[Fantasy] Super Ambiguous Relationship (Complete) - 28-30

Chapter 335 [A Fair Match]

Her long hair, tinged with a hint of red, was casually tied into two small braids on either side, allowing the middle section to fall smoothly over her shoulders. Slightly curled bangs obscured her forehead, and along with her black-rimmed glasses, concealed most of her true face.

Yang Fan could only make out her small but straight nose and her rosy, alluring lips.

At this moment, the woman in the purple cheongsam, her legs slightly parted, revealed most of her snow-white thighs, which shone brightly against the white gloves on her arms, making her appear incredibly alluring. Yet, coupled with her cold smile, it was chilling to behold!

"Yang Fan, is it? Not bad at all! Even our Cold Flame unit's best recruit is no match for you. Such a strong recruit is truly rare! It makes me itchy to emulate you!"

The woman in the purple cheongsam slightly extended her pink tongue, curling it against her lips in a seemingly provocative yet murderous gesture.

Yang Fan was slightly taken aback. He hadn't been at the base long enough to be familiar with many of the unit designations. He hadn't actually heard of the "Cold Flame" unit.

His ignorance didn't mean Gu Feifei was unaware. The image of the woman in the purple cheongsam before her gradually overlapped with a certain image from her memory, instantly startling her. She quickly stepped forward and pulled Yang Fan back.

"Yang Fan, don't be impulsive! She's Tang Ningshuang, the captain of the Cold Flame unit at the Frost Island base! She's one of the top experts in the base. I heard my grandfather say she's unpredictable, a classic example of someone who hides a knife behind a smile. One moment she's joking with you, the next she might be trying to kill you, and she's incredibly strong!"

Gu Feifei's tone was low and cautious, her beautiful eyes fixed on Yang Fan, afraid he might act impulsively and fall for Tang Ningshuang's provocation.

Yang Fan turned to Gu Feifei and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!"

But despite saying this, Yang Fan felt a surge of eagerness to try. Based on his understanding of the base, someone who could become the captain of the Cold Flame Squad must be at least above the Refining Spirit Realm. Yang Fan had only encountered one expert of this level since his debut: the Japanese ninja.

However, that ninja, due to his training in ninjutsu, was far stronger than a true Refining Spirit Realm expert. Therefore, Yang Fan had never actually fought a true Refining Spirit Realm expert.

With his strength constantly increasing, Yang Fan long wanted to face a true Refining Spirit Realm expert to understand his true strength!

His breakthrough in the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique had propelled his cultivation from the fifth level of Qi Movement to the peak of the ninth level. He had even sensed the membrane of the Refining Spirit Realm, but he hadn't quite grasped it.

Yang Fan understood that this was because his comprehension was insufficient, and his understanding of the Refining Spirit Realm was inadequate. The fastest way to remedy this was to fight a true Refining Spirit Realm expert, gaining experience and broadening his horizons in battle, thus laying a solid foundation for his breakthrough.

However, although he was eager to try, Yang Fan also understood that neither the current environment nor the occasion was suitable for a large-scale battle. Otherwise, with their combined strength, even the most sturdy building wouldn't withstand their onslaught!

Therefore, although Yang Fan's fighting spirit was high, he remained silent in the face of her provocation!

Tang Ning Shuang had clearly anticipated that Yang Fan wouldn't be so easily swayed, but she wasn't entirely unprepared. She slightly swayed her delicate body, adopting a frail posture, and softly said, "What? Mr. Yang Fan, are you afraid to take on this seemingly weak lady?"

Even without seeing Tang Ning Shuang's face behind her bangs and black-rimmed glasses, her beautiful figure and alluring voice were enough to make one's heart flutter.

Her slightly pleading, weak voice could inadvertently ignite a man's impulsive passion, causing him to uncontrollably do what she desired.

"Captain Tang, using such methods to deal with a new recruit seems a bit dishonorable, doesn't it?"

A slightly cold voice rang out, and Tang Wan, Su Xin, and even Yang Tianzan, along with a large group of officers, arrived at the fighting arena.

However, the chaos in the arena and the large number of injured recruits standing askew to the side truly surprised them.

Tang Ningshuang glanced at Tang Wan, who had spoken up, and smiled sweetly: "Oh, isn't this Sister Tang Wan? Why did such a small matter bother you?"

"Hehe, didn't I hear you were here, Captain Tang? After all, we're from the same clan and live in the same place. It's not easy to get together like this, so of course I have to be closer to my sister!" As the saying goes,

one doesn't hit a smiling face, and Tang Wan couldn't help but smile in response to Tang Ningshuang's reaction.

"Sister is right. I was originally planning to come find you, but my incompetent subordinates caused such a mess that I had to come and check it out. I didn't expect even you to be bothered!"

With that, Tang Ningshuang turned to Yang Fan, sticking out her long, pink tongue to lick her rosy lips. "Handsome Yang Fan, I really look forward to being physically entangled with you, making love!" The

unsuspecting recruits, unaware of the implications, felt their blood boil and their hearts surge with excitement at this provocative suggestion, envying Yang Fan's good fortune.

However, the officers who knew the inside story frowned secretly. Tang Ningshuang was extremely protective of her men; seeing Cheng seriously injured, she naturally wouldn't let it go. The more ambiguous her words, the more it meant she was truly determined to get back at Yang Fan, and if given the chance, she would definitely make him pay.

Yang Fan smiled faintly and said, "I'm sorry, Miss Tang, I'm not a casual person."

"Pfft!"

"Cough cough!"

"Ahem!"

A cacophony of groans, coughs, and low laughter erupted. Those officers who knew the inside story nearly suffered internal injuries from suppressing their laughter at Yang Fan's words!

Who had ever dared to speak such a thing to Tang Ning Shuang? Witnessing this scene firsthand, even with their recruits' complete defeat, was worth the price of admission.

Perhaps only Yang Tianzan remained dissatisfied. He had originally incited the recruits to attack, intending to teach Yang Fan a lesson and then subdue him.

Who knew Yang Fan would be so difficult to deal with? Nearly two hundred recruits with ratings no lower than A, working together, couldn't defeat him!

Even Zuo Rulong, with an S-rank rating, was defeated by Yang Fan. If Tang Ning Shuang hadn't arrived in time, Zuo Rulong might have lost all his skills and been crippled for life!

What surprised Yang Tianzan even more was that Yang Fan, already targeted by Tang Ningshuang, still dared to say such things. He wondered if Yang Fan had something to rely on, or if he was truly ignorant and fearless!

Actually, Yang Fan was truly misunderstood. He didn't know Tang Ningshuang at all, so naturally he hadn't thought much about it. The only information he had about Tang Ningshuang was what Gu Feifei had just told him. However, even knowing that Tang Ningshuang was fiercely protective of her own and determined to cause him trouble, he would still choose to respond this way.

Why did Tang Ningshuang have to say such provocative things to him in such a public place? Wasn't she afraid of losing face? If it were somewhere else, like in a car or a bedroom, perhaps he would have reacted differently…

“Is that so? I'm not a casual person either!”

Although Tang Ningshuang still wore a smile, the anger in her voice was obvious to everyone.

Tang Ningshuang was not only incredibly strong, ranking among the top experts on the entire Thousandfold Isolated Island, but her beauty alone made her one of the most beautiful in the base. She even possessed enough confidence to address a woman as beautiful as Tang Wan as "elder sister," despite knowing her strength and status were inferior.

But now, Yang Fan dared to speak of her like that in front of so many people! How could she, with her proud nature, tolerate this?

Therefore, the instant she spoke to Yang Fan, she attacked!

Boom!

A large, earthen-yellow hand reappeared in the fighting room, but this time, it wasn't aimed at Zuo Rulong, but directly at Yang Fan!

Like a mountain pressing down, the earthen-yellow hand, though formed from condensed true energy, was filled with power, as if it were truly real. Even before it truly pressed down on Yang Fan's head, he already felt immense pressure!

"A master of the Refining Spirit realm, truly living up to her reputation!"

Although the current environment wasn't suitable for a direct battle, Yang Fan wasn't one to be bullied to the point of silence. Seeing the approaching hand, he made his move!

"Diamond Seal!"

This woman was no pushover, and Yang Fan dared not be careless. While the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique was incredibly powerful, he had only reached the second level. It was sufficient against opponents of the same level, but against opponents of higher levels, it was somewhat inadequate.

The Diamond Seal, however, was one of the fourteen seals from the Immovable King Mantra, the technique Yang Fan had practiced the longest. Furthermore, the Immovable King Mantra was controlled by divine thought, requiring little true energy, making it the best choice for fighting against a master of the Refining Spirit realm. Therefore, Yang Fan immediately unleashed the Diamond Seal!

*Ling!*

Suddenly, the sky above Yang Fan's head began to twist and contort, resembling a giant black hole. Just as Tang Ning Shuang's earthen-yellow hand was about to touch his head, a massive, three- or four-zhang-long diamond appeared above him and crashed into the hand with lightning speed.

"Eh?"

Seeing Yang Fan's Vajra Diamond Seal, Tang Ning Shuang couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation. However, her hand didn't stop moving; with a thought, the power of the earthen-yellow palm increased even more!

"That's..."

On the other side, Tang Wan, seeing Yang Fan's move, also exclaimed in surprise. However, unlike Tang Ning Shuang's astonishment, her voice seemed to contain more surprise. This surprise wasn't because Yang Fan could unleash such a powerful move, but because of the technique itself!

"Buddhist combat techniques? How could he know Buddhist combat techniques? Those nuns from the Western Zen Sect certainly wouldn't pass on Buddhist combat techniques to him. Could it be from the Eastern Zen Sect? But the Eastern Zen Sect disappeared long ago! Also, although this technique is a Buddhist combat technique, it's clearly different from Zen techniques. Legend has it that the combat techniques passed down by the Zen Sect are Hinayana Buddhism. Could this be Mahayana Buddhism...?"

"Boom!"

Just as Tang Wan was surprised, Yang Fan's Vajra Drill Seal collided with Tang Ning Shuang's earthen-yellow hand.

A deafening explosion resounded, and the entire building seemed to tremble violently for a moment. Even the walls around the fighting room were cracked by the aftershocks of the explosion!

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

At the same time as the explosion, Yang Fan staggered back three steps. Each step left a clear footprint on the ground, each footprint sinking more than three-tenths of an inch into the earth, demonstrating the immense impact Yang Fan had received. It also revealed the sheer power of the collision.

On the other hand, Tang Ningshuang, though standing still, suddenly blushed and her body leaned back slightly. Although she tried her best to hold it in, there were many true experts present, so many people noticed her action!

"How is this possible? A new recruit actually managed to beat Tang the Demoness to this extent! Did you see that? Tang the Demoness even seems to be injured!"

"Yeah, Tang the Demoness's strength is enough to be in the top 100 in the entire base. I never expected her to be defeated by a new recruit. I really don't know what kind of background this guy named Yang Fan has, to have such strength at such a young age!"

"What's so special about that? Can't you see? That guy named Yang Fan's cultivation is clearly only at the ninth level of Qi Movement, while Tang the Demoness's cultivation is almost at the eighth level of Spirit Refinement. They're nine levels apart, yet they're evenly matched..."

"Yeah, I didn't even notice until you mentioned it. Fighting across realms, and nine realms at that! This completely defies the common sense of martial arts!"

"Sigh, it seems the Wild Wolf Team is going to rise to prominence. While the Wild Wolf Team was good among the bases before, they weren't truly number one. But now, with a freak like Yang Fan, it seems there's no doubt the other bases will be left behind!"

"That's hard to say. I heard that some bases have absorbed some people from that place. You all know what kind of people come from there. I heard that Old Chen has now made connections with the Chunyang Sect, and Old Tu has also gotten in touch with the Baihua Palace!

"That's true. As long as you get in touch with that place, life will be much easier. Not to mention the distant past, if Tang the Demoness hadn't gotten involved with the Yueyin Sect, how could her cultivation speed have been so fast? And if she didn't have that status, how would she dare to speak to Elder Tang like that?"

"There's nothing we can do. Comparison is the thief of joy. Oh well, what can we do when we're so unlucky? Let's not talk about that for now. Let's see how this matter is handled. You all know how shrewish Tang the Demoness is. Now that she's suffered such a big loss, how can she let it go so easily? I don't think even with Elder Tang around, she won't let it go so easily!"

"Yeah, that's right. Let's wait and see!" "

..."

Just as Yang Fan and Tang Ning Shuang were exchanging blows, with Yang Fan slightly at a disadvantage, within the fighting room, countless divine thoughts were also exchanging ideas...

Chapter 336 [Woman, You've Enraged Me!]

Bang!

The two collided. Yang Fan took three steps forward, while Tang Ning Shuang remained still. However, their attacks didn't dissipate upon impact! Tang Ning Shuang's earthen-yellow hand paused slightly in mid-air before stopping.

Hmph!

Tang Ning Shuang let out a cold snort, and the earthen-yellow hand in mid-air suddenly changed, transforming from a palm into a fist, and crashed towards Yang Fan again!

Bang!

The two collided once more, and the once crystal-clear surface of Yang Fan's Vajra Diamond suddenly developed numerous tiny cracks.

Bang!

Before Yang Fan could react, the enormous fist in mid-air crashed down again!

This time, not only did more cracks appear on the Vajra Diamond, but Yang Fan was also forced to stagger back several steps, a trickle of crimson blood spilling from the corner of his mouth!

"Mother, should we save Yang Fan?" "

In a corner of the fighting room, Su Xin whispered to Tang Wan.

"No need!"

Tang Wan replied without turning her head, her gaze fixed on Yang Fan.

"But... won't he be in danger?"

Su Xin's expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

"It's alright. His potential is far more than this. I also want to see how much more he's hiding that we don't know about!"

"But..."

"Don't worry, I'm here. No one can hurt him!"

Seeing that Su Xin was about to say something, Tang Wan waved her hand to interrupt her.

"Sigh! I hope not!"

Having spent so much time with Tang Wan, Su Xin naturally knew that no one could influence Tang Wan's decisions. At that moment, she could only console herself with this thought…

"Pfft!"

In the center of the fighting arena, Yang Fan finally couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. Stained with blood, he looked somewhat terrifying, but his expression remained unchanged. On the contrary, his calm face was somewhat frightening!

"My god, how is that kid so strong? He actually withstood so many attacks from Captain Tang? And he's just a recruit? Is he even human?"

"And did you guys notice? He's not seriously injured at all, just a minor injury. Just how strong is he? The strength of an ordinary company commander? Or what?"

"We actually wanted to cause trouble for him just now, but now that we think about it, our injuries were relatively minor. With his strength, he could easily kill us!"

"Yeah, damn it, from now on I'll avoid this kind of monster. He's a monster, is he even human?"

"I actually admire my own courage now, actually running up to fight this monster one-on-one!"

"Zuo Rulong's defeat was not unjust!"

"..."

Just as everyone was discussing this, Zuo Rulong was also rescued by the medical staff. After all, the people gathered here tonight were all elites from the base, and naturally there were many experts in medicine, so although Zuo Rulong's injuries were serious, they were not fatal.

"I never expected him to be this strong. It seems he didn't even use his full strength just now! However, I won't lose my fighting spirit because of this. On the contrary, I have a goal to strive for from now on. Yang Fan, one day, I will catch up with you!"

This is the difference between the strong and the weak. The truly strong do not lose their fighting spirit when faced with defeat. On the contrary, they are inspired to fight even harder and unleash their full potential! Conversely, the weak, when faced with defeat, will become despondent and lose all fighting spirit. This point is undoubtedly vividly demonstrated at this moment!

"Yang Fan? Hehe, it seems I still underestimated you. But that's even better. You're mine, you can't escape! This Zuo Rulong is not bad either, he's quite talented. It seems I need to find an opportunity to get close to him and see if I can bring him to our base!"

In another corner, Yang Tianzan crossed his arms, looking indifferent and aloof.

"Very good, very good. You can be proud of yourself for withstanding so many of my attacks. However, it's all over now!"

A charming voice rang out, naturally from Tang Ningshuang, accompanied by a large, earthen-yellow fist!

"Hmph, you're really getting addicted to fighting, aren't you? Since you want to play, then I'll play with you properly. Immovable King, Sword Seal!"

As the saying goes, even a clay figure has three parts fire, let alone Yang Fan, who was no kind soul. Faced with Tang Ningshuang's repeated provocations, he had been holding back his anger for a long time, and now it finally erupted!

Boom!

With Yang Fan's cold snort, the Vajra Diamond above his head, which was about to shatter, suddenly changed. Its oval shape suddenly turned into a rhombus, and then into the shape of a giant sword!

A giant sword more than ten zhang long suddenly appeared above Yang Fan's head. The surface of the sword was filled with blue light, and within the blue light, there were also specks of purple lightning.

This was the first time Yang Fan had truly used the Immovable King Seal since his breakthrough in the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, and both its power and aura were unprecedented!

"Sword Slashes the World!"

The moment the giant sword formed, before Tang Ning Shuang could recover from her shock, Yang Fan controlled it and slashed at her!

However, although Tang Ning Shuang was shocked by Yang Fan's unpredictable methods, she didn't panic. Her giant palm remained unchanged, still striking towards Yang Fan. Today, Yang Fan had humiliated her; even if she couldn't kill him, she would at least make him suffer. Tang Ning Shuang had even decided to severely injure Yang Fan. But then, the situation suddenly changed!

Bang! The sword struck the earthen-yellow giant palm, actually stopping its momentum. Not only that, but streaks of purple lightning suddenly shot out from the sword, coiling around the earthen-yellow giant palm and beginning to refine it!

The giant, earthen-yellow hand was formed by Tang Ningshuang using her true energy and divine sense; it wasn't a real entity, ultimately just a mass of energy. Yang Fan's sword imprint was also composed of true energy and divine sense, but this time, he added something else: the destructive energy of purple lightning!

Indeed, it was something unique to the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique: purple lightning! If you were to ask what in this world is the most powerful and yang, it would undoubtedly be lightning. Lightning can destroy everything, tangible and intangible; whatever it is, under its power, it can only turn to ashes, including divine sense!

Adding this destructive energy to the sword imprint was a sudden, impulsive decision by Yang Fan. Unexpectedly, its effect far exceeded his expectations!

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

This time, it wasn't Yang Fan who retreated, but Tang Ningshuang! Perhaps Yang Fan's sword imprint couldn't cause her much harm, but the destructive lightning power within it severely damaged her consciousness.

As she retreated, her alluring face first paled, then strangely flushed red. Clearly, she had suffered a significant impact in this collision!

"Hand of the Earth, Grab!"

Forcibly suppressing the blood rising in her throat, Tang Ning Shuang's gaze turned cold. Her earthen-yellow hand, which had been knocked back by Yang Fan, curled its five fingers, changing from a fist to a claw, and reached for the longsword in mid-air.

"If you break my sword imprint so easily, wouldn't the Immovable King Seal be too weak?"

Seeing Tang Ning Shuang's reaction, Yang Fan sneered, his sword stance unchanged, continuing to slash at her hand.

"Sword Pierces the Sky!"

The longsword in mid-air suddenly swayed slightly, and instantly, streams of purple lightning overflowed from within the blade, weaving together in mid-air to form a massive lightning net. This massive net perfectly enveloped Tang Ning Shuang's earthen-yellow hand! *

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!*

The electric net, once entangled in the giant hand, immediately began to corrode it, emitting a series of ear-piercing sounds. During this process, the earthen-yellow hand was continuously shrinking in size.

"Excellent swordsmanship, excellent combat skills, but unfortunately your cultivation level is too low to unleash its true power. Let's end it here!"

The earthen-yellow hand was relentlessly refined by the lightning, yet it couldn't be completely eliminated. After all, behind the giant hand was a powerful expert like Tang Ningshuang, a master of the eighth level of the Refining Spirit realm. The difference between her and Yang Fan wasn't just a major realm, but countless minor realms. These realm differences were enough to compensate for any shortcomings in their techniques!

Just as Tang Ningshuang spoke, the giant hand in the sky suddenly trembled, and the lightning coiled on its surface was shaken away. At the same time, the giant hand split in two; one part blocked Yang Fan's sword imprint, while the other part attacked Yang Fan's true form!

"Not good!"

Yang Fan was shocked to see the giant hand appear before him in the blink of an eye. However, the changes were too rapid for him to react, and he could only watch helplessly as the giant hand imprinted itself on him.

Bang!

Another loud crash followed. The massive blow sent Yang Fan flying backward, slamming into the wall behind him. The wall, constructed of steel and concrete and designed to withstand powerful martial arts attacks, actually cracked under the impact. Yang Fan, after hitting the wall, was bounced back and finally landed on the ground with a thud, remaining motionless for a long time…

“Hush…”

Although the situation wasn't too different from what had been expected, those present couldn't help but gasp. For a peak Qi Activation cultivator to withstand so many attacks from an eighth-level Refinement Spirit expert was a truly honorable defeat!

"What a pity! He's just young and impetuous, and hasn't had enough time to cultivate. Given time, this kid named Yang Fan is definitely not

someone to be underestimated!" "Yes, the gap between them is too big. If Yang Fan had entered the Refining Spirit Realm, even just the beginning, the outcome might have been different. Yang Fan's potential is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine!"

"It seems the elder's judgment is better than ours. With Yang Fan joining, the Wild Wolf Team can't help but dominate the other bases!"

"A person with such unlimited potential would be treasured by anyone. Now that Tang the Demoness has seriously injured him in front of the elder, I wonder how the elder will handle this?"

"Indeed, Tang the Demoness went too far. This is a classic case of bullying the weak. But the elder's status is what it is; he probably can't directly attack her!"

"It's hard to say. The elder isn't a kind person. Have you forgotten what happened back then?"

"..."

Inside the fighting room, various discussions filled the air, but Tang Wan remained indifferent, her expression unchanged throughout.

"Mother, Yang Fan... should I go check on his injuries?"

Seeing Tang Wan's reaction, Su Xin, who had been holding back, finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Wait a little longer!"

Su Xin received Tang Wan's emotionless reply.

"Wait? If we wait any longer, Yang Fan will be dead! No, if you don't care, I will. I can't just watch him die..."

Su Xin's words trailed off, not because Tang Wan had stopped her, but because the scene before her made her forget her thoughts.

Yang Fan, who had been lying unconscious on the ground, slowly stood up. At this moment, Yang Fan's body was stained with blood, and his clothes were torn in many places. Through the tears, one could vaguely see the explosive muscles beneath his clothes. His hair was disheveled, obscuring his face, but Yang Fan exuded a chilling aura!

This aura wasn't murderous, but pure coldness, yet it wasn't due to low temperatures. On the surface, Yang Fan appeared unchanged, but anyone who saw him could feel a soul-chilling coldness emanating from him, an irresistible urge to worship him!

"This…"

Not only Su Xin, but everyone in the fighting room was stunned by the scene before them, including Tang Ning Shuang, who was fighting Yang Fan!

Tang Ning Shuang was naturally more aware of her attacks than anyone else. Although she was somewhat surprised that Yang Fan could hold out for so long, it didn't diminish her confidence in her attacks. She was confident that even a master of the Refining God Realm would be severely injured under her powerful attacks, let alone a novice like Yang Fan who hadn't even reached that level! However, although Yang Fan

had been beaten to the point of vomiting blood, he had actually stood before her once more. Not only that, but Yang Fan's aura seemed significantly stronger than before. In fact, the aura emanating from him even made Tang Ning Shuang feel a sense of terror and fear!

"How could this be?"

Naturally, no one would tell her, and Yang Fan certainly wouldn't, because at this moment, Yang Fan made a new move!

"Woman, you angered me. As the price for angering me, you must die today!"

Yang Fan still kept his head down, and the voice came from his mouth, but both his tone and manner were vastly different from his usual way of speaking. This voice seemed devoid of any human emotion or fluctuation, like a synthesized machine voice. But it was this unpleasant machine voice that made everyone present feel a chill. Upon hearing these words, Tang Ning Shuang even involuntarily took a step back…

Chapter 337 [Blood Pattern Reappears]

Only after regaining her footing did Tang Ning Shuang recover from her shock. Although her face remained unchanged, she discovered that just a moment ago, her back was completely soaked!

Just one sentence from the other party and she broke out in a cold sweat. If word got out, probably no one would believe that the fearless Tang Ning Shuang could be so frightened. But it was all true!

However, Tang Ning Shuang had been a force to be reckoned with in the base for so many years. She even dared to defy Tang Wan, let alone anyone else. Therefore, although she broke out in a cold sweat after being frightened by Yang Fan, it didn't completely destroy her fighting spirit. On the contrary, it aroused her ferocity.

"Hmph, must die? Who do you think you are? There are countless people in this world who want my life, Tang Ning Shuang. The person who can kill me hasn't even been born yet. You, a greenhorn recruit? Kid, you can't just brag. Watch out!"

Without answering Tang Ning Shuang's words, Yang Fan made a simple gesture! He slowly raised his right hand, like a dragon raising its head, and along with his palm rose a blood-red dragon!

The dragon head was very blurry, its shape only vaguely discernible. But the moment the blood dragon appeared, the entire room seemed to be filled with a thick, bloody aura.

"Die!"

With the dragon head appearing, Yang Fan lightly waved his arm, and instantly, the blood-red dragon shadow enlarged, charging towards Tang Wan.

"Break!"

At the same time, Tang Ning Shuang launched her attack. An even larger, earthen-yellow palm instantly condensed above her head and pressed down fiercely on Yang Fan. This giant palm, in both its power and size, was several times larger than the previous one, showing that Tang Ning Shuang was now completely enraged!

"Bang!"

The blood-red dragon head and the giant palm collided instantly. Surprisingly, this time, Yang Fan wasn't knocked away. Instead, the blood-red dragon head, after colliding with the earthen-yellow giant palm, wasn't shattered but emitted a low dragon roar. The next moment, the giant palm was instantly shattered by the dragon head. Then, before anyone could react, the blood-red dragon head instantly appeared in front of Tang Ning Shuang and slammed into her abdomen!

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of bright red blood instantly spilled from Tang Ningshuang's alluring red lips, but she seemed oblivious, staring blankly at her lower abdomen, as if she still couldn't accept what was happening before her eyes. She had clearly gone all out, yet hadn't even managed to injure her opponent; on the contrary, she had been defeated in a single move and severely injured. How could this be?

How could this be? Indeed, this wasn't just Tang Ningshuang's thought, but the thought of everyone present. They simply couldn't understand why Yang Fan, who had been on the defensive just moments before, had suddenly unleashed his power. How had their roles suddenly reversed?

Defeated in one move, and so decisively at that! If Yang Fan were lying on the ground, perhaps those present would be surprised, but it would certainly seem natural. But the problem was that the person lying on the ground was Tang Ningshuang, the woman known as the "Witch," and a terrifying opponent with the strength of the eighth level of the Refining Spirit Realm!

"How could this be? Am I seeing things? How could Tang the Demoness have lost?"

"Yes, how is this possible? Yang Fan, a rookie recruit, and Captain Tang, how could they possibly be together? It's unbelievable!"

"It's too incredible. Just how strong is Yang Fan? Did he hold back just now? No, if that were the case, how could he have let his opponent beat him so badly?"

"Look, Yang Fan is making another move!"

Just as everyone was discussing this, Yang Fan, who had been keeping his head down, finally slowly raised it. However, his once jet-black eyes were now blood red. His shoulder-length hair moved without wind. Yang Fan looked at Tang Ning Shuang expressionlessly and slowly said, "Woman, I told you, you have angered me!"

After saying that, he raised his right hand again...

"Oh no!"

Suddenly, Tang Wan, who had been standing in the corner, was startled. Just as she cried out in alarm, Yang Fan's shirt suddenly burst open with a bang, revealing his upper body covered with blood-red dragon tattoos.

This time, however, the crimson dragon patterns on Yang Fan's body actually began to move—yes, move! The tattoos seemed to come alive, automatically tracing their course across his skin. With each movement, Yang Fan's aura grew increasingly chilling… "Die!"

Another cold murmur rang out, and a crimson dragon burst forth from Yang Fan's body, charging towards Tang Ning Shuang.

"Whoosh!"

Just then, Tang Wan reacted. She had been standing in the corner, but suddenly appeared strangely in front of Tang Ning Shuang, blocking the blood dragon unleashed by Yang Fan.

"Freeze!"

Without any visible movement from Tang Wan, she simply uttered a single word, yet the blood dragon, about to reach her, suddenly froze in place, unable to advance an inch!

"Seal!"

After freezing the blood dragon, Tang Wan flicked her finger, and the blood dragon returned to Yang Fan's body. The blood patterns that had been moving across his body calmed down, and Yang Fan's blood-red eyes slowly regained their clarity...

"General Yang, shouldn't the banquet end now?"

Tang Wan's gaze was sharp as lightning as she coldly glanced at Tang Ning Shuang, finally fixing her gaze on Yang Tianzan.

Yang Tianzan coughed and could only say, "Elder Tang is right, the banquet ends here. I believe everyone has gained a lot... Next, our organizers have prepared some small programs for everyone. Those who are interested can choose to stay and continue playing. If you have other plans, please do so as you see fit!"

After such a commotion, who would be in the mood to stay and continue playing? Moreover, Yang Fan's wonderful performance had already brought the banquet to its climax. Even if there were any exciting programs to come, how could they possibly arouse their interest?

Therefore, when Yang Tianzan said this, the people in the fighting room left in twos and threes. However, as they left, they couldn't help but glance at Yang Fan a few more times, especially the instructors and generals. They all took the initiative to come up to Yang Fan when they left, ostensibly to greet Tang Wan, but anyone could see that they were actually greeting Yang Fan. Perhaps their thoughts were no different from Yang Tianzan's...

After leaving the fighting arena, when deciding where to go, Gu Feifei said with a smile, "I promised to treat you to the presidential suite, what are we still discussing? Besides, Elder Tang, you promised that this was a temporary mission and you would give us leave!"

Tang Wan glanced at her subordinates, saw the longing in their eyes, and nodded in agreement, "Alright, you can arrange things tonight. I'll give you three days off. You can return to the base to report in three days. Captain Su Xin and I can't stay that long, we have to leave first thing tomorrow morning!"

Su Xin opened her mouth slightly, sighed inwardly, and finally said nothing!

Gu Feifei was slightly excited to hear about the holiday. Ultimately, her reason for joining the base was her dislike of being constantly restricted, coupled with other factors. It wasn't that she actually liked the life here.

The opportunity to live carefree like in Yanjing, without the grueling training, naturally made Gu Feifei incredibly happy. Although this holiday would only last three days instead of returning to Yanjing, it didn't diminish her excitement.

In comparison, Yang Fan and Ouyang Ye's reactions were more subdued. They weren't interested in the holiday itself, but Yang Fan was quite interested in the presidential suite at the Dynasty Hotel. Surprisingly

, they all tacitly stopped discussing what had just happened; neither Gu Feifei nor Tang Wan asked Yang Fan any questions. As for Yang Fan, some things were secrets he didn't want others to know, and their silence reduced the need for him to explain, which suited him perfectly!

The group followed Gu Feifei upstairs, and halfway up, she had already arranged everything by phone.

Everyone initially assumed they would all stay in one room, but to everyone's surprise, Gu Feifei arranged two rooms, each occupying a separate floor—the most luxurious presidential suite.

"Elder Tang, Sister Suxin, and I will stay on this floor. You'll stay on the floor above. Here are the room keys,"

Gu Feifei said, handing the keys to Yang Fan before reluctantly waving goodbye.

She wanted to talk to Yang Fan privately, but finding a way to avoid Suxin and Tang Wan without seeing them off wasn't easy.

Yang Fan took the keys, waved back, and glanced at Ouyang Ye, feeling somewhat speechless. That guy was truly a silent type! He hadn't heard him utter a single word yet!

Yang Fan led Ouyang Ye into the presidential suite on the 46th floor. Upon entering, they were immediately struck by its luxury and sophistication.

The living room, with its double-glazed windows arranged in a U-shape, presented itself to Yang Fan and Ouyang Ye.

Through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Jiangning seawall, beaches, and even the entire city! If you don't mind taking a stroll around the living room, the whole of Jiangning is within your grasp!

The master bedroom and secondary bedroom, while sacrificing some window views by being set back slightly, don't feel stuffy at all. Excellent ventilation systems have taken this into full consideration. Combined with the meticulous interior design and materials, it fully lives up to its top-tier status.

The suite features two swimming pools, one indoor and one outdoor, with the indoor pool right next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. The outdoor pool is located on a private terrace garden. The suite also includes a sports room and a training room, convenient for martial arts enthusiasts.

After entering the room, Yang Fan glanced around and noticed Ouyang Ye's expression. Seeing his surprised look, Yang Fan couldn't help but chuckle to himself, "I thought you'd become an unyielding stone Buddha. Looks like you're just a mortal after all!"

Ouyang Ye's reaction actually made Yang Fan feel closer to him. Otherwise, they'd be spending several more days together, and facing someone who might not say a word all day would be incredibly boring.

"Ouyang Ye, right? How should we arrange the rooms?"

"No need for that, I'll just stay in the training room."

Yang Fan asked casually, but this reply made him shake his head again.

Fortunately, the suite had many novelties. Drinks were unlimited, and whatever he wanted to eat could be ordered with a single button, receiving the most attentive service. If he wanted to go out, he could choose from a Rolls-Royce Phantom, Bentley, or Mercedes for pick-up and drop-off, so Yang Fan wouldn't feel bored.

Just when Yang Fan thought the night would pass by like this, the phone in his room suddenly rang. Yang Fan glanced towards the training room; Ouyang Ye was already engrossed in it and clearly had no intention of coming out. He shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to answer the phone.

"Sorry, we don't need special services!"

"Pah! You're the one providing special services! You stinky Yang Fan, come out here!"

Upon hearing that distinctive voice, Yang Fan was immediately struck by that face—a face that was sometimes happy and sometimes angry, sometimes confused and obedient, sometimes cunning and intelligent.

"You are? Yang Ming!"

"It's me, didn't expect that, did you!"

"You said you weren't a prostitute, but you're calling yourself 'Miss' now!"

Yang Fan muttered to himself, of course, he couldn't actually say that to the other person. However, Yang Fan really hadn't expected Yang Ming to call him.

"How did you know my room number?"

"Hmph! Don't you know whose territory this is? Let alone checking your phone number, even if I were to check your… hehe…"

Yang Fan was slightly curious, wondering what Yang Ming's veiled words involved. However, since Yang Ming didn't want to say, he figured she wouldn't tell him even if he asked.

"Miss Yang, what's up calling so late?"

"What? Can't I call you if there's nothing wrong?"

"No, it's just that it feels a little strange."

On the other end of the line, Yang Ming slightly pursed her lips and secretly snorted, "Hmph! Strange? If it were you calling me, it wouldn't be strange at all!"

Although she thought this, she said aloud, "It's normal for you to find it strange. Originally, I didn't want to make this call, but you know I don't like owing favors. You treated me to a plate of meat tonight, and I plan to treat you back tomorrow, otherwise, I'll feel uneasy for the rest of my life!"

Yang Ming's words only made Yang Fan feel even stranger.

"It's just a plate of meat, and I didn't even pay for it, yet he expects to reciprocate? What exactly is Yang Ming up to?"

"It's settled then. Someone will come to pick you up tomorrow at noon. You're not allowed to run away, or I'll storm your base and settle the score!"

Yang Fan smirked into the microphone, "You think you're qualified to storm up here?"

Post-holiday syndrome, secretly reading a novel,

Chapter 338 [Reassessment]

As an auxiliary facility of the base, regardless of which faction the martial arts exchange hall belongs to, if the base is attacked, the other party must come forward to defend it.

Moreover, the Wild Wolf Team's base is the strongest base on the entire Thousandfold Isolated Island. After rising for so many years, is this all the strength they've shown on the surface? Someone with Tang Ning Shuang's strength… compared to the entire base, is probably just the tip of the iceberg!

Yang Fan pulled himself out of his wandering thoughts and smiled slightly, "I'm bored anyway. Only a fool wouldn't go to dinner if someone invited me!"

After Yang Ming's call, no one bothered him anymore. Yang Fan ate something and returned to his room, where he began to cultivate his internal energy.

Tonight's battle seemed uneventful, but in reality, Yang Fan had used almost all his abilities. Even the Crimson Dragon Mark, which had been sealed within his body, nearly awakened. If Tang Wan hadn't intervened in time, Yang Fan would likely have been controlled by the Crimson Dragon Mark again, causing his consciousness to sink into oblivion and resulting in irreversible consequences.

In fact, since arriving in Yanjing, the seal on the Crimson Dragon Mark had only shown signs of disturbance once, but the situation then was nothing compared to tonight's.

Each time the Crimson Dragon Mark awakened, Yang Fan's consciousness would completely fall into slumber, completely unaware of what was happening. This time was different. Because of Tang Wan's sudden intervention, and because Yang Fan's consciousness wasn't completely asleep, he vaguely remembered some of what had happened. This allowed him to seem to grasp something, but the situation was too urgent for careful observation. Now that he had time, he naturally needed to clarify the matter.

The first thing he observed was the root of all the problems: the blood-red dragon pattern. According to past patterns, each awakening of the dragon pattern would cause it to fluctuate for a certain period, meaning it was very unstable. However, when Yang Fan focused his consciousness on his body, he found that the dragon pattern was exactly the same as usual. He even discovered that under these conditions, any stimulation wouldn't necessarily affect his consciousness. It seemed the seal had become even stronger!

"Could it be that Tang Wan strengthened the seal for me? Even my master couldn't eradicate this blood-red dragon pattern; he could only seal it. Even so, it took decades. Tang Wan strengthened the seal with a wave of her hand. Doesn't that mean her true strength is even greater than my master's?"

This thought flashed through Yang Fan's mind, startling him. He wasn't entirely clear about his master's true strength, but he always felt an inability to see through him. Even now, despite being able to directly confront someone at the Refining Spirit Realm, he still couldn't understand his master.

But what about Tang Wan? Did that stunningly beautiful woman truly possess unfathomable cultivation? Yang Fan found it incredibly difficult to connect the Tang Wan he knew with the Tang Wan in the base. Although they shared the same face, their actions, everything about them, was so unfamiliar to him!

"Just how strong is she? What is her true identity? Why is all of this beyond my expectations?"

Actually, while Yang Fan had guessed Tang Wan was strong, he had exaggerated somewhat. The seal Tang Wan had strengthened within her body seemed similar to his master's, but the difference was stark. One seal was placed without any prior preparation, while the other was strengthened from an existing foundation. It was like building a skyscraper versus refining an existing structure – the difference was immeasurable!

Of course, Tang Wan wasn't using her full strength. Regardless, Yang Fan had gained a completely new understanding of Tang Wan's strength…

Meanwhile, while Yang Fan was studying the changes in his body, Ouyang Ye, in the training room, wasn't idle either. However, he wasn't practicing; instead, he was on the phone.

After entering the training room, Ouyang Ye first checked the interior. After confirming there were no problems, he leaned close to the door, carefully listening to the sounds outside. Only after hearing nothing suspicious did he take out his phone and make a call.

After the call connected, a mechanical voice came from the phone, shrill and cold, as if nothing in the matter could arouse his interest: "What is it?"

Ouyang Ye seemed long accustomed to this voice, showing no expression as he replied, "Yang Fan's strength needs to be reassessed!"

"Yang Fan? The one Dongfang Hao mentioned? Didn't I already tell you to handle him? So much time has passed, haven't you done it yet?"

"It's not that I didn't want to, but I just haven't had the opportunity. In other words, I have no confidence!"

"What? No confidence? Ouyang Ye, is this your excuse?"

"That's right, perhaps you can think this is just an excuse, but if you knew everything he'd done in the base, you wouldn't think that way!"

"Oh? Is that so? In that case, I'm interested in finding out!"

"Upon arriving at the base, he single-handedly wiped out most of the Wild Wolf Squad. Shortly after arriving, he first fought the Black-Clad Enforcers, then decisively defeated Ba Liangfeng, whose strength was tripled, in Asura Mode. Not long ago, he successfully joined the Wild Wolf Squad. And just tonight, he first single-handedly defeated over a hundred elites from the base, then defeated Zuo Rufeng, and almost killed Tang Ningshuang..."

"What? Killed Tang Ningshuang?"

"That's right. If Tang Wan hadn't intervened, Tang Ningshuang might already be a corpse!"

"Rumor has it that Tang Ningshuang is a successor of the Moon Sound Sect, with unfathomable cultivation, and is even considered the most promising among the younger generation in the base to reach the Void Returning Realm. She was no match for Yang Fan? If Yang Fan is truly that powerful, then we really have to reassess him!"

“That’s true. Although I don’t know exactly what happened, Yang Fan almost killed Tang Ning Shuang. I was planning to find an opportunity to fight him, but now…”

Ouyang Ye stopped speaking here, and not only him, but the other end of the phone also fell silent. After a long while, the voice on the other end of the phone continued: “Since that’s the case, then don’t confront him yet. If he’s really that powerful, then I have to consider whether the Dongfang family or Yang Fan is more appealing to me!”

“Shh…”

Hanging up the phone, Ouyang Ye couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of relief. Unconsciously, he realized that he had developed an invincible mentality towards Yang Fan. It was precisely because of this that he felt a sense of relief when he heard the last voice on the phone!

"Forget it, let those schemers handle these things. Improving my strength is the most important thing!"

With a forceful shake of his head, Ouyang Ye cleared his mind of all distractions and plunged into the training room, beginning his frenzied training…

"Hah… Ha…"

"Hah… Ha…"

Yang Fan had just emerged from his room when he heard shouts coming from inside. He walked closer, listened intently, and heard the whooshing of fists; clearly, Ouyang Ye was still practicing.

He wanted to peek, but feared being misunderstood. Yang Fan shook his head and headed towards the private garden platform. His initial investigation hadn't revealed anything substantial; instead, it had increased his doubts and prevented him from focusing on his training. He had come out for a walk to calm himself, but unexpectedly, he overheard Ouyang Ye training with such intensity!

The bright moonlight streamed down from the sky, illuminating the flowers and plants in the garden. Standing on the garden platform, Yang Fan took a deep breath, gazing at the various precious flowers and plants before him. He found that, in this environment, his agitated emotions were actually calmed!

"Who cares what kind of person Tang Wan is, how strong she is, or what the dragon soul within her is? My current goal is to become stronger, stronger, and stronger still, then leave this place and return to Yanjing. As for other things, what do they matter to me? Cultivation is the most important thing!"

With this thought, Yang Fan didn't move, but simply stood there and began to cultivate...

The night passed in silence, and before he knew it, dawn had broken. After Yang Fan completed another cycle of his internal energy circulation, he was astonished to find that his true energy was now abundant in his dantian, and the small dantian had reached its limit.

The true qi in his dantian was a misty, almost tangible phenomenon. Within this misty qi, tiny bolts of lightning constantly moved, making the entire dantian resemble a sky filled with purple clouds.

"Could it be that breaking through from the Qi Movement Realm to the Returning to Emptiness Realm requires cultivating true qi to perfection and compressing it into a tangible form?"

Since breaking through to the second level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, Yang Fan's cultivation had already reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Movement, only a hair's breadth away from the Refining Spirit Realm. Yet, this hair's breadth was something he couldn't seem to cross.

Last night's battle with Tang Ningshuang had given him great inspiration. After a night of cultivation and reflection, Yang Fan found that his understanding of the Refining Spirit Realm seemed much clearer. He could even sense that the time for him to break through to the Qi Movement Realm was not far off!

Yang Fan wanted to try compressing his true qi, but he didn't know where to begin. After all, his martial arts experience and knowledge were still insufficient.

Just then, a voice broke Yang Fan's reverie.

"Yang Fan, you... you've been standing here all night?"

It was Ouyang Ye who spoke. He stood at the threshold of the private garden platform, looking at Yang Fan with slight surprise, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. Yang Fan

nodded slightly, offering a greeting, and said, "Didn't you also train in the training room all night?"

Ouyang Ye nodded slightly back, saying, "The path of martial arts is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. My recent cultivation has reached a crucial point, and it's not suitable for fighting. Otherwise, I really wanted to have a match with you!"

Yang Fan suddenly understood, but still smiled and said, "As long as you're not afraid to lose and have something to wager, I'm always welcome!"

Ouyang Ye gave Yang Fan a deep look, laughed heartily, and turned to leave.

Yang Fan could sense many things contained in that look. It contained his confidence in himself, his anticipation of a fight, and even a hint of... the hunter's delight at finding his prey?

All these complex elements intertwined, seemingly forming a reason: Ouyang Ye was extremely confident in his strength after his breakthrough!

Yang Fan shook his head, returned to his room, quickly washed up, ordered the carefully prepared breakfast from the suite, and ate heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself. Then he resumed practicing his martial arts to pass the time, waiting for Yang Ming's arrival.

Just after eight o'clock in the morning, a gentle yet polite knock came precisely at the door of Yang Fan's room.

"Perfect timing!"

After quickly straightening his clothes, Yang Fan got up and opened the door.

"Mr. Yang, hello!"

As soon as the door opened, the girl named Xue'er, who was with Yang Ming, appeared before Yang Fan. Today, she wore a fitted white cheongsam with simple floral patterns, and her beautiful hair was styled in a pretty bun. Her exquisite, curvaceous figure, accentuated by the cheongsam, was incredibly alluring, captivating anyone who looked at her.

Her attire was flawless, and combined with her appearance, it possessed an indescribable charm.

"Please, Mr. Yang!"

Xue'er couldn't help but feel a little displeased seeing Yang Fan so openly scrutinizing her.

"Ahem, won't you come in and sit down?"

Yang Fan coughed lightly, then looked away and said casually.

"No, Miss is already waiting!"

"Alright then, please lead the way, Miss Xue'er!"

Soon, the two arrived at the underground parking garage. After walking a few steps, Xue'er led Yang Fan to a silver extended limousine. Seeing this car, Yang Fan was slightly taken aback. This extended limousine was actually a new Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase!

Rolls-Royce is the sole symbol of elegance and nobility in the automotive world. No matter how old the Rolls-Royce model is, or how high the cost, it remains unchallenged!

The most unique aspect of Rolls-Royce lies in its extensive use of handcrafted labor. In Britain, where labor costs are extremely high, this inevitably leads to high production costs, which is one of the reasons for Rolls-Royce's astonishing price!

Chapter 339 [A Bet on a Kiss]

To this day, Rolls-Royce engines are still entirely handcrafted. Even more remarkably, the radiator grille of a Rolls-Royce is entirely handcrafted by skilled workers using only their hands and eyes, without any measuring tools. Each radiator requires a worker a full day to create, followed by five hours of finishing and polishing.

The new Rolls-Royce Phantom Extended Wheelbase is designed and manufactured to meet the requirements of customers in the Asia-Pacific region. The new Phantom offers more spacious rear seating while maintaining the classic Phantom design and superior driving experience. The new model is 250 mm longer than the standard Phantom, with the extension extending behind the B-pillar, further enhancing rear passenger space. This extra interior space perfectly embodies the "customer bespoke" characteristic. The

new Phantom's body features the largest aluminum spaceframe architecture to date, and creating "personalized cabins" to meet the needs and requirements of Rolls-Royce customers has always been a glorious mission for the century-old Rolls-Royce. The new Extended Wheelbase Phantom is entirely handcrafted, designed, engineered, and hand-built by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the same manner as the standard Phantom.

This extended Rolls-Royce was not only incredibly spacious inside, but it also had a refrigerator, a television, and even a bed for resting. What surprised Yang Fan wasn't the Rolls-Royce itself, but rather how Yang Ming had managed to acquire such a car in such a short time.

