"To be honest, I have no treasures on me!" Lu Fan shook his head and forced a wry smile. "This is all baseless. I said that deliberately because Ning Ze threatened me that day."
"Whether it was deliberate, you'll know once I check."
Elder Mu Qiu smiled. "I think you're quite sharp, kid. I don't need to say more, do I?"
Following his words, Lu Fan's expression shifted slightly. "Elder, what do you mean? I don't quite understand."
"Just hand over the treasure obediently, and I won't make things difficult for you. Otherwise, even if you die in the back mountain, no one will collect your corpse."
Elder Mu Qiu was undisguised. "What I say is never false. If you don't believe me, feel free to try!"
"I never expected Elder Mu Qiu, as an elder, to say such things."
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "You truly surprise me. This is Skyfire Pavilion. Can you, as an elder, kill disciples at will?"
"Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, boy!"
Elder Mu Qiu narrowed his eyes. "You are merely an outer disciple. Even if you die an unnatural death, Skyfire Pavilion will not inquire. The lives of outer disciples are as insignificant as blades of grass. Don't you see that?"
Lu Fan's expression turned cold, no longer concealing his disdain. How could he accept Elder Mu Qiu speaking in such a manner?
"Are you truly unwilling to hand over the supreme treasure?"
With coldness in his eyes, Elder Mu Qiu spoke again.
"Since I said there is none, then there is none!"
Lu Fan's expression was indifferent. "Elder Mu Qiu, please excuse yourself. I still need to gather medicinal herbs."
"Presumptuous boy, today, this back mountain will be your burial ground!"
Elder Mu Qiu exuded an overbearing aura. At that moment, he unleashed a terrifying pressure, intending to devour Lu Fan and seize the treasure.
"Elder Mu Qiu, I advise you to think twice. If you insist on acting, it's not yet certain who will be unable to leave this back mountain today!" Lu Fan's expression was icy.
"How dare an outer disciple speak so boastfully!" Elder Mu Qiu pressed on, unleashing a palm strike towards Lu Fan without reservation.
In his eyes, Lu Fan was no more than an ant, not worth his consideration.
Unfortunately, the palm strike missed Lu Fan. Instead, Elder Mu Qiu was repelled by the powerful force emanating from Lu Fan's body, blood trickling from his lips and his arm going numb.
"How is this possible!"
Filled with disbelief, Elder Mu Qiu looked at Lu Fan. "How can you be so strong?"
"Nothing is impossible!"
Lu Fan said coldly. "I didn't want to reveal my identity, but you are too ignorant and forced my hand. Since I have made a move, you are unlikely to survive today!"
"Who are you, and why have you infiltrated Skyfire Pavilion!"
Elder Mu Qiu's expression turned panicked as he retreated repeatedly. Lu Fan's formidable aura was far beyond his ability to contend with. Perhaps only a true inner elder could suppress Lu Fan.
"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you are about to perish."
Lu Fan narrowed his eyes and simultaneously struck with a palm, showing no restraint.
Since he had already acted, he would not easily retract his move. Lu Fan knew very well that if his identity were exposed, he could no longer remain in Skyfire Pavilion. At that point, coveting the Azure Lotus Sacred Fire would be a pipe dream.
Elder Mu Qiu's body trembled. He had only one thought: escape.
Lu Fan's imposing aura was something he could not handle. If he didn't leave now, he would become mere dust.
Only now did he recall that not long ago, someone had trespassed into the First Heaven, rumored to be seeking the Azure Lotus Sacred Fire, even alarming the Skyfire Pavilion Master.
Thinking back, this person must be Lu Fan, who had infiltrated the First Heaven and remained hidden for so long.
"You cannot escape!"
Lu Fan's expression was indifferent. At that moment, the White Lotus Sacred Fire appeared in his palm, radiating a terrifying aura.
Before Elder Mu Qiu could even scream, his body turned to ashes and vanished into thin air, without the slightest power to resist.
In the face of overwhelming strength, all struggles were futile.
"You are too fierce, boy. If Skyfire Pavilion discovers this, it will be quite problematic."
Old Man Hongmeng reminded him. "Don't be too careless."
"My identity is already exposed. If I don't kill him, I'll have to leave Skyfire Pavilion!" Lu Fan said with a wry smile.
He still intended to steal the Azure Lotus Sacred Fire and did not want to leave just yet.
After dealing with Elder Mu Qiu, Lu Fan, as usual, carried the medicinal herbs back to the alchemy room, as if nothing had happened.
In the following days, everyone was perplexed by the absence of Elder Mu Qiu. Even the inner elders were alerted but could not locate him.
Discussions were rife throughout the First Heaven. Some said Elder Mu Qiu had fled out of guilt, while others claimed he had absconded after stealing something important from Skyfire Pavilion.
Only Lin Zhe's expression was uncertain, his face grim.
He knew that Elder Mu Qiu had gone to the back mountain that day, and after that, he had vanished without a trace, with no news whatsoever.
Lu Fan, however, was perfectly fine, with no incidents occurring. This situation was exceedingly strange.
Under normal circumstances, Lu Fan should have been the one to disappear, not Elder Mu Qiu. The current turn of events suggested only one possibility: Elder Mu Qiu had died at Lu Fan's hands, otherwise, he wouldn't have vanished.
Upon this realization, Lin Zhe's expression turned serious, and he was thoroughly frightened. If Lu Fan truly possessed such strength, his troubles would be immense.
If Elder Mu Qiu could be killed, what was he in comparison? Even if he could enter the Second Heaven, he would be no match for Lu Fan.
"Senior Brother Lin Zhe, here are your pills for this month!"
Lu Fan, holding a box, approached Lin Zhe with a faint, sinister smile.
"Lu... Junior Brother Lu!"
Lin Zhe quickly said, "It was all my fault before. I shouldn't have treated you like that. Please don't hate me!"
"Look at what you're saying. As long as Senior Brother Lin Zhe doesn't hate me, that's enough." Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Last time in the back mountain, it was Senior Brother Lin Zhe who caused trouble for me."
"I would never dare again, never again!"
Lin Zhe hastily replied, his face pale. He was deeply frightened now, especially with this incident leaving him utterly bewildered.
"Senior Brother Lin Zhe, you don't need to be so polite to me. I am merely an outer disciple." Lu Fan chuckled. "As long as Senior Brother Lin Zhe doesn't make things difficult for me, I won't make things difficult for Senior Brother Lin Zhe. However, if the inner court were to learn any news, perhaps..."
"Junior Brother Lu, rest assured, the inner court will know nothing!" Lin Zhe immediately knelt down. "Junior Brother Lu, spare my life, and I will absolutely keep my mouth shut!"