melted for ten thousand years, amidst the bone-chilling cold, the fifth anchor point quietly took shape.

The five anchor points, each occupying a cardinal direction, were tightly connected by chains of Void Realm runes, Improvements from Xuanji Zi's Formation diagrams.

A preliminary “Five Elements Unification” resurrection network was thus constructed.

They acted as interdependent corners, echoing each other; as long as one anchor point remained, Lin Fan would be Undying and Undying.

Having completed all this, Lin Fan was not satisfied.

He knew that instant resurrection consumed a terrifying amount of Soul energy.

Around each anchor point, he carved exquisite Soul Gathering Formations.

These Formations were normally silent, but they could passively attract and gather the free-floating Soul energy in the world, bit by bit.

At the same time, he also opened a miniature storage space next to each anchor point, filled with a massive amount of Soul Stones, both plundered from Xuanji Zi's Immortal Cave and accumulated by himself.

A truly “perpetual motion” supply System had already begun to take shape.

Just as Lin Fan was smugly satisfied with his absolute safety network, the outside world was already in turmoil because of him.

The news that Xuanji Zi's Immortal Cave had been razed to the ground spread like wildfire throughout the entire Cultivation World.

At first, no one believed it.

When more and more evidence pointed to that name, once infamous in Qingyun Sect but now shrouded in mystery, the entire Cultivation World fell silent.

“Undying Lin Fan.”

These four words seemed to carry a certain magic.

They represented mystery, power, and, more importantly, a supreme secret art capable of making everyone greedy.

Countless ambitious Sects and Hidden Families dispatched their most elite scouts, like sharks smelling blood, converging from all directions towards Qingyun Sect.

They dared not be blatant, but secretly laid out an invisible net, intending to steal the astonishing secret on Lin Fan.

Lin Fan merely scoffed at the turmoil in the outside world.

These days, while constructing the anchor point network, his Cultivation of the Ten Thousand Tribulations Undying Body never ceased.

His Immortal Grade Nascent Soul was now even more solid, flowing with brilliant multi-colored light, its Aura complete and robust, having firmly reached the peak of the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

Only one opportunity was needed for him to Breakthrough to the Late Stage.

His Physical Body and Divine Soul were several times stronger than when he emerged from Xuanji Zi's Immortal Cave.

To test the quality of the new network, Lin Fan decided to conduct a daring test.

He came to the Eastern Sea isolated island anchor point, tens of thousands of miles away from Qingyun Sect.

From his storage ring, he took out a specially refined “Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Talisman,” whose power was sufficient to completely obliterate an Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, along with their Physical Body and Nascent Soul.

He calmly looked at the Thunder Talisman in his hand, as if it were an ordinary stone.

Then, without hesitation, he detonated it.

“Boom!”

Amidst the deafening roar, the violent power of thunder instantly engulfed him.

The familiar feeling of death descended.

The next instant.

His consciousness did not pause in the slightest, nor did it experience that brief darkness.

It was as if he had only blinked.

The scene before him had already changed from the lightning-filled isolated island to the molten lava river deep beneath the Western Desert, where yellow sand filled the sky.

The scorching Aura rushed towards him.

He succeeded.

Seamless switching between anchor points and instant resurrection were perfectly achieved.

This feeling of playing with life and death in the palm of his hand made Lin Fan's lips curve involuntarily.

Just as he was about to return to Qingyun Sect, the communication Jade Slip in his embrace lit up.

It was Zhao Linger.

Lin Fan returned to the secret Immortal Cave of Qingyun Sect, pushed open the stone door, and immediately saw Zhao Linger standing gracefully at the entrance of the cave.

Today, she had changed into a light cyan long dress, which made her figure appear even more slender and her temperament gentle.

However, her beautiful oval face was now filled with solemnity and worry.

“Brother Lin Fan.”

Seeing Lin Fan appear safe and sound, Zhao Linger was visibly relieved, but the clouds of worry between her brows had not dispersed.

She quickly stepped forward and handed over a Jade Slip sealed with a secret method.

“This is the latest news received by our Zhao Family's intelligence network.”

“Recently, at least three unknown forces are secretly mobilizing personnel, and among them are Old Monsters of the Nascent Soul Late Stage.”

“Their target seems... to be Qingyun Sect.”

Zhao Linger's voice carried a hint of nervousness, her clear eyes fixed on Lin Fan, afraid to see even a trace of panic on his face.

