Chapter 23: Pay the Immortal Crystals First, Then Discuss Heroes

"You've fallen for it."

Lin Fan's lips curled up slightly. He grabbed the halberd shaft with one hand and violently struck out with the other. A thunderous burst of Qi erupted from his palm, slamming heavily into War God Lu Bu's chest!

"Pfft—!"

War God Lu Bu flew backward, crashing hard into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust! His Painted Halberd slipped from his grasp and stabbed into the earth, humming loudly.

War God Lu Bu struggled to get up, only to find his internal spiritual power in complete chaos; he was utterly unable to continue the fight!

Lost!

He had lost!

War God Lu Bu lay on his back, staring at the sky with vacant eyes, muttering to himself, "How could this happen… Clearly… I was only a hair's breadth away…"

Lin Fan walked slowly over to him, looked down at him from above, and grinned, "How is it? Do you feel like… you were just a hair's breadth away from winning?"

War God Lu Bu's face twitched violently; he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He finally realized!

Lin Fan hadn't used his full strength at all. He had been stringing him along, making him think he had a chance, when in reality… he had never had any hope of winning!

"You… you scoundrel… you were playing with me?!" War God Lu Bu gritted his teeth, his eyes wide with rage.

Lin Fan shrugged, looking innocent, "You didn't ask me if I was using my full strength."

War God Lu Bu nearly fainted from anger.

Lin Fan glanced down at him and said leisurely, "Alright, per our agreement, seven million Immortal Crystals. Hand them over."

War God Lu Bu's expression stiffened, his mouth twitching violently: "…"

Immortal Crystals?

He didn't have any on him!

Fighting was fine, but Immortal Crystals… he really hadn't brought any!!

"I don't have any!"

Lin Fan's lips curled up, and he said slowly, "No Immortal Crystals? Then you'll just have to stay and work the fields."

War God Lu Bu's face twitched, his fists clenched until they creaked, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and snorted coldly, "Fine, a bet is a bet."

"General, you can't!"

The sixteen Fairies cried out in unison, their pretty faces pale with anxiety.

War God Lu Bu was their War God, who had dominated the Immortal Realm and struck fear across all directions. Now, he was going to work the fields in the Lower Realm? If this got out, what would happen to the reputation of the Immortal Realm?

"General, you are the War God of the Immortal Realm! How can you do something like this?"

"Unacceptable! Absolutely unacceptable!"

"Why don't… we just snatch Poetry Immortal Yu Xuanji and leave?"

Several Fairies tried to dissuade him, and some even plotted to forcibly rescue him.

However, Lin Fan smiled faintly. He swiped his hand through the air, and an invisible barrier instantly descended, enveloping the entire battlefield.

"Snatch? You're welcome to try."

The sixteen Fairies felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, sensing a heart-stopping pressure!

"This guy… is actually this cautious?"

They were terrified and dared not act rashly again. They could only watch helplessly as War God Lu Bu was "escorted" to the farmland, their faces looking terrible.

There was no help for it; they ultimately couldn't withstand Lin Fan's "tyranny."

In the end, the sixteen Fairies could only slink back to the Upper Realm to report the matter to the Immortal Ancestor — Taoist Ancestor Kongming.

Immortal Realm · Dao Ancestor Hall

Taoist Ancestor Kongming sat upright before a jade desk, his horsetail whisk pausing slightly. He looked calmly at the Fairies kneeling before him.

"Are you saying… War God Lu Bu was defeated?"

"Yes!" one Fairy quickly said, "We saw it with our own eyes. War God Lu Bu was indeed much stronger than that Lin Fan, and he even struck Lin Fan until blood spilled from his lips! But in the end, that Lin Fan used a despicable, underhanded trick to ambush and defeat War God Lu Bu…"

"Now, War God Lu Bu is imprisoned in the Lower Realm. Not only is he unable to escape, but he is also being forced to work the fields."

Another Fairy stamped her feet in anxiety and gritted her teeth, "The most hateful thing is that Lin Fan even declared that to redeem War God Lu Bu and Poetry Immortal Yu Xuanji, we must pay seven million Immortal Crystals!"

Slap!

War God Lu Bu's wife, Fairy Diaochan, slammed the table in anger, her pretty face flushed red, "This is simply bullying us too much!"

"Dao Ancestor, how should this matter… be handled?"

Everyone held their breath, waiting for Taoist Ancestor Kongming's instructions.

Taoist Ancestor Kongming narrowed his eyes slightly, stroked his beard slowly, and smiled meaningfully.

"Interesting…"

The various God Kings sitting at the tables on both sides scoffed upon hearing the news of War God Lu Bu's defeat.

"Hmph! War God Lu Bu has courage but no strategy; he deserves to be outsmarted."

