Chapter 264: Gathering of Geniuses, Tension Rises!
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed since Lin Fan's clash with Lei Qian.
During those two days, the atmosphere in Annihilation City had grown more and more intense. However, Lin Fan and his group had remained at their resting quarters, calmly awaiting what was to come.
When the first rays of light pierced through the clouds on the third morning, the entire Annihilation City burst into full-blown chaos!
The sky was filled with the sharp sound of wind being torn apart.
Countless figures surged into the sky like locusts, flying toward the entrance to the Domain of Annihilation.
To the north of Annihilation City, the ground had turned pitch-black and ominous.
An unsettling aura seeped from the earth, making even one's soul feel discomfort.
This was a vast black plain. At its farthest edge, space twisted and distorted, cutting the plain off entirely from the world beyond.
By now, the skies above this plain were densely packed with silhouettes as far as the eye could see.
More figures continued to rush in from the distance, adding to the overwhelming tide of people.
Whoosh!
A large group of figures flew in and stopped roughly a kilometer from the spatial barrier—it was the Dao Sect team, with Lin Fan among them.
"Quite the spectacle," someone murmured.
Suspended in midair, the Dao Sect disciples looked around at the endless sea of people, all of them inwardly clicking their tongues in awe.
Disciples from all major sects had arrived. After all, today marked the official beginning of the Sect Competition, the day everyone would enter the Domain of Annihilation.
Xiao Xiao, as Dao Sect's lead representative, stood at the front and began pointing out notable talents from other super sects to Lin Fan.
Before long, the disciples of Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace arrived as well.
Lin Fan looked up and saw a familiar figure leading the group.
Dressed in snowy white, standing atop a lotus, her aura cold and otherworldly—it was Ling Qingzhu.
As she appeared, countless eyes from various sects were immediately drawn to her, filled with admiration that couldn't be hidden.
Lin Fan chuckled and shook his head. Her charm really is something else...
"Big Brother Lin Fan!"
A joyful voice called out from behind Ling Qingzhu's group.
Lin Fan looked over and saw a familiar girl—Su Rou, whom he had once saved during the Hundred Empire War.
She wore a pale blue dress, her features refined and elegant. The fear and timidity she once carried were nowhere to be seen.
Now, her face was bright with excitement and joy as she waved enthusiastically at Lin Fan.
Seeing her like that, Lin Fan smiled warmly.
The Dao Sect disciples around him were stunned for a moment, then looked at Lin Fan with admiration. How does this guy know so many beautiful women?
"You've got quite the... diverse circle of friends," Xiao Xiao commented dryly, then glanced at Ying Huanhuan beside her.
Ying Huanhuan chatted casually with Qing Ye, acting as if she hadn't noticed anything.
But Xiao Xiao, being observant, could tell that the occasional glance Ying Huanhuan cast toward the distant scene was anything but indifferent.
"Met her during the Hundred Empire War," Lin Fan explained with a smile, then looked toward Ying Huanhuan with a trace of helplessness.
Ever since his encounter with Ling Qingzhu, Ying Huanhuan hadn't spoken to him.
Lin Fan more or less understood what she was feeling and felt a bit guilty—but he had no solution at the moment.
Over on the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace's side, Ling Qingzhu was also surprised by Su Rou's outburst.
"You know him?" she asked softly.
"Mm. During the Hundred Empire War, if it weren't for Big Brother Lin Fan, my brother and I wouldn't have made it to Hundred Empire Mountain," Su Rou nodded.
"He was amazing—he came from a low-ranked dynasty and still became champion."
"And when the Western Xuan Region tried to seize the Ancient Space, it was Big Brother Lin Fan who turned the tide and saved several seniors from the Eight Great Sects. He forced them to retreat."
Su Rou's cheeks were full of admiration, much to the irritation of several nearby male disciples.
Ling Qingzhu gently nodded, her long lashes fluttering as she suppressed the slight ripple in her eyes.
That guy... he's had quite the journey these past few years...
"Yuan Gate has arrived..." Lin Fan suddenly said, retracting his gaze and turning toward another patch of sky.
The Dao Sect disciples around him instantly tensed and looked up.
Whoosh, whoosh—!
A sharp wave of wind swept through as hundreds of Yuan Gate disciples flew in under the leadership of the Three Young Kings of Yuan Gate.
The massive formation exuded overwhelming pressure, and when they gathered their Yuan Power together, even the sky echoed with low thunder.
At the front stood three figures.
Lin Fan had already met Lei Qian, so he turned his attention to the other two.
To Lei Qian's left was a handsome man in white, holding a folded fan and exuding a scholarly elegance.
"That's the Little Spirit King, Ling Zhen," Xiao Xiao said with a serious expression.
"But the strongest of Yuan Gate's Three Kings is the Little Yuan King, Yuan Cang."
As she said that name, even her tone grew faintly strained—showing how much pressure that man exerted.
Lin Fan nodded slightly and turned his gaze toward the man in the blue robe standing beside Lei Qian and Ling Zhen, smiling calmly.
Even the top disciples of other sects showed traces of caution in their eyes when they saw Yuan Cang.
Under countless gazes, Yuan Cang turned his head and looked toward the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace—specifically, at Ling Qingzhu.
"Heh, so you're leading the team again, Qingzhu? If we run into each other in the Domain, I hope you'll go easy on me."
Yuan Cang gave a gentle smile. His face wasn't striking, but there was something charismatic about him.
"You're too kind, Senior Brother Yuan Cang. I wouldn't dare," Ling Qingzhu replied softly, lowering her lashes politely.
Still, as she spoke, her eyes drifted—very subtly—toward Lin Fan.
"Such humility. But if you went all out, even I might not be able to beat you."
Yuan Cang chuckled, then shifted his gaze toward Dao Sect's group.
The moment his gaze swept over, Lin Fan could feel all the Dao Sect disciples behind him tense up.
Even Xiao Xiao and Wang Yan's Yuan Power surged involuntarily.
"Xiao Xiao, Wang Yan... old acquaintances," Yuan Cang said with a light smile.
Then his gaze stopped on Lin Fan. His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I heard about the champion of this generation's Hundred Empire War—turned down Yuan Gate's invitation and joined Dao Sect instead."
His tone paused, then added with a smile:
"Well, I suppose that makes sense. Better to be a head among chickens than a tail among dragons."
Many Dao Sect disciples' eyes lit with fury.
The implication was clear: Lin Fan may be a big fish in Dao Sect, but in Yuan Gate, he'd only be a bottom feeder.
He sounded polite—but every word was a blade wrapped in silk.
Even the previously noisy skies fell silent.
Everyone knew of the deep grudge between Dao Sect and Yuan Gate.
And now, from the very first exchange, the tension was already boiling.
On the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace's side, Ling Qingzhu's brows furrowed slightly.
Even Su Rou's small face was filled with worry.
"Head or tail—words are cheap," Lin Fan said with a calm smile.
"As for Yuan Gate's so-called 'Three Kings'—well, their reputation is much louder than their strength."
"Not long ago, that Little Thunder King? I smacked him down like a dead dog."
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