Re-entering Demon King Valley

Chen Fan's voice made the old man's figure suddenly halt. He turned around, eyes wide, and darted in front of Chen Fan with astonishing speed.

"Young man, you've got potential. This old man loves doing business with folks like you. Come, let's find another place to talk." The old man's trademark yellow teeth showed as he laughed heartily, his earlier righteous indignation completely gone.

"I'm a profiteer." Chen Fan took a step forward, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"As the saying goes, no merchant is not a profiteer. A merchant who isn't shrewd isn't a good one." The old man fell into step beside Chen Fan, his expression serious, as if he'd be the first to argue with anyone who dared disagree.

The old man's worldview had left everyone utterly appalled. Most of the cultivators passing by had been swindled by him at some point, and Chen Fan's identity sparked widespread speculation.

A Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core was worth several times more than one from the Eighth Layer, because Qi Refining Ninth Layer monster beasts were incredibly hard to find. And even if you found one, you weren't guaranteed to defeat it.

Lingxiao City was just an ordinary small town. If not for the Heavenly Court Hall being located here, the city would have long become a ghost town. But even so, only a few Qi Refining Realm cultivators remained. Foundation Establishment Realm experts rarely set foot here, so sometimes you could search the entire Lingxiao City and still not find a single Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core.

Chen Fan hadn't expected to encounter a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Savage Tiger either. Fortunately, the tiger had just recently advanced and its cultivation base wasn't fully stabilized. Otherwise, with Chen Fan's Qi Refining Layer 6 cultivation in the Heavenly Court, he couldn't have taken it down. Even so, Chen Fan had exhausted all his True Qi, and only with his final sword strike did he cleave open the tiger's head and retrieve the demon core.

Watching Chen Fan and the old man slowly walk away, the crowd showed sympathetic looks, shaking their heads as they discussed.

"This young man is no simpleton. He must be from one of the big sects in the Heavenly Court, otherwise he wouldn't be carrying a Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core."

"What a pity. A full Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core—rare to see even once in years—and that swindler old man got to it first. That kid's probably going to be cheated until he's got nothing left."

"Not necessarily. I think that young man isn't stupid." A cultivator spoke up.

"Then are you stupid?" Someone asked him.

"Of course not." The cultivator replied matter-of-factly.

"But you still got swindled by that old man."

"That... that was... that old man is too shameless." The cultivator's face flushed red, and he hurriedly finished speaking before ducking out of the crowd.

Chen Fan and the old man walked all the way out of the Heavenly Court Hall, and the crowd gradually thinned. Only then did the old man rub his palms together, grinning slyly. "Senior, take out that demon core and let me have a look."

Chen Fan looked at him with a half-smile. This old man had none of the bearing a senior should have. If he could even bring himself to call someone "Senior," what bottom line could you expect from him? Yet despite that, Chen Fan found him somewhat unfathomable, even feeling that this man was more inscrutable than the Fat Daoist he'd met last time.

"What's your price?" Chen Fan made no move, just looking at the old man as he asked.

"Don't worry, we've already established a pleasant working relationship. Don't you know my character yet? I won't cheat you, I won't let you lose out." The old man patted his frail chest, raised four fingers, and said with righteous conviction: "Four Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

"Twenty spirit stones, plus a Storage Ring." Chen Fan raised two fingers.

The old man immediately jumped up from the ground, flustered and exasperated. "Kid, do you even know the market price? Don't just throw out random numbers, alright? A Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core is only worth fifteen Low-Grade Spirit Stones in the Marketplace. You're being way too outrageous."

"Makes sense. Then thirty spirit stones, plus a Storage Ring." Chen Fan raised another finger, smiling faintly.

"Kid, you—" The old man cut himself off. His eyes were sharp, and he'd already seen Chen Fan's fourth finger twitching, as if one more word from him would make Chen Fan dare to call out forty spirit stones.

"Qi Refining Ninth Layer. You're not losing out." Chen Fan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"..." The old man's face fell at that, a bitter laugh in his heart. Yeah, not losing out, but not making anything either. A Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core usually went for about twenty-five spirit stones on the market, but since they were so uncommon, they could generally sell for thirty.

Thinking this over, the old man was even more speechless. Not only was he not making a profit, he was also losing a Storage Ring?

"Young man, you're definitely going places. Come on, deal done. Consider the Storage Ring a welcome gift from this old man." Finally, the old man put away his smile and gave Chen Fan a deep look. One Storage Ring—he was trading it for a connection.

Chen Fan nodded, took the Qi Refining Ninth Layer demon core from his chest. The blue glow on it was several times brighter than a Qi Refining Eighth Layer core, after all, this was something that could be considered half a step into Foundation Establishment.

The old man took the demon core with a grave expression, then pulled a ring from his tattered bag and handed it to Chen Fan.

"Thirty spirit stones are all inside." The old man chuckled.

This caught Chen Fan off guard. The old man had anticipated this, already preparing thirty spirit stones in the Storage Ring.

He said nothing more, glanced at the old man, then picked up the ring to examine it.

The ring was set with a round black gemstone, and the band was forged from bronze, densely covered with tiny characters that resembled an ancient formation—one involving space.

"I've already erased my Divine Sense from it. Just probe with your Divine Sense and you can claim ownership." The old man reminded him.