Seeing Xue'er personally open the car door for him, Yang Fan nodded and entered first. Xue'er followed. As soon as he entered, Yang Fan sensed something unusual; a captivating fragrance seemed to waft through the car, and for some reason, it stirred a restless feeling within him. Coupled with the car's ambiance, he immediately closed his eyes and began to circulate his inner energy to calm his mind.

Seeing Yang Fan's reaction, Xue'er smiled slightly. After following Yang Fan into the car, the driver started the engine and drove towards their destination.

Soon, they arrived. After getting out of the car, Yang Fan followed Xue'er, and the two quickly arrived at the place where he had been invited to the banquet.

Entering this hotel, Yang Fan realized what true waste meant. The hotel's decor was in no way inferior to his own accommodations, and perhaps even surpassed them!

Handcrafted genuine leather, natural wood trim, and high-strength metal were used everywhere. Oil paintings hung on the corridor walls, handcrafted pure cashmere carpets covered the floors, and the exquisite lighting fixtures all exuded understated luxury.

"How could it be her?"

The moment the door to the private room opened, a familiar figure appeared before Yang Fan. Even with Yang Fan's composure, he couldn't help but pause slightly upon seeing her. Besides Yang Ming, there was another person in the room, and Yang Fan recognized her!

Dressed in white, the person in the room seemed to stand in the void like a ghost. She gently swayed her long, flowing, jet-black hair, her face as white as jade, her eyebrows delicate and arched, her beautiful eyes sparkling. A pair of untouched, exquisite feet peeked out from under her skirt; even the most discerning person could not find a flaw. Bathed in soft lamplight, she was breathtakingly beautiful. A slightly wicked smile played on her lips; her white robes fluttered, her black hair flowed freely, and she possessed an allure that could rival any beauty!

This person was none other than Nalan Qingcheng, the stunning beauty known as the most beautiful woman in Yanjing, the one Yang Fan had once jilted!

The long table was already laden with gleaming silver plates, all the food covered. Clearly, the contents wouldn't be revealed until Yang Fan arrived. Seated at either end of the table, his gaze could freely sweep across the room, observing the scenery outside the window.

Beside him stood maids, each a delicate and charming seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in black dresses with white blouses and white ribbons in their hair, their beauty making them appear even more alluring. With a slight bow or squat, they could offer endless glimpses of spring.

However, at this moment, Yang Fan had no interest in admiring such beautiful scenery. At this moment, the only thought remaining in his mind was: "How could she be here? And why is Yang Ming with her?"

"Yang Fan, you've arrived!"

Seeing Yang Fan appear, Yang Ming, who was sitting at the table, stood up and nodded to him.

Hearing Yang Ming's voice, Yang Fan finally reacted. Today, Yang Ming was wearing a smooth white, form-fitting long dress, her hair slightly styled in a bun, exuding a sacred purity with a touch of elegant femininity.

His gaze shifted between the two women for a moment, and an idea instantly formed in Yang Fan's mind. Whatever kind of play Nalan Qingcheng and Yang Ming were putting on, as long as he didn't fall for it, that was fine.

With this thought, Yang Fan couldn't help but say, "Miss Yang Ming, thank you very much for your invitation. If there's anything you need, please tell me now, and I will do my best to meet your requirements!"

Meeting her gaze, Yang Fan spoke.

"Hehe, Yang Fan, you're joking. It's just a casual meal, what purpose could there be? You treated me to a delicious meal last night, so I'm just expressing my gratitude with this simple meal!"

"Yes! What purpose could there be? Yang Fan, we're friends after all. I'm only basking in your hospitality since Ming'er is treating you today. Come, please sit down!"

Nalan Qingcheng said to Yang Fan with a smile.

Nalan Qingcheng's smile was undeniably beautiful. Phrases like "A beauty in the north, peerless and independent," or "One glance could topple a city, a second glance could topple a kingdom," couldn't even begin to describe the beauty of her smile. However, Yang Fan didn't seem captivated at all. He simply nodded and casually found a seat.

After Yang Fan sat down, Nalan Qingcheng also sat down. Yang Ming, on the other hand, perhaps intentionally, deliberately chose a seat directly opposite Yang Fan. The dining table was long and narrow, about half a person's height. The space beneath it, covered by a striped tablecloth, was just enough to comfortably accommodate the guests' legs, though it was a little inconvenient to pull it back once placed inside.

Once everyone was seated, the maids automatically began serving the dishes. The table was laden with many things Yang Fan had never seen before, instantly whetting his appetite. The state guesthouse's cuisine was already quite extensive, broadening Yang Fan's horizons considerably, but compared to this meal, it was like a drop in the ocean.

Camel hump, orangutan nose, fish lips, geoduck… so many things; if it weren't for the beautiful maid's explanations, Yang Fan wouldn't have recognized a thing.

One bite, and the rich flavors, the distinct textures, the exquisite tastes blooming on his taste buds, left him no time to think of anything else, focusing solely on this rare feast.

Yang Fan focused on eating without saying a word. Nalan Qingcheng, sitting beside him, showed no annoyance, simply resting her chin on her hand and eating casually, her clear eyes merely smiling as she watched Yang Fan, lost in thought.

Yang Ming, on the other hand, had been sitting opposite Yang Fan since he entered, silent and still, her eyes occasionally darting around, her mind elsewhere. Seeing Yang Fan wolfing down his food, she finally seemed unable to resist.

"Yang Fan, are you full? If you are, let's go play pool!"

"Pool? I'm not very good..."

Yang Fan put down his utensils, rubbing his nose slightly.

"It's okay, I'm not very good either, we can practice together! Besides, Sister Nalan is a pool expert, you have three days off anyway, why not play with us?"

"Since there are beautiful women to keep me company, wouldn't it be a shame to refuse?"

Yang Fan couldn't help but laugh.

The hotel where the group ate was spacious, with ample entertainment facilities. Besides a billiards room, a card room, and a yoga room, there was even an indoor golf course. With so many amenities, one could imagine how expensive it must have been.

The more luxury he saw, the more puzzled Yang Fan became: why did so many scions of wealthy families choose to flock to the military to suffer, instead of enjoying their privileges? Was there some secret he didn't know about?

Yang Fan had reason to believe that the reason so many scions of wealthy families went to various military units was definitely not simply to "gild their resumes."

Arriving at the billiards room, without so many maids, Yang Ming seemed much more relaxed, her small face constantly beaming with a smile.

"Come on, let's play a game. Sister Nalan will be the referee. Do you prefer snooker or nine-ball?"

"Whatever. Which is easier?"

"Let's play nine-ball! But… we can't just play; we need some stakes!"

"What are we betting on?"

"We'll bet… a kiss!" "If you lose, you have to kiss me; if I lose, I'll kiss you!"

"..."

Yang Fan nearly jumped out of his skin in fright upon hearing Yang Ming's words. A kiss bet? What kind of talk was that! Xiao Xue, standing nearby, was equally terrified!

"Miss, you can't! You can't do that! If Master finds out, you'll be grounded, and I'll be in big trouble too!"

Xiao Xue desperately pleaded with Yang Ming: "If you don't believe me, you can ask Miss Nalan. Master will definitely do it!"

Yang Ming's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, "We're already part of the base, my dad shouldn't be able to control us, right?"

Xiao Xue smiled bitterly, saying, "That's because Master doesn't want to. If you really anger him..."

Xiao Xue didn't finish her sentence, but Yang Ming understood her meaning. Thinking of his father's immense power, Yang Ming felt somewhat discouraged, but then his eyes lit up with another idea.

"But I already told Yang Fan I'd bet a kiss! If I go back on my word, wouldn't I lose face?" " Do you have any good ideas that can prevent my dad from punishing you and me, while also saving my face?"

Xiaoxue thought for a long time, but finally shook her head with a bitter face, saying she couldn't think of anything.

"It's okay if you can't think of anything, I do have an idea. But let me make this clear first, this is the last resort. If you don't agree, then I'll have to do it myself!"

A mischievous smile flashed across Yang Ming's lips, but he put on a serious expression.

Xiaoxue vaguely felt something was wrong, but she didn't know what it was: "Miss...you won't hurt me, will you?"

Yang Ming pretended to be unhappy and put on a stern face, saying: "What are you saying? What do you mean by hurting you? If you care about yourself, then don't worry about me, just let me stay with Yang Fan by myself!"

Hearing this, Xiaoxue didn't dare to say anything more, and could only secretly pray that Yang Ming wouldn't come up with any strange ideas.

"Then...okay..."

Yang Ming saw that he had persuaded Xiaoxue, and then revealed his idea: "Since you agree, then I'll tell you." "Let's change the bet. If Yang Fan wins, he'll kiss you. If he loses, you'll kiss him. You'd better pray I win, then you'll have the upper hand. You can just give him a light kiss, or you can have a deep French kiss, I don't mind..."

Seeing that the two had been discussing this for so long, while treating him like he was invisible and leaving him hanging, Yang Fan couldn't help but say, "Hey, you two. I'm one of the parties involved, you should at least ask for my opinion, right? I haven't even agreed yet!"

Yang Ming immediately turned around, smiling at him, and said, "So, Yang Fan, are you agreeing or refusing?" Yang

Fan swallowed hard, glancing at Xiaoxue. When she saw him looking at her, she flinched like a startled rabbit, her eyes darting away in alarm. Her fair, delicate face flushed crimson, making her incredibly shy and adorable.

Today, Xiaoxue was dressed very similarly to Yang Ming, also in a white dress, though with subtle differences. Standing next to Yang Ming, her face bore an eight-tenths resemblance to his. At first glance, it was truly difficult to distinguish between them.

However, upon closer inspection, the two were fundamentally different.

Whether Yang Ming was confused, Whether obedient, cunning, or reckless, whatever face she uses, that dreamlike aura can easily influence others, making them afraid to even raise their voices, as if a slightly louder voice would cause her to vanish like a bubble.

Looking at Xiaoxue, as Yang Ming's shadow, she constantly exudes an aura of obedience. That accustomed submissiveness, combined with the traditional nature of imperial women, instantly creates a captivating, gentle feminine fragrance, so alluring to the senses that one desires to possess her exclusively, to be her only solace.

"Of course I agree, but… I'm curious, what will happen if I refuse?" "

Swallowed hard, Yang Fan chuckled.

Chapter 340 [The Woman in My First Kiss]

Faced with such a charming woman, and with an opportunity to kiss her so openly, only a fool would refuse. Even if Yang Fan's mind was preoccupied with cultivation, he had no reason to refuse such a temptation.

Yang Ming smiled slightly, glanced out the window, and said, "If you refuse, I'll think you're disrespecting me. I don't mind trying something new."

Yang Fan swallowed slightly, but didn't ask what new things she would suggest. This little girl's thoughts were impossible to grasp; who knew what she would come up with? Looking at Nalan Qingcheng, who had remained silent, Yang Fan ultimately didn't reveal his true thoughts.

"Haha, just kidding, how could I refuse such a good opportunity! Come on, who wants to start?"

Yang Ming chuckled secretly and said casually, "Since you said you're not very good at playing, you go first." "Let's get this straight, best two out of three, no cheating if you lose. You'd better seize this opportunity, such a good chance doesn't come around often!"

Yang Fan didn't refuse, picked up his cue, glanced at it briefly, and casually made a shot. The white ball went out, first potting the number one ball, which suddenly stopped. Then the nine balls collided wildly, the number one ball went into the bottom pocket, then the number two ball into the middle pocket, and then the number three, four, all the way up to the number nine, all went into the pocket in turn.

Yang Ming and Xiao Xue both stared wide-eyed at Yang Fan, slightly dazed, not knowing what to say for a moment.

"You, Yang Fan! You...you even lied to me! You said you weren't good at it, that you could easily pocket them all in one shot, you...you're driving me crazy! No way, this time it's my turn to break!" Faced with Yang

Ming's accusations, Yang Fan could only scratch his head. He really wasn't very good at playing pool. This time, his perfect shot was partly due to luck, and partly because he was intentionally testing the use of his inner energy. But the effect was completely unexpected.

"I didn't mean to..."

"Hmph, explanations are useless! Explanations are just cover-ups, and cover-ups are the truth! Prepare to die!"

Yang Ming picked up his cue and smashed the set-up balls away, easily breaking them all up and pocketing the number one ball. Then, without any suspense, he pocketed the other eight balls as well, successfully tying the score at 1-1.

"Hey, don't say I'm bullying you. In the last game, I won't take advantage of you either. Let's fight for the right of the ball. Whoever wins breaks, how about it?"

Yang Fan nodded indifferently, "Okay, we'll do it your way."

The outcome of the battle for possession brought a slight sigh of relief to Xiao Xue, who had been tense the whole time. Yang Ming successfully gained possession, and with her billiards skills, this game was

practically a sure thing. After her break, Yang Ming played steadily, cautiously potting eight balls in a row. Only when the last ball remained did she look up slightly, smiling at Xiao Xue, and say, "Xiao Xue, you'd better be ready! If I hole this one, you'll have to give up your first kiss! Remember that feeling! Tell me all about it later, what does your first kiss taste like!" As

soon as she finished speaking, Yang Ming took a shot, and with a "snap," the nine ball missed!

Not only did it miss, but it also left Yang Fan with an excellent opportunity to pot the ball. Yang Fan, looking at this sudden turn of events, was somewhat amused and exasperated.

What was going on? He had already prepared to give up the game, waiting for his beauty to take the initiative to kiss him. Although… even he himself had almost forgotten who stole his first kiss, such good things are never too much!

But the final result was completely unexpected!

“Miss!”

Xiaoxue bit her delicate red lips slightly, glaring at Yang Ming with a mixture of grievance and embarrassment.

She didn't utter a single word of complaint, but just the word “Miss” made Yang Ming tremble slightly. He could only awkwardly look at Xiaoxue and force a dry laugh: “This… mistake! Mistake! You have to believe me, I didn't mean to! Hey! What kind of look is that? You can't look at me like that! Hey! If you keep looking at me like that, I'm leaving! If you get eaten by that big pervert, it's not my fault!”

Yang Fan rubbed his nose slightly, looked around, and realized that besides them, there was no one else in the entire billiard room. Clearly, the “big pervert” Yang Ming was referring to was him!

"The match isn't even over yet, and you're already discussing this? Isn't it a bit premature? What if my hand slips..."

Yang Fan hadn't finished speaking when Yang Ming laughed, "You missed such an easy shot? Then I can only assume you're deliberately letting me have a chance, to give Xiaoxue a chance to kiss you!"

"Miss!"

Xiaoxue didn't know how many times she'd called Yang Ming like that, each time more shy than the last, until this time, she was so shy she couldn't even lift her head.

Yang Fan felt slightly embarrassed; if he missed this shot, it really would cause misunderstandings. Since that was the case, he had no choice but to reluctantly pot it!

"Bang!"

A very steady shot, and the nine ball went into the middle pocket. The third frame ended in such a dramatic turn of events!

"Alright, a bet's a bet! Yang Fan, you come and kiss me!"

Yang Fan felt somewhat uncomfortable with Yang Ming's bold declaration. It was clearly a kiss, but why did it sound like... something else?

Although he had some thoughts in his mind, Yang Fan wasn't the kind of man who liked to hesitate. He walked over to Xiao Xue in a few steps and hugged her tightly.

"Hey! Yang Fan, we agreed it was just a kiss, not a hug!"

Yang Fan had just felt the warmth in his arms and hadn't even had time to savor the touch, whether it was smoother or fuller, when Yang Ming's words made him release her.

"How can you kiss without hugging?"

Yang Ming teased Yang Fan, "How should I know? I've never kissed before. Anyway, no hugging, that's all. The rest is up to you!"

"Just no hugging?"

Yang Fan wasn't very experienced, but he wasn't inexperienced either. He theoretically knew how to do things like the "Eighteen Flips of Bed" and the "Thirty-Six Techniques of Dong Xuan Zi. "

When he looked at Xiao Xue again, Yang Fan's movements slowed down considerably. He had originally planned to finish quickly, get his spoils as soon as possible, and then leave. Yang Ming's interference and Xiao Xue's shy reaction added a touch of ambiguity to what was originally a teasing bet.

When Yang Fan gently touched Xiao Xue's pink lips, he clearly felt her lips tremble slightly, then freeze as if instantly immobilized.

Xiao Xue's stiffness confirmed Yang Fan's theory. At such close range, he could even see her tightly closed eyes, her slightly blinking eyelashes, and even the tiny twitch of her nose.

This is... a woman!

A woman in her first kiss is so beautiful!

It's not about appearance, but purely a projection of the soul. Yang Fan couldn't bear to end it like this, ruining this captivating beauty. So he simply extended his tongue slightly, exploring Xiao Xue's territory, stirring her heart little by little.

Yang Ming initially watched the two kiss with nothing more than amusement. But as the two men's actions gradually became more excessive, and the atmosphere heated up, she suddenly felt that the game was starting to turn dangerous!

"Stop!"

Yang Ming shouted almost without thinking, startling the two who were almost lost in the kiss.

"Alright, you've taken your bet. There's nothing else to do now. You can go back now!"

Yang Ming didn't notice the sour undertone in her somewhat abrupt words.

Of the two who were startled awake, Yang Fan reacted better, taking a small step back. Although he was somewhat unsatisfied, he already felt quite content.

On the other hand, Xiao Xue actually felt a slightly intoxicating taste from the passive kiss, which made her extremely angry after waking up. She was angry at herself, angry at herself for being so weak, that even a kiss like this could make her so intoxicated!

Yang Fan didn't care at all about Yang Ming's somewhat abrupt dismissal. The two weren't very close to begin with, and this trip not only resulted in a free meal but also unexpectedly earned her two sweet kisses.

From any perspective, it was a win-win situation. Even if Yang Ming's attitude were worse, Yang Fan wouldn't find it unacceptable.

"Ugh!"

Xiao Xue, being shy, couldn't bear the awkward atmosphere and ran out with a yelp. Yang Fan glanced at Yang Ming and followed him out.

"You lecherous devil! He actually dared to kiss me! I'm so angry!"

Seeing Yang Fan and Xiao Xue leave one after the other, Yang Ming stomped his feet in anger.

Nalan Qingcheng, who had been silent all along, laughed and said, "I told you long ago, Yang Fan isn't an ordinary person. Trying to test him this way won't work at all, but you didn't believe me. Now you've suffered the consequences, haven't you? If Xiao Xue hadn't taken the fall for you, you would be the one running away now!"

"Sister Nalan, didn't Yang Fan divorce you? Why are you still speaking up for him!"

Yang Ming said, dissatisfied.

"Little girl, what do you mean by 'divorced'? It's annulment of the engagement, okay? Why are you making it sound so awful!"

Hearing Yang Ming's words, Nalan Qingcheng wasn't angry; instead, her beautiful face flushed.

"Isn't it the same? It's just that one is divorcing his wife, and the other is divorcing his fiancée. Sister Nalan, I just don't understand. Even I can't swallow this, so why don't you have any reaction at all? If I could beat him, I would have half-dead him back in Yanjing!"

Yang Ming paced back and forth in the room, muttering to himself, "If you don't react, fine, but you actually went and threw yourself at him, and even pulled all these stunts. Now, you've even followed him to the base. I just don't understand. With your status as the most beautiful woman in Yanjing, Sister Nalan, the young noblemen who pursue you could circle the earth if they lined up. Why are you fixated on Yang Fan?"

"Hehe, so what kind of reaction do you think I should have? Mobilize all forces to half-dead him? Or should I want to devour him alive? Xiao Ming, you know I've always been against this marriage. It's not a bad thing that he took the initiative to annul the engagement, is it? It's much better than me going to his door to cancel the engagement, right? If that were the case, do you think the Nalan family would still have any peace with Yang Fan's extreme personality?"

"That's true. That guy is really annoying, but his strength is truly remarkable. Even Tang Ningshuang wasn't his match. He seems to be shrouded in endless mysteries, impossible to understand no matter how you look at him. Just when you think you understand him completely, you always find that what you know is merely the tip of the iceberg! Just when you think you understand him completely, he always makes you feel even more unfamiliar with him! What 'King of Assassins'? Thinking about it now, that's just child's play. I even idolized him..."

Glancing discreetly at the silent Nalan Qingcheng beside him, Yang Ming seemed to understand why Nalan Qingcheng, after being jilted by Yang Fan, not only wasn't angry but even took the initiative to pursue him. Such a man indeed possessed many things that made people want to understand and figure out. Besides, even if it were him being jilted, he would probably want to find out what was going on...

When Yang Fan returned to the living room, he found that Xiao Xue was nowhere to be seen. With a faint smile, Yang Fan didn't wait to greet Nalan Qingcheng and the others before leaving the room and returning to the Dynasty Hotel.

What was supposed to be a dull holiday turned out to be quite colorful. Yang Fan felt much more relaxed and knew he should focus on his cultivation from now on; his rest time was over!

For the next two days, Yang Fan and Ouyang Ye cultivated with all their might, almost like a competition. When the helicopter to take them back arrived, Gu Feifei, who had boarded with them, couldn't help but be surprised to see them.

She had originally planned to go with Yang Fan, but plans had changed; family matters had forced her to leave temporarily, and she had only returned to the hotel today.

However, upon meeting them, she sensed that both Yang Fan and Ouyang Ye seemed to have changed. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she simply greeted them and boarded the plane, heading towards the base.

Yang Fan remained oblivious to this. Spurred on by Ouyang Ye, he had been cultivating very diligently these past few days. Moreover, he had gradually come to enjoy this feeling. The feeling of constantly cultivating, with inner strength improving every moment, was truly captivating!

Yang Fan, whose dantian could hold the maximum amount of mist-like true energy and hadn't yet found a way to compress it, devised a relatively clever idea.

He channeled all the inner energy in his dantian into his acupoints, only to find that even that wasn't enough to fill just one acupoint.

His two days of frantic walking cultivation had barely filled two acupoints. The price was that his dantian was once again empty, almost devoid of any true energy!

However, the benefits were also quite obvious. Yang Fan clearly felt that he could walk much farther without much effort. Although he was still far from the mythical cultivators' ability to shrink the earth to an inch, he had already grasped that concept!

Chapter 341 [Guardian of Flowers]

In addition, another benefit was that, supported by the abundant mist-like true energy, the energy required to unleash a powerful killing move was rapidly reduced to one-fifth of what it used to be.

If Yang Fan were to face Zuo Rulong again now, he would be absolutely confident of ending the fight within two seconds!

Ouyang Ye had also witnessed Yang Fan's rapid progress. This put considerable pressure on him. When he first met Yang Fan, Ouyang Ye felt that while Yang Fan was good, he wasn't necessarily his match.

But soon, Yang Fan's various performances piqued Ouyang Ye's interest, making him feel that Yang Fan was almost ready to fight him.

Even so, at that time, Ouyang Ye still didn't believe Yang Fan posed a threat. Even after seeing Yang Fan's performance on the training day, Ouyang Ye still held this confidence.

However, in the past few days, Yang Fan's victories over hundreds of allies, his injury to Tang Ning Shuang, his effort that rivaled Ouyang Ye's, his rapid progress, and his ever-changing aura were like heavy hammer blows, relentlessly pounding on Ouyang Ye's heart, causing his confidence to gradually wither.

"Perhaps it's time to fight him! If it drags on too long, I'm afraid... I'll lose my confidence!"

This thought disrupted Ouyang Ye's usually calm mind, making it impossible for him to maintain his cultivation state. He simply opened his eyes slightly and silently looked at Yang Fan.

"Since you've become my inner demon, then let me personally crush you!"

Ouyang Ye clenched his fists tightly, making up his mind.

Unaware of this, Yang Fan continued his cultivation peacefully. He didn't notice anything unusual about Gu Feifei and Ouyang Ye until the plane landed at the base.

Back at the base, he naturally threw himself into intense training again. After saying goodbye to Gu Feifei, Yang Fan had just returned to his residence. Before he could even enter, he saw Lin Feng rushing over.

"Brother-in-law, you're finally back! Do you know how long I've been waiting these past few days!"

Lin Feng shouted to Yang Fan from afar.

"Brother Lin, what happened?"

Seeing Lin Feng's anxious appearance, Yang Fan couldn't help but ask.

"Big news, big news! Did you know? An emergency mission has been issued at the base, and it was issued two days ago. You weren't here, so tell me, am I worried?"

"An emergency mission?"

Hearing Lin Feng's words, Yang Fan was slightly taken aback. He naturally knew what an emergency mission was. Generally speaking, an emergency mission is a super high-reward mission with no mission conditions, open to any member, and only occurring once a year.

These emergency missions vary in difficulty. If you're lucky, the entire mission is like a trip, and you can return with a huge reward. But if you're unlucky, it's a near-death experience, and quite a few base members have been injured in emergency missions every year.

For such large-scale missions, there are no fixed rules; as long as you complete the mission, you can do whatever you want. Moreover, the person with the best performance in an emergency mission has the opportunity to enter the Martial God Hall, the deepest part of the base, for further training. In the base, such events are even more important than the New Year.

No wonder Lin Feng reacted this way. What surprised Yang Fan was that the base's emergency missions were usually concentrated at the end of the year, but this one started so soon after the new recruits reported for duty, which seemed rather rushed in terms of both time and other aspects!

However, Yang Fan was more concerned about the content of this emergency mission. Therefore, after being slightly surprised, he asked Lin Feng, "By the way, Brother Lin, what is the content of this emergency mission?"

"It's like this, I heard that a team of archaeologists was excavating in the Tibetan region when they suddenly discovered a tomb that appeared to be from the pre-Qin period in the desert near Urumqi. But during the archaeologists' investigation, they all disappeared. The government sent a lot of people to rescue them, but they also never returned. That's why the government requested support from the base. And the base just happened to be preparing for a trial, so all of this just made sense!"

"A tomb from the pre-Qin period? Archaeologists? Urumqi?"

After hearing Lin Feng's explanation, Yang Fan gained a general understanding of the entire incident. He didn't know much about ancient tombs, but he knew they were often filled with countless traps and mechanisms. Furthermore, due to their long burial underground, the concentrated yin energy often created things incomprehensible to ordinary people. Archaeologists frequently encountered such situations during their work, but rarely did an entire team disappear like this.

This mission focused on finding the archaeologists and rescue personnel. Finding even one archaeologist would earn 100 contribution points. This mission relied entirely on luck; therefore, there were no level restrictions. Both new and veteran members could sign up—it was an unlimited mission! Taking

on this mission was like hitting the jackpot. With good luck, finding several archaeologists could not only earn hundreds of contribution points but also potentially lead to entry into the Martial God Temple. How could such a good opportunity fail to attract applicants?

He then listened to the number of people who had signed up, as mentioned by Lin Feng. Yang Fan was slightly surprised. The mission had only been posted for a short time, yet the number of people claiming it had already exceeded one hundred—and this was just the number from their base!

The entire archaeological team consisted of only a dozen or so people, plus rescue personnel, making a maximum of a few dozen. Divided among them, there wasn't even enough for one person to claim the mission; it was truly a case of too many wolves and too little meat!

Lin Feng, panting heavily, was nearby. Yang Fan glanced at him and noticed he seemed quite interested in the mission. His hesitation likely stemmed from a fear of bad luck; if he encountered danger, he'd most likely die!

This was understandable; the national intelligence agency only provided this information, focusing on the interior of the tomb, but offering no real news. But thinking about it, it made sense. If they knew the internal situation, why would they need to call for help from the base?

Of course, after accepting the mission, the base members weren't blindly searching. After all, the tomb's location was fixed. It was just that what was inside was unclear!

Seeing Lin Feng still struggling, Yang Fan gently patted his shoulder and said, "Brother Lin, the path of martial arts is like rowing against the current. You can only advance bravely and diligently, or you'll die. If you retreat even one step, your mind will be vulnerable, and you'll only be able to retreat step by step. Overcoming that mental barrier will require ten or even a hundred times the effort!"

These were words his master had once told Yang Fan. He hadn't understood them before, until his battle with Tang Ningshuang, when he was almost forced to admit defeat, and only then did he begin to grasp their meaning. Seeing Lin Feng's current state, his mind cleared instantly, and his resolute heart became even more unwavering!

Hearing Yang Fan's words, Lin Feng's body trembled slightly. He turned and nodded heavily to Yang Fan, saying, "Brother-in-law, I understand. I will try my best!"

"By the way, Brother Lin, where do we pick up missions? Let's go pick one up too!"

"Follow me!"

Lin Feng was already somewhat tempted by Yang Fan's words, and hearing Yang Fan's question, he immediately made up his mind.

Lin Feng, being an experienced navigator, quickly arrived at the mission distribution point. Along the way, he had been observing Yang Fan's reaction. To his surprise, despite deliberately not telling Yang Fan that missions were distributed at the recruit registration area, Yang Fan showed no surprise whatsoever.

"Brother-in-law, aren't you surprised at all? This is the recruit registration area!"

Yang Fan smiled slightly, saying, "What's surprising? Recruit registration only happens once every ten years. This place can't be abandoned the rest of the time, can it? And look at that big screen in the middle; it's obviously expensive. It would be such a waste to just leave it unused."

Lin Feng thought about it carefully and realized it was indeed true, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Yang Fan didn't dwell on the issue, because the two noticed that the recruit registration area was already packed with two long lines of people, all undoubtedly there to receive their missions. Therefore, they stopped talking and joined the long queue to collect their missions!

"Yang Fan, you signed up too?"

Having finally received their mission, Yang Fan and his companion were about to head back to their lodgings to prepare for their departure when a familiar voice suddenly came from behind them. Turning around, they saw Su Xin, dressed in white, standing before them. Beside her, of course, was the little girl Xiao Rou.

"Yeah, what, you didn't come here for a mission too, did you?"

Yang Fan wasn't just asking casually. Given Su Xin's status at the base, even if she didn't do any missions, she wouldn't be shortchanged. She charged for treating patients!

At the base, they faced intense training every day, and injuries were inevitable. Moreover, the base didn't discriminate against fighting, so many people needed medical treatment daily.

Su Xin's medical skills were superb, and she was also beautiful. Even those with minor injuries would endure the pressure of high contribution points to seek her treatment. Over time, she accumulated a wealth of contribution points, so why would she lack them?

Therefore, in Yang Fan's opinion, Su Xin had absolutely no need to participate in any emergency missions. Moreover, such missions were simply unsuitable for a girl like her. After all, the things found in ancient tombs were unlikely to be things that girls like her would like.

"Of course, didn't you come to get a mission too? Don't tell me you're here to earn contribution points too! I know some people never lack contribution points!"

Su Xin said playfully.

Hearing Su Xin's words, Yang Fan couldn't help but smile awkwardly. He was now considered a celebrity in the base, though most of his fame came from his strength, but he also earned a lot of contribution points in every battle. It's worth noting that there weren't many people in the base who earned contribution points like him.

Before Yang Fan could speak, Su Xin continued, "As the saying goes, 'Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.' Staying at home all day is useless. I want to take this opportunity to broaden my horizons. Besides, this mission allows us to leave the island. You've been here for so long, don't you want to go out and explore?"

"..."

Hearing this, Yang Fan was speechless, but thinking about it, it really was a reason. Anyway, there was no punishment for failing this mission. Perhaps some of the people who accepted the mission had the same idea!

"Yang Fan, I don't have any teammates yet, how about we come with you? With a master like you protecting me, I'll feel much safer going out!"

"So I've become a protector of flowers!"

Yang Fan joked self-deprecatingly.

"What? You don't want to? Hmph, fine, go ahead and join the crowd of people who want to be my protector!"

"No! No! Of course! I'd be happy to be your protector, how could I not want to? Besides, your medical skills are so excellent, with you by my side, our safety will be guaranteed!"

"Hmph, you're smart. It's settled then, meet at the base gate at eight o'clock tomorrow morning. If you dare to run away alone, unless you never come back to the base again, you'll be sorry! Okay, I have something to do, I'm leaving now, remember, it's eight o'clock!"

After saying that, Su Xin didn't wait for Yang Fan to speak, and turned to leave with Xiao Rou.

Seeing Su Xin acting like a child, Yang Fan couldn't help but shake his head slightly. This woman in front of him seemed significantly different from the female doctor he had first met. Thinking about how she had rejected him back then... Yang Fan really found it hard to imagine.

Unbeknownst to him, Su Xin studied his "artistic photos" almost daily. After such a long period of study, her opinion of him naturally changed. Coupled with Tang Wan's influence, her change wasn't so difficult to explain!

"Brother Yang, you're here to register too?"

Just as Yang Fan finished speaking with Su Xin and was about to leave, another familiar voice rang out!

"Feifei? You're not telling me you're here to register too, are you?"

Looking at Gu Feifei standing before him, and then at the documents in her hand, Yang Fan felt a headache coming on.

"Yeah, what's up? I just registered. I was just about to go find you, Brother Yang, to go with you, but I didn't expect you to show up. By the way, I think I just saw Dr. Su Xin. Did she register too?"

"Congratulations, you guessed right!"

Yang Fan rolled his eyes. How could Gu Feifei's little tricks fool him? From her eyes, he could tell at a glance that she had seen him with Su Xin. Wasn't she just saying this because she wanted to go with him?

Yang Fan truly hadn't expected that before the mission even began, he'd already started forming a team. And all the team members were beautiful women, while he? He'd somehow become their protector?

Chapter 342 [Dust-Avoiding Pearl]

Xiping Village is a small village on the border of Urumqi, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing Shamo on the other. Aside from a provincial highway, there's no other way to connect it to the surrounding wealthy towns.

Located on the border and facing the desert, the entire village isn't wealthy; in fact, it seems somewhat backward. The entire village's livelihood depends entirely on raising camels. Most tourists visiting Shamo rent camels here. The entire village's livelihood rests on this.

A few years ago, a road was built in Frog Cry Village, less than ten kilometers away from Xiping Village. Xiping Village originally had a chance to seize this opportunity and change its backwardness.

Who knew that the road was later rerouted, and even Frog Cry Village wasn't included in the road's construction—what chance did Xiping Village have? Thus, Pingxi Village could only continue its old practice of raising camels for a living. The village's population had dwindled from around 600 households at its peak to just over 200 people now, clinging to this land and living a meager existence, barely surviving.

However, business had recently become exceptionally good in Pingxi Village, where camels were rented out only a few times a month before!

About two weeks ago, people started renting camels every few days, offering exorbitant prices—often two or three times the usual rate—and some even bought them outright. Some villagers were also hired as guides at high prices.

This was like a windfall for Pingxi Village. As a result, almost every household sold their camels, and everyone in the village, except for the elderly, weak, and disabled, ventured into the desert.

And in the last few days, the number of people renting camels had suddenly increased. Their sheer number meant that within just a few days, all the camels in Xiping Village were either rented or bought, filling the entire village.

Those who came later, unable to find a suitable replacement, would ask the villagers to find ways to buy or borrow them at exorbitant prices. The shorter the rental period, the higher the price. Old Gu Guai, a villager in his sixties, was still in good spirits and had a robust physique.

These days, thanks to the camels he had raised for many years, he had indeed earned a considerable amount of money. After carefully storing his earnings, Old Guai leisurely sipped his wine with a dish of broad beans, a dish of peanuts, and a dish of scrambled eggs.

Outside, the sky had already darkened, and the salty sea breeze made the thinly dressed villagers instinctively tighten their clothes.

"Ah!" Before Old Guai could even swallow his sip of wine, he heard a piercing scream. His body trembled involuntarily, and he almost dropped his wine cup.

Over the past few days, he had come to know that those who rented camels were not ordinary people. Old Guai knew those people were generous, but also extremely ruthless. They never treated ordinary people like him as human beings; if anyone was watching, they would kill them. In their eyes, people like him were nothing more than ants.

Without thinking, Old Guai immediately rushed to the door, barricading it shut and locking all the windows. Even then, he still felt unsafe, so he turned off all the lights in the house. Only then, alone and apprehensive, did he pick up the bottle of wine, sit on the edge of the bed, and take a sip, then another, to bolster his courage.

Old Guai's house was built on a slope at the east end of the village, not far from the desert. From his house, he could clearly see everything happening in the desert.

After a scream, there was no other sound. Old Guai had already drunk most of the bottle of wine, far exceeding his usual capacity. Emboldened by the alcohol, Old Guai leaned against the window, trembling, and glanced into the desert through the thick glass, but saw nothing.

Old Guai shook his head, almost thinking he'd imagined the sound he'd just heard. But something felt off, something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

He moved to the edge of the bed, but before he could even settle in, a muffled thud came from outside. Startled, Old Guai jumped up.

At his age, living in such fear, he couldn't help but regret leaving Xiping Village so early, greedily accepting the hefty rewards from the camel rentals to the martial artists.

In Xiping Village, a poor little place, he only had a small mud house of about ten square meters. But in He'an County, the closest county to Urumqi, he owned a three-story villa with four storefronts. His son, grandson, and the whole family lived in the county town. Only he remained, stubbornly clinging to his old trade in this small village!

This year's harvest was exceptionally bountiful, and Old Guai had already decided to pull off one last job. Li Hai moved to the county town, never wanting to live such a nerve-wracking life again. Who would have thought such a thing would happen tonight?

That scream, so eerie, hinted at something unusual. Old Gu Guai wondered if they should flee that very night.

When Yang Fan and his group arrived at Xiping Village, it was already night. They knocked on several doors, but no one answered. Knowing they had no hope of finding lodging, they simply found a sheltered spot to spend the night.

No one knew the desert better than him, having grown up there, so Yang Fan wasn't worried about any problems getting to the island. He even wondered if he should go back to see his master during a break from his mission.

This small village was practically the only way into Shamoli. Therefore, not only Yang Fan, but anyone wanting to enter the desert had to pass through here. So, for Yang Fan, searching for the lost archaeologists, this was undoubtedly the starting point!

Standing outside the village, Yang Fan looked down at the desert from a high vantage point and quickly sensed something amiss.

As night fell, Xiping Village and the side facing the desert became almost two completely different worlds. One side was no different from an ordinary village, while the other was a ghost town shrouded in thick sand and fog. Such an eerie scene explained why no one dared to enter the desert at night.

Perhaps some skeptics had tried, but the lessons learned were: it's best not to go in at night unless you are a martial artist who has surpassed the Refining Spirit Realm!

When they heard that piercing scream, Yang Fan and his group had just found a good sheltered spot and were sitting cross-legged, circulating their energy. Startled by the scream, Yang Fan frowned slightly and looked in the direction from which it came.

The scream was coming from the desert. The voice was powerful, clearly not that of an ordinary person.

Upon arriving at Xiping Village, Yang Fan deliberately circled the entire village, but found not a single villager willing to offer him lodging, nor a single martial artist or camel. He knocked on the doors of houses with lights on, but the lights were immediately turned off; there was no one to answer, let alone offer lodging.

This strange scene revealed one thing: everyone who came to Xiping Village had already entered the Desert, which explained why there were no other martial artists in Xiping Village besides Yang Fan and his group.

This made the scream all the more eerie. After thinking for a moment, Yang Fan got up and prepared to go and investigate. When

Yang Fan and his group reached the edge of the desert, they happened to see an old man hurriedly walking out of the village. They hadn't paid much attention at first, but then it occurred to them that something was wrong. All the ordinary people in the entire village kept their doors tightly shut, locking themselves away and refusing contact with any outsiders. Why was this old man, with his weak lower body and obvious ordinary appearance, running out of the village at night?

Upon realizing this, Yang Fan immediately called out, "Wait a minute, old man, can I ask you something?"

His question only made things worse; the old man, who had been hurrying past, froze and immediately took off running.

Yang Fan, even more puzzled, darted forward and blocked the old man's path. "Old man, you haven't done anything wrong, why are you running away when you see me?"

Seeing Yang Fan's elusive movements, the old man's face paled. He immediately realized he had encountered someone like those who rented camels. His legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground with a thud.

"Take it! I know this is what you want!"

The old man pulled an old map from his pocket and tossed it towards Yang Fan. Yang Fan only glanced at it, and before he could reach for it, he heard a "whoosh" as a small pebble knocked the map aside. A dark figure flashed past like a gust of wind, snatching the map from his hand.

The shadowy figure coldly glanced at Yang Fan and the old man, and said sinisterly, "Old man! I knew you got the item, yet you lied to me and said you knew nothing! Since the map is with you, the other item must also be in your hands. Hand it over now!"

Old Gu Guai's face paled again, becoming even more ashen than a corpse. He tossed the map to Yang Fan, intending to keep the other item in his arms. Unexpectedly, the black-clad man he had tricked reappeared, snatching the map and exposing his deception.

Remembering the other person lying outside his house, Old Guai's face flushed, and a surge of courage welled up within him. He roared at the shadowy figure, "Take the map! Why should I take my bead? That was payment from someone else!"

The shadowy figure gave a sharp, cold laugh: "Payment? Don't you know who you are? A decaying old dog, just an ordinary person. You dare talk about payment in front of me? Do you even know who gave you the map and the Dust-Avoiding Bead?" He was one of my two servants! Those two heartless bastards stole my things and tried to run away. I killed one, and the other, seeing the situation was turning against him, ran to your doorstep. Did you really think that delivering the goods to their destination would bring you any good end? Yang

Fan stood quietly, letting the shadowy figure act arrogantly. He hadn't intended to take the map the old man had tossed him, even if the other party was just an ordinary person. There was no guarantee the map didn't contain something fishy, and being defeated by an ordinary person was more depressing than being defeated by a martial artist. After listening to their conversation, Yang Fan finally understood what had happened.

That scream of pain was actually made by the shadowy figure. He glanced at the figure; the face was hidden under a cloak, making it difficult to see clearly, but it couldn't escape Yang Fan's divine sense scan. His divine sense touched and then left. Although the shadowy figure sensed something, it only gave Yang Fan a slightly strange look, without understanding what was going on.

The shadowy figure was about forty years old, with half-eyebrows, triangular eyes, a large nose, thin lips, and a few wisps of goatee. He wore a one-piece black robe and a cloak, and didn't look like a benevolent person.

His aura was subtle, stronger than Ouyang Ye and Zuo Rulong. Yang Fan felt that this person was at least a martial artist at the Qi Movement Realm.

"Give me back the Dust-Avoiding Pearl, and I'll spare your life, you old dog."

The dark figure said arrogantly to the old man with the gaiter, his eyes casually sweeping over Yang Fan's face. He was convinced that with most of his face hidden under his cloak, Yang Fan wouldn't see his actions. Little did he know, Yang Fan's every move was detected by his divine sense.

The old man gritted his teeth. Although somewhat unwilling, survival was paramount. He had earned so much money, and hadn't even had a chance to enjoy it properly, hadn't even had a chance to experience family life. To lose his life over a single pearl seemed a waste.

"You mean it? I... I'll give the pearl back to you... You really will spare my life!"

Hearing the old man's hesitation, the middle-aged martial artist's eyes lit up: "You mean it! I, Wan Tiancheng, a dignified martial artist, would I deceive an ordinary person like you? Give it to me!" "

Old Guai hesitated for a moment before taking the bead out of his pocket, letting out a deep sigh. It was a dust-repelling bead, about the size of an egg. Pure white, crystal clear like jade. A faint white light surrounded it, effortlessly repelling sea spray blowing in from the sea within a radius of several dozen meters.

'Dust-repelling bead… map… could it be…'

Yang Fan glanced at the bead, then at the sea-fog-shrouded desert, and a sudden realization dawned on him.

Wan Tiancheng's breathing quickened when he saw Old Guai take out the bead.

'Give it to me quickly!'

Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat. 'Wait,'

Wan Tiancheng sneered. 'Friend, you finally couldn't resist making a move, huh? You dare to lay a finger on me, Wan Tiancheng?

' Wan Tiancheng was a figure of considerable importance in the martial arts world. He was a renowned lone traveler who roamed the south." However, this man was always adept at concealing his tracks and never revealed himself in public. Despite his renowned reputation, few had ever seen his true face.

If he were to reveal his name to others, they might be wary of Wan Tiancheng's ruthless methods and keep their distance. But in front of Yang Fan, Wan Tiancheng was like throwing a blind man's eyelashes – a waste of effort!

Seeing Yang Fan speak, Gu Laoguai's eyes darted around, and he immediately had another idea. He put the dust-avoiding bead in his robes, didn't run away, and simply sat down on the ground, clearly determined to let the two settle their differences first

. Wan Tiancheng coldly glanced at Gu Laoguai, knowing what he was up to, but he didn't care. He could kill an ordinary person with a single breath; why would he be afraid of Gu Laoguai's tricks?

Yang Fan couldn't help but chuckle at Gu Laoguai's actions!

Chapter 343 [Heavenly Gang Blade Qi]

People die for wealth, birds die for food! Caught between two martial artists, this ordinary old man, instead of thinking about fleeing for his life, actually sat down—his courage was truly extraordinary!

Originally, Yang Fan wasn't interested in the map. The "Dust-Avoiding Pearl" was considered precious among ordinary people, but it wasn't very useful to martial artists. Except for its special use in this desert, normally Wan Tiancheng probably wouldn't even glance at it.

Suddenly, a thought struck Yang Fan. He realized he had underestimated the problem. He wasn't even sure if the pearl was truly a "Dust-Avoiding Pearl." If it was just a "Dust-Avoiding Pearl" that could ward off dust and fog, why was Wan Tiancheng so nervous? And that map—it didn't seem simple either. Could it be some kind of treasure map? With these

thoughts racing through his mind, Yang Fan smiled slightly at Wan Tiancheng and said, "I don't mean to have any designs on it. I'm just curious about what's on that map. Senior Wan, could you lend it to me for a look? Just one glance, and I'll leave. I won't interfere in the feud between Senior Wan and this old man."

Just a probing question was enough to make Wan Tiancheng's expression change drastically: "Boy, you've tried to pull this clumsy trick on me? Who doesn't know I'm the number one swindler in the entire Southern martial arts world? Hmph! Since you know this map is related to the ancient tombs of the pre-Qin era, then I can't let you live!"

Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself: Just as I thought! But he didn't understand where the other party had gotten this map from! However, this was clearly not the time to think about that question. As

soon as Wan Tiancheng finished speaking, his right hand moved. A white, chilling blade aura shot out from between his fingers, transforming into a long blade more than three feet long, and fiercely slashed at Yang Fan.

"Gengjin Blade Aura!"

Blade aura and sword aura shooting out were not uncommon. But to wield blade aura in hand and use it as a long blade to fight was somewhat surprising. Yang Fan naturally didn't think that Wan Tiancheng's martial arts were inferior to Zuo Rulong's.

This Wan Tiancheng's realm was clearly more than a level higher than Zuo Rulong's, yet he held blade aura in his hand. Clearly, this method had its own mysteries. Yang Fan had broken through to the second level of the Nine Heavens Thunderous Technique, his physical body had been further refined, and he was now capable of advancing to a higher realm. Even with the Nine True Words in hand, he dared not use his physical body to clash with Wan Tiancheng's sword energy, to test its edge.

"Buzz!"

Yang Fan barely dodged Wan Tiancheng's longsword of sword energy, his heart suddenly trembling. A warning flashed past, and then another flash in the blink of an eye. A ripple suddenly appeared in the air, vanishing in an instant.

"That was close! Wan Tiancheng's technique is truly strange! He uses sword energy as a longsword, and can even control an invisible sword energy to launch a sneak attack. If it weren't for my extraordinary divine sense and greatly enhanced perception, I fear this attack would have killed me on the spot!"

Wan Tiancheng's specialty was called "Heavenly Gang Sword Energy," an extremely powerful sword technique. Although not widely known, it was a first-rate and strangely powerful martial art. This technique's attribute was metal, making it extremely sharp. The interplay of light and shadow, the interplay of existence and non-existence, the interplay of light and darkness, the ability to kill and plunder, the open warfare and the covert attacks—all

these made it incredibly effective, truly formidable. Yang Fan, momentarily caught off guard, nearly fell into Wan Tiancheng's trap. Wan Tiancheng was slightly surprised that his single strike hadn't killed Yang Fan.

