Chapter 108: Layers of Mist

Lu Gucheng's face lit up with joy—he hadn't expected Lu Fan to still have such a method; it seemed he had been worrying for nothing. But Zhu Ge Qing Ming, who stood condensed on the rune war chariot, wore a worried look, glancing at the gradually thinning aura of instrument patterns on the chariot, and finally couldn't help but say:

"Young Fan, these petty troublemakers are no problem; the plan now is still to go to the Lu family to check casualties and guard against treacherous people sneaking from behind!"

Lu Fan glanced at the other party indifferently, naturally understanding their meaning, but he didn't care, and said to Ye Gucheng beside him: "Where are Lu Shanxing and those four enforcers? Why haven't they come out yet?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Gucheng's face darkened, and he said: "Three days ago, shortly after you left the Ye family, several senior elders fled the Lu family; it was chaotic, and there were also a few people of unknown origin. Senior Lu Shanxing and the four enforcers went after them, and then the Lu family was besieged by the Qin family using a formation, and it remains so to this day."

"What are you saying? Lu Shanlin has run away. So Lu Ran, Lu Honglian, and Lu Tianchou are also missing—how coincidental!"

Ye Fei's face turned ugly at this, and he vaguely felt that the matter was even more complicated than he had imagined.

"Could it be..."

He suddenly thought of something, flipped his hand, and slapped toward the rune war chariot. Light on the chariot exploded, a strand of mystic light poured out, shooting straight into the depths of the Lu family residence.

Faint ripples came one after another, all seen by Lu Fan; the more he watched, the more startled he became, until finally he exploded in anger and shouted at Nie Xing:

"The person who schemed against the Qin family and caused the Yin Sha Ghost Fire Formation to change—has nothing to do with you, right?"

Before these words even landed, Left Elder and Nie Xing both changed expression, wearing looks of utter disbelief, never expecting Lu Fan to so quickly guess the truth.

Lu Gucheng also blinked slightly, as if recalling something, and frowned:

"Lu Fan, the three Martial Kings who died at your hands are from the Myriad Spirits Hall. But those who besieged my Lu family have none of that aura. Needless to say, the Qin family people—after that ghost formation changed, the formation gained several strange shadows, very mysterious, and bears no resemblance to the Myriad Spirits Hall's methods."

Lu Fan lightly nodded, his face appearing calm, but inside his heart churned. All the previous scenes gathered together, and suddenly became bewilderingly mysterious.

The escape of Lu Shanlin and Lu Ran was inherently suspicious. He had no clue, couldn't make sense of it. But these present matters are a tangled mess, chaotic and disordered. Earlier everything seemed to point to the Myriad Spirits Hall, to Nie Xing and his group. But now it appears not so.

Moreover, Nie Xing deliberately blocked him, even pretending to be allied with those inside the Yin Sha Ghost Fire Formation, likely harboring another motive.

Qiuxiang's disappearance is understandable, after all she is a Myriad Wood Spirit Body, and any faction that knows of her would want her. But the Grand Matriarch's disappearance is puzzling. Could it be that Qiuxiang, worried that after she left the Grand Matriarch would have no one to care for her, took her along?

Given Qiuxiang's value, it's unlikely anyone would harm her in the near future; they might even try to curry favor with her, so the Grand Matriarch should also be safe.

He shook his head, feeling that a pair of black hands lurked behind the scenes, likely hiding some secret. At present he couldn't make sense of it, so he could only investigate later.

He drew a slight breath, calmed his mind, and Lu Fan focused his gaze on Left Elder. The crystal bow transformed into the 'Original Phase Separation' rune formation had already dissipated; the other party appeared unharmed, but their breath was somewhat disordered.

"Your strength is not bad; you actually managed to withstand the restrictive power unleashed by the rune war chariot—looks like I had underestimated you before!"

Upon hearing this, Left Elder exploded in anger. A junior actually "praised" him—this was clearly mockery and ridicule, nothing short of a great disgrace in life.