Chen Fan nodded, did as the old man said, extended his Divine Sense, split off a strand, and let it settle into the ring, completing the ownership. In the next moment, the ring became like a part of his body, responding to his every thought.

"Kid, killing a Qi Refining Ninth Layer monster beast at Qi Refining Layer 6—such impressive talent. If you could join a big sect, your future path would be long and far." The old man squinted.

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

With that, he silently recited the Incantation in his mind and returned to his Immortal Cave. As soon as he stepped into the Medicine Field, he immediately sat down to enter a cultivation state, then quickly withdrew from 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, he fully extended his Divine Sense, rushing it into the Heavenly Court and appearing in his Medicine Field. Looking at his spiritual body, Chen Fan willed it, and the black gem on the Storage Ring emitted a faint black glow as it slowly floated out from the spiritual body's robe.

With a whoosh, his Divine Sense yanked the ring, and Chen Fan pulled it out of the Heavenly Court.

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

Chen Fan reached out, drew the Storage Ring into his hand, grabbed a few clean clothes from the room, tossed them into the ring, and then stood up to open the door.

Zhang Rumeng carried a bundle on her back, as if she were about to go on a long journey. Several swords hung at her waist. Seeing Chen Fan come out, she said excitedly, "Chen Fan, I want to be a sword cultivator. Teach me the Sword Art quickly."

"One sword is enough." Chen Fan nodded calmly, then looked at Chen Jingjing. "Jingjing, get ready. We're leaving immediately."

"So soon?" Chen Jingjing was surprised. She had thought they'd need to prepare some food and other supplies.

"No time to waste." Chen Fan nodded.

Chen Jingjing nodded upon hearing this and ran off to her room.

Zhang Rumeng looked at Chen Fan with confusion and said, "Chen Fan, don't you need to bring any clothes?"

"I have them." Chen Fan said flatly.

Zhang Rumeng pouted slightly, nodded, and asked no more.

Soon, Chen Jingjing had packed her luggage, and the three of them headed straight toward Demon King Valley. With Chen Jingjing and the others around, Chen Fan had no choice but to slow his pace. After walking for half a day, they finally arrived at the entrance of Demon King Valley.

Chen Fan's appearance stirred commotion among the cultivators at the entrance. The memory of him, at Qi Refining Layer 6, slaying several experts and then suppressing a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator was still fresh in many minds, leaving them shaken to this day.

"Look, that young prodigy is back again." Someone pointed at Chen Fan.

"Young prodigy? Who? Xiao Munan?" A newcomer asked in confusion.

"Did you just get here in the last two days? Have you heard about the big battle outside Demon King Valley a few days ago?..." One person recounted Chen Fan's achievements from that day, immediately drawing a crowd to listen.

After a moment, someone exclaimed, "You mean that Qi Refining Layer 6 cultivator? That's him?"

"How enviable. And he's got two beautiful women with him. What are they to him? Junior fellow disciples from the same sect?"

"He must be going into Demon King Valley to train. This is our chance." Some stirred restlessly, ready to follow behind Chen Fan and venture deep into the valley with him.

But the moment Chen Fan stepped into Demon King Valley, his Divine Sense pressure burst forth, and without turning back, he said, "Anyone who follows—killed."

His voice thundered, trembling the hearts of many cultivators and making them halt in their tracks.

"Qi Refining Eighth Layer..." Everyone gasped, their faces full of shock. Just a few days ago, he was at Qi Refining Layer 6, and now his advancement was so rapid.

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

"Brother, where to now?" Looking at the endless forests and plains before them, Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng felt a surge of eagerness. This was their first time entering here.

Demon King Valley had always been a dangerous forbidden ground in their minds, a place only the strong, like Senior Brother Mo Bai, could venture into. But now, because of Chen Fan, their fear of this place gradually diminished.

"Follow me." Chen Fan took out a parchment map, glanced up, fixed his gaze, and strode forward. Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng dared not stray too far from him, sticking close behind.

Along the way, Chen Fan deliberately avoided fierce beasts, taking detours deeper into the forest. Soon, they arrived near a large mountain. Chen Fan extended his Divine Sense outward, confirmed that there were no other Monster Beasts or humans within dozens of li, and then looked at Chen Jingjing and the others, saying, "Here."

"Here?" Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng were puzzled.

"There are two Marrow Cleansing Pills here. Later, I'll teach you a set of incantations to refine them, completely transforming your meridians and spiritual roots." Chen Fan nodded and took out a pill bottle.

"Marrow Cleansing Pills..." Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng exclaimed, their hearts filled with shock. In their eyes, Marrow Cleansing Pills were clearly pills meant for Foundation Establishment Realm experts.

"Yes, this is the proper way to use Marrow Cleansing Pills. After refining them, I'll set up a Qi Gathering Array here to draw in all the spiritual energy from the surroundings. You'll need to raise your cultivation levels in a short time. Then, I'll start teaching you some Talisman techniques and Sword Arts." Chen Fan paused briefly, glanced around, and continued, "After you've learned them, you'll kill Monster Beasts—kill them without stop—until your cultivation is stable."

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng listened, their mouths slightly agape, frozen in place.