CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER 0277: BASIC OPERATIONS, NO FOOLING AROUND, EVERYONE SIT DOWN

On the edge of the bed, several elders infused mana while using various precious spiritual medicines as life-sustaining tools, struggling against the mist entwined around the Pavilion Master.

These spiritual medicines were rare treasures.

A cursory glance revealed that most were at least Eighth Grade, with Ninth Grade spiritual medicines among them as well. Just a single Eighth Grade plant could be auctioned for a value exceeding two million Spirit Stones.

And Ninth Grade spiritual medicines? Words cannot even describe their worth.

It’s as if they’re sustaining life with Spirit Stones. Overbearing, truly overbearing. Those without Spirit Stones wouldn’t even need to bother trying—death would be inevitable, and a rather miserable death at that.

Huang Lier said, "Master Lin, my father recently led a group to the Forbidden Land, where they encountered danger. After returning, he fell into a coma, shrouded in mist that devours vitality. At present, only spiritual medicines can sustain his life force."

Upon hearing this.

Lin Fan wanted to say, "What does that have to do with me? It’s your own death wish; how is it my problem? You might as well continue using spiritual medicines to prolong your lives. Besides, I’m not a doctor, so I won’t participate in this nonsense."

But he couldn’t say that.

Couldn’t he see the numerous experts gathered around?

If he said something like that, wouldn’t he offend everyone here beyond reconciliation?

"I told you before, the dangers in the Forbidden Land aren’t something we can deal with. Your Heavenly Treasure Pavilion isn’t exactly short on rare valuables, so why didn’t you listen?"

Lin Fan said helplessly. He truly couldn’t fathom what these people were thinking—seeking death in such a ludicrous manner.

If you really want to die, let me know, and I promise to send you off with dignity, without any pain.

Dying at the hands of someone else isn’t worth it. If a friend does the deed, you could at least maintain some kind of personal favor, right?

Huang Lier lowered her head, clearly filled with regret. "Master Lin, we are well aware this is our fault, but the problem has already occurred, and there’s no point in dwelling on it now."

"Mm, you’re right about that. So now that you’ve summoned me here, what exactly do you want me to do? I can only identify divine medicines, but I have no expertise in treatment. These esteemed elders here clearly look like capable healers; if even they’re helpless, what could I possibly do?" Lin Fan replied.

"Besides, I’ve said before that I won’t enter the Forbidden Land—nobody with any sense courts death unnecessarily."

A master like the Pavilion Master of Phoenix Pavilion couldn’t handle it; Lin Fan certainly didn’t think he could stir up any storms there.

"To be frank, up until now, we haven’t been able to determine what injured my father. However, during our time in the Forbidden Land, we obtained a divine medicine and hoped Master Lin could evaluate whether it can save my father," Huang Lier said, pinning her last hope on the divine medicine.

Lin Fan was astonished.

He hadn’t expected them to come back with a divine medicine.

How tyrannical this was!

They’d actually managed to bring back divine medicine from the Forbidden Land. The principle that fortune favors the bold seemed undeniable after all.

"Take out the divine medicine and let me take a look," Lin Fan said.

Afterward, he examined the Pavilion Master of Phoenix Pavilion, searching for abnormalities. Anything bound to a person could potentially reveal clues when killed or removed, indicating a drop of some kind.

Soon.

He discovered the source of the problem.

"From just a glance, I can tell that the Pavilion Master’s wound and the mist surrounding him likely stem from a type of scorpion within the Forbidden Land. It stung him, causing venom to linger in his system alongside a unique substance."

"Based on the available medicines, there’s no cure for this condition."

Lin Fan diagnosed the problem at first glance.

The elders around exchanged looks, puzzled after spending so much time trying and failing to understand the situation. Yet Master Lin had figured it out instantly.

One of the elders spoke.

"He’s correct. When we retrieved the divine medicine, we did encounter a massive scorpion."

"But we quickly repelled it, so when exactly did the Pavilion Master get stung?"

They exchanged confused glances, still unable to figure out when the incident had occurred.

At this moment, Huang Lier took out the divine medicine.

As soon as the divine medicine appeared, its resplendent glow dazzled everyone. It was a true Supreme Treasure, incomparable to anything else.

Lin Fan accepted the divine medicine, examined it a bit, and then shook his head. "It’s useless. This divine medicine doesn’t have healing or detoxification powers, but it can increase your mana by twenty thousand years and form the Calamity Poison Body. Anyone wounded by this body will find their injuries difficult to heal and will be plagued by bad luck—a rare, exceptional divine medicine."

"The scorpion you repelled was the guardian of this divine medicine. You took the scorpion’s food—of course, it fought you to the death."

Under ordinary circumstances, Huang Lier might have been delighted upon hearing of the medicinal prowess of the divine medicine.

But now, she couldn’t bring herself to smile at all.

An elder spoke up: "Master Lin, since the divine medicine can form the Calamity Poison Body, could giving it to the Pavilion Master improve his condition?"

Lin Fan chuckled. "The fact that you suggest this shows you have creativity, but unfortunately, it won’t work."

"As the saying goes, ’Whoever tied the bell around the tiger’s neck must untie it.’ To save the Pavilion Master, the only solution is to have the scorpion heal him or find a truly life-sustaining divine medicine within the Forbidden Land. Otherwise, there’s no remedy for the situation."

He returned the divine medicine to Huang Lier.