However, the power of that crystal bow rune formation was truly immense; the Rune Dao Divine Ability, especially the eerie and terrifying 'Original Phase Separation', occurred right before his eyes. Three living Martial Kings, without even a chance to utter a sigh, were refined into ash by the talisman seals—just thinking about it makes the scalp tingle.

He dared not move lightly, and now had the thought of retreating.

Nie Xing naturally also realized these things; although he hated Lu Fan to the bone, he also knew that with his current abilities and divine powers, he could not be a match for Lu Fan. He glanced at Left Elder, then gradually stepped back, preparing to leave.

"You only now think of leaving—don't you think it's too late?"

Lu Fan narrowed his eyes, wearing a half-smile, and with a single hand flip was about to drive the rune war chariot. But at that moment, an angry shout rang out—"You little brat, you dare to strike me? If I teach you a lesson today, Ling Yao will someday talk about avenging the moonlight night!"

Ling Yao finally broke free of Lu Fan's restraint, shame and fury intertwined, indescribable. Without paying attention to anything else, she flipped her wrist and sent the embroidered scarf flying.

"Chirp-chirp" two bird calls rang out, and from the embroidered scarf flew two strange birds, one blue and one red—exactly the Ice and Fire Two Powers.

Two bands of silk-like light swept across, mighty in aura, one left and one right, rushing at Lu Fan with the force of Ice and Fire Double Heaven, wrapping around him.

Upon seeing this, Nie Xing was overjoyed, exultantly saying: "Lu Fan, you'd better attend to your own affairs! Our grudge will be settled inside the Dragon Tower! Ling Er is mine, and your life is mine too!"

As soon as his words fell, he and Left Elder swiftly departed.

Lu Fan gritted his teeth in anger, but could do nothing. This little girl Ling Yao, when she goes berserk, is indeed just like her master Yue Ruxue—not something ordinary people can endure.

The Technique Refining Crystal Furnace whirled out, using rune fire's might to uniquely oppose the power of Ice and Fire Double Heaven. Seals were gestured, mysteries flashed. Not far away, the supreme crystal bow refined by the rune war chariot dared not be used—if this method went out of control, that little girl Ling Yao would be reduced to ashes, and he could not bring himself to be so ruthless.

He had unspeakable bitterness, while Ling Yao was full of interest. Her crystal eyes stared fixedly at Lu Fan, fearing to miss even the slightest detail.

Not long ago, when they first met, he was merely a kid at the Essence Gathering Realm. In such a short time, he had actually crossed two realms—truly unbelievable. Yet even so, he still could not match Lu Fan's divine ability to suppress Martial Venerables, which was almost godlike.

"Huh! Little brat, your aura seems to be weakening! Could it be that your Tempered Bone Realm cultivation is just due to a secret technique bursting forth, not your true strength?"

She seemed to have seen something, and pressed Lu Fan for answers. However, her hand movements did not stop, showing a posture of not resting until she suppressed Lu Fan.

Lu Fan frowned, annoyed, and said: "Everyone says it's formation-boosted cultivation; isn't it normal to increase one's level a bit?"

He had no mind to explain, giving a perfunctory reply. The 'Return to Origin One Qi' he had personally transmitted to Yue Ruxue, and it was a single-line inheritance. If Ling Yao came to know it, she might truly discern some clues, which would become a big trouble later.

Ling Yao coquettishly exclaimed, somewhat dissatisfied with Lu Fan's attitude, but seeing Nie Xing and the other depart, she lost the will to fight, recalled the embroidered scarf, and thus ceased hostilities.

"Little brat, I'll let you off today; I'll settle the score with you later!"

Upon seeing this, Lu Fan felt both amused and exasperated. What on earth is this little girl planning? It looks like she's deliberately covering Nie Xing's escape.

But thinking that she is his own grand-disciple, her behavior could be said to stem from Yue Ruxue's "inept teaching," which also relates to him Lu Fan, so he couldn't bring himself to feel resentful.

"I really am fed up with you. Ling Yao, from now on, the broad road lies ahead—each go your own way. Wherever you came from, go back there! Just don't come bother me!"

