Chapter 490: I, Harin's Uncle...

The elders accompanying the Sect Master stroked their beards with satisfaction.

"Sect Master, so many talented disciples have emerged this time. If cultivated well, their future is limitless."

"Indeed, that outer disciple is quite remarkable. Despite his weak cultivation, he was able to identify his opponent's weakness and turn the tables. Very impressive."

"These disciples are the future pillars of our sect."

They were all very pleased.

How many sects in the world could achieve such enduring prosperity as their Qian Yuan Sect?

This was the blessing of fortune, strengthening the sect. Even if someone tried to sabotage them, it would be futile. That's how overbearing it was.

Suddenly!

The weather took an unexpected turn.

The clear, boundless sky underwent a dramatic transformation.

Winds howled, clouds churned, and dark lightning flickered within the swirling mass. A terrifying aura erupted from the void, abruptly enveloping the world.

The disciples in the midst of their competition looked up at the sky.

The Sect Master rose, his expression grave. The elders exchanged glances, unsure of what was happening. Just moments ago, everything was fine, but the change was abrupt and inexplicable.

"Remain calm," the Sect Master said in a deep voice.

His brow furrowed as he instantly realized the situation was not as simple as it seemed.

The newcomer was hostile.

Abruptly, the clouds parted, revealing a gigantic eye in the void. Resembling an eye of destruction, it gazed coldly down upon the Qian Yuan Sect.

It remained motionless.

Inside his room, Lin Fan, engrossed in a book, sensed the powerful aura.

"Hmm! Quite impressive."

Lin Fan was astonished. He had never encountered such a powerful being. Curiosity piqued, he wondered who it was and how they had managed to remain hidden from him. It was truly intriguing.

At the scene, the Sect Master gazed at the void and cupped his hands in greeting. "May I ask who Your Excellency is and what brings you to our Qian Yuan Sect?"

Despite his seemingly calm demeanor, the Sect Master's heart was filled with alarm. The oppressive aura weighed heavily upon him, making him feel as though his entire body was bound.

Above, the eye gradually dissipated.

A hole ripped open in the sky, revealing nothing of what lay beyond. No one knew how deep the chasm extended.

"I am a Celestial!"

A vast voice resonated throughout the heavens and earth.

Just four words, yet they shook their minds and stirred their blood, as if they could no longer be contained.

"Celestial?"

"What is a Celestial?"

No one understood, nor had they ever heard legends of Celestials.

Just as the Sect Master was about to speak, a figure appeared before him. Seeing the newcomer, the Sect Master's face lit up with joy. "Old Sect Master, you've emerged from seclusion?"

The Old Sect Master was from the same era as Harin.

"Yes, I sensed this terrifying aura and had to emerge."

The Old Sect Master looked towards the void, his eyes filled with worry. He could sense that the unknown presence hidden within was stronger than an Emperor. He had personally witnessed Harin's ascension to Emperorhood, but compared to this, the difference was vast.

"Old Sect Master, is he truly that powerful?" The Sect Master was shocked. For even the Old Sect Master to say such a thing, the situation must be dire.

The Old Sect Master cupped his hands and said, "Senior, may I know if our Qian Yuan Sect has offended you in any way? Please enlighten us."

The Celestial's voice, hidden within the void, boomed like thunder. "Harin of Qian Yuan Sect defied the Holy Emperor's decree and deserves death! Learning of his origins from the lower realm, Qian Yuan Sect must be annihilated."

No further explanation was given.

But every word spoken by the Celestial sent shivers down the spines of the Qian Yuan Sect members.

Ha Shiqi was stunned. It couldn't be. His father had cultivated to the Emperor Realm, yet he had been defeated? And it had even implicated the sect. What was going on?

The Old Sect Master's heart pounded with fear. His senior brother had cultivated to the Emperor Realm and embarked on the path of the Third Generation Sect Master. But after the Third Generation Sect Master went to that place, nothing had ever happened. Why did Harin's journey there provoke such a reaction? What was going on?

Or was there… something amiss?

As he pondered these matters, the sky above churned violently.

With a single strike, the Celestial unleashed a gigantic hand that descended from the heavens. The palm covered the sky, carrying boundless might, and slammed down towards the Qian Yuan Sect.

No chance was given.

Not even a word of further explanation. Such an overbearing 'Celestial'.

The Old Sect Master cried, "Run! Run as far as you can!"

Faced with such a situation, he was powerless. There was no need to even attempt to defend. He already knew that he was no match, that there wasn't even a sliver of hope for resistance.

The opponent was too strong.

So strong that resistance was futile.

His only thought was… for as many members of the Qian Yuan Sect to escape as possible.

At least then, there would still be hope for the future.

Even if Ha Shiqi's grandfather appeared, it would be to no avail. The opponent was stronger than an Emperor. This was a Celestial from the upper realm.

"You have nowhere to run," the Celestial declared.

Instantly, countless beams of light erupted from the ground around the Qian Yuan Sect, piercing the heavens and sealing off all escape routes. This display of power was terrifying.