The divine medicine was incredible.

But it wasn’t his, so there was nothing he could do about it.

"Master Lin, can we count on you to help?"

Huang Lier was prepared to marshal all resources for another expedition into the Forbidden Land but knew only Master Lin could identify divine medicines, hence imploring him to join.

"No. It’s not that I don’t want to help, but that I’m incapable of helping. You already know I don’t want to enter the Forbidden Land—it’s too dangerous. One careless move there and I could lose my life," Lin Fan said.

Indeed, he was reluctant to return to the Forbidden Land.

At the moment, it wasn’t a playground for him.

If he could explore freely, wouldn’t that be delightful? He’d have long treated the Forbidden Land as his personal backyard!

"Master Lin, if you agree to help, this divine medicine will be gifted to you by the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion," Huang Lier said.

Lin Fan was prepared to refuse, but hearing this, he hesitated visibly. "You’re putting me in a difficult spot here."

He would never admit that the divine medicine had prompted him to reconsider his principles.

But the allure of the divine medicine was indeed quite strong.

Two free millennia of mana growth, plus the formation of the Calamity Poison Body—both sounded fantastic.

"Ah, forget it. Who can resist close ties with the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion and my longstanding relationship with Fairy Huang? Now that you’ve pleaded this much, what else can I say?"

"But the divine medicine must be handed over first. Don’t get me wrong—I simply wish to study it thoroughly."

The earlier words were just filler; what came afterward was the true crux.

Just now.

He felt an odd sensation as if fate had begun weaving his challenges.

The first challenge.

The challenge of humanity?

Huang Lier handed the divine medicine to Lin Fan. "Master Lin, I trust your integrity. I hope you can save my father."

"Alright. But you’ll need to give me a few days—I need to find some helpers. Meanwhile, you should gather your experts from the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion," Lin Fan said, preparing for an all-out effort where others would take on the brunt of the danger.

Subsequently, Lin Fan left the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion.

An elder, watching Lin Fan’s departing figure, asked, "Miss Lier, are you sure it’s alright to hand the divine medicine over to him like this?"

"It’s fine. I trust his character; he won’t go back on his word," Huang Lier replied.

She had pinned all hope on Lin Fan.

Only by retrieving divine medicine from the Forbidden Land would her father’s situation marginally improve.

She stared at her father lying on the bed, momentarily at a loss for words. To have harmed him so badly—it was certainly no ordinary being. Not to mention, the most renowned healers in the world had already been invited.

Ancient Immortal Sacred Land.

"Could the two Daoist friends notify Daoist Gong Mo that Lin Fan of Taiwu Immortal Sect requests an audience?" Lin Fan said as he climbed the mountain and clarified his identity to the disciples stationed at the gate.

Quickly, Gong Mo received word of Lin Fan’s arrival and hurried to meet him.

"Haha, Daoist Lin, pardon me for not welcoming you sooner!" Gong Mo approached with a broad smile, clearly delighted to see Lin Fan.

"Daoist Gong, forgive my intrusion," Lin Fan greeted with a smile.

Gong Mo said, "What nonsense. Daoist Lin’s visit is an honor. Come, let’s talk inside."

From Gong Mo, Lin Fan learned that Qing Chenfeng and some others weren’t presently in the Sacred Land. They were out training. As True Disciples, they had to journey for opportunities and treasures to excel, as cultivating solely within the sect meant progress would take an eternity.

"Daoist Gong, I’m here to discuss a matter with Senior Ao Wudi," Lin Fan stated directly.

Gong Mo sighed, feigning disappointment. "Ah, I was hoping you came just to see me. Turns out, you didn’t. Truly disheartening."

Lin Fan laughed heartily, finding Gong Mo’s playful quip not worth explaining further.

Soon after, Gong Mo still led Lin Fan to the desired location.

"Ah~tui! You brat actually still know how to find me. Spill it—what wind blew you my way this time? If you’re here to ask why the Ancestor Dragon Floating Body is so hard to cultivate, let me tell you..."

"What the—!"

"Did you hit a jackpot with pills or something? Your Ancestor Dragon aura is so strong... You—You!"

Ao Wudi had been terribly bored and intended to tease Lin Fan properly. But the moment he laid eyes on Lin Fan, he noticed something was off.

Taking a closer look.

The entire dragon was unsettled.

"Senior Long, don’t be so shocked."

"Standard practice, stay chill, please sit."

Lin Fan waved his hand nonchalantly, as though nothing warranted surprise. He had merely successfully cultivated the Ancestor Dragon Floating Body; it wasn’t anything significant.

"Ah~tui! I’ve told you countless times—my name is Ao Wudi!"

"You really are gutsy—how did you even manage it? Were you not afraid of death? If the Sky Dragon Clan finds out, well, I’ll put it plainly: no matter where you run, the ends of the earth will offer no escape—you’ll be dead for sure."

"Also, are you really one of the Sky Dragon Clan’s bloodline? If not, what’s your secret to cultivating it?"

Ao Wudi was completely dumbstruck by Lin Fan’s audacity.

It was madness.

And not just madness—it was outright astonishing.

He had handed over the Ancestor Dragon Floating Body to Lin Fan as a joke. But now that Lin Fan had cultivated it successfully, Ao Wudi couldn’t help thinking, "If I had known you’d pull this off, no matter what, I would never have let you touch it."

It was like he’d personally caused Lin Fan’s plight.