Unrivaled Martial Emperor

Just as Chen Fan was pondering, a melodious sound reverberated.

At first, it resembled a widow's tearful wail, low and hoarse. Yet, it struck directly at his heart.

He couldn't help but feel a wave of sorrow; his eyes grew moist.

It was as if he'd witnessed some tragic scene, and his heart trembled. Despite knowing that it stemmed from the flute, he still could not control his heart.

The flute's sound was truly strange.

Chen Fan could sense its peculiarity: it seemed to bewitch the listener, dragging their mind into sorrow and despair.

"Hmph!" He suppressed the sorrow in his heart. Furrowing his brow, he guarded the clarity of his spirit.

Suddenly, the flute's tone shifted. Now it sounded like ten thousand horses galloping across a bloody battlefield.

The very air grew thick with murderous intent, suffocating and oppressive.

Kill or be killed!

This life-or-death urgency surged through Chen Fan's mind.

"Not good!" Chen Fan felt like his mind couldn't hold on any longer.

He'd always been drawn to brutal, decisive combat, battles where survival teetered on a knife's edge. Naturally, this struck a deep chord, pulling him in further.

Even though he knew the flute was dangerous and that he should resist, Chen Fan still couldn't help himself.

"Amazing. True mastery in the Dao of melody lies in control without awareness, but the sound of this flute openly warns of danger, and still, one falls deeper with each step."

He trembled lightly, and his eyes gradually reddened.

Hold on! I must hold on! I can do it! Chen Fan roared inwardly, constantly warning himself to hold on to his senses. The red light in his eyes seemed to weaken somewhat.

However, as the flute's power grew, the red light in Chen Fan's eyes became richer again.

In a brief lapse of focus, scenes from his past surged into view.

"Hahahaha..." Duan Jingtian laughed maniacally as he slaughtered the Spring Autumn Sect disciples, killing his way toward Chen Zhengqing, Nangong Yue, and the others.

They resisted desperately, but the gap in strength was overwhelming. Each time they blocked an attack, Chen Zhengqing and the rest coughed blood.

Wei Buyu, the High Elder, and others were flustered. They wanted to help, but the Blood Demon Cave's experts wouldn't let them go, forcibly holding them back.

Poof.

Fresh blood splattered in the sky.

Chen Zhengqing and the others collapsed, drained of strength.

"Die!" said Duan Jingtian.

A streak of halberd light slashed through the sky, aiming to bisect Chen Zhengqing and the others.

Duan Jingtian revealed a faint smile, watching in anticipation as they were about to be split in half.

Father, Mother, no!

Break for me!Chen Fan howled fiercely in his heart, pushing his speed to the limit. Miraculously, he intercepted the deadly halberd light just in time.

Duan Jingtian froze. The others stared, stunned.

"Go to hell!" Duan Jingtian laughed cruelly and attacked again, his attack aimed at Chen Fan, Chen Zhengqing, and the others.

The Purgatory Divine Halberd stabbed Chen Fan's chest. Duan Jingtian laughed, confident that the halberd had destroyed Chen Fan's heart.

With his heart pierced, Chen Fan would surely die.

"Let's die together!" Chen Fan roared furiously. His hands, like claws, stabbed fiercely toward Duan Jingtian's chest.

This Duan Jingtian was performing better than usual, almost as if aided by divine force, retreating several meters and evading Chen Fan's attack.

"Thinking of dragging me down with you? In your dreams!" Duan Jingtian sneered coldly. His Purgatory Divine Halberd pierced through Chen Fan's heart and continued rushing toward Chen Zhengqing and the others.

"No!" Chen Fan cried out as a sharp pain tore through his chest before everything blurred.

Puchi!

The Purgatory Divine Halberd swept past Chen Zhengqing.

Chen Fan was in disbelief, unable to accept what he was seeing.

"Father!"

This wasn't the end, however.

The Purgatory Divine Halberd then swept past Nangong Yue.

"Mother!"

Chen Zhengqing and Nangong Yue looked at Chen Fan. They reached their hands out, wanting to grab onto him. "Xiaofan..."

However, the light in their eyes gradually faded.

"No!" Chen Fan yelled.

In an instant, the red light consumed his eyes entirely. He charged ahead like a madman—completely bewitched.

"Go to hell, Duan Jingtian! Die, Duan Jingtian!" Chen Fan roared furiously as he kept attacking Duan Jingtian in front of him.

Yet, every time he struck, Duan Jingtian somehow retreated with ease, slipping away just before death.

"Haha, Chen Fan, come, come at me. Try and kill me." Duan Jingtian laughed savagely.

The loud laughter made Chen Fan even angrier.

"Revenge! Take revenge for my parents!"

Madness overtook him. The image of his parents' deaths burned in his mind, driving him deeper into rage.

Suddenly, Chen Fan shook, as if doused with freezing water.

In that instant, the Bodhi Ancient Tree appeared behind him, releasing a clear, cool light. A stream of clarity surged into his mind.

"What happened to me?"

Chen Fan sobered up.

Looking at the vast sea of white fog around him, he quickly recalled everything he'd just witnessed.

"What a close shave."

Cold sweat covered his back.

"This place can completely bewitch one's mind. My parents didn't die, and Duan Jingtian died a long time ago. But I didn't doubt the illusions at all while bewitched."

Just as Chen Fan was in shock, the sound of the flute continued to play.

At first, the sound was formless; now, faint red ripples began to spread from it. The ripples were nearly indiscernible, spreading out in a fan shape.

Chen Fan's heart was shaken. However, with the Bodhi Ancient Tree around, he wasn't bewitched again.

"Phew..." He let out a long sigh, his eyes flickering.

"Strange! This place is too strange! If those following behind me enter this place and fall under its influence, wouldn't they turn on each other?"

His eyeballs trembled.

The flute's power was terrifying. Even he, with a strong will, had succumbed.

That could only mean its effect was truly monstrous.

Buzz, buzz.

Suddenly, the Nebulous Divine Token appeared once more.

"Hmm?" Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.

Moments later, the token shot forward.

He narrowed his gaze and followed after it.

The Nebulous Divine Token had a connection with the Nebulous Divine Palace. Now that the token was acting up, perhaps it could lead him out of this fog-bound realm.