The news of the Lan clan's annihilation and the murder of a Wei family elder struck like a thunderbolt, creating a massive uproar throughout Tianchu City. The shockwaves were rapidly spreading across Tianchu Province and even into the Liuyun Kingdom.
While the destruction of the Lan clan and the death of the newly ascended Heavenly Origin realm Lan Old Madam might have been significant on their own, the demise of Wei Shengjing, a pivotal figure across the entire Liuyun Kingdom, was the true catalyst for such immense turmoil.
Wei Shengjing's strength was one factor, but his identity was another. He was a high-ranking expert from the Mo Wu Wei family, one of the three paramount martial arts magnates in Liuyun Kingdom. His status far surpassed that of ordinary martial family patriarchs. His death in Tianchu City was likely to bring disaster upon the city. Consequently, many Tianchu powerhouses who understood the terrifying might of the Wei family were deeply worried.
The Wei family had lost an elder; they would surely not let this matter rest. Who in the entire Tianchu Province could withstand the Wei family's wrath?
...
While Tianchu City buzzed with the news of the Lan clan's destruction and Wei Shengjing's death, Ling Fan, the instigator, seemed detached from it all.
In a secret chamber within the Tianchu Governor's Mansion, Ling Fan was surrounded by a mountain of precious spirit herbs, ancient medicines, elixirs, and demonic beast cores. Visible streams of spiritual energy flowed out from these treasures, transforming into terrifying spiritual flames that enveloped Ling Fan layer by layer. The spiritual flames were so formidable that they caused the surrounding space to warp and ripple. Ling Fan's skin gradually turned a dark crimson, resembling a bronze statue being forged in a fiery furnace.
...
Crackle.
Faint popping sounds echoed from the secret chamber – the sound of the spirit herbs and ancient medicines cracking and turning to dust as their spiritual energy was rapidly depleted. Although these treasures contained a considerable amount of spiritual energy, they paled in comparison to spirit cores, which were creations of heaven and earth. Fortunately, the sheer quantity made up for it. Ling Fan had acquired a vast amount of these treasures from the Governor's Mansion, the Pill Pavilion, and various martial arts families in Tianchu City. The sheer volume of spiritual energy contained within them was enough to forge a quasi-king at the Half-step Giant Spirit realm, provided their physical bodies and meridians could withstand such immense spiritual energy.
...
In less than a day, the mountain of treasures was consumed by Ling Fan. The colossal resources, capable of forging a quasi-king, had only advanced the progress of Ling Fan's Nirvana Tribulation Body by less than a tenth towards the minor completion stage. Including Wei Shengjing's fist-sized spirit core, it barely reached one-tenth of minor completion. There was still a ninety percent gap to achieve minor completion.
This made Ling Fan offer a wry smile. The Nirvana Tribulation Body was truly a bottomless pit, a gold-devouring beast. However, despite the limited progress, Ling Fan's physical strength and blood energy had increased beyond imagination. Ling Fan stretched his limbs slightly, feeling an explosive surge of terrifying power coursing through him, radiating a faint, lustrous glow. With a slight tremor, his formidable physical strength rippled outwards, distorting the surrounding space. His body felt like an impenetrable fortress, exuding an aura of invincibility.
Thanks to the unprecedented growth of his blood energy, Ling Fan's profound energy also surged in strength. With a mere activation of his martial profound energy, it felt as if a fearsome blazing sun was hidden within Ling Fan's body. Waves of scorching martial profound energy continuously spread and swept outwards.
"Strictly speaking, my current Profound Radiance realm cultivation is merely at the standard of a Heavenly Realm prodigy," Ling Fan mused. "Ordinary Profound Radiance realm cultivators have their martial profound energy as robust as a furnace. Heavenly Realm prodigies, however, possess profound energy as potent as pure yang fire or the scorching sun of the nine heavens, known as Pure Yang Profound Energy! It is said that the most powerful peerless prodigies throughout history could reach the Nine Yang level in their Profound Radiance realm, their profound energy like nine blazing suns hanging in the sky, obliterating everything! But such individuals are exceedingly rare, often not even one appearing in an era. Documented prodigies of this caliber are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. In my previous life, I didn't pay much attention to the cultivation of martial profound energy, rushing for speed. In the end, I only barely reached the Eight Yang level. Although I had already overshadowed the prodigies of my time, I ultimately did not achieve the pinnacle. My current profound energy strength is roughly equivalent to one Yang. I estimate that when my Nirvana Tribulation Body truly reaches minor completion and my blood energy grows to its peak, I will be able to step into the Nine Yang Pure Radiance realm. That will also be the time I break through to the Heavenly Origin realm."
...
After emerging from seclusion, Ling Fan summoned Chu Tiange, Lan Junjie, Liang Hutu, and others. When they learned that Ling Fan intended to go to Liuyun Kingdom, they were all startled. Chu Tiange quickly advised, "Mr. Ling, it's not that I don't believe in your strength, but Liuyun Kingdom is a true dragon's pool and a tiger's den..." Especially the three paramount martial arts families and the Liuyun royal family, they are all hidden dragons and crouching tigers, teeming with experts! "Don't look at how arrogant Wei Shengjing was; my father said his strength wasn't top-tier within the Mo Wu Wei family. The Wei family patriarch is a peak Heavenly Origin realm expert, or possibly even a quasi-Giant Spirit realm powerhouse!" "And the Liuyun royal family, the current King of Liuyun is a true Giant Spirit realm martial king, an ultimate existence that suppresses the nation..." "Furthermore, the Liuyun royal family and the three paramount martial arts families are closely connected, all backed by hidden sects. Although they compete with each other, they are essentially of the same cloth and will definitely unite against outsiders when faced with a situation." "So, if you go to Liuyun Kingdom to settle accounts with the Wei family, you won't just be facing the Wei family." "Instead, you'll be against the entire Liuyun Kingdom!" "Mr. Ling, no matter how strong you are, you can't be stronger than the power of an entire nation!" "Moreover, behind the Liuyun royal family and the three paramount martial arts families are those behemoth-like hidden sects!"
Hearing Chu Tiange's words, Liang Hutu and Lan Junjie's expressions changed drastically. Lan Junjie had initially hoped Ling Fan would quickly seek retribution from the Wei family and find his sister. But after hearing Chu Tiange's explanation, he immediately changed his mind. He couldn't let his brother-in-law go to his death in vain.
Ling Fan shook his head faintly. Chu Tiange and Lan Junjie wanted to say more, but the words caught in their throats. They knew Ling Fan's way of doing things. Once Ling Fan made up his mind, no one could change it. They could only worry anxiously.
Liang Hutu said, "Master, let me accompany you to the Liuyun Royal City. Heh heh, Old Liang also wants to see the world with you, Master. Although my strength is meager and I can't help you much, I can still do my best to serve you!"