Chapter 609 - Half-step Divine Nascent Realm Strikes

Lingering fear on his face, Zhou Qing cupped his fists toward Chen Fan and thanked him, “Brother, thank you very much for saving me!”

Qiu Bao would have killed him if Chen Fan hadn’t saved him.

This was a genuine life-saving act.

Chen Fan waved his hand and said dryly, “No need to thank me. If your fight hadn’t disturbed my drinking, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

Hong Ling, hot-tempered as ever, was about to snap back, but Zhou Qing stopped her, recognizing the wisdom in Chen Fan’s words. “Regardless, I have to thank you for saving my life. However, they definitely won’t let this matter go. Brother, why don’t you—”

Chen Fan cut Zhou Qing off before he could finish his sentence. “No need to worry about me. They won’t let this matter rest, so it’s best if you leave this place as soon as possible. As for me, you don’t have to bother yourself.”

“What’s wrong with you? Don’t think you’re all that just because you saved us. We’re only being nice...”

Hong Ling began to snap, but Zhou Qing quickly silenced her and said, “Hong Ling, shut your mouth! Brother, Hong Ling is a little hot-tempered. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Chen Fan glanced at Hong Ling indifferently and said, “I won’t go so far as to bicker with a woman, but I advise you to work on your temperament. Like those people said, you might be considered top geniuses in the Hong Domain with impressive backgrounds, but this isn’t the Hong Domain. If you want others to shut up, you need to be strong enough. Showing off without power is foolish, and you almost dragged your companions down with you.”

Chen Fan’s words weren’t polite at all, immediately infuriating Hong Ling.

Zhou Qing hurriedly stopped Hong Ling, who was about to argue with Chen Fan again. With a bitter smile, he said, “You have a point brother. Since you don’t intend to come with us, we shan’t bother you any longer. Please excuse us.”

After finishing his piece, he left the restaurant with his companions, pulling Hong Ling along.

Looking at their backs, Chen Fan shook his head. He wasn’t in a hurry to leave. His curiosity about Qiu Bao’s brother, Qiu Lang, kept him anchored.

As the news of Qiu Bao’s severed right arm spread, the entire Shunan Prefecture went into an uproar. It had been ages since a Hong Domain martial artist caused such a stir here.

The uproar was immediate, with many clamoring to teach Chen Fan a lesson. However, despite the outcry, no one dared to make a move. They weren’t even a match for Qiu Bao, let alone Chen Fan.

Witnesses of the battle began recounting the events, their stories growing more exaggerated with each recount.

They claimed that although Chen Fan was only a seven-revolution Golden Core realm expert, he snapped Qiu Bao’s saber with only his fingers. He displayed combat strength that rivaled, if not surpassed, that of a half-step Divine Nascent realm expert.

The defeat of Qiu Bao, a nine-revolution Golden Core realm expert, had painted Chen Fan as an unstoppable force.

The day gradually turned dark. Chen Fan sat in the small courtyard outside his accommodation. Looking up at the slightly gloomy moonlight, he muttered, “I’m afraid the road ahead won’t be easy!”

The Spring Sea Domain, despite being a middle-ranking domain, was nothing compared to the larger and stronger domains out there. Yet, the random geniuses here were in the nine-revolution Golden Core realm.

It made him wonder just how terrifyingly powerful the prodigies from the top-tier domains would be.

The Ancient Trial Roads were paths filled with bloodshed. He had just stepped onto this path, and his opponents were already this mighty. He anticipated that the closer he got to the True Martial Academy, the stronger his adversaries would be.

“Nine-revolution Golden Core realm experts are already showing up, and I have barely started. I’m afraid what’s waiting for me ahead are Divine Nascent realm powerhouses!”

A light flashed across Chen Fan’s eyes.

Although he was now comparable to a middle-stage, first-level Divine Nascent realm expert—an achievement that would place him among the strongest in the Great Chu Empire—he knew this was far from enough.

The path ahead was fraught with peril.

However, this only strengthened his resolve.

The more difficult the journey, the more interested he was in conquering it. He would only enter the True Martial Academy’s eyes if he made a name for himself on this road.

The True Martial Academy was a hierarchy where disciples were divided into strict classes based on their achievements

Take the lowest class errand disciples, for example. Those who failed to distinguish themselves on the Ancient Trial Roads would end up as errand disciples, destined for a bleak future.

Going up from there, they were outer sect disciples, inner sect disciples, elite disciples, and core disciples.

To secure better treatment as soon as one entered the True Martial Academy, they had to make a name for themselves on the Ancient Trial Roads and enter the discerning eyes of the experts and old monsters. If their status was higher, naturally the treatment they received wouldn’t be bad.

While talent for martial arts was very important, cultivation resources were equally important.

“I have to break through to the Divine Nascent realm as soon as possible. In the later stages, I am sure I will have to face fifth or sixth-level Divine Nascent realm experts. With my puny cultivation, I will be like an ant in their eyes.”

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

A sense of urgency rose in Chen Fan’s heart. Ultimately, his cultivation was his only shortcoming.

Suddenly, Chen Fan sensed a majestic pressure pressing down on him.

A cold light shot out from Chen Fan’s eyes.

“Half-step Divine Nascent realm!”

His figure flashed as he rose into the air.

Chen Fan saw a person dressed in black approaching. They wielded a poisoned dagger that glowed with a dark light under the moonlight.

“Die!”

No unnecessary words were spoken. This black-clothed man darted toward Chen Fan like an evil spirit.

The poisoned dagger corroded the air, swiping toward Chen Fan’s neck.

“Why would you come to throw your life away!”

Facing the black-clothed man’s attack, Chen Fan did not show the slightest hint of panic. When the dagger was about to graze his neck, Chen Fan suddenly drifted backward, easily dodging the black-clothed man’s vicious strike.

“

Hmph

!” The black-clothed man snorted coldly. He pounced at Chen Fan once more, determined to kill him.

Chen Fan grabbed at the empty air, condensing a Heaven Piercing Spear in his hand. He stabbed it violently toward the oncoming black-clothed man.

Boom!

The air exploded. It was just an ordinary stab, but it sealed off all paths of retreat for the black-clothed man.

In an instant, a will of death descended on the black-clothed man. His expression changed drastically.

Alas, wanting to assassinate Chen Fan with only half-step Divine Nascent realm cultivation was simply delusional.

He was simply powerless to resist. The Heaven Piercing Spear directly broke through the black-clothed man’s powers and pierced his skull.

Puchi!

Chen Fan’s force erupted, and the black-clothed man’s head burst open like a watermelon.