Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 56 The Montessori Couple
A no-fly restriction hung high above the market. Within this radius, even a cultivator of considerable skill could not fly. Only those at the Core Formation stage and above could transcend this restriction. Lin Fan knew this rule well. As soon as he left the market, he employed his exquisite acrobatics, swiftly advancing like an arrow from a bow.

The surrounding scenery whizzed past him like a phantom, the wind whistling in his ears like a stirring melody. In the space of a cup of tea, Lin Fan's extremely sharp perception quietly registered two more auras. His heart suddenly trembled, and a sense of vigilance surged like a surging tide, instantly overwhelming him.

Lin Fan remained calm and composed on the surface, but his pace slowed slightly as he glanced back casually. He saw two figures, a man and a woman, following closely in the distance, looking very suspicious.

"Looks like I'm being targeted." Lin Fan muttered to himself, and quietly reached into the storage bag, holding it tightly, ready to take out the magic weapon at any time to deal with any crisis.

He quickly recalled his every move in the market today in his mind, and guessed that it was most likely the supplies for cultivation he purchased, especially the precious intermediate-level magic manual, that attracted the covetousness of these two uninvited guests.

But now, in the wilderness, with no village or shop nearby, escaping the pursuit was no easy task. A fierce battle seemed imminent. Lin Fan took a deep breath, trying to steady his mind, concentrating fully on preparing for the impending disaster.

Not long after, the two men caught up. Lin Fan took a closer look. The man was lean and looked to be in his forties. He was clad in a black robe that tightly wrapped around his thin frame, seeming to blend in with the thick night.

He had high cheekbones and eagle-like eyes, revealing a shrewdness and ruthlessness that sent shivers down his spine. Judging from the subtle spiritual energy emanating from him, he must be at the initial stage of foundation building.

The woman next to him was a beautiful middle-aged woman, about thirty years old. She had willow-shaped eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and skin as white as snow. Although time had left some marks on her face, her mature charm was even more charming.

The beautiful woman wore a lavender dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind, like a lilac blossoming in the wind, exuding a unique charm. Similarly, she was also at the initial stage of foundation building, with spiritual energy flowing throughout her body, not much different from that man.

The two men, one on each side, surrounded Lin Fan, their gazes gazing at him with undisguised greed. The lean man spoke first, his voice piercing and sharp, like a broken gong: "Kid, be smart and hand over all your valuables to save us from having to fight!"

The beautiful woman smiled sweetly, but that smile did not reach her eyes. Her eyes were filled with icy coldness. "Be good and obedient, and perhaps I can spare your life."

"What do you two mean by this?" Lin Fan feigned composure, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes feigning confusion and innocence. "I'm just a casual cultivator. My daily cultivation is difficult, so how could I possibly have any spirit stones on me?"

"Haha!" The lean man surnamed Meng laughed heartily, his laughter filled with sarcasm and disdain. "Stop pretending! My husband and I are no pushovers. We've been keeping our eyes on you, a fat sheep, in the market."

The beautiful woman beside him crossed her arms, her eyes filled with greed and desire. She said, "That's right, we saw it with our own eyes. You visited so many shops. If you didn't have spirit stones, why would you go there? Don't treat us, the Meng family, like fools!"

The man surnamed Meng took a step forward, staring at Lin Fan fiercely, and said in a cold voice: "If you know what's good for you, hand over the treasures on you, including the secret book you bought in the market. Otherwise, don't blame us for being rude!" The beautiful woman was also rubbing her hands together, with spiritual energy fluctuating faintly around her, ready to fight at any time.

"I've inadvertently revealed my wealth, and now I'm being targeted by you rats!" Lin Fan's eyes widened in anger, a raging rage rising within him like a volcanic eruption. At this point, there was no point in saying more. He slapped his storage bag, and in an instant, a flash of light appeared. A Star-Breaking Sword, emitting a cold gleam, and a Hunyuan Shield engraved with ancient runes appeared in his hands.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Fan's hands moved like phantoms, rapidly forming sword gestures. He muttered to himself, and obscure spiritual power formulas emanated from his lips. Accompanied by a roar of spiritual energy, the Star-Shattering Sword instantly transformed into a dazzling sword shadow several feet long. The sharp sword energy, like a tangible blade, surged towards the Meng couple. Wherever it passed, the air seemed to be cut by the sharp blade, emitting a hissing sound.

Seeing this, the Meng couple didn't dare to slack off. The man surnamed Meng roared, his voice like a bell, and drew a jet-black spear from his waist. Wisps of black mist swirled around the spear, exuding a sinister and terrifying aura. He stomped his feet on the ground and rushed towards Lin Fan like an arrow from a bow. The spear in his hand was like a dragon emerging from the sea, piercing Lin Fan's throat with an extremely fierce attack.

