《The Daoist Seal》


 Chapter 1

    Jiang Xiaofan felt unlucky, extremely unlucky. No longer able to suppress the resentment welling up inside of him, he finally exploded and released an earth-shattering howl that broke the silence of the night.


    ¡°The Celestial Heaven! The Great Earth! Just get me out of here!¡±


    The consequence of this ninety plus decibels howl was that he had riled up his neighbors and they angrily voiced their displeasure.


    ¡°What the hell are you yelling about?! Can¡¯t a guy get some sleep?!¡±


    ¡°Damned filthy beggar! Scream again and I¡¯ll tear your mouth apart!¡±


    He froze on the spot like a frosted eggplant. He scanned his room, it being worse than a pigsty. A sigh of despair escaped from his lips. ¡°Ay, just my luck to have this bullshit transmigration¡­.¡±


    As an orphan from the avaricious 21st Century society, his role was one of disregard and mockery. When the space-time vortex had sucked him in, he saw the familiar view of his city disappear from his range of vision. Elated, he knew that he had transmigrated.


    After everything had normalized, he inspected his surroundings and then nearly fainted. When others transmigrated, they were usually born into the body of a high-status individual such as an emperor or a noble. Even the most ill-fated transmigrator was at least became a martial hero.


    But for his transmigration, he had directly landed in the middle of a room that could not be any more dilapidated. What was even more infuriating was that everyone in the village treated him with contempt and called him the ¡°filthy beggar¡± as if it were the norm.


    ¡°Ugh, forget it. I¡¯ll just take things as they come. The night is still long. I¡¯ll have to review the basics of living in this new world first.¡±


    After venting his grievances, he took out a beautifully designed book. His eyes instantly lit up. He licked his cracked lips and subconsciously reached under his clothes with his right hand.


    ¡°Wait¡­. This place doesn¡¯t seem to have tissues!¡±


    He suddenly remembered. With despair written all over his face, he hugged his limited-edition photo book which had been carried over during the transmigration, dropped to the floor, and loudly wailed.


    Prior to the sunrise of the next day, the village was already bustling with activity. Everyone stood outside with raised torches. Half a month passed since he had arrived here. He had already gotten wind that immortals would come to the village and select youths with great potential for cultivation.


    As a 21st Century modern being, there was no way that Jiang Xiaofan would believe in their existence. From his perspective, so-called immortals were nothing more than old Daoists who carried horsetail whisks and swindled gullible people wherever they went.


    He got up with a stretch and yawned. Despite his skepticism, he warmly welcomed any form of hustle and bustle. Around this time, a ray of light streaked across the sky, followed by the formation of an aurora. Two longswords suddenly appeared from above, eliciting gasps of awes from hundreds of villagers.


    Up above, a green-robed man stood firmly against the wind with his two feet stepping on the blade of an ancient sword. His bearing was jade-like, dignified and graceful. He had an ethereal air about him. On top of the other blade was a yellow-robed female with a lithe body. She was like a lotus flower, pure from mortal stains. Her beauty was peerless yet cold, making her seem otherworldly.


    His jaw dropped to the ground in amazement. He didn¡¯t think that cultivators were actually real!


    He gazed at the beauty before him with his eyes bulged and saliva drooling down. Noticing the man by her side, his first thought was to kick him flying and take over his place.


    ¡°The path to immortal cultivation requires innate talent. The following trial is simple. Those who wish to pass and enter our sect must be able to climb more than three steps on these stairs.¡±


    The green-robed man faintly smiled. Without further ado, he waved his hand and threw a ball of green light, which extended its shape as it travelled, transforming into a nine-step stairway made of nephrite jade. One could see it was sparsely engraved with Daoist symbols.


    After he had spoken, a well-built man, who looked to about be seventeen to eighteen years of age, stepped forth from the crowd. Everyone grew nervous as they watched him near the jade stairs. Many held their breaths.


    The man had successfully climbed the second step, but the moment he began to approach the third, his body trembled uncontrollably. His face was beading with sweat. He really wanted to advance but struggled greatly.


    In the end, he failed. Knocked to the ground by a force, he got back up and returned to his place, disheartened.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mouth was agape with shock as he looked on, unable to wrap his mind around what had just happened. Wasn¡¯t it just a nine-step flight of stairs? Why did it seem as difficult as if he was crossing mountains of swords and seas of flames?


    ¡°Let me try it!¡±


    Another man had walked forth. He donned fine clothing and had a handsome complexion. He was Wang Ao, the village leader¡¯s nineteen-year-old son. Using modern terms to describe him, he was the epitome of tall, rich, and handsome.


    Exuding power and confidence, he strode to the third step. A thin layer of sweat covered his forehead when he made his way up the fourth. Regardless, he clenched his jaw and continued to the fifth and sixth before finally stopping.


    The green-robed man was somewhat astonished. Even the yellow-robed beauty turned around and looked at him with surprise in her eyes. They hadn¡¯t anticipated finding a diamond in the rough from an impoverished place such as this. Those who could climb to the fifth step were already considered an exceptional talent.


    ¡°Not bad. You¡¯ve passed. Come and stand beside me. After the trial ends, we will immediately leave and head for the base of Ziyang Sect.¡±


    Wang Ao politely returned the green-robed man a bow and excitedly turned around to flash a grin at the village elder. He then hurried to the green-robed man and stood behind him. His face beamed with pride, evoking admiration from others.


    The trial continued. Several more people came forward, but only a female named Liu Shi, having barely qualified, stood next to Wang Ao.


    ¡°My turn!¡±


    Seeing that no one else went up, Jiang Xiaofan emerged from the crowd. After taking a good looking at who it was, silence momentarily settled in and then, an outburst of laughter rang out.


    ¡°Are my eyes deceiving me? A puny beggar wants to become an immortal?¡±


    ¡°Take a piss and look at yourself in the reflection!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan ignored them. His expression was calm, but inwardly, he wanted to throw a punch and give them a good beating. Unfortunately, this body of his was too weak. If he really got into a fight, the disadvantageous one would be him.


    The green-robed man and the yellow-robed beauty both furrowed their brows but didn¡¯t stop him, allowing him to proceed.


    Jiang Xiaofan stood in front of the stairway, took a deep breath, raised a leg up, and secured himself on the first step. However, just when he reached for the second step, a light radiated from atop the stairs like water ripples. In the next second, he was knocked flying.


    People roared in laughter again, especially Wang Ao. He stared at him with disdain and jeered, ¡°A pathetic beggar such as yourself, a complete waste, actually wants to cultivate to immortality. You¡¯re like a toad that lusts after a swan¡¯s flesh! Such wishful thinking!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan coldly eyed him. He charged again for the second time, but the result was the same. He had climbed the first, had been stopped before the second, and inevitably had been knocked flying again.


    ¡°There¡¯s no one left. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    The yellow-robed girl flatly remarked and headed first to leave. Glancing at the ice beauty, the green-robed man fell into a short daze. A strange gleam flickered in his eyes. He waved his hand, withdrew the stairway, and followed her.


    Taking notice of his expression, Jiang Xiaofan briefly spaced out and then lightly curved his lips upward. As an experienced pervert, he knew what that gleam in the green-robed man¡¯s eyes represented.


    After a short ponder, he gritted his teeth, marched on, took out the hardback that he had treasured for so long, and began, ¡°Respectable cultivated one, please hold. Here in my hands is a text worthy of study which I, regrettably, have not been able to fully comprehend. I wish to give this to you in the hope that you will like it.¡±


    The green-robed man smiled again and shook his head. Just when he was about to openly reject him, his eyes narrowed sharply and he quickly grabbed his book, stuffing it in the inside of his robe. He gently coughed and replied, ¡°Ahem, Ziyang Sect currently is in need of an outer disciple to patrol its mountains. Are you willing?¡±


    Despite Jiang Xiaofan grinning from ear to ear and repeatedly saying ¡°yes¡±, he inwardly cursed the man¡¯s entire lineage, including the women. The limited-edition photo book accompanied him through countless days and nights. It was his most prized treasure, yet all he got in exchange was the role of a mountain patrol. His heart ached.


    The villagers were in a state of perplexity as they looked at Jiang Xiaofan swaggering after the green-robed man. Even worse, the filthy beggar had turned around and said something that they couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Ciao!¡±


    In the forest beyond the village, Wang Ao revealed an expression of disgust when he had seen Jiang Xiaofan daring to tag along. He questioned Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s shamelessness, prompting the yellow-robed beauty and Liu Shi to knit their brows in discontent.


    ¡°He is to become one of us. That¡¯s enough for now. Let¡¯s get going. We¡¯ll be riding the flying swords.¡±


    After green-robed man had finished, Wang Ao and Liu Shi refused to ride with Jiang Xiaofan. In the end, the yellow-robed girl took in Wang Ao and Liu Shi, and Jiang Xiaofan went with the green-robed man.


    This was his first time standing on top of the cold, metal blade of a sword, witnessing the transportation method of legends. Astonishment was clearly written all over his face. Wang Ao shot him another look of contempt. Even though he was just as excited, he didn¡¯t outwardly express his emotion.


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed by. Unable to control his body, he began to dry-heave. For someone who got motion sickness just from riding the bus, riding an advanced flying transport such as this was enough to take his life.


    ¡°Shimei[1], you guys go first. I will take Brother Xiaofan for a rest. We¡¯ll catch up soon¡­.¡±


    Since he had insisted, the yellow-robed girl went ahead. He lowered the altitude before finally landing on the peak of a green mountain.


    ¡°You¡¯re clever, but you knew more than you should¡¯ve and did something which you shouldn¡¯t have done. If this gets exposed one day, my reputation will be tarnished. Therefore, I cannot allow you to live.¡±


    He was vomiting severely beside the cliff when he heard the man¡¯s words, causing him to nearly swallow back his gastric contents. Chills ran down his spine as the word ¡°murder¡± flashed across his mind.


    Alas, before he could react, he felt a force from behind. This was the first time that Jiang Xiaofan had understood the principles of physics. He plunged to the bottom following a beautiful parabolic path.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 2

    The acceleration of the fall chilled his body and froze his heart solid. He was only an ordinary human. Other than death, he couldn¡¯t think of a different ending from falling at such a height.


    The wind rattled his ears. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed until a loud *plonk* was heard, followed by a large splash. In that instant, Jiang Xiaofan became ecstatic. He was grateful that he knew how to dive, having learned it long ago for the sake of peeping on girls playing in the water. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve been in hell right now, having a chess match with Satan.


    ¡°Son of a bitch! That damned sissy boy, how dare he burn our bridge?! After I get out of here, I¡¯ll get a big black dog to sic him!¡± Jiang Xiaofan loudly cussed as he swam towards the shore.


    ¡°You who have come from afar, you are finally here. I have long waited for you.¡±


    After he had climbed onto dry land, a voice echoed. In front of him from a short distance was an eroded stone platform with a monk sitting in lotus position on top. Xiaofan didn¡¯t know how many years had passed him by. The old monk¡¯s flesh and blood looked withered like rotten wood.


    ¡°Who¡­. Who are you?¡±


    Startled, he unconsciously took a step back. He didn¡¯t think that there¡¯d be a monk here. Accurately speaking, he was more like a dried up corpse.


    ¡°I am Dipankara[1]¡­.¡±


    ¡°Fuck, then I¡¯m Gautama!¡±


    He had reflexively said this out of fear but then immediately thought that his speech was too vulgar. Instead, the old monk simply nodded his head.


    ¡°You¡­. believe me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, why shouldn¡¯t I? Buddha once said that Heaven and Earth are one. This universe has no form. All beings are buddhas.¡±


    He was taken aback. There was something vastly different about this old monk, especially when compared with those monastery monks back on Planet Earth. Even though he was so emaciated, he emanated an aura of spiritual transcendence.


    Not easily daunted, Jiang Xiaofan recomposed himself. He asked the monk why he had chosen to stay here, but the monk¡¯s response elicited another cuss from him, nearly puking a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°I have been meditating here for eighteen thousand years, waiting for the fated person. I wish to pass on this sutra¡­.¡±


    The monk¡¯s eyes were etched with emotion, causing Jiang Xiaofan to momentarily hesitate. However, he soon firmly shook his head. Who was he kidding? He was still an innocent virgin and wasn¡¯t ready to give up his mortal desires just yet.


    Caught slightly off guard, the old monk thought again and faintly smiled. With both hands in Anjali Mudra[2] position, he explained, ¡°I merely want to pass it down. Whatever happens in the future is up to you as the judge¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan inspected the old monk carefully. This felt too surreal. Somehow, he had encountered the legendary Dipankara, Buddha of the Past, and furthermore, this monk wanted him to have his sutra. It was like a dream.


    He was partially skeptical. He had no interest in Buddhism, but he could sense this monk¡¯s sincere conviction. The monk most likely wasn¡¯t lying. Moreover, Jiang Xiaofan had nothing on him that was worth being lied to.


    He raised his head and rubbed his chin. This was a legendary figure after all. Although this incident seemed a bit ridiculous, why should he care so much? He had nothing to lose. At the worst, he could pretend that this was all part of an elaborate storytelling.


    Seeing him nod in agreement, the old monk smiled again and then raised a shriveled finger at him. A ray of golden light shot into the area between his brows and was absorbed. In his sea of mind, millions of gold-colored talismans appeared before finally agglomerating into a large ¡°fo[3]¡± which was then dispersed into golden rays and assimilated by the meridians throughout his body.


    He widened his eyes and stared at him with his mouth agape. He had never imagined that his so-called passing down would be something like this. He was a true immortal!


    ¡°This sutra has been handed down to me from Buddha. Take good care of it. Do not reveal it in front of anyone.¡±


    After giving it to him, the old monk grew noticeably weaker. Wearing a solemn expression on his face, he took out a seemingly insignificant, silver-colored brass piece that was approximately the size of his palm. It shook slightly, disappeared before Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes, and then appeared inside his body.


    *Boom*


    The moment the brass piece entered his body, it felt ablaze, releasing radiant, colorful rays of light which illuminated the entire cave.


    At this moment, he could somehow see through his body. In his abdomen was a small, almost illusory, multi-colored lake. In the center of the lake was the brass piece.


    It serenely floated on top, emitting a faint, mystical glow as if it was the source of saintliness, supporting all that of Heaven and Earth.


    The mysterious lake glowed more brightly. The colorful rays were translucent, like a naturally formed rainbow. Occasionally, he could hear a unique sound resonating from that silver-colored brass piece.


    ¡°The Heavenly Way, harm will befall you if not repaired¡­.¡±


    The sound was loud and sonorous, travelling to his heart like a flowing stream and reverberating like a large, ancient bell which cut through space and time to shake his spirit.


    The monk had revealed an expression of shock for the first time but then swiftly calmed down as if there was nothing left in this world that could concern him.


    ¡°What was that?! What just happened?!¡±


    Once everything had normalized, Jiang Xiaofan looked with disbelief at his hands. Then, he scanned his body from top to bottom, afraid that he might be missing an arm or a leg.


    ¡°The prelude of a flourishing era is about to begin. The Heavenly Way will be restored¡­.¡±


    After everything had been completed, the monk gazed fixedly at Jiang Xiaofan, his eyes etched deeper with emotion. He remained quiet and held his hands in Anjali Mujra position as if he had made his merit[4]. Suddenly, golden flames of fire ignited and his body started to burn. Alarmed, Xiang Jiaofan took a big leap backward.


    ¡°Hey Dashi[5], are you alright?¡±


    The color drained from Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face. He retreated back to the shoreline, reached out his hands, and began to throw water at the monk. To his dismay, the water evaporated in midair before it could even reach him.


    ¡°When he first encounters old age, sickness and death, he realizes the impermanence of the world. He renounces his kingdom, wealth and throne, and goes into the mountains to practice the Way. After sending back the white horse that he has been riding, together with the jewelled crown and ornaments which he has been wearing, he takes off his magnificent clothes and puts on a Dharma robe. He cuts his hair and shaves his beard, sits upright under a tree, and strives at ascetic practices for six years in accord with the traditional way. Since he has appeared in the world of the five defilements, he behaves as the multitude. And as his body appears dirty, he takes a bath in the Golden River. As a god bends a branch down towards him, he is able to climb up the river bank. A divine bird follows him closely to the seat of Enlightenment. A deva takes the form of a youth and, perceiving a favorable sign, respectfully presents him with the auspicious grass. The Bodhisattva compassionately accepts it, spreads it under the Bodhi-tree and sits upon it with his legs crossed. He emits a great flood of light to inform Mara of this. Mara and his army come to attack and tempt him, but he brings them under control with the power of wisdom and makes them all surrender. Then he attains the supreme Dharma and realizes the highest, perfect Enlightenment.[6]¡±


    The monk was all skin and bones, but he remained tranquil as he recited his sutra. He was enveloped in the incandescent, sacred fire. His body had turned transparent, even the innards could be seen.


    Everything felt peaceful. The stone platform was blanketed by a strong aura. Afterward, his bones cracked, flesh turned to light, and everything became ashes. There was nothing left. His name had been erased from this world.


    Dazed, Jiang Xiaofan stood a few meters away before approaching him after considerable time had passed. He looked at the pile of ashes on top of the platform with his eyes bulged. The scene from before was playing out in his mind. The golden flames were so serene. He didn¡¯t feel any calories of heat. In fact, he didn¡¯t even know how it had kindled, but, for sure, it had reduced him to nothingness.


    ¡°Is this the so-called parinirvana[7]?¡±


    He was somewhat excited; however, no matter how he looked at it, this was clearly immolation.


    ¡°Since the saintly monk passed this sutra down to me, he¡¯s considered, at the very least, my master. Please accept my bow!¡±


    He replaced his crude, immature personality with a serious expression. With the stone platform as a grave, he pondered and carved large words on it: Resting Place of Dipankara, Buddha of the Past. Lastly, he kowtowed three times before it.


    Was this fate? Jiang Xiaofan felt a bit touched. What a strange phenomenon. He had only just met him, yet the monk had passed down to him this Buddhist cultivation method and now here he was, erecting a gravestone for the old monk.


    ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s see if this sutra is as mystical as he claimed it to be.¡±


    Receiving this cultivation method, to an earthling like Jiang Xiaofan, was undoubtedly the same as winning the lottery. How could he not be excited? He quickly sat down in a lotus position, closed his eyes, and concentrated all his attention on sensing it.


    Dipanakara, the Buddha of the Past, was an important figure in Chinese Buddhism, despite being second to Gautama. Naturally, his passing down of the ancient sutra had to be one of Buddhism¡¯s most prized scriptures, even one of the most spiritual ones.


    Jiang Xiaofan closed his eyes and used his willpower to activate the sutra. Before his eyes was only darkness. There was no reaction of any sort from the sutra. It was the same as before. He could only sense that it was something special.


    However, he didn¡¯t give up. Slowly, a small glow emerged from the darkness. Gold-colored texts steadily materialized. Like lighting up a sacred lamp, these gold-colored, ancient texts became golden rays which illuminated the void.


    He rapidly focused his willpower and followed the golden rays which coursed through his entire body like running water. In the meantime, he saw the small, multicolored lake once again and the brass piece which floated in the center of it.


    He attempted to approach it, but the small lake was far from his reach despite being it being so close. It seemed infinitely far away as if they were separated like Heaven and Earth.


    While he focused his willpower on contemplating, the golden, mystical energy hadn¡¯t stopped circulating. With perseverance, it channeled through his inners, passed through his eight extraordinary meridians, and diffused to everywhere.


    Concurrently, what Jiang Xiaofan hadn¡¯t noticed was that out of nowhere, a golden ¡°fo¡± had appeared on top of where he was sitting. Below him were blossoming golden lotuses, and behind him surfaced a blurry shadow that mimicked his actions.


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but when he woke up, he looked at his hands and gently balled them into fists. He could feel that he was different than before. A powerful energy was surging within his body.


    He picked up a rock from the ground, grasped it, and lightly applied force. Suddenly, a loud sound was heard. The egg-sized rock in his hand was crushed to dust.


    ¡°Oh my god! I hit the jackpot!¡±


    He almost didn¡¯t control himself and hollered while tightening his fist. With this cultivation method in his hands, he could already imagine his bright future in this world. He would own all the lands. His back palace would be filled with three thousand beauties. He would have underlings by the hundreds. Finally, he would become an immortal.


    He meditated again, closed his eyes, and activated the sutra. The small, multicolored lake and the silver-colored brass piece came into view He focused all his willpower to trigger the mysterious brass piece.


    This was the last thing that the saintly monk had given him. Judging by the monk¡¯s solemnity, he knew that this was an invaluable piece of treasure, even more precious than the sutra.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 3

    Jiang Xiaofan closed his eyes tightly and focused his willpower on the silver-colored brass piece. What disheartened him was that no matter how much effort and heart he put in, the brass piece didn¡¯t react at all. It was like a stubborn ox that didn¡¯t budge no matter what.


    ¡°Oh, come on! Don¡¯t be like this. I want my treasure!¡± Discontent, he returned to consciousness. He was like an unhappy housewife, rambling nonstop.


    From the time he had met the monk until now, Jiang Xiaofan had already spent an entire day in this cave. After cultivating for a short period, he suddenly felt his empty stomach rumble.


    ¡°Hm? What¡¯s that? Smells good!¡±


    His senses had been greatly heightened from before. He sniffed around and walked towards the origin of the scent. Behind the stone platform were a dozen or so stalks of strange-looking and unevenly grown green grass. Appearing delicate, they were about five centimeters tall and as a wide thumb.


    Looking at it in his hand, Jiang Xiaofan grew speechless. He hadn¡¯t envisaged that he would one day eat grass, but he then thought that it wasn¡¯t so bad. Compared to the Red Army[1] soldiers who had to eat tree bark, eating grass was nothing. After all, it was organic.


    He placed one stalk in his mouth and gently chewed. Instantly, a pleasant aroma permeated his cavity. The sensation was akin to that of flying off to Heaven. A faint halo of light blanketed his body.


    ¡°Fuck! This grass tastes so damn fragrant!¡±


    Shocked, he widened his eyes and then chewed it forcefully. Not long after, he wolfed down a couple more stalks. He felt his body become lighter by several folds. He gingerly jumped and to his surprise, he rose several meters above ground. He was scared out of his wits, but the good news was that he ended up landing in the water. If he had died falling like that, what a big joke it would¡¯ve been then.


    He stared at the remaining six stalks of grass and then stuffed them in his pocket. Although the appearance wasn¡¯t appealing, the taste, however, wasn¡¯t that bad.


    ¡°Hm, I should leave this place¡­.¡± He swept a serious glance around the cave before approaching the stone platform, kowtowing once again, and swearing, ¡°Saintly monk, rest in peace. If one day I achieve success, I will build you a temple and carry out good deeds across wherever I go.¡±


    After he had finished, he followed along the river and left without turning back¡­.


    Three days later, Jiang Xiaofan finally left the cave. He was now walking on a path in the middle of a forest. He felt that the world was too mystical. Many things that had occurred were beyond what he could comprehend.


    Ever since he arrived at this unknown world from Planet Earth, he had never imagined that cultivators existed in this universe. He was able to meet the legendary Dipankara, Buddha of the Past, and stepped foot into this mysterious world of cultivation. This was beyond what he could dream of.


    He aimlessly wandered around when finally, he saw mankind. From a distance, there were two smirking men in their thirties who had surrounded a seventeen to eighteen-year-old female. It was obvious that they were up to no good.


    The girl donned a violet robe and had a fairy-like temperament. She slightly wrinkled her nose as if somewhat dissatisfied. She walked around one of the men but was blocked by the other, trapping her in the middle.


    When Jiang Xiaofan saw this scene unfold before him, he felt that as a good, moral youth, he needed to extend his hand of righteousness and fight against evil. He took a step forward and hollered, ¡°Fiends, unhand that maiden! If you got¡­. cough¡­. the balls, come at me!¡±


    ¡°Where did that punk come from?! How dare he interrupt us!¡±


    ¡°Kill him!¡±


    Ferociousness contorted the men¡¯s faces. Their bodies were built like buffalos. They momentarily let go of the violet-robed girl and lunged at Jiang Xiaofan. One of them reached out his hand and aimed to smack his face, clearly wanting to humiliate him.


    To be honest, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart, at this moment, was rapidly pounding. He was a bit afraid, but since the arrow had been released, it would be difficult for him to eat his words. Not to mention, there was a beauty in front of him. How could he possibly cower before her? Without another second of hesitation, he swung out his fist.


    *Bang*


    The result had his eyes bulging. The man shrieked in pain like a swine getting slaughtered.


    The man¡¯s body flew out five meters and struck a tree. He immediately lost consciousness.


    ¡°Holy shit! That powerful?!¡± He stared at his right fist with his mouth agape. Feeling cocky, he then pointed to the remaining man left standing and declared, ¡°You over there. How dare you publicly harass a beautiful flower such as her under the broad daylight?! You will not go unpunished! As the embodiment of justice, I shall smite you with the sun¡¯s fury!¡±


    With a sly expression on his face, the man attempted one last attack and then¡­. He turned around and fled like a rabbit, disappearing into the forest in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°Er¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was stunned. What the fuck? With that kind of speed, he should join the Olympics¡¯ one-hundred meters hurdles! He could, unquestionably, beat Liu Xiang[2]!


    Seeing the evil man run away, the violet-robed girl walked over with a cheeky grin, just like a spirited fairy. She had an ethereal air around her that tantalized the onlooker¡¯s senses. No matter how Jiang Xiaofan looked at her, she didn¡¯t display the least bit of distress on her face.


    Jiang Xiaofan had never seen a girl of this beauty before, and they were standing so close too, gazing at each other. He could smell her faint but sweet scent. Once he got a whiff of her, two bloody streaks streamed down from his nose.


    ¡°Oh no, your nose is bleeding!¡±


    ¡°Um, it¡¯s nothing. The sun¡¯s just too bright. My name¡¯s Jiang Xiaofan. It¡¯s my pleasure to meet you.¡± He quickly rubbed the blood away and replied in embarrassment.


    ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re an interesting character. I¡¯m Ye Yuanxue. Ye as in leaf, Yuan as in fate, and Xue as in snow. Remember that well! Be sure not to forget it!¡±


    Her eyes twinkled, and she smiled sweetly, revealing two snaggle-teeth. She was attractive yet cute. The sound of her voice was crisp and melodious. It made Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart beat one hundred and ninety-nine times per minute, instantaneously breaking the world record.


    He quickly shook his head like a pellet drum. Who was he kidding? Even if he forgot his own name, he would never forget hers.


    Ye Yuanxue said that she was heading for Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. Even though he didn¡¯t know what Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was nor where it was located, Jiang Xiaofan responded by saying that he was going there as well.


    He only thought that it was a pity if he had to separate from a beautiful, lively, and well-mannered maiden. Besides, his understanding of this world was still hazy.


    She originally planned to travel to Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect alone, but now that someone accompanied her, Ye Yuanxue couldn¡¯t be happier.


    As they journeyed together, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s ¡°ignorance¡± almost led Ye Yuanxue to cry with laughter. The result of that was Jiang Xiaofan having several episodes of nosebleed.


    While passing through a small town, Ye Yuanxue eyed him as she continued to giggle. She then brought him into a small shop. Not long after, Jiang Xiaofan had received a fresh new look. With his pristine, white robe, he looked more charming. It was a huge difference than before. He was now a handsome young man.


    ¡°Xiao Xue, thank you. This is the first time that someone has treated me so kindly.¡± Indeed, this was the first time that someone had bought clothes for him, and she was an extremely beautiful girl to boot. Jiang Xiaofan was slightly overwhelmed.


    ¡°Hehe, really? How do you plan to thank me then?¡±


    ¡°I have nothing on me. Um, how about I offer my body to you?¡±


    ¡°Pft, who wants you?!¡± muttered Xiao Xue. She then bought him several more items of clothing and few more necessities before leaving the town and continuing their journey.


    The place they trekked through was an ancient, tranquil mountain forest. Along the way, Ye Yuanxue explained the makings of this world, clarifying any befuddlement that he had. At the very least, he was able to memorize the basic principles.


    ¡°Ungh, I¡¯m hungry. Xiao Fan, do you have anything to eat?¡± She didn¡¯t know how long it had been. She raised her head and looked at him piteously with her eyes shining like bright, obsidian orbs.


    ¡°Ah, I do but¡­.¡±


    He was at a loss for words. He indeed did have food. They were the stalks of grass which he had picked in the cave from before. The taste was alright. He hadn¡¯t thrown them away when he changed his into his new clothes.


    However, was he really going to give stalks of grass to Ye Yuanxue as food?


    ¡°But what? Hurry and bring it out! I¡¯m starving,¡± replied Ye Yuanxue while gritting her teeth.


    She really did sound hungry. Feeling helpless, he unwillingly took out the six stalks of green grass and presented it to her.


    ¡°Uh, it may not look too appetizing, but the taste is not bad.¡± Jiang Xiaofan sheepishly explained after noticing Ye Yuanxue stare blankly at it.


    ¡°My gods! Immortal Spirit Roots! They¡¯re Immortal Spirit Roots!¡±


    To his great disbelief, Ye Yuanxue grabbed the so-called grass from his hand. Her cheeks were flushed red as if she was exhilarated.


    ¡°Immortal Spirit Root? What¡¯s that? You mean this green grass here?¡± He was baffled.


    Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes and answered, ¡°What green grass? This is an Immortal spirit Root! Immortal Spirit Root, don¡¯t you know?! This is the king of all herbs! The rarest of the rare! It¡¯s priceless!¡±


    As she mentioned, the Immortal Spirit Root was a prized herb since primordial times, containing an immense amount of spiritual energy inside it. If a mortal ate one strand of it, he or she could live for another one hundred years. For a cultivator though, the effects were more astonishing. Because of its rarity, countless of cultivators have warred over this invaluable treasure.


    Ye Yuanxue was beyond astounded. She had never imagined that Jiang Xiaofan would possess the king of all herbs. The fact that one stalk even appeared in front of her was already in defiance of nature, let alone six stalks.


    Jiang Xiaofan was slightly speechless as he looked at Ye Yuanxue¡¯s expression. If Ye Yuanxue knew that he used seven stalks of these rare Immortal Spirit Roots to satiate his hunger, she would probably choke him to death.


    Nevertheless, he was happy after seeing her get so excited. Now that he knew about the treasure in his hands, he unselfishly gave half of the six to Ye Yuanxue. Overwhelmed with jubilation, she soon forgot about her hunger and even gave Jiang Xiaofan an intimate hug.


    ¡°Awesome! Let¡¯s get going. We need to reach the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s base before we miss this time¡¯s chance. Otherwise, we¡¯ll have to wait ten years later.¡±


    Feeling cheery, she didn¡¯t give him any time to ponder. She grabbed the nose-bleeding Jiang Xiaofan and flew into the distance.


    Two days later, they arrived at a spiritual mountain range. Tall mountainous peaks loomed over each other. This was home of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    Of the many mountains here, there were seven that were the most magnificent. Cranes soared around the dense spiritual aura. The scene was very serene. The two of them mingled among the crowd who were preparing to be initiated into the Sect. No incident occurred as they passed through the gate.


    ¡°Why are there so many people? Isn¡¯t this a bit too exaggerated?¡±


    Before them were seas of people. Startled, he couldn¡¯t see beyond what was right in front of him. With this number of people, it was even more crowded than Tiananmen Square¡¯s flag raising ceremony.


    Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes at him again and responded, ¡°How is it exaggerated? Not one bit! The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s reputation is beyond prestigious. There isn¡¯t a single cultivator in the world who doesn¡¯t want to become its inner disciple.¡±


    Just then, seven figures appeared, flying in the sky. They were aged with white hair flowing past their shoulders; however, they looked sprightly like elderly immortals.


    The seven landed on a platform and peered down at the crowd. One of them spoke. His voice was soft but was audible enough that everyone from each corner of the crowd could hear him.


    ¡°Let the trial commence. Anyone who can walk beyond three steps passes.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was really speechless this time. Why this stupid stairway again?! It was the exact one back at the village. He almost thought that he was at Ziyang Sect instead. Just when he was thinking, a queue was already forming.


    Although there were many people who took the trial, more than ninety percent couldn¡¯t make it past the third step. They were deemed to have no fate with immortality. Naturally, they were discontent, with many of them having a prominent background, but none dared to cause trouble at the highly renowned Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. They could only leave in despair.


    When it came to their turn, Jiang Xiaofan and Yue Yuanxue showed no signs of nervousness. Ye Yuanxue breezed through the trial, gracefully making her way to the ninth step, made her way past the dumbfounded elders, and stood to the side. Because Jiang Xiaofan had briefly cultivated the Buddhist Sutra in addition to eating a few stalks of the Immortal Spirit Root, his body already contained a small amount of spiritual energy. He managed to climb up to the fifth step and consequently passed the test, successfully becoming an outer disciple of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 4

    It was early in the morning just when the sun had begun to rise. Golden rays illuminated the mountain peaks, reflecting their magnificence. A group of disciples gathered together to listen to Elder Chuanfa¡¯s teachings, two of whom were Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue. They were to cultivate accordingly within three months.


    This place was known as the Cliff of Dao. In front was a precipice that was as smooth as jade. Carved on it was the giant character ¡°Dao¡±, faintly blanketed by qi. It was supposedly the work of an ancient saint.


    *Woosh*


    A light flashed above the distant sky, forming a rainbow which descended on the cliff. Sitting in lotus position with his back to the ¡°Dao¡± character was an old man with white hair. He swept a glance below, nodded his head, and began his lecture.


    As an enormous entity of power, the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was very strict in selecting its disciples. Of the tens of thousands, only a couple hundred people could pass. Right now, the disciples were sitting in lotus position as well. Their hearts should be overwhelmed with pride and excitement, but the environment around them was surprisingly tranquil. Many of them felt at ease.


    The old man¡¯s voice was crisp and firm. Despite speaking with a flat tone, he was very detailed with his explanations. To Jiang Xiaofan, his words were precious.


    ¡°In order to cultivate to immortality, your body must be one with the Dao. Then, you can influence Heaven and Earth and use your willpower to control objects. If you reach the apex, you can even soar across the skies, tunnel through the ground, move mountains, and fill the seas.¡±


    ¡°The level of a cultivator can be categorized into five realms: the Micro Realm, the Realm of Dust, Phantom Saint, Human Emperor, and Mystic Immortal. Each realm has nine levels, also known as the nine heavens. As for the grades of cultivation pills and weapons, you can search it up for yourself at the Pavilion of Stored Scriptures later on.¡±


    The old man didn¡¯t speak much, but everyone felt enlightened. From Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s perspective, everything that old man had said golden verses. He finally understood the concepts of spiritual awareness and spiritual energy.


    Spiritual awareness, in layman¡¯s terms, referred to willpower. The difference was that a cultivator could increase his or her willpower without limits and perform many mystical acts. As such, in the world of cultivation, willpower was now called spiritual awareness, and this spiritual awareness lay in the mind called the sea of awareness.


    As for spiritual energy, it referred to a special power derived from cultivation and was present in every part of the body. In contrast to the cultivation method, spiritual energy varied accordingly and exhibited different colors.


    Following the method of the old man, he peered inside with his spiritual awareness. Stunned, he saw strands of his spiritual energy, gold in color. He was now a first heaven Micro Realm cultivator, just a step shy from advancing to the second.


    He wondered, ¡°Is it the mysticism of the Buddhist Sutra or the effects of the Immortal Spirit Root?¡±


    Six hours later, the old man finished his lecture. With a flick of his hands, numerous rays of light radiated from behind, streaked towards each disciple, and stopped in front of them.


    ¡°The green jade scroll contains the Jade Purity Cultivation Method, our sect¡¯s foundational method of cultivation. The blue jade scroll contains Inedia Pills, enough for you to not feel hungry. You shall be meditating here for three months¡¯ time. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.¡±


    Meditation simply meant closing one¡¯s eyes, sitting in a lotus position, and using spiritual awareness to channel the cultivation method throughout the body. This wasn¡¯t the first time that Jiang Xiaofan had done something like this. Although he thought that this was very boring, he nevertheless compelled himself to quietly cultivate and focus on activating the Jade Purity Cultivation Method within his spiritual sea.


    The Jade Purity Cultivation Method was divided into nine levels, each one corresponding to one of the nine heavens of Micro Realm. Each level was more difficult than the preceding one, but even so, Jiang Xiaofan felt quite comfortable. It was if this method was tailored for him. At the same time, he also secretly practiced the Buddhist Sutra.


    This was the second time that he had cultivated this sutra. Even he was surprised. Adrenaline coursed through his blood vessels. His inners sparkled with golden light like glitter. Tremendous power surged inside him.


    He ceased his meditation and carefully looked around. To his relief, nobody seemed to have discovered anything. He relaxed and then once again focused all his attention on his cultivation.


    Time quickly flew by.


    When he returned to consciousness again, he peered inside his body. All of a sudden, he became thrilled beyond words and wanted to scream out loud. This Buddhist Sutra was just too mystical. Even though it contained many sacred texts, there was no systemic method of cultivation.


    He didn¡¯t know to what extent he could cultivate to with the sutra, but what he did know was that he had already cultivated to the fifth level of the Jade Purity Cultivation Method. In other words, he had reached the fifth heaven of Micro Realm.


    Most importantly, he discovered that his body was much lighter and full of immeasurable strength as if he could easily lift up a five-hundred-kilogram stone.


    Exhilarated, Jiang Xiaofan turned around, wanting to share his progress with Ye Yuanxue. However, what he saw had left him speechless. The girl had her eyes partially closed, her cheek propped up with her right hand, and her head slightly drooping. She was asleep.


    Although this look of hers made his heart skip a beat, he nevertheless gently nudged her delicate shoulders and whispered, ¡°Xiao Xue, wake up. Waaake up¡­¡±


    ¡°Jeez! You¡¯re interrupting my sleep!¡±


    Woken from her slumber, she softly rubbed her eyes. Disgruntled, she pouted and glowered at him.  ¡°Idiot Xiaofan, what do you want?¡±


    ¡°I¡­.¡±


    Before he could finish, he was interrupted. The old man on the cliff opened his eyes, glanced below, paused several times, and finally nodded his head.


    ¡°Three months have already passed. You must now head for the base of one of the seven main peaks and reside there. You may go alone or be accompanied. One month later, a tournament shall be held, and the seven victors will ascend and become inner disciples, entering the seven main peaks.¡±


    The old man calmly spoke. Without giving the disciples any time to consider what he just said, he rode his rainbow and disappeared into the horizon.


    ¡°As expected of such power from the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect! The selection of disciples is so strict! So many hurdles!¡±


    ¡°Of course! I¡¯ve heard that even after you become an inner disciple, there¡¯ll be another competition, something like a battle for core disciples. Currently, the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect only has seven core disciples. One for each peak!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve also heard that the core disciples¡¯ cultivation bases are beyond strong, and they¡¯re absolutely loyal to the sect. Only core disciples have the qualifications to become an elder, a supreme elder, or even a saint, and then the sect leader, controlling the entire Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.¡±


    After Elder Chuanfa had left, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. Hearing their chatter, Jiang Xiaofan held his tongue. Out of a hundred, only seven would become inner disciples. Out of the entire sect, only seven were core disciplines. Jeez, this was tougher than the infamous gaokao[1]!


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, Xiaofan. We need to pick a nice place.¡±


    As he was spacing out, the smell of light perfume from nearby filled his nostrils. Ye Yuanxue dragged him towards the bases of the nearby peaks. At that moment, naughty thoughts wandered through his mind. The others were stunned after they had noticed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s unparalleled beauty. They looked at Jiang Xiaofan with admiration and envy.


    Not long after, the two of them stopped at a place filled with cherry trees, its petals pink in color and faint fragrance permeating the air. Green grass and colorful blossoms painted the landscape.


    Naturally, Ye Yuanxue was very fond of this place. Jiang Xiaofan mentally told himself that he must build a small hut, big enough so that he could live with the beauty under one roof. This was something that he could have never dreamed of. He had to put in his best effort and perhaps, something wonderful might even arise out of this.


    ¡°What a beautiful scenery!¡±


    Around this time, a group of brightly dressed young disciples walked behind them. Among one of them was a bewitching female who sighed. Her name was Liu Ruyan, daughter of the Jade Moon Palace¡¯s leader. Jade Moon Palace was a small sect, incomparable to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. Three months ago, she had been sent here to secretly cultivate.


    Taking notice of her expression, a youth beside her lightly chuckled, ¡°Shimei, if you want to meditate here, I¡¯ll make those two people hand it over to you.¡±


    ¡°But I can see that they like this place too. I don¡¯t think they¡¯d agree, right?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. I¡¯ll have a talk with them. I believe they will agree.¡± The young man was confident.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Shimei. Just rest easy. If it¡¯s Zhu Gongzi[2] up for the task, you¡¯ll be bound to feel satisfied. There isn¡¯t anyone beneath a core disciple who will dare to not give face to Zhu Gongzi.¡±


    Besides the youth from before and the female, there were two other men in their twenties. They were outer disciples from the previous selection but haven¡¯t ascended to inner disciple status yet. In addition, they also came from smaller sects to discreetly cultivate.


    The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect wasn¡¯t concerned about these disciples learning their techniques because the most powerful cultivation techniques wouldn¡¯t be passed onto them. In that way, there would be no harm done unto the sect and rather, the sect could benefit from these disciples.


    The young man who had spoken those confident words strode up to them, revealing a surprised look when he saw Ye Yuanxue. He gazed at her for a long while until she grew flustered before finally turning his head away.


    A mysterious gleam flashed in his eyes. He briefly glanced at Ye Yuanxue again and then gestured a fist salute at Jiang Xiaofan. ¡°I am Zhu Youwei, the elder cousin of Zhu Xidao, one of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s core disciples. Would you be willing to give this piece of land to Ruyan Shimei and me?¡±


    He loudly declared his background not just to Jiang Xiaofan but also to Ye Yuanxue. As long as Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t stupid, he should be able to understand the meaning behind his words. The best of both worlds would be to acquire this piece of land and have another beautiful girl in his other arm.


    ¡°Sorry but we like this place as well. Please kindly go somewhere else.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Jiang Xiaofan rejected him.


    After hearing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s rejection, Zhu Youwei¡¯s expression turned ugly. Within this sect, who didn¡¯t know of Zhu Xidao? Except for the core disciplines, elders, and those ranked above, no one else dared to show disrespect towards him. As his cousin, few people within the sect gave him trouble. Not to mention, he was an inner disciple.


    ¡°But I really want this land here!¡±


    His eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward, pressuring Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Deepest apologies. We have already chosen this place, so we will not give it up.¡± Jiang Xiaofan shook his head.


    Since Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t budge, he grew sullen. His eyes were cold, and he icily replied, ¡°I¡¯m a very persistent person. Within the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, there is nothing that I can¡¯t get.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan had never imagined that there could be such an imperious person would exist in a sect. Since Zhu Youwei was being domineering, Jiang Xiaofan no longer bothered to be courteous towards him. He shrugged his shoulders and halfheartedly responded, ¡°Oh yeah? Let me see what tricks you have up your sleeve then.¡±


    As the incident was unfolding, everyone around the commotion sensed that something was amiss, and they all turned to watch. When they discovered that someone in the sect had defied Zhu Youwei¡¯s wish, they were stunned but revealed expressions of eagerness in anticipation of a good show.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 5

    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s tone caused the onlookers¡¯ expression to change colors. Zhou Youwei was renowned throughout the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect not just because of Zhu Xidao but because he had reached the sixth level of the Jade Purity Cultivation Method. As a sixth heaven Micro Realm cultivator, rarely did anyone dare to say such defiant words towards him.


    Zhu Youwei donned a white robe, pure like snow, but his temperament did not match his appearance. With an ice-cold look, he smirked at Jiang Xiaofan. ¡°Young and reckless. You need to know your place. I already gave you a chance, but you didn¡¯t grab onto it. Alas, don¡¯t blame me for what will happen next.¡±


    The man next to him named He Bujun looked at Zhu Youwei and stepped forth. He respectfully stated, ¡°Who needs Zhu Gongzi to make a move against a small fry like him? Just leave it to me.¡±


    Zhu Youwei nodded and gestured a fist salute towards He Bujun. Surprised at the honor bestowed upon him, He Bujun turned around and walked towards Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head. These people actually thought he was some sort of ripened tomato, easily pluckable. However, he didn¡¯t want to bother wasting his breath to argue with them. He raised up a leg and kicked away a fifty-kilogram, giant rock. A loud whooshing sound was created as it whizzed through the air.


    *Boom*


    Poor He Bujun, right after he turned his head, the rock directly struck him on the face. His body flew out more than ten meters with drops of red gliding from midair. He had fainted.


    ¡°In¡­ Insane!¡±


    ¡°Where did this beast pop up from?! He looks so harmless. How could he have such godly power?!¡±


    This scene had everyone drop their jaws to the ground, shell-shocked and tongue-tied. Following that was a lot of debate. In their eyes, this newcomer was too vicious. Jiang Xiaofan seriously kicked a giant rock flying with one leg, knocking a fourth heaven Micro Realm cultivator in the face with it and causing him to lose consciousness.


    ¡°This guy.¡­¡± Ye Yuanxue looked at him in astonishment with her mouth gaping like an ¡°O¡±.


    At this time, Zhu Youwei¡¯s face darkened. He slowly walked to the front and confronted Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°What kind of place do you think the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect is? How dare you commit an act of aggression without any consideration for the consequences? Does the sect even have a place in your heart? Do you think you are the Senior Elder?!¡±


    Who was Jiang Xiaofan? He was someone who had seen many similar situations such as this. He eyed him and replied, ¡°I beg the question, Zhu Youwei. Can you be any more shameless? Does respecting the sect mean that I have to stand still and wait for you to kill me? Did you get dropped on the head when you were a baby, huh?¡±


    After hearing him speak, Zhu Youwei¡¯s expression grew even more surly. He stared daggers at him and motioned to three youths who had arrived at the scene. ¡°This person disregards the sect¡¯s rules. You guys take care of him. I will explain to the elders.¡±


    The youths rushed forward after hearing his command, their faces written with derision. They slowly encircled Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Xiaofan, be careful. Um¡­. Don¡¯t rough them up too much.¡± As if she couldn¡¯t care less about the situation getting out of hand, she mischievously smiled and took a few steps backward.


    The youths noticed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s peerless beauty and were momentarily stunned. They grew even more disgusted with Jiang Xiaofan. One of them sneered, ¡°Insolent fool! How bold of you, an outer disciple and a newbie, to offend Zhu Gongzi! You clearly don¡¯t know what you¡¯re getting into!¡±


    On his other side, another young man neared closer and jeered, ¡°How impressive. You just became an outer disciple yet you¡¯re already so cocky. If you¡¯re lucky enough to ascend and become an inner disciple, then wouldn¡¯t it mean that you will show disdain for the core disciples and bully the outer disciples too?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that you can win just by relying on super strength. You¡¯re far from it.¡±


    The last person also displayed contempt for him. He walked up, extended his right hand, and released a palm strike in the form of a green light at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Undaunted by it, Jiang Xiaofan waved his hand and broke up the green qi. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he dashed forward, raised his right leg, and swept at the youth.


    The man was astounded. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s speed was too fast. Unable to counter in time, he blocked with raised arms.


    *Ka-chak*


    The sound of bones breaking could be heard.


    A fourth heaven Micro Realm cultivator was sent flying six meters into the distance with one sweep of the leg. His left arm dangled, and his face was twisted with pain.


    Everyone was left speechless. After all, this was a fourth heaven Micro Realm cultivator who had somehow suffered a serious injury right after the fight just started. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s move was precise and quick, yet also powerful.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get him together!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan only shot them a side glance, suddenly infuriating the three youths even more. From his expression, it was clear that he didn¡¯t take them seriously; consequently, this vexed them, causing their mood to further sour.


    The three of them neared closer. The one who Jiang Xiaofan kicked flying already had his upper arm bone placed back into his shoulder socket with the help of the other two. Disgruntled, he led the triangular assault against Jiang Xiaofan.


    The three of them simultaneously channeled the Jade Purity Cultivation Method and released their attacks. Each move was deadly. Green lights flashed everywhere, ripping up the grass and eliciting awes from the audience. These three were not inner disciples, but they were stronger than most outer disciples.


    What was even more staggering was that Jiang Xiaofan stood his ground, seemingly nonchalant. He instinctively countered and defended with his bare fists and legs.


    Suddenly, a strange smile appeared on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face. His speed instantly increased, and with an upward swing of his right fist, Jiang Xiaofan executed an uppercut at his opponent¡¯s chin. Next, he pulled back his left arm and punched the solar plexus of another opponent to his side. The last one was the most pitiable. Jiang Xiaofan had kicked him right in the member, triggering excessive tears and snot.


    *Bang bang bang*


    With three beautiful, consecutive strikes, the attackers screeched with pain as they were sent flying backward. The one who had been kicked below instantaneously fainted.


    ¡°This¡­.¡±


    Everyone was stupefied. These three youths were all at the fourth heaven of Micro Realm, yet they had been so easily defeated! At a loss for words, the crowd stared on incredulously.


    At the side, Liu Ruyan looked with great disbelief while Zhu Youwei¡¯s expression turned completely dark. He gradually walked up and admonished Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°To think that a newly joined outer disciple would make me resort to this. I will give you one last chance. Kneel down in front of me, kowtow, and repent. Destroy your own hands and leave the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. If not, you know what will happen!¡±


    Displeased with his demeanor, Ye Yuanxue pouted her lips and furrowed her brows. Chills ran down the spines of the onlookers, many of whom were outer disciples from the past selections. Aware of Zhu Youwei¡¯s infamous reputation, they uncontrollably took a step back.


    ¡°Who the hell are you?! Kowtow and apologize? Are you even worthy?!¡±


    The color on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face changed as his tone became frosty. He kicked out another nearby giant rock.


    *Boom*


    A green flying sword emerged from Zhu Youwei¡¯s body. It was approximately two meters long. With a downward swing, the giant rock instantly turned to dust. A strong wind blew over and created what seemed like a sandstorm.


    ¡°That¡¯s a spirit weapon!¡±


    Someone shouted in surprise. It was obvious that he was familiar with weapon ranks. Surrounding them were a large number of outer disciples. After seeing Zhu Youwei reveal his sword, their fear for him deepened.


    The continent of Huayun had its weapons divided into the following ranks: mortal, spirit, precious, supreme, and immortal, the weapons of legend. Spirit weapons greatly increased the attacking power of the cultivator. Only Phantom Saint cultivators could rightfully wield them. As a result, very few within the Realm of Dust had the ability to possess a weapon of this rank.


    Feeling smug, Zhu Youwei disparaged Jiang Xiaofan, steadily pressuring him with the green sword hovering above Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s head.


    ¡°Xiaofan, be careful. Spirit weapons aren¡¯t to be taken lightly.¡± Ye Yuanxue relayed this message to him with her spiritual awareness.


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded his head and grew solemn, wary of that flying sword. He took a deep breath. With a flash of his body and a mysterious tread of his footsteps like an illusion, he darted forward.


    ¡°Such speed!¡± gasped another spectator.


    Rather than retreating, Zhu Youwei confronted him instead. His gaze was icy as if he was looking at a dead person before him. Qingyun Sword glowed more brightly, and with a hack, a light was unleashed at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Unfortunately, he had underestimated Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s agility. With every step that Jiang Xiaofan took, a faint golden light appeared beneath his soles. Like the rolling of clouds and flowing of water, this cultivation technique emitted the feeling of being one with the nature of Dao.


    According to the Buddhist Sutra, this superior technique was known as the Shadow Steps. Supposedly, those who mastered it could break the chains of time. With one step, one could easily stride across mountains and rivers. This was what true speed was like.


    The strike missed. Sullen, Zhu Youwei suddenly smiled. He cast a hex along with his Qingyun Sword, which both created tremendous pressure on Jiang Xiaofan. The might of a spirit weapon was commendable. It felt as Jiang Xiaofan was carrying a mountain on his shoulders.


    ¡°Amazing! So that¡¯s the power of a spirit weapon?¡±


    ¡°That guy is done for. It¡¯s almost impossible to survive a battle with that weapon.¡±


    Many people widened their eyes and gawked at the green flying sword, their faces full of admiration. To Jiang Xiaofan though, there was only pity. They knew the truth of the situation. They knew who was right and who was at fault, except they just didn¡¯t have the courage to speak out.


    ¡°You don¡¯t stand a chance. Now go die! Take this as a lesson. I hope you¡¯ll be smarter in the next life. You should know who you can offend and who not to!¡±


    Zhu Youwei smirked again while his eyes reflected death. With a wave of his right hand, Qingyun Sword¡¯s radiance intensified. It swung down with a mountain of pressure on Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan kept silent, but his eyes were cold. Suddenly, a dark green light enveloped his body.  An explosive energy was released, and with one punch, Qingyun sword was sent flying out. At the same time, his soles shimmered with golden light. A blurry shadow emerged from where he originally stood. Within a quick moment, Jiang Xiaofan appeared by Zhu Youwei¡¯s side and punched at him.


    *Bang*


    This one punch carried heavy force, relentless and unforgiving. It was like a punishment from the gods. Tremors from the impact generated winds like a typhoon. Immediately, Zhu Youwei was knocked flying thirty meters out. The sky was dotted red with blood.


    Editor: Vis

 Chapter 6

    Jiang Xiaofan facing Zhu Youwei head on and sending him flying had the onlookers drop their jaws to the ground. In their eyes, Jiang Xiaofan was a seemingly delicate youth, yet he packed such explosive power.  Jiang Xiaofan had just arrived to this sect not long ago, but he was able to already beat the core disciple¡¯s cousin until his opponent vomited blood. To them, this was incredulous. They were at a loss for words.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this guy a bit too strong? What godly strength!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s so fast too! I couldn¡¯t see clearly back then.¡±


    Everyone around them began to debate. Those outer disciples who had been with the sect for some time froze with terror after seeing Zhu Xidao¡¯s cousin suffer a punch.


    ¡°Cough cough¡­.¡±


    Blood dripped from the corner of Zhu Youwei¡¯s lips. With difficulty standing up, he felt the energy drain from his body.  He was taken aback because he didn¡¯t think that his opponent¡¯s physical strength would be that fearsome, overpowering him.


    His eyes became frigid and his entire body raged with fury. Zhu Youwei wiped the blood from his mouth with his left hand and with a tremble of the Qingyun Sword in his right hand, thrust a sword of light with lightning speed at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Alarmed, Jiang Xiaofan quickly dodged it in the nick of time. The light brushed him and chopped off a few strands of his hair. Not far away, another giant rock was cleaved in half.


    ¡°Even if I can¡¯t stand up, I can still have your death!¡±


    ¡°You mean it¡¯s difficult to stand up!¡± chirped Jiang Xiaofan.


    He grew sullen. The Qingyun Sword emitted a strange howl. It flew from Zhu Youwei¡¯s grasp and persistently hacked at Jiang Xiaofan, creating great pressure for the latter. As expected of a spirit weapon, it really was unique. Even though the user had not moved, the sword itself was able to annihilate enemies from afar.


    Just as Jiang Xiaofan was distracted, the Qingyun Sword trembled again, and dozens of crescent moon-shaped swords of light appeared. They all launched at Jiang Xiaofan, slicing the air which caused whizzing sounds. Frightened, the onlookers retreated but sighed with admiration at the might of a spirit weapon.


    He nimbly dodged. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body was agile like a rabbit¡¯s. None of the sword¡¯s released qi were able to leave a mark on him. There were only deep cuts on the ground while grass flew everywhere.


    ¡°It¡¯s no use. How long will your body be able to withstand the attack of a spirit weapon? Your only ending is death!¡±


    Zhu Youwei ridiculed him with an overbearing attitude as if he had forgotten that he had just gotten punched. After casting another hex with one hand, the Qingyun Sword suddenly glowed again and released another howl, its echo rippling through the air.


    Jiang Xiaofan continuously dodged. Even though he had no weapons at hand, his body was more than powerful enough. He swept out another couple of giant rocks to welcome the sword¡¯s strikes.


    *Fwoosh*


    Dust was kicked up and swirled in midair. Each rock was at least fifty kilograms, but under the might of the spirit weapon, they were easily sliced through like tofu. The atmosphere was full of sand particles and rock bits, temporarily blocking both of their visions.


    It was around this time that Jiang Xiaofan made his move. He was light-footed like the wind, and his every step created illusory shadows. Everyone looked on with anticipation. He instantly rushed over to the other side, avoiding the Qingyun sword.


    ¡°You!¡±


    The color drained out of Zhu Youwei¡¯s face, but it was too late. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s palm had already struck his cheek, akin to the force of an iron bar hitting him. He flew out another nine meters.


    Half of Zhu Youwei¡¯s cheek instantaneously swelled up. A few broken teeth rested on the ground with drops of blood around them. It was evident how terrifying this one slap was. Jiang Xiaofan showed no signs of mercy. Zhu Youwei nearly suffered a concussion. His vision was blurry, and he had difficulty controlling the sword.


    He knew that it was difficult to battle on. With reddened eyes, he furiously glared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan. The aura of bloodlust emanated from Zhu Youwei. He hollered at everyone, ¡°Whoever manages to kill this person today, I will bestow the Qingyun Sword upon him or her. As for the consequences, I will bear them.¡±


    After he had spoken, an eruption of talks began. Temptation stirred among the spectators. Some even gulped. After all, it was a spirit weapon. To these outer disciples, it was unquestionably a gem.


    The only problem was that no one dared to stand out and fight after just witnessing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s capabilities. Nobody wanted to be the next unlucky one.


    Disappointed, Zhu Youwei¡¯s complexion turned ashen. He wanted to kill Jiang Xiaofan, but he had no strength left in him. Even standing upright was too much effort for him. His head felt heavy. He declared, ¡°Excellent. Very excellent, indeed. I¡¯ll remember you. You better not go anywhere!¡±


    ¡°Are you threatening me?!¡± He coldly looked at Zhu Youwei.


    ¡°You can think of it that way if you like. There is no one within the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect who would defy me. You¡­¡±


    Zhu Youwei smirked, but before he could finish his sentence, he was lifted up in the air and sent flying backward another three meters. More specks of blood rained on the ground.


    The scene came to a standstill. Many onlookers, including Liu Ruyan who hadn¡¯t had the time to intervene and the three youths from before, froze like statues. They didn¡¯t think that Jiang Xiaofan would strike without warning.


    ¡°This¡­.¡±


    Everyone around them whispered. They thought that Jiang Xiaofan was beyond vicious. That was right. Vicious was the word to describe him. Who within the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect didn¡¯t know of Zhu Youwei? Anyone with the status below that of a core disciple feared and respected him, yet this guy had no care at all. From start to finish, Zhu Youwei had never been a concern for Jiang Xiaofan.


    Lying on the grass, Zhu Youwei gingerly touched his swollen right cheek. He was stunned for a while as if he couldn¡¯t accept the fact that Jiang Xiaofan had actually slapped him. He then screamed out loud, ¡°You actually hit me?! Do you know who I am?! I¡¯m Zhu Xidao¡¯s elder cousin!¡±


    ¡°I hate people who threaten me!¡± Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s tone was icy. He cracked his knuckles as he boldly strode forward. He looked at Zhu Youwei with disdain and continued, ¡°Also, stop pretending like you¡¯re some big shot. I don¡¯t care whose cousin you are!¡±


    ¡°You¡­.¡±


    *Pah*


    He had not yet completed his words when Jiang Xiaofan arrived at where he was. Drawing the back of his hand, Jiang Xiaofan smacked him flying again. This time, there was a little more force in the hit. Zhu Youwei flew out six meters. His left cheek swelled up.


    ¡°How dare you?! How dare you hit me?!¡± Zhu Youwei¡¯s face contorted with savagery and his eyes burned with wrath.


    ¡°Bullshit! But if this makes you feel bad, just pretend that I¡¯m lecturing a wild beast instead!¡±


    ¡°You¡­. You¡­. Pff¡­.¡±


    Livid, he raised his finger at Jiang Xiaofan. His whole body quivered. Finally, he vomited one last draw of blood and passed out.


    ¡°Erm¡­. This really isn¡¯t my doing. He passed out himself.¡± Jiang Xiaofan quickly recomposed himself after a short daze and put on a look of innocence. It disgusted those who watched him, wanting to stomp shoeprints on his face.


    ¡°Punk, just you wait! The Respected One is still in closed-door training, but once his younger brother comes out, you¡¯ll die a gruesome death!¡±


    The three young men who attacked him earlier carried Zhu Youwei off but not before snarling at Jiang Xiaofan. They walked away from the crowd and disappeared along with Liu Ruyan.


    The onlookers saw them off until they vanished before their eyes. They started to chatter. Many of them looked at Jiang Xiaofan and shook their heads, eliciting pity.


    ¡°I say, everyone, you may now leave. Go do whatever you must do. My girlfriend and I still have a house to build.¡± After he spoke, he glanced discreetly at Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°What does ¡®girlfriend¡¯ mean?¡± After everyone had dispersed, Ye Yuanxue tugged on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s arm and asked him.


    ¡°A girlfriend is¡­. Um¡­.¡± Jiang Xiaofan rubbed his chin and explained, ¡°A girlfriend means¡­. You have a boy and a girl who have a really close relationship. A girlfriend is the boy¡¯s female friend while a boyfriend is the girl¡¯s male friend.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. So you¡¯re my boyfriend, is that it?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, yeah. That¡¯s correct. Xiao Xue, you¡¯re so clever! From now on, I¡¯m your boyfriend.¡± Jiang Xiaofan nodded in approval like a bobblehead and then clarified, ¡°Also, a girlfriend can have only one boyfriend. Therefore, Xiao Xue, you can¡¯t have any other boyfriends, got it?¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I understand. Hurry up and construct the house. There will be a mist settling in tonight.¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay. Just wait here. It¡¯ll be ready in no time!¡±


    Despite his beaming smile, his heart welled up with guilt. How could he deceive such an innocent and cute girl? Nevertheless, the perverted wolf in him was exuberant. The roof was completed. The two of them would soon live together. To be with a peerless beauty was something that he could have never dreamed of.


    ¡°It¡¯s finished, Xiao Xue. Let¡¯s go take a look at our new house.¡±


    Very soon, a simple but delicate wooden hut was built. Because Jiang Xiaofan was an orphan, he knew a lot of basic life skills.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    Walking into the small house, Ye Yuanxue¡¯s expression was that of surprise. She turned her head and eyed Jiang Xiaofan from head to toe.


    ¡°Um, that¡­. We don¡¯t have enough building materials so there¡¯s only one bed but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m a real gentleman. You sleep on the bed and I¡¯ll sleep on the floor.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan blushed but felt guilty at the same time. He shyly waved his hand at her.


    ¡°That¡¯s not what I had in mind. I was just thinking that you¡¯re actually quite skilled. I mean, you built such a fine house with a bed included. Even I can¡¯t do it.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue snickered and shook her head. ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t mind a bit of a squeeze. Ever since you saved me, I have trusted you. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t tag along with you to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. But now, I¡¯m even surer of it. Xiaofan, you¡¯re really a good person. A true gentleman.¡±


    Looking at her happy yet playful expression made his heart flutter. He wanted to give himself a good smack in the face. Depressed, he lowered his head as he walked to the other side and lay down on the floor.


    ¡°Argh¡­. I hate being a gentleman!¡±

 Chapter 7

    The soft glow of the rising sun warmed his body. For the past half month, Jiang Xiaofan sat in a lotus position under the cherry tree. At this moment, he opened his eyes, and streaks of light flashed in his eyes.


    ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re awake. Hungry yet?¡±


    A melodious voice resonated. Ye Yuanxue sat on the thickest branch of another tree next to him, beaming a mischievous smile, and casually kicked her petite legs. In her hand was a stick and at the tip was a roasted goose, oily and deliciously tempting.


    ¡°Xiao Xue, you didn¡¯t cultivate at all?¡± He stood up with his green-grey robe swaying to the wind. In truth, he hated this style of wear.


    She jumped down from the tree, but before she could speak, the air in the sky unexpectedly vibrated. Colorful lights radiated across the sky and seven figures appeared in midair. They were all elders with grey-white hair, looking just like typical immortals. From above, they swept downward glances across the entire Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    Below, the disciples were alarmed, and their expressions varied. Only the outer disciples carried excitement and anticipation on their faces. The selection tournament for inner disciples was to begin.


    Up in the sky, the seven elders extended their right hand. A faint ball of light swirled in their palm and slightly shook. More rays of colorful lights permeated the atmosphere. Suddenly, a large, red-gold martial arena appeared, slowly materializing and landing on the vast open field below.


    ¡°Damn, isn¡¯t this a bit too easy?! If the people from Planet Earth saw this, they¡¯d be scared witless!¡± Looking at this scene, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh in admiration. The universe was full of strange wonders.


    *Boom*


    The arena was approximately three thousand meters in width, one-third meter in height, and divided into seven platforms. It created a thundering sound and strong winds on the ground, causing many of the disciples¡¯ hair to blow wildly.


    ¡°This is a freestyle battle tournament with seven platforms. The last seven standing will be the victors.¡± The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s elder¡¯s voice was clear and brisk. After he had spoken, he stepped back and quietly stood with the rest, scanning at the disciples.


    The tournament was neither large-scale nor small-scale. Not only were there outer disciples, but there were also a good number of inner disciples present. Yet, the scene was a quiet one. No one wanted to be the first.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡±


    Those who could pass the first selection trial of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect were, for certain, not ordinary people. Within them were a considerable number of those with prominent backgrounds. As such, these disciples were no cowards. The first person who stood up leaped to one of the platforms.


    With the first person up, there would naturally be a second. Not long after, battles had already been initiated on the seven platforms. Many types of martial and cultivation techniques of all levels were used. It was dazzling. From time to time, loud cheers could be heard.


    ¡°When are you going up?¡± Ye Yuanxue asked Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Heh, of course the later, the better. I need to conserve my strength. Besides, looking at those people fight is entertaining enough,¡± calmly replied Jiang Xiaofan. Indeed, the skin on his face was thicker than a city¡¯s wall.


    ¡°Such an interesting guy. Anyway, I¡¯m going. As for you, don¡¯t bother. This place isn¡¯t right for you.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue impishly smiled and headed to a platform, one specifically for female cultivators. The males instinctively didn¡¯t go there.


    The battles on the seven platforms were heating up. Many from the crowd began to chatter.


    ¡°I wonder what rewards will be given. I heard that there¡¯s something extraordinary, maybe one of them being a spirit-ranked weapon.¡±


    ¡°Spirit weapon! It can¡¯t be!¡± Another onlooker gasped. ¡°Looks like they¡¯re heavily investing in this year¡¯s new disciples.¡±


    ¡°Of course. Supposedly, this year¡¯s group of outer disciples has lots of potentials. The sect is going to value them even more. However, there are only seven prizes. I just wonder which seven people will get them.¡±


    ¡°Last time, there was a crazy guy called Jiang Xiaofan. He should be able to get into the top seven. He¡¯s a dark horse after all. It¡¯s evident that, after he beat up Zhu Xidao¡¯s cousin, he¡¯s insanely strong and vicious.¡±


    ¡°You never know. Many other strong ones exist here. It¡¯s just that they didn¡¯t have a chance to show off yet. Besides, the guy whom you mentioned had offended Zhu Youwei. Whether he can survive in the tournament or not is difficult to say.¡±


    While the outer disciples whispered away, Jiang Xiaofan crouched in a corner with a green stalk of wild grass dangling from his mouth. From time to time, he glanced at the nearby female cultivators. Those who noticed him were rendered speechless. He was the epitome of a punk.


    ¡°Is Jiang Xiaofan here? I wish for Jiang Xiaofan to come up.¡± On the first platform, a green-robed man had already defeated many challengers. His expression carried a gentle smile. He had a scholarly air which exuded the feeling of affinity for him.


    ¡°Where is Jiang Xiaofan? I want to challenge you. Will you come up?¡± On the second platform, another voice sounded. He was a white-robed youth with tall stature. His steps were firm and powerful. Judging solely by his posture, this person seemed to be quite formidable.


    What followed after left the crowd wide-eyed and jaws agape. Other than for the female-only platform, all six challengers from each platform had extended their battle invitation to Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°What¡¯s up with these guys? Why do they all want to fight Jiang Xiaofan?¡± Many onlookers voiced their curiosity.


    ¡°Now that you mention it, who¡¯s Jiang Xiaofan? Is he very famous? How come all six of them singled him out?¡±


    ¡°Psh, old news. How can you not know that tough guy?¡±


    ¡°So who is he then? A well-known figure?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s not just famous! He¡¯s super famous! A month ago, Jiang Xiaofan beat Zhu Xidao¡¯s cousin, Zhu Youwei, until he fell unconscious. Tell me, how can Jiang Xiaofan not be renowned after that?¡±


    ¡°Shit! Seriously?! That¡¯s too savage!¡±


    Perhaps not everyone knew of Zhu Youwei, but there was no one within the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect who didn¡¯t know of Zhu Xidao. He was the first person to become a core disciple. Not to mention, he was rumored to have another identity, making the sect leader and elders place great importance on him.


    The fact that his elder cousin was beaten was enough to make Jiang Xiaofan infamous.


    Silence settled in. No one else came forth. The remaining six all had cultivation skills beyond imagination.  They weren¡¯t people whom an ordinary person could simply challenge. They quietly stood on the platforms, but the aura of strength projected by them caused many outer disciples to hesitate from going up.


    ¡°These six are pretty good, much stronger than those from the past. They¡¯re worth nurturing,¡± stated one of the elders.¡±


    ¡°True. This is a world where many geniuses of phenomenal talents are being born. It¡¯s destined to be a bright and promising new era.¡± The rest of the elders nodded their heads in agreement.


    From the corner, Jiang Xiaofan was slightly taken aback. These six all pointed him out, prompting him to fight and giving him a lot of credit. Still, he also knew that he needed to go up on the arena now because there was nobody else willing to battle.


    He stood up, dusted his back, and walked towards the fourth platform. He chose this one because he thought that the challenger was really rude towards him. The challenger¡¯s tone was arrogant and condescending when he called out Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s name.


    Seeing him walk towards the fourth platform, the others looked a bit disappointed. Nevertheless, they all returned Jiang Xiaofan a smile. Modest as he was, Jiang Xiaofan courteously reciprocated.


    ¡°So you¡¯re that arrogant guy with no regard for the sect¡¯s rules, Jiang Xiaofan, also the one who beat up Zhu Gongzi¡¯s cousin. Absolutely barbaric! Today, I¡¯ll make you pay for what you did and teach you the lesson of what ¡®mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people¡¯ mean.¡± This youth donned a gold-green Daoist robe. He had a masculine bearing. His eyes were keen like a tiger¡¯s, now eyeing sharply at Jiang Xiaofan.


    His name was Jin Mohao, and his strength was impressive. He had already been up on the platform from early on and knocked out each challenger who had come forth. His attacks were ruthless, eliciting fear from many.


    ¡°No need to hide it nor tuck it away. Isn¡¯t it just a spirit weapon? What¡¯s the big deal?¡± Indifferent, Jiang Xiaofan smirked.


    Once his words had gotten out, the crowd at the bottom erupted into another debate. The others on the platform all turned to look at them. To bring a spirit weapon into the tournament was sort of like cheating.


    The color on Jin Mohao¡¯s face slightly changed, but his tone remained cold. He held his head up, icily stared at Jiang Xiaofan, and proudly responded, ¡°Relax. I just casually carry it on me. One hand alone is enough to defeat you. I have no need of a spirit weapon to pressure you.¡±


    Jin Mohao was extremely arrogant, clearly being condescending. This was an insult to Jiang Xiaofan. The crowd chattered again and started to point fingers at the two on the platform.


    What surprised people was that instead of being livid, Jiang Xiaofan was happy about it. He shouted to the crowd below, ¡°You guys heard that! He said he¡¯d take me on with one hand! I didn¡¯t force him! You¡¯re all my witnesses!¡±


    After he had spoken, not only were the spectators shocked, the seven elders up above were as well. They thought that Jiang Xiaofan was some sort of humanoid alien. Correct, he could only be described as that.


    ¡°Bring it on then, brother! You¡¯ll have to go easy on me though.¡±


    The color drained from Jin Mohao¡¯s face because after Jiang Xiaofan had spoken, he charged straight at him. Without time to react, Jiang Xiaofan launched a punch at him. His agility overwhelmed him, despite being at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm. Confounded, Jin Mohao was pushed back several meters.


    ¡°Ay! Brother Jin, look here. I told you to go easy on me, but I didn¡¯t tell you not to retaliate. You¡¯re too kind!¡± Jiang Xiaofan raised his arms up and shrugged his shoulders, pretending to be astonished.


    The onlookers wanted to laugh but couldn¡¯t, especially the injured cultivators off to the side. At this moment, their eyes bulged. They all lost to Jin Mohao, knowing how strong and fearsome that man was. However, the youth named Jiang pushed him back with one fist. How could they not be shocked?


    ¡°You¡¯re courting death!¡±


    His face darkened. He hollered and suddenly increased his speed. With a flash, he lunged at him with extreme speed. Light sparkled from his palm like crystals, and he chopped at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s neck.


    Jin Mohao didn¡¯t use his full power. In his eyes, one chop was enough to take Jiang Xiaofan to the ground. He had never imagined that Jiang Xiaofan would react instantly, taking two steps back and dodging his attack with ease. Jiang Xiaofan then extended his hand and *pah* grabbed his palm.


    Caught off guard, Jin Mohao tried to shake him off, but to his dismay, Jiang Xiaofan had an iron grasp on his hand. The radiating pain was unbearable, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t break free. His face was contorted with agony. He then swung his left fist, glowing with silver light, at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s head.


    The unthinkable happened again. Jiang Xiaofan casually grabbed his fist with his other hand. The strength of his grip nearly crushed Jin Mohao¡¯s bones.


    ¡°Seriously, you¡¯re being unfair now. Didn¡¯t you say that you¡¯d only use one hand? Hm?¡± asked Jiang Xiaofan innocently.


    The crowd was at a loss for words. They could see that Jiang Xiaofan was playing dumb all along. His true power could only be described as monstrous. On the other side, Ye Yuanxue had already defeated many challengers on the female-only platform. Turning around to see what was going on with Jiang Xiaofan, she got a good look at the scene, placed her hands on her belly, and laughed hysterically.

 Chapter 8

    Everyone was shaken to the core. They all knew how powerful Jin Mohao was, but for Jiang Xiaofan to easily counter him was out of their expectations.


    ¡°Let go of me!¡±


    Jin Mohao lowly roared and struggled to break Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s grip, but his efforts were to no avail. It was as if his two hands were trapped between iron bars. The pain was so great that his face was contorted.


    *Bang*


    At this time, Jiang Xiaofan made his move again. He kicked out his right leg and performed a roundhouse kick to Jin Mohao¡¯s waist. His actions were smooth like the rolling clouds and flowing water. In an instant, the force of the impact shook Jin Mohao¡¯s body, and his body was swept into the air. Blood trickled from his mouth.


    ¡°Brother Mohao, I was actually kidding. Although you went back on your words and used two hands, it was reasonable to act the way that you did. I won¡¯t shame you for it, but why didn¡¯t you dodge that one?¡± asked Jiang Xiaofan while wearing an expression of surprise.


    Jin Mohao¡¯s face paled. He wanted to chop the bastard into pieces. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mockery was akin to slapping him in the face, searing with pain.


    His eyes seemed to breathe fire towards Jiang Xiaofan. Ever since Jin Mohao had started cultivating, he had never experienced such an insult. His gaze then grew cold. Energy charged up inside him, and with a tremor like the sound of cracking thunder, he broke free from Jiang Xiaofan. He then quickly threw a heavy punch at his opponent.


    Again, the unexpected happened. Faint golden light blanketed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s right hand. Jiang Xiaofan gently grabbed his fist, twirled him like a rag doll in midair, and slammed him to the ground.


    *Bang*


    Dust kicked up, and heavy quakes rocked the platform. The light from Jin Mohao¡¯s body had completely dispersed. He cried in pain and coughed out several large mouthfuls of blood. His body convulsed.


    All the onlookers were stunned. They never imagined that Jiang Xiaofan could be this vicious. He beat Jin Mohao, who was at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm, until he could not even retaliate. Not to mention, the fight was so clean and precise.


    It wasn¡¯t that Jin Mohao had no skills. On the contrary, he was very strong. Otherwise, there was no way that he could¡¯ve taken down so many challengers and stood firm until now. It was simply because Jiang Xiaofan was just too nimble. He didn¡¯t give Jin Mohao the time to demonstrate his cultivation techniques.


    ¡°You¡­. Damn you! I¡¯ll fucking kill you!¡±


    Repeatedly subdued and with a loss of face, Jin Mohao finally lost his temper. A surge of green light radiated from his body and a beautifully-designed short sword, as if made from fine jade, emerged. It was razor-sharp and emitted an aura of bloodlust. The entire martial arena was shrouded by the sword¡¯s powerful qi. Green sparks flashed, causing physical pain to those who felt it.


    ¡°Qingyun Sword!¡±


    Many people watching the incident unfold were in awe. They recognized the spirit weapon. It was the same sword that Zhu Youwei had used against Jiang Xiaofan. They hadn¡¯t anticipated that it would now appear in the hands of Jin Mohao. This was clearly some devious plot. Someone wanted to exterminate Jiang Xiaofan.


    *Hum*


    The might of a spirit weapon was unimaginable, and it could greatly enhance the attack power of the user. Under such pressure, Jiang Xiaofan had no choice but to constantly dodge, afraid that he might be pierced by the sword¡¯s qi. After all, this was no child¡¯s play. Even though he was confident in the strength of his spiritual energy, he did not want to risk direct conflict with a spirit weapon.


    Besides, Jin Mohao was much stronger than Zhu Youwei.


    ¡°Jiang, don¡¯t you dare say that I¡¯m trying to bully you with a spirit weapon. If anyone is to blame, it¡¯s your fault for being supercilious. You messed with the wrong person!¡±


    Jin Mohao icily smirked. Since it had come to this, everyone, not just Jin Mohao, thought that Jiang Xiaofan was finished. Jin Mohao was different than Zhu Youwei. With the cultivation of a seventh heaven Micro Realm, he was capable of maximizing the might of a spirit weapon.


    ¡°Looking at your face makes me want to stomp my foot on it,¡± replied Jiang Xiaofan with disdain. This time, he no longer suppressed his cultivation level. He released dense energy from his body, and dark green light veiled the arena, blinding everyone.


    *Boom*


    A gale of energy blasted across the platform. Jiang Xiaofan transformed into a streak of green lightning. His form looked strange. In an instant, he appeared behind Jin Mohao and sent him flying out with one punch. The distinct sound of bones breaking was loudly heard.


    ¡°You really think that trash like you is capable of bullying me?!¡±


    Unhesitatingly and without any need for fancy moves, Jiang Xiaofan zipped towards him just when sparks flew and directed a simple but ferocious punch at Jin Mohao. While flying through midair, Jin Mohao agonizingly shrieked. His upper arm was twisted, and it was obvious that his bone was shattered.


    The onlookers were completely flabbergasted. To them, this guy named Jiang Xiaofan was a beast cloaked in human skin. Not just anyone could withstand the power of a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator with a spirit weapon. However, Jin Mohao was easily beaten like a sack of flour and sent flying.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    It was as if he was addicted to fighting. Under the cover of the dark green light, he activated one of his ultimate cultivation techniques, the Buddhist Shadow Steps. Revolving around Jin Mohao, he punched and kicked at him. For a while, screams of misery could be heard from all four corners.


    ¡°Who¡¯s supercilious?! Am I as fucking supercilious as you, hm?! Using a spirit weapon against me! Do you and I have some sort of enmity going on here? You bastard! You think that I¡¯m a weakling?! You think you can pick on me whenever you desire?! I¡¯ll kick you to hell!¡±


    While teaching Jin Mohao an unforgettable lesson, he also grumbled. The spectators were at a loss for words. They could only silently pray for Jin Mohao.


    Half an hour later, Jiang Xiaofan finally stopped. He shook his hands repeatedly and muttered, ¡°Damn! This guy sure is thick. Shit, that really hurt.¡±


    He spoke quietly, but the others on the martial arena could nevertheless hear him clearly. They all had a strong urge to want to vomit blood right on the spot. How could a tough guy who had just obliterated a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator complain about his hands hurting after the ordeal?!


    ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible! I have a spirit weapon at hand! How could I lose?! This isn¡¯t real!¡±


    To the edge of the platform was Jin Mohao hollering. His nose was bruised and face swollen. One of his arms drooped, and both of his legs were disfigured. From the looks of it, he had broken bones throughout his body. Qingyun Sword was already out of his reach.


    With a gentle wave of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand, Qingyun Sword suddenly flew into his grasp. He lightly flicked the blade, and the piercing cry of the sword echoed in his ears. He looked at Jin Mohao with contempt. ¡°You think a spirit weapon is all that special? Not the least bit! You can¡¯t even counter my physical moves at all! So what if you¡¯re given a legendary weapon? The only suitable ending for you is defeat!¡±


    The color drained from Jin Mohao¡¯s face. He knew that Jiang Xiaofan was right. His opponent¡¯s agility was too fast. There was no way for him to react at all. Even if he could see his moves, there was no time for his body to respond. He had an overwhelming advantage with the help of a spirit weapon; however, he already did all he could.


    No matter what, he was still a young seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator. Despite his tattered body, he still kept his consciousness and stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan. Jin Mohao¡¯s hatred for him was as deep as the ocean¡¯s bottom.


    Today, he had completely lost face. How could he, a seventh heaven Micro Realm with the assist of a mighty spirit weapon, lose this pathetically? His will to cultivate the Dao was nearly destroyed. If in the future he wanted to level up, the challenge would prove to be quite a feat. He would need to put in one-hundred times more effort than the average person. Jin Mohao wanted to tear Jiang Xiaofan apart with his bare teeth, but it was to no avail. His body carried grave wounds after all. He couldn¡¯t even move.


