"If I ever run into that scumbag Gao Ya again after we return, I'll beat his shit out with just one finger!" Long Xuan declared with great spirit.
Lu Rui was not as boastful as Long Xuan.
Instead, she said to Ling Fan, "Fan Lin, you killed four direct disciples of the Tian Yi Sect, as well as direct disciples from other King-level sects. Once the news leaks, you'll be in grave danger! I still suggest you leave Jin Zhou immediately and flee far away! Now is the best opportunity."
Ling Fan shook his head indifferently. "It's true that I won't be staying in the Qing Xuan Sect for long, but I entered the Qing Xuan Sect to resolve a karmic debt. It's not time to leave yet. Moreover, what is the Tian Yi Sect, and what is the Gao family? In my eyes, they are nothing more than paper tigers."
Ling Fan's tone was calm.
But his attitude was unwavering.
Lu Rui knew she couldn't persuade Ling Fan and could only shake her head in secret.
She thought for a moment and said, "The Qing Xuan Sect's Seed Disciple Competition is about to begin. Fan Lin, are you going to participate? I suggest you do. With your strength, becoming a seed disciple will be as easy as taking something from your palm. Once you become a seed disciple, your status in the Qing Xuan Sect will be further elevated. By then, even if the news of you killing Feng Yu Lei Dian and the other four direct disciples leaks, it won't be so easy for the Tian Yi Sect and other King-level sects to deal with you."
"What are seed disciples? They are the future pillars of the Qing Xuan Sect, candidates for Heavenly Emperors! Even if the Gao family has absolute control within the Qing Xuan Sect, they wouldn't dare to easily touch a seed disciple."
Ling Fan replied, "I will consider it."
...
Within the Qing Xuan Sect.
As the date of the Seed Disciple Competition approached.
The atmosphere within the Qing Xuan Sect became tense.
Especially among the direct disciples.
Each of them was diligently cultivating and improving their strength.
Hoping to soar to prominence in the Seed Disciple Competition.
However.
The number of seed disciple spots was limited.
The vast majority of direct disciples were destined to be mere participants, but the Qing Xuan Sect would reward them with some treasures based on their performance, which would serve as a consolation.
Only the top ten direct disciple overlord-level prodigies had a chance to contend.
The ten direct disciple overlord prodigies of the Qing Xuan Sect were: Lu Rui, Mo Fei, Yuan Hong Sheng, Mei Zhen Zhen, Kong Yu, Di Jun Long, Cang Zhe Sheng, Gao Wei, Gao Chun, Gao Tian Shen.
Mo Fei, Yuan Hong Sheng, and Mei Zhen Zhen had already died at Ling Fan's hands.
Apart from Lu Rui, the other six direct disciple overlord prodigies were all unfathomably powerful figures.
Among them, Gao Wei, Gao Chun, and Gao Tian Shen were from the Gao family.
And Kong Yu had a grudge against Ling Fan.
It turned out that more than half of the top ten overlord prodigies were Ling Fan's enemies...
...
Returning to his own cave dwelling within the Qing Xuan Sect.
Ling Fan did not immediately go into seclusion.
This time, his gains were extremely significant.
His body stored Heavenly-grade Dragon Qi equivalent to a small Heavenly Vein.
There was no need for him to painstakingly absorb the origin and spiritual energy from the Heavenly Vein of the Qing Xuan Sect.
Thinking of the Qing family.
Ling Fan decided to visit the Qing Xuan Sect.
As soon as he left his cave dwelling.
He happened to encounter Long Xuan, who was coming to find him.
"What? Old Fan, you want to wander around the Qing Xuan Sect? Great, I'll go with you! I've done a lot of research and preparation for the Qing Xuan Sect. I know it better than you do."
The two transformed into a rainbow light and shot up from Fan Mountain.
Under Long Xuan's guidance.
Ling Fan soon arrived at a place where palaces were gathered.
The scent of pills wafted from some palaces.
Flames erupted from some palaces.
The sounds of heavy impacts and strikes were incessant.
There were also fluctuations of combat emanating from some palaces.
