Chapter 5: Rocket-Like Rise

Night.

Inside a modest tile-roofed house, it was now packed with people.

Lin Fan's battle today had left the Sandbag Party speechless. They could only give him a thumbs-up in admiration.

"Boss, was the move you used today 'Stealing the Peach'?" Xiao Liuzi, having spent considerable time in the Holy Demon Sect, knew something about its affairs.

Although 'Stealing the Peach' was his family's martial art, he knew it was far inferior to the martial arts used by the outer sect assessment disciples.

"Yeah." Lin Fan nodded.

"Great! I never thought the family martial art could be so powerful. Of course, only you, Boss, can bring out its true power." Xiao Liuzi said excitedly.

Lin Fan felt a bit awkward but didn't say much.

"Boss, the outer sect assessment starts in two days. Are you thinking of participating?" Xiao Liuzi asked.

"Xiao Liuzi, isn't that obvious? How could Boss not participate? Does he really want to stay here with us forever?"

"That's true." Xiao Liuzi nodded.

Although Lin Fan now had the system, he had been in this world for a year. While not entirely familiar, he knew this world was dangerous.

In the sect, he, a sandbag, dared to fight outer sect assessment disciples because he understood that for a sect, talent was most important.

If you had strength, you could provoke anyone, but you bore the consequences.

If showing a bit of talent led to being killed out of jealousy by fellow disciples, then such a sect could never last forever and would have destroyed itself long ago.

Lin Fan had two thoughts: first, to seriously improve his strength; second, to attract the attention of higher-ups and leave this place.

But Lin Fan overlooked one thing: the training ground for outer sect assessment disciples was a godforsaken place in the entire Holy Demon Sect. Which high-ranking figure would bother coming here?

So everything depended on himself. Since he had a golden finger, not achieving something would be a disservice to himself as a transmigrator.

The next day.

Lin Fan got up early, ate something to fill his stomach, and hurried to the training ground.

Now at level nine, with 'Stealing the Peach' at level ten, although experience growth was slow, no matter what, by the day of the outer sect assessment, he needed to be as strong as possible.

...

At the training ground, a gentle breeze blew.

A cool wind swept up dust from the blue bricks; a few leaves floated in the air before slowly falling to the ground.

Desolate, utterly desolate.

"What's going on?" Lin Fan looked at the scene before him, dumbfounded. Where had everyone gone?

The once bustling training ground was now so deserted, completely empty.

This... this...

Lin Fan rested his chin on his hand, looking helplessly at the scene. These outer sect assessment disciples were too pathetic.

Just because their peaches were stolen, were they that scared?

Sigh, looks like there's nothing for the next few days. It's all up to me.

Defeating others gave experience, so killing those demon beasts outside should also increase experience.

But the hateful thing was that he was just a sandbag in the Holy Demon Sect, without the right to leave the sect.

Otherwise, he would go to the outside map and grind a wave of monsters.

Just then, Lin Fan saw two people approaching from afar.

Lin Fan's heart leaped with joy—finally someone was coming—but then his expression changed, because the level floating above one of them was:

Houtian eighth rank.

This...

Then he saw that beside the young man in a blue long gown was the peerless handsome man whose peach he had so thoroughly stolen yesterday.

Lin Fan was startled. Could this guy be dissatisfied with yesterday's events and found an expert to take revenge?

A Houtian eighth rank was only two steps away from the Xiantian realm. Why would such a person come to this insignificant training ground?

Moreover, someone like that would never have time to help others settle scores.

"Is it him you're talking about?" the man in the blue gown asked.

"Yes, Senior Brother, he's the one I mentioned." The peerless handsome man stood respectfully beside him, not daring to act presumptuously.

Even with his arch-enemy Lin Fan standing right in front of him, he didn't show the slightest hint of gloating.

"No," Lin Fan thought with a sinking heart.

This guy wasn't a helper he'd brought. If he were, the peerless handsome man wouldn't have that expression. It seemed there was some ulterior motive.

The blue-gowned man sized up Lin Fan and nodded slightly.

Suddenly, Lin Fan felt a surge of momentum rushing toward him like a wave.

"Pfft..."

Lin Fan had no idea what happened; he only felt as if his chest had been struck, his internal energy churning, and he spat out a fresh red flower.

So strong.

Stumbling back dozens of steps, Lin Fan knelt on one knee, clutching his chest, looking at the man before him.

"Ding, experience +30000."

"Ding, congratulations, 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' upgraded."

"Ding, congratulations, 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' upgraded."

...

Lin Fan was shocked, feeling it was terrifyingly powerful. Just one move had allowed 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' to rise two levels in a row.

"Hmm, not bad. A full-force strike from a Houtian second rank only made you spit blood. It seems you've cultivated 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' to a high level. Come with me." The blue-gowned man nodded, his eyes gleaming with curiosity about this sandbag who had trained 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' to such a degree.

"Wait..." Lin Fan soothed his internal energy and looked at the blue-gowned man.

This was strength. Without strength, he was just fish on the chopping block, at others' mercy. But for Lin Fan, such a golden opportunity—how could he let it go?

Whether on Earth or now, Lin Fan was a madman, an out-and-out madman. He wouldn't stop until he had squeezed every bit of benefit from the situation.

Earlier, with level 5 'Titanium Grade Demon Body', he had only spat blood from a full-force Houtian second-rank strike. He wondered what level 7 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' could do.

Lin Fan knew that this Houtian eighth-rank sect disciple must need him for something and wouldn't kill him.

Of course, Lin Fan wouldn't be stupid enough to say something like "Please hit me," which would just be asking for it.

"Can't stand the humiliation I gave you yesterday, so you found a helper today? Do you think I'll be scared? I tell you, I'm afraid of everything except people coming to get revenge on me." After saying this, Lin Fan charged forward.

Come on, hit me!

...

The blue-gowned man looked at Lin Fan and gave a slight smile. "Interesting..."

"Bang."

Without any visible movement from the blue-gowned man, it was as if an invisible wall stood before him. As soon as Lin Fan charged, he was sent flying with a whoosh.

Lin Fan couldn't help but spit out another mouthful of blood.

"Ding, experience +2000."

Lin Fan was practically dying of excitement. When those outer sect assessment disciples beat him before, he only got a few points of experience. But this guy's casual strike gave him so much.

Awesome!

But it wasn't enough. He needed more experience.

"Hmph, weak and feeble. Is this the helper you found? I don't think much of him." Lin Fan said as he stood up.

"Stop! Don't be rude to Senior Brother!" The peerless handsome man's face changed, and he scolded.

"It's fine. Quite interesting. The limit of 'Titanium Grade Demon Body' is three layers. Even cultivating to the third layer only allows one to withstand a full-force strike from a Houtian first rank. This is getting more and more interesting. Alright, today let me see your limit." The blue-gowned man chuckled lightly.