Returning to Demon King Valley

Chen Fan's voice made the old man stop dead. He turned around, eyes wide, and darted over to Chen Fan at an incredible speed.

"Young man, you've got a bright future ahead of you. I love doing business with people like you. Come, let's find somewhere else to talk." The old man flashed his trademark yellow teeth and laughed heartily. The righteous indignation he'd shown earlier had vanished without a trace.

"I'm a swindler," Chen Fan said, setting off with a faint smile on his lips.

"As the saying goes, there's no honest merchant. A merchant who isn't crooked isn't a good merchant." The old man followed Chen Fan, speaking solemnly, as if he'd pick a fight with anyone who dared disagree.

The old man's values had left everyone feeling utterly scandalized. Most of the cultivators passing by had been swindled by him before, and Chen Fan's identity had them all guessing.

A Demon Core from a Qi Refining Ninth Layer beast was worth several times more than one from a Qi Refining Eighth Layer beast. Beasts at the ninth layer were incredibly hard to find, and even if you did find one, you might not be able to defeat it.

Lingxiao City was just an ordinary little city. If the Heavenly Court Hall weren't located there, it would have become a ghost town long ago. But only Qi Refining Realm cultivators remained here, and Foundation Establishment Realm experts rarely set foot in the place. Sometimes, you could scour all of Lingxiao City and still not find a single Demon Core from a Qi Refining Ninth Layer beast.

Chen Fan hadn't expected to run into a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Savage Tiger. Luckily, the tiger had only recently advanced and hadn't fully stabilized its realm. Otherwise, with his Qi Refining Layer 6 cultivation in the Heavenly Court, Chen Fan wouldn't have been able to keep it there. Even so, he'd exhausted all his True Qi before his final sword strike split open the Savage Tiger's head and let him take its Demon Core.

As they watched Chen Fan and the old man slowly walk away, the crowd shook their heads sympathetically and began to discuss them.

"That young man's no ordinary person. He must come from some major sect in the Heavenly Court. Otherwise, he wouldn't be carrying around a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Demon Core."

"What a pity. A Demon Core from a whole Qi Refining Ninth Layer beast—something you might not see for years—and that swindler of an old man got to him first. That kid's probably going to be cheated until he's penniless."

"Not necessarily. That young man doesn't look like a fool," one cultivator said.

"Then are you a fool?" someone asked him.

"Of course not," the cultivator replied matter-of-factly.

"But you've still been swindled by that old man."

"Th-that was... That old man is just too shameless!" The cultivator flushed bright red, then hurriedly ducked his head and withdrew from the crowd.

Chen Fan and the old man walked out of the Heavenly Court Hall. The crowd gradually thinned, and only then did the old man rub his palms together and grin. "Senior, take out the Demon Core so I can have a look."

Chen Fan gave him a knowing, amused look. This old man had none of the bearing of an expert. If he was willing to call someone "Senior," how low did he have to stoop? Yet Chen Fan couldn't quite see through him. He even felt that the old man was more inscrutable than the Fat Daoist he'd met last time.

"What's your price?" Chen Fan asked, making no move.

"Don't worry. We've already had a pleasant business relationship. You know what I'm like—I'd never cheat you or let you take a loss." The old man thumped his frail chest, raised four fingers, and declared righteously, "Four Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Twenty Spirit Stones, plus a Storage Ring," Chen Fan said, holding up two fingers.

The old man immediately leaped up, furious. "Kid, do you even know the going price? Don't throw out ridiculous numbers! A Qi Refining Ninth Layer Demon Core is only worth fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones at the Marketplace. You're asking far too much."

"You have a point. Then make it thirty Spirit Stones, plus a Storage Ring." Chen Fan raised another finger and smiled faintly.

"You..." The old man stopped short. His sharp eyes had already caught Chen Fan's fourth finger twitching, and he was sure that if he said another word, Chen Fan would dare demand forty Spirit Stones.

"It's from a Qi Refining Ninth Layer beast. You're not losing out," Chen Fan said, narrowing his eyes slightly.

"..." The old man's face fell. He could only smile wryly to himself. True, he wasn't losing out, but he wasn't making a profit either. A Qi Refining Ninth Layer Demon Core usually went for only twenty-five Spirit Stones at the Marketplace, though because they were so rare, it could generally fetch thirty.

Thinking about it, the old man was even more at a loss for words. Not only was he making no profit, he was giving away a Storage Ring too?

"Young man, you're sure to have a boundless future. All right, it's a deal. Take the Storage Ring as an introductory gift from me." At last, the old man put away his smile and gave Chen Fan a long look. He was trading the Storage Ring for a connection.

Chen Fan nodded and took out the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Demon Core. Its blue glow was several times brighter than that of a Qi Refining Eighth Layer core. After all, this beast had been on the verge of Foundation Establishment.

The old man accepted the Demon Core with a solemn expression, then pulled a ring from his tattered bag and handed it to Chen Fan.

"The thirty Spirit Stones are inside," the old man said with a cheeky grin.

Chen Fan paused. The old man had apparently anticipated this and prepared the thirty Spirit Stones in the Storage Ring ahead of time.

He said nothing. After glancing at the old man, he took the ring and examined it.

A smooth black gemstone was set on top of the ring. The band was made of bronze and covered in densely packed characters, forming what looked like an ancient array—one that involved spatial formations.

"I've erased my Divine Sense. Just probe it with yours and you can claim ownership," the old man reminded him.