However, she was disappointed.

Lin Fan took the Jade Slip, swept it with his Divine Thought, and not only did his expression show no panic, but a playful smile appeared on his face instead.

In his eyes, there was even a glint of light.

“Nascent Soul Late Stage?”

“Good, they've come at just the right time.”

Zhao Linger was stunned.

“Brother Lin Fan, this is no joke, those are powerful beings of the Nascent Soul Late Stage.”

Lin Fan looked at her worried expression, and his heart warmed.

He reached out and, very naturally, gently tucked a wisp of hair blown loose by the wind behind her ear.

His fingertips inadvertently touched her warm earlobe, causing Zhao Linger's delicate body to tremble slightly, and a blush instantly spread across her cheeks.

“Ling'er, don't worry.”

Lin Fan's voice was gentle, yet carried an undeniable confidence.

“They aren't here to cause trouble.”

“They're here to deliver a package to me.”

“Just right, I just got a new toy and was wondering where to test its power.”

These words completely stunned Zhao Linger; she looked at the eager excitement in Lin Fan's eyes and for a moment didn't know what to say.

This man always managed to use the most incredible logic to turn the most deadly crisis into an interesting game.

Lin Fan decided to turn the tables.

He wanted to actively set up a trap, luring these self-proclaimed hunters into the slaughterhouse he had meticulously prepared.

He began to discreetly set up some miniature warning Formations in the mountains surrounding Qingyun Sect, quietly waiting for his prey to arrive.

However, one wave had not settled before another rose.

Just as Lin Fan was preparing for the upcoming “blade-testing” battle, another urgent communication talisman flew frantically into Li Hanyue's hand.

Li Hanyue took the communication talisman, and her perpetually ice-cold face, like ten thousand years of frozen ice, suddenly changed color the moment she read the information, all blood draining from it.

“What's wrong?”

Lin Fan noticed her unusual state.

Li Hanyue's knuckles, holding the communication talisman, turned white from exertion; she took a deep breath, her voice even trembling slightly.

“It's an urgent distress signal from my Family.”

“Our Old Ancestor... he had a mishap in his Cultivation, his oil has run dry, and now he is severely injured and dying.”

“Our Li Family's long-dormant enemy, the Blood Shadow Gate, somehow got wind of the news and is now launching a full-scale invasion.”

At this point, a hint of despair appeared in her eyes.

“The Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Gate... he... he has Breakthrough.”

“He is a newly advanced Soul Transformation Initial Stage powerhouse.”

Soul Transformation powerhouse!

These four words seemed to freeze the air inside the Immortal Cave.

Zhao Linger gasped, her face full of disbelief.

A Soul Transformation powerful being, for any Sect or Family without a powerhouse of the same Realm guarding it, meant absolute disaster.

Lin Fan's heart, however, stirred fiercely at this moment.

The Nascent Soul Late Stage Cultivators coveting his secret of Undying.

The newly advanced Soul Transformation powerful being besieging Li Hanyue's Family.

Did these two events, breaking out at the same time, truly happen by mere coincidence?

In Lin Fan's mind, countless clues rapidly connected.

The corners of his mouth slowly curved into a cold and Battle Intent-filled arc.

Very good.

This is truly excellent.

Let this storm come even more fiercely.

He, Lin Fan, truly needed to use the fresh blood of these enemies to hold the grandest “blade-testing” ceremony for his newly Awakened “Resurrection Counterattack.”

Chapter 165: Killing Intent Lurking: Lure and the First Cry of “Resurrection Counterattack”

Several days later.

Qingyun Sect, Lingxiu Peak, within Zhao Linger's exclusive Immortal Cave.

A furnace of Medicinal Pills had just been refined, and the entire room was filled with an invigorating medicinal fragrance.

Zhao Linger, however, had none of her usual joy. She stood restlessly by the window, gazing at the distant, undulating mountain ranges, her gentle, water-like eyes now filled with an lingering worry.

"What's wrong, Sister Ling'er?"

A clear voice sounded, and Su Meier swayed gracefully as she walked in, her snow-white fox tail gently wagging, its tip sweeping the ground without stirring a speck of dust.

"I don't know either."

Zhao Linger turned around, her pretty brows slightly furrowed, her jade-like hands unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes.

"I just feel... uneasy."

