Leaving the Valley

Two days later, Chen Fan opened his eyes, a sense of ethereal profundity gleaming within his dark pupils. The surface of his skin was coated in a layer of black-gray filth, emitting a foul odor that filled the entire cave.

Chen Fan, however, revealed a faint smile. He knew this was the impurities within his body, now completely expelled. This meant that the state and foundation of this body were far superior to those of his previous life.

He rose and walked out of the cave, heading toward a nearby river. Leaping in, he washed away all the grime. When he emerged from the river, his entire being radiated a spiritual aura.

Chen Fan took a deep breath, immediately feeling the dense spiritual energy in the air converging from all directions. Mixed within was even a trace of Pseudo Immortal Qi from the Heavenly Court. Though faint, it still seeped through countless pores on his body, surged into his meridians, flowed through each channel, and finally gathered in his dantian.

He sat cross-legged on the ground, savoring this sensation of ease. At the same time, he took out the Golden Leopard's Demon Core, held it in his hand, and began absorbing the spiritual energy within it.

In that instant, a torrent of vast spiritual energy rushed from his palm into his meridians like crashing waves. Chen Fan clearly felt a tearing pain throughout his entire meridian network. He winced slightly—if not for the transformation brought by the Marrow Cleansing Pill, his meridians would have burst by now.

The spiritual energy within a Demon Core was far more violent than ordinary spiritual energy, yet it was also a rare resource. In these days when Spirit Stones were scarce, Monster Beasts could be considered a resource in their own right.

Chen Fan used his divine sense to control this surging spiritual energy. He didn't rush to channel it into his dantian but instead let it continuously circulate through his meridians, trying to calm this violent energy. After completing dozens of major and minor cycles, the ferocity of the spiritual energy began to subside. Meanwhile, his meridians had expanded slightly—a double blessing for him, without a doubt.

When the sun rose on the second day, Chen Fan had fully tamed the spiritual energy within the Demon Core, completely transforming it into Blazing Heaven Sword Qi and merging it into his dantian. This caused the True Qi vortex to expand several times over, and his cultivation had now reached Qi Refining Layer 6.

"Another leap of two ranks, but this time, it consumed a Demon Core from a Qi Refining Eighth Layer beast." Looking at the Demon Core reduced to ash in his hand, Chen Fan shook his head slightly. Although resources in this world had increased, the further one progressed in cultivation, the more spiritual energy was required with each rise in realm.

"I should consider the path of alchemy. If I can find some spiritual herbs and refine them into pills, it would greatly benefit me." Chen Fan thought of the benefits brought by the Marrow Cleansing Pill and felt tempted.

Unfortunately, in his previous life, he had little knowledge of alchemy and no practical experience. He did, however, still remember a few pill formulas vividly.

With this in mind, Chen Fan took a fresh set of clothes from his bundle and changed into them. He had already been in Demon King Valley for eight days. If he didn't return soon, Chen Jingjing would surely start worrying.

Moreover, this time he planned to make thorough preparations before venturing deeper into Demon King Valley for training. In just eight days on the outskirts, he had already gained so much. If he could stay here for a year...

At this thought, Chen Fan felt his blood surge with excitement. The path of cultivation required precisely such a steadfast heart.

As for the way of the sword, it was about comprehending sword intent through various forms of slaughter, ultimately proving the Dao through the blade.

At this moment, at the entrance of Demon King Valley, a crowd of cultivators in Daoist robes had gathered. They were all disciples of the Immortal Sect, having traveled thousands of miles to retrieve the two imitation ancient swords. Yet, the result was that both had been either snatched or stolen.

The White-Robed Woman, Mu Yunshui, also stood outside the entrance. The terrain of Demon King Valley was peculiar, with only this single exit. She refused to believe that Chen Fan, a mere Qi Refining Layer 4 cultivator, could venture far into the valley. He would have to come out eventually—or else die at the hands of other cultivators or fall under the claws of high-rank Monster Beasts.

Such a spectacle naturally attracted many rogue cultivators to watch and discuss.

"What a beautiful immortal maiden, her aura so otherworldly!" a young cultivator exclaimed in admiration.

"Be careful not to invite disaster with your words. How could an immortal maiden of the Immortal Sect be something a mere rogue cultivator like you can covet?" an old cultivator said with a shake of his head.

This drew laughter from the surrounding cultivators, and the young man's face turned ashen as he retreated into the crowd.

"Senior Sister, what exactly is that demon woman trying to do?" A female cultivator, equally beautiful, walked up to Mu Yunshui and asked with a frown.

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

"But she has already defected..." The female cultivator was unconvinced, but before she could finish, her expression changed as she stared blankly at the entrance of Demon King Valley.

Mu Yunshui also looked up. The frost on her face softened slightly as she calmly said, "Junior Sister."

Though the Black-Veiled Woman, Qin Xian'er, had her face covered, the moment her beautiful eyes and graceful figure appeared, the rogue cultivators gathered around felt their mouths go dry and swallowed hard.

