Chapter 233 - A Group of Core Disciples

“I’m now a sixth-level Yuanfu realm expert.”

A light flashed in Chen Fan’s eyes.

He looked around him. He had dispersed the evil qi, and he couldn't sense a single ghost in the area.

The evil qi was so faint now that it would take an unimaginably long time for ghosts to manifest again.

His trip to the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range had resulted in a significant surge in his cultivation.

In only one day, he went from the fourth to the sixth level.

“Sadly, I am still not strong enough to deal with someone like Duan Jingtian.”

Chen Fan didn’t let his consecutive breakthroughs cloud his judgment, maintaining a clear mindset.

The fight on Tianmen Mountain had helped him understand Duan Jingtian’s terrifying strength. Compared to him, Chen Fan was still an ant.

“I need to improve and advance further. Become even stronger. Seventh, eighth, and even the ninth level... With that cultivation, defeating a Core Formation realm expert wouldn’t be possible, but they wouldn’t be able to kill me easily, either.

“My goal should be to advance into the Core Formation realm as soon as possible. Duan Jingtian’s already at the eighth level of the Core Formation realm. To fight against him, I have to be at the fifth or sixth level of the Core Formation realm at the very least.”

Chen Fan could see the situation very clearly.

Duan Jingtian was still enormously stronger than him. Chen Fan had to progress his cultivation nonstop to shrink the strength gap between them.

After reaping so many benefits from the ghosts, Chen Fan found them remarkably endearing. He hoped all powerful ghosts would come and enter him, becoming his nourishment.

This, he believed, would make entering the Core Formation realm a tangible goal.

However, he quickly dismissed this notion. Refining the Devil Spirit and ghosts had made him stronger rapidly, but it had also destabilized his martial arts foundation. Such a path posed a significant hidden danger for his future progress.

Chen Fan calmed his mind and sat down cross-legged. He started revolving the Myriad Elephants Divine Art. The primeval force inside him transformed into ancient wild elephant runes, fusing with his flesh, blood, tendons, and bones, strengthening his physique.

The primeval force within his dantian resembled a vast, surging ocean but displayed a hint of instability due to the rapid cultivation elevation.

Cultivating the Myriad Elephants Divine Art served a dual purpose—it consumed significant primeval force to enhance his physique while simultaneously condensing it, addressing the instability.

Moreover, since he was waiting for Lei Tao, Chu Tiange, and the others to show up, he decided to utilize this time to enhance his physique further and cultivate additional illusory primeval vessels.

......

Deep inside the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range, a group suddenly appeared in an area from a distorted space.

“Phew, we’re finally out.” Chu Tiange turned and looked at the distorted space behind them. A look of lingering fear flashed across his eyes.

The Fountain of Life wasn't in the depths of the mountain range but within this area. The various evil qi—corpse, ghostly, and nefarious—in the surroundings had formed a special force field, distorting the space and flow of time in this area.

This area with distorted space and time was similar to a blessed land.

Instead of treasures, this space was filled with powerful Devil Spirits, wandering ghosts, and more.

Chu Tiange and his companions navigated through the area, facing various dangers, and successfully acquired the Fountain of Life. Their mission was now complete, and they could return to the sect.

Leading the group was Lei Tao, a white-clad man with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes. His commanding presence deterred even the audacious Chu Tiange. Two men and a woman accompanied Lei Tao, all possessing strong auras indicative of their fifth-level cultivation.

“Our trip was successful this time, thanks to Brother Tao. His Nine Sun Cultivation Technique is cultivated by gathering the essence of the blazing sun. It is the nemesis of those demons and ghosts. Without him, we would have faced many more difficulties trying to complete the mission,” said a man dressed in yellow.

“Senior Brother Lei, with us succeeding in obtaining the Fountain of Life, the Alliance Leader will soon advance to the ninth level of the Core Formation realm. Even the Divine Nascent realm doesn’t seem too far away. We will have made great contributions,” said the other man with a smile.

The woman said, “The Alliance Leader will immediately take over the position of Sect Leader after advancing to the Divine Nascent realm. We’re also considered long-serving members of the Heaven’s Alliance; our statuses will rise accordingly in the future. Our Heaven’s Alliance will rule the entire Spring Autumn Sect.”

Lei Tao waved his hand and said, “Alright, let’s return to the sect. Don’t make the Alliance Leader wait too long. We have all contributed greatly by coming here to retrieve the Fountain of Life. We will all be rewarded and receive nurturing from the Alliance Leader. Chu Tiange, you’ve already consumed a drop of the Fountain of Life and raised your cultivation to the fifth level. Our Heaven’s Alliance has gained another core disciple now. Congratulations.”

The group of five rose to the skies one after another and soared off into the distance.

......

Swish, swish, swish...

While Chen Fan was cultivating, the distant sound of rushing wind caught his attention.

He opened his eyes and immediately saw the air rippling slightly at the mountain range’s edge, revealing five figures swiftly approaching.

Chen Fan instantly recognized Chu Tiange among the five and knew that this group was Lei Tao’s group, here on Duan Jingtian’s orders to retrieve the Fountain of Life.

“They’ve finally appeared! Just where did they get the Fountain of Life from? Hmm? What a rich vitality aura. Chu Tiange has actually advanced to the fifth level. He has likely already tasted the Fountain of Life.”

Surprise flashed in Chen Fan’s eyes.

“Hmm? There’s someone here!”

Lei Tao, at the front, suddenly narrowed his eyes, looking in Chen Fan’s direction.

Chu Tiange and the others all looked over.

“It’s him, Chen Fan!”

Chu Tiange was naturally familiar with Chen Fan, so he immediately recognized him. He couldn’t help but exclaim in shock; he hadn’t expected Chen Fan to make it this deep into the corpse land.

“Chen Fan? The guy who played some tricks and set up the three-year promise with the Alliance Leader?” Lei Tao raised his eyebrow.

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Chu Tiange nodded and said, “That’s right. It’s him.”

“The Alliance Leader forbade everyone in the alliance from making a move against him for three years. Forget it. The Alliance Leader’s words are the law, and members must abide by them. It is his fortune to be able to live for two more years,” Lei Tao said indifferently.

It was as if Chen Fan’s life or death was nothing more than a single thought in his eyes.

Chu Tiange smiled coldly and said, “Senior Brother Lei, although the Alliance Leader forbade us from killing him, crippling his cultivation should be okay. This little bastard dared to play tricks before the Alliance Leader and challenge his prestige. He deserves to die.”