Preparation

I'm sorry, but I cannot provide the corrected text as you haven't included the original Chinese text that needs to be translated. Please provide the text you'd like me to revise.

In the end, Zhang Rumeng still didn't get her way. Chen Jingjing flatly refused to let her into the kitchen, but Zhang Rumeng was overjoyed nonetheless, because she got to taste Chen Jingjing's perfect cooking once again.

As for Chen Fan's breakthrough to Qi Refining Layer 4, Chen Jingjing didn't press further. She had seen the change in him—he was no longer the same idle, shiftless person, and he no longer lost his wits at the sight of Nalan Yun.

Chen Fan, however, pondered long and hard. Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm wasn't difficult for him, but simply forcing his true qi upward would leave his foundation unstable. With his vision, he would never limit himself to mere Foundation Establishment.

After dinner, he thought of a good place—Demon King Valley.

Chen Fan knew this body's talent wasn't bad, but it lacked all kinds of training. What he needed most now was real combat.

His soul's combat awareness far surpassed this body countless times over.

In other words, often his divine sense would react first, but his body couldn't keep up.

So he needed to fully synchronize his body's practical experience and combat habits with his consciousness, and the best way to train was through real combat.

Demon King Valley, to him, was practically a treasure trove.

Not only were there all kinds of powerful demonic beasts, but also Demon Cores and spiritual herbs inside—it was truly a cultivation paradise.

Chen Fan sat in his room, a blazing light in his eyes.

If outsiders knew what he was thinking, they would surely call him a madman.

Demon King Valley had always been a forbidden zone for cultivators around Heavy Sword Peak. Though many risked their lives to enter seeking fortune, they always went in teams—even Heavy Sword Peak's senior disciple, Mo Bai, did the same.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. They saw Demon King Valley as a tiger's den, with Demon Cores and spiritual herbs as the cubs.

But Chen Fan regarded it as a cultivation paradise.

After nightfall, Chen Fan quietly slipped out. He brought some silver and bought a few items outside, including Talismans and cinnabar, and even a piece of pitch-black iron.

His sword from his past life was lost—a living sword. Now, centuries later, Chen Fan couldn't sense its existence at all. But as a sword cultivator, he couldn't be without a sword.

So he borrowed a forge, and under the blacksmith's stunned gaze, threw that ordinary piece of black iron into the fire and began hammering it, blow by blow.

The blacksmith could tell at a glance it was common mortal iron. He was puzzled—his shop sold ordinary iron swords too, so why waste money and effort forging one himself?

The next day, Chen Fan returned home with an ordinary longsword at his waist. This was the fruit of his night's labor.

From common mortal iron, he had forged it into Refined Iron!

Every hammer strike had infused his Blazing Heaven Sword Qi into the blade!

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng happened to be getting up. Seeing Chen Fan returning from outside, they couldn't help but be surprised.

"You bought a sword? Are you going to be a sword cultivator?" Zhang Rumeng asked in surprise.

"Mm." Chen Fan nodded seriously in reply. In this life, he was determined to become a sword immortal, to devote himself to the path of the sword immortal.

"Sword cultivation isn't bad, but Chen Fan, isn't Dao cultivation stronger? Heaven-reaching spells, and those infinitely powerful spiritual tools and artifacts—those are what cultivators dream of. With your talent, I think Dao cultivation suits you better." Chen Jingjing suggested, as she herself would choose Dao cultivation.

Sword cultivation was fine, but it seemed too singular—everything revolved around the sword. And in the cultivation world, there were almost no powerful sword cultivators.

Though Heavy Sword Peak was named after the sword, its current peak master was also a Dao cultivator. They excelled in spells, using techniques to defeat enemies, with spiritual tools and artifacts as aids to ascend to the heavens.

Chen Fan shook his head, his gaze fixed on the sword in his hand like a torch. "In this life, I follow only the path of the sword immortal."

One sword breaks ten thousand methods!

That was his path.

"Alright, Chen Fan, this is your road. I respect your choice." Chen Jingjing nodded. As long as Chen Fan could focus on cultivation, whatever path he chose, she would be satisfied.

"Oh, right, you're at Qi Refining Layer 4 now. You can apply to transfer to the Inner Court." Zhang Rumeng said with sudden delight.

Chen Jingjing's eyes lit up at that. The Inner Court's resources and treatment were far better than the Outer Court. This way, Chen Fan's future would be even more limitless.

"No need." Chen Fan shook his head.

"What?" Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng were stunned, unable to process it.

"I'm going to Demon King Valley."

"Demon... Demon King Valley?" Chen Jingjing's face turned cold. "Chen Fan, are you still not giving up? Nalan Yun..."

"It has nothing to do with anyone else. I need training." Chen Fan shook his head, cutting her off.

"Training? But with your Qi Refining Layer 4 cultivation, entering Demon King Valley would only mean certain death. Do you know how many demonic beasts are in there?"

"That's right, Chen Fan. You're trying to reach the sky in a single step. Calm down first, come with us to Heavy Sword Peak, and enter the Inner Court before you decide." Zhang Rumeng also tried to persuade him.

"If you want to enter Demon King Valley, you should at least be on par with Senior Disciple Mo Bai. Wait until you're at least Qi Refining Layer 6 before making plans." Chen Jingjing said.

Chen Fan shook his head again, speaking calmly. "That would destabilize my foundation. The path of cultivation requires steady progress, refining every step to its utmost."

"Unstable foundation? Where did you hear that?" Chen Jingjing frowned.

Chen Fan fell silent at that. This was the second time Chen Jingjing had questioned his words—the first was in the Heavenly Court when he mentioned the Five Elements Strange Sword Talisman.

Seeing Chen Fan like this, Zhang Rumeng secretly tugged at Chen Jingjing's clothes, hinting for her to stop.

Chen Jingjing realized it too, but she didn't want Chen Fan to take such a risk.

After a moment, Chen Jingjing finally spoke. "I have two conditions. If you can meet them, then I won't stop you."

Chen Fan frowned slightly. If he wanted to go, no one could stop him. Telling Chen Jingjing was merely out of courtesy and respect for her position.

But seeing her good intentions, Chen Fan still nodded.

"First, come back with us to Heavy Sword Peak and transfer into the Inner Court. Second, defeat me in a fight," Chen Jingjing said.

"Fine." Chen Fan replied without much hesitation.

Neither condition was a problem for him—they were just a waste of time. But since he had received their care here, he ought to repay the favor. He would treat this request as fulfilling her wish.

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng were slightly stunned that Chen Fan agreed so readily.

Although both of them were at Qi Refining Layer 4, Chen Fan had only just broken through. Chen Jingjing still felt there was a gap between him and them.

The three of them ascended Heavy Sword Peak again. To the two girls' surprise, Chen Fan had already packed his bags, as if he could settle this agreement immediately.

But just as they stepped through the mountain gate of Heavy Sword Peak, their path was blocked.

It was Nalan Yun and his group, except this time, besides Zhang Lin and the Yellow-Robed Woman from last night, there was also a young man among them.

"Chen Fan!" Zhang Lin's face was still swollen, but when he saw Chen Fan, his eyes were full of hatred as he gritted his teeth and called out Chen Fan's name.

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng, however, stared at the young man and their expressions changed.

"Senior Brother Zhang Ting, what do you want?" Chen Jingjing said coldly.