Chapter 195 - Traveling Together

Mu Chen and the other party members beamed with smiles.

They hadn’t killed as many bandits as Chen Fan, but the five of them united and charged into the bandit ranks like ferocious wolves among a flock of sheep. They slew no fewer than five hundred ordinary blood-sucking bandits.

Five hundred ordinary blood demon cores were equivalent to fifty contribution points. They could split them up, each earning ten contribution points.

While this amount paled compared to Chen Fan's achievements, it still marked a significant harvest for them.

“Chen Fan, many thanks for saving us," Mu Chen expressed his gratitude, cupping his fists.

They would have paid with their lives without Chen Fan’s help, let alone earning contribution points. The blood-sucking bandits would have drained their blood, leaving them as lifeless, bloodless husks.

It was a true life-saving grace.

“Thank you very much for saving our lives.”

Lu Yun and the others also approached Chen Fan to express their gratitude.

Although Chen Fan was having a hard time in the inner sect, they weren’t members of Heaven’s Alliance. Thus, they didn’t feel any hostility toward him.

Chen Fan waved his hand and said, “No need for that. Everyone is duty-bound to eliminate practitioners of demonic cultivation techniques.”

With that, he turned to leave.

“Wait a moment, Chen Fan," Mu Chen called out.

“Is there anything else?” Chen Fan turned around and asked.

Mu Chen looked somewhat awkward.

Chen Fan furrowed his brow and said, “Just speak your mind.”

Mu Chen took a deep breath and said, “Chen Fan, we want to travel with you. Do you mind?”

They used to believe that their small party of five Qi Grandmasters would be relatively safe if they avoided going too deep into the northwest to hunt blood-sucking bandits.

However, recent events had exposed the folly of their assumptions.

Moments after arriving at the northwestern lands, they had fallen into a perilous situation. They now knew that the deeper they ventured, the stronger the blood-sucking bandits they would encounter.

They wanted to make a huge harvest this time. Realizing the necessity of finding a formidable ally, they set their sights on Chen Fan.

Earlier, they had witnessed his might. The first-level Yuanfu realm bandit leader hadn’t stood a chance, failing to even make an attempt to escape.

If they joined forces with Chen Fan, encountering powerful bandits wouldn't be as daunting. Chen Fan could handle formidable foes while they took care of the weaklings.

Chen Fan might not care about those ordinary blood-sucking bandits, but they were favorable targets for them.

They could obtain a lot more contribution points if they followed Chen Fan.

Not only that, following Chen Fan would guarantee their safety.

Lu Yun and the others also looked at Chen Fan with hope.

If Chen Fan were to reject them, then they could only return to the sect.

After all, it was too dangerous for Qi Grandmasters to come to the northwest to kill the blood-sucking bandits. If they were not careful, they would become their next meal.

“Aren’t you afraid of offending Heaven’s Alliance?” Chen Fan said indifferently.

Everyone treated him like a plague rat in the inner sect. So, why would they take the initiative to reach out to him?

Mu Chen said, “I’m not afraid! No matter how tyrannical Heaven’s Alliance is, they can’t do whatever they please. We are traveling with you solely to exterminate more blood-sucking bandits to accrue contribution points.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“We five are no descendants of prestigious clans. If we want to break through to the Yuanfu realm, we must rely on ourselves to obtain cultivation resources. Missing this opportunity might delay our breakthrough significantly. We can’t let this opportunity go.”

“That’s right!” Lu Yun and the others nodded one after another.

On the path of martial arts cultivation, wealth, companions, technique, and land were the crucial factors. Their ordinary family backgrounds meant they had to fight for resources themselves, and the blood-sucking bandit extermination mission presented an excellent opportunity for them.

Without ample resources, breaking through to the Yuanfu realm would be a challenge for them.

“Alright, then. I’m fine with whatever.” Chen Fan, sensing their determination, accepted their proposal. “That’s great.”

Mu Chen and the others were pleased when Chen Fan agreed to their request.

......

Bang!

A blood-sucking bandit’s head flew into the air, their sharp teeth in bits. A blood-red bead—the blood demon core—flew out from his brain.

The bandit was a first-level Yuanfu realm expert.

In the frigid outskirts of the northwest region, under heavy snowfall, a formidable group of fifteen hundred blood-sucking bandits had recently pillaged a village. Unfortunately for them, Chen Fan’s group pursued them and handed them to death in pieces.

With an expert like Chen Fan holding the lines, the group of bandits was quick to fall.

In the northwestern lands, there were many gangs of blood-sucking bandits, forming a momentum that seemed to sweep the world.

The group Chen Fan had wiped out in the ancient city was merely one of these gangs.

After a night's rest in the ancient city, the six had ventured out the following day in search of more blood-sucking bandits. Finally, several hundred miles away, they discovered the tracks of another group in a village.

“Capture it, Capturing Dragon Controlling Crane!” [1]

His tightly clenched fist unleashed primeval qi that pierced the skull of a blood-sucking bandit at the eighth level and extracted a blood demon core from his brain.

The five of them then surrounded three Qi Grandmaster bandits and launched fierce attacks, slowly and steadily pushing them back.

Chen Fan killed a first-level Yuanfu realm blood-sucking bandit and swooped down from the sky like an eagle preying on a rabbit. Grabbing at the air, he dealt with another first-level Yuanfu realm bandit.

“Speak, sinful beast. How many bandits in total are there in these northwestern lands? Who and where is their highest-ranked figure?” Instead of immediately killing the captive, Chen Fan tried to extract information through questioning.

“Hahahaha, if you kill me, Lord Chongtian will avenge me! All you little bastards have to die! You’ll have to die! With your minuscule strength, you’re no different from ants in front of Lord Chongtian!”

This first-level Yuanfu realm bandit leader roared crazily, “Just you wait. We’re nurtured by the Blood Soul Palace and trained in the Blood Demon Cave. You people will be turned into blood sustenance sooner or later!”

“Blood Soul Palace? Blood Demon Cave?”

This was the first time Chen Fan had heard of those two names.

Do all bandits belong to a sect?

thought Chen Fan.

“Die, you little bastard!”

When Chen Fan was lost in thought, the captive bandit leader revolved his cultivation crazily. Fresh blood shot out from him, and it seemed he was about to explode.

Reacting swiftly, Chen Fan waved his hands, conjuring a large qi shield that enveloped the bandit leader.

Boom!

An explosion ensued, causing the qi shield to tremble intensely. Blood sprayed everywhere, but the transparent shield held firm.

“The Blood Shadow Great Destruction Technique aims to bring down their enemy together with them. A first-level Yuanfu realm executing this technique would bring forth extremely great destructive power, yet it couldn’t destroy Chen Fan’s qi shield! Just how powerful is he?”

Mu Chen and the others marveled at Chen Fan's seemingly boundless strength, their sense of awe deepening with each interaction.

1. Looks like a reference to Tang Jia San Shao’s Soul Land series. ☜