Chapter 328: Vanished in Smoke and Ashes

At this moment, five figures floated in the void above, draped in robes of different colors, each embroidered with a character on the chest.

Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.

The Five Elements?

These five seemed to be connected, mutually generating and overcoming each other. Though their auras were restrained, they could not be underestimated.

Haha, the next sect master of the Profound Sword Pavilion, yet she fell in love with a man—quite a shock, isn't it?

And she even has a sissy son—this is truly a thousand-year scandal for the Profound Sword Pavilion.

…

These five seemed to look down on everyone, speaking one after another, belittling the Profound Sword Pavilion as worthless.

Now that unknown enemies had arrived, the Profound Sword Pavilion was on high alert. Xuan Yunxian's delicate face, at this moment, returned to its icy state as she stared at the five figures in the void.

But when her gaze met Lin Fan's, Xuan Yunxian's expression softened again, which made Lin Fan feel a sense of guilt—surely she wasn't going to latch onto him, was she?

"Who are you? What business do you have at the Profound Sword Pavilion?" Sect Master Xuan looked at the five figures in the void, deeply wary. Their auras were no weaker than hers, and even made her heart tremble.

Sect Master Xuan racked her mind across the entire Eastern Spirit Continent but could not recall any sect or school whose attire matched theirs. Could they be from some hidden sect?

At that moment, the robed man with the character "Gold" embroidered on his chest spoke, "Who we are, you are not qualified to know. You only need to know that we have come to take something."

Their intentions were hostile.

Sect Master Xuan exchanged a glance with the Supreme Elder beside her.

"What thing?" Sect Master Xuan asked.

"The foundation of the Profound Sword Pavilion," the Gold-robed man said coldly.

"Impossible..." Sect Master Xuan's expression changed, and she immediately refused.

The foundation of the Profound Sword Pavilion was this giant sword. If this man wanted the foundation, then he sought the destruction of the Profound Sword Pavilion. Such a demand could never be agreed to.

"Whether it's possible or not is no longer up to you," the Gold-robed man sneered. "I'll give you the time it takes to burn one incense stick to leave. Otherwise, you'll all stay here."

Just then, the earth trembled, and the towering giant sword began to shake. Countless sword qi shot out from the giant sword, enveloping the Profound Sword Pavilion.

"Hmph, you don't know what's good for you. Do you think a mere Heavenly Origin Sword Formation can stop us? It's nothing but a pipe dream. You have the time of one incense stick. When the time is up, you'll all remain here."

After saying this, the five of them floated motionless in the air, their cold eyes full of mockery.

In their eyes, the mere Profound Sword Pavilion was not worth worrying about.

Inside the Profound Sword Pavilion, however, chaos reigned. No one knew who these sudden arrivals were.

Lin Fan looked at the void, somewhat puzzled.

Five Great Heavenly Perfection experts who had condensed twelve Rule Chains, but linked together, their cultivation surpassed that of twelve Rule Chains—they must have some secret technique.

"Sect Master, who are these people? Why not go out and confront them?" an Elder Supreme said sternly.

Sect Master Xuan's expression was grave; these people's cultivation surpassed hers. They had only given the time it takes to burn an incense stick, but what use was that time?

While Sect Master Xuan and the others were discussing,

Lin Fan was thinking that perhaps he could make a deal with Sect Master Xuan.

Just as Lin Fan was pondering this, Xuan Yunxian came before him and said reluctantly, "Take Feng'er and leave."

Xuan Yunxian's cultivation had now reached the initial stage of the Great Heavenly realm, having condensed one Rule Chain. The few people in the void, though they concealed their auras, the faint aura they emitted was alarming.

In Xuan Yunxian's view, a great battle would inevitably occur soon, and she might not be able to look after them then.

"Master, I won't leave," Liu Lingfeng said.

Though he was effeminate, at this moment he felt a strong sense of belonging to the Profound Sword Pavilion.

"Listen to your master. You go first. After things are settled, you can come back," Xuan Yunxian said.

"No..." Liu Lingfeng shook his head, then looked at Lin Fan. "Dad, you go."

The moment Lin Fan heard the word "Dad," he felt a chill run through his entire body, as if the word from Liu Lingfeng's mouth had a magical power that made one tremble all over.

Lin Fan did not speak to them but went before Sect Master Xuan, who was preparing countermeasures.

"Sect Master Xuan, I'll make a deal with you. If you give me this item, I'll kill those five for you," Lin Fan said, taking out a fragment of the Supreme Token.

Few sects knew about the Supreme Token fragments.

Apart from those ten-thousand-year great sects, the thousand-year great sects didn't even know a thing.

