Chapter 48: Growing Prestige

This Abyss-Flame Fire Lizard possessed a strength comparable to a peak expert in the early Genesis Realm, and its prowess could not be underestimated.

Gu Ningyun gripped the longsword in her hand tightly, her gaze as cold as ice, and commanded calmly, "Spread out, and do not let it easily lock onto its prey. Lin Fan, wait for your moment, I will create a favorable opportunity for you."

The members of the team responded swiftly, scattering in various directions to draw the attention of the Abyss-Flame Fire Lizard while cautiously dodging its fiery breath, which was hot enough to scorch the air itself.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, and the spiritual energy within his body began to circulate along a specific route. He felt as though his hands were wrapped in flames, and a powerful force gathered inside him. He waited for the right timing, preparing to launch an attack using the distraction created by his teammates.

The Abyss-Flame Fire Lizard roared repeatedly, violently thrashing its massive tail in an attempt to beat back these intruders who dared to provoke it. Every sweep of its tail stirred up a wave of searing wind that felt suffocating.

At that exact moment, Gu Ningyun spotted an opening. She leaped forward with agile grace, her longsword flashing with a chilling light as it aimed directly at the Lizard’s weak point—its underbelly.

The Abyss-Flame Fire Lizard let out a painful howl, its body curving slightly and revealing a fatal flaw.

"Now!"

A ripple stirred in Lin Fan's heart; he knew this was the decisive moment. The spiritual energy surged through his entire body, making him look like a flaming god of war descended to the mortal realm. Wielding the Fire-Scale Sword in his hand, which was imbued with potent fire-attribute spiritual energy, he unleashed the Soul-Slaughtering Sword Art.

As the tip of the sword danced through the air, rays of sword qi pierced the atmosphere, sounding like the mournful wails of ghosts. Each ray carried an overwhelmingly scorching sword aura, weaving through the fiery barrier of the Abyss-Flame Fire Lizard like invisible blades, stabbing relentlessly into the beast's vital spots.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

A series of consecutive explosions shook the heavens, and the air filled with the scent of scorching heat and sulfur. The roars of the Abyss-Flame Fire Lizard gradually subsided, its body trembling incessantly under the ravages of the sword qi, until it finally collapsed powerlessly onto the blackened earth.

The battle was over. Lin Fan stood in the center of the battlefield like a hero emerging from a sea of fire. Gu Ningyun and the others present all wore expressions of awe.

They were well aware of Lin Fan's formidable offensive power, especially those who had experienced the ruins of the Spirit-Realm expert; they knew very well that this young man possessed the combat prowess to slay Genesis Realm experts. Yet, seeing a seventh-rank ferocious beast comparable to the Genesis Realm perish so miserably under Lin Fan's sword once again, they still found it difficult to suppress the shock in their hearts.

"To think that I, a Genesis Realm expert, have actually been reduced to a supporting role."

Gu Ningyun smiled self-deprecatingly. Even within the Tiandu Dynasty, she could be considered a top-tier prodigy. Although she knew she was still far from those pinnacle geniuses, she remained confident that she was vastly superior to ordinary people.

And yet, looking at Lin Fan, the self-confidence she had built up over many years was being eroded piece by piece.

Lin Fan hailed from a remote border country; one could not even be certain if the Tianfeng Empire could be found on the map of the Myriad Domains. Yet a person like this, relying merely on the cultivation of the Divine Dan Realm, could frontally slaughter a Genesis Realm expert, and now he had even slain a seventh-rank fierce beast.

Such battle prowess was truly both startling and exhilarating.

"Miss Ningyun, take this beast core and absorb it."

Lin Fan did not covet the energy contained within the beast core. Without even glancing at the carcass of the fierce beast on the ground, he smiled and said to Gu Ningyun.

"This... wouldn't that be improper? You slew this fierce beast with your own hands, and I noticed your wristband is also about to turn blue. You should absorb it instead."

Seeing Gu Ningyun decline, Lin Fan smiled and said, "During our last trip to the ruins, you didn't really gain any benefits. You are the face of our team; how can we constantly let you yield the resources? I have already decided that during this trip to the ruins of the Blazing Flame Valley, if possible, we will first elevate everyone's wristband to blue."

Lin Fan...

Gu Ningyun blinked repeatedly, staring in astonishment at the young man. To have everyone's wristband turn blue would require slaying a considerable number of fierce beasts.

"Rest assured, our coordination is already well-established. If we hunt at this pace, within a month, everyone should reach the blue tier. My goal is for the entire team to secure a place to enter the Hundred Sects." Lin Fan smiled, speaking with absolute confidence.

With the group cooperating harmoniously and Gu Ningyun holding the line, slaying ordinary seventh-rank fierce beasts required almost no effort. If he successfully refined the beast fire of the Black-Eyed Fire Flood Dragon, his cultivation would undoubtedly skyrocket. By then, whether it was seizing resources from others, hunting fierce beasts, or contending for rare treasures, everything would become effortless, and it was certain that everyone's wristbands would reach the purple tier.

Hearing Lin Fan's words, a sharp glint flashed in everyone's eyes. Weren't they participating in the Divine Sect trials precisely to enter the Hundred Sects?

The Southern Wilderness was vast, practically boundless. The Myriad Domains were merely a corner of the Southern Wilderness, and the disciples the Hundred Sects recruited from the Myriad Domains were actually very few. Therefore, every citizen of the Myriad Domains regarded entering the Hundred Sects as the ultimate goal of their cultivation. Given the personnel configuration of this team, aside from Gu Ningyun who had a sliver of a chance, the others realistically had almost no possibility of entering the Hundred Sects.

However, when Lin Fan uttered those words, even though they knew it might just be a distant dream and an unattainable promise, it still made their blood boil with passion.

Observing the burning gazes and excited expressions of the others, Gu Ningyun offered a warm smile. Suddenly, she felt that the young man before her—who was even a few years younger than herself—was far better suited to be the leader of this team.

"Very well, we will listen to you. We will do whatever you arrange."

Gu Ningyun's words instantly received a response from everyone. In truth, after the battle at the Spirit Realm expert's tomb, Lin Fan's prestige was already on par with Gu Ningyun's. Now that the young man had painted such a grand blueprint for them, they had no choice but to fight alongside him.

"Let's go, let's venture deeper into this canyon. Entering the ruins of the Blazing Flame Valley probably won't be that easy."

...

"Brother Lin Fan, Miss Ningyun, over your way..."

After traveling dozens of miles without encountering any more fierce beasts, just as everyone was preparing to take a short rest, one of the team members responsible for scouting the surroundings suddenly spoke up.

He pointed to a mountain depression to the south, where a group of people had gathered.

When everyone caught sight of the young man standing at the very front, conversing amiably with a man in red robes, all of their gazes instantly turned fierce.

Han Feng!

That young man was precisely Han Feng, who had betrayed the team. Relying on the Void-Elixir Transformation-Genesis Grass, he had successfully stepped into the Genesis Realm. Even though he had yet to master a profound-tier spirit art, with such cultivation in this trial ground, he could barely manage to secure a foothold.

Ever since their parting last time, everyone in the team held deep resentment toward this treacherous and insidious villain. Especially since some of their comrades had fallen by his hands, that hatred had escalated into an irreconcilable blood feud.

Seeing him again now, everyone wished they could immediately tear out his heart and lungs.

"This fellow actually has some capability; to think he's mixed up with Huo Shan. So be it, new grievances and old grudges, we'll settle them all together!"