Accidentally invincible!

Lin Fan did not regard the Demon King before him as a threat.

The gap between them was as vast as heaven and earth.

If not for the matter of fate.

They would never have encountered each other.

The Demon King shifted his gaze from the baby girl and glared angrily at Lin Fan, "Who are you? A mere human cultivator who doesn't rush to escape to save his life but dares to come here? You're courting death!"

Lin Fan simply looked too young.

To the Demon King, someone so young couldn't possibly be powerful—a single slap would be enough to kill him. As for the sense of danger earlier, he assumed it was caused by the baby girl.

That aura was terrifying.

It shared the same origin as his own.

Lin Fan maintained a calm expression, and without further words, he summoned the Hell Spear and then threw it directly at the Demon King. He wished to conclude the matter quickly so he could investigate the mystery surrounding fate.

What secrets were hidden within?

Whoosh!

With terrifying momentum, the Hell Spear shot forth rapidly.

"What?!"

The Demon King had been careless and didn't take it seriously, but soon, he noticed something was wrong—the incoming force was far more daunting than he had anticipated.

In a blink.

He found himself unable to react as his body refused to obey his commands.

Pfft!

The Hell Spear pierced through the Demon King's head, unleashing a devastating power that obliterated his Divine Soul, extinguishing him in an instant.

The scene fell into silence.

Everyone stood with their mouths agape and eyes wide open.

As if they had seen a ghost.

They glanced not far away, where the Demon King's body was pinned to the ground by the spear, unmoving and lifeless, his aura completely gone—he was undoubtedly dead.

It was incredibly hard to believe.

The Demon King, terrifying to the extreme, had died just like that.

Who in the world was this individual?

His strength was far too overwhelming.

The demons who had followed the Demon King intending to crush the human cultivators were all stunned. One of the demons screamed in terror, turning heel to flee, igniting a large-scale retreat.

"Flying Immortal Ninefold Technique."

Lin Fan executed a Great Divine Power. Instantly, a sharp edge swept out, splitting the sky and earth. With a soft "pfft," the fleeing demons in the distance were cleaved in half at the waist, leaving them no room for resistance.

Clink, clink~

The drops were activated.

[Obtained Spirit Root: First Grade Earth Spirit Root.]

[Obtained Mana: Fifty Years.]

...

The drops were numerous, relentlessly refreshing themselves. As for what exactly had dropped, it would have to be sorted out later.

Lin Fan chuckled and said, "Everyone, rest assured. I am a disciple of a great Immortal Dao Sect and happened upon this place when I heard of demons invading the city. I came to check things out."

Then.

His gaze swept across the crowd.

One of the young men's drops caught his attention.

[Chen Yang: Fifth Level Nascent Soul Realm.]

[Chance of drop: Seventh Grade Fire Spirit Root, Seventh Grade Wood Spirit Root, Ancient Ring…]

[Remarks: …]

Judging by his Spirit Roots, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him. But the Ancient Ring sparked some thoughts.

As long as he touched it, he could ascertain whether the city's fate was tied to this ring.

At this moment.

Two elders suppressed their internal injuries and cupped their fists, asking, "May we know the name of our esteemed friend?"

"I am Lin Fan, from the Taiwu Immortal Sect," Lin Fan replied calmly before turning to Chen Yang and said, "Might I ask, Young Friend Chen, if you are willing to let me examine that Ancient Ring you have with you?"

The two elders were puzzled.

Uncertain of Lin Fan's motives, they turned their eyes to Chen Yang.

Chen Yang was stunned, "How does Senior know?"

He noticed Lin Fan appeared to be about the same age as himself. However, calling him "Senior" truly felt odd, yet the ancestors referred to Lin Fan as "Dao Friend." What could he say?

Could he dare to consider himself Lin Fan's peer?

Lin Fan smiled mysteriously.

He offered no further explanation.

"Chen Yang, if you have it, take it out," said the Chen Family's ancestor.

"Yes."

Chen Yang retrieved the Ancient Ring.

Lin Fan took it into his hand, his expression tinged with astonishment.

[Ancient Ring: A ring once worn by Xuan De Dao Immortal, tempered by immortal energy and Dao inscriptions, transforming it from a Mortal Ring into an item with endless utility, capable of suppressing inner demons.]

How peculiar.

Could it be that I, too, possess great fate?

Just as he was troubled by the matter with the Little Sun, fate delivered a stroke of fortune.

"Senior, what mystical qualities does this ring have?"

Chen Yang cautiously asked.

Primarily because Lin Fan's stunned expression suggested that the item was extraordinary.

Lin Fan smiled and said, "This ring is a treasure. It was once worn by an immortal, yet it's inherently a mortal object. After the cleansing of immortal energy, it gained wonderful properties, including the ability to suppress inner demons and even carrying fate itself."

"To be honest, I wish to claim this item for myself."

Chen Yang's face stiffened with discomfort.

This… was somewhat difficult for him.

Although Lin Fan had saved them.

His frankness was still a little off-putting.

"Ah, I was careless. I will offer the highest compensation," Lin Fan said.

"Moreover, I won't hide it from you. If it weren't for special circumstances, I wouldn't covet this ring."

"Allow me to clarify."

