Did You Inform Him That This Is Fan Gate Territory?

The Dan Sect young master's intrusion caused the harmonious atmosphere within the sinkhole to instantly fall dead silent. Not a single person spoke, all silently watching the scene unfold. He had brought no small congratulatory gift. Ten thousand ghost stones. It was more ghost stones than most factions present had offered, yet the tone underlying his words reeked of blatant contempt for Fan Gate. To put it plainly, this man had come to stir up trouble. No one spoke. The atmosphere turned distinctly awkward. The only sound echoing in the canyon was the voice of the Dan Sect young master, Zhou Yi. "Everyone gathered here today came to congratulate Fan Gate on slaying the ghost king." Qi Yue pulled Gongyang Yue behind him, his expression cold as he glared at the Dan Sect young master. "Coming here to crash the banquet like this... isn't very appropriate, is it?" "Who's crashing anything?" The Dan Sect young master tilted his head toward the crowd, pointing at the heap of gifts stacked nearby. "Didn't I bring gifts? Ten thousand ghost stones. Is that not enough? How much did your Gongyang clan bring? Let's hear it. "And who are you anyway? Do you have any right to speak here?" He suddenly slapped his forehead, turning toward Chen Fan with an apologetic expression. "Forget it. That might have been a bit tactless. The gifts have been delivered, and now I want to take away my fiancée, Gongyang Yue. Would Sect Master Chen please do me a favor and let us through?" "Presumptuous!" Gongyang Yiyue stepped forward, his face dark as he raised the banner in his hands. "This is the Gongyang clan's death banner. Anyone wishing to take away my young lady will have to step over my corpse." "Sigh." The Dan Sect young master let out a light sigh and spread his hands. "Gongyang Yiyue, the Gongyang clan's Nightwatcher. Known far and wide to everyone. "But since I came today, I naturally came prepared." With a flick of his wrist, he produced a formation plate from his robes and smiled at Gongyang Yiyue. "Here, I made sure to bring our sect's supreme treasure, the Heaven and Earth Formation Plate. Once activated, it can withstand a hundred foes for the burn of an incense stick. Go ahead, activate your powers and see if you can break it." Just then— Zhou Mo rode back from the canyon on a Skeleton Horse, carrying the heavily injured and unconscious Patriarch Wang. He set the patriarch down beside Weiwei to be nourished by the altar. "Oh, right. My apologies. My eyes weren't too sharp just now, and I seem to have sent a gatekeeper flying. "Tell you what." The Dan Sect young master rummaged through his robes for a moment and tossed out ten Level 2 ghost stones. "Let's make it a hundred ghost stones in compensation. I've always been a fair man." The sinkhole plunged into dead silence. Everyone kept quiet, occasionally casting surreptitious glances at Chen Fan. They were only here to offer congratulations and had no reason to meddle in this mess. Arrogant though this brat was, the Dan Sect was truly one of the preeminent powers in Jiangnan, sharing equal prestige with Medicine King Valley. They were not to be trifled with. Qi Feng was just about to say something in indignation when the elderly man accompanying him tugged at his sleeve, shaking his head to signal that he should not get involved. Frowning deeply, Qi Feng hesitated for a long while before ultimately remaining silent. Fan Gate was strong. They had slain a ghost king. Yet they had only just risen during this rainy season, and their foundation was still shallow. In particular, how much strength they had left after slaying the ghost king remained an unknown. Facing such pressure from the Dan Sect young master, yielding was the only realistic option. This was only normal. Everyone present knew what the final outcome had to be, even if it would cost Chen Fan a great deal of face. Generally speaking, without deep-seated blood feuds, no one would deliberately crash a celebration like this. But when one remembered it was the Dan Sect young master, it seemed par for the course. There were always certain people in this world. No matter how outrageous their behavior was, seeing it happen to them made it feel entirely expected. "Never mind." The Dan Sect young master smiled and returned to his carriage. "My words earlier were a bit intense. Please don't take offense, Sect Master Chen. Young people speak rashly; I'm sure you understand. "This is Fan Gate's territory, after all. Out of respect for Sect Master Chen, I won't make a move here. I'll be waiting for you at the canyon entrance. "Let's go." The carriage slowly rolled back into the canyon, proceeding out of Nameless Mountain under the watchful eyes of the crowd as though no one else were there. Only then did voices begin to murmur through the sinkhole once more. "Sect Master Chen, that fellow is just like that. Spoiled rotten since childhood, with no sense of manners." "Fan Gate will surely surpass the Dan Sect in the future, without a doubt." "As expected of Sect Master Chen, remarkably steady of mind. A more hotheaded person might have been provoked right then and there." The surrounding people exchanged glances, gathering around to salvage Chen Fan's dignity and smooth things over. There really was no other way. When the Dan Sect chose to use its might to bully a newly risen faction, what else could one do but endure it? "Classy." Chen Fan, who had maintained his calm and stayed silent throughout, turned toward Patriarch Wang, who was slowly coming around. Beckoning him over with a wave of his hand, he asked softly, "Have you joined Fan Gate?" "I—I've joined..." Patriarch Wang murmured in a