"Senior Sister, with such a grand display, are you welcoming me?" Qin Xian'er stepped forward with a seductive sway, followed by a group of Earth Ghost Sect disciples and the Burly Man.

"Senior Sister." The Burly Man addressed Mu Yunshui with surprising respect.

"Li Tieniu, you are throwing away your future. This demon... Qin Xian'er has willingly fallen. Why must you follow her in betraying the sect and sinking into the Demonic Path?" The earlier female cultivator stepped forward, pointing at the Burly Man.

"Ignorant." Li Tieniu looked at the female cultivator and shook his head with a laugh, his face full of mockery.

"You..."

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

"Senior Sister, do you mean this sword?" Qin Xian'er twisted the bracelet on her wrist, and the imitation Wuya sword instantly appeared before everyone.

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

"Come and take it if you want it." Qin Xian'er giggled, lightly leaped into the air, and stepped into the sky. Her crystal-clear bare feet and fair jade-like legs once again stirred the blood of many male cultivators, some even having nosebleeds.

Mu Yunshui naturally understood that Qin Xian'er was trying to lure her away, but this sword was of great importance. Without a moment's hesitation, she gave chase.

With Qingyue and the others guarding Demon King Valley, she had no concerns.

"Hmph, Li Tieniu, your cultivation has been advancing quite quickly lately. You're almost catching up to me." After Mu Yunshui and Qin Xian'er left, Qingyue looked at Li Tieniu and said.

Li Tieniu ignored her, standing still on his own.

"I don't know what that demon woman is trying to do by luring Senior Sister away, but as long as I'm here, don't think you can pull any tricks." Qingyue's cultivation had reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and there was no one else here who could match her.

Li Tieniu continued to ignore her, standing expressionless in place.

Chen Fan was now nearing the entrance of Demon King Valley. Along the way, he had seen many Daoist-robed cultivators holding portraits. From their attire, they were undoubtedly disciples of the Immortal Sect.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment." At that moment, a voice came from behind him.

Chen Fan paid no attention and continued walking forward.

The person behind him frowned, sensing something amiss, and quickened their pace to catch up.

"Fellow Daoist, stay your steps."

A disciple of the Immortal Sect flashed forward, directly blocking Chen Fan's path. A talisman was pinched between his fingers as he eyed Chen Fan warily.

"It's him, the man from the portrait." Upon seeing Chen Fan, the disciple's face shifted dramatically, and he immediately roared.

"The senior sister said to take him alive." Several other disciples pressed in, trying to surround Chen Fan.

"Hmph, making us feed the mosquitoes in the valley for days—if we don't beat him black and blue, it won't ease the anger in our hearts."

"That's right. The senior sister only said take him alive; she didn't say we couldn't cripple him."

After speaking, a hint of mockery crept onto their faces as they slowly closed in on Chen Fan.

"Move aside," Chen Fan said coldly.

"Qi Refining Layer 6? How is that possible?" The disciple clutching the talisman suddenly cried out in disbelief. "Didn't the senior sister say he was only Qi Refining Layer 4? How could he..."

"What are you panicking for? So what if he's Qi Refining Layer 6? The five of us are also Qi Refining Layer 6. Can he take on all five of us alone?" Another disciple spoke while staring at Chen Fan, the mockery on his face growing even stronger.

"As easy as turning my hand," Chen Fan replied, his expression blank.

"Woom!"

A crisp sword hum suddenly rang out, and Chen Fan's figure blurred.

Five slender streaks of sword light flashed like thunderbolts from a clear sky.

The five men, their faces frozen in shock, toppled stiffly to the ground.

Chen Fan flicked his longsword; not a single drop of blood clung to the blade. With his current strength, even if he faced Mu Yunshui, he could leave safely even if he couldn't win.

The sight of those five disciples falling dead was naturally seen by the other Immortal Sect disciples in the distance. Their expressions shifted wildly, and they were the first to flee toward the valley exit.

Five Qi Refining Layer 6 disciples had been killed in a single exchange—there was nothing they, at Qi Refining Layer 5, could do.

"Senior Sister! Senior Sister! Something terrible has happened!" Several disciples cried out in alarm as they rushed out of Demon King Valley, only to find that Mu Yunshui was no longer there.

"Where is the senior sister?" one of them asked anxiously.

"What's all this panic? The senior sister isn't here; I'll take charge of everything." Qingyue frowned, displeasure showing on her face.

"That... that man from the portrait has appeared. He... he killed five of our fellow disciples." The disciple spoke nervously, his words stumbling out.

"Hmph, just a rogue cultivator at Qi Refining Layer 4, daring to kill someone from our Immortal Sect?" Qingyue's face was covered in frost. Then she frowned, as if sensing something.

She suddenly looked up toward the entrance of Demon King Valley. A figure was slowly walking out.

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