Lan Zhengqing had already cleared everyone out of his residence.

So.

No one would see his brutal side of killing.

He roamed about his residence unchecked, Lin Fan's blood tracing path after path on the ground, like cursive script penned in fresh blood.

Chilling.

Terrifying.

Vicious.

Sinister.

The residence had no light, steeped in darkness.

In such an environment.

Lan Zhengqing's figure was like a vengeful spirit creeping out of hell, dragging a recently feasted-on corpse, sending shivers down spines.

His face was expressionless, dragging Lin Fan with one hand, the other behind his back, walking with steady steps, yet still unable to shed his fabricated scholarly demeanor.

Sometimes.

Pretending for too long makes it hard to discern which is the real self.

His mind was a bit blurry, at times thinking he ought to be the refined Lan Zhengqing, while at other times feeling his violent nature unchanged.

Two forces contended in his mind, causing him to switch between roles, sometimes even merging the two personalities.

Just like his current appearance.

Walking with the elegance of a scholar, looking back reveals the horror of hell.

The air in the residence was stagnant.

As if frozen by an icy atmosphere, if anyone else were present, they might collapse in terror, scared out of their wits.

Suddenly.

Lan Zhengqing felt the ankle in his hand twitch slightly.

He abruptly halted, turning back to glance.

Lin Fan showed no sign of opening his eyes, nor did he move.

He raised an eyebrow, a sharp glint flashed at the corner of his eye, his gaze turned into daggers, fixed on Lin Fan.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Four breaths.

...

A full ten breaths!

He remained still, as did Lin Fan.

Both were like statues, one standing upright, the other lying like a dead dog.

Yet.

Only Lan Zhengqing stared at Lin Fan, Lin Fan didn't even bother to open his eyes.

"Seems like he's waking up."

"But don't rush, you'll die soon enough. Before you die, you must meet someone, you have to die in front of her."

Lan Zhengqing grinned, speaking softly, and continued to turn around, walking forward, only this time he picked up his pace.

Bam!

The door was kicked open forcefully.

The Divine Phoenix was startled, suddenly waking up from the Frost Sky Formation.

She didn't know when, but she had fallen asleep against the ice wall. Too exhausted, sitting there made her close her eyes, thinking of Lin Fan made her feel at ease, and feeling at ease put her to sleep.

And the harsh sound of the door being kicked open startled her awake from her dream.

"Lin Fan!"

She instinctively cried out, leaping up, but forgetting she was still in the icy coffin of the Frost Sky Formation, her head banged heavily against the ice wall above, causing her to grimace in pain.

Yet she couldn't care about the pain, quickly leaning against the ice wall near the door, trying hard to see who was outside.

She thought it must be Lin Fan.

Since Lin Fan was not dead, he would definitely come to rescue her!

If what Lan Zhengqing said earlier about Lin Fan being nearby was true, the person coming in must be Lin Fan!

Bam bam!

The Divine Phoenix excitedly pounded on the ice wall.

"Lin Fan, is it you, Lin Fan!"

A figure staggered in, even if she couldn't see clearly who it was, the aura was unmistakable.

The Divine Phoenix's heart suddenly chilled halfway.

"Lan Zhengqing, is it you again?" Her tone was extremely disdainful, as if seeing Lan Zhengqing meant bad luck.

Why wasn't it Lin Fan… she murmured in her heart, suddenly a bad premonition surged.

"What, are you unhappy to see me?" Lan Zhengqing laughed sinisterly, walking slowly to the ice wall, leaning in.

His sinister and frightening face appeared on the ice wall, and his wicked smile was clearly seen.

The Divine Phoenix's eye corner twitched harshly, she now just wanted to slap Lan Zhengqing's face, but separated by the thick ice wall, she couldn't reach.

"Oh dear, no need to be so unhappy, I've got some good news for you."

"It's none of my business." The Divine Phoenix snorted, leaned to one side, and ignored Lan Zhengqing.

"Don't you want to know about Lin Fan?"

The Divine Phoenix paused, immediately sitting up straight.

Lan Zhengqing chuckled, quite arrogant and smug.

The Divine Phoenix flashed, rushing forward, slamming the ice wall heavily, showing a murderous expression. "What have you done to Lin Fan?!"

Lan Zhengqing just laughed, saying nothing, staring straight at the Divine Phoenix, full of provocation.

Boom!

The Divine Phoenix suddenly spread her black wings, her entire body engulfed in a surging black glow, filling the whole Frost Sky Formation.

However.

Lan Zhengqing remained unfazed, not a hint of fear.

After all.

This was the Frost Sky Formation, with the Divine Phoenix's cultivation realm, it's impossible to break through.

Moreover, the more spiritual power the Divine Phoenix released, the weaker her body would become.

So Lan Zhengqing watched with interest, as if watching a rare animal in a zoo.

"Go on, let's see how long you can make a fuss."

"I'll ask again, what have you done to Lin Fan?!"

The Divine Phoenix roared hysterically, her body trembling violently, furious.

Lan Zhengqing leisurely walked around the Frost Sky Formation, calm and unhurried.

"Lan Zhengqing, if you dare lay a finger on Lin Fan, I will never forgive you!" The Divine Phoenix shouted, her eyes always following Lan Zhengqing as he circled around.

"Your pair of black wings are quite good, if they were on me, I'd definitely break through the shackles of my current cultivation. It's a pity they're on you, wasted." Lan Zhengqing clicked his tongue twice, shaking his head.

"..."

The Divine Phoenix didn't know what Lan Zhengqing wanted to do, what game he was playing!

She just wanted to know whether Lin Fan was alive or dead now.

Whether he was in Lan Zhengqing's hands.

Her eyes suddenly burst with raging venom, unceasingly following Lan Zhengqing, gasping heavily.

Suddenly.

Lan Zhengqing stopped, standing just where he first appeared, smiling wickedly, provoking coldly: "If I killed Lin Fan, what could you do?"

"You try it!" The Divine Phoenix's eyes widened instantly.

However, she felt her body extremely weak, with all her strength now gone limp, even the black wings drooped, lifeless.

What… what's going on… what's happening in here?

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, in the Frost Sky Formation, don't casually use spiritual power, otherwise, it'll be absorbed by the formation."

"You…"

The Divine Phoenix just wanted to speak, but was coldly interrupted by Lan Zhengqing.

"Weren't you just asking me to try, killing Lin Fan?"

"..."

"Alright, now I'll give you a big surprise."

The Divine Phoenix's heart pounded, almost leaping out of her throat.

As Lan Zhengqing spoke, he bent down, seemingly grabbing something.

The Divine Phoenix frowned tightly, her breathing grew heavier. Seeing Lan Zhengqing didn't get up for a long time, she cautiously leaned closer, wanting to see what was happening.

Though reason told her not to, curiosity kept driving her closer.

Her heart was racing up into her throat.

The sound was so loud it seemed to echo in the Frost Sky Formation.

Her body trembled slightly, from anxiety and fear.

"Bang!"

As the Divine Phoenix leaned closer, Lan Zhengqing suddenly stood up, slamming something heavily against the ice wall.

The Divine Phoenix was startled, collapsing to the ground.

But once she focused her eyes, her face immediately turned ghastly pale, her eyeballs nearly fell out, her jaw quivered uncontrollably.

"Look, who is this?" Lan Zhengqing laughed viciously.

Through the ice wall, the Divine Phoenix saw a blood-soaked face.

Moreover.

It was Lin Fan's face.