Chapter 22: The Embarrassment of War God Lu Bu

"Hold on, did I give you permission to leave?" Lin Fan's voice came coldly, carrying a hint of mockery.

War God Lu Bu paused his steps and glanced back. Although he was still putting on a brave face, his palms were already sweating.

He pulled a brand-new suit of battle armor from his pouch and donned it neatly; he looked imposing, but in reality, he was terrified.

"Arrogant!" War God Lu Bu forced his Aura to rise and shouted angrily.

Lin Fan, however, remained unmoved and said indifferently, "You want to leave after losing? Is there such a good deal in the world? First, hand over two million Immortal Crystals."

"Two million Immortal Crystals?!" War God Lu Bu's face twitched, and the corners of his eyes jumped violently. He almost suspected he had misheard. "I came here to fight, not to pay Immortal Crystals!"

"Oh?" Lin Fan grinned, his tone light and airy. "Then fight. Keep fighting. My two disciples haven't had enough yet."

Xue Yao tilted her head slightly, revealing a playful smile. "Yeah, that's right. I feel like Uncle War God Lu Bu was just acting earlier."

"You!" War God Lu Bu's face twitched, and he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

Helpless, he could only rummage through his pouch, but he couldn't find many Immortal Crystals.

His expression was awkward, and he bit the bullet and said, "This General never carries Immortal Crystals when fighting!"

"That's a bit tricky." Lin Fan stroked his chin and smiled mischievously. "Since you don't have money, then go work in the fields. You can't just fight for free."

Cold sweat broke out on War God Lu Bu's forehead. "You are humiliating a War God!"

"No, no, no, absolutely not." Lin Fan waved his hand, his smile becoming even brighter. "Besides, that was just a friendly price; I've changed my mind now."

"You need to make up for Poetry Immortal Yu Xuanji's one million Immortal Crystals as well, for a total of three million. After all, she's been eating and drinking for free here, and the food expenses aren't cheap."

"What? Three million!" War God Lu Bu nearly spat blood on the spot. "You are robbing me in broad daylight!"

"Either pay up or do manual labor. The choice is yours." Lin Fan shrugged, his tone light and breezy.

Xue Yao giggled on the side, covering her mouth. "Uncle War God Lu Bu, why don't you consider staying here long-term? I can teach you how to plow the fields!"

War God Lu Bu's face darkened, and he regretted it immensely. Suddenly, he thought of something!

"Wait, why is Poetry Immortal Yu Xuanji's share one million, but mine is two million?"

Lin Fan smiled indifferently, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Poetry Immortal Yu Xuanji is a first-time offender, while you are a repeat offender. The price is naturally different. Rules are rules."

"Oh, right, if the Upper Realm still wants to play rogue and come to rob instead of paying the ransom, the price will double directly to four million."

"Four million?" War God Lu Bu was almost choked by his own anger, his face turning a mix of green and red.

He had always been the one robbing others; when had he ever been so blatantly extorted?

But this guy Lin Fan had unfathomable cultivation. He couldn't gauge how strong he was at all, and he had absolutely no chance of winning.

He gritted his teeth fiercely, his expression ferocious, yet he still had to force himself to maintain the dignity of a War God.

This Lin Fan would surely be famous in the future. If word got out that he lost to Lin Fan, he could barely maintain some reputation.

But if word got out that he lost to two little girls and was forced to work in the fields, how would he be able to show his face in the future?

"Hmph! Lin Fan, let's have a duel! If I lose, I am willing to pay seven million Immortal Crystals! But if I win, let me take Poetry Immortal Yu Xuanji away, and also…"

"And what else?" Lin Fan's eyes suddenly turned icy, a chill permeating the air, and the surrounding temperature seemed to drop instantly.

Even as a War God, War God Lu Bu was frightened into a shiver, a chill running down his spine. He swallowed and bit the bullet, huffing, "It won't be too late to tell you after we finish fighting!"

As he spoke, War God Lu Bu had already attacked!

