Xuan Feixue had led the Mountain River Sect disciples to a stream valley to recuperate.
“Senior Brother, your courage and intelligence played a pivotal role this time. You secured the Ice Jade Snow Lotus, earning great merit for our sect. When you enter the inner sect, they may fast-track you as a core disciple due to your exceptional achievements.”
“That’s right. While following Senior Brother in the blessed land, we thrived under your guidance, making breakthroughs in our cultivation and gaining merit through your care.”
“We'll rely on your guidance when entering the inner sect, Senior Brother.”
The Mountain River Sect disciples complimented him continuously in awe.
Xuan Feixue waved his hand, stopping them from buttering him up any further. His furrowed eyebrows hinted at a lingering concern.
One of the disciples asked, “Senior Brother, what are you worried about?”
Xuan Feixue said plainly, “The strand of primeval force I left in Qin Yao was removed. I can’t sense it. I wanted to use it to kill Chen Fan after taking the Ice Jade Snow Lotus to eliminate all future troubles. However, I can’t track them now; hence, the unease.”
“You might be overly worried, Senior Brother. Although Chen Fan is formidable, he sustained injuries on top of his existing ones and should be on his last leg. If he hadn't escaped quickly, he would have died in the Black Sea Desert. He likely hasn't fully recovered with only a day left in the training. After we leave Dragon Mountain Blessed Land, could he possibly come to settle scores with us after recovering?”
This disciple had a clear view of the situation. “Moreover, he offended Duan Jingtian. Given Duan Jingtian’s strength and prestige in the Spring Autumn Sect, I’m afraid Duan Jingtian will kill him the second he leaves the blessed land. He is a dead man walking.”
Xuan Feixue’s furrowed eyebrow smoothed out, and he said, “You’re right. Given his injuries, a full recovery in just three days is impossible, not to mention he’s offended Duan Jingtian. He will be dead the second he leaves. I can’t believe I was worrying about a dead man’s revenge. I must be crazy.”
Having voiced these thoughts, Xuan Feixue seemed to have released a weight from his heart and burst into relaxed laughter.
Chen Fan was truly too strong, capable of killing a first-level Yuanfu realm expert while being a mere Qi Grandmaster.
Xuan Feixue had failed to kill Chen Fan, leaving a lingering worry about potential retaliation. Nevertheless, reassured by his junior brother's words, he quickly regained his composure.
However, a sudden rumbling disrupted the calm.
The ground in the stream valley trembled, resembling an earthquake. The faces of Xuan Feixue and the others changed in response.
“Could it be an earthquake?”
“Earthquake, my ass. We’re in a blessed land. Where would an earthquake come from?”
The Mountain River Sect disciples exchanged guesses, their voices filled with panic.
Xuan Feixue’s expression sank. He rose to the skies; suddenly, his pupils shrunk violently.
He saw someone flying toward them from outside the stream valley.
“Chen Fan!” Xuan Feixue cried out in shock subconsciously.
He had just overcome his concerns about Chen Fan seeking revenge after accepting his junior brother’s reassurance; unexpectedly, Chen Fan appeared.
The flapping of Chen Fan’s Wings of Rain Dragon brought whirlwinds with him as he flew, and he swiftly covered the distance to the stream valley in the blink of an eye.
Standing proudly in the air with crossed arms, he addressed Xuan Feixue with a cold smile. “You seem very surprised, Xuan Feixue.”
Xuan Feixue stared fixedly at Chen Fan and shrieked, “How is this possible? How did you recover without a week or half a month of recovery from those severe injuries?”
Chen Fan curled his lips, smirking. “How ignorant. Ever heard of recovery pills? To you, a top-grade recovery pill might be a luxury, but to me, it's as common as candy. I may lack many things, but primeval stones are not one of them.”
Chen Fan didn’t care whether Xuan Feixue believed him. He kept bluffing and exaggerating things.
He certainly didn't possess a top-grade recovery pill or an abundance of primeval stones—he actually lacked everything.
