Volume One, Chapter 14: Mashiro Swiftly Punishes the Wicked
Page 1 of 3
Lin Fan let out a furious roar and charged at Qian Ning like a cannonball.
Blazing anger burned in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the ominous blue-glowing treasure in Qian Ning’s hand.
Its power was identical to the energy fluctuations emanating from the ancient hall. Lin Fan knew all too well that if Qian Ning succeeded, the consequences would be disastrous.
Seeing Lin Fan storm toward him, Qian Ning instead twisted his lips into a sinister smile.
He looked like a beast driven into a corner. Muttering under his breath, he seemed to be chanting some evil incantation as the force within the treasure swelled at an alarming rate.
The air seemed to freeze, and everyone held their breath.
Xia Jiang gripped her sword tightly, while Zhao Ling’er prepared to strike at any moment. Zhang Meng let out an angry roar and seemed eager to join the fight, but fearing that he might only make matters worse, he could do nothing but fret on the sidelines.
At the critical moment, Lin Fan finally seized Qian Ning by the wrist.
The two instantly grappled, while the treasure’s blue radiance flickered between them, bleaching the surrounding area a ghastly white.
Every collision was accompanied by a dull thud—the unmistakable sound of muscle and bone smashing together.
“You’re only a menial disciple. You think you can fight me?” The veins on Qian Ning’s face bulged as he strained with all his might to break free, but Lin Fan’s arm held him fast like an iron vise.
A trace of madness flashed through Qian Ning’s eyes. He roared, “You’ll always be a menial disciple! You were born to remain beneath my feet!”
His words were sharp blades driven viciously into Lin Fan.
Yet Lin Fan remained unmoved. His eyes held nothing but resolve and an unwavering devotion to justice.
He knew that if he let go, not only would he be placing himself in danger—everyone present would be as well.
Instead, he tightened his grip on Qian Ning’s wrist until his fingertips turned white.
The energy radiating from the treasure grew increasingly violent, as though it might erupt at any moment.
The strength of both men reached its peak. Tension filled the air, like the stillness before a storm.
Just as everyone expected Lin Fan to attack Qian Ning directly, he released his grip.
Lin Fan released his grip.
Caught completely off guard, Qian Ning lurched forward under the force of his momentum.
The treasure, glowing with an eerie blue light, flew from his hand and traced a strange arc through the air.
Qian Ning staggered several steps and nearly fell. His eyes widened in disbelief, as though he could not comprehend that Lin Fan would make such a move.
In that split second, Zhang Meng seized his chance. With a furious roar, he charged forward like a ferocious tiger.
He raised his thick leg and drove it hard into Qian Ning’s chest.
Qian Ning grunted as his body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground and sending dust billowing into the air.
Before Qian Ning could rise, Zhao Ling’er had already appeared before him.
Her hands moved swiftly through a series of seals, and she murmured an incantation. Golden runes streamed from her fingertips, weaving together in midair to form a complex array that trapped Qian Ning within.
The formation radiated dazzling light. Qian Ning struggled desperately inside it, but like a trapped beast, he had no way to escape.
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
His wretched appearance brought a surge of satisfaction to everyone watching.
Xia Jiang walked over to Lin Fan and asked anxiously, “Are you all right?”
Lin Fan shook his head, but his eyes remained fixed on the treasure that had been knocked away.
It lay quietly on the ground, its eerie blue glow flickering on and off as though it were breathing.
An inexplicable force emanated from it, stirring a vague unease within Lin Fan.
He bent down and picked it up. The instant it touched his hand, an icy chill spread through his palm, followed by a strange energy that coursed up his arm and into his body.
Lin Fan felt dizzy, as though he had been plunged into a realm of chaos.
Suddenly, the light vanished from the treasure. It became dull and lifeless, no different from an ordinary stone.
At the same time, a deep rumble rolled out from the depths of the ancient hall, as though something had begun to awaken…
“What… what is happening?” Zhang Meng asked in astonishment as he watched.
Lin Fan did not answer. He raised his head and gazed into the depths of the ancient hall, his eyes profound and distant.
“It seems the secrets of the Ancient Dao Sect are far more complicated than we imagined…”
Trapped within Zhao Ling’er’s formation, Qian Ning struggled and howled like a cornered beast. Filthy curses poured from his mouth, poisonous as a snake’s tongue, as he viciously railed against Lin Fan and the others.
“You lowly wretches! Once I get out, I’ll make you wish you were dead! I’ll…”
With every curse he spat, Zhao Ling’er increased the power of the formation.
The golden runes blazed brighter, like countless tiny bolts of lightning lashing Qian Ning again and again.
His agonized screams echoed through the empty ancient hall. They were shrill and piercing, yet somehow brought everyone an unmistakable sense of relief.
