Chapter 159: Chapter 108: A Single Punch Shakes Xingning Street; Sufficient Spiritual Essence to Refine the Demon Suppression Stele
"..." Chen Xuan was utterly stunned, as if he’d been turned to stone.
Zhao Tianxing was always telling him how talented Chu Fan was.
Cao Feng would also occasionally boast about how quickly Chu Fan was progressing.
He had always assumed that "highly talented" just meant he was a good deal better than the average person.
But now...
This wasn’t just "highly talented"!
This was a monster!
A freak of nature!
He shot to his feet, strode over to Chu Fan, and scrutinized him from head to toe. The more he looked, the more alarmed he became. "Your vitality... it’s as vigorous as a blazing furnace, surging like the tide. You’re far beyond Tianxing!"
"Didn’t he say you joined the Seven Stars Gang on the same day he did?"
"He also said that on your first day with the Seven Stars Gang, you were completely wiped out after practicing the Twelve Forms Fist just a few times..."
"..." The smile on Chu Fan’s face froze.
’That kid tells people everything!’
Cao Feng added at the perfect moment, "On our way here, outside the Drunken Immortal Tower on Xingning Street, some peak Bone Marrow Forging Realm cultivator sent by the Iron Armor Sect tried to pick a fight. This kid knocked him out with a single punch."
Chen Xuan was stunned once more.
’Training for just over three months... and he defeated a peak Bone Marrow Forging Realm cultivator with a single punch?’
’What kind of terrifying progress is that?!’
’Zhao Tianxing had such a great head start when he joined, and even he is only in the Blood Refining Realm now!’
Seeing Chen Xuan’s dumbfounded expression, Cao Feng raised his chin smugly. "So? Old Chen, tell me. I’ve brought a once-in-a-century genius to your doorstep. What’re you going to give me for it?"
Chen Xuan was silent for a long time. The shock and annoyance on his face gradually melted away, replaced by a complex mix of emotions: excitement, relief, and the sheer joy of discovering a diamond in the rough.
He gave Chu Fan a long, deep look, then shot a glare at the smug Cao Feng before suddenly turning and striding into the inner hall.
A moment later, he returned, carrying two antiquated wooden boxes in his hands.
He placed the wooden boxes on a nearby stone table and opened them one by one.
In one box lay a luscious, vibrantly red fruit that gave off a tantalizingly sweet aroma.
The other box held a dark brown, peculiarly shaped root.
Chen Xuan pointed at the root. "This Black Jade Lingzhi... I was planning to prepare it for myself in a few days. I guess it’s your lucky day, you old coot."
He pushed the box containing the Black Jade Lingzhi toward Cao Feng, his tone turning serious. "Old Cao, this time... I mean it. Thank you."
Cao Feng was taken aback. His playful expression vanished, and he waved his hand dismissively. "I was just kidding with you, I don’t need any reward! Just buy me a drink sometime and I’ll be happy."
"Getting to send Chu Fan here to learn archery from you is his good fortune, and it’s a stroke of luck for your Moon Arrow Martial Arts Hall, too!"
"This is fate!"
"If you give me this, it feels like you’re looking down on me!"
"Just take it!" Chen Xuan’s eyes widened, his tone unyielding. "Or I’ll really get angry! This Black Jade Lingzhi isn’t just good for cultivation. More importantly, it’s miraculously effective for that old injury you got years ago!"
"Don’t think I don’t know that old wound of yours never healed properly!"
"If it weren’t for that Lin Luoxue..."
"Shut your mouth, you old fool!" Cao Feng’s expression changed drastically at the mention of Lin Luoxue’s name, and he cut Chen Xuan off.
At these words, Chu Fan looked over at Cao Feng in surprise.
It was only then he learned that the seemingly bold and robust Master Cao had been carrying an unhealed injury all this time.
Cao Feng stared at the Black Jade Lingzhi with a complicated expression. He finally sighed, stopped refusing, and silently accepted the box.
Chen Xuan’s expression softened. He then handed the box with the Vermilion Fruit to Chu Fan. "Chu Fan, this is a welcoming gift for you. Consider it an apology for my earlier outburst. I was overcome with excitement; I hope you don’t mind."
Chu Fan quickly tried to refuse. "Master Chen, you’re being too generous. I couldn’t possibly accept. A Vermilion Fruit this precious... I can’t take it."
But Cao Feng chimed in, "Fan, just take it. This old fellow is as stubborn as a mule. If you don’t accept, he’ll pester you about it for three days and three nights."
"This Vermilion Fruit is a Primordial Vein Marrow Fruit. It’s for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence, and it will be a great help to you in the five stages of Foundation Establishment."
Since Master Cao had spoken and seeing that Chen Xuan was indeed sincere, Chu Fan had no choice but to accept it with both hands, bowing respectfully. "Thank you for your generous gift, Master Chen!"
"Don’t call me Master Chen, call me Teacher!" At this, Chen Xuan beamed, his face glowing with delight.
"Yes, thank you, Teacher!" Chu Fan said with another respectful bow.
He was genuinely grateful to Chen Xuan.
After all, his mastery of the Moon Eclipse Arrow was entirely due to the Refinement of decades of Chen Xuan’s own training experience and memories from the Bengyue Bow.
Chen Xuan let out a hearty laugh and immediately called over all the disciples in the Martial Arts Arena. Pointing to Chu Fan, he announced in a booming voice, "Everyone, come and meet him! This is your new junior brother, Chu Fan!"
"Chu Fan?"
"The one who defeated Liang Yuhen at Luofeng Valley?"
"The new director of Xingning Street?"
"The genius Junior Brother Tianxing is always talking about?"
A stir went through the disciples. They all sized Chu Fan up with curiosity before eagerly crowding around to greet him.
Chu Fan smiled and returned their greetings one by one, his attitude modest and friendly.
The more Chen Xuan watched, the more pleased he became. He took a slightly worn-looking booklet from within his robes and handed it solemnly to Chu Fan. "Chu Fan, this is the Arrow Manual for our Moon Arrow Martial Arts Hall’s core technique—the Moon Eclipse Arrow."
"Take it with you for now and commit its contents to memory."
"Once you have it memorized, come back to the Martial Arts Hall, and I will personally instruct you, holding nothing back!"
"Thank you, Master Chen!" Chu Fan said as he accepted the Arrow Manual.
Afterward, with an enthusiastic send-off from Chen Xuan, Chu Fan and Cao Feng left the Moon Arrow Martial Arts Hall.
Walking back, Chu Fan felt the Vermilion Fruit tucked inside his robes and found the whole situation surreal.
He had secretly learned the Moon Eclipse Arrow, which had already reached Perfection and even gone past the Breaking Limit stage. Coming to the Moon Arrow Martial Arts Hall today was supposed to be a mere formality.
He never expected to receive such a great windfall for nothing.