The halberd in his hand whipped up a violent gale, the energy tearing through the Void Realm, and it slashed down with the momentum of thunder! This strike was terrifying, as if it could split mountains and shatter the earth, shaking all directions.

But Lin Fan squinted, sneering inwardly: strong on the outside, weak on the inside.

War God Lu Bu appeared to have surging Aura on the surface, but in reality, he was at the end of his rope. He had been severely injured by the combined attacks of Mu Xueyan and Xue Yao previously, his internal Qi was chaotic, and his injuries had not healed. Attacking now was merely forcing himself.

"Since you want to fight, I'll play along."

Lin Fan's mind stirred, and he decided to make this battle seem "thrilling and exciting" rather than an easy crush.

After all, if he was too strong and defeated War God Lu Bu in one move, who would dare to come and challenge him later?

But if he happened to be just "a tiny bit" stronger than War God Lu Bu, leaving the opponent unwilling to accept defeat, then surely more people would come knocking in the future. Wouldn't the Immortal Crystals come rolling in then?

"To make money, you have to let it flow like a gentle stream."

Lin Fan shifted his feet slightly, his figure retreating half a step at the critical moment. While dodging the edge of the halberd, he raised his palm to block—Bang!

The two forces collided, sending out a powerful shockwave. The ground cracked, and gravel flew everywhere.

War God Lu Bu's expression changed slightly.

He had clearly used his full strength, yet Lin Fan had easily neutralized it with just one hand? No, that wasn't right—Lin Fan seemed to be gritting his teeth to block it, and he didn't look comfortable either!

"So that's how it is…"

War God Lu Bu's confidence recovered a little. He felt that Lin Fan was indeed stronger than him, but only by a tiny bit! This battle could still be fought!

"Take another move from me!"

He leaped up violently, his halberd spinning in the air, bringing with it brilliant golden light as he crashed down with a move: [Heaven-Breaking Wild Halberd]!

A flash of light appeared in Lin Fan's eyes. He deliberately retreated a step, feigning the appearance of struggling to block.

His arm trembled slightly, and his sleeve was torn by the gale, revealing solid muscle lines, as if he had been pushed to his limit.

"That was close…" A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of Lin Fan's mouth, but this blood was something he had deliberately bitten his tongue to produce.

This scene fell into War God Lu Bu's eyes, instantly making his fighting spirit soar. "Sure enough, Lin Fan is just barely stronger than me by a little bit!"

"Haha, come again!"

War God Lu Bu roared, his Aura surging like a rainbow. The halberd in his hand swung continuously, every strike carrying the momentum of thunder.

Lin Fan blocked the moves just right, appearing to struggle every time, but he was always able to neutralize the attacks at the most critical moment in a perilous way, occasionally revealing a "thrilling" smile.

For a time, the two fought until the sky went dark, and the hearts of the onlookers were in their throats.

Xue Yao blinked and muttered, "Uncle War God Lu Bu… was he actually this strong? He really was acting earlier."

Mu Xueyan and Lin Chen's eyes trembled as they silently prayed that Lin Fan could defeat War God Lu Bu and return safely.

Su Wanqing covered her soft lips with a fan, her eyes flickering. "This guy… what kind of little tricks is he playing?"

The battle continued!

War God Lu Bu became more and more excited as he fought, feeling that he really had a chance to defeat Lin Fan! Lin Fan, meanwhile, was secretly calculating the time, feeling that it was about time to wrap things up.

Thus, he began to increase his strength, but only by "a tiny bit" more than War God Lu Bu!

Every strike made War God Lu Bu feel like he was about to suppress Lin Fan, but in the end, he was always countered by Lin Fan with a tiny advantage at the most critical moment.

"Damn it!!" War God Lu Bu became more and more annoyed as the battle went on, his body soaked in sweat, and his breathing gradually becoming chaotic.

Finally, Lin Fan deliberately revealed a flaw.

A flash of light appeared in War God Lu Bu's eyes; seizing the opportunity, he slashed down wildly with his halberd!