A single session of insight lasting ten days and nights?
Hearing Meng Fan's words, Elder Lin was actually quite surprised.
From his perspective, he found Meng Fan's behavior somewhat incomprehensible.
Could one really endure a single session of insight for ten days and nights?
The key question was, could one really handle it?
However, since Meng Fan had prepared for so long before making this request, Elder Lin chose to believe in him.
He felt that what he himself couldn't do, what he couldn't understand, his disciple was capable of achieving.
Elder Lin truly had no doubts about his disciple Meng Fan!
"Alright, since you are prepared, as your master, I naturally have no objections. I will take you to the Sword God Temple now," Elder Lin said to Meng Fan without hesitation.
To comprehend the Sword God Stele for ten days and nights, even with Elder Lin's status and connections, would cost nearly five thousand Spirit Stones.
But he was willing to spend this on his only direct disciple!
He believed it was worth it.
***
Moments later, Elder Lin led Meng Fan away from the Sword Pavilion, embarking on the path to the Sword God Temple.
Then, when they were still some distance from the Demon Locking Tower, Elder Lin stopped far away.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Seeing Elder Lin stop and the serious expression on his face, Meng Fan couldn't help but ask in surprise.
Elder Lin didn't speak, staring intently ahead.
His expression was not only solemn, but his eyes also held a hint of wariness, even fear.
Meng Fan frowned, shocked; he had never seen Elder Lin like this before.
Following Elder Lin's gaze, he looked ahead.
There stood the Demon Locking Tower.
In front of the first floor's gate of the tower, two figures stood facing each other.
Meng Fan didn't recognize either of them.
Without a doubt, Elder Lin's reaction was due to one of these two individuals.
Or rather, because of both of them!
The fact that these two could stand off against each other indicated that they were likely to be existences of the same level.
"Master, who are these two?" Meng Fan asked again, curious.
The fact that they could cause Elder Lin to change color and reveal such an expression meant these two must be stronger than Elder Lin.
Although Meng Fan didn't know the extent of Elder Lin's strength, he was reputed to be one of the notable figures within the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.
So Meng Fan was indeed very curious—who were these two?
They were certainly not nobodies!
Elder Lin withdrew his gaze, still with a complex look in his eyes, clearly not yet calmed down.
He took a deep breath, exhaled, and then said to Meng Fan, "Disciple, you've been with the Shu Mountain Sword Sect for quite some time but have never met the Sect Master, right? Today, you will have the chance!"
The Sect Master?
Meng Fan was instantly shocked, his gaze returning to the two figures in front of the Demon Locking Tower.
Elder Lin's words meant that one of those two was the Sect Master of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect—Lin Jinghong!
The Sect Master of Shu Mountain, Lin Jinghong, was elusive, rarely seen by the disciples of the sect.
He seldom appeared in public or managed the affairs of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.
Typically, the affairs of the sect were handled by the Supreme Elders.
Meng Fan was suddenly excited; he hadn't expected that by passing the Demon Locking Tower today, he would encounter this mysterious Sect Master.
However, the next second, the excitement on Meng Fan's face vanished, replaced by solemnity, as he remembered something.
Not long ago, Senior Disciple Jin had mentioned some news to him.
The Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect, Li Fanchen, intended to ascend Shu Mountain, enter the Demon Locking Tower, and claim the Blood Soul Sword!
In front of the Demon Locking Tower, the only person who could prompt the Sect Master of Shu Mountain to appear was none other than the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect, Li Fanchen.
Meng Fan had never dreamed that on the day he prepared to comprehend the Sword God Stele at the Sword God Temple, he would coincidentally encounter these two formidable figures!
The Sect Master of Shu Mountain, Lin Jinghong!
The Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect, Li Fanchen!
These two were considered top-tier experts in the world.
In an age without immortals, they were among the most powerful beings.
Even if not the strongest in the world, they were certainly qualified to contend for that title.
The pinnacle of the mortal realm!
To witness such figures, especially since they seemed poised for battle, was enough to make Meng Fan's blood boil.
"Master, do you think the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect is a match for our Sect Master?" Meng Fan asked excitedly.
The thrill of watching a spectacle has always been irresistible.
Although Meng Fan was a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, he still had the mentality of someone who enjoyed watching the excitement.
And this was not an everyday spectacle; it was a rare occurrence!
To witness it with his own eyes was even rarer.
Elder Lin looked at Meng Fan with some surprise and said, "You lad, you have quite the eye, to recognize that's the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect?"
Meng Fan gave a sheepish smile and replied, "I heard from Senior Brother Jin at the Scripture Pavilion that the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect intended to visit the Demon Locking Tower to claim the Blood Soul Sword. The only person who could prompt the Sect Master to appear must be the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect."
Elder Lin nodded and said, "Indeed, that man is the infamous Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect, Li Fanchen. As for who is stronger between him and our Sect Master, I really don't know and wouldn't dare to speculate."
After a pause, Elder Lin felt his comment was somewhat inappropriate and quickly added, "However, I believe our Sect Master will win, for evil can never suppress the just!"
Clearly, the first statement was his true thoughts, while the latter was just for show.
As a member of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, one should at least outwardly believe that the Sect Master was stronger.
"I also thinks so. The Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect is definitely no match for our Sect Master. Just by looking at their auras, you can tell!
Our Sect Master, dressed in white as pure as snow, exudes an ethereal grace like an exiled immortal!
How can he be compared to that black-clad figure from the Ghost King Sect, shrouded in deathly aura?"
Meng Fan quickly echoed Elder Lin's sentiment.
He was declaring his stance.
This was the awareness that a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect should have.
Hearing Meng Fan's words, Elder Lin frowned and looked at his disciple with an expression of utter speechlessness, saying, "In the future, if you don't know the situation, speak less. The one in black is our Sect Master, and the one in white is the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect!"
Meng Fan was immediately dumbfounded.
This… In front of the Demon Locking Tower, he had assumed the ethereal figure in white was their Sect Master of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.
And the one in black, with an aura of death, certainly didn't look like a good person!
Without knowing the situation, one couldn't really blame Meng Fan for mistaking their identities.
It just showed that both the Sect Master of Shu Mountain and the Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect were not ones to play by the rules.
An extremely embarrassed Meng Fan quickly tried to recover, saying, "Upon closer inspection, our Sect Master in black exudes a remarkable presence, stable and assured, looking like he holds the winning hand!
And this Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect, in his flashy white attire, is clearly ostentatious, obviously no match for our Sect Master!"
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan