The True Genius

The originally clamorous battlefield fell silent with Shen Fan's arrival; no one knew who this suddenly appearing young man was.

But the fact that he had killed Chang Yuchun, a peak Viscera Refiner, with a single move was enough to prove his strength and establish his dominance over the scene.

Everyone was waiting for Shen Fan's next move, because it concerned their very lives.

Wherever Shen Fan's gaze swept, all the Viscera Refiners present couldn't help but lower their heads, afraid of angering this suddenly arrived god of death.

"Junior Brother Shen, is that you?" Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. It was Liu Zhen, the very person who had witnessed Shen Fan becoming an entry-level disciple.

As Liu Zhen spoke, the faces of the Kaishan Martial Arts School members immediately turned ugly; they realized this person must be a powerful reinforcement for the Ox Demon Martial Arts School!

The three from the City Lord's Mansion tried to flee directly, but the moment they moved, Shen Fan struck them down. Like great birds, they fell one by one from midair.

The three lay to the side, their lives unknown, but watching the rise and fall of their chests slowly weaken, everyone present understood much.

Their eyes, fixed on Shen Fan, were filled with terror.

Liu Zhen was also frightened, but with his reminder, the Ox Demon Martial Arts School disciples present all suddenly remembered this junior brother who had once been regarded as an oddball among them—

That Junior Brother Shen who had once painstakingly trained in the Three Yuan Art!

"What, it's really him, Junior Brother Shen!"

"How can this be? How could Junior Brother Shen be this strong? Those were all Viscera Refining experts!"

"Even Viscera Refining experts are so fragile in Junior Brother Shen's hands—just how strong is Junior Brother Shen's strength?"

At these words, the crowd collectively sucked in a cold breath.

They all thought of one point: Viscera Refining was already the peak of the Qi and Blood Great Realm, yet it was still utterly feeble before Shen Fan. Could it be that this mysterious Junior Brother Shen was already a Xiantian Expert?

As soon as this conjecture emerged, many startled themselves. Looking at that young face, they found it hard to imagine that such a youth could be a Xiantian Expert!

But just then, Shen Fan suddenly spoke, "Drop your weapons and surrender, and I will spare your lives."

As soon as the words fell, the elites of the Kaishan Martial Arts School all threw down their weapons and obediently crouched on the ground.

Glancing at Zhang Yunhu, who was still in a daze, Shen Fan said gently, "Steward Zhang, these people are yours to handle. If anyone refuses to submit, notify me."

Shen Fan turned and left, paying no attention to the fervent gazes fixed on him.

It was a long while before Zhang Yunhu reacted to what had just happened. He quickly organized the disciples to tie up the surrendered enemies. Even the Viscera Refiners among them did not dare to resist.

All of this was because of the words Shen Fan had left behind as he departed.

Shen Fan alone had already cast a lifelong shadow over them.

The Ox Demon Martial Arts School members watched as enemies far outnumbering them were captured without a single act of resistance, feeling as if they were dreaming.

But then, putting themselves in the enemy's shoes, they thought that if Shen Fan were their opponent, they would probably make the same choice.

Liu Zhen and the others who knew Shen Fan stood there watching that aloof junior brother walk farther and farther away, gradually disappearing from their sight.

"Senior Brother Liu, do you know this Junior Brother Shen—ah, no, Senior Brother Shen?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything!" Liu Zhen suddenly recalled how he had given up on teaming up with Shen Fan while gathering herbs, and how he had never spoken up to help Shen Fan when others mocked him.

Everything surfaced before his eyes, and Liu Zhen felt that he had truly been selfish, truly foolish, and truly regretful!

But the clamor around him still did not stop.

"Do you think this Senior Brother Shen is even stronger than the Top Ten Prodigies of our Laiyang City?"

The people around immediately looked at the speaker as if he were an idiot.

"Isn't that obvious? Which Prodigy can beat a Viscera Refiner? And you're comparing Senior Brother Shen to them—are you stupid?"

"Exactly, exactly. I think even the Hall Master probably couldn't hold out for more than a few moves against Senior Brother Shen!"

Though it was a bit disrespectful to the Hall Master, no one present refuted it.

Zhang Longyun stood in place, watching the several experts who had been besieging him die so abruptly, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Shen Fan, are you really a disciple of my Ox Demon Martial Arts School?" Zhang Longyun looked at the dim sky and muttered to himself.

Zhang Yunhu heard his big brother's doubt, walked over, and said calmly, "Big Brother, I can confirm this. Shen Fan is definitely a disciple of our school, and he's been a disciple for less than a year!"

As the steward in charge of this matter, Zhang Yunhu was extremely familiar with Shen Fan. In fact, if too many things hadn't happened later, he might have directly recommended Shen Fan as a disciple to his big brother.

Hearing Zhang Yunhu's words, Zhang Longyun did not become convinced; instead, he grew even more suspicious.

"Less than a year, and he's already reached this level? Is this person a monster?"

Though puzzled, Zhang Longyun did not ask further.

Regardless, the Ox Demon Martial Arts School had still won this battle and preserved its effective strength. That was enough.

As for Shen Fan's identity, it no longer mattered. As long as he could protect the school, anyone was fine.

Escorting a large number of martial artists to be locked up in a prison, most of the school's disciples returned.

And the first thing they did upon returning was to go see that miraculous Senior Brother Shen Fan, who had single-handedly turned the tide!

Under the propaganda of those who had witnessed the battle, Shen Fan was immediately portrayed as a god descending to earth. Countless people clicked their tongues in amazement and were filled with admiration for this Senior Brother Shen Fan.

Even the two Prodigies of the Ox Demon Martial Arts School, Bai Shan and Zhang Kuang, were jealous. They too wanted this kind of fame, but their strength did not allow it.

They could only watch helplessly as that elegant man in green robes ascended the altar in everyone's hearts.

For Shen Fan, however, none of this mattered. To those who sought to visit him or curry favor, he chose only to refuse.

He shut his door tight, adjusted his state, and prepared for the coming battle.

Though those who had been turned away nursed a momentary grudge, Liu Zhen stepped forward at this time.

"Senior and junior brothers, do not disturb Senior Brother Shen. Do you not realize that now is not the time for celebration? The true enemy of our Ox Demon Martial Arts School has yet to be dealt with!"

"Our real enemy is the City Lord's Mansion, which has a Xiantian Expert backing it!"

A single word woke the dreamers. Many immediately recalled the City Lord's Mansion's recent show of strength.

"Now that Senior Brother Shen is our school's top expert, he will inevitably have to face the strongest foe. Do you wish for Senior Brother Shen to lose to the enemy because he is not in peak condition?"

Liu Zhen wore a pained expression as he spoke, and those present lowered their heads one by one. Even those nursing grievances came to their senses:

"That's right. Senior Brother Shen must be adjusting his state to meet the great enemy. Disturbing him here—aren't we just helping the enemy?"

The disciples who had wanted to see Shen Fan felt deeply ashamed and left at once. The others, seeing this, also departed, leaving behind a stretch of quiet.

Liu Zhen gazed at the faint lamplight within Shen Fan's room and murmured to himself, "Junior Brother Shen, this time, I won't choose wrong."

Having said this, Liu Zhen took up a position fifty meters from Shen Fan's room, standing like a sentinel, stubbornly guarding this patch of peace.

Liu Zhen supported Shen Fan with his own actions.

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