Chapter 394 – Breaking Through to the Core Formation Realm

Black Wind Cliff was a precipice in the Spring Autumn Sect. Currently, two people stood there: the Spring Autumn Sect Leader and Duan Jingtian.

With his hands clasped behind his back, the sect leader stared into the distance, looking at the sea of clouds ahead.

“You were too reckless this time, Jingtian,” he said, his voice hollow and distant, as if he did not belong to this world.

“Given your talents, you can enter the Divine Nascent realm in a year and a half. At that time, you will take over my position. Then, you would assume my position. The entire sect would be under your command, and the world would bow to you. Who would dare to defy you then?

“However, your impulsive actions today allowed the High Elder to seize the opportunity and injure you severely. I had to discipline you and confine you to Black Wind Cliff for reflection.

“Although I managed to suppress your injuries, you now can’t advance to the next realm in eighteen months. I suspect this was his strategy to stall you, possibly to aid that Chen Fan.

“Less than eighteen months remain in your three-year agreement with him. You could have killed him with a flip of your hand if you were a Divine Nascent realm expert, but now... That’s hard to say. Chen Fan’s talents rival, if not surpass, yours.

“In just a year and a half, he became a peak-level Yuanfu realm expert and took home the championship. After consuming the Extreme Profound Elixir, he’ll advance to the Core Formation realm. His cultivation speed is way too fast.”

Duan Jingtian stood beside him, similarly gazing at the tumbling sea of clouds in the distance, and said, “Sect Leader, I think you’re worrying too much. While I admit that his talents are indeed frightening, he could only come this far because of a moment of my negligence.

“And so what if he enters the Core Formation realm? Very few below the Divine Nascent realm are a match for me. No matter how monstrous of a genius he is, he can’t possibly reach my level in just eighteen months. So, he will meet his end in a year and a half regardless!

“As for my advancement... Yun Tu, that old coot, has indeed delayed my progress. I won't forget this debt; he's next on my list once I break through," Duan Jingtian declared, his eyes gleaming with unmistakable intent to kill.

“Confidence is good, but remain vigilant. Spend this year cultivating diligently at Black Wind Cliff. I hope you can achieve the Divine Nascent realm soon and quash all opposition within the sect. With you at the helm, our sect will dominate Qingyang County. Your setback due to injury has merely delayed our plans,” said the sect leader.

“Sect Leader, isn’t the Great Chu Empire’s Grand Sect Conference in two years? This delay might work in our favor. Once I advance to the Divine Nascent realm, I can’t participate in the Grand Sect Conference. However, with my advancement delayed, I can represent the Spring Autumn Sect and dominate the Grand Sect Conference with overwhelming strength. Isn’t that even better?” Duan Jingtian said, smiling. His words implied that achieving the Divine Nascent realm was nothing difficult for him.

“Very well, with that perspective, I trust you'll succeed,” said the sect leader faintly. His form blurred and vanished with the wind, leaving no trace of his presence.

......

Three days had passed since the martial arts competition ended, yet the fervor within the Spring Autumn Sect showed no signs of waning.

Chen Fan had again become the center of attention.

The first time the people heard of his name was a year and a half ago when word of his three-year agreement with Duan Jingtian spread. Everyone had thought he was overestimating his own capabilities and was acting boldly.

After all, how could a mere Qi Grandmaster challenge the emblematic figure of the entire Spring Autumn Sect?

What was it if not an insult to Duan Jingtian?

However, Chen Fan rarely appeared in the sect since then, so the people gradually forgot about him.

His name spread again when Chen Fan appeared as a super dark horse in the martial arts competition, setting off a storm in the Spring Autumn Sect.

His recent confrontation with Duan Jingtian was still fresh in everyone's minds.

He had killed Yuan Kun, the second-in-command of Heaven’s Alliance, in front of Duan Jingtian. It was simply a brazen act of defiance, bordering on suicidal.

“Chen Fan's performance was simply mind-boggling. He took the championship and obtained the Extreme Profound Elixir. He must be trying to advance into the next realm now, right?”

“Isn’t he still at the ninth level? And he already has the combat strength of Core Formation realm experts?! Once he enters the Core Formation realm, wouldn’t he be much, much stronger than those at the same level? It’s simply unthinkable.”

“That’s right. We might soon witness the emergence of a new elite disciple.”

“I’m already looking forward to his battle against Senior Brother Duan Jingtian. I have to say, both of them are prodigies of the heavens. Although Chen Fan’s current strength is far inferior to Senior Brother Duan Jingtian’s, who knows how strong he will be in eighteen months, right? He might just surprise us all again!”

“Aren’t you overestimating him? Progressing each level in the Core Formation realm is ten times more difficult than in the Yuanfu realm. The amount of resources needed is simply too vast. Even if he’s a monstrous genius, I think he’ll only reach the fourth or fifth level tops in a year.”

“......”

While the inner sect was filled with discussions, the main character of the crowd’s discussions was sitting cross-legged on a mountaintop. His cultivation churned, and his aura reached far and wide.

Suddenly, Chen Fan opened his eyes and electric arcs flashed across them. He had spent three days stabilizing himself at the peak of the Yuanfu realm.

Duan Jingtian had tried to suppress Chen Fan, but the small golden person used him to help Chen Fan, shattering his primeval vessel and forming an illusory core.

That saved him a lot of time.

With a swift gesture, Chen Fan produced the Extreme Profound Elixir in his palm. Its aroma permeated the air, stirring the qi within him with anticipation.

“It’s time to break through!” Chen Fan’s eyes shone, and he gulped the elixir. He closed his eyes and began refining the medicinal efficacy, trying to advance to the next realm.

The Extreme Profound Elixir’s energy erupted inside him.

Rumble!

The extremely pure medicinal energy blended with his primeval force. The friction from that produced a chain reaction.

Primeval force exploded within every one of Chen Fan’s acupuncture points, making it seem like hundreds of volcanoes had erupted simultaneously within him. The sound was extremely loud.

Flames spurted out of every one of his acupuncture points. His flesh and blood cheered in excitement, giving birth to immense strength.

The surrounding aura churned violently, rolling the winds and clouds.

All the disciples in the inner sect sensed the changes in heaven and earth. Everyone looked up, piercing through space and time, as if they could see Chen Fan, their minds trembling.

Everyone knew that Chen Fan was trying to advance to the Core Formation realm!