"Since just now, it feels like something bad is about to happen."

Su Meier's enchanting fox-like eyes narrowed slightly. She stretched out her slender, jade-like fingers, made a few calculations, and then her expression also turned somewhat solemn.

"The Heavenly Dao has been completely disrupted by a vast and complex power."

"This direction... is the area where that bad guy Lin Fan set up his warning Formation."

Before her words finished, a cold sword light flashed.

Li Hanyue had already appeared silently at the entrance of the Immortal Cave. She was dressed in white like snow, her expression as cold as ever, but her hand, tightly gripping the sword hilt, had a hint of paleness at the knuckles.

She said nothing.

But her gaze had already explained everything.

The eyes of the three women simultaneously turned towards the dead silent mountain range.

They knew that Lin Fan was once again doing something crazy that they didn't know about... Three hundred li outside Qingyun Sect, in a desolate stone valley abandoned by Cultivators.

The air here seemed to have solidified.

The sound of the wind disappeared.

Insect chirps were gone.

Even the Spiritual Qi flowing through the valley carried a sickening scent of blood and an oppressive feeling.

Several Old Ancestors, whose Auras were as profound as the sea, were positioned at key nodes in the valley. Their figures almost merged with the surrounding rocks, and only when their eyes occasionally opened would they reveal the terrifying glint of a Late Stage Nascent Soul powerful enough to freeze the Divine Soul.

Behind them, more than ten Cultivators of the Middle Stage Nascent Soul also held their breath, like the most patient hunters, forming an invisible net.

They had only one target.

The man who had recently stirred up huge waves in the Cultivation World.

Undying Lin Fan.

Just then, a figure walked unhurriedly into the valley entrance.

He wore the most ordinary Outer Sect Disciple attire of Qingyun Sect, his Aura restrained to the extreme, making him look like a small Cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Stage who had stumbled into this place after getting lost.

His face even carried a perfectly natural hint of confusion and curiosity, as if he was completely unaware of the murderous intent in the valley, enough to make any Nascent Soul Cultivator's scalp tingle.

It was Lin Fan.

He certainly hadn't stumbled in by mistake.

The warning Formations hidden in the dark had long since transmitted everything here to him in minute detail.

He looked at these self-righteous hunters, a hint of unnoticed mockery playing on his lips.

What kind of trap was this?

This was clearly a magnificent funeral he had meticulously prepared for this group of clueless fellows.

The moment Lin Fan's foot landed on the marked bluestone slab in the center of the valley.

The ambush began!

"Boom—!"

Several extremely powerful Late Stage Nascent Soul Divine Thoughts, like unsheathed sharp swords, instantly locked onto him.

On the rock walls around the valley, countless profound runes suddenly lit up, and towering pillars of light shot up from the ground, intertwining in mid-air to form a huge light shield, completely sealing off this area.

The brilliance of Magic Treasures poured down like a torrential rain, each attack containing terrifying power capable of easily tearing apart a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Spiritual Qi surged, and space trembled.

Leading them was a gray-robed Old Ancestor with a sinister face, a hooked nose, and narrow eyes.

He hovered in mid-air, looking down at Lin Fan, who was trapped in the core of the Formation, a triumphant, cruel smile on his face.

"Lin Fan."

"You rat hiding in the gutter, you finally show your face."

"Hand over your Undying Secret Art, and this Old Ancestor might consider leaving you a complete corpse."

His voice was hoarse and unpleasant, filled with the arrogance and greed of a victor.

Lin Fan looked up, calmly gazing at him, as if the surrounding world-destroying attacks were merely a gentle breeze.

He even showed a gentle smile.

"Just you few pieces of trash?"

"You've all gathered quite neatly, saves me the trouble of finding you one by one."

"How about this, I'll give you a chance."

"Kneel now and kowtow, cripple your Cultivation, and I might consider only killing you once."

These words were calm and indifferent.

Yet they were like a resounding slap, fiercely hitting the faces of all the attackers.

"Insolent brat!"

The gray-robed Old Ancestor's face turned ashen with rage, and he laughed in his extreme anger.

"Facing death, yet still so stubborn!"

"Kill him!"

"This Old Ancestor wants to see how many times your Undying Body can withstand!"

He gave the command.

All attacks were unleashed without any reservation.