It seemed to be a place for Qing Xuan Sect disciples to hone their combat skills.
"Where is this place?"
Ling Fan asked.
Long Xuan's expression was very solemn.
He remained silent for a long time.
"You'll know when you follow me."
...
On the other side.
Not long after Ling Fan and Long Xuan left.
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure descended upon Fan Mountain.
A young figure of unparalleled dominance stood in the sky, and beside him was a seductive beauty in revealing attire, whose supple body seemed to exude water, rubbing against the dominant young man.
"Fan Lin, get out here!"
This dominant figure roared.
Sensing the commotion here.
Instantly, powerful intentions intertwined.
"Kong Yu is truly vengeful. As soon as that Fan Lin returned, he immediately followed."
"It's probably more than just revenge. He likely wants to use this kid to establish his authority. Kong Yu has probably broken through to the sixth-tier Xuan Emperor. He wants to give his competitors a warning before the Seed Disciple Competition."
"I heard that Fan Lin completed a sect mission and returned, but no one knows where he went. He hasn't appeared yet?"
"Heh, perhaps he's hiding because he knows Kong Yu has broken through to the sixth-tier Xuan Emperor."
"Wasn't that kid always very arrogant before? Turns out he's just all bark and no bite."
Kong Yu did not encounter Ling Fan.
He vented his anger upon Ling Fan's cave dwelling.
He turned Fan Mountain upside down before leaving with satisfaction.
This minor incident between two direct disciples further intensified the atmosphere of the Seed Disciple Competition...
As for Ling Fan and Long Xuan.
Long Xuan walked towards those palaces.
And said, "This is the Qing Xuan Sect's... Qing Prison."
"Qing Prison!"
Ling Fan narrowed his eyes slightly.
Long Xuan said solemnly, "In that world-shattering battle of the past, that person died under the siege of the ten supreme experts of the Ten Heavenly Realms, and the sect disintegrated, suffering a crushing defeat. The Tian Yi Sect, having taken the correct side, was later rewarded and supported by the Heavenly Court. However, the Qing Xuan Sect, having chosen the wrong side, was ruthlessly suppressed."
"The Qing family members were punished for generations. Men were demoted to slaves, and women were demoted to prostitutes. Even after death, their skin was flayed, their bones were refined into weapons, their flesh and blood were used to cultivate pills, and their human skin was used to forge talismans, draining their last bit of value. Moreover, they were eternally forbidden from rising again."
"The Central Heavenly Court used this method to warn the billions of beings in the Central Heavenly Realm of the consequences of opposing the Heavenly Court."
"These palaces here are where the surviving Qing family members are punished."
After Long Xuan finished speaking.
His voice trembled slightly.
His eyes were red.
His fists clenched, making popping sounds.
Ling Fan's breathing also became heavy.
A terrifying chill emanated from his body.
"Long Xuan, you are related to the Qing family, aren't you?"
Ling Fan suddenly looked at Long Xuan.
"Yes."
Long Xuan gave a bitter smile, as if recalling immensely painful memories.
"I am from the Qing family, and I am a direct descendant of the Qing family."
"An ancestor of the Jin Zhou Long family had a close relationship with the Qing Xuan Emperor. When the Qing family encountered great disaster, he secretly protected me, risking offending the Heavenly Court. He sealed me with his own origin for several hundred years. Only after the Qing family's disaster subsided did he allow me to be unsealed, change my name and surname, and even alter my bloodline. Thus, I escaped this calamity."
Ling Fan said, "In that case, you shouldn't have entered the Qing Xuan Sect. You have failed your ancestor Long family's painstaking efforts."
"He also advised me not to come, but I can't get past my own conscience. Rather than live a life of ignominy, I would rather risk my life."
"Old Fan, we have a life-and-death friendship. If you ever decide to deal with the Gao family, count me in."
Long Xuan looked at Ling Fan with resolute eyes.
Ling Fan nodded and said, "Alright, you're in. Today, let's collect a little interest for the Qing family first."
Ling Fan strode towards the palace cluster ahead.