Chapter 28: Hall of Heavenly Extinction

Yin Tianfang never imagined he would encounter this person here. Three months ago, after leaving the Profound Dao Sect, this young man inexplicably pursued him relentlessly. After much difficulty, Yin Tianfang finally shook him off, only to be captured by a demon bird and dragged back. Miraculously surviving, he endured three months living like a wild man. Upon seeing this individual again, Yin Tianfang naturally wore a sour expression.

“Young man, I never expected to run into you here. Tell me, what is your relationship with Junior Sister Nuolan?” Lin Tian shouted angrily. Several figures swiftly approached; seeing the young man’s furious demeanor, their gazes toward Yin Tianfang instantly turned hostile.

“Nuolan?” Yin Tianfang frowned, unfamiliar with the name and unsure whom the young man was referring to.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Yin Tianfang replied impatiently, turning away to continue roasting the beast. The rich aroma wafted through the air; gazing at the golden, roasted beast, his appetite grew. The little one beside him was drooling as well. Just as they were about to dig in, a cold flash shot toward them.

Bang!

A longsword plunged into the campfire, scattering the flames and sending embers flying. The roasted beast was torn apart, its pieces strewn across the ground. Yin Tianfang was momentarily stunned. He slowly rose, turned to face the young man, and his expression grew colder.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Young man, I asked you a question—are you deaf? I heard from the sect’s junior sisters that you once stayed in Nuolan’s courtyard. Tell me, what is your relationship with her?!” the young man demanded angrily.

“Young master, why waste words with him? Let’s capture him and force him to confess—then we’ll get everything out of him,” sneered a burly middle-aged man behind the young man.

His large hand extended, powerful spiritual energy radiating from his body, as an invisible force clutched at Yin Tianfang.

“Gravitational Art!” As a fundamental technique required for sword flight, any cultivator who reached the Condensation Stage could learn it. But the Gravitational Art was not only for sword flight—it could also be used offensively.

Sensing the invisible binding force, Yin Tianfang’s expression grew even colder. He slapped his storage pouch, and a flying sword shot forth as a cold flash toward the burly man.

Whoosh!

The sharp cold light tore through the air, breaking the invisible restraint, appearing before the burly man. Before he could react, the sword pierced his throat. His head soared, blood gushing like a fountain from his neck, the strong scent of blood filling the air. The headless body crashed to the ground, the severed head rolling away, its eyes wide open, refusing to close even in death.

“Expert!”

The scene caused Lin Tian and his companions’ pupils to contract sharply. They had never expected Yin Tianfang to kill the middle-aged man in one move. That man had reached the second layer of the Condensation Stage, yet died so easily.

“I am not familiar with Nuolan. If you persist, you will share his fate,” Yin Tianfang said coldly, releasing a trace of his aura. Lin Tian and his men’s faces changed dramatically.

Lin Tian could not accept this so easily. As the young master of the Lin family in Phoenix City, he had joined the Profound Dao Sect for Nuolan. Who would have thought that the usually aloof Nuolan would allow a man to stay in her courtyard? How could Lin Tian tolerate this?

Yet Yin Tianfang’s strength was overwhelming; Lin Tian knew that even combined, he and his companions might not match him.

Lin Tian shot Yin Tianfang a venomous glare, sheathed his sword, and turned to leave without hesitation. Only after they had gone a considerable distance did a follower ask, “Young master, are we just going to let this go? He killed one of our men right in front of us.”

“Let it go? Of course not. When have I ever endured such humiliation? Don’t worry, I’ll make him pay. Nuolan is mine—no one will take her from me.” Lin Tian twisted a strand of hair between his fingers, eyeing it as his lips curled into a cold smile.

Yin Tianfang stood watching Lin Tian and his group until their figures disappeared from view, then withdrew his gaze. He looked at the headless corpse nearby, walked over calmly, rummaged for a while, and then looked disappointed.

“What a pauper—nothing at all.” Gazing at the distant horizon, at the hazy outline of three mountain peaks, he shook his head and muttered to himself, “All this trouble over a woman—ridiculous.”

“Little one, let’s go home.” After the commotion, Yin Tianfang had lost his appetite. He called to the little creature, who turned around, a slice of roasted meat still dangling from its beak. Hearing Yin Tianfang’s call, it quickly gobbled a few bites and scampered toward him. Man and bird gradually disappeared into the distance.

Eight hundred li from the Profound Dao Sect, a lofty mountain stood, its slopes steep and covered in smooth jade-like blue rocks. A winding, narrow path twisted its way upward, turning nine times and eighteen bends before reaching the summit. At the top stood a Daoist temple, sparsely inhabited, exuding an air of cold solitude.

That day, several figures arrived at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at its majestic peak. Leading them was Lin Tian.

“Wait here,” Lin Tian instructed his companions.

“Is it dangerous, young master?” someone asked worriedly.

“No need to worry. The Hall of Absolute Fate never deals in loss. I’m here for a transaction, not a fight,” Lin Tian replied with a smile. He then strode up the winding path toward the summit.

Upon reaching the temple, Lin Tian paused. Inside, an old Daoist swept the courtyard. Lin Tian stepped forward, entering the courtyard. The old Daoist glanced at Lin Tian upon hearing his footsteps, but continued sweeping.

“Junior Lin Tian greets the elder,” Lin Tian said politely, clasping his fists.

The old Daoist seemed not to hear, sweeping quietly. Lin Tian’s expression remained unchanged as he continued, “I have come to do business with the Hall of Absolute Fate.”

At his words, the old Daoist’s sweeping paused. He slowly raised his head, his cloudy eyes scrutinizing Lin Tian before speaking, “Follow me.”

The old Daoist set aside his broom and walked toward the main hall, Lin Tian trailing behind. Inside, the old Daoist opened a secret chamber and entered. Lin Tian hesitated briefly before following.

In the chamber, the old Daoist sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, gesturing for Lin Tian to sit. Lin Tian sat opposite him and said, “I wish to commission the Hall of Absolute Fate to kill someone.”

“Who are they, what is their cultivation, where are they now?” the old Daoist asked.

“I don’t know his background—likely a rogue cultivator, at the fourth layer of the Condensation Stage,” Lin Tian replied after some thought. “As for his current location, I’m not sure, but I have a strand of his hair. I trust the Hall’s methods can use it to find him.”

“That is possible.” The old Daoist took the paper-wrapped strand of hair from Lin Tian and said, “A fourth-layer Condensation Stage cultivator, if a rogue, will cost five hundred spirit stones. Tracking by secret methods adds one hundred more.”

“Agreed.” Lin Tian gritted his teeth; he had long heard of the Hall’s exorbitant prices, and now saw it firsthand. But he had no choice. With a pained expression, he handed over a storage pouch. The old Daoist counted the stones and nodded, “Three days. The task will be done. You may depart.”

“Thank you, elder.” Lin Tian rose, cupped his hands in gratitude, and left the chamber, descending the mountain path.