Collection

The days flew by, and the time to set out arrived. As disciples below the Foundation Establishment Realm within the Five Mountains Sect slowly gathered at the assembly point, inside the Alchemy Hall's storehouse—

Zeng Fan sat cross-legged inside the storehouse. The Ironwood around him emitted streams of black aura, which he continuously absorbed. The dark gray radiance on his skin grew brighter and brighter.

At a certain moment, Zeng Fan suddenly opened his eyes. Even his eyes shone with dark gray light. The suction from his skin instantly intensified, and the black aura that had been slowly drifting through the air vanished into his body in that brief instant. After absorbing enough aura, the iron-gray glow around Zeng Fan gradually dimmed again. As the radiance weakened, the aura surrounding him grew stronger and stronger.

In the end, the dark gray light merely coursed across the surface of Zeng Fan's skin, revealing a cold metallic sheen as it flowed. The light in his eyes gradually faded. Lowering his head, Zeng Fan looked curious and lightly flicked his arm.

Clang~~ The sound of metal colliding echoed through the storehouse.

"So this is the Major Accomplishment Ironwood Body? This defense is truly astonishing." Zeng Fan looked at the metallic sheen enveloping his body, thoroughly satisfied. His efforts during this period had not been in vain. Judging from the current defense of his Ironwood Body, people of the same realm should find it very difficult to break through.

"It's time to head to the assembly point." Zeng Fan arrived at the entrance, where Yao Ling'er was still waiting for him as usual.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Yao Ling'er could identify their owner at once after spending so many days together. She turned her head and immediately gave the young man an inquiring look. Zeng Fan smiled and nodded.

"Phew~ You finally finished cultivating it! You shouldn't need to keep absorbing anymore, right?" Yao Ling'er patted her chest. She had felt quite a bit of pressure helping Zeng Fan keep watch every day during this period. Several times, she had nearly been discovered by other disciples, but fortunately, everything had turned out all right.

Hearing that Zeng Fan had finished cultivating the Ironwood Body, she naturally felt a stone drop from her heart, yet she also felt a faint sense of loss, leaving Yao Ling'er somewhat confused.

But Zeng Fan was already about to leave for the trial, and Yao Ling'er had no time to dwell on it. She hurriedly reached into her robes, took out a jade bottle, and handed it to Zeng Fan.

Zeng Fan gently accepted it and curiously removed the stopper for a look. Inside were two red pills, which should be the Body Tempering Pills. Beside them were several black medicinal pellets.

"The red ones are the Body Tempering Pills, right? What are the others?" Zeng Fan put away the jade bottle and asked Yao Ling'er.

"The remaining ones are healing pills. If you get injured after you leave, you can take them directly." Yao Ling'er raised her head to look at Zeng Fan, her face slightly flushed.

"Good! I'm leaving, then. I'll properly thank you after I return from the trial."

"Be careful on the way!"

After saying that, the two fell somewhat silent. But the time for assembly was almost at hand, so Zeng Fan could only set off. Watching his gradually departing back, Yao Ling'er murmured to herself,

"You have to come back safely."

On the way, Zeng Fan also felt something strange. He took out the jade bottle, and a faint fragrance belonging to the young girl still lingered upon it. Zeng Fan felt that he had realized something. Just then, another figure sprang into his mind—a girl dressed in white, smiling at him with two little tiger teeth showing.

"Murong Xue!"

Zeng Fan felt a headache coming on. He would complete the trial first. With a slight exertion of his feet, he hurried rapidly toward the assembly point.

When he arrived, the noisy din of the crowd instantly flooded Zeng Fan's ears. He took a rough look around. There were probably more than a thousand disciples gathered there. Zeng Fan scratched his head. Where was he supposed to find Yuan Jin and the others? Fortunately, a voice came to his rescue.

"Big Brother Zeng Fan! Over here, over here!" Zeng Fan turned his head and saw that it was Wang An, whom he had not seen in a long time. Since disciples of the Profound Vein and Yellow Vein lived in different areas, Zeng Fan had not seen the fellow for quite some time. Beside Wang An, Murong Xue, Wang Beichen, and Yuan Jin were chatting. The three noticed Wang An waving and turned their gazes over together.

Murong Xue wore a black outfit suited for combat. After not seeing her for some time, the curves of the young girl's body had grown more pronounced, her tender green bud beginning to bloom into a beautiful flower. Upon seeing Zeng Fan, Murong Xue became slightly excited and waved at him.

Wang Beichen's reaction was rather calm. After nodding toward Zeng Fan, he showed no further response.

Yuan Jin split his mouth into a broad grin, waved toward Zeng Fan, and gestured for him to hurry over.

Zeng Fan was also faintly excited. It had been a while since he had seen anyone besides Yuan Jin. After he approached, Wang An spoke first.

"Long time no see, Brother Zeng. I can finally act together with you guys this time. I'll be clinging to your coattails!" Wang An gave Zeng Fan a cheeky grin.

"Not bad. Your cultivation speed isn't slow, kid. You've already broken through to Body Tempering Muscle." Zeng Fan sensed Wang An's aura and was slightly surprised. When Wang An had first entered the sect, he had not even begun cultivating. Now he had reached Minor Accomplishment in Body Tempering Muscle. This cultivation speed was already quite impressive.

"After entering the sect, I didn't dare slack off either. I've been cultivating hard every day!" Wang An scratched his head, embarrassed by Zeng Fan's praise.

