Chapter 339: You Should Thank Tianshang Pavilion—Or You'd Already Be Dead!
"Something you need?" Lin Fan lazily lifted his eyelids, giving Xie Yan a casual glance as he spoke.
Xie Yan crossed his fingers and said with a malicious smile, "I heard that in the Tianfeng Sea Region, there's some guy named Lin Fan who's been claiming to be the disciple of the Flame God Palace's Lord Mo Luo. That wouldn't happen to be you, would it?"
Lin Fan frowned slightly and replied indifferently, "I've never said I was a disciple of the Flame God Palace."
This ridiculous rumor again.
Although Lin Fan didn't fear the Flame God Palace, he certainly didn't want to make unnecessary enemies. With Xie Yan bringing it up now, he might as well take this chance to clarify it once and for all.
"So you're saying, you're definitely not Lord Mo Luo's disciple. Not even part of the Flame God Palace?"
Xie Yan's grin widened playfully.
"That's right." Lin Fan remained calm, tone even.
Xie Yan's hands clenched together, and the smile faded from his face. His gaze turned sharp. "If that's the case, then who gave you the audacity to kill so many of our Evil Wind Cave members?"
"What? You want to avenge Evil Bone Elder?" Lin Fan chuckled, voice cold. "If you're thinking about it, go ahead and make a move."
"But I'm afraid… you don't have the capability. And when your revenge fails, you'll end up just like that old bag of bones and his disciples—dust in the wind."
"Oh really?" Xie Yan's smile disappeared entirely, his handsome face now steeped in a sinister aura.
The two stood facing each other in midair. The space between them began to ripple, currents of invisible energy surging in silent tension—like two blades drawn, ready to clash.
"Gentlemen," a calm voice interrupted, "this is the Tianshang Pavilion's auction. Not a place for personal grudges. On behalf of our Pavilion, I ask that you both refrain."
It was Tang Dongling, her eyebrows gently furrowed as she addressed them.
"Hehe… since Dongling asks, of course I'll give her that courtesy," Xie Yan said, turning toward her with a soft smile, the sharp malice on his face vanishing in an instant.
Then, turning back to Lin Fan, he added coldly, "Consider yourself lucky. Today, I'll let you go for her sake."
Lin Fan's expression remained unchanged. He smiled faintly and replied,
"You should thank Miss Tang and the Tianshang Pavilion. If not for them, you'd already be dead."
The grin on Xie Yan's face vanished.
A shadow passed over his eyes, and for a moment, a flash of murderous intent surged within.
Lin Fan's words were a blatant insult—he hadn't even spared him the dignity of a veiled threat. It was a clear message: you're nothing.
Tang Dongling paused at Lin Fan's bluntness. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with a subtle light, as if she were quietly reconsidering the man before her.
"Heh… I'll remember what you said. Let's see if you're still this arrogant once you've left the Pavilion," Xie Yan sneered. His fingers curled, lips pulling into a stiff smile.
With that, he turned to give Tang Dongling another polite nod before walking away.
But even as he turned, the cold, ominous aura around him thickened—clearly laced with murderous intent.
"You've certainly offended him thoroughly," Tang Dongling remarked as she turned to Lin Fan.
"I just stated a fact," Lin Fan replied with a shrug. "Anyway, let's find our seats. I have a feeling this auction is going to be interesting."
He said nothing more and led Lin Dong and Mu Lingshan down to their designated seats.
Tang Dongling watched him go, her eyes flickering with thought. From the way he carried himself… she was now eighty to ninety percent sure—this Lin Fan was the same one from the Eastern Xuan Region.
"That guy's so annoying. I wanna punch him!" Mu Lingshan pouted as she sat down, clearly displeased.
She was, of course, referring to Xie Yan.
Lin Fan chuckled, "Don't worry. Once the auction's over, there'll be plenty of time to deal with him. But for now, let's respect the Pavilion and Miss Tang."
Up front, Xie Yan had also taken his seat. When he saw Lin Fan's group arrive, his gaze sharpened, and he turned to a nearby elder in black robes.
"Young Lord, is that the one they say killed Evil Bone Elder?"
The old man's cloudy eyes glinted as he looked at Lin Fan.
"Yeah. Arrogant little bastard," Xie Yan muttered coldly. "He must've used some trick. There's no way he took out Evil Bone Elder with his own power."
"If not for our mission here, I'd expose him myself. At least avenge our Elder a little. He was a respected enforcer of Evil Wind Cave, after all."
The elder gave a slight smile. "No need to dirty your hands, Young Lord. If things go smoothly today, I'll personally capture him afterward and hand him over to you."
Xie Yan nodded and glanced around. "Quite a few heavy hitters came today. I'm guessing they're all here for that item. Whether we get it or not… depends."
The elder hesitated. "Is the information reliable?"
"Who knows. But real or fake—it's better in our hands than anyone else's," Xie Yan said grimly.
Meanwhile, Lin Fan casually scanned the surroundings.
Suddenly, he felt someone staring at him.
Turning his head, he saw a white-robed man smiling at him from a private booth on the right.
The man was strikingly handsome, with long, slender hands that shimmered like jade. His aura felt vast, like someone who could control heaven and earth with a gesture.
It was Zhou Qian, nicknamed "Heaven-and-Earth Hands," considered the strongest of the younger generation in the Tianfeng Sea Region.
Lin Fan nodded politely, then looked away, waiting for the auction to begin.
DONG!
A clear chime rang out across the massive auction hall.
Tang Dongling's elegant figure floated down onto the auction platform.
The resounding chime silenced the crowd. The once chaotic chatter faded as everyone's attention turned to the stage—and the beautiful woman in red standing atop it.
More than one man whispered dreams of marrying Tang Dongling and inheriting the Pavilion in the process.
Lin Fan smiled wryly as he heard some of the ridiculous fantasies whispered around him. As expected, daydreamers existed in every corner of the world.
On stage, Tang Dongling remained calm under the sea of stares. Her slender face held a teasing smile.
"Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Tianshang Pavilion, I thank you all for coming. We hope today's auction won't disappoint."
Her pleasant voice echoed through the hall, calming the crowd.
"Without further ado, let's begin."
She waved her hand.
A graceful maid approached the stage, holding a silver tray.
Resting on the tray was a scroll radiating a faint crimson glow.
"This is the Fire Demon Heaven-Piercing Palm, a mid-grade Heaven-level martial art. It was created a thousand years ago by a Revolving Wheel expert. Once mastered, it can ignite the sky."
Her voice echoed—and the crowd immediately stirred.
Clearly, many were quite interested.
Once Tang Dongling announced the starting price, the bidding began with fervor.
Lin Fan and his group merely watched in silence—they weren't here for this.
One item after another was presented and sold, but Lin Fan's party remained quiet, waiting for the one they'd come for.
DONG!
A bell rang as a new item was brought forward on a silver tray.
Lin Dong, who had been reclining lazily, suddenly sat upright. A gleam of joy appeared in his eyes.
Even Lin Fan lifted his head and looked toward the tray.
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