Cold sweat covered Qian Ning’s face. His clothes were drenched and clung tightly to his body, outlining his miserable figure.
He curled up in agony like a boiled shrimp, exuding the foul stench of sweat.
Lin Fan walked over and looked down at him from above, his gaze cold, as though he were staring at an ant.
“Qian Ning, did you really think your scheme was flawless?” His voice was deep and forceful, every word striking Qian Ning’s heart like a heavy hammer.
Lin Fan exposed everything: how Qian Ning had used the secret treasure to control the energy of the ancient hall, and how he had plotted to frame others and shift the blame onto them.
As Lin Fan spoke, Qian Ning’s face grew paler and paler, until it was ashen as death.
His lips trembled as he tried to defend himself, but he found that he had nothing to say.
The truth was a bolt of lightning that tore through Qian Ning’s false mask and exposed his ugly face before everyone.
“Qian Ning, the Ancient Dao Sect will never tolerate what you have done!” Lin Fan’s voice rang out with unquestionable authority. “I will report your crimes to the sect in full, and you will receive the punishment you deserve!”
The moment Lin Fan finished speaking, cheers broke out around them.
Zhang Meng waved his fists excitedly and shouted, “That’s right! Well said! Scum like him deserves the harshest punishment!”
Zhao Ling’er also withdrew the formation. Qian Ning collapsed onto the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
“Take him away!” Lin Fan ordered.
Zhang Meng immediately stepped forward and dragged Qian Ning out like a dead dog.
The atmosphere in the ancient hall instantly grew lighter, as though the oppressive air had finally been cleansed.
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Xia Jiang walked over to Lin Fan and gently took his hand. She looked at him gratefully, yet said nothing.
Lin Fan closed his hand around hers, feeling the warmth of her palm…
Far away, a faint sound came from the depths of the ancient hall, as though something were stirring restlessly in the darkness.
With Qian Ning’s threat dealt with, the atmosphere inside the hall became far more relaxed.
Sunlight streamed through the shattered window lattice and fell across the group, cloaking them in a layer of golden radiance and dispelling the gloom that had hung over them.
Xia Jiang leaned gently against Lin Fan. The delicate fragrance unique to a young woman lingered beneath his nose, while her soft black hair brushed against his arm, bringing with it a tender sensation.
The affection in her eyes was as warm and bright as the spring sun. She made no effort to conceal it, though a trace of maidenly shyness accompanied it.
Feeling Xia Jiang’s fondness for him, Lin Fan was filled with warmth, as though all his weariness had vanished without a trace.
Zhang Meng grinned with an honest, good-natured smile and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder with his rough palm. His strength was so great that it seemed he might shatter Lin Fan’s shoulder.
“Brother Lin, that was outstanding! What a satisfying fight!”
Zhao Ling’er smiled sweetly as well. Her clear eyes were filled with admiration and respect.
“Lin Fan, you were incredible. We owe this victory to you.”
The two exchanged a smile.
After resting briefly, the group continued deeper into the ancient hall.
After passing a collapsed section of stone wall, they discovered a hidden passageway.
Its walls were covered in densely packed runes that emitted a faint, ghostly glow.
The runes were ancient and mysterious, as though they concealed endless secrets.
The group proceeded cautiously, every step taken with extraordinary care.
At the end of the passage stood a vast stone chamber.
A massive altar towered in the center. Ancient divine beasts were carved across its surface in lifelike detail, baring their fangs and claws as though they were about to break free of their restraints and tear through everything before them.
Ancient books and scrolls lay scattered around the altar. They recorded numerous secrets concerning the Ancient Dao Sect.
Lin Fan carefully picked up one of the scrolls. It chronicled the rise and fall of the Ancient Dao Sect, along with hidden truths known to almost no one.
The more he read, the more alarmed he became. These secrets not only revealed the sect’s glorious history but also foreshadowed certain dangers lurking beneath the surface.
Zhao Ling’er was reading through the books nearby. Her delicate brows gradually drew together, and her expression grew increasingly grave.
“These clues point toward something even more terrifying. It seems the Ancient Dao Sect did not decline by chance. Some mysterious force has been eroding it…”
Zhang Meng scratched his head in confusion.
“What kind of mysterious force are we talking about? Could it really be more difficult to deal with than that bastard Qian Ning?”
The worry in his voice broke the silence of the stone chamber.
Lin Fan lowered the scroll and surveyed the surroundings. A deep sense of unease rose within him.
He could feel a mysterious presence permeating the air. It made him uneasy, as though something were watching them from the shadows.
Just then, a deep, hoarse voice suddenly echoed through the stone chamber. It sounded as though it had risen from the depths of hell, carrying with it an overwhelming sense of oppression.
“You… have finally… come…”
Page 3 of 3