Chapter 226: News of Bloodrock Grounds, The Fire Crystal Demon Apes!
High in the sky, the giant azure eagle flapped its wings, stirring fierce winds.
Its speed was so swift it felt like it could tear through space itself.
Lin Fan sat cross-legged on the eagle's back, completely unaffected by the surrounding wind.
Clearly, this was no ordinary eagle—its body radiated energy that formed a barrier, shielding its passengers from the gusts.
At the front of the eagle sat Ying Huanhuan. Flanking her were two male disciples from the Earth Hall and the Flood Hall. From their glances and conversation, Lin Fan could tell the two harbored some admiration for her.
However, it was obvious Ying Huanhuan only saw them as fellow disciples.
Lin Fan's thoughts were already spinning. He knew this mission outside the sect might come with unexpected complications.
He had sensed something odd—but he couldn't say anything beforehand, since he had no way of explaining how he knew.
"Hey!"
A crisp voice suddenly broke his thoughts.
Lin Fan looked up, slightly surprised.
With the world whizzing past them, the girl in white and teal turned her head to look at him, her ponytail sweeping over her snowy neck. Her bright eyes sparkled like lakes, strikingly beautiful.
"Is something wrong?" Lin Fan quickly gathered his thoughts and smiled.
"You're kind of antisocial, you know," Ying Huanhuan said, seriously. "We're all fellow disciples. Acting so aloof makes you seem arrogant. That's not how Dao Sect disciples should behave."
The way she spoke, like a stern mentor, combined with her youthful appearance, was rather amusing.
Completely unaware of this, Ying Huanhuan smiled and added, "Now that we're out on this mission together, we're teammates. Since you're new, I'll look after you. Don't be nervous—treat it like training."
"As long as you come back with all your limbs, I won't let you lose a chunk of flesh."
Lin Fan didn't argue. He simply chuckled. "Thanks for looking after me, Senior Sister Huanhuan."
The two male disciples beside her nodded in agreement.
They assumed Lin Fan might be stronger in cultivation level, but he was still new and inexperienced on missions.
"I heard you mastered the Desolate Demon Eye in just two days?" Ying Huanhuan suddenly asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
At that, the two men's expressions also sharpened.
Clearly, they'd heard the name of that technique before.
"It might just suit me," Lin Fan replied casually.
"Oh," Ying Huanhuan nodded, her long lashes lowered as her eyes shimmered.
She remembered clearly—her sister Ying Xiaoxiao had been visibly shocked upon hearing that news.
"You're more capable than I thought. I guess I'll take back what I said about you being arrogant," Ying Huanhuan said, stretching lazily, her curves accentuated by the motion.
She glanced at him playfully. "The other part—I'll decide after you comprehend the Great Wilderness Sutra."
Lin Fan grinned and said, "If I remember correctly, you said that if I managed to comprehend it, you'd grant me one request."
Ying Huanhuan paused, a blush rising to her cheeks before she glared at him.
"Only if you're worthy of making a request!"
Lin Fan chuckled but said no more.
"Our destination is called Bloodrock Grounds..."
Ying Huanhuan began explaining the details of their mission, including the chaotic state of the region and its place on the sect's bounty list.
"Heh, with Junior Sister Huanhuan leading, this mission should be a breeze. We might as well treat it as a fun little trip," said the white-clothed man beside her.
Through their conversation, Lin Fan learned the white-robed youth was Jiang Kun, one of the Earth Hall's core disciples, currently at the Seventh-Stage Nirvana Realm.
The black-robed one was Yuan Ling, also a core disciple from the Flood Hall—likewise at Seventh-Stage Nirvana Realm.
As the group chatted, five days passed quickly.
On the sixth morning, they finally arrived at Bloodrock Grounds.
The land ahead was soaked in crimson—like it had been stained by centuries of blood.
A sinister aura rose from the earth, and the ambient energy in the area was chaotic and wild.
Lin Fan could sense the savage nature of the aura, and from the shadows of the terrain, he felt cold, fierce eyes watching them as the eagle soared overhead.
"We've arrived," Ying Huanhuan said lazily, stretching as she sat at the front. "Let's head to the mine first. Dao Sect has stationed disciples there."
None of the others objected.
Under Ying Huanhuan's command, the eagle descended swiftly to a rocky clearing.
Not long after they landed, the sound of wind-cutting approached.
Soon, several dozen figures appeared—it was the stationed disciples of Dao Sect.
The moment they saw Ying Huanhuan, their wariness turned to respectful smiles.
"Huanhuan," the group's leader, a petite young woman, greeted her warmly. She clearly had a close relationship with Ying Huanhuan.
"Hehe, Sister Fang," Ying Huanhuan beamed and skipped over. "These are the ones accompanying me—Jiang Kun and the others you already know. This guy's Lin Fan, a new disciple from Desolate Hall..."
Sister Fang greeted Lin Fan politely after Ying Huanhuan's introduction.
Lin Fan learned her name—Yuan Fang.
After the small talk, they got down to business.
"Fang-jie, take us to see the source of the problem. If it's those damned beasts again, I won't go easy on them this time," Ying Huanhuan said, her delicate hand clenching into a dramatic little fist.
The contrast between her fierce words and charming appearance made the others chuckle.
Yuan Fang smiled and patted Ying Huanhuan's head fondly. But her eyes soon turned serious. "This time, things are a bit strange. Come, I'll show you."
With that, she turned and led the group deeper into the mine.
The further they went, the more intense the red hue became—like the earth itself was on fire.
Eventually, Yuan Fang landed on a protruding stone peak. Behind her, Ying Huanhuan, Lin Fan, and the others followed.
Below them lay a crimson forest. Scarlet trees rustled in the breeze like a sea of flames.
As Lin Fan scanned the forest, he quickly sensed more than forty vicious auras, each at least as strong as a Fifth-Stage Nirvana cultivator.
"There are no fewer than forty Fire Crystal Demon Apes down there. If we engage them head-on, even if we win, our side will suffer serious losses," Yuan Fang said, her expression grave.
"Forty of them?" Jiang Kun and Yuan Ling were stunned.
Even at their level, this number was a real threat.
"Fang-jie, weren't there no Fire Crystal Apes in this area before? Why are there suddenly so many?" Ying Huanhuan asked, frowning.
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