Enemies Gather

"Such rich spiritual energy, it feels like I'm in the celestial realm, utterly refreshed." Zhang Rumeng stretched out her arms, sensing the sudden transformation of the world's spiritual energy.

"This energy is actually flowing into my body on its own." Chen Jingjing widened her eyes as she spoke.

"You've completed your marrow cleansing and tendon washing; your meridians and bones are now much tougher. For now, your foundation is stable. I'll teach you the way of talismans and sword arts, but first, you need to use this Qi Gathering Array to raise your cultivation." Chen Fan said.

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng nodded in agreement without any objection.

"This Qi Gathering Array can last three days. Focus on cultivating. I'll set up a Defensive Concealment Array outside and then push through to Qi Refining Ninth Layer." Chen Fan said in a low voice.

"Qi Refining Ninth Layer." Zhang Rumeng exclaimed in surprise—that was the same realm as the elders of Heavy Sword Peak.

"Brother, if you were still at Heavy Sword Peak, reaching Qi Refining Ninth Layer would qualify you as an elder there." Chen Jingjing said regretfully.

Everything at Heavy Sword Peak was divided by realm. Aside from the Inner and Outer Courts, a disciple who reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer would automatically be promoted to sect elder and become a high-level manager.

"Focus on cultivating. In a few days, there will likely be a fierce battle." Chen Fan said calmly. He had killed Elder Li, and only he knew that Elder Li was from a Demon Sect. But Heavy Sword Peak didn't know that. Given the Demon Sect's methods, they would probably use others to strike, inciting Heavy Sword Peak to come after him.

Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng didn't think that far. They assumed the fierce battle Chen Fan mentioned was the upcoming fight with Monster Beasts. Though fearful, they followed his advice and hurried to raise their cultivation.

Sitting cross-legged on the open ground, Chen Jingjing and Zhang Rumeng slowly closed their eyes and entered a cultivation state. The vast spiritual energy surged faster, drilling into their pores and merging into their bodies.

Chen Fan touched his Storage Ring and pulled out a yellow talisman.

"Go!" He softly chanted, pressing his fingers down and sticking the talisman to the ground.

Boom!

A ripple of spiritual energy spread from the talisman, and another layer of light curtain enveloped the area, stacking on top of the Qi Gathering Array.

If anyone stood outside the array now, they would be shocked—Chen Fan and the two women had vanished!

This was a Concealment Array Talisman Chen Fan had made using a Mid-grade Talisman Paper. It could conceal an area and also had some defensive capability. Below the Foundation Establishment Realm, it was basically impenetrable.

After setting up the array, Chen Fan sat down cross-legged with peace of mind, activated the Blazing Heaven Sword Art, and began cultivating.

Whoosh!

The moment he closed his eyes, most of the spiritual energy in the Qi Gathering Array was pulled toward him, surging around his body. Combined with the Pseudo Immortal Qi he could sense from the Heavenly Court, two colors of spiritual energy intertwined, slowly forming a cocoon of light around him.

The three of them cultivated in their own spots, and the place fell silent once more.

Outside Demon King Valley, a crowd of Heavy Sword Peak disciples and elders had already gathered, drawing the attention of countless rogue cultivators.

In a small group among the crowd, Mo Bai and Mo Hu wore grim expressions.

"There's no reason for Chen Fan to do this. Something's off." Mo Bai frowned slightly and shook his head.

"Earlier, they said they were going to find Elder Li for some inheritance. Maybe Elder Li tried to keep it for himself, and Chen Fan killed him in anger?" Mo Hu guessed. He knew Chen Fan wouldn't hesitate to kill.

"Don't jump to conclusions." Mo Bai said sternly.

"Whatever the case, I'm still on his side." Mo Hu said seriously.

"Mo Hu, that's not right. If you're on his side, doesn't that mean you're opposing Heavy Sword Peak?" A sarcastic voice suddenly cut in.

They turned to see a man in a black robe approaching, flanked by two women. One of them was Nalan Yun, the woman Chen Fan had once been infatuated with.

"Nalan Tian." Mo Hu squinted at the man. "Didn't you take a three-year leave to handle family affairs? It's only been two years—why are you back?"

Nalan Tian smiled faintly and shook his head. "I thought it would take three years, but I stumbled upon a great fortune. My cultivation advanced rapidly in these two years, and the family matters resolved themselves."

Hearing this, Mo Bai and Mo Hu extended their Divine Sense to probe him, then their expressions shifted in shock. "Foundation Establishment Early Stage."

The other disciples were equally stunned. Two years ago, Nalan Tian was only at Qi Refining Eighth Layer. Now he had broken into Foundation Establishment, meaning he had surpassed Heavy Sword Peak's elders and could be promoted to Vice Peak Master, on par with Yang Feng.

"Mo Bai, long time no see." Nalan Tian looked at Mo Bai, addressing him directly by name. The title "Senior Brother" was now a thing of the past.

"Welcome back." Mo Bai nodded lightly, not taking it to heart.

