In the private box, an inscrutable smile crept across Luo Yin’s face.
At that moment, Lin Fan’s Luck Value dropped by another 100.
In other words, people’s trust in the list and the ripples in their hearts were no longer as strong as they had been at the start.
Just now, when Ling Qingxue and the others heard the name of the Blood Nether Race, they had instinctively glanced toward Luo Yin.
They had no idea what had transpired on the ninth floor.
Had Su Chen slain that Blood Nether Soldier, or had it been Luo Yin?
They couldn’t ask outright now, not with Xiao Yurou present—she knew nothing of Luo Yin’s true identity.
For the time being, they could only hold their questions and seek out the details in private later.
Lin Fan still hadn’t calmed the turmoil in his heart.
He simply couldn’t comprehend what had happened.
Why had the protagonist died? And where had this Luo Yin come from?
No wonder he could barely remember the man.
Though he had read the book several times, Luo Yin barely registered as a character.
He was just a minor early-game villain side character.
The first real antagonist in the story was the Heavenly Demon Sect Young Lord—that was Su Chen’s initial experience grind, his first big boss baby.
Luo Yin was nothing more than a lackey under Yan Tianhong’s command. All he did was cause Su Chen some trouble in the sacred grounds, so he had zero presence. No one would remember a guy like that.
Lin Fan had no time to dwell on it. Having the very first spot on the list turn into such a mess was the last thing he wanted.
Even if he didn’t understand what had gone down, with so many people confirming it, the event must have been real.
Since it had happened, he couldn’t very well argue semantics. He needed to steady the audience’s emotions first.
He had to stick to the plan!
With a composed smile, he said, “Very well! Friend, you’ve raised a valid point, and I failed to verify it properly. Here, you have your choice of five Immortal Grade Techniques or two Immortal-level Treasures!”
As his words fell, five Immortal Grade Techniques and two Immortal-level Treasures floated into view before him.
He had obtained them from the Heavenly Fragrance Tower, of course—borrowed, that was.
The tower’s foundations ran deep, but even they didn’t hand out Immortal Grade Techniques and treasures like candy.
The sight of those Immortal Grade Techniques and treasures hovering in front of Lin Fan drew gasps from the crowd.
It was real!
Actual Immortal Grade Techniques and treasures up for grabs!
The Fengyang Sect disciple from the Northern Spirit Realm wasted no time. After a surge of wild joy, he claimed a fist technique.
The other folks from the Northern Spirit Realm could only groan in regret, cursing themselves for not speaking up sooner.
Having steadied the audience’s moods, Lin Fan let out a quiet breath of relief.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Lin stands by his word! You’ve all seen it with your own eyes, yes? Truth be told, I deliberately botched that tenth spot on purpose—to see if anyone would step up and call it out! It was also to prove Lin’s credibility to you all!”
The crowd nodded slightly. They couldn’t tell if Lin Fan was telling the truth, but at least his attitude was on point.
It made them reluctant to leave so soon. They wanted to stick around for the rest of the Newcomers List rankings.
Luo Yin could only snort inwardly at the words.
The guy had quick reflexes, that was for sure—he’d spun the story right back around in no time.
Fine by him. That meant they could move on to the next rankings.
Lin Fan rapped his gavel, brushing aside the earlier fiasco, and continued.
“Ninth on the Newcomers List of the Holy Profound Realm—Southern Brightness Realm, Heavenly Sword Sect Young Master, Chen Yufeng!”
The name rang out, and in a private box of the Heavenly Fragrance Tower, Chen Yufeng burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! I knew this young master would make the list! Ow, damn it!”
His laughter turned wild, tugging at his wounds and leaving him grimacing in pain.
The audience in the main hall held their tongues for now. They had all heard of Chen Yufeng, one way or another.
His character left much to be desired, but his strength among the younger generation was beyond question.
Still, who would have thought the top young sword cultivator of the Southern Brightness Realm would rank only ninth?
How terrifying must the top eight be?
The women beside Luo Yin merely pursed their lips in disdain.
Ling’er brandished her little fist and huffed, “Hmph! If a clown like that can make the list, then Young Master definitely will too!”
Luo Yin smiled but said nothing.
Up on the platform, Lin Fan noted the crowd’s normal reactions and pressed on.
“Chen Yufeng rose to fame at a young age. He began cultivating the sword at six, comprehended Sword Intent at twelve, mastered two streams of Sword Intent by eighteen, and reached the Divine Ability Realm. At nineteen, he burst into the public eye. In a certain secret realm, he slew a flood dragon with true dragon bloodline, then followed it up by beheading a divine python infused with heavenly tribulation intent! His name spread far and wide.
“Proud and ambitious, he set his sights on becoming the foremost of the young generation—number one in Sword Dao would do. In just three years, he challenged every prodigy in the Southern Brightness Realm.
“All the prodigies of the Southern Brightness Realm fell to his blade.
“But he refused to stop there. He ventured into the Central Province Realm, a land of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Though he defeated a few prodigies at first, he soon encountered the greatest rival of his life! Another sword cultivation genius!
“A monster even more freakish than him!”
The words sent a shock through the crowd.
They knew Chen Yufeng’s tale up to that point, but not what had befallen him in the Central Province Realm.
They only knew that after returning to the Southern Brightness Realm, he had secluded himself for a year.
They had assumed it was for some breakthrough. Now, it seemed otherwise.
At the same time, Chen Yufeng’s pupils trembled in his box. He stared at Lin Fan in utter astonishment, a chill rising in his heart.
Impossible!
His clash with that person was a secret between just the two of them. Not even their elders knew. How could this Lin Fan possibly be aware!?
Chen Yufeng glared daggers at Lin Fan, hanging on his next words.
Lin Fan took a sip of tea and continued.
“Chen Yufeng clashed with that man atop Red Cloud Mountain. With a single sword, his opponent leveled the entire mountain and shattered Chen Yufeng’s sword heart! Gravely wounded, Chen Yufeng retreated to the Heavenly Sword Sect and secluded himself for a year, recovering only three-tenths of his strength. Only recently has he fully regained his power.”
Silence blanketed the hall.
Some gaped in disbelief. They knew Chen Yufeng’s prowess all too well.
Someone had severed his sword heart with one strike?!
Chen Yufeng shot to his feet with a sharp scrape, fixing Lin Fan with a deadly stare. He couldn’t fathom how the man knew.
It absolutely couldn’t have come from that person—that one never stooped to gossiping about such things!
“Though Chen Yufeng lost that battle, his prior feats more than qualify him for the list! And for a little teaser: his opponent is also on the list.
“Alright! Any objections to ninth place on the Newcomers List?”
Lin Fan finished and scanned the crowd.
No surprises this time, right?
Yet though no one stood to challenge him, a voice piped up.
“A few days ago, Chen Yufeng fought a young man who called himself the Northern Spirit Realm Lone Ranger. That kid beat him with one sword. Could that boy not be from the Northern Spirit Realm, but the one from the Central Province Realm instead?”
The voice reached Lin Fan’s ears.
He frowned at once.
Another young sword cultivator who beat Chen Yufeng with one sword?!
Impossible!
What else had happened that he didn’t know about?!
In the original story, among the younger generation, Chen Yufeng’s Sword Dao was second only to the best!
Northern Spirit Realm—again with the Northern Spirit Realm!
Where the hell had this kid who called himself the Northern Spirit Realm Lone Ranger come from?
Lin Fan knew for certain it couldn’t be the Central Province Realm one.
Because the one from the Central Province Realm was a woman!
