Chapter 479 - Eighth-Level Core Formation Realm

When the news reached the Spring Autumn Sect, the Heaven’s Alliance members grew uneasy.

Duan Jingtian used to be like a god in their hearts, inspiring blind confidence. They believed no one in the entire sect could challenge him or be a match for him.

In their eyes, he was a god that had descended to the mortal world, destined to become the leader of their sect. Being an alliance member used to fill them with pride.

However, with Chen Fan's arrival, the Heaven’s Alliance’s pride began to wane and crumble.

First, Chen Fan dominantly killed the outer sect alliance members before provoking Duan Jingtian to attack him from afar, nearly starting a major conflict.

Although Duan Jingtian ruthlessly humiliated Chen Fan, he survived and set a three-year agreement with him.

Afterward, Chen Fan rose steadily. He entered the inner sect, stirred up a storm, and displayed terrifying strength at the Four Sects Martial Arts Competition, killing three of the Heaven’s Alliance’s executives in a row.

Duan Jingtian broke the rules again and intervened; this time, Chen Fan won.

These Heaven’s Alliance members were all a little confused.

In less than three years, the outer sect "ant" had climbed to this level, facing off against Duan Jingtian directly. In the end, Duan Jingtian suffered a significant loss.

That was a first. Nothing even close to that had happened since Duan Jingtian rose to prominence.

After that incident, Chen Fan advanced to the Core Formation realm, completed his holy disciple mission, and became a holy disciple. He killed Feng Tianxia to truly cement his might and gain the ability to fight back against Duan Jingtian.

Alliance members dared not act out of line in front of Chen Fan and even trembled in fear.

During the year-long period when Duan Jingtian had to repent his actions, Heaven’s Alliance members like them had to keep a low profile, waiting for Duan Jingtian to return and kill Chen Fan to re-establish the alliance’s authority.

However, before Duan Jingtian’s punishment had ended, they received news of Chen Fan displaying divine might in the imperial city, defeating Dongfang Yu.

This was like a bolt from the blue for them.

Who was Dongfang Yu?

The Heaven’s Alliance members all knew, or rather, the entire Great Chu Empire knew.

The number one holy disciple of the Blade Thunder Mountain, a top-tier figure ranked eighth on the Geniuses of Heaven Leaderboard, higher than Duan Jingtian.

An invincible figure like that had lost to Chen Fan and was told to get lost in front of the crowd, and in the end, he really did.

This came as a great shock to the mental state of the Heaven’s Alliance members.

“Senior Brother Xie Feng, those rumors... Are they true?” asked a Heaven’s Alliance executive cautiously.

Xie Feng glanced at him and said evasively, “Alright, get yourselves together. What does Dongfang Yu count for? And what does Chen Fan count for? They all have to submit before the alliance leader’s might.

“Our alliance leader is a god amongst men. He’s born to achieve great things and become a Divine Nascent realm powerhouse. That little bastard Chen Fan may shine for a moment and face our leader, but he’s no match for him.

“Our Heaven’s Alliance will surely stand in the Spring Autumn Sect for eternity. No one can shake it! Just continue with your duties. The alliance leader’s punishment ends soon; when he returns, that little bastard Chen Fan will meet his end!”

Despite Xie Feng’s words, the atmosphere among the members remained somber.

At the Black Wind Cliff, Duan Jingtian sat cross-legged, indifferent to the fierce winds battering him.

Xie Feng returned to the Black Wind Cliff.

“What’s the matter?” Duan Jingtian asked faintly, his eyes still closed.

Xie Feng hesitated, then said, “Alliance Leader, recently Chen Fan, that little bastard...”

Snap!

The words ‘Chen Fan’ made Duan Jingtian’s eyes snap open, shooting out two rays of light that broke through the air. “What about him?”

“Something huge happened in the imperial city recently. Chen Fan overthrew the Qin Clan, killed their old ancestor, Qin Pokong, in one attack, and even defeated Dongfang Yu...”

Xie Feng summarized the events.

Duan Jingtian fell silent briefly. Then, he looked at Xie Feng and said, “You’re worried that I’m no match for Chen Fan?”

Xie Feng began sweating bullets. His heart beat fiercely, and his expression changed drastically as he said, “Of course not. I’ve never doubted you, Alliance Leader.”

Duan Jingtian said faintly, “Rest assured. The day I walk out of here is the day Chen Fan dies. What does Dongfang Yu count for? Don’t trust that nonsensical leaderboard. If I want, I can easily kill Dongfang Yu.”

Xie Feng let out a slight sigh of relief.

“Alright, go on. Don't bother me if there’s nothing important.” Duan Jingtian waved his hand. Xie Feng nodded and left.

Looking at the vast sea of clouds ahead of him, a sharp light flashed in Duan Jingtian’s eyes. “Chen Fan...”

......

Inside the cave at the cultivation peak where the high elder resided:

“Great news, Master. That kid Chen Fan went to the imperial city and raised hell there, killing Qin Pokong in one shot. Even the Blade Thunder Mountain’s number one holy disciple, Dongfang Yu, was no match for him,” Wei Buyu excitedly told the high elder.

The high elder nodded and said, “This boy is extraordinary. The battle after Duan Jingtian’s punishment ends will decide everything. Although Dongfang Yu is strong, there’s still a gap compared to Duan Jingtian.”

Wei Buyu’s expression stiffened.

“Master, is Duan Jingtian really that powerful?”

The high elder replied, “Very much so! Chen Fan is an exceptional genius, but so is Duan Jingtian. Both are monsters capable of fighting above their cultivation level, like gods among mortals.

“Don’t underestimate Duan Jingtian. If both of you were at the same cultivation level, you wouldn’t even survive one attack from him. That’s just how good he is. Although Chen Fan defeated Dongfang Yu, it doesn’t mean he’s a match for Duan Jingtian. He’s at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation level.”

Wei Buyu nodded and said, “You have a point, Master, but I’m sure that kid also understands this.”

......

While the entire Great Chu Empire was abuzz with the news, the central figure, Chen Fan, was inside the Qin Clan’s treasury. After finding the treasures he wanted, he went into secluded cultivation to advance to the next level.

As Wei Buyu had said, Chen Fan was well aware of his weaknesses.

He didn’t become proud or complacent after defeating Dongfang Yu, thinking he could definitely defeat Duan Jingtian now.

At the Four Sects Martial Arts Competition, Duan Jingtian had nearly split an expert at the eighth level in half in one move. That expert was none other than Wei Buyu. Even though Wei Buyu wasn’t as strong as Dongfang Yu, he wasn’t a weakling. This underscored Duan Jingtian's terrifying strength.

The only way for Chen Fan to ensure his victory was to raise his cultivation to its limit.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the secret room, rings of invisible ripples spread from Chen Fan. The energy within him kept exploding and spreading.

His aura was like a volcano on the cusp of eruption, distorting the space in the entire secret room.

After what felt like countless years and mere minutes, a loud boom suddenly rang out from Chen Fan.

Boom!

Monstrous waves surged violently in the secret room.

An unparalleled pressure erupted and spread from Chen Fan. The steel walls inside the secret room cracked open from the impact.

Chen Fan had finally advanced to the eighth level of the Core Formation realm.