trembling voice, his body shuddering from pain as his injuries had yet to fully heal. Taking such a blow at his advanced age was genuinely miserable. "Did you inform him that this is Fan Gate territory?" "I said it three times." "Three times." Chen Fan nodded slightly. Gazing at the receding figures soon to exit the canyon, he said in an undertone, "Warned three times. Barging into Fan Gate territory, injuring one of my people, insulting my guests. "How..." "How did he think he would leave here alive?" In the next instant— A thousand meters away at the canyon entrance, a Level 2 wall rose out of thin air, completely sealing the canyon passage and cutting off the Dan Sect convoy's path. "Chen Fan!" The Dan Sect retinue ground to a halt. Drawing back the carriage curtain, the Dan Sect young master spoke with a scowling face, unable to mask his humiliation as his voice drifted back along the canyon. "You dare block me? You want to make an enemy of the Dan Sect?" "Everyone," Chen Fan's gaze slowly swept across the crowd. "As long as I live, if any faction insults Fan Gate, Fan Gate will bring them down with us, no matter the cost. "Young and inexperienced. "Easily agitated. "Pardon my impulse." As soon as the words left his mouth, pale, cold ghost fire rushed through copper pipes. The twenty ghost fires buried along the canyon floor were ignited almost simultaneously, while a hundred and forty pitch-black openings abruptly jutted from the canyon walls. Before anyone could react, The sky turned blindingly bright! Hundreds of blazing white light beams shot forth from the cliff walls at various heights and angles, carrying apocalyptic power that instantly engulfed the Dan Sect retinue. The ground shook violently. Blistering white light inundated the entire canyon. A canyon that had seemed entirely mundane and somewhat crude a moment ago was now brimming with boundless killing intent. A protective dome of light rose from the Dan Sect convoy, enveloping them to withstand the cannon tower barrage. Yet no sooner had it manifested than it began to fracture, teetering on the verge of collapse. "Sect Master Chen!" A colossal phantom of an old man abruptly materialized in the middle of the canyon, his tone frantic. "My young disciple is undisciplined! Spare his life, and the Dan Sect will reward you generously!" The shout resonated throughout the canyon. Yet it was already too late. "Chen Fan, I was wro—" The Dan Sect young master had barely begun his plea for mercy when the barrier conjured by the Heaven and Earth Formation Plate shattered completely. Innumerable beams of blazing light swallowed the convoy whole. Under an onslaught of such magnitude, no mortal could possibly survive. "Chen Fan!" The elderly phantom suspended in midair began to disperse as well. Before dissolving completely, its glare locked onto Chen Fan's eyes, spitting out each word: "Remarkable methods! I will remember you! We will take our time settling this in the days to come." The people were dead. Yet the beams of blazing white light did not cease. The barrage bombarded the passage for an entire incense stick of time before finally grinding to a halt. As the dust cleared, the canyon held neither Skeleton Horses nor carriages, let alone the Dan Sect young master. Serenity returned once more. A light breeze stirred a wisp of dust, as though nothing had ever transpired. The sinkhole fell into an even deeper silence. Far quieter than before. People in Jiangnan often muttered in private that with the way the Dan Sect young master carried himself, he would get himself killed sooner or later. Yet seeing it unfold with their own eyes still left them in a daze. That was... the young master of the Dan Sect. Someone truly dared to kill him. And someone truly had the power to do so. "I've embarrassed myself before you all," Chen Fan said with a wry smile. "I seem to have acted a bit rashly. Sigh, that fellow really was something. Didn't he know I'm even younger than him? Naturally, that makes me far more impulsive. "Well then, let us continue. Eat and drink to your heart's content." The scene bustled back to life. The crowd crowded around Chen Fan once more, chatting incessantly, though their demeanor now carried an added touch of dread alongside respect. Slaying a ghost king proved strength. Daring to execute the Dan Sect young master proved sheer audacity. To possess immense power and reckless courage meant one either died young or rose to become an overlord. Only... Whenever their eyes inadvertently swept over the peaceful canyon, lingering fear gripped their hearts. They had just entered through that very canyon earlier, entirely oblivious to the lethal trap laid within. Suddenly, they had a rough idea of how Fan Gate had slain the ghost king. Time ticked away. The various delegations gradually took their leave. Soon, only Chen Fan and his companions remained in Nameless Mountain. The gate to Cave No. 1 stood wide open as Wang Kui worked swiftly to transport the gifts into the Warehouse. It truly was an enormous haul this time. "Master," Hou approached with a worried expression. "What do we do going forward? The Dan Sect is a powerhouse in Jiangnan. They'll likely resort to plenty of underhanded tricks against us. Although the young master of Medicine King Valley offered his support before leaving, many factions still rely on the Dan Sect for medicine. If our territory expands into Jiangnan later, we'll draw covert targeting and ostracization from many forces. "And even if we don't enter Jiangnan, the Dan Sect won't be short on dirty schemes..." Chen Fan remained silent with an unreadable expression. He merely concealed the wall of the Cave No. 2 Vehicle Factory and gazed at the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage parked quietly within the cavern. A line of text on its panel shone with striking brilliance: *Within lies a universe of boundless change.