Tian Heng's followers all laughed.
They thought Ling Dan Shangren was truly imaginative, perhaps a bit too much of a storyteller.
In their eyes, anything that could attract the attention of the Heavenly Court must at least be a notorious bandit, a figure of immense power and influence. How could it possibly be this short-sighted, greedy brat?
Ling Dan Shangren himself felt his speculation was rather absurd and became a little sheepish.
Tian Heng said, "Alright, don't be so sensitive. The Heavenly Realm is boundless. The entire Eight Hundred Li Cold Mountain is as insignificant as a grain of sand compared to the Central Heavenly Realm. The chance of that wanted criminal appearing in Cold Mountain is extremely, extremely small. Just remember that this matter exists."
"Yes!"
"You, little beauty, whose faction do you belong to?" Tian Heng suddenly fixed his gaze on Lan Gu.
Lan Gu was startled, her face turning pale.
"Reporting to the Envoy, this woman entered Cold Mountain City with your slave, Ling Fan. Judging by her attire, she should be a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect," the Shang Bao Lou Lord replied.
Tian Heng appraised Lan Gu's youthful and alluring body, nodding repeatedly as if quite satisfied. "Oh, Qingcheng Sect? Hmm, you're good-looking, and your strength is passable. It's your fortune to encounter this Envoy. Today, you shall return to my manor to serve me."
"Envoy, spare my life!"
Lan Gu's legs went weak with fear.
Everyone in the Cold Mountain region knew that Tian Heng, the Heavenly Court Inspector Envoy, was the greatest demon himself. He cultivated a demonic art of dual cultivation, cruelly absorbing the Yin essence and cultivation of women. Any woman he targeted and violated either died or was crippled; none had a good end.
Yet, this man's strength was unparalleled in Cold Mountain, and his status was undeniable. No one dared to utter a word against his wicked deeds, let alone stand up to oppose him.
"Heh heh, this little lass doesn't know the benefits of my master yet. Once you taste it, you'll cling to my master every day," one of Tian Heng's Saint King subordinates chuckled.
"No, no! I won't go! I want to return to the Qingcheng Sect!"
Lan Gu was as desperate and helpless as a lamb fallen into a tiger's jaws. She looked around blankly, finding no one to help her.
Her gaze suddenly fell upon Ling Fan.
It was as if she had grasped the last straw.
Since she had known Ling Fan, he had been almost omnipotent. Even the ancestor of their Qingcheng Sect had to bow before him. Even after entering Cold Mountain City, he had so powerfully suppressed prominent figures like Ling Dan Shangren and the Gu Shen Sect Master that they could only avoid his sharp edge.
If there was anyone here she could rely on,
it would only be him.
But when she thought of how he had become Tian Heng's slave, and saw him standing there blankly behind Tian Heng, completely devoid of his former might and dominance, the sliver of hope that had just ignited extinguished.
"Esteemed Envoy, please let me go. For the sake of our Qingcheng Sect and our ancestor, allow me to return!"
Lan Gu's delicate body trembled uncontrollably, and she retreated repeatedly.
"Don't push your luck. My master fancies you, which is your blessing. Stop pretending and come with us obediently." A First-Rank Great Emperor behind Tian Heng sneered and reached out.
At that moment.
A palm descended from the sky.
*Slap.*
The First-Rank Great Emperor was sent flying like a spinning top, screaming.
Everyone was stunned.
Tian Heng narrowed his eyes, killing intent permeating the air.
Ling Dan Shangren, Shang Bao Lou Lord, Jin Clan Patriarch, Gu Shen Sect Master, and other prominent figures stared with disbelief.
Lan Gu herself stood frozen, turning her head with difficulty to look at the owner of the palm.
This palm was none other than Ling Fan's!
At some unknown time, Ling Fan had emerged from his dazed, timid state. He stood there calmly, as if his palm strike had merely swatted away a buzzing insect, not sent a First-Rank Great Emperor flying.
"You dare to rebel, to disrupt your master's affairs!"
"You actually betrayed your master! Do you want to die?"
Tian Heng's two other First-Rank Great Emperor subordinates said fiercely.
"What master?"
Ling Fan asked curiously.
"I, Ling, do not need any master. Let alone a mere Heavenly Court Inspector Envoy, have him ask Dao Yi if he has the qualifications to be my master. Does anyone in this world have the qualifications to be my master?"
"Presumptuous!"
Tian Heng's eyes flared with killing intent.
"You dare to speak the name of Dao Yi Heavenly Venerate directly! You thousand-cut death slave, have you forgotten that your life is still in my hands? Why don't you kneel down quickly!"
Tian Heng roared.
"Esteemed Envoy, haven't I said it correctly? This brat has rebellion in his bones! Such a treasonous scoundrel, disrespecting your and the Central Heavenly Court's authority! Killing him is too good for him!" Ling Dan Shangren jumped up and shouted.
"Hmph, this fellow is truly tired of living. He hasn't recognized his status as a slave yet, and he dares to turn against the esteemed Envoy. Death is too lenient for him."
The Shang Bao Lou Lord sneered.
"Just now, this brat broke one of my arms. Later, please, Esteemed Envoy, spare his dog life so I can get my revenge!" the Gu Shen Sect Master said venomously.
Instantly.
Ling Fan became the target of public criticism.
Lan Gu said anxiously, "Senior Ling, don't mind me! Hurry and leave!"
However, Ling Fan seemed not to hear her words and completely disregarded Tian Heng. He stood there calmly. At some point, a pill had appeared in his hand.
The moment they saw the pill in his hand,
whether it was Tian Heng, the Shang Bao Lou Lord, Jin Clan Patriarch, Gu Shen Sect Master, or especially Ling Dan Shangren, who was most knowledgeable about pills, their minds exploded with a deafening roar!
The pill was semi-transparent. Within the pill, a powerful and peerless phantom sat cross-legged, surrounded by immeasurable Great Dao like an ancient starry river, resembling an eternal and immortal Great Emperor.
Emperor Pill!
And it was a High-Grade Emperor Pill.
"How is this possible! A High-Grade Emperor Pill! Where did you get a High-Grade Emperor Pill from? This aura… it's the aura of the Myriad Emperor Blood Fruit! You refined the Myriad Emperor Blood Fruit into an Emperor Pill! You… you actually refined the pill from that High-Grade Emperor Pill formula! How is this possible!" Ling Dan Shangren screamed, his mind becoming increasingly shocked the more he thought about it, almost crashing and losing the ability to think.
He never would have imagined.
That someone could refine a High-Grade Emperor Pill so quickly and without anyone noticing. What kind of skill was this?
"Give me this Emperor Pill quickly, and I will forgive your previous offense!" Tian Heng was also somewhat stunned but quickly reacted and ordered Ling Fan sternly.
"For me to give you the Emperor Pill? Are you stupid, or am I?"
Ling Fan sneered. Under Tian Heng's bulging eyes, he popped the Qian Kun Wu Ji Di Yuan Da Dan into his mouth.