Fat Daoist

Chen Fan glanced inexplicably at Chen Jingjing and the other person, then nodded.

Both of their heads buzzed with shock.

"That Qi Refining Layer 2 One-Star Heavenly Soldier... is you?" Chen Jingjing covered her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers.

"Yes." This time Chen Fan didn't nod again. Instead, he walked past them toward his own room. He needed a bath to wash off the smell of blood.

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng stood frozen in place, staring blankly as Chen Fan entered his room.

"Rumeng, am I dreaming?"

"You mean we're having the same dream?"

A long while later, the two finally snapped out of it. They sat down on the sofa, still stunned.

That rumored monstrous genius was actually Chen Fan!

"How can he be so calm? Doesn't he know that over a dozen Foundation Establishment experts in Lingxiao City are all here for him?" Chen Jingjing stared at Chen Fan's door, fighting the urge to rush over and bang on it.

"Someone that Foundation Establishment experts are fighting to take as a personal disciple—heavens, and he's your brother, Jingjing. I really want to charge into the Heavenly Court right now and shout that I know your brother."

"No, don't leak this yet. If he hasn't told anyone, he must have his reasons," Chen Jingjing said seriously.

"Pfft." Zhang Rumeng burst out laughing, pinching Chen Jingjing's cheek. "Of course I know that. Look at you now—such an adorable little sister."

"You dare pinch me? You're dead meat."

The two started roughhousing again.

Meanwhile, Chen Fan had washed up clean, changed into a long robe, and leaned back in a wooden chair. He slowly closed his eyes, as if resting.

But in truth, his mind was churning. Although Mu Yunshui had been temporarily held back by Qin Xian'er, given her personality, she wouldn't give up easily—especially since he had killed quite a few disciples of the Immortal Sect.

Chen Fan wasn't afraid of Mu Yunshui, but he was worried about the two girls outside. Fortunately, they had both improved and made it through the First Layer of the Heavenly Court, raising their status on Heavy Sword Peak. The Immortal Sect might be powerful, but Heavy Sword Peak probably wouldn't let them act recklessly.

Thinking this, Chen Fan shook his head slightly. Choosing to travel far might actually be good for Chen Jingjing and the others. His path was destined to be one of slaughter. Having Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng by his side would only make them more vulnerable.

Chen Fan took out his Heavenly Court Token and extended his divine sense outward. He hadn't entered in nearly ten days and wanted to go in and take a look.

A flash of darkness, and Chen Fan opened his eyes again. He was still outside the medicine field of his Immortal Cave, but the Green-feathered Bird was nowhere to be seen.

He also noticed that this Heavenly Court body was still stuck at Qi Refining Layer 4, already lower than his physical body's cultivation.

"Kid, you're finally awake. There's a charlatan at your cave entrance," the Green-feathered Bird's raspy voice suddenly called out.

Chen Fan stood up and looked over. He saw the Green-feathered Bird standing at the cave entrance, and beside it, a portly Daoist with an immortal air, smiling at Chen Fan.

"Boundless Heavenly Lord, young man, I see that your bones are extraordinary—you are naturally a member of my Daoist lineage. Why not become my disciple? In time, you will surely cultivate the true fruit and attain immortality." The moment the fat Daoist spoke, all his immortal bearing vanished, leaving him looking like a complete charlatan.

But Chen Fan didn't dare underestimate him. This Daoist's cultivation was extremely profound, far beyond the Foundation Establishment Realm. Moreover, he had managed to find this place without using a Teleportation Array, proving his Dao arts were deep.

"Dead charlatan, we don't have any Spirit Stones for you. Get lost," the Green-feathered Bird said disdainfully.

"Little bird, I see darkness between your brows—a sign of bloodshed," the fat Daoist said, squinting as he smiled at the bird.

"Pah! This Seat is an ancient ferocious bird. My brow shines bright. See that star? I'll blind you with it in a second." The Green-feathered Bird fluffed up all its feathers and glared at the fat Daoist angrily.

"You don't believe me? Then come out, and I'll show you a thing or two." The fat Daoist flicked his whisk, inviting the bird to a fight.

"Kid, this is unbearable." The Green-feathered Bird made as if to step out.

"If you open the formation and step out, he'll come in," Chen Fan said with a frown. Being targeted by a strong expert was not a good thing.

Hearing this, the Green-feathered Bird stopped its foot and didn't step out.

"Young man, you're overthinking things. I'm not that kind of person. I'm just here to take a disciple," the fat Daoist said, still smiling.

"I'm a sword cultivator. I have no affinity with the Dao. Find someone else," Chen Fan said, shaking his head.

"A sword cultivator? That's perfect. As they say, the sword is the Dao. The sword itself is the Way. I also have a few top-grade sword arts here. Which one would you like to learn?" The fat Daoist pulled several ancient sword art manuals from his robes, making Chen Fan pause.

"Haotian Sword Art, Nine Palaces Sword Art, Wuji Sword Art, Tiangang Sword Art... Charlatan, what are these? I've never even heard of them," the Green-feathered Bird said scornfully.

"That's because you're ignorant. These are high-level Daoist sword arts. Among them, the Nine Palaces Sword Art and the Tiangang Sword Art are especially powerful," the fat Daoist said, shaking his head.

Chen Fan nodded slightly. Leaving aside the others, he had seen the names of the Tiangang Sword Art and the Nine Palaces Sword Art in an ancient text. These two were top-grade formation-type sword arts, with the Nine Palaces Sword Art being the most thoroughly documented.