Even the Old Sect Master was helpless.

He couldn't break through to create a path to safety.

"Is it truly heaven's will that Qian Yuan Sect should perish?" The Old Sect Master despaired.

The Celestial's palm radiated an aura of utter destruction. The very earth and mountains crumbled under its pressure. Even an Emperor Realm expert would likely perish without a trace under such terrifying might.

As the Celestial's palm continued its descent, they had completely abandoned hope.

The Old Sect Master looked up at the descending palm, radiating brilliant light. Even as the surrounding buildings groaned and cracked under the strain, he could not suppress the pride and defiance in his heart.

"You foolish cultivators, ignorant of the vastness of the heavens. You cultivate to the Emperor Realm, transcend space, and arrive in a broader realm, yet you show no gratitude and dare to blaspheme the Holy Emperor's majesty. This is your consequence!"

The Celestial's voice dripped with contempt.

He held no regard for the people below.

And at that moment, the Old Sect Master's eyes widened. Unnoticed, a figure had appeared beneath the descending Celestial palm. No one knew when this figure had arrived. Then, they witnessed the mysterious person directly intercept the Celestial's strike.

BOOM!

A world-shaking shockwave erupted.

Brilliant light flared.

The blinding radiance forced everyone to shut their eyes, unable to look directly at the sky. During this brief moment of blindness, the Old Sect Master's mind raced. His only thought was, who was this person…

Someone capable of directly intercepting a Celestial's attack.

That could only mean one thing… another Celestial.

Soon, the light dissipated.

Lin Fan's appearance drew everyone's attention. They were all bewildered. Who was this seemingly young and utterly unfamiliar person?

"Who is he?" the Old Sect Master asked.

Everyone exchanged glances. Regrettably, no one recognized him. They had never seen him before.

"Hmm?"

The Celestial hidden in the void was astonished and bewildered, as if caught off guard.

He was a Celestial… In this world, he was invincible, capable of sweeping aside all opposition. No one could rival him.

Yet, his palm had just been intercepted. For him, this was an unbelievable event.

Then, a figure materialized.

A man in flowing white robes. He exuded an ethereal aura, his gaze slightly lowered, possessing an air of overlooking the world, as if everything was under his control.

"Who are you?" the Celestial inquired.

His tone was arrogant yet calm, as if he had discovered a new toy. Although his palm had been intercepted, he felt no pressure.

He was merely curious.

Lin Fan replied, "I am Harin's uncle. Is Harin dead?"

The Celestial remained calm upon hearing these words. However, the higher-ups of the Qian Yuan Sect were filled with shock.

Ha Shiqi's eyes widened, his body trembling with excitement.

"Grandpa! I finally see you! I'm your grandson! You gave me my name! I knew you were still alive, protecting us from somewhere!"

"Waaah… I'm so moved!"

Ha Shiqi's tears flowed freely. At his age, he cried like a child.

The Old Sect Master was stunned.

Was this the one who had taught his senior brother fist techniques?

Ha Sage also cried out, "Great-Grandpa! It's Ha Sage! You gave me my name!"

The moment to claim kinship had arrived.

No one would let it pass.

However, Lin Fan ignored them, keeping his eyes fixed on the Celestial, awaiting a response.

The Celestial looked at Lin Fan indifferently and said, "He is not dead, but he is not living well either."

"It's good that he's alive. Take me to him. I want to bring him back," Lin Fan said.

He figured Harin must have encountered trouble outside. He was quite helpless about these matters, but he noticed that the Celestial who had appeared was quite powerful, and perhaps there would be stronger ones later.

Having read so much, he felt like he could grasp any technique with ease, and he really wanted to spar with a strong opponent.

"Hahaha…" The Celestial burst into laughter upon hearing these words, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He roared arrogantly, his gaze domineering. "Just you?"

"Is there something wrong with me?" Lin Fan asked calmly.

"Hmph, you overestimate yourself."

The Celestial's voice grew cold. He flicked a finger towards Lin Fan. Where the finger passed, the void shattered, forming an oppressive force. A flick of a finger could annihilate countless enemies, terrifying to the extreme. Anyone facing this finger would die with regret, without even a chance to resist.

The members of the Qian Yuan Sect witnessed this terrifying power and were shaken to their core.

If it were them, they wouldn't be able to withstand it at all. Let alone resist, even a slight touch would likely reduce them to fragments under this terrifying power.

Facing this might, Lin Fan remained completely unfazed. His expression didn't even change, as if he was already accustomed to such things.

Lin Fan slowly raised his hand and extended two fingers. Just as the Celestial's finger was about to strike, his two fingers closed, instantly extinguishing the opponent's profound and boundless power.

"The technique is quite good, but the power is a bit lacking," Lin Fan remarked.

The Celestial's expression changed drastically, from calmness to shock and disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost. For him, this was utterly inconceivable.

"Who are you?"

Lin Fan replied, "I am Harin's uncle. Take me to him."

What the…?!

The Celestial was enraged.

That wasn't what I asked…