At the same time, the beautiful middle-aged woman gently waved her hand, and a small Bagua mirror appeared in her palm. She muttered a spell in a low, mysterious voice, and the Bagua mirror instantly burst into a multicolored light. The light transformed into a series of rune barriers, which flew towards Lin Fan's sword shadow, attempting to block his fierce attack.

In an instant, several magical instruments collided fiercely, light exploded, and spiritual energy spread like fireworks. Lin Fan's pupils shrank sharply, and he looked closely, secretly thinking something was wrong. The jet-black spear in the man's hand, the tip of which gleamed coldly, and runes surged on the shaft. It was actually a top-level magical weapon. Every swing of the spear unleashed a howling storm of spiritual energy. Wherever it touched, the air was twisted and deformed, as if space itself was being torn apart.

The Bagua mirror in the beautiful middle-aged woman's hand was equally impressive. The runes on its surface flickered and shimmered like living creatures, and from time to time, beams of multicolored light shot out from it, not only capable of resisting Lin Fan's attacks but also of precisely counterattacking them. Each time a beam of light swept past, Lin Fan felt a powerful pressure. A single careless move could land him in danger.

"I didn't expect these two to possess top-tier magical weapons!" Lin Fan's brow furrowed, his expression so solemn it looked as if water could drip from it. He had originally thought that with his own strength and the magical weapons in his hands, he could quickly dispatch the two would-be robbers, but the situation was clearly far more daunting than he'd anticipated. It looked like this fight was destined to be a struggle; even the slightest misstep could result in death. However, Lin Fan's inherent unwillingness to admit defeat was fully unleashed. He took a deep breath, steadied his composure, and prepared to give his all in this grueling battle.

Killing intent surged within Lin Fan, and he gritted his teeth as he fiercely executed a sword gesture. Instantly, the Star-Shattering Sword hummed, its surface suddenly coated in a thin, yet incredibly sharp, layer of sword light. This light seemed to be condensed from countless tiny blades, gleaming with a cold, dim light. With the infusion of Lin Fan's spiritual power, the Star-Shattering Sword's sharpness instantly soared several levels. "Dang, dang, dang!" Another series of fierce clashes erupted, resembling popcorn popping in the night sky. Lin Fan's Star-Shattering Sword clashed repeatedly with the man surnamed Meng's jet-black spear, each collision sending forth dazzling sparks of spiritual energy, like fireworks bursting across the night sky. After several rounds of clashes, the once imposing black spear was now riddled with gaping wounds, its aura dimming, like a wounded beast, its former ferocity diminished.

Just as Lin Fan gained the upper hand, the beautiful woman beside him suddenly had a cold look in her eyes. With a delicate cry, she activated the magic mirror in her hand with all her might. The Bagua Mirror shone brightly, and a thick, multicolored beam of light shot towards Lin Fan like an angry dragon, so fast that it was right in front of him in the blink of an eye.

Lin Fan's heart trembled as he sensed the terrifying power contained within the beam of light. Without hesitation, he poured his spiritual energy into the Hunyuan Shield without reservation. The ancient runes on the Hunyuan Shield instantly illuminated, revealing a thick, golden shield that protected Lin Fan like an impenetrable fortress.

"Boom!" A multicolored beam of light slammed heavily into the golden shield, erupting with a deafening roar. For a moment, light overflowed, and waves of air surged. The surrounding trees were uprooted by the powerful impact and sent flying in all directions. The entire scene resembled the apocalypse. Lin Fan, within the shield, felt a surge of overwhelming force. His entire body was shaken, and his blood surged. His feet involuntarily carved two deep grooves in the ground. Fortunately, the Hunyuan Shield was worthy of his carefully selected defensive magic weapon. Under this fierce attack, although the light flickered, it still stubbornly withstood the fatal blow.

"Madam, protect me! This kid is incredibly powerful. We can't take him down quickly. If we attract others, it'll be troublesome!" The man surnamed Meng's face was solemn, knowing full well that Lin Fan was no pushover. With that, he hurriedly sat cross-legged, his hands forming hand seals like a phantom. Strange spiritual energy flowed through his fingertips into his body, and he began to unleash a deeply hidden spiritual technique.

In an instant, an invisible force surged towards Lin Fan like a surging undercurrent. Lin Fan felt as if his head had been struck by a sledgehammer, a splitting headache akin to countless steel needles piercing his mind. His body swayed uncontrollably, his steps staggering, and he nearly fell to the ground.

At this critical moment, the Buddhist beads around Lin Fan's neck suddenly shone with a soft yet resilient light. This light, like a protective film, quickly enveloped Lin Fan, shielding him from the invasion of the mystical spiritual power. His previously chaotic mind instantly cleared up, and Lin Fan secretly rejoiced, thanking the beads for their protection.

However, just as Lin Fan took a moment to catch his breath, the beautiful woman, watching closely from the side, seized this perfect opportunity. A fierce glint flashed in her eyes, and with a delicate cry, the Bagua mirror in her hand shone brightly, and several multicolored beams of light shot out towards Lin Fan like sharp arrows. At the same time, she drew a gleaming dagger, which, transformed into a ray of cold light, pierced Lin Fan's throat, attempting to strike him deadly while he was weak and kill him in one fell swoop.