The Nine Palaces form the foundation of the Mystic Gate of the Odd Gates, profound and wondrous beyond measure. It was said that this sword art also contained a Nine Palaces movement technique. Practitioners would step through the Nine Palaces, lay down the Nine Palaces Formation, and execute techniques seamlessly, as if by nature.

"These two sword arts are indeed powerful, but the sword path I cultivate is incompatible with formation-type sword arts. They go against my Sword Immortal Path," Chen Fan said, shaking his head. He didn't think they suited him.

"Young man, are you cultivating the Blazing Heaven Sword Art?" The fat Daoist suddenly dropped his smile, narrowing his eyes.

Chen Fan's heart jolted, but he didn't show it on his face. With the fat Daoist's profound cultivation, seeing through his True Qi wasn't hard. What surprised him was that someone could recognize the Blazing Heaven Sword Art.

"The Blazing Heaven Sword Art wins by speed, and its Sword Qi is domineering. But after Foundation Establishment, you've almost reached the limit of this art. Even if you find similar sword techniques for later realms, prolonged practice will damage your meridians. That's why the Nine Palaces Sword Art is the most suitable sword path for you." As the fat Daoist spoke, he tucked the other manuals into his sleeve, leaving only the Nine Palaces Sword Art.

Chen Fan's expression changed. What the fat Daoist had just performed was the Sleeve Universe.

Although this world wasn't lacking in spatial treasures—like Qin Xian'er's storage bracelet, which could hold personal items—the fat Daoist's Sleeve Universe was a true spell. Within his sleeve, he had created a small world capable of containing all things.

"As the saying goes, the Nine Palaces calculation, the Five Elements parameters, are like a cycle. Using your sword to set the formation, you can control Yin and Yang, manifest dragons and elephants. Most importantly, as the formation's controller, within the Nine Palaces Formation, you will move like the wind, swift as lightning! This complements your Blazing Heaven Sword Art perfectly. If you master it, you can contend for the Foundation Establishment Realm." After saying this, the fat Daoist's face broke into a smile again, his earlier dignified demeanor vanishing.

"Is it really that powerful?" The Green-feathered Bird listened, dumbfounded.

The Fat Daoist nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on Chen Fan.

"What is your purpose?" Chen Fan knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"Supreme Heavenly Venerable, I see you are a man of outstanding talent and dignified appearance, deeply fated with our Daoist path... but my throat is dry. Let me enter first for a drink of water," the Fat Daoist said.

Only then did Chen Fan realize that, after all this talk, the Fat Daoist simply wanted to enter his Immortal Cave—though his intentions remained unclear.

"Kid, don't worry. Inside your cave, no one can harm you," the Green-feathered Bird prompted.

Chen Fan nodded and opened the cave's gate. The Fat Daoist gave him a very strange feeling—sometimes unfathomably profound, sometimes like a street charlatan, making it impossible to see his true face.

A flash of light rippled across the cave gate. The Fat Daoist chuckled and stepped inside.

"How should I address you, Daoist?" Chen Fan looked at the Fat Daoist.

"My Daoist name is Tianliang..." As the Fat Daoist spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he dashed toward the medicinal field. "Ah, found it. Right here."

With that, he took a jade box from his sleeve, pressed his palm against the ground of the medicinal field, and silently chanted a few incantations.

Boom

A dull, heavy sound exploded. Chen Fan saw the medicinal field, centered on the Fat Daoist, swept by a gale-force wind.

"Come out for me." The Fat Daoist shouted in a low voice, his entire palm pressed tightly against the ground. As he channeled his True Qi, the medicinal field began to tremble. Though Chen Fan didn't feel much, he could clearly see the soil on the field jumping.

"What is he doing?" Chen Fan frowned slightly. He guessed this was the real reason the Fat Daoist had come.

Several breaths passed, and the Fat Daoist's face began to turn purple-red, as if he were struggling against something.

With a pop, the Fat Daoist suddenly stood up from the ground. His palm, which had been pressed against the earth, now gripped a strange stone covered in cracks.

"Hah, exhausting this poor Daoist." The Fat Daoist carefully placed the stone into the jade box, then took out a Talisman to completely seal the box.

"This... is this a Tortoise-patterned Medicinal Stone?" The Green-feathered Bird recognized the stone and exclaimed in shock.

"Good eyes. Don't worry, everyone who sees it gets a share. This poor Daoist never lies." The Fat Daoist smiled as he tucked the jade box into his sleeve. "Once I've gathered all the materials and refined the Nascent Soul Pill, I'll give you one."

"Nascent Soul Pill?" Chen Fan's heart shook. The essential pill for forming the Nascent Soul Realm—that was still far beyond him.

He was only at Qi Refining Layer 6 now. But judging by this, the Fat Daoist was at least at the Golden Core Realm, perhaps even on the verge of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm. Otherwise, he wouldn't be running around gathering ingredients for the Nascent Soul Pill.

"Here, kid. This is your sword art. This poor Daoist takes his leave." The Fat Daoist handed the Nine Palaces Sword Art to Chen Fan, then flicked his horsetail whisk, chanted "Supreme Heavenly Venerable," and walked out of the cave.

"Charlatan, weren't you going to take a disciple?" The Green-feathered Bird pressed.

"Supreme Heavenly Venerable. Taking a disciple requires harmony of heaven, earth, and man, and mutual willingness. I see today is not an auspicious day. Let us discuss it another time. Farewell." The Fat Daoist spoke with a sanctimonious air, then stepped with mysterious footwork and vanished beyond the cave in an instant.

"Damn it, we've been tricked." The Green-feathered Bird said indignantly.

Chen Fan looked at the Nine Palaces Sword Art in his hand and smiled faintly. "At least this sword art is real."