Chapter 67: If I Do Not Enter Hell, Who Will?

The Xiao Family Estate.

"Young master, you're back! The family head is waiting for you in the front hall." The steward at the gate, seeing the young master return, immediately stepped forward to greet him.

Though there had been many unfavorable rumors lately, having served as the Xiao family's steward for decades, he still believed in the young master and dismissed the gossip as nothing but hot air.

Xiao Ze had walked all the way back with his head lowered, as if lost in thought. Hearing the steward's voice, he merely nodded and headed toward the front hall.

That first lecture had initially left Xiao Ze deeply disappointed. Such empty talk could only be a means of manipulation. Taking a teacher from the Ding class as his master was clearly madness, and it would surely affect his future martial path.

But now that he was at the sixth level of the Xiantian realm, there was no one in the Tianfu Academy who could truly teach him. He would have to rely on himself for the rest of the journey.

As for joining a sect, Xiao Ze had considered it, but he was still pondering which sect to enter.

Yet it was this teacher he had looked down upon, who had lectured for a few hours this morning, that had sparked many thoughts in Xiao Ze's mind.

It was as if his mind had suddenly been opened, bringing a glimmer of insight into what he had learned before.

Xiao Ze's natural talent and comprehension were already high, and the short story Lin Fan had told that morning had further enhanced his understanding.

With this boost in comprehension, he naturally began to question his previous learning, and where there were deficiencies, he could now grasp them with confidence.

But Xiao Ze had only listened to Lin Fan's lecture for a short time, and his comprehension had just begun to improve. It would naturally require a slow process.

The front hall.

Xiao Zhanfeng, the clan head of the Xiao family, sat there expressionless, even somewhat furious.

The tea on the side table had long since gone cold.

He had just heard the rumor that his son had taken a Ding class teacher as his master. This infuriated Xiao Zhanfeng. The young master of the prestigious Xiao family, a genius of the Tianfu Academy, had stooped so low as to apprentice himself to a Ding class teacher—was he trying to ruin the Xiao family's reputation entirely?

"Father, you wanted to see me?" Xiao Ze entered the front hall and, seeing his father's expression, understood that the news of his apprenticeship had already been discovered.

Yesterday's incident had already enraged his father, and Xiao Ze knew that if he couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation today, things would not be easy to resolve.

"This morning, your teacher came by and said you had transferred to the Ding class. Is that true?" Xiao Zhanfeng asked calmly, like a sleeping lion ready to erupt at any moment.

"Yes," Xiao Ze nodded.

At that moment, the previously composed Xiao Zhanfeng suddenly slammed the tea table in anger, spilling tea all over the floor. "Have you lost your mind? You wouldn't stay in the Jia class, but you go to the Ding class? Do you have any idea how many people are laughing at the Xiao family now? You've trampled on the Xiao family's honor, do you understand?"

"Tell me, why did you take him as your master?" Xiao Zhanfeng demanded sternly. If he didn't get a satisfactory answer today, he decided he would go to the academy and find this Ding class teacher to see what methods he had used to make his son abandon the Jia class for his Ding class.

Xiao Ze was silent for a moment. Why take him as master? He had thought about that question too, but every time it came to mind, he recalled the feeling of the loving ruler slapping his bottom.

It was as if he had taken the teacher to experience that feeling again.

But Xiao Ze naturally couldn't say that. "Father, that Ding class teacher is a master. Now, in the Tianfu Academy, the Jia class teachers can no longer help me, but that Ding class teacher defeated me in a single move. I think if I stay with him, I can learn more."

Even as he said this, Xiao Ze felt he was going against his conscience.

Xiao Zhanfeng looked at Xiao Ze and, seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, gradually calmed down. He knew Xiao Ze's strength—at the sixth level of the Xiantian realm, practicing the Xiao family's inherited techniques, he could even contend with someone at the seventh level.

"Really?" Xiao Zhanfeng asked.

"Yes, Father. This morning, that master gave me a lesson. Now my mind is full of questions, and I seem to have new insights into the techniques I've been practicing. If you have nothing else, I'd like to go back and ponder them thoroughly," Xiao Ze said.

Seeing that Xiao Ze seemed to be telling the truth, Xiao Zhanfeng finally waved his hand to let him leave, then sank into thought alone. Could it really be so?

