Chapter 261: One Slap Sends Him Flying, Ling Qingzhu Is Shaken!
[Ding! You patted Wang Yan and obtained five million Xuanyuan Pills!]
More Xuanyuan Pills?
Lin Fan's expression remained calm, though his heart stirred slightly upon hearing the system notification.
Wang Yan and Xiao Xiao both froze momentarily, their eyes showing a hint of concern.
"Lin Fan…"
Ying Huanhuan clutched the corner of Lin Fan's robe nervously. "Don't be rash. If it's just about the hairpin, I don't need it."
Seeing the girl's slightly aggrieved face, Lin Fan smiled warmly and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"You've forgotten what I'm capable of, haven't you? And besides… facing off against Yuan Gate—it was bound to happen eventually."
[Ding! You patted Ying Huanhuan and obtained one Life-Origin Profound Spirit Fruit!]
"Be careful," Ying Huanhuan said gently, finally relaxing a bit as she remembered Lin Fan's earlier breakthrough.
Lin Fan gave a slight nod, then slowly stepped forward into the center of the gathering crowd, drawing countless gazes.
This part of the market had clearly become the most watched area of the entire treasure zone.
After all, a conflict between Dao Sect and Yuan Gate—two of the Eastern Xuan Region's most powerful super sects—was never a small matter. And the animosity between them ran deep.
Not far from the ruckus, atop a tall pavilion, two figures were watching the scene unfold.
A man and a woman.
The woman stood ahead, the man half a step behind—a subtle distinction that revealed their status.
Of the two, the woman was unquestionably more eye-catching.
Clad in a flowing white robe, her long black hair cascaded like a waterfall down her slender waist. Her skin was like snow, her brows like delicate brushstrokes.
Although a sheer veil concealed her face, the faint outline beneath held an alluring charm that made it hard to look away.
Her aura was cold and aloof, like a goddess from the moon palace or a celestial maiden descended to the mortal world.
She was none other than Ling Qingzhu, the personal disciple of the Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace.
Standing beside her was Wu Qun, one of the top disciples of the same sect.
"Heh, even Lei Qian showed up. Dao Sect has Xiao Xiao and Wang Yan, but they probably won't be enough to deal with him," Wu Qun said casually.
"Yuan Gate… still as arrogant as ever," Ling Qingzhu replied in her usual cool tone.
Wu Qun nodded, then asked, "I wonder if it'll be Xiao Xiao or Wang Yan who steps up... Hm?"
Before he could finish, he let out a surprised sound and turned to the lean figure stepping out from among the Dao Sect disciples. "Who's that?"
Ling Qingzhu lifted her gaze slightly, casting a casual glance toward the figure.
Then, her eyes froze.
Her usually placid face suddenly revealed a rare trace of shock.
Her gaze locked tightly onto the young man, her red lips parted slightly, and her delicate hands slowly clenched as emotions surged within her.
That figure…
To her, it was anything but unfamiliar.
No—she could never forget it.
Her memories drifted back to five years ago…
As her thoughts spun, Ling Qingzhu gazed at the approaching youth, her lips pressed into a thin line beneath her veil.
The boy from back then… had ultimately used his own strength to overturn all the judgments she once made about him.
Now, he had transformed into an eagle soaring through the skies—no longer overshadowed by the brilliance that once made him feel inferior.
Ling Qingzhu drew a deep breath and focused her gaze on the figure walking toward Lei Qian.
Since you've made it this far…
Then let me see—just how far you've come.
Amid countless watching eyes, Lin Fan stepped forward from the Dao Sect group and stopped not far in front of Lei Qian.
"Who is this guy?"
Many onlookers stared in confusion.
After all, Lin Fan had only joined Dao Sect a year ago, and most outsiders didn't even know he existed.
"Wang Yan, you're letting some no-name rookie step forward? Do you think I, Lei Qian, am some kind of pushover?" Lei Qian glanced at Lin Fan and sneered.
Laughter erupted among the Yuan Gate disciples behind him, their eyes mocking as they looked at Lin Fan.
"Lin Fan of Dao Sect. Please advise me," Lin Fan said politely, cupping his hands with a light smile.
"Lin Fan?"
Lei Qian blinked. The laughter around him died down instantly.
"He's the one who killed Yao Ling?" Jiang Tao asked in shock.
"So, you do have a bit of reputation," Lei Qian chuckled, then casually raised the green hairpin that still shimmered faintly in his palm.
"I've got some interest in you now. If you want the hairpin, and you can take it from me—just like I said, I'll pay and leave without a fuss."
"Ready? I'm coming," Lin Fan said with a grin.
As soon as he spoke, he took a step forward. His Yuan Power surged like a tidal wave, and his figure turned into a streak of light as he charged directly at Lei Qian!
Shhh!
The flash of light rapidly expanded in Lei Qian's vision. A cold smirk appeared on his face.
Lightning began crackling over his body, the force far exceeding that of an ordinary Nine Yuan Nirvana Stage expert.
"Fast. But pointless against me!"
As he sneered, his face twisted into a fierce grin.
Lightning howled and surged around his fist, forming the image of a roaring lion.
"Thunder Lion Fist!"
With a deafening roar, Lei Qian threw a punch. The sound of a lion's cry fused with crackling thunder as the blow shot forward.
Visible lightning ripples blasted outward, cracking the ground like a spiderweb.
Swish!
The two were moving at breakneck speeds. In a mere instant, they were on the verge of colliding like meteors!
Everyone watching held their breath.
But at that moment—Lin Fan's hands flashed through a bizarre seal, and a strange ripple of power expanded outward.
Lei Qian's roaring Thunder Lion Fist froze mid-strike.
Swish!
In that instant, Lin Fan's figure slipped past him like a ghost.
Smack!
A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the air just as the two figures passed one another.
And then—shock froze every spectator's face.
Lei Qian's body, like a kite with a snapped string, went flying through the air before slamming hard into a giant slab of stone—shattering it on impact.
On his face… was a glaringly clear palm print!
The plaza fell into total silence.
The Yuan Gate disciples, who had been smirking moments ago, were dumbfounded. Their eyes were wide, unable to comprehend what had just happened during that brief exchange.
Even Xiao Xiao and Wang Yan stood frozen, unable to fully process what they had witnessed.
In the midst of the stunned silence, all eyes turned toward the calm figure now standing where Lei Qian once stood.
Lin Fan stood tall, unscathed—like the earlier devastating punch hadn't even grazed him.
Boom!
The shattered rocks shifted as Lei Qian climbed to his feet, disheveled.
That slap mark burned bright across his face.
"I'll kill you today!" he bellowed, eyes bloodshot with rage.
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