Chapter 157: Returning to the Sect in Glory

Night.

The verdant mountains, layered one upon another, resembled undulating waves on the sea, faintly visible yet indistinct.

Lin Fan stood at the bow, gazing down at the night scenery below. The little girl Zhiqiao stood beside him, her expression tense and somewhat fearful.

Lin Fan extended his palm toward Zhiqiao, a smile in his eyes.

Zhiqiao looked at Lin Fan, then carefully placed her small, delicate hand, as white as jade, into his palm.

Lin Fan held his disciple's hand, a faint smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Aboard the Fengtian Sect's war vessel.

Ling Ao had been swiftly defeated by the Sacred Sect disciples with lightning speed, leaving the Fengtian Sect in a state of dejection.

The Fengtian Sect elders' faces remained grim and pallid, a sign of extreme fury.

At that moment, Ling Ao lay there, his mind filled with the earlier scene. The pain in his crotch made his face turn ashen.

That area might have already lost all sensation.

Yet he could still feel the pain.

Sacred Sect… Lin Fan.

Ling Ao's expression twisted with rage, seething with anger.

He didn't know how he had lost consciousness; he only felt that something was very strange at the time.

But this grudge, he would eventually avenge.

…

The war vessel soared over countless mountains and crossed numerous rivers, until finally the peaks of the Sacred Sect appeared before everyone.

The layered mountain peaks grew clearer as they drew closer to the sect.

The disciples looked at the sect ahead, their hearts filled with joy.

“We're finally back.”

“Yes, after many days away from the sect, I've actually missed it a little.”

“Although this time wasn't a complete victory, we still taught Ling Ao of the Fengtian Sect a lesson—that counts as success.”

…

At that moment, Lin Fan held Zhiqiao's little hand and pointed ahead. “That is your home from now on.”

Cai Zhiqiao's bright eyes gazed at the mountain range, a hint of excitement flickering within them.

During the days on the road back to the sect, Lin Fan had built a good relationship with his only disciple, at least breaking the earlier awkwardness.

The main reason was Lin Fan's cleverness; he had many ways to cheer up a little girl.

“Master, will I live there too?” Cai Zhiqiao asked with big, adorable eyes.

Lin Fan smiled and patted the little girl's head.

…

Today, the Sacred Sect was bustling with excitement.

The inner disciples of the sect had gone on this expedition, and no one knew how it had turned out. The last trial in the forbidden grounds had resulted in heavy losses, causing the sect to lose face before many other sects. They wondered if this time they could turn the tables.

“The Sect Master is back!” Zhang Ergou stood in the crowd, extremely excited. He had missed the Sect Master terribly.

“Senior Brother, you're thinking about the Sect Master's Dafange, aren't you?” Feng Jue beside him rolled his eyes, ruthlessly exposing him.

Zhang Ergou was a bit displeased. “Why are you so honest now? Can't you see I'm not the only one thinking about it?”

Feng Jue glanced at Ye Shaotian not far away and sighed helplessly.

But in his heart, he too missed the effects of “Dafange” terribly.

Although the Sect Master had been gone for only half a month, to them, each day felt like a year.

At that moment, a huge war vessel hovered above the sect, then slowly descended. Under the gaze of many disciples, the inner disciples who had gone on the expedition disembarked.

One.

Two.

…

Twenty.

“Look, they're all safe and sound, no injuries at all.” Some attentive disciples counted those coming off the vessel and said excitedly.

“Eh, why is there an extra little girl?”

The waiting disciples saw a little girl beside Uncle Lin and were puzzled. But now, they were more concerned about the results of this expedition.

“Sect Master, Elders, we have returned safely.” Prison Elder was the first off the vessel, then came before the Sect Master and the Supreme Elders to report.

“Good.” Sect Master Yan nodded.

At that moment, Lin Fan stepped forward, looked at the many disciples, and revealed a faint smile. For the current Sacred Sect, they indeed needed something uplifting.

“Everyone, make way…” Lin Fan said calmly, then took out the Snow King Lion from his backpack.

Suddenly, a massive, ferocious beast appeared on the open ground before the disciples, startling them into exclamations.

“What kind of beast is this? It's enormous.”

“Could this be the Snow King Lion?”

“What? The Snow King Lion at the Lesser Heavenly Position Great Perfection realm?”

“Such an intact Snow King Lion—could it be that our Sacred Sect has obtained it all?”

Everyone exclaimed and discussed loudly, each person's eyes revealing unusual delight.

Even Sect Master Yan and the several Supreme Elders were somewhat surprised. They had brought back the entire body of the Snow King Lion—could the other sects really be so generous?

“Sect Master, Elders, on this expedition, Uncle Lin's contributions were indispensable. If not for Uncle Lin, we would not only have suffered heavy losses but might not have brought back anything at all,” Zong Hentian said at that moment.

At this, everyone's eyes turned to Lin Fan in unison.

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Lin Fan's mouth, while Cai Zhiqiao beside him, frightened by the stares, shrank behind Lin Fan.

Sect Master Yan and the Supreme Elders looked at Lin Fan, finding him more and more incredible. They knew the Snow King Lion was powerful; relying on their own strength alone, they probably couldn't have taken it down.

But now, the intact body of the Snow King Lion was here—how had the other sects been willing to let it go?

Lin Fan looked at the astonished crowd, lifted his chin slightly, his gaze distant as if everything was under his control. “This Snow King Lion's body is nothing special. In my hands, it's merely something that will turn to ashes. What comes next is the real highlight.”

Hearing this, everyone was greatly surprised. Did Uncle Lin mean that the Snow King Lion's body wasn't even the best? Then what could be considered the best?

Sect Master Yan exchanged glances with the several Supreme Elders and chuckled inwardly. This kid really liked to keep them in suspense.

Seeing the expectant looks on everyone's faces, Lin Fan smiled lightly and opened his palm. A pure white Snow King Lion cub lay quietly in his palm, sleeping peacefully.

The moment the Snow King Lion cub appeared, all the disciples were stunned.

“That's a Snow King Lion cub!”

“No way! On this expedition, we got the Snow King Lion's body, and now even the cub—what did the other sects get?”

Everyone was speechless with shock, feeling that everything had become somewhat unreal.

At that moment, Sect Master Yan and the Supreme Elders also felt a stir in their hearts. What exactly had happened during this siege?