Qing Tan

"Eh?"

Suddenly, Lin Fan sensed a strange energy being born within his body.

This energy flowed slowly, seeming to contain an indescribable sense of power.

"Could it be an Essence Seed?"

Lin Fan could not help but laugh. "As expected of the Void Body Refining Art. At merely the Body Tempering Third Level, it allowed me to form an Essence Seed."

One had to know that in this world, other martial artists could only form an Essence Seed after reaching the Body Tempering Sixth Level.

The reason was that, at the beginning of cultivation in this world, one had no way to directly absorb the Yuan Power of heaven and earth.

One had to first temper the body and continuously strengthen oneself. Only after the muscles and bones within the body had been strengthened to a certain degree could a trace of an Essence Seed be produced.

Only those who formed an Essence Seed could truly become cultivators and begin absorbing the Yuan Power of heaven and earth to strengthen themselves.

However, because the Void Body Refining Art could directly absorb the Yuan Power of heaven and earth, Lin Fan had skipped this step entirely.

Still, that was only natural. One world cultivated immortality while the other cultivated martial arts, so there were naturally differences.

"Lin Fan Bro!"

A somewhat childish voice rang out, and a graceful figure like a butterfly appeared outside the door.

Lin Fan turned to look. She was a girl of about fourteen or fifteen, dressed in a simple set of light-colored clothes.

Although she was still young, her little face had already grown exceedingly delicate. Her big eyes blinked brightly, making her look utterly adorable.

"Qing Tan?"

Lin Fan recognized her and asked with a smile, "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, what am I doing here?"

Hearing Lin Fan's words, Qing Tan frowned slightly, somewhat annoyed. "You clearly promised me that you would accompany me to Back Mountain today to look for spiritual medicine. Don't tell me you forgot?"

"How could I? I like being with Qing Tan the most."

Lin Fan hurriedly changed the subject. "Since that's the case, let's hurry to Back Mountain!"

"Hehe!"

Qing Tan narrowed her eyes and moved closer, naturally linking her small hand around Lin Fan's arm as they walked out together.

The Lin Family's Back Mountain connected to a vast forest, where one or two spiritual medicines would occasionally appear.

Thus, quite a few Lin Family juniors came here in their spare time to try their luck.

Along the way, the two encountered quite a few Lin Family juniors. Some wanted to accompany Qing Tan as well, but she refused them all.

The two continued searching through the forest, and before they knew it, it was nearly noon.

Lin Fan said to Qing Tan, "It's almost time to eat. How about we go back for a meal and continue this afternoon?"

"Lin Fan Bro, just hold on a little longer!"

Qing Tan wiped the fragrant sweat from her forehead with her delicate hand and said, "I believe we'll find a spiritual medicine very soon!"

Helplessly, Lin Fan could only continue searching with Qing Tan.

Half an incense stick later, Qing Tan suddenly cried out, "Lin Fan Bro, I found spiritual medicine!"

Immediately afterward, Lin Fan saw that Qing Tan's small dirt-covered hand was holding a fiery red plant.

The moment he saw it, Lin Fan recognized it as Scarlet Sun Grass, the lowest-grade First Grade Spiritual Medicine.

Lin Fan smiled. "I didn't expect you to actually find one."

"Lin Fan Bro, this is for you!"

Qing Tan looked at Lin Fan with her beautiful eyes and handed him the Scarlet Sun Grass.

"This is for me?"

Lin Fan could not help but freeze.

Qing Tan rolled her eyes. "If it wasn't for you, why would I have called you out here?"

After a pause, Qing Tan continued, "There are less than six months left before the Clan Competition. For Lin Fan Bro to achieve a good result, Qing Tan will work hard to find spiritual medicines for you."

"Qing Tan, you're so good to me!"

Lin Fan's heart warmed, and before he knew it, his hand had pinched her tender little face under her astonished gaze.

This intimate gesture made Qing Tan immediately narrow her eyes, her heart sweeter than honey.

"Since we've found the spiritual medicine, let's head back!"

As Lin Fan spoke, he took Qing Tan's slender hand and headed toward the Lin Family.

Just as the two were about to leave the forest, a group of young Lin Family members suddenly rushed out.

When the leading youth saw Lin Fan and Qing Tan's interlocked fingers, he immediately shouted, "Lin Fan, let go of Qing Tan!"

Lin Fan recognized him at a glance. He was Lin Shan, who had often caused him trouble before.

However, the current Lin Fan was no longer the Lin Fan of the past.

Although he was only at the Body Tempering Third Level and was still one level weaker than his opponent, he was confident that he could defeat him.

Lin Fan cast him a cold glance. "Who the hell are you to order me around?"

"Good, good, good!"

Upon hearing this, a vicious gleam immediately rose in Lin Shan's eyes. He laughed in rage and said, "It's only been a few days, but your guts have grown quite a bit. Looks like I beat you too lightly last time and failed to teach you a lesson!"

"Lin Fan Bro, let's not fight him, okay?"

Seeing this, Qing Tan said anxiously.

After all, Lin Fan had never been a match for Lin Shan.

Lin Fan rubbed Qing Tan's little head and said seriously, "Don't worry, girl. Starting today, I'll wash away every humiliation of the past!"

Qing Tan seemed to be infected by Lin Fan's confidence and no longer tried to dissuade him.

At that moment, seeing the two acting so intimately, Lin Shan was consumed by jealousy. His body suddenly shot forward, and he clenched his fist as he punched at Lin Fan.

"Humph!"

Lin Fan snorted coldly. With a casual sweep of his left hand, he deflected Lin Shan's attack from its original trajectory.

Then, his elbow slammed fiercely into Lin Shan's chest.

Bang!

A tremendous force struck him, sending Lin Shan stumbling back several steps in succession.

"Damn it, I actually suffered at the hands of someone at the Body Tempering Third Level today!"

Lin Shan stopped retreating and glared at Lin Fan with a gloomy expression before shouting, "Falling Rock Fist!"

In an instant, the veins on Lin Shan's arm bulged. Several fist shadows then emerged, like a shower of falling rocks, smashing viciously toward Lin Fan's head.

"It's the Lower First Grade Martial Skill, Falling Rock Fist!"

"I didn't expect Lin Shan to have begun cultivating martial skills. Lin Fan is done for this time!"

The crowd immediately erupted into commotion at the sight of Lin Shan's attack.

Yet Lin Fan remained remarkably calm.

After binding the Chen Beixuan Template, Lin Fan possessed combat experience equivalent to Chen Beixuan's.

As the strongest expert of the First Combat Sect, what kind of killing techniques had Chen Beixuan not seen?

To others, this seemingly formidable punch was full of openings in Lin Fan's eyes!

He bent backward, his entire body resembling a drawn bow.

At that moment, Lin Fan's tightly clenched fist was like an arrow pulled to the fullest, poised to strike.

Boom!

Lin Fan's body flashed, and he threw a punch as fast as lightning. Like a cannonball, it collided with Lin Shan's fist.

Although Lin Fan was one level weaker than Lin Shan, his techniques for exerting force were far beyond Lin Shan's.

The moment this punch landed, Lin Shan immediately felt an unstoppable force rush into his body.

The next moment, his entire body flew backward through the air for several meters before crashing heavily onto the ground.

In contrast, Lin Fan merely took one step back before dissipating the recoil.

The difference between them was immediately clear.