    The whole scene had quieted down. One person stood atop each of the seven platforms. No other challenger came forth. As a result, this tournament came to an end. With his overwhelmingly powerful physical strength, Jiang Xiaofan stole the spotlight and successfully advanced. As for Ye Yuanxue, she also stood as the victor and smiled sweetly. She was like a beautiful work of art who had come to life, mesmerizing countless youths who saw her.


    ¡°Good! Very good! The seven of you aren¡¯t bad. Three days later, there will be a guide who will lead you to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. From then on, you will be assigned to your mountain gate.¡±


    At this moment, an elderly voice boomed from above. The seven of them all nodded and simultaneously jumped down from the platforms. With a wave of his hand, an elder at the forefront cast a Daoist hex. The martial arena brightly glowed, swiftly soared into the sky, and disappeared.


    The elders glanced down one last time, transformed into streaks of light, and flew into the distance in the blink of an eye.


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡­.¡±


    He waved at her and excitedly ran towards her. Everyone felt disgusted, mentally labeling him ¡®perverted¡¯. When they noticed Ye Yuanxue beaming her playful, adorable smile at him, they added ¡®wolf¡¯ to the end of ¡®perverted¡¯.


    ¡°Brother Jiang is indeed very strong. I¡¯m deeply impressed.¡±


    The green-robed man who had first invited Jiang Xiaofan up to the platform came to him, his face still wearing a gentle smile. His name was Chen Yifeng. He had a scholarly temperament and exuded the feeling of affinity for him.


    ¡°How so? It was merely good fortune. Compared with Brother Chen, I am still lacking.¡± Since he treated him with courtesy, Jiang Xiaofan naturally had to reciprocate. He nodded to the other victors as well.


    ¡°Brother Jiang, you are too humble. Since a lady is by your side, I won¡¯t trouble you any longer and will take my leave now. I hope that we will have the opportunity to have a friendly face-off in the future.¡±


    Chen Yifeng bowed at Ye Yuanxue and gestured a fist salute at Jiang Xiaofan, who then returned it back. This guy¡¯s not bad. He knows the ways of the world.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, right? Hold it right there! You¡¯re after my Qingyun Sword, aren¡¯t you? What gall you have!¡±


    Just as Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue turned to leave, a voice suddenly rang out from behind. A purple-robed child came into view. He was surrounded by several youths who walked forward together, one of them being Zhu Youwei. His eyes were filled with vengeance as they locked onto Jiang Xiaofan.


    The child was about eleven to twelve years of age, yet the look in his eyes was cold and dark. With his hands to his back like an old man, he glared at Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°It¡¯s him! Zhu Yunlin!¡±


    The crowd immediately froze on the spot. Many of those who had turned to leave were stopped in their tracks. They had never envisioned this person would appear here.

 Chapter 9

    There was no one within the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect who did not know of Zhu Yunlin. It wasn¡¯t because of how strong he was, but because he was the younger brother of the genius Zhu Xidao. His identity was on a different level than Zhu Youwei¡¯s. Zhu Youwei was Zhu Xidao¡¯s elder cousin, but Zhu Yunlin was Zhu Xidao¡¯s biological younger brother. Thus, it was natural of Zhu Xidao to dote on him.


    Just then, he appeared with his hands behind his back and surrounded by four youths who escorted him forth. It was obvious that he had been incited by Zhu Youwei to exact punishment on Jiang Xiaofan. Currently, he looked at Jiang Xiaofan with hostility.


    He wore an arrogant, cold smirk on his face and stared down at Jiang Xiaofan. He was clearly eleven to twelve years of age, but he emanated a mature, haughty aura as if he was a celestial spirit from beyond the Heaven.


    ¡°Seriously, Zhu Youwei, is he your lackey? He¡¯s not even weaned off mama¡¯s milk yet, is he?¡± His words were spiteful. Jiang Xiaofan turned to Zhu Yunlin and asked, ¡°Hey kid, who are you? I don¡¯t believe Qingyun Sword is yours?¡±


    Zhu Youwei¡¯s face turned ashen, and he narrowed his eyes with sparks of fire dancing within. The Qingyun Sword was given to him by Zhu Yunlin. It took him a lot of time fawning over Zhu Yunlin to get his hands on it. Even though he was both brothers¡¯ elder cousin, he did not dare to ever utter a word that was deemed out of line in front of them. He was always prudent.


    The onlookers wanted to laugh but contained it. Deep down, they knew that Zhu Yunlin should not be taken lightly. Vastly different from Zhu Youwei, he and his brother both had an extremely prominent background.


    ¡°Jiang, how bold of you to show disrespect towards me! Get over here and kowtow at me to show your repent! Present the Qingyun Sword to me and destroy your own hands! Only then shall I spare you from death.¡±


    Although Jiang Xiaofan was an orphan, he had seen countless numbers of spoiled heirs of politicians and the wealthy. Still, he had never seen such an arrogant child before. Even Ye Yuanxue furrowed her brows.


    ¡°Kid, how can you be so young, yet your heart is filled with malice? When you grow older, won¡¯t you become a scourge for those around you?¡± Jiang Xiaofan shook his head and rubbed his chin. ¡°Hm, I didn¡¯t want to do this, but today, I¡¯ll help your family out and properly educate you.¡±


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, you have crossed the line! No one has ever spoken to me this way! You¡¯re dead meat! No one will be able to save you!¡± replied Zhu Yunlin icily. His expression grew sullen.


    *Ring*


    Zhu Yunlin cast a Daoist hex, and a pagoda appeared above his head, about 3 centimeters in height with nine tiers. It radiated a strong, divine light and released a deafening noise as if it could destroy anything within its reach. The pagoda was coming down to suppress Jiang Xiaofan.


    Shortly after seeing Zhu Yunlin make his move, the crowd retreated backward, not wanting to be drawn into the incident. More importantly, the qi emanating from the pagoda¡¯s divine light was just too strong for them to handle, causing their hearts to palpitate in anxiety.


    ¡°Yo kid, your weapon¡¯s pretty cool!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan took a step back. He was now at the sixth heaven of Micro Realm, no longer the same as he was in the past. He sensed the terrible power of the pagoda. It was much more potent than Qingyun Sword.


    He quickly slid to his left. A green light glimmered in his right hand and with a rise of his palm, he released a strike. This was the Qingyun Sword which he had taken from Jin Mohao. With the focus of his spiritual awareness, it zipped across the field like a spark of lightning.


    *Ka*


    The black-green colored Qingyun Sword glowed even more brightly, hacking at the pagoda from atop. Unexpectedly, the sword was thrust backward and broken into seven pieces while in midair.


    ¡°This is¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s pupils constricted. Qingyun Sword was a spirit-ranked weapon which a Realm of Dust cultivator might not even able to wield. All of a sudden, with one clash, the sword was fragmented. The might of this small pagoda was too frightening.


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­. It looks like the Soul Training Pagoda!


    ¡°You¡¯re right. That is the Soul Training Pagoda. It¡¯s Zhu Xidao¡¯s secret weapon. The rumors are true. Zhu Xidao does heavily dote on his younger brother. Even though he¡¯s in closed-door training, he nevertheless gave away his weapon in order to protect Zhu Yunlin.¡±


    Because of the selection tournament, there were still many people gathered around with most of them being outer disciples from the previous selection, along with a large number of inner disciples mixed in. Therefore, it was to no surprise that they were able to recognize this mystical weapon.


    ¡°Soul Training Pagoda? B¡­ But that¡¯s a precious-ranked weapon!¡± exclaimed another whose mouth was twisted awkwardly in astonishment.


    ¡°Correct! This is my brother¡¯s Soul Training Pagoda. Jiang, it is your greatest fortune in several lifetimes to die under the might of this weapon!¡±


    Zhu Yunlin held his head up high and proudly admitted it, not the least bit concerned that someone had revealed the origin of the precious weapon. He didn¡¯t even care about his broken Qingyun Sword. Zhu Youwei, on the other hand, revealed a look of anger. His hatred for Jiang Xiaofan further deepened.


    ¡°Xiaofan, be careful! Don¡¯t go head-on! Don¡¯t fight against him yet!¡± Ye Yuanxue¡¯s voice echoed into his mind through her use of spiritual awareness.


    ¡°Brother Jiang, it¡¯s better to retreat for now. The power of a precious weapon is too fearsome! You can¡¯t win against it!¡± In a solemn tone, Chen Yifeng relayed his words to him through the crowd.


    He didn¡¯t answer back. In truth, he didn¡¯t have the focus to respond. The pagoda was pressuring him, and the size of the weapon had grown to three meters in height, releasing an even more powerful aura. The ground below him quaked and displayed slight cracks.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression was grave. Dark green light began to envelop his body. He dashed ahead, channeling the Jade Purity Cultivation Method on one hand and Buddhist Shadow Steps on the other. He needed to quickly take down Zhu Yunlin.


    Zhu Yunlin smirked frostily. With both hands, he cast another hex. The Soul Training Pagoda shook and then unleashed a dragon¡¯s roar that reached the Nine Skies. Nine red and green dragons appeared and encircled Jiang Xiaofan, swaying their long bodies around and baring their maws at him.


    The color drained from Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face. Though the dragons did not possess a physical body, their presence alone was a force to be reckoned with. He was completely trapped. There wasn¡¯t even the smallest gap for escape. At the same time, the pagoda from above was pressurizing him.


    ¡°Jiang, don¡¯t even bother with struggling. This is Nine Dragons Sealing the Heaven, a secret technique that had been sealed by my brother within the Soul Training Pagoda. Let¡¯s not discuss you. Even a Realm of Dust cultivator would be crushed by this power!¡±


    Scared witless, he mustered all his strength and attempted to break out of the encirclement. However, it was useless. The nine dragons¡¯ qi were too overwhelming. They weren¡¯t on a level that his current self could defend and counter. Not to mention, the pressure from the pagoda was like a demonic mountain slamming down on him. It was difficult to shake off that force.


    ¡°Will this be my end?¡± He inwardly lamented, his heart full of grievances.


    The Soul Training Pagoda was obscured by its radiating lights. Beyond it were the nine dragons. With the doubling of pressure on the body, the force was like a new satellite being pulled into orbit by a giant sun. It was suffocating. Many onlookers couldn¡¯t help but retreat farther back.


    His heart chilled. He was finally at a loss at what to do. He possessed the Buddhist Sutra which contained unparalleled cultivation methods. It was a divine sutra that any cultivator dreamed of possessing. In it were numerous techniques; however, at his current level, he was unable to perform them.


    Many thoughts ran through his mind. Ever since he had mysteriously arrived at this cultivation world from Earth and gained the Buddhist Sutra, he thought that would finally be able to open new doors, explore the vast lands, and feel the rush of the wind and boundless sunshine. To his dismay, his ending was to be a tragic one. He was going to die soon and in the hands of a stinking child no less.


    He then thought of Ye Yuanxue. Despite being with her for only a few short months, he discovered that he had deeply fallen for this fairy-like girl. She was spirited and cute, pretty and kind. From birth until now, this was the first time that he had sincerely cared for someone else, and also the first time that a girl had bought him clothes.


    Being with her was so relaxing and joyous. These were feelings which he had never experienced before. He struggled to turn his head and caught a glimpse of the violet-robed fairy looking back at him with worry in her eyes.


    The fall of a hero gives birth to a tragic song¡­.¡± In his final moment, he suddenly remembered this phrase.


    *Hum*


    Out of the blue, the brass piece in the center of the multicolored lake vibrated and ejected an invisible stream of spiritual energy. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body rocked as the energy escaped outward.


    This was a natural form of energy, just like the formation of the universe with the Big Bang. The stream of energy looked harmless, but its power was unstoppable.


    *Bang*


    The Soul Training Pagoda violently shook and was knocked flying out, emitting a loud crack in midair. A few fissures appeared on the surface of the precious weapon. The nine dragons abruptly shattered into pieces and then became rays of light which soon dissipated.


    Zhu Yunlin was stunned, as were Jiang Xiaofan, Ye Yuanxue, and everyone else. It wasn¡¯t until the loud clunk of the pagoda falling to the ground that everyone returned back to focus. Each one of them had their eyes bulged in great disbelief. A Micro Realm cultivator knocked a precious weapon, the Soul Training Pagoda, flying out. This paradigm shift was even more ground-breaking than a magnitude twelve earthquake.


    ¡°What a super-duper, amazing treasure!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan felt euphoric beyond words. He nearly couldn¡¯t control himself screaming out loud. He turned around and furiously glowered at Zhu Yunlin. Wearing a naughty smile on his face, he swiftly charged to the front with the Buddhist Shadow Steps.


    *Bang*


    Just when Zhu Yunlin returned back to reality, a gold-colored palm strike came into his view, smacking him directly on the cheek. Blood spewed from his nose and mouth. In an instant, half of his face had swollen up. Like a kite whose string had been cut, he was knocked flying backward.


    Soon, the scene of Jiang Xiaofan mercilessly beating Jin Mohao was replayed again. Under the cover of his dark green aura and with his glowing footsteps, he repeatedly pounded Zhu Yunlin.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan!¡±


    Zhu Yunlin barked. His eyes breathed fire, and the veins on his forehead bulged. His face was twisted with savagery.


    He wanted to use the pagoda against Jiang Xiaofan again, but with such a short distance between both of them, how could Jiang Xiaofan possibly give him this chance? Smooth like rolling clouds and flowing water, Jiang Xiaofan unhesitatingly assaulted him with heavy punches and kicks.


    *Bang*


    This time, Zhu Yunlin could no longer tolerate the growing pain. He cried in misery as he coughed out blood. Both of his arms were fractured. Unable to defend, he was sent flying again like a rag doll.


    ¡°Halt!¡±


    ¡°How dare you hurt the Respected One¡¯s younger brother! Your fate has been sealed!¡±


    The four youths who had accompanied Zhu Yunlin all rushed forth. Zhu Youwei was the first to lead the pack. If something terrible were to happen to Zhu Yunlin, he would surely get more than what he bargained for.


    ¡°Go back to where you came from, you bunch of wusses!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan coldly replied. With a forward sweep of his right leg, he hooked all four and kicked them flying. Streaks of blood painted the sky.


    One of his Buddhist cultivation methods was the sacred Diamond Sutra[1]. Although he was only at the sixth heaven of Micro Realm, his bodily strength was on par with that of a cultivator¡¯s from the Realm of Dust.


    With his invincible physique, there was no way for Zhu Youwei, who was already injured, and the other three, who were merely at the fourth heaven of Micro Realm, to defend. The four of them were immediately taken down, losing all their strength to combat.


    ¡°Fuck, he¡¯s ridiculously vicious!¡±


    ¡°A humanoid beast!¡±


    The spectators were again in a state of shock. Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t just beastly. He was beastly beyond imagination. Even Ye Yuanxue dropped her jaw in astonishment.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, you¡¯re dead. Dead meat, you got that?! How dare you assault me?! My brother won¡¯t let you go! He¡¯ll crush you to dust!¡± screamed Zhu Yunlin. His eyes burned with fury and his expression was feral.


    ¡°Kid, even now you¡¯re still talking tough. Hm, well, I¡¯m actually a nice guy. Although you want me killed, I have no desire to kill you. Um, I will just beat you up until you go nuts.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan rubbed his chin again. He wasn¡¯t dumb. He knew that he and Zhu Yunlin, along with his gang, were on a different level. He didn¡¯t have a prominent background. If Zhu Yunlin killed him, Zhu Yunlin would at most just be punished and lectured. However, if he killed Zhu Yunlin, then death would be his only route.


    ¡°Is he really going to do it?¡±


    ¡°This is too insane!¡±


    Many of the spectators¡¯ heart raced. The reason was that Jiang Xiaofan had walked over and kicked Zhu Yunlin flying out for the last time. After witnessing this, they had a strong desire to want to faint. This person was just too barbaric. A month ago, he beat up Zhu Xidao¡¯s elder cousin, and this time, he beat up his brother. He just had no concern for the consequences.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 10

    This took place at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s valley below the seven main peaks. Jiang Xiaofan strode forward, not caring whose younger brother he was, raised his leg, and brutally kicked him.


    *Bang*


    Zhu Yunlin cried in pain as he was once again knocked flying out. His face turned deathly pale, blood profusely streamed from his nose and mouth, and his four limbs were completely broken. He lay on the ground, immobile. Compared with Zhu Youwei from the prior incident, Zhu Yunlin was in an even more pitiable state.


    ¡°Jiang, you are so dead! My brother will kill you!¡± screeched Zhu Yunlin.


    ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll wait until he comes out first,¡± replied Jiang Xiaofan, unconcerned. He turned around and walked away.


    Many spectators rolled their eyes again. The direction which Jiang Xiaofan was heading towards was where the Soul Training Pagoda laid. They guessed that he was going to snatch the precious weapon for his personal possession.


    ¡°Jiang, what the hell are you doing?! That¡¯s my brother¡¯s treasure! You¡¯re not allowed to touch it!¡± Zhu Yunlin became exasperated. If the Soul Training Pagoda was stolen, not only would he lose face, but his brother would as well.


    ¡°Pft, kid, what are you talking about? You used it to kill me. Am I supposed to kindly return it back to you? Are you delusional?¡± Jiang Xiaofan asked, with his back to Zhu Yunlin.


    ¡°You!¡±


    Zhu Yunlin¡¯s complexion grew ashen. However, Zhu Yunlin was a child after all. In the eyes of the crowd, his expression didn¡¯t seem like one of anger but one of being wronged.


    He wanted to stop Jiang Xiaofan, but he was already disabled. No matter how Zhu Yunlin raged, he couldn¡¯t move at all. He furiously glared at Jiang Xiaofan, and his expression was veiled by menace. However, Jiang Xiaofan was unnerved. It was difficult for him to imagine that an eleven to twelve-years-old child could project such a hostile aura.


    The Soul Training Pagoda returned to its normal height. Although they were visibly faint, three streaks of cracks had appeared on its surface. Still, no one would dare to take the pagoda lightly. Ultimately, it was a precious-ranked weapon.


    Many of the onlookers¡¯ eyes were red with envy as they watched Jiang Xiaofan approach the pagoda and prepare to take it in his hands. However, they didn¡¯t make a move at all because this was a precious weapon which they were unable to control. Not to mention, they didn¡¯t want to offend its original owner.


    *Boom*


    Suddenly, just when Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand touched the pagoda, a powerful surge of qi charged at him. The dimly glowing pagoda instantly beamed forth thousands of rays of light, as if it was unlocking the door to space and time.


    Jiang Xiaofan quickly retreated backward. He sensed a strong force, one that carried death.


    The atmosphere suddenly turned very mysterious. The Soul Training Pagoda hovered in midair by itself. A silver door connected to the spatial dimension opened. A beautiful spiritual light beamed forth and transformed into a figure who exuded a noble bearing.


    ¡°This is¡­.¡±


    ¡°Zhu Xidao! Why is here?!¡±


    Many of the spectators gasped and stepped back. Shock was written on their faces. Many of them were outer disciples from the previous selection, and mixed in the crowd were a good number of inner disciples. As such, they obviously recognized Zhu Xidao.


    ¡°Big Brother!¡±


    Taken aback, Zhu Yunlin also let out a surprised gasp. Even he didn¡¯t know what was going on.


    With black hair flowing past his shoulders, this figure¡¯s face was finely chiseled, and he had copper-toned skin with a healthy, masculine stature. The glimmer of the spiritual light blanketed him. He looked like the reincarnation of a divine king.


    Above his head was the pagoda. Although it was still less than three-centimeters tall, it shined more brightly and released a call of joy.


    Alarmed, Jiang Xiaofan retreated farther. This person¡¯s qi was just too strong, causing him to tense up. Just standing there alone was unsettling. In addition, his aura was ten times more frightening than Zhu Yunlin attacking him with the full power of the pagoda.


    ¡°Is it really that person? Wasn¡¯t he said to be in closed-door training?¡± questioned an inner disciple. The color on his face drastically changed.


    Zhu Xidao was only past twenty years of age, but his innate talent was frightening beyond comparison. His cultivation skills were so strong that even some cultivators who were older to him could not defeat him. Besides, he was lucky. Rumor had it that some primordial sage had passed down a set of Daoist cultivation methods to him. In the words of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, he contained immense potential.


    This was the reason why Zhu Yunlin could act so willfully within the sect.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart chilled. This Zhu Xidao was too terrifying. He wasn¡¯t someone who Jiang he could defend against.


    ¡°Big Brother, kill him!¡± Zhu Yunlin shouted after recovering from his shock.


    Zhu Xidao was completely bathed in the light emitted by the pagoda above him. Even though he was only in his twenties, his eyes were deep like an abyss. He pointed a finger and directed a ray of light at Zhu Yunlin, wasting no time to heal Zhu Yunlin¡¯s wounds.


    He then stared at Jiang Xiaofan like he was looking at a celestial star dying before him. The Soul Training Pagoda was linked to his body and mind. Together, they evolved. That was his secret. Through the pagoda, he had seen all that had been unfolded.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart sank. His energy and focus seemed to have evaporated and were replaced by chills running down his spine.


    *Boom*


    All of a sudden, Zhu Xidao attacked. Although he seemed indifferent and hadn¡¯t moved, the pagoda above his head shook and shot a powerful ray of light at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face paled as he faced against the tremendous pressure of the qi coming down towards him. A layer of sweat covered his forehead. Channeling Buddha¡¯s Shadow Steps, he rapidly dodged backward. It felt like a heavy chunk of the sky had fallen on him, unable to resist it.


    ¡°Completely unacceptable! How can you do this?!¡± Livid and discontent, Ye Yuanxue rushed over.


    ¡°It is indeed slightly out of line.¡±


    Around this time, a melodious voice resonated throughout. Zhu Xidao¡¯s death-dealing ray of light was parried by a mysterious force. The silent impact of the force dissipated into the air.


    Jiang Xiaofan finally relaxed his muscles. He looked up and saw a woman who had appeared out of nowhere. Donning her lithe body in a white robe, she stood gracefully under a halo of spiritual light, just like a fairy who had fallen to the mortal realm.


    ¡°It¡¯s her! Ye Qiuyu!¡±


    The crowd then erupted into gasps of awes and burst with excitement. Because of this mysterious girl, Jiang Xiaofan fell into a daze and could feel the heated blood rushing throughout his body.


    Currently, the girl stood beside him. Her body was jade-like and her proportions were perfect. No matter how he looked at her, she was stunning, just like Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°Oi oi! Pervert, what are you looking at?!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue walked over to him and tugged his earlobe. She then turned and stared wide-eyed at the mysterious girl.


    Zhu Xidao stopped his attack and stood still, coldly looking at the white-robed female.


    ¡°To think that that Zhu Shixiong¡¯s[1]  physical body would be in closed-door training, but his nascent soul[2] would be stored in the Soul Training Pagoda. You are indeed the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number one youth cultivator.¡±


    The mysterious girl smiled and continued, ¡°With someone of your status and position, going after a newcomer will surely tarnish your reputation. Why don¡¯t you let this go?¡±


    Her tone was firm, but the sound of her voice was angelic and enticing, like a warm wind gently blowing over a person¡¯s soul and tugging at the heartstrings.


    It was not until after she had spoken that many people began to realize the meaning behind her words. Stupefied, they all turned to look at Zhu Xidao with growing fear and respect in their eyes.


    ¡°That¡¯s a nascent soul?! Too scary!¡±


    ¡°Even¡­. Even many high-level cultivators can¡¯t do this!¡±


    Nascent Soul Transformation was a god-like, mystical technique. Zhu Xidao¡¯s innate talent was just too mind-blowing. Although he was only twenty years old and his cultivation level might not be on par with other elderly cultivators, his potential was something that this world had rarely witnessed. To master this mystical technique at this stage was truly extraordinary.


    Zhu Xidao directed his gaze at Ye Qiuyu and then coldly glanced at Jiang Xiaofan. At last, he turned around. Spiritual light flickered and blanketed Zhu Yunlin. Like a laser, they shot to the tallest main peak.


    During this whole time, Zhu Yunlin had not arrogantly demanded Zu Xidao to kill Jiang Xiaofan. In front of others, he could act willfully, but in front of this mysterious female core disciple, he could only remain quiet. Just the second before Zhu Xidao left, Zhu Yunlin ferociously eyed Jiang Xiaofan like he wanted to devour him.


    Jiang Xiaofan was still in a shock. Zhu Xidao was too powerful for him. That glance made him feel as if there were two peerless swords held to his neck. His heart violently skipped a beat.


    ¡°Everyone, you may leave now.¡±


    The white-robed girl turned to look at Jing Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue, still wearing a smile on her face. Her voice was soothing, making her appear friendly and charming. Except for the three of them, everyone else had already left.


    ¡°Thank you, Miss Fairy, for helping me out!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan walked up to her to express his gratitude. If not for her, he would probably be dead by now. Zhu Xidao had shown him no mercy. That one strike could have been an instant kill unless the brass piece inside him activated again. Otherwise, there would be no hope for him.


    ¡°What fairy?! Pervert, can¡¯t you come up with something more creative?!¡± Ye Yuanxue tugged on his earlobe harder before rushing into the embrace of the mysterious girl. She sweetly murmured, ¡°Sis, I miss you so much!¡±


    What the hell is going on?! Jiang Xiaofan froze on the spot while looking at both of them.


    ¡°You child! You didn¡¯t even tell me that you¡¯ve been here for two months, yet you say you missed me. If I didn¡¯t possess our clan¡¯s Thread of Life and could sense your spiritual energy, I don¡¯t know how long I would¡¯ve been kept hidden in the dark!¡±


    The white-robed girl admonished Ye Yuanxue and then poked her on the forehead while affectionately looking at her.


    ¡°Sister, I just wanted to give you a surprise! Besides, I can enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak through my own capabilities. Hehe, Sis, look. I won! I¡¯m qualified! Amazing, right?!¡± explained Ye Yuanxue, playfully swaying her sister¡¯s left hand.


    ¡°Xue¡¯er, you came by yourself? Where¡¯s that elder?¡±


    ¡°Hmph! That decrepit old guy is awful! He abandoned me on the road and fled. I get so angry just thinking about him! If I see him in the future, I¡¯ll rip his whiskers out!¡± Ye Yuanxue pouted and harshly ground her teeth.


    The white-robed girl shook her head and chuckled, ¡°You¡­. Don¡¯t be rude! That elder is a high-level cultivator. It¡¯s your fortune to have been able to become his pupil.¡±


    ¡°Pft, what fortune?! Those past two years have been nothing but frustrating for me!¡± Ye Yuanxue was discontent, but then she thought of something. She pulled her sister in front of Jiang Xiaofan and said, ¡°Sis, this is Jiang Xiaofan. After the decrepit old guy abandoned me, there were these two jerks that wanted to bully me. It¡¯s Xiaofan who came to my rescue.¡±


    ¡°This is my sister, Ye Qiuyu. Ye as in leaf , Qiu as in autumn, and Yu as in rain. What do you think? A beautiful name, yeah?¡± Ye Yuanxue happily introduced both of them.


    ¡°Thank you, Hero Jiang. From a young age, Xue¡¯er has been very mischievous. She must¡¯ve caused so much trouble for you along the way.¡± Ye Qiuyu beamed a smile at Jiang Xiaofan and thanked him.


    ¡°Not at all! It¡¯s nothing. No troubles,¡± Jiang Xiaofan disagreed and replied, ¡°On the contrary, I have to thank Ye Shijie [3]. If not for you, I would¡¯ve died at the hands of Zhu Xidao.¡±


    After hearing him speak, Ye Yuanxue instantly grinned impishly, ¡°Haha, if you want to thank my sister, shouldn¡¯t you offer her a gift?¡±


    ¡°Xue¡¯er, what are you doing?¡±


    Ye Qiuyu questioned her after seeing Ye Yuanxue pat down Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Sis, you have no idea! This guy has treasure on him!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue scanned their surroundings before finally taking out three stalks of green grass. One of them was shoved into Ye Qiuyu¡¯s hand.


    ¡°This is¡­. Immortal Spirit Root!¡±


    Ye Qiuyu loudly gasped as the color on her complexion changed. Astonished, her tiny mouth stretched wide open.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 11

    Ye Yuanxue took out three stalks of Immortal Spirit Root and placed the largest one in Ye Qiuyu¡¯s hand, stunning the beautiful elder sister.


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t accept it. This is too precious.¡±


    Ye Qiuyu shook her head. The Immortal Spirit Root was an unrivaled primordial herb. For a cultivator, this herb was priceless. Even the leaders of the four largest sects had a difficult time in obtaining it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry! This guy still has some.¡± Ye Yuanxue stuffed the herb back in her hand, and at the same time, she took out another stalk, presented it to Ye Qiuyu, and adoringly stated, ¡°Sis, here. This is my gift to you.¡±


    Taken aback, Ye Qiuyu stared at Ye Yuanxue and asked, ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, why do you have one as well?¡±


    ¡°Um¡­. Xiaofan gave it to me as lunch.¡±


    ¡°¡­.¡±


    ¡°Xue¡¯er, seriously, no. An Immortal Spirit Root is invaluable. Give it back to Jiang Gongzi,¡± admonished Ye Qiuyu. The primordial herb was just too rare. It was of the legends.


    ¡°Really, it¡¯s fine, Sis. Xiaofan isn¡¯t an outsider.¡± Ye Yuanxue smiled with her eyes crinkling like a crescent moon. ¡°See? We all have two stalks each. It¡¯s fair. Xiaofan, what do you say?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Ye Shijie. Just keep them.¡±


    Unable to resist Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s generosity, Ye Qiuyu eventually took them in. Besides, she needed this mystical herb. After all, the value of this primordial herb was immeasurable, especially to a cultivator.


    Originally, Ye Qiuyu wanted Ye Yuanxue to immediately depart for the Heavenly Maiden Peak, but Ye Yuanxue refused. She said that if she were to leave, Jiang Xiaofan would be lonely. She also said that once a peak was assigned to Jiang Xiaofan by Elder Chuanfa, she would then head to the Heavenly Maiden Peak.


    Jiang Xiaofan was moved. Ye Yuanxue was the first person to ever truly care about him. She was also a female, a beautiful one at that.


    ¡°Alright then¡­.¡± Ye Qiuyu looked at Jiang Xiaofan and apologized, ¡°Xue¡¯er¡¯s a bit playful. I hope that she will not give you any trouble. Please take good care of her.¡±


    ¡°No troubles at all.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan repeatedly waved his hand. To be alone with a fairy-like Ye Yuanxue wasn¡¯t troubling at all. Rather, this was what he dreamed of.


    After Ye Qiuyu left to return to the Heavenly Maiden peak, Jiang Xiaofan walked up to Ye Yuanxue with tears streaming down his cheeks. Frightened, Ye Yuanxue dodged to the side and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was deeply touched. He wasn¡¯t a sensitive person, but he could tell that Ye Yuanxue and her elder sister had finally reunited after a long separation. For Ye Yuanxue to consider his feelings, afraid that he¡¯d be alone, their relationship was one that he had come to treasure.


    ¡°Xiao Xue, you¡¯re too nice to me.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, of course! How will you thank me then?¡± She blinked her bright, big eyes at him.


    ¡°Uh, how about I offer my body to you?¡± Jiang Xiaofan looked back at her with honesty written on his face.


    ¡°Pft! Who wants your body?!¡± muttered Ye Yuanxue. Although she acted quirkily most of the time, the young girl couldn¡¯t help but blush at the mention of Jiang Xiaofan offering his body to her.


    In the endless universe with innumerable star systems, numerous stars dotted the sky. Day turned to night. Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t help but inwardly sigh. The world was changing every day with the new replacing the old. Not long ago, he was still an ordinary orphan from Planet Earth. He had never imagined that he would become a cultivator from the legends.


    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue¡¯s sweet-sounding voice echoed in his ears. The girl crouched down, blinked her dewy eyes, and waved her delicate hand in front of him.


    ¡°Hm, I¡¯m thinking about when I can marry you,¡± shamelessly replied Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Who said that I want to marry you?!¡±


    Speechless, she rolled her eyes at him. This guy was just too mean and so thick-skinned, always picking on her.


    ¡°Haha, then¡­. Xiao Xue¡¯er, why don¡¯t you tell me more about this world? Uh¡­. I recently just came out of the deep mountains. There are many things that I don¡¯t know about.¡±


    Embarrassed, Jiang Xiaofan switched the topic. Even he felt that it wasn¡¯t good to always tease the mischievous, cute girl. Amitabha[1], what a sin.


    She didn¡¯t suspect him. In her eyes, Jiang Xiaofan really did come from the deep mountains because this guy knew nothing of the world at all. Besides, he always used phrases which she could not understand.


    ¡°This world is known as Ziwei¡­.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue patiently explained. What surprised Jiang Xiaofan was that he had guessed correctly. He had transmigrated through time and space, and Planet Earth had disappeared. He was on Ziwei, an ancient planet from another area of the universe.


    This name was not unfamiliar to Jiang Xiaofan. Ziwei or Ziwei Heng was the old name of a star that made up the twelve constellations. On Planet Earth, this legendary star was now called Polaris.


    Many scholars of ancient astronomy surmised that the Ziwei Star System contained life energy, one that was even more ancient and mysterious than Planet Earth¡¯s. From the birth of the human race till now, no one has known anything about this mysterious star despite being mentioned in historical records[2].


    Even with the advanced technology of the 21st Century and the skills to enter space, humans were only able to step foot on the moon. Compared to the imperial star of legends, they could only gaze from afar and guess. Never would humans have thought that life existed here, a place where cultivators from stories dwelled.


    ¡°Hey, hey! You¡¯re spacing out again! That¡¯s impolite!¡± Ye Yuanxue waved her hand again.


    Returning back to reality, Jiang Xiaofan noticed the girl¡¯s unhappy expression. Abashed by his behavior, he awkwardly apologized and let Ye Yuanxue continue her explanation of Planet Ziwei¡¯s power divisions.


    Ye Yuanxue pouted her lips, lightly snorted a ¡°hmph¡±, and continued, ¡°Nowadays, Planet Ziwei has four major powers. They are Ziwei Sect, Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, Ziyang Sect, and Ice Palace. Of course, these are just what¡¯s shown on the surface. There are a few hidden clans that have been carrying on for generations since primordial times. They¡¯re even more frightening and much stronger than the four sects.¡±


    ¡°Hidden clans?¡± Taken aback, he then asked, ¡°Which ones?¡±


    Not long after he had spoken did he begin to regret it. He wanted to slap himself on the face.


    As expected, Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes at him again. She responded, ¡°You¡¯re so dumb. If they¡¯re hidden, then they obviously don¡¯t want others to know about them. How am I supposed to tell you who they are?¡±


    Under the beautiful, starry night sky, both of them stayed up late. He listened to Ye Yuanxue mention many things before finally discussing the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    ¡°This place was originally the remains of a primordial, sacred Daoist sect. After the sect had vanished, a peerless hero took over this land and founded the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect which flourished until now. This is the reason why the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect is not only the strongest of the four but also the most special.¡±


    Amazed, he queried, ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Of course! Many prominent figures know that the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect is more than what meets the eye. Maybe it¡¯s because of its relationship to the sacred Daoist sect, but many years have passed. Countless numbers of high-level cultivators have made their mark on the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. There¡¯s also a rumor saying that those who have surpassed immortal beings have also appeared here, yet none have succeeded in uncovering the sect¡¯s secret. Slowly, those prominent figures have mostly forgotten about it.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue¡¯s mention of immortals wasn¡¯t the immortals that average people knew of. They referred to the powerful cultivators from the realm of Mystic Immortal. This alone was an eye-opener for Jiang Xiaofan. Even those with levels beyond a Mystic Immortal could not discover anything? According to what he knew, the leading elder of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was a Mystic Immortal cultivator.


    Still, this made him think of another related topic. He asked her, ¡°Is there a more powerful existence than Mystic Immortal?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes again for the third time. ¡°Naturally, but they wouldn¡¯t normally appear on the Huanyun Continent.¡±


    ¡°Then where?¡±


    The girl was slightly hesitant. She warily scanned around. Without saying anything, as if spoken words were too inscrutable, she merely pointed her finger towards the sky.


    Jiang Xiaofan was alarmed. This girl seemed to be very knowledgeable. Even though he was cunning himself and could somewhat read the expressions of others, in addition to the fact that Ye Yuanxue hadn¡¯t hidden anything from him, he realized that she knew many things which a lot of people didn¡¯t know about.


    ¡°By the way, how do you know all of this?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but ask.


    ¡°The decrepit old man told me.¡±


    ¡°How strong is your Shifu?¡±


    In truth, Jiang Xiaofan was greatly astounded. Judging by Ye Qiuyu¡¯s attitude, he deduced that Ye Yuanxue¡¯s Shifu was a real sage who knew many secrets from the primordial times.


    ¡°Don¡¯t know, but he¡¯s definitely much stronger than you,¡± replied the girl indifferently.


    Jing Xiaofan rolled his eyes at her this time. Wasn¡¯t this the same thing as not saying anything? He didn¡¯t need to contemplate in order to know that Ye Yuanxue¡¯s Shifu was a master within masters. With one finger, her Shifu could easily squish him to death. He was rendered speechless when the girl dared to compare her Shifu with him.


    ¡°Hm, come to think of it, there are only five days left. Xiaofan, why don¡¯t you consume a stalk of Immoral Spirit Root? I¡¯ll help you cultivate by channeling the energy. This is an herb that could drastically enhance your form and bring about great advantages to your future cultivation practice.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue wore a serious face for once and assessed Jiang Xiaofan. She then remembered something as her eyes wandered around and announced, ¡°Hm, after this, I¡¯ll discuss another matter with you.¡±


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 12

    Jiang Xiaofan was sure that he had heard correctly when Ye Yuanxue said that she wanted him to eat the Immortal Spirit Root. Suspicious, he curiously looked at Ye Yuanxue. He wasn¡¯t feeling hungry though.


    Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes again, at a loss for words. The Immortal Spirit Root was a primordial king herb which could ameliorate one¡¯s body and fortify the Dao foundation. To her dismay, this guy treated this rare treasure as mere food.


    ¡°Eh¡­. Fine, then. What am I supposed to do?¡± Jiang Xiaofan finally understood her words.


    Ye Yuanxue cocked her head in contemplation and replied, ¡°You don¡¯t need to do anything. Just eat it. Afterward, clear your mind and balance your sea of awareness. Allow your spiritual awareness to course through your body. As for the rest, leave it to me.¡±


    ¡°Are there any risks?¡± Jiang Xiaofan warily asked.


    Ye Yuanxue pondered and hesitatingly responded, ¡°Don¡¯t think so.¡±


    ¡°You think?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan widened his eyes.


    ¡°Relax! The worst that can happen is your body exploding.¡±


    ¡°Body exploding?!  Relax?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan felt queasy.  Chills ran down his spine and his hair stood on end as he looked at Ye Yuanxue smiling back at him. He didn¡¯t want to directly reject her, so he instead queried, ¡°Um¡­. Can I not eat it? Or maybe eat it another day?¡±


    He was honestly scared. No matter how he looked at it, this girl wasn¡¯t familiar with the procedure. He didn¡¯t want to be her lab rat. Heaven knows what kind of accident will happen! He didn¡¯t want to die.


    ¡°You! You don¡¯t believe me!¡± Feeling hurt that she had been deeply misunderstood, she angrily threatened him, ¡°If you don¡¯t eat it, then I¡­. I won¡¯t be your girlfriend anymore!¡±


    ¡°Oh jeez!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to cry. She wanted to break up with him just because he didn¡¯t want to eat it? How can it be?! Dear gods, don¡¯t prank me like this!


    At a loss for words, he could only comply. Once inside their little house, he sat in a lotus position, gritted his teeth, and ate the Immortal Spirit Root in one bite. All of a sudden, his mouth was permeated with a light fragrance. This time, he had grown more accustomed to that feeling. He felt all his pores open up. The sensation was very soothing as if he was about to ascend into Heaven as an immortal.


    ¡°Control your sea of awareness and let your spiritual awareness penetrate your entire body.¡±


    Her familiar voice echoed into his mind. Not willing to risk anything, Jiang Xiaofan heeded Ye Yuanxue¡¯s instructions. He closed his eyes, channeled his spiritual awareness, and allowed it to course through his body.


    Attentive, Ye Yuanxue pressed her delicate hands on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s upper back, and they emitted a faint purple glow. She then prepared for Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s internal cleansing by directing the Immortal Spirit Root¡¯s qi in his body.


    All living forms, from birth to the present time, contained internal impurities. By cleansing their bodies, those impurities hidden deep inside would be forced to discharge, and their bodies thus are purified. This would prove to provide unimaginable, great benefits to one¡¯s future cultivation.


    On the path of cultivation, every cultivator hoped to find a master who would help him or her cleanse the body or, perhaps, find some sort of sacred cleansing pill, but this was even more improbable. Nevertheless, whether it was the former or latter, neither options were easily obtainable.


    Therefore, those who could receive internal cleansing were considered one in ten thousand. This was because Jiang Xiaofan had good luck. He fell off the cliff and didn¡¯t die, somehow came upon a dozen stalks of the legendary primordial king herb, and under Ye Yuanxue¡¯s guidance, chanced upon this opportunity.


    As his spiritual awareness circulated, he could clearly see his innards. Thin streams of qi flowed through his eight extraordinary meridians, gentle just like the soft glow of the moon. Wherever the qi passed, whether it was a meridian or an organ, they all gleamed brightly. Even his bones cracked and began to reform.


    He saw the small, multicolored lake again. It was a bit vague, but he could see the palm-sized brass piece floating above the middle of the body of water, just like a long-established saintly monument that was firmly rooted.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes reddened. This was his most prized treasure. It had saved his life when the Soul Training Pagoda attacked him. He wanted to hold the brass piece in his hands, but he knew that this was impossible. He had no way of nearing the mysterious lake. It seemed so close but was actually far away as if they were separated like Heaven and Earth.


    Ye Yuanxue was very satisfied. This was the first time she had helped someone cleanse their body, and it was a success. Under her guidance, the streams of Immortal Spirit Qi acted like an obedient child. One time after another, she directed the qi to wash over his body.


    ¡°Hehe, as expected of me!¡±


    This girl was somewhat proud of her achievement. Just then, there was a sudden change. Innumerable streams of Immortal Spirit Qi appeared inside his body. Like a volcanic explosion, they flooded out of his extraordinary eight meridians and internal organs. This abruptly broke up her spiritual awareness guidance.


    ¡°Oh my goodness! What¡¯s going on? Why does this guy have so much Immortal Spirit Qi?!¡±


    Shocked, she didn¡¯t understand why this had happened. Everything was going on smoothly, but like a floodgate that had been opened and could not be controlled, numerous streams of Immortal Spirit Qi gushed out.


    How was she supposed to know that a couple of months ago, Jiang Xiaofan had eaten seven stalks of Immortal Spirit Root just because he was hungry? Not to mention, he had not refined them. At least eighty percent of the qi hid in his body. On normal days, he was fine. However, under her guidance, the hidden qi flooded out after sensing the same source of qi that was circulating throughout his body.


    Jiang Xiaofan blanked out as he stared at the brass piece. Suddenly, his body radiated with sharp pain. He wanted to scream out loud. Using his spiritual awareness, he saw countless streams of Immortal Spirit Qi chaotically running around. Scared out of his wits, he sensed that his internal organs had shifted, and leaks had appeared.


    At the same time, his entire body flushed red and he quivered in pain. His blood vessels bulged, cracks appeared everywhere on his skin, and blood flowed out, dyeing his body sanguine.


    Panicking, Ye Yuanxue nearly burst into tears. Her purple halo flickered as she continued to channel her spiritual awareness into Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body in the hopes of calming down the streams of qi. To no avail, she was incapable of controlling them since there were too many.


    ¡°Gods! What just happened?! I don¡¯t want to die yet! Please save me!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan inwardly screamed. Under excruciating pain, he felt like his body was about to explode.


    No matter how he yelled and no matter how he tried to control his sea of awareness, the pain did not go away. Instead, it intensified even more. His spiritual awareness was muddled. He was slipping consciousness.


    Struggling to stay awake, he could vaguely see the multicolored lake begin to shimmer more brightly. He then looked at the brass piece. There seemed to be a trace of blood across its surface. He placed all his bets on the brass piece and used his spiritual awareness to holler.


    ¡°Brass Brother. Brass Grandpa. Please help me. If you don¡¯t me, I¡¯m going to die!¡±


    Still, the brass piece made no movements. It was like a giant, immovable rock. Jiang Xiaofan wanted to curse ¡°Your mother¡± but following that was more intensified pain. His spiritual awareness was turning blurry. All seemed hopeless.


    In the next moment, his loud cries appeared to have been transmitted across the lake. The silver-colored brass piece lightly trembled, and a gentle, mystical energy rippled across. In an instant, the streams of Immortal Spirit Qi subsided.


    ¡°Awesome job, Brass Brother!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was momentarily stunned. He inwardly screamed for joy. The pain was finally gone and following that was a revitalizing feeling. The chaotic streams of qi were now like a demure female. They accordingly and slowly reformed his body.


    Meanwhile, Ye Yuanxue grew from anxious to surprised. She could sense that the chaotic Immortal Spirit Qi inside his body had calmed down, and they no longer needed her guidance.


    Her eyes bulged, and her mouth was agape. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body was no longer swollen, and his wounds were rapidly healing as could be seen with the naked eye. After everything was finished, he returned back to his old self. There was neither a single wound nor scar left on him.


    ¡°Woah, weird!¡± muttered Ye Yuanxue. Nevertheless, she was very happy to see Jiang Xiaofan out of danger. She retreated to one side and carefully scanned the room as she guarded him.


    Jiang Xiaofan continued to channel his spiritual awareness. Looking at the dense yet gentle Immortal Spirit Qi within him, his heart yearned for the cultivation of the Diamond Sutra.


    ¡°By using spirit to cultivate the body, divinity to nurture the body, and willpower to temper the body, one can break the limits to all things of nature.¡±


    This was a mystical technique for training the body as recorded in the sutra. Those who cultivated this technique at the early stage would possess a strong build like that of diamonds. With incredible strength, the body could not be easily damaged by ordinary weapons. Once the cultivator reached the final stage and broke ¡°the limits to all things of nature¡±, he or she would possess an indestructible diamond body. ¡°I am immortal, forever living.¡±


    Immersed within his spiritual realm, he directed the Immortal Spirit Qi and used his spiritual awareness to course through and diffuse into his bones, marrow, blood, and flesh as he began to train for his diamond body.


    *Boom*


    After activating his Diamond Sutra, his body radiated with bright golden rays of light. Powerful energy was released like a gale, and his body was covered in a halo of dazzling light as if he had been doused with gold paint.


    Startled, Ye Yuanxue leaped backward but soon remembered something. She hurried, ¡°Xiaofan, what are you doing?! Stop this at once! You¡¯ll alert the entire Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect!¡±


    At this moment, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s aura was too powerful, especially those rays of golden light. In the darkness of night, it was extremely detectable. If not for this small house, someone would have probably discovered them at the first second. Even so, it was difficult to cover up because the light was now shining more brilliantly.


    Ye Yuanxue nervously revolved around him. She knew that Jiang Xiaofan carried some sort of mysterious, ancient scripture on him, but this guy was just too idiotic. How could he cultivate it at this time?! Wasn¡¯t he afraid of the trouble that it would bring about?!


    In truth, Jiang Xiaofan knew of the consequences. However, he couldn¡¯t afford to terminate it. He locked his gaze on the brass piece in the center of the multicolored lake and inwardly begged, ¡°Brass Brother, please help me again. Conceal my body¡¯s qi. Don¡¯t let anyone discover it.¡±


    He just wanted to make a tentative call for the brass piece without carrying much hope that it would work. What caught him off guard was the brass piece¡¯s swift compliance this time. The spiritual light around him flashed, and his body¡¯s qi was instantly concealed. Like a dead tree, not a single ounce of life force could be detected inside.

 Chapter 13

    The sudden change in the situation left Ye Yuanxue dazed. The golden rays of light disappeared. In an instant, she could no longer sense Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi, not even his life force. This gave her a great fright. If not for the person still breathing in front of her, she would have thought that Jiang Xiaofan had died.


    Jiang Xiaofan thought it was strange as well. Prior to this, the brass piece was stubborn as an ox, but now, it listened to him obediently. Could it be that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s character had suddenly been so morally refined that it finally complied to his wish, or perhaps it was just a coincidence?


    ¡°Hm¡­. Let¡¯s try this again.¡±


    Using his willpower, his body radiated again with golden rays. Powerful qi surged forth and almost destroyed the house, scaring Ye Yuanxue for the second time. The girl angrily gritted her teeth. She wanted to give him a good kick.


    In the next second, she could no longer sense Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi. The golden rays had been veiled. No longer was there any life source. He didn¡¯t even emit any bodily warmth. He was just like a dead man.


    Elated, Jiang Xiaofan repeated this process several times. In the last attempt, he discovered that this brass could not only conceal his qi but also conceal his cultivation. Within his spiritual realm, he could easily control them with his willpower and adjust them to his liking.


    For example, he was now at the sixth heaven of Micro Realm. Under the help of the mystical brass piece, all he had to do was use his willpower and his spiritual energy would decrease to any level below that of the sixth heaven. No one could see through his facade.


    ¡°This guy! What¡¯s he doing now?!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue¡¯s jaw dropped to the floor. She noticed that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯ cultivation was fluctuating rapidly. In one moment, he was at sixth heaven, in the next, he had fallen to first, and after that, he rose to fifth heaven. At the very end, she once again could not sense his qi and life energy. Terrified, Ye Yuanxue thought that Jiang Xiaofan had entered qi deviation.


    Contrarily, Jiang Xiaofan was overwhelmed with excitement. He wanted to scream with joy. From internal cleansing to the moment when he was close to death by explosion, he had successfully communicated with the mystical brass piece and obtained this amazing capability.


    Absconsion. Assassinations. Pretend to be weak and then leap for the prey. These were the first ideas that appeared in his mind. He then thought of how perfectly his future path would be laid out. Heaven, you¡¯re too good to me!


    The Immortal Spirit Qi was still flowing throughout this body. Jiang Xiaofan calmed down and activated the Diamond Sutra, using the Immortal Spirit Qi to temper his body and soul. His internal organs glowed, and his blood roared like the Yellow River.


    Throughout the entire night, Jiang Xiaofan strengthened his body with the qi and purged his body of impurities. His body appeared translucent like jade. His innards glimmered, and his bones illuminated. He reformed his body as it discharged impurities.


    In the meantime, Ye Yuanxue safeguarded him. Everything that happened before her astounded her. She suddenly realized that Jiang Xiaofan had a lot of secrets and wasn¡¯t as simple as he appeared to be.


    He didn¡¯t know how long time had passed by. All of his Immortal Spirit Qi was used up. Jiang Xiaofan opened his eyes with brilliant light sparkling across them. Like a god, he stood up. His body was fine and flawless like glazed glass.


    ¡°Seventh heaven of Micro Realm!¡±


    He could feel the powerful energy within him after getting his body was cleansed by the qi and tempered by the Diamond Sutra. At this moment, he truly felt reformed as if he had gone through the flames of rebirth. His body surged with a large amount of powerful spiritual energy. Currently, he believed that he could break the spirits of a whole army with one punch.


    He turned to smile at Ye Yuanxue, revealing his pearly white teeth, and then concealed his cultivation, suppressing it to fifth heaven.


    Taken aback, her beautiful, dewy eyes sparkled, and her tiny mouth was agape. Shock and confusion were written all over her face. Earlier, Jiang Xiaofan was at the seventh heaven but then immediately dropped to fifth heaven.


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, I know that I¡¯m very handsome, but you don¡¯t need to keep staring at me like that. Sooner or later, I¡¯ll become your man. You only need to say one word, and my body will be yours at any given time!¡± He couldn¡¯t help but tease her after seeing her cute expression.


    ¡°Ptooey! You¡¯re too mean! How can you be so thick-skinned?!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue wanted to ask Jiang Xiaofan what secret he was hiding from her; however, upon hearing him speak, her cheeks immediately blushed a noticeable red. She furiously waved her fist at him.


    ¡°Oh yeah, Xiao Xue¡¯er, didn¡¯t you have something that you wanted to tell me?¡±


    In his opinion, calling her Xiao Xue¡¯er felt more intimate than calling her¡­. um¡­. Xiao Xue.


    ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot.¡± Embarrassed, Ye Yuanxue playfully lolled out her tongue and darted her eyes around the house before continuing, ¡°The decrepit old man said that the era we are living in is a very special one.¡±


    ¡°A special era? How is it special?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan suspiciously asked, but inwardly groaned. How could it not be special? This was too fucking special! A few months ago, I was still on Planet Earth in my dilapidated tiny apartment watching a movie, and I somehow arrived on Planet Ziwei to become a cultivator!


    ¡°The decrepit old man said that this era would reach the peak of flourishment. Under the clusters of stars, someone from this era will witness the Dao, become invincible throughout the galaxy, and transform into the Heaven from legends foretold!¡± explained Ye Yuanxue in a serious manner.


    ¡°Witness the Dao?! Transform into Heaven?!¡±


    He stared at her in astonishment with bulging eyes. He didn¡¯t fully comprehend what ¡°witness the Dao¡± meant, but he at least knew what ¡°Heaven¡± referred to.


    There were many explanations for Heaven on Planet Earth. In Chinese philosophy and religion, Heaven was in the core of beliefs. Literally defined, Heaven referred to the sky as opposed to the ground. Then, there was a more mythical saying in which Heaven was where immortals were deified. In other words, it was the highest realm of divinity within the universe.


    He usually took the meaning of Heaven for granted, but in his heart, Heaven was an abstract concept. Such a thing did not exist. However, now that he was a cultivator and after hearing Ye Yuanxue talk about it, his heart wavered. ¡°Does Heaven truly exist? Can a person actually become Heaven?¡±


    ¡°Indeed. That is what the decrepit old man had said.¡± Ye Yuanxue nodded.


    ¡°How strong is it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t know. Never saw it. But definitely stronger than you.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to faint again. Why did this girl keep comparing him to those extremely frightening existences? Did she even consider his situation at all? He had just embarked on this path.


    As the night slowly passed by, the air fogged up, and rain soon trickled down. Time ticked, and before they knew it, the morning sun had begun to rise. With the first ray of light beaming from the horizon, an inexplicable feeling of calmness settled in their hearts.


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided!¡±


    Right after they had watched the sunrise, Jiang Xiaofan suddenly stood up with light gleaming in his eyes.


    The girl was very angry and glared daggers at him. In just one night, Jiang Xiaofan scared her multiple times. Even Ye Yuanxue thought that she was going psychotic.


    ¡°I¡¯ve made my decision! I shall witness the Dao! I¡¯ll transform into Heaven!¡±


    This was the first time that Jiang Xiaofan had made a serious declaration. His eyes twinkled with exuberance.


    On Planet Earth, he was just an orphan. He had nobody and no attachments. Since he had arrived on a mysterious, ancient planet and embarked on a surreal journey to Daoism, he needed to set a goal for himself.


    For a while, Ye Yuanxue was stunned. Her eyelashes quivered. She thought that the boy before her had suddenly become peerless. It was as if she could see him gloriously standing on top of all the heroes whom he had defeated.


    Alarmed that she had spaced out, Ye Yuanxue violently shook her head and grumbled, ¡°How bold of you to make such a statement. You¡¯re so thick-skinned that I can¡¯t even see the bottom of it!¡±


    ¡°I will definitely witness the Dao! I¡¯ll become undefeatable! I want to protect you!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan gazed at Ye Yuanxue and flashed her a sunny smile.


    Ye Yuanxue was the only person to have truly cared for him thus far. This mischievous but pretty girl touched his heart. He really wanted to shelter her for as long as he lived.


    ¡°Who¡­. Who needs you to protect me?! I¡¯m very powerful!¡±


    Being stared at like that and having listened to his words, an odd feeling welled up inside Ye Yuanxue¡¯s heart. Her lovely cheeks flushed red.


    ¡°Haha, yes! Xiao Xue¡¯er is very powerful!¡± laughed Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare laugh!¡± Ye Yuanxue shot him a ferocious look and waved her fist again.


    Jiang Xiaofan felted that this spirited, beautiful girl was just too entrancing. Being with her always made him so joyous. He was never annoyed with her.


    Time flew by swiftly as three days passed. The sonorous ring of the sect¡¯s bell sounded. Under the leadership of their guide, Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue headed to the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation.

 Chapter 14

    The Hall of Spiritual Cultivation was located in the center of the clouds and had numerous spiritual peaks surrounding it. Immortal cranes flew by and occasionally released several sounds of soft cries. This entire scene was picturesque like a typical heavenly realm where immortals dwelled.


    The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was nestled in a spiritual mountain range which was divided into seven main peaks and three main halls.


    The seven peaks included: Infinite Heaven Peak, Heavenly Stream Peak, Heavenly Clouds Peak, Heavenly Sun Peak, Heavenly Stars Peak, Heavenly Scales Peak, and lastly, the one where Ye Yuanxue¡¯s elder sister resided, Heavenly Maiden Peak. The peaks were in the formation of the Big Dipper, thus safely guarding the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect in the middle.


    The three main halls were the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, the Hall of Elders, and the Hall of the Heavenly Emperor.


    The Hall of Spiritual Cultivation was in charge of the management and punishment of all of the sect¡¯s disciples. The Hall of Elders served as a facility where sect elders could cultivate. Lastly, the Hall of the Heavenly Emperor was the most special of all because it was the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s most important building. Only the sect leader possessed the qualifications to enter. Rumor had it that an immortal-ranked weapon guarded the hall.


    With these three main halls as the center, large and small buildings surrounded them. Some of them included: the Pavilion of Stored Scriptures, the Pill Cultivation Pavilion, a martial arena, and the Xuanyang Pavilion.


    When Ye Yuanxue and Jiang Xiaofan stepped foot into the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, the other five chosen ones had already arrived. They noticed Chen Yifeng right away, and likewise, he saw them as well. Chen Yifeng smiled and nodded his head at them.


    The seven of them did not speak, but carefully scanned their surroundings. The Hall of Spiritual Cultivation was magnificently grand. In the center were numerous paintings. The most obvious one was an aged painting because it emanated a profound impression of immorality, which intrigued all seven of them.


    An elder with tall stature and donning a grey Daoist robe, sewn with a golden eight trigrams symbol on it, suddenly appeared in front of them. His face was slightly wrinkled, and his expression was icy as if he was made of stone.


    ¡°Chen Yifeng, Heavenly Clouds Peak, one Yunyang Pill.¡±


    The grey-robed elder swept a glance over them and got straight to the point. After announcing the first result, he still wore the same cold, indifferent expression on his face. For a moment, Jiang Xiaofan inwardly joked that someone might have owed this old man money and hadn¡¯t returned it yet.


    A ray of light shot forth from the pavilion behind the elder¡¯s back. Carried on a small pillow of cloud, the pill appeared in Chen Yifeng¡¯s hand, exuding a soothing fragrance. It was clear that this pill was of great value.


    ¡°Thank you, Elder!¡± Chen Yifeng bowed and put away his Yunyang Pill.


    ¡°Lei Hu, Heavenly Sun Peak, one Luo¡¯e Pill.


    ¡°Ye Yuanxue, Heavenly Maiden Peak, one Ice Spirit Pill.¡±


    Not long after, six of the seven had already been assigned a peak. The only one remaining was Jiang Xiaofan, and the only peak left was the Infinite Heaven Peak.


    ¡°Damn it! I can¡¯t be this unlucky, right?¡±


    He inwardly cursed. The only peak left is the Infinite Heaven Peak. Isn¡¯t that where Zhu Xidao resides in? Will I be assigned there?! Gods! Are you doing this to me on purpose?!


    The six of them also seemed to be aware of this problem. Their expressions looked odd.


    Just then, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the elder spoke and the result was vastly different than what they had assumed it to be. ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, Standstill Peak, one Soul Growth Pill.


    Jiang Xiaofan breathed a big sigh of relief. Immediately though, he grew suspicious. Aren¡¯t there only seven main peaks in the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect? Why is there an extra one called Standstill Peak? It can¡¯t be that Infinite Heaven Peak has changed its name, yeah?


    ¡°This is your assigned jade scroll. Present it to the guide outside the gate of your respective peak, and they¡¯ll lead you forward. I wish you all the best from now on. Work hard on your cultivation.¡±


    After the grey-robed elder had spoken, seven rays of light fell on them. With a wave of the elder¡¯s hand, their vision blurred. Before they knew it, the seven of them had already left the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation.


    They were taken aback by the elder¡¯s sudden move, which was befitting of someone with his status in the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    The seven of them chatted a bit before heading to their respective peaks with their guides.


    ¡°Xiaofan, when you have free time, find me at the Heavenly Maiden Peak. I¡¯ll come for you too!¡± Ye Yuanxue waved goodbye to Jiang Xiaofan as she followed her guide.


    Jiang Xiaofan reluctantly waved back at her. They had already been together for several months. A deep bond had been forged between them. It was not an exaggeration to say that she was his first true friend. Now that they had to separate, his heart felt torn. Still, since they were in the same sect, there would always be a chance to see her again. However, I would no longer be able to live with her under one roof.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s guide was a middle-aged man. He looked at the jade scroll handed to him and became momentarily stunned. He curiously eyed Jiang Xiaofan but didn¡¯t say anything. He then turned around and walked towards a specific direction.


    As a guide, the middle-aged man was very familiar with the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. He mechanically directed Jiang Xiaofan to his assigned peak before finally stopping at the base of a green mountain.


    ¡°This is Standstill Peak?¡± asked Jiang Xiaofan with uncertainty.


    ¡°This is it! Go up by yourself!¡± impatiently replied the middle-aged man. He turned to leave.


    Dumbfounded, he stared at the place before him, thinking that it was just his hallucination. He forcefully rubbed his eyes before finally accepting the truth.


    ¡°Fuck! Is this a trap?!¡±


    He bulged his eyes in disbelief. Could this even be considered a main peak?! Even calling it a mountain was giving it more credit than it deserved! The only eloquent description that he could think of for Standstill Peak was ¡°ordinary¡±. It was extremely ordinary.


    Feeling moody, he glared at the mountain and began to climb its stone steps. Around this time, two men jumped out and hollered, ¡°Welcome, Cultivator Jiang the Vicious One!¡±


    Shit! Jiang Xiaofan almost fell head first to the ground after hearing them speak.


    The two of them seemed too welcoming. With one to his left and one to his right, they carried Jiang Xiaofan and rushed up to the mountaintop. Clearly, they had already received news from the elder that Jiang Xiaofan would be coming here.


    The seven main peaks were all majestic in view. Misty clouds floated, rays of light sparkled, and the air was filled with life. The cranes danced above the sky, and the sky temples hovered in midair. All was peaceful and free from stain.


    Compared with the others, Standstill Peak was just a mound of dirt. It was covered by a lush forest with towering trees. Thick vines coiled around the ancient trunks. This place was very remote. It didn¡¯t even have an entrance gate. This mountain was no better than the ones on Planet Earth.


    ¡°Can¡¯t you let me walk by myself?!¡± complained Jiang Xiaofan. He felt helpless. These two were just too passionate.


    What lay ahead of him was silence. There was nothing except for wild grass and shrubs. Although there was a large complex in front of him, it appeared to be dilapidated and covered with moss. Jiang Xiaofan assumed that it would be difficult to shelter from the rain.


    ¡°Cough¡­.¡±


    At this time, a weak cough sound resonated from within the building. A hunchbacked, white-haired old man slowly walked out.


    The two men hurried over to assist the old person. It was apparent that they were being cautious with him.


    ¡°Young man, you came.¡±


    The old man wore a tranquil smile and the corners of his eyes were etched with many wrinkles. In contrast to the elders of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, this old man was timeworn because of age and frailty.

 Chapter 15

    The old man walked out from the dilapidated complex. He looked feeble, but Jiang Xiaofan sensed a feeling of familiarity from him as if he was no different than those ordinary elderly neighbors from his hometown.


    He rushed forward, took the old man into his arms from the two men, and gingerly assisted him.


    The old man kindly smiled. He looked at Jiang Xiaofan with pity in his clouded eyes and nodded his head. ¡°Young man, not bad. This place can¡¯t compare with the seven main peaks. There aren¡¯t many good resources lying around here, so take this Inedia Pill as a welcome gift. I hope that it is to your liking.¡±


    The old man trembled as he took out an earthy-yellow colored pill and placed it in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand. The two men to the side motioned their lips, wanting to say something, but eventually kept their silence.


    Since the old man had strongly insisted, it would be rude of Jiang Xiaofan to reject him. He carefully placed the Inedia Pill in the pocket of his robe.


    Because of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s arrival, the atmosphere of the dilapidated complex became somewhat lively. The two men were of average build, more on the thin side. They were in their twenties and were named Lin Quan and Tang You. Their cultivation levels weren¡¯t high, just at third heaven of Micro Realm. However, their eyes brightly twinkled. With one good look at them, it was obvious that they were the animated type.


    The four of them were the only ones living in Standstill Peak. It was getting late. Due to his poor health, the old man went to rest early, but the other three were still wide awake. Even though this was the first meeting, they were already chatting familiarly with each other.


    Night soon settled in. Seas of clouds covered the seven main peaks as if they were mist sprinkled down from Heaven. Seemingly to have originated from the immortal realm, the view of the majestic mountains was breathtaking and looked surreal.


    Compared with them, Standstill Peak was really barren.


    Jiang Xiaofan immediately grew upset. He had won over Jin Mohao, who wielded a spirit weapon, fair and square and became one of the seven new inner disciples. To his dismay, he was sent to this forsaken mound of dirt called Standstill Peak. It wasn¡¯t that he hated this place; he just thought that being assigned here was unjustifiable.


    ¡°It couldn¡¯t be that you still don¡¯t know why you were sent here, right?¡± asked Lin Quan warily.


    ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Xiaofan really didn¡¯t know.


    Lin Quan and Tang You glanced at each other, not knowing what to say next. Lin Quan then decided to discuss the matter from another aspect. He reminded Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know how possibly strong you are, yeah?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Xiaofan was even more puzzled.


    The two of them were utterly speechless. They decided to be more direct and explained, ¡°Please, Boss. When you had arrived at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect not long ago, you beat up Zhu Xidao¡¯s elder cousin. Three months later, you didn¡¯t stop at that and became even more ruthless. You ended beating up the Respected One¡¯s younger brother. Zhu Xidao is this sect¡¯s number one core disciple! Not to mention, he has some sort of mysterious background. Even many of the elders have to be cautious with him. Instead, you managed to offend him! Pray tell, how can anything go well for you?!¡±


    Embarrassed, Jiang Xiaofan blushed. He then contemplated seriously. These turn of events did seem to go that way, but why was he to be blamed? Those two deserved it and were asking to be hit.


    ¡°That Zhu whatever-dao. He¡¯s so damn pompous! Screw him!¡±


    Whenever Jiang Xiaofan thought of this person, he would grow agitated. Still, he had to admit that Zhu Xidao was powerful, incredibly powerful. If not for Ye Qiuyu¡¯s help during that time, there was a big possibility that he would¡¯ve died.


    ¡°Ay, what can be done? He¡¯s just so talented and his cultivation is off the charts! He¡¯s not someone you nor I can go up against. Just bear with it.¡± The two of them knew how Jiang Xiaofan felt and consoled him by patting his shoulder.


    ¡°Bear my ass! One day, I¡¯ll beat that punk until his mother can¡¯t even recognize him!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was livid. Three days ago, he had sensed that Zhu Xidao really wanted to kill him. That one attack was enough to take his life.


    The two men were so shocked that they wobbled. Beat up Zhu Xidao? How could he say this out loud?!


    ¡°Anyway, why are you guys here? And that old man too. What¡¯s up with him?¡± Since he had his circumstance figured out, he queried theirs.


    Both of them deeply sighed.  They were originally the guardian disciples of the Pill Cultivation Pavilion and didn¡¯t belong to any of the seven main peaks. Unfortunately, they had knocked a bottle of pills over and had been sent here as punishment. They could only leave Standstill Peak once their ten-year penalty was over.


    What was even more staggering to Jiang Xiaofan was the situation with the feeble old man.


    His name was Liu Cheng¡¯an, and he originally was an elder of the Heaven¡¯s Emperor Sect. Because of a deviation, his cultivation was forever lost, which was why he had been sent here.


    Although this place wasn¡¯t a main peak and only an ordinary mountain, Liu Cheng¡¯an had contributed much good to the sect. Because he lost his cultivation and could no longer stay in the Hall of Elders, the sect had decided to offer this peak to him and allow him to live here indefinitely until old.


    ¡°At least the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect has some good conscience left in them.¡± Jiang Xiaofan nodded.


    Lin Quan coldly smirked and replied, ¡°Conscience? You think too simple. Old Man Liu may have lost his cultivation, but his sea of awareness still exists. If some cultivator discovers him, he or she can extract many of the sect¡¯s secrets from Old Man Liu¡¯s sea of awareness. That¡¯s why the sect gave him this mountain. It may look like gratitude, but in reality, he¡¯s placed under house arrest.¡±


    Tang You continued, ¡°Furthermore, as you can see, Old Man Liu¡¯s body is very weak. Family clans and sects naturally won¡¯t provide mortal necessities like rice, vegetables, meat, etc. but will instead give pills as sustenance for the body. We have them too at Standstill Peak; however, they are unimaginably scarce. Every day, we are only given two Inedia Pills. To us, even one pill a day is difficult to cure thirst and hunger, let alone someone like Old Man Liu whose body has been damaged from deviation!¡±


    The two of them didn¡¯t hide anything from Jiang Xiaofan. They not only told him of how glorious Old Man Liu¡¯s status as an elder was prior to his incident, but also of how he never displayed an air of self-importance. Old Man Liu was easy-going and well-liked among many.


    Even though the elders of the sect didn¡¯t want the old man to continue living, they couldn¡¯t just directly eliminate a highly respectable person like him. Therefore, they employed this method to contain him.


    ¡°Then, earlier¡­.¡± Jiang Xiaofan was slightly taken aback.


    Lin Quan heavily sighed. ¡°You guessed it. The old man knows the truth. Normally, the two of us just need one Inedia Pill per day, and we would give the remaining one to Old Man Liu each time. However, he¡¯s just too kind. Even though he kept the pills, he never ate all of them. Every couple of nights, he would discreetly feed us a pill. He thinks that we don¡¯t know about it, but actually, we do.¡±


    Although men should not easily shed tears, these two couldn¡¯t help to control themselves whenever they discussed this matter. Their eyes reddened, and their noses tingled.


    Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t know what to say. He instantly felt that the insignificant Inedia Pill inside his pocket had become very heavy.


    ¡°Those bastards?! Are they even humans?!¡± He tightened up his fist, wanting to beat someone.


    Liu Quan and Tang You bitterly smiled. Since when did Immortal Daoist sects ever have a heart? To the ones with prominence, people like them were just mere tools. When they were deemed useful, they would be treated well. Once a tool loses its value, then it would be casually flung away.


    Tang You didn¡¯t think much of it, to be honest. After all, he did commit a mistake. Being sent to wherever made no difference to him. However, he felt that Old Man Liu had been deeply mistreated. For a big part of his life, Old Man Liu dedicated himself to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, but, in the end, this was his fate.


    Jiang Xiaofan brooded over this newfound reality. These so-called Immortal Daoist sects were even crueler than those from the mortal realm. Like Lin Quan and Tang You had mentioned, Old Man Liu indeed was very good-natured, friendly, and extremely kind. No matter how Jiang Xiaofan viewed him, Old Man Liu didn¡¯t seem like he used to be an elder with high status.


    Suddenly, Jiang Xiaofan came up with an idea. He looked at the two of them and asked, ¡°Are there small animals on this mountain? Like birds, hares, etc.?¡±


    They didn¡¯t know why Jiang Xiaofan had asked them this, but they nodded. Standstill Peak might be a barren mountain, but nevertheless, it was still within the boundaries of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. The mountain, needless to say, had much wildlife, and they contained more spiritual qi than those from the mortal realm.


    Jiang Xiaofan explained his plan to the other two. He wanted to have a barbecue tonight in order to satiate the old man and nourish him back to good health.


    Immediately, Liu Quan¡¯s and Tang You¡¯s eyes lit up, but soon, they shook their heads. They didn¡¯t know how to set it up.


    ¡°No problem! I know!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan grinned. He was an orphan after all. When he was young, other children would scout for eggs from birds¡¯ nests and hunt hares. Without exception, he learned these skills as well. Contrarily, while they did it for fun, he did it for survival.


    The three of them were cultivators. Capturing small animals was, undoubtedly, an easy task. Before long, a campfire was built in front of the dilapidated complex. Two hares were skewered on top of the flames, and soon, the enticing smell of roast meat permeated the air. The hares had been roasted to a golden-brown color with oil dripping down, which looked very tempting.


    They then escorted Old Man Liu out. When he saw the scene before him, he was at first surprised. However, he soon knew what the three were up to, and his smile deepened.


    ¡°How delicious! I didn¡¯t think that Brother Jiang would have such skill! Old Man Liu, you need to eat more.¡± Lin Quan tore off a thigh and scarfed it down, his mouth glistening with oil.


    ¡°Haha, alright, alright,¡± chuckled the old man.


    The four of them gathered around the fire and happily ate their meat. Sounds of chatter and laughter filled the air. The atmosphere was a special one. It was as if they were a close-knit family. It felt very warm.


    Just then, an annoying person appeared and ruined the ambiance.


    From above, a mystical rainbow descended to the ground. An arrogant-looking young man who donned a blue robe and was about twenty-five years of age emerged. He pointed at them and lectured, ¡°The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect is the largest Immortal Daoist sect, yet here you all are, starting a mortal fire and roasting that disgusting meat. You¡¯re polluting the sect¡¯s spiritual air. Do you have no pride?!¡±


    ¡°Shixiong, don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re being overly sensitive? We¡¯re merely roasting wild meat here. How are we polluting the sect¡¯s spiritual air?¡± Tang You tightly knitted his brows.


    Never in the blue-robed youth¡¯s imagination did he think that a third heaven Micro Realm disciple from Standstill Peak would defy him like this. His face immediately darkened. He yelled, ¡°Insolent! I am your Shixiong! Are you questioning me?!¡±


    Looking at the belligerent youth before him, Old Man Liu also furrowed his brows and replied, ¡°Young man, starting a campfire has no effect on the sect¡¯s spiritual air. We didn¡¯t violate any rules either. It¡¯s better that you leave.¡±


    ¡°Liu Cheng¡¯an, do you still think that you are an elder?!¡± The youth¡¯s words were acerbic, and he continued to jeer, ¡°You¡¯re now nothing but waste! You can¡¯t even compare with an outer disciple, yet you¡¯re ordering me around?!¡±


    ¡°You!¡±


    Lin Quan and Tang You were inflamed. If it was they whom he was insulting, they could at least tolerate it. However, now that he had maligned this kind old man, they were not going to put up with his attitude.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be rash. Let me talk to this Shixiong.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan halted them and walked over to the blue-robed youth with a smile on his face.


    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not a bad character. At least you know your worth.¡±


    The youth smirked and gazed at Jiang Xiaofan walking towards him with a cheerful expression. He was eager to display his Shixiong pose and interrogate the person before him, but all of a sudden, what he saw was a fist coming at him.


    *Bang*


    Jiang Xiaofan stopped in front of the blue-robed youth, smiled unusually, balled up his right hand, and directly punched him in the face.


    Now that he had cultivated the Diamond Sutra¡¯s tempering body technique, his physical body was incredibly tough and strong. The blue-robed youth was a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator, but even he could not withstand the punch. In an instant, he was sent flying out with blood streaming down his nose and mouth. A few of his teeth were also knocked loose.


    Lin Quan and Tang You fell into a daze, not knowing how to react. Even Old Man Liu revealed an expression of shock. He didn¡¯t think that Jing Xiaofan would retaliate.


    It took a long while for the blue-robed youth to come to his senses after getting hit. Fire seemed to breathe from his eyes. His complexion flushed red with anger until he finally exploded and screamed at Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°You dare to hit me?!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan wiped his hand and shot a side glance at him. With disdain in his tone, he assured him, ¡°The one who I hit is you!¡±

 Chapter 16

    The blue-robed youth seethed with fury. He was an inner disciple from the Heavenly Sun Peak and was originally ordered to retrieve some pills. Passing by Standstill Peak along the way, he caught the view of someone down there starting a fire and roasting game. Hence, he thought that some taunting was necessary.


    He knew of Standstill Peak. Those who had been assigned here were labeled as waste. Essentially, they were people abandoned by the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    The moment he landed on the mountain, he scanned their cultivation levels with his spiritual awareness. The strongest one was merely a fifth heaven of Micro Realm. Compared with himself, the difference was like that of Heaven and Earth. There was no need for him to take the fifth heaven Micro Realm cultivator seriously.


    However, how was he supposed to know that Jiang Xiaofan was, in reality, at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm and had used his mystical brass piece to conceal his level to the fifth heaven? Even the elder at the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation hadn¡¯t discovered it, let alone him.


    ¡°You waste! You actually hit me?!¡± The blue-robed youth angrily roared at him.


    ¡°Oh yeah? Well, the truth is that you were just beaten up by a waste like me. Therefore, I suppose that means this you¡¯re even beneath a waste?¡± Jiang Xiaofan casually asked. Contempt was written all over his face.


    ¡°Go die!¡±


    The blue-robed youth¡¯s expression turned unsightly. With five fingers splayed, green light sparkled around them, and he grabbed for Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s neck. He didn¡¯t consider Jiang Xiaofan a worthy opponent. From his point of view, that punch by Jiang Xiaofan was a fluke, which had successfully landed when he was caught off guard.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± loudly warned the three.


    ¡°Too late! A waste from Standstill Peak dared to attack me!¡± The blue-robed youth sneered, but instantly, his expression drastically changed because he lost sight of Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Shixiong, I¡¯m behind you.¡±


    The blue-robed youth swiftly turned around. What welcomed him was the slap of a heavy brick to the face. His words had been swallowed, and he was knocked flying again. Another stream of blood glided across midair and more teeth fell out. Half of his face had swollen up.


    He was nearly slapped silly. A long time had passed by before he finally got up from the ground. His eyes burned with wrath, but he no longer assailed Jiang Xiaofan. The inside of his head buzzed as if a thousand mosquitoes were whizzing in his ears.


    However, just because he didn¡¯t pounce on Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t mean that Jiang Xiaofan wouldn¡¯t. Wasn¡¯t there a brick in his hand? He didn¡¯t lack any weapons. He raised the brick again and brutally struck the blue-robed youth¡¯s other cheek. Immediately, it swelled up. His nose was bruised, and blood scattered everywhere.


    This time, the blue-robed youth was thoroughly stunned. He released a thunderous wail after what seemed like half a day had gone by.


    His mouth was twisted, and his eyes sharply narrowed. At this moment, the blue-robed youth was close to exploding and descending into madness. He lunged at Jiang Xiaofan, but Jiang Xiaofan stood still. Just when the blue-robed youth neared him, Jiang Xiaofan stretched out his right leg at the speed of lightning and kicked his opponent¡¯s face.


    Without a question, the blue-robed youth was again sent flying backward. His face was contorted in pain and rage. He yearned for Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s death, but he could no longer move. His face was already disfigured.


    ¡°Just you wait! I¡¯ll remember this!¡±


    He glared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan, relayed him this spiteful vow, and turned around to leave. He felt very dizzy and had a hard time controlling his movements since even his vision was blurry. Nevertheless, he attempted to maintain his balance.


    ¡°Shixiong, enjoy your walk! I heard that the paths on this mountain aren¡¯t too smooth. There are many uneven slabs. Try not to slip!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan kindheartedly reminded him and casually tossed out the brick from his hand. Like a straight arrow, the brick unswervingly struck the blue-robed youth¡¯s left leg.


    ¡°Ow!¡±


    The blue-robed youth yelped in torment. He hadn¡¯t been walking very stably, and now that he was hit by the brick that Jiang Xiaofan had thrown out, he *thunk* collapsed to the ground and rolled all the way down the rugged stone stairs.


    ¡°I already warned you, yet you¡¯re still so careless. Such a shame.¡± Jiang Xiaofan brushed the dust from his hand and sat back down by the campfire.


    Lin Quan and Tang You inwardly derided the blue-robed youth. This time, karma was viciously exacted on him. They couldn¡¯t help but peer below the stone stairs. Immediately, they grew slightly faint. Standstill Peak wasn¡¯t a very tall mountain but rolling down from up here was enough punishment for him. They didn¡¯t need to think twice to realize that the blue-robed youth¡¯s fate was a tragedy.


    The brief interruption hadn¡¯t affected their appetites. In no time, the two hares, glistening with oil, were quickly devoured. Even though they were originally prepared for Old Man Liu, the old man ate little. At least one hare was finished by the three of them.


    Standstill Peak¡¯s complex was very large, but it was too old and worn. Even calling it a ruin wasn¡¯t deemed disrespectful at all. Still, Jiang Xiaofan bore no ill feelings towards it. After all, he was an orphan. This kind of lifestyle was routine to him, so there was nothing to be selective about.


    At the break of dawn on the next day, Jiang Xiaofan got up from his bed. He needed to find a suitable place among the mountain to cultivate.


    Even though he was quite discontent about being assigned here by that elder, he felt lucky at the same time. He carried the peerless, ancient Buddhist Sutra within him. This place was quiet and serene with few visitors coming here. Therefore, Standstill Peak proved to be a convenient place for his cultivation.


    The mountain was desolate, but many primordial trees grew on it. Because it was still located within the boundaries of the sect, life on the mountain was still abundant. Compared with the other barren mountains from the moral realm, this place wasn¡¯t so bad.


    Jiang Xiaofan began to climb the mountain. As he hiked upward, the path became more rugged. Despite him being a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator with a diamond body, he had the feeling that he was traversing through Shudao[1] instead.