* After a long silence, he gazed toward the horizon and murmured softly, "All along, I only wanted to develop quietly in the shadows. "Yet things rarely go as wished. Many people cannot bear to see me keep a low profile; being too low-key only makes them mistake me for being weak. "From this day forth, Fan Gate is renamed the 'Fan Domain.' "When the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage appears above the Dan Sect, the world will know the name of our Fan Domain. "Fame is profit. "Fame and fortune go hand in hand. Because we slew a ghost king, these factions brought lavish gifts to win our favor. As long as our name is renowned enough, profit will naturally follow. "Take inventory of our assets. "Wipe out the Dan Sect at all costs. "The rainy season in Jiangnan is arriving soon; we must move fast. We depart tomorrow. "With the Dan Sect's demise, the Fan Domain will establish its name throughout Jiangbei. "Even if this journey is bound to run at a loss, I will ensure not a single bone remains of the Dan Sect." Without waiting for Hou and the others to respond, Chen Fan drew his gaze back from the distant horizon and muttered, "Killing this chicken will be far more satisfying than taking on the Pingtian Chamber of Commerce." Chen Fan walked back into the cavern alone, leaving Zhou Mo and the others staring at each other outside. "Well..." Zhou Mo scratched the back of his head. "I'd just gotten used to calling him Sect Master, and now we have to change it already? Though 'Domain Lord' does sound wilder and far more imposing." "Then what about the Jiangbei Chen family?" Hou asked seriously. He had always intended to head to the Jiangbei Chen family after the rainy season to settle scores for his young master. "We'll go later," Wang Kui said, his expression somewhat sullen. "On such an auspicious day, with a myriad of factions coming to offer congratulations, I've never experienced such an exhilarating day in my entire life. It was the proudest moment of my years. "Yet that Dan Sect had to crash the banquet at a time like this. If we don't resolve this properly, how will other factions view our Fan Domain? "Will they think we only dare pick on the small fish? "That we're afraid of crossing the big players? "Still, can our Fan Domain really wipe out the Dan Sect tomorrow?" "If the Domain Lord says we can, we certainly can." "You switched titles pretty quickly." "Not bad, right?" "By the way..." Zhou Mo glanced at Patriarch Wang, who was standing beside them with downcast eyes, bowing and scraping obsequiously. "When did this guy join the Fan Domain? How come I didn't know?" "He just joined when he came to deliver gifts during the day." "Just joined, and you threw your body in front of horses? With bones that fragile, weren't you afraid of getting trampled to death on the spot?" "I..." Patriarch Wang said sheepishly. "I mainly didn't expect them to actually ram me. I thought they would steer around me, so if anyone held me accountable later, I could say I showed up but couldn't stop them. "Who knew they wouldn't even swerve." "You're certainly honest." "This was the very bastard who made me serve as a stationmaster for thirteen years," Wang Kui said, casually draping an arm over Patriarch Wang's shoulders. "So he's going to serve thirteen years as a stationmaster in the Fan Domain. "Right, old man?" "My utmost honor, my utmost honor," Patriarch Wang replied, incessantly nodding and fawning, devoid of any dignity befitting a former family head. "Wait—" Just then, a sharp gleam flashed through Hou's eyes. "I think I've figured out how the young master plans to deal with the Dan Sect. Do you remember yesterday when the young master forged the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage and took it for a brief spin in the sky? Even though it consumed a huge amount of ghost stones, it was capable of short flights." "Of course we remember yesterday, but I can't guess the exact plan. Out with it," Zhou Mo said, scratching his head. "My head isn't built for that. You're the only one among us who attended a private school, and you've stayed with the Domain Lord the longest. Maybe you really can guess it." "Fly above the Dan Sect, and then drop Da Yu down." Sick Monkey pointed toward Da Yu nearby. Da Yu paused slightly, then took a deep breath, her voice resolute. "The worth of a Nightwatcher lies in activation. I have long been prepared to dedicate my life to the Fan Domain. I can activate at any time." Zhou Mo gave Sick Monkey a speechless look. "How could that be? The Domain Lord's plan definitely isn't that. Besides, a single activated Nightwatcher couldn't possibly destroy the Dan Sect; he must have other methods. "And stop teasing Da Yu. She already spends all day thinking about activating and activating—don't go talking her into actually doing it." "Then I can't guess it. Surely he won't be dropping me down. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Tonight was bound to be another sleepless night. Over the past few nights, the people of both Jiangbei and Jiangnan had found it hard to rest easy, primarily because too many events had transpired. Fan Gate had executed the Dan Sect young master. The news spread across Jiangbei and Jiangnan in no time. Everyone watched in silence. Some bet on Fan Gate's victory, others on the Dan Sect's, but all shared one unanimous conclusion: Young people truly were prone to impulse. When out and about in the future, don't go provoking young people. It was far too easy to die.