The Curtain Falls

When the voice reached Huang Da's ears, the rage-filled expression on his face froze. He slowly raised his head and saw Zeng Fan staring intently at him with an icy expression. Although the aura around him seemed somewhat weakened, his momentum was far stronger than before.

"Body Tempering Bone perfected!" Huang Da had never expected Zeng Fan to truly break through. Breaking through in the middle of battle was, in his eyes, simply preposterous.

"So what if you broke through? You still have to die!" Huang Da was only briefly shocked by Zeng Fan's breakthrough. Killing intent appeared in his eyes once more, and before he had even finished speaking, his figure had already vanished from the spot.

Zeng Fan felt the power now filling his body. Although the injuries he had suffered earlier were still there, the breakthrough in cultivation had consumed a large amount of Spiritual Energy. The medicinal power of the Body Tempering Fruit remained, and Spiritual Energy continued to surge forth without end, but it would only become nourishment for Zeng Fan's cultivation, helping him completely stabilize his realm.

Zeng Fan stared fixedly at the approaching Huang Da. At his command, the Spiritual Energy within his body let out a frenzied roar. He stamped his foot hard and charged straight at Huang Da. The current him was worlds apart from his former self.

Seeing this, Huang Da said nothing more. The momentum around him rose several notches as he unleashed his full strength. The two figures collided once again, but this time, things were already different from before.

The instant they made contact, Huang Da's expression changed. Zeng Fan had blocked his all-out strike. Before, Zeng Fan had needed to rely on movement techniques and skill to dissolve the force, but now, with the strength gained from his breakthrough, he could take it head-on.

The gloom in Zeng Fan's heart was swept away. If he had not still been locked in fierce battle with Huang Da, he might even have wanted to throw back his head and give a long howl. He could now directly block every one of Huang Da's attacks. Although his body was still injured, it did not affect the display of his strength. Moreover, each of Huang Da's attacks was like a great hammer, tempering the somewhat unstable Spiritual Energy within Zeng Fan after his breakthrough until it became solid and firm.

Huang Da's heart grew heavier and heavier. As the battle continued, it seemed that Zeng Fan's breakthrough had not yet ended. His strength was gradually overwhelming Huang Da's own.

Zeng Fan's confidence, meanwhile, grew stronger and stronger. He could clearly sense his body constantly absorbing the Spiritual Energy radiating from the Body Tempering Fruit. His bones were becoming harder, and even the blood flowing through his body was being infused with wisps of Spiritual Energy. The final realm of the Body Tempering Realm was Spiritual Energy entering the blood, completely transforming the physical body into a vessel suited for the circulation of Spiritual Energy.

Huang Da was still struggling bitterly, but Zeng Fan no longer had time to waste. After all, the condition of the other three was unknown, and he needed to check on them as soon as possible.

"I can't drag this out any longer!" Zeng Fan knew that it was time to end everything. The Spiritual Energy within his body erupted completely, racing madly through his meridians before gathering in his hand. His arm was even forced to bulge with blood-red cracks by the berserk Spiritual Energy.

"Fish Dragon Dance!"

Zeng Fan slammed down with a vicious punch.

Huang Da sensed the sudden surge in Zeng Fan's momentum and knew that the final moment had arrived. His eyes red, Huang Da thrust both palms upward at once.

There was no suspense. The force Zeng Fan had accumulated swept through everything like rotten wood before a raging storm. Huang Da let out a shriek and was utterly unable to resist. The black-gray radiance covering his body shattered, and his arms twisted at bizarre angles, having been broken outright.

After breaking both of Huang Da's arms, Zeng Fan struck again. Before Huang Da could flee, a palm had already slammed into his head. The sound of shattering bones echoed in all directions. The ferocious expression on Huang Da's face slowly solidified. With a thump, he dropped to his knees, then collapsed limply onto the ground face-first. The Huang Brothers had all been slain by Zeng Fan!