He slightly shook his head, stepped forward, and headed toward the Ye family manor. However, Ling Yao let out a coquettish laugh, instantly blocking Lu Fan's path, furrowing her delicate brows, hands on her hips, and said fiercely:

"The Dragon Tower is about to open; you cannot go anywhere, you must follow me!"

The Lu family had encountered an incident, the Grand Matriarch and Qiuxiang had mysteriously disappeared, and he had no interest in seeking out the Dragon Tower, saying with lost enthusiasm:

"I have no interest; I don't care what inheritance the Dragon Tower holds—you should go find your Deputy Vice President instead!"

As soon as he spoke those words, Lu Gucheng's face tightened with anxiety; he hurried over, pulled Lu Fan, and advised: "Lu Fan, that Dragon Tower is the foremost inheritance of our Bright Moon Empire; with your cultivation and methods, you will surely obtain the true inheritance, and our Lu family's rise is within reach!"

Ling Yao lightly laughed, tempting: "That brat Nie Xing will surely participate as well; he might even know the news of the Lu family Grand Matriarch's disappearance. Once inside the Dragon Tower, they're just young juniors, and no one can stop you. All actions, follow your heart!"

The two sang in harmony, but Lu Fan grew weary of it. Just as he was about to speak to dismiss their thoughts, he suddenly recalled something, stared at Ling Yao, frowned, and said:

"You just blocked me—could it be that you deliberately wanted to let Nie Xing go? Does he have an unavoidable reason to enter the Dragon Tower?"

Ling Yao would alternate between fury—an posture of 'never die, never rest'—and a light laugh, completely indifferent as she stopped her hands. Changing faces faster than turning a page, if one said there were no schemes, nobody would believe it.

"Guess!"

Seeing Lu Fan's furrowed, doubtful expression, Ling Yao wore a look of triumph, as if she had finally grasped his weakness.

Lu Fan's doubts deepened; he instinctively sensed something unusual, and casually said: "That Dragon Tower is a secret realm; it should have been opened many times before, right? Those who emerged in past openings gained some harvest, but never obtained the Dragon Tower's true inheritance. However, there should be some hidden information, or key items, that could assist in opening the true inheritance."

He spoke offhandedly, merely making random guesses. But hearing it, Ling Yao's expression changed, wearing a look of utter disbelief.

She gave Lu Fan a helpless glance, yet still stubbornly said: "You'll know once you enter the Dragon Tower; no need for me to say more."

Lu Gucheng beside him also chimed in, saying: "Yes, yes! The mysteries inside the Dragon Tower are unfathomable; you still need to go explore it yourself!"

Lu Fan, however, became interested this time, frowning without speaking. Since the Dragon Pagoda is a secret realm, there should be many treasures inside; he needs to retrain and restore his strength. To him, such a place is a land of blessings and treasure.

Seeing Lu Fan's heart moved, Ling Yao was overjoyed, grabbed his wrist in one go, and directly pulled him onto the rune war chariot.

"Let's go! You drive this rune war chariot, and those old fogeys won't dare to do anything to you!"

Her words carried a hint of joy; although she was already on the chariot, she still tightly held his wrist, fearing he would shake her off and leave.

Lu Fan sighed, helpless. Meanwhile, Han Zhen on the side kept winking and making faces, constantly sizing up Lu Fan and Ling Yao with a weird grin.

Lu Fan exchanged a few words with Lu Second Uncle, then immediately drove the rune war chariot away like the wind.

In the hidden formation deep within Tianyuan Academy, Liu Changsheng paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his expression flickering. One moment he was overjoyed, the next he wore a worried frown, his conflict reaching the extreme.

Around them sat many elders with deep auras, all of Martial King cultivation. Their true qi surged, intertwining, and under the formation's radiant operation, waves of indescribable undulations rippled forth.

Outside the formation, a large crowd gathered. In groups of three or five, each group had a young talent, with strong-aura middle-aged martial artists behind them, evidently as guards.