After hearing Li Ziyan's words, the Lin Family looked at Lin Fan with eyes full of envy.
In this continent, joining the military is no easy feat; one either needs powerful connections or extraordinary talent. Unfortunately, many of those present lack the qualifications to enlist.
Now that Li Ziyan has personally invited Lin Fan to join the military, it was naturally a source of great envy for others.
In their opinion, Lin Fan would surely accept.
Even Li Ziyan looked at Lin Fan with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, certain that Lin Fan would accept his offer.
However...
To everyone's surprise, Lin Fan shook his head and said, "Sorry, Uncle Li, I have no intention of joining the military."
"Hmm?"
Li Ziyan paused, hardly believing his own ears.
Quickly regaining his composure, Li Ziyan, puzzled, asked, "Why?"
After a moment's pause, Li Ziyan continued, "I don't understand why you would refuse. You must know that joining the military could bring immense honor to your family. If you distinguish yourself with military achievements, you could even bring glory to your ancestors, but you... you refuse?"
Lin Fan smiled and said, "Uncle Li is right, joining the military would indeed bring glory to my ancestors, but... the military life, I don't like it, it's not suited for me!"
"Alright then!"
Li Ziyan said, "Since you've made up your mind, I won't insist. I promised your father to protect the Lin Family for three years. Rest assured, as long as I, Li Ziyan, am here, the Lin Family will be safe for these three years."
"Thank you!"
Lin Fan first expressed his gratitude, then asked, "Uncle Li, I have a question for you."
Li Ziyan said, "What is it? Go ahead."
Lin Fan looked earnestly at Li Ziyan and asked, "Uncle Li, is my father, Lin Tianyu, truly trapped in the Space Fragments of the Outer Realm Battlefield?"
Li Ziyan sighed, nodded, and said, "Yes!"
...
The morning at the Lin Family was very peaceful.
Last night, the Lin Family faced a catastrophe that nearly led to their annihilation; thankfully, General Li Ziyan from the military intervened just in time to avert disaster.
At the same time, the people of the Lin Family could finally rest easy. After this incident, everyone knew that someone was secretly protecting the Lin Family, and it was unlikely anyone would dare attack them again.
At least for a short while, the Lin Family would be safe.
Currently, in the room of the Family Head Lin Zhenxiong, both Lin Zhenxiong and Lin Fan were present.
After looking at Lin Fan, Lin Zhenxiong shook his head and said, "Fan, you really shouldn't have declined Li Ziyan's invitation. After all, joining the military could be a great opportunity. Your father's cultivation soared only after he joined the military, so..."
Lin Fan interrupted Lin Zhenxiong, shaking his head, "Grandfather, the military life really isn't for me."
"Ah!"
Lin Zhenxiong sighed again and then asked, "So what do you plan to do in the future?"
Lin Fan said, "In ten days, the Sky Star Sect will be recruiting disciples, right?"
Lin Zhenxiong paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you mean?"
Lin Fan said, "I plan to go to the Sky Star Sect."
Lin Zhenxiong said, "If you can enter the Sky Star Sect, that would indeed be good. But... it's not easy to get into the Sky Star Sect. Although your talent is astonishing, since you've only just manifested your Martial Soul, so..."
Pausing there, Lin Zhenxiong looked at Lin Fan.
Lin Fan casually remarked, "It's just the Sky Star Sect."
Lin Fan wore a nonchalant expression.
Lin Zhenxiong glanced at Lin Fan and expressed his concern: "Fan, the requirement to enter the Sky Star Sect is to be under sixteen and possess Into Profound Realm cultivation, yet currently, you are only in the late period of the Initial Profound Realm."
Lin Fan replied: "There are still ten days left, which is enough for me to reach the Into Profound Realm."
"What?"
Lin Zhenxiong was taken aback once again.
Under normal circumstances, even those Unparalleled Geniuses would need one to two years to progress from the late period of the Initial Profound Realm to the Into Profound Realm.
But here was Lin Fan, claiming he could accomplish all of this within ten days?
How could Lin Zhenxiong not be astounded?
As Lin Zhenxiong was in shock, Lin Fan continued, "Grandfather, I plan to leave the Lin Family today and head to the Sky Star Sect, cultivating while on my way there."
Lin Zhenxiong came back to his senses and said, "The journey to the Sky Star Sect involves crossing the Sky Star mountain range, which is extraordinarily dangerous. Being merely at the Initial Profound Realm, it would be too risky for you to go alone. I will arrange someone to escort you to the Sky Star Sect right away. Besides, I have friends within the Sect who can lend you assistance; maybe with their help, your entry into the Sect will be smoother."
Lin Fan shook his head in refusal to Lin Zhenxiong's kind offer and said, "There's no need, I can cross the Sky Star mountain range by myself."
...
Sky Lake Town is a small town on the fringe of Heavenly Martial City.
Beyond the Sky Lake Town lies the Sky Star mountain range.
Within the range dwell various formidable demon beasts; encountering any powerful beast could lead even experts of the Heavenly Profound Realm to their demise.
Thus, very few people venture into the central areas of the Sky Star mountain range, as it is far too dangerous.
Most cultivators hunting for demon beasts and seeking Demon Cores will stay in Sky Lake Town, making it incredibly lively.
At this moment, in the bustling outskirts of Sky Lake Town, Lin Fan arrived, walking unhurriedly.
Dressed in white, he proceeded empty-handed.
"Eh?"
Upon seeing Lin Fan, someone couldn't help but be taken aback, "An ant from the Earth Profound Realm has come to Sky Lake Town? And without any expert's protection? Could it be, he intends to enter the Sky Star mountain range?"
"There are always a few who overestimate themselves, thinking the Sky Star mountain range is filled with treasures everywhere, oblivious to the manifold dangers and ending up losing their lives there in vain."
Many looked at Lin Fan with eyes of sympathy.
In their view, Lin Fan was one of those who didn't understand the severity of the situation.
"I know who he is!" Suddenly, a youth spoke up, "His name is Lin Fan, the one who killed Lu Dongfang from the City Lord Mansion and even employed a very insidious method to give the City Lord a major setback. The City Lord hates him to the bone. If we kill him, the City Lord Mansion will surely be overjoyed."
The youth, named Zhou Gang, was the young master of Heavenly Martial City's Zhou Family, with a cultivation that had reached the level of Half-step into Profound.
Zhou Gang had just made a breakthrough, so the Zhou Family arranged for an Earth Profound expert to accompany him here to temper himself in the Sky Star mountain range.
Unfortunately, the Zhou Family's Earth Profound expert had just encountered an old friend and went off to drink, leaving Zhou Gang alone here.
Seeing Lin Fan approaching, a sneer appeared on Zhou Gang's face as he walked step by step towards him.
"Hm?"
Lin Fan felt the chilling intent emanating from Zhou Gang and frowned slightly. With one glance, he saw the undisguised murderous intent on Zhou Gang's face.
Standing face to face with Lin Fan, Zhou Gang laughed coldly and asked, "So you're Lin Fan, the number one trash of Heavenly Martial City, eh? Do you know who I am, young master?"
Lin Fan replied indifferently, "Who you are has nothing to do with me. Do I need to know who you are?"
Saying this, Lin Fan paused briefly before coldly stating, "A good dog doesn't block the way, get lost."
"You..."
Zhou Gang's face turned extremely unsightly, then he spoke coolly: "Good, very good. I didn't expect the number one trash of Heavenly Martial City to be so arrogant. Die!"