Chapter 886 - Holy Spring Appears

“Shang Ziyan is still alive?” Chen Fan was somewhat surprised.

He had seriously injured Shang Ziyan before, and with this place teeming with jiangshi, he had expected Shang Ziyan to die. Yet, Shang Ziyan not only survived but also recovered, surpassing Chen Fan’s expectations.

“Not only is he still alive, his powers have grown tremendously. No, I should say that his powers have recovered!”

Su Tong explained from the side, “Shang Ziyan used to be a first-level Manifestation realm expert. However, he lost a fight and his Martial Soul was severely damaged, which made his cultivation regress. He wanted the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring to restore his cultivation. While he didn’t find that, he did obtain some other treasures that suppressed his injuries, recovering his cultivation to the peak, late-stage, half-step Manifestation realm.”

Su Tong’s words stunned Chen Fan.

It was no wonder Shang Ziyan was so powerful, with strength equivalent to the late-stage, half-step Manifestation realm despite only being in the middle stage. It also explained why he didn’t take Guan Wei and the others seriously. Why would a Manifestation realm expert care about those in the Heavenly Star realm?

A cultivator whose realm had regressed was naturally stronger within the same rank, having once been a true Manifestation realm expert. Their combat experience, martial arts, and physique were superior in every aspect.

“I see, so that is his hidden card.”

At last, he understood the source of Shang Ziyan’s confidence—it wasn’t without merit.

However, Shang Ziyan had underestimated Chen Fan and suffered significant losses multiple times. In the end, he had to flee with heavy injuries, and Chen Fan killed his subordinate, the black-robed man.

This was probably something Shang Ziyan did not expect.

Chen Fan, however, didn’t dwell on it. Even if Shang Ziyan recovered and stepped back into the first-level Manifestation realm, he wouldn’t be a match for the current Chen Fan.

Although Chen Fan didn’t see Shang Ziyan as a genuine threat, the man’s continued survival and schemes were tiresome—like a cockroach that refused to die.

“Do you know where he is?” Chen Fan asked, deciding to deal with Shang Ziyan first. While they had no deep grudge, he just couldn’t let someone keep scheming against him in the shadows.

He didn’t need to think twice to know that Shang Ziyan, once his cultivation recovered, would inevitably seek trouble with him. Better to eliminate him before that happened.

The two women shook their heads.

After the two of them fled, they did not have the time to look where Shang Ziyan’s trio had gone. They were still too busy running for their lives.

Su Tong said, “Although we don’t know his location, we do know his goal: the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring. If we can locate it, we’ll surely find him.”

“Fair enough. You two can come with me for now. They’re just three grasshoppers. They won’t be able to jump around for long.” Chen Fan said.

Hearing his words, the two couldn’t ask for anything better.

This tomb was too dangerous. Even a late-stage, half-step Manifestation realm expert could lose their life. However, staying close to Chen Fan was a completely different story. He could even kill a peak, late-stage, half-step Manifestation realm jiangshi. The safety factor was levels above them moving independently.

After learning that Chen Fan had been in secluded cultivation for the past month, they provided him with a detailed account of the changes that had occurred during this time.

Although Chen Fan had heard snippets of information from others, their explanation was far more comprehensive.

From them, he learned that progress had been made in locating the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring.

Originally, this matter should have ended very quickly. After all, Guan Wei had a map of the tomb, holding an enormous advantage.

Upon entering the tomb, Guan Wei discovered that the map was essentially useless.

The location marked on it, where his elder brother Guan Sheng had previously found the spring, had shifted. Someone hadn’t taken it away; it had physically changed locations.

Many believed that the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring periodically shifted locations, making its exact whereabouts unpredictable.

This theory was the most convincing explanation so far.

Due to this, even with a map in hand, Guan Wei did not really gain any advantages. He only had a slightly better understanding of this underground tomb.

Another half a month passed in a flash.

Perhaps Chen Fan’s luck was not good, or maybe Shang Ziyan was too lucky, but their paths didn’t cross during this time.

Despite this, information about the spring continued to spread, becoming increasingly detailed and valuable.

Chen Fan was not in a hurry. During this half a month, he led the two women and swept through the side palace halls in the tomb one by one, looting treasures and earning a huge fortune.

Finally, someone discovered the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring.

A small stream of spring water, thin like a thread, was found flowing from a hidden chamber. Although the flow was barely noticeable, its significance was immediately apparent.

The news spread like wildfire, causing an uproar among the martial artists in the tomb.

Everyone rushed toward the site where the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring had been uncovered, and Chen Fan was no exception.

They had all come here for the spring. Now that its location was public, everyone swarmed toward it, ready to contest for the key to advancing to the Manifestation realm, a treasure that could save years of effort.

Martial artists trampled over one another in their haste to reach the spring, and the jiangshi that crossed their path were nothing more than obstacles to be quickly torn apart. They were little more than roadblocks in the eyes of the desperate fighters.

Chen Fan was also mixed in the crowd along with the two women, heading toward the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring.

When they finally arrived at the source of the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring, Chen Fan took in the sight of the thin, almost fragile stream.

A deep sigh escaped him as he realized the bitter truth: this discovery would only lead to more bloodshed.

From the flow of the spring, it was clear that there was barely enough to provide a fraction of what anyone here desired. It was likely only enough to benefit a single person. The competition for the spring was bound to be brutal.

Negotiation was impossible and so was the possibility of sharing the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring. Its meager flow, barely enough for one person, had ignited the greed and ambition of all present. Everyone here was determined to claim the spring water for themselves.

Chen Fan also couldn’t give up on it; he had to get his hands on it.

He had a feeling that it would definitely be much more difficult for him to break through to the Manifestation realm than others.

The Heavenly Soul Holy Spring would be a powerful support for him. The spring water could be the catalyst that pushed him past the formidable barrier that separated him from his next breakthrough.

For that, a fierce battle was inevitable.

Words were useless, and everyone knew that fact. Now, what mattered most was who had the biggest fist. The winner would be the one who could force everyone else into submission.

“There’s only this much of the spring water. Even if the secret room is opened, there wouldn’t be much of it. Likely, it will only be enough for one person. There’s going to be another bloodbath.”

“But no matter what, I must get my hands on the spring. Whether I can break through to the Manifestation realm depends on this.”

Many people’s eyes lit up with a fiery gaze when they saw the Heavenly Soul Holy Spring.