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed by before finally reaching the peak of the mountain. In front of him was a precipice that looked as if someone had used a divine sword to cleave the peak in half. The cross section of it was very smooth, and on top of it were many crisscrossing striations, which he couldn¡¯t see very clearly.


    The precipice was about twenty meters in height. Below it was a small, winding stream. In the center of the stream was a medium-sized rock that was enough for one person meditating in a lotus position on it.


    His eyes instantly lit up. Just when he was about to jump down, a cacophony of noises rang out from below the peak, and this stopped Jiang Xiaofan in his tracks.


    At this moment before the dilapidated complex in the middle of the mountain, numerous figures surrounded Old Man Liu and the other two. Their expressions were haughty and domineering as if they were interrogating the three in the middle.


    With Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sharp vision, he instantly locked his eyes onto a blue-robed youth among the group. It was the same guy who had asked for trouble and was eventually kicked flying by him. Any idiot could tell that, under this situation, the blue-robed youth had gathered a gang to seek revenge.


    ¡°Where¡¯s that person from yesterday?! Tell him to come out and kowtow as an apology!¡±


    The one beside him also gibed, ¡°Standstill Peak has nothing but waste! How dare you attack any of us from the Heavenly Sun Peak! Are you tired of living?!¡±


    The wounds on the blue-robed youth¡¯s face were mostly healed. Upon hearing the person mention the word ¡°waste¡±, his face immediately turned ashen, and his face uncontrollably twitched. He just remembered Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s words of ridicule from yesterday.


    ¡°Speak up! Where is that waste¡­. I mean, that bastard?!¡±


    Seeing that Jiang Xiaofan was nowhere in sight, the blue-robed youth turned his anger on Lin Quan and Tang You. Although he remained injured, he was nevertheless much stronger than the two. With a raise of his leg, he kicked the two to the ground.


    ¡°Young man, you¡¯re crossing the line here!¡± Old Man Liu¡¯s expression darkened.


    ¡°Old man, you¡¯re no longer in authority to command me!¡±


    The blue-robed youth grew sullen. He raised his hand and was poised to strike Old Man Liu across the cheek. To his dismay, a brick whizzed through the air and struck him squarely in the face. His whole body was knocked flying out.


    ¡°Look, how am I supposed to convey this well? I already told you many times. The path isn¡¯t smooth, and there are many jagged rocks lying around. You need to be careful!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan appeared and shook his head in pity while staring at the blue-robed youth on the ground. He was like a piece of iron who refused to turn into steel.


    ¡°You¡­. You¡­.¡±


    Blood profusely leaked from the blue-robed youth¡¯s nose and mouth. His entire face was swollen yet again, and nearly all his teeth were about to be knocked loose. He pointed his finger at Jiang Xiaofan and stuttered ¡°you¡± for a long time before finally fainting from vexation.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 17

    The blue-robed youth was too just conceited and unforgiving. He dared to raise his hand against a feeble old man. In truth, this greatly enraged Jiang Xiaofan. When confronting this type of people, he could not afford to show mercy. The best method was to wear them down.


    ¡°Are you guys alright?¡±


    He kneeled down and asked Lin Quan and Tang You. Seeing that they said nothing but looked fine, Jiang Xiaofan pulled them up, assisted Old Man Liu, and escorted them towards the dilapidated complex.


    ¡°What?! You hurt one of our Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s people, and now you want to run away?!¡±


    The three who accompanied the blue-robed youth blocked Jiang Xiaofan from proceeding. Their expressions were hostile, and their tones icy.


    ¡°The one that knocked him unconscious was that brick. We have nothing to do with it. If you must reason, then go reason with that brick.¡± Jiang Xiaofan wore an innocent look on his face. He then thought of something, stared at the three, and continued, ¡°By the way, this is a spiritual mountain given to Old Man Liu by the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. Who allowed you to come up here?¡±


    ¡°Hahahaha!¡±


    The three of them were at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm. At this moment, they boldly roared with laughter. One of them picked up a piece of rock that was about the size of a fist and hurled it at the dilapidated complex, creating a giant hole on the exterior. Clearly, they were incorrigible to the point of no return.


    ¡°Entering Standstill Peak needs permission? Haha! This is nothing but an insignificant, barren mountain! Anybody is free to enter and leave as one pleases! The fact that we stand here before you is your honor!¡±


    Vanity was written all over their faces as they disparaged Jiang Xiaofan and sneered, ¡°You¡¯re just a waste at the fifth heaven of Micro Realm. How dare you sneak an attack on one of our people?! You must really be tired of living. Get over here! Kneel down and kowtow to us as an apology! Otherwise, hmph!¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Lin Quan and Tang You were now inflamed.


    ¡°You young folks are overstepping the line! This mountain was bestowed upon me by the supreme elders! Let¡¯s not talk about you people intruding upon this place. You also destroyed my place of residence and gravely insulted my disciples! Aren¡¯t you afraid of being punished by the leader of your peak?!¡± Old Man Liu berated them.


    In an instant, the three of them hesitated and pondered. Liu Cheng¡¯an was a former elder of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect who was highly respected among many. Now that he was offended and spoke such words, the seemingly invisible but ever-present aura from Old Man Liu had them stunned.


    However, only a brief moment had passed before the three returned to focus after realizing that a wasted old mand had threatened them. From feeling ashamed and scared to angry, one of them raised his leg in an attempt to kick at Old Man Liu. He shouted, ¡°Stupid old man! I¡¯ll teach you how to recognize the reality of the situation!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan flashed in front of Old Man Liu and swiftly stretched out his right leg. He coldly countered, ¡°You uncivilized runt! Let me teach you how to respect the elderly and protect the younglings instead!¡±


    *Bang*


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    With a merciless, strong kick to his thigh, the sound of a *bang* was soon followed by a *ka-chack*, the sound of the bone breaking. Instantly, the person¡¯s face twisted in pain, and he immediately collapsed to the ground in a kneeling position before Old Man Liu.


    ¡°Now this is how to treat an elder! You need to show good manners!¡±


    After witnessing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s retaliation, the remaining two suddenly turned sullen. They withdrew their long sword from their back, green light strongly radiated from the blades, and, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, they chopped at Jiang Xiaofan from above.


    Jiang Xiaofan smirked. Four pieces of rock shot out from his right hand at lightning speed. With the force of his godly strength, the rocks knocked both of his assailants¡¯ swords from their hand and struck their left kneecap.


    *Bang bang*


    With more sounds of bones breaking, the two fell to the ground. Their right hand trembled and their sword was knocked out of their grasp, stabbing into the ground right by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Oh? Giving me gifts already? But I wasn¡¯t even ready for them. How can I accept such generosity? Seriously¡­.¡± Without a hint of shame nor excitement, he pulled the long swords from the ground and swept a glance over them. Abruptly, he grew disappointed and shook his head. ¡°These two swords are junk. I thought they were spirit weapons.¡±


    The two of them wanted to curse him. Their noses were so scrunched up from being livid that their faces looked almost deformed. Why don¡¯t you die?! You think a spirit weapon is some sort of kitchen knife?! Not everyone has them! It¡¯s even rare for a Realm of Dust cultivator to wield one!


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know if these are durable,¡± grumbled Jiang Xiaofan. With one hand holding the hilt and the other holding the tip of the blade, he applied force, and immediately, a loud *ka-chak* resonated. The beautiful iron sword was snapped in half.


    The three intruders looked at this scene with their eyes bulged.


    Although the long sword was not a spirit weapon, it still took the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect a considerable amount of hard work to forge. Even a ninth heaven Micro Realm cultivator could not cause such damage to the weapon, yet this person before them snapped it in half. Not to mention, from the look of things, he broke it very easily without using much effort.


    ¡°How lacking. Here. I¡¯m returning it.¡± After all was said and done, Jiang Xiaofan threw the broken sword back to the three of them.


    ¡°You¡­. Just you wait!¡±


    Their faces were drained of color. With just one move, Jiang Xiaofan was able to hold them at bay. What was even more shocking was that they had sensed that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cultivation was clearly at the fifth heaven of Micro Realm, but he was still able to overpower them.


    Their left leg and right hand were broken. The rocks were small, but the combined force of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s super strength made it difficult to defend against.


    Seeing the three of them leave with the blue-robed youth who was still in a coma, Old Man Liu finally breathed a sigh of relief. What happened next threw them completely off guard. Jiang Xiaofan blocked their path and wryly smiled. ¡°Eh? You think you can leave after you just busted our place?¡±


    ¡°What do you want?!¡± Their expressions grew sour.


    ¡°Nothing much. You just have to pay back what you owe. It¡¯s the law of nature. Since you destroyed Old Man Liu¡¯s place, you¡¯ll have to fix it. Otherwise, what¡¯s the difference between you and hooligans?¡± replied Jiang Xiaofan nonchalantly.


    ¡°What about you breaking our swords?!¡± chirped one of them.


    ¡°You gave them to me. What I do with them is my business.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t think that you can bully us!¡±


    Their expressions turned extremely ugly. Their goal was to exact revenge upon the bastard from Standstill Peak on behalf of the blue-robed youth. Unexpectedly, they were the ones who got the short end of the stick. After suffering from such an easy defeat, all faces were lost.


    ¡°As I said before, the mountain path isn¡¯t very smooth. There are many rocks on the ground. If you¡¯re not careful and get hit by one right in the eye, you can¡¯t push the blame onto us.¡±


    No longer focused on them, Jiang Xiaofan casually tossed the rock that was still in his hand upward, caught it, and tossed it upward again.


    Their faces paled as the three of them stared at the rock. Despair overwhelmed them. Two of the three had been badly injured by ordinary rocks. Currently, walking was already difficult for them. Their left leg and right hand were drained of energy.


    While they might be ordinary, the rocks became powerful weapons once they were infused with Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s terrifying strength. If they got hit in the eye, they would undoubtedly become a waste. They had already endured serious injuries. If they were to continue the battle against this vicious person who could break swords, they would be the ones who would suffer more.


    ¡°Is this alright then?!¡± One of them walked over and boarded up the hole in the complex which he had created earlier.


    ¡°Not yet! Can¡¯t you see the other damaged areas?¡± Jiang Xiaofan shook his head.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare make such astronomical demands! I didn¡¯t cause them!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan rolled his eyes and replied, ¡°What do you mean you didn¡¯t cause them? Ever heard of the Domino Effect? You damaged this wall and the walls next to it were damaged as well.¡±


    ¡°Bullshit! They were already like that when we had arrived!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bullshit. I have a witness. If you don¡¯t believe me, ask them!¡± Jiang Xiaofan pointed at Lin Quan and Tang You who then concurrently nodded their heads in agreement.


    ¡°You¡­. Well, I have a witness here too who can attest to my claim!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head again and stated, ¡°Won¡¯t do. They¡¯re your people. They can¡¯t serve as witnesses.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t those two your people as well?!¡± By this point in time, the one who created the hole in the wall was fuming.


    ¡°Not the same. We¡¯re the victims!¡±


    ¡°What the hell do you want then?!¡±


    ¡°Nothing much. Just patch it all up before you leave. Otherwise¡­. Heh¡­. There are plenty of rocks here.¡± Jiang Xiaofan continued to play with his rock.


    Their faces were contorted, not due to pain but due to fury. They felt that they had been wronged. After all, they were the inner disciples of the Heavenly Sun Peak. Yet they were bullied by a fifth Heaven Micro Realm from Standstill Peak into repairing a dilapidated complex. This was too humiliating, but they had no choice. Right now, that person was the knife, and they were the meat on the cutting board. Compliance was the only way out.


    After the blue-robed youth had woken up, he immediately jumped up and was ready to fight Jiang Xiaofan again. However, after seeing the brick in his hand, the blue-robed youth gave in and obediently began to work.


    ¡°Jiang the Vicious One, I don¡¯t think that this is a good idea.¡±


    Lin Quan and Tang You felt somewhat guilty as they looked at the crippled four repairing the dilapidated complex which had been in ruins for who knows how long. After all, these four were the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s inner disciples.


    ¡°What¡¯s not good about it? They were asking for it!¡± responded Jiang Xiaofan, unconcerned. He handed a cup of spring water to Old Man Liu and said, ¡°Old Man Liu, here. Have some water.¡±


    The noon sun blazed and slowly roasted the people below. Despite the four of them being seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivators, being out in the sun for a long period of time, along with their wounds, became a tough challenge. Their backs were soon drenched with sweat.


    ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t that Wang Shixiong and others from the Heavenly Sun Peak?¡±


    Just then, two mystical rainbows flew over Standstill Peak, and one of them echoed words of suspicion. Two slender figures landed below.


    ¡°Sun Shixiong! Chen Shixiong!¡± Upon seeing these two, the four from the Heavenly Sun Peak instantaneously revealed expressions of surprise and euphoria.


    ¡°How dare you detain our brothers here! Are there no regards for rules here?!¡±


    The two of them walked towards Jiang Xiaofan who was under the shade of a tree. Evidently, they wanted to attack him.


    ¡°Hm, so you two want to help me repair the complex too?¡± asked Jiang Xiaofan apathetically.


    ¡°How insolent of you to show such disrespect towards your Shixiong! I¡¯ll teach you what respect is!¡± One of them frostily smirked, strode forward, and raised his hand, ready to slap Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cheek. He jeered, ¡°Remember this. I am Chen Heng from the Heavenly Stream Peak!¡±


    ¡°Yep, got it.¡± Jiang Xiaofan answered indifferently.


    After that, two loud screams were heard. The repair crew then increased from four people to six people.


    Old Man Liu said nothing, but Lin Quan and Tang You inwardly shouted for joy. These six belonged to the seven main peaks, respectively the Heavenly Sun Peak and the Heavenly Stream Peak. Currently, they were detained by Jiang Xiaofan. They couldn¡¯t help but admire him. Jiang Xiaofan truly lived up to the title of the Vicious One, he who beat up Zhu Xidao¡¯s younger brother.


    Not long after, another three who had come from the Heavenly Scales Peak descended on the mountain. Their levels were between sixth heaven to seventh heaven. Once again, Jiang Xiaofan was scorned by them because they wanted to exact revenge upon Jiang Xiaofan on behalf of the disciples from the Heavenly Sun Peak and Heavenly Stream Peak. The result was the same as the previous two. The repair crew now increased to nine people.


    ¡°Jiang the Vicious One, you are absolutely savage!¡± remarked Tang You.


    In the end, the paper could not contain the fire. News of the emergence of an extremely vicious person from Standstill Peak quickly spread around the sect. This vicious person detained nine of the inner disciples from the Heavenly Sun Peak, Heavenly Stream Peak, and Heavenly Scales Peak and forced them to labor. They had to repair a dilapidated complex located in the middle of the mountain.

 Chapter 18

    Nine disciples from three of the seven main peaks were detained and forced to perform labor. News of this quickly spread, and in no time, the entirety of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect got wind of it. Many people gathered at Standstill Peak to glimpse at the nine of them. Once they spotted the nine drenched in sweat with the blistering sun beating down on them, the onlookers fell into a state of shock as their eyes widened and jaws dropped to the ground.


    ¡°Gods! This can¡¯t be real, right?!¡±


    ¡°That is Wang Chong! I¡¯ve seen him before! I think that he¡¯s a disciple from the Heavenly Sun Peak!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t the one in the middle Chen Huang from the Heavenly Stream Peak? Who did this to them?! How audacious!¡±


    Many of the onlookers didn¡¯t dare to get any closer. They only stood from afar to watch the scene before them. Their mouths were dry and their tongues were tied. When did Standstill Peak ever contain such a powerful person?


    Meanwhile, Old Man Liu rested somewhere else. Jiang Xiaofan hid among the trees to monitor the nine. Upon seeing so many people gathering near him, he felt that it was too embarrassing for him to continue lying around. He walked out, cleared his throat, and said, ¡°Ahem. So, do you guys want to help me rebuild the complex?¡±


    Fuck! They wanted to curse him out loud. This guy¡¯s an animal!


    However, some of them were in a daze as they looked at the man in front of them. Suddenly, their backs chilled. They recognized Jiang Xiaofan. Damn it! Isn¡¯t this the same guy who beat up Zhu Yunlin from a couple of days ago?


    ¡°Shit! It¡¯s that vicious person!¡±


    Their eyes bulged so much that they nearly popped out. In an instant, their suspicions were confirmed. After all, this was the Vicious One who had assaulted Zhu Xidao¡¯s younger brother. It was of no surprise to them that he would do something like forced labor.


    ¡°Why is he here?¡±


    ¡°I thought he went to the Infinite Heaven Peak.¡±


    Many of the gatherers had witnessed the selection tournament for inner disciples from not long ago. They knew how strong Jiang Xiaofan was. Even Jin Mohao, who had wielded a spirit weapon, was no match for him and was almost beaten to death. How could a strong person like Jiang Xiaofan be assigned to Standstill Peak then?


    ¡°That¡¯s right¡­. By injuring Zhu Youwei and Zhu Yunlin, he had offended Zhu Xidao.¡± Within the crowd of onlookers were inner disciples. All they had to do was connect the dots, and they would have their mystery solved.


    Lin Quan and Tang You grew nervous. The nine disciples all belonged to the three main peaks. There was a high probability that the nines¡¯ peers were within this crowd of onlookers. If their fellow disciples were to charge at the two all at once, Lin Quan and Tang You had no chance of holding them back.


    To their dismay, their intuition was accurate.  The crowd did have disciples from the respective three peaks. A green-robed man walked forth.


    However, things did not progress as they had expected. Rather, this person seemed to be familiar with Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mannerisms. He walked up to Jiang Xiaofan, gestured a fist salute, and spoke courteously, imploring Jiang Xiaofan to release his brothers.


    Their faces turned ashen. Wang Chong and the two others from the Heavenly Sun Peak wanted to throw bricks at their fellow disciple and curse him to hell. There were already three of them and their cultivation levels were at seventh heaven of Micro Realm. If they all attacked Jiang Xiaofan at once, there was no way that they couldn¡¯t defeat a fifth heaven Micro Realm waste.


    The green-robed man inwardly swore and wanted to give Wang Chong and the two a good slap across the face. He was present at the selection tournament and had witnessed that particular battle. Wasn¡¯t Jin Mohao very formidable? He was a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator with a spirit weapon in his hands, yet in the end, he was pummeled by the Vicious One to near death.


    Unless he teamed up with a Realm of Dust cultivator, he had no chance of winning against Jiang Xiaofan. Even so, a Realm of Dust cultivator was already considered a godly being. How could he even invite one to join the battle?


    ¡°That¡¯s not possible. They damaged Old Man Liu¡¯s residence, and it¡¯s not even fully repaired yet. They can¡¯t just leave with the work undone,¡± snubbed Jiang Xiaofan. He then continued, ¡°Of course, you can always ask a Realm of Dust to save them, or even the leaders of your peaks will do.¡±


    Immediately, cold air settled among the crowd. This guy is indeed the Vicious One! He¡¯s ridiculously savage! He actually asked the green-robed man to bring a Realm of Dust cultivator, even the leader of the Heavenly Sun Peak, to retrieve the nine disciples.


    ¡°Er¡­.¡±


    At this time, the green-robed man was caught between a rock and a hard place. Being able to find someone with a cultivation level at the Realm of Dust was unlikely. Those godly beings were usually hidden away in secluded training. It was impossible for him to extend an invitation to one. As for reporting to the peak leader, that was even more impossible. Everyone knew of the situation regarding Standstill Peak. If certain actions were covertly carried out, they could get away with the consequences; however, if they were to surface, then that would be a problem. Therefore, alarming the leader of the Heavenly Sun Peak meant that the three disciples, who were now doing labor, would end up facing harsh punishment.


    It was obvious that Jiang Xiaofan had figured all of this out, and it was because of this that he could care less about the consequences. Jiang Xiaofan coldly smirked. Those ungrateful old bastards from the Emperor Heaven¡¯s Sect want to use this underhanded method to slowly kill off Old Man Liu? Since he had been assigned to this peak, he naturally had to reciprocate their good intentions.


    ¡°Hehe.¡± Just then, a crisp and pleasant sound of laughter echoed. Ye Yuanxue had appeared, and she stood before Xiaofan. With her large, dewy eyes and her signature mischievous smile, she teasingly said, ¡°So it is you! You¡¯re too naughty!¡±


    Starry-eyed, the onlookers stared at the beautiful girl and were unable to turn their gaze away.


    ¡°Haha, well¡­. I¡¯m actually a nice guy. It¡¯s just that these people are too demanding.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan chortled. He was overwhelmed with happiness after seeing Ye Yuanxue again. He nearly lost self-control and embraced her with a bear hug.


    ¡°Beast!¡±


    Upon seeing the intimacy between Jiang Xiaofan and the fairy-like girl, many onlookers admired and envied him, even drawing spite from some of them.


    Jiang Xiaofan was now a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator. Coupled with the peerless, ancient Buddhist Sutra, his hearing had become very sharp. Instantly angered, he shouted, ¡°The hell?! You¡¯re the beast! You¡¯re all beasts!¡±


    The onlookers wanted to roll their eyes but then reconsidered. They couldn¡¯t do anything to this guy and had no courage to do so. Ultimately, he was the one who had detained the inner disciples from the main peaks and beat up Zhu Xidao¡¯s brother.


    Like an excited puppy, Lin Quan ran over and busily introduced himself to Ye Yuanxue. His face broke into a radiant smile.


    Tang You then kicked Lin Quan to the side, puffed his chest out with pride, and stated, ¡°I¡¯m Tang You. Miss Fairy, may I have your name?¡±


    Abruptly, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face darkened. He kicked out both of them with one leg each, smoothed out his hair, and declared, ¡°She¡¯s mine! Don¡¯t even think about stealing her from me, or I¡¯ll smash you!¡±


    ¡°Ptooey! Who¡¯s yours?! You big, perverted wolf!¡± Ye Yuanxue¡¯s cheeks immediately blushed, and she glared at Jiang Xiaofan. The corner of her mouth then quirked up, and she chaffed him, ¡°You are such a bad boy. You better be careful, or else I¡¯ll tell my sister to take good care of you!¡±


    ¡°Cough cough! Uh, I didn¡¯t say anything!¡±


    He was joking of course. Ye Yuanxue was the most distinguished disciple from the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Her existence in the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was like that of Zhu Xidao¡¯s. If she were to teach Jiang Xiaofan a lesson, he would have a difficult time digesting it.


    ¡°You playboy! Can¡¯t you be serious for once? Hmph! I¡¯ll call you perverted wolf from now on!¡± Ye Yuanxue ground her teeth and muttered. She then remembered something and said, ¡°That¡¯s right! I just took up a task at the Xuanyang Pavilion and was on my way to find you. Let¡¯s go there together.¡±

 Chapter 19

    Jiang Xiaofan was bewildered as to why Ye Yuanxue was given a task. Could it be that the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect had some sort of task agency? However, he gave no further thought into it. After all, he was already delighted that he could be with Ye Yuanxue again.


    He turned his head in the direction of the dilapidated complex, played with the rock in his hand, and jeered, ¡°If anyone slacks off, I¡¯ll let you witness firsthand what true ¡®misfortune¡¯ means.¡±


    All the onlookers were disgusted. This guy was too much of a scumbag. He just did whatever he wished. How could he detain the three peaks¡¯ inner disciples, force them to labor, and threaten them?! Wasn¡¯t he afraid that they would gang up on him in the future?


    ¡°Haha, you¡­.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue giggled. Jiang Xiaofan had already given her an account of what had transpired. She had nothing to say about it, except that it intrigued her.


    The green-robed man who stood off to the side felt somewhat embarrassed. Jiang Xiaofan was determined to punish these nine unless a Realm of Dust cultivator or an elder was willing to step in. There was no room for any further discussion.


    In other words, this was the nine disciples¡¯ death penalty. Would a Realm of Dust cultivator really intervene? The answer was no. It was futile in even thinking about someone with the status of an elder coming to save them. They would never impede on such a trivial matter.


    Jiang Xiaofan ignored the man. He looked at Ye Yuanxue and asked, ¡°Only the two of us?¡±


    ¡°No¡­. There¡¯s another one.¡±


    It was evident that Ye Yuanxue didn¡¯t place great importance on her task. Instead, she circled the nine people who were busily repairing the dilapidated complex. On her delicately chiseled complexion was an enchanting smile.


    Immediately, the nine disciples¡¯ faces paled. Without a doubt, Ye Yuanxue was very beautiful and had an ethereal temperament. However, they weren¡¯t in the mood to admire her. All they wanted was to quickly repair this stupid complex and leave. The feeling of being surrounded and watched was too unbearable for them because it was at odds with their pride.


    ¡°Ahem¡­.¡±  Old Man Liu walked out of the forest that he had been resting in.


    ¡°Old Man Liu.¡± Jiang Xiaofan hurried over to assist him. Towards the old man, Jiang Xiaofan treated him with the utmost respect. He gave Jiang Xiaofan the feeling of warmth and kindliness.


    ¡°Hello, sir.¡± Ye Yuanxue acknowledged him, walked over, and tended to him on the other side.


    ¡°Haha, good. Very good.¡±


    Old Man Liu chuckled as usual and elicited his air of benevolence. He glanced at Ye Yuanxue and nodded his head. It was apparent that he was fond of this spirited young girl.


    ¡°Child, let them go.¡± Old Man Liu turned to look at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded. Old Man Liu was too kind. He couldn¡¯t bear to go against the old man¡¯s wish. Besides, the dilapidated complex was almost fully repaired. At the very least, sheltering them against the wind and rain was no longer a problem.


    To the nine people, being able to leave this place was the best news that they had heard in a long while. Without uttering any words of spite, they quickly fled Standstill Peak, not wanting to spend a minute longer there.


    ¡°Yo! Standstill Peak is not the place for people to gawk at girls! Unless any of you want to stay here and repair the mountain path?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan was displeased that the onlookers were still gathered around.


    These people were indeed attracted to Ye Yuanxue¡¯s complexion and temperament. However, upon hearing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s unscrupulous threat, they immediately became speechless. Their faces darkened as they thought about how immoral this Jiang Xiaofan, the bastard, was.


    Seemingly very curious, Jiang Xiaofan brought Ye Yuanxue on a tour around Standstill Peak. Lin Quan and Tang You wanted to tag along but gave up this improbable notion after noticing the menacing look on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face.


    As the sky began to darken, Ye Yuanxue sweetly smiled and bade farewell to Old Man Liu. She then pulled Jiang Xiaofan to the side and whispered, ¡°Come to the Heavenly Maiden Peak tomorrow. You can find me in the House of Yiya.¡±


    Needless to say, Jiang Xiaofan naturally agreed and scheduled his rendezvous with Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°You better be on time! Otherwise, I¡¯ll tell my sister to bully you!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue impishly smiled, revealing her two adorable snaggleteeth. Her delicate cheeks flushed red, making Jiang Xiaofan want to pounce on her and take a bite.


    On the next day, Jiang Xiaofan waved goodbye to Old Man Liu, Lin Quan, and Tang You. After all, he was a member of Standstill Peak. He had a responsibility to let them know what he was up to. Otherwise, they would worry about his sudden disappearance.


    ¡°Be careful.¡± Old Man Liu gently smiled and stared fixedly at Jiang Xiaofan as if he was gazing at his own grandson.


    Lin Quan and Tang You escorted Jiang Xiaofan down the mountain. When they arrived at the base, the two of them suddenly grew wary. They surveyed their surroundings and murmured, ¡°Boss, are you really heading to the Heavenly Maiden Peak?¡±


    Even though he wasn¡¯t a long-time resident of Standstill Peak, he was already well-acquainted with everyone on the peak. He felt despondent each time he was called ¡°the Vicious One¡±. As a result, he relied on his disreputable ways, inveigling Lin Quan and Tang You to call him ¡°Boss¡± and to follow him from now on.


    Both of them knew the connotation of ¡°Boss¡± but didn¡¯t see anything negative about it. They were close in age, and Jiang Xiaofan was much more powerful than them. With a click, the two of them now referred to Jiang Xiaofan as Boss.


    Perplexed, Jiang Xiaofan eyed them. Is there something wrong with me going to the Heavenly Maiden Peak?


    ¡°The Heavenly Maiden Peak and Standstill Peak are vastly different! There are rules!¡± muttered Lin Quan.


    He was at a loss of words. Jiang Xiaofan, of course, knew that the Heavenly Maiden Peak had rules. It was one of the seven main peaks, but so what? No matter what, it was just a mountain. It wasn¡¯t as if he didn¡¯t know about it. Was there a need to announce the obvious?


    He looked at the sky. The sun was beginning to rise. Without listening any further to both of them, he waved goodbye and hastily left. ¡°I don¡¯t know when I¡¯ll be back. Take good care of the old man.¡±


    ¡°Boss, that place forbids¡­.¡± Tang You wanted to continue, but Jiang Xiaofan had already disappeared.


    Lin Quan shrugged and bitterly smiled. ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just wait here. Boss will return soon.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t familiar with the layout of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, but what he could do was to ask someone for directions. However, every time he mentioned going to the Heavenly Maiden Peak, the other party would shoot him a strange glare. This befuddled him.


    Nevertheless, Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t one to dwell on this question for long. Soon, he reached the base of the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Overall, this mountain could be described as extraordinary. Purple streams of air, filled with spiritual qi, blanketed the mountain. In the middle of the ancient mountain were boundless spiritual greenery and towering primordial trees, which emanated spiritual essence.


    ¡°Hold it right there!¡±


    Standing before the gate were two female disciples who blocked Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s path. Although their appearances were not on par with the Ye sisters, they were, nevertheless, charming. If they were placed on Planet Earth, they would most definitely be beauties.


    ¡°I need to go up in the search for someone. If it does not trouble you, Shijie, please be my guide. Thank you,¡± explained Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Huh?¡± The two girls were taken aback.


    ¡°I said, my friend is up there. I have to go look for her. I¡¯m not very familiar with the geography of the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Therefore, please kindly guide me to her.¡± Jiang Xiaofan maintained his smile. He thought himself to be the perfect and polite gentlemen.


    ¡°Absolutely no! We will not let you in, nor will we you guide you!¡± The two girls shook their heads. If not for Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s harmless smile, they would¡¯ve assumed that the person before them was a troublemaker.


    ¡°Why can¡¯t you let me go in?¡±


    ¡°The Heavenly Maiden Peak only allows females to enter! Males are forbidden to step foot inside!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan rolled his eyes. He finally understood what Lin Quan meant by ¡°rules¡±. Still, why was this the case?! Which spinster laid down this rule?! Did she not know that men and female were both equal?! Sexual discrimination is unethical!


    Of course, he didn¡¯t dare to voice his thoughts out loud. He examined the girls and continued to grin. ¡°Um, beautiful ladies, how about this? Do you think that you can make an exception this time? I swear to Heaven that I¡¯m a good person!¡±


    ¡°No means no!¡± Their expressions grew stony.


    Jiang Xiaofan was dejected. Should I give up? He quickly shook his head in disapproval. He had already agreed to meet up with Ye Yuanxue. Breaking a promise with a girl, especially a girl whom he liked, was unmannerly.


    Jiang Xiaofan racked his brain. All of a sudden, his eyes lit up. He abruptly raised his head, pointed towards the sky, and shouted, ¡°Look! A flying saucer!¡±


    ¡°Flying saucer? What¡¯s that?¡±


    The two girls instinctively looked in the direction that Jiang Xiaofan pointed at. Afterward, a golden ray of light flashed past them and swept up a breeze.

 Chapter 20

    The two girls saw nothing, and when they turned their heads back, they had lost trace of Jiang Xiaofan. Just when they began to suspect something, they noticed a person staring wide-eyed past them. Suddenly, they felt that something was amiss and turned around to look behind them.


    ¡°You! How dare you intrude on the grounds of the Heavenly Maiden Peak!¡±


    Seeing Jiang Xiaofan leisurely climbing up the ancient steps of the mountain, the two female disciples grew irate. They charged at him, prompting Jiang Xiaofan to madly dash upward.


    Onlookers stared on with their mouth open, big enough to stuff a duck egg inside. Could it be that this person had consumed the legendary gall of an immortal[1]? Otherwise, how could someone be brave enough to encroach on the Heavenly Maiden Peak?


    Lin Quan and Tang You were still waiting in the same spot while anticipating Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s return. To their dismay, he had not yet come back. Meanwhile, the entire sect nearly erupted into chaos. Waves after waves of disciples scuttled to the Heavenly Maiden Peak.


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lin Quan held up a passerby.


    ¡°An intruder at the Heavenly Maiden Peak!¡± After a one-sentence response, the passerby skedaddled.


    Lin Quan and Tang You then gazed at each other, saw the surprise in each other¡¯s eyes, and just about fainted. The didn¡¯t need to think too hard to figure out who the intruder was. Other than their boss, Jiang Xiaofang the Vicious One, there was no one else who would be this audacious.


    Around this time, it was as if the Heavenly Maiden Peak had sounded sirens across its grounds. Nearly every female disciple leaped into action. Someone actually dared to intrude on their territory! Since the founding of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, no one had the gall to do such a thing.


    Jiang Xiaofan had already climbed up to the peak. The view was breathtaking. Spiritual flowers grew abundantly, and spiritual grass covered the earth. Numerous complexes filled the background. The scene was akin to that of an immortal realm.


    However, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t have the time nor was he in the mood to enjoy it. He hid behind a fake mountain and looked at the countless numbers of disciples coming and going. All of them seemed vexed, and their expressions were icy as if someone had massacred their families.


    He continued to hide behind the fake mountain and made no movements. He remembered that Ye Yuanxue said that she resided at the House of Yiya; however, he didn¡¯t know the location of that building. With so many existing complexes, he couldn¡¯t just go around and confirm one by one, right?


    Should I ask someone? Immediately after having this thought, he violently shook his head. If he did that, then he would definitely be captured and paraded around as a warning to future intruders. Even worse, he might even be killed.


    ¡°Too tragic!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan rolled his eyes, but he soon spotted a middle-aged woman standing in midair. Her expression was frosty, causing him to uncontrollably shiver. No matter how he examined the woman, her cultivation level appeared to be beyond that of the Micro Realm.


    He carefully concealed his qi and went into the state of suppression. No sooner had he done that did a powerful spiritual awareness sweep over him.


    Jiang Xiaofan felt extremely fortunate. It was a good thing that he possessed the brass piece. Otherwise, with his cultivation, it would impossible to conceal himself from the spiritual awareness of a cultivator with a level at the Realm of Dust or higher.


    Just then, someone mysteriously and quietly appeared beside the middle-aged woman. This was an old woman with many wrinkles etched on the corners of her eyes. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart nearly jumped out of his ribcage. He could sense an ocean of energy from this old woman¡¯s body. At the very least, her cultivation level was that of Phantom Saint. He never imagined that his presence at the Heavenly Maiden¡¯s Peak would attract the attention of such almighty figures.


    The middle-aged woman treated the old woman with great respect and whispered something to her. Afterward, the old woman¡¯s forehead glowed, and an intense, powerful spiritual awareness surged forth, covering all corners of the Heavenly Maiden¡¯s Peak.


    In an instant, Jiang Xiaofan felt as if he was submerged in an ocean. His body grew cold, his complexion paled, and chills ran down his spine. This old woman was too terrifying. Her level was definitely on par with that elder from the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation.


    It was a good thing that the brass piece¡¯s mystical power was able to conceal every ounce of his qi. Not long after, the powerful spiritual awareness dissipated. The old woman furrowed her brows and shook her head at the middle-aged woman. She said something and then vanished into thin air.


    Right after the old woman disappeared, the middle-aged woman swept the area again with her spiritual awareness and discovered nothing. With fruitless results, she no longer lingered and shot like a laser for the other side of the peak.


    ¡°Gods! That scared the hell out of me!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan almost fell to his knees. Sweat dripped down his back. Since no one was around, he quickly fled the scene. Under the concealment of the brass piece, he prowled around for the House of Yiya while dodging everyone.


    He didn¡¯t know how long he had searched before finally coming across a location that looked to be a rear court. At the forefront was a spiritual spring with white mist floating gently above the steamy water. Its color was clear, but it was difficult to see the bottom of the spring and how deep it was.


    ¡°Damn it! The people of this peak are so bigoted! Is there a need for this?!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan cursed as he walked forward. He was full of grievances at this time. Along the way, in order to avoid the Heavenly Maiden Peak¡¯s disciples, he had to hide between random clusters of rocks, in the middle of thorny shrubs, and under the lotus leaves in the pool. It couldn¡¯t get any more tragic than what he had gone through.


    Most importantly, he had discovered the presence of three Phantom Saint and five Realm of Dust cultivators. Alongside the Micro Realm disciples, practically everyone was in the hunt for him, scaring the living daylights out of him. If not for the mystical brass piece, he didn¡¯t know how many times he would¡¯ve been caught.


    Jiang Xiaofan walked to the edge of the spring and use its water to cleanse his face of the dirt and sweat. The water was warm and had a clean, refreshing smell to it. He couldn¡¯t help but take a few sips. The taste was slightly sweet. In no time, he was reinvigorated.


    He glanced sideways. Not far from him to his right was a pile of white clothes. He casually picked them up. On top was a white long skirt with silver-laced edges. Underneath was an undershirt that emanated a faint, flowery fragrance. It smelled sweet like nectar.


    ¡°How can these girls just toss their clothes around like this?!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was very confused. With one hand holding the long skirt and the other holding the undershirt, he looked around but saw nobody, not even a shadow.


    At this moment, the water began to slowly ripple from the center of the spring. Tiny air bubbles emerged and floated to the surface of the water.


    ¡°Are there fishes?¡±


    He stared fixedly at the water¡¯s surface. Just then, a head full of black mane burst forth with water droplets splashing everywhere. This person had silky, cascading black hair, long but thick eyelashes, and an exquisitely delicate complexion. Below the water, he could faintly see curvy flesh on her chest.


    That¡¯s a woman! This is the scene of a bathing fairy! And¡­. And it¡¯s live action!


    Stunned, Jiang Xiaofan gawked at her. This girl was beautiful beyond words. She was about nineteen years old but no more than twenty. Her jade-like arms froze just above the water. With eyes widened, she stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan lowered his head and looked at the skirt and the shirt in his hands. He didn¡¯t even need to think to know that they belonged to the bathing fairy.


    He grew dizzy as he watched the girl¡¯s expression grow from horror to shame and finally to anger. Jiang Xiaofan curbed his cold sweat from dripping down and weakly explained, ¡°If I told you that I was merely passing by, would you¡­. believe me?¡±


    The girl¡¯s alluring face flushed crimson, and her small frame trembled. As she got angrier, the fluctuations in her terrible spiritual energy grew increasingly unsteady and uncontrollable. Currently, she was no less formidable than Ye Qiuyu. Jiang Xiaofan was immediately shaken to the core. Without explaining further, he fled the scene.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    Behind him was a piercing cry. The temperature of the air around him severely dropped, and a layer of thick ice soon blanketed the greenery. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s stomach was in knots as he almost tripped head first onto the ground.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 21

    Gods! Jiang Xiaofan swore at Heaven. I didn¡¯t do this on purpose! How was I supposed to know that there was a girl in the spring? If I knew, then I¡¯d¡­. Um, I would¡­. probably not go near there?


    Jiang Xiang wasn¡¯t sure of himself, but then he grew indignant as he thought about it more. That girl was otherworldly beautiful; therefore, even a morally adamant man like him was enticed by her. It was no wonder why people used to say that ¡°Becoming an amorous ghost is worth it if it means being able to die under a peony.¡±[1]


    ¡°Argh! Ptooey!¡±


    He ground his teeth and repeatedly muttered, ¡°Form is emptiness.¡±[2] What was currently at stake was escaping for his life. That girl behind me is beautiful, for sure. There¡¯s nothing to nitpick about but fuck! She¡¯s too scary! Her cultivation level is at least at Phantom Saint.


    How could he afford to offend someone at that level? If he was caught, his life would probably have been over.


    Sounds of *zaa zaa* resonated throughout the area. Disaster struck as snow flurried down and the atmosphere grew frigid. The trees and plants, once full of spiritual qi, were currently covered in layers of frost, which then shattered into ice chips.


    The air above his head chilled. Without any further thinking, he dove into the cluster of rocks before him. With a radiant flash of the brass piece, his qi was instantly concealed.


    Behind him was another piercing cry, frightening Jiang Xiaofan so much that he held his breath.


    Jiang Xiaofan had always snarked at the saying, ¡°There must be injustice when snow falls in June.¡± Snow is a natural phenomenon. What the hell does it have to do with injustice?!


    However, he now faithfully believed it. He really had been wronged! What he faced was even more deplorable than what Dou E[3] had gone through.


    Standing by the side of the spring, the girl had already been fully dressed. She was tall and lithe, just like a water lily. She had fair skin, translucent like jade, and possessed an ethereal demeanor. However, her expression was icy with an obvious hint of anger.


    The girl was shocked that she had lost trace of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s aura. Her cultivation was at the eighth heaven of Phantom Saint. How could she have lost track of a Micro Realm cultivator and especially under her own nose?! It baffled her as to how she was unable to sense any presence of his qi.


    Even so, the girl didn¡¯t leave immediately. Fury raged inside her, and not long after, a radiating ice sword formed in her hand. She hacked at her surroundings. Grass flew everywhere, and trees were severed. It seemed as if she would stop at nothing in order to find Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan grew even more nervous. The girl was not far away from where he was hiding. He wondered if he should go out and apologize to her, but the moment he peeped through a small crack in the rock and saw her stone-cold expression, he immediately rejected the thought.


    Wherever the girl walked, the ¡°goose marked its territory.¡±[4] Whatever appeared in her sight could not escape fate, and they were instantly destroyed.


    Staring at the ice sword inching closer, cold beads of sweat formed on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s forehead. He inwardly prayed to every single deity and buddha out there, even the Virgin Mary, for his safety.


    He didn¡¯t know whether it was his sincerity that had touched the deities and buddhas, or the Virgin Mary who had bestowed upon him her grace. A familiar, melodic voice from afar echoed into this quiet, little place.


    ¡°Sister Bingxin, what¡¯s wrong? What happened here?¡±


    It was Ye Yuanxue, and behind her was Ye Qiuyu. The two of them looked perplexed as they surveyed the environment.


    Upon hearing her sweet voice and seeing her, tears welled up in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes and streamed down his face. He suddenly remembered a verse by Brother Qiji. ¡°Among the thousands of others, I search for her presence everywhere time and time again. I suddenly turn around and see her underneath the stillness of the dim lights.¡±[5]


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er!¡±


    Before the girl could open her mouth, Jiang Xiaofan jumped out, charged ahead, and stopped in front of Ye Yuanxue. If Ye Qiuyu wasn¡¯t here, he would give Ye Yuanxue a bear hug and then tell her of his woes. This time, he had greatly suffered from this terrible misfortune.


    ¡°You lecher!¡±


    The scene this time was a different one. Without time for Ye Yuanxue and Ye Qiuyu to respond, the enraged Bingxin sliced at Jiang Xiaofan with her ice sword. In an instant, the temperature of the surroundings dropped several more degrees.


    The power of a Phantom Saint cultivator was no joke; it was very terrifying. In fact, if not for the peerless techniques in the Buddhist Sutra, Jiang Xiaofan would¡¯ve already been cleaved in half by her strike.


    Bingxin and Ye Qiuyu were astonished. They had never imagined that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s agility would be this fast.


    Even though Bingxin hadn¡¯t used her full strength, her cultivation level, nevertheless, was at Phantom Saint. With her capabilities, she could easily overpower a mere Micro Realm cultivator. Yet, Jiang Xiaofan was able to dodge her attack!


    However, once they saw where Jiang Xiaofan had landed after dodging, their expressions drastically changed, especially Ye Yuanxue¡¯s. She gazed at Jiang Xiaofan with a certain deep feeling etched in her eyes. As for Bingxin, she glared at Jiang Xiaofan with disdain.


    ¡°Look here. It¡¯s just a misunderstanding. A really big misunderstanding!¡±


    He blushed after realizing where he had dodged to. He cleared his throat and walked out from behind Ye Yuanxue. Currently, he really felt like dying. Damn it! I¡¯m a man! How could I cower behind a girl?!


    Heaven didn¡¯t pity him. Jiang Xiaofan now felt that he had been wronged even more. He only wanted to dodge the ice sword. Out of instinct, he didn¡¯t think about the direction that he was dodging towards. Once he had stopped and realized where he was, he was already behind Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°Sister Bingxin, why do you call Perverted Wolf a lecher?¡± asked Ye Yuanxue as she eyed Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan really wanted to vomit blood and roll his eyes. Is there even a difference between perverted wolf and lecher? Still, he pondered. Alright, fine. Lecher seems to be one step worse than a perverted wolf.


    Bingxin¡¯s face darkened as she narrowed her eyes at Jiang Xiaofan. Because Ye Yuanxue had asked, she couldn¡¯t help but think of the incident from earlier. Bingxin¡¯s delicate face flushed crimson, and she bit down on her lips. Her grip on the ice sword tightened.


    ¡°Bingxin, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Ye Yuanxue softly asked her.


    ¡°Nothing!¡±


    Bingxin clenched her jaw. Her expression had completely frosted over. She looked at Jiang Xiaofan with murder in her eyes. How could she tell Ye Qiuyu that Jiang Xiaofan had seen her exposed body? It was too shameful!


    Jiang Xiaofan was giddy with joy. This was exactly what he had wagered on. He had guessed that Bingxin wouldn¡¯t disclose what had happened, and this was also the reason why he had dared to reveal himself. He wasn¡¯t dumb. After all, he had just seen a genius Phantom Saint female cultivator naked. She would definitely be livid from shame and wish upon him a grisly death.


    At the same time, Jiang Xiaofan also knew that a genius such as herself wouldn¡¯t willingly mention such a shameful incident to her peers. In addition, it seemed as if Bingxin and the Ye sisters were on good terms and almost like best friends. Therefore, she wouldn¡¯t make a move on him in front of them. After all, he and the Ye sisters had a friendly relationship.


    To his expectations, Jiang Xiaofan had bet correctly!


    Ye Qiuyu eyed Bingxin suspiciously and then looked at Jiang Xiaofan. She asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    After speaking, Ye Qiuyu then thought of another matter. The gaze in her eyes was strange. She examined him from head to toe. ¡°The one who ate the legendary gall of an immortal wouldn¡¯t be you, right?¡±


    ¡°Er¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan knew what Ye Qiuyu was referring to. Embarrassed, he blushed. He was left with no choice but to recall the entire ordeal.


    Ye Qiuyu was speechless. She poked Ye Yuanxue¡¯s forehead and admonished her, ¡°You! What a ruckus! How can the Heavenly Maiden Peak allow a man to enter its grounds? I can¡¯t believe that you told Jiang Gongzi to meet up with you at the House of Yiya!¡±


    ¡°Hehe, I forgot.¡±


    In front of her elder sister, Ye Yuanxue acted meekly. Feeling awkward, she playfully stuck out her tongue. She hadn¡¯t given much thought to it when she told Jiang Xiaofan to come to find her.


    The Heavenly Maiden Peak had always forbidden men from entering. This was the rule laid down by the peak¡¯s first-generation leader. Without the permission of the leader, even someone with the status of an elder could not step on the grounds of the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Otherwise, they would lose their precious member and be expelled from the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    Due to what Ye Qiuyu had said, Jiang Xiaofan was again drenched in cold. Shit! This is the thing that I need for proliferating future generations! He peered down at his crotch and subconsciously held his legs tightly.


    Fuck! The first-generation leader had to be a wicked witch! If not that, then she had to be a thousand-year-old spinster, and one whom men abhorred.


    Jiang Xiaofan mercilessly cursed at her. He thought to himself that from now on, he would never come in contact with anything that was related to that old spinster. Wherever she had walked, he would not step foot on, or else he would be forever ill-fated.


    Of course, the girls didn¡¯t know what thoughts were currently running through Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mind. Ye Yuanxue giggled as she looked at him, and occasionally tugged his earlobe and pulled his hair as if it was very entertaining. Bingxin maintained her frosty expression while repeatedly clutching her ice sword and loosening the hold in her hands. On the other hand, Ye Qiuyu furrowed her brows, seemingly contemplating something.


    Ye Qiuyu¡¯s status among the Heavenly Maiden Peak¡¯s disciples was unusual. She was the only core disciple on the peak. Her cultivation was extremely formidable, and her innate talent was extraordinary. As a result, she was greatly valued by the leader of the peak.


    Because of his relationship with her sister in addition to him giving her several stalks of Immortal Spirit Root, Ye Qiuyu had to help Jiang Xiaofan out of this predicament.


    With discretion, Ye Qiuyu took out a jade pendant and handed it to Jiang Xiaofan. In a serious tone, she remarked, ¡°Please take good care of this jade pendant. Carry it with you at all times, and you will be able to freely enter and exit the Heavenly Maiden Peak. The other sisters will no longer trouble you.¡±


    The jade pendant was a white nephrite with a slight, dark-yellow hue. Jiang Xiaofan placed it in his pocket and continuously thanked her.


    Watching Ye Qiuyu take out the jade pendant, Bingxin¡¯s expression changed from stone-cold to bewilderment for a brief moment, but she soon recovered her icy temperament.


    Jiang Xiaofan walked with Ye Yuanxue side by side as the four of them headed to the House of Yiya. The Heavenly Maiden Peak¡¯s disciples were still relentlessly searching for the intruder who had eaten the legendary gall of an immortal. Consequently, Ye Qiuyu had to take charge and resolve the issue by explaining meticulously to the disciples.


    Following along, Jiang Xiaofan pulled out his jade pendant and waved it in front of the numerous disciples. He didn¡¯t know what this thing exactly was, so he felt more or less perturbed.


    ¡°That¡¯s the¡­.¡±


    They were stupefied as they looked at the object in his hand with widened eyes.


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take it out before?!¡±


    One of the girls asked him and warily looked at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan glanced back at her. He remembered that the one asking him was one of the two girls at the base of the mountain from yesterday. Immediately, he felt too embarrassed at the situation, so he replied, ¡°Um, I forgot. Everyone, I am deeply sorry. Heh¡­. Heh heh¡­.¡±


    Since the person before her displayed decent manners and was holding the token, all the girls snorted *hmph*, curtsied to Ye Qiuyu, and dispersed. Among them was the middle-aged Realm of Dust female whom Jiang Xiaofan had seen earlier.


    This surprised him. Ye Qiuyu¡¯s status as a core disciple was indeed special!


    ¡°Oh yeah, Shijie, next time when I come to the Heavenly Maiden Peak, you girls won¡¯t stop me, right?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was somewhat worried. He needed confirmation, so he asked the female disciple who was standing guard beside the gate.


    ¡°You¡¯re holding the first-generation leader¡¯s token! Who will dare to stop you?!¡± Disgruntled, she turned to leave.


    Jiang Xiaofan was stunned. Afterward, the feeling of wanting to curse again welled up inside him. It took him great effort to not throw the pendant away. Previously, he had unforgivingly questioned the intentions of the peak¡¯s first-generation leader, and now to his dismay, he was using that old spinster¡¯s token as a lifesaver!


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 22

    Jiang Xiaofan recollected the story of past events, and below was what had happened.


    A long time ago, the first-generation leader of the Heavenly Maiden Peak laid down a rule which stated to never allow any man to step foot on the grounds of the peak. All violators were to be castrated and expelled from the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. Although this was unjustifiable, many people abided by this rule due to the might of the peak¡¯s leader. No one dared to question it.


    However, many years later, a certain someone with a certain reason broke this rule and entered the Heavenly Maiden Peak. All of the peak¡¯s disciples hunted him down. Exasperated to the very end, he pulled out the first-generation leader¡¯s jade pendant and relied on it to save his life. Afterward, he could enter and exit the Heavenly Maiden Peak as he wished.


    Reflecting upon the story, Jiang Xiaofan suddenly wanted to vomit blood. What the hell was this supposed to be?


    Even though the old spinster was now a pile of dust and that his incident had nothing to do with her, he still got the feeling that the old spinster had beaten him with a stick and then rewarded him with a carrot. Not to mention, she fucking beat him across the channel of space and time! He was the only who was hit.


    This was too depressing!


    He really wanted to return the jade pendant to Ye Qiuyu, but then he thought about it some more and gave up on the idea. It would be discourteous of him to return an already accepted gift. Besides, this pendant seemed handy.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, what¡¯s with that strange look on your face? What¡¯s going on?¡± Ye Yuanxue curiously glanced at him.


    Jiang Xiaofan wryly smiled and rolled his eyes. Please, can you stop calling me that? I¡¯m a handsome guy with a pure soul. How can you associate me with a perverted wolf?


    ¡°Hmph! Lecher!¡±


    Beside them was the ice-cold Bingxin who snorted. She assumed that since Jiang Xiaofan now possessed the first-generation leader¡¯s token, he would take advantage of his newfound status. Dirty thoughts had to be running through his mind!


    Ye Qiyu shook her head and smiled. They had now entered one of the courtyards that was blooming with vibrant flowers and spiritual grass. This was the House of Yiya that Ye Yuanxue had mentioned. It was also where Ye Qiuyu resided. Ye Yuanxue had moved in to live with her after arriving at the Heavenly Maiden Peak.


    The four of them sat down at a nephrite round table. Immediately, Jiang Xiaofan broke into a cold sweat, and his mouth was agape. This was because he had just learned of Bingxin¡¯s identity from Ye Qiuyu. Oh my gods! She¡¯s the Ice Palace¡¯s Blessed Maiden, the future leader of the sect!


    Fuck! I saw the heir to the Ice Palace, one of Planet Ziwei¡¯s four largest sects, naked!


    Knowledge of this chilled him to the bone, and he grew depressed. What the hell is she, the Ice Palace¡¯s Blessed Maiden, doing here at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect?! Furthermore, let¡¯s forget about the fact that she¡¯s here. Why was she bathing in the spring? Couldn¡¯t she have gone back home to bathe? Agh!


    What terrible luck! Jiang Xiaofan felt that his life was too tragic. He didn¡¯t do it intentionally!


    What followed after that was even more tragic. Ye Yuanxue told him that the task which she had taken up required her to journey together with Bingxin to the Ice Palace. They had to retrieve a secret letter from there and hand it to the leader at the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation.


    What the fuck!


    Alarmed, Jiang Xiaofan almost jumped out of his seat. Damn it! He accidentally grabbed a tiger¡¯s tail and took great effort to escape from its maw, but then someone told him that he must accompany the tiger to retrieve something from the tiger¡¯s den. Does he have the courage to go? Of course not! That¡¯s the equivalent of courting with death! Shit! The one he touched was a female tiger to boot!


    ¡°Ahem. I don¡¯t know why, but I suddenly seemed to have encountered a problem. My spiritual awareness isn¡¯t flowing very smoothly. Maybe it¡¯s a side-effect of last time¡¯s cleansing. I¡¯m afraid that I cannot go.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan stared at Ye Yuanxue with a face full of regret, implying to her that he really wanted to go but couldn¡¯t. In reality, he was depressed that he had to give up this opportunity to be with her.


    ¡°It can¡¯t be? You looked fine last time.¡± Naturally, Ye Yuanxue didn¡¯t know that Jiang Xiaofan had lied to her.


    ¡°Ay¡­. Maybe it has to do with terminal lucidity.¡± Jiang Xiaofan heavily sighed.


    He had to comment on Ye Yuanxue¡¯s innocence. Even though she was quite mischievous, she was, nevertheless, extremely considerate. She told Jiang Xiaofan to rest well and that she would abnegate this time¡¯s task.


    Just when Jiang Xiaofan discreetly released a big sigh of relief, man had proposed, but the gods decided to dispose. The sullen Bingxin suddenly raised her head, glared at Jiang Xiaofan with contempt, and asked, ¡°You¡¯re not scared to go, are you?¡±


    ¡°Who¡­. Who said that I¡¯m scared?! What do I have to be scared of?! I¡¯m just not feeling well! That¡¯s all!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was aggrieved, yet he also felt somewhat ashamed because¡­. he really was scared.


    The Ye sisters looked at both of them with amusement. Afterward, Bingxin kept silent, but her expression remained the same. It was frosty, just like an ice princess. She stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan and pursed her lips. The look of scorn in her eyes was plain to see.


    All of a sudden, Jiang Xiaofan sensed that his masculinity had been threatened. In addition, it was a girl who looked down on him. He immediately decided that there was nothing to be afraid of. He would go! He needed to prove to them that he was a real man. Venturing into a tiger¡¯s den was a piece of cake!


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, don¡¯t give up on it just yet. I¡¯ll go with you!¡± Jiang Xiaofan assured her.


    ¡°But will your body be fine?¡± Ye Yuanxue cocked her head and looked at him.


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded his head with confidence written all over his face. He had no problems at all.


    ¡°As expected of the person who had dared to intrude on the Heavenly Maiden Peak! A real hero after all! Quite admirable!¡±


    Bingxin smiled at Jiang Xiaofan. She instantly became the living confirmation of an ancient verse from one of Bai Juyi¡¯s poems. ¡°Turning her head, she smiled so sweetly and full of grace that she outshone the fairest face among the six palaces.¡±[1]


    An absolute beauty who can bring down cities and nations!


    Normally, any man would die for her if such a beauty smiled at him. Contrarily, Jiang Xiaofan could only feel his hair stand on end. He immediately regretted his decision. Damn masculinity!


    He began to admire those cowards. That was called ¡°living life unfettered by chains!¡± They could take up responsibility or shirk whenever they desired. Who was he then? At most, he stood by his words, but, unfortunately, he didn¡¯t learn how to shirk.


    On that afternoon, the three of them departed. Ye Qiuyu escorted them down to the base of the mountain and reminded Ye Yuanxue to be careful while traveling. After that, she returned to the peak.


    This scene was captured by the eyes of many of the other disciples who had lingered around to watch the commotion that Jiang Xiaofan had caused earlier. All of had their jaws dropped to the ground. The one who had intruded on the Heavenly Maiden Peak scaled down the mountain unscathed! Moreover, it was the Heavenly Maiden Peak¡¯s core disciple, Ye Qiuyu, who saw him off!


    When they got a clear view of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face, their eyes bulged. Wasn¡¯t that the Vicious One?!


    This time, Jiang Xiaofan had certainly made a name for himself, arriving at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect less than half a year ago. First, he beat up Zhu Xidao¡¯s cousin and brother. Next, he detained the inner disciples from the three main peaks and forced them to labor. Now, he was able to escape uninjured after an intrusion on the Heavenly Maiden¡¯s Peak!


    ¡°Boss definitely lives up to his title! He¡¯s really no ordinary person!¡±


    Lin Quan and Tang You had been waiting for him in a nearby area. Upon seeing Jiang Xiaofan safe and sound, they couldn¡¯t help but revere him. However, the moment that they saw the two girls by his side, they completely ignored their Boss.


    If appreciating the aesthetics of things was a human¡¯s nature, then looking at a beautiful woman was a man¡¯s instinct. Like Lin Quan and Tang You, all the male cultivators around them were stunned as they gazed at the two girls. In fact, gulping sounds could be heard.


    ¡°Tsk tsk. What a bunch of perverted wolves!¡± Jiang Xiaofan shook his head.


    ¡°Better than a lecher!¡± Bingxin icily interjected.


    Abruptly, Jiang Xiaofan grew displeased. Shit! How could she say this?! Ever since they had met, she continuously called him a lecher. How do I look the part of a lecher?! Not to mention, has she ever seen a lecher as handsome as me before?!


    Unfortunately, he was no match for her. Otherwise, he would push her on the ground and XXOO[2] her a hundred times.


    Jiang Xiaofan noticed Lin Quan and Tang You and then told them of his destination. Under everybody¡¯s eyes of admiration, he was about to embark on a journey to the Ice Palace with Ye Yuanxue and Bingxin.


    Just when he was about to depart from the sect, he bumped into a familiar figure.


    Jin Mohao¡¯s injuries had already been healed. He and several other men donned vividly-colored robes together. With one glance, Jiang Xiaofan recognized the insignia on their clothing. These people belonged to the Heaven Infinite Peak!


    ¡°Yo! If it isn¡¯t that guy called Jiang!¡±


    Among them was one who knew Jiang Xiaofan. He jeered at him, but upon seeing Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue, the look on his face changed to astonishment.


    Jiang Xiaofan was the guy who had beaten Zhu Xidao¡¯s cousin and then his younger brother. Zhu Xidao was the core disciple of the Infinite Heaven Peak, the most prominent of all seven peaks. By offending Zhu Xidao, Jiang Xiaofan had become the Infinite Heaven Peak¡¯s public enemy.


    Jin Mohao¡¯s face darkened. His eyes flashed with murderous intent.


    Despite it all, he immediately remembered something and smirked. He gazed at Jiang Xiaofan and said, ¡°Daoist Jiang, Standstill Peak¡¯s not a bad place, yeah? Even though it¡¯s old and worn, I still think that it¡¯s a suitable place for you.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it¡¯s alright. However, Brother Jin, your injuries seemed to have healed pretty quickly. With so many bone fragments, it¡¯s surprising that you are now able to get out of bed and walk around at that rate of recovery. I thought that you¡¯d have to rest for several more months.¡± Jiang Xiaofan eyed him back.


    Instantly, Jin Mohao¡¯s complexion turned ashen. He originally wanted to salt Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s wounds and add insult to injury. Judging by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s power from their previous match, Jiang Xiaofan was supposed to enter one of the seven main peaks. For some reason though, he had been assigned to a forgotten, barren mountain.


    Anyone who had suffered this type of injustice would naturally be discontent. In addition, shedding light on this matter by a former opponent should elicit a terrible feeling within his heart. It should be the same as salting his wounds, or so Jin Mohao thought.


    Unexpectedly, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t care one bit at all. It was as if nothing had happened, just like a breeze that had barely tousled his hair. Rather, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s response was more humiliating to Jin Mohao.


    Anger welled up inside Jin Mohao. He wanted to provoke Jiang Xiaofan further, but he was held back by one of his fellows who shook his head at him.


    The men looked at each other, seemingly as if they had conjured up something even more malicious in a plan for Jiang Xiaofan. They then stared at Jiang Xiaofan with expressions of commiseration. Feeling smug, one of them replied, ¡°Come to think of it, Daoist Jiang, your behavior and actions were previously deemed unruly. A few of the elders were unhappy about it. That is why they have decided to discipline you and send you to Standstill Peak. They have also given the spirit sword that was supposed to be bestowed upon you to Brother Jin. Such a pity!¡±


    ¡°Indeed!¡± Jin Mohao nodded his head in agreement. He pulled out a dangerously glowing spirit sword. The blade was 30 centimeters in length. Jin Mohao wryly remarked, ¡°Accepting this felt quite heavy on part of my conscience. This was supposed to be yours after all.¡±


    At once, Jiang Xiaofan understood. He had previously wondered why six out of the seven peaks all had selected disciples except for one. It turned out that the Infinite Heaven had chosen the defeated Jin Mohao instead. As for the spirit weapon that was to be rewarded to the most powerful victor from the selection tournament, it was now in Jin Mohao¡¯s hands.


    Although he thought that this treatment was extremely unfair, he wasn¡¯t overly concerned with it. He eyed the spirit sword and excitedly exclaimed, ¡°This is the type of weapon that I¡¯m missing! Since you feel guilty, why not give it to me? That way, you won¡¯t feel guilty anymore! Besides, you¡¯ve already said it. This was originally mine!¡±


    In a flash, the smile from their faces disappeared. It was as if their words of attack landed on a block of cotton and dissipated, and their snarky remarks had no effect on him at all. The derisive look on their faces cracked. There was no greater setback than this.


    Ye Yuanxue discreetly giggled while Bingxin looked at Jiang Xiaofan with a strange expression.


    At this moment, everyone simultaneously came up with the same thought which was, ¡°How could this person be so thick-skinned?!¡±


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 23

    Jin Mohao and his gang were at a loss for words. The only thing that they could think of was that this person didn¡¯t know the meaning of the word ¡°shame¡±. His skin was so thick that there was no predecessor who had reached his degree of shamelessness, nor would there be a successor who could surpass him.


    Their faces turned gloomier after looking at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s lackadaisical expression, but soon, one of them coldly smirked. He eyed Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue and sighed, ¡°What a pair of peerless beauties whose charms stun the world! Unfortunately, hanging out with a certain someone is a cause for regret. This is like a lovely flower that was placed on top of cow dung!¡±


    Bingxin¡¯s sullen mood immediately plunged further. How dare someone associated her with Jiang Xiaofan! The icy-cold expression on her small face turned even frostier.


    At the same time, Ye Yuanxue¡¯s displeasure with these men heightened. She may be naughty, but her overall nature was kind and sincere. She had always hated spoiled, entitled people like them.


    The color on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s complexion changed. He wasn¡¯t angry that they had mocked him, but rather, he was somewhat scared. Fuck! These guys are the actual ones who ate the legendary gall of an immortal! How bold of them to tease these two distinguished ladies!


    Bingxin was a Phantom Saint cultivator and the successor to the esteemed Ice Palace. In fact, she was the very representation of the powerful sect. As for Ye Yuanxue, she was the younger sister of Ye Qiuyu, and even though she had just arrived at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect not long ago, she was well loved by all from the Heavenly Maiden¡¯s Peak. She was the living definition of a princess!


    However, the changes in the three¡¯s expressions were perceived differently by the Infinite Heaven Peak disciples. In their eyes, the two girls became somber because they had realized the truth of their situation. Regarding Jiang Xiaofan, he was clearly affected by their insults which resulted in the color draining from his face.


    These people were once again charged up with the will to fight. Jin Mohao laughed and patted the person who had spoken before. He glanced at the two girls and chuckled, ¡°Brother, you have misspoken. It¡¯s not one flower but two!¡±


    ¡°Haha! Daoist Jin, you are so perceptive! It¡¯s no wonder why Zhu Shixiong requested the sect to bestow the spirit sword upon you.¡±


    The rest of them laughed along, mocking Jiang Xiaofan while toadying to Jin Mohao. With a spirit sword in his possession, Jin Mohao was undeniably the strongest among them. In addition, he was the young master of a small sect. Thus, he stood out more prominently than these ordinary cultivators.


    ¡°Shit! I knew it was that Zhu Xidao who was messing around behind the scenes!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan grumbled as he cursed Zhu Xidao. Soon afterward, he sucked in a cold breath. Colorful expressions on his face changed one after another as he looked up and examined the men before him. What the heck?! These people have lost faith in the world, so now they¡¯re seeking relief?


    After noticing the three¡¯s faces darkening, the Infinite Heaven Peak¡¯s disciples grew elated and became more even unscrupulous. They had no idea that danger was rapidly approaching them.


    ¡°Ladies, I suggest that you leave that person right now. Don¡¯t hang out with him for any longer.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right. He¡¯s Jiang Xiaofan, a waste from Standstill Peak, so he won¡¯t amount to much anyway. If you stay with him, you won¡¯t have a fruitful ending!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you girls consider following Daoist Jin instead? He carries a spirit weapon after all. He¡¯ll definitely guarantee you two beauties safety on the high road. So much better than dual cultivation[1] with that punk!¡±


    The troublemakers had already assumed that Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue was in an intimate relationship with Jiang Xiaofan, causing them to despise Jiang Xiaofan even more. They took turns to deride the three of them while Jin Mohao put on airs by swinging his sword around.


    Just when Jiang Xiaofan wanted to warn them out of the goodness of his heart, he suddenly felt the temperature around him rapidly drop. He inwardly screamed. Death!


    He instantly pulled Ye Yuanxue off to the side. The people before them were caught off guard. At this moment, Bingxin walked forward, glared at the Infinite Heaven Peak¡¯s disciples, and icily asked, ¡°Done talking yet?¡±


    ¡°Uh, we¡¯re done.¡±


    They sensed that something in the atmosphere was amiss. They looked at Bingxin¡¯s unrivaled beauty and subconsciously replied her.


    ¡°Then scurry off!¡±


    An endless burst of cold air blasted through the area and attacked them without any warning.


    ¡°Pffffffffff¡­.¡±


    They all simultaneously vomited blood.


    In an instant. the troublemakers were sent flying backward. Concurrently, a flurry of snow flashed by and a noticeable *ka-chak* could be heard. Jiang Xiaofan widened his eyes in disbelief. Jin Mohao¡¯s spirit sword had broken!


    What the hell?! Jiang Xiaofan quietly gulped. Bingxin hadn¡¯t even lifted a finger, yet she was able to knock a couple of seventh and eighth heaven Micro Realm cultivators flying! She also severed a spirit sword! She should be the person who was called the Vicious One instead! Who am I supposed to express my woes to if someone calls me by that title again?!


    Without saying anything, Bingxin coldly eyed Jiang Xiaofan and headed towards the gate of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. Ye Yuanxue waved her tiny fist at the fallen disciples, ran after Bingxin, and sweetly pulled on her arm.


    Jiang Xiaofan looked towards a specific direction, ten meters from where he stood. Several human ice sculptures lay on the ground, while the ice was painted with streaks of red. They hadn¡¯t died, but their breaths were weak.


    Bingxin obviously showed them mercy. After all, this was the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. She couldn¡¯t recklessly kill the disciples; otherwise, those people would¡¯ve already been corpses.


    Jiang Xiaofan took more large gulps. He shook his head, sighed, and then glanced at Bingxin who was now exiting through the gate. He muttered, ¡°Tsk tsk. How could they have the gall to piss off that ice chick? They must really regret living! They only have themselves to blame.¡±


    ¡°What did you say?!¡± Bingxin turned around and stared at him.


    ¡°Sister Bingxin, Perverted Wolf called you ¡®ice chick¡¯!¡± Ye Yuanxue impishly giggled.


    ¡°Nonsense! There¡¯s no such thing! I was only saying how pleasant today¡¯s weather is!¡± Even if he was beaten to death, Jiang Xiaofan wouldn¡¯t admit to what he had just said.


    Bingxing snorted *hmph* with disdain. Without displaying an ounce of courtesy towards Jiang Xiaofan, Bingxin turned around and left. Contrarily, Ye Yuanxue teased him with a mischievous grimace and a naughty smile.


    The vast range of towering mountains receded into the horizon as the three of them traveled farther and farther away from the base of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. Somewhere along the road, Jiang Xiaofan stared at the sword in his hand with a look of anguish.


    Once, he had thought that cars were the only modes of transportation that made him sick. Now, he realized that he was very wrong. Damn! He got motion sickness from flying swords too!


    ¡°Can we walk instead?¡± He beseeched Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°Roughly estimating, it would take about ten years to walk from here to the Ice Palace according to your level of cultivation,¡± stated Bingxin frostily.


    Instantly, Jiang Xiaofan wanted to burst into tears. He really hated using the flying sword technique!


    Up above, the peerless beauties glided across midair with their elegant, flowing hair swaying against the wind. One was a snow goddess with a cold temperament while the other was a playful, charming fairy.


    The scene should¡¯ve been a picturesque one, but it was ruined by another person who was to the side.


    Donning a white robe, Jiang Xiaofan hugged the hilt of the large sword. In an unsightly pose, he vomited severely as he maneuvered the flying sword. With a lackluster look, his eyes continuously swirled around in circles, just swirling and swirling.


    Thanks to Ye Yuanxue¡¯s plead, Bingxin reluctantly agreed. Every once in a while, Jiang Xiaofan would be given a brief moment to catch his breath. Bingxin really couldn¡¯t understand him. How could this person easily get sword-sick like this?!


    Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue grew skeptical. As for Jiang Xiaofan, he was in great distress. How could he get sick from sword flying?! If the future called for it, what was he supposed to do?! He couldn¡¯t possibly always battle someone on land, could he?


    Even though he didn¡¯t want to think about it anymore, his brain just couldn¡¯t stop. What appeared in his mind was this. An enemy on his flying sword glides from above while I, holding onto my longsword, run on the ground for my dear life.


    Immediately, Jiang Xiaofan wanted to kill himself.


    He sensed that his path to Dao would be paved with numerous ups and downs. Reaching the goal of cultivating to Heaven and transforming into it grew increasingly distant. It was like a bird that hastily flew out of his sight.


    The good news was that Ye Yuanxue had relayed to him that once his cultivation reached the Realm of Dust, he could use his spiritual energy to fly instead of relying on weapons like the flying sword.


    Immediately, Jiang Xiaofan exhaled a big sigh of relief. Now that he pondered over it, that had to be the case. The elders of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, including the middle-aged woman and the old one, didn¡¯t seem to need the flying sword but were able to hover in midair.


    It was at this time that a revelation suddenly crossed his mind. Bingxin didn¡¯t need a flying sword because she was already a Phantom Saint cultivator. She could fly on her own. However, he had just recalled that Ye Yuanxue hadn¡¯t relied on a flying sword to hover either. She seemed to have used her own spiritual energy to fly.


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, could it be that you¡­. Are you already past the Micro Realm?¡± Jiang Xiaofan was shocked.


    Ye Yuanxue giggled and nodded. She raised her two of her delicate fingers and, like a pair of scissors, snipped at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan rolled his eyes. He hadn¡¯t realized it until now. He was, in fact, the weakest of the three. To make matters worse, the ones stronger than him were females! Fuck! How humiliating!


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Bingxin¡¯s frigid voice echoed in his ears.


    Not long after, Jiang Xiaofan began to vomit again, and his eyes swirled. Unable to tolerate seeing him suffer, Ye Yuanxue leaned over and comforted him, ¡°Perverted Wolf, you can do it! No worries. If you need to vomit, then just vomit. Keep vomiting. You¡¯ll get used to it by then.¡±


    At that moment, Jiang Xiaofan was overwhelmed with bliss, so much that he almost fell off his sword and plunged to his death.


    Originally, it was supposed to be a five-day journey by flying. However, because of a certain someone, five days had passed, and the three of them were only slightly more than halfway to their destination. In other words, they required another five days to reach the Ice Palace.


    Because of this, Bingxin¡¯s scorn for Jiang Xiaofan deepened. Nevertheless, she was quite pleased to see Jiang Xiaofan suffer. She propped up her chin in the palm of her jade-like hands and wondered whether she should switch to a longer route.


    She remembered that this wasn¡¯t the only path to their destination. If they traveled on the other path, it would take an entire month¡¯s time to reach the Ice Palace.


    If Jiang Xiaofan knew what Bingxin was thinking about at this time, he would, unhesitatingly, rush up to her and XXOO her right on the spot without any consideration as to whether she was a powerful Phantom Saint Cultivator or the Blessed Maiden of the Ice Palace.


    ¡°Sister Bingxin, there¡¯s a teahouse over there. Let¡¯s have a rest.¡±


    They hadn¡¯t counted how many times Jiang Xiaofan had climbed down the large sword. Before them was an ordinary-looking teahouse that was built on the side of the road. It was specifically designed for travelers.


    Bingxin nodded her head. She hadn¡¯t shown any amiability towards Jiang Xiaofan. As a matter of fact, if she could, she¡¯d happily stab him a couple of times. However, Bingxin was very fond of Ye Yuanxue. Even though she knew that Ye Yuanxue wanted to give Jiang Xiaofan time to recover, Bingxin didn¡¯t have the heart to reject Ye Yuanxue. Hence, Bingxin dragged Ye Yuanxue towards the teahouse.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 24

    The teahouse was a simple one that was divided into two floors. Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue walked in front with elegant steps while Jiang Xiaofan followed behind them with a hunched back. Like a dog, his tongue lolled out while he occasionally dry-heaved.


    ¡°Oi oi! Stop right there! All of a sudden, a pair of feet appeared in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sight.


    He raised his head and saw a sleeveless, burly man in front of him who had blocked his path. Wary, he flatly asked, ¡°Why are you blocking me?¡±


    ¡°Kid, you¡¯re asking the obvious. Look over there!¡± The burly man pointed to a sign to the left.


    Jiang Xiaofan instinctively glanced over and subconsciously read it aloud. ¡°Demonic cultivators and dogs are forbidden to enter.¡±


    Two seconds later, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s lackluster eyes widened, and he immediately retracted his tongue. Instantly provoked, he jumped up, pointed his finger at the burly man¡¯s nose, and screamed, ¡°Screw you! I¡¯m a righteous Daoist cultivator!¡±


    ¡°Demonic cultivators and dogs are forbidden to enter!¡± The burly man repeated the writing on the sign. He then stared at Jiang Xiaofan and replied dismissively, ¡°You think that by cloaking yourself in human skin, I am unable to see your true self?¡±


    What the hell?! Where did that come from?! He almost couldn¡¯t control himself from punching this guy. How dare a mere third heaven Micro Realm cultivator call me a dog in human skin?!


    Nevertheless, according to his altruistic nature, Jiang Xiaofan decided not to beat him up. He walked around the burly man and proceeded to the center of the teahouse. This was too dizzying. He needed a refreshing cup of tea.


    Unexpectedly, the burly man again blocked his path and pointed to another sign on the side. He justifiably declared, ¡°Dog demons are not allowed inside!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan balled up his hand but then relaxed his grip. Altruism. Altruism. I¡¯m a good-hearted person.


    ¡°Brother, I¡¯m a human,¡± explained Jiang Xiaofan with a patient smile on his face.


    ¡°I know. A dog in human skin.¡± The burly man nodded his head in agreement but then continued, ¡°Still a dog nonetheless!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan sucked in his breath, wryly smiled at the man, and¡­. He raised his hand and smacked the burly man flying. Phew! Serenity at last!


    To hell with altruism! He was altruism itself.


    Seven to eight meters from where Jiang Xiaofan stood, the burly man lay sprawling on the floor. He agonizingly groaned and wailed, ¡°Why?! Didn¡¯t that girl say that he was her second heaven Micro Realm guard dog?! Why does he have such strength then?!¡±


    Just as Jiang Xiaofan raised his leg to take a step forward, he abruptly remembered something and mechanically raised his head to glance at the ice beauty on the second floor.


    From above, Bingxin noticed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s gaze. To his surprise, she nodded and smiled charmingly at him.


    No way! Jiang Xiaofan almost jumped up again. He had seen haughty people before but never one with this degree of haughtiness. How could she just nod her head and admit to fault after framing him?! The supercilious expression on her face directly told him, ¡°It was me. What of it?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan swore to himself. Right now, he didn¡¯t want to concern himself with anything else but lunge at her and XXOO. Alas, he unwillingly endured her condescension towards him. After all, she had the strength to back up her arrogance!


    The second floor of the teahouse was rather quiet and peaceful, but Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression was dark and brooding.


    Ye Yuanxue sympathetically looked at him as she pouted her lips in a coaxing gesture at the cup of tea. Jiang Xiaofan pondered for a while. He then sat down, angrily glared at Bingxin, raised the cup to his lips, and gulped the liquid down. Afterward¡­.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    A tragic cry rang out. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face scrunched up and flushed crimson as he stuck his tongue out and nearly spurted out fire. What the fuck?! Can anyone tell me when this teahouse started selling chili water?!


    ¡°Waiter! Water! I need water! Hurry! Quickly please!¡±


    He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed by. After downing ten pots of tea, his throat was finally soothed. He dolefully eyed Ye Yuanxue. Gods! How could the innocent and cute Xiao Xue¡¯er be like this too?!


    ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. I already hinted at you,¡± innocently replied Ye Yuanxue.


    He was stunned. Not long after, he replayed the scene in his head. As soon as he had entered the teahouse, Ye Yuanxue shot him a look of sympathy. He thought that it was because of the dog demon incident. After Ye Yuanxue pouted her lips at the cup, he thought that she had wanted him to drink it to calm his angry state of mind.


    Jiang Xiaofan shuddered. Evidently, he had misinterpreted her signal. Her sympathetic glance and pout at the cup meant that there was something amiss and that he shouldn¡¯t drink it.


    After arriving at this conclusion, if Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t know who the perpetrator was, then he was a complete imbecile.


    Bingxin turned her head over and nodded, indicating that Jiang Xiaofan had guessed correctly. I was the one who put the chili water in your cup. How could you have discovered it just now? She then icily smirked. Again, the look on her face insinuated the following. ¡°What? You have a problem with me? Why don¡¯t we go for a round?¡±


    He nearly had a heart attack from his rage. Fuck this! Can you stop being haughty for just a second? It¡¯s not like you can die from it!


    Forget it. I¡¯ll continue to tolerate you. Inwardly, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart wept. Damn it! If I keep this up, I¡¯ll become a Ninja Turtle[1] soon!


    He bitterly cursed his fate. Retrieving the letter from the Ice Palace was supposed to be an easy yellow-grade task. However, Jiang Xiaofan now wanted to execrate everyone. He hadn¡¯t even arrived at the Ice Palace, and yet, he was already was submerged in anguish. Perhaps, he might even be tortured to death in the hands of the ice chick.


    The Emperor Heaven¡¯s Sect¡¯s tasks were divided into four grades. From most difficult to easiest, they were: heaven, earth, black, and yellow. This was the publicly recognized system used throughout the cultivation world.


    Not only could a sect¡¯s disciple obtain a reward for every completed task, he or she could also build up the contribution points for the sect. Collecting these points was necessary in order to elevate to their status to that of a core disciple or even a saint. If a disciple made no outstanding contributions to the sect, then he or she could not become a core disciple nor a saint regardless of his or her cultivation level.


    Jiang Xiaofan continued to chug his drink, pretending that his tea was Bingxin. If I can¡¯t beat you, then I¡¯ll use another method to assail you! The longer the shameless thought lingered in his mind, the more he aggressively drank.


    Suddenly, there was a commotion on the upper floor. A child about thirteen to fourteen years old had walked up. Leaning on his shoulder was a sickly, feeble old man with grey hair.


    ¡°Where did this shrimpy beggar come from?! Tell him to scram!¡±


    ¡°Yuck! So smelly! What¡¯s the shop owner doing?! Remove him this instant!¡±


    The teahouse was not as ordinary as it appeared. To have been able to conduct its business on the open road and accommodate so many cultivators who were passing by, the owner of this teahouse was a naturally capable person.