He had initially underestimated Yang Fan, but now he immediately changed his attitude, no longer treating him as an ordinary martial artist. Let alone a mere martial artist, countless experts at the Qi Movement Realm,

even those at the peak of Qi Movement, had already died from his initial strike. Yang Fan was merely a peak Qi Movement martial artist, who hadn't even initially noticed the strangeness of his movements. Yet, in such a critical situation, he had managed to react correctly and dodge his fatal blow. Wan Tiancheng felt it was necessary to treat Yang Fan as the strongest opponent he had encountered in recent years. Taking

Yang Fan seriously, Wan Tiancheng gave a soft shout, his arm flicking, and a long white blade of qi appeared. Instantly, it split into three, requiring no effort from him to grasp them. Each of the three swords, a foot apart from the longsword in his hand, hovered in mid-air.

With Wan Tiancheng's movement, the three swords, wielding sword energy, simultaneously slashed down at Yang Fan. At the same time, Yang Fan faintly sensed that two more invisible sword energies, lurking in the void and ready to strike at any moment, had also increased.

"This swordsmanship is truly formidable!"

Yang Fan exclaimed softly, rapidly activating the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, his body crackling with purple lightning, a powerful killing move poised to strike. The Blood-Drinking Sword was already firmly in Yang Fan's hand, an aura of masculine pride and domineering power emanating from him.

"Sword Slashes the World!"

A dazzling sword light shot forth from the Blood-Drinking Sword, carrying an aura of utter destruction, crashing down towards Wan Tiancheng. This "Sword Slashes the World" move, although not executed with the sword seal from the Immovable King Seal this time, was still incredibly powerful!

A fierce glint flashed in Wan Tiancheng's eyes. He roared and, without dodging or avoiding, charged headlong into Yang Fan's sword beam.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three sword beams clashed with one, and the result was completely unexpected!

None of the three sword beams could stop the "Sword Slashes the World" from shattering everything; they were all reduced to dust. The momentum didn't diminish; it continued to slash at Wan Tiancheng, determined to tear him to pieces.

Three deafening explosions followed, the surging sword energy spreading outwards. The tranquility of Xiping Village was shattered by these explosions. The villagers, their doors tightly shut, huddled under their beds, trembling, but no one dared to come out and see what was happening.

"It's the demons of the desert! It must be those devils! Namo Amitabha, Bodhisattva protect us!"

Villagers as old as Gu Guai clasped their hands together, devoutly praying to Buddha and Bodhisattva for their safety.

Old Guai was filled with regret, regretting his greed and his decision to sit between the two martial artists, waiting for the situation to unfold. He had thought he could profit from the chaos, but the conflict between the two powerful figures threatened to tear him to pieces before he could even gain anything. There

was no going back, and even with his deepest remorse, Old Guai could only watch helplessly as the overflowing sword energy exploded around him, leaving deep craters in the ground. No one knew if those blind sword energies would send him to hell in the next second…

The long sword he gripped tightly was also severed by Yang Fan. Even as the dazzling sword strike was about to hit him, Wan Tiancheng showed no sign of tension, only a cold smile as he looked at Yang Fan, his eyes still flashing with a sinister light.

“Let’s see if you die!”

Three invisible ripples suddenly appeared around Yang Fan, as if they had been lying in wait all along. As if waiting for him to enter the game, invisible blade energy slashed down at Yang Fan from three directions, aiming to kill him in one strike.

The terror of the Heavenly Gang Blade Energy lay not in its unparalleled sharpness and unpredictable power, but in the unseen blade energy that suddenly appeared, manipulated by Wan Tiancheng from an unknown location. Wan Tiancheng had dominated the south, and with this unique skill, he had killed countless skilled opponents. Even martial artists of much higher realms and levels had often fallen victim to his deadly hand.

"Pop!"

The first invisible blade energy that slashed down at Yang Fan was deflected by his protective true energy before it even touched him, instantly changing its direction. It flew towards Wan Tiancheng at an even faster speed.

"How is this possible?"

Wan Tiancheng didn't bother to look at the remaining two invisible blade energies. With an indelible look of horror on his face, he hurriedly dodged to the side, rolling away in a sorry state. Wan Tiancheng felt that the threat had not been eliminated.

What's most infuriating is that the invisible sword energy of the Heavenly Gang Blade Qi has a slight drawback. Even Wan Tiancheng himself can't see it; he can only sense its existence through a wisp of his own aura within it. The fact that Yang Fan deflected the invisible sword energy back wasn't a problem; the wisp of aura Wan Tiancheng left behind was also erased, so he could no longer sense the invisible sword energy.

Yang Fan had already prepared everything. This ultimate technique within the "Lin" mantra is a truly extraordinary move, often proving incredibly effective at the most crucial moments, and this time was no exception!

Sensing that the protective true energy surrounding him hadn't suffered much loss, Yang Fan felt even more reassured. He then used the momentum to his advantage, deflecting the remaining two invisible sword energies.

"Roar!"

Wan Tiancheng roared. As if a blazing sun had appeared before him, a blinding white light erupted, easily shattering the deflected invisible sword energy.

"What kind of technique is this?"

Blinded by the white light, Yang Fan couldn't look directly at Wan Tiancheng, but he clearly observed Wan Tiancheng's methods with his divine sense. The ball of white light was as big as a basketball, but at its core, it was only the size of an egg. Its origin was unknown, but it seemed to contain boundless, terrifying energy; even a slight approach of spiritual sense showed signs of being incinerated.

Having broken through the invisible blade energy, Wan Tiancheng immediately withdrew the ball of white light. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he swung his left and right hands simultaneously, crossing them in front of him. Instantly, six white blade energy longswords appeared, blocking his arms like two shields of thorns covered in sharp blades, ferocious and ruthless.

The other two invisible blade energy energies, deflected by Yang Fan, were beyond his control; he could only let them slice through trees, crash into mountain walls, and vanish without a trace. Unexpectedly, before he could even give Wan Tiancheng a lesson, he swiftly escaped his predicament and revealed his claws once more.

One of the invisible blade energies flew over the head of the old man with the crooked hair who was trying to escape, severing countless strands of his gray hair. Terrified, he collapsed to the ground, beating his chest and weeping with regret.

From one to three, then to six, Wan Tiancheng's blade energies grew stronger and more difficult to deal with. Unlike the enemies Yang Fan had encountered before, whose techniques were strange and varied,

Wan Tiancheng's technique seemed to be singular, with only variations in quantity. Yet, this variation in quantity was enough to stump many, including many powerful individuals whose levels and realms were far superior to Wan Tiancheng's. With just one set of Heavenly Gang Blade Energy, Wan Tiancheng could almost be considered invincible below the Refining Spirit realm.

The reason for saying "almost" rather than "completely" is that Yang Fan's Nine Heavens Thunderous Technique had a way to counter those unpredictable invisible blade energies.

The scattered sword light was rekindled by Yang Fan, and the purple light on the Blood-Drinking Longsword shone even brighter, as if it would unleash ten thousand sword energies to cut Wan Tiancheng down in the next second.

Yang Fan had maintained a defensive stance from beginning to end, refraining from launching an attack on Wan Tiancheng, primarily because he hadn't yet found a way to kill Wan Tiancheng without damaging the map.

He didn't know the map's material, but Wan Tiancheng had unhesitatingly stuffed it into his pocket after obtaining it. Killing Wan Tiancheng wasn't difficult; the challenge lay in taking his life without harming the map.

Wan Tiancheng was completely unaware that it was because of the map that Yang Fan hadn't unleashed a powerful killing move to kill him immediately, believing Yang Fan had exhausted his options.

"You little bastard, prepare to die!"

Wan Tiancheng, like a mad bull with its tail on fire, quickly crossed his arms in front of his chest, and six white, shimmering sword energies, like six bull horns, slammed into Yang Fan.

Yang Fan calmly watched Wan Tiancheng rushing towards him, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Wan Tiancheng's attack this time was several levels higher in both momentum and power than his previous attacks, but his target wasn't Yang Fan! It was the old man, Gu Laoguai! The increased sword energy, instead of diluting its power and reducing the available energy for each sword strike, actually made the天地元气 (heaven and earth energy) more concentrated, increasing its power many times over compared to the initial sword strike.

This was precisely the wonder of the Heavenly Gang Sword Energy; the more sword energy, the greater the power, not only the overall power but also the power of each individual sword strike.

Yang Fan teleported away before Wan Tiancheng could kill Gu Laoguai, grabbing him and placing him safely in a safe distance.

Seeing Yang Fan rescue Gu Laoguai, Wan Tiancheng, for reasons unknown, didn't immediately pursue, but instead stood coldly at a distance, watching the two.

"Old man, this bead in your hand is truly a source of misfortune. With your abilities, you'll probably be killed before you even leave the village."

Wan Tiancheng's blade aura struck, and Old Gu Guai had already thought he was doomed. That sharp and eerie blade aura brought immense shock to this old man who had never witnessed the power of ancient martial arts. Yang Fan's intervention to save him at this moment was both unexpected and deeply appreciated by Old Guai.

Old Gu Guai had witnessed countless ordinary people being treated like livestock or ants by martial artists, yet he had never seen a martial artist truly treat him, an ordinary person, as a human being. This filled Old Guai with gratitude towards Yang Fan, and it was Yang Fan's actions that led him to make a decision…

Chapter 344 [Mysterious Map]

“Thank you, thank you, young man! My life is truly not worth your risking to save! I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. Please keep this bead. Furthermore, I also have a few camels raised in the northeastern part of the village. If you don't mind, please take them!”

Yang Fan's original intention was simply to persuade Old Guai to give up the “Dust-Avoiding Bead” and hand it over to him. He hadn't expected to unexpectedly gain several camels. He himself wasn't afraid in the desert, but Gu Feifei and the others might encounter danger without camels to guide them. Therefore, Old Guai's actions undoubtedly solved a problem for Yang Fan.

Thinking this, Yang Fan didn't refuse. He took out some money from his pocket and handed it to the old man, saying, "Old man, we need a few camels, so please accept this money."

Unexpectedly, the old man refused righteously, saying, "Young man, although I, the old man, am greedy, I am not an ungrateful person. You saved my life, and I should repay you. Please take this money back! Young man, please be careful, I'll go first!" The old man

didn't take the money Yang Fan offered. Instead, when returning the money, he handed Yang Fan something else.

Taking the money and item back, Yang Fan glanced at it and was slightly surprised. The item he took back along with the stack of banknotes looked like a map.

"Could it be..."

Yang Fan's heart skipped a beat, but he didn't have time to check if the map was as he suspected.

Seeing Gu Guai leave, Wan Tiancheng didn't stop him. Instead, he coldly said to Yang Fan, "Boy, as long as you return that Dust-Avoiding Pearl to me, I can pretend nothing happened and spare your life!"

Yang Fan had already found it strange that Wan Tiancheng didn't stop him from communicating with Gu Guai. Now, the other party was pretending to let him go, but it was actually a sign of weakness. What could be the reason that made a martial artist who had roamed the world for many years be wary of him?

Yang Fan looked Wan Tiancheng up and down a few times, and suddenly, a bold guess flashed into his mind.

"He said earlier that two servants stole his things and ran away. One of them was obviously killed by him, and that shrill scream came from here. The other one was lying outside Gu Guai's house. Since he was a servant, his strength was obviously not higher than Wan Tiancheng's, but to be able to come here with him, his strength should not be too low. At least at the Nascent Soul stage or above! Judging from his current appearance, could it be that those two servants injured him before they died?"

The more Yang Fan thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Otherwise, Wan Tiancheng's sudden change in attitude would be hard to explain.

"It's not that he doesn't want to continue fighting me. It's just that his injuries have flared up, and he can no longer fight me!"

With this thought in mind, Yang Fan didn't hesitate and immediately used the Ghost Shadow Step, suddenly appearing in front of Wan Tiancheng.

"Spare my life? We'll have to see if you have the ability!"

The Blood-Drinking Sword was already poised, and Yang Fan rushed over, slashing down with his sword.

Wan Tiancheng's face contorted with rage. Yang Fan refused to compromise, leaving him helpless. He could only continue his attack while saying, "Young brother, we've all come to this desolate desert for the same reason: the suddenly appearing ancient tomb. The tomb is there; it won't fly away, it won't run away, and it's not something one person can possess entirely. But if we fight too fiercely, others will benefit! There are more than just the two of us here! How about this: we cooperate, and once we reach the tomb, we'll share the spoils?"

Yang Fan withdrew his sword, which was about to strike, and didn't bring it down on Wan Tiancheng's head. It wasn't that he truly believed the old fox Wan Tiancheng's words, but rather that Wan Tiancheng was right. Not to mention the warriors who had rushed here after receiving the news, countless warriors from the base had received missions. He couldn't possibly kill them all along the way.

Even a master like Wan Tiancheng had stumbled and been betrayed by his own servant. Who could guarantee he wouldn't betray them on the battlefield and sell them out? However, for now, a temporary cooperation wouldn't hurt. Yang Fan thought for a moment, then simply put away the Blood-Drinking Sword!

Wan Tiancheng saw Yang Fan casually put away the Blood-Drinking Sword without a trace, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes. This surprise naturally didn't escape Yang Fan's notice; he smiled faintly and didn't explain. "Since it's a collaboration," Yang Fan said, "shouldn't you share the true function of the Dust-Avoiding Pearl and the map you have?"

Wan Tiancheng hesitated slightly, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! I suppose you can tell I'm injured. However, if you think I have no means of self-defense and want to abandon me, grab the map, and run, let me tell you, you're mistaken! At the very least, I can self-destruct and take you down with me!"

Yang Fan coldly glanced at Wan Tiancheng and said, "If I wanted to grab your map and leave, that sword strike just now would have already severed your head! Do you really think I can't kill you?"

Wan Tiancheng was slightly taken aback. Although he was unwilling to admit it, he knew that Yang Fan hadn't used his full strength at all. Putting aside everything else, the methods contained in those two powerful killing moves that had clearly reached their peak but were then withdrawn were enough to make Wan Tiancheng take notice.

"That's not some dust-repelling bead, but the key to opening the ancient tomb, called the Heavenly Eye Bead. Without this Heavenly Eye Bead, no matter how strong your cultivation is, entering the ancient tomb will only lead to your death!"

"Heavenly Eye Bead? As far as I know, this ancient tomb was discovered by a team of archaeologists. Before that, no one knew about it at all. How do you know that this thing is the key to entering the ancient tomb?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Fan was slightly taken aback.

"Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore. Actually, besides my current identity, I, Wan Tiancheng, have another identity: a tomb raider. I have considerable experience in tomb raiding. As you know, those of us in this line of work have excellent connections. Although this archaeological team's work was highly confidential, we still managed to keep an eye on them. I had complete knowledge of their every move here." "

Not long ago, they finally discovered the ancient tomb and entered it together. I originally wanted to follow them, but years of experience made me feel that this ancient tomb was somewhat strange, so I didn't rush in. Who would have thought that the next day, one of the archaeologists who had entered the tomb rushed out!"

"He was covered in blood, his eyes were panicked, and he had clearly been greatly frightened. He happened to be holding this map. In the heat of the moment, I intercepted him. Perhaps he was overwhelmed with fear, or perhaps he was desperate to save someone, but he told me everything that had happened in the ancient tomb and gave me the map, hoping that I could spread the news and save his companion..."

"So, you're the one who leaked the news about the ancient tomb?"

Upon hearing Wan Tiancheng's words, Yang Fan immediately connected them with the information he already possessed. He understood that the ancient tomb incident was indeed announced by a mysterious person, but he hadn't expected it to be Wan Tiancheng. However, Yang Fan also understood that Wan Tiancheng clearly wasn't genuinely trying to save people; he wanted to lure more people here to test the ancient tomb's true nature, while he himself had been lingering outside, waiting for the perfect opportunity!

"It was indeed me who leaked it. Actually, the people I killed weren't servants, but my companions. Some conflicts of interest led to friction and a fight. Those two actually tried to steal the map and the Heavenly Eye Pearl behind my back. I had no choice but to deal with them."

"So, the news about the ancient tomb containing amazing treasures, lost martial arts techniques, and miraculous elixirs was all false?"

Yang Fan continued to ask.

"No, it's true. Based on my research, I guarantee this is an unprecedented super ancient tomb. Moreover, it doesn't house ordinary royalty; it contains people like us. Most likely, it might contain an ancient city, a world created by ancient martial artists. If we could enter, we'd definitely make amazing discoveries. However, it's all too vast; one person can't possibly discover it all. That's why I released the news to attract more people!"

Hearing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but glance at Wan Tiancheng a few more times. He hadn't expected that the base's annual emergency mission would originate from one person's plan! And the entire base had been completely manipulated by this man. During his journey over the past few days, Yang Fan had frequently encountered martial artists heading here. Most of these people weren't from the base, but their destination was always the same: this place!

In other words, Wan Tiancheng's plan had practically gathered all the martial artists in China here, manipulating everyone under his thumb. Such a person was no ordinary character. This emergency mission at the base has expanded beyond the base itself to encompass the entire martial arts world of China. No one knows the full extent of the consequences, but such a gathering is unprecedented in China's martial arts scene, a spectacle rarely seen in decades.

Perhaps this is why the base decided to deploy most of its members. Completing the mission is secondary; the base's primary aim is to use this force to counterbalance the pressure from the martial arts world.

After all, the simultaneous appearance of so many martial artists would significantly impact public order. Martial artists often disregard the law; killing someone over a minor disagreement is commonplace!

Yang Fan nodded slightly; Wan Tiancheng's words confirmed his earlier doubts. An ordinary dust-repelling pearl wouldn't warrant the attention of a martial artist like Wan Tiancheng. Even if it could disperse sand, someone unfamiliar with the terrain might easily get lost in the desert.

"Then how do you use this Heavenly Eye Bead? You're not going to tell me that having this thing means I can travel at night in the desert or move freely in the ancient tomb, are you?"

As he spoke, Yang Fan shifted his gaze to the Heavenly Eye Bead in his hand. He wasn't foolish enough to think that the bead had such a magical effect. If the ancient tomb was really as Wan Tiancheng said, and the bead was valuable, then it would be much more than that!

Sure enough, upon hearing Yang Fan's words, a look of surprise flashed in Wan Tiancheng's eyes, but he quickly concealed it and shook his head, saying, "How could that be? Oh... you misunderstood because you heard that scream just now, right? The situation is like this, actually, I've already entered the ancient tomb once!"

"This Heavenly Eye Bead was also brought out from the ancient tomb by me. It was because of that fierce battle that I was seriously injured. I had no choice but to hide back in Xiping Village to heal, but I didn't expect that my two damned companions would become greedy and try to assassinate me from behind! Fortunately, I saw through their scheme, otherwise I would have fallen victim to their evil deeds."

At this point, Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but chuckle lightly, "They even stole my camel, thinking that traveling at night would allow them to evade my pursuit. But they didn't expect that I had other means to track them down!"

As for the methods used, it was a closely guarded secret, and Wan Tiancheng naturally wouldn't reveal them. At this point, Wan Tiancheng took out the map and spread it on the ground, saying, "There are three such maps in total, but I only obtained one. As for the other two, I don't know where they are. This Heavenly Eye Pearl, I stole from an old thief. I originally heard he had already collected the other two maps, but I don't know if someone else got them during the chaos, or if the rumors are wrong. I only have this one."

Hearing Wan Tiancheng's words, Yang Fan suddenly realized that the map Gu Laoguai had given him must be one of the three maps!

The map spread on the ground depicted the terrain of the ancient tomb, but only one-third of it was shown. Secretly memorizing the terrain on the map, Yang Fan nodded impassively, letting Wan Tiancheng put the map away before saying, "With only a third of the map and the Heavenly Eye Pearl, entering the ancient tomb smoothly will still be very difficult!"

Wan Tiancheng, however, wasn't worried at all, and chuckled, "Young brother, you're overthinking it. You'll understand once you enter the ancient tomb. It's not like other places where you can just hide anywhere and no one can find you. Hiding randomly in the ancient tomb will only lead to a more miserable death! There are countless ferocious birds and beasts, poisonous flowers and weeds, and ingenious traps. What you consider safe may be hiding immense danger. The map holder will inevitably show himself. After entering the ancient tomb, we only need to preserve our strength and survive to the end to succeed and gain our advantage!"

Yang Fan glanced at Wan Tiancheng again, thinking, "Indeed..." "That old fox!"

At this moment, Wan Tiancheng was injured, and Yang Fan was confident he could kill him, but Wan Tiancheng's mention of "self-destruction"

made him somewhat hesitant.

Self-destruction was a desperate measure used by martial artists. It should be known that the true energy accumulated within a martial artist's body after years of training was no less than the energy of a nuclear missile. If they were to risk their lives in a self-destruction, its power would be no less than that of a missile explosion!

Yang Fan had killed quite a few martial artists, including some truly skilled ones, yet he had never seen them use the method of "self-destruction." Even so, he dared not try it lightly. Not only could he withstand it, but Gu Feifei and the others were with him. Even if he could withstand the opponent's self-destruction, what about them? If he couldn't protect them during the process, Yang Fan, as their "protector," would be terribly incompetent! Chapter 345 [The World of Martial Artists]

on May 2nd: Not attacking Wan Tiancheng earlier, in retrospect, was a rather correct decision. The power of a self-destruction from the condensation of one's essence is unimaginable. If one wasn't on guard, even with Yang Fan's current strength, he would likely be injured, or even killed if luck wasn't on his side. Moreover, he had Gu Feifei and the others behind him. But if he didn't take advantage of Wan Tiancheng's injury to kill him, and Wan Tiancheng recovered and turned against him, even if he couldn't defeat him, it wasn't impossible for him to injure Gu Feifei and the others while Yang Fan was protecting them! Thinking of this, Yang Fan couldn't help but glance at him. Wan Tiancheng clearly also had concerns. Seeing Yang Fan looking at him, he quickly said, "Little brother, I know your worries, and you know mine. How about we each release a trace of our aura onto each other? Once one of us has murderous intent, the other will immediately detect it. This way, the other will have a chance to escape!" " This suggestion is good, but in a way, Wan Tiancheng still benefits. He is currently severely injured and is naturally no match for Yang Fan. However, once he recovers, even if he is not Yang Fan's opponent, he will still be a threat. Therefore, Yang Fan naturally has more to worry about. However, Yang Fan cannot directly attack him now, since the other party has a map of the ancient tomb. If he angers the other party and he destroys the map, Yang Fan will have nowhere to turn. Although he does not completely believe Wan Tiancheng's words, he is certain that the ancient tomb is not a good place. Having a map can definitely save a lot of trouble. Therefore, this suggestion is exactly what Yang Fan wants! "Very well, let's do as senior says." " Release your own true energy aura onto the other person. As long as you don't die, even if the other person's cultivation level is much higher, you can't dispel it. Only when you reach the Refining Spirit Realm, reaching a state of being both real and illusory, impervious to all laws, can you ignore the other person's true energy. And at that level, you can ignore all martial artists in the mortal world, so it's naturally different." Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng each released their true energy aura onto each other, thus reducing their wariness. Wan Tiancheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and his attitude towards Yang Fan became more friendly. "Young brother, I haven't had a chance to ask your name yet?" Yang Fan replied, "No need for formalities, my surname is Yang, and my given name is Fan. Senior Wan, may I ask if we can set off now?" Wan Tiancheng's face showed a look of surprise: "Young brother Yang, do you want to enter the desert at night? Don't! Let me tell you, this desert has become somewhat strange recently with the appearance of the ancient tomb. Every night, sandstorms rise." That's not all. This sandstorm is like a natural array, obstructing vision and consciousness, causing people to lose their way. Even the most advanced equipment is useless; it seems to interfere with magnetic fields. And that's not all—the sandstorm is fraught with danger. If one is not careful, even a master at the Refining Spirit Realm would likely meet a violent end! Yang Fan was slightly startled and couldn't help but ask, "So, Senior Wan, does this sandstorm only occur at night? And is it normal during the day? How strange! " Yang Fan had lived here since childhood and knew the entire desert like the back of his hand. He could tell when the wind would blow and when there would be sandstorms just by smelling the air. Naturally, he also noticed that this desert was different from before, appearing somewhat strange, but he hadn't expected it to be as serious as Wan Tiancheng described. As for the veracity of Wan Tiancheng's words, Yang Fan didn't bother to investigate. With Wan Tiancheng's intelligence, he certainly wouldn't lie to him about such matters. So he wasn't worried about being deceived. Sure enough, as soon as Yang Fan finished speaking, Wan Tiancheng immediately nodded and said, "That's right! The sandstorms only occur at night, and the ice and snow melt away as soon as the sun rises. As for why they only occur at night, that's beyond my knowledge. However, in my speculation, it's highly likely due to the ancient tomb. Perhaps the discovery of the ancient tomb triggered its automatic defense array, causing all of this!" The exchange gave Yang Fan a much better understanding of the ancient tomb. While some information about the tomb could be found within the base, it was mostly superficial. Even though the base was the most secretive organization in the country, with countless martial artists serving it, much information only circulated among a few top-tier martial artists. Given Yang Fan's current status, he certainly wouldn't know. However, with Wan Tiancheng's supplementary information, Yang Fan had a clearer understanding of the entire ancient tomb. Seeing that it was getting late, Wan Tiancheng said, "Brother Yang, it's getting late. Why don't you rest at my temporary lodging place, and we can set off together tomorrow?" Since Yang Fan hadn't found a place to stay anyway, he readily agreed. The group headed straight for the place Wan Tiancheng had mentioned. The place Wan Tiancheng had found was also in a cliff in Xiping Village, a cave located in the middle of the cliff. Yang Fan had assumed it was just a cave and the conditions wouldn't be very good, but when he actually went inside, he was greatly surprised. The cave was not only disguised to conceal the entrance, but also had a very heavy iron door to prevent accidental intruders. When passing through the iron door, Yang Fan deliberately released his true energy to test it, and he couldn't help but be secretly surprised. The iron door was exceptionally heavy; even an ordinary martial artist would probably be helpless against it! Stepping through the iron door, it was another world. Soft cashmere carpets covered the floor, and soft luminous pearls provided lighting. A large bed made of rosewood, tables and chairs made of sandalwood—this cave of about a hundred square meters was decorated with unparalleled luxury, no less than the enjoyment of nobility.

Seeing Yang Fan's astonished expression, Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but smile: "Brother Yang, you flatter me. It's not that I'm making a fuss. This place was just one of my lodgings. This desert holds endless treasures, which is incredibly attractive to a tomb raider like me. That's why I discovered the whereabouts of that team of archaeologists!"

At this point, Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but sigh: "However, to be fair, that team of archaeologists is indeed quite capable, especially one young female archaeologist who is extremely talented. She... " "If she were to enter my line of work, she would be an absolute genius, one in a million. I, Wan Tiancheng, even considered taking her as a disciple. It's just a pity that she later entered the ancient tomb, and I imagine she's already perished long ago! In recent days, I've seen many people enter the ancient tomb, but none have come out alive. Speaking of which, I've been inside myself. The reason I was able to come out alive wasn't because I was particularly skilled, but because I, Wan Tiancheng, knew better than most how to choose, when to be greedy, and when not to be greedy!"

Yang Fan deeply agreed with Wan Tiancheng's sentiments. The world is vast and full of wonders. There are countless spiritual herbs and treasures; trying to grasp everything is clearly impossible. Only by not being greedy can one live longer!

Wan Tiancheng then pointed to the furnishings in the cave. He said, "These things, though valuable, are merely the enjoyment of ordinary people. Compared to those martial arts families, they are far inferior. I only acquired so many things because I frequently stay here, to make my life less arduous. By the way, Brother Yang, and these children, there's wine in the wine cabinet and food in the food cabinet. Please help yourselves to whatever you like. I need to heal my injuries first."

Yang Fan nodded in agreement, and Wan Tiancheng went to treat his injuries. After looking around the cave for a while, Yang Fan and Gu Feifei exchanged a few quiet words before each sitting down on a clean chair and practicing their internal energy.

Martial arts cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. Unless there are urgent matters to attend to, Yang Fan uses his rest time each day to practice. To ordinary people, the world of martial artists is not only lonely and cold but also extremely arduous. In reality, that's just a misunderstanding deliberately misled by martial artists.

For martial artists, whether it's circulating internal energy, immersing themselves in the world of guiding their inner strength, and carefully observing every subtle change within their bodies, or immersing themselves in comprehending the techniques, understanding the effects of each move when released, all bring unparalleled joy.

Every new discovery is a driving force that propels a martial artist to advance further and strive even harder. If there weren't endless martial arts duels, feuds, and struggles for elixirs, treasures, and secret manuals, the martial arts world would rival even the legendary world of immortals.

Everyone wants to possess the most and best resources, break through to a higher realm in the shortest time, and truly live as long as heaven and earth, enjoying an immortal life.

However, resources are finite. One person's desire for longevity and possession of more resources inevitably deprives others of their opportunities. Thus, how can the martial arts world be without killing intent?

Moreover, in the mortal world, numerous nations exist, and constant conflicts between them further exacerbate the contradictions among martial artists. After his cultivation level improved, Yang Fan's power and understanding of cultivation techniques also rose accordingly! Something he always felt was missing before suddenly became complete after advancing in the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique. Even his understanding of the Nine True Words deepened.

After Yang Fan's breakthrough in the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique, his physical body began to undergo new changes. He felt that further tempering his body was bringing about new changes.

However, contrary to his expectations, recently, after tempering his body, his muscles stopped changing, but the bones beneath the muscles began to show abnormalities. Yang Fan was initially shocked when he sensed this skeletal mutation, as he had never experienced such a change before; it was impossible for ordinary martial artists to undergo it.

Many martial artists temper their bodies, but most only train their muscles to a certain level and then stop. Unlike Yang Fan, whose body could withstand heavenly lightning, he was still not satisfied and wanted to continue tempering it!

Unlike the improvement of cultivation level, the tempering of the physical body requires exceptionally demanding cultivation techniques. Without the guidance of secret martial arts techniques, an average person can at most elevate their physical body to the level of "Qi Protection," where the entire body is without any weaknesses, possessing only one vulnerability.

However, while this level sounds flawless, it still has a fatal weakness. Once discovered, any talk of indestructibility becomes meaningless. Therefore, no matter how much one trains their body to reach this level, further advancement only results in increased weight; the physical strength remains unchanged.

It is precisely because of these stringent requirements that very few actually achieve the "Qi Protection" level. In recent centuries, those who have achieved this have all been eminent Buddhist masters.

A martial artist once lamented: "The Witch Clan perished; only Buddhism can achieve an indestructible golden body!" Before the emergence of Buddhism, in the martial arts world, the physique of the Witch Clan was the most powerful among all martial artists. Only after the Witch Clan disappeared did the indestructible golden body of Buddhism replace their Great Witch Body!

For martial artists, the strength of their physical body isn't particularly important. In true martial arts duels, victory or defeat often hinges on a single thought. Even the most robust body pales in comparison to a powerful killing move.

Furthermore, improving one's physical rank is far less easy than improving one's cultivation level. Even with numerous limitations, improving one's cultivation level is still much easier.

However, improving one's physical rank has one advantage that cultivation level cannot match: it's a gradual, gradual process, unlike cultivation level which requires risking one's life.

Before the body is protected by internal energy, one can improve their physical rank through training programs at the training base, stimulating muscles. But once that threshold is crossed, it's impossible to improve one's physical rank using crude methods.

After obtaining the Nine Heavens Thunderclap Technique and the Nine-Character Mantra, Yang Fan carefully studied them. He discovered that these two techniques, whose origins were unknown and which were from Buddhism, each had unique aspects in tempering the physical body. Since

Yang Fan hadn't learned other body-refining techniques, he couldn't make comparisons. He could only compare them with other techniques he knew, and this comparison revealed the differences between the two.

The Nine-Character Mantra's body-refining method had some intricacies. The practitioner needed to assume a specific posture and visualize with their spiritual sense, using their spiritual sense to outline a form with their own physical shape based on the Buddha image appearing in the Nine-Character Mantra. In other words

, before actually training their physical body, they first needed to let their spiritual sense assume a cultivation posture according to the image of the figure in the technique.

At first glance, Yang Fan almost thought this was a soul-refining technique. The first step in Theravada Buddhism was also done this way! Visualization, isn't that the first step in soul-refining? But in reality, it wasn't like that at all.

Having visualized his own image in his spiritual consciousness, the next step was the crucial body-refining exercise using the Nine True Words. This involved the martial artist assuming various postures, controlling their true energy and spiritual consciousness to establish a cycle on the surface of their muscles and within their bones…

Chapter 346 [Cave Within a Cave]

Yang Fan was already adept at circulating internal energy within his meridians. However, circulating true energy within his muscles and bones truly stumped him.

Unlike meridians, which are attached to blood vessels and connect the entire body without requiring conscious searching to find a path, muscles and bones present different challenges.

Muscles have high resistance, while bones have high density; establishing true energy circulation is not easy in either case.

Even now, after possessing the Nine Heavens Thunderous Technique for some time, Yang Fan hadn't even successfully established internal energy circulation within his muscles. This was partly due to the short time he had been able to do so, and partly due to the immense difficulty and the lack of a master to guide him.

After another fruitless cycle, Yang Fan was undeterred. He simply gathered his divine consciousness and meditated on the image of Acala (Fudō Myō-ō)...

Yang Fan had visualized this image more than once before, and this process of visualization was the process of strengthening his divine consciousness!

This time, Yang Fan was also acting on a whim, visualizing Acala with his divine consciousness. Four arms, three eyes, two hands holding mantras, two hands holding ritual implements, feet stepping on two snakes, in an angry pose—the image of Acala was quickly visualized by Yang Fan.

The moment the image of Acala became clear, Yang Fan had an illusion, as if his physical body had suddenly been drawn into a mysterious space, directly becoming Acala. And his entire physical body suddenly gained an unprecedented sense of vitality.

It was as if, until this day, his physical body was truly his own, and those muscles that he couldn't control could immediately transform into the shape he needed, simply by his will.

Changing the facial muscles was incredibly simple. It was even easier and simpler than any other method of disguise that Yang Fan knew.

A faint current of energy flowed through his body, connecting every muscle and filling it with vitality. This exhilarating feeling sent a jolt through Yang Fan's mind, scattering his consciousness and causing it to disperse again. He awoke from his meditation.

Upon closer inspection, he could indeed feel a faint current flowing within his body! This was clearly a sign that the circulation of true qi in his muscles had been successfully established! However

, unfortunately, the true qi within his meridians had now become mist-like particles, almost tangible. The flow of true qi was solidified into granular form, but within his body, all his previous efforts were meaningless. Everything had to start anew, back to the most primitive gaseous true qi!

Granular true qi was far more powerful and potent than gaseous true qi—a fact Yang Fan deeply understood. His ability to fight across realms largely stemmed from this granular true qi. This kind of granular true qi, in terms of supply, is far superior to gaseous true qi. At the same cultivation level, the energy it contains is more than ten times that of gaseous true qi!

This is precisely why Yang Fan felt some regret. However, even so, his physical body, after this transformation, has once again reached a new level, and his overall combat strength has improved even further!

Having successfully established true qi circulation in his muscles, Yang Fan was greatly encouraged and couldn't help but want to take it a step further and establish true qi circulation in his bones. Just then, Yang Fan was called by Wan Tiancheng.

Opening his eyes, Yang Fan found that Wan Tiancheng seemed to have been sitting in front of him for quite some time, with a transparent teapot beside him, the tea already mostly gone.

Yang Fan was slightly startled and cursed himself inwardly: How could my vigilance be so low? Being brought so close, I didn't even notice! I deserve to die! Looking at Gu Feifei and the others, they hadn't even noticed when Wan Tiancheng had woken up.

Seeing the slight change in Yang Fan's expression, Wan Tiancheng quickly smiled and said, "Brother Yang, please don't misunderstand. I was just curious about what made you so diligent. I was a bit presumptuous out of curiosity, so please forgive me."

Yang Fan, observing Wan Tiancheng's expression, knew he wasn't lying, so he smiled and said, "Senior Wan is too kind. If you truly intended to harm me, I would have sensed it long ago. We wouldn't be sitting here so amicably now."

Wan Tiancheng smiled and changed the subject, saying, "It's already bright, Brother Yang. Let's have something simple to eat and then set off."

Unless one reaches the peak of martial arts and enters the Void Returning Realm, even at the peak of Spirit Refining, one still needs to eat, as the body cannot be supplied with its needs through the conversion of heaven and earth's energy.

After a simple breakfast, the group left Wan Tiancheng's temporary lair and headed towards the desert. Wan Tiancheng told Yang Fan and the others to wait a moment; he had other companions who would soon bring some camels.

Hearing this, Yang Fan's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but think of the camels that Old Guai had left for him.

"Senior Wan, please wait a moment, I'll be right back!"

Wan Tiancheng didn't think much of it. Anyway, he had left a trace of his aura on Yang Fan, so he wasn't afraid that Yang Fan would escape. He could not only sense the killing intent, but also vaguely determine the other party's location.

After saying goodbye, Yang Fan went straight to the area that Old Guai had mentioned. Sure enough, he found a house outside the village and discovered a total of five camels.

Speaking of which, five camels were just right. There were four of them: Gu Feifei, Su Xin, Lin Feng, and himself. With Wan Tiancheng, five camels were just right. At this moment, Yang Fan couldn't help but feel a little fortunate. If he hadn't insisted on leaving Su Xin's little tail, Xiao Rou, at the base, it would have been difficult to distribute the camels.

Moreover, Old Guai had also left a lot of food, water, diesel fuel, and other necessities for travel in the room, which was quite sufficient.

When Yang Fan appeared before Wan Tiancheng with five camels, he was quite surprised.

"Young Brother Yang...where did you get these camels? Do you perhaps have a place to stay here?"

Yang Fan smiled, not wanting to dwell on the matter, and said, "Senior Wan, I think we should hurry and set off. We're unfamiliar with the route here, so we'll need your guidance!"

Knowing Yang Fan didn't want to discuss the issue, Wan Tiancheng smiled, climbed onto a camel, pointed in a direction, and led Yang Fan and his group.

They walked and talked, and before long, they entered the depths of the desert. What surprised Yang Fan was that the desert Wan Tiancheng had brought him to was one he had never been to before.

Here, not a blade of grass grew; the desert stretched as far as the eye could see, its edge invisible. The scorching sun beat down on their faces, burning and making them extremely uncomfortable. To make matters worse, despite the lack of wind, a thick layer of sand and dust filled the desert, swirling and flying everywhere

. Even with face shields, sand still managed to get in and sting their faces, causing the beauty-conscious Gu Feifei and her companion to constantly complain! As they ventured deeper, the endless sandstorms ceased. On the ground, in places not yet covered by the sand, Yang Fan discovered fragments of clothing, broken weapons, and even some corpses scattered about. Undoubtedly, these belonged to the martial artists who had gone to the ancient tomb before them!

Fortune favors the bold, and with the spread of news about the ancient tomb, coupled with Wan Tiancheng's deliberate exaggeration, countless martial artists had already flocked there. Even some seasoned veterans and sect elders had considered taking a chance.

After walking for a while, some bushes began to appear sporadically around them. Yang Fan and his companions hid the camels in a secluded thicket and began to walk.

Along the way, the experienced Wan Tiancheng imparted countless lessons about the ancient tomb to Yang Fan. Here, the greatest danger didn't come from the traps and formations within the tomb itself, but from the people around you!

No one could guarantee that a seemingly harmless helper one moment wouldn't turn into an enemy the next, stabbing you in the back.

Wealth is a powerful motivator; anything in the ancient tomb was enough to tempt any martial artist. There were even rumors that the tomb contained top-grade spiritual herbs that could allow a martial artist to break through their current realm and advance to the next level. Such immense temptation made this place the best, and most heart-wrenching, test of a martial artist's kinship, friendship, and love. Those

who could successfully pass the test here were truly few and far between.

In Yang Fan's eyes, Wan Tiancheng was not a trustworthy collaborator. However, as he got to know him better, he discovered that this ugly, obviously wicked guy was actually not a bad person at heart.

Perhaps his less-than-ideal appearance had limited his opportunities to interact with many people, ultimately leading to his current "repressed" personality.

"Brother Yang, be on high alert! There are countless traps here, each more formidable than the last. While our greatest enemy here is our fellow martial artists, those traps are not to be underestimated. Moreover, this ancient tomb harbors some ferocious beasts you've never even seen before!"

"Ferocious beasts?"

"Indeed, or perhaps 'ferocious beasts' isn't quite the right word. 'Non-human' would be a more accurate description. Last time I entered, I saw some monsters that resembled humans, but lacked the power to awaken their inner energy—incredibly ferocious. They were ape-like, but walked on all fours, moved like the wind, drank human blood, ate human flesh, and were blind, relying on hearing for direction. While individually not particularly strong, they were exceptionally adept at concealment, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, making them incredibly difficult to defend against!"

"Of course, this is just one type. There are others—some are highly trained ferocious beasts captured to serve as tomb guardians. And others are unclean entities formed entirely from the earth's yin energy. In short, don't be surprised if you see anything in this ancient tomb!"

"The unclean things you mentioned, could they...could they be ghosts?"

Gu Feifei, who had been silent until now, asked softly after hearing Wan Tiancheng's words.

"Ghosts? You could say that. Those things are formless and intangible. Once they touch you, it is indeed similar to being possessed by a ghost. But don't worry, little girl, there are no ghosts in this world. And for us martial artists, even if there were ghosts, what is there to fear? In the eyes of ordinary people, aren't we called gods? And aren't gods the nemesis of ghosts?"

Slightly taken aback, Yang Fan didn't expect Wan Tiancheng to comfort Gu Feifei like this. Indeed, not to mention the girls, even Lin Feng was a little scared after Wan Tiancheng's previous words, let alone them. But now that Wan Tiancheng said this, their fear had lessened considerably. Unconsciously, Yang Fan's opinion of Wan Tiancheng had changed a lot again!

As soon as they stepped into the jungle, Wan Tiancheng immediately reminded Yang Fan to be careful and vigilant. Yang Fan agreed, carefully protecting Gu Feifei and the others, closely following behind.

Passing through the bushes, they came to a massive cave, hundreds of feet in diameter and long. The pitch-black entrance, like the mouth of a giant beast, exuded a chilling aura. Putting that aside, the mere existence of such a deep pit in the desert was strange enough. Despite the daily sandstorms, it hadn't filled the cave; that in itself was odd!

Yang Fan observed carefully and discovered that the sandstorms, upon approaching the entrance, mysteriously changed direction, flying in another direction. Or, the sand and stones that entered the black cave seemed to evaporate, disappearing without a trace.

"Indeed, something's strange!"

Seeing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but become wary.

"This is the entrance to the ancient tomb, but it's not the real entrance. According to the map, the real entrance should be at the deepest part of this cave. This cave is also a treasure trove. This terrain can be considered a cave within a cave. Ordinary people who enter will only search within this cave. Without a map, they won't be able to find the real tomb at all."

"A cave within a cave?"

"That's right. It's an extremely clever method of hiding a tomb. First, they build a fake tomb and put some treasures inside to make people mistakenly believe it's the real tomb. Then, they build another tomb inside the fake tomb. The real owner is hidden in this tomb. In this way, people will mistakenly believe that what's outside is the real tomb. Even if they encounter tomb raiders, they will only steal the things in the fake tomb and won't find the real tomb." "

These people are really clever. They even came up with this method. How did you know that?"

Gu Feifei couldn't help but ask upon hearing this.

"Well, those of us in this line of work naturally have to study these things. This is some experience summarized by our predecessors. However, this fake tomb is very well made. At first, I didn't know there was a hidden world inside. If I hadn't obtained this map, I wouldn't have been able to deduce these things. Also, this fake tomb is full of dangers. Even if you know it's a fake tomb, without solid strength and professional knowledge, you won't be able to find the real tomb!"

"Alright, that's about it. To find the real ancient tomb, we must pass through this fake tomb. The journey will definitely not be peaceful, so everyone should prepare for a bloody battle!"

After saying that, Wan Tiancheng was the first to jump into the huge black hole...

Chapter 347 [Oasis Treasure Hunt]

The dark entrance was bottomless. Yang Fan and his group entered the cave and groped their way forward in the dark. They had been searching in the dark for several tens of minutes, but still showed no sign of reaching the end. If Wan Tiancheng hadn't been leading the way, Yang Fan would have even thought they had gone the wrong way.

In the darkness, it was so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. Even with his night vision, he couldn't see his surroundings clearly. Here, there seemed to be some kind of special ability to alter the environment, greatly affecting his consciousness, vision, and hearing.

"Senior Wan, what's going on? Why haven't we reached the end yet?"

Yang Fan asked in a low voice as he groped his way forward.

"Shh! Don't speak, Brother Yang. There's a special kind of monster here. They can't see, but their hearing is incredibly sharp, even better than bats. And they're extremely fast. If we speak loudly, we might attract them. One or two isn't a problem, but we're afraid of attracting a whole swarm..."

"Hah!"

Wan Tiancheng had only finished speaking when he suddenly turned around and slapped his palm into the darkness. A loud bang was heard, as if something had been shattered by his palm.

In that instant when Wan Tiancheng unleashed his power, Yang Fan vaguely saw that just now, a monster as tall as a man, with long ears and an ape's head, had been smashed to pieces by his palm.

Needless to say, that was definitely the monster Wan Tiancheng had mentioned. Although he hadn't clearly seen the monster's appearance, Yang Fan had gained a clear understanding of it from what had just happened.

With his divine sense, even a small bird flying overhead wouldn't escape his scan, yet he hadn't noticed this monster at all when it appeared. This at least proved that, as Wan Tiancheng had said, it was extremely fast, appearing and disappearing without a trace!

Just then, Yang Fan suddenly felt a chill on the back of his head, a coldness attacking from behind. In his haste, he didn't have time to turn around. He quickly activated the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, and a bolt of purple lightning struck directly from behind, hitting the unknown creature with a loud bang.

"Chirp!"

A sharp cry came from behind, but the cry only lasted for a very brief moment before falling silent. Under the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, it was directly blasted into nothingness by the lightning!

"Brother Yang, your lightning-attribute technique is incredibly powerful! You actually blasted that beast into ashes! It's practically its natural nemesis!"

Seeing Yang Fan's display of might, Wan Tiancheng glanced at him with a hint of surprise. Although both of them had just killed an unknown creature, Wan Tiancheng had used thirty percent of his strength, while Yang Fan had done it effortlessly, seemingly without using any effort at all. This made Wan Tiancheng reassess Yang Fan's true strength!

"It's nothing. These creatures live in the shadows and are considered yin and evil, while my technique happens to be yang, naturally giving it a certain advantage!"

Yang Fan certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal the secret of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique to the other party. When he killed that unknown creature earlier, he had also meant to warn Wan Tiancheng, since once they arrived here, it was hard to guarantee that the other party wouldn't have any ulterior motives. By displaying some strength, he could increase the other party's suspicion of him, thus making him hesitant to act rashly!

Yang Fan's mission this time was to rescue the group of archaeologists. As for things like treasures, mysterious techniques, and miraculous medicines that Wan Tiancheng mentioned, they weren't particularly concerned.

So many tempting items had attracted countless powerful individuals. Although Yang Fan possessed the Heavenly Eye Pearl and a third of the map, and had also memorized a third of the map from Wan Tiancheng, he still didn't believe he was qualified to participate in this grand event.

