Chapter 957 - Grinding Stone

Being a seventh-level Manifestation realm expert, Ma Rufeng was far from weak. He was one of the top experts in the city.

Yet, he couldn’t do a thing to Chen Fan.

He had cultivated for over a thousand years, while Chen Fan, barely a hundred, was astonishingly young.

To resist Ma Rufeng at such a young age—three cultivation levels lower, no less—proved his title as a genius was no exaggeration.

“I didn’t expect you to have such skills. No wonder my good-for-nothing younger brother couldn’t even withstand a single move.” Ma Rufeng stared at Chen Fan with an icy gaze. “But if this is all you have, you’re dead. There is no second path!”

Incomparably cold killing intent flashed across Ma Rufeng’s eyes, his face showing traces of ruthlessness and cruelty.

If he failed to take down Chen Fan, his reputation—once feared across the city—would crumble. His repeated failures had already stirred whispers among the people.

Boom!

Ma Rufeng instantly thrust his spear. A flying scorpion swept over, rushing toward Chen Fan. The spear was so mighty that it could pierce through heaven.

Chen Fan felt like an unrivaled expert was attacking him, yet he felt no fear. He charged head first into the attack.

His berserk strength blossomed and surged wantonly. Every kick and every punch seemed to contain enough power to destroy heaven and earth.

Boom, boom, rumble!

Chen Fan and Ma Rufeng fought ferociously high up in the sky.

Both unleashed relentless killing moves, shaking heaven and earth. Violent storms raged endlessly.

“What a terrifying collision, my god. How could there be such a terrifying existence in this world? He’s only in the fourth-level Manifestation realm!”

“He’s a monster, a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius! His physique is absurd—like a human tyrannosaurus, taking on a Grade-6 treasure barehanded. Heavens, just what is his cultivation technique?”

𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

“Their battle is like a clash between war gods. Every move contains the profound essence of the Dao of martial arts, and their understanding of it, allowing me to benefit greatly.”

“That’s right. Their mastery far surpasses ours. The same techniques in their hands unleash ten—no, a hundred times—more power. Even low-grade martial arts become divine under their control.”

“......”

Countless people sighed in admiration, shocked by Chen Fan’s terrifying strength.

Chen Fan’s aura erupted crazily. His qi and blood clattered loudly like the Yangtze River, thoroughly displaying the terror of the Hegemonic Golden Body.

His aura grew stronger the longer he fought, becoming increasingly stable.

His cultivation had been unstable at the start; through this fierce battle, it solidified, elevating his prowess.

As a result, Ma Rufeng could no longer suppress him with his powerful cultivation. He suddenly found himself on the losing end as Chen Fan’s strength stabilized and flowed freely.

“

Ahhh

, how is this possible? You’re clearly only at the fourth level, so why am I no match for you?!” Ma Rufeng became more alarmed as he fought, panicking inwardly.

Even outsiders could see the shift in battle—let alone Ma Rufeng, who felt it firsthand.

He could clearly feel the increase in Chen Fan’s strength.

He felt suffocated, and he could do nothing about it. A mighty high-level Manifestation realm expert like him had been reduced to a mere grinding stone—what an insult!

But no matter how much he raged, it was useless.

As Chen Fan gradually got used to his fourth-level Manifestation realm cultivation, his strength skyrocketed. The peerless reputation of the Peerless Peak was not just for show.

“Hahahaha, awesome, again! Don’t worry, I won’t kill you before you sharpen me even more!” Chen Fan laughed out loud. His aura swept out like a towering wave, extremely dreadful.

He was constantly harmonizing with his cultivation and strength.

He had broken through to the fourth-level Manifestation realm as a result of Xuan Shitong using the secret art of dual cultivation. He had achieved his breakthrough while unconscious.

This was merely the aftereffect of that process.

Normally, advancing from the third to the fourth level would have taken much longer, but this shortcut saved him time.

Of course, this had its drawbacks—his cultivation was unstable. Even after months of steady refinement, progress had been slow.

Yet now, this battle was accelerating the process.

Ma Rufeng had unwittingly become his perfect whetstone.

Chen Fan did not use any martial skills. Every time he threw his fist, his immense strength would thoroughly erupt. Terrifying fist light shook the void and fiercely collided with Ma Rufeng.

Boom, boom, boom!

Rumble!

Though Ma Rufeng’s cultivation was several levels higher, their overall strength seemed evenly matched.

In truth, Chen Fan wasn’t just on par—he surpassed Ma Rufeng in raw power, resilience, and even the depth of his true primeval. Even his physique was much tougher than Ma Rufeng’s.

Horrifying light would erupt every time the two of them exchanged blows. The ripples would sweep below, causing the city’s formations to automatically activate to resist it.

Although Ma Rufeng’s choice of weapon was a spear, he fought like an assassin in the darkness, searching for an opportunity to deal a fatal strike.

Chen Fan was different, however. He walked on a domineering path, crushing everything with overwhelming strength, like an unrivaled overlord.

For Ma Rufeng, this was a nightmare opponent.

Furthermore, Chen Fan’s physique was like a tortoise shell. He was unable to break through it at all. In this situation, his circumstances were becoming increasingly dangerous.

In a short period, the two exchanged over a thousand moves.

The longer they fought, the more alarmed Ma Rufeng became.

He had completely fallen into a disadvantage. No strategy worked.

Never had he imagined suffering the worst defeat of his life at the hands of a middle-level Manifestation realm brat.

Bang!

Ma Rufeng was sent flying by Chen Fan’s fists once more.

Even though he dispersed the majority of the force, he still sustained some injuries. Fresh blood flowed out of the corner of his mouth, his gaze dark.

His arms trembled; Chen Fan’s strength was too terrifying. It was difficult for him to resist it.

Ma Rufeng truly regretted everything. He secretly cursed that fool Ma Yuanlong for provoking such a monster.

Boom, boom!

Chen Fan’s aura skyrocketed once more, sweeping like fierce gales or towering waves, causing Ma Rufeng’s expression to change drastically.

His face was filled with joy. He looked at Ma Rufeng and said, “I must thank you. Without you as my grinding stone, who knows how long it would've taken me to fully control my power? As a token of my gratitude... I'll grant you a swift death!"

Ma Rufeng was completely furious. His aura burned.

What humiliation!

Utter humiliation!

“Little bastard, you’re courting death! You’re courting death!” Ma Rufeng roared furiously, unleashing the most terrifying strike.

“It’s useless. In front of the current me, anything you do is useless!”

Before Chen Fan’s voice faded, a terrifying Lotus Heart Sword Qi erupted, tearing the space apart.

Boom, tch!

Slashing out, the sky crumbled, the earth cracked, and the heavens shattered.

Under this streak of sword qi, all of Ma Rufeng’s means shattered like a block of tofu.

He couldn’t dodge. A deep wound split across his chest—ribs severed, organs ruptured.

Boom!

In the end, Ma Rufeng had no way to withstand this terrifying streak of Lotus Heart Sword Qi and flew out horizontally. In that instant, sword intent rushed inside him, and he exploded on the spot, turning into a mist of blood.

With a sweep of his hand, Chen Fan rolled this mist of blood over and used his powers to extract Ma Rufeng’s memories, finding some information on the Underworld Mountain Stream and the Herbaceous Water Spirit.