Leaving the Valley

Two days later, Chen Fan opened his eyes. His dark pupils held a clear, profound depth.

His skin was coated in a layer of blackish-gray grime that gave off a foul stench, filling the entire cave.

Chen Fan smiled faintly. He knew the grime was impurities from his body, now completely expelled. In other words, his body's condition and foundation were far better than they had been in his previous life.

He got to his feet and left the cave, heading for a nearby river. He leapt in and washed away every trace of filth. When he emerged, his whole body seemed to glow with spiritual energy.

Chen Fan drew a deep breath. Dense spiritual energy in the air came rushing toward him from every direction. Mixed among it was even Pseudo Immortal Qi from the Heavenly Court. There wasn't much, but it still passed through the countless pores in his skin, surged into his body, flowed along his meridians, and gathered in his dantian.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, savoring this feeling of ease, while taking out the Golden Leopard's Demon Core and holding it in his hand to absorb its spiritual energy.

At that very moment, a vast surge of spiritual energy burst from his palm and poured into his meridians like a great wave. Chen Fan clearly felt a tearing pain run through every meridian. He grimaced slightly. If the Marrow Cleansing Pill hadn't remade his body, his meridians would have burst under the strain by now.

The spiritual energy in a Demon Core was far more violent than ordinary spiritual energy, but it was also a rare resource. With Spirit Stones in short supply these days, Monster Beasts could also be considered a resource.

Chen Fan controlled the vast surge of spiritual energy with his Divine Sense. He didn't rush to guide it into his dantian; instead, he let it flow through his meridians again and again, trying to calm its unruly nature. After dozens of Lesser and Greater Celestial Circuits, the energy's turbulence began to subside, and his meridians widened a little. It was, without a doubt, a double delight.

By the time the sun rose the next day, Chen Fan had completely tamed the spiritual energy in the Demon Core and transformed it into Blazing Heaven Sword Qi, which he merged into his dantian. The True Qi vortex there expanded several times, and his cultivation had reached Qi Refining Layer 6.

"Two whole stages again, but this time I used up a Demon Core from a Qi Refining Eighth Layer beast." Looking at the Demon Core reduced to ashes in his hand, Chen Fan shook his head slightly. Resources might be more plentiful in this world, but the further one progressed in cultivation, the more spiritual energy one needed as one's cultivation rose.

"I should start considering the path of alchemy. If I can find some spiritual herbs and refine them into pills, they'll be a great help to me." Thinking of the benefits the Marrow Cleansing Pill had brought him, Chen Fan felt tempted.

But he hadn't known much about alchemy in his previous life, and had never had the chance to practice. Still, he remembered a few pill recipes well.

With that, Chen Fan took a fresh set of clothes from his pack and changed. He had been in Demon King Valley for eight days already. If he didn't return soon, Chen Jingjing would start worrying and imagining all sorts of things.

Besides, when he went back, he would make some major preparations before heading deeper into Demon King Valley to train. He had gained so much in just eight days on the outskirts. If he could stay here for a year...

At the thought, Chen Fan felt his blood surge. The path of cultivation demanded precisely this kind of Dao heart.

And the Sword Dao was about comprehending Sword Intent amid all manner of slaughter, and ultimately proving the Dao through the sword.

At that moment, quite a few cultivators dressed in Daoist robes had gathered at the entrance to Demon King Valley. They were all disciples of the Immortal Sect, who had traveled thousands of miles to retrieve the two counterfeit ancient swords for their sect. In the end, however, both had been stolen or seized.

The White-Robed Woman, Mu Yunshui, was also standing outside the entrance. Demon King Valley had peculiar terrain, with only this one exit. She didn't believe a mere Qi Refining Layer 4 cultivator like Chen Fan could venture very far into the valley. Sooner or later, he would have to come out. Otherwise, he would either die at the hands of other cultivators or fall prey to the claws of a high-level Monster Beast.

The commotion naturally drew plenty of Rogue Cultivators, who watched and began murmuring among themselves.

"What a beautiful immortal maiden, with such an otherworldly air!" a young cultivator exclaimed.

"Be careful what you say, or you'll invite trouble. How could an immortal maiden of the Immortal Sect ever be within reach of a little Rogue Cultivator like you?" an old cultivator said, shaking his head.

The surrounding cultivators burst into laughter. The young cultivator's face turned the color of liver, and he ducked his head as he withdrew from the crowd.

"Senior Martial Sister, what exactly is that demoness trying to do?" A female cultivator with equally exquisite features stepped up beside Mu Yunshui and asked with a frown.

At these words, Mu Yunshui's expression turned cold. She looked at the woman and said sternly, "Xian'er is my junior sister, and your senior sister. From now on, if any of you call her a demoness again, I will not let it pass."

"But she already betrayed the sect..." The female cultivator sounded unconvinced, but before she could finish, her expression changed. She stared blankly at the entrance to Demon King Valley.

Mu Yunshui looked up as well. The frost in her expression eased, and she said calmly, "Junior Sister."

Though the Black-Veiled Woman Qin Xian'er's face was concealed, the moment her lovely eyes and graceful figure came into view, the Rogue Cultivators gathered around her went dry-mouthed and swallowed hard.