Rather than fighting to the death with those powerful figures and ending up with nothing, Yang Fan thought it better to participate as an observer and complete the task as an afterthought.

The unknown creatures that suddenly appeared and disappeared didn't pose much of a problem for Yang Fan and his group. Along the way, the two protected Gu Feifei and the others, with Wan Tiancheng clearing the way and Yang Fan bringing up the rear, clearing away monsters as well. Although their progress was slow, they gradually emerged from the darkness and arrived at an unknown place filled with light.

It was a place resembling a small island, densely forested, filled with birdsong and blooming flowers, like a paradise on earth. Suddenly arriving in such a place, Yang Fan almost thought he was seeing things. He was clearly underground; how did he end up in such a place?

Seeing Yang Fan and the others turn their questioning gazes to him, Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but say, "Actually, that cave entrance doesn't truly lead to the underground, but rather to an oasis in the desert. We're currently in this oasis, and the real ancient tomb is deep within it. However, this oasis is fraught with danger, teeming with ferocious beasts. It's incredibly dangerous. I've been here several times, but I've only ever lingered on the edge, unable to venture any deeper."

"But then again, this oasis is indeed a treasure trove, overflowing with spiritual herbs. It not only has holy medicines for healing and saving lives, but also elixirs for enhancing cultivation. It's practically a paradise for martial artists! However, it's also a hellish place, because there are even ferocious beasts here with cultivation levels reaching the Void Returning Realm. With them guarding the spiritual herbs, even Void Returning Realm experts will find it difficult to gain any advantage under their noses!"

Wan Tiancheng's injuries had improved somewhat, but he was still some distance from a full recovery. At most, he could only exert about 70-80% of his strength, a significant difference from his peak condition. Wan Tiancheng didn't believe that he and Yang Fan alone could easily handle the ferocious beasts of the oasis. The most ferocious beasts possessed strength comparable to those at the Returning Realm, and due to their unique physiques, their combat power at the same level was two to three times that of ordinary humans! Even

a single one of these beasts was terrifying. If they encountered a group, even a Mixed Origin Realm martial artist would have to treat them with utmost caution. Wan Tiancheng couldn't imagine how he and Yang Fan alone could face such a perilous situation.

"Brother Yang, ahead lies the oasis's infamous perilous place: the Evil Dragon Pool! It's inhabited by a ferocious amphibious beast called the 'Nether Pool Beast,' a being at the peak of the Refining Spirit realm, even stronger than a martial artist at that level. The key is that these beasts live in packs; if you provoke one, you'll face an endless army of monsters. So, we might need to change direction."

Yang Fan replied with a smile, "Senior Wan, to be honest, I'm planning to find some spiritual herbs for alchemy. As for the ancient tomb treasure, I think I have little chance. Although I possess the Heavenly Eye Pearl and the map, I estimate I'll likely be forced to hand them over. Rather than returning empty-handed and disappointed, I'd rather dig up some spiritual herbs first, making the trip worthwhile. If Senior Lin has other plans, perhaps we can part ways here."

He said this because Su Xin had just told him she needed several medicinal herbs for alchemy. One of the spiritual herbs in the Evil Dragon Pool ahead was a key ingredient in that herb. Helpless, even if there was real danger, he had no choice but to go.

Wan Tiancheng frowned slightly, but had to admit that Yang Fan was right. Countless high-level martial artists were trying to find the true ancient tomb in the oasis, and there were countless martial artists of their level. Moreover, there were countless experts at the Refining Spirit Realm. In such a situation where powerful figures were everywhere, to ultimately win, outstanding strength alone was not enough to guarantee victory; sufficient luck was also required.

Having already stumbled with his most trusted companion, Wan Tiancheng did not believe that his luck was particularly good. The more he thought about it, the more uneasy Wan Tiancheng felt, and the third of the map in his arms seemed to be getting hotter.

"Perhaps... following Brother Yang Fan would be a good decision."

Wan Tiancheng made up his mind in no time.

It's true he's a formidable figure in the south, but often he doesn't have a well-thought-out plan. He tends to make judgments based on personal likes and dislikes, almost instinctively, and once he's made up his mind, he immediately puts it into action.

"Brother Yang, what you say makes a lot of sense. I've decided to work with you!"

Yang Fan looked at Wan Tiancheng with some surprise. He was just a Qi Movement Realm martial artist; if he acted a little timidly, he wouldn't be exposed. How could Wan Tiancheng, a Refining Spirit Realm expert, act like this? However, Wan Tiancheng's answer quickly dispelled Yang Fan's doubts.

"The Heavenly Eye Pearl and the map will only be used for a few days. In seven days, the ancient tomb's protective array will be fully operational again. At that time, those who haven't left in time will only face death. In such a short time, with my strength, I really don't have the confidence to fight my way out from so many skilled opponents. It's better to go with Brother Su to pick some minor spiritual herbs."

Wan Tiancheng spoke frankly, which won Yang Fan's favor. Although their first meeting was marked by a fierce battle that nearly ended in a fight to the death, Yang Fan hadn't witnessed Wan Tiancheng use any other excessive methods besides dealing with the two traitors.

Instead, he impressed Yang Fan with Wan Tiancheng's erudition, broad knowledge, and seemingly ruthless yet kind heart. This was evident in the fact that Wan Tiancheng only threatened Gu Gu Guai but didn't actually attack him.

Even when dealing with his two companions, Yang Fan hadn't witnessed it firsthand, only gleaning from Wan Tiancheng's cryptic remarks that he was quite ruthless towards the two traitors. Such a martial artist inspired a sense of trust in Yang Fan. Sharing some of the spoils with Wan Tiancheng wasn't unacceptable.

Yang Fan's thoughts shifted, and he smiled, saying, "

I couldn't be happier! I was feeling a bit isolated on my own. With a master like Senior Wan joining me, I have even greater confidence!" Wan Tiancheng grinned, quite confident in his own strength. Despite his injuries, he was still no weaker than Yang Fan. However, Wan Tiancheng's confidence didn't last long.

The oasis he was in now felt strangely unfamiliar!

Based on his previous experiences, he should have encountered at least four or five waves of ferocious beasts by now. How come, apart from the group he met in the black hole, he hadn't encountered a single beast?

No! Forget ferocious beasts, he hadn't seen even a slightly threatening wild animal, let alone those giant beasts with strength comparable to martial artists!

Could it be that the martial artists still here were so ferocious that they wiped out all the creatures?

This thought only lingered in Wan Tiancheng's mind for a moment before he dismissed it. Unless a master of the Primordial Chaos Realm intervened, no one had the ability to wipe out all the beasts on the entire oasis in one fell swoop.

Along the way, at Su Xin's prompting, Yang Fan picked a considerable amount of spiritual herbs. However, since they were still on the edge of the oasis, the value of these herbs wasn't very high. Su Xin merely nodded slightly, indicating that these spiritual herbs had some value, and that was all.

Only now did Yang Fan realize that bringing Su Xin along this time hadn't been entirely useless. At the very least, her knowledge of spiritual herbs far surpassed his own. If it weren't for her presence, he would have definitely missed many spiritual herbs…

Yang Fan calmly picked the herbs, while Wan Tiancheng's eyes bulged, frantically rubbing his eyes, completely unable to believe what he was seeing.

What a joke! When did the spiritual herbs on the oasis become so easy to pick? It was even easier and more enjoyable than picking the ones he grew himself. Where were the poisonous flowers and weeds? Where were the ferocious birds and beasts? Where were the incredibly powerful giant beasts?

Question marks flashed through Wan Tiancheng's mind, but before one could be resolved, another would appear, and soon his mind was filled with them!

Shaking his head vigorously, Wan Tiancheng decided not to think about it. He had never been a meticulous martial artist, and rather than thinking so much and still not understanding, he might as well take the opportunity to drink some soup and follow Yang Fan to pick up some things.

"What? The spiritual herb Strengthening Grass? What a good thing! With this, even if my meridians are broken by true qi, I don't have to be afraid. As long as I use this as the main ingredient and add six auxiliary ingredients, I can refine a spiritual medicine to repair my meridians!"

"Bone-Inlaid Flower? I won't be afraid of broken bones!"

"Blue Spirit Fruit? It calms the mind and aids in cultivation..."

Wan Tiancheng followed behind Yang Fan, his eyes widening with each passing moment.

"The Blood Lotus, a precious treasure of the oasis, is extremely rare and hard to come by. Even if you find it, it's often guarded by apex predators on the island. A fierce battle is usually fought, and even if you manage to harvest it, you'll pay a heavy price. But I got it so easily! It seems choosing to go with Yang Fan this time was definitely the right gamble!"

Wan Tiancheng, believing it to be a valuable item, hurriedly and carefully picked the spiritual herbs, all of which Su Xin disdained. Naturally, Yang Fan wouldn't pick what she didn't value.

If he knew that the spiritual herbs he was slipping through his fingers were at least valuable to martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm, he would probably jump up and curse Su Xin for being wasteful!

However, while Wan Tiancheng's picks were good, Yang Fan's collection was even better…

Chapter 348 [Netherworld Monster]

With Su Xin's help, Yang Fan had almost cleared out the surrounding area, but he still stumbled into the dangerous place Wan Tiancheng had described: the Evil Dragon Pool.

According to Wan Tiancheng, a group of incredibly ferocious amphibious villains called the Nether Pool Beasts lived there. These creatures were not only vicious in appearance, with huge mouths and fangs, and heavy limbs, but also incredibly agile and excellent swimmers. Most shamelessly, these villains loved to fight in groups. No matter what prey they encountered, they would swarm it and tear it to pieces in the shortest time possible. Even if, in the end, each Nether Pool Beast might only have a single feather, they were still happy to do so.

Faced with such troublesome and ferocious beasts, other martial artists avoided them like the plague, but Yang Fan, headlong on his heels, charged straight in.

Wan Tiancheng had initially remembered this, but later, following behind Yang Fan and happily collecting loot, he completely forgot about it. Once he too followed Yang Fan and entered the Nether Pool Beasts' territory, retreating was no longer so easy.

"Damn it! Brother Yang, how...how did we get here?"

The moment they stepped into the vicinity of the Evil Dragon Pool, countless ferocious auras surged forth from all directions. The Nether Pool Beasts had a treacherous and shameless habit that Wan Tiancheng had forgotten to tell Yang Fan.

They liked to burrow countless holes into the soil near the Evil Dragon Pool, transforming the environment into a swamp-like area. Then, they would lie in wait in these holes, quietly waiting for their prey to enter the vicinity of the Evil Dragon Pool. Then, they would attack from within and without, happily devouring their unwitting prey.

"This is troublesome!"

Wan Tiancheng angrily pounded his head, but his small eyes quickly filled with fighting spirit.

When facing such a cunning and treacherous beast as the Nether Pool Beast, one absolutely could not consider running away first. Those martial artists who fell into the Nether Pool Beast's ambush and tried to escape were all torn to shreds in the first instant.

Pairs of gleaming green eyes emerged from the damp earth—cunning and ferocious eyes belonging to experienced predators. Following these eyes were gaping maws filled with countless sharp teeth.

The mere sight of those gleaming white teeth was enough to terrify any martial artist below the Qi Movement Realm.

The Nether Pool Beasts possessed strength almost comparable to a peak Qi Movement Realm martial artist. Even with advanced martial arts techniques, most Qi Movement Realm martial artists wouldn't dare provoke a single Nether Pool Beast. If faced with a group, even those with more formidable secret martial arts techniques would be forced to flee in terror. Only martial artists at the Returning to

Emptiness Realm dared to ignore the presence of several Nether Pool Beasts, and even then, it was only a few! If they were to encounter the situation Wan Tiancheng and Yang Fan were facing—surrounded by nearly a hundred Nether Pool Beasts—they would likely be terrified and flee in panic!

Although Yang Fan's apparent strength was inferior to Wan Tiancheng's, he wasn't as panicked. Moreover, the fact that so many Netherworld Beasts guarded something meant it was definitely a valuable item, far exceeding what he already possessed.

Although Yang Fan hadn't had time to process the many spiritual herbs and materials he'd acquired, simply having them was enough to excite him immensely.

Every time he thought about how happy Su Xin was with each herb he collected, Yang Fan felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction, wishing he could repeat the same trick countless times.

"Having too many spiritual herbs and materials is troublesome. It seems I still need to learn alchemy and weapon crafting techniques. Otherwise, with so much stuff piled up, it'll probably rust!"

With the Buddha Relic as a spatial storage device, Yang Fan didn't need to worry about where to put the spiritual herbs he collected for the time being!

Furthermore, as Yang Fan's strength increased, he discovered that the internal space of the Buddha Relic had also increased significantly. This meant that he could carry several times more items than before. Its value is usually hidden, but here, with this super cheat device, Yang Fan can definitely bring out more spiritual herbs...

Around them, over a hundred ferocious-looking Nether Pool Beasts slowly approached Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, radiating a fierce killing intent, trying to force their prey to surrender.

Normally, this tactic of the Nether Pool Beasts was infallible; their prey surrendered quickly with almost no effort. Then, all the Nether Pool Beasts would swarm in, tearing their prey apart and swallowing them whole without lifting a finger.

But today, these two prey were clearly acting strangely! They didn't tremble and kneel down, bowing to the super-giant Nether Pool Beasts of the area—this was unforgivable!

The mud-covered Nether Pool Beasts approached one by one, shoving through layers of mud along the way before gathering together for a group charge. Not only were they fast runners, but their enormous mouths opened wide, truly resembling tanks, firing rounds of yellowish-brown "projectiles." "Brother Yang, be careful! That's one of the Nether Pool Beasts' ultimate moves. Once it hits a target, it will split into six, covering any space within a three-meter radius. Anyone below the Qi Movement Realm will die instantly! Don't let those things get close!"

Wan Tiancheng's expression turned extremely grim as he saw these Nether Pool Beasts use one of these super-giant beasts' ultimate moves right from the start. Normally, these giant beasts wouldn't use these highly destructive moves to ensure their prey remained intact; doing so would blast the prey into pieces, mixing it with the soil, making it inedible. But this time, they actually wanted to tear the two of them apart completely, clearly because their attitude had angered them.

"Alright! Thank you for the reminder, Brother Lin!"

As they spent more time together, their relationship gradually improved from mutual suspicion and exploitation to mutual recognition. In life-or-death situations, they showed a rare and precious unity.

Over a hundred "cannonballs" covered an area of about a hundred meters around Yang Fan, Wan Tiancheng, and Gu Ruoruo. Wan Tiancheng looked grim, his entire body resembling a boar riddled with countless sword energies, his back densely covered with them. At his command, beams of sword energy shot into the sky, crashing into the falling "cannonballs." Seeing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but smile. In this perilous situation, Wan Tiancheng had finally resorted to his trump card. There were probably more than forty sword energies unleashed simultaneously, and each tangible sword energy corresponded to an intangible one, making over eighty in total—enough to eliminate more than half of the "cannonballs." "Brother Wan has already used his full power, so I naturally can't be stingy either."

Yang Fan flicked his Blood-Drinking Sword, instantly transforming it into countless sword energies that followed Wan Tiancheng's attack, shooting towards the sky.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh!"

One "cannonball" after another collided with streaks of sword and blade energy, devouring each other, quickly clearing the yellowed sky and restoring its bright light.

More than a hundred Nether Pool Beasts unleashed their ultimate attacks. Undoubtedly, their dignity as super-giant beasts had been challenged, enraging them. But some animals' instincts, sensing impending danger, also played a role. With

over a hundred "cannonballs" fired simultaneously, none of them succeeded. The Nether Pool Beasts roared angrily, and the soft mud covering their bodies instantly hardened, transforming into a thick layer of mud armor harder than steel. Their speed increased again, and they charged forward with a thunderous roar.

Wan Tiancheng was shocked upon seeing this and exclaimed, "Damn it! It's the Nether Pool Beast's signature move: turning mud into armor! It seems these giant mud rats are really going all out! To tell you the truth, Brother Yang, even I couldn't withstand a single hit from them. I think we should retreat quickly! It's strange, although the Nether Pool Beasts are terrifying, they shouldn't be so aggressive towards us as if they've seen their father's killers!"

Not only Wan Tiancheng found it strange, but Yang Fan also found it strange. Before entering the ambush, he had used his divine sense to scan the area, making sure the giant beasts lurking under the mud were still, before entering with Wan Tiancheng.

Who knew that in such a short time, those Nether Pool Beasts, who had been squinting their eyes and ignoring them, suddenly started fighting like their ancestral graves had been dug up.

"The Immovable King's Mantra for Subduing Demons!"

At this moment, Yang Fan dared not hesitate. He shouted loudly, forming the mudra of the Immovable King's Mantra with both hands. Golden Buddhist light continuously condensed in his hands until it formed a golden light as bright as the sun. Then, Yang Fan threw his hands upwards with force, and eighteen golden rays shot out from the blazing sun, covering the surrounding Netherworld Beasts.

The more than one hundred Netherworld Beasts, covered by the golden Buddhist light, were all as if bitten by a sleep bug. Their heavy eyelids drooped, and their running speed instantly slowed down. Before they could reach Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, their front legs gave way, and they collapsed to the ground, falling into a deep sleep.

Wan Tiancheng had pushed his power to the limit, his feet practically greased, just waiting for the right opportunity to feint and break through the gap, allowing him and Yang Fan to escape this dangerous place.

But then he saw Yang Fan form hand seals and toss them into the air, unleashing over a hundred golden beams that instantly put all the hundred-plus Rank 6 super beasts to sleep. Wan Tiancheng's small, triangular eyes widened in disbelief; he still refused to believe Yang Fan had done this.

Seeing Wan Tiancheng standing there dumbfounded, Yang Fan simply smiled to himself, not waking him, secretly pleased: "This Immovable King Demon-Subduing Mantra is truly effective. According to the instructions, if one masters it to its peak, one can convert billions of beings with a wave of the hand. Although I don't possess such power, with my current strength, making beings weaker than me take a nap isn't difficult. Even if it's just a short nap, it's already quite good!"

After dealing with the Nether Pool Beasts, Yang Fan turned back to find Su Xin and the others, only to find Su Xin standing motionless before a purple flower. The purple plant grew on a patch of earth and rocks four steps inward from the Dragon Pool. Even from a distance, one could feel a rich spiritual energy emanating from it.

Yang Fan didn't recognize the purple plant, but he knew that the way the Nether Pool Beasts were acting, as if their wives had been disturbed, was probably directly related to that plant.

He called out to Wan Tiancheng and headed towards the Dragon Pool.

"Brother Yang, what...what technique did you just use? How could you be so powerful? Even I, enveloped in that golden light, would probably be as weak as these monsters!"

Wan Tiancheng finally came to his senses, his face filled with shock and disbelief. He realized that Yang Fan hadn't used his full strength at all, perhaps not even a third of it. Putting everything else aside, if Yang Fan had used that move, even ten or eight of him wouldn't have been able to withstand it!

Yang Fan simply smiled but didn't explain. Wan Tiancheng also smiled, realizing he had asked a rash question. Such a treasured possession wouldn't be easily revealed to just anyone. It's a life-saving secret!

Neither of them spoke, and their speed was naturally quite fast. In no time, they approached the rocky area. When they were still some distance from the purple flowers and grass, a furious roar pierced the air.

"Roar!"

Upon hearing this roar, Wan Tiancheng's expression changed: "So the legend is true! There really is a Netherworld Demon Beast in this Evil Dragon Pool!"

Yang Fan, upon hearing this, couldn't help but stir, saying, "Brother Wan, have you heard of this thing?"

Wan Tiancheng nodded, "I didn't believe it before. Although there are countless ferocious beasts in the oasis, the most powerful are only at the Refining Spirit Realm. One or two such beasts are nothing to us martial artists. Even if we can't defeat them immediately, we can wear them down." "The only worry is the gregarious ferocious beasts. Even a group of only those at the Nascent Soul stage can tear a Spirit Refining stage martial artist to shreds. Like the Nether Pool Beast..."

Wan Tiancheng smiled bitterly and continued, "The Nether Pool Beast is at least a Spirit Refining stage beast. The Spirit Refining stage! The difference between a Spirit Refining stage beast and a Qi Movement stage beast is like the difference between a Spirit Refining stage martial artist and a Qi Movement stage expert. One Nether Pool Beast is more terrifying than a hundred or so Qi Movement stage Nether Pool Beasts!"

Yang Fan nodded slowly upon hearing this. It seemed that not only were the Nether Pool Beasts concerned about that purple flower, but the Nether Pool Beast itself was even more interested! This showed that the purple flower must be something extraordinary!

"Bang!"

Just then, a loud splash resounded, and a gigantic creature, nearly two meters tall and over six meters long, leaped out of the water, stomping heavily on the earthen rock covered with purple flowers and grass. Its cold, vertical pupils glared fiercely at Yang Fan, and it roared again.

"Roar!"

The roar of the Netherworld Beast echoed through the sky. Some of the nearby beasts, hearing its cry, fled to distant places. Undoubtedly, this Netherworld Beast was the king of this place. Although they didn't know what had gotten into it, the other beasts dared not approach and ran as far away as possible!

Chapter 349 [Qingcheng Sect]

Wan Tiancheng looked at the Nether Pool Demon Beast emerging from the water with a mixture of regret and envy, saying, "Ferocious beasts above the Refining Spirit Realm already deserve the title 'demon,' as they all possess inner cores. The Nether Pool Beast is an earth-attribute beast, but the Nether Pool Demon Beast is a rare dual-attribute wood and earth beast, making its inner core especially precious. Moreover, its spine is a first-rate material, whether used to forge spears or whips!"

The most useful materials from the Nether Pool Demon Beast are its demon core and spine. As for the other flesh, tendons, and bones, while they are all good, they are far inferior to the demon core and spine. Therefore, Wan Tiancheng only mentioned the demon core and spine, omitting the others.

Yang Fan originally only intended to immobilize the Nether Pool Demon Beast and then simply follow the purple flowers and grass, but upon hearing Wan Tiancheng's words, he had other ideas.

"There really is a Nether Pool Demon Beast!"

As soon as Yang Fan began to recite, he heard a joyful cry, and then, four or five people rushed out from afar. Among them were men and women, young and old, all dressed in the same blue robes. Yang Fan felt the color and style of the clothes were somewhat familiar, but he couldn't quite place them. There were five people

in total. The elder leading them was over fifty years old, with gray hair and a short beard. His aura was powerful, slightly weaker than Wan Tiancheng's, but still a martial artist at the Refining Spirit Realm.

The other four, three men and one woman, were all around twenty years old, each with an arrogant expression, recklessly releasing their auras, all surprisingly at the Qi Movement Realm.

The only woman had a slightly weaker aura, probably at the fifth or sixth level of the Fetal Breathing Realm; the other three were at the peak of the Fetal Breathing Realm.

Seeing their formation, Yang Fan immediately understood that they were most likely disciples from a hidden sect who had come out for training. As for the elder at the Refining Spirit Realm, he was merely a caretaker.

After this group appeared, they didn't even glance at Yang Fan and his companions. They went straight to the bank of the Evil Dragon Pool, subtly blocking Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng from the outside.

The older one gave the four young men and women a wink, signaling them to surround and kill the Nether Pool Monster. He then turned around, not even looking at Yang Fan, but simply nodded slightly to Wan Tiancheng, saying, "Friend, I am Chu Li, an outer elder of the Qingcheng Sect. Our Qingcheng Sect has been watching that Nether Pool Monster for a long time, and we only lured it out today. It's inconvenient for you two to stand here. In my opinion, it would be better to leave this place. Otherwise, it would be bad if we accidentally injured someone!"

Chu Li seemed polite, but his tone was undeniably arrogant. He was certain that by mentioning the name of the Qingcheng Sect, no one would dare to disrespect him. The Qingcheng Sect was a highly prestigious sect in Sichuan, with a history of several hundred years. It was a dominant force in Sichuan, and in the region, no one dared to disrespect the Qingcheng Sect.

In fact, there are quite a few sects like the Qingcheng Sect across China. However, these sects have always been detached from worldly affairs, focusing solely on the pursuit of the Dao. Neither dynastic changes nor historical shifts have ever held their attention. The only things that can truly move them are things like ancient tombs, which are beneficial to cultivation.

Hearing Chu Li introduce himself, Yang Fan finally understood why his attire seemed familiar. He had dealt with this sect during his training years ago. However, when he was an assassin, he mostly carried out missions abroad, rarely in China, so he hadn't immediately recalled it.

Actually, while his constant missions overseas were partly driven by a sense of nationalistic fervor, the main reason was that his master had warned him not to cause too much trouble in China, otherwise, he would face conflict with both the government and these reclusive sects.

Although China is now a unified nation, there are still local tyrants in various regions, like the Qingcheng Sect in Sichuan. Even a provincial governor parachuted in from the central government has to first visit the Qingcheng Sect; otherwise, he can forget about gaining a foothold in Sichuan.

It is precisely because of this that Qingcheng Sect disciples have developed an arrogant attitude. Even outer disciples always mention the Qingcheng Sect when they are out and about. This method has proven effective time and again; generally, as long as they mention the Qingcheng Sect, others will give way. However, this tactic seems to be less effective today…

Wan Tiancheng glanced coldly at Chu Li, feeling somewhat uneasy, and couldn't help but turn to look at Yang Fan. If Yang Fan hadn't immobilized those Nether Pool Beasts, how could those bastards have gotten a chance to take advantage of that Nether Pool Demon Beast?

Wan Tiancheng hadn't dared to act earlier, fearing his old injuries hadn't healed and he wouldn't be able to unleash his full strength. He worried that he and Yang Fan might not be able to defeat the Netherworld Beast.

If he had known someone actually dared to venture into the Evil Dragon Pool, he would have been better off taking a gamble; perhaps they could have killed the beast and avoided this bunch of jerks.

"Brother Yang, I can't stand this bunch of jerks' jerks. I'm going to make my move! Even if I don't get the demon core, I won't let these bastards get it. I don't want to drag Brother Su down with

me. How about we split up here?" Wan Tiancheng was certain he couldn't defeat these Qingcheng Sect disciples alone. Even with Yang Fan, they wouldn't stand a chance. It was much more efficient for him to fight alone than to involve Yang Fan.

Yang Fan smiled, pulled Wan Tiancheng along, and whispered something in his ear, which made Wan Tiancheng's eyes light up.

"Alright, Elder Chu, we'll take our leave!"

Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng didn't linger; they left without hesitation.

Chu Li'en watched the two figures depart with some disdain, but quickly noticed the more than one hundred clay sculptures shaped like ferocious beasts. He muttered, "These clay sculptures... why do they look somewhat like the Nether Pool Beasts that Senior Brother mentioned?"

With this suspicion in mind, Chu Li'en unleashed a palm strike, landing on one of the Nether Pool Beasts, sending mud flying and a large chunk falling off. After another glance, seeing that the clay sculptures didn't seem alive, Chu Li'en turned away and went to assist the Qingcheng Sect disciples.

The four young Qingcheng Sect disciples—three men and one woman—had already engaged the Nether Pool Beast. Provoked by them, the Nether Pool Beast leaped over the mud and reached the edge of the pool, immediately unleashing a stomp of its four hooves. Waves of invisible energy shook the four young men and women, sending them tumbling precariously.

These four young Qingcheng Sect disciples were no pushovers. The older of them shouted, "Four Symbols Ascension Sword Formation!"

Hearing this, the other three, one male and one female, roared in response, each rushing to different positions, brandishing their weapons and launching attacks.

The four, all wielding longswords, fiercely attacked the Nether Pool Beast, managing to trap it. However, the beast's hide was thick and its body covered in a thick layer of mud armor, making it difficult to even break through its defenses, let alone kill it. Before long, the four disciples began to panic.

One of the younger ones said, "Senior brother, this isn't working! How about we ask Elder Chu for help?"

The older man glanced at Chu Li, who had returned from negotiating with Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, his face darkening. He said, "We are inner disciples, after all. If we can't defeat the Nether Pool Beast, and we have to ask an outer sect elder for help? If our fellow disciples find out, where will we put our face?" Hearing his

senior brother's reprimand, the young disciple shrank back and dared not mention the matter again.

Chu Lien chased away Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, but did not step forward to help. He stood aside with his arms crossed, secretly testing the four young inner disciples, pondering to himself.

"After all, they are inner disciples. Each of them is not even twenty years old, yet they have already stepped into the Qi Movement Realm. When I was twenty, I was still struggling to reach the Fetal Breath Realm. You are lucky, with countless spiritual herbs cultivated by the inner sect, you can easily break through obstacles and advance, unlike us, who have to risk our lives and fight tooth and nail to advance!"

"This is the Four Symbols Ascension Sword Formation of the inner sect, right? When the four of them use it, even a martial artist in the early stage of Refining Spirit can be trapped for a short while. This Nether Pool Demon Beast has strength close to the early stage of Refining Spirit. I want to see how you will kill it!" "

The five Qingcheng Sect members, including the old and the young, didn't know much about the Nether Pool Beast. Chu Li had only overheard his senior brother mention it and, wanting to show off, let it slip to the four inner sect juniors.

Unexpectedly, the four inner sect juniors were immediately tempted by greed. They coveted the convenience of consuming demon cores to improve their cultivation level, and relying on their Four Symbols Ascension Sword Formation for protection, believing they could withstand even a martial artist in the early stage of Refining Spirit, they were ready to go anywhere in the world. So, they arrogantly set off to find the Nether Pool Beast.

Chu Li didn't pay much attention at first, after all, the existence of the Nether Pool Beast was just a legend. It was impossible to break into the Nether Pool Beast horde and get close to the Evil Dragon Pool without using the full strength of the sect. He just considered it a trip with his juniors and didn't think much of it."

Who would have thought that just as they arrived nearby, they heard a terrifying roar of a beast. Rushing over, they were lucky enough to see the Nether Pool Beast burst from the water, its appearance exactly as their senior brother had described. Even Chu Li was tempted, let alone the four juniors.

Without a second thought, Chu Li ordered the four juniors to kill the Nether Pool Beast while he went to clear out the surrounding bystanders.

Wan Tiancheng, following Yang Fan, hadn't gone far when he couldn't contain himself and asked, "Brother Yang, when are you going to release those Nether Pool Beasts?"

Yang Fan's use of the Immovable King's Demon-Subduing Mantra to immobilize the Nether Pool Beasts had a time limit. Even if he didn't intervene, the beasts would eventually recover from their slumber. But by then, the Qingcheng Sect members might have already killed the Nether Pool Beasts and leisurely left with their demon cores, spines, and other spoils. Wan Tiancheng, hearing Yang Fan's idea, eagerly awaited this scene, but Yang Fan showed no sign of urgency.

"No rush, let's wait until they've beaten that Nether Pool Beast half to death."

Yang Fan's unhurried words made Wan Tiancheng's eyes light up.

"That's right! How come I didn't think of that? Hehe, it would be a real waste not to use so many free henchmen!"

Having figured this out, Wan Tiancheng calmed down. Like Yang Fan, he found a large tree, jumped up, and watched the show from afar.

The four inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect fought for a while but couldn't break through the Nether Pool Beast's defenses. Instead, the beast found an opportunity, unleashing several War Stomp attacks, knocking them off their feet. They were also caught off guard by the Nether Pool Beast's alternating attacks of earth spikes and

thorny cages, keeping them busy and disorganized. The Nether Pool Beast was a rare beast with both wood and earth attributes. Its use of earth spikes to summon countless rock spikes from the ground was within the four Qingcheng Sect inner disciples' expectations. Although they were busy, they remained focused and organized.

However, the thorny cage released by the demonic beast was actually vines that suddenly grew from the ground, a genuine wood-attribute skill, which was truly unexpected.

The dignified Four Symbols Ascension Sword Formation, a sect's most powerful defensive formation, was shattered by the demonic beast's endless tricks, and it almost escaped.

Elder Chu Li stood aside calmly, but while he was watching the situation closely, he didn't care about the dignity of the four inner disciples if they faltered. He directly stepped forward and struck with a palm, blasting the demonic beast back.

After a few exchanges, the older inner disciple's face flushed red, clearly angered. He shouted, "Four Symbols Shatter, Eight Trigrams Ascend!"

Hearing the inner disciple's shout, Chu Li's expression changed; this was indeed somewhat unexpected. His original intention was merely to take the opportunity to curb the arrogance of the inner disciples and give the outer sect some face. Who knew that the oldest inner disciple would be so fierce? Just for a slight loss of face, he resorted to such a mutually destructive move.

The other inner disciples were equally arrogant; at the call of the oldest, they didn't hesitate at all, each launching their attack.

A series of deep blue lights flashed beside the four, and with a simultaneous sway, each revealed an indistinct figure, flitting about like butterflies around the Netherworld Beast.

The four swords were now covered with a layer of deep blue light three fingers thick. When they struck the Netherworld Beast, it was no longer like before, unable to even pierce its outer mud shell. With a series of thuds, most of the mud shell on the Netherworld Beast was cleaved away, revealing its deep green scales.

"Roar! Roar!"

The Netherworld Beast roared twice in succession, its scales pierced by a sword, leaving a bloody hole.

Enraged, the beast opened its maw and spat out a powerful "cannonball." The

four inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect, seeing that their hard work had finally wounded the beast, were like they'd been injected with adrenaline. They disregarded the danger and used all their strength to thrust relentlessly.

"Blood-Freezing Frost Sword? Lone Sun!"

"Blood-Freezing Frost Sword? Twin Stars!" "Blood-Freezing Frost Sword?

Crescent Moon!"

"Blood-Freezing Frost Brush? Lone Cloud!"

The four cultivators unleashed a combined attack with the Qingcheng martial art, "Blood-Coagulating Frost Sword," a technique where the sun, moon, stars, and clouds merged, instantly emitting a dazzling deep blue light that covered the entire body of the Nether Pool Beast. Layers

of

frost covered the Nether Pool Beast's body, each layer forming and then peeling off, without spreading inwards. Yet, even so, it almost killed the Nether Pool Beast in a single move!

The Nether Pool Beast was covered in a thick layer of mud, which it could easily transform into mud armor using its mud-to-armor technique. But that... The frost condensed and fell away too quickly; before the Netherworld Beast could even use its life-saving technique, it was reduced to a naked pig. In the blink of an eye, not only was the mud wiped away, but a layer of its scales were also taken away.

The transformation from a wild beast to a demon beast is not simply a leap in rank or increased strength. The most significant difference lies in its enhanced intelligence, its ability to seek advantage and avoid harm, and its use of strategy. However, this level of intelligence is sufficient for jungle dominance, but against humans, who are most adept at scheming and trickery, it is somewhat inadequate.

"Roar!" "

The Netherworld Beast roared, its body flashing with azure light. Its shed scales were visibly regenerating at an astonishing speed. It knew its scales were its last line of defense; if they didn't regenerate, its flesh and blood would freeze, followed by its internal organs!

Regenerating scales was easy, but restoring flesh was difficult. As for restoring internal organs, it was still just a beast, not a demon god! It was far from being immortal.

The Blood-Coagulating Frost Sword, with its four swords combined, a tangled mess of sun, moon, stars, and clouds, was a deadly, all-or-nothing attack from the Qingcheng Sect. The Netherworld Beast's continuous regeneration of its scales was a problem, but it was causing great suffering to the four inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect."

The combined power of the four Blood-Coagulating Frost Swords is easy to wield but difficult to retract. Moreover, with their mere Qi-manipulation martial arts level, they were far from being able to unleash the full power of the Blood-Coagulating Frost Swords. The continuous drain on their true energy could be sustained for a short time, but after a while, the four inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect were constantly complaining.

In a battle of attrition, how could they possibly be a match for the Netherworld Monster? It possessed both wood and earth attributes, and that wood attribute was no joke. Its regenerative ability was second only to water-attribute monsters.

The Qingcheng Sect was a large sect with many internal cultivation techniques; if their own attributes weren't so severely imbalanced, who would choose water-attribute techniques? Water-attribute techniques had strong regenerative abilities, but their offensive power was too weak, making them merely companions wherever they went. This was unbearable for the Qingcheng Sect disciples, who were always concerned with their reputation.

Once they engaged the Nether Pool Demon Beast in a prolonged battle, the four Qingcheng Sect inner disciples immediately couldn't hold on.

The Four Symbols Ascension Sword Formation combined with the Blood-Coagulating Frost Sword, a four-sword attack, was something even a newly promoted Refining Spirit Realm martial artist might not be able to gain the upper hand. The Nether Pool Demon Beast was roughly equivalent to a martial artist in the early Refining Spirit Realm. Logically, the four Qingcheng Sect inner disciples should have been able to defeat it. However, the Nether Pool Demon Beast possessed both wood and earth attributes. Compared to a strong early Refining Spirit Realm expert, it had an extra layer of thick hide, resulting in the current stalemate.

Chu Li initially managed to remain calm, observing from the sidelines... He didn't step forward to help. But seeing that the four inner disciples were even using the combined attack of the Four Swords of the Blood-Coagulating Frost Sword, clearly intending to fight the Nether Pool Beast to the death, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

Training inner disciples was fine, but they couldn't afford to get hurt. If something happened, not only would he, as an outer sect elder, suffer, but the already unpopular outer sect members would likely see their treatment worsen.

The inner sect was fundamental, and the true teachings were the core. Not to mention these large sects with centuries of history, even second- and third-rate sects steadfastly followed this path. Outer sect disciples could compete for favor, but they couldn't disregard the safety of inner sect disciples; otherwise, they would be committing a grave taboo.

Chu Li hesitated for a moment, and the four inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect were immediately in grave danger. They were only martial artists at the Qi Movement Realm; although their inner strength was abundant, it was still limited. To try and outlast the Youtan Demon Beast, a super demon beast that had entered the Refining Spirit Realm, was a terrible move. In addition, the combined use of the four swords of the Blood Condensation Frost Sword had caused them great exhaustion, and they could only hold on for a short while before they could no longer hold on.

Unfortunately, the older inner disciple was a very proud person, and he would rather watch his four fellow disciples perish than ask Chu Li for help.

Wan Tiancheng watched from afar and couldn't help but chuckle: "Everyone says that the Qingcheng Sect disciples are extremely concerned about their reputation. I had only heard about it before, but I only know it today. The rumors are true!"

Yang Fan, who was listening from the side, nodded repeatedly. Being concerned about one's reputation is not a bad thing, but if one throws away one's life for a pointless struggle, it is foolish and not a sign of backbone. They'll likely be used as a negative example in the future, their deaths unsettled: many will probably say, "Remember, those fools from the Qingcheng Sect... they died because they were so obsessed with saving face!"

However, despite his感慨 (feelings of regret/reflection), Yang Fan wouldn't tolerate Chu Li calmly rescuing those Qingcheng Sect inner disciples. They should have expected what would happen if

they were being snatched from his grasp! Yang Fan's lips curled into a smug, gloating smile. With a flick of his fingers, the Immovable King's Demon-Subduing Mantra was completely dispelled. As

soon as the mantra was lifted, over a hundred Netherworld Beasts simultaneously awoke. Before they could even understand what was happening, they heard their leader roar repeatedly, constantly summoning his minions for help.

Hearing the Netherworld Beasts' roars, the Netherworld Beasts were terrified and fled in panic. Good heavens! Their leader's mud armor had been completely stripped away, and his scales, mixed with flesh and blood, were peeling off layer by layer. If they delayed any longer, their leader would likely perish! The Netherworld Beasts roared in fury, rallying to their leader's aid.

Having waited so long, the Netherworld Beasts were greatly encouraged to hear their underlings' roars. They let out another loud cry, remotely commanding their minions.

The Netherworld Beasts didn't hold back, unleashing all their skills. Some spat "cannonballs," while others transformed mud into armor, charging towards Chu Li, who had rushed to his rescue, like tanks.

Chu Li had barely made his move, before he even touched the Netherworld Beasts' rear, when he saw those large clods of earth he had previously mistaken for mud sculptures come to life, roaring and charging towards him. At this moment, he finally understood that these clay sculptures weren't just large clods of earth, but clearly the elusive Netherworld Beasts!

"I was careless!"

In an instant, Chu Li was filled with regret, deeply regretting his trip to the Evil Dragon Pool. But regret was useless. In the blink of an eye, more than fifty "cannonballs" rained down on his head.

Chu Li, as expected of an outer elder of the Qingcheng Sect, was skilled in one of the sect's five supreme techniques: the Refining Heaven Palm!

Facing the swarm of Netherworld Beasts, he unleashed his ultimate technique without hesitation. The moment the Refining Heaven Palm was unleashed, a strong sulfurous aura filled the air, as if the air itself were about to ignite with his movements.

Although Chu Li's attack was fast enough, he had clearly overlooked one thing: the Netherworld Beasts were all earth-attribute ferocious beasts. Fire overcomes wood but generates earth. Fortunately, Chu Li had mastered the Refining Heaven Palm to an extremely high level. Although the power was significantly weakened by the elemental interactions, he still managed to blast through over fifty "cannonballs" before being defeated by You Tan Xi Shan's attack. However, immediately afterward, over fifty You Tan beasts, resembling small tanks, charged towards him.

Chu Li was now faced with a perilous dilemma. After some deliberation, Chu Li made a decision.

A red light flashed across his face, his hair stood on end, and with a flick of his wrists, he unleashed a move that, while sacrificing his own power, aimed to maximize its power.

"Blazing Heaven!"

Chu Li roared, red flames erupting from his body. He slammed his hands together, sending dozens of fire clouds shooting out, carrying intense heat, towards the charging You Tan beasts.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Dozens of huge explosions rang out in succession, their power deafening. These were the massive sounds of the fire cloud striking the Netherworld Beasts.

The strength of the Qingcheng Sect's outer sect elder at the Refining Spirit Realm was indeed formidable. This sudden outburst of power caused the Netherworld Beasts that were struck to collapse as if hit by a massive tank, groaning in agony. Within moments, more than a dozen of the weaker beasts had perished.

Having killed more than a dozen Netherworld Beasts and overturned dozens more with a single palm strike, Chu Li didn't even have time to feel smug before abruptly turning around and rushing to rescue four inner sect disciples of the Qingcheng Sect.

But while he was unleashing his power, the Spirit-level Netherworld Beast wasn't idle either. The escape of its minions greatly encouraged it, and it suddenly unleashed its life-saving ultimate move, Earth Spike.

In an instant, within a radius of several dozen meters centered on the Nether Pool Beast, the ground sank, wooden stakes rose up, and in the blink of an eye, two weaker inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect were blasted into pieces. With

the deaths of the two inner disciples, the Four Symbols Ascension Sword Formation collapsed without a fight, and the combined power of the four swords of the Blood-Condensing Frost Sword also disintegrated. The two inner disciples, barely holding on, coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, Chu Li's eyes widened in fury. He roared and charged forward, unleashing another cloud of fire that slammed into the Nether Pool Beast, sending the enormous creature flying a great distance before it crashed to the ground with a loud bang, burying itself three to five meters deep in the earth, unable to rise for a long time.

After briefly checking the surviving inner disciples, Chu Li was still not satisfied. He roared again, unleashing a flurry of fire from his hands, which rained down on the Nether Pool Beast once more.

But by this time, the remaining Nether Pool Beasts had already arrived on horseback and were now engaged in battle with Chu Li.

Seeing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but smile and winked at Wan Tiancheng: "Brother Wan, it's about time we made our move!"

The two exchanged a smile, jumped out, divided their targets, and went their separate ways. Wan Tiancheng seized the opportunity to strike and defeat Chu Li, while Yang Fan took care of the two seriously injured inner disciples before turning back to help Wan Tiancheng. Of course, they also needed to collect the purple flower that had attracted the Netherworld Beasts from the water. Even the Netherworld Beasts were tempted by it, so it was clearly of extremely high quality!

After appearing, Wan Tiancheng lay in wait for a while, and when Chu Li had released some more Netherworld Beasts and his own strength was almost exhausted, he made his move.

At this moment, Yang Fan had already arrived at the patch of earth and rocks where the purple flowers and plants grew. Just as he was about to reach out and pick the small purple flower, Su Xin suddenly called out, "Yang Fan, don't move!" "

?"

Hearing Su Xin's call, Yang Fan stopped. He had forgotten that there was a master of traditional Chinese medicine beside him. With Su Xin's medical expertise, she would definitely know the true value of this thing.

Traditional Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine. The efficacy of the same herb can change due to external factors such as the harvesting process, time, and method. A spiritual herb that could save a life might become poison due to improper harvesting. Similarly, the efficacy can be lost due to improper harvesting methods.

"What is this?"

"Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid!"

"Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid?"

"That's right. The greatest function of this Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid is to refine the body and strengthen bones. It can allow cultivators below the Refining Spirit Realm to directly jump more than two levels in their physical body grade!"

Hearing Su Xin say this, Yang Fan couldn't help but gasp. Yang Fan understands all too well how difficult it is to advance one's physical body. Even martial artists at the Qi Movement Realm today are only slightly stronger than ordinary people, at most achieving a small circulation within their bodies. They are still a long way from reaching the point where they can exploit their weaknesses.

However, if one were to consume this Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid, their physical body would immediately leap two levels, reaching the pinnacle of power—the highest realm of external hard qigong, as commonly understood by martial artists: indestructible diamond! No wonder even a high-level demon beast like the Nether Pool Demon Beast would be tempted by it!

"The Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid takes thirty years to sprout, thirty years to grow, thirty years to bloom, a full hundred years to truly mature. During this process, the flower's color changes from white, blue, red, black, cyan, and orange to its final purple. Only when the entire petal, including the entire plant, turns purple can it be harvested." "

Furthermore, this Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid cannot be picked directly with bare hands, otherwise it will wither immediately. It also cannot be picked with gold, silver, or iron tools; it must be picked with jade implements. Only in this way can its medicinal properties be preserved. Also, it cannot be stored in any other containers."

Hearing Su Xin's explanation, Yang Fan couldn't help but carefully observe the appearance of the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid. As she said, the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid was entirely purple, not only its petals but also its leaves and roots. Although he hadn't actually touched the orchid, Yang Fan could still clearly feel the spiritual energy emanating from it.

Breathing in that energy gave him a feeling of ethereal bliss. He could even feel an excited surge in his muscles and bones. He even wondered if consuming the orchid would immediately transform his physical body once more.

At the same time, Yang Fan discovered that the Buddha bone relic on his finger was emitting faint white light, which automatically fell onto the orchid. The orchid, in turn, suddenly emitted streaks of purple light, the two lights intertwining in mid-air, forming a harmonious cycle. And this cycle actually used Yang Fan's physical body as the medium...

Chapter 351 [Physical Metamorphosis]

The purple aura, hazy and beautiful, flowed slowly into Yang Fan's body along the Buddha bone relic at his fingertips. If someone could see what was happening inside Yang Fan's body at this moment, they would find that the purple energy flow entered his body and directly penetrated his bones, muscles, and blood vessels. In the end, his entire body was covered with a layer of purple luster!

Surrounded by the purple aura, Yang Fan discovered that the strength of his physical body had more than doubled out of thin air. Now, even without relying on true qi, the strength of his physical body alone was enough to fight against a master of the Refining Spirit Realm without being at a disadvantage!

With a gentle clench of his fist, tiny vortexes instantly formed between his five fingers, and even spatial rifts appeared. Yang Fan even suspected that the strength of his physical body now was probably no more than that of the legendary divine dragon!

Moreover, Yang Fan discovered that after the purple energy circulated within his body, it began to spread towards the surface. As the purple energy entered the blood-red dragon patterns on his skin, the patterns began to slowly move, the blood-red dragon body and the swirling purple true energy seemingly coming to life. Even Yang Fan's skin showed faint purple dragon scales, as if he were about to transform into a dragon.