The violent Spiritual Energy within Zeng Fan gradually calmed. He breathed heavily, while the stabbing pain from every part of his body reminded him how severe his injuries were. After inspecting himself internally, Zeng Fan felt a headache coming on. Although he had successfully broken through to Body Tempering Bone perfected, he had forced the breakthrough during battle, leaving many of his meridians damaged or even severed. They would need to be repaired slowly.

"I really don't know whether I came out ahead or lost this time." Zeng Fan forced himself to draw a breath. He could not rest yet; he still had to check on the other three.

Zeng Fan turned his head. Chen Yan was staring blankly at him. Although she had been severely wounded by an arrow to the abdomen, she had witnessed the entire process of Zeng Fan killing the three men. The despair in her heart had turned into delight, but the shock was still too much for her to absorb—until Zeng Fan slowly walked up to her.

"Sister Chen, are you all right?"

"Ah! I'm fine. Are you all right? Ow!" Chen Yan suddenly came back to herself. She had just tried to stand but had forgotten about the wound in her abdomen, and she cried out in pain.

Zeng Fan quickly helped Chen Yan sit up. Under her guidance, he pulled out the arrow and gave her a simple bandage. Chen Yan took out a healing pill and swallowed it, then hurriedly spoke to Zeng Fan.

"Please go check on Wang Ying. I... I don't dare go over." Chen Yan looked toward Wang Ying, tears appearing in her eyes. Wang Ying had not moved at all since he fell, and his fate was likely grim. Chen Yan was afraid that what she would see if she went over was Wang Ying's corpse. Zeng Fan silently nodded.

As he approached Wang Ying, Zeng Fan found his face deathly pale. His left arm had been severed cleanly at the shoulder, and no more blood was flowing. Zeng Fan reached out and gently checked his breath, discovering a faint current of air.

"Sister Chen! Wang Ying's still alive! Come quickly!" Zeng Fan called to Chen Yan. Chen Yan's body trembled, and tears burst from her eyes once more. Enduring the pain in her body, she hurried to Wang Ying's side. Although Wang Ying was still breathing, his life would be in danger if he was not treated immediately.

Chen Yan took out a healing pill, only to find Wang Ying's teeth clenched shut. Forgetting that Zeng Fan was still there, Chen Yan placed the pill in her mouth, bent down, and fed it to Wang Ying. Zeng Fan also used Spiritual Energy to help him dissolve the medicinal power. As the pill took effect, a hint of color returned to Wang Ying's pale face, and his breathing gradually steadied.

Leaving Chen Yan to watch over Wang Ying, Zeng Fan went to Yao Ling'er's side. The girl's face was pale, her delicate brows tightly furrowed as though she were enduring pain. After examining her briefly and finding no external injuries, he gently lifted her. Through her clothes, Zeng Fan could feel Yao Ling'er's shapely figure. Her clothing had been damaged during the battle, revealing patches of fair skin, and even through the fabric, he could feel the warmth of her body against his hands. But at this moment, he only wanted to sit down and heal his injuries, without the slightest improper thought.

Chen Yan carefully examined Yao Ling'er and discovered that the girl was merely suffering from blocked circulation of qi and blood due to her external injuries. After taking a pill and resting for a while, she would be fine. Just as Zeng Fan was considering whether he should ask Chen Yan to teach him how to administer it, he saw that Chen Yan had already gently pried open Yao Ling'er's clenched teeth and fed her the pill, so he let the matter go.

At least all three of them were still alive, and Zeng Fan's heart settled somewhat. He had no time to deal with Scorpion Tiger or the three corpses for now. Sitting cross-legged, Zeng Fan calmed his mind and began to pacify the Spiritual Energy within him while treating his injuries.

After an unknown length of time, Zeng Fan opened his eyes. His throat convulsed, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. He immediately felt much more comfortable. Although the injuries within his body had not completely recovered, they would no longer have much effect.

"You're awake?" A voice filled with delight sounded beside Zeng Fan's ear. He turned his head and saw Yao Ling'er smiling at him. Her torn clothes had already been changed, but her face was still somewhat pale, giving her a sickly beauty.