"Senior Sister, is this grand reception for me?" Qin Xian'er swayed out with a bewitching stride. Behind her followed a group of Earth Ghost Sect disciples, along with the Burly Man.

"Senior Martial Sister." When the Burly Man saw Mu Yunshui, he greeted her with unmistakable respect.

"Li Tieniu, you're throwing your future away! This demon—Qin Xian'er has disgraced herself. Why follow her in betraying the sect and falling into the Demonic Path?" The female cultivator from before stepped forward and pointed at him.

"Foolish." Li Tieniu looked at the woman and shook his head with a mocking smile.

"You..."

"Enough, Qingyue." Mu Yunshui stopped the female cultivator from drawing her sword, then turned to Qin Xian'er. "Junior Sister, hand over the sword. This is no trivial matter. If the Sect Master is alerted..."

"Senior Sister, do you mean this sword?" Qin Xian'er turned the bracelet on her wrist, and the counterfeit Wuya sword appeared before everyone in an instant.

"Put it away." Mu Yunshui's expression changed immediately.

"If you want it, come and get it." Qin Xian'er giggled and leapt lightly into the air. Her glistening bare feet and pale, jade-like legs once again set the male cultivators' blood surging. Some even had nosebleeds.

Mu Yunshui knew perfectly well that Qin Xian'er was trying to lure her away, but the sword was of grave importance. Without a moment's hesitation, she pursued her.

Qingyue and the others were guarding Demon King Valley, so she had no worries.

"Hmph, Li Tieniu, your cultivation's been improving pretty quickly lately. You're almost caught up with me," Qingyue said after Mu Yunshui and Qin Xian'er had left.

Li Tieniu paid her no attention, simply standing where he was.

"Though I don't know why that demoness lured Senior Martial Sister away, I'm here now. Don't think you can pull any tricks." Qingyue was already at Qi Refining Ninth Layer. There was no one else here who could match her.

Li Tieniu ignored her all the same, standing where he was with an expressionless face.

Chen Fan was now close to the entrance to Demon King Valley. Along the way, he had seen quite a few Daoist-robed cultivators carrying portraits. Judging by their clothes, they were undoubtedly disciples of the Immortal Sect.

"Fellow Daoist, stay a moment." A voice came from behind him.

Chen Fan paid no attention and continued on his way.

The people behind him looked uneasy, as if they had sensed something was wrong. They quickened their pace and hurried after him.

"Fellow Daoist, stay a moment."

A disciple of the Immortal Sect flashed forward and blocked Chen Fan's path. He held a talisman in his hand and watched Chen Fan warily.

"It's him—the man in the portrait!" The disciple's expression changed dramatically when he saw Chen Fan, and he immediately shouted.

"Senior Martial Sister said to capture him alive." Several other disciples closed in, trying to surround Chen Fan.

"Hmph, he left us feeding mosquitoes in the valley for days. I won't feel any better until I give him a good beating."

"Exactly. Senior Martial Sister said to take him alive. She didn't say we couldn't cripple him."

The men finished speaking, their faces twisting into playful sneers as they slowly closed in on Chen Fan.

"Move," Chen Fan said coldly.

"Qi Refining Layer 6? How is that possible?" The disciple clutching the talisman stared in disbelief and cried out, "Didn't Senior Martial Sister say he was only at Qi Refining Layer 4? How could he...?"

"What are you panicking for? So he's at Qi Refining Layer 6. There are five of us, and we're at Qi Refining Layer 6 too. You think he can take on all five of us?" another disciple said, his sneer growing more pronounced as he looked at Chen Fan.

"Easily," Chen Fan replied, his expressionless face unchanged.

Hum!

A clear sword chime rang out, and Chen Fan's figure suddenly blurred.

Five slender streaks of sword light flashed like thunder erupting from level ground.

The five men fell straight to the ground, their expressions of astonishment frozen on their faces.

Chen Fan flicked his long sword. Not a drop of blood remained on its blade. If he were to face Mu Yunshui now, he might not win, but he could leave safely.

The distant disciples of the Immortal Sect saw the five men fall dead. Their expressions changed drastically, and they ran for the valley's exit.

Five Qi Refining Layer 6 disciples had been killed in a single exchange. Those of them at Qi Refining Layer 5 couldn't do a thing.

"Senior Martial Sister! Senior Martial Sister, something's wrong!" Several disciples rushed out of Demon King Valley, only to find that Mu Yunshui was gone.

"Where's Senior Martial Sister?" one of them asked in a panic.

"What's got you all in such a state? Senior Martial Sister isn't here, so I'm in charge," Qingyue said with a frown, displeasure written across her face.

"The... the man in the portrait showed up. He... he killed five of our fellow disciples," the disciple said nervously, stumbling over his words.

"Hmph, a mere Qi Refining Layer 4 Rogue Cultivator dares to kill someone from the Immortal Sect?" Qingyue's face turned icy. Then her brow furrowed as she seemed to sense something.

She abruptly looked toward the entrance to Demon King Valley. A figure was slowly walking out.

"Qi Refining Layer 6... How is that possible?"