The power of more than a dozen Nascent Soul Cultivators, amplified by the sealing Formation, converged into an incomparably thick pillar of destructive light, descending upon Lin Fan with an Aura of annihilating everything.

Facing this world-destroying blow.

Lin Fan's smile grew even brighter.

He didn't dodge.

He didn't even activate any defenses.

He simply spread his arms, as if embracing his lover, and actively met the pillar of light.

Come on.

Let me see what a wonderful death experience your full-power strike can bring me.

"Rumble—!"

Light swallowed everything.

A destructive energy storm raged wildly at the core of the Formation.

Lin Fan's Physical Body, the moment it touched the pillar of light, instantly exploded, turning into a sky full of blood mist.

His indestructible Immortal Grade Nascent Soul also shattered inch by inch under the violent energy impact, completely dissipating.

Consciousness sank into a brief Void Realm.

He died.

He died cleanly and thoroughly.

The attackers looked at the diffusing blood mist, first collectively stunned.

He just... died?

The Undying Lin Fan, rumored to be unkillable even by Spirit Transformation Old Monster, was instantly killed by their combined attack?

After a brief moment of shock, came uncontrollable ecstasy.

"Hahahahaha!"

The gray-robed Old Ancestor burst into laughter, his laughter filled with disdain and glee.

"What damn Undying Body!"

"It was just an exaggerated joke!"

"What a waste of this Old Ancestor's arrangements!"

The other Cultivators also breathed a sigh of relief, their faces revealing greedy smiles, and their Divine Thoughts began to frantically sweep through the blood mist, trying to find any storage rings or secret treasures Lin Fan might have left behind after his death.

However.

The gray-robed Old Ancestor soon felt that something was wrong.

Lin Fan's Soul had indeed dissipated.

But the trace of his Origin imprint left between heaven and earth did not completely vanish like that of a normal Cultivator.

Instead, a faint, almost imperceptible connection, like a faint star, suddenly flickered in a very distant place.

What... what was going on?

Just as he felt doubts and was briefly distracted.

An unexpected change occurred!

Thousands of li away, in the heart of the underground lava river in the Western Desert, the secret anchor point Lin Fan had set up flashed with light.

Lin Fan's Soul energy instantly condensed there.

His Physical Body, at a speed that defied logic and violated the Heavenly Dao's Law, reformed out of thin air.

At the same time.

A cold System prompt sounded in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Ding! Host death detected, Instant Resurrection has been activated."

"New function 'Resurrection Counterattack' has been activated!"

"Counterattack energy begins to inject!"

A golden light of extreme brilliance, like the grace of a Heavenly God, instantly enveloped his reborn body.

In the valley.

The attackers, still celebrating their victory, had not yet had time to divide the spoils.

A terrifying energy fluctuation that made their Souls tremble, without warning, erupted from the center of the still-diffusing blood mist!

That Aura... was not Nascent Soul!

That was the unique, all-crushing Domain pressure belonging to a Soul Transformation Stage powerful being!

Everyone's smiles instantly froze on their faces.

The color drained from their faces at a visible speed, replaced by extreme terror and disbelief.

Within the blood mist.

A figure slowly condensed into form.

Lin Fan.

He stood there unharmed, a thin layer of golden flames entwined around his body, sacred yet filled with a destructive Aura.

His eyes no longer held any pretense of gentleness.

It was an absolute indifference that transcended life and death.

Like a Heavenly God looking down on a group of ants about to be crushed.

His gaze, like a hawk's, precisely bypassed everyone and locked onto the leading gray-robed Old Ancestor.

It was him.

The mastermind of this ambush.

And the core hub maintaining this sealing Formation.

Kill him, and this Formation will collapse without an attack.

The moment Lin Fan was reborn.

Within him, a terrifying energy of the Initial Stage Soul Transformation Realm, like a volcano that had slept for billions of years, roared awake.

His Immortal Grade Nascent Soul emitted an unprecedented dazzling light, and every ray of light contained pure destructive power that surpassed his current Realm.

"No... impossible!"

The gray-robed Old Ancestor let out a ghostly shriek, feeling the deadly murderous intent that had locked onto him.

Fear, like an icy tide, instantly engulfed his reason.

And Lin Fan, with a cruel smile, moved.

His figure vanished from the spot.

Carrying the flames of revenge and the supreme prestige of a ruler descending upon the world, he charged directly towards the first sacrifice he had chosen.