    The second floor was reserved for cultivators. Their levels varied, but as long as they were cultivators, they were in a different class than mortals. On Planet Ziwei, cultivators were in the upper echelon of society. Seeing a beggar carrying an old man up to the second floor and exuding a foul stench, the cultivators were immediately peeved.


    ¡°Please, I beg all of you. Please, someone, help Grandpa Zhang.¡±


    The young boy bowed his head down to the floor and beseeched them to nurse the old man back to good health.


    ¡°I told you to scram! Don¡¯t disturb me!¡±


    A foul-tempered man with a face full of stubble stood up and angrily yelled at the young boy. Discontent with just yelling at him, the man brutally kicked him.


    Bingxin tightly knitted her brows while Ye Yuanxue¡¯s face darkened. Jiang Xiaofan clenched his fist.


    The young boy yelped in pain, but his attitude was resolute. He bowed again with a bloodied forehead and implored, ¡°Please have mercy! Please save Grandpa Zhang! I¡¯ll do anything you want!¡±


    ¡°Shrimp, how dare you lie around here instead of leaving! Don¡¯t blame me if I end up killing you!¡±


    The man threatened him and kicked at the young boy again.


    None of the onlookers stopped him. Contrarily, they burst into laughter and thought about how entertaining this had become as they watched the man assault the young boy. To them, this was a good and free show.


    The teahouse owner did nothing, nor did the waiter who cowered in a corner. They were here to run a business. With this type of teahouse, there was no need to offend a group of cultivators solely for two mortals.


    As for the so-called demonic cultivators mentioned on the signs, they were labeled as objects of abomination to be scorned by everyone on Planet Ziwei. Their appearance would bring about a hunt for their lives and a mass onslaught. The teahouse owner and his waiters naturally wouldn¡¯t have to worry about these demonic cultivators causing trouble in their teahouse. Not to mention, rumor had it that the practice of demonic cultivation was now extinct.


    ¡°Ziya, there¡¯s no need¡­. to worry about me. I have lived long enough. Go¡­ Leave here,¡± murmured the old man who was already in a frail state.


    ¡°No!¡± The boy violently shook his head and firmly insisted, ¡°I will get you treatment!¡±


    The boy might be young, but he knew that the people here were unordinary. There had to be someone among them who could heal the old man. ¡°Oh? What a filial little shrimp! Let¡¯s see how many stomps of my foot you can take. If you don¡¯t die after ten rounds, I¡¯ll save him!¡± The man with a stubble seemed to have discovered something amusing.


    Everyone loudly laughed again. How could an ordinary mortal child possibly survive ten stomps of a fourth heaven Micro Realm cultivator? Obviously, the boy couldn¡¯t. He couldn¡¯t even survive five stomps.


    ¡°Deal!¡± The young boy nodded his head with determination written on his face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t. Zi¡­. Ziya. Just quickly go! Don¡¯t¡­. Don¡¯t worry about me!¡± The old man fretted.


    ¡°I must have you nursed back to good health!¡± The look in the boy¡¯s eyes was resolute. He carefully placed the old man to one side and kneeled down on the ground. He then fiercely glared at the man and announced, ¡°Come on!¡±


    ¡°Haha. Excellent! Very interesting!¡± The man guffawed and raised his leg in a position to strike at the boy.


    Loud sounds of *bang bang* echoed throughout the teahouse. The onlookers cheered on, and some even clapped their hands and yelled ¡°good¡±. The young boy¡¯s complexion quickly paled, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Nevertheless, his eyes were still unwavering.


    Not long after, many people had quieted down. This was because the young boy had already taken seven of the man¡¯s stomps. Even though blood continuously trickled down his lips and his face had turned deathly pale, he still hadn¡¯t lost consciousness yet.


    The man with a stubble was stunned. His next kick was more forceful, and the last three were viciously stomped on the boy. The young boy coughed out a large mouthful of blood. His convulsing body curled up on the floor, but miraculously, he didn¡¯t die.


    ¡°I¡­. I¡­. d¡­. did it. Pl¡­. Please help him!¡± The boy mumbled weakly.


    Everyone was shaken to the core, including the man with a stubble. However, he soon roared in laughter and snootily replied, ¡°Hahahaha! I can¡¯t believe that this shrimp actually believed me! Now go die!¡±


    The man never once thought of actually saving that old man. He raged at the fact that he couldn¡¯t kill a mortal child with ten stomps of his foot. Increasing fury boiled within him as he raised his leg to strike at the child¡¯s head this time.


    The look in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes was chilling, and with a flash, Jiang Xiaofan disappeared from his table. In the next second, he crouched on the floor with his left arm extending in front of the boy and his right hand holding on to the man¡¯s foot. He glowered at the man with a stubble before him.


    ¡°Punk, who are you?! Let go of me!¡± The man angrily glared at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan wryly smiled, and with the sound of a *woosh*, he threw the man out. Not far away, a table was smashed into bits. This, however, infuriated the people who were sitting at that particular table and watching the drama unfold.


    ¡°Punk, you¡¯re dead meat!¡± The man who seemed to be the leader of that group stood up and barked at Jiang Xiaofan. They then encircled him.


    ¡°Screw off!¡± Jiang Xiaofan stared at them icily and scowled, ¡°Otherwise, I¡¯ll kill all of you!¡±


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 25

    Jiang Xiaofan fumed with anger. This was the first time that he had become this irate after arriving on Planet Ziwei.


    Looking at the young boy reminded him of his former self in his original life. He was an orphan, and it was an old man who had raised him and sent him to school. At one point in time, his academic performance was excellent and he was one of the top-ranked students. His life had been full of aspirations, one of them being that he needed to study diligently and pay back his debt of gratitude to the elderly man.


    Unfortunately, Heaven had shown him no kindness. When he was fifteen, the elderly man had passed away. It was because of this that he had forsaken his studies.


    Jiang Xiaofan had never been saddened by the loss of a great future. His heart would, however, occasionally ache at the thought that he didn¡¯t have ample time to cherish the elderly man.


    Despite being in a foreign land, the incident of the young boy struck his nerve. The look in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes was ice-cold. It was as if Jiang Xiaofan could see the shadow of his past through the boy. A frigid aura emanated from his body. This was the first time that he felt bloodlust within him.


    Ye Yuanxue and Bingxin were slightly taken aback. They hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Xiaofan to intervene.


    The man shuddered with fear as Jiang Xiaofan glared at him. His eyes are too cold! He retreated a step back after sensing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s murderous intent.


    ¡°Big¡­. Big Brother¡­.¡± The young boy hadn¡¯t yet passed out. As if he saw hope, he grabbed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sleeve with his bloodied hands, arduously turned his head to look at the old man, and weakly begged, ¡°Please¡­. I beg you. Save¡­. Save Grandpa Zhang.¡±


    All of a sudden, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart palpitated. He grew even more downcast. Although the boy was already like this, heavily wounded and scarred, the one whom the boy worried about wasn¡¯t himself but the feeble old man.


    These people deserve to die! This was what ran through Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mind.


    ¡°Kid, you¡¯re tired of living, aren¡¯t you? How dare you injure one of my Shengfeng Sect¡¯s people!¡±


    A middle-aged man with a cultivation level at the seventh heaven strode over and peered down at Jiang Xiaofan. Following behind him were several people, including the man with a stubble whom Jing Xiaofan had tossed out earlier. He was a member of the Shenfeng Sect too.


    Jiang Xiaofan clenched his right fist, and an explosive green light radiated from it. The tone of his voice grew colder. ¡°This is the last time that I¡¯ll say this. I give you ten minutes. If you¡¯re still standing before me after ten minutes, I will personally escort you out!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue and Bingxin didn¡¯t make any moves. They were still sitting at their table, but they closely evaluated the situation. Ye Yuanxue was highly displeased. These people are too heinous! As for Bingxin, she had never thought that Jiang Xiaofan would clash with them to protect a mortal child and that he would be this strong.


    ¡°Haha, escort us?!¡±


    ¡°This is the first time that I¡¯ve seen such a cocky bastard!¡±


    The group of men roared with laughter.  The middle-aged man took another step forward, dismissed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s threat, and sneered, ¡°Young man, you definitely have some strength in you, but don¡¯t think that you can flaunt it around. Arrogant people don¡¯t get to live long!¡±


    The man couldn¡¯t sense Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s true power because his cultivation was suppressed by the brass piece to the fifth heaven. In the man¡¯s eyes, the youth before him had strength, but he was far from being a formidable opponent!


    Jiang Xiaofan looked over and took out a yellow pill from his pocket. This was the Soul Growth Pill that had been rewarded to him during his ascension to inner disciple. He gingerly placed it in the young boy¡¯s mouth.


    All the cultivators around Jiang Xiaofan were shocked to see him take out a cultivation pill, and it was a yellow-colored gold core pill no less. This was inconceivable to them. Just who is this person? Why does he have a pill of this grade? And how could he casually feed it to a mortal human? After all, a gold core pill is exceedingly difficult to come by.


    Planet Ziwei was an incredibly vast planet with abundant resources across its lands. It was a world where cultivators ruled. Mystical weapons and manuals were necessities in the cultivator world. In addition, cultivation pills were equally fundamental to cultivation.


    Pills were categorized into five grades. From least to most prized, they were: primary core, gold core, spirit core, immortal core, and emperor core. Aside from the primary core, all the others were priceless because of the difficulty level in refining them.


    There once existed a sect that specialized in the concoction of medicinal pills and elixirs. Their skills were unrivaled throughout Planet Ziwei. It was in thanks to the frightening might of this sect that its disciples were able to produce the highest-grade pills and elixirs in existence.


    Of course, those were limited to immortal core only.  Even so, the efforts placed into concocting them were immense. To this day, the most prized grade that was readily available was a spirit core. As for an immortal core, those were considered rare treasures. Lastly, emperor core pills and elixirs belonged to primordial legends only. Nobody had ever seen one before.


    Overall, a cultivation pill was of great importance to the cultivator. To a small sect, a gold core was considered an expensive item. The onlookers fell into a daze when they saw Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s pill.


    Of course, Jiang Xiaofan knew the value of the pill. He had once offered it to Old Man Liu, but Old Man Liu had refused to take it and he couldn¡¯t force him to take it either. Now that there was a resolute young boy who neared death, Jiang Xiaofan naturally couldn¡¯t afford to be selfish. He decided to give him the gold core pill.


    Under the effects of the gold core pill, the young boy¡¯s complexion immediately began to normalize. His injuries were only limited to the flesh. Not long after, his cheeks became rosy again. The boy looked at his bloodied hands that were still clutching onto Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sleeve. He instantly withdrew them and whispered, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Big Brother. I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no problem. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Jiang Xiaofan softened his tone as much as possible when he replied to him. He then turned around and directed Ye Yuanxue, ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, take care of the grandpa and boy.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue was compliant, and she immediately walked over and assured the young boy, ¡°Little boy, come over here. Once Big Brother gets rid of these bad guys, we will nurse your grandpa to good health.¡±


    ¡°Truly?! Thank you, Big Sister!¡±


    There was a beaming smile on the young boy¡¯s face. He was happy, even elated. Most of his wounds had been fully healed. He carefully assisted the old man and walked with Ye Yuanxue to the other side where it was safe. Along the way, he turned around and reminded Jiang Xiaofan to be careful. Ye Yuanxue was very content with the boy¡¯s mannerisms. He was a kind and grateful person.


    The old man continuously thanked them. He was nearing seventy years of age. When he saw the young boy being assaulted by the man with a stubble, he really wanted to charge forth and protect the young boy, but to no avail, he barely had any energy left within him. In fact, he couldn¡¯t move at all. Now that there were samaritans helping them out, the old man was extremely touched by their benevolent acts. At the same time, he also worried that he and the young boy might have given Jiang Xiaofan unnecessary trouble.


    ¡°It¡¯s fine. No need for any concern.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue poured the old man a cup of tea. To the side, Bingxin flashed them a warm, friendly smile. However, after taking a closer look at the old man, Bingxin slightly furrowed her brows.


    Jiang Xiaofan turned his head around and faced the group of men with ice-cold eyes. He tightened his fist which glimmered with a dark-green light and spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve already given all of you a chance. Since you didn¡¯t seize that opportunity, then I will make you all disappear!¡±


    ¡°Punk, how audacious of you!¡± A young man from the group hollered at him.


    *Bang*


    In the next second, the young man was sent flying out and crashed into the opposite wall. His body fell down to the lower floor, and an agonizing cry echoed from downstairs to upstairs.


    ¡°How dare you?!¡± The middle-aged man¡¯s expression turned surly.


    Feeling indifferent, Jiang Xiaofan struck again. He vanished into thin air, like a ghost, emerged right in front of the man, raised his hand, and slapped him across the face.


    *Pah*


    A loud smacking sound could be heard. Blood glided across the air as the man was knocked flying backward before crashing into a table.


    The flash of that attack stunned everyone. They all knew that the middle-aged man¡¯s cultivation level was at seventh heaven of Micro Realm, yet he was sent flying with one smack of that man¡¯s hand. The enemy was only at the fifth heaven of Micro Realm!


    ¡°How dare you attack our branch master! Die!¡± The group of men lunged at Jiang Xiaofan all at once.


    Jiang Xiaofan smirked. Rather than retreating, he jumped right into the gang of thugs.


    *Bang bang bang*


    Multiple cries of pain rang out as people were sent flying out left and right. Tables were smashed, and even the four walls suffered damages as human-shaped holes appeared in them. Except for the man with a stubble and the middle-aged man, all the others had been knocked flying. At that moment, the lower floor of the teahouse fell into dead silence.


    ¡°Wha¡­. What do you want?!¡± Fear welled up inside the man with a stubble as he watched Jiang Xiaofan walking towards him. Putting on a fa?ade of confidence, the man declared, ¡°We are disciples of the Shenfeng Sect! Since you have assaulted us, our sect leader will be sure to hunt you down!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan glared at him and asked, ¡°Did you use your left leg to kick him or your right leg?¡±


    ¡°Ri¡­. Right leg. What of it?!¡±


    The man subconsciously replied to him. Following that was the release of a wail. Jiang Xiaofan had ferociously kicked him on his right shin with the might of his Diamond Sutra, and immediately, the man¡¯s kneecap was shattered. His leg would now be forever crippled. There was no cure.


    ¡°You¡­. You¡­.¡±


    ¡°Get out of my sight!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t want to waste any more breath on him. He directly kicked him flying out of the second floor. This one kick packed more force with it than usual. The man with a stubble vomited blood and fainted in midair.


    Finally, Jiang Xiaofan walked towards the middle-aged man. The color drained from the man¡¯s face. He wanted to say something, but Jiang Xiaofan merely looked at him with disdain. Jiang Xiaofan raised his leg and brutally kicked him flying.


    The turn of events stupefied everyone. Many cultivators stared on this scene with their eyes widened. This young man is too vicious! How could he kick the disciples from the Shenfeng Sect flying out like that? His moves were so precise.


    Jiang Xiaofan swept a frosty glance over the onlookers. After being locked onto by him, they couldn¡¯t help but quiver. They subconsciously shifted their gaze elsewhere. Many also began to get up and leave.


    At this time, a somewhat rotund, grey-robed elder walked forth. He stood before Jiang Xiaofan and chastised him, ¡°Young man, your cultivation level¡¯s not bad. However, you can¡¯t bully your fellow Daoists just because you have powerful strength! Not to mention, you are liable for the damages that you have inflicted upon our boss¡¯s business. If you don¡¯t give us an appropriate settlement, don¡¯t even think about leaving here today!¡±


    Everyone was somewhat surprised when they saw the elderly man walk out and approach Jiang Xiaofan. Those who were about to leave stopped and turned to look at Jiang Xiaofan with amusement in their eyes.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart trembled with terror. This elderly man¡¯s cultivation was at Phantom Saint. He could feel a monstrous aura of energy coming from him. He had never thought that the manager of this teahouse would be a high-level cultivator.


    Even so, the icy expression on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hadn¡¯t changed. He tartly asked him, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you appear when the grandpa and the young boy needed help?¡±


    ¡°They are just morals!¡± These were the four words uttered by the grey-robed elder.


    ¡°Mortal your mother!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was abruptly incensed by his response. He no longer cared that this elderly man was a Phantom Saint cultivator.

 Chapter 26

    The anger within him that had been mollified was raging once more. ¡°They are just mortals.¡± These four words were neither an insult nor defamation towards the old man and the boy; however, they were full of derision. His relaxed hand was now clenched tightly.


    His eyes seemed to blaze with fire as he pointed his finger at everyone around him and chastised them, ¡°You bunch of degenerates! A mortal isn¡¯t a human?! A mortal¡¯s life isn¡¯t a life?! Have you ever reflected upon yourselves that, before you stepped foot on this path to Dao, you were once these so-called mortals?!¡±


    Immediately, silence settled in, even the drop of a pin could be heard. The faces of the cultivators soured, especially a certain group of people who avoided Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s gaze.


    Bingxin slightly quivered, and a small change occurred in her perception of Jiang Xiaofan.


    Ye Yuanxue smiled. After all, she knew Jiang Xiaofan better than anyone. Back on Standstill Peak, he had the courage to stand up for the wasted Old Man Liu and confront the inner disciples from the three main peaks. His heart was a benevolent one.


    The elder¡¯s expression was cold and dismissive as he answered Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s blunt inquiry. ¡°That was before! Now, I am a cultivator! My only goal is the pursuit of Dao!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! We are cultivators! We only care for the pursuit of Dao!¡± Someone stood up and chimed in.


    ¡°Pursuit of Dao? Are you people even worthy?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan jeered at them. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re cultivators alright. But what lies beneath all that beautiful, shining glory? What it hides is a filthy, wretched soul!¡±


    Abruptly, everyone¡¯s face turned ashen.


    ¡°Bastard, you¡¯re courting death!¡±


    The grey-robed elder¡¯s face darkened. He raised his hand in preparation to suppress Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression grew somber. He could feel immense pressure, a powerful qi, holding him down. He could see the movement of a large hand swerving around, but it was difficult to dodge it. Even so, his eyes maintained its cold, resolute stare.


    At the same time, the cultivators on the second floor sneered at Jiang Xiaofan. Because the elder was now provoked, they believed that Jiang Xiaofan had no chance of surviving.


    What soon followed left the onlookers disappointed. A flurry of white snow shot across the room with lightning speed, broke up the grey-robed elder¡¯s qi, and successfully blocked the large hand from pressurizing Jiang Xiaofan.


    Caught off guard, Jiang Xiaofan turned to look at Bingxin.


    The elder also discovered who the attacker was, so he coldly swept a glance over her. Once his eyes met with Bingxin¡¯s icy gaze, he uncontrollably shuddered. They were both Phantom Saint cultivators, but her frosty aura instilled fear in his heart.


    Just after he had taken a close inspection of the flurry of snow against his large hand, his body staggered a few steps backward. Horror was reflected in his eyes as he looked at Bingxin. He stuttered, ¡°Are you¡­. Are you the Ice Palace¡¯s successor?¡±


    The grey-robed elder¡¯s voice trembled, but everyone could clearly hear what he had just said. All of a sudden, uproar broke out across the second floor of the teahouse. Definitely big news! The successor to the Ice Palace is here!


    There were countless sects throughout Planet Ziwei, but the prominent four were Ziwei Sect, Emperor Heaven¡¯s Sect, Ziyang Sect, and Ice Palace. They essentially dominated the cultivation world.


    As one of the four prominent sects, the might of the Ice Palace was beyond terrifying. Nobody dared to offend any of its members.


    The place came to a standstill yet again. The sounds of breathing and hearts beating was audible. Every cultivator looked at Bingxin in awe. Jiang Xiaofan, on the other hand, had his jaw dropped to the floor. He had never imagined that Bingxin, the girl who yearned to poke a few holes in his body, would lend a helping hand.


    ¡°Take them out of here.¡±


    Bingxin walked over and shot at glimpse at Jiang Xiaofan. Ye Yuanxue, the grandpa, and the young boy followed her.


    ¡°Please wait, miss. May I know who the master is of the Ice Palace¡¯s branch which you belong to?¡±


    The elder smiled, showing deference in his demeanor towards her.


    Jiang Xiaofan sighed. The world has never lacked this type of person. They always think that they¡¯re superior, just like superhumans. They look at others weaker than them like they are the dirt beneath their soles. Once they encounter people stronger than themselves, they become lapdogs and pander to them.


    ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to know!¡±


    Bingxin frostily replied to the elder without even turning around to look at him.


    Jiang Xiaofan felt the powerful qi exerting on his body dissipate. Astonished, Jiang Xiaofan froze on the spot as he stared at Bingxin from behind. He had never admired anybody, but all of a sudden, he thought, ¡°This girl¡¯s really cool!¡± However, what happened next left Jiang Xiaofan wanting to jump up and curse at her.


    ¡°That idiot is my Ice Palace¡¯s guard dog.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. Relax¡­. Don¡¯t argue with a girl!


    ¡°Then¡­. please!¡±


    The grey-robed elder gritted his teeth as he spat out these two words. The expression on his face was unsightly, but he still politely gestured to Jiang Xiaofan. Since it was the Ice Palace¡¯s successor who had mentioned it, he naturally couldn¡¯t put Jiang Xiaofan in a dilemma. Not to mention, he had to be courteous towards him.


    The young boy had already fully recovered by this point in time, but the old man whom he carried on his back was growing weaker by the minute. When Jiang Xiaofan reached the first floor, he noticed Bingxin furrowing her brows while inspecting the old man.


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t you have any compassion? How can you allow a young boy to carry an old man?!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan eyed Bingxin tit for tat.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, it¡¯s not like that. The young boy insisted on carrying the old man,¡± explained Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°Oh¡­. Well¡­. Er, Miss Xiao Bing, my bad.¡±


    Catching a glimpse of Bingxin staring daggers at him, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hair immediately stood on end. He almost called her ¡°ice chick¡±.


    Bingxin snorted *hmph* and furrowed her brows again as if she was in deep contemplation. She looked at the old man leaning on the young boy¡¯s shoulder and directed Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°Get them out of there! We¡¯re heading to their place of residence!¡±


    ¡°Why? Can¡¯t you cure the old man here?¡± He couldn¡¯t understand her choice of decision. However, his perception of her had already changed for the better. He mumbled, ¡°By the way, I¡¯m not sure how I wasn¡¯t able to discover this earlier, but you have a generous trait in your personality.¡±


    Bingxin was about to explode when Ye Yuanxue quickened her pace, tugged on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe, and whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t say that about her! There¡¯s evil qi inside that grandpa¡¯s body. Nothing can be done other than to suppress it. If we want to cure him, then we must first find the source of that demonic aura!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was surprised. He then examined the old man with his spiritual awareness and discovered that the old man did indeed have a faint demonic qi circulating throughout his body. It was no wonder why Bingxin had kept knitting her brows earlier. This was the presence of demonic cultivation.


    Jiang Xiaofan felt relieved for the grandpa and the young boy. It was a good thing that the cultivators had treated the two of them with contempt and didn¡¯t bother gauging them with their spiritual awareness. Otherwise, their lives would be endangered. The reason was that all cultivators on Planet Ziwei had a duty to root out all things that were demonic.


    Planet Ziwei had once gone through a dark period that was brought about by demons. Nobody knew where these demons came from. However, they were extremely powerful, and their nature was heinous, cruel, and bloodthirsty. They didn¡¯t seem to belong to this world.


    Years later, these powerful demons were eventually annihilated by an unknown, peerless cultivator. This gave the world a respite of peace.


    However, peace did not last long. Although the demons were wiped out, there then appeared demonic cultivators. Their spiritual attributes were very similar to those of the demons. In addition, their temperaments were eccentric, and their cultivation methods were equally as bizarre. There were some who even established unorthodox sects as if they were plotting something sinister.


    Needless to say, Daoist cultivators would never allow for the existence of demonic cultivators. As a result, they declared an all-out war on these demonic cultivators. This period in history lasted several hundred years. This war concluded with the disappearance of the mighty yet mysterious Celestial Demon Sect. From then on, there was no more demonic cultivation. The dark ages were slowly forgotten as time passed.


    Demons were wicked creatures, and demonic cultivation was considered unorthodox. This was the consensus among cultivators on Planet Ziwei.


    Although the old man wasn¡¯t a demonic cultivator, he would, nonetheless, be considered a demon if someone were to find out that there was demonic qi in his body. It would rile all the nearby cultivators who could then conduct a witch hunt. Even Bingxin of the Ice Palace wouldn¡¯t be able to protect him.


    The Ice Palace was a formidable entity, but it wasn¡¯t strong enough to be at odds with the rest of the cultivation world.


    At least, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s familiarity with Bingxin deepened somewhat. Although the girl always had an ice-cold expression on her face and seemed very unsocial, the fact that she was willing to help out the grandpa and the young boy proved that she was a good person.


    As for Ye Yuanxue, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t need to say much about her. He knew her well enough. With her personality, even if he hadn¡¯t made the first move, she would¡¯ve lectured those people.


    Since it had come to this, their itinerary was now changed. They veered off course and headed to the grandpa¡¯s and young boy¡¯s place of residence in search of the demonic qi¡¯s source. This wasn¡¯t solely done to save both of them but also for the sake of the cultivation world.


    The young boy didn¡¯t speak much, but he was very obedient and acquiescently led the way.


    Along the journey, Bingxin repeatedly called Jiang Xiaofan ¡°idiot¡± which made him extremely upset. You may be beautiful and very powerful with a prominent background, but surely, you can¡¯t always put me down like this!


    When he finally mustered up the courage to protest, Bingxin explained to him why he was an idiot. The young boy hadn¡¯t suffered any internal injuries. All he needed was some healing with spiritual energy. Instead, Jiang Xiaofan wasted a gold core pill. If he wasn¡¯t an idiot, then what was he?


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say this earlier?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan was exasperated.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t ask,¡± replied Bingxin scornfully. She then quipped, ¡°Was there even a need for me to say it?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue giggled and shook her head while looking at Jiang Xiaofan with pity in her eyes. Jiang Xiaofan opened his mouth, wanting to retaliate, but eventually, he could only keep silent.


    He finally realized that in this world, there were two types of people whom he should never offend. One was women. The second was women who were tougher than him.


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to weep. Shit! He had already offended both of these types.


    Their quest to the Ice Palace was once again delayed, but Jiang Xiaofan was very pleased with the turn of events since he didn¡¯t need to maneuver the flying sword anymore. He detested the flying sword technique, and every time he crawled down from the blade, he felt that his body seemed to have shed a few kilograms.


    Besides, it was obvious that Bingxin enjoyed messing with him. Each time they took a break, she would only give him half an hour to rest. Now that they were helping the grandpa and the young boy, there was bound to be many inconveniences along the way. He was very thrilled. Finally, I can get a longer resting period!


    Not long after, a timeworn small village appeared in view. It housed about eight to nine families. Everything was disorganized, and the air quality was poor. Behind the village was a barren mountain.


    ¡°Everyone, I brought people here to save you!¡±


    The moment the young boy entered the village, he hollered to his people. The boy was excited. Surprisingly, the villagers treated the boy rudely and disparagingly, and they avoided him as if he was the plague.


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to inquire the young boy about this but then decided to let it go.


    Every time Ye Yuanxue and Bingxin were together, people¡¯s gazes were always drawn to them. Soon, a few of the villagers walked forth. They were in a better state than Grandpa Zhang but were still feeble nevertheless.


    Their mannerisms were uncouth, and they looked aggressive. After shooing away the young boy, more villagers walked forth and surrounded them.


    ¡°Fairies, please save us!¡±


    There weren¡¯t many people in the village. Frightened by Bingxin¡¯s icy expression, most of the villagers encircled Ye Yuanxue instead.


    Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Do you see that? My Xiao Xue¡¯er is the more popular one.


    Bingxin, of course, knew what he was laughing about and ferociously glared at him. The latter instantly turned his head away and gazed at the sky.


    Ye Yuanxue was invited to one side and began to examine these people. During her examination, the young boy wanted to assist her, but what he got in return was merely the scorns of his fellow villagers. Some even raised fists at him.


    Jiang Xiaofan deeply furrowed his brows in disgust but said nothing of it. He pulled the young boy to his side and gently comforted him. Unexpectedly, although the boy was quite stubborn, he didn¡¯t display much sadness. There was a level of maturity within him that didn¡¯t match someone of his tender age.


    Looking at him made Jiang Xiaofan disheartened. People used to say that impoverished kids had to grow up fast in order to support their families. He knew the truth of this saying. After all, he saw the shadow of his former self overlap with the young boy, except this boy was stronger, more understanding, and more mature than he was.


    The extremely feeble Grandpa Zhang had already been escorted to his house. Meanwhile, the young boy stood behind Jiang Xiaofan. Although he and Bingxin were left alone by the villagers to one side, both of them secretly swept their spiritual awareness over them.


    To their astonishment, they discovered something incredible. Everyone in this village, include the livestock, all had the faint demonic qi inside their bodies! The young boy was the only one who was free from it. His body was so clean and unstained, without a thread of impurity, that even Jiang Xiaofan who had consumed the Immortal Spirit Root couldn¡¯t compare with him.


    The boy was never well-liked among the villagers. After the incident had happened, people hated him even more because he was unscathed. They thought that he was a demon and that he had brought calamity upon the village. There were a few who even wanted to sacrifice him to the mountain god as appeasement. If it wasn¡¯t for Grandpa Zhang¡¯s persistent interference, the young boy would¡¯ve already been burned at the stake.


    ¡°Something¡¯s strange!¡±


    Bingxin¡¯s eyes glimmered with a white light as she murmured.


    Among the three of them, Bingxin¡¯s cultivation was the strongest. As a Phantom Saint cultivator, she could only suppress the villagers¡¯ demonic qi from circulating throughout their bodies but had no way of purging it.


    This meant that the power of the demonic qi was immensely strong and difficult to rid of. Oddly enough, a thirteen to fourteen-year-old boy, with no ounce of spiritual energy within him, was able to fend off the demonic qi. This was incredulous!

 Chapter 27

    The boy¡¯s body was just too pure and unstained. This defied all reasoning!


    ¡°Tell me. Have you ever eaten anything unordinary?¡± Jiang Xiaofan asked the boy after receiving Bingxin¡¯s message relayed to him through her spiritual awareness.


    The young boy shook his head. The village wasn¡¯t wealthy, so their lives were simple and meager. Whatever they ate and drank was very ordinary. If he really had to be narrow it down to the strangest thing that he had ever eaten, then it would be the wild fruits that he had picked from the mountain. However, nearly all of the villagers ate them as well.


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head at Bingxin, but the latter only icily smiled in response. Jiang Xiaofan grew despondent. Fuck! It was just an accidental peep! Do you have to be like this? Fine then. I¡¯ll let you peep back at me all you want!


    ¡°Go to his house!¡± Bingxin motioned to them with a blank expression on her face.


    Jiang Xiaofan answered ¡°oh¡± and immediately lamented his situation. While living under someone else¡¯s roof, one needed to lower his or her head at all times. He could do nothing about it since Bingxin was more powerful than him. He waved to Ye Yuanxue and said, ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, we¡¯re heading to Ziya¡¯s house. Your Sister Bingxin must be ravenous.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll go make food!¡± The young boy separated from them.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s lips twitched. He merely wanted to taunt Bingxin and didn¡¯t think that the young boy would take it seriously.


    After Ye Yuanxue had appeased the villagers by promising them that trio wouldn¡¯t leave before they cure the villagers, they finally dispersed.


    She giggled, naughtily looked at Jiang Xiaofan, and gently tugged on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe.


    On the other hand, Bingxin frostily glared at Jiang Xiaofan as if she wanted to devour him.


    Jiang Xiaofan felt very uncomfortable. Was this the legendary boundary between the realm of ice and fire?


    Grandpa Zhang¡¯s house was very dilapidated. He was now awake and allowed Ye Yuanxue to heal him by channeling her spiritual awareness into his body. There was only one table located in the center of the room, and very soon, small, steaming dishes were laid on top. The old man continuously thanked them for their help.


    Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue were amiable, but Bingxin kept coldly staring at the old man. This made Grandpa Zhang nervous.


    Jiang Xiaofan had already noticed her attitude towards the old man but thought nothing much of it. From his perspective, Bingxin was always like that. She was always so cold and treated people as if they owed her money and didn¡¯t pay up.


    ¡°When did you get infected by the demonic qi?¡± Bingxin suddenly asked Grandpa Zhang.


    ¡°That¡­. I¡¯m not sure. I think it was about two weeks or so ago,¡± mumbled the old man.


    Bingxin smiled, but her expression only became colder. She asked again, ¡°Are you positive that you were infected by demonic qi?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan finally grew unhappy with Bingxin¡¯s attitude. He reproached her, ¡°Didn¡¯t he already say that it was an infection? Can¡¯t you show an ounce of respect towards an ordinary old man? At the very least, stop putting on that frosty expression of yours, okay?¡±


    The young boy sat quietly to the side. He was a well-mannered child. When the adults spoke, he remained silent.


    The expression on Ye Yuanxue¡¯s face changed somewhat. She didn¡¯t say anything but began to strangely look at Grandpa Zhang. When the old man opened his mouth again, he warily replied, ¡°I am positive. It should be a demonic qi infection.¡±


    ¡°See? The old man already confirmed it.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Demonic qi infection?¡± Bingxin wryly smiled and eyed Jiang Xiaofan with disdain. She retorted, ¡°How would an ordinary old man know what demonic qi is, let alone demonic qi infection? Do you think that I¡¯m stupid?!¡±


    The old man¡¯s body trembled. There was panic in his eyes, and he began to avoid their gazes.


    ¡°This¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mind had turned blank before he finally grasped the reasoning behind Bingxin¡¯s interrogation. Why did he not express the least bit of skepticism towards Bingxin¡¯s mention of demonic qi infection but instead directly told her the time period of when he got infected? This made no sense at all.


    ¡°I¡­. I¡­.¡± The old man was now perturbed.


    Bingxin stood up and glared at Grandpa Zhang. Without any hint of surprise in her tone, she flatly interjected, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you why. You didn¡¯t get infected by any demonic qi because the truth is that you are a demonic cultivator!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan nearly fell off his chair. He knew what the two words ¡°demonic cultivator¡± implied. On Planet Ziwei, being a demonic cultivator was the equivalent of being the target of extermination by righteous Daoist cultivators around them.


    ¡°Grandpa¡¯s not a demon!¡±


    The boy abruptly stood up, guarded Grandpa Zhang in the front, and bravely looked Bingxin in the eye.


    He might be small and didn¡¯t understand what a demonic cultivator was, but he knew that the word ¡°demon¡± did not have a good connotation. Not to mention, even if the old man was a demon, he would still protect him.


    Bingxin didn¡¯t reply nor did Ye Yuanxue. The just continued to stare at Grandpa Zhang. Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaofan placated the young boy and said, ¡°It¡¯s only a suspicion for now. We can¡¯t be sure of it. Everything will be fine.¡±


    The child was very filial towards his grandpa, and this really touched Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart. Even though this what he had said to the boy, he subconsciously felt that there was truth in Bingxin¡¯s words. That girl would never joke around and would especially never make this kind of joke.


    The atmosphere in the tiny house turned gloomy. They didn¡¯t know how much time had passed before the old man finally heavily sighed. He seemed to have suddenly aged more, and his face looked forlorn.


    He gently stroked the boy¡¯s head and then glanced at Bingxin. Although he was distressed, his eyes, nevertheless, were lit with praise. ¡°Young miss, you have a good eye. My demonic foundation has been shattered, and I¡¯ve lost all my cultivation. Even so, you were still able to see through me. As one would expect of the Ice Palace¡¯s successor.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Bingxin¡¯s expression remained icy.


    She knew right away the moment she first glanced at the old man. After all, she was to be the future leader of the Ice Palace, and she practiced the Ice Palace¡¯s most advanced cultivation methods. In addition, she was close to advancing to Human Emperor. Naturally, she knew about many things.


    ¡°What do you plan to do to Grandpa?!¡±


    Still guarding his grandpa, the boy vigilantly watched the three of them.


    The old man lovely smiled at the boy and patted his head. He assured him, ¡°Ziya, be good. Nothing will happen to me. Go inside the other room. I need to have a discussion with them. Stay there and don¡¯t come out. Got it?¡±


    ¡°But¡­.¡± It was apparent that the boy was reluctant.


    ¡°Will you not listen to Grandpa¡¯s words anymore?¡± The old man¡¯s tone grew stern.


    Eventually, the boy left. Just before he entered the small room, he turned around to glance back at Grandpa Zhang.


    ¡°Please, be seated. I¡¯ll explain everything to you.¡± The grandpa was the first to sit down.


    After they were all seated, the old man began his story. As Bingxin had suspected, he was a demonic cultivator after all. He belonged to the infamous Celestial Demon Sect, and he was a confidant of the sect leader.


    Jiang Xiaofan was astonished. He didn¡¯t think that the old man would have such a distinguished background. This was because, from what Ye Yuanxue had informed him, the Celestial Demon Sect was once an extremely powerful entity that threatened the balance of power among the four largest sects.


    The old man apparently hadn¡¯t noticed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s surprised expression. Still dispirited, he continued his story. Around thirty years ago, the Celestial Demon Sect¡¯s leader had mysteriously disappeared. This had led to internal conflicts within the sect. With the disappearance of the sect leader, some of the members had begun to seize individual power, and they turned against each other.


    For the Celestial Demon Sect, that was a very bleak period of time in its history. Many of the powerful, high-ranking members had fought for the leader¡¯s position, and that nearly resulted in a complete wipeout. After a month of conflict, the ever-powerful Celestial Demon Sect had been completely destroyed from the inside out. Even the base of the sect had become a ruin.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how the Celestial Demon Sect vanished from this world!¡±


    Bingxin was surprised. She was young, but she was very knowledgeable. A large sect like the Ice Palace had, undoubtedly, ancient archives. Therefore, there was no way that she wouldn¡¯t know of the Celestial Demon Sect. That sect was the last of its kind on Planet Ziwei and the only one to self-destruct.


    During that time, nobody had known how the powerful demonic sect had met its end. The truth had already been buried by time. Unexpectedly, thirty years later, they had finally uncovered the truth.


    The old man nodded. Because he wasn¡¯t able to avoid the internal conflict that had gone on, his demonic foundation had been shattered, and all of his cultivation had been forever lost. Even so, he had survived and fled to the barren mountain behind the village, carrying with him the sect¡¯s sacred Celestial Demon Sword.


    With the sect leader gone, the Celestial Demon Sword had sealed away its own power. It was now an ordinary sword.


    Because the old man had already lost his cultivation, he had no way of awakening the Celestial Demon Sword. Despite being a demonic cultivator, he had never once killed an innocent being. Now that he became a mortal again, his perception of the world became much more simplified.


    He had never wanted fame nor fortune. With the downfall of the Celestial Demon Sect, all he hoped for was to live to the end of this battered life. Thus, he had buried the Celestial Demon Sword somewhere in the mountain and retired to this small village.


    However, thirty years later, something odd had happened to the Celestial Demon Sword. Not long ago, a faint demonic qi had emanated from the mountain. This obviously couldn¡¯t escape the former demonic cultivator¡¯s detection. The old man had dug up the Celestial Demon Sword and discovered that its seal had been broken!


    Although the emanation was a slow one and the demonic qi was very faint, it still, nonetheless, posed a great danger to mortals.


    The villagers often climbed the mountain to gather firewood. Along the way, it was impossible to escape the inhalation of the demonic qi in the air. As a result, their bodies became weaker and their life expectancies dropped.


    Because of his loss of cultivation and that he had come in close contact with the sword several times, Grandpa Zhang¡¯s health suffered the most. If he hadn¡¯t practiced demonic cultivation back then, he would have no way of even being able to approach the Celestial Demon Sword and would¡¯ve died long ago.


    ¡°Ah! So that¡¯s what happened!¡±


    The three nodded their heads in understanding. The source of the demonic qi was in the mountain.


    Jiang Xiaofan was slightly dissatisfied with himself. Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue had guessed the answer before him. Damn it! Am I really that stupid? Fuck all of this!


    ¡°Given my identity, I know that I shouldn¡¯t ask of you all of this, but I hope that you people will help me reseal the demonic sword and save the villagers. This incident has nothing to do with them. It¡¯s all my fault. I will carry all the blame!¡±


    As the old man beseeched them, he began to kneel down. This immediately caught Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s attention who then stopped him. ¡°Old man, don¡¯t be like this. You can¡¯t¡­.¡±


    ¡°You¡­. But why?¡±


    This was out of the old man¡¯s expectation. He knew himself well. He was once a demonic cultivator. His status among others on Planet Ziwei was very low. He was synonymous with darkness and filth. He was like a rat who had to scurry across the streets and elicited everyone¡¯s scorn.


    He assumed himself to be the only demonic cultivator left in this world, and he was a wasted one to boot. Any righteous Daoist cultivator would want to remove all roots of demonic cultivation. Yet after knowing his identity, Jiang Xiaofan treated him the same way as he did before. He didn¡¯t look down on him one bit.


    Jiang Xiaofan calmly spoke, ¡°You didn¡¯t commit any despicable acts. What you had to go through is simply a matter of difference in our identities. What is good? And what is evil? There¡¯s no such thing as orthodox versus unorthodox. There only exists benevolent beings versus malevolent beings.


    The old man¡¯s quivered. His eyes were a bit cloudy, but they glimmered with light.


    Bingxin¡¯s gaze shifted towards Jiang Xiaofan. There was a slight change in her expression. She understood Planet Ziwei¡¯s universal concept of good versus evil all too well. If it was some other disciple from another orthodox sect and he or she knew of the old man¡¯s real identity, then what would happen next is a clash of swords and the death of the old man.


    However, Jiang Xiaofan was an anomaly. He didn¡¯t believe in the abstract boundary of good versus evil. To him, orthodox and unorthodox didn¡¯t exist. There were only good people and bad people. Jiang Xiaofan had surprised her once again.


    Ye Yuanxue beamed with a smile and buried her giggles in the crook of her elbow. She chimed, ¡°Sister Bingxin, I told you so! Perverted Wolf may be perverted, but he¡¯s a good, unique, and kind-hearted man!¡±

 Chapter 28

    Jiang Xiaofan helped the old man up, and when he raised his head, he discovered that Ye Yuanxue was smiling at him. How beautiful! As for Bingxin, she was staring at him in a daze. He suddenly realized that when Bingxin spaced out, she actually looked very cute.


    But why is she staring at me like that?


    Jiang Xiaofan immediately used his extraordinary imagination. He thought that the ice chick had finally fallen for his charm, so now all he had to do was add a touch of gentlemanship in his attitude and fully conquer her heart. Hence, he flashed a warm smile at Bingxin.


    What followed was Jiang Xiaofan wanting to slap himself because of Bingxin¡¯s one word. ¡°Idiot!¡±


    To hell with gentlemanship!


    Around thirty years ago, unorthodox sects ceased to exist on Planet Ziwei. Since Bingxin wasn¡¯t a pedantic person and the old man had committed no evil acts, she naturally wouldn¡¯t harm him. Besides, the villagers needed help. They were left with no choice but to reseal that demonic sword at the mountain behind the village. This was the only way to purge the demonic qi from the villagers¡¯ bodies.


    She agreed to the resealing of the demonic sword, but before that happened, she asked about the situation with the young boy.


    At the mention of the young boy, the expression on the old man¡¯s face changed. He sank into silence for a long while before finally opening his mouth and replying, ¡°Thirty years ago, not far from where I buried the demonic sword, there was a pool of water nearby. It was there that I discovered the infant Ziya.¡±


    The three of them nodded, motioning him to continue.


    The look on the old man grew morose, and he lowered his voice. ¡°Maybe you all don¡¯t know about this, but what I am about to say is the truth. That pool looked to be the Mystic Spirit Pool from the legends. Ziya doesn¡¯t seem to be human either!¡±


    ¡°Mystic Spirit Pool! Are you sure?!¡±


    Bingxin abruptly stood up, and Ye Yuanxue¡¯s mouth was agape. The two distinguished ladies were somewhat shocked.


    Jiang Xiaofan was shocked as well, except he couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes at Bingxin¡¯s reaction. What Mystic Spirit Pool? That¡¯s not the main point here, alright? Rather, shouldn¡¯t the main point be these five words, ¡°doesn¡¯t seem to be human¡±?


    ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s the Mystic Spirit Pool!¡± The old man firmly responded.


    ¡°No wonder why the little guy can resist demonic qi!¡± Ye Yuanxue exclaimed.


    Jiang Xiaofan was at loss for words. He really couldn¡¯t understand why these two girls weren¡¯t concerned with ¡°doesn¡¯t seem to be human¡± but rather concerned with that whatever bullshit Mystic Spirit Pool. He had never even heard of that name before.


    Aware of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s skepticism and displeased with him, Ye Yuanxue tugged his earlobe and explained, ¡°The Mystic Spirit Pool, as its name implies, has to do with the connection to the spirit world through mysticism. The existence of such a place is a primordial rarity that has witnessed times of old and the new. Even the ancient archives have records of it. The effects of the pool water are akin to those of a divine herb which is even more powerful than the Immortal Spirit Root, a primordial king.


    ¡°Oh¡­. So it¡¯s like that.¡± Jiang Xiaofan finally understood and nodded. He then asked, ¡°What¡¯s a divine herb?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know?!¡± Incensed, Ye Yuanxue wanted to kick him.


    ¡°Idiot!¡± This was Bingxin¡¯s evaluation of Jiang Xiaofan.


    All of a sudden, Jiang Xiaofan felt aggrieved. At school, teachers had always liked students who asked questions because it meant that the student was a good student with a thirst for more knowledge.


    To his dismay, the case was different on Planet Ziwei. His thirst for knowledge led to the two girls attacking him in this manner.


    Even the old man looked at Jiang Xiaofan strangely. How can this man have never heard of a divine herb? This is ridiculous! He¡¯s a cultivator after all! Why wouldn¡¯t he know of it?


    Although he was suspicious, he nevertheless elucidated, ¡°This world has many prized herbs. They have various powerful and mystical uses and are the physical forms of the accumulation of the purest spiritual qi. Naturally, in the cultivation world, they are categorized into grades as well. From least effective to most effective, they are: precious, immortal, primordial king, and saintly.¡±


    Precious and immortal herbs were rare, but they could, nevertheless, be found and obtained. Those with the grade of primordial king were rarer, and even the leaders of the four prominent sects had difficulty in acquiring them.


    In addition, once herbs reached the grade of primordial king, they would contain immense spiritual qi and also nurtured fragments of Dao within it. They were necessary for the pursuit of power for cultivators who wanted to reach their peak. Immortal Spirit Root belonged to this grade.


    A divine herb was a treasure among rarities. Essentially, it could heal near-death injuries such as deep flesh and bone wounds. As for the saintly herb, its existence was on the same rarity level as an emperor pill, or rather, it was even rarer than an emperor pill. No one had ever come across a saintly herb before.


    Pills, herbs, cultivation realms, and graded tasks were the foundation of cultivation. They were necessities that every cultivator should have a solid grasp of knowledge on, yet Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t even know what a divine herb was. It was no one¡¯s surprise that Ye Yuanxue grew so frustrated that she wanted to kick him.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face flushed red. Ye Yuanxue had previously advised him to go take a look at the materials inside the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s Pavilion of Stored Scriptures; however, he never took her advice with serious consideration.


    As the old man had said, when he discovered Ziya, the spiritual qi from the Mystic Spirit Pool had already completely disappeared. He surmised that the infant Ziya was born from the amalgamation of the spiritual qi. This was why he had claimed that the young boy wasn¡¯t a human.


    How could an infant child, whose eyes weren¡¯t even open, possibly appear in a small pool? Even if his parents wanted to abandon him, surely, they couldn¡¯t just throw him into a pool in the middle of a barren mountain, right? Not to the mention, the pool was very deep. Why hadn¡¯t the infant Ziya sunken to the bottom? Could it be that a newly-born child can swim?


    The circumstances and facts implied that the young boy definitely wasn¡¯t a human, but he did have all the traits of a human.


    On that same night, under the old man¡¯s lead, the four of them headed towards the mountain at the back of the village. They didn¡¯t bring the young boy with them. Although he was unordinary, he was, nevertheless, just a child. For his own good, it was better if he had no knowledge of his origin.


    The mountain was very desolate, but that didn¡¯t mean that there was no fauna.  Along the way, Jiang Xiaofan spotted many wild fruits. Not long after, they reached the entrance to a pitch-black cave. The vegetation around the cave had withered. Even the soil was stained black.


    The Celestial Demon Sword was buried here, deep inside the cave!


    After arriving in this area, Jiang Xiaofan instantly furrowed his brows. His Buddhist Sutra involuntarily activated and channeled his qi, as if it was very resistant against the aura of the cave. His body began to radiate faint golden rays, and the demonic qi from the cave immediately dispersed.


    Grandpa Zhang didn¡¯t feel anything because his cultivation was lost. However, Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue quickly turned their heads and looked at Jiang Xiaofan. Frightened by his move, they watched on until his body¡¯s golden rays dimmed to nothing.


    Ye Yuanxue devilishly glared at Jiang Xiaofan and smiled, ¡°Perverted Wolf, you seem very excited. How about you go ahead and open the path for us?¡±


    ¡°No way! If I go in, we go in together!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head. Who is she kidding? Even Grandpa Zhang isn¡¯t certain of the geography of the cave. If I am to open the path, then what will I do if encounter something dire? Won¡¯t I be cannon fodder then?! There will be no way to return home!


    ¡°Chicken!¡± Bingxin chirped him with disdain.


    Jiang Xiaofan ignored her remark, turned around, and asked the old man, ¡°By the way, what rank is that Celestial Demon Sword? Is it spirit-ranked or precious-ranked?¡±


    Because the old man used to be a cultivator, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s tone towards him was more casual than average.


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure. The Celestial Demon Sword is a unique weapon. Although it is the sacred treasure of my sect, its power is normally sealed away.¡± The old man shook his head but then gave an alternate answer, ¡°However, the sect leader once said that its rank is at least arcana.¡±


    What?! Arcana?!


    Instantaneously, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mouth rapidly secreted with saliva and almost drooled.


    Looking at Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue about to enter the cave, he dashed ahead *woosh* and stopped the two girls. With a stern expression, he resolutely told them, ¡°I¡¯ve been pondering for a while now. There could be dangers inside. You guys stay put. I¡¯ll go explore.¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that you wanted to go together?¡± Bewildered, Ye Yuanxue queried him.


    ¡°Silly, I was just kidding!¡± Jiang Xiaofan chuckled and then grew serious again. ¡°No matter what, I¡¯m a man. How can I allow two girls to face danger? Do I, Jiang Xiaofan, look like the type of person who would do that?!¡±


    ¡°Very much so!¡± Bingxin nodded in agreement.


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to vomit blood. Sister, can¡¯t you say it more euphemistically?


    In the end, the two girls could no longer bear Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s manly temperament, so they allowed him to do as he wished. Jiang Xiaofan then meticulously asked the old man for a topographical layout of the cave and the location of the buried Celestial Demon Sword. After all was said and done, he charged into the cave.


    ¡°Will he be alright just by himself?¡± Grandpa Zhang was somewhat concerned.


    ¡°It¡¯s best if he dies inside!¡± Bingxin coldly remarked.


    While exploring, Jiang Xiaofan sneezed a few times. Without a plausible reason, he felt chilled.


    Shit! Someone must be cursing me!


    He violently shook his head and continued trekking. Arcana, huh? And it¡¯s a demonic weapon! Jiang Xiaofan was giddy with joy.


    Originally, he had no intention of becoming cannon fodder. However, he was suddenly enlightened. Screw everything! What¡¯s my cultivation?! Please, it¡¯s the Buddhist Sutra, okay? What are demons most afraid of? Buddhist aura! I was born to subdue demonic cultivation!


    In other words, he had high hopes of suppressing and retrieving the Celestial Demon Sword.


    If Bingxin and the others were to follow him, then he would have no grand role to play. I must retrieve the sword, and then¡­. Wahaha! Asshole Zhu Xidao! You have a precious-ranked weapon? I¡¯ll chop it until it becomes a heap of scrap iron! I¡¯ll let you crouch in a dingy corner and draw circles on the wall!


    These were merely his thoughts. He could not openly draw out the Celestial Demon Sword after retrieval.  Otherwise, he would be finished. The entire cultivation world would be after him. By then, he hypothesized that even if he acted like an ant and hid in the mound, he would, nonetheless, be dragged out and trampled to death.


    The lighting in the cave was very bleak. Even with Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s current cultivation level, he had difficulty in seeing what lay ahead.


    He strenuously trekked deeper inside the cave. The demonic qi in the atmosphere grew denser, and his breathing became labored. Eventually, Jiang Xiaofan felt that he was about to suffocate.


    It was at this time that Jiang Xiaofan smiled. He was already far away from the cave entrance. He didn¡¯t need to worry about Bingxin and the others discovering his act. His body suddenly radiated with faint golden rays. The light purged the dark, demonic aura and lit up the path in front of him.


    ¡°Hehe, as I expected! I am the god here!¡±

 Chapter 29

    The inside of the cave was slightly wet. The occasional sounds of dripping water *pitter patter* broke through the silence, causing the atmosphere to feel even eerier.


    Jiang Xiaofan cautiously proceeded forward as if he was a thief. To be literal, he really was a thief because his purpose of coming here wasn¡¯t to open a path or to reseal the Celestial Demon Sword. He was here to steal the sword.


    Arcana-ranked! It¡¯s a mystical weapon that even surpasses precious-ranked!


    Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t familiar with the rare treasures of this world, but he was extremely familiar with weapons, even more than what he knew about basic mathematics. Every day for the past days, he envisioned himself wielding his coveted weapon. He would be content if it was even spirit-ranked.


    However, how could something like this possibly happen? It was all just imagination. Unexpectedly, Heaven was good to him. He finally had the chance to realize his dream. Not to mention, it was an arcana weapon!


    Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t help but think that the old man was being melodramatic. In fact, he wasted a good weapon! How could he bury an arcana weapon like that?! Even if its power is sealed away, he can, at the very least, use it to chop trees. With that, it won¡¯t require so much effort to obtain firewood.


    With tips from the old man, Jiang Xiaofan finally arrived in front of a pile of random rocks. The demonic qi in this area was the densest, and even with the activation of the Buddhist Sutra, he felt great discomfort. His body turned cold, and he sensed a very dangerous aura around him.


    For the arcana weapon, I¡¯ll fight on!


    Jiang Xiaofan careless tossed the rocks on the surface away and took out the shovel that he borrowed from Grandpa Zhang. He then began to dig at the ground. The soil here was very moist, dark, and loose. It was as if someone had just recently tilled it.


    *Ding*


    Jiang Xiaofan grew elated after the crisp sound of him hitting an object echoed in his ears. He finally hit the jackpot!


    He looked at the demonic sword that lay horizontally before him and slowly gulped. The pommel of the hilt was a skull, and it emanated a powerful, menacing aura. The beautiful, slender sword glimmered with dark, demonic light as if was ready to slice everything in half. There were strange runes on the blade that dizzied him when he looked at them. They looked like the characters on oracle bones[1], none of which he could read.


    With the unearthing of the demonic sword, the demonic qi in the atmosphere intensified. Beads of sweat dripped down Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s forehead. Currently, he was under great pressure as if he was holding the sky on his shoulders. The power of the sword was even more terrifying than Zhu Xidao¡¯s precious weapon.


    As a reminder, this sword had yet to be unsealed.


    As expected of an arcana weapon. Such frightening might!


    ¡°It was a good thing that the others hadn¡¯t volunteered to take the lead. Otherwise, their lives would be at risk,¡± inwardly muttered Jiang Xiaofan.


    It was true that his cultivation relied on the Buddhist Sutra, and he could use its power to contain demonic cultivation. However, if the level of the demonic cultivation was higher than his, then he could only suffer a grisly fate. He would be like a newborn kitty who was facing a fully-grown, ravenous rat. How was he supposed to kill it? If somehow he didn¡¯t end up dying, he would burn incense and pray to the gods!


    The golden Buddhist light radiated more brilliantly, which caused him to look like a human lightbulb. Jiang Xiaofan reached out to grab onto the hilt of the Celestial Demon Sword. At this time, the still sword suddenly trembled.


    Oh my gods! Jiang Xiaofan nearly fainted. The Celestial Demon Sword was flying towards him!


    With the tremor of the Celestial Demon Sword, black qi permeated the air around him and his vision blurred. The sword transformed into a thin, small black light and broke through his Buddhist light barrier before perfusing into his body.


    ¡°Get out of there!¡±


    The color drained from his face, and cold sweat profusely dripped down. If a demonic sword goes inside your body, is that considered a good thing?


    Just when the sword entered his body, an excruciating pain attacked his senses and his body curled up. He felt that there was a strange organism inside his body and that it was devouring his innards.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan uncontrollably shrieked with pain. Although his cries were loud, they could not resonate outward. Because of his vast distance from the entrance, Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue had no way of knowing the situation inside the cave.


    He regretted it. He felt that his life force was rapidly draining away and nearly lost consciousness from the searing pain. The Celestial Demon Sword was wreaking havoc on his body, absorbing not just his life force but also the circulating Immortal Spirit Qi.


    His spiritual awareness channeled through his body in an attempt to stop the Celestial Demonic Sword, but it was useless. It had no way of nearing it. At the same time, wave after wave of pain washed over him. Death was fast approaching.


    Abruptly, the Celestial Demon Sword trembled again as if it seemed to have sensed something. Its powerful demonic qi shot towards a specific area within his body. Its movement caused Jiang Xiaofan to violently vomit a mouthful of blood as he felt his organs ripping from the inside out.


    ¡°That!¡±


    His spiritual awareness trailed the path of the demonic sword. Before him was the small, multicolored lake. It was so mystical that it looked surreal. In the center was the palm-sized, silver-colored brass piece that floated serenely and unmoving on top of the water.


    He was utterly stunned. Could it be that the Celestial Demonic Sword was attracted to this lake?


    In the next moment, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s guess had been actualized. The Celestial Demon Sword was like a hungry man who lusted after a beautiful girl, streaking towards the lake at lightning speed. The scene had Jiang Xiaofan frozen on the spot and at a loss for words.


    The sword¡¯s actually going for it!


    Just when the sword plunged into the water, its black blade suddenly shook wildly as if the sword had encountered the most frightening thing in existence. It wanted to escape, but a glimmer of light intercepted and held it back.


    Entering may be a piece of cake, but exiting it surely isn¡¯t!


    Jiang Xiaofan fell to the ground and repeatedly pounded on the ground while laughing so hard that he couldn¡¯t catch his breath.


    Such bad luck! You totally deserved it! Of all the places that it could¡¯ve traveled to, the Celestial Demon Sword just had to aim for the small, multicolored lake. Even he didn¡¯t know much about this lake, nor had he ever touched its waters. He couldn¡¯t believe that the demonic sword actually set its sight on the lake.


    As for that floating brass piece, its origin was even more noteworthy since it had once belonged to Siddhartha Gautama. With just a slight tremble, the brass piece¡¯s power shattered Zhu Xidao¡¯s coveted precious weapon. Even if the Celestial Demon Sword was an arcana weapon and more formidable than the Soul Training Pagoda, its might, nonetheless, paled in comparison to the might of the brass piece. The Celestial Demon Sword was asking for torment.


    Within the waters, the sword shook even more frantically than before. Its demonic power was now beyond frightening, startling those who felt it.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hair stood on end. He felt the tremendous energy fluctuations, so powerful that they could destroy Heaven and Earth. Concurrently, the water of the small, multicolored lake also turned turbulent. A black-colored flash of lightning appeared and was followed by the piercing screams of demons and ferocious growls of ghosts. The entire scene was apocalyptic.


    His body completely froze over. Just what is up with this demonic sword? Why is it so terrifying? He could feel his body wanting to explode and his blood raging to gush out.


    *Ring*


    All of a sudden, the brass piece slightly vibrated. In an instant, everything quieted down, and the illusions vanished. The black demonic qi was immediately absorbed into the brass piece.


    Jiang Xiaofan sucked in his breath. The brass piece really is that amazing after all!


    As the demonic qi was being absorbed into the brass piece, the qi around the Celestial Demonic Sword continued to shake violently in resistance. The demonic aura was constantly weakening. Afterward, its movements came to a stop. With his acute sense, Jiang Xiaofan knew that the demonic sword had undergone a change. It was much weaker now, and its fearsome qi had completely dissipated.


    Around this time, the brass piece also ceased its absorption. It trembled for a final time and sent the black sword flying out of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body. The sword landed on the ground with a loud *clunk*.


    Jiang Xiaofan was taken aback. He warily walked towards the sword, softly kicked it, discovered that it had no reaction, and kicked it again. Following that were more kicks. After the seventh kick, Jiang Xiaofan finally let his guard down.


    He picked up the sword and examined it in his hands. It was quite heavy, and the blade was sharp like a soldier who was ready for battle. However, he also sensed that the sword no longer emitted any energy, not even the slightest fluctuation. It seemed to be even more worthless than a spirit weapon.


    He channeled his spiritual energy to the sword, but no reaction was elicited from it. The Celestial Demon Sword didn¡¯t move at all.


    ¡°This can¡¯t be. I suffered through all that, and what I now have is a giant knife for obtaining firewood?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was so furious with the sword that he tossed it away.


    What happened next had left his jaw dropping to the ground as he stared on at the scene. The entire blade of the sword perforated the cave¡¯s wall. Only the hilt with the skull forged on it was visible. It was as if the sword and the cave were one entity. Throughout the whole process, not a single sound was produced.


    Too sharp! So sharp that it¡¯s abnormal!


    This was the first thought that ran through Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mind. He strode forward, pulled out the sword, and surveyed it once more. Next, he picked up a piece of rock with his left hand, raised it towards the tip of the blade, and gently sliced downward.


    *Ziiii*


    The sound was almost inaudible. The rock in his hand had been cleaved in half.


    Jiang Xiaofan widened his eyes in astonishment. He almost suspected the object in his hand was a block of tofu. No, it¡¯s more fragile than tofu!


    He then began to crazily experiment with his sword inside the cave. First, he bore the pain of pulling out a strand of his hair, threw it in midair, and sliced it with the Celestial Demon Sword. In an instant, the strand was cut into two.


    Next, he gently waved the sword at a few giant boulders. The sound of contact was so soft that Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t even hear it. The results were the same. All of the boulders were cleaved in half from the middle. The cross section of the cut was smoother than glass.


    ¡°Fuck! What a really sharp woodcutting knife!¡± Jiang Xiaofan marveled at it.


    He was somewhat happy again. Jiang Xiaofan believed that with the sharpness of the sword, even a spirit weapon could be easily hacked by it. More importantly, he could now use the Celestial Demon Sword in the public eye. Other than the scary-looking hilt, the sword didn¡¯t emanate a single thread of demonic qi. Nobody could tell that it was a demonic sword.


    He placed the Celestial Demon Sword inside his spatial ring. The ring wasn¡¯t considered anything special in the eyes of the four large sects. After ascending to the status of an inner disciple, the new inner disciples would receive spatial rings which were used to store simple items. As long as they were not living things, almost anything could be stored.


    Right after he walked out of the cave, the glaring sunlight temporarily blinded him. Thus, he subconsciously blocked it with his hand.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, are you alright?¡± Ye Yuanxue hopped over and asked him.


    Jiang Xiaofan smiled and shook his head. Just when he was about to reply, Bingxin interjected, ¡°You wasted a considerable amount of time. I thought you had died in there. I didn¡¯t think that you¡¯d walk out alive.¡±


    Fuck! Why does this chick have such wicked thinking?!


    Jiang Xiaofan really wanted to slap her to hell, but he restrained himself. As the saying went, ¡°A true gentleman does not fight with a girl.¡± He definitely wasn¡¯t afraid of challenging her! Definitely not! Hell no!


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 30

    At this time, Grandpa Zhang walked over. He was a bit anxious and asked Jiang Xiaofan what had happened inside the cave.


    Jiang Xiaofan had long thought of rhetoric that could be used as a credible explanation. With a solemn expression on his face, he added extra details here and there to his story. If he just summarized the whole event with a few simple phrases and words, it would be ¡°dangerous¡±, ¡°extremely dangerous¡±.


    Yet, even danger could not stop Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s resolution to save the villagers. With his courage and mighty cultivation, he succumbed to destiny and resealed the Celestial Demon Sword.


    Because of the sword¡¯s invasion into his body, Jiang Xiaofan was originally injured away. Not to mention, his robe was smeared with the black soil and there was a bloody stain on his chest. These small pieces of evidence hinted that whatever happened inside the cave was not as simple as everyone had thought.


    ¡°It really has been resealed?¡± The old man was excited.


    ¡°Of course! Why would I lie to you?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan patted his chest and exclaimed, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, then why don¡¯t you feel the air around you and see if there is still any more demonic qi?¡±


    Using what little awareness he had, the old man discovered that the uncomfortable aura had disappeared. With Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s further explanation, the old man finally believed him and repeatedly thanked him for his valiance. The demonic qi was truly gone, once and for all.


    Although Bingxin was doubtful and wanted to go inside the cave to see for herself, nearly causing Jiang Xiaofan to break into cold sweat, Ye Yuanxue helped him out by convincing her to let the matter go. Bingxin reluctantly gave in, snorted *hmph*, and headed down the mountain.


    Because of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s contact with the Celestial Demon Sword, he understood the nature of the demonic qi and soon purged the villagers of the wicked aura, as well as healing Grandpa Zhang¡¯s injuries. Not long after, the small village had been restored to its former appearance.


    ¡°Thank you, Big Brother. Thank you as well, Big Sisters!¡±


    The young boy¡¯s face was full of steadfastness, but he knew when to be courteous. Ziya kneeled and bowed down, sincerely thanking the three of them.


    ¡°You¡¯re such a good boy!¡± Jiang Xiaofan walked over and helped him up.


    Still, he felt that Ziya wasn¡¯t a suitable name for the boy. Perhaps he thought too much. Grandpa Zhang told him that the young boy had another name, Zhang Hen. It was just that the old man was used to calling him Ziya.


    Jiang Xiaofan pulled Zhang Hen to the side and said, ¡°If you encounter any problems in the future, come and find me at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Brother Jiang.¡± Zhang Hen flashed a smile at him.


    Since the village crisis had been resolved, Jiang Xiaofan and the two girls immediately left and continued on their quest.


    However, the continuation of their quest meant that his days of anguish would resume. Up above the clear, blue sky, the two girls flew in midair while Jiang Xiaofan clang onto the flying sword¡¯s hilt. His eyes were once again lackluster, and he vomited severely.


    What he wanted was for Ye Yuanxue to fly with him. That way, he wouldn¡¯t need to maneuver the flying sword and lose his life along the way. However, he pondered over it and decided to forgo the thought. He was unable to open his mouth and propose the idea to her because it would be too spineless of him to do so.


    As for Bingxin, he didn¡¯t even dare to consider her as an option. If he asked her for such a favor, Bingxin would flatly tell him, ¡°If you want to die, go ahead. I¡¯ll satisfy you. You don¡¯t need to be reserved around me.¡±


    Therefore, he had no choice but to endure the nauseating pain. On one hand, he cursed the inventor of the flying sword while on the other, he carefully maneuvered his sword and drifted ahead.


    Six days passed, and the temperature in the atmosphere dropped. They had finally reached the base of the Ice Palace.


    As its name suggested, the Ice Palace was situated on an ice field. Flurries of snow fell down from the sky and cold winds swept across the land. Jiang Xiaofan shivered, but his eyes were now much brighter.


    With one sweeping glance, a snow-covered mountain range painted the background of the ice field. Each mountain was like an ice sculpture. Among one of them was a primordial peak that looked the most eye-catching. Thousands of feet above the ground, the peak was covered in heavy layers of snow and emanated an imposing but icy qi. It was if it could freeze all living things that neared it.


    Even so, the primordial peak had fauna that exuded spiritual qi. It was like a fairyland with its lush greenery and blossoming flowers.


    Jiang Xiaofan narrowed his eyes and looked farther up the peak. There were numerous building complexes upon it. Peering even farther, he could faintly see a crystal-white snow complex that sat right on top of the peak. It was nearly hidden by the clouds.


    Jiang Xiaofan was far away from that snow complex, but he could still sense the freezing qi that emanated from it. It was different from the one on the ice field. The snow complex was akin to that of an ice king. Its qi was domineering. This was the renowned Ice Palace, one of Planet Ziwei¡¯s four largest sects!


    ¡°Blessed Maiden, we have come before you.¡±


    A couple of females around the ages of twenty-three to twenty-four, donning a thin, white robe, glided down from the primordial peak.


    Jiang Xiaofan was at a loss for words. These girls aren¡¯t afraid of the cold?


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, what are you looking at?¡± Ye Yuanxue leaned over and tugged on his earlobe.


    ¡°They¡¯re wearing too little!¡± Jiang Xiaofan honestly replied to her.


    In an instant, he felt his earlobe being tugged more forcefully. Meanwhile, the other girls glared at him with looks of irritation. Jiang Xiaofan was immediately confused. Is there something wrong with me being concerned for their health?


    Bingxin¡¯s expression turned frosty, and her eyes grew icier as she glowered at Jiang Xiaofan. This man is trash after all! I thought that he was quite nice and kind, but to my dismay, he¡¯s so perverted. How dare he teased the disciples of the Ice Palace, and he did it in front of me, the Blessed Maiden!


    However, Bingxin then sneered and whispered a few words to a nearby disciple.


    The female disciple glanced at Jiang Xiaofan strangely, called over the others, and turned to leave.


    Reflexively, he grew suspicious. Jiang Xiaofan rubbed his chin and wondered, ¡°Can it be that I appear more handsome now? Nah, that can¡¯t be. But then why would that girl look at me with those deep-set eyes?¡±


    All of a sudden, he finally realized what was in store for him. He looked at the snow complex on top of the primordial peak. Chills not only ran down his spine, but he felt even colder. It was very, very cold. He almost became an ice sculpture himself.


    Fuck! I walked right into an ambush of tigers!


    He cleared his throat, looked at Ye Yuanxue, and solemnly remarked, ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, you and Miss Bing go retrieve the letter. I¡¯ll wait here for both of you. The Ice Palace is sacred ground for female cultivators. We should respect its rules. I believe that I shouldn¡¯t enter. It¡¯ll just bring about inconveniences.¡±


    Before Ye Yuanxue could respond, Bingxin held her back and calmly replied, ¡°Jiang Gongzi, you worry too much. The Ice Palace does have a rule which states that men cannot enter at will. Nonetheless, you are Xiao Xue¡¯s friend. As such, we will not make things difficult for you.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan mechanically shook his head. How generous! Who¡¯s going to believe you?!


    Bingxin dragged Ye Yuanxue up the snow-covered stone stairway up to the top of the peak. A few steps later, she turned around and warned Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°Oh yeah, I forgot to remind you. This ice field isn¡¯t very safe. Snow wolves would occasionally wander around here. That¡¯s why our mountain is sealed off.¡±


    Tch! Jiang Xiaofan pouted. Just a few snow wolves. What do I have to be afraid of? I¡¯m a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator! I also have the Celestial Demon Sword! They will pose no struggle for me. Go ahead and seal the mountain then!


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, you really don¡¯t want to come along?¡± Ye Yuanxue looked at him and mischievously smiled, ¡°There are a lot of pretty girls at the Ice Palace!¡±


    ¡°Not going!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan repeatedly shook his head. You can¡¯t change my mind with seduction!


    Bingxin eyed Jiang Xiaofan with a blank expression before continuing to climb up the steps with Ye Yuanxue. It was around this time that a small fluctuation of spiritual energy began to suffuse the area. Jiang Xiaofan knew that this was the so-called sealing of the mountain.


    He reached his hand out, and in an instant, he felt immense energy that repelled his hand. It was a transparent wall of qi that blocked the path forward. With his current cultivation level, it was impossible to break it!


    Snow fluttered down. A couple of hours later passed, and the sky slowly darkened. Jiang Xiaofan numbingly stood there and gazed at the Ice Palace. A cold current settled in, and his long hair swayed in the direction of the wind.


    Jiang Xiaofan suddenly realized how idiotic he looked.


    Finally, the moon rose above the sky. Jiang Xiaofan knew that Bingxin had played him. Ye Yuanxue still hadn¡¯t come down from the peak. Does retrieving a letter need to take this long?! Even if they need to prepare the paper, grind the ink, and write the characters, the amount of time that passed is surely enough to complete it, yeah?


    Fuck! That ice chick is so evil! She wants me to freeze to death!


    ¡°Awooo¡­.¡±


    Just then, a wolf¡¯s howl broke the silence of the night and reverberated across the mountains.


    Snow wolves, right? I¡¯m really pissed off now. I¡¯ll use you guys as my punching bag!


    Feeling indignant, Jiang Xiaofan pulled out his Celestial Demon Sword *fwoosh* and turned around. What lay before him left Jiang Xiaofan dumbfounded. His sword almost slipped from his grasp and fell into the snow beneath him.


    What the hell?! Are these the few snow wolves which the ice chick referred to?


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s blood boiled. Even though he was unable to count how many there were in this short amount of time, the numerous pairs of green eyes staring back at him were more than enough to tell him that there were hundreds of wolves in this pack!


    Fuck all of this! Ice chick, you¡¯re too cruel!


    His cultivation was at seventh heaven of Micro Realm, so he didn¡¯t need to worry about a few snow wolves. He could easily hack them with a few swings of his sword. Contrarily, if they numbered in the hundreds and thousands, then he would be unable to fend them off. Rather, he needed to consider an escape plan.


    Another wolf¡¯s howl sounded. With their green eyes reflecting their ferociousness, the pack of wolves simultaneously moved and charged at Jiang Xiaofan. Their agility caught Jiang Xiaofan slightly off guard. They were too fast, nearly matching his speed for speed!


    Very soon, two snow wolves lunged at him. Without time to think, Jiang Xiaofan instinctively twirled the sword in his right hand and lightly slashed the two wolves in front of him. Immediately, they were cut in half and blood pooled onto the snow.


    Jiang Xiaofan was thrilled. He barely used any force and merely waved his hand. Just like before, the Celestial Demon Sword cut through the muscular wolves like tofu. There was no resistance at all!


    ¡°Awooo¡­.¡±


    The death of their comrades did not arouse the anger of the pack, but rather, their attacks grew fiercer.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s happiness from the revolution of his prized sword quickly vanished and was replaced by fright, goosebumps, and more chills. He was now surrounded by hundreds of wolves who glared at him with those shiny, green eyes. He couldn¡¯t help but shudder.


    Someone once said that the power of wisdom can produce miracles. Jiang Xiaofan never believed in it, but he was now willing to give it a try. He leveled his gaze with the wolves and earnestly reasoned, ¡°Hello Wolf Brothers. Fighting hurts our friendship. The night is still long. Why don¡¯t we sit down and chat about our aspirations? Uh, no. I mean, your aspirations. How about it?¡±


    What greeted him was the opening of a large, bloody maw. Livid, Jiang Xiaofan swung his downward and cleaved the wolf in half.


    Looks like the power of wisdom isn¡¯t reliable at all. It¡¯s impossible to settle this peaceably.


    He looked back at the Ice Palace and slowly calmed himself down. He just remembered something. He remembered his will to witness the Dao. With determination written all over his face, he turned around and raised the Celestial Demon Sword.


    Meanwhile, on top of the primordial peak, two distinguished ladies, standing shoulder to shoulder with other girls surrounding them, watched Jiang Xiaofan on the ice field from far away and whispered.


    ¡°He¡¯s not thinking of fighting all these wolves by himself, is he?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t be. Even a Realm of Dust cultivator has difficulty in accomplishing that. There are just too many.¡±


    Bingxin coldly smiled. This elicited Ye Yuanxue¡¯s curiosity. Why does Sister Bingxin hate that Perverted Wolf so much?


    Nevertheless, the pretty lass soon giggled, revealing her pretty snaggleteeth, excitedly waved her petite fist, and cheered, ¡°Perverted Wolf, you go!¡±

 Chapter 31

    Facing off against the pack of wolves, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart gradually calmed down. The Celestial Demon Sword rotated in his hand and emitted a light-green sword qi, causing a screech as it sliced through the air and shattered gusts of snow.


    *Pff pff*


    Two more snow wolves charged at him but were cleaved in half.


    Since there¡¯s no room for retreat, I have to face them head-on and give it my all.


    ¡°Awooo¡­.¡±


    This time, a dozen or so wolves rushed over and encircled him. The girls on top of the primordial peak were anxious as they watched on. The encirclement was a tough one to break through which few could do.


    In the next second, Jiang Xiaofan vanished and left behind a blurry shadow. No flakes of snow had been kicked and swept up from the ground. He then appeared outside of the encirclement, raised his sword, and swung down. All of the wolves had been cut, and their blood stained the ice field.


    ¡°So fast!¡± A few of the girls gasped in awe.


    Bingxin maintained her blank expression. This wasn¡¯t the first time that she had witnessed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s agility. When they had first met at the Heavenly Maiden Peak, he was already able to dodge her sword attack. This encirclement of a dozen wolves was not a difficult obstacle for him.


    Still, her brows were furrowed. What others noticed was his speed, but what she was focused was on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s long sword. It was ridiculously sharp and beyond ordinary. Even a spirit weapon could not reach that level of power.


    Despite being a very sharp sword, she was unable to detect any of its energy fluctuations.


    Dark green light flickered around him as Jiang Xiaofan channeled his Shadow Steps and zigzagged among the wolf pack. Although his Celestial Demon Sword no longer contained powerful demonic qi, the sharpness of its blade made it a more terrifying weapon than a spirit sword. As long as his sword came in contact with a snow wolf, the wolf would inevitably meet a gruesome ending.


    After entering battle, serenity settled in his eyes. He was once again encircled by more wolves, but he didn¡¯t exhibit any panic at all. His sword danced like the rolling of clouds and flowing of water.


    *Pff*


    The snow wolf to his left was cleaved in half as well.


    He slightly cocked his head and avoided the large maw that was coming for him from the top. With a roundhouse kick of his right leg, he *bang* aimed for the snow wolf¡¯s abdomen and kicked it flying out, subsequently causing it to crash into another wolf. The latter was knocked flying out several meters. Both of them fell to the ground and made no movements afterward. They apparently had died.


    ¡°Such frightening strength!¡±


    The girls watching from afar grew nervous.


    Although the snow wolves had no knowledge of Dao and cultivation, their physical strength could match that of second heaven Micro Realm cultivators. Still, these snow wolves were easily kicked to death by the man before them.


    All of the females were amazed by the man¡¯s fluid yet mysterious movements, particularly his steps. They looked as if he was tracing the path of Dao. With so many wolves surrounding him, he was able to advance and retreat with ease. In a short amount of time, the ice field was covered with dozens of snow wolf corpses. Blood flowed across the land like a river and dyed the surface red.


    ¡°Yeesh, this guy¡¯s too bloodthirsty. How could he kill so many of them at once?¡± Ye Yuanxue commented with displeasure in her tone.


    If Jiang Xiaofan were to hear her say this, he would be so angry that he¡¯d cough out a mouthful of blood. Please! These wolves are trying to eat me, and you want me to show them mercy?! So stressful!


    In the battle against the powerful Jiang Xiaofan, the pack of wolves showed no fear for him but instead became much fiercer as they lunged at him, seemingly unafraid of death. Jiang Xiaofan turned dizzy from staring one bloody maw after another. Why are there still so many?!


    The Buddhist Sutra contained many ancient methods and techniques, but he couldn¡¯t use them here. After all, this area was under the governance of the Ice Palace. He didn¡¯t want anyone to know his secrets, not even Ye Yuanxue.


    The slaughter continued. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed before the sky gradually brightened. He was drenched in sweat, and he didn¡¯t know how many snow wolves he had already killed. His robe was already shredded into pieces and waves of dizziness began to overcome him. His spiritual energy was nearly completely drained.


    What he didn¡¯t know was that not only were the female disciples stunned by the feat of his battle, Bingxin and Ye Yuanxue were also astounded. They had stood on the primordial peak for an entire night and watched Jiang Xiaofan clash with the snow wolves.


    ¡°Is¡­. Is this guy even human?!¡±


    ¡°How did he do that?!¡±


    This was beyond comprehension. The girls were utterly shocked. How can a mere Micro Realm cultivator take on an encirclement of countless hundreds of wolves and remain standing until now?! Yet, the dismembered parts and the blood stains on the ice field were proof of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s battle record. Even the flurry of snow was unable to cover up the mess on the ground. Jiang Xiaofan is still persevering through the battle. More than two hundred wolves with strength comparable at second heaven Micro Realm cultivators were massacred!


    Jiang Xiaofan felt dizzy, but more so, he felt nauseous. There was a strong urge to vomit from the sight and smell of the dismembered corpses and blood. His right hand trembled. He lost count of how many times he had cursed Bingxin.


    Propping himself up with his sword, he gasped for air. His pants were tattered, and his robe was shredded. Part of his bare shoulder was exposed with several claw marks on it.


    This was all due to his peerless, primordial Buddhist Sutra, especially his Diamond Sutra method that called for the tempering of the physical body. His strength had become immensely strong, and the durability of his body far exceeded others. In addition to his Shadow Steps, he was able to survive until now.


    If it was some other cultivator with the same level as him, he or she would have devoured by the wolves long ago.


    ¡°You all really want to die, don¡¯t you?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan hollered at the wolf pack.


    The ferocious snow wolves reflexively stepped back. The human before them was too horrifying. He was like a humanoid beast. The sword that he wielded was also a fearsome object to face off against.


    ¡°Awooo¡­.¡±


    Suddenly, another howl sounded. The wolf pack immediately quieted down. In an orderly fashion, they moved to either side and allowed a path to form in the middle. The wolves looked to the rear with dread and respect in their eyes.


    Jiang Xiaofan narrowed his eyes and saw a distinctive snow wolf appear in sight. It was distinct because this snow wolf was two meters in height and looked as strong as a bull.


