Chapter 307: No One
Su Liqiu's words struck Feng Fan like a bolt of lightning. They weren't enough to make him break through to the Dao Seeking realm immediately, but they illuminated the path forward. Now, he knew it was only a matter of time before he stepped into the next realm.
Feng Fan took a sip of the tea placed in front of him. He rose from the chair and cupped his hands toward Su Liqiu. "Thank you, Mother-in-law. Your words have paved the way for me. I shall no longer disturb your day."
Su Liqiu chuckled. "It's good to have a visit once in a while. Come back whenever you like, Son-in-law."
Feng Fan departed, eager to return and attempt his breakthrough as soon as possible. Unfortunately, time waited for no man. Before he could reach Tan Wei's quarters, a qi transmission from Elder Jiang echoed in his mind.
"Feng Fan, Elder Long from the Dao Seeking School has summoned you. You are to go there immediately. The challenge with the Obsidian Court is about to begin."
Feng Fan sighed. 'I thought I still had a few more weeks…' With no time to waste, he made his way to Tan Wei's quarters to fetch him before heading to the Dao Seeking School.
"Tan Wei, we have to go. Elder Long has summoned me."
Tan Wei opened his eyes and nodded calmly, his gaze as tranquil as an undisturbed lake. Without exchanging another word, Feng Fan and Tan Wei left the White Crow Sect behind. It didn't take long before they arrived at the Dao Seeking School.
There, a breathtaking sight greeted them. Hundreds of flying vessels floated in the air like an armada poised for war. Even with all their experiences, both Feng Fan and Tan Wei were momentarily stunned by the sheer scale of the gathering.
The upcoming battle would take place on another planet, so it made sense that such a massive fleet was necessary. After all, transporting one hundred thousand cultivators was no small feat.
"Feng Fan, you brought company?" As soon as he arrived, Long Liu spotted them. Her petite figure approached slowly.
"Greetings, Elder Long," Feng Fan said, cupping his hands in respect. "This is Tan Wei, the best alchemist in Red Pole. I believe his expertise will be crucial in our battle against the Obsidian Court, especially since their forces are specialized in the use of poison."
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"Oh?" Long Liu's gaze shifted to Tan Wei, a spark of recognition lighting up her eyes. "I remember him from the Young Generation Competition. You seem quite confident in how far he's come since then."
Feng Fan nodded, showing neither hesitation nor doubt on his expression. "Elder Long, you won't regret bringing him along."
After a brief pause, Long Liu gave a curt nod. She could see the conviction in Feng Fan's eyes. They didn't have the luxury of time to run tests or make replacements later, so she decided to believe in him. "Very well. He'll take the place of one of our alchemists. We depart in an hour. Board any ship you like."
Long Liu turned to leave, but as she did, Feng Fan caught a glimpse of disappointment in her expression. A bitter smile crept onto Feng Fan's lips. He knew the reason for her disappointment stemmed from the fact that he wasn't able to break through to the Dao Seeking realm, which meant he was still a tier 8 Array Master.
Without a tier 9 Array Master, their chances of victory were low.
Feng Fan and Tan Wei stepped into one of the flying vessels. Cultivators filled the space. The expression of those inside varied a lot, but most were either filled with determination or resignation. The latter group likely understood the vast gap between their forces and those of the Obsidian Court.
Feng Fan swept his gaze across the ship, silently evaluating each presence. Excluding himself and Tan Wei, the weakest cultivator on board was at the Dao Seeking realm. While impressive in any other circumstance, it was far from reassuring, especially knowing that the weakest among the Obsidian Court's forces would be at the Return To Void realm.
"Everyone, I thank you for choosing to stand with us in this battle!" A commanding voice echoed throughout the fleet of ships, drawing the attention of every cultivator present. It was Fan Ying, hovering in the air above them beside Dong Tian, the Sect Master of the Black Turtle Sect.
"I know it's asking much for you to risk your lives again, so soon after repelling the Shen Empire," Fan Ying continued. "But if we falter now, we won't just lose a battle. We'll lose our freedom... and be reduced to slaves, forced to gather cultivation resources for our enemies."
There was no need to elaborate further. Everyone here understood what was at stake. For a cultivator, such a fate was worse than death.
They had come knowing the price. They had come because dying with their heads held high was better than living on their knees.
With resolute eyes, Fan Ying raised her sword toward the heavens. Her spiritual qi surged like a tidal wave, and a colossal sword manifested behind her.
"For our freedom! No surrender!" she roared.
Cheers erupted from the gathered cultivators, a sea of voices rising as one. Feng Fan couldn't help but smile at the scene.
'She truly knows how to ignite the spirit of a crowd,' he thought, his blood beginning to boil with anticipation.
Fan Ying and Dong Tian boarded the same ship, and soon after, the entire fleet ascended into the void of space. Feng Fan didn't know the exact destination, only that the battlefield would be on a distant world, far from Red Pole. As the planet slowly shrank in his view, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
'No one will stand in the way of my cultivation,' he thought, eyes burning with determination. 'Not the Shen Empire, not the Obsidian Court, not even the Intergalactic Council or the Four Demon Venerables. No one.'