Chapter 258: Return to Dao Sect, Exquisite Formation!
After a moment, under the increasingly flustered and shy gaze of the girl, Lin Fan casually set her gently back down.
"Huh? What happened here?"
Ying Huanhuan blushed slightly, adjusted her clothes, and then blinked in surprise as she looked around at the ice-blue terrain covering the mountaintop.
"It's from the formation," Lin Fan replied with a small smile.
Ying Huanhuan nodded and didn't think much more of it. Then she lifted her delicate face, unable to hide the joy blooming across her cheeks. "I succeeded in condensing my Nascent Spirit too!"
"Congratulations," Lin Fan said with a warm smile.
"What are you all planning next?" Xiao Diao walked over at that moment, glanced at the two, and asked.
"We're heading back to Dao Sect," Lin Fan replied. "The Sect Competition is coming soon."
"The Sect Competition, huh? That's a big deal in the Eastern Xuan Region. The danger and intensity of it even surpass the Hundred Empire War," Xiao Diao said with a grin.
"If I remember right, every competition is held in the Domain of Annihilation, yeah? That place is insanely dangerous."
"The Domain of Annihilation? What's there that makes it so dangerous?" Lin Dong asked, brows furrowed.
With a small smile, Xiao Diao began explaining the origins of the Domain of Annihilation to Lin Fan and the others.
After some chatting, they eventually went their separate ways.
Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan continued roaming the outside world, while Lin Dong, Lin Fan, and Ying Huanhuan began their journey back to Dao Sect.
…
The return trip took them longer than expected. They flew individually, and Ying Huanhuan often veered off to play around a bit, so it ended up taking nearly twice the time it had to get there.
Half a month later, they finally arrived at Dao Sect.
As they passed through the massive protective array surrounding the sect, ready to head to their respective peaks, a group from the sect's enforcement division intercepted them.
"Junior Brother Lin Fan, Junior Sister Huanhuan, Junior Brother Lin Dong—the Sect Master wants to see you immediately," said the lead enforcer after glancing over the three.
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
Lin Fan cupped his hands politely, then he and the others flew quickly toward the inner regions of Dao Sect.
"Oh, right—Junior Sister Huanhuan, Uncle Qi Lei said you need to return the Phoenix Zither immediately."
Just as they were about to disappear, a teasing voice called out behind them.
Ying Huanhuan's face fell instantly. "Ugh… I'm so doomed. I'm definitely getting grounded this time…"
Lin Fan shrugged slightly at her muttering—nothing he could do to help.
Soon, the trio reached the quiet mountaintop with a bamboo hut at its peak.
As they landed, they immediately saw a white-robed figure standing with his hands behind his back—Ying Xuanzhi.
Just as Lin Fan was about to greet him, Ying Xuanzhi turned and his eyes stopped abruptly on Ying Huanhuan.
At that moment, Lin Fan noticed his pupils contract slightly.
But in the blink of an eye, his expression returned to normal.
"You three certainly stirred things up. Not only did you sneak off with the Phoenix Zither, but you also killed a Yuan Gate elder and two Spirit Generals. Quite the accomplishment…" Ying Xuanzhi said calmly, glancing over the three of them.
Hearing this, Lin Dong grew a bit uneasy. He hadn't dealt with the Sect Master before and wasn't sure what his temperament was like.
Lin Fan, however, remained relatively calm.
"Father, they were the ones who came after us first. If we didn't fight back, we might not have made it back at all…" Ying Huanhuan pouted.
"Luckily, Ren Yuanzi didn't discover your identities. Otherwise, Yuan Gate wouldn't let it go so easily—especially with the Sect Competition right around the corner."
Ying Xuanzhi gave her a pointed glare.
"But... since no one found out, we'll leave it at that. Yuan Gate… as long as it's not brought to the surface, killing them is fair game."
Hearing that, both Lin Dong and Ying Huanhuan breathed a little easier.
"Huanhuan, go return the Phoenix Zither to Uncle Qi Lei. It may be yours in the future, but for now, until your strength is enough, it must remain in the Heavenly Hall."
Ying Xuanzhi paused, then instructed her.
"Okay."
Ying Huanhuan nodded obediently. Her big eyes flicked toward Lin Fan, and she whispered only loud enough for him to hear, "I'm leaving now. You're on your own—good luck."
With that, she turned into a streak of rainbow light and fled the mountaintop.
"That girl…" Ying Xuanzhi chuckled as he watched her go.
Then his gaze returned to Lin Fan and Lin Dong. The smile slowly faded, and after a brief silence, he asked, "You both noticed the change in Huanhuan, didn't you?"
Lin Fan asked in return, "You knew too, Sect Master?"
"I sensed it when she was very young. But I never expected that she'd establish a connection with that... spiritual essence while forming her Nascent Spirit," Ying Xuanzhi said with a sigh, his eyes complicated.
"That girl… she's a Reincarnator. But who she was in her past life—what ancient powerhouse—remains unknown…"
Lin Fan said firmly, "Whatever her past life was, this life, she is Ying Huanhuan."
"You don't need to tell me that. I know it better than you. No matter what she becomes, she will always be my daughter. And even if she awakens, this life is still in her hands," Ying Xuanzhi said with a faint smile.
They chatted for a while longer.
Eventually, Ying Xuanzhi said, "There's just over a month before the Sect Competition. Stay within the sect and focus on cultivating until then."
"And remember—don't tell anyone about Huanhuan's identity as a Reincarnator. If Yuan Gate finds out, they may try something underhanded. Once she awakens... her potential would be beyond imagining."
"Yes, Sect Master," Lin Fan nodded seriously.
Lin Dong also gave his solemn agreement.
"Oh, right," Lin Fan said, as he was about to leave, "I have a formation that might help in the upcoming competition. I'd like the Sect Master to review it and pass it to the disciples who'll be participating."
"Oh? You know formations too?" Ying Xuanzhi was surprised.
Lin Fan practiced both Yuan Power and Spiritual Power and excelled in both—yet he also had time to study formations?
"I have some confidence in that area," Lin Fan said modestly but confidently.
Ying Xuanzhi smiled. "What kind of formation is it? May I take a look?"
"Of course. Do you happen to have pen and paper?" Lin Fan asked.
With a nod, Ying Xuanzhi handed over a set.
Without hesitation, Lin Fan began drawing the formation diagram right in front of him, along with detailed annotations.
"Sect Master, please take a look," Lin Fan said after finishing.
"What an exquisite formation!"
Ying Xuanzhi's eyes lit up after a quick internal analysis. He couldn't help but praise it aloud.
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