"Senior Brother, don't you know? This morning, Peak Master Yang promoted my brother to Vice Peak Master. From now on, you should call him Peak Master Nalan." Nalan Yun had regained her old arrogance. She had recently advanced from Qi Refining Layer 4 into the Inner Court, and her brother's triumphant return restored her former status.

Mo Bai and Mo Hu fell silent. Though shocked, they found it hard to address a former fellow disciple as Vice Peak Master—especially one who had been their rival.

Even Mo Bai, who was easygoing, didn't say it.

Nalan Tian didn't press the issue. Instead, he smiled even more smugly. At just twenty-three, he had reached Foundation Establishment Early Stage—a prodigy by any standard, with a boundless future. He wouldn't lose his temper easily.

"I hear a disciple colluded with a Demon Sect to kill our Elder Li. Mo Hu, what you said earlier borders on betraying the sect. But since we were once fellow disciples, I'll pretend I didn't hear it. Watch your words from now on." Nalan Tian spoke from a lofty position, scolding Mo Hu lightly.

Mo Hu was furious, but Mo Bai held him back, keeping him from exploding.

"Brother, that disciple is Chen Fan. He's shameless and tried to harass me many times. I don't know what stroke of luck he got, but his strength suddenly shot up. Back then, Senior Brother Zhang Ting fought a life-or-death duel for me, and Chen Fan killed him with dirty tricks." Nalan Yun's eyes were venomous at the thought of Chen Fan.

"Chen Fan? Never heard of him. What realm is he now?" Nalan Tian raised an eyebrow.

"Last time at Heavy Sword Peak, I saw he was at Qi Refining Layer 6." Nalan Yun said.

"Just Qi Refining Layer 6? All disciples, hear me! Follow me into Demon King Valley to kill the traitor of Heavy Sword Peak." Nalan Tian sneered coldly, then pulled a token from his waist, raised it high, and shouted.

All the disciples looked up, their faces changing dramatically.

A Vice Peak Master Token!

Seeing Nalan Tian's cultivation level, they realized Heavy Sword Peak had a new Vice Peak Master—Peak Master Nalan!

Nalan Tian basked in the gazes cast his way, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. Beside him, Nalan Yun could barely contain her excitement—though this glory came from her elder brother, its afterglow was enough to make her shine.

Just then, the disciples who had been looking up suddenly stirred, pointing at the sky.

Nalan Yun also looked up and was instantly struck speechless. In the air, a wheel was spinning, and atop it stood three men and one woman, all at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"Immortal Sect—those are people from the Immortal Sect. I recognize one of them," a disciple identified a male cultivator, one of those who had come to Heavy Sword Peak to demand a sword.

"Are they here for Chen Fan too?" The crowd guessed what was coming.

Mo Bai and Mo Hu's faces sank. One Nalan Tian was already trouble enough, and now four more Foundation Establishment experts had arrived. Chen Fan was in for a calamity.

Nalan Yun was stunned for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

She knew—this time, Chen Fan had no escape.

The Young Sect Master had ordered his death, her brother Nalan Tian wanted to kill him to establish his authority, and even the Immortal Sect bore a grudge against him, dispatching four Foundation Establishment experts.

"Chen Fan, Chen Fan... this time, no one can save you." Nalan Yun sneered coldly, a fierce glint flashing in her eyes.

At the corner of the Demon King Valley's entrance, two people sat beneath a large tree, watching everything unfold.

"These people don't know when to quit. Sending a few Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators to kill Chen Fan? They're probably walking to their deaths," Li Tieniu shook his head, still vividly recalling the scene of Chen Fan killing Lin Shang.

"That Nalan Tian from Heavy Sword Peak is indeed nothing to fear, but the ones the Immortal Sect sent this time aren't ordinary disciples. Look closely," Qin Xian'er said.

"This... why are they here?" Li Tieniu's eyes widened.

"It seems Elder Han gave the order secretly. Otherwise, Senior Sister would have stopped it," Qin Xian'er shook her head.

"Sect Master, are you going to make a move this time?"

"This brat is too arrogant. It's time he paid the price." A hint of amusement flickered in Qin Xian'er's eyes.

"Didn't you say he was a key piece?"

"A piece that exceeds my control is no longer a good piece. Someone needs to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately, this time it will be a bloody one."

Two days later, inside the Demon King Valley.

Chen Jingjing opened her eyes. In just two days, her cultivation had leaped from Qi Refining Layer 5 to Qi Refining Seventh Layer. The Marrow Cleansing Pill had greatly enhanced her aptitude, and combined with the effects of the Qi Gathering Array, she had achieved this astonishing speed.

Soon after, Zhang Rumeng also opened her eyes. Like Chen Jingjing, she had advanced to Qi Refining Seventh Layer, her True Qi undergoing a qualitative leap.

The two were marveling at their cultivation progress when a strange sound suddenly reached their ears.

"Shwoosh! Shwoosh!"

It was the sound of air rushing rapidly. They listened for a few breaths, finally pinpointing the source. Following the noise, they looked toward Chen Fan's location and gaped in astonishment.