Chapter 385: Get Lost—Or Die!
Lin Fan and the others turned toward the voice and saw, in one corner of the guest pavilion, two familiar figures looking at them with surprise and delight.
The woman on the left wore a light-colored dress and had a slender, graceful figure—Gu Mengqi of the Gu Clan from the Heavenly Wind Sea Region.
Standing beside her was another familiar face—Gu Yan, whom they had first met when they arrived in the Heavenly Wind Sea Region.
"Heh, never expected to see you here," Lin Fan said with a smile as he walked over with Lin Dong and Mu Lingshan.
"You're here for the Thunder Battle too, right?" Gu Mengqi asked, smiling sweetly, her brows curved like crescent moons.
Lin Fan nodded lightly.
"Just here to watch the excitement."
"So modest, Brother Lin Fan. A fourth place on the Rising Star Ranking isn't someone who just 'watches,'" Gu Yan said with a gentle smile. "We're the ones just here to watch."
Lin Fan simply smiled, not bothering to explain.
Lin Dong also exchanged greetings with the two women and introduced Mu Lingshan. The group quickly fell into a friendly and relaxed conversation.
At Gu Mengqi's invitation, Lin Fan and the others sat at their table and chatted casually.
While they spoke, a commotion suddenly broke out at the entrance to the pavilion, accompanied by a faint rustling.
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow. Looking over, he saw a group of people enter, led by a tall man in black. He had thin lips like blades and gave off a faint, chilling aura.
His entrance caused a stir—he clearly had a reputation.
"Who's that guy?" Mu Lingshan asked, pouting.
"That's Huang Ling of Ocean-Overturning Sect. He was ranked ninth on the Rising Star Ranking… until recently," Gu Mengqi replied.
Lin Fan chuckled.
"Guess we're the ones who bumped him off the list?"
Gu Mengqi nodded.
"More or less."
At that moment, Huang Ling walked straight toward a group—the Wei Clan from the Heavenly Wind Sea Region.
Among them was someone Lin Fan recognized—Wei Zhen, who had participated in the Five Great Clans' martial gathering.
Wei Zhen clearly knew Huang Ling. He greeted him with an eager smile and whispered something in his ear.
Huang Ling's eyes flickered, then turned toward Lin Fan's group.
"Heh."
With a cold smirk, he made his way toward their table.
Many others in the hall noticed and watched with interest.
Gu Mengqi and Gu Yan both tensed up, their hands subconsciously tightening on their jade cups.
"What? Do you have history with him?" Lin Fan asked casually.
Gu Yan hesitated, then explained that Huang Ling had taken a liking to Gu Mengqi, but she had ignored his advances. In retaliation, he'd seized several of the Gu Clan's merchant ships.
"What a jerk," Mu Lingshan said indignantly, clenching her tiny fists.
Just then, Huang Ling reached their table.
"Heh, Miss Mengqi, what a coincidence seeing you here," he said with a warm smile, raising his wine cup.
Gu Mengqi tried to keep her expression cold, but after a moment's hesitation, she forced out a strained smile.
"We had a bit of a misunderstanding at sea. Let me apologize. I'll return the ships to your Gu Clan soon," he said, his gaze fixed intently on her.
It was as if he didn't even see Lin Fan or the others.
"Thank you, then," Gu Mengqi said softly.
"No need for thanks," Huang Ling smiled.
"Miss Mengqi, care to come meet some of my friends? It would benefit your clan's trading business."
"I… I don't think it's a good time," Gu Mengqi said, troubled.
Huang Ling's smile thinned.
"No need to be so dismissive, Miss Mengqi. Why not show me a little respect?"
The cold edge in his voice was clear.
Many nearby cultivators turned to watch the scene, eager for drama.
"Get lost."
A cold, domineering voice suddenly rang out.
Huang Ling's expression darkened instantly. His narrowed eyes turned toward Lin Fan.
"You talking to me?"
Lin Fan lifted his eyelids lazily.
"You recognize me, don't you?"
"Heh… Lin Fan, fourth on the Rising Star Ranking. Sure, I know who you are. But even so, you're acting a bit too arrogant, don't you think?" Huang Ling sneered.
"Plenty of people don't agree with the current rankings."
His voice stirred a wave of murmurs in the pavilion.
"So he's Lin Fan?"
"Didn't expect the guy who killed five Death Profound Realm experts to show up like this."
"Looks like he's standing up for the Gu Clan. This might get interesting…"
"Huang Ling isn't weak either—and he's got allies among other ranked newcomers."
"…"
"Get lost, or die."
Lin Fan's voice rang out again, even colder than before.
The crowd drew in sharp breaths. This was the same Lin Fan who had wiped out five Death Profound Realm cultivators. He was even more domineering than Huang Ling.
Huang Ling was infamous for his arrogance. How could he endure such humiliation?
"Then let me see for myself how strong this 'number four' really is!"
Without hesitation, Huang Ling lunged forward. A black longsword in hand, he stabbed viciously toward Lin Fan's chest.
"You're courting death."
Lin Fan's expression didn't change. He raised his palm—
A crimson flame spear appeared instantly, launching straight toward Huang Ling.
At the tip of the spear, fire swirled into a vortex.
The flame spear shot forward like lightning—mercilessly piercing toward Huang Ling's chest!
BOOM!
The space around them exploded as the spear tore through the air, trailing a brilliant flame tail—
—and pierced straight through Huang Ling's chest.
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