    Wolf King!


    In an instant, these two words appeared in his head.


    ¡°The Snow Wolf King! Why is here?!¡± One girl on the primordial peak exclaimed.


    Bingxin knitted her brows again and pondered over a matter. Ye Yuanxue continued to wave her fist and cheer for Jiang Xiaofan; however, her voice was carried away by the gusts of snow and unable to resonate down the peak.


    He peered at the enormous Snow Wolf King, scanned the wolf pack, and finally glanced at the Ice Palace¡¯s primordial peak. Jiang Xiaofan slowly got up and took a deep breath. With a slight vibration of the Celestial Demon Sword, it disappeared from his hand.


    This act stupefied the girls from above. Has this man gone nuts?! Against the Snow Wolf King whose strength was on par with a seventh heaven Micro Realm cultivator, he actually withdrew his sword! Does he plan to fight the Snow Wolf King with his fists?


    ¡°Awooo¡­.¡±


    As if he had been insulted, the Snow Wolf King angrily howled and charged at Jiang Xiaofan. Its speed was much faster than that of the other snow wolves, and it had an upper advantage on the ice field. In the blink of an eye, the wolf appeared right in front of him.


    Bloodlust filled the air and suffocated him. The dangerous aura made his hair stand on end, and his body shuddered. He was currently very weak, but he was still able to move based on his instinct. With his right leg crossed at an angle, he leaned back and threw a hook at the wolf.


    *Bang*


    The wolf¡¯s enormous body flew backward for more than three meters.


    This scene once again shook the girls on the peak to the core. This was unthinkable! A barehanded punch knocked down the Snow Wolf King with strength at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm.


    However, even they could tell that Jiang Xiaofan was nearing full exhaustion. All he did was knock the Snow Wolf King flying. Otherwise, with his previous performance, even if his initial strength wasn¡¯t enough to kill the Snow Wolf King, it was enough to considerably damage him.


    ¡°Blessed Maiden and Miss Ye, should we¡­.¡± The girl beside them hesitatingly suggested.


    Bingxin glanced at Ye Yuanxue as if she was asking for her advice. To Bingxin¡¯s surprise, the normally playful and adorable Ye Yuanxue shook her head and said, ¡°Perverted Wolf said that he wants to witness the Dao!¡±


    The female disciples were perplexed. As for Bingxin, she was stunned by Ye Yuanxue¡¯s words. As the Blessed Maiden of the Ice Palace and its successor, she knew the meaning behind those words. For the first time ever, her expression drastically changed.


    Moments later, Bingxin coolly replied, ¡°No need to worry about him.¡±


    On the ice field, the wolf pack released howls and their green eyes flashed with savagery.


    The Snow Wolf King jumped at Jiang Xiaofan again and opened its large maw. Jiang Xiaofan felt great pressure, but he didn¡¯t falter. Instead, he strenuously rushed ahead using his Shadow Steps and directly faced the Snow Wolf King.


    *Bang*


    The Snow Wolf King was again knocked flying out, but Jiang Xiaofan was also squarely struck by the Snow Wolf King¡¯s paw. Jiang Xiaofan horizontally flew out more than three meters. Blood trickled down his lips.


    *Bang*


    With another clash, snow from the ground was swept up and chaotically flew everywhere.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan boomed and rushed ahead.


    *Bang*


    *Bang*


    As the battle between the wolf and man continued, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s energy rapidly drained away. Nevertheless, his physical body was still very powerful since he had the Buddhist Sutra as the foundation of his cultivation. His fists were already numb, and his legs were somewhat stiff, but he never once backed down. He was still able to keep the Snow Wolf King at bay.


    Every female disciple who watched from atop the primordial peak were completely taken aback. That was an ice field after all. Its temperature was very low. Even a Realm of Dust cultivator could not stay there for too long. The reason why the Ice Palace disciples could come and go as they pleased had to do with their cultivation of a primordial manual.


    Yet, the man down below withstood the attack of a pack of wolves for an entire night. His energy was nearing its end, but he was still able to fight the Snow Wolf King in a death match. Just how strong is his will to fight?!


    *Bang bang bang*


    As the battle prolonged, Jiang Xiaofan nearly lost consciousness from exhaustion. However, there was a strong will within him that kept his body going. He didn¡¯t want to give up. He wanted to fight, fight, and fight!


    Time ticked away. The winds and snow hadn¡¯t stopped. The day began to break with its first golden glow.


    It was at this time that a strong whirl of wind blew by Jiang Xiaofan and snow fluttered. A powerful qi was suddenly emitted and spread through the area. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s dull eyes instantly lit up, and he instinctively roared at the sky.


    In a daze, the girls stared at the man on the ice field.


    Ye Yuanxue grinned impishly and excitedly waved her fist again.


    A strange light flashed across Bingxin¡¯s eyes. She muttered, ¡°Eighth heaven of Micro Realm.¡±


    *Boom*


    The strong qi transformed into a powerful tornado that swept up the Snow Wolf King. In a second, Jiang Xiaofan caught up with the Snow Wolf King in midair, balled up his right hand that then radiated with a burst of dark green light, and punched down with all his might.


    ¡°Awooo¡­.¡±


    A blood-curdling howl echoed throughout the ice field. Afterward, silence settled in. The Snow Wolf King laid in a pool of his own blood.

 Chapter 32

    Jiang Xiaofan finally did it! He had broken through his cultivation barrier! Even when his spirit energy was nearly drained to its limit, he never gave up and relentlessly battled on with his will. With his barrier broken, Jiang Xiaofan reached eight heaven of Micro Realm.


    He clenched his fists and felt the power surging forth from his body. More than just replenished, his spirit energy restlessly circulated throughout his body.


    With the automatic channeling of his Diamond Sutra, his body had become much stronger. He was confident that nobody below the Realm of Dust could match against his strength in a physical fight.


    The Snow Wolf King had already lost his life in the battle. With the one-hit-KO punch that was executed during the breakthrough and the shattered the skull of the Snow Wolf King, the other snow wolves around him finally understood the true meaning of terror. They warily surveyed the human who stood in the center of their encirclement.


    The wolves slowly receded towards the rear, and a while later, they disappeared from Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s view.


    ¡°Jiang Gongzi, Miss Ye invites you to go up the peak. This is what she had prepared for you.¡±


    The Ice Palace¡¯s primordial peak had already been unsealed. A white-robed girl with a comely face, about eighteen to nineteen years old, gracefully walked up to him and handed him a white robe of the same style. Before turning her head in the other direction, her cheeks flushed slightly red when she glanced at Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Uh, thanks.¡±


    He smiled brightly. His clothes were torn into pieces from top to bottom by the pack of wolves, revealing many exposed areas. Regardless of how thick-skinned he was, Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed after looking at the blushing young lady.


    Jiang Xiaofan followed the white-robed girl up the steep steps of Ice Peak. Very soon, they arrived at the first level of the peak. This was where guests were received and welcomed. The main area of the Ice Palace was located far away at the top.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, you are so amazing!¡± Ye Yuanxue hopped to his side and smiled teasingly.


    The expressionless Bingxin stood to the side and whispered to the girls around here, occasionally giving Jiang Xiaofan the eye. Chills ran down his spine. This evil chick isn¡¯t thinking of pranking me again, is she?


    Because of his relationship with Ye Yuanxue, the two of them temporarily stayed at the Ice Palace. This made him both happy and miserable. He was happy because the Ice Palace really was full of beautiful women. Anyone of them could easily win first place as Miss Universe. With such beautiful scenery before him every day, how could he not be happy?


    At the same time, he was miserable. The cause was obvious. Bingxin glared at him from time to time, rendering Jiang Xiaofan very uncomfortable. He really was trapped in a cave with a tiger! If Bingxin happened to be in a sour mood, it would be game over for him!


    Fortunately, there had been no more incidents. His days at the Ice Palace finally came to an end because Ye Yuanxue retrieved the secret letter. They could finally leave, and Jiang Xiaofan would no longer have to live his life in fear.


    Jiang Xiaofan was so scared that he didn¡¯t dare to sleep heavily at night. He was afraid that if he wasn¡¯t alert in bed, the rooftop would collapse on him.


    Bingxin personally escorted them down Ice Peak. Of course, this was because of her friendship with Ye Yuanxue. It had nothing to with Jiang Xiaofan at all. She was already considered compassionate enough for not having kicked him down the peak like a rolling snowball.


    Ye Yuanxue held Bingxin¡¯s hand and smiled sweetly at her, revealing an adorable pair of snaggleteeth. She was slightly more petite than Bingxin. Whenever the two walked together, their beautiful complexions eclipsed everything else within view.


    ¡°Miss Bingxin, I am extremely grateful for your hospitality. I will never forget it!¡± Jiang Xiaofan mawkishly remarked.


    Even though he was almost played to death by her, and despite that they now had to separate and might never see each other again, he felt that he needed to be nicer to her. After all, he was in the wrong for having seen the girl naked. He couldn¡¯t just ignore his misdeed.


    Bingxin remained expressionless. Jiang Xiaofan thought that this was the perfect time for an apology. He cautiously approached her and lowered his voice, ¡°That incident¡­. I didn¡¯t mean to. That day, I¡­.¡±


    ¡°Scram!¡±


    Bingxin¡¯s face immediately flushed scarlet as she screamed at the top of her lungs. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart almost jumped out of his chest, and even the girls around her took a step back. This was the first time that they had seen the Blessed Maiden this angry.


    Ye Yuanxue¡¯s mouth was agape. She seemed to remember something and tugged on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe. ¡°Perverted Wolf, tell me the truth! Did you do something offensive to Sister Bingxin?!¡±


    The girls behind Bingxin fell into shock, and their delicate faces turned cold. This man offended the Blessed Maiden?! They glowered at Jiang Xiaofan as if preparing to battle him should he say one wrong word out of line.


    Fuck! Too many murderous auras!


    Jiang Xiaofan uncontrollably shivered and looked at Ye Yuanxue with lament in his eyes. Can we not be talking about this? You make me sound like I¡¯m a heartless person who deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces.


    Bingxin stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan and icily snapped at him, ¡°Don¡¯t ever let me see you again!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan repeatedly nodded his head. He would be more than thrilled to never see her again. Without further ado, he began to drag Ye Yuanxue away and prepare to disappear. However, at this time, a loud *boom* echoed from a distance into the corners of the ice field with snow flying everywhere. The ground shook as if there was an earthquake.


    Coming into view were a dozen or so riders on top of strange-looking, wild beasts. They were thoroughly covered in scales, and their horns were large and protruding.


    Jiang Xiaofan was somewhat nervous. This was the first time that he had seen such bizarre beasts. They looked as if they belonged to the Mesozoic Era. The beasts seemed quite powerful, and they projected a glacial, menacing aura which startled him.


    The beast in the center of the gang appeared the most unique of them all. It was extraordinary, radiant, majestic, and commanding. On top of the beast was an exceedingly handsome, purple-robed man who looked to be twenty-four to twenty-five. His expression was unperturbed, but there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes.


    To the man¡¯s left was another beast with a distinctive appearance, and on top of it was an elderly man with a blank look on his face. The people behind them were no ordinary people either as they emanated a strong aura of battle spirit.


    The agility of these primordial beasts was commendable. Even the Snow Wolf King was incomparable to them. Very soon, they rushed over to Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s direction and braked five meters short of where they stood.


    The purple-robed man hastily walked over, without even glancing at Jiang Xiaofan and the others, stopped in front of Bingxin, and queried with a soft tone, ¡°Xinxin, are you waiting here for me because you know that I was coming?¡±


    The girls behind Bingxin grew uneasy as they looked sternly at the purple-robed man. Bingxin furrowed her brows and flatly replied, ¡°Xia Gongzi, I¡¯m here to send away my friend.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan became dumbfounded. Oh my gods! Who is this guy?! He dared to call the ice chick ¡°Xinxin¡±! More importantly, the ice chick didn¡¯t explode into a fit of rage?! She only furrowed her brows!


    The purple-robed man was slightly disappointed, but he maintained his smile. He looked to the side, casually nodded at Jiang Xiaofan, and didn¡¯t say anything. This made Jiang Xiaofan disgruntled. Damn it! What do you want?!


    When the purple-robed man¡¯s gaze fell upon Ye Yuanxue, he revealed a look of surprise and chuckled, ¡°Miss Ye, so it¡¯s you! I didn¡¯t think that you had come back here. I didn¡¯t even know of it!¡±


    ¡°Who are you? Ye Yuanxue eyed the man up and down.


    The purple-robed man¡¯s smile instantly hardened and cracked. Jiang Xiaofan was inwardly giddy with joy. He nearly couldn¡¯t control himself from kissing Ye Yuanxue. My Xiao Xue¡¯er¡¯s just too cute! Yeah, that¡¯s right! Piss off this pompous asshole!


    To Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s dismay, the purple-robed man wasn¡¯t angry at her response and he recovered his cheerful expression. ¡°I¡¯ve only seen you once, Miss Ye. Back then, you were still very young, so you probably can¡¯t remember. I am Xia Fengming.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you.¡± Ye Yuanxue seemed to recall such a person from her memories. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    The purple-robed man named Xia Fengming was very gentlemanly. He cocked his head to look at Bingxin, and with a soft, warm tone, he answered, ¡°Naturally, I am here to propose marriage to Xinxin.¡±


    Bingxin¡¯s expression grew frostier. ¡°Xia Gongzi, please mind your words. I¡¯m called Bingxin. Also, I¡¯ve already told you this many times before. I will not agree to your proposal. Don¡¯t make this hard on me!¡±


    Caught off guard by the turn of events, Jiang Xiaofan finally understood what had happened. So this isn¡¯t the first time that Xia Fengming had come here. However, I have to say that this guy is pretty dedicated after getting repeatedly rejected by the ice chick!


    Xia Fengming was embarrassed. Just then, a quiet yet audible female voice echoed from above, ¡°Xia Gongzi, please enter the peak.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Qianbei[1]!¡±


    Xia Fengming bowed before the peak. His face once again lit up with a smile. He walked to the forefront and stood beside Bingxin.


    Except for the elderly man, those who accompanied Xia Fengming stayed where they stood.


    Bingxin deeply knitted her brows and shot a glance at Ye Yuanxue. The latter instantly grasped her implication, jumped between her and Xia Fengming, and giggled, ¡°Since he¡¯s here to propose to you, I need to keep an eye on things.¡±


    ¡°Ouch! Don¡¯t poke me! I didn¡¯t say that I¡¯ll help him out!¡± Ye Yuanxue yelped but then mischievously continued, ¡°If you don¡¯t like him, then I won¡¯t agree to the marriage! My sister also won¡¯t agree to it! Regardless of who he is!¡±


    Xia Fengming was upset after being pushed by Ye Yuanxue, but he remained quiet about it. Although what the girl said next made him even more upset, he didn¡¯t openly protest either.


    He wanted to approach Bingxin from the other side, but Ye Yuanxue pointed to that spot and directed towards Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°Perverted Wolf, stand right there and ensure Sister Bingxin¡¯s safety!¡±


    Bingxin coldly eyed Jiang Xiaofan. The latter wanted to shake his head in rejection, but after seeing Ye Yuanxue wave her fist at him, he had to comply. He reluctantly stood next to Bingxin.


    With her being so close to him, he could smell the faint fragrance exuding from her body. Under normal circumstances, he should be very excited that he could share this intimate moment with her. However, Jiang Xiaofan dutifully assumed the role of a bodyguard, looking as if he was facing imminent danger from all sides.


    ¡°Friend, there are some positions that not just anyone can fill in. Xinxin¡¯s cultivation level is considerably higher than yours. I doubt that you have the ability to protect her. Just leave it to me.¡±


    Xia Fengming walked over to him. He was still smiling, but his bearing had become officious. He was like a king who condescendingly faced his courtiers.


    Jiang Xiaofan was already in a bad mood. Xia Fengming¡¯s contempt for him agitated him even more. He retorted, ¡°What the fuck does it matter to you where I stand?! And who the hell are you?! Is Xinxin a nickname which you can casually her by?! Go back to where you came from!¡±


    The smile on Xia Fengming¡¯s face instantaneously vanished. He turned sullen, and an almost undetectable trace of vexation flashed across his eyes. The elderly man rushed up but was held back by Xia Fengming.


    The group soon reached the first level of Ice Peak. A middle-aged woman was already standing there. She sauntered forth and gestured to Xia Fengming, ¡°Xia Gongzi, please enter inside.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Qianbei. After you.¡± Xia Fengming beamed a smile at her.


    They walked into a large hall, and the middle-aged woman sat before them all in the center. Xia Fengming was seated to her left with the expressionless, almost lifeless, elderly man standing behind him.


    Not long after he sat down, Xia Fengming stood up again and explained the purpose of his trip to the Ice Palace. It was because of Bingxin. With the permission of all the elders and the sect¡¯s leader, he inquired for her hand in marriage.


    The middle-aged woman didn¡¯t directly respond to him but instead turned to look at Bingxin. Without even hesitating, Bingxin spat, ¡°Won¡¯t marry him!¡±


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 33

    The three words, ¡°won¡¯t marry him¡±, might not seem like much, but her tone was icy which reflected her stance on the matter.


    The middle-aged woman looked at Xia Fengming and shook her head. ¡°Xia Gongzi, as you can see, it¡¯s not that I disallow you to marry her. It¡¯s that she doesn¡¯t want to. Within these walls of the Ice Palace, even the sect leader cannot force Bingxin to do something against her will.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was speechless. This middle-aged woman is too¡­. Just say that the ice chick doesn¡¯t agree to it. Why do you have to drag the sect leader into the conversation? Can it be that the Ice Palace¡¯s honor rests on that ice chick¡¯s shoulder?


    Xia Fengming lamented the situation but insisted, ¡°My affection for Miss Bingxin is sincere. It won¡¯t change no matter what. I will keep coming until Miss Bingxin finally agrees.¡±


    He waved his hand, and the elderly man behind him walked forth. With a flash of light, an intricately carved, wooden box appeared in the elder¡¯s hands.


    Xia Fengming retrieved it, walked up to Bingxin, and explained, ¡°This is the Polar Ice Jade which can assist you in your cultivation. It¡¯s also the hardest object in the world, a symbol of my unwavering love for you!¡±


    Even the middle-aged woman was surprised as she stared at the object in Xia Fengming¡¯s hands. The Polar Ice Jade contained the qi of extreme yin and extreme coldness. It was considered a highly valuable treasure among cultivators from the Ice Palace.


    Jiang Xiaofan pouted and muttered, ¡°Hardest in the world¡­. Unwavering love¡­. What a bold statement.¡±


    His voice was soft, but everyone could hear him nonetheless. Xia Fengming grew sullen and retorted, ¡°You don¡¯t know anything, so refrain from speaking nonsense. There¡¯s a saying that goes, ¡®A fool¡¯s mouth is his destruction.¡¯ Please be mindful of yourself!¡±


    Fuck! You¡¯re threatening me?!


    Immediately, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s dislike for Xia Fengming grew. Coincidentally, Xia Fengming had just claimed that the Polar Ice Jade was the world¡¯s hardest object, and this prompted Jiang Xiaofan to inwardly deride him. An interesting idea was just conjured in his mind.


    He glared at Xia Fengming and disdainfully replied, ¡°Hardest in the world? Don¡¯t overexaggerate because it will otherwise become a joke. How can you casually display such junk and say those words? Aren¡¯t you afraid that your tongue will fall off?¡±


    ¡°This person is?¡±


    It wasn¡¯t until now that the middle-aged woman had finally noticed Jiang Xiaofan and asked.


    Bingxin answered, ¡°He is Jiang Xiaofan from the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect and here to retrieve the secret letter.¡±


    The middle-aged woman nodded and inquired no further. Jiang Xiaofan then resumed his conversation with Xia Fengming. ¡°Since Brother Xia has such confidence, why don¡¯t we make a bet? How about it?¡±


    The middle-aged woman furrowed her brows. Before she could intervene, Xia Fengming smiled and responded, ¡°Fine then. Since you want to bet so much, I¡¯ll play along. What do you want to bet on?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan looked at the wooden box and pointed at the white, mystical-looking, spherical jade that was about the size of a football. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that that thing is the hardest object in the world? We¡¯ll bet on that.¡±


    ¡°Okay. You¡¯re on!¡± Xia Fengming nodded. His expression was calm as if everything was within his control. He glanced at Jiang Xiaofan and said, ¡°Since it¡¯s a bet, there¡¯ll have to be stakes.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan challenged.


    Xia Fengming¡¯s expression turned slightly frosty. ¡°Your life. Are you game?¡±


    Everyone was astonished. They hadn¡¯t imagined that Xia Fengming would come up with such a gamble. Not only was the middle-aged woman taken aback but so were Ye Yuanxue and Bingxin. In fact, Ye Yuanxue was ready to reject Xia Fengming on behalf of Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°You must think that I was born a coward! If that¡¯s what you want to bet on, so be it!¡± Jiang Xiaofan sneered and waved his hand at Ye Yuanxue, motioning her to stay back. He leveled his gaze at Xia Fengming and coolly responded, ¡°However, I don¡¯t want your life. It¡¯s of no value to me. Not one bit!¡±


    Disregarding Xia Fengming¡¯s darkening look on his face, Jiang Xiaofan cocked his head at Bingxin and eyed her. He continued, ¡°If you lose, I want you to never bother Miss Bingxin again. She has no feelings for you!¡±


    Bingxin glanced at Jiang Xiaofan strangely. Once again, her expression turned dramatic. What is going through that man¡¯s head?! Why is he betting his life for me?! We have no relations between us! Is he out of his mind?!


    ¡°What are you doing?!¡±


    Bingxin stood up and angrily glared at Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Jiang Xiaofan glared back at her before staring at Xia Fengming again. He coldly jeered, ¡°Well? Bet or no bet?!¡±


    Xia Fengming narrowed his eyes. He adamantly believed that even if the Polar Ice Jade wasn¡¯t the hardest object in the world, then there was barely anything else that can compare with it. Even if there was an object whose hardness could match that of the Polar Ice Jade¡¯s, such a thing would be difficult to obtain. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cultivation was merely at the Micro Realm. Xia Fengming didn¡¯t believe that Jiang Xiaofan could come up with a similar object on the spot.


    ¡°As you wish!¡± Xia Fengming countered.


    Jiang Xiaofan icily smirked. A dark black, long sword with a beautiful, slim blade and a skull on the pommel of its hilt appeared in his hand. There were no energy fluctuations radiating from it.


    ¡°What do you plan to do?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much. You claimed that the Polar Ice Jade is the hardest object in the world, yeah? I¡¯m here to prove to you that your so-called hardest object is no harder than tofu.¡±


    He smirked again, raised his sword, and forcefully swung down. With the use of his Buddhist Sutra¡¯s Shadow Steps at such a close distance, his speed was so quick that Bingxin didn¡¯t even have ample time to react. Needless to say, Xia Fengming had no time to evade either.


    *Hah*


    A light sound was heard. The Ice Polar Jade and its wooden box were cleaved in half and consequently knocked to the floor. The cross-section of the cleanly cut jade was as smooth as the surface of glass.


    The atmosphere of the large Snow Hall sank into silence. Even Xia Fengming was stunned. The sturdy, hard Polar Ice Jade was cut just like that. For a while, he couldn¡¯t recover from his shock.


    ¡°This¡­.¡±


    The middle-aged woman was caught off guard. She looked at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s long sword and sensed no energy fluctuations from it, yet it was able to break the Polar Ice Jade. Just how sharp is this sword?! How rare are the materials that were used to forge it?!


    The dark black blade and the skull on its hilt had everyone knitting their brow, and even the eyes of Xia Fengming and the green-robed elder glimmered with light. However, they said nothing because they could sense that there was nothing phenomenal about that sword.


    ¡°Well, Brother Xia?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan put away his Celestial Demon Sword and narrowed his eyes at Xia Fengming.


    After Xia Fengming¡¯s focus had returned, he looked at the halved Ice Polar Jade on the floor. There was no longer any hint of a smile on his face. Rather, his expression was brooding. He stared at Jiang Xiaofan and coldly announced, ¡°I have lost! I will never step foot into the Ice Palace again!¡±


    He then strode up to Jiang Xiaofan, peered down at him, and growled, ¡°How excellent!¡±


    Without care, Jiang Xiaofan shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Everybody says the same.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll remember you for this!¡±


    Xia Fengming eyed Jiang Xiaofan for the final time and then eyed Bingxin. Without any words or any courtesy, he strutted out of the hall with the elderly man following him.


    The middle-aged woman finally exhaled a sigh of relief. She turned to nod her head at Jiang Xiaofan and expressed her gratitude. Without saying anything further, she got up and left the Snow Hall as if she had some other task that she needed to take care of.


    It was evident that Xia Fengming¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t an ordinary one since the powerful Ice Palace had to take him into consideration. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have permitted him to come and propose to Bingxin and would¡¯ve deterred him at the base of the peak instead.


    Bingxin was considered the most gifted successor in all of the Ice Palace¡¯s thousands of years old history. How could the Ice Palace possibly marry her off like that? Due to the force behind Xia Fengming, even the Ice Palace had to tread carefully.  All they could do was be perfunctory towards him.


    As for the incident today, Jiang Xiaofan had settled the matter once and for all by making Xia Fengming swear that he would never step another foot into the Ice Palace. In other words, this meant that he will never propose to Bingxin again. The middle-aged woman had a strong reason to believe that with Xia Fengming¡¯s identity, he wouldn¡¯t eat his words. Otherwise, he would not only bring shame to himself but to that force behind him as well. He wouldn¡¯t do such a thing, nor would he dare to!


    ¡°Yeah! Perverted Wolf is so cool!¡± Ye Yuanxue hopped over and tugged on his earlobe. ¡°You¡¯ve accomplished a meritorious deed today! Sister Bingxin will definitely reward you for it! Maybe she¡¯ll even offer herself!¡±


    Bingxin momentarily glared at Ye Yuanxue before turning to eye Jiang Xiaofan, looking at him ¡°very seriously¡± and ¡°carefully¡± until Jiang Xiaofan felt his hair stand on end. She flatly said, ¡°You yelled at me.¡±


    All of a sudden, Jiang Xiaofan grew numb. He just remembered the two words that he had directed her and hastily clarified, ¡°Oi oi oi! Respected Miss Bingxin, you can¡¯t be like this! Where¡¯s your conscience? I just risked my life back there to help you out!¡±


    Bingxin snorted *hmph*, turned her head the other way, and murmured, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    This word sounded very weak, almost inaudible. However, Jiang Xiaofan heard her and reflexively widened his eyes. This was because he was standing near her, and not to mention, with his peerless, primordial Buddhist Sutra, his senses had been heightened.


    He couldn¡¯t believe his own ears. The ice chick actually said thanks to me? Am I hallucinating? He cautiously neared her and whispered, ¡°What did you just say?¡±


    ¡°Scram!¡±


    This time, there was no need to doubt anything. Her voice was definitely loud and clear.


    On that afternoon, Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue departed from the Ice Palace and embarked on their return journey to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. The middle-aged woman appeared again. She, as an elder of the Ice Palace, and Bingxin escorted the two of them down the peak.


    The Ice Palace owed Jiang Xiaofan a favor. As its representative, she solemnly promised him that whenever he was in a time of need, the Ice Palace would extend a helping hand and provide him with necessary resources as long as the actions and consequences were within the boundaries of morality.  In addition, Ice Palace¡¯s doors would forever be opened to him. He would be welcomed as a guest at any time.


    Jiang Xiaofan was astounded. Looks like Bingxin is of exceptional importance to the sect!


    Gusts of wind and snow blew across the ice field as usual. On top of the primordial peak was where the true, sacred ground of the Ice Palace rested. It rose into the sky above the clouds with traces of Dao and threads of spiritual qi enveloping the surrounding area. Powerful divine light emanated from it, looking like a true immortal realm.


    It was here that the most gifted successor of the Ice Palace stood. She looked down from afar at the youthful pair teasing each other on the ice field. In a daze, she stared at an average yet extraordinary figure walking farther and farther away.


    This man¡­. What exactly is he? His cultivation isn¡¯t strong, yet he was willing to help out that old man and his grandchild. They were complete strangers to him, and he offended so many cultivators in the process. He looks lackadaisical, yet he elicits the desire of wanting to witness the Dao. He seems blustering but is willing to put his life on the line for others. What does he have in mind?


    The girl wondered.


    ¡°Xin¡¯er, what are you in a daze for?¡±


    An aged voice sounded from above.


    ¡°Shifu¡­.¡±


    Bingxin turned around and looked towards the peak above the clouds.


    The aged voice resonated again, ¡°The prelude of a flourishing era has begun. Samsara[1] is now on a new cycle. As the Ice Palace¡¯s most gifted successor in history, you have what it takes to walk the Dao. Whether you choose to or not, that is your own choice.¡±


    Bingxin¡¯s eyes were clouded by mist, and her white-robed swayed in the wind. Frost danced in midair for her. Traces of Dao revolved around this naturally formed landscape with divine light radiating from the top of the peak. She was like the goddess of snow and ice. After a long while, her figure gradually faded into the background before finally vanishing from where she stood.


    Meanwhile, a purple-robed man quietly stood on top of another peak located outside of the ice field with a morose, green-robed elderly man behind him. They blankly gazed at the pair walking down below.


    ¡°Young Master, should I make a move?¡± The green-robed elderly man asked.


    ¡°Now is not the time. There¡¯s no window of opportunity.¡± The purple-robed man shook his head.


    ¡°Because of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect?¡±


    ¡°Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect? What worth is the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect?!¡± Full of disdain, the purple-robed man retaliated, ¡°A mere Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect has no room for concern in my eyes! What I have to worry about is that Ye girl!¡±


    ¡°That lass is certainly a bit strange, but she is no match for me.¡± The green-robed elder calmly stated, ¡°As a matter of fact, I can make them disappear for good.¡±


    *Pah*


    The response given to him was the crisp sound of a slap across the face.


    The purple-robed man icily glared at the green-robed elder and chastised him, ¡°It¡¯s because he¡¯s with that Ye girl that I can¡¯t touch him! How else do you think that he can walk away from this ice field safe and sound?!¡±


    A strong, explosive qi erupted from the purple-robed man¡¯s body. If Jiang Xiaofan were here, he would realize that Xia Fengming¡¯s qi was too powerful, even more powerful than Bingxin¡¯s. His cultivation level was at least at the ninth heaven of Phantom Saint, perhaps even higher!


    Despite being slapped, the green-robed elder¡¯s expression remained the same. He stood by his side with his head lowered.


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you! Stay as far away as possible from that Ye girl! Don¡¯t even think about provoking her! Don¡¯t even touch one strand of her hair! If anything happens to her, all of Planet Ziwei will shudder in fear!¡±


    With a look of indifference on his face, he gazed afar and coolly asserted, ¡°I doubt that he¡¯ll stick to that Ye girl indefinitely. Once he walks out of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect alone, I¡¯ll personally make sure that he won¡¯t make it back alive.¡±


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 34

    Planet Ziwei was vast and full of spiritual qi. Even though mortals occupied its lands, Ziwei was too unique of a planet. It was, after all, a world that belonged to the cultivators in which they reigned supreme.


    Jiang Xiaofan was dispirited as he really abhorred the flying sword technique. His hand that held onto the sword trembled slightly. Whenever he thought about hugging his sword and vomiting until he emptied out his contents, he immediately felt that fighting a pack of wolves was a much easier task to accomplish.


    The good news was that the evil ice chick was no longer here. His days passed by much more comfortably. At the very least, Ye Yuanxue gave him enough time to take a rest and recover until overwhelming nausea disappeared before they traveled again.


    ¡°Urgh¡­.¡±


    He was in deep anguish. His eyes continuously swirled around and around. Unable to tolerate seeing him in pain, Ye Yuanxue comforted him nonstop. ¡°Vomit it all out. That¡¯s right. Just vomit everything. You¡¯ll feel much better.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan really wanted to die!


    When he climbed off his sword, he could faintly make out the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s magnificent, towering complexes nestled in the spiritual mountains before him. He nearly burst into tears. His feeling of happiness was like that of a child seeing his long-parted mother again.


    The base of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was located among the mountains with boundless spiritual qi blanketing it. It looked even grander than the Ice Palace. Numerous inner disciples glided across midair on their mystical rainbows. Ye Yuanxue tugged on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe, pointed at the sky, and lectured, ¡°Perverted Wolf, just what is up with you?! How come other people look so suave when they maneuver their flying swords, but you look so ugly when you do it?! And you have to vomit all the time!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan looked at Ye Yuanxue with a pitiful expression. You really think that I want to be nauseous? You really think that I want to vomit?! Who the hell knew that I get motion sickness from flying swords?! Whoever invented this flying sword technique must hate me!


    Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes at him. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask my sister for some Diandan pills. It¡¯s not good if you keep suffering like this.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t. It won¡¯t work. It¡¯s better if I just quickly cultivate to the Realm of Dust.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head ruefully. Even though the name of the drug was different, wasn¡¯t it the same as Dramamine?


    Back on Planet Earth, whenever he felt extremely nauseous and could not tolerate it, he would buy a box of Dramamine with whatever amount of money he had. Afterward, he would curse the pharmaceutical company and its retailers because the drug had no positive effect on him whatsoever. Fuck! I hope you guys get carsick all the time! I pray that all of your families get carsick!


    The distance between the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation and the Xuanyang Pavilion wasn¡¯t far. Together, they presented the secret letter to the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation. He still had that same stony expression his face as if somebody owed him money.


    Entry of their completed task and contribution points were recorded into a piece of jade. Afterward, the leader directly escorted them out with a wave of his robe¡¯s long sleeve.


    ¡°Stupid old man!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue angrily gritted her teeth, wanting to march up to the leader and give him a good beating.


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded his head accordingly. The old man from the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation indeed had an unfriendly presence. He always had the same contemptuous face on every time, like a puppet. Bingxin looked cold too, but that was part of her charm. At least she looked beautiful.


    The two of them separated at the base of the Heavenly Maiden Peak. After watching Ye Yuanxue leave, Jiang Xiaofan headed for Standstill Peak. After his long journey to the Ice Palace, strangely enough, he missed Standstill Peak. After all, that place was considered, in its truest sense, his home after arriving in this world. Unconsciously, he had grown attached to Standstill Peak.


    Just before he reached the base of Standstill Peak, yelling sounds resonated from the nearby bamboo forest. Curious, Jiang Xiaofan decided to take a look.


    After passing through the dense bamboo forest, he reached a remote, small patch of open space. A green-robed man was surrounded by three figures. His body was covered in scars, both old and fresh, and they appeared to have been recently formed. Meanwhile, the three men surrounding him were punching and kicking at him.


    Jiang Xiaofan was taken aback because he discovered that whether it was the person getting hit or the people hitting him, the four of them belonged to the same main peak, the Heavenly Sun Peak to be exact. The three men surrounding the green-robed man were the same people whom Jiang Xiaofan forced to labor after they had failed to cause mischief at Standstill Peak.


    One of them was the blue-robed man, and the two others were named Wang Chong and Ding Gao.


    As for that person being hit, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t know his name. He just recalled that the green-robed man had asked for him to release his peers, but his plea had been rejected.


    ¡°Weakling! How can you be afraid of that waste?!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just a fifth heaven Micro Realm cultivator, but you don¡¯t even have the guts to get him!¡±


    The three of them cursed at the green-robed man while pummeling him.


    Of the three, the strongest was at the ninth heaven of Micro Realm while the weakest was at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm. The green-robed man was at the seventh heaven, but against the three, he had no strength to resist. Not to mention, he seemed to be wary of something. Without any reprisal, he cowered to the ground with his arms around his head and allowed the three of them to mercilessly beat him.


    Unable to look any further at these three scumbags assailing a defenseless person, Jiang Xiaofan picked up a random stone from the ground and threw it out, striking the blue-robed youth¡¯s raised fist.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    The blue-robed youth shrieked in pain.


    ¡°Who is it?! Reveal yourself at once!¡±


    The man next to the blue-robed youth hollered.


    Jiang Xiaofan leisurely walked out from behind the bamboo trees. There was a small stone in his hand, and he casually threw it up and down. He pleasantly greeted them with a drawl, ¡°Yo, everyone! We meet again. What a coincidence.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you!¡±


    The green-robed man was surprised by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s presence. The three others were also startled but soon broke into fits of laughter.


    ¡°You¡¯re finally back!¡± Ding Gao smirked at Jiang Xiaofan, gave the green-robed man another kick, and seethed, ¡°You bastard! Since you dare to appear in front of us, this time we¡¯ll¡­.¡±


    *Pah*


    The crisp sound of a slap across Ding Gao¡¯s face was heard, and he immediately flew out several meters.


    Ding Gao¡¯s cheek instantaneously swelled up, and he coughed out a mouthful of blood. He looked up at Jiang Xiaofan with fear in his eyes. He was at the eighth heaven of Micro Realm, but even so, he was unable to see when Jiang Xiaofan had moved!


    Even the expression on Wang Chong¡¯s face drastically changed. Based on his assessment, the cultivation level of the person before him was merely at the fifth heaven of Micro Realm. Yet, his agility was so fast that even he, who was at the ninth heaven of Micro Realm, could not see clearly.


    Jiang Xiaofan coldly eyed Ding Gao, crushed the stone within his right hand into dust, and warned him, ¡°Shut your smelly mouth, or I¡¯ll make sure that it¡¯ll never utter a sound again!¡±


    Ding Gao¡¯s complexion turned ashen, and he tightened his fist. However, he didn¡¯t dare to retort. That scene from Standstill Peak replayed in his head. This man truly frightened him.


    ¡°Jiang, this matter only concerns our Heavenly Sun Peak! Why are you intervening?!¡±


    Wang Chong barked at Jiang Xiaofan. He had just reached the ninth heaven of Micro Realm not long ago and wanted to find an opportunity to humiliate Jiang Xiaofan for once. Now that Jiang Xiaofan was in front of him, he held back his impulse. It was because his opponent¡¯s speed had become much quicker than before. After seeing Ding Gao, an eight heaven Micro Realm cultivator, get knocked flying with one slap, Wang Chong grew cautious.


    ¡°There¡¯s no why.¡± Jiang Xiaofan shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Looking at you guys just irritates me. That¡¯s all.¡±


    The looks on the threes¡¯ faces turned ugly. What kind of reason is that?! He wants to fight us just because we look irritating to him?!


    ¡°Don¡¯t cross the line! This has nothing to do with you!¡± Wang Chong suppressed the anger boiling inside of him and growled, ¡°This is the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s affair. I hope that you won¡¯t intervene. Go back to your Standstill Peak!¡±


    Wang Chong felt at odds with himself after speaking such words with this tone. However, he really couldn¡¯t gauge Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s true power with his spiritual awareness. His cultivation level was definitely at the fifth heaven of Micro Realm, but his speed and strength were ridiculously far beyond that. The fact that a fifth heaven Micro Realm cultivator could smack an eight heaven Micro Realm cultivator flying was deemed too bizarre. Nobody else would believe it.


    ¡°Your affairs are quite interesting, no? Here we have three assholes repaying kindness with enmity, causing grief to the person who once pleaded for your freedom. How shameless!¡± Disdain was written all over Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face. He walked up to the green-robed man and crouched down. ¡°Hey, you. Are you alright?¡±


    The green-robed man gradually returned to focus, got up, and bitterly smiled. ¡°I was supposed to be okay, but with you here¡­. Ay! I¡¯ll get into trouble again. They¡¯ll definitely won¡¯t let me go after this. Still, thanks anyway.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded. He knew why Wang Chong and the two others attacked the green-robed man. It was because the green-robed man hadn¡¯t confronted Jiang Xiaofan but pleaded with him to let them go. As a result, a seed of enmity against the green-robed man had been sown in their hearts. Occasionally, Wang Chong and the others would vent their anger on the green-robed man.


    The scars on his body were an accumulation of the beatings that he had received a month ago. Naturally, it was the three men who gave them these scars. The green-robed man¡¯s cultivation wasn¡¯t, by any means, strong. In addition, because of Wang Chong¡¯s relationship with the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s core disciple, he could only appease them by not retaliating. He only hoped that, as the days passed by, the three would eventually let him go.


    As he had predicted, the three men sought after him less and less as time went by. He estimated that this was supposed to be the last beating. Now that Jiang Xiaofan had intervened and helped him, his future days, without a doubt, would become even more miserable. Because Wang Chong and the two were unable to beat up Jiang Xiaofan, they would vent their rage onto him.


    ¡°Uh¡­. Heh, I¡¯m really sorry about that.¡± Jiang Xiaofan awkwardly laughed. He then patted him on the shoulder and consoled him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry though. I¡¯ll make sure that they won¡¯t lay hands on you for a while.¡±


    ¡°You can make them listen to you?!¡± The green-robed man was somewhat amazed.


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll just make sure that they won¡¯t be able to get out of bed for three months!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan spoke with conviction. The green-robed man¡¯s jaw dropped to the ground. The faces of Wang Chong and the two immediately flushed bright red. This guy is too arrogant! Unable to endure the humiliation, they *fwoosh* drew out their long swords and lunged at Jiang Xiaofan.


    With a loud roar, green light radiated from Wang Chong¡¯s body. He had already mastered the ninth level of the Jade Purity Cultivation Method, and paired with his Jade Purity Sword Technique, multiple, lethal sword shadows appeared in midair.


    Naturally, the blue-robed youth and Ding Gao wouldn¡¯t idly stand there to watch. Without giving Jiang Xiaofan the chance to counterattack, they raised their cultivation levels to the maximum and rushed at him. The three swords hacked from all angles with green sword light blasting everywhere and sealing off almost any room for escape.


    ¡°Before you attack, make an announcement first, okay? So uncouth!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan smirked, and without looking back, a cold light flashed in his hands. The Celestial Demon Sword appeared within his grasp. With a wave of his hand, only a faintly visible sword shadow could be seen slicing through the air.


    *Hah*


    All three of their long swords snapped in half. At the same time, Jiang Xiaofan charged at them, leaving only blurry traces of his shadows from where he stood. He gently balled up his hands into fists and punched out.


    *Bang bang bang*


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Cries of agony and multiple bones cracking reverberated across this field.


    The battle didn¡¯t last very long. In no time, the three perpetrators¡¯ faces were badly swollen. They screamed in pain as they coughed out more mouthfuls of blood. Each one of them had at least ten broken ribs, a fractured tibia, and a fragmented shoulder blade. Like a sack of loose dirt on the ground, it was impossible for them to leave bed without three to five months of recovery time.


    ¡°Tsk tsk. How fragile!¡± Jiang Xiaofan wiped the dust from his hands.


    Even so, Wang Chong¡¯s cultivation was very strong. Struggling to get up and with his face contorted with fury, he bawled at Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, the Heavenly Sun Peak won¡¯t let this go so easily! Once my Shixiong comes out from closed-door training, he¡¯ll make sure that you pay the ultimate price for what you have done!¡±


    *Ka*


    At that moment, Jiang Xiaofan appeared beside Wang Chong, raised his leg, and rapidly kicked him twice. Immediately following that were two loud cracking sounds. Wang Chong¡¯s kneecaps were completely shattered. His body collapsed back to the ground.


    ¡°Have you never heard of this phrase?¡± Dispirited, Jiang Xiaofan shook his head and sighed. He glanced at Wang Chong and replied, ¡°Wherever you fall, stay down there!¡±

 Chapter 35

    Wang Chong screamed so loudly from the pain that his face twisted in deformity. The blue-robed youth and Ding Gao were in not in any better shape. They lay on the ground like dead dogs and stared fixedly at Jiang Xiaofan, faces full of horror and unwillingness.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t this too much?!¡± The green-robed man¡¯s eyes widened.


    Jiang Xiaofan replied, ¡°Hm¡­. But I¡¯ve already shown them mercy.¡±


    The green-robed man was petrified, and he loudly gulped. His hair stood on end, and he could feel his skin growing clammy. Previously, he had thought that Wang Chong and the two others were cruel-hearted, but after witnessing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s course of action, he changed his mind. Rather, he now thought that the three bullies were too restrained, just like gentle kittens.


    Ignoring the three lying on the ground and wailing, Jiang Xiaofan hooked his arm around the green-robed man¡¯s shoulder and walked him out of the bamboo forest. This guy was considered alright in his eyes.


    When the green-robed man had walked forth to plead his peers¡¯ cases, he hadn¡¯t attacked Jiang Xiaofan with the masses nor had he used his status as a Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s disciple to intimidate him. Regardless of the motive, Jiang Xiaofan thought that his personality was quite nice.


    ¡°They¡­.¡± The green-robed man turned around to glance at Wang Chong and the two.


    Jiang Xiaofan looked back to eye them and replied, ¡°No worries. They won¡¯t die. At most, they¡¯ll lie in bed for half a year.¡±


    The green-robed man was called Xiao Ping. Like Jiang Xiaofan, he was an ordinary person with no prominent background. The reason why he was able to enter the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was that he had passable talent. In fact, these past few years within the sect hadn¡¯t gone well for him.


    ¡°If staying at the Heavenly Sun Peak makes you so unhappy, why must you remain there?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, why remain?¡± Xiao Ping grew dejected. He mumbled, ¡°But if I don¡¯t stay there, where else can I go? Will the other main peaks want a disciple who abandoned his own peak?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan smiled as he shook his head. ¡°If you are willing and do not care about the so-called seven main peaks, I welcome you to stay at Standstill Peak. There may not be fame, status, nor power; however, at least people over there won¡¯t condescend you. You get to live life freely and happily!¡±


    Dumbfounded, Xiao Ping stared at Jiang Xiaofan. Standstill Peak was the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s most desolate area. He had never once thought of going there. As Jiang Xiaofan said, that place had nothing and could provide nothing for him. Those who resided there were known as wastes throughout the sect. Nothing could be accomplished, and to live there was considered an insult.


    Still, he didn¡¯t know why. After hearing those words come from that man¡¯s mouth, a strange feeling welled up inside the green-robed man. His distaste for Standstill Peak suddenly vanished.


    Jiang Xiaofan kindly smiled, patted Xiao Ping on the shoulder, and parted ways.


    ¡°Boss, you¡¯re back! Tell us the truth! Did you do anything bad while you were away?!¡±


    After climbing up the steps on Standstill Peak, Lin Quan and Tang You feverishly greeted him. After all, they had firsthand view of Jiang Xiaofan and the two peerless beauties walking out the gate of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect together. News and gossips of this began to spread around like wildfire.


    ¡°Bullshit! Rather, I almost got played to death!¡±


    Curse words erupted from his mouth. Jiang Xiaofan recalled everything that had happened and told the two of them how the ice chick played him for a fool multiple times, causing him to nearly break down.


    ¡°Gods! Boss, you are so lucky!¡±


    Lin Quan¡¯s face was written with admiration and envy as he mesmerizingly gazed at Jiang Xiaofan while complaining about unfairness at the same time. On the other hand, Tang You faced the sky and moaned. ¡°Gods! Please send down a fairy to bully me! To humiliate me! To step on me all she wants!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was flabbergasted by Tang You¡¯s reaction. What the shit?! What a mega sleazebag!


    ¡°Child, you have returned.¡±


    Old Man Liu trembled as he walked out. The wrinkles on his complexion creased into a warm smile.


    Jiang Xiaofan hurried over to assist the old man. He had heard much of the old man¡¯s backstory ever since he had arrived here, and every time he heard it, his respect for the old man deepened.


    Many people within the sect had received kindness from Old Man Liu. Despite being an elder with powerful cultivation, he was very humble and never displayed any haughtiness. His entire life was dedicated to the well-being of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    Unfortunately, the world was a cruel place where people forgot such matters easily. With his cultivation forever lost and to protect the secrets of the sect, the sect leader placed the old man under house arrest instead of letting him leave to retire. How many people still remember their debt of gratitude to Old Man Liu? How many people still remember that he is alive and living on the Emperor Heaven¡¯s Sect¡¯s Standstill Peak? Let¡¯s not forget that there are also those people who chose to use and toss him away after wringing him dry of benefits! This is a true injustice!


    Standstill Peak was once a tranquil place, but shortly after Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s arrival, the atmosphere turned lively. Occasionally, Jiang Xiaofan would hunt and barbecue game to satiate their hunger. Even though the meat didn¡¯t have much spiritual qi in them, they were at least able to fill their stomachs to the brim. In no time, Lin Quan and Tang You had put on some weight.


    It was now evening. Seas of stars covered the night sky, and the moonlight shone brightly. Jiang Xiaofan crept up from his bed and hiked to the peak of the mountain. In front of him was the precipice with numerous crisscrossing striations on the top. Below it was the small, winding stream that reflected the stars from above. The scene looked rhythmic and harmonious.


    Jiang Xiaofan jumped down to the rock that was located in the center of the stream and sat on it in a lotus position. This area was very serene. Under the cover of towering primordial trees, not many people could discover this secret location. It was perfect for cultivation.


    The cultivation world was brutal. If one didn¡¯t possess enough power, he or she would only be devoured by others.


    Jiang Xiaofan deeply understood this concept. Whether it was Planet Earth or Planet Ziwei, the rule of the game never changed. On Planet Earth, he had no aspirations. Now, however, he had the chance to change his fate. He needed to become strong, stronger, and eventually the strongest. He desired to walk on that ultimate road. He desired to witness the Dao. He needed to protect everything that was important to him.


    Up until now, Jiang Xiaofan had never had any hints of doubt. His Buddhist Sutra was a peerless, primordial sacred scripture. It contained everything that was phenomenal, mystical, and complicated. Even the Shadow Steps and Diamond Sutra were more than enough for him to digest.


    He had reason to believe that if any of his methods were to become known, the entire cultivation world would break into a frenzy!


    A dim, dark golden light radiated from his body. Jiang Xiaofan closed his eyes and activated his Buddhist Sutra. His spiritual awareness coursed through his body and absorbed the spiritual qi from his surroundings, channeling the golden spiritual energy into every inch of his flesh and blood.


    With the spiritual energy circulating throughout his body, Jiang Xiaofan once again saw the small, multicolored lake before him. However, he now no longer felt any excitement towards it. His spiritual awareness could perfuse into any area of his body except that lake. In other words, he could view it but could not touch it.


    This wasn¡¯t the first time that he had wanted to hold that brass piece in his clutch. However, he failed each time. Although the multicolored lake rested within his body, the distance between him and it felt like a galaxy away.


    Jiang Xiaofan pouted, but all of a sudden, he froze on the spot. Earlier, he seemed to have spotted the palm-sized, silver-colored brass piece tremble slightly, and this astounded him. When he blinked and looked at it again, everything was tranquil again. The brass piece was like an unmoving rock above the lake, perpetually still and unchanging.


    ¡°I must have gone so crazy over this treasure that I¡¯m beginning to hallucinate!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan inwardly cursed himself before calming his mind and focusing on his cultivation.


    To a mortal, the passing of time from night to day wasn¡¯t considered very long. To a cultivator though, it passed by like the snap of a finger. Just as the sunlight began to penetrate through all the corners of the land, Jiang Xiaofan opened his eyes with golden light flashing across them.


    The mysticism behind the Buddhist Sutra was unquestionable and very mysterious. Jiang Xiaofan felt that he had grown stronger since then. He lightly clenched his fists and stood up to stretch, occasionally hearing the cracking sounds of his joints.


    Peaceful days can never last for too long. Otherwise, humans will grow comfortable and become dull.


    Jiang Xiaofan thought that this saying made a lot of sense. Therefore, he decided to venture out and train for his cultivation. As of now, the sect¡¯s tasks were his best option. Not only could he practice his cultivation, but he could also complete the tasks to earn contribution points for the sect so that he would be ready to fight for the position of a core disciple by then.


    The Hall of Spiritual Cultivation was in charge of rewarding and punishing disciples, as well as recording the entries of completed tasks and contribution points. It was not far from the Xuanyang Pavillion either. Therefore, because Jiang Xiaofan knew the location of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, he was soon able to find the Xuanyang Pavilion as well.


    The one in charging of assigning tasks at the Xuanyang Pavilion was an ordinary-looking, middle-aged man. As for why he was ordinary, the reason was simple. He was one of those people who would be easily lost in a crowd of people. There was nothing special about him.


    Because Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t very familiar with how tasks worked, the task that he chose was a yellow-grade task. His mission was to hunt one hundred Fire Bird gallbladders.


    The Fire Bird was a common spiritual fowl on Planet Ziwei. Its name was derived from its method of attack, spitting out intensely hot flames. Their cultivation levels were, on average, at the third heaven of Micro Realm and no higher than the fourth heaven. As for the Fire Bird gallbladders, they were a necessary ingredient for the refinement of a certain pill.


    Going alone on the task seemed strange, so Jiang Xiaofan wanted Ye Yuanxue to accompany him.


    ¡°Ah, Perverted Wolf! You¡¯re here for Miss Xue¡¯er?¡±


    The female disciple from before greeted Jiang Xiaofan at the gate of the Heavenly Maiden Peak.


    Fuck! What did she just say?! Jiang Xiaofan felt slightly dizzy. I¡¯m a pure-hearted, handsome man. How come these girls honor me with a wicked label such as perverted wolf?!


    Jiang Xiaofan could only sigh. Ay, forget it. So be it then. At least perverted wolf is better than lecher.


    Jiang Xiaofan managed to comfort himself, but then he abruptly and angrily realized this. What the hell?! Am I going mental?! Massive fail!


    Because of the first-generation leader¡¯s jade pendant, the Heavenly Maiden Peak¡¯s disciples would no longer bar him from entering their grounds. Very soon, he reached the House of Yiya. To his dismay, Ye Yuanxue didn¡¯t want to go with him. Her reason was basic. It was too boring. She¡¯d rather fall asleep.


    Feeling helpless, Jiang Xiaofan had no choice but to embark on this journey alone. On his way down the mountain, the male cultivators nearby were dumbfounded as they stared at him. How come this chump is walking down the Heavenly Maiden Peak again? Can it be that there has finally been a change in the peak¡¯s rules?!¡±


    A couple of the males were unable to contain their joy and ran up to Jiang Xiaofan to inquire how he had done it. Without even thinking, the latter told them, ¡°I just walked up there and walked back down.¡± He then left the stunned, ravenous wolves to themselves and exited through the gate of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect.


    ¡°There really is a change!¡±


    The perverted males then charged up the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Whatever happened afterward reminded of them of how masochistic their reckless behavior was. A middle-aged woman suddenly appeared at the gate of the peak, and without saying anything, she sent the intruders flying out. Half a day had passed, and none of them were able to crawl up.

 Chapter 36

    Located not too far from the base of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was the Forest of Scorching Flames was where the colony of Fire Birds dwelled. This was also the primary reason why Jiang Xiaofan chose this task. He didn¡¯t want to go anywhere near a flying sword ever again. With his cultivation level at the eighth heaven of Micro Realm, the trip would only take about six hours on foot.


    Fire Birds were predatory birds that were extremely antagonistic towards other species and would attack them. As soon as Jiang Xiaofan stepped foot into the Forest of Scorching Flames and before he could assess his surroundings, a couple of large Fire Birds charged at him. With their beady eyes, they opened their beaks and spewed bursts of flames down below at him.


    *Pff pff pff*


    With his arm raised and sword swinging down, the three birds were instantly decapitated, and their bodies plunged to the ground.


    After retrieving their gallbladders, Jiang Xiaofan trekked deeper into the forest. Along the way, he was attacked by many Fire Birds of various sizes. However, with his cultivation level at eighth heaven of Micro Realm, counterattacking these spiritual birds with strength at the third heaven of Micro Realm was all too easy. This was no challenge at all.


    Jiang Xiaofan was relieved of the effort to search for these birds since they took it upon themselves to attack him first. In no time, more than sixty Fire Bird gallbladders were stored in his spatial ring.


    Alas, good things never lasted long. Although the Fire Birds were aggressive creatures, they wouldn¡¯t just attack anyone or anything at first glance. After seeing so many comrades repeatedly getting slaughtered, the Fire Birds no longer rushed to their deaths.


    This subsequently frustrated Jiang Xiaofan. Shit! These stupid birds sure can fly! As for me though¡­. Fine then! I¡¯ll use the flying sword technique! However, if I do use it, I won¡¯t be able to defend and I will literally become a target for them!


    Just like that, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s workload greatly increased. On the second day when the sun began to rise, he managed to accumulate ninety-nine Fire Bird gallbladders. He just needed one more to finish the task.


    He walked around a large boulder and was ready to hunt for the last gallbladder. Around this time, his eyes suddenly lit up. Right next to the boulder lay a colorful, feathery fellow who was on the brink of death.


    What the hell?! I¡¯ve heard of rabbits ramming into trees before[1], but a little Fire Bird would really suicide by ramming into a boulder?


    Jiang Xiaofan sighed in surprise. Regardless, here was his final Fire Bird gallbladder. Even though this bird was tinier than average and had distinctive feathers, it, nevertheless, had the gallbladder that he needed.


    Sensing that someone was nearby, the little fellow woke up, turned its head, and gradually opened its eyes. Its mud-caked body shivered as the bird noticed the longsword in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s clutch. The bird edged towards the boulder, gazed at Jiang Xiaofan with fright in its dewy, big eyes, and released pitiful chirps.


    Jiang Xiaofan tightened his grasp on the sword. The gallbladder of the Fire Bird before him, but he hesitated. What a cute, pathetic little creature. He didn¡¯t have the heart to kill it.


    *Chirp chirp*


    The little fellow cried and shivered as its eyes welled up with tears.


    After a long moment of internal struggle, Jiang Xiaofan exhaled a sigh and threw out his flying sword.


    He was a classic softie. Jiang Xiaofan looked at the pathetic-looking little bird and stared into its pair of frightened, distressed, innocent eyes. Immediately, his heart melted.


    He carefully walked over to it, causing the bird to shake more intensely. It scooted its tiny body towards the side and further away from him. The little bird wanted to fly but was unable to. One of its wings seemed to be injured.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m not here to hurt you.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan softly spoke and gently picked up the little fellow.


    *Chirp chirp* *Chirp chirp*


    The bird was still frightened and continued to quiver in his hands.


    ¡°No need to be afraid. I really have no intentions of hurting you. In fact, I¡¯ll heal you.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan maintained his smile at the bird and softened his tone as much as possible. Faint, golden light, which contained spiritual energy, was channeled onto the little fellow and enveloped its body. Bingxin had once said that minor injuries could be healed with the simple nourishment of spiritual energy.


    Warmth and comfort soothed its body, and the little bird¡¯s eyes abruptly brightened. It stared fixedly and curiously at Jiang Xiaofan and occasionally released chirps of joy as if it was fawning over Jiang Xiaofan.


    Soon, the little bird¡¯s injury was completely healed. It lightly flapped its wings and discovered that it could fly once more. The bird happily chirped and hovered around Jiang Xiaofan in circles.


    ¡°Alright, little guy! Move along then. I need to finish my task.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan chuckled as he gently patted the bird¡¯s feathery head. After the treatment, the little bird¡¯s multicolored feathers looked glossier and shone more brilliantly. He was in awe. How beautiful!


    The bird¡¯s body quivered again. It looked somewhat lost, distressed, and pitiful as tears welled up in its eyes. The little fellow warily landed on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s shoulder and lightly pecked at his ear.


    Jiang Xiaofan extended a finger and softly tapped the bird¡¯s head. He then removed the bird from his shoulder, placed it on the ground, picked up his sword, and walked away. However, the little fellow flapped his wings, landed on his shoulders, and pecked his ear.


    He furrowed his brows, stopped in his tracks, and stabbed his sword to the ground. He picked up the bird in his hands and warily asked, ¡°Why won¡¯t you leave? What are you following me for?¡±


    As if the bird could comprehend his words, it flew up again and nudged its feathery head against his cheek. It then raised its head and gazed at him with its big, pitiable eyes.


    Stunned for a moment, Jiang Xiaofan queried, ¡°You¡­. You want to follow me?¡±


    The little fellow chirped and repeatedly nodded its head. Its eyes instantly lit up with hope.


    Jiang Xiaofan opened his mouth, ready to reject it, but eventually agreed. He was unable to resist its large, innocent, pitiable, dewy eyes. Even though he was incapable of raising the bird, Ye Yuanxue, however, could. He imagined how delighted she would be once she received this adorable, beautiful little fellow.


    *Chirp chirp*


    The bird immediately chirped blissfully in response to Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s consent. It danced in the air as it revolved around Jiang Xiaofan before finally resting on his shoulder, pecking his ear, and nudging his cheek.


    Hence, Jiang Xiaofan brought the adorable little fellow along with him in the hunt for the last Fire Bird gallbladder. This hunt lasted for quite so time. Needing a break to relieve himself, Jiang Xiaofan directed the bird to wait for him at the side. Unexpectedly, after he returned, he saw the little fellow cornered by a few Fire Birds. Their expressions were fierce as they cawed at the little bird cowering in terror.


    In an instant, Jiang Xiaofan erupted into a fit of rage as he watched one of the Fire Birds getting ready to step on the little fellow with its talon. It was so cute, yet these Fire Birds dared to bully it. From what he had observed, this wasn¡¯t the first time either. It looked to be an extensive period of bullying. There was a large probability that its injuries were caused by those Fire Birds.


    ¡°Die!¡±


    From afar, he threw his longsword outward. With his frightening strength, the sword pierced through the bodies of the Fire Birds before it deeply stabbed into the center of a giant boulder from not far away. Blood scattered everywhere.


    *Chirp chirp* *Chirp chirp*


    Like a scared child running into the arms of the parent, the little fellow¡¯s eyes grew misty. It quickly flew towards Jiang Xiaofan and buried itself in his embrace. Its beautiful feathers turned dirty for a second time. Jiang Xiaofan sniffed his nose as it listened to the little bird weep.


    ¡°Aw, it¡¯s all good now. Don¡¯t cry!¡±


    He comforted the little fellow and cured its pain with his spiritual energy. Its feathers became more vivid and brilliant than before.


    He finally understood what was going on. The little bird was different from the rest of the Fire Birds, so it was treated as an outcast. The Fire Birds were larger in size and more aggressive. With nothing else to do, the Fire Birds would occasionally bully the little bird. Poor guy, his life must have been miserable.


    Jiang Xiaofan lightly patted the little fellow¡¯s head. I¡¯ll never let you suffer again.


    He finally collected one hundred Fire Bird gallbladders thanks to that one throw of his sword. He took the little fellow out of the Forest of Scorching Flames, returning to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect to report on the status of his task.


    The little fellow was very cute and gorgeous in appearance. It was also very docile. Not to mention, the bird was so intelligent that it could understand Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s words, and as a result, he felt less lonely. In addition, the little fellow would frequently elicit sounds of laughter out of him.


    Two hours later, Jiang Xiaofan finally walked out of the forest and was headed for the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s base while he played with the little bird. It was around this time that his instinct picked up signs of danger. Without time to scan his environment, he instinctively stepped to the side.


    Less than a second later, a cold light whizzed past his ear. Behind him was an ancient tree with a silver sword stabbed into its trunk. Emanating a freezing aura, nearly the entire blade was inserted inside.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes narrowed. Whoever just attacked him was no weakling. That one strike was lethal. If his spiritual instinct wasn¡¯t stronger than an average person¡¯s, he would¡¯ve undoubtedly died under that silver sword!


    *Chirp chirp*


    The little fellow frantically cried. Although it was startled, it nonetheless cautiously scanned the surroundings.


    Jiang Xiaofan calmed the bird down and swept a glance around. A dozen or so figures walked out from beside the tree. They donned in silver armor and exuded noticeable auras of murderous intent. Standing behind them was a green-robed elder who looked blankly at Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°It¡¯s you guys!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan recognized them right away. The green-robed elder was the old man from before who followed Xia Fengming everywhere. As for the dozen or so figures, they were the guards who had come along with the elder and Xia Fengming to the Ice Palace. It was just that he had never expected them to appear here. The fact that they waited to trap him here was a clear indication that their objective was to hunt him down.


    The expressionless look on the elder¡¯s face was comparable to the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation¡¯s leader. Standing still, the elderly man waved his long sleeve. The guards then charged at Jiang Xiaofan, each one of them carrying a silver spear.


    Multiple powerful qi were released. Their eyes were ice-cold and merciless. A faint blue light radiated from the silver-colored spear as if they were covered in a thin layer of blue shield.


    Fear ran through his body. The weakest of them was at the eight heaven of Micro Realm, and most of them were at the ninth heaven of Micro Realm. This was startling. Just who and what is Xia Fengming?! How come he can command so many powerful cultivators?!


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 37

    The green-robed elder hadn¡¯t made his move, but guards were already pressuring Jiang Xiaofan. They rushed at him like an impenetrable squall of wind, sweeping up dust clouds into the air.


    *Clang*


    He swung forth his sword and parried the blow of a silver spear. Following the noise of the two metals clashing with each other, a crack suddenly appeared on his sword and a piece of his blade was chipped. Immediately, another spear, with cold light surrounding it, stabbed at the center between Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s brows. A simple but ruthless strike!


    *Fwoosh*


    A blurry shadow appeared on where he stood, and in an instant, Jiang Xiaofan surfaced in another area. His heart frosted over as he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. It was a good thing that he had a good grasp on his Shadow Steps technique; otherwise, it would¡¯ve been very difficult to avoid that strike.


    After that brief encounter, Jiang Xiaofan concluded that these people were extremely frightening. Despite them both being eight heaven Micro Realm cultivators, Ding Gao, whom he had beaten up earlier, was much weaker than these guys. In fact, his current opponents were above par. The gap in power between them and Ding Gao was too vast!


    ¡°Little fellow, leave first. Wait for me on the outskirts of the forest,¡± he whispered. Against such strong opponents, he was unable to care for the bird at the same time.


    The little bird was very intelligent. As if it understood that it would only drag him down in battle, the little bird chirped at him, telling him to be careful. It then flapped its wings, flew away, and soon disappeared from his sight.


    Once the little fellow left, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression grew morose. He didn¡¯t stay to resume the battle, but rather, he turned around and darted towards the inner depths of the forest. These people were too strong. He couldn¡¯t face them head-on, or else, death would be his only end.


    Not to mention, that green-robed elder was his main concern. He could sense an enormous power from that man. The invisible qi that the elder exuded was suffocating.


    Rustling sounds echoed around the forest. The guards rapidly chased after Jiang Xiaofan.


    The sounds of weapons clanging reverberated everywhere. Falling leaves scattered onto the ground and the colony of Fire Birds fled.  The sword within Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand soon shattered into pieces, but he wasn¡¯t worried about his predicament. With his mystical techniques, he smoothly knocked the enemy beside him flying and conveniently grabbed his enemy¡¯s silver spear.


    ¡°Definitely something else!¡±


    When he first held onto the silver spear, Jiang Xiaofan was shocked. The spear wasn¡¯t even a spirit-ranked weapon, but it was extremely sturdy. Its composition was unusual, rendering it even more powerful than his flying sword.


    The green-robed elder followed Jiang Xiaofan and stood on the branch of an ancient tree from afar, peering below at Jiang Xiaofan with a blank look.


    With his weapon taken away, his opponent¡¯s expression remained unchanged and was still ice-cold. He clenched his right fist, and with blue light radiating from it, he punched at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s head. The others around him concurrently lunged forward and pierced at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan smirked. His left hand greeted the incoming punch, and the spear in his right hand thrust forward.


    *Bang*


    The long spears coming at him were blocked, and the person who punched at him was sent flying backward like a broken kite. His opponent¡¯s entire right hand drooped down. Shattered by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s counter, it would be unable to recover any time soon.


    Even so, without any hint of expression on his face, he charged at Jiang Xiaofan again without fear of death. Because his right hand was now useless, he switched to his left hand. After his left hand was shattered, he switched to his legs. It was as if he wouldn¡¯t stop until Jiang Xiaofan was dead.


    Jiang Xiaofan grew more solemn.  These people weren¡¯t that simple. Every one of them was very strong. If he was in a one-on-one, maybe he wouldn¡¯t need to fear them. However, with them attacking him at once, the battle would be an onerous one even if he was much stronger than they were. While fighting off his opponents, he continued to push deeper into the forest.


    The guards relentlessly hunted him down. Although they could not match his terrifying agility, they were able to create trouble that caused him to be unable to extricate himself from them.


    The only source of relief for Jiang Xiaofan was that the green-robed elder hadn¡¯t attacked him yet. He was eminently wary of him. Even in the midst of the battle against the dozen guards, he had to apportion some of his attention onto the elder.


    Jiang Xiaofan zipped in and out of the encirclement. His clothes were already stained with blood. After all, he wasn¡¯t just facing against one person but at least a dozen. None of them had cultivation levels lower than his. The fact that Jiang Xiaofan could withstand their attacks until now was already a miracle. Even so, the longer he fought on, the more scared he became. These people were just too formidable. Their cultivation methods were very distinctive, particularly that blue-colored spiritual energy. Jiang Xiaofan was on high alert throughout the battle.


    *Pff*


    The battle lasted several hours. Jiang Xiaofan suddenly vanished. Avoiding the strikes of the silver-colored spears, he left a blurry shadow at his original location and pierced the body of the guard whom he had previously heavily injured with his sharp weapon.


    This was the first time that Jiang Xiaofan had killed someone. Actually, he had neither time to think nor feel anything after his execution of the death blow. Without even time to pull out his spear from the corpse, he rolled on the ground and avoided the cold lights that stabbed at him.


    With one comrade killed, there were eleven guards remaining. However, their expression remained the same as if they were unconscious, vegetative people. They emanated nothing except murderous aura. They didn¡¯t even bother to glance at the corpse on the ground.


    The green-robed elder was even more indifferent. Like usual, he didn¡¯t intervene in the fight.


    Jiang Xiaofan got up and darted for the inner depths of the forest once more while fighting his formidable opponents. Solely relying on his peerless, primordial Buddhist Sutra was no use. His energy would eventually be used up, and he would inevitably be killed. These people were different from the pack of wolves. In addition to having little to no emotional reactions, his current enemies were extremely powerful.


    ¡°Xia Fengming, one day, I¡¯ll cut you into pieces!¡± Jiang Xiaofan cried out as he wildly fled. His right shoulder was bloodied with the spear almost piercing through his humerus. If not for his illusory Shadow Steps, his entire arm could have been destroyed.


    Four hours later, more bloody cuts appeared on his body and his clothes were stained red. However, his opponents were in no better condition either. Two more people were slain by Jiang Xiaofan. Now, only nine guards and the green-robed elder were left.


    Specks of blood, including his own but more so from his opponents, dotted the spear in his hand. His spirit energy had been depleted to half already; however, he was still unable to shake off his enemies.


    Behind the nine guards was the green-robed elder who seemed calm. His speed wasn¡¯t fast, but he was able to keep up with the nine guards in the chase and maintain a fixed distance from them. He didn¡¯t open his mouth the entire time, nor did he lift a finger.


    Jiang Xiaofan could already imagine just how fearsome the old man¡¯s cultivation was. It wasn¡¯t something that he could defend against. The only course of action that he could take was to flee.


    The road to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was sealed off by his opponents. He couldn¡¯t turn back and run. The nine guards would just gang up to kill him. Should that happen, it would be completely game over for him. Therefore, he could only keep running deeper into the forest.


    The sky began to darken. The attacks of the nine guards became more ferocious. Numerous fresh cuts appeared on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body. Their combat techniques seemed godly, and their blue light auras unceasingly slashed towards him.


    *Boom*


    A glaring flash of light exploded in the forest like a beautiful firework that just lit up.


    Under the immense killing pressure of the blue auras, Jiang Xiaofan was finally pushed to the brink. He could no longer hide his true might. Golden rays of divine light exploded from within him. Even his hair was dyed with a layer of gold.


    ¡°Gold-colored spirit energy?!¡± The green-robed man muttered. This was the first time that he furrowed his brows.


    It was common knowledge that the color of a cultivator¡¯s spiritual energy corresponded to the cultivation method practiced. On Planet Ziwei, only seven known colors were recorded in the archives. They were silver, black, verdant, grey, light green, blue, and purple.


    Gold-colored spirit energy had never appeared in the cultivation history of Planet Ziwei, nor did it ever appear in the archives. There was never any mention of it. Hence, the green-robed elder¡¯s eyes instantly flashed with brilliance.


    *Swoosh*


    With the activation of his primordial Buddhist Sutra, the intensity of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi soared. In a split second, he vanished from his spot. The spear in his right hand radiated with bright golden rays while his left fist looked like it was doused in gold paint.


    *Pff*


    *Bang*


    With the Diamond Sutra that tempered his physical body beyond comparison and the Shadow Steps that allowed him to elude their strikes, Jiang Xiaofan was able to break through their encirclement. He forcefully pierced through an opponent¡¯s chest with his long spear and then smashed another in the head with his left fist whose body then flew out, fell to the ground, twitched for a while, and made no movements afterward.


    Both of them were powerful cultivators at the eighth heaven and ninth heaven of Micro Realm. Unable to see through Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s moves, they had already lost, their lives abruptly coming to an end.


    Around this time, a green figure glided in midair, suddenly appearing before Jiang Xiaofan in the blink of an eye. He extended his right leg, ready to stomp on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s complexion immediately paled. The old man had finally made his move. Even with his Shadow Steps, the green-robed elder¡¯s agility caught Jiang Xiaofan off guard. Unable to dodge in the nick of time, Jiang Xiaofan attempted to hastily block his attack with the long spear horizontal to his chest.


    Within the next moment, Jiang Xiaofan witnessed firsthand just how terrifying the old man¡¯s strength was. The silver-colored spear snapped in half, and Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s chest was stomped with a footprint. He was consequently kicked flying out for more than ten meters and broke several trees from the impact before finally crashing to the ground.


    ¡°Cough¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan vomited a mouthful of blood. His face was paler than the color of snow. Utterly dumbfounded, he struggled to prop himself up with a fallen tree branch.


    The power of the green-robed elder was too horrifying. Even with his increased strength from the Diamond Sutra and the bodily protection from his peerless, primordial Buddhist Sutra, that kick from his attacker was enough to take his life away.


    The green-robed elder remained expressionless, but his heart was wavering with a flood of emotions. He was confident in the force of his kick. Even a Realm of Dust cultivator could not survive his strike, but the person before him not only survived, he was able to get up!


    After the elder made his move, the remaining seven guards motionlessly stood behind him. From their understanding, once the old man struck, Jiang Xiaofan would inescapably become a cold corpse.


    Jiang Xiaofan trembled as he retrieved an Immortal Spirit Root from his spatial ring and ferociously bit into it. His pale complexion immediately began to fill with vigor. The old man was stunned yet again as he could sense dense Immortal Spirit Qi exuding from Jiang Xiaofan.


    Taking advantage of the old man¡¯s stupefied state, Jiang Xiaofan rapidly dashed into the depths of the forest once more. Fighting them head-only would only result in death. Fleeing was his only option!


    ¡°Give chase!¡±


    The green-robed elder flatly commanded, and the seven guards burst forth with lightning speed.


    With the sun setting, the last ray of light disappeared below the horizon. Night fell, and the stars glimmered across the sky. The Forest of Scorching Flames was immersed in the darkness. Nothing was visible.


    Jiang Xiaofan smiled frostily. Like the calling of the grim reaper, the qi around him suddenly vanished without a trace. It was as if he had merged with the air.

 Chapter 38

    With the setting sun gone and night had fallen, the Forest of Scorching Flames was enveloped in total darkness.


    Jiang Xiaofan stood on the branch of an ancient tree, and his lips curled into an icy smirk. He would no longer flee. A dark black, long sword appeared in his hand, and two glimmers of golden light flashed in the dark.


    Slowly, he concealed his presence and quietly disappeared from the ancient tree.


    Almost at the same time, the green-robed man suddenly shuddered and stopped in his tracks. He could sense that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi had vanished without any trace. His forehead emitted forth an intense, glaring blue light, but still, he could not sense any of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi fluctuations. It was as if Jiang Xiaofan had fallen off the face of Planet Ziwei.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    All of a sudden, a shriek rang out from his side, and then all had become quiet again. Using the light from their spiritual energy, everyone noticed that their fallen comrade rested in a pool of blood. His chest had been pierced through, and his heart shattered.


    The seven of them were thoroughly shocked. Instantly, they expanded the perimeter of their spiritual awareness. The green-robed elder was the most frightening among them. The blue light of spiritual awareness radiating from his forehead expanded to a radius of several thousand meters.


    ¡°Spread out. We must find him!¡± This was the first time that the green-robed elder had spoken.


    Obeying his orders, the six guards hastily dispersed. As if they had undergone a long period of cruel, rigorous training, they rapidly soon stood at their designated areas and swept their spiritual awareness around for any signs of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi.


    Their actions elicited silent laughter from Jiang Xiaofan; however, it was a laughter of death. They just made it more convenient for him to exact revenge!


    With the assistance of his silver-colored brass piece, all of his qi was concealed. None of his life force fluctuations could be detected either. He was now the god of this pitch-black darkness. He was the god of death who harvested life!


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Another scream broke the silence of the night. A streak of cold light flashed across the darkness. With a crack in guard¡¯s armor, his chest had been pierced through with blood spurting out. With a look of unwillingness on his face, he collapsed to the ground.


    One more ninth heaven Micro Realm cultivator had fallen, and it was a death blow, too. Like the one before him, his chest had been pierced through and his heart had been shattered. Again, they were unable to catch a glimpse of the murderer¡¯s shadow. They couldn¡¯t even sense the slightest wave of energy fluctuation.


    Looking at another comrade lying in a pool of blood, the blank expressions on the guards¡¯ faces finally faltered. They weren¡¯t afraid of death, but this inexplicable way of dying and the inability to detect any qi perturbed them.


    ¡°Those who desire to kill must equally be prepared to be killed!¡±


    Under the cover of the darkness, Jiang Xiaofan coldly smiled. The Celestial Demon Sword within his hand emanated zero energy fluctuations, but its sharpness was absolute and peerless. It was an indestructible weapon. Even after killing those two, the blade was free of blood stains!


    A full moon gradually appeared above the sky but was soon veiled by dark clouds, unable to beam its shimmering light downward. At the same time, frigid winds blew across the Forest of Scorching Flames. The ancient saying of ¡°A Killer¡¯s Night: Black Moon and High Winds¡± was the perfect description for tonight.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes glinted with ice-cold light. The sword in his hand was aimed at one of the remaining six figures. It wasn¡¯t that he was a bloodthirsty killer, but that against his enemies, there was no need to show any mercy.


    Showing mercy to his opponents was a masochistic tendency. Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t an idiot. In other words, he wouldn¡¯t think about benevolence and let go of those who wanted him dead. That wasn¡¯t an act of kindness but one of stupidity!


    The sharp sword within his grasp had two uses. One was to protect everything dear to him. The other was to eradicate his enemies. The spilled blood wouldn¡¯t make the mystical sword¡¯s blade duller, but rather, it would only make it sharper.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    A screech echoed into the sky, causing the remaining spiritual animals to scatter and the insects to tremble. Among the six, another one had fallen! His pupils widened in terror and chagrin as he fixed his gaze at the sky.


    Other than the green-robed elder, the others quivered. They were ruthless and callous to the extent of nearly severing all emotions. Countless victims¡¯ lives had been taken away by their hands. These formed the foundation of the guards¡¯ cultivation and martial prowess. They had never feared death, nor did they know what fear was.


    However, on this particular night, they finally understood what fear was and what it felt like. It was as if the god of death was standing behind them and poised to chop their hands off with a sickle. They couldn¡¯t resist at all. They couldn¡¯t even see what the god of death looked like, but rather could only wait to be slaughtered and plummet down the abyss of hell. This psychological and spiritual pain was far more torturous than the pain inflicted upon the body!


    ¡°Show yourself at once!¡±


    This was also the first time that the green-robed elder displayed any kind of mood swing. He roared at the night sky, and the air around him vibrated violently. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart rocked with fear once more. This old man was indeed terrifying. His cultivation level was at the ninth heaven of Phantom Saint!


    Jiang Xiaofan hid behind a large tree from not far away. His heart surged with mixed feelings. Just who and what is Xia Fengming? How come the old man beside him has such frightening cultivation? What behemoth of power is backing him up? These were thoughts that Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t dare to dwell further on.


    However, after a while, he calmed down and coldly sneered. Xia Fengming, I don¡¯t care who you are. I don¡¯t care who¡¯s behind you. Since you want to kill me, then take a seat and keep waiting. Enjoy your life while you can because, in the near future, I¡¯ll make you regret being born into this world!


    There were still five guards standing in the midst of the forest. Jiang Xiaofan raised his head and looked towards the night sky. None of these five could leave here alive. Since they were bold enough to challenge him, then he could only return the favor by using violence against violence. Death would serve as their last comfort!


    Like a ghost traversing through the night, he lightly trod the ground with his Shadow Steps without leaving any marks nor sounds. Suddenly, Jiang Xiaofan appeared behind another victim, raised his sword, struck down, and sliced his enemy¡¯s head off.


    The Celestial Demon Sword was extremely sharp. During the whole time, not a single sound could be heard until shortly after Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s retreat into the darkness. Another scream rang out. Right before he had lost all consciousness, the victim could feel his head separating from his body. The unparalleled, inexplicable horror led him to release the final call for his life.


    Blood dyed the ground red again. Dead silence occupied filled the pitch-black atmosphere of the night. In just a brief moment, four people had already been slaughtered and rested in their own pool of blood. Still, they had discovered nor detected nothing until after the ear-piercing screams were sounded. It was only then that they knew the person hiding in the darkness had struck and taken another life away yet again.


    ¡°Monster! He¡¯s a monster!¡±


    Immediately after the fall of his comrade, one of the guards hollered with despair. He forcefully tugged his hair and wildly swung his spear around with bursts of the blue aura being discharged.


    ¡°Pathetic trash!¡±


    After berating the guard, the green-robed elder personally ended his life with a palm strike.