Lin Fan knew this was a matter of life and death, and he couldn't afford even the slightest hesitation. He instantly poured all his spiritual energy into the Hunyuan Shield. The Hunyuan Shield vibrated with a humming sound, and the golden runes on its surface glowed brightly. The golden shield instantly thickened several times, like an indestructible fortress, tightly protecting him in the center.

Almost instantly, he slapped his storage bag. A flash of light revealed a simple mirror in his hand. While seemingly ordinary, it exuded an aura of time-honored craftsmanship. Lin Fan gripped the mirror tightly with both hands, pouring a constant stream of spiritual energy into it.

As spiritual energy surged in, the mirror's surface shimmered. Immediately, a soft blue light barrier rapidly unfolded, echoing with the Hunyuan Shield's golden shield to form a double defense. The multicolored beams of light shot forth, fiercely impacting the barrier, unleashing a series of deafening roars. Light overflowed, spiritual energy surged, and the surrounding space seemed to be warped by this force. The beautiful woman's dagger, thrust forward, was also blocked by the barrier, a crisp clang echoing as sparks flew from the contact between the dagger tip and the light barrier.

The light curtain and the multicolored beam remained in a stalemate. The gust of wind stirred by spiritual energy howled, flattening the surrounding vegetation and sending sand and rocks flying. The beautiful woman's attack failed, and a flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes. She hadn't expected Lin Fan to be able to mount such a tight defense so quickly after being assaulted by the mystical divine consciousness technique.

At this time, the man surnamed Meng, who was sitting cross-legged and casting a spell, had beads of sweat on his forehead and his face became paler. Casting this secret spiritual technique consumed a lot of his energy, but he gritted his teeth and persisted, trying to break through the defense of the Buddhist beads and put Lin Fan into chaos again.

Although Lin Fan had temporarily repelled the beautiful woman's advances, he didn't dare let his guard down. He knew the Meng couple's close coordination was perfect. If the deadlock wasn't broken quickly, the situation would become even more dire once Meng completed his secret technique. Lin Fan, suppressing the lingering pain in his mind, scanned his surroundings rapidly, searching for a chance to break the deadlock. Suddenly, he noticed a steep cliff not far away, and an idea struck him.

He feigned defeat, stumbling back toward the mountain wall. Seeing this, the beautiful woman, believing him to be exhausted, was overjoyed and immediately pursued him, activating the Bagua Mirror once more, sending even more fierce beams of light blazing towards Lin Fan's back. While manipulating the Hunyuan Shield and the light curtain to block the attack, Lin Fan accelerated his retreat.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Fan retreated beneath the cliff. He spun abruptly, the Star-Breaking Sword in his hand blazing brightly as he slashed fiercely at the cliff. With a resounding bang, large chunks of rock tumbled down from the cliff. Using the dust and dust from the falling rocks as cover, Lin Fan dodged and deftly slipped behind the beautiful woman.

The beautiful woman was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. Before she could react, Lin Fan's Star-Breaking Sword, swirling with surging spiritual energy, pierced her like lightning. Her eyes widened in fear, and she spun around in panic, attempting to block the blow with her Bagua Mirror. But Lin Fan's strike concentrated all her strength and murderous intent. With a crack, a crack appeared on the Bagua Mirror, and the spiritual energy instantly dimmed. The force sent the beautiful woman flying backward, slamming to the ground and spitting blood.

"Madam!" Seeing this, the man surnamed Meng was furious. He interrupted his secret technique and leaped to his feet. His jet-black spear, like a dragon emerging from the sea, thrust directly at Lin Fan. Lin Fan knew the power of Meng's desperate attack and didn't dare to take it head-on. He dodged, exploiting the complex terrain of the mountain wall to engage Meng.

At this point, Meng's mind was in turmoil, his secret technique interrupted and his wife injured. His attacks became haphazard and disorganized. Lin Fan seized the opportunity and activated the mirror artifact once again. This time, the mirror shone with a dazzling light, imbued with a powerful confining force that instantly enveloped Meng. Meng's body froze, unable to move, his eyes filled with despair and fear.

Lin Fan, holding the Star-Breaking Sword, walked towards the man surnamed Meng step by step and said coldly: "You tried to rob me, and this is what will happen to you." After that, he ended the man surnamed Meng's life with a sword.

He then approached the severely injured woman. A pleading look crossed her eyes, but Lin Fan remained unmoved and ended the fight. After collecting his spoils, Lin Fan dragged his exhausted body away, intending to find a safe place to heal and cultivate. This experience had taught him the cruelty of the world of immortal cultivation. Only by continuously improving one's strength could one survive in this world of the survival of the fittest.

(End of this chapter)