Chen Fan nodded and did as the old man instructed. He sent out his Divine Sense and placed a wisp of it inside the ring, completing the bond. The next moment, the ring felt like part of his body. With a single thought, he could control it.

"Kid, you're only at Qi Refining Layer 6, yet you killed a Qi Refining Ninth Layer beast. With talent like yours, you'd have a long road ahead of you if you could find yourself a major sect," the old man said, his eyes narrowed.

Chen Fan slipped the Storage Ring onto his finger and shook his head. "I'd rather get some experience out in the world."

With that, he silently recited the Incantation and returned to his Immortal Cave. As soon as he entered the medicinal field, he sat down to cultivate, then left the Heavenly Court, his Divine Sense returning to his physical body.

Chen Fan sat in his room. He had just opened his eyes when he closed them again, this time sending his Divine Sense out completely. It surged into the Heavenly Court and appeared in the medicinal field of his Immortal Cave. Looking at his spirit body, Chen Fan willed the black gemstone on the Storage Ring to glow faintly. The ring drifted slowly out from the spirit body's robes.

With a whoosh, his Divine Sense yanked the ring sharply, pulling it out of the Heavenly Court.

"Brother, we're back!" Chen Jingjing's voice came from outside the room.

Chen Fan reached out and drew the Storage Ring into his hand. He took several clean sets of clothes from the room and tossed them inside before getting up to open the door.

Zhang Rumeng had a bundle on her back, as if she were about to set off on a long journey. Several sharp swords hung at her waist. When she saw Chen Fan, she said excitedly, "Chen Fan, I want to become a sword cultivator. Hurry and teach me the Sword Art."

"One sword is enough," Chen Fan said mildly, nodding. Then he looked at Chen Jingjing. "Qingqing, get ready. We're leaving right away."

"So soon?" Chen Jingjing asked in surprise. She'd thought they would still need to prepare food and other supplies.

"There's no time to lose," Chen Fan said with a nod.

Chen Jingjing nodded too and ran to her room.

Zhang Rumeng looked at Chen Fan in confusion. "Chen Fan, aren't you bringing clothes?"

"I did," Chen Fan said calmly.

Zhang Rumeng puffed out her cheeks slightly, then nodded and didn't ask again.

Chen Jingjing soon finished packing. The three of them headed straight for Demon King Valley. With Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng along, Chen Fan had to slow his pace. It took them half a day to reach the entrance to the valley.

Chen Fan's arrival stirred the cultivators gathered at the entrance. On that day, he had killed several experts while at Qi Refining Layer 6, then slain a Qi Refining Ninth Layer beast. Many still remembered it clearly and remained shaken to this day.

"Look! That young genius is back!" someone said, pointing at Chen Fan.

"Young genius? Who? Xiao Munan?" someone unfamiliar with the story asked.

"You just get here in the last couple of days? Have you heard about the battle outside Demon King Valley a few days ago?..." Someone began recounting Chen Fan's exploits, immediately drawing a crowd of listeners.

After a while, someone cried out in shock, "You mean that cultivator at Qi Refining Layer 6 was him?"

"It's enough to make you jealous. He's got two beautiful women with him, too. Who are they? Junior Sisters from his sect?"

"He's definitely going into Demon King Valley to train. This is our chance." Some people grew restless, preparing to follow Chen Fan and explore deeper into the valley with him.

But the moment Chen Fan stepped into Demon King Valley, he released the pressure of his Divine Sense and said without looking back, "Anyone who follows me dies!"

His voice boomed like thunder, making the cultivators' hearts tremble and stopping them in their tracks.

"Qi Refining Eighth Layer..." Everyone drew in a sharp breath, their faces full of shock. He'd only been at Qi Refining Layer 6 a few days ago, yet he'd advanced so quickly.

In the end, they sheepishly retreated outside the valley. Chen Fan's ruthlessness left them unwilling to take the risk.

"Brother, where are we going now?" Looking out at the stretches of forest and open land, Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng were eager to explore. It was their first time here.

Demon King Valley had always been a dangerous forbidden ground in their eyes, a place only powerful figures like Senior Brother Mo Bai could dare to enter. But because of Chen Fan, their fear of it had gradually faded.

"Follow me." Chen Fan took out the leather map, glanced up, and fixed his gaze ahead. Then he strode forward. Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng didn't dare stray far and hurried after him.

Along the way, Chen Fan deliberately avoided the ferocious beasts and took a detour deeper into the forest. Before long, they reached the vicinity of a mountain. After extending his Divine Sense and confirming there were no other beasts or people for dozens of miles, he turned to Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng. "We'll stop here."

"Here?" Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng asked, confused.

"Here are two Marrow Cleansing Pills. In a moment, I'll teach you a cultivation formula to refine them and completely transform your meridians and spiritual roots." Chen Fan nodded and took out the pill bottle.

"Marrow Cleansing Pills..." Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng exclaimed, utterly shocked. In their minds, Marrow Cleansing Pills were clearly medicines that only Foundation Establishment Realm experts could take.

"Yes. This is the proper way to use Marrow Cleansing Pills. Once you've refined them, I'll set up a Qi Gathering Array here and draw in all the spiritual energy from the surrounding area. You'll need to raise your cultivation as much as you can in a short time. Then I'll teach you some of the ways of talismans and the Sword Art." Chen Fan paused, then glanced around before continuing, "Once you've learned them, you'll have to kill beasts—again and again—until your cultivation is stable."

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng listened with their mouths slightly agape, frozen on the spot.