Chapter 698: I Was Raised on Scares.

Lin Fan hadn't expected this old man to be so shameless and so deep in his tricks; before he knew it, he had been trapped.

“Kid, the roads I've traveled are beyond your imagination. In my youth, I was exceptionally brilliant. But you've managed to toy with me to this extent—that's enough to make you proud. I've decided to take you as my disciple. Under my tutelage, you will surely surpass me.” Feng Qingzi was satisfied, and the more he looked at this kid, the more pleased he became.

Cultivation relies not only on talent but also on brains. Those talented hotheads who only know how to cultivate without a shred of common sense usually come to no good end.

There are countless races in the universe, and countless geniuses among them. But as they say, 'The survivor is king.' The one who lasts to the end is the real winner.

Lin Fan rolled his eyes. Why did this line sound so familiar?

'Enough to make you proud'—wasn't that something I used to say to others? But now, in this situation, Lin Fan could only sigh helplessly.

At that moment, Lin Fan released the bald donkey from the Heaven and Earth Furnace. Having been locked up for so long, he wondered if the monk had gone mad.

“Ah, finally out! Benefactor, did you escape? Share and share alike—we need to split the loot properly.” Shakyamuni had been thinking quietly while locked in the furnace.

This was Senior Feng Qingzi's storage ring! The treasures inside must be enormous. If he could get his hands on even a fraction, he'd be rich.

But when he saw Lin Fan's strange expression, Shakyamuni's face suddenly changed, his heart leaped, and he couldn't help looking to the side. In an instant, Feng Qingzi's figure appeared in his sight.

Thinking of what he had just said, Shakyamuni felt something was wrong.

“Ahem! Benefactor Lin, how could you take Senior Feng Qingzi's storage ring? That's immoral. We must return it to him. Ah! Senior Feng Qingzi, you're here! Truly, heaven's net is vast and wide, and nothing escapes it.” Shakyamuni, recalling his earlier words, felt his heart shatter, and he tried desperately to make amends.

“Baldy, stop pretending. You may be a Buddhist, but you're utterly shameless.” Lin Fan was used to this monk's habit of saying whatever suited the occasion.

This time, he had to admit defeat. But for Lin Fan, giving in so easily was out of the question.

“Old man, I don't accept this. If you've got the guts, let's have another test.” Lin Fan's mind raced. No matter what, he had to leave today. No one in this world had the right to take him as a disciple.

“Oh? What test?” Feng Qingzi smiled calmly. Having been fooled once, he wouldn't be fooled again. In his eyes, this kid was cunning.

“Simple. See this brick in my hand? Let me hit you with it. If you don't spit blood, I lose.” Lin Fan took out the 95 Red Brick—his last resort.

As for 'Black Tiger Steals the Heart' or 'True Ultimate Destruction Kick,' Lin Fan thought it better not to use them. If he actually injured the old man, he might end up fighting for his life.

Having another leech like the bald donkey around would be a tragedy.

“Why should I let you hit me?” Feng Qingzi sensed no magical fluctuation from the brick, but he didn't underestimate Lin Fan. This kid was treacherous—a match for himself.

“Are you scared?” Lin Fan was sure that if the old man let him hit him, he'd be down for the count. But if the old man refused, there was nothing he could do.

“Kid, you've already lost.” Feng Qingzi said.

“I don't accept it.” Lin Fan shouted.

“You have to accept it whether you like it or not.” Feng Qingzi said.

“I just won't accept it.” Lin Fan shook his head, refusing to admit defeat.

“Senior, I accept. Please take me as your disciple.” Shakyamuni was about to cry. One didn't want to become a disciple, while the other desperately wanted to, but the master didn't fancy him. Who could understand this pain?

“Your talent is too poor. I don't fancy you.” Feng Qingzi, irritated by Lin Fan, showed no courtesy to Shakyamuni, leaving the monk heartbroken as he crouched on the ground drawing circles.

“Old man, why do you have to hurt the bald donkey like that? Even if his talent is poor, you don't have to be so blunt.”

Shakyamuni felt grateful when he heard Benefactor Lin speaking up for him, but the second half of the sentence only hurt him more.

How could his talent be poor?

He had cultivated for a hundred years to reach this level. How many in this world could compare to him?

“Kid, I'll ask you one last time: do you accept or not?”

“Hmph, I don't accept. I'd rather die than accept.” Lin Fan said stubbornly.

“Fine, very well. Then I'll leave you to your own devices.” After saying this, Feng Qingzi left directly.

“Hey, old man, you can leave, but you have to get rid of this thing!” Lin Fan was bewildered. He didn't know what the old man was up to. If he was leaving, he should at least remove the barrier, or how was he supposed to get out?

“Damn it, one misstep leads to eternal regret. I've roamed the world for so long and never suffered such a loss.” Lin Fan fumed inwardly, but then suddenly rejoiced. “Right, the old man's two storage rings are still in my hands! Haha, he must be senile to forget something so important.”

“Baldy, stop pretending. The old man's gone. We need to figure out how to get rid of this barrier. Once we're out, I'll share some treasures with you.” Lin Fan said.

“Benefactor, are you serious?” At the mention of treasures, Shakyamuni perked up, full of energy again.

“Of course.” Lin Fan felt he was being generous. He'd pick out some junk for the monk later and consider his promise fulfilled.

Just then, the void trembled. From the distant horizon, a force that oppressed the heart tore through the void and pierced through.

“Human, I've finally found you.” Thunder crackled, black clouds rolled, and a pair of evil eyes, like heavenly eyes, burst forth with infinite light, suppressing heaven and earth.

Lin Fan frowned, then waved his hand. “Damn it, old man, are you trying to scare me again? I was raised on scares—I'm not afraid of you.”

“Feng Qingzi, we've kept to our own affairs. How dare you come to my supreme domain? Are you breaking the agreement?”

The rumbling sounds were deafening, and the clouds in the sky began to churn like waves.

“Could this be real?” Lin Fan's heart skipped a beat, a bad feeling creeping in.

But he quickly dismissed it. In his mind, this was definitely another trick by the old man.

Boom!

A bolt of lightning split the sky, and a colossal figure appeared between heaven and earth.

In that moment, heaven and earth fell silent.

All things submitted, as if a king had descended.

When Lin Fan saw the distant figure, his expression changed drastically.

“Holy crap, this is for real?”

……