The next day.

After telling the students another story and boosting their aptitudes, Lin Fan quickly slipped out of the Tianfu Academy.

Last night, Lin Fan had tossed and turned, unable to sleep, thinking all night long.

What if the 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' was real? What if some fool actually wanted to exchange a 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' for Xuanhuang coins?

The world is vast and full of wonders; all kinds of people exist. How could one judge others by their own standards?

That would be absolutely wrong!

If the 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' were real and happened to fall into my hands, I could swallow it and instantly ascend to the Small Heavenly Rank realm, then return to the sect in glory and be treasured like a gem!

To do or not to do—it all hangs by a thread.

Regardless of what others might do, Lin Fan decided to go for it.

There were still two days until the auction. Strike first and gain the advantage; delay and suffer the consequences.

If someone else won the bid, it would be too late to snatch it.

Such a valuable item would attract bidders who would surely come in groups. Though his brick was formidable, it couldn't take out a crowd at once.

So he had to get his hands on it beforehand.

Lin Fan arrived at the Heaven and Earth Chamber of Commerce, blending in as a casual shopper.

The place was crowded, with various items displayed for people to browse.

The upcoming auction of the 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' had attracted many sects, and during this idle time, their disciples were looking around, hoping to find something they liked.

Lin Fan's small eyes darted around, searching for anything suspicious. If the 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' were real, it would be priceless and surely hidden in some secret place.

But where could it be?

Lin Fan found a spot, entered stealth mode, and began searching randomly through the Chamber of Commerce.

He searched for a long, long time, almost giving up.

Where the hell is it?

Just then, Lin Fan's eyes lit up. He saw a very distinguished middle-aged man, surrounded by a group of attendants, heading inside.

Lin Fan's heart leaped with joy. This guy must be a high-ranking official. Without a second thought, he followed him, hoping to find the 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' through him.

Lin Fan hid in a corner of a secret chamber, barely daring to breathe, because before him appeared a figure that chilled his heart.

The Yan Emperor.

Just as Lin Fan was about to strike the high-ranking official with his brick, the space suddenly rippled, scaring Lin Fan so much that he crouched in the corner without making a sound.

At the same time, Lin Fan was grateful he hadn't acted, or it would have been a disaster.

As the two continued their conversation, Lin Fan's heart grew uneasy. He hadn't expected to stumble upon a series of conspiracies.

The 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' actually belonged to the Yan Emperor.

After the Yan Emperor finished his instructions and left, Lin Fan breathed a sigh of relief. The high-ranking official then placed the 'Small Heavenly Rank Pill' in a secret location—which, to Lin Fan, was no secret at all, as he had watched the entire process without missing a detail.

Once the high-ranking official left contentedly, Lin Fan immediately opened the secret compartment. A beautiful brocade box appeared before him. Without hesitation, Lin Fan took out the pill inside.

"Ding, congratulations on discovering the Heaven-grade top-tier pill 'Bloodburst Pill.'"

"Bloodburst Pill: Temporarily boosts the user's cultivation level, but causes the user to explode and die after the effect wears off."

"This is a pill that has never appeared in the Xuanhuang Realm."

"After consumption, experience +2,000,000."

Sure enough, there was no such thing as a Small Heavenly Rank Pill. It was all a scam.

But what Lin Fan couldn't understand was why the Yan Emperor had staged this. What was his goal?

All of this was beyond Lin Fan's comprehension.

Conspiracy—there was definitely a huge conspiracy.

Suddenly, Lin Fan felt a heavy burden on his shoulders. As a man full of justice and love, having witnessed this dark scheme, how could he just walk away?

A voice echoed in Lin Fan's heart.

"Save the people."

It was a sacred and arduous task, but Lin Fan was not afraid. Even if misunderstood by the world, he had to stop this transaction and prevent everyone from falling into the Yan Emperor's trap.

Lin Fan steeled himself, swallowed the pill in one gulp, then pulled down his pants, took a shit in the brocade box, wiped his ass, pulled up his pants, closed the box, and put it back in its original place.

What followed would be Lin Fan's journey to save the masses. Though the road would be hard and difficult, and he would not be understood, Lin Fan was not afraid.

After all, who else was a man full of justice and compassion?

If I do not enter hell, who will?