Mortals cultivate immortality, I have a Chaos Tower

"We are finally back." Lin Fan stared at the small village under the mountains in the distance, with mixed emotions in his eyes. Behind him, Zhong Ling'er gently stroked the Qiankun Axe on his back, as if trying to comfort him. She whispered, "Brother Fan, everything will be fine."

Jin Buke looked around and frowned, "Something seems to be wrong around Xueting Village."

Lin Fan also felt something unusual. The forest outside the village should have been filled with birdsong and flowers, but at this moment, it was shrouded in a depressing atmosphere, and even the air was filled with a heavy haze. The four of them walked towards the cave cautiously, and at this moment, a rustling sound of footsteps suddenly came from the woods not far away.

Lin Fan immediately stopped and signaled everyone not to act rashly. Zhong Ling'er's eyes narrowed slightly, and her fingertips were already quietly circulating her magic power, ready to deal with any possible emergency at any time. Jiang Shuiling took a step back, stood behind everyone, and secretly mobilized her spiritual power.

As the footsteps got closer, several figures suddenly jumped out of the woods. A group of strong men were seen shuttling through the woods, their movements were agile but a little flustered. The leader was a burly man, wearing worn leather armor, holding a long knife in his hand, his face was a little haggard, but his eyes were full of alertness and determination.

Lin Fan looked into the eyes of this group of people, and a trace of doubt flashed through his mind. These people were obviously not enemies, but they were not villagers he was familiar with. Just as he was about to ask, the burly man in the lead suddenly froze, and then his eyes showed an incredible surprise.

"Brother Fan! You...you are back!" The sturdy man shouted excitedly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

Lin Fan frowned, and he glanced at the sturdy man's face, searching his mind for his memories. "You are..."

The sturdy man strode forward and said excitedly, "Brother Fan, I am Xiaohu! Ouyang Hu! You have been gone for ten years! You... are finally back!"

"Ten years?" Lin Fan's pupils suddenly contracted. He was shocked and couldn't believe what he heard. "Xiao Hu, what did you say? We just left not long ago, how could it be ten years?"

Ouyang Hu's eyes were filled with mixed emotions, both joy and sadness. He nodded vigorously and said in a deep voice: "Yes, Brother Fan. You went to the Holy Ruins for the trial, and you were gone for ten years. You...you really didn't know?"

Lin Fan stood there in a daze, his mind in a mess. He remembered the trials he and his companions had gone through in the Holy Ruins, and the dangers they had experienced in the Holy Ruins, but he could not reconcile the facts before him with the timeline in his mind. Seeing this, Jin Buke looked at Lin Fan solemnly, and he obviously also felt that the situation was unusual.

Zhong Ling'er gently pulled Lin Fan's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Fan, perhaps we experienced some abnormal changes in the Holy Ruins, which caused the time in the outside world to pass so quickly."

Lin Fan's heart sank. After a moment of silence, he turned to look at Ouyang Hu and asked in a deep voice, "Xiao Hu, what happened in the past ten years?"

When Ouyang Hu heard this, the joy in his eyes was gradually replaced by a deep sadness. He sighed heavily, and the expression on his face became more and more sad.

"Brother Fan, you don't know that not long after you left, the nobles of Yan State suddenly invaded Yunzhou City. They brought a large army and took advantage of the weak defenses of the city to quickly occupy the entire city. The people of Yunzhou were brutally oppressed, and those who resisted were beheaded one after another. Xueting Village...Xueting Village was not spared either."

"Xueting Village?" Lin Fan's heart trembled suddenly. He remembered that before he left, Xueting Village was peaceful and harmonious. The people in the village supported each other. Although their life was ordinary, it was full of warmth.

Ouyang Hu nodded painfully and continued, "The minions of the Yan nobles came all the way to the village and slaughtered almost all the villagers. The old, weak, women and children were unable to resist at all... Only I and a dozen young men managed to escape and hide in the deep mountains and forests to save our lives."

Lin Fan's heart seemed to be hit hard by a heavy hammer. His face suddenly turned pale and his fists clenched involuntarily. The hands that had protected the village countless times could no longer control the fate of the villagers.

Jin Buke frowned and said coldly: "Why would the nobles of Yan suddenly commit such a murderous act against a small village? Is it just to expand the territory?"

Ouyang Hu shook his head, confusion flashing in his eyes: "It is said that they are looking for something in the village, it seems to be something of vital importance, but they have not found it yet."

Zhong Linger frowned and said, "This crucial thing... could it be related to the Holy Ruins?"

Lin Fan pondered for a moment and nodded, "Perhaps it is because we entered the Holy Ruins and triggered some kind of power that caused all this."

At this moment, Ouyang Hu's eyes showed a trace of determination, and he said in a steady voice: "Brother Fan, my surviving brothers and I have been practicing martial arts in the mountains, preparing to avenge the village. For the past ten years, we have lived a life of hiding from place to place, practicing hard, just to be able to fight back one day!"

Lin Fan looked at Ouyang Hu's eyes full of fighting spirit, and the pain in his heart gradually turned into a firm strength. He raised his head and looked at the mountains in the distance, as if he could see the Yunzhou City occupied by the Yan nobles through the mountains and forests.

“Xiao Hu, the revenge of Xueting Village and Yunzhou City must be avenged.” Lin Fan’s voice was low and firm, and his eyes were flashing with burning anger.

Jin Buke smiled coldly, drew out his long sword, and the sword flashed, like a cold star passing through the air, making a clanging sound. "I have been looking forward to this battle for a long time."

Zhong Linger smiled slightly, waved the staff in her hand lightly, and the spiritual light flickered in her palm. She said softly: "Brother Fan, no matter what happens, we will go on with you."

Jiang Shuiling nodded, a hint of tenacity flashed in her eyes, "Although ten years have passed, the hatred has not disappeared. Now, it's time to make the Yan nobles pay the price."

The oath of the four people echoed in the mountains and forests, like an ancient echo, spreading throughout the silent forest. Ouyang Hu looked at Lin Fan, his heart was filled with excitement. He knew that the village finally had hope.

"Brother Fan, we are ready to go at any time. If you give the order, the brothers are willing to go through fire and water for you!"

Lin Fan took a deep breath, his eyes flashing. He gripped the Qiankun Axe tightly, as if he could feel the vigorous power surging in the axe. He knew that the next battle would be an endless one, and he had to be fully prepared for it.

"Okay, Xiaohu, notify everyone. We will gather tonight and prepare for action." Lin Fan's voice resounded like a huge bell, as if the entire forest was responding to his determination.