Chapter 228: The Wrong Idea of the Routine Brother

"Your Excellency, this matter is the fault of my Qin Shen Dynasty. I hope..." The Qin King immediately conceded. The man before him was simply too powerful; Elder Huang and Elder Yin were no match for him.

"Hope your sister." Lin Fan roared in fury and swung his axe. The Qin King, startled, barely managed to block, but was sent flying by the immense force like a kite with a broken string, embedded deep into the bluestone of the arena.

At this moment, Lin Fan descended to the ground like a deity. The disciples of the two sects around dared not make a sound. The elders had been defeated by the man before them, and their fate was unknown, filling the disciples with fear.

The royal scions were even more so. They had always been above others, never imagining such a day would come, and it planted an indelible shadow in their hearts.

Lin Fan approached Zou Tenglong. His cold gaze made Zou Tenglong's heart suddenly panic, as if someone had gripped his throat, making it impossible to breathe.

"What do you want?" Zou Tenglong's arrogant face now showed a hint of timidity.

"What did you say earlier?" Lin Fan asked calmly. The Dharma manifestation floating behind him, with its three ferocious faces, roared incessantly like a hellish demon.

Zou Tenglong swallowed. Though only twelve or thirteen, his mind was more mature than anyone else's. He was the genius of the Qin Shen Dynasty, and even in the sect, he remained a genius—this was beyond doubt.

Basked in everyone's praise, he had long ceased to regard ordinary people. Even his father, the emperor, or the sect elders were, in Zou Tenglong's eyes, merely stepping stones. Compared to him, they were not on the same level.

He harbored boundless ambition. But now, the man before him, like a lofty god, questioned him with a gaze that made Zou Tenglong, who feared nothing, deeply uncomfortable.

At this moment, Zou Tenglong lowered his head, gritting his teeth, his heart burning with boundless rage that had no outlet.

"In my eyes now, you are but an ant. Do you have anything to say?" Lin Fan said coldly.

Hearing this, Zou Tenglong's heart erupted in fury. His pale little face stared at Lin Fan without fear. "You are older and stronger than me. I have nothing to say. Dare you give me a few years? I will surely trample you underfoot and make your life worse than death."

Hearing this, a faint smile curled at the corner of Lin Fan's mouth. Countless stories he had read flooded his mind.

In those novels, which protagonist wasn't tough as nails? Which villain wasn't a fool? Whether ruthless or contemptuous of all beings, they would all be brainwashed by the protagonist's words.

A few years? Then give him a few years.

And a few years later, he would leap over the dragon gate, and the villain would be thoroughly suppressed.

Lin Fan didn't consider himself a villain, but the scene before him felt off.

"Are those villagers still ants in your eyes?" Lin Fan asked again.

Zou Tenglong fell silent, as if pondering something. Then he burst into laughter. "Ants are ants. Even if they turn over, they're still ants. Kill them, and it's done. Are you afraid? Afraid that in a few years, I'll surpass you and crush you underfoot?"

Zou Tenglong usually trained in martial arts, but he spent even more time mastering the art of controlling people's hearts.

The man before him was powerful—even his father and the others were no match—but Zou Tenglong saw it differently.

He knew that the stronger a person was, the more eccentric their habits. Since this man would come to the palace to seek justice for some ant-like villagers, he must be kind-hearted. And Zou Tenglong was just a twelve- or thirteen-year-old boy—in the eyes of such people, still a child.

Given the man's nature, he probably wouldn't harm him.

After all, killing a child was the most despicable act.

At the same time, by maintaining his style and uttering these defiant words, perhaps the man would be moved and, under the pretext of guiding him onto the right path, keep him by his side.

The man's techniques must be immensely powerful, especially the Dharma manifestation behind him. In Zou Tenglong's eyes, it was incredibly strong. If he could learn it, he would surely unleash its greatest power.

Endure humiliation to achieve a greater purpose.

Zou Tenglong understood this. But now he was a hundred percent certain that the man would not harm him. And the likelihood of him being impressed by Zou Tenglong's unyielding character and taking him as a disciple was over seventy percent.

All these calculations gave Zou Tenglong a chance to try.

Joining a sect was, for him, a means to enhance his strength, become more powerful, look down on all beings, and trample them underfoot.

Now, this man was far stronger than these sects. Why not follow him?

Once he learned all the man's techniques and surpassed him in strength, he could use the same moves to kill him and humiliate him—wouldn't that be even more satisfying?

At this moment, a faint smile curled at the corner of Lin Fan's mouth.

Seeing that smile, Zou Tenglong's heart leaped with joy.

"In three years, I will find you and trample you underfoot. Do you dare?" Zou Tenglong stared at Lin Fan, unyielding, his eyes gleaming with a domineering light.

He was waiting for Lin Fan to say, "Three years? So be it. I'll give you ten years, even a hundred. I'll keep you by my side and see how you surpass me."

That was the line Zou Tenglong had been waiting for. If the man said it, Zou Tenglong would swear that his death was near.

In three years, with his talent, he could learn everything from this man, secretly raise his cultivation, and crush him to death.

But what happened next was beyond Zou Tenglong's belief.

A flash of cold light appeared.

Lin Fan struck out with a palm—Tidal Wave Strike, thirteen layers of force erupting violently.

Pfft...

Zou Tenglong's body flew to the ground, every bone shattered. In his final moment,

Zou Tenglong raised a finger weakly. "You... you..."

He breathed his last.

"Too bad you won't have that chance."

Lin Fan sneered, staring ahead. Three years—how many had died in that span of time?

Lin Fan didn't like to go on killing sprees, but he would never leave any隐患, especially one with decent talent.

Though Lin Fan had the system and was unmatched, too many flies could still be annoying.

Better to swat the fly before it latches onto you—that solves all troubles at their source.

"Ah..."

The crowd screamed in terror. The royal scions, seeing what had happened, fled in all directions as if they had seen a ghost.

Lin Fan paid them no mind.

Just then, Lin Fan's brow furrowed. From deep within the palace, a surge of aura erupted.

This aura made Lin Fan feel a hint of pressure.

"You've gone too far..." A calm, drifting voice reached Lin Fan's ears.

But to Lin Fan, that calm voice was like thunder, making his eardrums ache.

At that moment, the clear sky suddenly changed.

A thick purple bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking deep within the palace.

"Die."