Zeng Fan nodded. "You're awake too? How are your injuries? I ate two Body Tempering Fruits to deal with those men. I'll give you the remaining fruits later."

"I'm fine, I'm fine. We owe it all to you this time. If you hadn't been here, how could there be any fruits left? Who knows what would have happened to Sister Chen and me?" Yao Ling'er waved her hands at Zeng Fan. After hesitating for a moment, she sat down beside him, wrapped her arms around her knees, and gazed at the sky.

Zeng Fan turned his head and only then noticed that the sky had gradually darkened. The moon and stars were faintly beginning to flicker into view. He had not expected his healing to take so long.

Zeng Fan rose and stretched his body. "Don't sit there. Come with me."

Yao Ling'er looked at Zeng Fan in confusion, but obediently dusted off her clothes and followed him toward a certain place. Then Yao Ling'er's somewhat furious voice echoed out.

"You called me over just to watch you strip corpses? What are you doing? Why are you taking their clothes off? You pervert!"

"After winning a fight, shouldn't we collect the spoils? These men clearly look poor; there's no way they have any Storage Rings. Their possessions must be on their bodies. Besides, these corpses have to be dealt with. Stop looking and come lend me a hand." Zeng Fan looked at Yao Ling'er speechlessly. This woman truly did not understand the cost of firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea. It was precisely because he lacked Spirit Stones that everything that followed had happened. Since these men had intended to kill him, he had no reason to be polite.

Sure enough, just as Zeng Fan had expected, these men were consistently poor. Between the three of them, they had found only a few dozen Spirit Stones. Zeng Fan did not consider that too few and happily tucked them into his clothing. What delighted him most was what he found on Huang Da: a Body Tempering technique.

"Ironwood Body."

Zeng Fan looked at the technique with delight. The black radiance that had covered the Huang Brothers' bodies must have come from it. Zeng Fan could not help but yearn for it. If he strengthened his physical defense and combined it with the movement technique Fish Dance, he would be able to accumulate more force, and the explosive power of Fish Dragon Dance would become even stronger.

"Good stuff!" Zeng Fan cheerfully tucked the technique into his clothing, paying no attention to the faint traces of blood still staining it. Yao Ling'er, watching from the side, looked somewhat disgusted.

Zeng Fan directly took the Spirit Stones and technique for himself, and Yao Ling'er had no objections. After all, without Zeng Fan, the Huang Brothers would now have been searching through their corpses.

After finishing the search, Zeng Fan felt refreshed. He no longer asked Yao Ling'er to help and alone threw the corpses of the tiger and the three men into the cave where Scorpion Tiger had previously hidden. He even went inside to inspect it carefully, but there was nothing unusual—only traces of beasts living there and a pile of foul-smelling excrement. Disappointed, Zeng Fan could only leave. He had hoped to find some special opportunity, but it seemed he could only imagine it.

After everything was dealt with, Zeng Fan was somewhat surprised to find that Wang Ying had also awakened. Wang Ying naturally offered a long string of thanks. Zeng Fan told him to focus on healing. If he could circulate Spiritual Energy on his own, his recovery would speed up. As for the arm he had lost, it was not a major problem for the sect. In the cultivation world, bringing the dead back to life and restoring flesh to bare bones was no empty boast. So long as one paid a sufficient price, Wang Ying's arm could be restored.

Now they only had to wait for Wang Ying to regain the ability to move before returning to the sect. Zeng Fan felt somewhat expectant. He had gained the most from this battle: not only had he obtained a Body Tempering technique, but his cultivation had also successfully broken through. There was one more thing Yao Ling'er and the others did not know. The Body Tempering Fruit had not merely helped Zeng Fan break through to Body Tempering Bone perfected. From what he could sense, several faint wisps of Spiritual Energy had also appeared in his blood. This meant that as long as Zeng Fan devoted himself to cultivation, he would soon reach the final realm of the Body Tempering Realm.

"Body Tempering Blood!"