However, all of this lasted only a brief moment before the already small Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid completely transformed into purple energy, flowing into Yang Fan's body. With

the disappearance of the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid, the cycle between the Buddha Relic and the orchid was completely severed. The purple luster within Yang Fan's body gradually faded. However, although the purple luster disappeared, the surge in physical power did not. The blood-red dragon patterns returned to normal, but seemed even more agile and eerie than before…

Without further examining his internal condition, Yang Fan focused his attention and quickly reunited with Wan Tiancheng.

Confronted by Wan Tiancheng and Chu Li, the battle didn't proceed as expected.

Instead of swiftly defeating him and clearing out the remaining Netherworld Beasts, the two sides were locked in a stalemate, their fighting fierce and increasingly intense, threatening to attract others.

Yang Fan arrived and activated the Immovable King's Demon-Subduing Mantra again. Waves of golden light swept down, immobilizing all the Netherworld Beasts in his way, including those struggling to climb out of their pits. He then unleashed a beam of golden light at Chu Li.

Chu Li was no pushover. The moment Yang Fan immobilized the Netherworld Beasts, he realized he'd fallen for a trap.

He'd been so smug, thinking the Qingcheng Sect's reputation was enough to scare these two away with a mere bluff. Turns out, they had no intention of letting him go; they'd dug a pit for him to fall into.

The thought of his four inner disciples perishing in the Dragon Pool because of his carelessness filled Chu Li with sorrow, and his gaze towards Wan Tiancheng and Yang Fan turned incredibly venomous. Chu Li had witnessed the fate of the Nether Pool Beast after being struck by the golden light, and naturally couldn't allow himself to be struck as well. If he did, the Qingcheng Sect's grudge would likely be forgotten.

With this thought, Chu Li pulled something from his waist and tossed it into the air—a purple talisman, gleaming with golden light and inscribed with countless tiny golden characters. The talisman immediately blocked the descending golden light.

Chu Li was truly decisive; he had endured a fatal blow from Wan Tiancheng's blade, losing an arm in the process, but he used all his strength to escape, leaping far away in a flash.

That wasn't all. To avoid pursuit by Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng, Chu Li pulled out another talisman, this time a green one. The moment the talisman was released, it exploded, transforming into a green bird that made a grand entrance in the air.

"Not good! This guy is sending a message! Attracting attention!"

Wan Tiancheng's expression changed drastically upon seeing this. It seemed that only Chu Li and his group of five had entered the oasis this time. His talisman wasn't meant to summon fellow disciples, but rather to attract other martial artists. If others saw the Netherworld Beast, or even a group of dead or wounded Netherworld Beasts, it would be enough to spark a new round of conflict.

Yang Fan acted decisively, instantly activating his Ghost Shadow Steps and appearing beside Chu Li. His Nine Heavens Thunder Technique was unleashed, giving him no chance to escape again.

"You…"

Chu Li's eyes widened in disbelief. Even after dodging so far and releasing the talisman, he still couldn't escape Yang Fan's clutches.

Unfortunately, he didn't get a chance to hear Yang Fan's answer. With the unleashing of the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, a flash of purple lightning instantly reduced any physical body below the Refining Spirit Realm to dust! Chu Li was merely a martial artist in the early Refining Spirit stage; how could he possibly withstand it? He was instantly reduced to ashes, dying even more completely than the four inner disciples!

Wan Tiancheng was about to tell Yang Fan to collect the spoils and leave when Yang Fan unexpectedly went to intercept Chu Li and successfully defeated him. In his shock, Wan Tiancheng looked at Yang Fan with a more enigmatic expression.

After killing Chu Li, Yang Fan immediately returned, collected the purple talisman of unknown origin, and joined forces with Wan Tiancheng to kill the Nether Pool Beast. They divided the spoils and, along with Gu Feifei and the others, quickly disappeared.

The group, hiding to the side, watched as Chu Li and the four Qingcheng Sect inner disciples fought the Nether Pool Beast, having already agreed on the spoils. Wan Tiancheng lacked a suitable magical artifact, so the spine of the Netherworld Beast would belong to him, while Yang Fan received the dual-attribute demon core. As for the Netherworld Beast's eyes and flesh, each family would take a share, ensuring no one lost out. The remaining Netherworld Beasts were also somewhat useful, though less effective, so the two of them each took a portion before leaving.

There wasn't enough time to devour all the spoils. After doing all this, Yang Fan put away the Immovable King Demon-Subduing Mantra and released the remaining Netherworld Beasts.

Seeing their leader dead and many of their kind dead and wounded, these predators all fled in disarray, like stray dogs, some hiding in the Dragon Pool, others burrowing underground, each finding their own way to survive.

Yang Fan ignored all of this and disappeared into the depths of the dense forest with Wan Tiancheng and the others in the blink of an eye. Not long after they left, martial artists arrived.

"Nether Pool Beast?" Seeing the chaotic state around the Evil Dragon Pool, the newcomers exchanged bewildered glances and immediately began to devise a plan, tacitly dividing up the remaining Nether Pool Beast corpses. While dividing the remaining Nether Pool Beast corpses, some finally noticed the bodies of the four Qingcheng Sect inner disciples.

Two of them were relatively unharmed, clearly killed by the giant beast's ultimate attack, but the other two looked as if they had been killed without any warning. Combined with the rumors of demonic beasts lurking in the Evil Dragon Pool, some of the more astute immediately thought of Chu Li.

All four inner disciples were dead, yet this outer sect elder was nowhere to be found. Not to mention, the large pool of blood on the ground and the marks around the deep pit suggested that an even larger creature had once roamed the vicinity.

They searched the surrounding area but couldn't find a trace of him. Besides Chu Li devouring the monster's corpse and harming his fellow disciples, what other possibility was there?

Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng were naturally unaware of these speculations and rumors. They traversed dense forests, fighting their way a long way before finally stopping to rest. After

a short rest, Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng continued their search for spiritual herbs. However, whether the herbs had already been harvested or their luck had run out, they found nothing of sufficient quality to be of interest.

Finally, Wan Tiancheng suggested they check other areas. If they were lucky, they might find a few more herbs. If not, they would wait to meet up with other martial artists and see if they could piece together the two maps to find the real ancient tomb! With their

plan settled, the two headed straight for the center of the oasis. The oasis's shape was quite interesting. Round on both sides and narrow in the middle, it resembled a symmetrical dumbbell. The Evil Dragon Pool was located below the westernmost round section.

Logically, the central eastern part of the oasis should have some wondrous aspects, yet countless martial artists have explored it, never discovering anything extraordinary. There are no ferocious birds or beasts, no rare flowers or exotic plants; it's as if nothing ever existed there to begin with.

Over time, when people mention the oasis, they're actually referring to the western half, completely ignoring the eastern half. With

nothing else to do along the way, Yang Fan mentally pieced together the map in Wan Tiancheng's possession with his own.

Initially, due to their hostile relationship, he hadn't brought out his own map; now, bringing it out again would lack a pretext. Yang Fan didn't want to ruin their cooperative relationship due to a momentary impulse. After some time getting to know him, Yang Fan felt that Wan Tiancheng was someone worth befriending, but the extent of their friendship was too early to judge.

Two maps were enough to roughly pinpoint the location of the ancient tomb. Judging from the shape that could be pieced together, all three maps were likely divided equally in the middle, with smooth cuts indicating they were made with a sharp tool.

Without one map, the exact location couldn't be determined, but finding a general outline was still possible.

Yang Fan had already decided that after checking the other spiritual herbs, he would find an excuse to visit the previously designated locations.

Rumors of the ancient tomb's emergence had already spread throughout the martial arts world, but no one had the ability to predict the future and guess what might be inside. It

might contain top-grade magical artifacts nurtured by a mysterious martial artist for many years, super pills capable of advancing an ordinary martial artist's cultivation, or even a cultivation technique that leads directly to the Great Dao.

However, no one could deny that, amidst these many hopeful thoughts, there was another possibility: nothing was left inside!

But considering the strangeness surrounding the oasis, the possibility that nothing was left inside the ancient tomb was the least likely. If nothing had been left behind, it would have been pointless for those who built the ancient tomb to have gone to such great lengths to cultivate the oasis.

Calling it an impenetrable fortress wouldn't be an exaggeration. A single protective array alone deterred most people from even attempting to reach the island, and some unknown restriction prevented even those at the peak of the Refining Spirit realm from entering. This was enough to guarantee that any martial artist who entered would be no match for the oasis's master.

Add to that the densely planted spiritual herbs on the western island of the oasis, and it would be truly inexplicable if the ancient tomb hadn't left something behind.

Soon, the group arrived at the center of the western island of the oasis. Before them lay another pool of water. However, this pool differed greatly from the Evil Dragon Pool.

The Evil Dragon Pool was treacherous, its water murky and black—it certainly didn't look like a pleasant place. This pool, on the other hand, was nestled among three low peaks, a picturesque scene of clear water, lush mountains, and fragrant flowers—a truly captivating sight. To their delight, a vibrant little flower bloomed in the western part of the center of the pool!

Seventy or eighty lotus flowers, a pale red hue, possessed a translucent, jade-like quality, swaying in the breeze, unadorned yet exuding an aura of precious beauty.

When Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng arrived, the pool was already crowded with people. Despite the large number, their levels were quite distinct. Those occupying the best spots were mostly martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm, while those clustered in slightly lower positions were at the Qi Movement Realm. Those at the Fetal Breathing Realm, however, could only occupy even lower positions.

Even within the same realm, positions were ranked, with the peak position being the best, followed by the mid-stage, then the late-stage, and as for newly advanced early-stage martial artists, sorry, they could only hide in the most inconspicuous corners.

Aside from standing separately according to rank, they were also grouped into small groups of three to five according to their faction, each occupying a designated spot. Surprisingly, the largest group occupied the worst corner. They stood around the First-Grade Pool without making a move, not out of politeness or a desire to wait until everyone arrived before dividing the spoils equally, but because the time wasn't right. Even if they wanted to harvest, it would be futile.

The spiritual herb before them was clearly not naturally grown. Generally, the growth cycle and harvesting time of spiritual herbs are strictly limited; it seemed to have been deliberately cultivated. Although

there were quite a few spiritual herbs growing in the pool—seventy or eighty at first glance—it seemed that each of the one or two hundred people present could get a petal or two.

However, the reality was quite different. Through Su Xin's explanation, Yang Fan learned that these spiritual herbs were a type of spiritual herb called the Blood-Nourishing Lotus. Its effects were somewhat similar to the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid, both having a certain strengthening effect on the physical body. However, the effects of the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid mainly affect the bones, while the effects of the Blood-Nourishing Lotus are primarily related to the blood…

Chapter 352 [Long Sword Dances in the Sky]

Moreover, although the Blood-Nourishing Lotus is a gregarious plant, only one matures at a time, its petals opening wide for anyone to pick. As for the other immature Blood-Nourishing Lotuses, it's not uncommon for busybodies to pick them, but the outcome is rather tragic.

Immature Blood-Nourishing Lotuses are not spiritual herbs at all; calling them poison wouldn't be an exaggeration! Swallowing them not only has no effect on cultivation, but it also backfires on the meridians, causing the user's essence and blood to be depleted, and their cultivation level to regress!

Nourishing blood, nourishing blood, nourishing blood. Since the Blood-Nourishing Lotus is named for nourishing blood, what it nourishes is naturally not ordinary blood, but the essence and blood condensed from the entire body of a martial artist!

The uses of essence and blood could be discussed for three days and three nights, but the most important points are ones that no martial artist dares to ignore. The fact that a martial artist can unleash 200% of their normal combat power when channeling their essence and blood demonstrates the power of essence and blood. Furthermore, a martial artist's lifespan, mental state, and other aspects are all closely related to their essence and blood!

The martial artists surrounding the Blood Lotus were naturally displeased to see two more arrive, especially since Yang Fan, a mere Qi-level martial artist, dared to follow behind Wan Tiancheng and attempt to monopolize a corner. Immediately, someone jumped out to block his path.

Yang Fan had assumed that even if someone wanted to cause him trouble, they would at least have some sense and realize that Wan Tiancheng was not someone to be trifled with. Unexpectedly, a young martial artist who had just entered the Qi-level realm dared to step forward and stop him.

This martial artist was quite interesting; after jumping out, he disregarded everything else and immediately released his aura, shattering the boulder at Yang Fan's feet, showing off his skills.

He was dressed in white, carried a long sword, had fairly regular features, and was tall; standing there, he could be considered handsome, but his words were far from pleasing.

"Hey kid! There's always an order to things. You're not qualified to share in the Blood Lotus's nourishment!"

This rather young martial artist was clearly not good at speaking. His intention was to make Yang Fan leave gracefully, but unexpectedly, before Yang Fan even realized what had happened, he had already offended several experts who were occupying a corner.

The few martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm standing around the First-Grade Pool weren't the first to arrive. Instead, those standing in the worst corner, in the least desirable position, were naturally the weakest group of martial artists, and they were the first to arrive.

According to this person's logic, those martial artists should be the ones qualified to share in the Blood Lotus's nourishment. If that were the case, what chance did the others have?

Yang Fan glanced around, including the Refining Spirit Realm martial artists; the others remained silent. Or perhaps they were feigning ignorance, seemingly unconcerned about their minor conflict. However, Yang Fan, with his sharp spiritual sense, noticed some suspicious expressions on the faces of certain people in the crowd.

Seeing that their clothing resembled that of the man who had jumped out, he formed a plan.

The young martial artist, seeing that Yang Fan ignored him and instead darted around the crowd, clearly not taking him seriously, immediately flew into a rage: "Kid, don't push your luck! I can wipe you out with a flick of my wrist!"

Wan Tiancheng was quite displeased. He knew, of course, that Yang Fan's strength was far greater than what he appeared to be; he was not necessarily weaker than himself.

This brat who jumped out to cause trouble wasn't challenging Yang Fan; he was clearly looking down on him! He had to punish this ignorant brat. But before he could act, Yang Fan, sensing his presence, quickly stopped him.

With so many people gathered around, forcing one's way in might make one a target, incurring their displeasure. Even if one ultimately achieved their goal, the losses would be significant and extremely unwise. This young man's initiative was exactly what Yang Fan wanted.

Yang Fan glanced at the young man indifferently and smiled, "Are you talking to me?"

The man nearly fainted from anger upon hearing this. It turned out that his actions—jumping in to obstruct them and displaying his strength—had not only failed to intimidate Yang Fan and the other weaker martial artists, but had also resulted in him being completely ignored.

His face instantly turned extremely ugly: "Kid, don't push your luck! In the martial arts world, the strong are always respected. Even a Qi-manipulation martial artist like me wouldn't dare to act rashly. You, a mere martial artist, should go somewhere else to cool off. This place has nothing to do with you!"

With the blooming time of the Blood Lotus approaching, not only the young man, but even the other martial artists who had secured advantageous positions, were considering kicking him out.

The more people there were, the less advantageous it was for them to seize the Blood Lotus—this was common knowledge. It wasn't that the Blood Lotus was so easy to pick, that even ordinary martial artists could get a share. The real fear was that a conflict would break out among the experts trying to seize it, resulting in a novice on the sidelines getting the benefit.

If someone were shameless enough to swallow the Blood Lotus as soon as they got their hands on it, although it would waste a lot of its medicinal properties, it would still be a huge advantage. Even if the experts dismembered him afterward, it wouldn't make a difference.

Yang Fan glanced at the expressions of the others by the pool, smiled slightly, and without offering any explanation, retreated to the side. His retreat was deliberate; he deliberately moved towards the group of Qi-manipulation martial artists. Wan Tiancheng, seeing this, was also intrigued but didn't stop him. He turned and took a place for himself.

Despite Yang Fan's strength and astonishing magical artifacts, his apparent cultivation level was only at the peak of Qi Manipulation. Even Wan Tiancheng had to be wary; he was a genuine Qi Manipulation martial artist, and it was understandable that he was underestimated.

Wan Tiancheng, on the other hand, didn't have so many problems. As he walked, the powerful aura of a Refining Spirit Realm martial artist he casually released meant that no one dared to stop him.

Yang Fan's retreat to the group of other Qi Manipulation martial artists wasn't to cause trouble for them, but rather to see if the person who had just stopped him, and the group behind him, truly intended to expel all the other less powerful martial artists.

If that were truly the case, it would be a small favor for Yang Fan, allowing him to quickly sort through the people who landed on the island, which would be beneficial for finding the ancient tomb later. He was ultimately carrying the base's banner, and unless absolutely necessary, he couldn't indiscriminately kill.

Those Qi-manipulation martial artists who had been huddled in the corners, seeing Yang Fan being forced to retreat to their side, had differing opinions.

Some advocated driving Yang Fan away, as now wasn't the time to turn against those powerful figures. Others disagreed, arguing that they were all Qi-manipulation martial artists, far inferior to those at the Refining Spirit Realm, and should unite every possible force to negotiate with those people.

Still others were extremely pessimistic, completely lacking confidence in their own group's strength, advocating capturing Yang Fan and handing him over to that guy to settle things peacefully.

Yang Fan's divine sense moved, and unbeknownst to these people, he had already overheard their entire argument. A quick glance at their clothing, and he quickly made up his mind.

No wonder these people lacked ambition; not a single one advocated fighting to the death with other forces. The strongest among them was only at the peak of the Qi Movement stage, and their haphazard attire clearly indicated they were all lone wolves with no powerful backers.

Even if they were all gathered together now, it was uncertain how much fighting power they could actually unleash. Perhaps a mere threat from a Refining Spirit martial artist would send them scattering like birds.

Sighing inwardly, Yang Fan felt some sympathy for these martial artists, but he had no intention of organizing them to fight against other forces. The young man, however, was relentless. Seeing Yang Fan retreat to the worst possible corner, he still wouldn't give up.

"Kid, I'm talking to you! Are you pretending to be deaf and dumb? Get out of here, or I'll have to take action!"

Before Yang Fan could even react, one of the martial artists standing behind him jumped out in protest.

"Zhu Mannian, don't push your luck! Just because you're a disciple of the Changbai Sword Sect doesn't mean you can bully us unaffiliated martial artists. Remember, what goes around comes around, and you'll face retribution!" The

one who jumped out was an unaffiliated martial artist at the fifth level of the Qi Movement realm, slightly lower than Yang Fan's displayed level. He was also one of those who had advocated uniting all available forces, no wonder he stood up for Yang Fan.

The Changbai Sword Sect disciple named Zhu Mannian laughed loudly upon hearing this, his face full of disdain. "You bunch of poor-aptitude trash, after so many years of cultivation, you're still only at the Qi Movement realm. You'll never even reach the Refining Spirit realm in your entire lives. What right do you have to talk to me? Stand aside, or else... know that Grandpa Zhu's sword doesn't have eyes!"

"Buzz!"

A commotion erupted, everyone's faces filled with anger, and they involuntarily took a step forward.

Zhu Mannian's words not only offended the Qi-manipulation martial artist who had jumped out, but also completely alienated the entire group of Qi-manipulation realm martial artists behind him.

While these individuals weren't particularly strong, they comprised more than two-thirds of all the martial artists. Few major sects and martial arts schools believed the rumors about the ancient tomb, usually sending only three to five disciples with a training purpose to the oasis.

As for the ordinary martial artists without sects or affiliations, they didn't care much, thinking they could try their luck, and thus weren't as cautious as the major sects and martial arts schools, practically risking everything to fight their way in.

In a way, the elite martial artists who made it this far were already quite lucky. As for the ordinary martial artists without sects or affiliations, few disciples from the major sects and martial arts schools treated them like human beings; seeing any alone, they would use the pretext of training to attack and slaughter them.

Of the many who entered the desert, only the disciples of the major sects and martial arts schools remained intact. The ordinary martial artists, without any sect affiliation, suffered heavy losses, with almost one in ten surviving.

If someone hadn't stepped forward to appeal and gather these ordinary martial artists together, making the disciples of the major sects and martial arts schools who saw them as human monsters to use for sword practice hesitate, they would likely have been wiped out long ago. While

the remaining ordinary martial artists weren't particularly strong, they were all shrewd and experienced; each had survived countless battles. Anyone who was even slightly slow to react would have been slaughtered like a human monster. Furthermore, after years of wandering the martial world, who wouldn't have a few ways to protect themselves?

The elders of the major sects and martial arts schools in charge of leading the teams, not wanting their disciples to suffer losses and have difficulty explaining themselves upon returning, stopped their men from acting this way.

Zhu Mannian's words had effectively offended this group of ordinary, unaffiliated martial artists. The elder of the Changbai Sword Sect, standing at a distance, was displeased, but since the words had already been spoken, he could only silently remember it and settle the score later. For now, he could only support Zhu Mannian and not allow the Changbai Sword Sect's momentum to be diminished.

At the elder's signal, two more Changbai Sword Sect disciples, dressed in white robes and carrying long swords, stepped forward, standing to Zhu Mannian's left and right.

The ordinary elite martial artists, who had initially been somewhat unsettled and wanting to teach Zhu Mannian a lesson, were surprised by the Changbai Sword Sect's swift reaction. Zhu Mannian had barely uttered his arrogant words when two more experts appeared to intimidate them, causing their momentum to falter and they to retract their steps.

Zhu Mannian's words had stirred the crowd, their momentum surging, clearly indicating their intention to disregard the difference in rank and fight him to the death. For a moment, he was startled and involuntarily took a step back.

Fortunately, his elders reacted quickly, immediately summoning two senior brothers to help him maintain order. After a slight moment of panic, Zhu Mannian quickly regained his composure.

However, this slight panic made him feel extremely ashamed, feeling that he had lost face in front of his fellow disciples and elders, and his face turned cold.

"You trash, if I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never learn!"

Zhu Mannian shouted, taking advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention, he jumped out and suddenly drew his longsword to strike.

"Longsword dances in the air, white ribbons sing!"

A three-zhang-long white sword aura burst out, with extraordinary momentum, almost tearing the martial artist to shreds. Zhu Mannian's move was to establish his authority, and the one he killed was none other than the ordinary martial artist at the fifth level of Qi cultivation who had jumped out to stand up for Yang Fan and blocked him behind him.

Yang Fan didn't even know this person's name. He didn't need his protection, but he was indebted to him. He had only wanted to take this opportunity to clear these people out, but he couldn't let them protect him while he remained indifferent.

Zhu Mannian's sword strike was sudden, and so many ordinary martial artists in the Qi Movement stage didn't have time to react. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late to stop him.

"Despicable!"

"Shameless!"

"It's a shame that the Changbai Sword Sect, a prestigious sect, produces such shameless villains!"

Zhu Mannian sneered, thinking to himself, "I'll let you curse me. I'll kill a few of you first and let you taste my power!"

He shouted, "What's the point of talking to you unambitious trash? Killing you will make way for other hardworking martial artists and prevent the waste of spiritual energy!"

Yang Fan moved swiftly, appearing in front of the martial artist. He joined two fingers together, and a sword aura suddenly erupted...

Chapter 353 [Thirty-Six Forms of Earthly Fiends]

"Hmph, you think you can dance with your sword in the sky? Fine, today I'll show you what true swordsmanship is!"

A purple light, over ten feet long, slashed fiercely at the black sword aura, cleaving it in two. The aura vanished into thin air, while the purple sword aura continued its relentless attack on Zhu Mannian.

"Huh?"

Zhu Mannian had already assumed that no one could save the troublesome martial artist, and even planned to deal with Yang Fan as well. Who would have thought that the newbie in his eyes would suddenly appear, not only severing his sword energy with a single strike, but also intending to kill him as well.

"Hmm?"

"Outrageous!"

The Changbai Sword Sect disciples standing on either side of Zhu Mannian, supporting him, reacted quickly, drawing their swords and attacking simultaneously.

"Changbai Sword Technique, Azure Sky Overlord!"

"Changbai Sword Technique, Golden Sword Severing Emotions!"

Two sword energies, one azure and one golden, each over ten zhang long, shattered the remaining purple blade energy, then split to the left and right, fiercely slashing down at Yang Fan, aiming to kill him in one blow.

The change was sudden. Everyone thought the meddlesome martial artist was doomed, some even shouting "No!"

But unexpectedly, the situation took a dramatic turn. The newbie they had intended to throw out to shield Zhu Mannian from the Changbai Sword Sect's wrath suddenly transformed, unleashing strength no weaker than the Refining Spirit Realm.

They thought Yang Fan was hiding his true power, and that the young man was saved. However, the two Changbai Sword Sect disciples standing nearby were actually stronger than Zhu Mannian; their sword energy clearly reached the Refining Spirit Realm level.

"He's doomed!"

Almost everyone had this thought.

"The Changbai Sword Sect? Seems nothing special!"

Facing two Changbai Sword Sect disciples attacking simultaneously, Yang Fan remained unfazed. After spending time with Wan Tiancheng, Yang Fan had gained some understanding of the Changbai Sword Sect. The so-called Changbai Sword Sect was actually a secluded sect located on Changbai Mountain.

Like the Qingcheng Sect in Sichuan, the Changbai Sword Sect is almost completely isolated from the world. No disciples ever appear in public, and even when they do, they are merely outer disciples. These outer disciples are not taught advanced techniques; they are simply given enough strength to protect themselves and manage worldly affairs.

After all, while these reclusive sects are mysterious in the eyes of the world, they are still human, not immortals, and need to eat, drink, and relieve themselves. These expenses are covered by the outer disciples, who each manage different businesses and purchase large quantities of supplies to send back to the sect each year to support the sect's disciples.

Because the techniques they learn are not particularly advanced, and because they are busy with business, they rarely have time to cultivate. Therefore, the strength of outer disciples in various sects is generally not high, and many are even weaker than some ordinary martial artists.

Elders like Chu Jian, who have cultivated to the Refining Spirit Realm, are extremely rare among the hidden sects of China. It is precisely for this reason that in Yang Fan's more than ten years of life experience, he has almost never encountered true ancient Chinese martial artists; he has only met weaklings like the group of rogue cultivators before him.

Wan Tiancheng said that the Chinese government has an agreement with these hidden sects: these martial artists are not allowed to reveal their strength to ordinary people or use force to oppress others. The government, in turn, grants each sect its own territory for self-governance, without government intervention.

It is because of this agreement that ancient Chinese martial artists have always appeared in the world, but even when they do, they do not interfere in worldly conflicts.

After all, no matter how powerful an individual is, they cannot surpass the power of a nation. Many people say that the biggest gang in China is the government, with millions of followers. While this statement is unpleasant, there is some truth to it.

Even a super sect like the Qingcheng Sect only has a few hundred disciples, and even including outer disciples, the maximum is only a thousand or so. A thousand or two thousand might seem like a huge group to the average person, but outside the military, if they were truly to be wiped out, no matter how strong they are, they would be nothing more than paper tigers in the face of airplanes and artillery!

Moreover, China has two elite armies, the Dragon Group and the Guardian Dragons, two special groups composed of ancient martial artists and those with supernatural abilities. Behind these groups are even more colossal entities like the base. Not to mention anything else, the power of the base alone is something no single sect can withstand!

It is precisely because of these combined factors that ancient martial artists and the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world), this special group that has existed since ancient times, have gradually faded from people's view, making people feel that the term Jianghu only appears in martial arts novels and doesn't exist in reality.

However, this time, the appearance of the ancient tomb is nothing to the average person, but for ancient martial artists, it is far too attractive. Therefore, not only independent cultivators from all over China, but even these reclusive sects couldn't resist and secretly sent disciples to gather information. This is why hundreds and thousands of ancient martial artists gathered together in such a grand spectacle!

With these thoughts returning, looking at the two sword energies slashing towards him, Yang Fan smiled slightly. His two fingers, held together, slightly bent, and two purple sword lights burst forth from his fingertips, each over fifteen zhang long, their imposing aura overwhelming. Upon contact with the two sword energies, one blue and one gold, they were annihilated into nothingness in a single exchange.

Zhu Mannian, rescued by his two senior brothers, thought his life was safe after seeing them intervene. He grinned maliciously, wanting to show off his power again, but Yang Fan raised his hand and unleashed two more purple sword beams, no weaker than the first. Terrified, he cried out and fled in panic.

The Changbai Sword Sect elder in the distance paid no attention to the incident. In his view, with three elite disciples from different sects intimidating them, those second-rate martial artists without any sect couldn't cause any trouble. Unexpectedly, a single miscalculation led to the deaths of his disciples.

Two purple sword energies shot out, and under Yang Fan's control, the two sword beams instantly split into eight. Two slashed towards Zhu Mannian, and six slashed towards the other two.

"Elder, save me!"

Zhu Mannian couldn't dodge in time and desperately unleashed a ten-zhang-long black sword energy, frantically pleading for help from the Changbai Sword Sect elder. This ten-zhang-long black sword energy didn't even last a second before being cleaved into the surrounding energy and dissipated completely.

Not only was Zhu Mannian in dire straits, but his two senior brothers were also in no better shape. Two sword energies, one azure and one gold, each over ten feet long, were no match for six sword beams, each fifteen feet long. They were easily shattered like cutting melons and vegetables. Zhu Mannian let out a terrified scream, which saved his life.

The elder of the Changbai Sword Sect immediately realized what was happening, his slightly yellowish face turning completely green, clearly enraged.

He cursed Zhu Mannian under his breath, "Fool!"

But the elder had no choice but to intervene.

With a casual flick of his wrist, his longsword flew into the air, and a sword energy, no more than five feet long and three feet wide, a pale yellow color, suddenly shot out.

"Thirty-six Earthly Fiends Forms, Heavenly Ascent!"

As expected of an elder of the Changbai Sword Sect, this one move alone was far superior to those of the three elite disciples of the Changbai Sword Sect. Although the elder's sword energy was much smaller, it was much more refined. Even Wan Tiancheng in his prime might not have been much better than this man.

"Bang!"

The pale yellow sword energy collided head-on with the two purple sword beams slashing towards Zhu Mannian, successfully shattering him. Then, it unexpectedly spun around, circling back to the other two Changbai Sword Sect disciples, sacrificing itself to take them down with it before the six sword beams could strike them.

Among the Refining Spirit martial artists positioned in the most advantageous positions, someone praised, "As expected of the Changbai Sword Sect's signature technique, the Thirty-Six Forms of Earthly Fiends, it truly lives up to its name! Its ability to condense sword energy is unparalleled!"

"Legend has it that the Thirty-Six Forms of Earthly Fiends consists of thirty-six forms, each incredibly powerful. However, since the founding patriarch of the Changbai Sword Sect, Changbai Hejiang, created them, no one has mastered all thirty-six forms. Even Bai Shengyi, the most outstanding disciple of the Changbai Sword Sect two hundred years ago, only comprehended eighteen forms. Yet, with just these eighteen forms, Bai Shengyi was invincible, completely solidifying the Changbai Sword Sect's dominance in the north!"

"Indeed, this elder of the Changbai Sword Sect used the fifth move of the Thirty-Six Earthly Fiends, the Heavenly Ascent. It is said that when this move is unleashed, it shakes the heavens and earth, like ten thousand Buddhas paying homage, exuding righteousness, yet also filled with killing intent. The number of disciples in the entire Changbai Sword Sect who have mastered this move can be counted on one hand

. I never expected that this unassuming elder would actually have mastered it. Moreover, judging from his skill level, he has clearly already reached a high level." Compared to this, the sword techniques used by the other Changbai Sword Sect disciples were evaluated much less favorably.

However, as a major sect of swordsmanship, the Changbai Sword Sect has an undeniably deep foundation. As inner disciples, how bad could their martial arts be? Unfortunately, the three disciples from the Changbai Sword Sect who made the move were ultimately somewhat lacking in strength, and they did not bring out the wonders of the Changbai Sword Sect's sword techniques.

If, like those inner disciples of the Qingcheng Sect by the Dragon Pool, he had immediately unleashed his ultimate moves, setting up the Thirty-Six Earthly Fiend Sword Formation of the Changbai Sword Sect, the outcome would have been uncertain.

However, given Yang Fan's current level, even the elder of the Changbai Sword Sect hadn't taken him seriously. Expecting less perceptive disciples to be cautious was unrealistic. His

sword strike failed to take the lives of Zhu Mannian and the other two, but Yang Fan wasn't bothered. The Changbai Sword Sect elder's intervention was within his expectations. If the elder hadn't intervened, he might have simply deflected his sword light, sparing their lives. Now was not the time for a full-blown battle. If he were to engage in a direct confrontation with the Changbai Sword Sect, it would likely play right into their hands.

Seeing that Yang Fan didn't continue his attack, a man stepped out from the crowd, dressed in a light yellow robe, carrying a long sword on his shoulder. He adopted a righteous stance, squeezed next to Yang Fan,

and angrily said, "Brother, if you ask me, the Changbai Sword Sect is bullying us too much! We can't let them get away with this. If I were you, I would definitely fight them for justice!"

Yang Fan noticed a detail: the single martial artists behind him, who weren't affiliated with any particular sect, wore all sorts of clothes—casual wear, sportswear, and even more elaborate robes—in a motley collection of colors. In contrast, whether it was the Qingcheng Sect, the Changbai Sword Sect, or this man before him, their attire was quite refined; the colors, styles, and even their weapons were all carefully chosen.

After sizing up this man a few times, Yang Fan concluded that he, like Zhu Mannian, was an elite disciple of some sect. The man rushed over to help, though he didn't seem to have any good intentions. Yang Fan didn't want to be rude, so he just smiled and said, "No rush, let's see what they have to say first."

Having saved his three younger brothers' lives, the Changbai Sword Sect elder felt a sense of relief. If his three inner disciples had died at his hands, he wouldn't be able to explain it to the sect leader when he returned to the sect.

Upon contact, the elder could clearly see that Yang Fan had held back. Otherwise, even with his swift sword energy, he could never have rescued all three disciples unharmed. As the elder of the Changbai Sword Sect pondered this, Zhu Mannian, who had miraculously survived, shouted.

This man was incredibly foolish; not only did he fail to see that Yang Fan hadn't used his full strength, but he also assumed that with the elder's backing, Yang Fan would be more cautious. He actually jumped out to provoke Yang Fan again.

"You little bastard, how dare you ambush your Grandpa Zhu! The technique you just used looks like the martial arts of one of my friends. Did you steal it? If you know what's good for you, hand over the technique, kneel before your Grandpa Zhu, and kowtow three times. Perhaps I can consider pleading with my elders to spare your life!"

The group of martial artists behind Yang Fan were all indignant and furious, but none dared to utter a word. This wasn't the first time they'd seen something like this; some of them had even experienced it firsthand more than once.

The path of a martial artist was exceptionally difficult, and being without a sect or school made it even more arduous. Caught between various sects and martial arts schools, seeking immortality, being extorted was commonplace. Most martial artists, thinking that a small act of impatience could ruin a larger plan, would endure the elusive prospect of immortality and survive.

If Yang Fan truly had no sect or school, no backing, and his own men weren't strong enough, he might have been intimidated by Zhu Mannian and reluctantly complied. Unfortunately, Zhu Mannian had misjudged the situation and his opponent.

The yellow-robed martial artist who approached Yang Fan was overjoyed. He had been regretting that he couldn't provoke Yang Fan's anger and shouldn't have allowed the two sides to fight again. Luckily, Zhu Mannian was foolish enough to provoke Yang Fan again.

"Brother, should I step in and teach this bastard a lesson? If you let him get away with this, your martial arts path will likely stagnate."

Before Yang Fan could speak, the elder of the Changbai Sword Sect was already enraged...

Chapter 354 [Blood Lotus Maturation]

"Well! You're blind! Provoking him once is one thing, but you suffered at his hands, and your two senior brothers went to help you, only to get no benefit. And you still have no sense of propriety! You keep picking fights, do you really think he's made of clay?"

If it were up to this elder, he really didn't want to bother with Zhu Mannian, but if he did, Yang Fan would probably get angry and show no mercy.

The elder's mind raced, and he made a decision in an instant. He leaped to Zhu Mannian's side and slapped him across the face.

"Slap!"

With a crisp sound, the elder's slap landed hard on Zhu Mannian's face, making him spin around in place, and he couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood. With a "pfft," it splattered on the ground.

"Hiss!"

The yellow-robed martial artist felt a chill run down his spine, unconsciously covering his mouth, feeling sorry for Zhu Mannian's face.

It was fortunate that the slap landed squarely on a Qi-manipulation martial artist's face; if it had been an ordinary person, or even a weaker martial artist, it probably would have been fatal.

The others were also surprised that the elder of the Changbai Sword Sect wouldn't stand up for his disciple and actually slapped Zhu Mannian across the face. The other martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm looked at the Changbai Sword Sect elder with a mixture of admiration and fear.

After slapping Zhu Mannian, the Changbai Sword Sect elder didn't even glance at him, but instead cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Yang Fan. He said, “Young brother, I am Huang Haoran of the Changbai Sword Sect. Our Changbai Sword Sect has been lax in its discipline, resulting in such a scoundrel. We are sorry for the offense. If you hadn't shown mercy, young brother, how would this fool have had the chance to spout such nonsense? Please forgive my offense, young brother! When we return to the mountain, I will certainly report to the sect leader and have him disciplined severely, giving you justice!”

Elder Huang Haoran of the Changbai Sword Sect spoke tactfully, saving Zhu Mannian's life while also giving Yang Fan face. Whether Zhu Mannian would actually be punished upon returning to the mountain was another matter. At least, that slap was real; after such a heavy slap, you couldn't possibly have any other demands, could you?

Yang Fan smiled slightly and said, "I'll comply as Senior Huang says."

The commotion had taken an unexpected turn; the two sides shook hands and made peace, ceasing their fight. While this greatly relieved the group of unaffiliated martial artists behind Yang Fan, it caused others to sigh inwardly.

The yellow-clad man who had run up to Yang Fan, attempting to incite him to attack again, failed in his attempt but remained unperturbed. He didn't retreat but stayed by Yang Fan's side, his intentions unknown.

Elder Huang Haoran of the Changbai Sword Sect breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Yang Fan agree to relinquish his hold. He glared at Zhu Mannian, who had just gotten up, signaling him to return to his own ranks. After a moment's thought, he took out a jade token from his robes and handed it to Yang Fan, saying, "Young brother, you are incredibly generous. The Changbai Sword Sect appreciates your kindness. This is our Changbai Jade Token. If young brother Su ever needs our help in the future, we dare not promise anything else, but as long as it is within our authority, we guarantee to do our best to satisfy you!"

Yang Fan initially hesitated to accept it, but after hearing Huang Haoran's words, his heart stirred. Although the Changbai Sword Sect wasn't one of the strongest sects in the world, its strength was undeniable. In the martial world, having more friends was always better than having more enemies. Accepting Huang Haoran's Changbai Jade Token might prove useful in the future.

Therefore, Yang Fan didn't stand on ceremony, thanked him, and accepted the Changbai Jade Token from Huang Haoran.

Wan Tiancheng noticed that Yang Fan's situation had been resolved satisfactorily, without escalating into a life-or-death struggle with the Changbai Sword Sect. He breathed a sigh of relief, shifting his focus from the Changbai Sword Sect members to the other martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm.

After Huang Haoran left with Zhu Mannian and the others, the martial artist Yang Fan had saved earlier, along with a large group of followers, surrounded them.

"Brother Yang, you're amazing! My name is Liu Rufeng. Thanks to you just now, if it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't be standing here talking to you!" The

one who spoke was the martial artist who had stood up for Yang Fan earlier and was ultimately saved by him. Yang Fan turned around and smiled, "

Brother Liu, you flatter me. If you hadn't spoken up for me, you wouldn't have met those Changbai Sword Sect disciples."

Among the crowd of martial artists, someone asked curiously, "Brother Yang, you're a Qi Movement Realm martial artist just like us. How come you're so much stronger? You fought three Changbai Sword Sect disciples single-handedly, routing them. If their elder hadn't intervened, they would probably be dead!"

Yang Fan glanced at the man, smiling but not answering. The man, knowing Yang Fan had hidden methods he wouldn't reveal, gave an embarrassed smile and retreated.

The yellow-robed martial artist who had previously encouraged Yang Fan hadn't left. The question the man had raised reminded him. Seeing the man no longer pressing the matter, the yellow-robed martial artist's eyes darted around, then suddenly lit up.

"Brother Yang's sword aura just now was powerful and domineering; it's vastly different from ours. Could it be the legendary lightning-attribute technique?"

The yellow-robed martial artist's words, "lightning-attribute technique," immediately drew the eyes of all the surrounding martial artists, their gazes towards Yang Fan now tinged with greed. Only Liu Rufeng remained calm.

Heaven and earth are divided into Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang are divided into the Five Elements. All martial arts techniques in the world are bound by the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Every technique possesses one or two of these attributes.

However, there are always exceptions. Besides Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, there are other attributes in the world, and these techniques are derived from the Five Elements. For example, ice, wind, and lightning attributes, among which lightning-attribute techniques are the most powerful!

Lightning, the most yang and powerful element in the world, evokes a sense of dominance and ferocity. Anything in the world subjected to lightning suffers only one fate: annihilation. Therefore, martial arts techniques derived from lightning are among the most powerful and destructive.

For a martial artist, a powerful technique is more important than their life; a strong technique brings honor, strength, wealth—everything!

Therefore, for a powerful technique, they are willing to disregard everything, even sacrifice their lives! Take the recent ancient tomb incident, for example. The main reason so many martial artists gathered there was because Wan Tiancheng spread the rumor that a peerless martial art existed there.

Although many martial artists knew this was just a rumor, a fabricated tale, it still drew them in like moths to a flame. Because they were all thinking, what if the rumors were true, and there really was a peerless martial arts technique? If they could obtain it, wouldn't they leap over the dragon gate?

Now, although they hadn't found anything in the ancient tomb, Yang Fan possessed a powerful lightning-attribute technique. If they could obtain it, wouldn't their strength immediately experience a qualitative leap? After all, the peerless martial arts techniques in the ancient tomb were invisible and intangible, but this lightning-attribute technique truly existed!

Seeing that the yellow-robed martial artist's words had stirred up the morale of the group of martial artists and disrupted the formation he had painstakingly assembled, Liu Rufeng was extremely displeased.

He first asked Yang Fan in a low voice, "Brother Yang, is that person your friend?"

Seeing Yang Fan shake his head, Liu Rufeng had a plan in mind.

"Brother Yang, judging from this man's attire and style, he looks very much like a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect. You should be careful."

After reminding Yang Fan of this, Liu Rufeng turned to the yellow-robed martial artist, snorted coldly, and said, "Brother, are you eyeing my Brother Yang's martial arts? Judging from your clothing, you should be a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect in Sichuan, right? With the Qingcheng Sect's resources, surely they wouldn't lack suitable techniques? If you're thinking of taking advantage of Brother Yang, you'd better think twice before comparing yourself to the disciples of the Changbai Sword Sect!"

Liu Rufeng's words immediately reminded the others. Indeed! Even if they wanted to take advantage of Yang Fan, they'd have to be stronger than those Changbai Sword Sect disciples!

The strongest among these people was only at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Movement, let alone the Refining Spirit Realm, they hadn't even reached the peak of Qi Movement. They really had to think twice before trying to gain an advantage over Yang Fan.

Furthermore, the other information revealed in Liu Rufeng's words might not be a bad idea. Although difficult, it was much simpler than snatching food from Yang Fan...

The yellow-robed martial artist, stumped by Liu Rufeng's words, couldn't help but look embarrassed. He glanced around and saw everyone staring at him with hostile eyes. Knowing that things were hopeless, he chuckled awkwardly, "Uh, a friend of mine is calling me over there. You guys continue your conversation, I'll go say hello first!"

Yang Fan smiled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Along the way, almost every martial artist he had encountered appeared to be stronger than him. It was extremely rare for Yang Fan to be surrounded by such a large group of people, with him being the strongest among them.

He just hadn't expected that being with these people would be so interesting. The only regret was that he always felt something was missing…

Seeing the yellow-robed warrior slink away and the gazes of those around him no longer falling on Yang Fan, Liu Rufeng smiled with satisfaction, cupped his hands to Yang Fan, and said, “Brother Yang, the annoying person is gone, let’s hurry over. If we delay any longer, once the Blood-Nourishing Lotus blooms, we’ll truly be out of luck!”

Yang Fan’s purpose in coming here wasn’t the Blood-Nourishing Lotus, but he naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity to see it. The Blood-Nourishing Lotus, along with the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Orchid, is a supreme spiritual medicine for strengthening the physical body. Every year, countless bloodshed occurs in the struggle for this item.

“Brother Yang, there’s actually a legend about this Blood-Nourishing Lotus, I don’t know if you’ve heard it. If I, Old Liu, am showing off my limited knowledge, please don’t laugh at me.”

Yang Fan was walking side by side with Liu Rufeng when, unexpectedly, Liu Rufeng suddenly spoke up.

Seeing Yang Fan remain silent with a smile, Liu Rufeng perked up and said, "It's like this. It's said that the Blood Lotus needs a large amount of martial artists' blood and flesh as fertilizer to mature. Therefore, wherever the Blood Lotus grows, countless heroes and heroines have been buried, and countless lives have been shed. Humans and animals alike! Look here, this Blood Lotus has grown to this point, it must have drunk so much blood. I can't help but wonder if that pool is formed from blood!"

Yang Fan looked in the direction Liu Rufeng was pointing, and his heart skipped a beat. There it was, the small pool where the Blood Lotus grew!

The Blood Lotus was a slightly reddish, translucent color; if it truly was nourished by martial artists' blood and flesh, it wasn't impossible. But if that were the case, where would so much martial artists' blood and flesh come from to nourish the Blood Lotus?

Yang Fan stopped on the bank of the First-Grade Pool, looking around. The terrain was truly unfavorable; he was squeezed into the furthest spot from the Blood Lotus in the pool. Even if he could fly across, it wouldn't be as convenient as other places. Once the Blood Lotus matured, it wouldn't be easy to pick.

Seeing this, Liu Rufeng couldn't help but smile, saying, "Brother Yang, we're just standing here taking a gamble. Nobody wants to go into the water; that's not something we can do. As long as we fight our way through, the Blood Lotus we pick will be thrown to us. Whoever grabs it will eat it; it won't be used for medicine like those people over there. Besides, the Blood Lotus is just an appetizer; the real main event is yet to come!"

Yang Fan nodded. What Liu Rufeng said was a desperate measure. The strongest of these martial artists was only at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Movement, unlike himself, whose situation was special. Although he appeared to be at the Qi Movement level, his actual skill was enough to contend with even a peak Refining Spirit martial artist.

Using the Blood-Nourishing Lotus in medicine is a privilege reserved for powerful sects. Imagine, even if ordinary martial artists from unaffiliated sects were lucky enough to snatch it, how could they possibly possess the strength to keep it? "A common man is

innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." Rather than waiting to be hunted down, it's better to swallow it on the spot and exit with the profit! As for the main event later, the battle for the ancient tomb treasure, to avoid being targeted, the martial artist who obtained the Blood-Nourishing Lotus would certainly not participate.

"There's movement!"

Yang Fan hadn't been standing by the pool for long when he heard someone exclaim in surprise from the crowd. He quickly looked closely. Suddenly, a red light flashed in the small pool, and a precious aura soared into the sky, displaying an aura of immortality.

Seeing this, Yang Fan became even more suspicious and said, "Brother Liu, this Blood-Nourishing Lotus is just a medicinal herb. How can its flowering season be so exaggerated?"

Liu Rufeng was also dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes. He also had some knowledge of the Blood-Nourishing Lotus, and should know the details of its maturity. But this scene before him was something he hadn't expected. Just as Yang Fan had thought, how could a mere medicinal herb possess such a magnificent aura?

Not only were Yang Fan and Liu Rufeng puzzled, but even seasoned veterans like Wan Tiancheng and Huang Haoran, and even those who had personally witnessed the Blood Lotus, were utterly bewildered.