Lin Fan did not conceal the malicious aura emanating from the Little Sun. Instantly, an overwhelmingly frightening wickedness spread forth.

The two elders stepped back, their faces filled with terror.

"As you see, this baby girl's condition is complicated. She was born with innate wickedness. I made a wager with an ancient demon—not a major gamble, simply a proposal: If within twenty years, I can cultivate her into an upright disciple of the Immortal Dao, the demons will lose."

"After that, demons would cease invading the cultivation world."

Lin Fan's bet with the ancient demon wasn't overly elaborate. It was merely a test, meant to prove a certain point.

The two elders found it unbelievable that someone so inherently evil could be converted.

"Chen Yang, since Dao Friend Lin has such a noble goal, let him have the ring," the Chen Family ancestor said.

After all, Lin Fan had just saved them. Such gratitude could not go unanswered.

Even if the item was truly precious, there was no point in hesitating.

"Yes, Ancestor." Chen Yang obeyed.

Lin Fan waved his hand and said, "I will not take it for free. To some, this ring has a price. To me, however, it is priceless. How about this: I possess two Dao Artifacts—one of superior grade, the other of inferior grade. Would you agree to exchange?"

These two Dao Artifacts were acquired from Qin Muyang.

Though unrelated to his Immortal Sect.

What mattered was who wielded them.

Most importantly.

He did not want to owe karmic debts.

To avoid future troubles from this karma, it was better to exchange perfectly fair Dao Artifacts than to take advantage of others.

"No, no," Chen Yang hurriedly waved in refusal.

The Chen Family ancestor was very pleased with Chen Yang's restraint in refusing even after seeing Dao Artifacts.

Of course.

Even he greatly desired the Dao Artifacts, yet some boundaries could not be crossed.

"Take it already; there's no need for all these formalities," Lin Fan insisted.

Under Lin Fan's repeated urging, Chen Yang helplessly turned to his ancestor for guidance.

Did he dare accept?

The Chen Family ancestor had no alternative but to nod and signal him to take it. Continuing to refuse would surely appear disrespectful.

Moreover.

With two Dao Artifacts, they would be better equipped to battle demons in the future.

"Dao Friend Lin, this is all too generous," said the Chen Family ancestor.

Lin Fan dismissed it with a wave of his hand, saying, "Generosity aside, it was my request that was excessive. For your willingness to accommodate me, I will remember this favor. Should you encounter any issue in the future, come to Taiwu Immortal Sect, and I will resolve it fully for you."

He then took out a token.

As a True Disciple with his own mountain peak, this was a token issued to every disciple in case of emergencies during outside encounters—to repay debts when unable to do so immediately.

Anyone holding the token.

No matter how many years had passed, would be granted assistance from the Taiwu Immortal Sect.

The Chen Family ancestor chose not to accept it directly, instead instructing Chen Yang to keep hold of it and warning him to safeguard it well.

A Demon King couldn't withstand even one move from Lin Fan.

What level of cultivation was this individual? Surely, it required no further explanation.

Perhaps, this token could serve as the Chen Family's safeguard—a relic passed down through generations, only to be used in the event of annihilation-level peril.

"Farewell."

Lin Fan did not linger, having already gleaned why the demons had come.

Judging by the demons' expressions, it was clear—they were drawn in by the Little Sun.

The Chen Family ancestors wanted desperately to invite Lin Fan for a proper visit, but before they could speak, Lin Fan had already vanished, leaving no trace.

If they knew the demon invasion was related to Lin Fan's presence, their sentiments might have been quite different.

Elsewhere.

Lin Fan embedded the Ancient Ring into the body of the Little Sun. He immediately noticed a change in her condition.

The wicked aura weakened slightly.

But the effect was minor.

He understood it would require time; such transformations couldn't happen in the blink of an eye.

The suppression of her wickedness would have to occur gradually.

"Little girl, your luck isn't bad. Even Heaven itself wants to lend a hand. I'm certain to win in twenty years—perhaps even sooner."

Lin Fan was in high spirits.

Good fortune truly allowed one endless possibilities.

Without further thought.

He sped back toward the Taiwu Immortal Sect.

He wondered if his mother had sensed the damage to the Divine Four Saints Set. He had been away for too long, and if she had noticed, she would certainly be worried.

Thinking of this.

He increased his pace.

Faster and faster.

Taiwu Immortal Sect.

Lin Fan gazed toward the horizon, pondering whether anything might have changed, and then proceeded directly to Wei You's mountain peak.

"Mother, I'm back," he called.

But there was no response.

Strange.

Lin Fan scratched his head, feeling odd. His mother was always here; why wasn't she this time?

Could something have happened?

At that moment.

A figure appeared behind Lin Fan.

"You really know how to run around," the Sect Leader's voice carried an air of complaint, followed by, "What exactly were you doing in the Northern Desolation? Who did you cross paths with to the point of shattering the Divine Four Saints Set?"

Lin Fan urgently replied, "Sect Leader, forget that—where's my mother?"

"You…"

The Sect Leader began to speak but was abruptly distracted by the baby girl in Lin Fan's arms. Immediately, his expression shifted drastically. "Where did she come from?"

To the Sect Leader.

It was as if he had seen something unimaginably horrifying.