    Within the ancient forest, only another guard and the green-robed elder remained. There were a total of thirteen people in the company with the weakest being at the eight heaven of Micro Realm. To their dismay, Jiang Xiaofan had eliminated eleven of them. Half of them were ninth heaven Micro Realm cultivators. The result of this battle left the green-robed elder disconcerted but even more so incensed.


    ¡°You runt! If you¡¯re brave enough, come forth!¡± The green-robed elder barked.


    He sneered again in the darkness. Using such a low-handed method to instigate me? How can I possibly fall for it? Jiang Xiaofan picked up a stone from the ground, slyly smirked, and threw it into the distance.


    *Boing*


    After the sound of the stone landing on the ground was heard, a cold light flashed across the green-robed elder¡¯s eyes. In a split second, he dashed towards the direction of the sound. Immediately after he left, another shriek cried out from behind him. The last guard had been killed!


    ¡°Bastard!¡± He couldn¡¯t control himself from bawling.


    It was still dark, but the air gradually turned humid. Jiang Xiaofan knew that first light of day would soon dawn upon him. His gaze turned vicious. He needed to eliminate the green-robed elder before sunrise; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have another chance to do so!


    With icy winds blowing, Jiang Xiaofan bypassed the corpses on the ground and carefully approached him.


    Others could not see nor sense his presence, but he, inversely, could. They didn¡¯t have a hidden treasure like that brass piece of his. Therefore, they were unable to escape his spiritual awareness¡¯ detection. Like a fiend of the darkness, he silently crept towards the green-robed elder.


    A murderous aura filled the air. Just as he was about to stab his Celestial Demon Sword into his opponent¡¯s body, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart sank. The Celestial Demon Sword did not pierce through the green-robed elder¡¯s heart, but rather, just when the tip of the blade was about to puncture his flesh, the old man slightly turned and avoided the coup de grace.


    Jiang Xiaofan quickly leaped backward. Suddenly, a blue sword qi slashed at him. Through the glimmer of the light, he saw the green-robed elder¡¯s face contorted with savagery.¡±


    When the blue sword qi cut into him, sharp pain instantly radiated throughout his body. A mouthful of blood rose up to his throat but was forcefully swallowed back down his esophagus. The blood stains that were originally on his body had been cleaned. He was afraid that the smell of fresh blood would reveal his concealed position.


    A ninth heaven Phantom Saint old dog! What a tough one! Jiang Xiaofan inwardly cursed as he withdrew into the darkness. It was a good thing that he was still chewing on the Immortal Spirit Root with its qi serving as a defense mechanism for his body. Otherwise, the pain from the sword qi that slashed into him would be even more unbearable.


    It wasn¡¯t until now that Jiang Xiaofan finally appreciated just how rare these prized herbs were. The kick that he had previously suffered from the old man nearly took his life. Even with his Buddhist Sutra protecting him, his condition was still dire. With half of an Immortal Spirit Root used, his life had been stabilized and the injury sustained from the attack was now halfway towards full recovery.


    The Immortal Spirit Root is a primordial king of herbs. If this grade is already so potent, then what of a divine herb? Or the legendary saintly herb? The effects of the latter must be beyond imagination! It may even bring a dead person back to life!


    The air in the forest grew more humid. Jiang Xiaofan clenched his teeth. He then picked up another small stone from the ground and gently placed it on top of a small tree branch. Afterward, he activated his Shadow Steps, limiting his movements to a minimum, and successfully maneuvered his way behind the green-robed elder with the help of the brass piece¡¯s power.


    Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t instantly attack him. Instead, he concentrated all of his qi to its zenith and closed his eyes, aiming the sword in his hand right at the old man¡¯s heart.


    The green-robed elder was still unable to detect Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi. He could only rely on his sense of hearing and touch. He stood in the same spot as before because he was confident that he would be able to dodge Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sword thrust in the nick of time before his skin would be pierced and in return, finish off his target.


    As a result, neither party moved. The green-robed elder didn¡¯t know where Jiang Xiaofan was. He just stood still and waited for Jiang Xiaofan to attack him. As for Jiang Xiaofan, he patiently stood behind the old man and waited for the opportune time to kill him!

 Chapter 39

    The Forest of Scorching Flames was immersed in pitch-black darkness, and within that darkness, Jiang Xiaofan stood less than a meter from the green-robed elder. The only difference was that the green-robed elder didn¡¯t know Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s location, but Jiang Xiaofan knew his.


    The air grew even damper. Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t know how much time had just passed. When cold sweat began to drip down his forehead, a soft but very noticeable *thump* sound broke the dead silence of the night.


    Alarmed, the green-robed elder raised the pressure of his qi and prepared to lunge in the direction of that sound.


    Jiang Xiaofan made his move as well. This was the moment that he had been waiting for. The added weight of the mist and the stone was more than what the small branch could support. Now that the sound of its impact against the ground diverted the old man¡¯s attention, Jiang Xiaofan needed to take advantage of the current timing and thrust his Celestial Demon Sword through his opponent¡¯s heart.


    To his delight, Jiang Xiaofan had guessed correctly. The green-robed elder was indeed distracted by the falling stone in front of him. Just as the green-robed man was about to launch a powerful strike, his body was suddenly overcome with iciness. He abruptly felt his life force quickly slipping away from him.


    ¡°I won!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s voice resonated from behind. Around this time, the first glow of the morning sun warmed the land. He stabbed the blade deeper into the green-robed elder¡¯s chest and split his heart before pulling out the Celestial Demon Sword.


    ¡°You¡­. little¡­. bastard!¡±


    The old man fell down but didn¡¯t immediately die. He turned his head to ferociously glare at Jiang Xiaofan.


    He was flabbergasted. How can a Phantom Saint cultivator be this frighteningly powerful?! Even with a split heart, he didn¡¯t immediately die! Nevertheless, Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t overly concerned. The green-robed elder was just merely living on his last breath. He was doomed to die sooner or later.


    He pointed his blade at the old man and frostily smirked, ¡°Old dog, you have no right to blame me for this. This is all your doing. However, you have no need to worry. You guys won¡¯t be too lonely on the path to the netherworld. This time, death came upon you. Next time, it¡¯ll be that pasty-faced Xia Fengming. I¡¯ll personally deliver him down there to accompany you all!¡±


    *Pff*


    With a clean swing of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sword, the green-robed elder¡¯s head flew out. His pair of eyes continued to stare fixedly ahead. A ninth heaven Phantom Saint cultivator had been bested by a Micro Realm cultivator! He was reluctant to accept reality.


    Following the green-robed elder¡¯s death, this ¡°game of death¡± that took place in the Forest of Scorching Flames finally ended. The sun rose into the sky, and its golden rays lit up the world far and wide, washing away the darkness of the night. It was morning again!


    ¡°Huff¡­.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan dropped to the ground and sat down. He was completely drained.


    The damp air in the forest slowly dispersed. Dew covered the surface of the green leaves. The scene had become very tranquil with the exception of the bloodstained soil and corpses lying around.


    A long while later, Jiang Xiaofan stood up and walked towards the corpses. The battle had ended, and he was the victor. Now was the time for him to collect the spoils.


    They were all high-level cultivators, especially that green-robed elder. Ninth Heaven of Phantom Saint! How can he not have goodies on him? There was no way that Jiang Xiaofan would believe that. Hence, the old man became his first target.


    With his head gone, the green-robed elder¡¯s corpse had turned stone cold. With a sweeping gaze over him, Jiang Xiaofan locked his eyes onto a blue ring worn on his wrinkly finger. It looked very delicate and valuable.


    Jiang Xiaofan carefully pried the ring off and peered into it with his spiritual awareness. Instantly, he was stupefied as if lightning had struck him.


    ¡°Jackpot!¡±


    He just couldn¡¯t contain himself and broke into a wide grin. Drool dripped down from his mouth.


    The old man¡¯s spatial ring was an unordinary one. Its quality was far better than Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s. The spatial ring given to inner disciples by the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was only several square meters large. Contrarily, the green-robed elder¡¯s ring was dozens of square meters large. Oh my gods! More than ten large bulls can comfortably fit in there.


    With a gleam of light, two jade bottles appeared in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand. Contained inside were two types of pills, and both exuded a dense but pleasant fragrance.Jiang Xiaofan widened his eyes in great disbelief. Extravagant! Way too extravagant! So ridiculously extravagant that it goes against nature!


    One of the bottles was filled to the top with primary core pills, but Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t bother counting how many there were. His eyes bulged further as he looked into the other bottle. Gods! More than a dozen gold core pills! Gold core! These are gold core pills! And there are at least a dozen of them! But what does this mean? How can a small sect possibly provide so many gold core pills?! This is too shocking! Just who is that green-robed elder?!


    When he peered into the ring again, a dark-colored halberd materialized in his hand. There was a faint divine aura surrounding the weapon, and  Jiang Xiaofan was abruptly astonished. He warily channeled his spiritual energy into the halberd, and the halberd immediately emitted dazzling golden rays and a fierce battle qi.


    Jiang Xiaofan salivated again. A spirit weapon!


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s fragile heart thumped wildly. Great joy overwhelmed him to the point of nearly fainting. This old man¡¯s collection was very exuberant. Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t believe that the old man possessed such a powerful spirit weapon. He could feel just how mighty this halberd was. Even the Qingyun Sword could not compare  itwith. This halberd had to be cream of the crop among spirit weapons!


    As to why that green-robed elder hadn¡¯t used the halberd, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t have to think too deeply to discover the answer. With a cultivation level at Phantom Saint, was it necessary to kill a mere Micro Ream cultivator with a spirit weapon? That was the equivalent of using the halberd to slice tofu.


    Besides the halberd and pills, there were also many expensive goodies inside the spatial ring. However, compared with the gold core pills and the spirit weapon, they were of lesser value. With a brief glance, Jiang Xiaofan dismissed them.


    He transferred the halberd and the two bottles of pills to his own spatial ring and threw the green-robed elder¡¯s ring away. Although the old man¡¯s spatial ring was far better than his, he didn¡¯t dare to use it as he wished.


    He then searched the rings of the other dozen corpses and discovered numerous spoils. Yet, when compared with the green-robed elder, their goodies were far inferior. There was barely anything of practical use except a few primary core pills.


    Still, they were better than nothing. Jiang Xiaofan made a final count of his spoils. In total, there were one hundred and thirty-six primary cores, thirteen gold cores, one spirit weapon, and other miscellaneous items. He grew giddy with jubilation. What a bountiful harvest!


    The sun blazed more intensely. Thus, the temperature within the Forest of Scorching Flames sharply rose. This was the reason why Fire Birds like to inhabit this area. Incessant, noisy bird calls sounded around him. To Jiang Xiaofan, however, this was music to his ears as he was in a very good mood and willing to reconcile with anything.


    *Chirp chirp* *Chirp chirp*


    After he reached the outskirts of the forest, a multicolored feathered, little bird flew towards him and dived into his arms. It chirped nonstop, and its large eyes were filled with tears. This little fellow must¡¯ve been so worried.


    ¡°Aww, it¡¯s alright. I¡¯m still in one piece, aren¡¯t I? Okay, let¡¯s head back then!¡± Jiang Xiaofan smiled at the bird and petted it.


    Previously, his clothes had been torn and stained with the blood of that green-robed elder. Fortunately, though, he had spare clothes in his spatial ring which Ye Yuanxue had prepared for him. Before he walked out of the forest, he had already changed into his new clothes. Now, his entire being looked fresh.


    *Chirp chirp*


    Upon hearing that it would depart with Jiang Xiaofan, the little fellow immediately chirped happily. It flapped its colorful wings and danced around Jiang Xiaofan in a circle before nestling on his shoulder.


    His task this time was rife with scares. Now that he recalled everything that had happened, he tingled with uneasiness. His enemies were just too strong. If not for the help of the brass piece, he was unlikely to survive the ordeal.


    Jiang Xiaofan inwardly laughed. Xia Fengming, huh? I¡¯ll remember you! The people who you¡¯ve sent out this time were completely annihilated, so I¡¯ll consider this as a big slap to your face. Not too long into the future, I will make sure that you regret all that you have done against me today!


    Not long after, Jiang Xiaofan reached the base of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. He walked towards the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation to record his completed task and contribution points. Like usual, after the recording, the leader of the hall ¡°escorted¡± him out once again.


    Jiang Xiaofan pouted but didn¡¯t bother to resent him. He then headed for another direction and swayed up the Heavenly Maiden Peak under the petrified expressions of the male cultivators who watched him.


    ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming, am I? He¡­. He¡­. He just went straight up there just like that?¡±


    In a daze, one guy stared fixedly at the view before him and foolishly asked this question. This guy was the pervert who had once asked Jiang Xiaofan how to safely walk up the Heavenly Maiden Peak. When the pervert had attempted to try it, he was knocked flying outward by a middle-aged, female disciple.


    *Pah*


    After hearing him speak, the person next to him smacked him hard across the face.


    ¡°Why did you hit me?!¡± The pervert bellowed in anger.


    Without answering his question, the one who hit him queried, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    ¡°Of course it does! Wait¡­. So, I¡¯m not dreaming after all! It is real!¡±


    Naturally, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t know what was happening at the base of the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Currently, he was encircled by a group of girls with excited expressions on their faces. Their cheeks were tinged red, and they chattered ceaselessly.


    It wasn¡¯t because Jiang Xiaofan was handsome. It wasn¡¯t because his popularity had suddenly rocketed off the charts either. The girls surrounded him because of the little fellow in his arms.


    ¡°So beautiful! How cute!¡±


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, move aside! Let me pet it!¡±


    ¡°I saw it first! I should be one to pet it first!¡±


    The girls were beyond enraptured by the little bird. They swarmed up and fought with each other to get a chance to play with it.


    It couldn¡¯t be helped. The little fellow was just too adorable with its dazzling, colorful feathers, its bright, big eyes, and its occasional look of innocence. No female could resist its charm. Even Ye Qiuyu, someone with such a noble temperament like her, was drawn to the bird.


    *Chirp chirp* *Chirp chirp*


    The girls were too overly passionate, which in return frightened the little fellow. It nestled deeper into Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s embrace.


    ¡°Eh? What¡¯s wrong with it?¡±


    ¡°It looks scared.¡±


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, did you bully the little guy?!¡±


    Noticing the bird¡¯s scared expression, the girls instantly interrogated Jiang Xiaofan as if he was a criminal who had committed unspeakable crimes. This prompted Jiang Xiaofan to roll his eyes. Please, ladies. Don¡¯t you know that you people are the ones whom the little guy is scared of?!


    At last, Jiang Xiaofan handed the little fellow to Ye Yuanxue, causing the girl to be thrilled with happiness. The world¡¯s loveliest smile then bloomed on her delicate, petite face, and she directly wrapped her arms around Jiang Xiaofan.


    Blood nearly trickled down his nose, but he quickly snorted it back up. This was too just too embarrassing.


    On the other hand, the little fellow anxiously chirped and beat its wings, not wanting to part with Jiang Xiaofan. After a long period of comforting, he told the little bird that they could meet at any time since he lived on another peak from not far away. Just like that, it calmed down and quietly stayed with Ye Yuanxue.

 Chapter 40

    As the sun set and the sky was painted in layers of red and orange, Jiang Xiaofan was eventually able to convince the little fellow to calm down and docilely stay in the arms of Ye Yuanxue. With its bright, big eyes still misty, the bird gently flapped its wings and reluctantly waved farewell to Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan sighed. Such an enticing, cute little guy.


    In truth, he didn¡¯t want to leave but had to. Even though Ye Qiuyu lent the first-generation leader¡¯s jade pendant to him, the pendant only permitted one to enter and exit the Heavenly Maiden Peak. It was absolutely impossible for him to stay the night here. All of the female disciples would sweep him down the mountain.


    When Jiang Xiaofan reached Standstill Peak, night had already fallen. He needed to first rest a bit. After all, that battle at the Forest of Scorching Flames had enervated him.


    Before he entered the building complex, Lin Quan and Tang You jumped out of nowhere and cornered him. Two pairs of eyes beaming with light glared at him and scared him in the process as he almost tumbled backward.


    ¡°What the fuck?! You guys almost scared me to death! Are you people itching for a beating?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan growled at them.


    Unexpectedly, rather than being afraid, the two merely cackled as they walked up to Jiang Xiaofan. These two are seriously abnormal! Damn, I got goosebumps!


    Just before he was about to suspect that Lin Quan and Tang You had gotten possessed by devils, the two stopped and *thump* dropped to the ground onto their knees. They each held onto one of his legs and began to sputter the following demands.


    ¡°Boss, we want to enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak too!¡±


    ¡°Boss, please pass down your mystical technique of entering the peak!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s jaw dropped to the ground. He now knew what had transpired at noon. News of him entering and exiting the Heavenly Maiden Peak multiple times had spread around the sect like wildfire and shocked all those who heard it.


    Heavenly Maiden Peak! That was the Heavenly Maiden Peak. It was the paradise that all male cultivators within the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect dreamed of entering. Of course, that was impossible because even figures with the status of an elder could not freely enter as they wished. This was the rule of the Heavenly Maiden Peak which had been established since ancient times and could not be violated.


    However, someone who had just been elevated to the status of an inner disciple a few months ago was now able to freely come and go about the Heavenly Maiden Peak. How could news of this not shake the entirety of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect?! Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s name immediately became known to every disciple far and wide.


    ¡°Er¡­.¡±


    Bewildered, Jiang Xiaofan had never thought that his carefree entry into the Heavenly Maiden Peak would elicit such a big commotion to the extent of people worshipping him. Isn¡¯t this a bit ridiculous?!


    He was speechless. I¡¯ve only entered the peak a couple of times! How did things end up like this?!


    Lin Quan and Tang You belittled Jiang Xiaofan. One who has his stomach full won¡¯t understand the pain of those on empty stomachs. Not to mention, doesn¡¯t his back hurt while looking down and talking to them? Does he not know that all of the female cultivators in the Heaven¡¯s Emperor Sect are concentrated in the Heavenly Maiden Peak and the peak forbids men from entering?! It¡¯s only natural that the men will feel lonely!


    Jiang Xiaofan obviously couldn¡¯t tell the two that he was in possession of the first-generation leader¡¯s token. Facing towards the two who relentlessly begged him, he gazed up to the sky at forty-five degrees and lamented, ¡°The peak only accepts those who are good-natured.¡±


    The two finally stood back up.


    ¡°It¡¯s dark already. Let¡¯s rest early.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m getting sleepy.¡±


    Immediately, Jiang Xiaofan grew flustered. Damn it! What kind of attitude is this?! You guys don¡¯t believe that I¡¯m good-natured?!


    On this night, Jiang Xiaofan cultivated on the mountaintop for several hours yet again. After the battle at the Forest of Scorching Flames, he could feel an advancement in his cultivation. Although it wasn¡¯t very noticeable, some progression was better than nothing, and he soon discovered the fundamental truth behind it all. Combat was the easiest and most beneficial way to advance one¡¯s cultivation.


    His cultivation level was already at the peak of the eight heaven of Micro Realm, just a step away from reaching the ninth heaven. It should take no more than a month of cultivating. Once he entered the ninth heaven, he could then set his goal for the Realm of Dust.


    For a long time, he had always dreamed of reaching the Realm of Dust. The reason was that once he was at that stage, he could rely on his spiritual energy to glide in the air. That would look so cool. More importantly, he wouldn¡¯t need to use the flying sword technique anymore. In other words, he wouldn¡¯t need to feel sword-sick anymore!


    ¡°By the way, can medicinal pills help with the advancement of cultivation?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was excited by this idea and thought that it was possible. Ultimately, pills were created from the refined amalgamation of prized herbs and other valuable ingredients and contained pure spiritual qi within them.


    Instantly tempted, he took out the bottle of primary core pills from his spatial ring and hesitated for a bit before swallowing several pills at once. Hm, the taste is just so-so. Somewhat bitter.


    ¡°It¡¯s effective!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes instantly lit up, but the excitement in his eyes only lasted briefly as he grew disappointed. After swallowing the primary core pills, his cultivation did grow, but the effect was so minimal that it seemed neglectable.


    Ay¡­. This won¡¯t do. Jiang Xiaofan helplessly shook his head. At this rate, even if he swallowed one hundred primary core pills, he still would not be able to break into the ninth heaven.


    He roughly estimated that if he was to rely solely on the pills to reach the ninth heaven from his current state, he would need at least a couple hundred pills. Jiang Xiaofan shuddered at the thought of it.


    First of all, he didn¡¯t have that many primary core pills, and even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t use up all of them. He would definitely grow disgusted in the process before he could even break the barrier of eight heaven and reach the ninth. Urgh, hundreds of pills! Anyone would be disgusted!


    Still, he wasn¡¯t discouraged. Since the primary core pill proved to be impractical, he could try the gold core pills. For the sake of breaking into ninth heaven, he was willing to risk everything at hand and use himself as a lab rat! Besides, I didn¡¯t spend a single cent on these pills. Ahem. Alright, I stand corrected. I picked them up.


    He took out the other jade bottle, shook out a gold core pill onto the palm of his hand, and sniffed it. He then threw it in his mouth and gently chewed on it. Um, not bad. As expected of a gold core! The taste is much more pleasant than a primary core.


    Streams of the pill¡¯s qi melted in his mouth and condensed into a spiritual spring that poured into his body. With a joyous expression on his face, Jiang Xiaofan was astonished by the result. The effect of the gold core pill was much more obvious. He could feel his cultivation level rising rapidly.


    Jiang Xiaofan quickly calmed down. He sat down in a lotus position and activated both his Buddhist Sutra and Jade Purity Cultivation Method. He then directed the qi to course throughout his body, occasionally emitting green and gold light.


    After much time had passed, Jiang Xiaofan opened his eyes and looked at his hands. The effect this time was substantially more noticeable. After all, compared with the primary core, the gold core was much more potent, and its spiritual qi was far richer. He could feel his cultivation level rise a good amount, the equivalent of him consuming one hundred primary core pills.


    ¡°No wonder why a gold core pill is so expensive! It definitely has its special uses!¡±


    Looking at the jade bottle within his grasp and the remaining twelve gold core pills inside it, Jiang Xiaofan was ecstatic. He was one hundred percent certain that if he was to consume all twelve of these pills and refine them within his body, he would undoubtedly reach the ninth heaven of Micro Realm, perhaps even directly leaping to its peak.


    ¡°Hahahahahaha! Ninth Heaven, here I come!¡±


    He inwardly screamed for joy. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he swallowed another pill. After it melted, streams of delicate, pure spiritual qi entered his internal organs and flowed through his eight extraordinary meridians. The qi within his body continuously increased and grew denser.


    Jiang Xiaofan threw one gold core pill after another into his mouth. Every time he swallowed one, he would sit down in a lotus position and refine them in his body by using his Buddhist Sutra. The qi would then be integrated into his flesh and blood and transformed into spiritual energy.


    If someone happened to chance across this scene, he or she would definitely stagger backward in great shock, maybe even to the point of wanting to run up to Jiang Xiaofan and choke him to death. Bastard! Those are gold core pills! Gold core! They¡¯re prized treasures! How could he consume five of them and keep going at it?!


    Regardless of what others thought, Jiang Xiaofan paid no heed to them. Weren¡¯t pills meant for consumption? Not to mention, they were spoils that he had picked up. It wasn¡¯t as if he had spent money on them; hence, he didn¡¯t think of eating them as a waste.


    Just as he was about to swallow the ninth pill, he suddenly sensed a powerful flow of qi surging in his chest and felt as if his whole body was about to explode.


    However, this uncomfortable feeling disappeared shortly afterward as his entire body soon felt reinvigorated and soothed. Jiang Xiaofan was overcome with jubilation and almost couldn¡¯t contain his scream for joy. He finally did it! He was now at the ninth heaven of Micro Realm!


    Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t immediately stand up. He decided to remain sitting in a lotus position on the rock. His body still contained leftover streams of the gold core pill¡¯s spiritual qi, and not wanting to waste them, he channeled his Diamond Sutra to further strengthen his body. Faint golden rays of light encased his being.


    The top of Standstill Peak was a quiet, hidden place. With the assistance of his silver-colored brass piece, Jiang Xiaofan had no need to worry about others discovering his presence. Even the release of his divine light could, nonetheless, be concealed. No one could discover him.


    Not long after, he finally stood up. The Celestial Demon Sword appeared within his grip. He took a deep breath, and, within that moment, his sword radiated with bright, green rays. His feet were still anchored, but the dust was already kicked up into the air. A small hole was formed in the ground where the tip of the Celestial Demon Sword pointed at.


    ¡°Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan smoothly waved his sword, and faint, green light enveloped the blade. The air around him shook loudly. In an instant, thirteen forms of sword qi appeared and flew dozens of meters into the distance. From afar, they merged into one large sword qi and splintered a massive boulder into pieces.


    ¡°So mighty!¡± Jiang Xiaofan gasped in delightful surprise.


    Thirteen Swords of a Clear Moon was an offensive combat technique that could only be cultivated once the cultivator reached the ninth level of the Jade Purity Cultivation Method. Thirteen forms of sword qi would merge as one into a large sword qi, causing its size and attack power to double as a result. The might of this technique was indeed terrifying.


    He put his sword away and tidied his clothes. After spending an entire night away, he was finally at the ninth heaven of Micro Realm. Regardless of whether his body or his spiritual energy had strengthened, Jiang Xiaofan was extremely pleased with this outcome.


    Of the thirteen gold core pills, only four remained. He didn¡¯t plan to consume them. After all, it was impossible to rely on these four pills to break into the Realm of Dust. It would be wiser if he saved them for potential future uses.

 Chapter 41

    As the sky began to brighten, Jiang Xiaofan climbed down from the mountain to tell Tang You and the others that he would be gone for a brief while. After reaching the ninth heaven of Micro Realm, he was in a really good mood and decided that it was time for some relaxation.


    Where to relax? Does this even need to be asked? When a man is ready to relax, he is, of course, off to see beautiful women!


    Correct, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s destination was the Heavenly Maiden Peak. He believed that the little fellow would be happy to see him again, and perhaps, Ye Yuanxue would be delighted with his presence and hug him again.


    ¡°Yeah. If she hugs me again, I¡¯ll definitely hug her back. I can¡¯t miss out!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan broke into a sly smile as he shamelessly lingered on this thought. He looked no different than a lecher as of this moment.


    Just then, an unexpected event occurred. Jiang Xiaofan was obstructed by a group of people at the base of Standstill Peak. The leader of the group was a young man who donned black from head to toe. The look in his eyes was sharp.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan?¡±


    The man¡¯s hands were crossed behind his back,


    ¡°That would be me,¡± replied Jiang Xiaofan hesitantly and nodded.


    *Boom*


    Without saying anything, the young man directly assailed him. His right grip was in the form of a dragon claw[1] as he aimed for Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s neck.


    Very powerful!


    The color drained from Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s face. His assailant was frightening. This was the same feeling that he sensed from his encounter with Zhu Xidao. In other words, this man¡¯s cultivation was on par with Zhu Xidao¡¯s.


    *Swoosh*


    Jiang Xiaofan was fortunate enough that he had advanced to another heaven earlier. As a result, his Shadow Steps had gotten more sophisticated. He transformed into a green light and avoided the black-robed man¡¯s claw before appearing five meters away from the attack zone.


    ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?!¡± Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression became cold.


    The people behind the black-robed man were so shocked that their mouths were agape, and their expressions varied greatly as they reexamined Jiang Xiaofan. He avoided his attack! How is it even possible?!


    The black-robed man narrowed his eyes and responded icily, ¡°You have skills.¡±


    After that, the black-robed man kept silent. His hands remained crossed behind his back and stood upright to the side. The look in his eyes was stone-cold, appearing as if everything in the world was under his control and in the palms of his hands. His eyes appeared glacial. The way he looked at Jiang Xiaofan was akin to that of peering at an ant.


    ¡°This is my Ying Shixiong from the Heavenly Sun Peak. He just came out of closed-door training today and is here to seek justice!¡±


    Someone behind the black-robed man walked forth and angrily glared at Jiang Xiaofan as he explained. The others in the group smirked. Since the black-robed man had made his move, flattery wouldn¡¯t be able to save Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hide. The only option left for Jiang Xiaofan is to be subdued.


    Over the past few weeks, Jiang Xiaofan had beaten up the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s disciples twice already. The first time was when he detained them to renovate the dilapidated complex. The second time was when he beat up Wang Chong and the others to half-death. Even now, they were still lying in bed.


    To those from the main sect, this was utter humiliation. Unable to suffer any longer at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hands of defeat, the inner disciples reported to Ying Tianyang immediately after he came out of closed-door training yesterday, pleading the black-robed man to subdue Jiang Xiaofan and to restore honor to the Heavenly Sun Peak.


    The black-robed man¡¯s name was Ying Tianyang. He was the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s core disciple. The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect had seven main peaks, and each peak had one core disciple. Zhu Xidao was the strongest of them all; thus, he was known as the number one core disciple. As for Ying Tianyang, he was no weakling either since among the seven, he was second only to Zhu Xidao.


    In addition, he had another shocking identity. Ying Tianyang was the son of the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s leader. Therefore, he, like Zhu Xidao, had considerable influence over the sect. Not only was he an extremely formidable cultivator, but his personality was also overbearing. Once he had heard the report of Jiang Xiaofan clashing twice with his inner disciples, Ying Tianyang merely sneered and proceeded to confront Jiang Xiaofan head-on.


    Because of his pride and arrogance, Ying Tianyang refused to climb the steps of Standstill Peak. It was beneath his status to do such a thing.


    Jiang Xiaofan calmed down and coolly answered, ¡°It was their own foolishness that caused all of this. They intruded upon Standstill Peak and repaid their peer¡¯s kindness with enmity by relentlessly attacking him. From these two incidents alone, they have already severely violated the sect¡¯s rules. I only taught them a lesson with my fists in the hopes that they could learn from their mistakes. Even if you report to the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, I¡¯m still in the right!¡±


    The colors on the disciples¡¯ faces turned ashen. This was because Jiang Xiaofan had spoken the truth. Wang Chong and the others had indeed violated the sect¡¯s rules, particularly the latter incident in which they had violently assaulted their fellow peer. This was an extremely serious offense. It was obvious that they knew of the consequences and thus, decided to beat Xiao Ping in the remote area of the bamboo forest, away from prying eyes.


    ¡°So what?!¡± Ying Tianyang casually retorted. He glanced at Jiang Xiaofan and countered, ¡°I only know that someone has raised a hand against my peak¡¯s disciples. That¡¯s enough for me.¡±


    Domineering and strong! So this is the real Ying Tianyang!


    ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Jiang Xiaofan queried.


    ¡°Duel me. The winner will live on while the loser will die,¡± replied Ying Tianyang.


    Jiang Xiaofan remained silent because he discovered that Lin Quan and Tang You had appeared. Lin Quan mustered his courage, walked forth, and directly looked Ying Tianyang in the eyes, and sullenly stated, ¡°Ying Shixiong, you¡¯re a Phantom Saint cultivator and our Boss isn¡¯t even at the Realm of Dust yet. This duel isn¡¯t very fair!¡±


    During these past few days, thanks to the influence of Jiang Xiaofan, Lin Quan and Tang You had grown more valiant. However, against the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect number two core disciple, they more or less feared him. The fact that they could stand up and talk to Ying Tianyang was already an impressive feat.


    Ying Tianyang snorted *hmph*, and his eyes were sharper than ever. Stunned, Lin Quan¡¯s complexion grew pale. Ying Tianyang then unsheathed his Sky Saber and frostily retaliated, ¡°I, Ying Tianyang, will never take advantage of anyone!¡±


    He turned around and bore his eyes into Jiang Xiaofan. His gaze was ensuring and exuded an air of supremacy. ¡°During the duel, I will suppress my cultivation to your level. Well? Are you daring enough to take on my challenge?!¡±


    Lin Quan and Tang You were astounded. Ying Tianyang¡¯s contempt could not be more clearly conveyed. The ones behind Ying Tianyang were taken aback as well, but they soon icily sneered. They had absolute confidence that even if Ying Tianyang suppressed his cultivation to the Micro Realm, Jiang Xiaofan would still be no match for him.


    Ignoring their reactions, a piece of white paper materialized from within Ying Tianyang¡¯s body. He raised his right hand and channeled forth his mighty spiritual energy. Not long after, a letter of consent was already written and appeared before Jiang Xiaofan.


    Lin Quan and Tang You shook their heads at Jiang Xiaofan. Even though Ying Tianyang had promised to suppress his cultivation to the Micro Realm, they didn¡¯t think that Jiang Xiaofan stood a chance of winning against him.


    After all, Ying Tianyang was an esteemed figure with a prominent background known throughout the sect. They had never personally witnessed the extent of Ying Tianyang¡¯s power, but they had heard of the numerous rumors about him. Even if he were to suppress his cultivation, he would be far stronger than any other Micro Realm cultivator.


    ¡°Accept, and we will meet at the martial arena. Refuse, and you will die here.¡±


    With an intense glare, Ying Tianyang pressured him.


    Jiang Xiaofan smirked. He decided to answer Ying Tianyang with pragmatism. Brilliantly glowing, green-colored spiritual energy enveloped his right hand as he raised it onto the letter and carved each character of his name with force. ¡°I accept!¡±


    On this day, news of Jiang Xiaofan challenging the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number two core disciple, Ying Tianyang, spread like wildfire across the sect and caused a frenzy among those who heard it.


    Many disciples were already familiar with Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s name. However, it wasn¡¯t because he was a powerful cultivator, nor was it because of whatever background he had. Rather, it was because of all the things that he had done after just shortly arriving at the sect. Each incident had left everyone¡¯s jaw dropping to the ground and tongue-tied in a knot.


    Firstly, he had beaten Zhu Xidao¡¯s elder cousin and younger brother. Secondly, he detained the inner disciples of the three main peaks and forced them to hard labor. Lastly, he charged up the Heavenly Maiden Peak, came back down unscathed, and could now freely enter the peak as he wished. Jiang Xiaofan had now become an idol among most male cultivators.


    As for today, news of Jiang Xiaofan challenging Ying Tianyang was even more startling. Everyone who heard it was stunned as if they had gotten struck by lightning. They simply couldn¡¯t comprehend this piece of news. Is Jiang Xiaofan out of his mind? He dared to challenge Ying Tianyang? The one who¡¯s second only to Zhu Xidao?! His cultivation was frighteningly powerful!


    From his name alone, it was easily decipherable that Ying Tianyang[2] was to be the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s greatest hope. His might, without a doubt, was fearsome, and his bearing was even more commanding. Because of him, even though the Heavenly Sun Peak was not the lead of the seven main peaks, the other disciples and leaders had to be scrupulous.


    If Zhu Xidao was known for his might and mysterious but impressive background, then Ying Tianyang was known for his hegemonic and merciless practices, eliciting more prudence from others than Zhu Xidao.


    ¡°This Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s insane.¡±


    ¡°But I think that he¡¯s not too bad of a person. It¡¯s just that¡­. Ay! What a pity.¡±


    ¡°With his level of cultivation, he wants to challenge Ying Shixiong?! What a joke! He¡¯s courting with death!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s just waiting for Ying Shixiong to smother him with one finger.¡±


    Some people thought that Jiang Xiaofan was an alright fellow and pitied him, but many others looked on with crossed arms in anticipation of a good show, especially those from the Heavenly Sun Peak. They were already openly jeering at Jiang Xiaofan as if he was pathetic before the life-or-death duel even began.


    This made Jiang Xiaofan irate. What the hell?! Why am I known as ¡°the idiot who challenged Ying Tianyang¡±?! Ying Tianyang, that bastard! At this rate, black will turn into white and white will turn into black! It was obviously Ying Tianyang who shamelessly challenged me in the first place, alright?!


    ¡°Child, how could you accept his challenge?!¡± Worry was written all over Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s face, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to be etched even deeper. He shook his head and continued, ¡°I will plea to the sect leader and hope that he can stop this life-or-death duel on behalf of what I have done for the sect. At your current level, you are yet not ready to fight Ying Tianyang.¡±


    Just as the old man was about to turn and leave, Jiang Xiaofan held him back and smiled. ¡°Old Man Liu, take it easy. I¡¯ll be alright. I won¡¯t talk about other possibilities, but if Ying Tianyang really does suppress his cultivation to the Micro Realm, then there¡¯s a chance that I might not lose to him. In fact, I would say that it¡¯s difficult to predict who will win and who will lose.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression turned solemn as he assured Old Man Liu, ¡°I am very aware that the path to Dao is a bumpy one. I have my own goals. There are some fights that I cannot shirk away from as I don¡¯t want to leave a shadow in my heart.¡±


    Confounded by his words, Old Man Liu eventually nodded in agreement.


    Soon, Ye Yuanxue arrived and revolved around Jiang Xiaofan, scanning him from head to toe nonstop as if he was some alien specimen. Meanwhile, the little fellow who came with her continuously chirped and happily flew into the embrace of Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan petted the little fellow¡¯s feathery head. He then looked at Ye Yuanxue and remarked, ¡°Xue¡¯er darling, I know that I am very handsome, but you don¡¯t have to keep staring at me like this. Otherwise, I¡¯ll be shy.¡±


    ¡°Patooey! Perverted Wolf, stop being so indecent!¡± Ye Yuanxue rolled her eyes at him.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 42

    On Standstill Peak, Ye Yuanxue loudly ground her teeth. After getting wind of the life-or-death duel between Jiang Xiaofan and Ying Tianyang, she turned extremely very worried about Jiang Xiaofan and immediately headed to Standstill Peak. To her dismay, the naughty Perverted Wolf decided to tease her instead.


    In the end, she could only hopelessly look at Jiang Xiaofan. ¡°Can¡¯t you take a break?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan felt aggrieved. This is no fault of mine! It¡¯s that shameless Ying Tianyang who wanted to battle me! Out of my benevolence, I could only agree! I¡¯m a very, very good person!


    He reassured Ye Yuanxue to not worry because Ying Tianyang would suppress his cultivation to the Micro Realm. He feared no one in a fair match, even if his opponent was someone who had reached Phantom Saint first.


    Very soon, news came out that the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation had agreed to their life-or-death duel. It was to be held at the martial arena on the following day. Once again, news of this caused a commotion within the sect and perturbed countless disciples.


    After all, this was not just any duel but a life-or-death one. In addition, the two participants were unordinary as well. One was the renowned Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number two core disciple and son of the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s leader, an extremely powerful cultivator with a prominent background. The other was much weaker in might but was the most discussed figure in the sect. He had arrived at the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect not long ago but performed acts that had shaken people to the core. He was nicknamed ¡°The Vicious One.¡± It was impossible for anyone to not pay heed to their fight.


    There were some who even opened bets. Those who lost had to pay a hundred yuan. However, bets were soon called off. This was because even if Jiang Xiaofan had a one-hundred percent chance of winning, no one was willing to bet on him. Rather, all bets were placed on Ying Tianyang as the victor. Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiaofan grew so furious that he wanted to vomit blood.


    Not long after, a middle-aged man emerged in midair on Standstill Peak and peered down. Without even glancing at Jiang Xiaofan, he looked at Liu Cheng¡¯an who was outside of the building complex and coolly said, ¡°Elder Liu, today is the day in which my son and your disciple has agreed to duel. Since the Supreme Elder has given Standstill Peak to you, then you should come along with us to be a witness.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡± Liu Cheng¡¯an nodded in agreement.


    The date of their showdown was quickly approaching. The weather wasn¡¯t very pleasant, and the sky was overcast. It seemed as if Heaven knew that blood would be shed on that particular day.


    Crowding around the main platform of the martial arena were numerous people; however, most of the important ones had yet to arrive. Only the leaders of the Heavenly Sun Peak and Hall of Spiritual Cultivation were present. As for Liu Cheng¡¯an, he was once an important person of the sect, but times have changed, and he now no longer had any ounce of status left.


    Upon the main platform, the two figures stood face to face. Ying Tianyang crossed his arms behind his back. He donned a black robe, and his eyes were sharp as usual like a godly weapon that had been unsheathed. His body exuded an immensely strong aura.


    On the other side, Jiang Xiaofan was much more relaxed. The corners of his lip were slightly curled upward. He naturally felt tense about the upcoming duel with Ying Tianyang; however, the pressure wasn¡¯t too overwhelming. In a battle against someone of the same realm, Jiang Xiaofan was quite confident in himself.


    ¡°If you have any wishes left, say it now. I¡¯m giving you time,¡± Ying Tianyang spoke.


    Jiang Xiaofan disdainfully smirked and replied in a lackadaisical manner, ¡°Same to you. State your wish.¡±


    Ying Tianyang¡¯s expression instantly turned icy. He turned his head and told the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, ¡°To ensure fairness, I ask of you to please suppress my cultivation down to the Micro Realm.¡±


    Many of the spectators were startled. Even though they had heard that Ying Tianyang would suppress his cultivation in the battle against Jiang Xiaofan, they couldn¡¯t confirm this piece of news. Now, they were certain that it was factual.


    At the same time, they were also certain that even if Ying Tianyang did suppress his cultivation to the Micro Realm, Jiang Xiaofan would stand little chance of defeating him. To be more exact, they didn¡¯t believe that Jiang Xiaofan would win because death would be his only outcome.


    This battle was never fair from the start. Jiang Xiaofan was already at a disadvantage against a Phantom Saint cultivator even if their level had been suppressed to match that of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s. Ying Tianyang wasn¡¯t someone who an average Micro Realm cultivator could compete against.


    The leader nodded and raised his finger. A ray of divine line shot into Ying Tianyang¡¯s body, and his qi immediately began to diminish. With his acute awareness, Jiang Xiaofan could definitely sense Ying Tianyang¡¯s suppression to the Micro Realm.


    Ying Tianyang was somewhat surprised that his cultivation had been successfully suppressed to the Micro Realm. That zombie-faced old man¡¯s cultivation was indeed terrifying. With just a lift of his finger, a Phantom Saint cultivator¡¯s power was lowered to that of the Micro Realm. Even though Ying Tianyang made no resistance in the process, the fact that the leader could do this with such ease proved that the leader¡¯s might was beyond fearsome.


    Among the crowd was Chen Yifeng whom Jiang Xiaofan hadn¡¯t seen for a while. In a calm voice, he relayed his message to Jiang Xiaofan with his spiritual awareness. ¡°Brother Jiang, be careful. Even though his cultivation has been suppressed, he¡¯s still a full-fledged Phantom Saint cultivator. Although he is now at the Micro Realm, it is unwise to judge his combat power by ordinary standards.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded at Chen Yifeng to express his gratitude for his warning. He was very fond of this man.


    Then there were those among the crowd who wore wicked, sly smiles on their faces. They included Zhu Youwei and Zhu Yunlin. Even though Zhu Yunlin was still young, the look in his eyes was malicious and venomous.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get this going!¡±


    Ying Tianyang remained standing still with his arms behind his back on the platform. In a high and mighty pose, every cell in his body screamed contempt for Jiang Xiaofan.


    You arrogant little shit!


    Jiang Xiaofan coldly smiled. In an instant, he vanished and transformed into a ray of light, leaving only a blurry shadow from where he stood. In the next second, he appeared in front of Ying Tianyang, tightened his right fist, and ruthlessly smashed down.


    ¡°So fast!¡±


    Someone from the crowd gasped loudly. Many others widened their eyes in disbelief at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s agility. Even the leader of the Heavenly Sun Peak was surprised. Only the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation maintained his stony expression.


    The color on Ying Tianyang¡¯s complexion changed slightly. Thanks to his Phantom Saint cultivation, even if it had been suppressed to the Micro Realm, his reaction time was nonetheless faster than average. At the very last moment, he blocked the punch by placing his two hands in front.


    *Bang*


    With his feet to the floor, he slid backward by several meters, leaving a pair of long traces on the platform.


    ¡°This¡­.¡±


    The crowd became speechless with many spectators bulging their eyes. What was that?! Ying Tianyang, the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number two core disciple, was pushed back with just one punch?! However, Ying Tianyang looked disconcerted as well!


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, keep it up! Send that Yang whatever flying!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue yelled with excitement at Jiang Xiaofan, giving a scare to those around her.


    This girl¡¯s too audacious! That¡¯s Ying Tianyang after all! The son of the leader of the Heavenly Sun Peak! Can¡¯t you be a bit more scrupulous? How can you say that in front of the leader?! Aren¡¯t you afraid of inviting trouble?!


    As expected, the middle-aged man abruptly turned gloomy. He frostily eyed Ye Yuanxue.


    Up above, Ying Tianyang¡¯s expression grew more somber. ¡°There¡¯s not many within this generation who can push me back. While my cultivation has been suppressed, it is quite impressive for you to have done this!¡±


    After he had spoken words of compliment, his tone then turned glacial. ¡°Unfortunately, what a pity. You won¡¯t get to live past today!¡±


    ¡°Do you only have false self-praises and threats? Don¡¯t you think that you¡¯re being a bit boisterous? Let¡¯s try something new, shall well?¡± Jiang Xiaofan shrugged his shoulders and retorted with derision.


    ¡°Go die!¡±


    This time, Ying Tianyang made his move and initiated an offensive attack. He extended his right hand with light-green rays radiating from his palm which then condensed into an energy sword and was thrust at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Ying Tianyang¡¯s sword qi shook the air around him. The main platform was soon enveloped by a powerful, suffocating aura. This prompted many onlookers to elicit exclamations of awe. Many of those in the crowd were ninth heaven Micro Realm cultivators, but even they felt terrorized by the qi.


    Despite Ying Tianyang¡¯s cultivation being suppressed to the Micro Realm, the fact that he could display such mighty combat power proved that he truly lived up to his status as the sect¡¯s number two core disciple. He was no simple opponent to face off against.


    The leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation remained expressionless while Liu Cheng¡¯an fretted and had his eyebrows furrowed. On the other hand, the middle-aged man revealed a smile on his face. He was very pleased with his son¡¯s capabilities.


    When he had named his son Tianyang, his hope was that he would become the strongest cultivator to ever exist in the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s history. To his delight, Ying Tianyang hadn¡¯t disappointed him. He was very strong, and his innate talent was extraordinary. He had stepped into the realm of Phantom Saint from early on. If not for Zhu Xidao, his son would¡¯ve already been the most powerful cultivator among the youths.


    *Fwoosh*


    Jiang Xiaofan narrowed his eyes. With a flash of green light, he avoided Ying Tianyang¡¯s attack and appeared six meters horizontally of where he originally stood. He could see that Ying Tianyang¡¯s technique was the Thirteen Swords of Clear Moon. The only difference was that Ying Tianyang had already mastered it.


    ¡°Do you plan to keep running away?!¡±


    After his attack had fallen short of piercing his target, Ying Tianyang turned his head to glower at Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Run?¡± Jiang Xiaofan icily laughed and answered, ¡°There is no reason to fear anyone who is at the same realm as me. So what if you were once at Phantom Saint? Don¡¯t blame me for not reminding you. Since I have agreed to the duel, I have no intention of losing!¡±


    *Boom*


    In the next moment, Jiang Xiaofan moved. His whole body exploded with green light. Thirteen forms of sword qi materialized beside him. With a clutch of his right hand and under the control of his willpower, ringing sounds resonated as the thirteen swords sliced through the air and flew towards Ying Tianyang.


    ¡°Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon! That¡¯s undoubtedly the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon!¡±


    ¡°He already cultivated the Jade Purity Cultivation Method to the ninth level?! How could he do it so fast?!¡±


    The people below were stunned. They weren¡¯t shocked that Jiang Xiaofan had executed the only killing technique from the Jade Purity Cultivation Method. The main reason was that the execution of the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon implied that Jiang Xiaofan had already reached the ninth heaven of Micro Realm.


    This show of display dumbfounded many people, especially the inner disciples from the seven main peaks. They had already been in the sect for many years, yet they were still stuck in the Micro Realm. To think that this Jiang Xiaofan had already reached this advanced level was too alarming for them. His cultivation speed seemed like witchcraft.


    ¡°Interesting!¡±


    Ying Tianyang chuckled. Rather than retreating, he lunged towards the thirteen forms of sword qi. Likewise, Jiang Xiaofan dashed ahead. The thirteen forms of sword qi condensed into a giant sword with a loud *ring* and hacked downward.


    In the face of such a powerful sword, Ying Tianyang next move astonished everyone. With neither fear nor hesitation, he raised his fist and welcomed the sword¡¯s attack. He wanted to counter it with his physical strength!

 Chapter 43

    The Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon was the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s Jade Purity Cultivation Method¡¯s only killing technique. Only those who had reached the ninth heaven of Micro Realm could cultivate it. This point alone proved just how powerful this technique was.


    Yet, in the face of such a powerful attack, Ying Tianyang directly countered it with his physical strength.


    *Pff*


    Regardless of his cultivation level, the man known as the sect¡¯s number two core disciple was indeed extremely strong. With just a punch, he smashed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sword qi into specks of light. Neither slowing down nor decreasing his power, he charged at his opponent.


    Although Ying Tianyang did not have Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mystical Diamond Sutra¡¯s body tempering technique, he had already reached Phantom Saint long ago. Despite his cultivation being suppressed to the Micro Realm, his body strength remained at the realm of Phantom Saint.


    Regardless of whether it was his combat experience, the quality of his spiritual energy, or his physical strength, Ying Tianyang had an absolute advantage over Jiang Xiaofan. Therefore, this duel was never fair to begin with.


    Jiang Xiaofan, of course, knew of all these. He wasn¡¯t dumb. Just because he, as Ye Yuanxue had said, was usually indecent and flippant did not mean that his mind was slow. His acceptance of this duel meant that he naturally had some tricks up his sleeve and was capable of winning.


    His figure now appeared illusory, and the entire platform was full of his blurry shadows. This was the first time that he had used his Shadow Steps to its maximum.


    Such a scene stunned many people. Even the stony-faced leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation revealed a hint of expression on his face. Having such frightening agility at this level of cultivation defied all reasoning.


    ¡°Stop scurrying around like a rat!¡±


    Ying Tianyang coldly snorted *hmph*. A powerful qi then exploded forth from his body and swept to every corner, followed by dark green rays of light illuminating the entire platform. Even those who at the Realm of Dust were amazed by Ying Tianyang¡¯s display of might. Even though his cultivation was now at the Micro Realm, it was unimaginably frightening that he could release such a power.


    Ying Tianyang wanted to use his powerful qi to pressure Jiang Xiaofan out of hiding. Under normal circumstances, this was an effective method. Against the maximum use of force, even the speediest agility would be futile.


    To his disappointment, not only was his immense release qi unable to force Jiang Xiaofan out of hiding, it was unable to shatter the blurry shadows on the platform. This prompted Ying Tianyang¡¯s expression to turn unsightly.


    *Bang*


    In the next second, Ying Tianyang felt a strong force coming from his back. Jiang Xiaofan finally appeared behind him, and ferociously punched out. This time, Jiang Xiaofan showed no mercy, using nearly all nine heavens of his strength.


    Because he cultivated the sacred Diamond Sutra¡¯s body tempering technique, the strength of his physical body was already beyond that of the Micro Realm. With a solid, heavy punch to his body, even Ying Tianyang could not withstand the full force of it. His stance faltered, and blood trickled down the corner of lips.


    However, the extent of Ying Tianyang¡¯s might was beyond what Jiang Xiaofan had expected. Assuming that he was just an ordinary person and taken such a powerful punch, even if it did not result in a serious injury, it would take a while for him to come to his senses. Instead, Ying Tianyang rapidly turned and ferociously kicked backward at Jiang Xiaofan square on his chest.


    ¡°Truly outstanding!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was caught off guard. If he hadn¡¯t mastered the Shadow Steps and was able to dodge in the nick of time, he surmised that he would¡¯ve taken the full brunt of that kick and suffered a serious injury. Even so, he could still pain radiating from his chest. It really hurt.


    Silence settled in. Earlier, countless spectators thought that Jiang Xiaofan would be unable to fight tit for tat against Ying Tianyang whose cultivation had been suppressed to the Micro Realm. However, they now second-guessed themselves.


    Ying Tianyang roughly wiped the blood from his lips. The look in his eyes was frostier than before, his expression full of savagery, and his long, black hair danced wildly in midair. He scowled, ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, you have thoroughly angered me!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan smiled scornfully, looked at Ying Tianyang as if he was an idiot, and jeered, ¡°Ying Tianyang, I admit that you are very strong. However, I must remind you that you¡¯re the one who set up this life-or-death duel. You¡¯re the one who wrote the challenge letter. So don¡¯t talk about me angering you and such bullshit things. You¡¯ll just make everyone condescend you.¡±


    Ying Tianyang¡¯s complexion immediately darkened. Without saying any further, he lunged at Jiang Xiaofan. To prove that he was really outraged, another green energy sword condensed in his right hand. It was multiple times stronger than the sword from before and emanated a terrible aura across the platform.


    Still, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s speed was too fast for him. Ever since he had reached the ninth heaven of Micro Realm, his Shadow Steps seemed to have evolved to another level. Because of his suppressed cultivation, Ying Tianyang lost a considerable amount of his powerful spiritual energy and his muscle memory could not keep up with the decline of his physical strength. As a result, it was exceedingly difficult for him to match Jiang Xiaofan speed for speed.


    After Jiang Xiaofan had transformed into a streak of green light and backed up from where he stood, his lips curved up in a smile. ¡°I also need to remind you of this. Arrogant people never live long. Even though this doesn¡¯t always apply, sometimes, however, it makes perfect sense!¡±


    *Swoosh*


    At that moment, his figure was finally fixed and visible. With his right leg forcefully stamped on the floor, he propelled himself forward like a cannonball. Dense, green light enveloped his entire fist. He then forcefully chopped down on his opponent before sending him flying with a kick. Ying Tianyang nearly tumbled down the platform.


    Everything instantly came to a standstill, and the atmosphere grew dead silent. Not knowing how much time had passed, everyone finally turned their focus back to reality. The scene then erupted with bursts of amazed gasps.


    ¡°Oh Heaven! Did my eyes deceive me?! Ying Tianyang was knocked flying!¡±


    ¡°Gods! This can¡¯t be real! How?!¡±


    No one wanted to believe in what had happened before their eyes, but they had to because the truth was displayed right there. Aside from unwillingness and perplexity, their remaining feelings left were shock and wonderment.


    Beyond the main platform, the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation quickly turned stony again after revealing a slight change in his expression. As for Ye Yuanxue, she excitedly waved her fist while the little bird on her shoulder chirped loudly as if cheering for Jiang Xiaofan.


    Beside Ye Yuanxue was Liu Cheng¡¯an who was quite surprised at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s performance but eventually nodded in satisfaction. Because he was once an elder, he could accurately see through someone. He knew that Jiang Xiaofan was a good young man from the way that he treated him.


    Lin Quan and Tang You were present as well. Exhilarated, they nearly clapped their hands and shouted, ¡°Good job!¡±


    While they were happy on this side, there were others who mourned at the turn of events to the other side. The expressions of a few inner disciples from the Heavenly Sun Peak turned very ugly. In particular, the leader of the peak became gloomier as he icily locked his eyes on the platform.


    Ying Tianyang stood up again. His clothes were covered in dust, and blood continued to trickle down from the corner of his lips. However, he didn¡¯t care. With eyes full of ferocity, he stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°You are going to die today!¡±


    After he had spoken, Ying Tianyang gradually walked forward. His movements were slow, but each step was steady and powerful as if he was following some strange rhythm. The entire platform slightly quaked.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression turned grave. The man before him was very frightening, as expected of a Phantom Saint cultivator. Even though his cultivation had been suppressed to the Micro Realm, he was still able to release that terrible might. This type of aura definitely didn¡¯t belong to that of a Micro Realm cultivator.


    *Boom*


    A dense, horrifying qi broke out. Its power surpassed that of before.


    In the next moment, Jiang Xiaofan could sense danger coming. His hair stood on end, just like when he experienced the assassination at the Forest of Scorching Flames. He couldn¡¯t see anything, but he believed in his instinct. Without further ado, he reflexively retreated with his Shadow Steps and appeared nine meters backward.


    *Hah*


    Almost at the same time, a dazzling ray of light about the size of a thick tree branch shot downward from the sky. Without any warning, it landed where Jiang Xiaofan had previously stood before he retreated and created a deep crater in the floor with long cracks radiating from its center.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s complexion turned ashen. Other spectators were dumbstruck as well with their eyes widened. That ray of light was spine-chilling. If Jiang Xiaofan had gotten struck by it, even if he did not die from it, he would be severely injured.


    ¡°How dare you use spirit channeling in a Micro Realm battle?! You¡¯re so low!¡± Indignant, Ye Yuanxue angrily shouted at Ying Tianyang.


    Lin Quan and Tang You were equally vexed. The spirit channel was a mystical technique that could only be cultivated at the Realm of Dust and higher. The duel from its very start was already unfair. With Ying Tianyang¡¯s use of spirit channeling, the scales tipped even more.


    The inner disciples of the Heavenly Sun Peak immediately glared at Ye Yuanxue. With his expression completely frosted over, the leader of their peak chided Ye Yuanxue, ¡°Disciple of the Heavenly Maiden Peak, shut your mouth. There¡¯s no rule dictating that spirit channels cannot be used in this battle.¡±


    ¡°Old guy, how about you shut up instead?!¡±


    Even more irate, Ye Yuanxue waved her fist at him. On her shoulder was the multicolored, feathery little fellow who angrily chirped at the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s leader. At first, it hadn¡¯t gotten used to Ye Yuanxue, but soon, Ye Yuanxue had won over the heart of the little fellow. Naturally, it turned angry upon seeing someone threatening her.


    ¡°How dare you disrespect someone senior to you?! Completely preposterous! I will teach you a lesson in place of your peak¡¯s leader!¡±


    The leader directly extended a large hand which grabbed for Ye Yuanxue. The sky suddenly darkened, and winds began to pick up. That intimidating power was beyond the realm of Phantom Saint.


    The scene down below caught Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s attention right away. Without even glancing an eye at Ying Tianyang, he hollered, ¡°Old dog, what are you doing?! If you dare to even touch a strand of her hair, I¡¯ll castrate your son and annihilate your entire family!¡±


    *Fwoosh*


    Suddenly, two figures appeared in front of Ye Yuanxue. Ye Qiyu was as captivating and elegant as ever. However, her peerless, beautiful face was now cold and there was a hint of murderous intent in her doe-like eyes.


    Next to her was the figure of a graceful, resplendent middle-aged woman. With a gentle wave of her lithe hand, she blocked the Heavenly Sun Peak leader¡¯s large hand. His intimidating spiritual energy abruptly dissipated without a trace.


    ¡°Yu Wuyan, good timing! Teach your disrespectful disciple some manners!¡± The Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s leader frostily snorted *hmph* and no longer attacked Ye Yuanxue.


    The middle-aged woman named Yu Wuyan flatly replied, ¡°Ying Xianling, you know that she¡¯s my disciple, so why did you still raise a hand against her? You are the one who crossed the line. I don¡¯t believe that she violated any of the sect¡¯s rules, yes?¡±


    ¡°And you!¡± The middle-aged woman cocked her head to look at the leader of the Hall of Spiritual cultivation. ¡°As the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation, the one in charge of upholding the rules, did your eyeballs fall out of your sockets and get lost somewhere?! Why didn¡¯t you stop him?!¡±


    Her tone was calm, but there was strong oppression in her voice that startled many cultivators on sight.

 Chapter 44

    Yu Wuyan was the current generation¡¯s leader of the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Her voice was calm and steady, but her words stunned everyone. Not everyone had the courage to stand up and question these two prominent figures of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect


    The leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation said nothing, while the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s leader, with a sullen expression, pointed at Ye Yuanxue and explained, ¡°Very well. Your disciple was disrespectful towards her seniors and openly defied me. Now that you¡¯re here, I¡¯ll give you face and watch you discipline her!¡±


    The faces of Ye Qiuyu and Yu Wuyan darkened. Before they could open their mouths to retort, someone else was already raging with anger. Upon the platform, Jiang Xiaofan abruptly released a large burst of powerful qi that surpassed the limits of the Micro Realm. A radiant dark green light shot up into the sky from his body.


    ¡°Old dog, I¡¯m going to castrate your son right now!¡±


    In that instant, Jiang Xiaofan felt as if he had broken all chains of constraint. His right hand looked as if it had transformed into an energy source that beamed brightly with green light, and his speed increased by several folds. His body then transformed into a streak of light as he mercilessly punched Ying Tianyang in the abdomen with his green-colored fist.


    *Bang*


    The force of his punch was frighteningly powerful. Even Ying Tianyang¡¯s body which was at the Phantom Saint realm could not withstand it. Like a hammer slamming into his body, a sharp pain radiated from his abdomen. He could feel shockwaves rocking his organs, and a large mouthful of blood streamed out from his lips.


    At such a close distance, there was no way that Jiang Xiaofan would let go of Ying Tianyang so easily. With his peerless Shadow Steps technique, blurry shadows appeared and encircled Ying Tianyang, continuously punching him from all angles.


    *Bang bang bang*


    At this point in time, the match had almost turn one-sided in favor of Jiang Xiaofan. With no opportunity to counter, Ying Tianyang could only endure his opponent¡¯s assault. He was unable to get a hold of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s real body as every direction was full of illusions. Even the spectators grew dizzy as they strained their eyes to look.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan!¡±


    At last, Ying Tianyang lost his temper and roared at him.


    *Boom*


    A dozen dazzling rays of divine light from the sky shot down and crashed beside Ying Tianyang. Bits of rock and debris flew into the air. Once the rays of light and dust had dispersed, everything within a two-meter radius of where Ying Tianyang stood was destroyed beyond recognition. The spectators were somewhat terrified at what had just happened, but they soon discovered that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body was nowhere to be seen.


    Soon, a cold voice rang out from above.


    ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan plunged down from the sky with his right fist extended and violently punched Ying Tianyang squarely in the face. Again, he showed him no mercy, but this punch was slightly weaker than the one from before. After all, he couldn¡¯t exert all of his might into his attacks each time. This would bring about unnecessary burdens to his body.


    Even so, Ying Tianyang was sent flying outward once more.


    The onlookers were so stunned that their jaws dropped to the ground. The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number two core disciple, Ying Tianyang, was continuously beaten up and had no strength to fight back! This is unthinkable!


    ¡°As expected of the man nicknamed ¡®The Vicious One.¡¯ So scary!¡±


    Shocked beyond words, even the complexions of the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s disciples paled to a deathly white as they stared fixedly at the platform. With a darkened face, terrifying frightening spiritual energy emanated from Ying Xianling as he took a stride forward.


    At the same time, a frosty *hmph* sounded. Yu Wuyan expressionlessly looked over and warned, ¡°Ying Xianling, don¡¯t say that I haven¡¯t given you face. Your son already has the upper hand in this battle. You¡¯re not thinking of intervening in this duel, are you?!¡±


    Ying Xianling stopped in his tracks as his face instantly turned ashen. A cold light flashed across his eyes, and he retorted, ¡°My son has superior innate talent, and his cultivation is beyond excellent. How could he be compared with a mere Micro Realm fool? I¡¯ll just stand here and wait for him to cut off that little runt¡¯s head off!¡±


    ¡°You awful old thing! You scumbag!¡±


    Crossed, Ye Yuanxue pointed and snapped at Ying Xianling. The little fellow on her shoulder also angrily chirped and glared back, furiously beating its multicolored feathered wings.


    Standing from not far away, Lin Quan and Tng You were startled by Ye Yuanxue¡¯s bold response. This girl is too indomitable! How can she repeatedly go up against a powerful figure of the sect like that?! Very horrifying!


    Ying Xianling¡¯s expression grew even more unsightly, and he hollered, ¡°How dare you?!¡±


    He then turned to face Ye Yuanxue. His body released a powerful qi into the atmosphere, and the large hand grabbed for Ye Yuanxue again.


    Beside her, Yu Wuyan¡¯s expression iced over. Another powerful qi burst forth, one more terrifying than Ying Xianling¡¯s. It blocked the large hand from proceeding any further and successfully pushed Ying Xianling a few steps backward.


    With a glacial tone, Yu Wuyan spoke, ¡°Ying Xianling, do not blame me for not reminding you. If you want to die, then take your son with you! But don¡¯t bring calamity to the sect because of your stupid actions!¡±


    After she had spoken, a tremor of fear erupted across the field in the hearts of many.


    Ying Xianling sneered and dismissed her warning. ¡°Yu Wuyan, stop your nonsense. If you want to protect your disciple, then just say so. I¡¯m not going to lower my standing and argue with a little girl.¡±


    Yu Wuyan shook her head and sighed, ¡°Planet Ziwei is vast and infinite. There are many things in this world that are beyond what you and I can comprehend. I dare say that until the very end, you will not know the reason for your demise.¡±


    Besides that of the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation and another elder, those around the platform were greatly taken aback by her words. Even though Yu Wuyan¡¯s words didn¡¯t seem that grave, there was an invisible yet noticeably powerful oppression in her voice. The spectators felt chills running down their spines.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, keep it up! Beat that Yang whatever to a pulp!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue¡¯s cheers for Jiang Xiaofan astounded the onlookers yet again. What an audacious little fairy! I can¡¯t believe that she said something like that in front of the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s leader.


    However, what happened after left everyone wanting to vomit blood. It was because of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s reply. He heartily laughed, ¡°Alright. Xiao Xue¡¯er, just watch then. If that old dog shouts at you again, I¡¯ll represent you and take out your anger on his son by kicking him to death. I¡¯ll beat that bastard until his father can¡¯t recognize him!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue beamed a wide grin at Jiang Xiaofan while Ye Qiuyu revealed a faint smile. Yu Wuyan, on the other hand, looked up at the young man on the platform with mixed, deep emotions in her eyes.


    Meanwhile, Ying Xianling¡¯s expression grew so sullen that it seemed as if water from the black rain cloud over his head would pour down at any given moment. His eyes were shrouded with killing intent.


    Petrified, the disciples around Ying Xianling retreated away from him. Chilled, goosebumps formed on their skin. That guy¡¯s definitely the Vicious One! How could such words come out of his mouth?!


    Ying Tianyang had already stood up on his two feet a while ago. His eyes were no longer frosty but filled with savagery instead. He looked like a beast who had just awoken from its slumber and was now emitting a dangerous aura.


    Even so, Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t intimidated. Because of his overly quick speed, he zipped across the platform like a shooting star. His punches, blanketed by dark green light, landed on Ying Tianyang¡¯s body from time to time. Crisp sounds of bones cracking could be heard.


    Of course, Jiang Xiaofan suffered injuries during the fight as well. Even though Ying Tianyang¡¯s cultivation had been suppressed to the Micro Realm by the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation¡¯s leader, he was still the sect¡¯s number two core disciple. He naturally had extraordinary capabilities. Despite Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s agility, Ying Tianyang nevertheless gave him a few good hits. Two of his ribs were broken.


    As a powerful cultivator who was once at Phantom Saint but now at the Micro Realm, Ying Tianyang still possessed combat abilities beyond that of the Micro Realm. This was Ying Tianyang¡¯s absolute advantage.


    *Boom*


    The two young cultivators clashed with each other, and powerful fluctuations shook the air around the entire martial arena.


    Ying Tianyang¡¯s power wasn¡¯t on a level that an average Micro Realm cultivator could compare with. His strength was frightening, reflexes were timely, and even his speed surprised many people. This life-or-death duel was coming to a stalemate.


    ¡°Enough!¡±


    Suddenly, Ying Tianyang howled. His hair was slightly disheveled, and streaks of blood hung from the corner of his lips. His eyes remained feral and icy.


    Light flashed in his right hand, and a red-green saber materialized in his grasp. Its aura was sharp and unrelenting. Many onlookers unconsciously shut their eyes at the sight of the weapon¡¯s cold, glaring light.


    ¡°The Bow Slayer!¡±


    Someone from the Heavenly Sun Peak shouted with wonder. With eyes of venom, the way that he glowered at Jiang Xiaofan was akin to that of looking at a corpse.


    Liu Cheng¡¯an opened his mouth for the first time and said, ¡°Peak Leader Ying, Ying Gongzi is truly being unfair this time. The Bow Slayer is the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s renowned precious weapon. Using it in this duel doesn¡¯t seem appropriate. I beseech you to stop this at once.¡±


    Ying Xianling snorted *hmph* with disdain and eyed Liu Cheng¡¯an. ¡°Elder Liu, do not worry. The Bow Slayer is precious-ranked. However, with my son¡¯s power¡¯s being limited, the might of that weapon is now rendered to spirit-ranked. Not to mention, isn¡¯t your disciple very powerful? He even defended himself against Zhu Xidao¡¯s precious weapon¡¯s Nine Dragons Sealing the Heaven spirit channel technique. A mere Bow Slayer can¡¯t possibly be too difficult for him to handle, yes?¡±


    Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s expression immediately turned somber. Lin Quan and Tang You also fumed with indignation. This is pure bullying! Ying Tianyang already had the advantage, but now he¡¯s using the precious-ranked Bow Slayer. How completely shameless! Even though Ying Tianyang¡¯s cultivation had now been suppressed to the Micro Realm and was only capable of unleashing the Bow Slayer¡¯s power to that of a spirit weapon, they understood very clearly that the barehanded Jiang Xiaofan could not defend against the might of this weapon.


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Up above the platform, Jiang Xiaofan snorted and smirked. He wasn¡¯t afraid at all. He had no reason to evade nor pull back either. At this moment, he did something that had everyone frozen in place. Activating his Shadow Steps, Jiang Xiaofan charged at Ying Tianyang.


    ¡°Is he crazy?!¡±


    This thought simultaneously went through everyone¡¯s mind. That¡¯s a precious weapon! Given that Ying Tianyang had been suppressed to the Micro Realm, the unleashed might of the Bow Slayer would be, nonetheless, like that of a top-grade, spirit-ranked weapon! Rushing ahead was the same as seeking death!


    What happened next left everyone dumbfounded. A dark-colored halberd appeared in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand. Channeling his spirit energy into it, the weapon emitted fierce, unrestrained fluctuations of qi that rippled across the platform. Its power was at least on par with the Bow Slayer!


    *Clang*


    The Bow Slayer and the halberd collided with each other. The radiance of blinding, divine light and the piercing sound of metals clashing caused great discomfort to the spectators¡¯ eyes and ears. They hastily stepped back.

 Chapter 45

    A dark-colored halberd that emitted a sharp, unrestrained qi appeared in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s grasp. Everyone¡¯s eyes widened as they watched the halberd parried Ying Tianyang¡¯s blow.


    Yu Wuyan exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s a spirit halberd! A top-grade spirit weapon!¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡±


    Bursts of gasps and whispers erupted across the field.


    Nearly everyone knew that Ying Tianyang possessed the precious-ranked Bow Slayer, so they weren¡¯t too surprised when Ying Tianyang pulled out the weapon. However, their eyes lit up with passion and hunger when they saw Jiang Xiaofan with a top-grade weapon, a king among spirit-grades.


    ¡°This guy!¡±


    Amazed, Ye Yuanxue¡¯s mouth was agape like an ¡°O¡±.


    Ferity flashed across Ying Tianyang¡¯s eyes as his mane of black hair danced wildly. The Bow Slayer in his clenched hand glowed more brightly. His combat spirit was astonishing as his saber continuously clashed with Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s halberd.


    At first, Jiang Xiaofan was quite worried. Even though Ying Tianyang could only unleash his weapon¡¯s power to that of a top-grade spirit weapon, it was nevertheless precious-ranked. Its strength was naturally stronger than that of an average spirit weapon. He was afraid that his halberd would break sooner or later.


    However, he quickly realized that even though his dark-colored halberd was spirit-ranked, its might was quite frightening. He didn¡¯t know what materials were used to forge it, but it actually could fend off the attacks of the precious-ranked Bow Slayer.


    *Boom*


    With that last clash, the two of them retreated at the same time.


    Ying Tianyang¡¯s hair danced in midair once again. With a sharp expression in his eyes like a knife, he glared at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s halberd. He was quite taken aback because his Bow Slayer could not break Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s spirit-ranked halberd.


    Standing on the opposite side, a light gleamed in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes. He raised his halberd and aimed it at Ying Tianyang.


    This move had everyone¡¯s heart skipping a beat. Even though no words were spoken, they could feel Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s immense qi pressuring them as if they were about to get crushed by a towering mountain.


    The complexions of the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s disciples paled even further. They were the ones who had reported to Ying Tianyang and pleaded with him to subdue Jiang Xiaofan. They had no idea that the progression of events would turn out like this. The Bow Slayer was unable to land a single cut on that man.


    Ying Xianling remained where he stood. He coldly looked up at the center of the platform, his eyes completely fogged with killing intent.


    ¡°You arrogant punk! You¡¯re courting death!¡±


    No longer able to tolerate Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s bearing, Ying Tianyang lunged at him. He was already suffering from grave injuries, even more so than Jiang Xiaofan. Three of his ribs were broken while the other areas of his body were covered in numerous large and small scars.


    Jiang Xiaofan coldly snorted *hmph*. He, of course, wouldn¡¯t make a run for it. Rather, he channeled his Shadow Steps to its maximum and exerted more spiritual energy into his halberd which further exploded with blinding green rays of light. He forcefully swept his weapon at Ying Tianyang.


    He was also suffering from grave injuries, but compared to Ying Tianyang, he was in a much better condition. In addition, with the Immortal Spirit Roots that strengthened his body and his peerless, primordial Buddhist Sutra protecting him, he had, to a certain extent, the upper hand in this duel.


    *Clang*


    Another powerful collision occurred. As the Bow Slayer met the halberd, brilliant sparks were generated and another piercing sound rang out. Following that was a powerful gust of wind that blew both of their hairs wildly.


    With foresight this time, the spectators instantly moved back as far as they could just before the weapons collided with each other. This way, their eyes wouldn¡¯t be blinded by the light from the clash. However, they could still feel frightening, powerful energy fluctuations.


    *Bang*


    The Bow Slayer and the dark-colored halberd collided yet again. Nearly taped against one another, their right hands continued to grip onto their weapons while their left hands and legs pushed into each other.


    *Dong dong dong*


    A violent, fluctuating aura began to emanate, and the entire platform quaked.


    Such a scene unsettled many of the spectators. Chills ran down their spines. These two people are too scary! Ying Tianyang¡¯s might was expected because of his combat power, yet they had never thought that Jiang Xiaofan would be equally fearsome. It made no sense that Jiang Xiaofan could counter Ying Tianyang and create such a terrifying atmosphere even though both had cultivation at the same realm.


    The two continued to punch and kick each other. Occasionally, the sound of bones cracking could be heard. Still, their expressions had not changed. The spectators were unable to discern whose bones were being shattered at any point in time.


    Excited, Lin Quan and Tang You tightly balled up their fists on their sides while Ye Yuanxue and the little fellow unceasingly cheered boisterously for him. As for Ye Qiuyu and Yu Wuyan, their focus was on him as well, in the hopes that he would not lose this battle.


    Back on the platform, blood streamed down from both of their mouths. After enduring each other¡¯s strikes, they finally separated and staggered back seven to eight meters. The surface of the platform had almost crumbled.


    This time, both parties made no further move as they tried to recover.


    The look in Ying Tianyang¡¯s eyes appeared mad as he stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan. Without bothering to wipe the blood from his mouth, the Bow Slayer vibrated again. He charged ahead once more.


    ¡°Even with my arms and legs bound, I can still cut you down!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t overstate things; otherwise, your tongue will fall off.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan jeered at him tit for tat. Unintimidated by his threat, he darted forward and waved his halberd with both of his hands. Every one of his attacks was incorporated with his terrifying body strength which shook the air around him.


    Even so, Ying Tianyang wasn¡¯t weak either. With his Bow Slayer, the clashing sounds of the weapons against each other continually rang out. Dazzling divine light gradually spread to all corners of the platform. Strong energy fluctuations could be felt from far away, causing many onlookers to break into a cold sweat.


    Looking at the two on the platform, many ninth heaven Micro Realm Cultivators felt ashamed because they could see the wide gap in power between themselves and those two. They questioned themselves but knew that it was ultimately impossible for them to reach their level. Even if they were to fight against the two of them in a match, they probably could not survive beyond three strikes.


    Jiang Xiaofan was confounded by how this duel had turned out. He had to admit that although Ying Tianyang was arrogant and domineering, he had the capabilities to back up his arrogance. As one of the stars of the younger generation, not many had the power to put him in his place.


    ¡°Go die!¡±


    All of a sudden, Ying Tianyang loudly shouted, and a dense aura of strong killing intent surged forth from his body. The Bow Slayer released ore scintillating rays of light and the intensity of its qi increased several folds.  He raised his precious saber and mercilessly hacked down at Jiang Xiaofan.


    This strike unnerved Jiang Xiaofan. He parried the blow with his halberd, but the force of the strike could not be completely countervailed. In no time, he was knocked flying backward and coughed out a mouthful of blood.


    ¡°Your only outcome is death!¡±


    Ying Tianyang icily remarked. His eyes were wild and keen as he continued to pressure Jiang Xiaofan.


    He stood back up. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes narrowed, and he tightened his grip on the halberd. Light-green divine rays of light glittered in the air. He retorted, ¡°Ying Tianyang, don¡¯t blame me if you die!¡±


    *Fwoosh*


    In the next second, Jiang Xiaofan vanished again but with no trace of shadows left in his wake this time. Astounded, everyone held in their breath. Even Yu Wuyan revealed a perplexed look on her face.


    Every step of his feet had a faint gleam of light. It seemed as if he was pursuing some sort of marked trail imprinted on the floor and gliding across ethereal clouds. Jiang Xiaofan elicited the feeling of unpredictability.


    The color drained from Ying Tianyang¡¯s face. He waved his Bow Slayer and sliced forth saber qi in all directions. Incomparably sharp and powerful, many of the spectators could feel the aura of killing intent embedded in each strike. They marveled in wonder and fear of Ying Tianyang¡¯s might.


    However, to many people¡¯s surprise, all these attacks were rendered useless. An iron-like fist smashed into Ying Tianyang¡¯s chest.


    With his halberd in his right hand on his back, the green light around his left fist radiated brighter than ever as he viciously punched at Ying Tianyang. Immediately, two of Ying Tianyang¡¯s ribs were shattered. He was knocked flying backward. Blood profusely streamed down his nostrils and out of his mouth.


    *Swoosh*


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s agility was just too speedy. While Ying Tianyang was still in midair, Jiang Xiaofan leaped up towards him. With both hands clutching the halberd, he brought the weapon down on Ying Tianyang.


    *Ka-chak*


    The sounds of more bones breaking echoed across the martial arena. Ying Tianyang¡¯s body landed heavily onto the floor of the platform, and he violently vomited mouthfuls of blood. Large amounts of dust swirled into the air.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan, I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    Ying Tianyang furiously roared at Jiang Xiaofan. As if he had gone deranged, his mane of black hair danced even more wildly in midair. The Bow Slayer exploded with more intense divine light, and he madly swung his saber at Jiang Xiaofan. The only difference this time was that Jiang Xiaofan had not gotten injured by the saber qi. The reason was that the power of the Bow Slayer wielded by Ying Tianyang was already at its maximum.


    Jiang Xiaofan was able to parry this blow with much ease by blocking it in midair with his halberd. He then looked at Ying Tianyang¡¯s feral expression, his eyes full of murder, and frostily smirked.


    Light flashed in his left hand and a black long sword appeared. With lightning speed, he unhesitatingly slashed Ying Tianyang with two strikes.


    *Hah*


    Two almost inaudible sounds could be heard, and the black long sword vanished from his hand. What happened after had everyone¡¯s eyes bulging and their jaws dropping to the ground. They stood frozen like statues.


    A breeze blew across the platform. Ying Tianyang suddenly felt the chill on his left side and turned his head to glance at it. His left arm was gone! It had been smoothly cut like jade. He hadn¡¯t realized that his left arm had been cleaved off until blood began to gush from the wound.


    ¡°Ahhh!¡±


    Excruciating pain and the reality that he lost his left arm drove Ying Tianyang over the edge and led him to shriek in torment.


    The qi within Ying Tianyang¡¯s body unstably shook. Another crisp, clear sound was then heard. His Bow Slayer had suddenly cracked, and half of the blade fell to the floor with a loud *clunk*.


    Chills ran down everyone¡¯s spine as they witnessed the bizarre yet horrifying scene. What just happened?  They couldn¡¯t catch sight of everything that had transpired. They had only glimpsed a flash of light. What had next come into view was the separation of Ying Tianyang¡¯s left arm from his shoulder.


    Just then, the precious-ranked Bow Slayer broke in half. This was just too nightmarish! They also suspected that the Bow Slayer had been concomitantly cut together with Ying Tianyang¡¯s left arm. Yet, it was quite inexplicably eerie as to why they dropped to the floor of the platform at different times.


    ¡°Amazing!¡± Ye Yuanxue uttered in amazement but then complained in a whisper, ¡°Still, too bloody.¡±


    ¡°You! What did you do to me?!¡±


    Irate and crazed, Ying Tianyang bellowed at Jiang Xiaofan with veins bulging from his forehead.


    Jiang Xiaofan merely sneered. He had no obligation to respond. The halberd in his right hand vibrated, and with a *pff*, he pierced the weapon through Ying Tianyang¡¯s chest. The tip of the dimly glowing, dark-colored halberd appeared from his back. Droplets of blood spattered in its direction.

 Chapter 46

    With his left arm severed and his precious weapon broken, the dark-colored halberd was now pierced through Ying Tianyang¡¯s body. An outpour of fresh blood flowed outward from his wound and dyed the platform a bright red color, stunning and horrifying the spectators as they watched on.


    Jiang Xiaofan remained expressionless as he coolly watched Ying Tianyang and firmly clasped his halberd with his right hand.


    He had never planned to use the Celestial Demon Sword. Despite not having any energy fluctuation, the sword was nevertheless unique. The level of strength and sharpness of the sword was unimaginably terrifying. Essentially, there was nothing that the sword couldn¡¯t cut.