Chapter 355 [Alchemist]

In the pool, the Blood Lotus petals gradually opened, but only divided into seven petals. What was even more surprising was that when it was a bud, this Blood Lotus was large enough for two people to hug, but after blooming, it shrank even further. When fully opened, it was only the size of a fist.

A faint, sweet fragrance emanated from the Blood Lotus, and in the center of the petals, a drop of viscous substance, like sugar and honey, rolled continuously, radiating a faint golden or silvery luster. As the petals opened, a faint, unusual luster flashed beneath the water's surface, then vanished instantly without a trace.

Yang Fan felt a slight tightening in his arm, and his internal energy flowed. He glanced casually to his side and saw that Liu Rufeng's face was filled with excitement, as if she had discovered something extraordinary!

"Brother Liu, could it be that you've discovered something?"

Liu Rufeng nodded hastily, his eyes fixed on the blooming Blood Lotus in the First-Grade Pool. After glancing around, he lowered his voice and said sharply, "Brother Yang, that blooming one isn't the king of the Blood Lotus flowers that fill the entire pool, but a top-grade medicine: Blood Lotus Ginseng Root!"

"Blood Lotus Ginseng Root?"

Seeing the puzzled look on Yang Fan's face, Liu Rufeng quickly explained, "Brother Yang, my ancestors were renowned alchemists. This item was mentioned in our family's medical manual. If possible, please try to get your hands on it later. If you share even a petal with me, I will repay you handsomely!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Fan's heart stirred. He wasn't skilled in alchemy, but he knew that swallowing herbs raw was definitely not as effective as combining them into a medicine. Since Liu Rufeng mentioned that his family possessed a medical manual, his ancestors... clearly had a formula to refine Blood Lotus Ginseng Root.

It doesn't matter if one's family doesn't know how to concoct medicine; there are so many medicinal herbs piled up in the Buddha's relics. It's just that without guidance, there's no opportunity to try it oneself. If one could borrow and read the pharmacopoeia

passed down in Liu Rufeng's family, perhaps one would gain something unexpected. Even though Su Xin is highly accomplished in medicine, her knowledge of concoction is pitifully limited. The medicine she knows is merely the prescriptions from traditional Chinese medicine. And this kind of concoction technique hasn't truly spread throughout the world; it's only mastered by a very small group of people. For example, the alchemists of the pre-Qin period!

The so-called alchemists are actually another name for pharmacists. They just greatly exaggerated the functions of elixirs, claiming they could grant immortality, thus misleading the public and making many people believe that what they said was completely false.

In reality, although the elixirs concocted by alchemists cannot achieve immortality, they do have many wonderful uses, such as strengthening the body, improving blood circulation and clearing phlegm, and many elixirs can even prolong life.

Of course, this only applies to ordinary people. The effects of pills made from the formulas truly mastered by alchemists and used by martial artists are far beyond what ordinary people can achieve. Take, for example, the miraculous pills and other spiritual items circulating in ancient tombs—they are all spiritual medicines made from formulas held by alchemists!

However, although Yang Fan was very interested in Liu Rufeng's suggestion, he didn't show it. He simply smiled and said, "Brother Liu, don't rush to promise. So many experts haven't even made a move yet. I'm just a martial artist at the Qi Movement Realm; how dare I be so presumptuous, how can I guarantee I can definitely snatch that Blood Lotus Ginseng Root?"

Liu Rufeng's face showed a slight hint of shame, but his tone was exceptionally firm: "Brother Yang, I haven't even repaid your life-saving grace yet, and now you have another request. I truly feel ashamed. However, a single petal of the Blood Lotus Ginseng Root is crucial to me, so Liu Rufeng has no choice but to disregard his pride!"

After thinking for a moment, Liu Rufeng seemed to have made up his mind and added, "Brother Yang, no... " "Whether you can get your hands on the Blood Lotus Root or not, as long as you're willing to help, I'll give all

my family's wealth to Brother Yang!" Fearing Yang Fan might not understand, Liu Rufeng quickly added, "Brother Yang may not know, but although I, Liu Rufeng, am just a Qi-manipulation martial artist, my ancestors were renowned alchemy masters with assets worth billions. I know Brother Yang doesn't like these things, but I believe many of my alchemy formulas will be useful to you."

Liu Rufeng's last sentence hit Yang Fan's weak spot. He didn't care about money, but the alchemy formulas and the Liu family's ancestral pharmacopoeia were very tempting to Yang Fan.

Seeing Liu Rufeng's sincerity, Yang Fan naturally couldn't refuse him, so he said, "Brother Liu, let me be frank. I'm not entirely confident I can seize the Blood Lotus ginseng root. If I fail, it's simply my bad luck. I'll pretend I didn't say that. I only ask to see your family's medicinal manual, is that alright? If I succeed, I won't be greedy. I only ask to see your family's manual and borrow a few pill-refining formulas from you!"

Liu Rufeng was deeply moved. Like him and the other unaffiliated martial artists behind him, simply standing there, waiting for the Blood Lotus to fly by, was merely wishful thinking. The chances were negligible, but there was no risk to their lives.

If they made a move, the situation would be entirely different. A slight mishap could attract the combined attack of other martial artists, almost certainly leading to certain death.

Taking such a great risk, regardless of success or failure, and demanding a reward, was only natural in Liu Rufeng's eyes. Yet Yang Fan was so loyal, not only not coveting the Liu family's wealth, but also asking for so little regardless of success or failure.

Liu Rufeng quickly said, "How can this be? Brother Yang's illness is extremely dangerous. Whether it succeeds or fails, I, Liu, should keep my promise!"

Yang Fan shook his hand slightly and smiled, "Let's not talk about that anymore. My mind is made up. They're about to make their move, so let's stop our conversation here."

Sure enough, as the Blood Lotus ginseng petals gradually opened and the precious light subsided, not only the martial artists, but even the ferocious birds and beasts flying in from all directions began to move.

"Roar!"

"Screech!"

"You beast, how dare you!"

"Boom!"

Although the martial artists didn't communicate, they all had the same goal: to eliminate the ferocious birds and beasts first. They seemed to have designated a territory, only attacking within a fixed area, without overstepping any boundaries.

The ferocious beasts that dared to covet the Blood Lotus Root were naturally quite powerful, with many even rivaling the strength of the Nether Pool's demonic beasts. Therefore, they unleashed their innate skills from the outset.

In an instant, flames and icy spray filled the air, while stones and wooden stakes rained down.

These ferocious beasts, seemingly provoked by something, had bloodshot eyes, their feathers bristling, and attacked with reckless abandon, each strike potentially fatal.

Although there were a couple hundred martial artists by the pool, most were low-level warriors with little combat strength. Seeing the formidable power of these ferocious beasts, coupled with the constant rain of stones and explosives falling on the shore, they retreated hastily. In the blink of an eye, only a few dozen remained on the shore.

Although only a few dozen remained, most were scions of powerful sects, and thus remained calm, each employing their own techniques to fly towards the Blood Lotus Root.

Although these people didn't have Liu Rufeng's keen eye to recognize that the extraordinary blood lotus wasn't an ordinary blood-nourishing lotus, but a higher-grade blood lotus root, this didn't stop them from using all sorts of ingenious methods, determined to seize it.

The scene appeared chaotic, but those with better eyesight could clearly see the situation. The remaining dozens of martial artists were actually divided into five positions, each targeting the central blood lotus root.

Many of the ferocious birds and beasts were attacking, but some remained calm and collected, forming groups of three beasts and two birds, also occupying five positions.

Among the three ferocious beasts, one was aquatic, shaped like a gillfish, black in color, five or six zhang long, but with four claws, bobbing up and down on the water's surface, its face ferocious, yet it didn't move an inch.

Another creature, clearly of land, had fur like brocade, red and white, horns on its head, and webbed feet. It stood steadily on the water, four or five zhang long, without sinking.

Another creature, also of land, seemed to be accompanied by a bird. Its fur was smooth and golden, its face humanoid, with long arms and legs. It could stand upright, but its feet were hooked onto the claws of a bird, head down, its intentions unknown.

Hanging from its feet was a ferocious bird resembling a monkey, with emerald green feathers, a red crest on its head, and a body no more than three zhang long, but a wingspan of ten zhang. With a flap of its wings, two giant waves rose from the pool, displaying extraordinary power.

The last bird, with gray feathers and a wingspan of fifteen zhang, was covered in small fleshy bumps and had prominently protruding cheeks. It was the ugliest of the five birds and beasts.

Those with poor eyesight didn't even see when these three beasts and two birds appeared, but they could sense that these creatures were not easy to deal with. Those with more experience exclaimed the names of the three beasts and two birds:

"Golden Crow Scaled Fish!"

"Two-Headed Mountain Demon!"

"Golden-Feathered Roar, Emerald-Feathered Red Phoenix!"

"Thunder-Feathered Purple Crow!"

Of the five birds and beasts, two and a half pairs were demonic beasts, each more difficult to deal with than the last! If they had only encountered one, the experienced martial artist would probably have excitedly encouraged his companions to take it down.

After all, any demonic beast possesses a demon core, and its flesh, blood, and spiritual bones are all valuable. Taking a risky attack is risky, but the rewards are even greater.

But encountering five at once, even a group of honorary experts would be somewhat perplexed. Moreover, these five monstrous creatures possessed different attributes: water, fire, metal, wind, and thunder. Mixed together, they were extremely difficult to deal with!

Especially the ugliest of the five, the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," whose attacks unleashed feathers that transformed into a storm of lightning, not only highly lethal but also extremely corrosive. A mishandling of it could result in death and the loss of all martial arts.

The weakest of the five demonic beasts was arguably the "Golden Crow Scaled Fish," but unfortunately, the water was its home turf. If it damaged the Blood Lotus Root, there would be no one to compensate it!

The combination of the Golden-haired Roar and the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix was not to be underestimated either; their combined power might even surpass that of the Thunder Feather Purple Crow.

After clearing out the unruly beasts, some of the martial artists, impatient and disregarding everything else, grabbed their prepared sailboards and rushed forward to seize the Blood Lotus Root.

Unexpectedly, the two-headed mountain demon, which had remained motionless, its horned head and feet treading the water, suddenly roared. A burst of blue flame shot out, splitting into five, which lightly landed on the five charging figures.

"Ah!" "Elder, help..."

"It hurts so much!"

The five figures were unaware of the five blue flames landing on them until they seeped into their bodies, at which point they realized something was wrong. But by then, it was too late! They tumbled into the water, rolling and howling desperately, but sank to the bottom in moments, disappearing without a trace.

Those five martial artists were no ordinary fighters; each possessed the strength of the peak Qi Movement stage. Even if they were tempted by wealth and their hearts were swayed, they shouldn't have been so easily defeated. This could only mean the two-headed mountain demon was incredibly powerful. The

five martial artists' ordeal jolted the other martial artists, who had been dazed and confused, thinking that seizing the Blood Lotus ginseng would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. They were jolted back to reality and instantly sobered up.

Even such powerful demonic beasts have been alerted; that Blood Lotus is probably more than just a simple lotus for nurturing blood!

Some of the more astute among them, considering the current situation, immediately began to murmur amongst themselves. Most, however, crowded around the martial artist who had called out the names of the five demonic beasts, trying to extract more information, even their weaknesses.

Surrounded by people asking all sorts of questions, the somewhat sleazy-looking man was rather smug. However, his smugness didn't last long, and he soon wore a bitter expression, saying, "Seniors, it's not that I, Qian Sanfu, am unwilling to tell you, it's just that this is all I know. Look, this is all the information I have. I learned it all from this illustrated book, our old Zhen family's ancestral 'Illustrated Book of Strange Beasts from Mountains and Seas,' passed down for many years!"

A martial artist at the Refinement of Spirit level took the "Illustrated Book of Strange Beasts from Mountains and Seas" from Qian Sanfu and compared it. Sure enough, he discovered that each of the five demonic beasts had an extraordinary origin, all of them being rare beasts that hadn't appeared for a thousand years, or even mounts of powerful individuals.

The two-headed mountain monster displayed strength no less than that of a martial artist at the moment it made its move, and it wasn't even the strongest of the five demonic beasts, which made the other martial artists scratch their heads. But the more this was the case, the more it proved that the blood lotus in the water was indeed extraordinary!

The group of martial artists from various sects scratched their heads in bewilderment, while Yang Fan and Liu Rufeng were also greatly astonished. Yang Fan had noticed the five demonic beasts when they appeared, but his attention was mostly focused on the martial artists, guarding against them trying to seize the Blood Lotus Root, so he hadn't paid much attention.

Who knew that these five creatures, who appeared so silently, were all demonic beasts, and all incredibly powerful! Moreover, they were all ferocious beasts that existed since ancient times!

Although these ferocious beasts didn't truly exist in ancient times, their physiques all contained the blood of those ferocious beasts. In other words, they had all inherited the talents of those ferocious beasts and the extraordinary combat power of their ancestors. Facing such a group of ferocious beasts was far more troublesome than facing a group of martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm! (

Chapter
356 [Divine Sense Mutation]:

With Yang Fan protecting her, Liu Rufeng wasn't hit by the indiscriminately unleashed talent techniques of those ferocious beasts.) Hearing Qian Sanfu's words, Liu Rufeng couldn't help but smile bitterly, his face ashen.

Good heavens, these guys, just from their names, you could tell they were all ruthless. And look at the skill the Twin-Headed Mountain Demoness had displayed—even a Qi Realm Level 5 martial artist wouldn't stand a chance. To even think about the Blood Lotus Ginseng was unrealistic!

Overwhelmed with discouragement, Liu Rufeng sighed and said to Yang Fan, "Brother Yang, things are hopeless. Let's retreat!"

The five demonic beasts were of extraordinary origin and possessed formidable strength, which surprised Yang Fan, but he hadn't considered giving up. Those martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm certainly wouldn't give up easily.

Since the five demonic beasts had revealed such a skill, they had clearly stated their position; therefore, further conflict was inevitable.

Yang Fan thought for a moment, then pulled Liu Rufeng aside and beckoned Wan Tiancheng, Gu Feifei, and the others over. After introducing them, he solemnly said, "I might have another way to get a share of this competition today, but I need two of you to protect me!"

He said he was asking for two protectors, but in reality, only Wan Tiancheng could actually contribute.

While Wan Tiancheng was a worthy acquaintance, Yang Fan wasn't sure if they would abandon him and fight with those other groups without sufficient benefit.

Wan Tiancheng hesitated. Although they weren't close, he understood Yang Fan's character well. If Yang Fan said he had a way, then he definitely had a way, but the effectiveness was uncertain. Besides, if they delayed too long, the other side would have already taken everything, and even if Yang Fan had a solution, it would be useless then. It was better to take the risk than to waste time!

Seeing this, Yang Fan couldn't help but smile: "If Brother Wan wants to go over there to compete, I won't stop

you." Wan Tiancheng's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. He knew that Yang Fan's words clearly meant that if he truly left, their fate was sealed, and if they met again, they would be enemies, not friends. He had witnessed Yang Fan's methods firsthand; aside from anything else, his unique move that immobilized all the Nether Pool Beasts was enough to make him wary.

Thinking of Yang Fan's methods, Wan Tiancheng immediately changed his mind. That unique technique could even immobilize Nether Pool Beasts with Qi-manipulation strength for a short time. Although these five demonic beasts were ferocious, immobilizing them for a moment would buy them some time to harvest the Blood Lotus Ginseng Root from the First-Grade Pool, giving them a very good chance. Besides, even if he rushed over to compete now, whether he could snatch the food from the tiger's mouth was still uncertain!

"Brother Yang, what are you saying? I, Wan, will do my utmost to prevent any unrelated people from getting close!"

Wan Tiancheng patted his chest and made his promise. Fearing that Yang Fan might not believe him, he took out something and handed it to Yang Fan: "If I, Wan, have even the slightest evil intention, Brother Yang, you only need to send a little internal energy into this thing, and in a short while, I, Wan, will surely wish I were dead!"

Yang Fan took the object and examined it briefly. It was a bamboo plaque engraved with gold characters. The bamboo was emerald green, and the characters shimmered with gold light, making it very eye-catching. Although he didn't recognize the characters, he was very familiar with the row of numbers in the middle—it was a person's birth date and time.

"A martial artist's birth date and time plaque?"

Yang Fan didn't recognize it, but Liu Rufeng exclaimed in surprise. This caused Yang Fan and the others to look up at it.

Seeing Yang Fan and Wan Tiancheng looking at him, Liu Rufeng blushed slightly and said, "I'm sorry to have made you both laugh. I also have a martial artist's birth chart amulet at home. However, its golden light is dim, unlike the luster of this one."

Wan Tiancheng smiled and said, "Since Brother Liu recognizes this item, it saves me, Old Lin, from having to gossip. Why don't you tell me about its origin?"

Liu Rufeng didn't stand on ceremony. He knew that Yang Fan needed someone to protect him, but he didn't have the strength. Wan Tiancheng was already a martial artist at the Refining Spirit Realm, and judging from his strength, he was a very skilled one. Naturally, the responsibility of protecting him would fall on Wan Tiancheng, and it was always better to be more cautious. After all, if Wan Tiancheng had any ill intentions, he would be helpless.

"This martial artist's birth chart is made according to an ancient secret method. A martial artist's birth date and time are engraved onto a bamboo tablet made of Soul-Suppressing Green Bamboo from the far north using a special technique and their own blood essence. It is then refined using a secret method. With this tablet, the martial artist whose birth date and time are engraved will progress extremely quickly, but it also has a great drawback. If the martial artist's birth chart falls into the hands of another person, as long as the other person sends a little internal energy into it, the martial artist whose birth date and time are engraved will definitely suffer a fate worse than death within a short period of time!"

Based on Liu Rufeng's explanation, Wan Tiancheng truly trusted him. Yang Fan had a thought and unconsciously looked up at Wan Tiancheng. If he had evil intentions and didn't return the martial artist's birth chart after the deed was done, what could Wan Tiancheng do?

Wan Tiancheng faced Yang Fan's gaze calmly, without the slightest panic. Clearly, the moment he handed the martial artist's birth chart to Yang Fan, he had already placed a huge gamble, the stakes being his own life and future!

Yang Fan casually accepted Wan Tiancheng's birth chart and nodded, saying, "Then I'll trouble Brother Wan to protect me."

Wan Tiancheng's face lit up with joy. Since Yang Fan was willing to accept it, given his generosity, he certainly wouldn't treat him unfairly. Although his previous gains included many rare medicinal herbs, the spine of a Netherworld monster, and a pile of flesh, compared to this Blood Lotus that had summoned five monsters, its value was worlds apart!

Among the martial artists present, some even speculated that this Blood Lotus might be a rare treasure from ancient times, with extraordinary effects; perhaps consuming it would immediately allow one to advance to the Mixed Origin Realm. Regardless of whether the effects were truly miraculous, following Yang Fan meant he could at least try something new!

With Wan Tiancheng as his protector, Yang Fan closed his eyes slightly, released a portion of his divine sense into a state of emptiness, and began to visualize the Immovable King. The instant he visualized the Immovable King, he was suddenly jolted.

He had visualized hand seals with his divine sense more than once, but this attempt gave Yang Fan an unforgettable and profound shock.

Entering a state of emptiness, without Yang Fan's conscious control, his divine sense transformed into the image of the Immovable King.

Four arms, three eyes, two hands holding mantras, two hands holding magical implements, feet stepping on two snakes, in an angry pose. However, apart from the clear figure, the magical implements and the two snakes were blurry.

Above his head were thirteen restrictions, shimmering with a faint golden light. Twelve of these restrictions were divided into three parts, with four restrictions arranged in a rhombus shape, and the three rhombuses arranged in a triangular shape.

One restriction, however, hung in the void, not forming any shape with the other restrictions, like a solitary point, seemingly strange, yet somehow perfectly reasonable.

At first, Yang Fan only vaguely sensed the existence of the thirteen restrictions, thinking they were all the same. But upon closer inspection, he discovered their differences.

Each restriction was like a galaxy, stretching across the void, connecting heaven and earth, its end invisible. Its meticulousness and grandeur were breathtaking. The characters that made up the restrictions seemed familiar, yet their meaning was unknown; he only vaguely sensed that they resonated with some kind of law!

In an instant, Yang Fan's mind stirred, but unexpectedly, the moment his mind trembled, the Immovable King, observed through his divine sense, also reacted. He tossed his two hands, which were holding incantations, into the air, and thirteen restrictions began to rotate and flow. Intricate small seal characters swirled around his body…

Each of the thirteen restrictions sent forth a thin golden thread, connecting with the Immovable King's Dharma Body. Strands of soul energy were absorbed into the restrictions, and each golden thread, representing countless small seal characters, grew larger with each wisp of soul energy absorbed.

When the golden threads reached the thickness of a little finger, they were retracted by the restrictions. After a brief pause, the thirteen restrictions underwent a new transformation. Each wavered, spitting out an object from its center. The thirteen objects from the restrictions converged at one point, flashing with light to form another restriction. The

newly formed fourteenth restriction flew down to the thirteenth restriction, standing opposite it, with a faint golden light flowing between them.

Yang Fan stared intently, secretly astonished. In the void, fourteen restrictions remained, each group of four forming a canopy, which in turn formed a larger canopy. The last restriction, existing alone, hung at the center of the canopy, following one another relentlessly, like a python trying to swallow its own tail.

Yang Fan was about to look further when he felt a jolt in his divine sense, and was directly thrown back into his spiritual platform. At the center of his spiritual platform, a lotus platform appeared out of thin air, with nine petals of nine different colors. Each petal emanated an immense suction force, drawing Yang Fan's divine sense into it.

Yang Fan's heart stirred, and he stopped controlling his divine sense, letting it sink into the lotus platform. He discovered that his divine sense gathered at the center of the lotus platform, and the nine petals on the platform emitted fragrant blossoms of nine colors, shooting into it. In no time, it formed a dazzling nine-colored sphere.

Shortly afterward, the sphere exploded, and countless triangular divine sense fragments shot out. Yang Fan silently counted; there were exactly 365, no more, no less, and each one was surrounded by three colors!

In an instant, Yang Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his pupils radiating golden light, with countless intricate seal script strokes flowing within them. Although it was only for a moment, it startled Wan Tiancheng, the protector, who almost fell to the ground.

Fortunately, the golden light in Yang Fan's eyes disappeared as soon as it appeared. He smiled slightly and then closed his eyes again.

"What is this thing?"

Divine sense is originally an intangible thing. But now, Yang Fan's divine sense had transformed into a triangular, unidentified object, which greatly surprised Yang Fan. However, he found that apart from the different appearance, the mutated divine sense still functioned exactly the same as before, and it was even several times stronger than before.

Yang Fan felt a little strange, but his actions were not slow; he immediately began to visualize the Immovable King Dharma Body again. However, this time, the situation was different from before.

The 350 triangular objects did not gather in one place, but instead each transformed into an Immovable King's Dharma Body. Each one was life-sized, with a clear form, and the two snakes at its feet were also lifelike, although the magical weapons in its hands remained blurry.

With a thought, Yang Fan caused 243 triangular objects to merge in the center, forming an even larger Immovable King's Dharma Body, surrounded by golden, red, and blue light, exuding a majestic and powerful aura—truly a magnificent demon-subduing Vajra, a wrathful King!

While Yang Fan was observing the Immovable King's Dharma Seal with his divine sense, the martial artists who cultivated their spirit and those who moved their qi were not idle either.

Originally, the martial artists had divided into their own sects and gone about their own business, but upon seeing the astonishing magic of the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon, they no longer cared about sect interests. If they continued to fight alone without combining their strength, they feared that not only would they not be able to seize even half a Blood Lotus Root, but they would also lose their lives here.

Among them stood an elderly man in white, an inner elder of the Huangshan Sword Sect named Chen Shengguang, whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Refining Spirit realm. He was elected by the group as their temporary leader.

Before Chen Shengguang could decline, the Golden Crow Scaled Fish among the five demonic beasts made its move again. The Golden Crow Scaled Fish opened its mouth and spat out seven drops of black water

. Thinking that the martial artists were all gathered together and there was no danger, some people inevitably became careless. Those who tried to escape were particularly unlucky. They thought that since they didn't participate in the competition for the Blood Lotus Root and left the pool in time, they would be safe. Unexpectedly, the Golden Crow Scaled Fish, with a single spit, targeted not the gathered martial artists, but those who had strayed away!

The seven drops of black water merged with the pool water, instantly forming seven enormous water spheres, completely sealing them inside. No matter how much they struggled inside the spheres, using all their strength—punches, kicks, and unleashing ultimate techniques—it was all in vain; it was all a futile struggle.

A martial artist at the Refining Spirit Realm, indignant, rushed forward and struck the water sphere, attempting to break it and rescue everyone. Unexpectedly, the water sphere shattered with a crack, but the martial artist trapped inside died instantly, without a sound.

This scene immediately stunned the other martial artists who were trying to rescue them. Not rescuing them meant watching them suffocate in the water; rescuing them meant their immediate death! These demonic beasts were truly terrifying!

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the other martial artists couldn't help but tremble. They hurriedly tried to persuade Chen Shengguang, saying, "Brother Chen, you are the highest level and strongest among us. If you don't lead us, we might not be able to leave even if we wanted to!"

Chen Shengguang realized that his slight hesitation had cost him seven more helpers. There were only about sixty people in total. The two demonic beasts killed twelve of them in one go, leaving only fifty-odd. If they delayed any longer, the fears of that martial artist might actually come true…

Chapter 357 [The So-Called Alliance]

Chen Shengguang immediately said, “Alright! I’ll be the temporary leader, but let’s make this clear from the start: survival is our priority, treasure hunting is secondary. Everyone must obey my commands, and anyone who disobeys will be killed without mercy! If anyone is dissatisfied, they’d better speak up now so we can choose another leader. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”

The martial artists looked at each other for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

Chen Shengguang breathed a sigh of relief. Although they were gathered in one place, there were too many sects involved—Changbai Sword Sect, Qingcheng Sect, and others—all major sects. If things weren’t made clear now, someone might question him later, endangering everyone’s lives.

"Since everyone has agreed, then follow my command and move forward to that position!"

Everyone looked up and was stunned. What's wrong with Chen Shengguang? He didn't know what had gotten into him, actually ordering everyone to advance instead of retreat, heading straight for the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon to their deaths!

Everyone had witnessed the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon's blue flames; their power might be slightly less than the Golden Crow Scale Fish's black water droplets, but it was still not to be underestimated. How many of them could escape unscathed?

But since everyone had already agreed to Chen Shengguang's orders and obey his commands, it was too late to back out now.

Chen Shengguang was a man of his word, and a peak Refining Spirit expert; going against him wouldn't necessarily be any better than going to their deaths at the hands of the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon.

The crowd had no choice but to obey.

Seeing everyone obey, Chen Shengguang felt a sense of relief. If anyone disobeyed, he would definitely kill one or two to establish his authority.

Their manpower was already limited; killing a few more would further weaken their strength when facing the demonic beasts. Chen Shengguang wouldn't have done it unless absolutely necessary.

He glanced around, taking in the strength of the fifty-odd martial artists. Besides himself, there were four martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm, elders from the Changbai Sword Sect, Qingcheng Sect, Tantric Sect, and South Sea Sword Sect. He couldn't recognize the other experts. Chen Shengguang shook his head

slightly. Without sufficient information, even racking his brains wouldn't help if he couldn't figure things out. Looking at the five demonic beasts, Chen Shengguang felt a headache coming on.

These five beasts had sleek, glossy fur, clearly full of energy and vitality. Meanwhile, his own side, having used underhanded tactics, ambushes, and dirty tricks along the way to minimize their opponents, all showed signs of fatigue.

Chen Shengguang secretly compared the strength of both sides and realized that if those ferocious beasts hadn't appeared, he might have been able to save his life and take the Blood Lotus Root with him. But now, it seemed he could only choose one!

Actually, it wasn't impossible to save both lives and take the Blood Lotus Root, but this required not only close cooperation but also all the martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm to hold off the five demonic beasts, buying everyone a chance to survive, and then having a reliable person go to retrieve the Blood Lotus Root.

The problem was, where could he find this "reliable person"? Not to mention the other Refining Spirit Realm martial artists, even Chen Shengguang himself didn't trust any of them to be entrusted with this task!

"Sigh!"

Chen Shengguang sighed inwardly. Looking up, he saw that everyone had reached the designated position and quickly shouted, "Everyone, be careful! Don't move around recklessly, or you might anger those demonic beasts, and the consequences would be unimaginable!"

The martial artists looked around fearfully, relieved to be alive, and had already decided which direction to flee in. However, the five demonic beasts made no move. It was as if their purpose was to drive these martial artists there.

The fifty-odd martial artists, each using their own methods—some imbuing their feet with true energy, others standing on buoyant objects—stood in a large circle.

While they appeared to be closest to the Twin-Headed Mountain Demons, from an aerial view, it would be clear that the straight-line distance between these martial artists and the five demonic beasts was roughly the same!

Chen Shengguang was taking a gamble. If his guess was wrong, he might have no choice but to fight these demonic beasts head-on, and whoever died would be left to fate. Fortunately, his gamble paid off; he not only saved himself but also the lives of over fifty martial artists.

On the distant shore, the other martial artists, still watching with bated breath, saw the beast's unreasonable behavior—forbidding anyone who stepped into the pool from leaving—and had no intention of watching any longer.

What good was obtaining the Blood Lotus Silver Scroll if they couldn't even save their own lives? Even if they could get the Blood Lotus Ginseng and Lotus Root, what good would it do if the legendary ancient tomb was beneath the pool? Without life, everything was meaningless; no matter how many benefits they received, they wouldn't have the life to enjoy them!

In an instant, the hundred-plus unaffiliated martial artists dispersed completely. They had clearly decided not to get involved in this mess again. Whether they would try

their luck again to find the ancient tomb was unknown. Liu Rufeng stood beside Yang Fan, watching the group of unaffiliated martial artists disperse, and sighed. He wanted to stop them, but ultimately remained silent.

It's not fair to blame these unaffiliated martial artists for being cowardly. Without a sect to rely on, they've long been accustomed to prioritizing survival above all else. As

long as they're alive, they have a future!

"Huh?"

Liu Rufeng thought the group of martial artists would disperse, but he noticed four individuals lurking furtively to one side, not leaving with the main group. Moreover, these

four only briefly peeked out before disappearing again. "Strange, I've never seen these people before."

Although it was just a fleeting glance, Liu Rufeng memorized their physical characteristics, but he realized that these people weren't any of the hundred-plus martial artists he knew.

Liu Rufeng wouldn't dare boast about anything else, but he was quite confident in his ability to remember faces. Having lived his entire life, he could still recognize anyone he'd seen before at a glance. After racking his brains, Liu Rufeng couldn't recall when he'd seen these four people before!

"When exactly did these four sneak in?"

He thought carefully, but still couldn't figure it out. Liu Rufeng considered mentioning it to Wan Tiancheng, but noticed Wan Tiancheng's gaze was fixed intently on the pool. Liu Rufeng looked over as well, and his heart skipped a beat!

"Caw!"

The ugliest of the large birds, the Thunder Feather Purple Crow, suddenly flapped its wings and swooped down into the pool. Seeing the Thunder Feather Purple Crow make its move, the other demonic beasts weren't about to be outdone.

"Roar!"

"Howl!"

With a series of roars and cries, the five demonic beasts responded and charged towards the Blood Lotus Ginseng!

The Thunder Feather Purple Crow, which had moved first, displayed a very human-like disdain on its bird face as the other four demonic beasts acted. With another flap of its wings, its feathers stood on end, and many of the lumpy growths on its body immediately fell off, scattering in four directions as they shot off like lightning.

"Screech!"

The emerald-feathered crimson phoenix flapped its wings, causing the water below to surge several feet higher, rushing towards the oncoming lightning orbs. Even the golden-haired roar clinging to its body remained unperturbed, lazily scratching its fur, grabbing something from its fur, stuffing it into its mouth, then crossing its arms and continuing to watch the spectacle.

The golden-scaled fish, lying prone on the water's surface, let out a sharp cry, opening its mouth and spitting out a dozen or so black water droplets, attempting to envelop the nine falling lightning orbs.

On the other side, the two-headed mountain demon, its feet firmly planted on the water's surface, also made a move. It stood upright, stomping its feet, and nine much larger blue flames rushed forward to meet the incoming lightning orbs.

The Golden-haired Roar didn't move, while the Thunder Feather Purple Crow fought three against one. The lightning orbs it fired caused the other three demonic beasts to be extremely cautious, fighting with all their might. Chen Shengguang knew all too well that those lightning orbs were incredibly powerful, and not everyone could withstand them.

Even those demonic beasts, with their thick hides, dared not take a direct hit; if their own warriors were to be struck, they would likely be obliterated! Thinking of this, Chen Shengguang hurriedly reminded everyone, but it was too late.

The lightning orbs, submerged by the Green Feather Red Phoenix's water waves, remained unchanged, still shooting towards the Green Feather Red Phoenix and the Golden-haired Roar beneath it.

"Screech!"

The Green Feather Red Phoenix cried out again, suddenly leaning down and pecking at the Golden-haired Roar. Only then did the beast lazily and unwillingly flick its arms, shooting out two golden rays.

Both golden rays were arrow-shaped, extremely fast, one above the other, passing directly through the lightning orbs without pausing for a moment. For some reason, the lightning bead got caught on the tail of the golden arrow, neither exploding nor falling.

The dozen or so black water droplets shot out by the Golden Crow Scale Fish weren't so lucky. They exploded upon contact with the lightning bead before they could even draw water from the pool.

Instantly, thunder roared, and the water droplets were deflected. The acidic mist from the exploding lightning bead didn't stay in place; instead, it seemed attracted by something and continued flying towards the Golden Crow Scale Fish. The nine flames spewed by the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon, however, had a surprising result when they collided with the lightning bead.

The fire and lightning didn't explode; instead, they dissolved into nothingness.

Chen Shengguang warned the martial artists to be careful, but those on the periphery still suffered. Some were injured by the golden light shot out by the Golden-Haired Roar, some were killed by the lightning bead hanging on the golden light, and some were even sealed by the deflected black water droplets!

Chen Shengguang looked around and couldn't help but smile bitterly to himself. No wonder the Thunder Feather Purple Crow's gentle flap of its wings had caused all the demonic beasts to be on high alert.

In just that one move, more than a dozen of the fifty-odd martial artists had been killed, leaving less than forty!

Among the crowd, someone finally couldn't take it anymore and roared, "Senior Chen, are we just going to cower here and wait to die? Those monsters killed more than a dozen of us in one go. Aren't we all going to be wiped out after a few rounds? What should we do? Can't you say something to put our minds at ease?"

Chen Shengguang smiled bitterly to himself, but he couldn't show it on his face. These demonic beasts were much stronger than he had anticipated. If he really sent all the martial artists at the Refining Spirit Realm to the front lines, they would probably die before even becoming meat shields!

"No rush, everyone follow my instructions and slowly retreat in that direction!"

Although he had no concrete plan, Chen Shengguang couldn't afford to panic. If he lost his composure, the group would immediately scatter, and the demonic beasts would likely focus on them first, forgetting their own fighting.

The group looked in the direction Chen Shengguang pointed, and their expressions changed again!

Well, the first time you sent them to a death trap, we could tolerate it. Fortunately, although that place was close to the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon and caused damage, it at least saved everyone's lives. This time it's even worse—you're sending them right under the feathers of that Thunder Feather Purple Crow! Do you

really think demonic beasts are easy to deal with? With a flick of its feathers, a torrent of lightning beads rained down. Those lightning beads were incredibly vicious; killing and injuring were one thing, but even the dissipating gray mist would instantly rot anyone who touched it, leaving few survivors. You actually want us to go there? What are you really up to?

Chen Shengguang saw the strange expressions on everyone's faces but remained silent. In truth, the demonic beast was powerful, and he wasn't confident he could save everyone's lives. To survive, he would inevitably have to sacrifice pawns to protect his king.

"If everyone obeys, then fine. I'll risk my life to ensure everyone's safety. If not, then don't blame me, Chen, for being unrighteous!"

Seeing Chen Shengguang remain silent, the others assumed he had no better plan. Someone tentatively suggested, "Chief Chen, hiding like this isn't a solution. Why don't we lead a group to lure the beast away, distract it, and find a way out for everyone?"

Chen Shengguang looked closely and recognized him as one of the five Refining Spirit Martial Artists, Yu Chenghui, an outer elder of the Qingcheng Sect.

As soon as Yu Chenghui spoke, others stood up for him, leaning forward: "We are willing to follow Elder Yu into battle to find a way to survive for everyone!"

Chen Shengguang looked up again, a cold smile creeping onto his face. Why, you might wonder? Those who leaned out were either members of the Qingcheng sect or close associates. Their intentions were self-evident.

Chen Shengguang thought to himself, "Fine, so be it. You think I'm leading people to their deaths, but little do you know, the most dangerous place is often the safest! You think you can reap the benefits, but who will ultimately escape alive?"

With this thought, Chen Shengguang simply closed his eyes and remained silent, letting everyone choose for themselves.

After a short while, a quick-witted but wavering individual stepped forward and shouted, "Elder Yu is right, but the number is still too small. I am willing to lend Elder Yu a hand!"

"I am willing too!"

"I am willing!"

In an instant, those who still chose to believe Chen Shengguang dwindled to only a dozen or so people around him, while Yu Chenghui had over twenty around him.

Anyone with discerning eyes could see at a glance that the so-called luring of the enemy was nothing but a joke. How could the army meant to lure the enemy outnumber the fleeing ones?

Chapter 358 [The Blood Lotus Conflict]

Although Chen Shengguang kept his eyes closed and remained silent, he was secretly observing. Only when no one had left his surroundings did he suddenly open his eyes and look around.

To his surprise, Huang Haoran of the Changbai Sword Sect had actually brought two disciples with him, and none of the five high lamas from the Tantric Sect had fled. There were also a few martial artists from smaller sects, and that was all.

Chen Shengguang couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Brother Huang, why are there only two disciples with you?"

Huang Haoran's face flushed slightly, clearly feeling somewhat annoyed. He could only mutter, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Brother Chen. My prestige is not high enough to control my disciples, and one of them has gone off on his own!"

Chen Shengguang smiled slightly and said, "Why are you so upset, Brother Huang? That disciple is truly unworthy. We have all seen his character. He is under your tutelage, and if he were my disciple, I would have chopped him down with one palm. How could I allow him to be so arrogant?"

Huang Haoran smiled bitterly to himself but remained silent.

"You are one of the most respected inner elders in the Huangshan Sword Sect, holding a high position and prominent status within the sect, and you are also an inner disciple. I, on the other hand, am merely an outer elder, the least respected among the three elders of the Changbai Sword Sect—a true disciple, inner elder, and outer elder. The difference between us cannot be explained by reason, so how can we be compared?"

However, these words ultimately weakened his own prestige, and Huang Haoran only muttered them to himself without uttering them aloud.

Chen Shengguang, observing Huang Haoran's expression, understood the situation. He smiled again, offering a few words of comfort, and then addressed the several lamas and warriors of the Tantric sect: "Venerable Master Zhizhen, as the Buddhist saying goes, 'If I do not go to hell, who will?' Elder Yu Chenghui is willing to open the gate of life for us. Why don't you join us?"

Master Zhizhen smiled faintly and said, "Elder Yu's tactic is to lure us, but in reality, it's an escape. The true hell is right here, and I am on my way. Why must you deceive me, Commander Chen?"

Ignoring the demon beast beside him, Chen Shengguang laughed loudly. After a moment, he said, "In that case, please join me in going to hell!"

The so-called Tantric sect is actually a branch of the Tantric Shaolin. The Tantric Shaolin is Han Chinese Buddhism, while the Tantric sect is Tibetan Buddhism, but ultimately, they share the same origin—both are branches of Chan Buddhism!

The Tantric sect is also known as the True Word School, Vajrasekhara School, Vairocana School, Secret Vehicle, and Vajrayana. Tantric Buddhism is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism and a mainstream of later Indian Buddhism. This school of Buddhism is characterized by its prohibition of public preaching, the secret transmission of any lineage, and its mystical content, hence its alternative name, "Secret Teaching."

Buddhism is the only religion that truly emphasizes equality. Buddhist teachings hold that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature, and anyone can attain enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death through proper practice.

"Delusion" is the state of an ordinary person, and "enlightenment" is the state of a Buddha. However, the path from ordinary person to Buddhahood is diverse, including Zen, Pure Land, and Tantric Buddhism, with varying speeds of attainment. The fastest and most ultimate path is Tantric Buddhism!

The methods of Tantric practice, known as Tantric practices, have been preserved intact and widely disseminated in Tibet, but are extremely rare in Han Chinese areas and are often misunderstood.

In recent years, with the rise of national fitness trends, Tantric Buddhism has gained some recognition through the concept of Tibetan Qigong, but most people's understanding of this ancient Buddhist practice remains limited to general concepts of its methods, a superficial understanding.

The reason why Tantric Buddhism is considered secret is not only because the secrets of its practices are passed down orally from master to disciple, but more importantly because its levels and insights are more direct and incisive.

Buddhist scriptures say that it takes three great kalpas (infinite eons) for a person practicing exoteric Buddhism to attain Buddhahood, while practicing esoteric Buddhism allows for "instant Buddhahood." The Buddha said, "All Buddhas attain enlightenment by reciting mantras."

Those who recite mantras are practitioners of esoteric Buddhism. The incarnation of Vajrapani, Norbu Rinpoche, explained the superiority of esoteric Buddhism as follows: "The principle that esoteric Buddhism enables one to attain Buddhahood in this lifetime is like a very solid glass bottle with a sealed top. The Buddha is the air outside the bottle, and sentient beings are the air inside. The reason the Buddha is a Buddha and sentient beings are sentient beings is only because of a very solid and thick layer of mental defilement that separates them." "

Esoteric practitioners take the great Bodhicitta as their cause and receive the secret teachings from the Vajra Guru. Through their own three secrets, they resonate with the Buddha's three secrets, just as a sledgehammer shatters the solid mental defilement glass, instantly allowing the air inside the bottle to merge and communicate with the air outside, thus attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime."

Esoteric Buddhism is further divided into various schools, such as the Gelug, Nyingma, and Kagyu schools. While each school and practice has its own characteristics, there is no inherent superiority or inferiority in their methods, nor any fundamental difference in their understanding. All practices were established by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in response to the different karmic conditions of sentient beings.

Tantric Buddhism has flourished in Tibet, and it can be confidently stated that the Tibetan Tantric lineage is exceptionally pure. This is because Tantric Buddhism places great emphasis on lineage transmission, specifically oral transmission, to prevent the emergence of counterfeit teachings.

Some Tantric schools deliberately use many strange terms that outsiders cannot understand, which only enlightened Vajra masters can explain, again to prevent the spread of false teachings.

Furthermore, Tibetan Buddhism has a unique characteristic: debate. Through debate, many issues can be clarified. Any statement can be traced back to its original source, until it is confirmed as the Buddha's own words. Therefore, the doctrines of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism are without any problems.

The origins of Tantric Buddhism are very early; many rituals and practices can be traced back to the early Buddha era, but it was truly established when the Acharya of Jingci Garden personally inscribed the two characters "Tangmi" (唐密).

The rise of Tantra coincided with the late period of Indian Mahayana Buddhism. Most scholars agree that it arose from the revival of Hinduism, with Mahayana Buddhist practitioners absorbing Hindu practices to form a unique sect. Its characteristics include a strong emphasis on mystery, supernatural powers, spirits, and mystical experiences. It replaced the original Sutras with Tantras, using these secret scriptures as the primary basis for practice, and transmitting them secretly between master and disciple.

The content of Tantras is extremely complex. In Chinese Buddhism, it is divided into three parts: Miscellaneous Tantra, Garbhadhatu, and Vajradhatu. Miscellaneous Tantra mainly consists of rituals and mantras, emphasizing supernatural powers and the control of spirits, lacking profound doctrines; it is the earliest prototype of Tantra. Tibetan Buddhism

, according to Tsongkhapa's *Lamrim Chenmo*, divides it into four parts: Kriya Tantra (the Tantra of Action), Charya Tantra (the Tantra of Conduct), and Yoga Tantra (the Tantra of Yoga). The first three are historically known as Old Tantra, while Anuttarayoga Tantra (the Tantra of Highest Yoga Tantra) is historically known as 'New Tantra'. The three schools of the Han Chinese tradition correspond to the first three schools of the Tibetan tradition: Miscellaneous Tantra (equivalent to Kriya Tantra), Garbhadhatu Mandala (equivalent to Charya Tantra), and Vajradhatu Mandala (equivalent to Yoga Tantra).

Chronologically, Anuttarayoga Tantra developed the latest, with only a small portion entering mainland China during the Song Dynasty. It did not have a significant impact, primarily circulating in India and Tibet, becoming the most powerful lineage within Tibetan Buddhism. Anuttarayoga Tantra is further divided into "Father Tantra" and "Mother Tantra" (sometimes divided into "Father Tantra," "Mother Tantra," and "Non-Dual Tantra"). The Father Tantra includes Guhyasamaja, Yamantaka, and Anuttarayoga Tantra, while the Mother Tantra includes Kalachakra, Chakrasamvara, Hevajra, and Vajrasana, among other branches. Within Tibetan Buddhism, Anuttarayoga refers to the practice of sexual union between men and women.

In Tibetan Buddhism, Vajrayana, Fruition Vajrayana, or Fruition Secret Vajrayana are also used as alternative names for Tantric Buddhism. Vajrayana is a name created by esoteric Mahayana Buddhism to distinguish it from Mahayana and Hinayana. Because Vajra represents extreme hardness and perfection, it signifies that the teachings of Vajrayana are as perfect as diamonds, capable of shattering all erroneous ideas of other schools. Strictly speaking, Vajrayana refers to the general term for the Highest Yoga Tantra, sometimes specifically referring to the Kalachakra Tantra, known as Kalachakra Vajrayana.

And the Venerable Master Zhizhen before him is an elder of Tibetan Buddhism, specifically Vajrayana! His spiritual attainments are unfathomable, no less than Huang Haoran's. It is precisely for this reason that Huang Haoran shows him such respect.

On one side, Zhu Mannian, with a mocking expression, looked at Huang Haoran and the others, thinking to himself, "A bunch of idiots. Their brains don't even work properly. They're all getting old, senile! They can't even see that Elder Chu's side is the real way out! Let them draw the monsters' wrath and buy us a chance to escape!"

Not only Zhu Mannian, but everyone from Yu Chenghui down looked at Chen Shengguang and his group with a mixture of pity and condescension as they headed towards Lei Yu Ziwu's feet.

Meanwhile, Lei Yu Ziwu flapped its wings, unleashing thirty-six thunderbolts that attacked the four major monsters. It was just a casual move, yet it caused all three monsters except for the Golden-haired Roar to be on high alert.

Needless to say, among the five monsters, Lei Yu Ziwu was the strongest, with the Golden-haired Roar close behind.

A barrage of lightning bolts launched the beast, Thunder Feather Purple Crow. It hadn't intended to achieve a complete victory in a single strike, nor was it truly planning a swift attack to seize the Blood Lotus Root; rather, it was a cunning maneuver. With just this one plan, who dared to call the beast foolish?

The Thunder Feather Purple Crow's barrage of lightning beads was broken. The Golden Crow Scaled Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon each roared, one skimming the water's surface, the other treading the water with effortless grace. The two beasts moved with incredible speed, quickly approaching the Blood Lotus Ginseng and attacking simultaneously.

