Chapter 24: She Is a Legend

"Third Aunt!"

"Third Sister, we truly owe you everything this time."

"Indeed. Third Miss, had you not returned in time, I was already prepared to die for the Lin family."

In the Lin family's assembly hall, the patriarch, Lin Jingtian, did not take the seat of honor. Even the Supreme Elder, who had reached the Yuanfu Realm, stood respectfully to the side. The center seat was reserved for Lin Qiuyan, who had returned from the Shenxiao Sect to turn the tide. Every eye was fixed upon her, the excitement in their gazes impossible to conceal. Even Lin Fan looked at the aunt who had raised him with immense pride.

A Soul-Manifestation Realm expert! The Lin family finally had a master in the Soul-Manifestation Realm.

"Third Sister, who is this Fairy Xue? To be able to deter Zhong Cheng with just a token..."

Now that everyone had returned, they immediately voiced the question weighing on their minds. A single token had repelled Zhong Cheng, one of the Ten Prodigies of the Southern Wilderness. This Fairy Xue was clearly not only of extraordinary origin but possessed terrifying strength.

"Fairy Xue... she is an absolute legend. We all knew that Fan’er had great talent, but compared to the younger Fan’er, Fairy Xue is even more formidable. If Fan’er hadn't gone missing for two years, he would likely be on the verge of breaking through to the Soul-Manifestation Realm by now. But Fairy Xue, who is of similar age to Fan’er, is already at the peak of the Soul-Manifestation Realm. Even those known as the Ten Prodigies of the Southern Wilderness are firmly trampled beneath her feet. She is the undisputed number one among the younger generation of the Southern Wilderness."

*Hiss!*

Hearing Lin Qiuyan’s description, the members of the Lin family felt their breath hitch. Seventeen years old and at the peak of the Soul-Manifestation Realm? The undisputed leader of the younger generation? This was simply terrifying.

Lin Fan rubbed his nose. Even with his own confidence, he had to admit that Fairy Xue’s talent was indeed superior to his own in the past. While he was still struggling to break through to the Yuanfu Realm, she had likely already begun her journey toward the Soul-Manifestation Realm. However, Lin Fan was not discouraged. While his resources in the Lin family of the Tianfeng Empire seemed abundant, compared to a super-power like the Shenxiao Sect, they were like fireflies to the moon. If he had possessed such resources, he might have achieved the same. Moreover, he now practiced the Heaven-Burning Qi Refining Technique, a heaven-defying cultivation method. As long as he had flames to refine, surpassing Fairy Xue was a certainty.

"I humbled myself to ask Fairy Xue for that token specifically to guard against the Luo family bringing out that scoundrel Zhong Cheng. I didn’t expect that I would arrive just in time," Lin Qiuyan said with deep emotion, feeling secretly fortunate. Had she not obtained the Snow Token, even her presence might not have saved the family.

"By the way, Fan’er, how did you escape the pursuit of that Divine Pellet assassin?"

With Lin Qiuyan’s story concluded, everyone turned their attention to Lin Fan. The Grand Elder asked first, having witnessed with his own eyes the Divine Pellet expert hiding in the shadows pursuing the boy. It was because of that, he had assumed Lin Fan was doomed, which led him to support the all-out war against the Luo family.

"I killed him, and naturally, I was free."

What?

Lin Fan said it lightly, but the room was stunned. They stared at him in shock. While his aura had just proven he had reached the Celestial Pellet Realm, was that level of cultivation enough to slay a Divine Pellet expert?

"Could this boy have had some other miraculous encounter? It makes sense; having survived the Abyss Secret Realm, he must have gained some opportunities." Lin Jingtian’s eyes flickered, and the others stared at Lin Fan, tacitly choosing not to press further. Lin Jingtian nodded solemnly and said, "Do not speak of this to outsiders. It is enough that you are alive."

Beside him, Lin Qiuyan, who seemed aware of where Lin Fan had been, smiled and patted his shoulder. "I always told Big Brother that you were blessed with immense fortune and would not fall. It seems I was right. It was worth asking Fairy Xue to secure a spot for you in the Hundred Sect Selection."

The Hundred Sect Selection?

At these words, Lin Fan and the others were startled. Lin Jingtian, the patriarch, asked in surprise, "Third Sister, is this true?"

The Hundred Sect Selection was the common name for the Divine Sect Examination. To excel in it was to leap over the dragon gate and become a disciple of a major sect. Those who performed exceptionally well could even enter the Eight Great Divine Sects. Lin Fan had originally planned to head to the Southern Wilderness alone to register, never expecting Lin Qiuyan to bring such good news.

No registration, no intermediaries—he could enter directly. This saved him a great deal of time.

"Naturally. It is all thanks to Fairy Xue that you have this opportunity. Fan’er, you must seize this chance. I am very much looking forward to seeing you at the Shenxiao Sect!"

Lin Fan nodded with a smile, curious. "Third Aunt, what exactly is your relationship with Fairy Xue?"

Not only was he curious, but the rest of the Lin family was as well. According to Lin Qiuyan, Fairy Xue was a peak Soul-Manifestation expert with an extraordinary status in the Shenxiao Sect. Why would she show such favor to Lin Qiuyan?

"I am her follower!"

A follower? Lin Fan and the others were stunned. A follower—wasn't that just a servant or a maid?

"What are you all thinking? A follower isn't a slave; it's more like a subordinate. However, I am only responsible for Fairy Xue’s meals. That girl, who looks cold and aloof to everyone, is actually a little foodie. You only truly know her once you’ve spent time with her—she has a cold exterior but a warm heart."

A private chef...

Lin Fan’s mouth twitched as a familiar term popped into his mind. Yet, thinking of his aunt’s divine culinary skills, he understood. Before she left for the Shenxiao Sect, he had eaten her delicious cooking every day, to the point where he had lost his appetite for a long time after she left.

"Third Sister, don't tell me you entered the Shenxiao Sect because of your... cooking?"

"Exactly." Lin Qiuyan nodded proudly at her brother’s question. "Didn't I tell you? To capture a person's heart, you must first capture their stomach. My master only broke the rules to take me as a disciple after eating my food while on his travels. Last year, Fairy Xue had a meal at my master’s place and poached me right away."

Even that worked...