    He didn¡¯t want to expose his sword out in the open, but Ying Tianyang was just too strong. Although Ying Tianyang¡¯s cultivation had been suppressed, his combat power exceeded the Micro Realm. With the addition of the precious-ranked Bow Slayer, dragging on the battle would be disadvantageous to Jiang Xiaofan. Not wanting any more unpredictable factors to turn the tables, Jiang Xiaofan eventually used his sword.


    However, he wasn¡¯t too worried about the consequences. So be it! It¡¯s not that big of a deal! After all, the Celestial Demon Sword wasn¡¯t his trump card. His real trump card was the mysterious silver-colored brass piece, even if that thing wasn¡¯t always willing to listen to his wishes.


    ¡°Jiang Xiaofan!¡±


    A loud roar shook the entire platform. Blood continued to flow from his severed left arm, but the wild look of killing intent lingered in Ying Tianyang¡¯s eyes. He was just like a wild beast.


    *Boom*


    Even with the loss of his left arm and his Bow Slayer broken, the qi exuded from Ying Tianyang¡¯s body grew even more intense and terrible. He looked like a monster from the depths of hell who just woke up from its slumber. Savagery flickered across his eyes.


    Jiang Xiaofan coldly smirked. This Ying Tianyang is too high-handed. He raised his halberd once more, and with a spark of green light, he stabbed Ying Tianyang in the waist and *bang* knocked him flying outward.


    Jiang Xiaofan abhorred this type of person, the kind who was indifferent to right and wrong, overbearing, and had no regard for others. He wouldn¡¯t show any mercy to Ying Tianyang, especially not when his father had attempted to attack Ye Yuanxue twice. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he charged at Ying Tianyang with lightning speed.


    *Bang*


    It was another vicious beating. Vomiting a large mouthful of blood, Ying Tianyang was sent flying into the air once more.


    *Bang bang bang*


    The current Ying Tianyang had now become a live target for Jiang Xiaofan. With no strength left to counter, he was continually punched here and kicked there by Jiang Xiaofan. The entire platform was covered with his blood stains.


    The atmosphere was dead silent. The Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number two core disciple was being brutally assaulted by someone who had become a disciple of the sect not long ago and rendered unable to fight back. The scene before their eyes petrified many onlookers as chills ran down their spines.


    ¡°Let¡¯s end this life-or-death duel. This is my final strike!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan icily declared. The halberd in his grasp radiantly emitted light-green rays, and he aimed his weapon at Ying Tianyang¡¯s chest. This attack contained every ounce of spiritual energy that he had left in his body. The air around him vibrated and released loud, ringing noises.


    Nearly everyone in the crowd widened their eyes as they stared at what was about to unfold. Some of their hands were drenched in sweat. They knew that, without any surprises, Ying Tianyang was to die and would no longer have the chance for a turnaround.


    The complexions of the inner disciples from the Heavenly Sun Peak paled. Disbelief, fear, and unwillingness were written on their faces. If Ying Tianyang was to directly challenge Jiang Xiaofan at Standstill Peak and did not have his cultivation suppressed to the Micro Realm, there was no way that Ying Tianyang could have lost!


    The halberd glimmered with cold light as Jiang Xiaofan poised to strike it through Ying Tianyang¡¯s heart.


    ¡°You runt! You dare?!¡±


    Suddenly, any icy-toned voice sounded. Ying Xianling stepped onto the platform and guarded Ying Tianyang to the front. Terrifying spiritual energy then swept across the platform. Without having time to react, Jiang Xiaofan was sent flying backward and coughed out blood in midair. His grip on the halberd almost loosened.


    The abrupt turn of events stupefied everyone. How could he interfere with a life-or-death duel?!


    *Boom*


    The chilling look of killing intent was reflected in Ying Xianling¡¯s eyes. He extended his right hand and grabbed for Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Ying Xianling, you¡¯re crossing the line!¡±


    Yu Wuyan¡¯s figure then appeared on the platform, and with a *bang*, she blocked Ying Xianling¡¯s large hand again. At the same time, a gentle stream of spiritual energy was channeled into Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body, and it broke the acceleration of his fall.


    Jiang Xiaofan steadily landed on the floor of the platform, but blood continued to trickle down his lips. He had just suffered a grave wound. That attack by Ying Xianling nearly killed him. If not for Yu Wuyan¡¯s help, he wouldn¡¯t even be able to stand up on his two feet.


    ¡°Boss, are you alright?!¡±


    Lin Quan and Tang You shouted from below. Their expressions were full of concern and anger, and their eyes smoldered. This is too unjust! They tightly balled up their fists and looked as if they were ready to kill.


    Anxious as well, Ye Yuanxue wanted to rush up but was held back by Ye Qiuyu who then shook her head at her. Since the leader of the Heavenly Maiden Peak was already up there, she would undoubtedly protect Jiang Xiaofan at all costs.


    Without care, the little bird on Ye Yuanxue¡¯s shoulder fluttered its multicolored, feathered wings and flew into the arms of Jiang Xiaofan. Its bright, large eyes were misty as it chirped at him.


    ¡°Be good. I¡¯m fine.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan lightly patted the little fellow and whispered words of comfort. Afterward, he calmly looked at Lin Quan, Ye Yuanxue, and the others to reassure them that he was alright.


    He then turned back to icily glare at Ying Xianling and further clenched his halberd.


    Yu Wuyan flatly spoke, ¡°Ying Xianling, you have crossed the line! As the leader of the Heavenly Sun Peak, not only have you not led by example and restrained the behaviors of your disciples, you have committed acts of wrongdoing by interfering with a life-or-death duel on the platform and attacking a disciple! As a fellow leader of one of the seven main peaks, you embarrass me!¡±


    Yu Wuyan was a female, so her tone wasn¡¯t strong. Yet, those who had heard could sense strong oppression in her voice. She then turned to look at the expressionless leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation and reprimanded, ¡°You are the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation¡¯s leader! Shouldn¡¯t you be doing something right about now?!¡±


    Silence settled in. Many people didn¡¯t dare to breathe loudly. They hadn¡¯t imagined that so many incidents would transpire in this simple life-or-death duel. As of right now, they didn¡¯t even dare to speak out loud and could only cautiously watch from afar.


    Maintaining that stony, zombie face, the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation walked forward and announced, ¡°Jiang Xiaofan wins.¡±


    Ying Xianling¡¯s face immediately darkened and picked up Ying Tianyang¡¯s severed arm and the broken Bow Slayer. The killing intent in his eyes intensified, and he coldly spoke, ¡°I want to know what kind of weapon was used to sever my son¡¯s arm and to break the precious weapon!¡±


    Yu Wuyan shook her head and retorted, ¡°You have no right to ask!¡±


    Ying Xianling frostily chuckled. ¡°His movement was nimble, but he can¡¯t hide that weapon from my eyes! There was a skull on the hilt of the sword, and the blade was black in color. Hmph! I suspect that it¡¯s a demonic weapon!¡±


    After he had spoken, the crowd was shaken to the core yet again. The spectators looked at Jiang Xiaofan with mixed expressions. The word ¡°demonic¡± was just too alarming. On Planet Ziwei, that word was associated with ¡°destruction.¡± Demons were the root of all evil.


    Even Jiang Xiaofan himself was startled, and his heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the old dog had seen through him?


    He was unsettled but soon relaxed. It can¡¯t be. The Celestial Demon Sword emits no wave of energy fluctuations. Nobody can tell that it¡¯s a demonic weapon.


    The leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation quickly peered over and stared at Jiang Xiaofan with a twinkle of light in his eyes.


    Yu Wuyan disdainfully replied, ¡°Ying Xianling, your son lost fair and square because he was incapable. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed of yourself by using such a poor excuse? Even I feel pity for you.¡±


    Ying Xianling sneered, ¡°My son is capable enough. He didn¡¯t bully him with his Phantom Saint cultivation. Instead, he willingly allowed his cultivation to be suppressed to the Micro Realm. This was an act of grace! Yet, this black-hearted bastard pulled a dirty trick on my son! Jiang Xiaofan deserves to be killed!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan laughed. He held up his halberd, pointed it at Ying Xianling, and answered with contempt, ¡°Old dog, I¡¯ve seen many shameless people before but never one as shameless as you. This really is a first for me.¡±


    ¡°How presumptuous!¡± Ying Xianling¡¯s expression grew somber, and another large hand grabbed at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Standing in front of Jiang Xiaofan, Yu Wuyan naturally couldn¡¯t allow him to be harmed. She blocked Ying Xianling¡¯s large hand once again and simultaneously pulled out a brilliant, gold-colored token. It gleamed with bright, divine light.


    Upon seeing the token, the color drained from Ying Xianling¡¯s face. Even the stony-faced leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation was moved.


    Holding firmly onto the golden token, she coolly said, ¡°Ying Xianling, how about I ask the sect leader to come forth, suppress his cultivation to the realm of Human Emperor, and battle you with the Emperor Bell? That is also an act of grace, yes? How about it? Do you dare to accept this duel?¡±


    Ying Xianling¡¯s complexion instantly turned ashen. He was speechless.


    Beyond the platform, many of the inner disciples nearly fainted after hearing Yu Wuyan¡¯s proposal. The leader of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect is a powerful Mystic Immortal cultivator. The Emperor Bell is also an immortal-ranked weapon. How can Ying Xianling possibly accept this challenge?! All it takes is one strike, and he¡¯ll be on his way to hell!


    Jiang Xiaofan was inwardly giddy with joy. His vexation with Ying Xianling immediately dissipated. What a great comeback!


    However, he was also daunted by the realization of Yu Wuyan¡¯s identity. She didn¡¯t seem as ordinary as she looked. The token in her hand clearly held a lot of power, and it was enough to keep Ying Xianling and that zombie from the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation on their toes. It was as if she really had the capability to ask the sect leader to come out.


    The scene was quiet again.  Eventually, the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation broke the silence, eyed Yu Wuyan, and stated, ¡°Let me see his sword. If it¡¯s not a demonic weapon, then I will proclaim his innocence. If it is, then¡­.¡±


    The leader continued no further, but everyone knew what he meant. If it was a demonic weapon, then Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s life would be in jeopardy. Death was his only option.


    Yu Wuyan furrowed her brows and turned back to glance at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Knowing that he could not avoid it, Jiang Xiaofan bowed to Yu Wuyan. ¡°Qianbei, there is no need to be concerned. I am a virtuous person and have done nothing wrong. If they want to take a look, then I, of course, will not refuse them.¡±


    He took out the Celestial Demon Sword and courteously handed it to Yu Wuyan.


    Once the sword was exposed, the crowd erupted into another frenzy. Previously, they only caught a glimpse of the sword¡¯s light in action because of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s two quick strikes. Now that the sword was before their eyes, they were astounded by its appearance.


    Yu Wuyan nodded in satisfaction as she took the sword and carefully inspected it. She was quite surprised as she inwardly marveled at how peerless this sword was. The only unfortunate thing was that this sword emitted zero energy fluctuation.


    After the inspection, she discovered that there was nothing peculiar about the sword and nodded at Jiang Xiaofan. She then handed it to the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation who then shook his head and handed it back after another round of meticulous inspection.


    ¡°This sword is clean. It¡¯s not a demonic weapon. Jiang Xiaofan is the victor.¡±


    After hearing the leader of the Hall of Spiritual¡¯s conclusion, Jiang Xiaofan breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, he grew so nervous that he thought that he was going to die. Even though the Celestial Demon Sword didn¡¯t emit any energy fluctuation, it was indeed once a demonic weapon. Guilty conscience rested heavily on his mind.


    ¡°Ying Xianling, well? Do you have anything more to say?¡±


    Yu Wuyan returned the sword back to Jiang Xiaofan and turned around to look at the man standing on the opposite end of the platform.


    Ying Xianling¡¯s face turned extremely unsightly. Murderous intent raged in his eyes as he glared at Jiang Xiaofan. Without a reply, he carried the unconscious Ying Tianyang, along with the severed arm and broken saber, and shot off into the sky like a laser.

 Chapter 47

    The life-or-death duel had finally ended. Despite battling each other with cultivation at the same realm, the fact that Jiang Xiaofan had beaten the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect¡¯s number two core disciple and broken Ying Tianyang¡¯s precious-ranked Bow Slayer shocked everyone to the extent of their jaws dropping to the ground.


    The complexions of the Heavenly Sun Peak¡¯s disciples paled to a deathly white. With poison in their eyes, they glared at Jiang Xiaofan before leaving the martial arena. The faces of Zhu Youwei and Zhu Yunlin were equally as unsightly. They had never believed that Jiang Xiaofan would emerge as the victor.


    ¡°Qianbei, thank you for your aid. I am eternally grateful!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan looked at Yu Wuyan and bowed low in an expression of his gratitude.


    Yu Wuyan nodded and beamed at him. ¡°I have heard of your story. Heroes are cultivated from a young age. A man of honor knows which things must be done and which things must not be done. Very excellent. No wonder why that lass, Xue¡¯er, cares so much about you.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue was a mischievous and cute yet pure and kind-hearted girl. As a result, she had won over everyone¡¯s hearts within the Heavenly Maiden Peak despite having arrived at the sect not long ago. Along with her sister¡¯s relationship, Yu Wuyan naturally grew very fond of Ye Yuanxue.


    Regardless of how thick-skinned Jiang Xiaofan was, he couldn¡¯t help but blush at her words of praise. He hastily replied, ¡°Qianbei, thank you but there are many areas in which I still need to excel in.¡±


    The platform was now sealed off by the leader of the Hall of Spiritual Cultivation. With the same zombie-like face, looking as if someone owed him a great deal, he abruptly left the martial arena without even saying goodbye to Yu Wuyan.


    Ye Yuanxue, Lin Quan, Tang You, and the others then swarmed Jiang Xiaofan and bombarded him with questions of worry.


    Jiang Xiaofan was overjoyed because he could feel the warmth exuded by his peers. He was once an orphan. Except for that old man who passed away, no one else had ever truly cared about him. Now that he was in a new world, he, at long last, had friends.


    ¡°Child, are you alright? Are your injuries grave?¡±


    Deeply worried about his current state, Old Man Liu was the last one to walk up and question him.


    Jiang Xiaofan immediately got up and gently supported him. Breaking into a grin, he replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Old Man Liu. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Not long after, the crowd of onlookers finally dispersed and went about their ways. Jiang Xiaofan bowed once more in gratitude before Yu Wuyan. He then called Lin Quan and Tang You, and together, they escorted Old Man Liu back to Standstill Peak.


    Darkness soon descended, and the sky was filled with infinite, glimmering stars.


    The ambiance on Standstill Peak was a joyous one. Several hares were skewered on top of a campfire. Oil dripped down and created cracking sounds. The enticing smell of the golden-brown hare meat permeated the air around them.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s victory over Ying Tianyang was an event worthy of celebration. Ye Yuanxue was the last one to join in the party. She brought many things with her, one of those being a pot of wine which she had sneaked out. Thanks to her, the atmosphere around the campfire grew even merrier.


    As expected, Little One came along with Ye Yuanxue. It flapped its multicolored wings and chirped excitedly. It was well-liked among everyone.


    Little One was the name which the Heavenly Maiden Peak disciples had decided to give to it. Jiang Xiaofan thought that it sounded quite nice and perfectly suited the cute little fellow. Its presence elicited a few glances from Old Man Liu as well.


    After a couple of drinks, Tang You and Lin Quan crawled up to Ye Yuanxue and begged her to let them tour around the Heavenly Maiden Peak or introduce a couple of female disciples to them. If not, then she could at the very least bring her fairy sisters for a stroll at Standstill Peak.


    With a look of exasperation on his face, Jiang Xiaofan complained, ¡°Can you two be more manly?!¡±


    On the second day, Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue went up the Heavenly Maiden Peak to see Yu Wuyan. He took out the first-generation leader¡¯s jade pendant, warily handed it to Yu Wuyan, and confessed about his previous intrusion into the Heavenly Maiden Peak.


    Rather than getting angry, Yu Wuyan was impressed by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s daring feat and explained, ¡°Everyone knows that the Heavenly Maiden Peak forbids any man from entering its grounds. However, do you know why the first-generation leader set such a rule back then?¡±


    The place that they were in was a quiet little courtyard. Other than Yu Wuyan, only Jiang Xiaofan and the Ye sisters were present. They shook their heads in response to her question. Even a core disciple like Ye Qiuyu had no idea why that rule was put in place.


    Yu Wuyan caressed the jade pendant and sighed. ¡°The first-generation leader once had a daughter whom she loved very much. Later on, the daughter fell in love with a man, but the first-generation leader didn¡¯t like him at all. She thought that the man had a bad character but was unable to convince her daughter to leave him. Therefore, she came up with an idea to test this man. She made her daughter temporarily stay at the peak while notifying those down below that her daughter was to be forever imprisoned.  In addition, no man was to enter Heavenly Maiden Peak ever again or else risk castration and be permanently expelled from the sect.¡±


    The three of them fell into a daze. Yu Wuyan stared at the jade pendant and smiled. ¡°That man was indeed disciplined.¡±


    Everything became clear to them. That man should have had been like the others and feared the repercussions of breaking this rule. Thus, he had never stepped foot into the Heavenly Maiden Peak again and failed to pass the first-generation leader¡¯s test.


    After arriving at this conclusion, Jiang Xiaofan viewed that man with disdain. What the hell?! Is he even a man?! What a wimp! Making all men lose face! He should be castrated and become a eunuch! He can¡¯t even rescue his beloved woman!


    Noticing their expressions, Yu Wuyan knew that they had already guessed the end of the story. She chuckled, ¡°After that, the first-generation leader exploded into a fit of rage. That fake rule was originally used to test the man. However, she decided to turn it into a real rule afterward. The truth is known only to the generational leaders of the Heavenly Maiden Peak.¡±


    The three of them nodded their heads in understanding, but Jiang Xiaofan soon felt aggrieved. Damn it! So the one that almost got me neutered is that spineless scumbag! Fuck him!


    Yu Wuyan returned the jade pendant to Jiang Xiaofan. ¡°Because of Xue¡¯er, you forced your way into the peak. I think that if the deceased first-generation leader was to know of this, she would approve of you becoming an exception to this rule.¡±


    After a short while, Yu Wuyan got up to leave. As the leader of one of the seven main peaks, she had many tasks ahead of her that needed to be fulfilled. Taking the time out of her schedule to see Jiang Xiaofan was a rare occasion.


    ¡°Sister Yu, take care. Don¡¯t tire yourself out!¡± Ye Yuanxue waved at her.


    Yu Wuyan looked back and jokingly chided her, ¡°Lass, call me Aunty Yu!¡±


    Even though this was what she had requested, Jiang Xiaofan could tell that Yu Wuyan was very pleased. It¡¯s normal for women. Who doesn¡¯t prefer a more junior honorific?


    After Yu Wuyan had left, Jiang Xiaofan then expressed his gratitude to Ye Qiuyu. After all this time, this girl had treated him quite well. Of course, the main reason was his relationship with Ye Yuanxue, but he still needed to thank her for everything.


    With one look at Jiang Xiaofan, the clever Ye Qiuyu knew what he was thinking. She warmly laughed and said, ¡°Jiang Gongzi, no need to be so courteous. You are Xue¡¯ers friend and are my friend as well. Besides, you are a friend worth making.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan grinned back at her. He felt somewhat embarrassed.


    Time quickly ticked by, and five days passed since the duel. During this time, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s name had spread to every corner of the sect. Even a hermit probably knew of his being by now.


    Jiang Xiaofan was the one who had beaten up the number one core disciple¡¯s elder cousin, Zhu Youwei, and brother, Zhu Yunlin. He was also the one who had taught a rough lesson to three of the main peaks¡¯ disciples, detained them, and forced them to labor. In addition, he was the one who had intruded the Heavenly Maiden Peak and come back down unscathed. Adding to his list of infamy, Jiang Xiaofan was now known as the one who had battled Ying Tianyang, the sect¡¯s number two core disciple whose cultivation had been suppressed to the Micro Realm during the duel, defeated him, and destroyed his precious-ranked Bow Slayer.


    These series of feats made Jiang Xiaofan greatly renowned throughout the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. There were some who worshipped him, and there were those who cursed him. Either way, his name was no longer unheard of, even among those who have never seen him.


    Over these past few days, Jiang Xiaofan had done absolutely nothing. He wandered back and forth between Standstill Peak and the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Accurately speaking, he spent his days at the Heavenly Maiden Peak and his nights at Standstill Peak.


    Once, the female disciples were bored and decided to let Jiang Xiaofan guard the gate. Needless to say, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t refuse them. All he had to do was just stand at the base of the mountain. Unexpectedly, tragedy arose. It was all because a group of wolves had come up to him.


    ¡°Yo, how do you go up the peak?¡±


    ¡°Brother Jiang, introduce some chicks to me, please?¡±


    ¡°Vicious One, you can¡¯t be this selfish and have them all to yourself!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan forgot how he was able to get away from that pack of wolves. He only remembered that when he had arrived at Standstill Peak, his robe was already torn into pieces. He grew so enraged that he wanted to hit someone. Xue¡¯er gave this to me! It¡¯s invaluable!


    On this particular sunny day, Jiang Xiaofan was still snoring in bed when Ye Yuanxue pulled him up by the ear. He didn¡¯t know how her interest came about, but Ye Yuanxue picked up another task from the Xuanyang Pavilion. She had come here to team up with him, and this time, it was a black-grade.


    Looking over the jade scroll that Ye Yuanxue had handed over, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes bulged. He suddenly felt dizzy.


    ¡°Oi oi! What for?! It¡¯s just a black-grade!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue waved her delicate hand in front of Jiang Xiaofan.


    He wanted to cry. Please, sister. I¡¯ll call you sister from now on, okay? Why do you want to travel so far for this task?! Argh, Sea of the Setting Sun! Some time ago, he had gone to the Pavilion of Stored Scriptures and studied the geography of Planet Ziwei. Naturally, he knew where the Sea of the Setting was located. The distance between the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect and there was very far. With the flying sword, the journey would still require a total of six days!


    Ugh, six days! The thought nauseated Jiang Xiaofan. He wanted to throw up.


    ¡°Can we not go?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan pleaded Ye Yuanxue with pitiful eyes.


    She shook her head, threatened him with a wave of her fist, and resolutely answered, ¡°No way. I need to accumulate my contribution points. Sister¡¯s already a core disciple. I can¡¯t dishonor her by falling behind. I need to become a core disciple too!¡±


    At last, Jiang Xiaofan unwillingly gave in. So be it. Sea of the Setting Sun it shall be! Six days of the flying sword! Not a big deal! Vomiting is no big deal! Besides, I might even get used to vomiting.


    However, one he was in midair, Jiang Xiaofan immediately regretted his decision. No matter how many times he had vomited, he just couldn¡¯t get used to the nauseous feeling. His eyes continuously swirled in circles. It was as if there were a million bumblebees buzzing inside his head.


    The journey indeed required a total of six days, but because of a certain someone who easily got sword-sick, the trip was extended to ten days. When they finally arrived at the Sea of the Setting Sun, the sky was somewhat red. Its color was no different than that of the sun below the horizon.


    They landed on a large island, surrounded by red-colored seawater. Waves rolled in one after another as the sound of the water crashing into the rocky shore echoed in their ears. It sounded eerie as if someone was weeping.

 Chapter 48

    Sea of the Setting Sun, as its name implied, was a mystical sea where the sun set below its waters.


    This was what was recorded in the archives at the Pavilion of Stored Scriptures. Jiang Xiaofan drew his lips taut and grumbled. How terrifyingly ignorant! The sun is a star, not a sea creature! It¡¯s supposed to be up in the sky! Since when has it ever set into the sea?!


    The island that they were on was vast in size and covered with towering, primordial trees. This place was inhabited by countless friendly aboriginals. Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue temporarily stayed in the residence of a welcoming family.


    Every year at around this time, the waters in the Sea of the Setting Sun would break into small tides. Such tides were mild in nature, and after they passed, an object called the ¡°Sea of Heart¡± would appear in the diving zone area. Their task this time was to retrieve the Sea of Heart.


    There were still a few more days left before the tides would occur. Jiang Xiaofan dragged Ye Yuanxue around the island for a casual stroll while Little One joyously flew ahead of them, occasionally turned to look back, and chirped at them. This picturesque scene was very harmonious.


    Eventually, the two of them arrived by the seashore. They kicked off their shoes, sat down together, and soaked their feet in the cool waters. A gentle breeze blew over and lifted Ye Yuanxue¡¯s silky hair into the air. She looked very ethereal, and the backdrop of the island and the sea further complimented her beauty. Jiang Xiaofan was spellbound.


    He couldn¡¯t help but fantasize about how he would marry Xiao Xue¡¯er, embrace her in bed every night, smell her beautiful long hair, and let her rest her head on his wide shoulder. How wonderful would that be?


    Ye Yuanxue¡¯s acute awareness sensed a pair of laser-like eyes sweeping a glance over her body. She immediately turned her head, roughly tugged Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe, and ground her teeth. ¡°Perverted Wolf, what¡¯s with that look in your eyes?! Are you thinking of something naughty again?!¡±


    ¡°Nonsense! Absolutely nothing of the sort! I¡¯m innocent!¡± Jiang Xiaofan swore to Heaven before switching the subject of conversation. ¡°Xue¡¯er darling, how is it? Soaking your feet in the cool seawater is nice, isn¡¯t it? The breeze is also pleasant, yeah?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue wrinkled her cute nose and replied, ¡°It¡¯s nice, but there¡¯s something strange about the water.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded in concurrence. There was definitely something bizarre about the Sea of the Setting Sun. Its water looked red like the sunset, but it appeared the eeriest during the evening. The water would turn blood-red in color, and occasionally, they could smell the scent of blood coming from it.


    As time passed, a few more cultivators who had traveled by rainbow arrived on the island. They were all young disciples from the other large sects., and their purpose of coming here was the same as theirs. They were after the Sea of Heart.


    When facing them, they would directly ignore these individuals. Their business was not theirs, and they could care less about what those other disciples did. Like usual, Jiang Xiaofan walked Ye Yuanxue all over the island and went to the beach to soak their feet in the seawater.


    His original plan was to catch a few crabs for Ye Yuanxue to play with. Unfortunately, the sea here and the ones on earth seemed different. Not only were there no crabs to be found, but also seashells were nonexistent. He did, however, pick up a lot of algae.


    Because of the island¡¯s large size, it naturally had flora and fauna. In addition to accompanying Ye Yuanxue on a daily basis, he also took the time out to hunt some game. As a result, the family who welcomed their stay were extremely delighted.


    On the second day when another group of cultivators arrived on the island, Jiang Xiaofan spotted two familiar people. One of them was the tall, rich, and handsome Wang Ao while the other pretty female was Liu Shi.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Ye Yuanxue asked him.


    ¡°Nothing. Just saw two acquaintances,¡± answered Jiang Xiaofan.


    ¡°Acquaintances? There are people whom you know among those here?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue revealed an astonished look on her face. Previously, Jiang Xiaofan had told her that he had come out of deep hiding from a faraway mountain and had neither family nor friends. That was he didn¡¯t know much of this world at the beginning.


    ¡°Er, I¡¯m not that familiar with them.¡± Jiang Xiaofan laughed awkwardly and continued, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Forget them. Let¡¯s go.¡±


    When he had first arrived on Planet Ziwei in that little village, he suffered quite a bit from Wang Ao¡¯s scorn. Nonetheless, Jiang Xiaofan was not the type of person to exact revenge on such small matters. He wouldn¡¯t inflict trouble on Wang Ao just because he was verbally ridiculed by him.


    The only problem was that trouble would come to him even if he wasn¡¯t actively looking for it.


    Possessing an impressive innate talent, Wang Ao¡¯s cultivation was now at the sixth heaven of Micro Realm. He wore a light-green robe and looked quite ethereal. With one long, sweeping gaze, he was surprised to have discovered someone of stunning beauty on the island.


    The one who had caught his eyes was, of course, Ye Yuanxue.  Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue were located not too distant from where the new group of cultivators had landed, so with one turn of his head, Wang Ao spotted the charming belle right away.


    He directly headed in their direction, stopped in front of them, slightly bowed before Ye Yuanxue, and smiled. ¡°I am Wang Ao, a disciple of Ziyang Sect under Elder Mu Yun. Young Miss, may I know your name and where you are from?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue knitted her brows. What¡¯s wrong with this person? How rude of him to block our path!


    Before Ye Yuanxue could open her mouth, Jiang Xiaofan was already disgruntled. What the fuck?! You¡¯re itching to piss me off, is that right? How dare you try to pick up the girl whom I like?! So you refuse to take the easy road and want to venture on the difficult one, huh? I take it that you¡¯re asking for a beating then?!


    Furthermore, Jiang Xiaofan was very upset by Wang Ao¡¯s choice of words. He was like another Zhu Youwei, someone who used his relationship with Zhu Xidao to pressure Jiang Xiaofan. Similarly, Wang Ao mentioned his relation to an elder of Ziyang Sect. Indeed, birds of a feather flock together. This guy isn¡¯t principled either.


    Jiang Xiaofan pulled Ye Yuanxue back and stepped forward. He patted Wang Ao on the shoulder and smiled, ¡°Wang Ao, you shouldn¡¯t run around out here. Your mama¡¯s calling for you to go back home to have dinner.¡±


    Displeased by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s behavior, Wang Ao furrowed his brow and responded, ¡°Excuse me, who might you be? Why do you say such things? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡±


    The Jiang Xiaofan of today was completely different from what he had been when he had first arrived on Planet Ziwei. Therefore, Wang Ao wasn¡¯t able to recognize him. Not to mention, he hadn¡¯t even taken a good look at Jiang Xiaofan yet because his sole attention was on Ye Yuanxue.


    Next to Wang Ao was Liu Shi who looked more attractive than before; however, her cultivation level was only at the third heaven of Micro Realm. After peering at Jiang Xiaofan for a while, she eventually remembered who he was. She then pointed her finger at him and exclaimed, ¡°He¡¯s that filthy beggar!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the beggar!¡± Ye Yuanxue chided her.


    Liu Shu reflexively grew irate and retorted, ¡°Bitch, how dare you insult me!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s expression quickly frosted over. He raised his hand and slapped Liu Shi across the face. ¡°I don¡¯t like raising my hand against women, so don¡¯t force me! You¡¯d better wash your dirty mouth clean!¡±


    ¡°You¡­. You waste! How dare you hit me?!¡±


    It took Liu Shi a long time for her to recover from the shock of getting slapped. After releasing a shriek, she *swoosh* pulled out her long sword from her back and hacked down at Jiang Xiaofan. Without any mercy, her objective was to cut him down the middle.


    However, with her cultivation and speed, it was impossible for her to put a scratch on the current Jiang Xiaofan. He smacked her again with his backhand and sent her long sword flying. It stabbed into the ground from far away.


    With two hands to the face, Liu Shi had been slapped silly. She caressed her slightly swollen cheek and screamed once more. She couldn¡¯t tolerate the fact that she had been slapped in the face twice by a waste.  Like a lunatic, she lunged at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Too lazy to care about her, Jiang Xiaofan simply kicked his leg up and knocked her unconscious.


    The entire scene played out in a matter of seconds. Wang Ao finally recognized Jiang Xiaofan. He was deeply taken aback because he had never imagined that the village¡¯s former beggar would have such strength. Even Liu Shi was no match for him.


    Nevertheless, disdain was soon written on his face yet again. His cultivation wasn¡¯t on a level that was comparable to Liu Shi¡¯s. He grimly looked at Jiang Xiaofan and said, ¡°You waste. Shouldn¡¯t you be up in the mountains and guarding the gate? Who allowed you to come down?! How audacious of you to attack a disciple of another sect with those pathetic techniques of yours! Looks like I¡¯ll have to teach you a lesson today in knowing where you stand!


    After listening to Wang Ao speak, Ye Yuanxue grew perplexed and eyed Jiang Xiaofan curiously. When did guy ever go to Ziyang Sect to guard the gate? How come I don¡¯t know of it?


    Jiang Xiaofan inwardly sneered. At that time, the green-robed man had promised that he would become an outer disciple of Ziyang Sect who would patrol its mountains. Wang Ao and the others knew about this. Regardless, that green-robed man had backstabbed him and kicked him off the cliff. They had most likely arrived at Ziyang Sect long ago, and since they hadn¡¯t seen him, they had to have assumed that he had already gone patrolling.


    Recalling such an event made Jiang Xiaofan all the angrier. Shit! That pasty-faced bastard stole my limited-edition photo book and also tried to kill me! Fuck that guy! I¡¯ll chop that asshole into a million pieces! And! I will get back my photo book! After all, it¡¯s a rare, priceless collectible!


    Upon seeing Jiang Xiaofan keeping silent, Wang Ao thought that Jiang Xiaofan was afraid of him. He then revealed a smug smile, proudly glanced at Ye Yuanxue, and coldly admonished Jiang Xiaofan, ¡°A dog who watches the gate must have the consciousness of a watchdog.¡±


    Screw you to hell! After Jiang Xiaofan had recollected his thoughts, the first thing that he heard was Wang Ao¡¯s remark. Without further ado, Wang Ao was met with a flying kick and knocked flat to the ground.


    Still, Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t possibly end this skirmish so quickly. He dashed ahead, madly stomped his feet on the fallen Wang Ao, and inwardly cursed, ¡°You piece of shit! Cultivating for a couple of months already makes you so uppity, eh? Being a second-generation makes you so cool, huh? I¡¯ll stomp you to death! Fuck your entire family! You think that you¡¯re that ice chick so that gives you the right to say something like that to me?!¡±


    As he was being stomped on, Wang Ao cried out in agony. He wanted to retaliate, but to his horror, he realized that he had no opportunity of retaliation. Under the stomps of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s two feet, any slight movement of countering was impossible.


    Fury overwhelmed him. Thus, his stomps were quite heavy and forceful.


    Damn it! It makes sense that I¡¯m at a disadvantage because I can¡¯t beat that ice chick and I saw her naked. I admit it, so I tolerated her! But who the hell are you?! You¡¯re just a puny runt who has cultivated for a few months! What makes you so arrogant?!


    I didn¡¯t want to give you any trouble, but good job on your part! You had to butt your face into my affairs! Therefore, do I have the I the need to show you any politeness? Look, it¡¯s hard on me too. I¡¯ll give you a few more stomps before we can talk again. If you don¡¯t die from this, then consider yourself lucky! If you do die, then that is your misfortune!


    Not knowing how much time had passed by, Jiang Xiaofan finally stopped after noticing that Wang Ao elicited no more sounds and was stomped to the point of disfiguration. Still, Jiang Xiaofan felt that something was amiss. He then stomped on him one last time. Phew! That feeling is¡­. Awesome!


    Jiang Xiaofan then clapped his hands and turned around only to see Ye Yuanxue curiously sizing him up and down. He suddenly felt embarrassed and nervously explained, ¡°I¡¯m actually a good person.¡±

 Chapter 49

    The darkness of the night soon settled on the island. Stars appeared and dotted the sky, painting the unknown universe with natural-looking yet mystical constellations. It was an enticing sight to behold.


    Jiang Xiaofan had already dragged Ye Yuanxue far away from where Wang Ao and Liu Shi lay. Who cares about them anyway?!


    Although the moon above the Sea of the Setting Sun looked tranquil, a mist of red blanketed its view, and gazing at it gave the viewer a feeling of uneasiness. It was on this night that the waves of the sea experienced a great change. They grew into swells, and the wave heights increased.


    A small wind blew over and caused a whiz in the air like a child who was crying. Waves continuously slammed onto the coast. Every cultivator on the island all stood up in anticipation of the annual tides on the Sea of the Setting Sun that were to come.


    *Boom*


    The winds and the waves came stronger than before. All of a sudden, the water rose up in the form of a tidal wave that was at least eight meters in height. Even Jiang Xiaofan was at a loss for words. This is considered a small tide? Oh my gods! This is scary!


    He hastily pulled Ye Yuanxue behind him. A tidal wave at this height had the absolute power to destroy anything within its range.


    He didn¡¯t understand how an island could withstand an annual turbulent storm like this and remain undamaged. This was abnormal!


    The other cultivators held the same suspicion. They were all recently accepted, young disciples from other sects, and this was their first time at the Sea of the Setting Sun. Many of them were shocked at the spectacle of such a massive tidal wave. Once it hits, the island would undoubtedly be washed over!


    However, what happened next quickly revealed the answer to their query. Just when the eight-meter-high tide approached the coastline of the island, it could proceed no further as if there was some mysterious force that stopped it. After it had struggled to move on, the tidal wave eventually crashed back into the sea and emitted a loud boom.


    Jiang Xiaofan widened his eyes in amazement. Can it be the doing of the legendary Sea God?


    The tidal waves continued their assault. Ye Yuanxue was surprised at the ongoing spectacle, and Little One continuously chirped as if it was shocked as well. The majestic scene before them was somewhat of an extraordinary phenomenon.


    This show of display lasted for half a day. After the final wave had fallen into the sea, all of the cultivators rode on their rainbows and flew for the sea. They needed to rapidly retrieve the Sea of Heart because of its limited quantity.


    Jiang Xiaofan was the only who ran a beeline to the sea. Who am I kidding? With this many people watching, there¡¯s no way in hell that I¡¯ll use the flying sword technique. I¡¯d rather have everyone laugh at me for not knowing how to maneuver the sword than have them laugh at me for looking so unsightly in midair.


    ¡°Ai ya! Perverted Wolf, hurry up!¡± Ye Yuanxue shouted at him from above.


    As a result, Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t help but make haste. At such a far distance from his destination, he began to channel his Shadow Steps. Like a bolt of lightning, he dashed for the water. Without time to slow down, he plunged headfirst and dived in search of the object.


    He, however, immediately began to regret his rash action. Damn! This water looks deeper than I thought! I can¡¯t even see the bottom of it. How come it looked so shallow at first? Come on, it¡¯s only two meters from the surface to the bottom! With increased effort, he dived deeper and clawed at the black, smelly mud on the seafloor.


    Forget it! Calm down! He resurfaced for air before sweeping the surrounding area with his spiritual awareness for the Sea of Heart. To his dismay, he searched for a long time but found nothing close in appearance to it. He even doubted himself, so he took out a portrait of the Sea of Heart and surveyed it a few times.


    Most of the cultivators were gathered in this particular zone of the sea. Hours later, one person asked another, ¡°Fellow Daoist, are there any gains on your end?¡±


    ¡°None. How about you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing either!¡±


    ¡°I have no lead here as well.¡±


    ¡°Empty-handed here too. Just what is going on?!¡±


    The scene soon turned rowdy, and many cultivators grew doubtful. This wasn¡¯t the first time that mankind had come in search of the Sea of Heart. They knew of the situation here. Even though the Sea of Heart was limited in quantity, it shouldn¡¯t be this difficult to find. They had nearly searched the entire vicinity of the sea but could not find a single piece of it.


    Ye Yuanxue didn¡¯t venture into the waters, but Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t want her to do so anyway. Staying onshore and keeping watch was already enough. After all, she was a girl. In addition, Ye Yuanxue¡¯s cultivation was quite strong, and her spiritual awareness was exceptional. Her range extended far and wide, but even so, the girl shook her head in frustration. She couldn¡¯t find anything.


    I¡¯ll just keep on searching then! Jiang Xiaofan was located at the shallow end. Unrelenting, he swept his spiritual awareness over every inch of the sea wherever the Sea of Heart could be hidden. Regardless of how hard he had tried, his efforts remained fruitless. There was nothing except mud, rocks, and seawater.


    Not long after, one of the cultivators suggested that they should venture into deeper waters. Perhaps they would be able to find it there. This proposal was quickly approved by everyone. Many of them began to head for the deep zone.


    Jiang Xiaofan naturally followed in line behind them. This was his first time at the Sea of Setting Sun. In other words, he was a newbie. He only knew what the Sea of Heart looked like. As to where it was commonly located or where it was most abundantly found, he had no clues whatsoever.


    At this particular time, even Ye Yuanxue joined in the search for the object. Despite it all, what made Jiang Xiaofan speechless was that the girl had somehow found a small boat and calmly stood on top of it.


    She waved at Jiang Xiaofan and suggested, ¡°Perverted Wolf, come on aboard.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan violently shook his head. There¡¯s no way that I will get up on there! The reason was that once he was up there, he would have to immediately lie down on the boat.


    Puzzled, she snapped at him, ¡°What¡¯s up with you?! Even though soaking in the water feels very nice, soaking too long in it is not good for you! Besides, that¡¯s deep water! You only get motion sickness from flying swords, right?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan continued to shake his head. I¡¯m fine. As long as I don¡¯t use the flying sword technique, I won¡¯t get sick. I¡¯ll just swim across there!


    To be honest, what Jiang Xiaofan really wanted to say was that he also suffered from motion sickness on boats. Once he got aboard, he would lose all his strength. However, he didn¡¯t have the courage to speak the truth. He was afraid that once he told her, Ye Yuanxue would then ask him why he didn¡¯t get nauseous from walking instead.


    There were at least eighty, if not a hundred, cultivators who had come to the Sea of the Setting Sun. Nearly everyone headed for the deep zone by maneuvering their flying swords in midair while scanning the waters with their spiritual awareness.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening? Where is this smell of blood coming from?!¡±


    A while later, Jiang Xiaofan also sensed that something wasn¡¯t right. The scent of the seawater increasingly smelled like blood. He scooped some water in his hands and examined it. All of a sudden, his eyes bulged. Gods! This looks like red ink!


    The discovery of the red water startled him, and chills ran down his spine. He then gazed up. The color of the waters in the Sea of the Setting Sun was nearly identical to that of the sunset. Yet, the water in his hands was blood-like. Most importantly, the stench of blood filled his nostrils.


    ¡°Retreat! Get out of there at once!¡±


    He shouted to the people in front of him. His instinct told him that this place was full of danger, and an ominous feeling welled up inside of him. He had goosebumps, and his hair stood on end.


    Looking at the cultivators who stared back at him with a dazed expression, he hollered again, ¡°This area¡¯s treacherous! Leave here immediately!¡±


    After he had warned them, he ignored them and desperately pushed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s boat with all his might towards the shore. Because his cultivation was based on the peerless, primordial Buddhist Sutra, his spiritual instinct was stronger than that of an average cultivator¡¯s. He could feel a giant shadow beneath the waters about to swallow him up. His entire body trembled with fear.


    Despite Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s two warnings, the other cultivators paid no heed and merely laughed.


    In their eyes, he was just a chump who couldn¡¯t maneuver the flying sword and relied solely on swimming. Nobody was willing to believe his words. Ye Yuanxue, who accompanied him, was definitely beautiful, but they saw her as someone who also couldn¡¯t maneuver the flying sword because she had to use a mortal boat as a means of transportation. They shook their heads at the two and moved on ahead into the deep zone.


    Only Ye Yuanxue knew that Jiang Xiaofan would not say something without reason. She stood back up on the boat and released her powerful spiritual awareness. Even though her instinct wasn¡¯t as strong as Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s, she could sense a certain sort of change occurring in the water.


    ¡°Get out of there this instant! You guys, seriously¡­.¡± Ye Yuanxue muttered. She wanted to warn them out loud, but before she could do so, an enormous tentacle rose above the water. Swift like lightning, it *pff* pierced a hole through the flying sword into the nearby body of a male cultivator. As his innards spilled out, the water below him was dyed crimson.


    The scene erupted into chaos, and the cultivators lost their calm. At that moment, multicolored sword lights and saber qi filled the sky and ferociously attacked the tentacle from all angles. A vast number of them even raced towards the shore on their flying swords with horror in their expressions.


    Just then, approximately a dozen large columns of water rose from the surface of the sea. Each water column was encircled by a tentacle with numerous, hideous suctions on it. What was even more terrifying was that, in the blink of an eye, the bodies of several cultivators had been pierced through. Blood further mingled within the seawater.


    Not long after, the body of a huge monster emerged. It was as massive as a mountain and covered in small spikes. Its body above the water was at least thirty meters in height, and below it was countless tentacles. There were at least thousands of them. Its most noticeable feature was its pair of red eyes. Each was the size of two small houses combined, and its appearance terrorized the people down below.


    ¡°Wow! What a giant squid!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes bulged so far that they nearly fell out of his sockets. He gulped loudly in nervousness.


    Running for his dear life, he pushed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s boat with every ounce of energy in his body but soon realized that tragedy had struck. His feet seemed to be entangled with something. He could not break free.


    *Woosh*


    He was abruptly hauled into the air. He then discovered that a disgusting tentacle had been wrapped around his left leg and nearly vomited at sight of it. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, he balled up his right hand into a fist and viciously punched at the tentacle.


    He was soon overcome with helplessness. His current body strength was incredibly strong, and even a Phantom Saint cultivator would ball up in pain from his punch. Unexpectedly, his punch didn¡¯t seem to have any effect on the squid-like monster. It was as if he was hitting a block of cotton.

 Chapter 50

    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart chilled. This kraken was definitely thick-skinned and had tough flesh. Even after getting punched, it was unscathed. How frightening! He surmised that an ordinary weapon could not even slice through its body.


    Ye Yuanxue remained on the boat with her eyes widened in shock. She glanced at the little bird in her arms before looking up at the giant kraken. A long while after, Ye Yuanxue made a comment that caused Jiang Xiaofan to want to vomit blood in frustration. She said, ¡°Where did this little thing come from? It¡¯s so ugly! It¡¯s not even half as cute as Little One.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was exasperated to the point of nearly fainting. Sister, you¡¯re right in saying that it¡¯s ugly. But how is it little?! Also, can you focus on the main issue?! I¡¯m about to be swallowed!


    He cocked his head to look around. Many people had already been ensnared by the cephalopod¡¯s tentacles, and most of them had cultivation at the fifth or sixth heaven of Micro Realm. The strongest one was a ninth heaven Micro Realm cultivator. Despite it all, they were powerless against this giant kraken. None of their weapons could even put a dent on the monster. It seemed invincible.


    The remaining cultivators had already escaped on their flying swords and now stood on the shoreline, witnessing the chaotic scene from a safe distance. Some of them were agitated as they watched on while others breathed a sigh of relief. Most of them, however, were distressed.


    After seeing Jiang Xiaofan in the clutches of the kraken, they just realized that the man who couldn¡¯t even maneuver a flying sword was right all along. He wasn¡¯t speaking nonsense! That area really was dangerous!


    *Fwoosh*


    A black long sword materialized in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s hand. With a swing, he *pff* slashed the tentacle that encircled him. The sharpness of this sword is indeed unrivaled. Whatever it cuts, it breaks.


    He grasped onto his Celestial Demon Sword and used the flying sword technique. Whatever. If I get nauseous, so be it. If I look unsightly, so be it. It¡¯s better than getting eaten by the squid. Besides, those people¡¯s attention is now on that giant monster. Who will have the time to admire my stance on the sword anyway?


    In all honesty, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s approach to dealing with the current situation was unusually optimistic. He even took the time to think about whether other people would notice how ugly his maneuver of the flying sword was, which was evidence of his mental resilience.


    On the other hand, there was an ancient saying that went, ¡°A good attitude is the start of a beautiful beginning.¡± This was the reason why Jiang Xiaofan got upset. What a load of crap! I had a good attitude so why did another tentacle attack me as soon as I cut one off from that blasted kraken?!


    Jiang Xiaofan was now incensed. Those ancient people! With nothing better to do, they decided to create these dumb word games and pass it down to us! And what¡¯s the result?! Falsehood! With a flick of his wrist, he nicked another hideous tentacle that was coming for him. Without the support of his flying sword, he fell into the sea with a *plunk*.


    Those who were still fleeing the scene on their swords looked back at Jiang Xiaofan with their eyes widened and mouth agape. This guy¡¯s not that average after all! Not only did he know how to use the flying sword technique and learned to swim, but he was also able to single-handedly cut off that monster¡¯s tentacles! How phenomenal!


    A while ago, many cultivators had tried to land strikes on the kraken, but their weapons soon cracked from its tough body. As a result, the kraken¡¯s exterior was unmarred. In spite of the precedent, that person was nonetheless able to cut off not just one but two of its tentacles.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue loudly called for him. Everyone then watched Ye Yuanxue with astonishment in their eyes as she hovered into the air and sped towards Jiang Xiaofan. Her body emitted a dim, purple divine glow. On her shoulder was Little One who anxiously chirped.


    ¡°Oh my Heaven! She¡­. She¡¯s a Realm of Dust cultivator!¡±


    Those on the shore held their breaths as they gazed in awe. As if they were looking at the arrival of a saint, those who were entangled by the kraken¡¯s tentacles screamed for help. Their faces were full of surprising joy.


    The surface of the deep zone was already completely covered in blood. Numerous cultivators lay dead in the beak of the monster. However, at this instant, the kraken seemed to be provoked by something and forcefully threw out all the cultivators from its grasp.


    The once-trapped-but-were-now-free cultivators thought that this miraculous turn of events was because Ye Yuanxue had done something to help them out, so they thanked her and quickly fled on their flying swords. Ye Yuanxue was, however, befuddled. She didn¡¯t know what had just happened. It¡¯s a good thing that the cultivators are now able to escape, but why did that squid suddenly throw them all out?


    In the next moment, she knew why. Jiang Xiaofan had become the sole target of the kraken. After cutting off two of its tentacles, the monster was now enraged. It splayed all its tentacles above the water and wildly shook them around, causing the entire sea to become tempestuous. Violent winds howled, and stormy waves crashed into one another. The surviving cultivators were horror-struck as they looked at this terrible development.


    Right after Jiang Xiaofan had surfaced above the water and witnessed this rampage, his eyes nearly bulged out of its sockets. All of the kraken¡¯s tentacles were aimed at him, and its pair of giant, blood-red eyes were locked on him.


    ¡°Good gods! A jackpot!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body chilled, and he inwardly cursed. This stupid squid is too stingy. It¡¯s only two of your tentacles. Did you have to scare me like that?! Fuck this. I won¡¯t bother settling this matter with you. Escaping alive is more important.


    He forcefully slapped the water surface with his left hand. With a flash of green light, he hovered in the air. At the same time, the Celestial Demon Sword in his right hand vibrated. Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon appeared, merged as one, and targeted the squid in the distance.


    His plan wasn¡¯t to defend himself from the squid with the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon. Instead, he wanted to use the technique¡¯s recoil to thrust himself backward and away from the squid¡¯s attack range.


    *Roar*


    The kraken released a deafening roar for the first time. Due to the loud vibration of the sound, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s sword qi instantly dissolved into bits of green light before completely disappearing. At the same time, another tentacle lunged at Jiang Xiaofan with lightning speed.


    *Bang*


    Standing from afar, Ye Yuanxue managed to shoot her purple spiritual energy at the kraken and shift the angle of its tentacle attack by a small degree. Thus, Jiang Xiaofan was able to barely dodge the incoming strike. He was scared witless, but nevertheless raised his sword and cut down its limb.


    *Pff*


    The sharpness of the Celestial Demon Sword was beyond fearsome. Another tentacle had been chopped off by Jiang Xiaofan. The cultivators on the shore looked at him in incredulity. This man¡¯s too frightening!


    Only Jiang Xiaofan knew of his predicament. His cultivation level wasn¡¯t as advanced as Ye Yuanxue¡¯s. After he had sliced the tentacle, he plunged into the sea yet again. He was unable to stop this cycle.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, run for it!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue hollered at him from midair while occasionally attacking the tentacles with her purple spiritual energy. Every time a tentacle came for Jiang Xiaofan, she would knock it somewhere else and create an opening for Jiang Xiaofan to narrowly escape danger.


    Jiang Xiaofan had already sliced off a couple of tentacles already, but the kraken just had too many of them. Ye Yuanxue and Jiang Xiaofan simply could not thwart every single attack. Shortly after, Jiang Xiaofan was once again ensnared by a tentacle, and this time, his right hand that held onto the sword was entangled as well. He couldn¡¯t move at all.


    ¡°Ugly thing, release him!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue cried out. She then emitted dark purple rays of light which formed into a large, luminescent net in an attempt to subdue the monster. To everyone¡¯s horror, the kraken swallowed the net in one gulp.


    The terrifying monster had no fear for the Realm of Dust cultivator.


    Targeting Jiang Xiaofan as if he was its one and only prey, the kraken ignored Ye Yuanxue and lunged all of its tentacles at Jiang Xiaofan. At this moment, Jiang Xiaofan became so furious that he really wanted to smash that squid into a paste. This squid has some serious anger management issues!


    However, he had no time to let his thoughts wander. A strong feeling of oppression and suffocation overwhelmed his senses. His complexion immediately paled to a deathly white, and he couldn¡¯t even utter a cry of pain.


    In great shock, the color drained from Ye Yuanxue¡¯s face. She could sense that Jiang Xiaofan was in agony. A dense, swirling form of purple spiritual energy radiated from her body and shot towards the sky. Everyone was taken aback by Ye Yuanxue¡¯s display of power, including Jiang Xiaofan. What is with this spiritual energy?! How formidable!


    Little One was fret with worry because Jiang Xiaofan was its dearest friend. It took flight from Ye Yuanxue¡¯s shoulder and glided towards him. It landed on one of the tentacles that encircled Jiang Xiaofan and furiously pecked at each arm while chirping incessantly.


    Suddenly, Jiang Xiaofan felt the tentacles loosening up. As seawater sloshed around and the waves continued to crash, the kraken¡¯s massive body began to shiver. Its pair of gigantic red eyes were filled with fear.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan tore the arms from his body with force, grabbed Little One in his left hand, and successfully cut a few more tentacles with his sword. Next, he propelled himself across the sea by pushing his right foot against a nearby tentacle, using it as a launchpad. As he flew in the air, he caught Ye Yuanxue and held onto her waist.


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, quickly fly out of here!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan raised his voice at her. This was not the time to observe niceties.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, you¡¯re doing this on purpose!¡±


    Her aura of purple spiritual energy vanished. Flustered, Ye Yuanxue¡¯s cheeks rapidly flushed scarlet. This was the first time that someone of the opposite sex had touched her like this.


    Regardless, the current situation was dire. She had no time to worry about trivialities. She then turned around and flew with great effort towards the shoreline because Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s weight was quite heavy.


    The kraken, on the other hand, did not give chase. Its large body continued to tremble, making no other movement, as it watched Jiang Xiaofan being rescued away.


    Jiang Xiaofan turned his head to glance back. His mouth was agape, and he stuttered, ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, you¡¯re too amazing! That squid is so scared of you that it¡¯s been rendered immobile!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Confused, Ye Yuanxue asked, ¡°What do I have to do with it?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan gently squeezed her waist and laughed, ¡°Lass, you¡¯re too humble. Hurry up and fly out of here first. Lives are at stake!¡±


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, how dare you?!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue blushed again and angrily puffed. She really wanted to kick the man who hung onto her waist down into the water. Meanwhile, Little One chirped at her and wondered why the girl looked frustrated.


    Finally, Ye Yuanxue landed on the island¡¯s shore. She then immediately tugged Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe, ground her teeth, and demanded, ¡°Perverted Wolf, you better be honest with me! You deliberately took advantage of me, didn¡¯t you?!¡±


    ¡°How can that be?! It¡¯s absolutely not what you think! I¡¯m innocent!¡± Jiang Xiaofan shook his head in strong denial. Even if he was beaten to death, he wouldn¡¯t admit to taking advantage of her.


    Ye Yuanxue lightly snorted *hmph* and forcefully tugged on his earlobes twice before releasing him.


    Jiang Xiaofan breathed out a sigh of relief and peered into the distance. He couldn¡¯t believe that he had just escaped from that monster¡¯s beak of death. The kraken was now gone and roaming elsewhere in the depths of the Sea of the Setting Sun. The only remaining pieces of evidence of the terrifying encounter with the cephalopod were the bloody water and the severed tentacles.

 Chapter 51 - Taking the Sea of Heart by Force

    The Sea of the Setting Sun was tranquil once more, yet the people standing on the island¡¯s shore gazed at the distant waters where the surface had been painted a bloody mess. This was because not long ago, many of their peers had lost their lives.


    Those who had come to seek the Sea of Heart numbered in the hundreds, but the number of deaths ranged in the double digits. This had never happened before. Those who were still alive gazed on with furrowed brows and dazed expressions.


    Ye Yuanxue had already changed into a new set of clothes because Jiang Xiaofan had gotten her wet. She stood beside him and commented, ¡°From my observation, I believe that the Sea of the Setting Sun is an extremely unique place.¡±


    Still wearing his heavy, wet clothes, Jiang Xiaofan crouched on the ground. After hearing Ye Yuanxue speak, his lips twitched in response. Of course the Sea of the Setting Sun is unique! Can a normal sea nurture a monster like that?! Even a squid¡¯s Mesozoic ancestor couldn¡¯t be of that size!


    *Boom*


    All of a sudden, the tranquil waters of the Sea of the Setting Sun boiled up again. Red-colored waves rolled into each other. The highest one rose several meters in height which then heavily crashed into the island and shook it.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s jaw dropped to the ground. Don¡¯t tell me that another terrifying tide is coming!


    The other cultivators were dumbfounded as well. In the next moment, black, scaly heads appeared one after another above the surface of the water. Frightened, the cultivators staggered backward.


    Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue were also shocked at the scene before their eyes. A tightly-packed group of uncountable, strange-looking creatures with an average height of two meters swam towards the island.


    Their movements were somewhat rigid, and their green eyes looked spiritless which made them appear even more sinister. As if they lacked consciousness, the creatures mechanically neared the island and looked as if they wanted to climb onto the shore.


    ¡°Run¡± was Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s first thought. This army of creatures was just too imposing. Although their movements were rigid and their eyes lacked vigor, they still exuded an aura of extreme danger. There was no one here who could fight against the combined forces of these creatures.


    He pulled Ye Yuanxue to his side in preparation to flee, but what happened next astounded everyone. Just like the tides from before, these black, scaly creatures were unable to approach the island. Not only were they blocked from landing ashore, but they also were trapped at the coastline.


    At such a close distance, they noticed just how hideous these creatures looked. Their bodies were covered in a scaly, black armor. Their green eyes were particularly uncomfortable to gaze at. Last but not least, their exteriors were veiled by a faint grey aura.


    These creatures all stood on the coastline, unable to go anywhere else. Their eyes remained spiritless as they stared fixedly at the island. Occasionally, their green eyes gleamed and the faint grey aura swirled around their bodies.


    *Crunch*


    A subtle but crisp sound was heard. Jiang Xiaofan turned his head in the direction of the sound and spotted a meter-tall creature within the army nibbling on a blue gemstone. He instantly widened his eyes in surprise. Gods! Isn¡¯t that a Sea of Heart?! It¡¯s being eaten!


    Ye Yuanxue caught sight of this as well and loudly gasped. ¡°Perverted Wolf, go get it!¡±


    He wanted to vomit a mouthful of blood right then and there. Jiang Xiaofan rolled his eyes at Ye Yuanxue. Why don¡¯t you just kill me with one swing of a sword instead?! You want me to steal those ugly things¡¯ food?! That¡¯s like stealing money from a thief with a knife! There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll come back alive!


    The cultivators also turned to look at the creatures and froze in their spots. They discovered that each creature had a piece of the Sea of Heart. Like a casual snack, they threw the gemstone bits into their mouths and vigorously chewed it.


    ¡°So these creatures came for the Sea of Heart as well!¡±


    ¡°This has never happened in the past before. Just what is going on with the Sea of the Setting Sun?¡± Another cultivator raised the question. This wasn¡¯t his first time searching for the Sea of Heart, but this was the first time that he had witnessed something like this.


    ¡°Looks like the Sea of Heart¡¯s pieces were taken away by these creatures during the tidal waves.¡±


    ¡°Ay. We¡¯ll have to wait for next year then. Let¡¯s go. The fact that we¡¯re still breathing is already a miracle.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. To be honest, we have to thank that fellow Daoist for saving us.¡±


    Debate erupted among them. Many cultivators chose to leave and come back the following year. After all, the Sea of Heart was only visible in the wake of the annual tidal waves. They appeared to have been washed up to the shallow water by the waves from the deep zone. Now that the tides had passed, it was difficult to collect them. The pieces of the gemstone that had washed up were already in the possession of those hideous creatures.


    Ye Yuanxue abruptly looked over and gazed at Jiang Xiaofan with pity in her eyes. ¡°Xiaofan¡­.¡±


    Upon hearing her speak, chills ran down Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s spine and he grew tense. She has always called me Perverted Wolf so why did she suddenly call me by my name? Something¡¯s amiss. Not normal! Not normal!


    ¡°Darling Xue¡¯er, what do you want? Just speak up.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue glanced at the Sea of the Setting Sun and implored, ¡°I really want that Sea of Heart. My sister¡¯s already a core disciple, yet I¡¯m still an inner disciple. I have to try harder. I must get that Sea of Heart.¡±


    He really felt like breaking down in tears. He didn¡¯t want to go, but it seemed as if he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Ye Yuanxue crouched down and looked up at him with tears welling in her eyes.


    Eventually, Jiang Xiaofan gave in to her demand. Ye Yuanxue was willing to pull the three stops[1] on him; however, there was nothing that he could to resist it. Previously, when he was still single, a coercion method such as this would not faze him, but he now realized that he was wrong all along. Damn it! Whoever invented this is a mad genius!


    He then cautiously neared the waters and warily inspected his surroundings. He saw a three-meter-tall creature, who briefly glimpsed back at him, and sighted two gemstones in its clutch. Jiang Xiaofan was elated.


    He stood on the shoreline and cleared his throat. He then stared at the creature, pointed at the blue gemstones in its clutch, and entreated, ¡°Mr. Creature, do you mind handing that stone in your hand over to me? Pretty please?¡±


    As if it could understand his words, the creature raised its spiritless, green eyes at him before looking down at the two gemstones. With a slight raise of its hand, it tossed the gemstones in its mouth and crunched noisily on them.


    Fuck you! What the hell is that supposed to mean?! Jiang Xiaofan fumed with anger.


    He looked back and helplessly shook his head at her who then shook her head in response. Jiang Xiaofan complied again and focused his attention on a different creature. However, this creature¡¯s move was even swifter and more direct than the last one. Before Jiang Xiaofan could even ask, it threw the gemstone in its mouth and swallowed it whole.


    Damn you! You don¡¯t like it easy, huh? Fine then! We¡¯ll do this the hard way!


    Jiang Xiaofan was currently in a terrible mood. He looked for a less-populated area, quietly pulled out his Celestial Demon Sword, and sneaked over. Correct, his goal was to take the Sea of Heart by force with the least resistance.


    Behind him were the cultivators who looked at him with their mouths agape.


    ¡°What¡¯s that man trying to do? He¡¯s not thinking of stealing it from them, is he?¡±


    ¡°Appears to be so!¡±


    ¡°Shit! What do you mean by ¡®appears to be so¡¯? He¡¯s doing it for real!¡±


    From afar, the cultivators stood with their eyes widened in incredulity. Just how fearless is this person?! How can he dare to steal the Sea of Heart right in the faces of all those creatures?! That¡¯s like snatching food right from the jaws of a tiger! Amazing!


    Under the cultivators¡¯ watchful eyes, Jiang Xiaofan *woosh* darted forward like an arrow. He then quickly picked up the creature and hurled it onto the shore.


    Phew! Mission accomplished!


    He then used his Phantom Steps to dash back to the shoreline before the other creatures could swarm on him. Jiang Xiaofan inwardly laughed aloud. Ahahaha! I did it! Easy job! Sea of Heart, eh? No problem for me!


    Unfortunately, what had immediately followed after left Jiang Xiaofan in great exasperation. The creature that he had hurled onto the shore immediately threw the Sea of Heart in its mouth, chomped on it, and gulped it down.


    In a fit of rage, Jiang Xiaofan lunged at the creature, grabbed the creature by the throat, and violently shook it. ¡°Fuck you, you little shit! Spit it back out! Wait, no. Return the gemstone to me in one piece!¡±


    *Hah*


    The creature abruptly ejected a burst of black smoke. Its body began to decay, and a foul stench permeated the air. Caught off guard, Jiang Xiaofan leaped backward and zipped to a safer area.


    After about ten seconds, the creature that had once been alive now became a pile of dust. With a blow of the wind, the dust flew into the sky and vanished without a trace.


    Some of the cultivators were stunned by what had transpired. Even Ye Yuanxue ran over to take a closer inspection.


    ¡°It seems that these creatures aren¡¯t being trapped at the coastline. Rather, they don¡¯t dare to venture any further in or out,¡± Jiang Xiaofan mumbled. This seed of suspicion germinated in his mind. Is it the problem of the island or of the sea? The tidal waves are unable to move past the coastline. The creatures also cannot step beyond it either. Otherwise, they will turn to dust.


    However, he was too lazy to contemplate on this issue any deeper. He nodded at Ye Yuanxue and gestured her to move away from the shoreline because he had targeted another creature. Jiang Xiaofan believed that there should be no errors this time and he would finally be able to fetch the Sea of Heart.


    He knitted his brows at the sight of the faint grey aura surrounding the creatures¡¯ bodies. With a strategy in mind, he picked up a stone and aimed for the less-populated area once again.


    *Fwoosh*


    Activating the power of his Buddhist Sutra, he transformed into a streak of his light, channeled his spiritual energy into the stone, drew back his arm, and flung it into the mouth of the creature.


    ¡°Urgh¡­.


    Once the stone had entered its body, the creature released a bellow of excruciating pain. The Sea of Heart suddenly glimmered a soft blue as the creature lifted it up in preparation to eat it.


    Around this time, the creatures from other areas discovered the ongoing commotion. With a roar, they rushed to where Jiang Xiaofan was at. He could clearly see the expression of those closest to him. Their spiritless eyes now flashed with savagery as they charged at him.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, be careful!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue vocally cautioned him while Little One chirped loudly. Even the cultivators from far away broke into a sweat as they watched in horror at the scene before them. Some even gulped with uneasiness.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 52 - Beat Up Ziyang Sect’s Disciple

    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s fighting spirit was extremely powerful, and he possessed uncanny spiritual instinct. He could sense demonic qi exuding from these creatures. This was the same, exact feeling that he had gotten from before when he had attempted to retrieve the Celestial Demon Sword.


    He activated his Buddhist Sutra, channeled his spiritual energy into the stone, and shoved it further down the creature¡¯s body. The mystical might of the Buddhist Sutra was the very antithesis of all things demonic. Like a sharp knife, it immediately began to destroy every one of the creature¡¯s biological function from within.


    ¡°Urgh¡­.¡±


    It groaned in pain and struggled to eat the Sea of Heart[1] that was still in its hand.


    With Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s acute awareness, he caught a glimpse of the Sea of Heart flashing a dim, blue light. The creature wanted to consume the Sea of Heart as if the gemstone could alleviate its pain and nurse it back to good health.


    However, Jiang Xiaofan wouldn¡¯t give the creature any chance to recover. Like the blustery wind, he avoided the nearby creatures lunging at him, twirled the Celestial Demon Sword in his right hand, and *pff* chopped down on the creature¡¯s claws.


    ¡°Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon!¡±


    With him in the center, the thirteen forms of sword qi flew outward and sliced the creatures within his perimeter. He then quickly treaded on the surface of the water with his mystical Shadow Steps and collected the Sea of Heart.


    ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er, catch!¡±


    After he had shouted, Jiang Xiaofan threw out the Sea of Heart, which was subsequently caught by Ye Yuanxue. The cultivators were shocked as they gazed from afar at the blue gemstone in her hand. They hadn¡¯t thought that the man would actually steal the Sea of Heart from the clutches of those creatures.


    Right after the toss to Ye Yuanxue, the creatures instantly encircled Jiang Xiaofan and forced him to gradually move several meters away from the shore. His entire body was nearly submerged in the water.


    ¡°Perverted Wolf, be careful!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue yelled back with remorse in her tone. The Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon had no effect on those creatures. When the sword qi struck their bodies, sparks of fire were ignited. However, their black, scaly armors were durable beyond imagination.


    Jiang Xiaofan was equally daunted by the natural defensive capabilities of these creatures. What¡¯s the deal with them? Aren¡¯t their exteriors a bit outrageously tough to crack? Even the Jade Purity Cultivation Method¡¯s only killing technique could not cut them open. If not for my Celestial Demon Sword, I don¡¯t know how I can stand a chance against them.


    *Roar*


    Low roars erupted from all sides. A dozen or so of these ugly, black creatures surrounded him with the tallest at three meters and the shortest at one meter tall. Despite being in this predicament, Jiang Xiaofan kept his cool. Even though these creatures outnumbered him greatly, the danger that they posed could not be compared with the kraken. He forcefully stepped on the creature to his right, used it as a springboard, and shot for the shore.


    From his view, he saw more sea creatures gathering around him, and they were just a small part of a bigger army. He narrowed his eyes and swept a glance around. Faint golden rays of light radiated from his left hand.


    *Ring*


    The golden light then condensed into a spiritual talisman on his palm. He turned around with his back to the shore, channeled his Shadow Steps, swung his Celestial Demon Sword with his right hand, and released the might of the Buddhist talisman with his left hand. All the creatures trembled in fear.


    Any sort of demonic qi was easily vanquished by the spiritual power of Buddhism. This law of mysticism was applicable on Planet Earth as well.  These evil creatures knew well of the harm that Buddhism¡¯s spiritual power brought onto them. Without even looking at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s left hand, their bodies instinctively feared the presence of that power and no longer approached anywhere near Jiang Xiaofan.


    From the shore, Ye Yuanxue emitted bursts of her purple spiritual energy in an effort to help free Jiang Xiaofan from his plight. At the same time, Little One fluttered around and continually chirped in support for Jiang Xiaofan.


    As for the other cultivators, they looked at this scene with their eyes bulged and breaths held. They had originally thought that this man was unable to maneuver the flying sword, but now, they knew how ridiculously wrong they had been. That person was a superhuman! He dared to undertake a risk like that and forcefully take the Sea of Heart from those creatures!


    The golden talisman continued to flash brilliantly, rendering the creatures unable to move. With his Shadow Steps, he moved like lightning and occasionally used the creatures as a springboard. Every time he waved his sharp sword, a sea creature would undoubtedly be cut.


    *Hah*


    At long last, Jiang Xiaofan made it back to the shore. Right after the moment that he had landed, the creatures immediately swarmed from behind. He broke into a cold sweat shortly after escaping this peril by a hair¡¯s breadth.


    Upon seeing that Jiang Xiaofan was safe and sound, Ye Yuanxue¡¯s heart finally relaxed. Her large eyes narrowed to a crescent shape as she pleasingly looked at her blue gemstone and grinned. ¡°How beautiful! Perverted Wolf, you did it again! Awesome!¡±


    Reinvigorated from her compliment, Jiang Xiaofan inched closer towards her and slyly smiled. ¡°Any rewards?¡±


    ¡°Reward?¡± Taken aback by his response, she queried, ¡°What kind of reward do you want?¡±


    ¡°Hm¡­. Nothing much really. An offering of your body will do,¡± he shamelessly answered.


    Instantly irked, Ye Yuanxue stared daggers at him. Jiang Xiaofan subsequently cleared his throat and tentatively asked again, ¡°If not that, then how about you let me hug you?¡±


    Ye Yuanxue continued to glower. ¡°You already hugged me for a long time earlier!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to faint. How can that count?!


    She ignored him. With the Sea of Heart in her possession, the cultivators looked at her with envy in their eyes. The lass turned around and walked away with her head held up high.


    Jiang Xiaofan followed her with despair written across his face. I was too busy running for my life! It¡¯s technically a hug, but I didn¡¯t feel anything from it! Ugh! How tragic! I should¡¯ve just swum back!


    After all of this, the coming days proved to be even worse. He had sworn to toss away his longsword; however, he eventually gave up on that idea. Even if he did throw it away, he would need to, nevertheless, fly back to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. There was no way that he could live on this island indefinitely.


    ¡°You waste! Stop where you stand!¡±


    All of a sudden, a familiar voice in a furious tone sounded from behind him.


    Jiang Xiaofan looked up and froze. It¡¯s Wang Ao again, and his injuries haven¡¯t completely healed. What is it this time? Can it¡­. Can it be? He knows that I¡¯m in a sour mood, so he¡¯s here to let me vent my frustration out on him!


    Wow! How kind of him! I never knew that he was such a nice guy!


    ¡°Oi, it¡¯s you again. What do you want?¡±


    Annoyed by Wang Ao¡¯s unanticipated presence, spiritual energy began to condense in Ye Yuanxue¡¯s hands.


    He¡¯s my punching bag! Shocked by her reaction, Jiang Xiaofan darted like an arrow, held Ye Yuanxue from behind, and declared to Wang Ao, ¡°Come at me instead!¡±


    The urge to kick Jiang Xiaofan rose up within Ye Yuanxue again. This guy¡¯s blatantly taking advantage of me again!


    He walked around her and raised his leg in readiness to kick Wang Ao. I¡¯m really, really in a bad mood. How dare you call me a waste! You really think that I¡¯m a pushover, don¡¯t you? If I don¡¯t give you a good beating, I won¡¯t be able to live with myself!


    To Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s surprise, the young man beside Wang Ao extended his hand and blocked Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s kick. Thus, Wang Ao remained unharmed.


    Wang Ao¡¯s eyes seethed with fury as he glared at Jiang Xiaofan. He then bowed to the man next to him and respectfully said, ¡°Wu Shixiong, thank you for your help. This impertinent flunkey disrespected our sect. I ask of you to show him his rightful place!¡±


    With a blank expression on his face, the young man of twenty-five to twenty-six years old nodded in concurrence. He icily looked at Jiang Xiaofan and interrogated, ¡°Who are you? I do not recall ever seeing you by the gate of Ziyang Sect. Confess now and I¡¯ll inflict less pain on you. Otherwise¡­.¡±


    The commotion here was not a small one. It soon attracted many people who came to take a look. Upon seeing that the young man was a disciple of Ziyang Sect, their awe of him grew. After all, not every cultivator on this island was a disciple of one of the four largest sects. Those who belonged to them were far and few, numbering only in the dozens. The vast majority belonged to smaller sects.


    Like the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect, Ziyang Sect was one of those four. The might of the sect was, naturally, extremely powerful and terrifying. Most of Planet Ziwei¡¯s cultivators had to be scrupulous in ensuring that they do not commit any offense against the sect. Some of the spectators shook their heads at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s affront to Ziyang Sect¡¯s disciple and lamented on what was to come.


    Although that girl had the temperament like that of an otherworldly fairy and was also a Realm of Dust cultivator, her strength alone would not be enough to save her from the wrathful vengeance of such a prominent figure from Ziyang Sect. If that young man wanted a Realm of Dust cultivator dead, the killing process would be as easy as squishing an ant with a finger.


    What happened next was contrary to everyone¡¯s expectations and made them jump out of their skin. They thought that Jiang Xiaofan would concede out of fear and obediently accept his punishment, or at the very least, tremble in fear. Their reasoning was simple. Whether it was conceding to the young man¡¯s demand or cowering in trepidation, these were the natural responses of anyone when facing against a disciple of Ziyang Sect.


    Jiang Xiaofan strode forward, glanced at the young man, and replied, ¡°You¡¯re mentally ill, aren¡¯t you? You want me to hit you too?¡±


    In an instant, this thought unanimously ran through every onlooker¡¯s mind. Is this person psychotic?! How can he go against a disciple of Ziyang Sect?! Does he not know the might of the four large sects?!


    Although the one whom he confronted was a disciple of Ziyang Sect, his insolence was the equivalent of dismissing the might of the entire sect. Not to mention, it was clear that the young man was no ordinary disciple. The onlookers could feel a powerful, oppressive aura emanating from him, displaying that he was on a completely different level than they were.


    The young man¡¯s face darkened, and he tartly spoke, ¡°I wanted to give you a chance, but it¡¯s now no longer necessary. Your attack on my sect¡¯s fellow disciples is already an offense worthy of death! I will exterminate you!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan frostily retorted, ¡°Attacking Ziyang Sect¡¯s disciple is an offense worthy of death? Then what should we do about their disciples committing wrong? What would happen if they were the ones who attacked others without good reason? What would happen if they were the ones who indiscriminately insulted others?¡±


    Unperturbed by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s allegations against his peers, he answered, ¡°Ziyang Sect has no such rules!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan laughed. He thought that Ying Tianyang was already the most pompous guy that he had ever seen, but he had never imagined that there would be a guy who could be on par with him. However, Ying Tianyang had the capabilities to back up his arrogance. This person, on the other hand, was pathetically ignorant and immature.


    *Pah*


    With a loud slap across the face, the young man was immediately knocked flying outward. Jiang Xiaofan stepped forward to where his opponent had stood.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 53 - Micro Realm Against the Realm of Dust

No content

 Chapter 54 - Angry for Her

    Chills ran down the onlookers¡¯ backs upon hearing the scream of agony.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s stomp on the young man was ruthless. Even Ying Tianyang, whose cultivation was at Phantom Saint, had sustained grave injuries from his attacks, let alone some young man who had just reached the Realm of Dust. His physical nature was incomparable to Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s.


    Wang Ao¡¯s complexion instantly paled. Despite his Shixiong, ¡°the Young Spirit Channeler¡±, having already reached the Realm of Dust and excelling in advanced cultivation methods and combat techniques, he could hold not Jiang Xiaofan at bay. Wang Ao¡¯s heart rapidly raced. He was extremely fearful of Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan stood at the side and peered at the young man who had just been smashed to the ground. Without gesturing his hands, he jeered, ¡°Get up. It¡¯s only a few broken ribs. That shouldn¡¯t be a big deal to a Realm of Dust cultivator, yeah?¡±


    This was the truth after all. There was a vast difference between a cultivator and a mortal. Even if one was a Micro Realm cultivator, a couple of shattered ribs wasn¡¯t an issue worth concerning over. The ability to channel spiritual energy was what mattered more. As long as the cultivator did not suffer from continual ferocious attacks, he or she could resume fighting.


    The onlookers wanted to vomit blood after hearing him speak and inwardly cried at the thought of a Micro Realm cultivator lecturing a Realm of Dust cultivator. What¡¯s wrong with this guy?! He¡¯s so savage!


    He stopped and gave the young man ample time to recover. Jiang Xiaofan only had one purpose in doing this and that was to trigger his own fighting potential. He needed to battle this young man, ¡°the Young Spirit Channeler¡± seriously.


    Combat was the best and simplest way to advance one¡¯s cultivation.


    The young man coughed out another mouthful of blood. He appeared disheveled with his green-robed smeared with wet dirt but stood up nonetheless and stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan. Rage boiled in his eyes as if he couldn¡¯t wait to devour him.


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head and calmly stated, ¡°You don¡¯t need to look at me like that. It won¡¯t do you any good. So those with cultivation at the Realm of Dust are called spirit channelers? Well then, just show me how spiritual you really are. I will assess for myself if a Realm of Dust cultivator is really that powerful.¡±


    Not long ago, he had already witnessed the so-called spirit channel during his duel with Ying Tianyang. At that time, all he could think about was beating Ying Tianyang until he couldn¡¯t get back up. He didn¡¯t have the time nor energy to contemplate spirit channeling.


    This time, he needed to confront it. In other words, rather than relying on his speed to avoid the attack of a spirit channel, he needed to counter it. This was his opportunity for a breakthrough into the Realm of Dust.


    Ye Yuanxue wanted to comment but could only angrily exclaim, ¡°I knew that he would be going for a breakthrough! Argh, how annoying! He creates troubles wherever he goes! Next time when he comes to the Heavenly ¡®Maiden Peak, I¡¯ll ask the other sisters to sic Little Black on him!¡±


    The spectators were quite startled because they couldn¡¯t understand why Jiang Xiaofan was so focused on spirit channeling. The Realm of Dust cultivators were strong because they could use the spirit channeling technique, and this was common knowledge among all cultivators. Especially in large sects, their mystical cultivation methods were even more distinguished. As a result, their spirit channels were more powerful. Almost no one was willing to challenge them.


    However, they had no words to describe the man before them. He had shocked them all. He had twice knocked the Ziyang Sect¡¯s disciple to the ground but did not finish him to conclude the battle. Rather, he wanted to challenge his spirit channeling!


    ¡°Since you seek death, then death shall come to you!¡±


    The young man roared at Jiang Xiaofan. Another blaze appeared on his body which radiated fluctuations of scorching spiritual energy, and a second circle of flames danced passionately around him. He looked like a frightening sprite from Inferno[1].


    ¡°Sword of Incinerating Sun!¡±


    His eyes lit up like flares. The fire surrounding him then transformed into dozens of three-inch-long curved knives of roaring flames.


    ¡°Such overwhelming energy!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a sword of fire!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s Ziyang Sect¡¯s fire spirit channel!¡±


    Someone gasped in shock upon recognizing the young man¡¯s newly displayed technique. Many spectators began to retreat in fear of the spirit channel¡¯s might.


    Only Jiang Xiaofan and the young man stood in their fighting area, fifteen meters apart and facing each other.


    Looking at the flaming knives hovering in midair, Jiang Xiaofan furrowed his brows. He could feel their energy fluctuations. It was energy that came from Heaven and Earth and was indeed powerful enough to the point where he felt threatened. With dozens of flaming knives coming down on him, green-light radiated from his longsword and he welcomed each knife by parrying. However, the attack power of the knives suddenly increased. His blade was subsequently bent out of shape and rendered useless.


    Jiang Xiaofan was dumbfounded by what had just happened. He then prepared himself again and grew more cautious. His opponent¡¯s flaming knives were much fearsome than the crescent-shaped sword qi released from Zhu Youwei¡¯s Qingyun Sword. The Sword of Incinerating Sun was on another level.


    ¡°Hahaha! You bastard! Do you think you have what it takes to challenge Shixiong¡¯s fire spirit channel? You¡¯re merely courting death!¡±


    The young man¡¯s expression turned icier and more morose. He had been injured twice by Jiang Xiaofan. As a Realm of Dust cultivator, the fury within him reached to an unprecedented height. After conjuring a seal, more flames appeared in midair and the heat intensified.


