CHAPTER 537: CHAPTER 0529: WHAT IF HE HAS ULTERIOR MOTIVES

The Emperor Corpse could not tolerate the humiliation before him.

But there was nothing he could do.

Given his current condition, suppressing this insolent brat before him was really difficult. No—difficult wasn’t the right word—it was downright impossible.

"Young one, whatever it is, we can talk things through. May I ask which sect you hail from?" the Emperor Corpse inquired.

"The Taiwu Immortal Sect," Lin Fan replied while rummaging through his belongings.

The Emperor Corpse fell silent, clearly pondering which sect the Taiwu Immortal Sect was. Yet he was somewhat perplexed and couldn’t recall anything for the moment.

"This Emperor has roamed the Immortal Realm for countless years, and truly, I have never heard of such a sect."

He felt this young one was jesting with him.

A sect capable of producing such a disciple could not possibly be weak. And if it wasn’t a weak sect, it should at least be known to him. Even though he had been dead for a long time, major sects with longstanding legacies wouldn’t suddenly sprout up like mushrooms after the rain.

Lin Fan chuckled, "It’s perfectly normal that you’ve never heard of it. The sect I hail from was wiped out ages ago."

Thinking about it still pained him.

Originally, he had hoped to ascend to the Immortal Realm and cling tightly to his sect’s thigh. Only after discovering his sect had been destroyed did he reluctantly come to terms with this reality.

Denying the heartbreak would be a lie.

Where was the promised thigh to cling to?

Where was the promised freedom and authority?

The Emperor Corpse, upon hearing this, was disinclined to continue the conversation. His gut instinct told him this brat was trolling him.

"Oh, right. I have another sect lineage. Ever heard of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect?" Lin Fan asked while his hand moved to the Emperor Corpse’s waistband. What he’d confiscated so far was pitifully meager, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that this Emperor Corpse was broke. If not for the other party’s title, he wouldn’t even bother searching.

The Emperor Corpse said nothing, but great waves surged in his heart.

The Nine Heavens Immortal Sect?

Ultimately, the Emperor Corpse replied, "Never heard of it. But none of this is the main point. For you all to have made it here, it proves there’s a fateful connection between us. Why not foster this bond? That way, if we meet again in the future, we can drink and make merry together."

Lin Fan ignored him.

He even had the urge to stomp on him, wondering, "What nonsense is he spouting?"

But face must be given when due.

"Alright, when you reincarnate and return, we can sit down for a good chat. But for now, I hope you understand it’s no small feat to venture into a Forbidden Land. Surely you wouldn’t want us to leave empty-handed, would you?" Lin Fan said as he worked without pause. He simply couldn’t bring himself to stop.

The Emperor Corpse cursed angrily in his heart.

But he could not afford to have a fierce clash with his opponents right now.

The Emperor Corpse’s existence was meant to pave the way for his reincarnation.

If he angered his adversaries, leading them to destroy his Emperor Corpse, he would be left with nowhere to cry.

The ramifications for his future would be severe.

"Brother Lin, it’s all been cleaned out," Qin Yang exclaimed excitedly, never in his life imagining looting treasures could be so exhausting.

Had someone told him this before,

He wouldn’t have been able to resist bashing that person’s head in, yelling, "Do you really think treasures are something you can just grab whenever you feel like it?"

Did they think treasures were like dirt on the street?

Infuriating.

But now, he could proudly announce to everyone, "Absolutely delightful!"

"I’m done over here as well," Xiang Fei reported.

Lin Fan had completely stripped the Emperor Corpse clean; nothing remained but its underwear.

"Sigh! Even a deceased Immortal Emperor shouldn’t be this destitute. Goodbye," Lin Fan muttered, not wanting to waste another word.

He could already sense the faint thread of the Undying Divine Soul within the Emperor Corpse was dissipating. Once it completely faded, it would truly become just a corpse.

When others reached this point,

The repercussions were hard to predict.

Oh well, why overthink it? We have no ties; even if you’re trying to forge one with me, it hasn’t worked. I can only treat you as a stranger. I’ve done all I can for you.

What happens next,

Is entirely up to you.

"Let’s go," Lin Fan beckoned his two companions to leave the Forbidden Land. Their gains from this venture were substantial, and their spirits were high. This marked an excellent beginning, leaving Lin Fan excited about what lay ahead.

The Emperor Corpse pitifully lay where it was, roaring internally, "You damned brats, you’re way over the line!"

"You cleaned me out completely."

"You didn’t even bother to prop my body back up before leaving?"

Outside the Forbidden Land.

"Brother Lin, that Emperor Corpse was just waiting for its reincarnation. Why not destroy it? Even if its reincarnation returns, it wouldn’t be able to uncover what transpired here," Xiang Fei questioned.

"No need," Lin Fan replied casually, not giving it a second thought.

Return if you must.

He wasn’t the least bit afraid.

To him, having a reincarnated Immortal Emperor remember him was a rather amusing idea. If the other party foolishly sought severe revenge against him,

He could then let them understand why their fall was so spectacular.

Far from the Forbidden Land.

The three of them landed in a relatively safe area.

"Hahaha, it’s treasure-splitting time!" Qin Yang beamed from ear to ear. Nothing had ever excited him this much; today’s division of treasures was undoubtedly his favorite thing ever.