Aware of onlookers outside Dragon Mountain Blessed Land, he felt compelled to explain to dispel any suspicions.
Those outside would grow suspicious of him if he didn't explain himself. So, he attributed his recovery to a top-grade recovery pill, dispelling the people’s doubts.
Xuan Feixue's expression darkened, as he hadn’t expected Chen Fan to have a top-grade recovery pill.
“How did you find us?” Xuan Feixue asked.
This stream valley was quite out of sight; not many knew about it. So, how did Chen Fan find them?
He didn’t believe for a second that Chen Fan just chanced upon their location.
Chen Fan grinned and said, “Did you think snatching my Ice Jade Snow Lotus would be so easy? You must think that only you can leave primeval qi inside things.”
“Impossible! I checked the Ice Jade Snow Lotus inside out multiple times. You couldn’t have left it inside the lotus!” Xuan Feixue yelled.
Chen Fan casually replied, "If you don't trust me, consider it a fortunate accident that we crossed paths."
“Alright, I can’t be bothered wasting time talking with you.” Chen Fan's expression turned cold in an instant.
A formidable aura emanated from him, creating a weighty pressure that enveloped Xuan Feixue and his group as though an enormous, invisible mountain descended upon them.
“Get him!” Xuan Feixue yelled. His powerful aura erupted, and an ice dragon rushed out.
Simultaneously, the disciples of the Mountain River Sect below unleashed their primeval qi to attack Chen Fan.
“Mere ants trying to shake a tree!” Chen Fan harrumphed indifferently.
A fierce gale shredded the attacks from below with a flap of his wings.
In a swift motion, he delivered a punch, disintegrating the ice dragon into countless shards.
However, Xuan Feixue immediately turned to run after launching his attack. He was well aware that he was no match for Chen Fan.
“They can run away, but you alone can never escape! You never should have used my Senior Sister to threaten me. You were fated to die the moment you did so!”
Chen Fan ignored the Mountain River Sect disciples below. His figure flashed, drawing an arc as he caught up to Xuan Feixue and punched. The terrifying force in his punch shook heaven and earth.
“Damn it, I’ll fight it out with you. Even if I die, I’ll drag you down to hell with me!”
Xuan Feixue’s expression shifted repeatedly. Sensing the terrifying pressure coming from behind, he quickly turned to dodge the attack. Simultaneously, a primeval vessel hovered above his head, his primeval force igniting.
Aware that he couldn’t escape Chen Fan's superior speed, Xuan Feixue chose to confront him head-on.
“Drag me down to hell? With just you? Are you qualified to?” Chen Fan mocked coldly.
Three heads and six arms shook the void, each strike producing explosive shockwaves that swept through the air.
Xuan Feixue’s attacks crumbled on contact with Chen Fan’s strikes. A terrifying force struck him, hurling him out of the air and onto the ground.
“Don’t! Don’t kill me. I’ll return you the Ice Jade Snow Lotus. Don’t kill me. Spare my life!” Xuan Feixue, gripped by boundless fear, knelt on the ground and offered the Ice Jade Snow Lotus with both hands.
He finally understood the difference in strength between him and Chen Fan—they were on completely different levels.
“If begging for mercy worked, no one would ever die.” Chen Fan descended, his voice incomparably icy and his tone cold, filled with killing intent.
“Wipe your eyes clear in your next life. Make sure to see clearly who can be challenged and who cannot.”
As Chen Fan’s voice fell, a punch came crashing down.
A terrifying destructive force shattered Xuan Feixue’s primeval vessel and rushed into him, exploding.
Chen Fan had killed a Yuanfu realm expert in an instant.
With a wave of Chen Fan’s palm, a streak of primeval qi enveloped the Ice Jade Snow Lotus, and he left.
Mountain River Sect disciples came rushing over. They looked at Xuan Feixue’s corpse and Chen Fan’s departing silhouette. Every one of them kept quiet out of fear, standing there blankly.
A first-level Yuanfu realm expert was slain in mere moments.
Was this what a Qi Grandmaster was supposed to be capable of?