"If I had fought this battle, how could it have ended like this?"

"That Lin Fan is only relying on some petty cleverness; his true strength might not be all that."

These long-renowned powerhouses all had burning gazes. This was a once-in-a-millennium Opportunity!

As long as they could defeat Lin Fan, they could make a name for themselves, or even become deified in a single battle and become the new War God of the Immortal Realm!

Military Sage Sun Wu stroked his long beard, his gaze profound, "War is a matter of deception. War God Lu Bu only has the courage of a common man. If I take action, I will surely make Lin Fan surrender."

Strength King Xiang Yu sneered, arms crossed, his Battle Intent surging, "With strength to pull mountains and Qi to cover the world, just because War God Lu Bu failed doesn't mean I, Strength King Xiang Yu, will!"

General Zhang Fei waved his serpent spear carelessly and laughed loudly, "Does that even need to be said? I'll go personally and beat him until he's looking for his teeth all over the floor in three punches!"

Taoist Ancestor Kongming sat high on the dais, his brows slightly furrowed.

He always felt that this matter was a bit suspicious.

War God Lu Bu was certainly reckless, but his combat power was unquestionable. Yet now, not only had he lost, but he was also detained by Lin Fan to work the fields; this didn't seem normal however one looked at it.

If Lin Fan was truly far superior to War God Lu Bu, wouldn't that mean even the Immortal Realm couldn't suppress him?

But if he only won by luck… then how could Lin Fan dare to speak so boldly and demand seven million Immortal Crystals?

"Is this person just putting on a show, or does he truly have the confidence?"

Taoist Ancestor Kongming weighed the pros and cons for a moment, but in the end, he couldn't withstand the enthusiasm of the three.

"Fine, since you all want to try, then go."

He then changed his tone and said, "However, this matter has many oddities. God of Killing Bai Qi, you go and oversee things to assist the three of them."

God of Killing Bai Qi entered the Dao through killing, became a Saint and was deified, and is currently at the Perfection of the Saint Realm. If the Opportunity arrives, he could attain the body of a Realm Lord at any time; he is incredibly strong.

It's just that he keeps to himself and rarely appears. That Taoist Ancestor Kongming sent him this time is enough to show how much importance he attaches to this matter.

God of Killing Bai Qi stood up respectfully and bowed, "As you command!" His gaze was cold, and the corner of his mouth curled into a sinister sneer, "The killing formation is set; that scoundrel Lin Fan won't be able to escape even with wings."

Military Sage Sun Wu, Strength King Xiang Yu, General Zhang Fei, and God of Killing Bai Qi immediately soared into the air, tore through the realm boundary, and headed straight for the Lower Realm!

Of course, our atmosphere squad, the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, and the 16 Fairies were also indispensable, following closely behind.

At noon that day.

The four of them descended over the Xuanyin Qin Sect, their momentum vast, immortal light soaring into the sky, shaking all directions.

"Lin Fan, do you dare to come out and fight?"

The Disciples of the Xuanyin Qin Sect looked at the sky, their faces involuntarily showing some worry.

At this moment, Lin Fan was so happy he couldn't close his mouth.

"Hahaha, aren't these moving Immortal Crystals?"

He strode out into the air, scanned the four, and said cheekily,

"You can challenge me, but pay the previous seven million Immortal Crystals first!"

The four looked at each other, somewhat hesitant.

At this time, Strength King Xiang Yu snorted coldly, heroically took out seven million Immortal Crystals, and threw them directly out.

"Mere Immortal Crystals, what do they count for? Once I defeat you in a moment, won't these Immortal Crystals return to my hands?"

Lin Fan laughed inwardly, but said solemnly, "Very good! You are straightforward enough, so let's start with you!"

Strength King Xiang Yu stood in the air, terrifying Battle Intent circulating around his body. His Tyrant Emperor Battle Body was already activated, his Qi and blood surging, like a War God descending upon the world.

"Lin Fan, take this!"

Boom!

Strength King Xiang Yu threw a punch, the Void Realm exploded, and the terrifying fist force, carrying an unrivaled domineering aura, bore down straight at Lin Fan's chest!

Lin Fan's eyes flashed, he shifted his feet slightly, barely dodging, but the powerful fist force still caused a ripple of spiritual light on his chest, and a trace of blood seemed to spill from the corner of his mouth.

Seeing this, Strength King Xiang Yu's eyes lit up!

"Haha, it seems you are nothing more than this!"

He took advantage of the momentum to launch a fierce attack, every move extremely violent, fist shadows crisscrossing, Killing Intent filling the air!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In just a few dozen moves, Lin Fan appeared to have been forced into a desperate situation, teetering on the brink of danger, his body swaying, as if he might be defeated at any moment!