Lin Fan cleared his throat and said, "Can I say a few words?"

Qin Yang shot a glance at Lin Fan and said, "Of course, go ahead. Say whatever you want. I’m in such a good mood today that if I had to comment, I’d say life is wonderful!"

Lin Fan said, "Look, everyone, we gained a lot this time, but we must remember that these are all external possessions. True strength lies within ourselves. Think back to that Immortal Emperor we just saw—his power was immense, yet what did it amount to? He still turned into a corpse lying there."

"Therefore, personal strength is far more important than any treasure. Don’t you agree?"

As he finished,

Qin Yang rubbed his chin as if struck by inspiration, "Brother Lin, you know, whenever you start moralizing, I know there’s always something unusual behind it. But no matter what, I will always trust you. After all, I need to stick by your side."

Although Xiang Fei didn’t say much, his feelings were clear.

"Good, then I’ll be straightforward. My proposal is that we classify the looted treasures into three grades: high, medium, and low. And although even low-grade treasures from an Immortal Emperor are incredibly valuable, my plan is to sell the low-grade treasures to acquire more artifacts, which we’ll store within the Chaos Secret Realm."

"We’ll designate a single mid-grade treasure as the Treasure of the Secret Realm to attract competition."

"By then, we can continually absorb mana, rapidly enhancing our strength. Once we’re truly powerful, would you still think we lack treasures?"

That was Lin Fan’s thought process. His demand for the Chaos Secret Realm itself wasn’t particularly high; the secondary drops from his cheats were already plenty. However, both Qin Yang and Xiang Fei needed opportunities to increase their strength.

And the Chaos Secret Realm was the best tool for a quick start.

Qin Yang said, "I approve of this plan."

"I agree as well," Xiang Fei nodded.

Soon after, Qin Yang and Xiang Fei handed over the treasures they had looted without even dividing them, leaving everything in Lin Fan’s hands. Of course, there were plenty of valuable elixirs among them. Naturally, these elixirs wouldn’t just be handed away for free.

Lin Fan evenly distributed the elixirs, deciding they would each consume them freely.

Several days later!

They arrived in an Immortal City.

Their purpose in coming to this Immortal City was to find a large auction house to sell their loot.

Immortal Treasure Pavilion!

Under a tea stall across from the auction house, Lin Fan and the others sipped tea, their eyes fixated on the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.

"Brother Lin, what’s your impression?" Qin Yang asked.

Lin Fan said, "Still observing."

"Immortal Treasure Pavilion has a strong reputation and trustworthy credibility. Logically speaking, they should be able to handle our batch of treasures," Xiang Fei added.

Upon reaching the city, they didn’t rush into the Immortal Treasure Pavilion but instead lingered on its doorstep in surveillance.

"Patience. What if they see us carrying such valuable treasures and harbor ill intentions? What would we do then? So, credibility is something that needs to be tested. After all, in the face of true treasures, credibility becomes worthless," Lin Fan explained.

Qin Yang gave him a thumbs-up, saying, "Brother Lin, you’re brilliant. Cautious and vigilant."

Even Xiang Fei found Lin Fan’s reasoning persuasive. He hadn’t thought so deeply, but upon reflecting on Lin Fan’s words, he felt a sudden jolt of alarm.

It made sense.

What if they became a target?

The Immortal Treasure Pavilion belonged to the Immortal Realm’s major auction houses, naturally staffed by formidable experts—even including Immortal Emperors.

Soon.

A figure appeared, catching Lin Fan’s eye.

During his watch here, Lin Fan had noticed that the cultivators entering and exiting the Immortal Treasure Pavilion varied in strength, some strong, others weaker—though even the weakest possessed Golden Immortal-level cultivation.

Now, however, a certain Immortal caught his attention. Though their cultivation was not strong, Lin Fan detected hidden treasure emanating from this disheveled individual, sparking his curiosity about their ultimate fate.

Would anyone follow this Immortal after their transaction? If so, Lin Fan planned to seek another venue.

After a while.

The Immortal left, their attire visibly refreshed. Their entire demeanor had transformed as though they’d struck it rich; they carried themselves with renewed confidence, exuding the radiance of newfound wealth.

No one trailed them from the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.

"Let’s go inside," Lin Fan said, rising and heading toward the Immortal Treasure Pavilion.

Inside the store.

An elderly man was instructing shop attendants to tidy up the space. Moments earlier, the shop had acquired a fine treasure at a stunningly low price. Once this item hit the auction stage, it was bound to reap huge profits, bolstering his performance and earning him grand rewards from his benefactor.

Excitedly, he greeted them warmly as three dashing young men entered the store.

"Honored Immortals, are you here to buy or sell treasures?"

"Rest assured, our Immortal Treasure Pavilion stands for fairness and integrity. Our reputation in the industry is absolutely stellar," the elderly man boasted, thumping his chest with pride, before hurriedly calling out, "Quick, serve tea for our distinguished guests."

Lin Fan raised a hand and said, "We have a batch of goods here, all premium quality. Let us see if your Immortal Treasure Pavilion is up to the task of handling them."

Eyes gleaming, the elderly man lit up at the words.

A big shipment had arrived.

He became even more enthusiastic.