Chapter 997 - Sixth-Level Manifestation

“I heard that Prince Jing’s son challenged some guy named Chen Fan to a life-and-death battle. What’s going on?”

“I heard that he is from the eastern continent’s True Martial Academy. It’s an overlord class force on the same level as the Sun Moon Divine Sect.”

“And I heard that Zhuge Yan suffered a crushing defeat at Chen Fan’s hands not too long ago. Apparently, if it weren’t for Zhuge Yan’s status, he would have been killed like the other prodigies from the Sun Moon Divine Sect.”

“Did you know that Chen Fan was only in the fifth-level Manifestation realm back then, while Zhuge Yan was already in the seventh-level Manifestation realm? He skipped two levels and defeated Zhuge Yan. My god, that’s too terrifying.”

“I know, right? Zhuge Yan himself is a peerless pride of heaven, with the ability to fight others above his level. His strength is definitely on par with an eighth-level Manifestation realm, but he still lost. What does that mean? Chen Fan can skip three levels, not two! How terrifying.”

“Wait, does that mean that Chen Fan’s the real peerless pride of heaven? If we still call Zhuge Yan a peerless pride of heaven, what would Chen Fan be?”

“And that’s not all. I heard Chen Fan has a... close relationship with the saintess of Medicine King Valley. He frequently visits her palace, and some rumors even suggest that the two are already a couple.”

“Seriously? Although I have never seen the saintess, she is known as the number one beauty in the world, her appearance unmatched by all. How did a guy from the eastern continent conquer her?”

“Hehe, what’s wrong with that? A beauty matched with a hero; I think Chen Fan and the Medicine King Valley’s saintess are a good match.”

“If Chen Fan really trounced Zhuge Yan, why does he still dare to challenge Chen Fan to a life-and-death battle? Does he not want to live anymore?”

“Who knows?”

“Since Zhuge Yan issued the challenge, he must have a plan. It’s very likely that he would break through to the eighth-level Manifestation realm during this period. With his powerful methods, even a ninth-level expert might not match him then."

"I'm eager to see this highly anticipated battle, but unfortunately, we won’t witness it."

“......”

After news of Zhuge Yan challenging Chen Fan to a life-and-death battle spread, the entire Holy Spirit Ancient Nation went into an uproar. Countless discussions erupted, along with revelations about Chen Fan.

Although Chen Fan defeating Zhuge Yan in the coliseum had caused minor ripples, it hadn’t shaken the entire Holy Spirit Ancient Nation.

This time, however, with the Prince Jing Mansion fueling momentum, the news exploded, sweeping through the Holy Spirit Ancient Nation.

Zhuge Yan was a flag bearer of the Holy Spirit Ancient Nation. His lightning body, peerless talent, and entry into the Sun Moon Divine Sect ensured that the future would be limitless, and his name was well known across the entire central continent.

Now, he had taken the initiative to challenge someone—no less than a life-or-death battle. With the Prince Jing Mansion pulling the strings, the story naturally spread like wildfire. After all, Zhuge Yan was always a hot topic.

These days, Chen Fan was in secluded cultivation and was shut off from external affairs.

He had defeated Zhuge Yan once, but he knew his opponent’s true strength. If Zhuge Yan broke through to the eighth-level Manifestation realm, his strength would likely multiply.

Moreover, both the Prince Jing Mansion and the Sun Moon Divine Sect would spare no effort—whether through resources or treasures—to ensure Zhuge Yan’s victory. Given this, Chen Fan had no intention of underestimating him.

The Primeval Gathering Platform was the sovereign’s place of cultivation; now, Chen Fan sat on it to cultivate.

Nine massive white marble pillars, embedded with powerful formations, surrounded the platform, forming a grand primeval gathering array. The intricate patterns on the platform channeled the energy of these pillars, immersing Chen Fan in a vast ocean of primeval qi.

He cultivated quietly. All his pores opened in unison, and it was as if he had turned into a furnace, furiously absorbing the primeval qi of heaven and earth converging on him. He tossed handfuls of elixirs into his mouth, further fueling his training.

The sovereign’s faction had fully supported his seclusion, giving him many elixirs for breaking through, which allowed him to cultivate better and further stimulate his bloodline.

Boom, boom, boom!

Chen Fan channeled the Heaven Seizing Art to the extreme. Explosions rang inside him, and his aura was surging at all times, like a flood that was about to break the dam.

Powerful fluctuations radiated from Chen Fan. Though silent, they made the void tremble as if on the verge of shattering.

His true primeval continued rising like the tide, and his aura pressed against the limits of a breakthrough.

In the blink of an eye, about half a month had passed.

Chen Fan was still cultivating at the Primeval Gathering Platform. The primeval qi of heaven and earth converged on him, and he absorbed and refined it furiously. His aura grew stronger by the day.

Meanwhile, tension thickened in the Holy Spirit Ancient Nation’s imperial palace. Both camps remained silent, seemingly waiting for the fated battle to arrive.

In the blink of an eye, the twentieth day had gone by.

The true primeval inside Chen Fan roared furiously, like a towering wave, rumbling inside him. His dantian seemed to be boiling.

A crisp sound echoed as if something had shattered. His aura surged to its peak before rapidly retracting, and the overwhelming fluctuations of the past twenty days vanished in an instant.

He had broken through.

After cultivating at the Primeval Gathering Platform for twenty days, Chen Fan finally broke through to the sixth-level Manifestation realm.

Chen Fan opened his eyes. A resplendent light burst out of them, looking incomparably dazzling, as if it could sting others’ eyes.

An aura, as fearsome as an ancient primordial beast, swept out before vanishing just as quickly.

However, this aura was withdrawn and dissipated in a few moments. A faint smile graced his face. Despite the terrifying power he exuded moments ago, he now radiated a serene elegance—like a gentle spring breeze.

The change in temperament happened with a single thought, moving with his heart. Sometimes, it was like a sharp sword being unsheathed, and sometimes it was calm like the lake waters.

After breaking through in his cultivation, Chen Fan did not leave immediately. Instead, he continued sitting cross-legged on the Primeval Gathering Platform and devouring the primeval qi of heaven and earth to stabilize his cultivation.

Another three days went by in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Chen Fan finally walked out of the Primeval Gathering Platform and came to the sovereign’s chambers.

About two hours later, Chen Fan left the sovereign’s chambers.

There were only three days left before the promised period of one month was up.