What a magnificent Golden Crow Scaled Fish! Its belly swelled with gas, its mouth spewing sounds like resounding bells. In an instant, a dark purple object shot straight into the sky. The

Two-Headed Mountain Demon was not to be outdone. Red and white cloud patterns danced around its body, and nine flames blazed around it, no longer blue, but a dazzling golden-white.

"Bang!"

"Roar!"

The two beasts roared in unison. The dark purple object grew rapidly in the wind, instantly transforming into a double-layered bubble with a dark outer layer and a purple inner layer, its purpose unknown. Unexpectedly, the Thunder Feather Purple Crow seemed to be facing a formidable enemy, cautiously observing the dark purple double-layered bubble.

The nine golden-white flames surrounding the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon were even more extraordinary. As soon as they shot out, they began to rotate on their own, with a flickering wick at their center. These nine golden-white flames were the lamp flames.

It was also because the Thunder Feather Purple Crow was too fast and the strongest. Although the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon were also demon beasts, they were far inferior. Seeing that the Blood Lotus Ginseng was about to be swallowed by their strongest rival, how could they tolerate it?

Their strength was already far inferior; if the Thunder Feather Purple Crow swallowed the Blood Lotus Ginseng, its strength would increase even further. Their ranking among the strongest might have to be reshuffled!

In their desperation, the two demon beasts immediately unleashed their strongest moves.

The Golden Crow Scale Fish's "Golden Crow Water Qi Shield" and the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon's "Purple-Gold Flame Pouch" were both life-saving killing moves, and now they were being unleashed as if they were free.

With the appearance of the Golden Crow's Water Mist Shield, the Golden Crow Scaled Fish's once glossy black scales dimmed considerably, and its deep, unfathomable eyes showed signs of weariness.

The Two-Headed Mountain Demon fared even worse; the Purple-Gold Fire Basket had consumed even more energy, its red and white cloud patterns almost invisible, its body smooth and gaunt, as if stripped of its fur—it was as ugly as could be.

It is said that water and fire are incompatible, but little do they know that they can also complement each other; what is mutually destructive must also generate! If it were only the Golden Crow's Water Mist Shield or only the Purple-Gold Fire Basket, the Thunder Feather Purple Crow could simply flap its wings and dodge, or unleash another powerful attack to shatter them.

However, with both appearing simultaneously, the Thunder Feather Purple Crow couldn't even fly away! Who could blame it when the Purple-Gold Fire Basket possessed the power to burn away the heavens, creating a vacuum and confining a small area? Besides resisting with brute force, the Thunder Feather Purple Crow had no other effective strategy!

"Screech!"

Seeing the rare opportunity, the Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix grew anxious. If not now, when would it ever get another chance to seize the Blood Lotus Root?

"Roar!"

To everyone's surprise, the Golden-Haired Roar wasn't in a hurry at all. Seeing the Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix about to take flight, it quickly grabbed one of its feathers. The Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix winced in pain, letting out a sharp cry as it hovered in the air, glaring angrily at the Golden-Haired Roar. Clearly, it demanded an explanation. If the Golden-Haired Roar didn't give a clear answer, it might just turn on the spot!

While the group of demonic beasts were fighting fiercely, Yu Chenghui's side was overjoyed. Some naive busybodies couldn't help but flatter him, saying, "Elder Yu is indeed a diviner! These demonic beasts are locked in a fierce battle. Chen Shengguang has led a group of people to their deaths. Now is our chance to escape!"

The other martial artists were slightly taken aback, but then they all understood and echoed his sentiments. For a moment, flattering words surged like a tide, intoxicatingly sweet, leaving few who remained unmoved!

Yu Chenghui stroked his beard, a smug look on his face. He said, "We haven't succeeded yet, gentlemen, please be patient. Once Chen Shengguang reaches Lei Yu Ziwu Yu, that will be our time to escape!"

Seeing Yu Chenghui's cheerful expression, Zhu Mannian knew he was in a good mood and seized the opportunity to say, "Escape is possible, but it's a pity that the top-grade Blood Lotus is ultimately out of our reach."

Upon hearing this, the other martial artists couldn't help but look thoughtful, and then they all looked at Yu Chenghui, clearly hoping to glean another clever trick from him.

Yu Chenghui's expression changed slightly. He coldly glanced at Zhu Mannian, making Zhu's stomach pound and his back break out in a cold sweat. Then he said calmly, "Gentlemen, if you want that top-grade Blood Lotus, it's not without a chance, but..."

The crowd had already given up hope, looking at Yu Chenghui only as a last resort. Now, hearing that there was actually a chance, they didn't care about anything else. They were overjoyed and hurriedly said, "

Elder Yu, just tell us! As long as we can get that Blood Lotus, we'll die for it!"

"Even if it costs us our lives, we'll take it!"

"Yes! Elder Yu, please speak! Please speak!"

Yu Chenghui looked around, a cold smile creeping onto his face. "If it weren't for you lot, I wouldn't even dare to dream of that treasure. But since you fools are here, I might as well..."

Chapter 359 [Twelve Sacred Lands]

A thought flashed through his mind, and Yu Chenghui smiled. "Don't be impatient, everyone. Look, Chen Shengguang is almost at the foot of Lei Yu Ziwu's thunder feathers. The Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon have both unleashed their ultimate moves, clearly out of strength. The Golden-Haired Roar has even clashed with the Green-Feathered Red Phoenix. Why don't we take advantage of this opportunity to capture the Golden Crow Scale Fish or the Two-Headed Mountain Demon? If one of these two demonic beasts dies, how could Lei Yu Ziwu be so polite? For example, it might fight the Golden-Haired Roar and the Green-Feathered Red Phoenix to the death!"

The warriors thought about it and realized it made perfect sense. In this way, wouldn't the Blood Lotus Ginseng be within easy reach? Furthermore, having killed a demonic beast, its demonic core, spirit bones, and flesh were all rare treasures!

At this thought, greed gleamed in everyone's eyes, their reason clouded. Some with stronger wills spoke up, saying, "Elder Yu, if Lei Yu Ziwu doesn't fight to the death with Jin Mao Hou and Cui Yu Hong Luan, won't we all be doomed?"

Yu Chenghui smiled, but his eyes flashed coldly as he glanced at the man, saying, "Aren't Chen Shengguang and his group perfect for this?"

Upon hearing this, no one objected; everyone cheered, rubbing their hands together excitedly, as if the blood lotus, demonic core, spirit bones, and other treasures were already laid out before them, ready to be taken at any moment.

Chen Shengguang, leading Huang Haoran, Zen Master Zhizhen, and their group, stealthily approached the pool beneath Lei Yu Ziwu's feathers. Just then, the Golden Crow Scaled Fish unleashed its Black Gold Water Mist Shield, and the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon unleashed its Purple Gold Fire Flame Shield. Both were dazzling with light and extraordinary in power, clearly forbidden techniques of immense strength.

Chen Shengguang and the others, being closer, saw the attack more clearly than Yu Chenghui and his group, and were inevitably terrified. Even Chen Shengguang hesitated, questioning his own judgment. But things had come to this point; further hesitation would be suicide, beyond even divine intervention.

At that moment, Chen Shengguang gritted his teeth and coldly shouted at the crowd, "Go!"

Instantly, everyone exerted all their strength, leaping under the feathers of the Thunder Feather Purple Crow. The Golden-Haired Roar, which had been arguing with the Golden-Haired Roar and demanding an explanation, hadn't said much before, only advising the Green Feathered Red Phoenix to calm down, which amused the Green Feathered Red Phoenix, causing it to jump around and nearly shake the Golden-Haired Roar into the pond.

Unexpectedly, it grinned, extending its large, hairy paw and pointing in the direction of Chen Shengguang and the others. The Emerald Feather Red Phoenix looked up and saw Chen Shengguang and the others, but didn't understand its meaning.

Seeing that the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix didn't understand, the Golden-Haired Roar sighed and pointed again in the direction of Yu Chenghui.

This demon beast, unlike humans, was similar to them; the higher its rank, the higher its intelligence. The Emerald Feather Red Phoenix was weaker than the Golden-Haired Roar, and its intelligence was naturally far inferior.

The Golden-Haired Roar had already pointed in two directions; to it, these were obvious and self-evident. Yet, the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix remained bewildered, even letting out a sharp cry and shaking its feathers, preparing to knock it to the ground.

Forget about using his intelligence anymore, the Golden-haired Roar glanced at the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix with a somewhat embarrassed and helpless expression, thinking to himself, "If I could fly and swim, why would I cooperate with you, you clumsy, flat-feathered beast?"

The Golden-haired Roar bared its teeth and simply told the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix the truth, which finally calmed her down a bit…

Yang Fan was naturally overjoyed that his divine sense had transformed into a triangular shape. He knew that he had finally taken the most difficult step in entering the Refining Spirit Realm!

The so-called Refining Spirit is the process of transforming the formless and intangible divine sense into a real and tangible existence. Divine sense is actually a person's spiritual power and thought process. Normally, it cannot be seen or touched, but ancient martial arts practitioners can strengthen their spiritual power through certain training, reaching a certain level, at which point it is called divine sense.

Divine sense can see various things within the body internally, and can also "see" the situation within a certain range without using the eyes. It can also predict the future, perceive events that are about to happen, and so on—truly wondrous.

The Refining Spirit Realm is a process that transforms one's divine consciousness, making it more wondrous and miraculous. Upon entering the Refining Spirit Realm, even if the physical body is destroyed, as long as the divine consciousness is preserved, under special circumstances, this life form can still survive, such as through possession!

The Refining Spirit Realm can be seen as a process of life form transformation. Before this, once the physical body is destroyed, the life form cannot survive; the soul dissipates, leaving nothing behind. But upon entering the Refining Spirit Realm, even if the physical body is destroyed, the soul will not dissipate. Besides possession, it can still survive in other ways, even cultivate, such as through Yin cultivation!

Yin cultivation is a special cultivation method, one perfectly suited for the cultivation of the soul. Yin cultivators are formless and incorporeal, existing only as souls. When they reach a certain level of power, they can become indistinguishable from real people, even unleashing powerful combat strength.

Within a certain range of cultivation level, Yin cultivators have no offensive capabilities and can only defend themselves. However, some ancient books record that some powerful Yin cultivators possessed immense strength, even creating their own worlds, gathering all Yin cultivators together to form their own realm. This realm is the Yin Realm!

The Yin Realm has its own laws and order, existing parallel to the world we live in, rarely intersecting. Although people know that the Yin Realm was created by a Yin cultivator with extraordinary cultivation, no one knows exactly who created it or how it came to be!

A great Buddhist figure once attempted to liberate the Yin Realm with Buddhist teachings, even vowing not to become a Buddha until hell is emptied. Yet, this great Buddhist figure, known as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, failed to liberate the Yin Realm in his lifetime. This demonstrates just how vast the Yin Realm truly is!

Returning to the main point, reaching the Refining Spirit realm is equivalent to gaining another life. Moreover, martial artists at the Refining Spirit realm possess a world-shaking difference in strength and vitality compared to Qi-based martial artists—an immeasurable gap.

And if cultivation continues to grow, reaching the Primordial Chaos realm… Therefore, ancient martial artists are practically immortals, possessing long lifespans; centuries or millennia are but a fleeting moment to them.

However, most masters at the Hunyuan Realm cultivate in seclusion, striving for the supreme Dao. Some Hunyuan Realm masters even establish sects within their own small worlds, creating sacred martial arts lands!

Masters at the Hunyuan Realm cannot be measured by worldly standards; their breath creates clouds, their exhalations create wind, and even a casual flick of the finger can cause wind and clouds to gather and the world to change color. Moreover, upon reaching the Hunyuan Realm, they can create a world that resembles a real world.

In this self-created world, the spiritual energy is abundant, making it even more suitable for cultivation. Furthermore, the laws and regulations of this world created by Hunyuan masters are exactly the same as those of the Great Thousand World, except that they cannot travel between the two. Of

course, if a Hunyuan Realm master wishes, they can also make the two worlds interconnected. However, such behavior is contrary to the natural order and would be condemned by Heaven. Therefore, no Hunyuan master would do this, as they all aspire to reach the even more powerful Supreme Dao.

However, times change, history changes, and countless Hunyuan masters have perished in the long course of historical transformation. After their fall, the small worlds they created do not disappear. By chance, these small worlds are discovered by martial artists, who often use them to create super sects.

Disciples of sects like the Qingcheng Sect, Tianshan Sword Sect, Tantric Sect, and Huangshan Sword Sect, which appear here, mostly come from the small worlds left behind by Hunyuan masters. However, these small worlds are all unclaimed. If a Hunyuan master were to reside in a small world, the sect's strength would be far superior. After all, with an owner, they know better how to utilize all the resources within for cultivation. Moreover, they have an ancestor who can be considered a creator protecting them!

Take, for example, Lei Laohu, who is currently fighting for Yang Fan in the underworld in Yanjing. He comes from a place where a master of the Hunyuan Realm resides: the Demon Realm!

According to Lei Laohu, the Demon Realm he inhabits is governed by a single place: the Demon Emperor's Palace. Legend has it that the entire Demon Realm was founded by the Demon Emperor. Everything within the Demon Realm was also determined by the Demon Emperor. In the hearts of ordinary demon beasts in the Demon Realm, the Demon Emperor's Palace is like the capital of an ancient emperor—the center of the Demon Realm's political system and power, and the Demon Emperor is the emperor in the hearts of all demon beasts!

However, while the name of the Demon Emperor is known throughout the Demon Realm, very few have actually seen him. There are even rumors that the Demon Emperor has already ascended to another world and no longer exists in the Demon Realm. Others say that the Demon Emperor is cultivating a peerless divine power, the time of which is measured in millions of years, thus making him impossible for anyone to see.

But regardless, the Demon Emperor's reputation throughout the Demon Realm is unparalleled. As the residence of the Demon Emperor, the Demon Emperor's Palace is also a sacred place in the hearts of all demon beasts!

However, the Demon Realm is not the only small world in this world with a powerful master like the Demon Emperor. Others share this name, including the Yin-Yang Realm, the Ghost Realm, the Sound Realm, the Flower Realm, the Jade Realm, the Pure Night Holy Land, the Heavenly Heart Pavilion, the Spirit Treasure Realm, the Thunder Realm, the Carefree Mansion, and the Pure Yang Cave.

Of course, there is also the former ruler of all realms: the Buddhist Realm!

The Buddhist Realm, also known as the Western Paradise, is the birthplace of Buddhism and the gathering place of all Buddhist powers. In ancient times, the Buddhist Realm was renowned and its power shook all realms, truly the ruler of all realms. However, later, something unknown led to a great calamity for the Buddhist Realm, the deaths of all its kings, and the supreme Buddhism was thus scattered, forming Mahayana Buddhism, Hinayana Buddhism, and other schools.

And under Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism, various branches further emerged. Whether it is a sect, a country, or even a family, how can it prosper if the hearts of its people are not united? The fragmentation of the Buddhist realm not only diminished its reputation but also severely weakened its power.

However, even so, the Buddhist realm remained incredibly powerful. Later, a surviving master reorganized the Buddhist realm, establishing a new sect—the Zen sect!

For a time, the Zen sect almost completely reunited the scattered forces of the Buddhist realm, nearly restoring its former glory to its ancient state.

But at this critical moment, an unknown calamity swept through the Buddhist realm once more, and the Zen sect, as its new masters, bore the brunt of the impact. From then on, the Zen sect split into two: the Eastern Zen sect and the Western Zen sect. The Eastern Zen sect was for male Buddhist disciples, while the Western Zen sect was for female disciples. The Western Zen sect remained detached from worldly affairs, focusing solely on the pursuit of enlightenment. The Eastern Zen sect, however, continued to shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing the Buddhist realm.

Thus, the Buddhist realm's former glory faded, and it became one of the twelve rulers of the myriad realms, along with several other realms. It also became one of the twelve most mysterious and sacred martial arts sites in the world!

The twelve sacred lands jointly maintain order in the entire Chinese martial arts world. Whether it's the Qingcheng Sect, the Changbai Sword Sect, or even ordinary martial artists and boxers in the world, they are all under the jurisdiction of the twelve sacred lands.

However, the Twelve Sacred Lands never venture into the martial world. No matter what happens, they never intervene personally, at most delegating to other sects under their jurisdiction. For example, the Qingcheng Sect is an outlying sect belonging to the Ghost Realm. It is precisely because the Qingcheng Sect has established connections with the Ghost Realm within the Twelve Sacred Lands that it has been able to dominate Western Shu and become the ruler of Shu!

Leaving aside the Qingcheng Sect, any sect that establishes connections with the Twelve Sacred Lands immediately sees its status in the martial world rise dramatically. Take Tang Ningshuang in the base, for instance; she secured her place there because of her past connections with members of the Twelve Sacred Lands.

Within the Twelve Sacred Lands, each has an entity similar to the Demon Emperor's Palace, ruling over its entire territory. And the various sects affiliated with the Demon Emperor's Palace within the Sacred Lands, in turn, rule over sects like the Qingcheng Sect. This hierarchical structure is like a nation, with the Twelve Sacred Lands forming a unique world: the Martial World!

A world formed by martial artists, a world unique to the Jianghu!

"Just one step away from advancing to the Refining God realm, what's missing?"

After his divine sense transformed into triangular particles, Yang Fan discovered that although he was infinitely close to the Refining God realm, even within reach, he found that no matter how hard he tried, there was always a membrane separating him from the true Refining God realm. It was this membrane that kept him a tiny distance away.

In fact, Yang Fan's transformation of his divine sense after observing the Immovable King's Dharma Body was not accidental. His cultivation had already reached the peak of Qi Movement, and the Immovable King's Mantra was a supreme technique for strengthening divine sense. Furthermore, his accidental acquisition of the Bone-Refining Purple-Gold Flower had brought him to the brink of a breakthrough in both physical condition and realm. The catalysis of observing the Immovable King's Dharma Body propelled his divine sense to the peak of Qi Movement.

Therefore, all of this was interconnected and not accidental. Now, Yang Fan is only a little bit away from breaking through. If he were given a quiet environment to cultivate, he might be able to break through to the Refining Spirit Realm soon.

However, the current environment not only prevents him from calming down to cultivate, but even his own safety is threatened...

"I've had a bad cold recently and had to get an IV drip last night, so I haven't had time to update. But I'll make up for the missed updates soon, brothers, please bear with me!"

Chapter 360 [Divine Consciousness Transformation]

Yang Fan woke up from his meditation with a smile on his face.

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng were about to ask questions, but Yang Fan waved his hand slightly, telling the two to calm down. Then, Yang Fan gently waved his hand, and three hundred and fifty-six transformed divine consciousnesses shot out from his sea of consciousness. They flowed with golden light in front of the three of them, merged together, and condensed into a wrathful king with a solid appearance and a majestic aura, which was very similar to Yang Fan himself.

"Divine consciousness transformation? You... how is this possible?"

Wan Tiancheng stared at Yang Fan in disbelief. This guy clearly only appears to be at the peak of the Qi Movement realm. Who would have thought he possessed so many hidden techniques? He's even more unfathomable than Wan Tiancheng, a fifth-level Refinement Spirit martial artist!

Leaving aside the wondrous techniques he'd displayed before, even a Refinement Spirit expert wouldn't be able to withstand him head-on. His physical strength alone makes Wan Tiancheng, a Refinement Spirit expert, feel inferior. Wan Tiancheng is certain that if Yang Fan were to get close, even with his immense magical power, he would be defeated by Yang Fan's monstrous physique!

Looking at everything about him, he doesn't seem like an ordinary Qi Movement martial artist! Yet, after much thought and speculation, Wan Tiancheng simply cannot believe that he has actually reached the "Divine Sense Transformation" realm!

Divine Sense Transformation is a crucial turning point in the Refinement Spirit realm. Generally speaking, those who can achieve Divine Sense Transformation are definitely above the Refinement Spirit realm, but not all martial artists above the Refinement Spirit realm possess the ability to achieve it!

Refining the spirit, refining the spirit, is the process of cultivating one's divine consciousness into a tangible form, ultimately reaching a state of physical manifestation. However, most experts at the Refining Spirit realm can only refine their divine consciousness into a state that is both real and illusory, existing between the intangible and the tangible. Only those with monstrous talent can truly refine their divine consciousness into a tangible form at the Refining Spirit realm.

But even then, it is merely a tangible form! Unlike Yang Fan, who, before even formally entering the Refining Spirit realm, had already completely condensed his divine consciousness, not only making it tangible but also creating an image like the Immovable King!

Condensing divine consciousness into a tangible object is increasingly difficult and complex, testing a martial artist's cultivation level. Even experts who have truly condensed their divine consciousness often can only condense it into simple objects like a sword or a knife. A step further, they can condense various complex weapons, but condensing it into a human form is extremely difficult.

Even someone like Yang Fan, whose cultivation has not yet reached the Refining Spirit realm, has actually created an Immovable King! Such an unprecedented event, such a situation that transcends ordinary martial arts principles, how could Wan Tiancheng not be astonished?

"Brother Yang, how old are you? At most... at most only around twenty, right? Do you think the threshold of spiritual consciousness taking form is so easily crossed? You're so young, yet you've already achieved spiritual consciousness taking form... how can we... how can we bear this!"

In his excitement, Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but blurt out his thoughts. Even he, a veteran master of spiritual cultivation, hadn't reached Yang Fan's level! At most, it's just turning one's divine sense into a longsword for a sneak attack...

Yang Fan was greatly surprised and thought to himself, "What? Is this what it means to transform one's divine sense into form? It doesn't seem that difficult! Why does everyone tell me that the boundary between Qi movement and spirit refinement is even more difficult to cross than the boundary between heaven and earth?"

Liu Rufeng had already decided that Yang Fan was a person with great abilities. Now, hearing Wan Tiancheng say that Yang Fan could actually transform his divine sense into form was a situation that was extremely rare for ordinary martial artists, his heart pounded like a drum, and he was so excited that he couldn't contain himself.

"Legend has it that anyone who can manifest their divine consciousness will achieve something no less than a Primordial Chaos Realm expert. Brother Yang exhibited this phenomenon when he was in the Qi Movement Realm, meaning his future achievements will definitely surpass the Primordial Chaos Realm. The Primordial Chaos Realm is a realm of existence comparable to the founding patriarchs of super sects. Throughout history, although the Primordial Chaos Realm has been heard of, almost no one has actually seen one. I never expected that Liu Rufeng would actually have the good fortune to meet a Primordial Chaos Realm expert. Although he will be a future Primordial Chaos Realm master, what will people think if I tell them that I know a Primordial Chaos Realm master?"

Liu Rufeng was so excited that he almost knelt down.

Yang Fan was stunned for a moment, then quickly reached out to pull him back from kneeling. He secretly wiped away a cold sweat, thinking, "If I had known it would be this high-profile, I wouldn't have shown off like this. I just... sigh! Never mind! You think it's a manifestation of divine consciousness, so let's just say it is! To be honest, I don't really know what's going on either, but it does look quite impressive, haha!"

He coughed and said, "You two don't need to get excited yet, just wait for me to show my skills!"

Wan Tiancheng suddenly realized, "That's right, Brother Yang must have just made a breakthrough in his cultivation and suddenly advanced in rank. In that case, showing my skills is just the right time!"

Yang Fan smiled without saying anything. After the two made way for him, he had a thought, and the Great Immovable King Dharma Body, which looked exactly like Yang Fan but had four arms, three eyes, held a spell in two hands and a magic weapon in the other, and stood on two snakes in an angry pose, immediately began to move.

The Immovable King's Dharma Body slightly opened and closed its vertical pupil between its brows, and a beam of golden light shot out, striking a tree so large that it would take three people to encircle it, instantly splitting the tree in two. Two snakes at its feet shook their heads and tails, and with the slightest movement, the surrounding earth churned and rocks rose, their aura terrifying.

With a series of movements of his hands, which were holding a spell, a beam of purple lightning flashed out. This beam of light, by sheer coincidence, struck precisely the four martial artists who had returned from hiding in the shadows, startling them out.

"You scoundrels! Now that you've seen through our disguise, know that the Nine Phoenix Sect is not to be trifled with!"

The four exchanged glances, nodded in unison, and each removed their upper garments, shouting angrily.

Yang Fan was still marveling at this when Liu Rufeng quickly stepped forward and explained. Yang Fan then realized that his Immovable King Dharma Body clone had unintentionally blasted out four treacherous individuals lurking in the shadows. All

four were covered in tattoos, each unique, but all crimson, like burning flames. One had a bird tattooed on his chest, its eyes half-open, seemingly gleaming with divine light. Another had a bird's neck and half-body tattooed on his body, its feathers vibrant and lifelike. Another had wings painted on his body, surrounded by red flames, exuding an extraordinary aura. The last one had a bird's tail painted on his body, its spread tail displaying an indescribable radiance.

"Come forth, Nine Phoenixes Paying Homage!"

"Come forth, Nine Phoenixes Paying Homage!"

"Come forth, Nine Phoenixes Paying Homage!"

"Come forth, Nine Phoenixes Paying Homage!"

The four shouted in unison, then embraced each other. Their bodies trembled, their faces contorted in pain, yet they stubbornly remained silent.

Yang Fan thought their slogan sounded somewhat familiar when he saw a beam of red light shoot from the foreheads of the four men, which merged together to envelop them, forming a red light screen.

"Boom!"

In a short while, the crimson light screen exploded, and a gigantic figure over two zhang tall stepped out, its eyes filled with fierce intent, looking extremely terrifying.

"Damn, what kind of monster is this?"

No wonder even Wan Tiancheng couldn't help but curse; the creature these four had conjured using their secret technique truly was a monster!

This tall figure had the body of a bird-beast, with wings on its back and feathers swirling around it—a monster that was neither human nor bird!

"Who are you? How dare you presume to call yourself the Nine-Phoenix Lord, a manifestation of the Phoenix God Sect's protective secret technique?"

The four men, transformed into tall birds, could still speak human language, which was truly unbelievable. Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat horrified.

A tall, bird-like figure strode forward, his face fierce, and declared, "You must all remember, I am one of the Nine Phoenix Gods, protectors of the Nine Phoenix Divine Sect! Only when you reach the Underworld will you realize the power of my Phoenix Emblem Fusion Transformation."

Yang Fan and Liu Rufeng were unaware of the Nine Phoenix Divine Sect, but Wan Tiancheng's heart stirred upon hearing this.

However, the bird-like figure disregarded their thoughts, shouting a few times before striding forward. A chilling aura swept over them, inexplicably instilling a sense of despair and a feeling of lifelessness.

Yang Fan's Immovable King Dharma Body, formed from his divine consciousness, made a gesture, and two snakes rose without wind, ascending to a great height before suddenly falling, heading precisely to the bird-like figure's location.

"How dare you, you rat!"

The bird-like figure suddenly raised his head, his eyes shooting out crimson divine light, instantly striking the Immovable King Dharma Body.

Yang Fan's divine sense trembled, and the life force of the Immovable King's Dharma Body avatar was severed, its skin withered and yellow, its face decayed, showing signs of collapse. A crimson substance even attempted to seep in, corrupting Yang Fan's divine sense.

Yang Fan thought to himself, "Impressive!" His divine sense instantly dispersed, then gathered again, instantly shattering the crimson substance into the void. He reverted to the Immovable King's Dharma Body avatar, his hands holding the mantra vibrating, and the Vajra Mudra was instantly unleashed.

The bird-man smiled coldly, clasped his hands together, his wings on his back fluttered, and a crimson light enveloped his entire body in a flash of red flame.

The Vajra Mudra collided with the crimson light, instantly turning gray and vanishing into nothingness, while the crimson light only faded slightly.

Yang Fan thought to himself, "What a pity." Although the Immovable King's Dharma Body was formed from divine sense, the truly powerful part was the manifested physical body. Releasing a magic seal is ultimately less agile and powerful than the original form!

Meanwhile, as Yang Fan battled the bird-man, the pool was also bustling with activity.

The Thunder Feather Purple Crow, its void scorched by the Purple-Gold Flame, unable to escape, remained calm, even using its cold eyes to glance at the Golden-Haired Roar and the Emerald-Feathered Red Phoenix.

Then, it suddenly flapped its wings, and forty-nine thunder beads separated from its body, clustered in groups of seven, arranged along a special trajectory, combining into a single ball, and then arranging themselves again along the same trajectory.

Looking up from below, the forty-nine thunder beads resembled a celestial map, shimmering with an indescribable mystique. The

Golden Crow Scaled Fish possessed a two-tiered aura of Cai Shui, and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon had the Purple-Gold Flame. These two beasts, inferior to the Thunder Feather Purple Crow, both had their signature techniques; how could the Thunder Feather Purple Crow be without its own?

The forty-nine thunder pearls, shaken off, transformed into the "Seven Stars Revolving Heavenly Thunder Pearl Array." The energy consumed was far less than that of the Golden Crow Scale Fish or the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, but their power was nearly equal.

Nine golden-white flames and a double-layered black-purple aura were blocked by the "Seven Stars Revolving Heavenly Thunder Pearl Array" formed from the forty-nine thunder pearls before they could even approach the Thunder Feather Purple Crow.

Upon collision, lightning flashed, flames soared, thunder roared, and rain poured down. The resulting impact was terrifying, like the end of the world.

Those nine golden-white flames were extraordinary, formed from the elixir energy cultivated by the Two-Headed Mountain Demon over many years, combined with its innate supernatural abilities, truly profound and boundless. Nine is the ultimate number, and fire is a violent substance; the resulting supernatural power was no ordinary matter.

The so-called Nine Treasures were nine natural patterns formed from the cloud patterns all over the Two-Headed Mountain Demon's body, resembling bells, tripods, furnaces, and cauldrons.

Upon colliding with the "Seven Stars Revolving Heavenly Thunder Pearl Array," the flames flickered and died, accompanied by the sounds of clashing swords. The surrounding void seemed to boil, with rising mist obscuring visibility to within a foot.

Furthermore, the dark purple double-layered energy shield was an innate ability of the Golden Crow Scaled Fish. Water, the softest of substances, formed an energy shield, naturally not protecting living beings, but rather their souls!

These two poles, the extremes of water—yin and yang—attracted and repelled each other. Whatever fell into it would inevitably have its soul trapped and its body detached, a truly vicious attack.

Upon colliding with the "Seven Stars Revolving Heavenly Thunder Pearl Array," the energy shield bulged and convex, silently absorbing the energy of the thunder pearls, turning them into nothingness.

The forty-nine thunder pearls, seemingly less wondrous than the flames and the energy shield, were merely a few dark purple pearls hanging in the air; the power of a single pearl was only enough to instantly kill a Qi-manipulation martial artist.

However, these forty-nine thunder pearls gathered together formed the Seven Stars Circulating Thunder Pearl Array, a talent of Lei Yu Zi Wu. The power was significantly increased.

Seven thunder pearls clustered together, shaped like a ladle, each extracting a bit of thunder energy and placing it in the ladle. Anything that approached would be shot out, and whatever collided with it would either be injured or killed—a method with its own intricacies.

Neither Cai Shui's two-tiered energy shield, nor the Purple-Gold Flame, nor the Seven Stars Circulating Thunder Pearl Array could be simply released and then ignored.

None of the three demonic beasts dared to be careless, each focusing their attention on controlling it. The Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon naturally wanted to trap Lei Yu Zi Wu, and ideally, kill it on the spot. However, the two demonic beasts were ultimately insufficient in strength; despite using their strongest killing moves, they were unable to harm Lei Yu Zi Wu.

If the Golden-haired Roar and the Emerald-feathered Crimson Phoenix had also unleashed their killing moves, the outcome might have been different. However, those two demonic beasts merely watched from the sidelines, offering no assistance.

In an instant, the three great supernatural powers clashed repeatedly, their sounds deafening, their light radiating in all directions, causing birds and beasts within a hundred miles to scatter and insects to fall silent!

Chen Shengguang, along with Yan Yikaishan, Zen Master Zhizhen, and others, leaped into the area covered by Lei Yu Ziwu's "Seven Stars Revolving Heavenly Thunder Pearl Array" just as it was

being deployed. By a hair's breadth, where they had stood, scattered sparks of starlight, rolling thunder pearl energy, and remnants of the black-purple aura shattered, mingled with the water vapor, creating a deafening explosion. The remains of the ferocious beasts floating on the water were instantly annihilated, leaving not a trace. This sight caused several disciples from smaller sects, and even two disciples from the Changbai Sword Sect, to hiss and scream!

The monks of Dalun Temple remained calm, though their faces were somewhat pale. Even Chen Shengguang and Huang Haoran's expressions changed slightly. If they had been even a little slower, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Chapter 361 [Three Images Combined]

Only Zen Master Zhizhen, who had already embraced the idea of sacrificing himself for enlightenment and entering hell, was not alarmed at all. Instead, he smiled and said, "That's exactly how it should be!"

Chen Shengguang glanced at Zen Master Zhizhen with a complicated expression and said to everyone, "Let's stand here for a while. Once that monster flies out from above, we'll rush there without looking back or worrying about what happens behind us!"

Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing and their eyes lit up. They hadn't expected that this place was only a few meters away from the shore!

Even ordinary martial artists could reach the shore in just a couple of leaps, and these martial artists, who were at least at the Qi Movement Realm, could escape in an instant.

Once they landed on the shore, wouldn't it be like the sea is wide enough for fish to leap and the sky high enough for birds to fly?

All the people present showed joy on their faces. One disciple from a small sect couldn't help but ask, "Leader Chen, the distance isn't that far, why do we have to wait? Can't we just jump over there?"

Others thought it made sense and echoed his sentiments.

Chen Shengguang sneered and said, "You all saw the attitude of those demonic beasts earlier. Besides, are you saying those two flying demonic beasts in the sky were blind? Regardless of why they stood by and watched, if we wanted to run, they would definitely attack!"

Sure enough, one of the disciples from the small sect glanced in the direction Chen Shengguang indicated, and felt a cold sweat break out on his chest. He secretly thanked himself for being so bold as to ask Chen Shengguang a question. If he had been reckless and only cared about survival, running away on the spot, his fate would probably be obvious now!

Everyone was delighted, but Zen Master Zhizhen's face showed displeasure: "Chief Chen, have you perhaps deceived this old monk?"

Chen Shengguang chuckled inwardly, but said, "What are you saying, Zen Master? I have always said this is the way out, but Yu Chenghui and the others didn't believe me, and you don't believe me either?"

Zen Master Zhizhen raised his long white eyebrows, his smile vanished, replaced by a hint of distress. In the end, he couldn't bring himself to accuse Chen Shengguang, and all he could say was a sigh: "Enough! This old monk has been too clever for his own good." "I only wanted to save everyone's lives, but unexpectedly, I escaped a great calamity myself!"

Chen Shengguang laughed, "Why sigh, Zen Master? As the saying goes, 'The flowers you plant with care may not bloom, but the willows you plant without intention may thrive.' Good intentions will eventually be rewarded!"

Zen Master Zhizhen remained silent for a long time, then suddenly smiled, "It seems this old monk was too attached to appearances. Thank you for your guidance, benefactor!"

Immediately, a faint light flashed around Zen Master Zhizhen, but it didn't last long; even a slight blink would make one think it was an illusion. Upon

seeing this, Chen Shengguang was suddenly startled, thinking to himself, "It is said that Buddhist martial arts are easy to learn but difficult to master, ultimately leading to enlightenment. Could it be that my words actually made this old monk enlightened? Although he is weaker than me, he is still a master of spiritual cultivation. If he advances further, wouldn't he... wouldn't he..."

Buddhist martial arts are easy to learn but difficult to master, yet they are also among the few martial arts that can advance without "cultivation." This is because Buddhist martial arts emphasize enlightenment, not blind arduous practice. Often, great Buddhist masters achieve sudden enlightenment and attain Buddhahood. Others spend their entire lives seeking enlightenment but fail.

Buddhist martial arts, compared to other schools, require significantly longer, sometimes several times, even dozens of times, time to advance to the next level. However, a sudden enlightenment can lead to a bright future, with changes almost daily. Therefore, each has its strengths, and it's difficult to say which is superior.

"Now!"

Yu Chenghui and his group, who had been intently watching Chen Shengguang and his companions, sprang into action upon seeing them leap into the Thunder Feather Purple Crow Feather, heading towards the Two-Headed Mountain Demon and the Golden Crow Scaled Fish.

The group of over twenty split into two parts. Yu Chenghui led one group, while another led the other. Just as they approached the two demonic beasts, Yu Chenghui gave a command, and the two groups of warriors roared forward.

Yu Chenghui secretly made a hand gesture, leading his men in another direction. Four or five people broke away from the crowd without alerting the remaining warriors.

The two groups of warriors, one rushing towards the Golden Crow Scaled Fish and the other towards the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon, were clearly blinded by the impending benefits, completely disregarding everything else. Even worse, some, before even killing the two demonic beasts, were already busy vying for advantageous positions, pushing aside the warriors beside them. Those who secretly plotted against them were countless!

Clearly, both groups had already regarded the two demonic beasts as lambs to the slaughter. No one noticed that as they approached the two demonic beasts, while the beasts were busy dealing with the Thunder Feather Purple Crow and had no time to attend to them, a patch of emerald cloud silently appeared above their heads.

Yu Chenghui, leading his close subordinates, rushed towards the Blood Lotus Ginseng Root. On the way, he glanced up at the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix and saw it indeed carrying the Golden-Haired Roar straight towards the two groups of warriors attempting to harm the Golden Crow Scaled Fish and the Twin-Headed Mountain Demon. He couldn't help but sneer inwardly: "The great plan is about to succeed!"

Not only Yu Chenghui, but even his subordinates were overjoyed. The translucent blood lotus, shimmering with a faint red light, looked so dazzling! After plucking it, everyone shared a petal, with some left over. The Blood Lotus of the Cultivated Blood Lotus was already extraordinary, but this one was clearly far superior; what would its effects be?

The group of four or five were already imagining the various benefits of consuming the blood lotus, their faces beaming with joy. Unexpectedly, something unpleasant happened!

The emerald-feathered crimson phoenix in the sky, for some unknown reason, its red crown flashed, its emerald feathers bristled, and with a sudden flap of its wings, the water around the blood lotus churned, and a transparent water curtain rose, separating Yu Chenghui and the others from the blood lotus into two worlds.

"What is this?"

a martial artist wondered, seeing that the transparent water curtain was merely composed of ordinary pool water beneath their feet, and wasn't particularly afraid, assuming it would only slightly hinder them.

"Don't touch it!"

Yu Chenghui exclaimed in alarm, but it was too late. The martial artist's fingers had already touched the transparent water curtain. The moment the martial artist touched it, the transparent water curtain changed instantly.

"Swish! Swish!"

sounds filled the air, and flashes of silvery-white light appeared within.

That wasn't a water curtain at all; it was clearly a wall of wind! Let everyone know that this change originated from the Green Feather Red Phoenix's innate divine ability, "Limitless Water Wind Wall," a wondrous technique of transforming water into wind. It was precisely because of this that it could so easily stir the pool water, rivaling even the naturally powerful water demon beast, the Golden Crow Scale Fish.

The moment the martial artist's fingers touched the water curtain, the wind wall's true form was revealed. His fingers were completely pulverized, and he was dragged in. He only

had time to shout, "Elder, help!" before disappearing without a trace, his entire body pulverized by the wind wall.

Yu Chenghui dared not intervene, knowing full well that these demon beasts were all cunning and monstrous! Everyone says that those who have reached the pinnacle of power are close to becoming strong, but compared to these demonic beasts, they realize they are nothing!

No wonder only those who have entered the Void Returning Realm are considered true powerhouses. No wonder this oasis is restricted to those at the Void Returning Realm or above!

In that instant, Yu Chenghui thought of many things, but none of them were unrelated to the word "regret."

"I had imagined these demonic beasts to be incredibly powerful, but I still underestimated them!"

Looking at the Blood Lotus Ginseng root so close at hand, Yu Chenghui felt as if his heart was being torn apart, yet he didn't know how to get through that wind barrier.

If his physical body were strong enough, perhaps he could recklessly jump in and try, and even if his physical body wasn't strong enough, if he could reach the Great Perfection of "Divine Consciousness Transformation," perhaps he could still give it a shot!

Standing before the wind wall, Yu Chenghui seemed stunned, his mind a jumbled mess, unsure of his own thoughts or actions.

"Elder, what should we do?"

Finally, a martial artist realized that if they continued to stand there foolishly, allowing Yu Chenghui to remain motionless, the entire Qingcheng Sect disciples would likely perish here! Even Yu Chenghui himself might not escape unscathed!

The disciple's call finally roused Yu Chenghui. He glanced around blankly, a chill running through him as he finally remembered his predicament.

At this moment, those martial artists who had attempted to ambush the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon were already dead or wounded under the attacks of the Golden-Haired Roar and the Emerald Feathered Red Phoenix, their previous momentum completely gone.

"Hmph!"

Yu Chenghui still harbored a sliver of hope: "Even if I can't pick that Blood Lotus, with those people holding me back, escaping with my life shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Little did he know, even this thought was a pipe dream. If they weren't so cunning, the Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix wouldn't have had to unleash its signature technique, the Limitless Water-Wind Wall, to protect the Blood Lotus from being picked! This naturally meant that in the upcoming main event, their battle against the Thunder Feather Purple Crow, they would be at a disadvantage.

The Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix had long hated Yu Chenghui and the others. Before even clearing out the warriors who had tried to ambush the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, it flapped its wings and flew over to block Yu Chenghui and the others.

The Golden Fur Roar let out a roar, but the Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix ignored it and flew directly above Yu Chenghui and the others, leaving the Golden Fur Roar with no choice but to obey its command.

"Screech!"

The emerald-feathered crimson phoenix, hovering above Yu Chenghui and the others, immediately swooped down, its wings whipping up countless waves, its beak never idle, its target Yu Chenghui.

The golden-haired roar, its eyes narrowed, rubbed its fingers together, golden light flashing, and with a casual flick, one or two martial artists were beheaded by golden blades formed from the golden light.

On the shore, the birdman and Yang Fan's divine consciousness-transformed Immovable King Dharma Body, after their initial clash of supernatural powers and hand seals, quickly engaged in close combat.

The birdman, confident in the unparalleled secret techniques of the Nine Phoenix Sect, combined with the divine bird visualized by the four, not only possessed a realm a step above those who had refined their divine powers, but also a "divine body" that could easily drain the life force of his opponents, leaving them unaware of their impending death—an extremely mysterious and unpredictable tactic, making him utterly unafraid of any challenge.

Unbeknownst to him, Yang Fan's divine consciousness manifested as the Immovable King Dharma Body, a form of Buddhist martial arts. Its formidable physical strength meant that even a manifestation of his divine consciousness wouldn't be much weaker than his true form.

The two clashed, each taking a punch from the other. The red flames surrounding the bird-man surged, its divine power failing to manifest and nearly extinguishing itself.

The bird-man was startled, his heart filled with apprehension. If the red flames were extinguished, most of his divine abilities would be lost, leaving him with little to rely on in combat, forced to rely solely on his powerful physical body.

However, this consumed a great deal of energy, and the duration of his power depended entirely on draining the opponent's life force. Without the red flames, how could he drain their life force? That meant…

Realizing this, the bird-man no longer dared to underestimate Yang Fan's Immovable King Dharma Body, his expression becoming extremely solemn.

Having taken a punch from the birdman, the Immovable King Dharma Body flashed with golden, vermilion, and azure light, and a slight crack appeared on its body, which was instantly repaired, making it slightly stronger than before.

Yang Fan was overjoyed at the sight and once again activated the Immovable King Dharma Body, throwing another punch. The birdman, having suffered a minor loss, became cautious, and his fighting style was no longer as expansive as before. He focused on draining the life force from the Immovable King Dharma Body, hoping to defeat it without a fight.

However, the Immovable King Dharma Body was formed from Yang Fan's divine consciousness, not a real person, and had no life force to drain. After a brief stalemate, the birdman felt the red flames around him growing weaker and weaker, and the situation was clearly very bad.

"Hah!"

Although the Immovable King Dharma Body's attack power was not strong, its techniques were not weak, and they were all exquisite, allowing it to deal with the birdman with ease. It struck its opponent again with another blow.

"Bang!"

The punch landed squarely. The red flames around the birdman were already quite weak, and then the Immovable King's Dharma Body punched him, causing his eyes to turn white. His body shifted, countless red flames erupted, and he disintegrated again into four people lying on the ground.

If the birdman hadn't tried to cheat and had clashed head-on with the Immovable King's Dharma Body, he could have easily overpowered it with sheer strength. But this attempt to cheat backfired.

Seeing the birdman disintegrate and transform into four warriors lying on the ground, Liu Rufeng's mind raced. He quickly ran over and rummaged through the four men's pockets, actually finding some good things.

"Brother Yang, look what this is?"

Besides some odds and ends, Liu Rufeng also found a map, a secret manual, and some ingenious items, which seemed to be for setting up formations.

Looking at the ancient map, Yang Fan's heart stirred, and he took it from Liu Rufeng.

Upon seeing the map, Wan Tiancheng's expression changed slightly in surprise. He had an identical map in his hand and had examined it countless times; how could he not recognize it?

Yang Fan took the map from Liu Rufeng and glanced at it. The images on the map were instantly imprinted in his mind, as if scanned.

After the transformation of his divine sense, Yang Fan's mind was clear, and his memory was exceptionally good. With just a little recollection, the three maps were combined into a complete picture in Yang Fan's mind.

The map accurately depicted the entire oasis, but the three maps, when combined, showed no other special features besides indicating that the terrain was this place.

Logically, this map should have marked the location of the actual ancient tomb, but it was missing, which was very strange!

Chapter 362 [Nine-Patterned Summoning Technique]

Yang Fan casually picked up the map, but Liu Rufeng handed him the secret manual with a strange expression.

"Brother Yang, take a look at this."

Yang Fan took it and flipped through it, his heart pounding. Unexpectedly, this secret manual was actually the method used by those four Nine Phoenix Sect disciples to summon the bird-man!

The contents were obscure and profound, yet surprisingly reasonable, making it a high-level cultivation technique.

Fortunately, Yang Fan's divine sense had changed, and his comprehension had improved considerably. He didn't spend too much time understanding the principle behind summoning the bird-man.

This technique was called the Nine-Pattern Summoning Technique, and it was incredibly bizarre. It allowed one to cultivate the essence of a divine bird using oneself as a vessel through tattooing, visualization, and killing.

The general process involved first visualizing the image in one's mind, leaving a clear image in one's divine sense. Then, through tattooing, the clearest part of the monster to be summoned was engraved on the body, ultimately achieving the goal of "heavenly connection."

Later, one would continuously kill martial artists, using their blood and essence to nourish the tattoo, making it dazzling and further clarifying the image of the divine bird in one's spiritual realm.

According to the Nine-Pattern Summoning Technique, the fewer martial artists used in the tattooing, the more powerful the summoned creature will be. Take the "birdman" transformed from the four Nine Phoenix Sect disciples just now; they only had the strength of the peak of Qi Movement. If three of them were to transform together, they could break through the barrier and reach the level of the early stage of Refining Spirit. If one person could carve the entire divine bird tattoo, they would be a genius that appears only once in a thousand years, reaching an unprecedented level!

However, even so, the minimum requirement for replicating the tattoo is the Qi Movement realm. Once they transform together and then separate, their own realm will regress significantly, usually dropping by one or even two levels.

Looking at the Nine-Patterned Summoning Technique in his hand, Yang Fan suddenly realized something. It wasn't the crimson dragon mark on his body. He compared the crimson dragon mark on his body with the description in the summoning technique and found they were remarkably similar. This meant that if he practiced this summoning technique, wouldn't he be able to directly bypass the most difficult hurdle in the Nine-Patterned Summoning Technique: copying the tattoo, and thus directly summon a blood dragon?