    Jiang Xiaofan was now trapped in a difficult situation. He finally understood just how powerful the spirit channeling was. It was indeed a mystical, combative technique, and its might was beyond what a Micro Realm cultivator could handle. He didn¡¯t dare to fend off the flaming knives with his body alone.


    After noticing that Jiang Xiaofan was in a predicament, Wang Ao became spirited once more. He looked at Jiang Xiaofan with smug written on his face as if he was the one who pressured Jiang Xiaofan into this state.


    Jiang Xiaofan glanced at Wang Ao with cold eyes.


    Ye Yuanxue knitted her brows and scowled at Wang Ao. ¡°Hey scumbag! If you talk nonsense again, I¡¯ll roast you!¡±


    Little One also angrily chirped at Wang Ao as if Ye Yuanxue and it had a tacit agreement. They were both highly vexed by Wang Ao¡¯s taunt.


    Meanwhile, everyone else trembled in fear and their hearts skipped a beat after they had heard Ye Yuanxue¡¯s declaration. They had previously witnessed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s might during their search for the Sea of Heart. Those who used their spiritual energy to fly in the sky without any mode of transportation, undoubtedly, had cultivation at the Realm of Dust or higher.


    Wang Ao¡¯s face became gloomy. He shot an angry look at Ye Yuanxue and replied, ¡°I only showed you slight affection because you possessed some charm, and I wanted to introduce you to a core disciple of Ziyang Sect. However, you¡¯re nothing but ungrateful, and you dared to challenge me. You¡¯re just a flower vase[2]! What are you so cocky about? Hmph! You and that bastard can go take a dive in the sea afterward!¡±


    *Hiss*


    Everyone sucked in a breath and subconsciously took a step back. Is a disciple of Ziyang Sect really so imperious? Imperious to the extent of reaching the cosmos? How could he say something like that?!


    Jiang Xiaofan instantly grew irate, and his eyes fogged up with killing intent. He was by no means a narrow-minded person. When Wang Ao had first ridiculed him, Jiang Xiaofan dismissed his words as a fart in the wind and did not seek vengeance. Even when Wang Ao had ridiculed him again, all Jiang Xiaofan had done was merely give him a beating. However, the moment that Wang Ao had insulted Ye Yuanxue, he had not only crossed the line but far exceeded Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s threshold.


    He would never forget how after he had arrived on this planet, Ye Yuanxue was the one who had taught him many things about the way of this world and had bought him his first set of clothes. Because she was afraid that he would feel lonely, Ye Yuanxue did not immediately seek her out sister to reunite with her. Even the clean set of clothes currently lying in his spatial ring was specially prepared for him by Ye Yuanxue.


    In today¡¯s world, she was the most important person to him and the one whom he desired most to protect. Nobody was allowed to harm her, not even vocally.


    Right now, he was like a dragon who had just been prodded in his inverted scale[3]!


    Jiang Xiaofan suddenly vanished from the battlefield like a ghost. Green rays of light exploded from his fist which violently shook the air. His agility stunned everyone who watched. Before Wang Ao could even react, a fist had already landed on his face.


    *Bang*


    Jiang Xiaofan channeled all his anger and strength into this attack. Even a Phantom Saint cultivator, such as Ying Tianyang, had difficulty in enduring his punch. A small fry like Wang Ao had no chance of withstanding the full brunt of his force.


    Wang Ao¡¯s face was instantly deformed. Blood profusely streamed down his nose and mouth. A mouthful of teeth fell out, and his nasal bones were smashed into bits. He immediately fell to the ground, writhed in excruciating pain, and released a muffled cry of torment.


    *Bang*


    Without any change in expression, Jiang Xiaofan unhesitatingly and forcefully stomped his foot on Wang Ao. The force of this stomp was even more unrestrained than the one exerted on Wang Ao¡¯s Shixiong. The ground beneath him split open. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s strength was unimaginably terrifying.


    ¡°Ahhhh!¡±


    Wang Ao screamed even louder this time. Three of his ribs broke. They were all fragmented, and some of his bones punctured his organs. Blood bubbled from his mouth as he stared at Jiang Xiaofan with unspeakable horror in his eyes.


    ¡°Stop!¡±


    Wang Ao¡¯s Shixiong barked at him. His flames burned even brighter and lit up bigger in size, nearly covering half of the sky. Intimidating energy fluctuations emanated far and wide. As the flames flickered intensely, the sky appeared distorted like an illusion. This was the mighty power of spirit channeling.


    To everyone¡¯s surprise, a flame that aimed for Jiang Xiaofan suddenly changed course, headed towards another direction, smashed into a giant boulder, and melted everything on impact.


    Ye Yuanxe flew over to Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s side. She then blushed, tugged him on his sleeve, and whispered, ¡°Perverted Wolf, don¡¯t fight anymore. He¡¯s going to die.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan coming to her defense made Ye Yuanxue very happy; however, she was nevertheless a kindhearted girl and did not wish for his hands to be stained with blood.


    Jiang Xiaofan looked back to eye her. He eventually complied with her wish but not before giving Wang Ao one last kick into the air. He then turned around, caressed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s delicate face, and smiled. ¡°My darling Xiao Xue¡¯er is so compassionate. Very cute.¡±


    Ye Yuanxue quickly slapped his hand and chided, ¡°Pft! You big pervert! Who¡¯s your darling?!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan shamelessly chuckled, ¡°Sooner or later, you will be.¡±


    The young man¡¯s complexion turned ashen, but he was more so confounded by what had just happened. I¡¯m certain that my flame was aimed at him, so why did it veer off course? Can it be that I haven¡¯t fully mastered my spirit channeling?


    The spectators were astounded as well. Of course, what astounded them was Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s speed and body strength. If he were to make a move against the Ziyang Sect¡¯s disciple with the same insane speed, that so-called ¡°Young Spirit Channeler¡± would have little success in defending himself against Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s attack unless he condensed all his flames as a body shield. Even then, he would still be at the mercy of Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s pummeling.


    Editor: Vis


    Footnotes

 Chapter 55 - Breakthrough, the Realm of Dust

    Jiang Xiaofan stopped to eye the young man and motioned Ye Yuanxue to back away before striding forward. Ready for battle, he coolly glanced again at the Realm of Dust cultivator.


    ¡°Come on!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan beckoned the young man to come at him. He had already decided to challenge his opponent¡¯s fire spirit channel head-on. He hoped his fighting potential would be triggered so that he would break through to the Realm of Dust and never have to use the flying sword ever again


    Ye Yuanxue was acquiescent, holding Little One in her arms and retreating to the side. She knew what Jiang Xiaofan planned to do and wished that he could finally enter the Realm of Dust here and now.


    The young man peered at the badly deformed Wang Ao. His heart sank, and he grew more cautious towards Jiang Xiaofan. That person¡¯s body strength was too frightening. He couldn¡¯t help but admit that even he was no match for him.


    However, it was because his opponent was Jiang Xiaofan that the young man boiled with rage. After all, he had suffered an enormous defeat at his hands. He, a spirit channeler, had been challenged multiple times by a mere Micro Realm cultivator who had displayed not the least bit of fear; furthermore, he had been injured twice by his opponent.


    *Boom*


    His body was completely enveloped in flames, and he released a burst of spiritual energy so powerful that a storm brewed in the illusory sky.


    Jiang Xiaofan grew solemn. He activated his Jade Purity Cultivation Method and prepared himself.


    The young man¡¯s expression grew ice-cold as he glided forward and released a palm strike. With a soft *hah* sound, the flames around him suddenly transformed into a searing stream of light that burned through the heat haze, and it trapped Jiang Xiaofan underneath.


    Jiang Xiaofan felt enormous pressure from this change in attack. All the cells in his body tingled with danger; however, he didn¡¯t avoid it with his Shadow Steps. He needed to gain the necessary combat experience for the breakthrough. In other words, he had to confront his opponent¡¯s spirit channel.


    He channeled his Jade Purity Cultivation Method to its maximum. Under the veil of densely radiating green rays of light, he also activated his primordial, peerless Buddhist Sutra. Consequently, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s spiritual instinct became clearer than ever.


    Golden sparks flickered in his eyes as he stared at that stream of burning light. With his right hand raised, he gradually welcomed the attack as it enveloped his body. This was the first time that he had attempted to repel a spirit channel.


    Intolerably hot and excruciating pain was the first feeling that came to mind when he had contacted the spirit channel. Although he had a layer of spiritual energy on his hand, the spirit channel was, after all, a spirit channel. With the force of that attack on his body, he finally realized the difference in strength between the two realms.


    Still, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t surrender. With a gold light gleaming in his eyes, he concentrated his focus, raised his left hand in sync with his right, and pushed the spirit channel back. With the distance between them narrowed, he could perceive the spirit channel¡¯s mighty power much better.


    *Boom*


    Even more terrifying was its barrage of energy fluctuations. Shocked, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart frosted over. Such monstrous power! He then recalled the words of the elder whom he had met when he had first entered the sect. You can influence Heaven and Earth and use your willpower to control objects. If you reach the apex, you can even soar across the skies, tunnel through the ground, move mountains, and fill the seas.


    ¡°So what if you have the power of Heaven and Earth?! I swore to witness the Dao and transform into Heaven itself!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s black mane began to dance wildly in midair. The green divine light radiating from his fist abruptly beamed more vividly, and blanketing that light was a faint glimmer of golden spiritual energy. He then raised his fist high above in the air.


    This was a horrifying clash of powers. Everyone¡¯s expression dramatically changed, and their throats dried. They had never seen a crazy person like Jiang Xiaofan who used two barehanded fists to fight off a spirit channel. He had to be deranged.


    Jiang Xiaofan punched his fist outward one after the other. The look in his eyes was resolute. Even though the burn and pain continued to overwhelm his senses, he didn¡¯t have the slightest intention of backing down from this fight. There was only one thing on his mind, and that was the belief of disrupting that light, shattering the spiritual energy, and destroying this obstacle before him.


    ¡°You madman!¡±¡¯


    The young man was stunned, and his body started to tremble. Every time he released his spirit channel, he had to suffer from self-inflicted damage. Chills also ran down his spine upon seeing Jiang Xiaofan countering his spirit channel with body strength.


    Above all else, he could notably feel his energy sapping away and that the power of his released spirit channel was weakening. Under the continuous strikes of those green-fisted, iron punches, his spiritual energy eventually dissipated. His stream of light devolved into flames which then weakly flickered and began to die out slowly.


    The Buddhist Sutra ceaselessly channeled its power throughout his body. He could sense his cultivation leveling up. His innards then glowed, and his self-activated Diamond Sutra channeled qi as well. Energy unabatingly surged within him. Soon! Very soon! Almost at the breakthrough!


    Jiang Xiaofan inwardly roared. The might of his fists grew more ferocious, and his gold-colored spiritual energy could no longer be veiled by the guise of the green light. However, it didn¡¯t matter. With a slight tremble of the brass piece, the rays of golden light were instantly dimmed while his qi continued to erupt from within.


    *Bang*


    Jiang Xiaofan punched out, and his surrounding area violently shook. His opponent¡¯s spiritual channel was nearly shattered.


    Another punch was released. This time, the young man staggered a step back with a look of astonishment on his face.


    Accompanying Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s third punch was a blast of brilliant green light. He wielded no sword, but the young man could feel the presence of one. In the gesture of a sword finger[1], the air whistled and thirteen forms of green sword qi shot forth.


    ¡°Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon!¡±


    With a bellow, his thirteen forms of sword qi attacked the spirit channel from all sides. As for the final strike, the swords merged into the most powerful sword that he could conjure with his willpower and he sliced downward on the spirit channel.


    The young man immediately vomited a mouthful of blood, and his complexion paled to a deathly white. His spiritual energy had been exterminated by Jiang Xiaofan, and he had paid the ultimate price for it. His heart meridian[2] was damaged.


    ¡°This is¡­.¡±


    ¡°Ridiculously terrifying!¡±


    Everyone widened their eyes in utter amazement. Who would believe them if they were to say that a Micro Realm cultivator had shattered a Realm of Dust Cultivator¡¯s spirit channel by sheer force? Yet, this was what they had seen with their own eyes, and it undoubtedly was a miracle.


    ¡°This guy is indeed powerful!¡± Ye Yuanxue whispered.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t stop there. He flicked his wrist and emitted a dazzling light of sword qi from his fingertips.


    A meter-long sword qi appeared which then condensed into an energy sword in his hand. He could feel the strong energy fluctuations from it. This sword was even sharper and mightier than his longsword. More importantly, he wielded it with ease.


    *Hah hah*


    The sound of his energy sword slicing the illusory sky rang out.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body was aglow, and his internal energy uninterruptedly surged. His body felt like it was on the verge of exploding. His hair danced wildly again. The grass underneath him was uprooted and dust was swept into the air.


    Despite the power of the brass piece, Jiang Xiaofan could not suppress his qi. He continuously directed its circulation as his inner body vibrated from the fluctuations. He could feel the door to the Realm of Dust opening to him.


    After relaying a message to Ye Yuanxue through spiritual awareness, he transformed into a flash of lightning and headed to the nearby forest. A step shy of eruption, he could no longer control the energy inside of him. He was finally advancing to the Realm of Dust.


    *Woosh*


    A gust of wind blew before the crowd of onlookers¡¯ eyes. At the next second, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s figure vanished from sight, causing bewilderment among them. Why did he suddenly disappear?


    ¡°Jeez, this guy!¡± Ye Yuanxue gasped.


    Using his Shadow Steps, Jiang Xiaofan hastily ran past a mountain and darted for the center of the forest.


    *Boom*


    Brilliant rays of light burst from his body. His immensely powerful aura rocked the ground underneath him and sent shocks of qi to the rim.


    His entire body was enveloped by the golden rays as if he was doused in gold-colored paint. His blood boiled and roared, and his innards became translucent as they shined. Following that was an upgrade of the Diamond Sutra.


    Jiang Xiaofan clenched his golden fists and punched outward. Each of his punches violently shook the surrounding air which created visible shockwaves. Evidently, his physical strength had gotten stronger, and, additionally, he could now break most metals.


    ¡°What an intimidatingly powerful aura!¡±


    Even from a faraway distance, everyone on the island could feel Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi. Dumbfounded, they looked in Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s direction. The young man from Ziyang Sect did the same as well.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes twinkled with divine light. The crisp sound of something cracking resonated from his body. Afterward, more intense rays of golden light radiated forth and bathed the nearby vegetation in its brilliance.


    I have entered the Realm of Dust!


    He was so thrilled that he wanted to roar in the sky. The moment that he had long been waiting for had finally come. He could feel the might of his newfound strength as his body continued to emit golden rays. He lightly balled up his hands and believed that there was almost nothing in this world that he couldn¡¯t break.


    *Ring*


    Without warning, the unmoving brass piece slightly vibrated and released a wavering yet gentle multicolored glow.


    Jiang Xiaofan was greatly taken aback by its unforeseen movement. For a moment, he faintly heard the scream of a demon and the call of Buddha. It seemed as if a door within his body had been opened, and a mysterious but empyrean voice reverberated from it like the ringing of a heavenly bell.


    He could definitely sense it. That dusty door was now opened, and a majestic light shone forth which was then absorbed into his flesh and blood. His sea of awareness swayed, and everything quickly became clear to him.


    In an instant, his spiritual energy had increased and his body strength had grown unimaginably stronger. He also felt a strange but unique energy flowing inside of him. It was different than what he had before. Spirit channeling!


    Using his willpower, the space beside him suddenly twisted like a wavelet. Deeply startled, Jiang Xiaofan realized that he had just distorted space!


    However, he soon calmed down. Light flashed in his hand, and the Celestial Demon Sword appeared in his grip because he wanted to stab the spatial dimension that was before him.


    To his surprise, the sword that could slice and pierce through anything was unable to puncture a hole in the dimension. There was a powerful force that blocked it.


    Jiang Xiaofan immediately bulged his eyes in excitement. He had used already seventy-percent of his strength with the addition of his incredibly sharp sword, yet, he could not cut through that space dimension. How unbelievably frightening!


    The revelation of his spirit channel almost had him jumping for joy. Even if he was a complete imbecile, there was no way that he couldn¡¯t have sensed the mysterious and terrifying might of his newfound technique. This was the power of space! He could distort any space around him into chaos and repel almost any physical attack that came at him. He could even, to a certain degree, defend himself against spiritual energy attacks!

 Chapter 56 - Perceptions of Cultivation

    Jiang Xiaofan was overwhelmed with excitement. So this is the power of spirit channeling and the manipulation of space! If he were to fight someone on equal terms, he would nearly have absolute advantage of his opponent with his spirit channeling alone. Even if he was disadvantaged, the battle would be less taxing for him.


    He had never envisioned that, after reaching the Realm of Dust, the brass piece would voluntarily move, open a door for him, and give him the fearsome power of controlling space.


    Having once glanced through an ancient book, he knew that there were two forms of energy that were publicly acknowledged as the most daunting. Both were attributes that belonged to the primordial high gods and considered supreme above all other attributes of spirit channeling. One was space, and the other was time.


    According to primordial legends, space reigned as king while time reigned as sovereign. The power of space was mighty beyond comparison and could repress the released power of numerous primordial cultivation methods. As for the power of time, no one on Planet Ziwei had ever seen it so there existed no concrete records of it.


    Jiang Xiaofan gradually calmed down after getting over his thrill. Even though he possessed spatial power, his influence over space was limited to his surrounding area only. Thus, calling it the space spirit channel was a bit of a stretch.


    He then remembered another matter that animated him again. He channeled his spiritual energy, and his body began to hover above the ground. By relying on his energy, he was now able to float in midair.


    ¡°To all the gods, immortals, and buddhas, thank you! I no longer have to use a flying sword anymore!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was exhilarated. Now that he was at the Realm of Dust, he could finally abandon the flying sword technique and that terrible nausea which accompanied it. This newfound ability felt fresh and electrifying, and he could now fly at will.


    The feeling of being in the air without the use of an instrument was just too wonderful. Despite this being his first time, he was able to smoothly glide out of the forest before finally landing in front of Ye Yuanxue.


    ¡°Hey Perverted Wolf, not bad! You no longer have to feel nauseous anymore!¡±


    Ye Yuanxue was happy for him as she tugged on his earlobe while Little One merrily hopped on his shoulder and flapped its multicolored feathered wings.


    The onlookers who were still lingering around looked at Jiang Xiaofan with their eyes widened and jaws dropped to the floor. Not long ago, this person¡¯s cultivation was still at the Micro Realm. Yet, he had just flown back to here by himself. How could he have entered the Realm of Dust within this short amount of time?


    ¡°Did he just break into a higher realm?


    ¡°That¡­. Was he hiding his true strength all along?¡±


    ¡°I think so!¡±


    ¡°What a savage move! He played us for a fool!¡±


    They began to debate among themselves but were ultimately doubtful. The chance of him breaking into the Realm of Dust was so minimal that it was almost zero. Even if it really did happen, they could not psychologically accept that as reality. It was too incredible!


    Carrying Wang Ao in his arms, the young man from Ziyang Sect had already left the scene. After all, he had lost all face after getting badly beaten by a Micro Realm cultivator twice. Not to mention, his heart meridian had been ravaged by the self-inflicted damage of using his spirit channel which was then destroyed by Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan and Ye Yuanxue departed as well. With the Sea of Heart in their hands, the task which they had undertaken was now completed. This journey was totally worth it. I¡¯m now a Realm of Dust cultivator!


    Because he was now at the Realm of Dust and didn¡¯t need to stress himself over the flying sword, the speed of their return to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was faster than usual. It only took four days to reach the sect¡¯s base.


    ¡°Boss, you seem somewhat different. Why is that?¡±


    Shortly after he had stepped foot onto Standstill Peak, Lin Quan and Tang You circled him. They keenly sensed that Jiang Xiaofan had undergone some bodily change, but they were unable to pinpoint what it was.


    Jiang Xiaofan snickered. ¡°It¡¯s because I have reached the Realm of Dust.¡±


    Other than his Buddhist Sutra and the palm-sized, silver-colored brass piece, he really had nothing else to hide from them. It was only right to inform them, his close friends, of his breakthrough to the Realm of Dust.


    Their eyes immediately bulged in response, and they were rendered speechless. They could still recall that when Jiang Xiaofan had first arrived on Standstill Peak, his cultivation was only at the fifth heaven of Micro Realm. How long has it been since then? He¡¯s now at the Realm of Dust? What an insane cultivation speed!


    What they didn¡¯t know was that Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cultivation was actually at the seventh heaven of Micro Realm, not the fifth, when he had first come to Standstill Peak. Even if they did know, they would still be shocked. The reason was that despite many inner disciples having passed the selection tournament years ago, their cultivations remained at the Micro Realm. On the other hand, they, at the very least, belonged to one of the seven main peaks.


    ¡°Haha, if those elders knew that they had passed up a peerless genius like you, they¡¯d probably be crying right now.¡±


    This was the truth. Which sect didn¡¯t care about a genius disciple? Based on Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cultivation speed alone, there wouldn¡¯t be another one like him in thousands of years. He would naturally be the target of competition among the large sects. Geniuses like Jiang Xiaofan would inevitably brightly shine as the stars of the future, and the sect that nurtured the genius would gain great prestige as a result.


    ¡°I like this place a lot. As for the seven main peaks, hmm¡­. I only like the Heavenly Maiden Peak.¡±


    Lin Quan and Tang You immediately spurned Jiang Xiaofan from within. You¡¯re not the only one who likes the Heavenly Maiden Peak! That¡¯s the dream paradise among all male cultivators within the sect! That place is holy land! They really thought that Jiang Xiaofan at this moment was just pretending to be self-effacing.


    Nevertheless, a celebration was necessary for the honor of his entry to the Realm of Dust. Another campfire on Standstill Peak had been set up, and game was being roasted yet again. Liu Cheng¡¯an had joined in the fun as well. The four of them were like one big family.


    Liu Cheng¡¯an smiled at Jiang Xiaofan, took out a booklet from his robe, and handed it to Jiang Xiaofan. This was his gift to him, a lifelong record of his perceptions of cultivation.


    ¡°Th¡­. Thank you, Old Man Liu!¡± Jiang Xiaofan earnestly bowed in gratitude.


    Although Liu Cheng¡¯an was now a mortal, he had once been a venerable elder of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect whose cultivation at Human Emperor had been feared by many. Therefore, his perceptions of cultivation were deemed invaluable. Many cultivators would willingly engage in a bloody conflict just for a piece of his insight.


    Essentially, to Jiang Xiaofan, this booklet was the perfect gift since he could walk fewer detours on his path to Dao, or perhaps, he could even set Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s Dao as a template for himself. With such perceptions of cultivation, no sensible cultivator would ever voluntarily reveal them. Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s act of selflessness moved him greatly.


    On that same night with stars dotted across the sky, Jiang Xiaofan sneaked into Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s room after the old man had already gone to sleep. He took out a gold core pill, delicately crushed it, channeled his spiritual energy, and delivered it into the old man¡¯s mouth.


    He knew that if he were to give the gold core pill to him in person, Liu Cheng¡¯an might not accept it. Thus, like what the old man had done to Lin Quan and Tang You, Jiang Xiaofan also fed him the pill when he was in deep sleep.


    He believed that with his current level of cultivation, the now-mortal old man wouldn¡¯t be able to discover it. The situation was different than that of Lin Quan¡¯s and Tang You¡¯s. They had been able to detect the Old Man discreetly feeding them pills.


    After he had finished his business here, he woke up Lin Quan and Tang You and walked with them to a nearby forest.


    The two were still drowsy as they rubbed their eyes and asked, ¡°Boss, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Stop sleeping like a pig! If someone were to kidnap you, you guys would probably not even know it!¡± Jiang Xiaofan snapped and rewarded each person with a kick to the behind.


    A jade bottle materialized in his hand. He withdrew two gold core pills and gave each one to Lin Quan and Tang You, both being third heaven Micro Realm cultivators. He was certain that a gold core pill could help them advance another heaven.


    Previously, he had consumed nine gold core pills and refined them in his body to break into the ninth heaven of Micro Realm from the eighth. Needless to say, his case was not applicable to Tang You and Lin Quan. Their difference in cultivation was far too vast. To them, one gold core pill was enough to break into the fourth heaven.


    ¡°This is¡­.¡±


    ¡°G¡­. G¡­. Gold core!¡±


    Upon looking at the pill in their hands and catching a whiff of its faint, fragrant aroma, the two were completely jolted out of their sleep. With mouths agape and astonishment written across their faces, they widened their eyes and stared heatedly at the pill.


    ¡°Boss, this is¡­. This is too much!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! Too precious!¡±


    They were quite shocked as they continued to examine the pill. They were once the guardian disciples of the Pill Cultivation Pavilion, so, without saying, they knew what a gold core pill was and understood its incalculable value.


    Back then, they had been sent to Standstill Peak as punishment solely because they had knocked over a bottle of low-grade primary core pills. They could only leave once their ten-year penalty was over. If low-grade primary pills were already of such importance, it was conceivable just how prized a gold core was.


    They didn¡¯t know how Jiang Xiaofan had come to possess gold core pills and why he had this many, but they didn¡¯t inquire him. At this moment, they were so excited that their hands quivered.


    ¡°Precious? Not really.¡± Jiang Xiaofan patted them on the shoulders and assured, ¡°Since you guys call me Boss, then you guys, by default, are my brothers. As long as I walk forward, I will never leave either of you behind!¡±


    The two of them trembled, their eyes grew red, and their blood boiled with passion. They nodded heavily and replied, ¡°Yes, Boss!¡±


    ¡°Consume the pill right now. I¡¯ll cover you and help you refine it. Both of you should be able to break into the next heaven.¡±


    Although they were thrilled by the prospect of a breakthrough, they were hesitant at the same time.


    They didn¡¯t doubt his words, but they thought of another matter and murmured, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s better that we give these to Old Man Liu instead. Compared to us, he needs them more.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan simply smiled. Lin Quan and Tang You hadn¡¯t disappointed him. After receiving the precious gold core pills, they still had the heart to think about the old man. Jiang Xiaofan was very pleased to know that their natures were still compassionate and kind.


    He chuckled, ¡°No need to worry. I already fed him another gold core pill. I believe that his body will be able to recover sooner or later. As for you two, hurry up. Refine it and break into the fourth heaven already!¡±


    Ecstatic, Lin Quan and Tan You nodded heavily again. They had never thought of using a gold core pill to progress their cultivation before. The first reason was that they didn¡¯t have the resources. The second was that no one had seemingly ever consumed pills to advance to another heaven before.


    Nevertheless, they trusted Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s words, sat down in a lotus position, and swallowed the pill.


    In an instant, they sensed unimaginably dense energy appear within them. This energy was terrifyingly powerful, and they felt as if their bodies were about to explode.


    At this time, Jiang Xiaofan channeled his spiritual energy to help the two refine the dense spiritual qi. Very soon, the streams of qi soon calmed down which were then fully refined and absorbed into their flesh and blood.

 Chapter 57 - The Brass Piece’s Strange Movement

    Lin Quan and Tang You wanted to jump for joy and scream in elation upon their breakthrough, Lin Quan in particular. He had stayed at the third heaven of Micro Realm for far too long, but at last, he finally broke through two heavens today. To him, this all seemed like a dream.


    ¡°You two will continue to break through and reach higher levels!¡± Jiang Xiaofan encouraged.


    They nodded and replied, ¡°Definitely, Boss! We believe that if we continue to follow you, we can journey farther on our paths to Dao. We will no longer halt at just the Micro Realm! Those main peaks mean nothing to us!¡±


    Although they were giddy with excitement, they had nonetheless spoken the truth. Once aggrieved by the prolonged scorn of the disciples from the main peaks, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s arrival to Standstill Peak had completely changed them. They were filled with confidence once more!


    On the next day, the sky was sunny and bright, just like Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s mood. After all, Lin Quan was already at the fifth heaven while Tang You was at the fourth. As for Old Man Liu, his complexion appeared rosier, and after consuming the gold core pill, many of his wrinkles seemed to have diminished, looking livelier overall.


    At the base of the Heavenly Maiden Peak, two female disciples spotted Jiang Xiaofan humming a light tune while walking towards them. They teasingly inquired, ¡°Perverted Wolf, you appear to be in a good mood. What¡¯s the occasion? Tell us!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan rolled his eyes and grew disheartened. Please, sisters. Can you stop calling me Perverted Wolf so casually? I have a name, alright? You can call me Charming Jiang or Jiang the Handsome but not Perverted Wolf!


    He glanced around before whispering, ¡°Xiao Xue¡¯er promised to marry me!¡±


    This was what had gone through his mind. Many relationships begin with a rumor. At first, they¡¯ll say ¡°A¡± and ¡°B¡± has something going on between them. Once that rumor spreads, ¡°A¡± and ¡°B¡± will eventually be lumped together and love will naturally blossom.Not a bad idea, huh?


    Astounded, the girls stared at Jiang Xiaofan with widened eyes. They knew that he and Ye Yuanxue had an intimate relationship and that they would frequently visit each other¡¯s peak. However, this was progressing too fast! How can this guy steal our precious princess just like that?!


    Feeling exultant, this was the response that Jiang Xiaofan had wanted to elicit from them. At this time, a piece of rock was shot down from the top of the mountain. Startled, Jiang Xiaofan quickly dodged to the side.


    From atop the peak, she loudly ground her teeth, glowered at Jiang Xiaofan, and fumed, ¡°Pft! Perverted Wolf, you are so shameless! Who promised to marry you?! Dream on!¡±


    He immediately felt embarrassed. Damn it, I got caught red-handed! How sad! He then turned around only to notice the two girls staring back at him with mean eyes and scowls.


    ¡°Uh, it was all a big joke. Don¡¯t mind it.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan awkwardly laughed before sprinting up the peak like a bolt of lightning.


    Up above, Ye Yuanxue forcefully tugged Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe as she angrily listed all of his offenses against her, prompting Jiang Xiaofan to continuously roll his eyes in frustration. Seriously, how unlucky am I? How could I have been caught at that moment?!


    Ye Qiuyu stood to the side and glanced at her baby sister tugging Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s earlobe. After a light giggle, she resumed to elegantly sipping her tea.


    The feeling that she exuded to Jiang Xiaofan was enigmatic. Even though she appeared placid like water, he could sense, with his unusually accurate spiritual instinct, that Ye Qiuyu¡¯s cultivation was much stronger than Ying Tianyang¡¯s.


    ¡°I heard Xue¡¯er say that you have reached the Realm of Dust. Congratulations.¡±


    Ye Qiuyu beamed at him. Because of Ye Yuanxue, she was now on very friendly terms with Jiang Xiaofan and no longer addressed him Jiang Gongzi, becoming a lot more casual.


    In fact, the disciples of the Heavenly Maiden Peak were all familiar with Jiang Xiaofan. After frequent contacts with him, they had discovered that this man was quite decent and goodhearted. The reason for letting him enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak was now no longer solely because he had the first-generation leader¡¯s jade pendant. It was also because they had sincerely accepted him from the bottom of their hearts. Otherwise, there would¡¯ve been no way that Jiang Xiaofan could have joked in that manner with the two disciples at the base.


    ¡°It¡¯s just good fortune.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan modestly answered as he welcomed Ye Yuanxue¡¯s harassment.


    Ye Qiuyu merely smiled, not intending to interfere.


    At nightfall, Jiang Xiaofan finally left the Heavenly Maiden Peak.  When he arrived at Standstill Peak, he realized that Lin Quan and Tang You had already begun to absorb the surrounding spiritual qi in the air and cultivate the Jade Purity Cultivation Method. Jiang Xiaofan nodded in satisfaction.


    Old Man Liu had already gone to bed. Jiang Xiaofan didn¡¯t bother to wake him up, nor did he interrupt Lin Quan¡¯s and Tang You¡¯s cultivation. Instead, he went up to the top of the mountain and sat in a lotus position on the rock below the precipice.


    The booklet that Liu Cheng¡¯an had given him was indeed a work of art. There were annotations written everywhere which thoroughly detailed and analyzed the four realms from the Micro Realm to the Realm of Dust, Phantom Saint, and Human Emperor. Jiang Xiaofan was very grateful because there were many details which he hadn¡¯t known of before, and after studying this booklet, he immediately felt like a new world was opening up to him.


    What surprised him the most was that the perceptions of cultivation noted down reached as far as the ninth heaven of Human Emperor. Jiang Xiaofan speculated that prior to Liu Cheng¡¯an¡¯s qi deviation, the old man had cultivation at the ninth heaven of Human Emperor. Wow, insanely powerful!


    Based on what he knew, only the sect leader and the supreme elder of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect had cultivation beyond the ninth heaven of Human Emperor and were at Mystic Immortal. Those two were the pillars of the sect. However, he had never thought that Liu Cheng¡¯an was once a ninth heaven Human Emperor cultivator. Now that he pondered over it, something had to have gone wrong when Liu Cheng¡¯an had aimed for the realm of Mystic Immortal which led to a loss of all his cultivation.


    Jiang Xiaofan could only lament. The gods have no mercy! How could a nice, good-natured old man like him not overcome that hurdle to the higher realm? How could he succumb to the instability of his cultivation base, and lose everything that he had worked so hard for? Heaven is so unfair!


    He shook his head and put away the booklet. Jiang Xiaofan then activated his Buddhist Sutra and channeled his spiritual awareness throughout his body. Because of his recent breakthrough to the Realm of Dust, he needed to further stabilize his cultivation base.


    As the Buddhist Sutra channeled qi, the golden spiritual energy perfused every inch of his blood and flesh. This would make his body stronger and anchor his cultivation base like an indestructible diamond.


    After his battles at the Forest of Scorching Flames, with Ying Tianyang, and with that disciple from Ziyang Sect, he discovered numerous problems with his cultivation. His Buddhist Sutra was indeed peerlessly powerful and mystical because written in it were countless methods and their techniques. However, other than the Shadow Steps, he could not activate the other methods by will due to the over uniqueness of his golden spiritual energy. There were no records of any person on Planet Ziwei who had possessed this color of spiritual energy before.


    Being unique wasn¡¯t always a good thing. Jiang Xiaofan was deeply aware of this. Ye Yuanxue was the only one who knew the color of his spiritual energy. He even told her to keep it a secret from Ye Qiuyu.


    Dipankara, Buddha of the Past, had warned him that unless he was facing special circumstances, he should never expose the Buddhist Sutra and his brass piece to anyone. Otherwise, it would only bring about unnecessary trouble.


    He was someone whom Jiang Xiaofan had heartfelt admiration and respect for because Dipankara was considered a holy being in Buddhism Therefore, whatever the Buddha had said, regardless of the reasoning, Jiang Xiaofan had obeyed.


    Whenever he battled someone, punches and Shadow Steps were his default attack moves. Of course, he had earlier learned the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Moon and recently, space spirit channeling. Despite them all, he still didn¡¯t think that they weren¡¯t enough.


    ¡°Forget it. Let¡¯s just take it one step at a time.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan sighed. Being assigned to Standstill Peak corresponded to being labeled as a waste. Thus, the sect wouldn¡¯t provide him with any advanced cultivation method scrolls, but he didn¡¯t care since he didn¡¯t want them anyway.


    He already had the primordial Buddhist Sutra. Its mystical cultivation methods weren¡¯t any less inferior to the greatest cultivation methods of the other sects. In fact, the Buddhist cultivation methods were far superior to them. He believed that his cultivation methods could overpower all others on the planet.


    He cleared his mind again and combed through his body with his spiritual awareness as the Buddhist Sutra continuously channeled qi. His Diamond Sutra had been activated as well. His inner body glowed brighter than before, and each cell sparkled with life and immense energy. He could feel the tremendous might from within himself and felt that with one punch, he could break the ground.


    With the Buddhist Sutra as his foundation, his spiritual awareness was far more powerful than anyone else¡¯s in the same realm. Now that he was a Realm of Dust cultivator, he could fight a Phantom Saint cultivator nearly match for match. This was the ultimate trick up his sleeve!


    He continued to sweep his spiritual awareness throughout his body and finally arrived at the multicolored, small lake. It was mysterious and tranquil as if it was a sacred land that was isolated from the rest of the world. In the middle of that lake was the unmoving palm-sized, silver-colored brass piece on top of the water, akin to a pillar of the sky that supported the Heaven and Earth.


    Suddenly, something blurred before his eyes. He sensed that the silver brass piece had moved, but he soon ignored it. This brass piece is stubborn as an ox, so why would it randomly move? He refused to believe it no matter what. That was just a trick of his eyes because of his intense yearning to hold that brass piece in his hands.


    As he continued to channel his Buddhist Sutra, the spiritual energy steadily coursed through his body, and not long after, body temperature rose. Jiang Xiaofan gradually widened his eyes. This time, he had seen it. That brass piece had definitely trembled!


    His Buddhist Sutra began to automatically channel spiritual energy and increased the speed of the flow. The brass piece trembled again and emitted a thin stream of multicolored light. It shook once more before disappearing from the inside of his body and suddenly appearing right in front of his eyes.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes bulged in response, and waves of emotions washed him over.


    Ever since he had gotten that brass piece and experienced multiple incidents afterward, he learned of one thing. If there was nothing special happening, that brass piece wouldn¡¯t budge no matter what. This time though, not only had it vibrated and emitted light, it was now hovering outside of his body! Too abnormal! Too weird! Extremely weird!


    Just then, Jiang Xiaofan keenly sensed that this world had somewhat changed. All was silent. The stars were unmoving, and the sky was still. There was a large-scale evolution taking place. The budding and the decaying, creation and destruction, and all living things were affected. The passage of life continuously flowed. Everything was in the hands of reincarnation.

 Chapter 58 - The Daoist Scripture

    On top of Standstill Peak, Jiang Xiaofan was astounded beyond words. The silver-colored brass piece was outside of his body for the very first time and floated right in front of him. His eyes seemed to possess a mysterious power in which he could see through the reincarnation of life beyond the limitations of space.


    This world was filled with endless marvels. Life was everywhere, and its cycle of movement was interminable. In the spatial dimension, he could see chains of spiritual energy forming which then intertwined with traces of Dao. Like the transcendent performance of a holy rite, they outlined the way to the truth of Dao.


    He remained in a lotus position on the rock and did not move. As his eyes flickered with faint, golden rays, he saw chaos. It then faded and quickly disappeared without a trace, but the world continued to evolve. The spatial dimension quaked, and suddenly, the stillness of the void burst forth with the radiance of life.


    The Buddhist Sutra began to channel spiritual energy at an even faster rate. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s blood roared, and his innards quivered. The silver brass piece emitted flares of multicolored light which subsequently dispersed and merged with the Heaven and Earth.


    *Ring*


    Suddenly, the precipice before him glowed. Its odd-looking striations seemed to have come to life. Each mark glimmered streams of mysterious, silver light and emanated an aura of the utmost sanctity.


    The light completely veiled Heaven and Earth. Mystical, ancient writings danced in midair in sync with the brass piece. Jiang Xiaofan gazed fixedly at the precipice across from him. The view was no longer hazy. He could clearly see the traces of Dao!


    After detaching from the cliff, the silver-colored ancient writings came to life and revolved around him like merry sprites before finally merging with the traces of Dao and materializing with shimmering light. He had found the perfect explanation of the way to the truth of Dao.


    Jiang Xiaofan was shocked beyond anything that he had ever experienced before. This precipice was actually an inscription of a peerless Daoist text!


    *Ring*


    The brass piece shook again, and its multicolored light diffused even farther and out. Jiang Xiaofan was suddenly returned to his spatial dimension and now floating among the cosmos. He witnessed a world of nothingness become a world filled with life, and in the next, he saw the entire journey from birth to death. In the blink of an eye, one cycle had ended and another would begin.


    The silver-colored ancient writings swayed in front of Jiang Xiaofan and exuded a Daoist aura that was capable of nourishing all life forms.


    He didn¡¯t understand what they meant, but he was in tune with the rhythm.


    Jiang Xiaofan continued to sit upright like a pine tree and unmoving like a million-year-old rock. As if there was a wise Daoist who was teaching him all the world¡¯s knowledge, he studiously immersed himself in this spatial dimension.


    ¡°Dao begets One, One begets Two, Two begets Three, Three begets all things[1]¡­.¡±


    A faint voice from the void that carried the truth of Dao echoed in his ears before settling in his sea of awareness. The multicolored lake then shook.


    The silver brass piece above his head slightly vibrated, and its emittance of light softened to a glow. As if he was bathed in holy water, the sound of Dao continued to resonate with him and the traces of Dao swirled about. Yet, only he could hear the chorus and see these mysterious silver-colored ancient writings.


    During the entire process, the channeling rate of the Buddhist Sutra increased faster than ever. Jiang Xiaofan felt that he was about to burn up from the inside. He then heard the chants of the ancient Buddhas. A golden array of light appeared and began to slowly rotate.


    The gold-colored divine light and the silver-colored Daoist light entwined with each other, and chains of spiritual energy dangled downward one after another. The powers of Dharma[2] and Daoism fused together to create a life for all and dictate the laws of nature.


    More silver-colored ancient writings detached themselves from the cliff and danced before Jiang Xiaofan. Eventually, they transformed into rays of Daoist light which then entered into his body and was submerged in his sea of awareness. Three large, archaic words appeared[3].


    The Daoist Scripture!


    In that instant, he noticed the figure of an immortal who had appeared within his sea of awareness. That figure peered down at the skies and lands, glanced at the celestial stars, and had the Heaven and Earth bowing before him. He looked like a primordial emperor who ruled over everything, but more so, he appeared to be Dao itself.


    The figure gradually dissipated and was recreated into the countless silver-colored, ancient writings again. The traces of Dao swirled around Jiang Xiaofan and transformed into a stream of silver light which was then perfused into his extraordinary eight meridians and absorbed into his bloodstream.


    *Ring*


    Rays of the golden divine light and silver Daoist light simultaneously radiated from his body. The Buddhist Sutra and Daoist Scripture channeled spiritual energy at the same time in harmony. At the same time, he felt something opening from his inside. A tremendous surge of energy rushed forth.


    Second heaven of Realm of Dust!


    Scanning with his spiritual awareness, he could clearly see the gold and silver spiritual energies endlessly circulating throughout his body in a balanced manner like yin and yang. He detected the divine power from within himself.


    Just then, the chains of spiritual energy and traces of Dao vanished. The precipice before him no longer emitted any rays of brilliance. The light gradually faded, and the striations disappeared without a trace as if they had never existed. The cliffside suddenly became smooth like clean-cut crystal.


    *Hah*


    The brass piece trembled again. After a flash of light, it disappeared. Immediately after, Jiang Xiaofan felt another object settle in his body. It was the silver brass piece, and it now serenely floated above the middle of the multicolored lake.


    This had all really happened. He had sensed it. Other than the Buddhist Sutra resting in his sea of awareness, there was also the peerless, mystical set of writings known as the Daoist Scripture. With a brief sweep of his spiritual awareness, he discovered that depth of power that this peerless scripture contained. It rivaled that of the Buddhist Sutra!


    The Daoist Scripture. Heaven and human are one. Cultivate with the gods. The embodiment of yin and yang. Realize the way to the truth of Dao. Detach oneself of the world and merge with Dao. These were excerpts of the scripture that greatly enthralled Jiang Xiaofan. They contained enlightening truths, and he believed that understanding them was the best way of actualizing Dao.


    Peerless martial arts. Mysterious formation patterns. The depth of Daoism. Recorded in the Daoist Scripture were many mystical methods. Surprised, Jiang Xiaofan even came across a pill cultivation method.


    He knew the significance of pills to cultivators. There were two main aspects of concern to a sect. The first was the sect¡¯s cultivation methods. The second was its pills. Together, these two formed the foothold of a sect, relative to its standing among others in the cultivation world and consequently, its survival.


    The explanations of the pill cultivation techniques were detailed yet complex. He grew dizzy just from glossing over them. He was by no means a genius; hence, there was no way that he could understand and master these techniques right away. Even so, he could already estimate the value of them. If news of their existence were to leak out, large bloodshed would ravage the planet!


    As for the martial arts and formations, they were also more than enough to throw this world into chaos. His interest was aroused even further. With their peerless might, these two mystical methods were far superior in practicality than the pill cultivation method.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s eyes immediately bulged and he noisily gulped upon viewing the last section of the scripture which contained forbidden arts. These techniques were terrible, capable of destroying Heaven and Earth, and subverting the order of the world!


    As he dived deeper into comprehending the material, he realized that the Daoist Scripture was all-encompassing. For example, the subjects covered in it were more expansive and in-depth than the Buddhist Sutra. There were methodical interpretations of a cultivator¡¯s pursuit of Dao and Dao¡¯s fundamental truths.


    Unquestionably, possession of this primordial, peerless scripture was every cultivator¡¯s dream. Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t sure if this was fate, but he definitely needed this to achieve his goal of witnessing the Dao and transforming into Heaven. This was a road that was filled with difficulty and setbacks along the way, such as facing enemies who were much stronger than him. With this scripture¡¯s methods, he could use them to make up for the shortcomings of his Buddhist Sutra.


    At the same time, he also came upon a shocking revelation!


    Ye Yuanxue had once told him that the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect was a special existence in and of itself. This area was built on top of the remains of a primordial, sacred Daoist sect. Back then, Daoism had been the largest religion on Planet Ziwei and that particular Daoist sect had been deemed the strongest of them all. Its might had been renowned and revered throughout the lands for generations.


    The primordial age had been a golden era in history and abundant with countless powerful cultivators, but it had been also plagued by dark times. Heaven and Earth had been at unrest. Many primordial saints and immortals had fallen, and the world had been dyed a bloody red.


    After that, the strongest, sacred Daoist sect had vanished. Innumerable full moons later, a peerless hero had established the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect on top of the remains of the Daoist sect and created another golden era. Spiritual qi from the Heaven and Earth had accumulated again and created the environment for new forces of power to flourish until today.


    Ye Yuanxue had also mentioned that on Planet Ziwei, there had been numerous high-level cultivators who had come to the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect in search for the ruin¡¯s artifacts. It had also been rumored that those who have surpassed immortal beings had also appeared here. However, nothing fruitful had ever been discovered, so they had given up and slowly forgotten their intent.


    Jiang Xiaofan surmised that the artifact had been left by that Daoist sect had to have been the Daoist Scripture, the one which the high-level cultivators had sought after. It was most likely the quintessence of the sect, a compendium of all things Daoist from the primordial age.


    Jiang Xiaofan was at a loss for words. Who would¡¯ve thought? The primordial, sacred Daoist sect¡¯s most powerful scripture was inscribed on a cliff at the top of an ordinary mountain called Standstill Peak.


    The most unordinary was birthed from the most ordinary. This is Daoism! This is the truth!


    Jiang Xiaofan felt that he had reaped many rewards this time. He sat down in a lotus position again and simultaneously channeled the Daoist Scripture and Buddhist Sutra. Silver and golden divine light radiated. Within his spatial dimension, traces of Dao and the mystical, ancient writings swirled around him again. His cultivation continuously leveled up, almost to the point of entering the third heaven of Realm of Dust.


    Not knowing how much time had passed by, Jiang Xiaofan eventually stood up. A ray of silver light flashed across his eyes. He sensed that he was now closer to becoming one with nature. With the Daoist Scripture in his body, he could feel the Daoist energy in his spatial dimension as well.


    Earlier, he had fretted over how he couldn¡¯t display his techniques in battle because of his gold-colored spiritual energy. After all, there were no records of this gold-colored spiritual energy. He was afraid that it would bring about unnecessary troubles.


    However, he now no longer needed to concern himself with this problem anymore. The Daoist Scripture and Buddhist Sutra were of a similar entity. Accurately speaking, the Daoist Scripture was even more comprehensive than the Buddhist Sutra, but more importantly, he could openly use any of the techniques from the Daoist Scripture. In fact, the scripture¡¯s methods and their techniques were more than adequate for him to sweep his might across the world.


    The Buddhist Sutra and Daoist Scripture were mystical texts, but each had their own merits. The Buddhist Sutra¡¯s primary use was for cultivating oneself by leveling up his or her spiritual energy to its apex. The only flaw was the sutra¡¯s lack of offensive techniques. In contrast, the Daoist Scripture was more interdisciplinary as it pertained to pill cultivation, martial arts, and formations. The knowledge contained within the scripture that had once stunned the world of the past would now illuminate the world of the present.


    Now that the sutra and scripture were simultaneously channeling spiritual energy throughout his body, he could feel a substantial growth of his spiritual awareness, spiritual instinct, and his body strength. He was quite confident that he would have the absolute advantage if he were to fight someone match for match. Even if it was someone who was stronger than him, as long as the difference in cultivation wasn¡¯t too vast, he could breeze through the battle.


    *Huff*


    Dawn broke, and the night was finally over. Jiang Xiaofan exhaled a long breath. With a new day ahead of him, he headed down the mountain but not before turning around to glance at that smoothened cliff one last time. It was difficult to imagine that the artifact which had been left by the Daoist sect and greatly coveted by high-level cultivators was now in his hands.

 Chapter 59 - Qin Luo

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 Chapter 60 - Valley of the Dark River

    After leaving the Heavenly Maiden Peak, Jiang Xiaofan headed towards Xuanyang Pavilion to take up a task. Even without Ye Yuanxue by his side, he still had to venture outside and accumulate experiences. Not to mention, Lin Quan and Tang You needed the training more than he did. Their cultivation levels were still too low.


    However, what exasperated him was that Qin Luo hadn¡¯t left but instead followed him to the pavilion like an infatuated puppy. He repeatedly asked Jiang Xiaofan to teach him how to enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak since he wanted to see for himself what it was like up there.


    However, Jiang Xiaofan could care less about him. You think that there¡¯s a tactic to enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak? He then rubbed his chin. Well, there technically is one. Hm¡­. You need to first have a good moral character. Jiang Xiaofan glanced at Qin Luo, tsked, and shook his head in disapproval. This child has no hope.


    He browsed through the list of available tasks. Lin Quan and Tang You desperately needed training. Because of their low-level cultivations, a yellow-grade task was ideal for them, such as one with the difficulty level of hunting one hundred Fire Bird gallbladders.


    He had decided on another yellow-grade task, similar to the one that he had completed before. His assignment was to travel to the Mingyun Grottoes in search for a few pieces of Cangxue stones. These stones were a necessary ingredient for the refinement of a certain pill. Supposedly, there dwelled a good number of demons inside the grottoes, but their cultivation levels were no higher than the fifth heaven of Micro Realm.


    This task would require plentiful engagement in combat, and combat was the easiest way of elevating their cultivations. It could also increase their combat experiences. Therefore, this task was suitable for Lin Quan and Tang You.


    Although this was what he had in mind and wanted to take up, there was an annoying guy beside him who was causing mischief. Qin Luo snatched the jade scroll from his hands and took a look at it. Abruptly, he shook his head, threw it back, and selected another one. Satisfied with his choice, he remarked, ¡°For you! This task is better. It has more rewards!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was dubious but nonetheless looked over it. He immediately wanted to curse at Qin Luo and give him a few good kicks. This assignment was to explore a several-thousands-of-year-old tomb of a mighty cultivator and bring back the findings to the sect.


    Fine, he¡¯s right. Completion of the task would bring about numerous contribution points which were multiple times more than the points offered by the Cangxue stones task. But damn it! This is an earth-grade!


    Earth-grade, huh? It wasn¡¯t of much concern to Jiang Xiaofan. He could complete it despite the troubles that he would have to go through. However, there was no way that Lin Quan and Tang You could complete it. An earth-grade was designed for those with the cultivations at the fifth heaven of Realm of Dust and higher!


    He wanted to exchange the earth-grade for the yellow-grade that he had chosen earlier. However, after a brief look around, he was stupefied. The hell?! Some other disciple had taken away the yellow-grade, and the only one left in all of the Xuanyang Pavilion was this earth-grade task.


    He glowered at Qin Luo and fumed, ¡°Look at what you have done!¡±


    ¡°Brother, relax. It¡¯s my obligation after all!¡± As if Qin Luo hadn¡¯t noticed Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s look of murderous intent in his eyes, he beamed a sly grin at him and whispered, ¡°So, how do I enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was utterly defeated by Qin Luo¡¯s persistence. I don¡¯t understand how this guy was able to the core disciple of the Heavenly Cloud Peak. No matter how I look at it, he just doesn¡¯t seem like one. Is he really that strong? Jiang Xiaofan was extremely doubtful!


    However, Qin Luo didn¡¯t appear all that bad. At the very least, he wasn¡¯t hateful.


    Now that he thought about it, the earth-grade task wasn¡¯t too terrible. Jiang Xiaofan began to rub his chin. If I go alone, I¡¯d be somewhat handicapped. But¡­.


    He then set his sights on Qin Luo. Since Ning Meng had claimed that this guy was the Heavenly Cloud Peak¡¯s core disciple, his cultivation shouldn¡¯t be too shabby and at the very minimum, his level should be at Phantom Saint. Then, can I use his services for free? Hm, yes. In fact, it¡¯s necessary that I do so!


    Jiang Xiaofan cleared his throat and patted Qin Luo on the shoulder. ¡°Qin Shixiong, do you have any busy matters that need attending to?¡±


    Qin Luo had no clue that Jiang Xiaofan was setting him up and thought that Jiang Xiaofan was going to teach him how to enter the Heavenly Maiden Peak. Therefore, his eyes instantly lit up, aggressively shook his head, and replied, ¡°No! Not busy one bit!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan inwardly cackled but maintained a fixed expression on his face. He lamented, ¡°Brother Qin, did you know? I really wanted to take up that yellow-grade task, but you made me lose it and gave me this difficult earth-grade task instead. You might not care, but I don¡¯t think that I can complete it. Would you mind lending me a helping hand?¡±


    Since he had already taken this task, he did not consider giving it up. The contribution points were just too tempting. He had already made up his mind to drag Qin Luo with him.


    Qin Luo shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that I cannot. I still have to collect data!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan wanted to give him two more kicks. Data my ass! That¡¯s called peeping! You¡¯re such a shameless peeping tom!


    He then sighed again and gazed towards the Heavenly Maiden Peak. ¡°By the way, those disciples at the Heavenly Maiden Peak sure are beautiful. They¡¯re all so stunning and demure. Every time I go up there, I don¡¯t even want to come back down.¡±


    Afterward, they stood shoulder to shoulder beyond the gate of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect and observed the Heavenly Maiden Peak from afar once more.


    Because this task was earth-grade, he didn¡¯t invite Tang You and Lin Quan on the journey together. It just wasn¡¯t suitable for them. Even though he now had Qin Luo, there lay ahead too many unpredictable factors ahead. Yellow-grade tasks were better for them after all.


    Besides, Tang You and Lin Quan didn¡¯t necessarily need to train with him. They could venture by themselves. As a result, Jiang Xiaofan returned to Standstill Peak to inform them about the situation, and then dragged Qin Luo to depart for the Valley of the Dark River.


    The Valley of the Dark River was a long way from the base of the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect. If walking by foot, it would take at least a dozen years to reach there. The distance was even greater than traveling from the sect to the Ice Palace as it would also take about half a month to reach the valley on the flying sword. Had it been the Jiang Xiaofan of the past, there was no way that he would go, not even if his life was on the line.


    However, he was now a Realm of Dust cultivator and could rely on his own spiritual energy to fly. He no longer needed to use the flying sword technique and, consequently, feel dizzy from it. With his and Qin Luo¡¯s speed, it would take approximately five days to reach the Valley of the Dark River.


    ¡°Is there really a several-thousands-of-years-old tomb?¡± Jiang Xiaofan asked Qin Luo as they glided across the sky.


    Qin Luo nodded and answered, ¡°It appears to be so. It¡¯s been a hot topic lately. Numerous cultivators from other sects have already rushed over. Supposedly, there will even be some elder-level cultivators who will arrive there soon.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan was quite surprised. He knew that Qin Luo¡¯s mention of elder-level cultivators was a reference to the elders of the four largest sects, and most of them had cultivations at the realm of Human Emperor.


    But with so many powerful cultivators arriving on the scene, what were the other weaker cultivators doing there then? Those elder-level cultivators could basically pluck the stars and chase the moon if they wanted to. Those beneath their levels would just scatter and run away.


    Qin Luo continued, ¡°It¡¯s like this. Rumor has it that a madman from six thousand years ago is buried there, and this man had wreaked havoc on Planet Ziwei not just once but several times. Each of his storms shook Heaven and Earth. Naturally, his mausoleum is of exceptional significance. There has to be some sort of world-shattering thing in it!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan nodded in agreement. Having once browsed through the ancient archives at the Pavilion of Stored Scriptures, he knew of the existence of this madman. If the rumors were true, then the tomb must contain some sort of Heaven-defying object which enticed the Human Emperor cultivators to seek after it.


    He then began to fantasize. How can the existence of an ancient tomb like this be ordinary at all? There has to be something valuable buried deep down there. Jiang Xiaofan muttered, ¡°Madman¡¯s ancient tomb, huh? Maybe I can fish for a treasure or two.¡±


    At the same time, he also knew that the tomb was filled with unforeseen, great dangers. Otherwise, the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect would have neither labeled this task as earth-grade nor offered so many contribution points. There had to be something terrible awaiting them!


    Qin Luo also reminded him that the Valley of the Dark River was an extremely unusual place. Its existence dated so far back that it was even difficult for scholars to attach a year to it. In addition, the valley was extremely sinister. It was filled with demonic miasma all year round, and occasionally, the terrifying screams of ghosts could be heard, sounding like the resentful howls of the netherworld.


    A few decades ago, someone with cultivation at Human Emperor had once unintentionally wandered into the valley. Like a rock that sank to the bottom of the sea, he had disappeared without sound nor trace. No one had seen him since then.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s heart jumped out of his chest upon hearing this story. This Valley of the Dark River is definitely not a walk in the park! That person most likely died in there. And to think, he¡¯s a Human Emperor cultivator! There was nothing but the dead of silence before and after he went in! What a frightening place!


    Yet, he now had a deeper understanding of that so-called madman. Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t believe that the madman had laid himself to rest in that kind of place. He was indeed worthy of that title. Mad. Very mad.


    Not long after, they arrived at their destination. Jiang Xiaofan was amazed by Qin Luo throughout the whole journey. He didn¡¯t know how strong Qin Luo was, but he was very fast. Jiang Xiaofan even had to use his Shadow Steps to match his pace.


    He marveled at Qin Luo. This guy may be a perverted sleazebag, but I have to admit that he is capable. Becoming a core disciple of the Heavenly Cloud Peak definitely wasn¡¯t a fluke.


    On the other hand, Qin Luo was even more astounded by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s capabilities. His cultivation was already beyond Phantom Saint. Because he wanted to gauge Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s strength, Qin Luo raised his speed to nearly maximum. To his astonishment, Jiang Xiaofan not only caught up to him with ease, but he also didn¡¯t seem to use up much energy either.


    ¡°Brother, you¡¯re outstanding!¡± Qin Luo sincerely complimented him.


    The outskirts of the valley were now filled with people. Jiang Xiaofan swept a casual glance around the area and discovered that there were many worthy cultivators among the crowd. Most of them had cultivations at the Realm of Dust. There were even a few Phantom Saint cultivators.


    He wasn¡¯t surprised by the turnout. The emergence of the ancient tomb would undoubtedly draw a lot of people towards it. In order to reap its benefits, numerous cultivators from all directions had rushed over.


    Jiang Xiaofan caught a glimpse of the miasma hovering over the Valley of the Dark River. There were also many bizarre-looking, primordial vegetations, but they all grew on the outskirts. It was difficult to peer any further into the depth of the valley.


    Because the valley was a unique place situated in an oddly-formed terrain and was covered all year long by the mysterious miasma, even a very powerful cultivator could only vaguely paint a picture of the land with spiritual awareness.


    Not long ago, the valley¡¯s miasma had been momentarily dispersed by the winds. Someone had spotted the shadow of what seemed like a mausoleum. With the historical clues left by the ancient archives, that cultivator had deduced that the mausoleum had to be the resting place of the infamous madman. This was what led to today¡¯s gathering of cultivators from all around the world.

 Chapter 61 - Asking for Trouble? Beat Them Up

    Miasma swirled about the Valley of the Dark River like rolling smoke. Everything within view was blurry, and trying to peer through it with powerful spiritual awareness was futile.


    Many cultivators from various sects were now gathered at the outskirts of the valley. Jiang Xiaofan stood off one end. He was fine, but the guy next to him left him speechless. There was only one thing on Qin Luo¡¯s mind, and that was to gawk at the nearby female cultivators. Qin Luo¡¯s eyeballs bulged so much that, if possible, they would¡¯ve flown out of his sockets.


    Jiang Xiaofan smoothly slid to the side. Can he be any more obvious? I don¡¯t know him!


    ¡°Brother, do you see that beauty over there? What do you think?¡±


    Qin Luo extended his arm and hooked it around Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s shoulder.


    The fuck?! Damn you! Jiang Xiaofan immediately wanted to kick Qin Luo to death. Peep to your heart¡¯s content but don¡¯t drag me into it! Even if you must drag me into it, can you try to keep your voice low?! If anyone hears us, he or she will think that we¡¯re accomplices!


    As expected, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s intuition was accurate as usual. Right after Qin Luo had spoken, the girls next to them furiously glared at them as if they wanted to rip them to shreds.


    ¡°Ladies, I don¡¯t know this guy one bit.¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan felt the need to draw a fine line in his relationship with Qin Luo.


    One of the girls abruptly grew more incensed and chastised him, ¡°How shameless! If you peeped, then you peeped. Don¡¯t deny it! Look at the guy next to you! He did it too, but at least he¡¯s bowing his head in shame and repenting his sinful action! You are revolting!¡±


    What the hell is this?! Jiang Xiaofan nearly jumped at her. How can I be so unlucky? If I really did peep at you, then you can say whatever you want to me. Look at Bingxin! Yes, I admitted to looking at her. Therefore, she bullied me, and I allowed her to bully me. Despite the main reason for allowing her to bully me being that I was unable to beat her, I nevertheless took it like a man!


    Regardless, the key here is that I didn¡¯t even look at you! Jiang Xiaofan boiled with rage, but he instead turned his head, angrily snorted, and gave Qin Luo a good old kick this time I can¡¯t believe that this guy is faking it by crouching on the ground with his head hung low and counting ants!


    ¡°The miasma is dispersing!¡±


    A voice suddenly rang out, and subsequently, all the cultivators went into a frenzy.


    Jiang Xiaofan glanced ahead. Sure enough, the miasma lingering outside of the valley gradually faded away and appeared to converge somewhere deep inside the valley. The view of the surrounding scene slowly came into focus, and the outline of the terrain was now visible.


    The valley was a relatively wide piece of land. In the middle was a dense area filled with rocks and horizontally-grown trees. He had caught a glimpse of these trees before, but now that the miasma had dispersed, these ancient trees appeared even more distinctive. They were different than the spiritual trees from the Emperor¡¯s Heaven Sect because they were oddly shaped and exuded a chilling aura.


    ¡°Yo sleazebag! Time to go!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan kicked him one more time. Unbelievable! He¡¯s still faking it!


    Qin Luo stood up, and the two followed the large crowd into the valley. Because there were numerous cultivators from various sects across Ziwei, they naturally could not all band together. Therefore, groups of two people or more, with some even walking alone, entered the valley from different directions.


    Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo chose a remote path and carefully trod forward. At this time though, an irritated voice echoed from behind.


    ¡°Hey, you two! Leave this place at once!¡±


    A few people with cultivations above the Realm of Dust and ages twenty-three to twenty-four years old walked over to them.


    Jiang Xiaofan glanced back, pouted, and continued walking.


    Upon seeing Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo ignoring them, their expressions turned sullen. One of them raised a hand and released a brilliantly glowing sword qi which landed in front of the two and created a deep crack in the ground.


    ¡°I said stop! Did you not hear me?!¡±


    A man walked forth and coldly stared at Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo.


    Beside him were four other males who dressed rather elegantly and looked at them with stony faces.


    In the center was a somewhat alluring, young female who was about twenty and donned a light-green dress. She lightly knitted her brows and eyed Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo with disgust.


    Jiang Xiaofan paused, turned around, and asked, ¡°You guys are looking for trouble, right?


    The group of six were taken aback. The man in the front glanced back at the woman, noticed her look of impatience, and then faced Jiang Xiaofan again. ¡°We have already decided to walk this path! You must choose another one!¡±


    His tone was frosty and condescending as if he viewed Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo as mere nothing but empty space.


    Jiang Xiaofan narrowed his eyes, cocked his head to look at Qin Luo, and asked, ¡°What do you think?¡±


    Without any courtesy, Qin Luo replied, ¡°You just want to beat them up!¡±


    Instantly, Jiang Xiaofan was tongue-tied. After a short recovery, he continued, ¡°I do have that idea in mind, but you really shouldn¡¯t say it out loud, okay? At least give the other party some face. They have more people than we do!¡±


    Qin Luo kept silent. This guy is so unbelievably shameless!


    The other party¡¯s faces darkened even further. How could these two have the temerity to mock us like this?! The men were people who wouldn¡¯t even dare to retort whenever the female cultivator chided them, yet he just had just insulted all of them.


    Jiang Xiaofan immediately knew what they were thinking and consequently, wanted to reward each one of them a punch to the face. Screw you! That¡¯s not a retort at all! That¡¯s called respect! I¡¯m respecting that lady over there, alright?! Respect is a virtue!


    ¡°Hurry up and make them leave!¡± The female grew more impatient.


    This female appeared to be the leader of the group. After hearing her speak, the four other men walked over to Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo with icy looks on their faces. One of them drew a longsword and warned, ¡°I think that it is better for you two to leave here at once. Otherwise, this area may be stained with blood!¡±


    ¡°Our time is precious. Don¡¯t force us to move you ourselves!¡± Another one threatened.


    Their mannerisms were indifferent and unrelenting. They peered down at Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo from high above as if they were gods and that everything was in their control.


    This time, Qin Luo glanced at Jiang Xiaofan and queried, ¡°They¡¯re seriously asking for trouble. What should we do?¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s direct response was, ¡°Beat them up!¡±


    His attitude was very dull and could even be described as belittling. The other party¡¯s expressions became glacial. The one with the longsword stormed over and unhesitatingly hacked his weapon at them. There was dim, divine light blanketing it.


    The two made no movements until the longsword neared them. Jiang Xiaofan extended his two fingers and, with lightning speed, caught the blade between them. With a slight twist, a loud *ka-chak* was heard. He then casually threw the broken blade back to his opponent.


    *Hah*


    As the blade flew in the air, it nicked the young man¡¯s cheek and left a thin, dripping trail of blood.


    ¡°Brother Jiang, not bad!¡± Qin Luo praised him.


    The expression of the one who had attacked Jiang Xiaofan grew morose. He wiped the blood from his cheek and threw the broken longsword on the ground. Powerful qi began to emanate from him. The atmosphere suddenly became tenser.


    The qi from his fist was fearsome as if it carried the heat of the blazing sun, and the surrounding temperature rose drastically. It was more like some sort of spirit channeling. There was faint, divine light radiating from within him, and it generated cracking sounds like a lightning strike.


    ¡°Fist of the Red Sun!¡± One of the men coolly remarked, ¡°Xia Yuan, is there a need to use that against him? It¡¯s such a waste!¡±


    ¡°He deserves to die!¡±


    Right after he had spoken, the young man punched at Jiang Xiaofan.


    Jiang Xiaofan naturally sensed just how terrible the force of this punch was; however, he wasn¡¯t worried. Ever since his Diamond Sutra had been upgraded, his body strength had reached its maximum. Because he could now physically counter the attacks of a Phantom Saint cultivator, Jiang Xiaofan calmly raised his right hand.


    *Ka*


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s punch met Xia Yuan¡¯s punch. The emittance of glaring light eclipsed both of their fists. Nobody could see through it.


    ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s such a waste to use this technique against a Realm of Dust cultivator!¡±


    ¡°Indeed!¡±


    The opposing party¡¯s members flatly commented.


    In the next moment when all the light had scattered, they were stupefied by what had just happened. Xia Yuan crouched on the ground in agony with a pale complexion. His entire arm was deformed, and the bones were completely shattered.


    Jiang Xiaofan shook his head, strode forward, raised his leg, and kicked Xia Yuan back to the other side.


    ¡°A Realm of Dust cultivator blocked the Fist of the Red Sun?!¡±


    ¡°How?!¡±


    They were so stunned by this sudden turn of events that they didn¡¯t even pick up the fallen comrade who lay at their feet.


    Another person, the oldest among them, walked forward. He icily stared at Jiang Xiaofan and said, ¡°You indeed have some skills, but this is my last warning. Leave now, or this place will really be stained with blood.¡±


    No longer able to tolerate him, the green-robed girl waved her hand in exasperation and demanded, ¡°Xia Chen, just do it already. I don¡¯t want to see these unsightly people anymore!¡±


    ¡°Yes, Miss.¡±


    Xia Chen nodded and disappeared with a flash. His right hand slapped down at Jiang Xiaofan.


    He was very fast and strong. This was Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s first thought.


    *Swoosh*


    Although his opponent had quick speed, Jiang Xiaofan wasn¡¯t slow either. With his right leg forward, he instantly vanished from the other party¡¯s sight and appeared several meters outside of their attack range.


    Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s instinct told him that he could not go head-to-head with that man. He was frighteningly powerful!


    ¡°You!¡±


    Caught off guard, the man named Xia Chen revealed an astonished expression. He had never thought that Jiang Xiaofan would be able to avoid his palm strike.


    The people behind Xia Chen were equally shocked, including that green-robed girl. Xia Chen was the strongest of them all. Among the younger generations of Ziwei, he would definitely be at the forefront of the rankings. However, a Realm of Dust cultivator had been able to dodge his strike. This was quite incredible.


    Qin Luo pointed to Xia Chen and responded, ¡°Give this guy to me. The rest is yours!¡±


    Feeling helpless, Jiang Xiaofan replied, ¡°Wow, you are bad at math. You handle one while I handle five?¡±


    ¡°Then, how about we switch? You take care of him, and I beat up the rest?¡±


    ¡°Uh, actually, those five don¡¯t seem that bad. Brother, you have always been the leader so let¡¯s go with your decision!¡±


    Jiang Xiaofan spoke with conviction, but he inwardly cursed at Xia Chen. That man was very strong. From what he could perceive, Xia Chen¡¯s cultivation was definitely at Phantom Saint. Jiang Xiaofan just didn¡¯t want to battle someone at that realm.

 Chapter 62 - You Asked for a Beating, so We Gave It to You

    Jiang Xiaofan could sense that Xia Chen wasn¡¯t just some ordinary cultivator. Trusting deeply in his instinct, he could feel a powerful aura coming from Xia Chen, and those who emitted this feeling of great pressure definitely had cultivation above the Realm of Dust.


    *Fwoosh*


    Qin Luo was very nimble. In an instant, he appeared in front of Xia Chen and blocked his attack while simultaneously raising his right hand to strike at him.


    *Boom*


    Another powerful aura emanated across the battlefield. Not only were Xia Chen and the other men shocked, but even Jiang Xiaofan was as well. Indeed, Qin Luo indeed lived up to his status as the core disciple of the Heavenly Cloud Peak. This was Qin Luo¡¯s first display of might before Jiang Xiaofan, and he was truly strong. Xia Chen was forced backward by Qin Luo¡¯s qi.


    Jiang Xiaofan leisurely stepped to the front and crooked his finger at the other five. ¡°Everyone, come on. Let¡¯s take a walk. I¡¯ll demonstrate to you, for free, what it means to bear your consequences.¡±


    Their faces immediately darkened. The man named Xia Yuan got back up and stood next to his peers. His expression was ice-cold as he stared daggers at Jiang Xiaofan, and his spiritual energy fluctuated violently.


    Jiang Xiaofan then turned to look at the green-robed girl to the back and calmly stated, ¡°Although you sicken me greatly, I normally don¡¯t like to hit women. Therefore, it¡¯s better that you stay away from this fight as far as possible.¡±


    To tell the truth, that green-robed girl¡¯s attitude was indeed very terrible. Jiang Xiaofan couldn¡¯t stand people like her, but he didn¡¯t have the heart to hit women either. As for Liu Shi, that was her own fault because she had insulted Ye Yuanxue in front of him. That was unforgivable. Giving her two slaps was already considered merciful.


    The green-robed girl¡¯s face was completely frosted over. She commanded them, ¡°Make him disappear! The faster, the better!¡±


    Even without the green-robed girl¡¯s order, Xia Yuan and the three others had already surrounded Jiang Xiaofan. Each one of their expressions looked unsightly and very cold. They spoke little and directly attacked him at once.


    Xia Yuan raised his hand, and the Arctic saber appeared in his hand. Ringing sounds were created as the saber sliced through the air and hacked downward at Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s neck. The person next to Xia Yuan was even more ferocious. He raised his hand and struck at Jiang Xiaofan with full force.


    Jiang Xiaofan was quite surprised. After seeing the auras that they had emanated, these people were quite skilled.


    Nevertheless, he wasn¡¯t too overly concerned. These people had cultivation at the third to fifth heaven Realm of Dust, but they didn¡¯t pose too much of a threat to him. At the very least, he didn¡¯t feel a mountain of pressure on him.


    *Swoosh*


    He vanished from his spot and zipped ahead like a flash of lightning, leaving illusory shadows in his wake. All of a sudden, he appeared in front of a young man, raised his silver-colored palm, and slapped down.


    *Bang*


    The man was instantly sent flying. His complexion paled to a deathly white, and his entire right arm tingled numbingly.


    Jiang Xiaofan smirked. He didn¡¯t use his full strength in this attack. It wasn¡¯t that he wanted to show any mercy to these people. That was impossible. He just wanted to gauge the extent of their capabilities.


    The results astounded him. Their combat powers were quite strong, and their body strengths were satisfactory. Although they could never be compared to him, they were undoubtedly better than other Realm of Dust cultivators.


    *Pff pff*


    Just when Xia Yuan¡¯s Arctic Saber hacked at him again, another person¡¯s longsword aimed for the center between his brows. However, he didn¡¯t dodge them. He moved slightly and raised a fist at the other person.


    *Bang*


    This was also an experimental punch. Jiang Xiaofan realized that this person wasn¡¯t as weak as he had imagined him to be.


    Xia Yuan and the person with the longsword sneered at him. In their eyes, Jiang Xiaofan had already completely exposed himself within their attack range, and their saber and sword had already cut off all possible escape routes. With a swing of their respective weapons, Jiang Xiaofan would unquestionably die.


    In the next moment, something unexpected happened. The attacks of the saber and sword were abruptly stopped short of one inch from piercing and slicing Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body. The weapons were unable to advance any farther as if they were trapped in thick mud.


    Jiang Xiaofan remained unperturbed. Because his cultivation was now at the Realm of Dust, the silver-colored brass piece had helped him activate his space spirit channeling. Although he could not attack with it, his spirit channeling served as a very good defensive technique.


    In addition, he had a feeling that if he continued to level up his cultivation, the power of his spirit channeling would grow stronger as well. He believed that he would one day grasp the essence of space spirit channeling and master the infinite spatial dimension.


    Meanwhile, Xia Yuan and the man with the longsword revealed a hint of shock on their faces. The other two people cornered Jiang Xiaofan and attacked him from the left and right. To their dismay, all four of them were stopped one inch short of cutting down Jiang Xiaofan, just like before.


    ¡°What are you guys doing?! Hurry up and eliminate him!¡± Dissatisfied by their performance, the green-robed girl hollered at the four.


    Jiang Xiaofan glanced at her and wryly smiled. He suddenly moved with his peerless Shadow Steps. Now that he was a Realm of Dust cultivator, very few people could match his speed for speed. The only exceptions were those with cultivations at or above the realm of Phantom Saint.


    *Bang*


    The first person was knocked flying backward. This time, Jiang Xiaofan showed no mercy and used nearly seventy percent of his power to send that person flying several meters outward. His opponent¡¯s complexion immediately paled as he groaned in pain.


    With a right sweep of his leg, Jiang Xiaofan knocked the second person flying backward. The young man then crashed into a nearby boulder, and a large crack appeared on the boulder¡¯s surface. Blood trickled down his mouth. It was frightening to think about just how much force had been packed into that kick.


    Xia Yuan and the one wielding a longsword stepped back. They had witnessed just how terrifying Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s body strength was. Engaging in close combat was not a wise choice at all. They needed to distance themselves!


    However, they had underestimated Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s speed. In the blink of an eye, Jiang Xiaofan appeared in front of them and slapped them across the face.


    Two crisp sounds followed. Xia Yuan¡¯s Arctic Saber and that man¡¯s longsword were snapped in half by Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s qi. Upon getting slapped by Jiang Xiaofan, their faces turned red and swollen, and a couple of teeth were knocked loose and flew out.


    Jiang Xiaofan serenely stood in the center, glanced at the fallen four, and shook his head. He then peered in another direction. That man named Xia Chen was fearsome. His expression was frigid as he continuously channeled his spiritual energy. With just a hand, the space above them vibrated violently as if it was about to rip open. His spiritual energy physicalized into a magical mountain which then slammed down on Qin Luo.


    Still, Qin Luo wasn¡¯t weak either. His look was grim, but he was able to fend off Xia Chen¡¯s attack. The battle subsequently took place in midair. Each attack stirred the winds and clouds and unnerved the souls of those who watched them.


    Jiang Xiaofan marveled at the battle. The powers of Phantom Saint cultivators were indeed phenomenal. He was, for now, incomparable to them. If he needed to fight a Phantom Saint cultivator in a serious match right now, victory would be impossible to achieve. He wasn¡¯t worthy yet.


    He turned his head around, looked at the fallen four once more with disdain, and gibed at the green-robed girl. ¡°It seems that it¡¯s too difficult for them to make me disappear, correct?¡±


    The girl ground her teeth, and murderous intent quickly clouded her eyes as if she couldn¡¯t wait any longer to tear Jiang Xiaofan apart.


    ¡°You only have great strength! Who do you think you are?! You¡¯re still far below us!¡±


    One of the four openly disparaged Jiang Xiaofan. Although the other three all wore different expressions, the looks in their eyes were icy, particularly Xia Yuan and the one with the longsword. They seethed with obvious anger.


    ¡°I remember someone who had once said something similar. In the end, I beat him until he sprawled on the ground like a dog.¡± Jiang Xiaofan shook his head again and dismissed their threats. ¡°The four of you had just endured my hits, yet you still dared to talk to me in this way. Don¡¯t you find yourself a bit shameless?¡±


    ¡°Go die!¡±


    The four of them immediately grew irate. Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s casual tone was like another hard slap and the pain seared across their cheeks. They could no longer tolerate the humiliation. Their faces twisted with savagery.


    *Boom*


    Immense spiritual energy fluctuations emanated from their bodies. The four didn¡¯t near Jiang Xiaofan this time. The sky was lit up with colorful light. A green lotus appeared and blossomed on top of a majestic, divine mountain. They all had activated their spirit channelings in an attempt to attack Jiang Xiaofan from afar.


    These four men were formidable fifth heaven Realm of Dust cultivators. The moment when they activated their spirit channelings, dangerous auras pervaded the atmosphere. Even Jiang Xiaofan was daunted by their impressive might. Their capabilities were beyond that of other cultivators in the same realm.


    Nevertheless, he did not fear them. Silver light radiated from his right hand, and he shot it towards the sky.


    The Daoist Scripture contained records of numerous primordial, sacred techniques. All of them were very powerful. A silver talisman appeared in the palm of his hand. It slightly trembled. The green lotus was then smashed into bits, and the majestic, divine mountain quaked into fragments.


    ¡°You have failed. You¡¯re the ones who are below me!¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to drag the battle for too long because Qin Luo¡¯s fight with Xia Chen was coming to its finale. Qin Luo was a perverted sleazebag, but his might was definitely frightening. He had the upper hand against Xia Chen.


    *Swoosh*


    At the next second, he vanished and left behind a trail of blurry shadows. He instantly appeared before one of the four, raised his right hand, and punched at him. Beneath the silver light was a hint of golden rays. Thanks to the Diamond Sutra, his physical strength was now powerful beyond compare. With strenuous effort, he could even challenge a Phantom Saint cultivator and live to tell it.


    *Pff*


    The first person was knocked flying backward, and he spurted blood in midair. His chest was caved in. Evidently, he could not handle Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s punch.


    *Pah*


    Like a loud clap of thunder that rocked the sky, another person had been struck. An arm dangled downward, and his face contorted in agony.


    The Buddhist Sutra was the most treasured and sacred text in the Buddhist world, and it could help a cultivator cultivate to the highest realm. Written in it was the Shadow Steps which was an unrivaled technique because based on its speed alone, almost no other technique on Ziwei could surpass it.


    *Pff*


    The young man wielding the longsword had been punched squarely in the chest by Jiang Xiaofan. Several of his ribs instantly broke, and he coughed up a large mouthful of blood. Like a ragdoll, he had been punched into the air before slamming into a distant, giant boulder.


    Despite Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cultivation being at the Realm of Dust, his diamond body was already strong and durable enough to compete with the strength of a Phantom Saint cultivator. Even Ying Tianyang had suffered greatly from his punch back then, let alone these four people. In addition, Jiang Xiaofan¡¯s cultivation had been at the ninth heaven of Micro Realm back then. Therefore, the might of the present Jiang Xiaofan should not be underestimated.


    ¡°You!¡±


    *Pah*


    Xia Yuan was sent flying for the second time. He vomited a mouthful of blood as he viciously glared at Jiang Xiaofan.


    On the other side, Qin Luo had already wrapped up his match. The man named Xia Chen plunged downward from midair. His hair was disheveled, and a pile of stones was crushed underneath him from the impact of the fall.


    ¡°How dare you both attack my people! Do you know who I am?!¡± Outraged, the green-robed girl snapped at Jiang Xiaofan and Qin Luo.


    Jiang Xiaofan glanced at the fallen cultivators on the ground, looked up at the girl, and scoffed, ¡°You asked for a beating, so we gave it to you. It¡¯s that simple. I don¡¯t give a damn who you are!¡±