Only the ten-thousand-year great sects had fragmentary records of that incident back then. As for these thousand-year great sects, they probably weren't clear about the matter. Therefore, when Lin Fan took out the Supreme Token fragment, Sect Master Xuan showed no change.

"This thing...?" Sect Master Xuan looked at the Supreme Token fragment, frowning slightly, as if thinking about something.

The Xuan Sect Leader found this somewhat familiar, then recalled it.

"I have this thing. It might be a treasure, but it can endlessly absorb one's true essence—it's an evil object," the Xuan Sect Leader said.

Evil object? At this moment, Lin Fan was somewhat surprised. Since the Xuan Sect Leader knew it was an evil object, with her Great Heavenly Position Great Perfection realm true essence, it should have been enough to absorb it. Why did she still consider it an evil object?

Could it be that the piece the Xuan Sect Leader possessed was different?

Even the true essence of a Great Heavenly Position Great Perfection realm cultivator couldn't fill it.

The Xuan Sect Leader rummaged through her storage ring for a while, then took out a fragment of the Supreme Token.

"Take this. Lead Yunxian and the other disciples away," the Xuan Sect Leader said.

"These five are at the Great Heavenly Position Great Perfection realm. I don't know how many rule chains they've condensed. Ordinary disciples staying here would only be courting death. Yunxian, take the disciples and leave. If we fail to hold them off, find another place and ensure the sect's legacy continues," the Xuan Sect Leader said.

"Master..." Xuan Yunxian wanted to say more, but the Xuan Sect Leader cut her off, then looked directly at Lin Fan. "As for you and Yunxian, we old folks can no longer stop it. I only hope you will be worthy of Yunxian's feelings."

Lin Fan was dumbfounded. This wasn't the right rhythm—they had come to negotiate, not to entrust orphans.

"No, Xuan Sect Leader, if you give this to me, I'll eliminate those five outside. It's a fair trade," Lin Fan said.

At that moment, the five outside heard Lin Fan's words and burst into loud laughter.

"Haha, the biggest joke under heaven! This kid says he'll destroy the five of us—utterly ridiculous."

"Jin, why don't we make our move now? Why waste time with them?"

"Yes, the master is still waiting for us."

...

The Xuan Sect Leader shook her head and handed the fragment to Lin Fan. "Take Yunxian and the others and go."

"Yunxian, listen to your master and lead the disciples away."

Lin Fan sighed. After all this talk, they still didn't trust him.

At that moment, the Heavenly Origin Sword Formation suddenly shook—the five had made their move.

"Hmph, we gave you the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Since you don't cherish it, you'll all stay here."

"Break for me!"

The man in gold robes roared, golden light flared, and an indestructible force slammed into the Heavenly Origin Sword Formation.

"Boom..."

The Heavenly Origin Sword Formation shattered instantly, unable to withstand even a single blow.

The Xuan Sect Leader and the others were stunned. The supreme and mighty sword formation had been broken just like that—how could this be?

"Hmph..." The five in the void snorted coldly, shaking the void itself.

"You go. We'll hold them off..." The Xuan Sect Leader and several Supreme Elders immediately stepped forward, their expressions even more grave.

With just one blow, the Heavenly Origin Sword Formation was destroyed. Such power was likely beyond their ability to withstand. But now, even if they had to expend their last breath, they would ensure Yunxian and the disciples escaped.

"Alright, the deal is done. Time to fulfill the transaction," Lin Fan said, placing the Supreme Token fragment into his backpack. He hadn't expected such good luck—three pieces in hand, the rest not far off.

The Xuan Sect Leader and the others were startled, completely unable to understand what this man intended. Did he not know how powerful those five were?

Xuan Yunxian looked at Lin Fan, her heart filled with worry.

Lin Fan's long hair fluttered. He looked up at the five in the void, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth, and provocatively beckoned them with his hand.

"How dare you!" The five roared in anger. They hadn't expected this brat to provoke them. They would make him know what true terror meant.

"What are you doing? You're no match for them," the Xuan Sect Leader said.

...

Lin Fan ignored the Xuan Sect Leader's words. He simply stood there, facing the void without fear, then said calmly,

"One palm strike, and they'll be reduced to ashes."

"Mad... mad," the Xuan Sect Leader said.

"Kid, die!" At that moment, the man in gold robes charged down from the void, his fist wrapped in supreme golden qi that tore through space.

Just as the man in gold robes' fist was about to annihilate Lin Fan, a terrifying scene unfolded.

The expression on the man in gold robes' face changed. He felt a power that made his heart tremble, a power that seemed irresistible.

Impossible... absolutely impossible.

"Boom..."

At that moment, a blinding light blotted out the sky, followed by a thunderous roar that shook heaven and earth.

No one knew what had happened...