"Keep it up, kid." Zeng Fan patted his shoulder, then shifted his gaze to Murong Xue. He was slightly surprised. He could no longer sense Murong Xue's current cultivation, yet she faintly gave him a feeling of pressure. Clearly, he was not the only one who had improved during this period. Murong Xue, who possessed Earth Vein aptitude, had also gained something.

"It's been a while since we last met. What realm are you at now?"

Zeng Fan looked at Murong Xue. The smile vanished from the girl's fair face, and she complained at him in displeasure.

"Who asks about someone's cultivation the moment they meet? Can't you show some concern for something else? In any case, my cultivation is higher than yours. Beating you two at once wouldn't be a problem, hmph!"

Zeng Fan awkwardly rubbed his nose. He had just come from Yao Ling'er, and chatting with Murong Xue now gave him the feeling of sneaking around behind someone's back. He had not known how to begin, so he had merely found a topic to start with.

But after Murong Xue snorted, she did not continue pursuing the matter. After giving him a look, surprise also appeared in her almond-shaped eyes.

"You're about to break through to Body Tempering Blood, aren't you? You're only a little behind that fellow Wang Beichen."

Wang Beichen, standing behind Murong Xue, immediately became displeased. Pouting, he said, "Boss, what do you mean by that? Of course I should be faster than this guy. No matter what, I possess Earth Vein aptitude!"

"Your Earth Vein aptitude only broke through to Minor Accomplishment in Body Tempering Blood a few days ago, and you still have the nerve to say that? You fish for three days and sun your nets for two, never thinking about cultivating properly. You might as well give that aptitude to Zeng Fan!" Hearing Wang Beichen's words, Murong Xue's brows rose sharply, and she immediately vented her dissatisfaction with Zeng Fan onto Wang Beichen.

Wang Beichen pursed his lips and did not dare say anything more. Zeng Fan was left laughing helplessly. This second-generation immortal cultivator was lawless, yet why did he become as timid as a mouse before a cat whenever he faced Murong Xue?

Yuan Jin raised his brows at Zeng Fan. He vaguely knew where Zeng Fan had gone and could not help marveling at the fellow's luck. One Murong Xue was not enough for him—he had even dared to flirt with other girls. Sooner or later, they would meet. When that time came... hehehe. A lecherous grin bloomed across Yuan Jin's face, looking even stranger against his tall, burly build. Zeng Fan glanced at him, completely unaware of the fate Yuan Jin had imagined for him.

Dong, dong, dong~ Three peals of a bell rang out. Several figures flew through the air, and the disciples below fell silent one after another. Anyone capable of flying through the air was at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so the disciples below naturally dared not act recklessly.

At the head was a middle-aged man dressed in white robes. Several strands of white were hidden among his jet-black hair. His face looked middle-aged, yet his eyes revealed the vicissitudes of age, as though he had weathered countless trials. He swept his gaze over those below, and his stern voice echoed in the ears of all the disciples.

"I am Bai Ye, Elder of the Disciple Hall. I hereby announce the rules of this trial. The trial will take place at the border of the Datong Dynasty. Every disciple must kill two demonic beasts of the same realm. Those who fail to complete the task must return to the sect and explain the reason. If the explanation is not accepted, it will be considered a failed disciple trial, and you will not be allowed to continue cultivating within the sect. Two Foundation Establishment cultivators will lead this expedition. Prepare to depart!"

After speaking, Bai Ye nodded toward the two Foundation Establishment disciples and left first, clearly having other matters to handle. The two Foundation Establishment cultivators respectfully saluted in the direction the elder had departed, then turned to face the crowd.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators were one fat and one thin. The plump cultivator had fair skin flushed with red and wore a golden robe patterned with copper coins and gold ingots. Every finger bore a gold ring. He looked exactly like a nouveau riche landlord from the mortal world. Smiling broadly, he spoke first.

"Fellow junior brothers and sisters, I'm your Senior Brother Qian Dayou. We're heading to the Datong Dynasty this time. If anyone obtains an opportunity they have no use for, they can sell it to Senior Brother. Fair prices, no cheating young or old!"

He then looked toward the other cultivator and jerked his chin, signaling for him to say a few words as well.

The other cultivator was thin, with an unremarkable appearance. He wore the common black robes of the sect. Only after seeing Qian Dayou's gesture did he slowly speak, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"I'm Lin Li, and I'm also one of your leaders for this expedition."

Qian Dayou nodded with a beaming smile, and then a long silence followed...

Qian Dayou froze. He looked at Lin Li in confusion. "That's it?"

"Yes."

Qian Dayou's expression turned odd. But Lin Li's personality was rather solitary to begin with, so he could only shake his head and say nothing more.

"Fellow junior brothers and sisters, then let's set off!"

After nodding toward Lin Li, the two joined forces to summon a gigantic Spirit Boat. It was large enough to hold several thousand people. One Foundation Establishment cultivator might have found it somewhat taxing to control such a massive Spirit Boat with Spiritual Energy, but the two of them found it easy.

"Why do I feel like these two Senior Brothers are a little unreliable?" Yuan Jin muttered.

Zeng Fan also found it somewhat strange. Lin Li merely seemed solitary, but Qian Dayou's getup was completely unlike what a Foundation Establishment cultivator should wear. He looked like a wealthy bumpkin. Still, there were all kinds of people in the world, so Zeng Fan stopped thinking about it and called for the others to board the Spirit Boat.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators formed a hand seal. The Spirit Boat slowly turned around and flew toward the mountains beyond.