Moreover, according to the Nine-Patterned Summoning Technique, the summoned creatures were stronger than the original owner. Didn't that mean he could easily summon beasts at the Refining God Realm, or even more powerful beings!

However, Yang Fan only thought about it casually, as he didn't have time to practice these things right now. After finishing the Nine-Patterned Summoning Technique, he handed it, along with the secret manual and map, to Wan Tiancheng, saying, "Brother Wan, why don't you take a look too?"

Wan Tiancheng trembled slightly as he took the two items from Yang Fan's hands, his expression shifting, deeply moved by Yang Fan's heartfelt gesture.

Seeing Wan Tiancheng's moved expression, Yang Fan couldn't help but feel ashamed. His actions were out of necessity.

He had memorized all three maps, but after combining them in his mind, there was no change, and he couldn't find anything special. Therefore, Yang Fan couldn't help but suspect that the maps held hidden secrets.

It was highly likely that all three maps needed to be combined, or even illuminated with the "Heavenly Eye Bead," to find the true location of the ancient tomb. Wan Tiancheng's understanding of the ancient tomb far surpassed his own; perhaps letting him examine it would lead to some discovery!

Wan Tiancheng took the map and the secret manual, but didn't rush to examine them. Instead, he took something from his robes, stacked it with the map, and handed it to Yang Fan.

"Brother Yang, I'm ashamed! I won't say anything more. You take this map, brother!"

From that moment on, Wan Tiancheng had made up his mind to follow Yang Fan closely. Following this brother with his boundless abilities would not be a loss; on the contrary, great benefits awaited him. Thinking back, he had previously judged Wan Tiancheng by his own petty standards and wrongly accused him. Fortunately, it wasn't too late to regret it.

Yang Fan glanced at the two maps in his hand, slightly taken aback. He saw that Wan Tiancheng was focused on the secret manual and wasn't looking at him. He smiled slightly and put the two maps away.

Liu Rufeng wasn't unaware of what the maps represented, but he didn't say anything. Firstly, one map was Yang Fan's spoils of war, and the other belonged to Wan Tiancheng. Neither had anything to do with him, so he felt he had no room for questioning and simply did what he was supposed to do.

After dealing with the maps, Yang Fan looked at the pool again. He saw that only a dozen or so martial artists could still stand on the water, including Huang Haoran and others he knew.

The battle among the demonic beasts had reached a fever pitch!

Yu Chenghui, resigned to his fate, was suddenly jolted by a sharp pain in his shoulder, followed by a feeling of lightness. He found himself lifted into the air, and there he was. Looking at the disciple opposite him, who had been so obsequious, he too was suspended in mid-air.

Seeing the other man, Yu Chenghui looked back at himself. He finally understood his predicament. It seemed the "Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix" hadn't been satisfied with just pecking him to death, and had instead used its claws to grab him and the inner disciple, preparing to torture them further. He wondered where the "Golden-haired Roar" that had been hanging upside down on the "Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix" had gone.

Thinking this, Yu Chenghui didn't give up on saving himself. He secretly circulated his internal energy, realizing that because of the grip on his shoulder, he couldn't draw much internal force, and his movements couldn't be too large. Any larger movement would surely be noticed by the cunning beast, and then his only chance would be lost.

"Elder Yu, save me! Elder Yu!"

The inner disciple opposite him reacted a little slower, but after Yu Chenghui, he realized his predicament. Unlike Yu Chenghui, he wasn't calm; he screamed in terror and struggled desperately, begging Yu Chenghui for help.

Yu Chenghui coldly glanced at him, his eyes filled with disdain.

"This kind of trash is so lucky! My disciples are all better than this fool, but they were too slow and didn't stick close to me, letting this idiot take advantage!"

Yu Chenghui had seen everything the disciple did and naturally had no goodwill towards him. He initially intended to ignore him, but then he had another idea.

This disciple was indeed foolish, but precisely because of his foolishness, he could use him to escape his predicament!

Thinking this through, Yu Chenghui suppressed his disdain and smiled slightly at the other man: "It's Zhifang, huh? Right now, we're both in a pretty bad situation! Look, I'm in the same boat as you,...heh, captured, unable to move. I'm helpless too!"

The disciple, though a bit dim-witted, wasn't completely oblivious. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cling to life alongside Yu Chenghui while the other martial artists had been killed by the "Golden-Haired Roar's" golden light.

Unfortunately, even though he saw the disdain in Yu Chenghui's eyes, he had no choice but to continue pleading. He knew in his heart that relying on himself would only lead to certain death. His only chance lay with Yu Chenghui. Seeing his calm and composed demeanor in the face of such a predicament, it was clear that Yu Chenghui wasn't as helpless as he claimed!

"Elder Yu! I beg you! I know you are resourceful and have many solutions. Just tell me, what do you need me to do? I'll go through water and fire, I'll do it without hesitation!"

A strange light flashed in Yu Chenghui's eyes: This fool isn't stupid after all!

The other party's words were exactly what Yu Chenghui wanted to hear. If he hadn't said that, Yu Chenghui would have had to think about how to start the conversation and lure him in. Since he took the initiative, it saved Yu Chenghui a lot of trouble.

"Here's what we'll do, Zhifang, come closer!"

Fortunately, although both of them were being held by "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix," they weren't far apart. After struggling for a moment, the other party leaned closer.

Neither of them noticed that the previously missing "Golden-haired Roar" was perched on the back of the "Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix," its cunning eyes secretly observing them, occasionally twitching its ears as if eavesdropping.

Yu Chenghui explained his plan, and the disciple's expression became uncertain. He was self-aware enough to know he had no right to negotiate with Yu Chenghui; to survive, he had to obey his arrangements, even though they seemed fraught with peril…

"Alright, Elder Yu! I'll do whatever you say, but please, for the sake of my hard work, give me a hand!"

After saying this, the disciple steeled himself, grabbed the "Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix's" other paw, and with a burst of strength, struck the spot Yu Chenghui had indicated.

Yu Chenghui's cold gaze swept over the disciple, a sneer playing on his lips: "Give you a hand? My survival is uncertain, so why should I help you?" "

However, he comforted her with kind words: 'Of course! Of course! Don't worry, Zhifang, we're from the same sect, I'll never forget you!'"

The Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix, though a demonic beast, didn't differ much in physiological structure from ordinary birds, at least in its reflexes. Just as Yu Chenghui had expected—no! Not just the same, but even more perfectly aligned!

After being struck so hard by that disciple, the Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix's claws suddenly recoiled from Yu Chenghui's grasp, its grip on his shoulder loosening involuntarily.

Yu Chenghui seized the opportunity to escape, falling downwards while not forgetting to say to the other, "Zhifang, I'll remember your kindness. Next year on your death anniversary, I'll burn extra paper money for you!"

Realizing what had happened, the Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix flew into a rage, viciously plunging both claws deep into the disciple's body.

The disciple felt excruciating pain, but even more agonizing was watching helplessly as Yu Chenghui betrayed him, powerless to do anything about it: "You old scoundrel, you big liar! I'll haunt you even in death!"

He only managed to utter these last words before the enraged Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix ripped his body in two, scattering blood into the pool. Still not satisfied, the Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix discarded one half of the corpse, then grabbed the other and brutally tormented it.

Yu Chenghui thought he was out of danger, unaware that he had already been targeted by another demonic beast. As he fell into the water, he saw a flash of golden light, felt a weight on his body, and found a hairy creature on his back!

Even more chilling was the fact that Yu Chenghui clearly felt a pair of hairy claws pointing at his head. If he made the slightest movement, those claws would undoubtedly pierce him without hesitation.

"Golden...Golden-haired Roar?"

In a flash, Yu Chenghui realized what had suddenly appeared on his back.

"Gaga!"

Hearing the laughter from behind, Yu Chenghui immediately confirmed his judgment; it was indeed the "Golden-haired Roar" monster. Hearing its cheerful laughter, it probably wouldn't do anything to him, right?

"Hiss!"

Just as Yu Chenghui was thinking this, the Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix had already torn the Qingcheng Sect disciple to shreds and flew down again, grabbing him. This time, the Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix's two claws gripped his shoulder sockets, leaving Yu Chenghui no chance to escape.

The "Golden-haired Roar" climbed back onto the Emerald Feathered Crimson Phoenix's claws, its legs dangling upside down, staring at Yu Chenghui, its intentions unknown.

"My life is over!"

Yu Chenghui sighed deeply, then closed his eyes, letting the two demonic beasts run rampant...

On the other side, the clash between the Seven Stars Circulating Thunder Pearl Array and Cai Shui's two-tiered qi shield and purple-gold fire hood appeared on the surface to be a draw. In reality, anyone with discerning eyes could see that the Seven Stars Circulating Thunder Pearl Array had a significant advantage. Once

a supernatural power is unleashed, it cannot be simply abandoned; it requires expending energy to control and unleash its maximum power.

After the chaotic battle, the Thunder Feather Purple Crow remained calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.

Looking at the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, their scales were withered and their fur dull. If they persisted any longer, even if the Thunder Feather Purple Crow didn't kill them, they themselves would likely be unable to hold on any longer.

"Screech!"

Just then, the Emerald Phoenix let out a soft cry, its "Golden Roar" echoing as it grabbed Yu Chenghui and swooped down to crash into the Thunder Feather Purple Crow.

Approaching the sealed space of the Purple-Gold Flame, it suddenly braked sharply, throwing Yu Chenghui inside.

The Thunder Feather Purple Crow's eyes narrowed, its face filled with rage. Yu Chenghui, thrown in, didn't even have time to react before crashing into the Seven Stars Revolving Heavenly Thunder Pearl Array, causing the thunder pearls to explode one after another. In an instant, he was blasted to smithereens, leaving not even a bone fragment behind.

"Caw!"

The "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" roared angrily, its wings flapping, and the remaining 280 of its 365 thunder pearls shot out, forming a "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Pearl Array" that shot towards the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" from afar…

Chapter 363 [Domesticated Beasts] With the

"Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Pearl Array" activated, the momentum of Cai Shui's two-level aura shield and the Purple-Gold Fire Pouch, which were about to surge forward, was completely thwarted and suppressed! The

Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon struggled to hold on, but the immense pressure forced half their bodies into the water, blood seeping from their mouths, eyes, noses, and ears. The

"Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" and the "Golden-Haired Roar" were shocked, not expecting that this had completely enraged the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," causing it to unleash its most powerful abilities.

No matter how fast the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" flew, it couldn't match the superior speed of the "Zhou Tian Star Thunder Pearl Array," which directly traversed the void, fixing the northwest and southeast, locking it and the "Golden-haired Roar" together within the array.

Then, the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" flapped its wings again and leaped out.

"Now!"

Chen Shengguang and the others had been silently watching the battle between the demonic beasts in the sky, their hearts pounding with fear. These usually arrogant martial artists were all secretly ashamed.

"We truly underestimated the heroes of the world!"

The martial artists at the Qi Movement Realm were somewhat better off, but Chen Shengguang, Huang Haoran, and Zen Master Zhizhen, the three at the Spirit Refining Realm, felt it even more deeply.

Reaching the Spirit Refining Realm was not far from the Returning to Emptiness Realm. There were only about a hundred people in the entire martial world standing above the Returning to Emptiness Realm!

They had all dreamed that if they worked a little harder, they could become one of those hundred. But looking at the current situation, even the weakest "Golden Crow Scale Fish" had stumped all the martial artists with its level two energy shield. Let alone them, even martial artists at the Void Returning Realm would likely be helpless.

Demonic beasts, indeed, are not to be underestimated!

The moment the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" flapped its wings and flew away, Chen Shengguang immediately instructed the others. In a flash, three of the nine people leaped onto the shore, while the other six only jumped twice.

The two demonic beasts, "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" and "Golden-Haired Roar," which specifically hunted martial artists in the pool, were trapped by the "Zhou Tian Starry Sky Thunder Pearl Array" and unable to move. The "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" hadn't noticed these people. The Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, although they saw them, were powerless to stop them.

Chen Shengguang had actually seized a chance and reached the shore! Upon reaching the shore, the nine martial artists didn't hesitate and took off running at lightning speed, faster than wild dogs.

"Brother Yang, should we..."

Wan Tiancheng noticed the fleeing martial artists and gestured with his hand as if to strike.

Yang Fan shook his head and said, "Forget it. After this battle, they definitely won't stay. Besides, although they were frightened and their skills were somewhat depleted, their overall strength hasn't decreased too significantly. It wouldn't be good to provoke them into fighting to the death."

Besides these stated reasons, there was another reason Yang Fan didn't mention: Huang Haoran's escape was exactly what he wanted.

The Changbai Jade Talisman in his hand would definitely have different effects depending on whether Huang Haoran was dead or alive. If he lived, he might actually be able to use him in the future.

Since Yang Fan said he wouldn't kill him, Wan Tiancheng didn't insist. Having already decided to follow Yang Fan's lead, he naturally had no other thoughts.

However, he still offered a reminder, saying that although those martial artists might not necessarily return, they would definitely inform their respective sects of what had happened here. The longer it dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for everyone.

Yang Fan naturally understood this. However, as long as their protective formation couldn't be breached, they weren't afraid. As long as the attackers weren't Void Returning Realm experts, Yang Fan, Wan Tiancheng, and the Immovable King formed from Yang Fan's divine sense, even if a few peak Refining Spirit martial artists came, they wouldn't be afraid…

The "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Pearl Array" trapped the two beasts, "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" and "Golden-haired Roar," and "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" was about to finish them off. Unexpectedly, the "Golden Crow Scale Fish" and "Two-Headed Mountain Demon" below were still unwilling to give up, continuing to activate the "Cai Shui Two-Level Qi Shield" and "Purple-Gold Fire Flame" to charge upwards, attempting to injure "Thunder Feather Purple Crow." "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" glared fiercely, also risking its life, and spat out a round bead the size of half a volleyball, flashing with purple light and crackling with wind and thunder—clearly no ordinary object. The

"Golden Crow Scale Fish" and "Two-Headed Mountain Demon" below also sensed danger; the two beasts let out muffled roars and involuntarily shrank back. However, although the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Pearl Array" wasn't suppressing them, they were still within the array's range, their bodies unable to completely emerge from the water, and their retreat was extremely slow.

As soon as the purple orb appeared, wind and thunder surged, and soon a large dark cloud surrounded the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," its center sometimes bright and sometimes dark, just like rain clouds during a thunderstorm.

Yang Fan, Wan Tiancheng, and the others watched from afar on the shore, exchanging horrified glances. This demonic beast was truly too capable of causing trouble! Was this still human power?

After pondering for a moment, Yang Fan estimated that even the captain of the Wild Wolf Squad at the base might not have the upper hand against this "Thunder Feather Purple Crow."

The captain of the Wild Wolf Squad's strength had long surpassed the Refining Spirit Realm, and had even entered the Returning to Void Realm. He was a top-tier figure in the entire base, far surpassing Tang Ning Shuang's strength.

However, this legendary captain was always elusive, and to this day, Yang Fan had only seen him once, and only from afar!

It was during a casual outing, when he was wandering around the island and happened to see him practicing. Just sensing the opponent's aura from afar filled Yang Fan with an insurmountable feeling, a memory that remains vivid to this day!

What level of demonic beast was this, so powerful? The Nether Pool Demonic Beast was also powerful, but compared to the weakest of these five demonic beasts, it was merely a lackey, let alone comparable to the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow." Since even such a powerful demonic beast valued the Blood Lotus Root so much, it showed just how important it was! No matter what, they had to get their hands on it!

The power of the five demonic beasts had frightened away countless martial artists, but who could be sure they wouldn't return? The battle between these five demonic beasts could be clearly seen even from several miles away. Once a victor was decided among the five demonic beasts, Yang Fan and his companions wouldn't have much time to clean up the mess.

The purple orb's ability to summon wind and rain put even more pressure on the "Golden Crow Scale Fish and Two-Headed Mountain Demon," who roared and howled, but were unable to break free.

The purple orb's function was clearly not just about summoning wind and rain to increase its power. The "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Orb Array," which had trapped the two demonic beasts, "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" and "Golden-Haired Roar," underwent a new change after the purple orb appeared.

Thunder orbs flashed alternately, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, while strings of muffled thunder roared within the array, and lightning flashed, weaving a net that transformed the small area into a world of lightning.

The Emerald Feather Red Phoenix darted back and forth within the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Orb Array, quickly dodging the appearing and disappearing orbs, while also watching out for the unpredictable bursts of lightning that might erupt from any time or place. Its round eyes frequently flashed with anxiety.

Its signature move, the "Limitless Water and Wind Wall," had just been used to protect the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" for a short time; how could it possibly recover and use it again so easily?

At this moment, the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix felt more anxious and exhausted than ever before. The "Golden-haired Roar," always with a lazy expression, seemingly indifferent to everything, finally became serious.

No longer lying headfirst on the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix's" claws, it stood upright on the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix's" back, its claws loosely gripping its ribs. Its eyes, piercing through the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Lei Zhu Da Zhen" (Great Array of the Celestial Stars and Thunder Pearls), were fixed on the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" outside the array, its face radiating battle intent.

"Woo-woo!"

Just then, the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, finally unable to withstand the pressure of the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," once again knelt in the water, half their bodies submerged, blood gushing from their seven orifices, emitting continuous mournful cries. The

"Thunder Feather Purple Crow" did not descend, its gaze towards the two demonic beasts seemingly disdainful. It merely controlled the purple orb around its body, determined to severely punish these two wicked creatures who dared to challenge its authority.

Watching the "Golden Crow Scaled Fish" and "Two-Headed Mountain Demon" groan and crawl at his feet, "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" felt an indescribable surge of pleasure. Just then, "Golden-Haired Roar" suddenly realized something!

Streaks of golden light, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden, condensed in "Golden-Haired Roar's" hands, forming sword qi that stretched and contracted, constantly emitting a chilling glint.

"Invisible Sword Qi!"

"Golden-Haired Roar's" move not only caused "Thunder Feather Purple Crow's" eyes to shrink in alarm, but also made Wan Tiancheng, who was standing on the shore closely monitoring the battle between the five demonic beasts, look grave.

"How come the supernatural power used by this demonic beast is so similar to my swordsmanship? However, judging from its power, it is much stronger than my swordsmanship!"

Yang Fan's heart stirred upon hearing Wan Tiancheng's whisper: "Brother Lin, is your invisible sword energy technique a family heirloom, or..."

Wan Tiancheng replied without hesitation: "It's not a family heirloom, but something I learned by chance in a mountain cave while traveling."

Yang Fan nodded slightly and whispered: "That's right! If I'm not mistaken, these demonic beasts are probably not wild, but domesticated!"

Wan Tiancheng was slightly taken aback: "Domesticated..." "Raised? What did you say, Brother Yang?"

Yang Fan smiled and said, "It's just a guess, not a certainty. Whether it's as I said, we may need to find the location of that ancient tomb to confirm it!"

Wan Tiancheng thought about it carefully and was shocked: "So it is! So, I and that Golden-haired Roaring Beast might even be from the same sect?"

After saying this, Wan Tiancheng felt ashamed. Being from the same sect as a beast was already shameful, but what was even more shameful was that the martial arts he learned were much weaker than the beast's, clearly a lower-level skill!

If the "Golden-haired Roaring Beast" was a domesticated beast, and its skills were taught by someone, then by extension, wouldn't that mean that the "Golden Crow Scale Fish, Two-Headed Mountain Demon, Emerald Feather Red Phoenix, and Thunder Feather Purple Crow" were all domesticated? In other words, their special abilities could all be learned?

Just looking at the power of those five beasts' special abilities, each one was terrifyingly powerful, one could tell that those special abilities were infinitely powerful. If they could learn even a little something…

At this thought, Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng's eyes turned green with envy, and their gazes towards Yang Fan were now filled with admiration and flattery.

Yang Fan was startled by their looks: "What do you mean by this?"

"Old Yang… no, Young Master Yang, from now on I'll follow you!"

"Senior Yang… no, Young Master Yang, from now on I'll follow you too!"

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and said, "We only ask that when Young Master Yang finds that ancient tomb, you can pass on one or two supernatural abilities to us, so that we can also be as powerful as that demonic beast!"

Yang Fan looked at the two speechlessly. Now he had three maps, plus the "Heavenly Eye Pearl" in his hands. Finding the real ancient tomb shouldn't be difficult. But why were they so certain that he could definitely break the tomb's seal?

The ancient tomb had been around for so long, and the map had changed hands countless times, yet no one had ever been heard of finding it. Was everyone just unlucky and unable to find the exact location? However, these questions did not linger in Yang Fan's mind for long. He suddenly shuddered and looked at the demonic beasts again, thinking, "Could it be... that the key to opening the ancient tomb actually lies in these demonic beasts?"

Touching the inner core of the Netherworld Beast in his pocket, Yang Fan had a vague feeling that his guess might have hit the nail on the head regarding the whole matter.

One inner core possessed both wood and earth attributes. If he added the inner cores of the three beasts—the Golden Crow Scale Fish, the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, and the Golden-Haired Roar—he would have gathered all five elements: wood, earth, water, fire, and metal… plus the Heavenly Eye Pearl…

In an instant, Yang Fan seemed to have grasped the key to the problem. However, just then, a cry suddenly rang out, interrupting his thoughts!

“Screech!”

The Golden-Haired Roar exerted a little force with its feet, and the Emerald Feather Red Phoenix immediately sensed it. With a flap of its wings, it broke through the obstruction of the thunder pearls and flew straight towards the Thunder Feather Purple Crow.

The invisible sword energy, appearing and disappearing at will, held in the Golden-Haired Roar's hand, grew stronger and stronger with time. A sense of impending storm spread around it, causing the minds of all creatures within a 500-meter radius to waver.

Having finally escaped the pressure of the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon hadn't even caught their breath before being enveloped by the "Golden-Haired Roar's" might, once again pressed down in the water, unable to move.

A glint of intelligence flashed in the eyes of the two demonic beasts! Why be so impulsive! There are taller people to hold up the sky if it falls, why act like a big shot!

"Roar!"

The Golden-Haired Roar roared, its long-accumulated invisible sword energy shooting out, countless tangible and intangible sword energies, like a whirlwind and a torrential rain, rained down, enveloping a hundred-meter radius around the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow"...

Chapter 364 Snatching Food from a Tiger's Mouth

It was at this moment that the already exhausted "Two-Headed Mountain Demon" somehow mustered a bit of strength, let out a mournful cry, and its red and white cloud patterns flashed. The purple-gold fire flames flickered and died down, once again sealing off the void.

The "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" sensed something amiss with a slight flap of its wings. Ignoring the "Golden-Haired Roar," it roared fiercely at the "Deer Horn Mountain Demon" below. The purple orbs hovering around it tumbled, and instantly eighteen thunder orbs flashed out from the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Orb Array."

Then, eighteen beams of purple light shot out from the purple orbs, landing on the eighteen thunder orbs and creating a layer of purple flames. Accompanied by rumbling thunder, they struck directly at the "Deer Horn Mountain Demon."

"Boom!"

The eighteen thunder orbs, with the force of a thunderbolt, slammed down on the two beasts, the "Golden Crow Scale Fish" and the "Double-Headed Mountain Demon." The eighteen thunder orbs were like eighteen divine thunderbolts from the heavens, each falling and transforming into a bolt of lightning, their power boundless. In the blink of an eye, the two beasts' eyes rolled back, and they fell silent.

Losing control, the "Sunflower Water Polarity Shield" and the "Purple-Gold Fire Flame" flickered for a moment before plummeting downwards. Soon, they would likely dissipate back into the primordial energy of heaven and earth.

Having only managed to unleash this attack, "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" had no time to vent its anger, not even to check if the two demonic beasts were truly dead. It had to command the "Zhou Tian Starry Sky Thunder Pearl Array" to intercept "Golden-Haired Roar's" invisible sword energy.

Yang Fan saw "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" enraged, driving eighteen thunder pearls to fall. Like lightning striking from the heavens, each pearl struck directly, leaving "Golden Crow Scale Fish" and "Two-Headed Mountain Demon" utterly powerless, only able to endure until their eyes rolled back and they tumbled onto the water. This demonstrated the immense power of these eighteen thunder pearls.

But then, a thought struck him: if not now, when? If other demonic beasts were to damage the corpses of those two demonic beasts and rupture their inner cores, wouldn't that be a terrible injustice?

"A perfect opportunity!"

Without hesitation, Yang Fan transformed his divine sense into the Immovable King Dharma Body and immediately dashed towards the location of the two demonic beasts' corpses.

"Young Master Yang!"

"Young Master Yang!"

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng both glanced at Yang Fan with some alarm, their mouths dry with fear at his audacious actions.

The two demonic beasts were still unaware of their fate, but the "Golden-haired Roar" and the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" were locked in fierce combat. Moreover, it was obvious that those two demonic beasts were the two strongest among the five. If they discovered that a group of reckless humans were hiding on the shore, trying to be the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, and reap the benefits, wouldn't that be disastrous?

"It's alright, I know what I'm doing!"

Yang Fan smiled faintly, waved to the two of them, and then looked at the Immovable King Dharma Body without saying anything more.

Actually, even if Yang Fan wasn't looking at the Immovable King Dharma Body, it wouldn't matter. Although his entire divine sense was outside his body, his mind wasn't empty.

At some point, besides the 365 complete crystalline divine senses, countless points of divine sense light had begun to form in his sea of consciousness. Therefore, even if all these divine senses were damaged, Yang Fan wasn't worried about himself.

The two snakes beneath the Immovable King Dharma Body swam extremely fast, remaining unaffected by water; in fact, they moved even faster. In no time, they reached the two silent demonic beasts. Reaching in, he probed into the belly of the Golden Crow Scale Fish, rummaged around for a while, and pulled something out of the beast's belly!

The object was slightly darker than half a volleyball, with a swirling purple spiral in the center. Dark light would seep into it and bounce back, repeating this cycle endlessly.

Nodding silently, Yang Fan's Immovable King Dharma Body grasped the inner core with one hand. His hands, which held the indistinct magical artifact, trembled, shattering the artifact. He then grabbed the corpse of the "Golden Crow Scale Fish" and flung it onto the shore.

He repeated the process, extracting another inner core from the "Two-Headed Mountain Demon's" abdomen. This one was crimson, with nine golden-white flame-shaped patterns inside, slightly larger than the "Golden Crow Scale Fish's" inner core. The nine golden-white flames flickered, appearing and disappearing, seemingly containing infinite mysteries.

He tossed the "Two-Headed Mountain Demon's" corpse onto the shore again, then suddenly sensed something was wrong. A sense of extreme danger came from above. Without thinking, he rolled on the water and dodged far away. Even then, he still felt uneasy, so he spurred his twin snakes and charged forward.

"Young Master Yang, danger!"

"Whoosh whoosh..." "Boom

boom..."

The sword energy and lightning still struck Yang Fan, knocking him off his back and sending him tumbling to the shore. A large chunk of flesh was missing from his back, and a gaping hole pierced his chest, letting in a blast of cold wind that seemed to blow right through him.

Yang Fan's forehead was slightly sweaty. He checked the water and fire inner cores he held in his hands and found them unharmed, so he breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking back at the spot where the two beasts' corpses had been, the sneak attack by the "Golden-haired Roar" and "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" had created a large, dry whirlpool, revealing a reddish-brown pool bottom filled with countless withered bones.

Through the whirlpool, it was clear that the pool was at least tens of feet deep, teeming with countless ferocious aquatic beasts attempting to escape. However, intimidated by the five demonic beasts' power, they remained submerged, afraid to surface. If they fell into the water, their fate would be no better than that of the withered bones.

Having jointly blasted Yang Fan's Immovable King Dharma Body, the two demonic beasts resumed their battle, clearly fighting with full force. The

"Zhou Tian Xing Dou Thunder Pearl Array" clashed with the "Invisible Sword Qi." The sword qi collided with the thunder pearls, creating thunderous roars and crisscrossing sword qi, obscuring the sun and moon and changing the color of mountains and rivers.

The "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" could only carry the "Golden-Haired Roar" back and forth, unable to intervene, even with its immense anxiety.

Seeing that Yang Fan's divine consciousness had transformed into the Immovable King Dharma Body, not only taking the inner cores but also throwing the monster corpses onto the shore, Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng were initially surprised, but quickly realized something and exclaimed in unison, "Oh no!" By the time they tried to warn Yang Fan, it was too late. Fortunately, Yang Fan reacted quickly enough to survive the combined attack from the "Golden-haired Roar" and "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," even managing to preserve both inner cores. The two were amazed, and their gazes towards Yang Fan became even more fervent.

Unable to withstand the intense gazes of the two, Yang Fan could only urge his Immovable King Dharma Body to quickly flee in this direction. It was best to secure the two inner cores quickly; knowing their great value, it would be a real shame if those two wretches, "Golden-haired Roar" and "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," carelessly destroyed them.

On the Immovable King Dharma Body's return journey, the uncontrolled "Cai Shui Two-Pole Qi Shield" and "Purple-Gold Fire Flame" were surprisingly attracted to the two inner cores, falling into them to the astonishment of Yang Fan and the others.

Confused as to why this was happening, after the Immovable King Dharma Body returned, Yang Fan and the others examined the inner cores but found nothing amiss, so they simply ignored them and decided to keep them for themselves. Just as Yang Fan was about to put the two inner cores together into the "Buddha's Bone Relic," a sudden change occurred...

For some unknown reason, the two inner cores were firmly attached together, and no matter how hard Yang Fan tried, he couldn't separate them. Furthermore, the two inner cores exchanged substances with each other, and in a very short time, they became the same size!

Amazed, Yang Fan had an idea and took out the inner core of the Nether Pool Beast, placing it on the two joined inner cores.

He had only intended to test it out, without any concrete plans. Unexpectedly, this unintentional test led him in the right direction. The wood-earth attribute inner core was also attracted and merged with the other two!

At this moment, another change occurred. An unknown substance flowed from the black and red inner cores, surging into the blue and yellow demon cores of the Nether Pool Beast. After a period of cleansing, the demon core of the Nether Pool Beast actually split in two, reconnecting with the previous two inner cores to form an even more stable shape.

After this transformation, what appeared in Yang Fan's hand was a string of beads in four colors: black, red, blue, and yellow, each bead no bigger than a fist.

Liu Rufeng and Wan Tiancheng stared in disbelief, speechless. Only after Yang Fan put the four-colored beads away did the two stammer, "Young Master Yang, you...you didn't already know the use of these inner cores, did you?"

To be fair, Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng were quite knowledgeable. One, though only a Qi-movement martial artist, was extremely intelligent and had built a vast business empire from scratch. The other was even more remarkable, a martial artist at the Refining Spirit realm, and had extensive knowledge of the secrets of the martial arts world after years of wandering. Yet, neither of them knew that these inner cores, when placed together, would produce such a change.

Yang Fan shook his head, saying, "It was just a lucky accident. This is my first time here!"

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng both didn't believe him, mistakenly thinking Yang Fan didn't want to talk about it. They exchanged understanding smiles and remained silent.

Yang Fan knew they didn't believe him, but could only give a helpless bitter smile. Just over half a year ago, he was merely an ordinary young man newly arrived in Yanjing, preoccupied with how to annul his engagement. But this unpredictable world of martial arts—only after entering did he realize how many secrets it held, unknown to the world!

Who could have imagined that this seemingly peaceful world wasn't as tranquil as he thought? There are countless martial artists in China, and the martial world still exists, with various sects and countless wondrous techniques.

Take the base, for example; any one of the techniques it collects could cause a huge stir in the secular world, yet these are merely the tip of the iceberg of the martial arts world.

Who could have imagined that an ordinary ancient tomb would unearth so many hidden secrets?

After a moment's thought, Yang Fan withdrew his divine sense, shook his head, and, not wanting to explain, turned to examine his own Immovable King Dharma Body, formed from his divine consciousness.

The more Yang Fan looked, the more alarmed he became. The Immovable King Dharma Body was still in its transformed state, its true nature unclear. Although its body was damaged, it was only formed from divine consciousness, so it couldn't be taken as definitive. He dispersed it, transforming it back into divine consciousness, and only then did Yang Fan discover that all 356 triangular divine consciousnesses were riddled with cracks, as if they were about to collapse at any moment.

He quickly withdrew all his divine consciousness into his sea of consciousness to slowly nurture it. When Yang Fan looked at the two demonic beasts again, his eyes were filled with solemnity.

Without a direct confrontation, without experiencing it firsthand, he would never know how terrifying these demonic beasts truly were! Even with the physical strength of the Immovable King Dharma Body and the miraculous power of its 365 divine consciousnesses, they had met such an end. Yang Fan knew that if he were to take this blow, he would surely die!

At this moment, the battle between the two demonic beasts, "Golden-haired Roar" and "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," had reached a fever pitch. Sword energy frequently pierced the void, striking the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," shearing off its feathers, wounding its body, and causing large amounts of purple blood to splatter from the sky into the pool, attracting swarms of fearless fish and beasts to fight over it.

The blood of the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," the highest-ranking of the five demonic beasts, was no ordinary weapon.

The Golden-haired Roar was in no better shape. Thunder orbs transformed into bolts of lightning, striking the "Golden-haired Roar" with no way to dodge. Without the protection of its "Limitless Water and Wind Wall," it and the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" could only withstand the onslaught.

The relentless bombardment would turn even the strongest iron net and the most powerful bronze Arhat into molten iron and copper, let alone the two demonic beasts, "Golden-haired Roar" and "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix"!

But they had no other choice but to dodge and endure, trading blows with the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" to see who could last the longest.

Unlike the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," the "Golden-haired Roar" tried several times to spit out its inner core, but hesitated, glancing in Yang Fan's direction, unable to make up its mind.

The "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" had already used all its tricks, while it could only hold back, almost like fighting with one hand tied. As a result, the scales of victory naturally tipped in favor of the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow." Despite its desperate exchange of blows, the "Golden-haired Roar" could barely resist, while the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" could no longer withstand it.

"Screech!"

it cried out, mocking the "Golden-haired Roar" for not using its final move, and spat out an indigo blue bead that spun out.

As soon as the pearl appeared, the air around the "Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix" seemed to be drawn to it, becoming more compatible with it, yet constantly repelling it.

The "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" glared fiercely at Yang Fan again, and the "Golden-Haired Roar" roared as if threatening something, also opening its mouth and spitting out a pure white sphere.

As the white sphere was expelled by the "Golden-Haired Roar," a chilling aura that filled the heavens and earth instantly permeated the surrounding space.

Judging from this scene alone, everyone knew that the final battle was imminent!

Chapter 365 [Treasure Acquired] (Supplementing yesterday's update!

"ps: A few buddies came over last night and wouldn't leave. I had no choice but to drink with them and didn't have time to write. Please forgive me, brothers. This is yesterday's update, tonight's will be updated!"

"Caw!"

"Thunder Feather Purple Crow" also let out a fierce cry, its wings flapping wildly, unleashing all its killing moves without holding back.

"You two go and deal with the corpses of those two demonic beasts first. Once you get something useful, retreat immediately. I will make my move soon, but you only have one chance. Whether you succeed or not, we must leave this place as soon as possible!"

Yang Fan solemnly instructed Shi Wantiancheng and Liu Rufeng, his face full of solemnity as he watched the three demonic beasts fighting.

"We must get our hands on the Blood Lotus Root and the Golden-haired Roar's demon core. As for the demon cores, spirit bones, and flesh of the 'Emerald Feather Red Phoenix' and the 'Thunder Feather Purple Crow,' they are not important!"

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng exchanged a glance and nodded quickly before quietly approaching the corpses of the Golden Crow Scale Fish and the Two-Headed Mountain Demon.

The two demonic beasts still possessed quite a few valuable items: the scales of the "Golden Crow Scale Fish" and the horn of the Two-Headed Mountain Demon, both extremely useful. Yang Fan's refusal to take them clearly meant he was leaving the spoils to them; it would be a waste not to seize the opportunity.

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng went to deal with the two demonic beasts' corpses, but they were extremely careful not to let the other three demonic beasts notice.

In reality, they were overthinking it; the battle was already at its most intense, and no demonic beast dared to be distracted—it would be suicide.

Simultaneously spitting out their inner cores, the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix and Golden-Haired Roar" side, which had been at a disadvantage, instantly reversed their fortunes, going from being the oppressed to the dominant force.

With the aid of the demonic cores, the "Tangible and Intangible Sword Qi" unleashed by the "Golden-Haired Roar" had a white light attached to its golden radiance, making it even sharper. Whenever it grazed the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," large chunks of flesh fell off, its power unmatched.

However, the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" ... Even though "Wu" repeatedly bombarded the two demonic beasts with the thunder pearls from the "Zhou Tian Xing Dou Lei Zhu Da Zhen" (Great Array of Thunder Pearls in the Heavenly Stars), the faster "Cui Yu Hong Luan" (Emerald Feather Red Phoenix) always managed to dodge in time, making it difficult to take the lives of the two

demonic beasts. On the surface, it was gradually losing ground. Yang Fan glanced at Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng, seeing that they were indeed fast enough, having already divided the two demonic beasts into pieces in a very short time. They separated the two demonic beasts' corpses into piles, one pile for each of them.

Seeing that the two had finished cleaning up and were beginning to retreat, Yang Fan smiled slightly and leaped into the water.

As soon as he entered the water, Yang Fan had an indescribable feeling. A buoyancy arose from the ground beneath his feet, allowing him to stand steadily in the water without any effort, as if it were a natural supernatural power.

Looking at the string of four-colored beads on his left wrist, he saw that the black and red beads were slightly rotating. Yang Fan couldn't help but smile slightly: "I really didn't expect that the combination of three demonic cores would have such a wonderful use!" Yang

Fan had a vague feeling that the wondrous uses of the Four-Colored Pearl were definitely not limited to this, but he didn't have time to experience more. He immediately pressed on with his feet and ran quickly towards the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root."

Because the battle between the three demonic beasts above was becoming increasingly fierce, the pool was also turbulent, with wave after wave rolling, far from its previous calm. Yang Fan stepped onto the water, yet felt no effort whatsoever.

Occasionally, a large wave would come crashing down, separating into two parts before even touching his clothes, only to reunite and fall back into the water after he passed through.

Wan Tiancheng and Liu Rufeng, running and looking back, both saw the strange phenomenon on Yang Fan's body. Besides secretly marveling, they were also truly impressed. Unable to fathom where Yang Fan acquired such supernatural power!

Without much effort, Yang Fan arrived around the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root," still protected by the "Limitless Water Wind Wall."

Strangely enough, apart from this protected "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root," which swayed precariously with the waves, appearing fragile, the other "Blood-Nourishing Blood Lotus Flowers" stood motionless in the water, as if cast in bronze and welded to iron. No matter how strong the waves, they couldn't shake them in the slightest. After a brief glance, Yang Fan shook his head inwardly. He didn't think too much about it, simply assuming it was a natural characteristic of nature. Little did he know, the reason the "Blood-Nourishing Blood Lotus Flowers" were like this was all due to the merit of the protective array.

The "Limitless Water Wind Wall" possessed extremely high wind speeds. Although it lacked the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix's" control, its power remained undiminished as long as it survived. Its power had already been proven by martial artists who had suffered annihilation, so Yang Fan naturally wouldn't rashly rush in.

Glancing around himself, Yang Fan realized that the only thing he could rely on was the Four-Colored Pearl. As for other techniques, none were sufficient. If his divine sense were intact, he could try using the Immovable King Dharma Body, but now it seemed there was no other way.

Although he had few options, Yang Fan wasn't in a hurry. If all else failed, he could seize the opportunity to immobilize the three demonic beasts. He could easily solve this predicament by taking the demon cores of the two beasts, "Golden-haired Roaring Jade" and "Red-feathered Phoenix." However, if he did that, time would become increasingly tight, and it might end up being a complete disaster.

Yang Fan pushed his left hand forward slightly, cautiously, not actually touching the "Limitless Water and Wind Wall," but staring intently at the four-colored beads, observing their changes.

Sure enough, with this push, all four colored beads began to rotate slightly, with the cyan bead rotating the fastest. As the four colored beads rotated, the "Limitless Water and Wind Wall" trembled, its speed slowing slightly, but still very fast.

If Yang Fan were to fully utilize his strength... With his keen eyesight, Yang Fan could discern that the wind wall was composed of twenty-four thin, seemingly transparent blades, each as wide as a person and several dozen feet long, completely covering the area from top to bottom, leaving only a gap between each blade large enough for a person to pass through. He

could barely muster his full strength to see through the wind wall's composition, but passing through unharmed was highly unlikely.

Glancing regretfully at the four-colored beads, Yang Fan suspected that the missing white bead from the Golden-haired Roar prevented the wind wall from being stabilized. If all five elements were present, their mutual generation and restraint would surely prevent anything from being stabilized.

Helpless, Yang... Yang Fan had no choice but to try channeling his true energy into the four-colored bead. Unexpectedly, the result was quite surprising. In an instant, the four-colored bead shot out seventeen beams of earth-yellow light, striking the wind wall.

Although the wind wall didn't completely freeze, its speed suddenly slowed. Seventeen of the thin blades, each about the width of a person, seemed to have been swallowed by something, each losing a piece the width of a palm.

While not the best result, it was still enough to make Yang Fan happy! Without pausing, wave after wave of yellow light shot out, and the twenty-four thin blades forming the wind wall were quickly reduced to only one-third the width of a person.

"Screech!" Previously, while locked in fierce combat with "

Thunder Feather Purple Crow," "Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix" hadn't noticed the changes at "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root." However, as the "Limitless Water Wind Wall" grew thinner, its unease intensified, and it immediately sensed that someone was simultaneously coveting the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" and devouring the core of its wind wall, formed from its internal energy and soul power!

"Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix's" sharp cry immediately attracted the attention of the other two demonic beasts, making them aware of Yang Fan's actions.

"Not good!"

Yang Fan, disregarding the need to steal more internal energy and soul power from the "Limitless Water Wind Wall," immediately unleashed his fastest movement technique, landing instantly at the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root." Without hesitation, he directly moved it, root and all, into the Buddha's relic!

After the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" was removed, an extremely dangerous sensation emanated from its location. Without a second thought, Yang Fan turned and quickly flew towards the shore!

"Hiss!" Where the "Blood Lotus Ginseng "

had previously grown, an immense suction force arose from nowhere, drawing in everything around—the pool water, the wind walls, the air, the fish—both tangible and intangible. In a daze, Yang Fan seemed to sense something, glancing at his feet, his expression instantly changing!

The blood-red ground of the pool, existing for countless millennia, had now turned a ghastly white, like someone who had lost too much blood!

"Croak!"

"Roar!"

The three demonic beasts also seemed to sense the danger, each using their abilities to dodge to the side, avoiding the area covered by the immense suction force.

After an unknown amount of time, a muffled sound rang out, and the pool returned to normal. However, within a kilometer radius, it was as if a typhoon had swept through; all objects with unstable foundations, whether aquatic or terrestrial, had been sucked away, leaving a barren and desolate landscape.

Another sense of danger came over Yang Fan. He sensed it and quickly stepped aside. He glanced over and saw the two demonic birds, "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" and "Thunder Feather Purple Crow," swooping down. "Golden-haired Roar" was riding on the back of "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix." The three demonic beasts all had bloodshot eyes and gritted their teeth, as if Yang Fan had an incurable hatred for them.

Streams of invisible sword energy and countless lightning orbs poured down as if they were free, raining down on the spot where Yang Fan had stood.

"Whoosh!"

"Boom!"

The sword energy cleaved through the ground, instantly creating deep, unfathomable craters.

The lightning orbs struck, transforming into bolts of lightning that scorched the ground black, leaving a five-meter radius devoid of life.

Even the "Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix" unleashed wind blades, bombarding Yang Fan and thinning the ground further. While its power wasn't as great as the "Golden-haired Roar" and the "Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix," it was still formidable.

Seeing the three demonic beasts' power, Yang Fan couldn't help but feel a slight pang of regret. He shouldn't have picked the "Blood Lotus Ginseng Root" so early; now, trying to kill the three demonic beasts was just a pipe dream. But the act was already done, and regret was useless now.

Yang Fan gritted his teeth and fully activated his divine sense, unleashing the Immovable King Demon-Subduing Mantra. Instantly, beams of golden light descended from the sky, landing on the three demonic beasts, leaving them stunned and unable to move.

Not daring to be careless, Yang Fan's entire body trembled, unleashing the Ghost Shadow Step at full power. Like a true dragon appearing in the world, he charged upwards. In that instant, Yang Fan seemed to transform into a true dragon, his dragon shadow flashing, roaring,

and blood-red shadow soaring into the sky—a truly magnificent sight! Seeing the phantom behind Yang Fan, the three demonic beasts were simultaneously terrified, as if witnessing something horrifying. They trembled in mid-air, almost falling from the sky, but their eyes remained fixed on the dragon shadow behind Yang Fan, filled with terror and fear, but above all, with reverence!

The three demonic beasts struggled desperately, trying to break free from their immobilized state. Their efforts weren't entirely futile; their bodies trembled slightly, gradually emerging from their stiffness.

Yang Fan's eyes narrowed, and he quickened his pace, leaping over the back of the "Emerald Feather Crimson Phoenix." Almost simultaneously, the three demonic beasts returned to normal, each letting out a sharp cry before frantically flying to the side.

"Roar!"

Not far away, the "Golden-haired Roar" let out a fierce roar, glaring at Yang Fan with intense hatred, as if it had lost its child, wishing it could grind him to dust and devour him whole to vent its fury.

It's no wonder it reacted this way; it was only a moment too slow, and Yang Fan had already taken its white demonic core. If it had regained its freedom even a fraction of an instant earlier, Yang Fan would have had no chance of snatching the core from its grasp.

Yang Fan glanced at the four-colored beads on his left and right. After seizing the white demon core, they underwent another change. A burst of light flowed, and another bead was added, transforming them into a string of beads with black, red, blue, yellow, and white colors.

Once formed, the five-colored beads began to rotate slightly, their light flickering, as if forming its own world, possessing an indescribable mystical and magnificent beauty.

A strange feeling welled up in Yang Fan's heart; he felt something in the eastern part of the pool was attracting him, compelling him to go there.

At this moment, he was finally certain that his guess was correct—these demon cores were the key to finding the ancient tomb!

However, to his dismay, once the string of five-colored beads began to rotate, it began to draw true energy from his body without his consent. After only a short while, he felt that more than a quarter of his true energy had been depleted. If those three demonic beasts had lost their minds and insisted on fighting him to the death, his fate would likely be grim!

"Caw!"

"Screech!"

The "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" and "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix," though both severely injured, retained their demon cores and their power remained undiminished. They glared fiercely at Yang Fan, as if ready to pounce at any moment. The "Golden-Haired Roar," having lost its demon core, glared fiercely at Yang Fan for a while, then, for some unknown reason, suddenly leaped off the "Emerald Feather Red Phoenix's" back, grabbed a large tree branch, swung to dissipate its momentum, and disappeared without a trace in a few leaps. The

"Emerald Feather Red Phoenix" reacted slightly slower. However, it knew that being severely injured, it might not fare well against Yang Fan. If it were intercepted by the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" and its inner core was seized for healing, its fate would likely be even worse than the "Golden-Haired Roar." It quickly flapped its wings and disappeared as well.

"Caw!"

Glancing fiercely at Yang Fan again, the "Thunder Feather Purple Crow" also quickly flapped its wings and flew away. Clearly, it also knew that it might not have a chance of winning against Yang Fan alone…

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