Chapter 11: The Fierce Struggle

Very well!

Lin Fan’s displayed combat prowess had already earned the silent admiration of these battle-hardened soldiers.

Thus, when Lin Fan’s words fell, the Tian Dan elites responded in kind, each unleashing their cultivated spirit techniques, striving to tear open the defense barrier of the bandit’s second-in-command.

“A bunch of ants, daring to compete with me? Seeking death!”

Having narrowly avoided Lin Fan’s strike, the bandit’s second-in-command felt his face burn with shame, his dignity utterly shattered.

Now, as the Tian Dan soldiers he had toyed with dared to fight him to the death, his anger flared into rage. His power, at the Divine Dan realm, erupted explosively, and in an instant, he severely wounded one of the elite Tian Dan warriors.

With his strength, in a one-on-one clash, he could easily suppress a Tian Dan peak fighter. But facing a group assault, he could only seek gaps in their attack to strike, and after each move, regardless of the outcome, he had to swiftly evade the others’ counterattacks.

Yet, even these intermittent strikes caused the Tian Dan peak armor soldiers great distress.

Though the difference in realms could be somewhat offset by sheer numbers, their forces were too few. Even with indiscriminate attacks, the bandit’s speed, far surpassing theirs, allowed him to evade fatal blows.

As for Lin Fan, he constantly shifted position, relying on the speed boost from the Phantom Shadow Technique. His swiftness now rivaled that of peak Tian Dan experts, almost matching the bandit’s second-in-command, who, though eager to strike, had to expend considerable effort searching for the youth’s fleeting form.

Superior mortal-grade superior-level body technique and mortal-grade superior-level attack spirit technique—this was why the bandit’s second-in-command took Lin Fan seriously.

Now, he no longer regarded this youth, whose cultivation barely reached the Earth Dan peak, as a mere ant, but as the most threatening presence in the field.

“This old brat is indeed wary of me.”

Lin Fan frowned slightly. He had hoped to exploit the Tian Dan soldiers’ indiscriminate attacks to find a momentary flaw in the bandit’s defense and strike.

Unexpectedly, the bandit maneuvered with ease amid the siege, frequently casting glances at Lin Fan, preventing him from finding an opening to attack.

“I can’t drag this out any longer. Once the Phantom Shadow Technique’s duration ends, even wielding spirit techniques won’t pose much threat to him.

No matter, I’m going all out!”

Two minutes was far too short.

Given his current spiritual energy, Lin Fan needed to accumulate power to unleash a spirit technique, so he could no longer maintain the Phantom Shadow Technique and had to attack while it still granted him speed.

Otherwise, the soldiers’ desperate efforts would be wasted.

Suddenly, the fiery blade in Lin Fan’s hand blazed with scorching flames, as if it sought to ignite the very air.

---

Under the fiery glow, Lin Fan’s figure appeared even more formidable. He halted, eyes resolute, without hesitation or fear.

As if sensing Lin Fan’s impending move, four city defenders suddenly erupted with terrifying aura. Their eyes were resolute as they surged forward, unleashing their ultimate techniques while firmly grasping the bandit’s second-in-command’s four limbs.

Such a move was tantamount to a death sentence for them.

The bandit’s second-in-command’s eyes flashed with ferocity as he roared like thunder, a formidable aura surging violently. His blade slashed repeatedly, severing the four Tian Dan peak warriors into pieces, blood spraying into the air.

Even without their bodies, their eight hands clung tightly to his limbs, causing his figure to stagger briefly.

Dangerous!

That fleeting loss of control sent chills through the bandit’s entire body. Though he wanted to react, the restraints dulled his reflexes.

“Kill!”

Lin Fan’s voice swept like a ghostly gale. His figure moved like a phantom, the Fire Qilin Sword wrapped in majestic flames, its brilliance stabbing straight toward the bandit’s second-in-command.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Fan was right before him, clearly seeing the panic in the bandit’s eyes.

“Bastard, get lost!”

The bandit shattered the eight grasping hands lingering on his limbs with his spiritual energy, regaining full control of his body. His eyes blazed with murderous intent like a demon incarnate as he furiously roared.

His blade clashed head-on with Lin Fan’s sword.

With a clang, the Fire Qilin Sword was knocked away. The bandit, elated, prepared to deliver the killing blow to the youth who had nearly overturned him.

Yet, the youth’s figure began to dissipate before his eyes.

An afterimage!

Startled, the bandit swung his blade backward without hesitation.

But at that instant, a fist wreathed in roaring flames suddenly shot before his eyes. The fist, imbued with wild spiritual energy, descended like a falling star, bringing with it the power to destroy all, striking heavily on the bandit’s face.

Boom!

The tremendous force exploded instantly, shattering the bandit’s skull, sending his body hurtling backward.

His blade, mid-swing, lost all control and plunged heavily into the ground beside him.

This bandit second-in-command, a Divine Dan realm master, met a gruesome death at Lin Fan’s hand.

The price paid was the loss of several Tian Dan peak city defenders.

Excellent!

From afar, Ge Yan watched the scene with immense satisfaction, as though venting all the anger accumulated from days of relentless assaults.

The bandit leader, however, looked grim, his eyes flashing with deadly intent. He glanced at Lin Fan with a killing intent so palpable it seemed tangible.

“Retreat!”

At the leader’s command, the bandits, shaken by the death of their second-in-command, fled in panic, not daring to linger an instant.

---

“Youngster, I’ve remembered you!”

The bandit leader stood before the city gate. Ge Yan also ceased his attack. Their cultivation levels were close, and the leader’s insistence on retreat left Ge Yan powerless to stop him.

The leader fixed his gaze on Lin Fan with a stern expression, as if imprinting the youth’s face deeply into his soul, speaking coldly.

Lin Fan smiled faintly. Burdened with many debts, he felt no fear toward the grudge of a Divine Dan expert.

After this battle, he clearly understood his strength hovered between Divine Dan and Tian Dan. He could surpass ordinary Tian Dan peaks but could not contend with Divine Dan masters.

Yet, if given another chance to refine a flame, at Divine Dan realm, he would last no fewer than ten rounds.

This confidence came from cultivating the Burning Heaven Qi Refinement Technique.

This technique was infinitely profound, able not only to refine the myriad fires of heaven and earth to nourish the self but also to vastly enhance the richness of his spiritual energy, far beyond peers of equal realm.

Having quelled the bandit chaos, Lin Fan felt no excitement. Gazing at the corpses littering the city gate, he clenched his fists tightly. If only his strength were greater, these city defenders might not have perished.

He clearly remembered the resolute, steadfast expressions on the faces of the four Tian Dan peak armor soldiers as they fought desperately.

Thinking of this, he glanced back at the city behind him. The people’s peaceful days were secured because someone bore the heavy burden ahead of them...

These warriors deserved respect!

“Master Lin, do not blame yourself.

From the moment we donned this armor, we were prepared to die on the battlefield.

Rest assured, I will properly care for them.”

Ge Yan patted Lin Fan’s shoulder, as if seeing through his thoughts, offering comfort.

“Sorry.”

No one knew the true meaning behind Lin Fan’s apology.

In truth, he was apologizing on behalf of the Lin family’s hidden Grand Elders and others to the fallen heroes.

Had they not feared revealing themselves and provoking more ambushes, the Grand Elders could have repelled the bandit assault entirely.

No casualties would have occurred.

Such selfishness marked the Grand Elders’ actions.

But how could Lin Fan blame them?

After all, their primary goal was to protect themselves.