An Instant

An Instant

Xu Fan led everyone to the largest room, which had been arranged as a reception hall.

After everyone sat down, Xu Fan looked at the young couple who were always flaunting their affection and said with feeling, "You two really went all in."

"Did you dig up any other Soul Iron? I'll buy whatever remains at market price." Xu Fan looked at the two of them. He had seen fresh soil on that piece of Soul Iron, so it had definitely been unearthed only recently.

The husband and wife exchanged a glance, then both spread their hands.

"We only dug up this one piece. We brought all of it to Brother Xu," Murong Qian'er said softly, a trace of heartache flashing in her eyes.

Xu Fan looked at Wang Yulun and saw that he nodded as well.

"You didn't even cut it in half and think of trading some for Spirit Stones or something? I remember you two aren't exactly well-off."

"When two honest people get together, it's easy for them to be foolishly generous." Xu Fan sighed. He knew this was the couple's way of repaying him for saving their lives.

"Haha, Brother Xu, just accept it without worry."

"Brother Xu is a heaven-sent genius. These past few years, you've always been the one helping us."

"Now that we finally have a chance to repay you, of course we have to give it our all." Wang Yulun raised his brows, looking a little smug.

"I accept your intentions."

"How about this? I'll give you two a full package, and you're not allowed to refuse." Xu Fan thought for a moment. With this piece of Soul Iron, many of his Artifact Refining ideas could finally be realized. The leftover scraps alone would be enough to make two sets of Treasure Artifacts for the couple.

"What kind of full package?" Wang Yulun, who often chatted with Xu Fan, naturally understood what he meant.

"The full equipment-and-elixir set," Xu Fan said with a smile.

"Until you reach the Golden Core Stage, I'll cover all your Magic Treasures and Elixirs."

"I'm now a master-level Dual Mastery of Pills and Artifacts."

Xu Fan revealed an inscrutable smile.

"Really? Then thank you, Brother Xu." Wang Yulun spoke in delighted surprise. The treasures he had received from Xu Fan were all the finest of the fine. Whether Magic Artifacts or Elixirs, they had greatly aided both his and Qian'er's cultivation.

At that moment, Xu Gang entered carrying a plate of fruit.

"I found several Fruit Trees outside. The fruit on them is at its tastiest right now."

"I brought some for Master and Senior." Xu Gang gave a simple, honest smile. During Xu Fan's unconsciousness, his grandfather had told him many things about what he should do after becoming an immortal's disciple, and he had firmly committed every word to heart.

"You're thoughtful. Go play with your sister outside. We'll be eating soon."

Xu Fan noticed the Food Box Magic Treasure Murong Qian'er had placed on the table.

"Mm."

Xu Gang happily ran out.

"He's still just a child." Xu Fan smiled as he watched Xu Gang's bouncing figure recede.

"Brother Xu, it seems you're very satisfied with these two disciples," Wang Yulun said.

"In terms of talent, these two children are fairly ordinary."

"But in the Cultivation World, talent is merely the starting point of cultivation, not the finish line." Xu Fan sighed, silently adding in his heart, Cheaters and protagonists excluded.

"Brother Xu, you've already taken two disciples. Would you mind taking one more?" Murong Qian'er asked.

After hearing his wife's words, Wang Yulun just stood to the side, grinning foolishly.

"One more?"

"Are you two going to introduce one to me?" Xu Fan asked in confusion.

Wang Yulun, sitting beside Murong Qian'er, happily stroked Murong Qian'er's belly. That single movement made Xu Fan feel as though his heart had suffered a grievous wound.

"I understand. Just send the child over when they're six." Xu Fan bared his teeth after being force-fed a mouthful of dog food. He regretted offering that full package so early. This couple was really something else.

"Then thank you, Brother Xu," Wang Yulun said happily.

After the three chatted for a while, it was time to eat. They called over the siblings playing outside, and without further nonsense, dug straight in.

After eating their fill, Xu Fan had thought the young couple would return to their nest to be sweet together. But when he saw Wang Yulun's hesitant expression, he knew there was more to come.

"With the relationship we have, just say whatever it is. Why are you suddenly being shy?" Xu Fan looked at Wang Yulun.

"Brother Xu, if you went all out, how long do you think I could hold on?" Wang Yulun asked. He was now at Qi Refining Level Nine, while Xu Fan was at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. No matter what, he should be able to hold on for five breaths.

"Why are you asking such a strange question? This isn't a matter of how long you can last." Xu Fan froze. This kid was asking to be humiliated again.

"I just want to know how long we could hold on if Brother Xu went all out," Wang Yulun insisted.

"This is a difference in dimensions. If I absolutely had to give it a measure of time, then it would be an instant." Xu Fan thought for a moment before answering. An instant was roughly equivalent to 0.18 seconds.

"An instant!" Wang Yulun felt insulted.

"To be precise, from the moment I looked at you, you had already lost," Xu Fan said calmly. Enemies of the same realm were no longer qualified to stand before him.

"Brother Xu, I treat you as my big brother, yet you—

Insult me." Wang Yulun was somewhat angry. He planned to stand and ask Xu Fan for a match. He wanted Xu Fan to know that he was no longer the Wang Yulun of three years ago.

"Fine, let's go outside and spar. It'll broaden your horizons."

As he spoke, Xu Fan led the two outside onto an open stretch of ground. Under the control of Xu Fan's Earth Attribute Giant Puppet, the place had already been transformed into a vast plaza paved with smooth stone.

Xu Fan and Wang Yulun faced each other.

"Brother Xu, get ready. If you can't defeat me in an instant, you have to apologize to me." Wang Yulun gritted his teeth. He could now rely on his Thousand Blade Flying Sword to directly contend with Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

With strength like this, below the Golden Core Stage, who could defeat him in an instant?

"You really won't accept your fate, will you?"

Xu Fan snapped his fingers. A feather formed from spiritual energy appeared in the air between them, drifting toward the ground.

Wang Yulun stared fixedly at the feather. Behind him, a flying sword, a seal, and an immortal gourd—three Magic Artifacts—were poised and ready.

Xu Fan, meanwhile, merely stood there.

As the feather was about to touch the ground, Xu Fan said, "Watch out for mental attacks."

"I know." Wang Yulun wore a Magic Treasure on his chest specifically designed to defend against mental-type spells.

The instant the feather landed, a crisp sound like shattering glass rang out. The mental defense-type Magic Artifact on Wang Yulun's chest shattered outright, and his eyes went blank.

"I can't explain the difference in dimensions to you."

"As punishment for losing, dance for everyone and cheer us up." Xu Fan gave a wicked grin.

The moment he finished speaking, Ethereal Projections of ten voluptuous, gorgeously dressed beauties appeared around Wang Yulun.

Wang Yulun's formerly vacant expression instantly became seductive.

Then music that made one's heart itch began to play.

She was a lingering streak of setting sun How she wished, how she wished someone knew how to admire her

He had a window of endless blue clouds Waiting only, waiting only for someone to share it with him

Come, be merry—there is plenty of time Come, love—there is plenty of folly Come, wander—there are plenty of directions Come, be wanton—there is plenty of splendor

To the music, Wang Yulun's graceful figure began dancing with the Ethereal Projections of the beauties around him. Even Murong Qian'er blushed a little at his seductive, enchanting dance.

Watching Wang Yulun dance gracefully, Xu Fan stroked his chin and said, "Pity there's no xx country here."