As the darkness of night gradually faded, a ray of sunlight pierced the heavens, tinged with a faint purple hue, like the prelude to a grand event, brimming with vitality and new beginnings.
In a tranquil haven, a small figure lay on a black stone platform by the edge of a shimmering lake.
Perhaps because this small figure often reclined there, the surface of the black stone platform gleamed with a polished sheen, reflective enough to mirror a person's silhouette.
Etched faintly on the platform was a line of text—not runes, nor the common script of this world, but words from Blue Star: This Emperor Lin Fan was here!
"Sigh, so boring…" Seven-year-old Lin Fan muttered, his vacant gaze fixed on the blue sky and drifting clouds.
It had been nearly a year since he arrived at the Heaven Mending Sect, yet he hadn't ventured beyond this place. The only person he'd met was Qing Yao.
Every day was filled with cultivation or sleep—nothing else to do.
The beauty of the scenery and Qing Yao's presence was enchanting, but even that grew tiresome after a while. For Lin Fan, whose soul carried the restless spirit of the 21st century, his heart yearned for more.
In a world without the internet or entertainment, being confined to this isolated place felt no different from being imprisoned.
Ugh… I miss the days with the old man. At least I could sneak off to the Celestial Academy now and then, have some fun, meet… Lin Fan's lips curled into a goofy grin, as if recalling something delightful.
But Qing Yao had warned him: until he reached the Spirit Transformation Realm, he was not to leave. The outside world wasn't as peaceful as he imagined, not even within the Heaven Mending Sect.
Where there were people, there was conflict. Beyond external threats like assassins, internal rivalries simmered.
The Heaven Mending Sect was rife with factions. Some elders, after growing powerful, even relocated their entire clans near the sect.
This not only eased their descendants' entry but also secured more cultivation resources and greater influence within the sect.
In a world where strength reigned supreme, no matter how great one's talent, only those who survived and grew could be called true geniuses. Otherwise, all was for naught.
Take milky kid mother, for example—a holy maiden of the Upper Realm's Immortal Mountain. Yet, due to power struggles within her clan, she nearly perished and was forced to flee to the Lower Realm for refuge.
Even milky kid himself had suffered—his Supreme Bone was stolen, targeted by his own kin.
If such betrayal could happen within a clan, how much worse must the internal strife be in a massive sect like the Heaven Mending Sect, with its tangled factions? One could die without ever knowing how.
Looks like I won't be going anywhere for at least two years… Lin Fan closed his eyes, basking in the purple bamboo grove, as if drifting into sleep.
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes had appeared in the depths of the grove, watching him intently.
The owner of those eyes moved swiftly, silent as a shadow, creeping closer without a sound, stealthy and suspicious.
This was strange and unnatural. No one should have been able to enter this place. Even the sect leader required permission from Qing Yao, the master of this small world.
The entrance was guarded by a grand formation, impenetrable to most, and any intruder would trigger an alarm.
Yet this time, an exception had slipped through. A small figure in white bypassed the formation entirely, sneaking into the purple bamboo grove.
One hundred zhang, ninety zhang… fifty zhang… twenty zhang, ten zhang…
Finally, the figure halted about five zhang away. After a brief pause, it leaped forward, striking at Lin Fan on the black stone platform with a single palm.
The speed was astonishing, leaving one dumbfounded.
The palm strike was no ordinary attack. A golden symbol glowed in the figure's palm, radiating divine might, dazzling and brilliant.
"Who's there?!" Lin Fan snapped awake, his eyes widening with a piercing glint.
In an instant, he reacted, rolling backward on the stone platform to dodge the strike.
His beloved platform, however, wasn't so fortunate. The attack left a deep palm print, nearly shattering it into pieces.
It was, after all, just a rock slightly tougher than average, unable to withstand such a forceful blow.
Lin Fan's anger flared. That stone platform had been his bed and meditation dais for nearly a year—he'd grown fond of it. And now, someone had nearly destroyed it.
"You…" Lin Fan glared, his eyes blazing.
Before him stood an eight- or nine-year-old girl, delicate and exquisite, like a jade-carved doll. She wore a flowing white dress and small leather boots, her skin whiter than moonlight, more crystalline than snow.
Her jet-black hair cascaded down, and her gem-like eyes sparkled with intelligence and grace, glinting with a resolve uncommon for her age.
Though young and tender, her flawless face hinted at a future beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.
Even now, she was an adorable little girl, so charming one couldn't help but want to pinch her cheeks.
One punch, and she'd whimper for ages. Keep punching, and it'd feel so satisfying. Hah, what a delicate little thing! Lin Fan's mind wandered briefly.
Ahem… got carried away!
Snapping back to reality, Lin Fan frowned, fixing his gaze on the little girl. "Who are you? How did you get in here? Why did you sneak attack me?"
"Beat me, and I'll tell you!" the girl declared, her voice crisp and melodious.
Without hesitation, she struck again, her palm sweeping forward with such force that it sent ripples across the lake.
Lin Fan's irritation spiked. This cute little girl was so quick to fight—her temper was too fiery. Did she think he had no temper of his own?
Facing her charge, he didn't dodge. His blood qi erupted, and he threw a punch, runes spreading as his fist seemed to swell like a massive hammer.
Boom!
Fist met palm, producing a metallic clang and sparks, as if two divine irons had collided, not mere flesh.
"Break!" Lin Fan roared. A flash of golden light surged from his hand, unleashing even greater power, forcing the little girl back.
She stumbled several steps, shaking her hand to dispel the force before steadying herself. She stared at Lin Fan in shock, as if beholding a humanoid beast.
"Such terrifying physical strength!" she gasped, her arm numb and nearly dislocated.
Lin Fan, too, was surprised. This little girl's no pushover…
In a clash of physical might, her bones hadn't even cracked—she was completely unscathed.
He'd been tempered by Golden Body Liquid and, thanks to his unique physique, had far surpassed the extreme limits of the Blood Transformation Realm. Most people couldn't withstand a single blow from him unscathed.
"Again!" the girl shouted, her voice shaking the void. Behind her, three Heavenly Passages materialized, brimming with spiritual essence, absorbing energy to fuel her divine power and nourish her body.
She glowed like a deity, radiant and dazzling, enveloped in a shower of light, exuding an air of sanctity and transcendence.
"Hmph, you think you're the only one with Heavenly Passages?" Lin Fan sneered.
An even mightier aura burst from him. Volcanic craters of light—his Heavenly Passages—ignited around him, one after another, three in total, brilliant and intimidating.
The girl's expression shifted, her calm heart rippling. Her face paled as she gasped, "You've opened three Heavenly Passages too!"
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