Chapter 468: Chapter 153: Twelve True Forms Fist Breaks the Limit, First Layer of the Vajra Undying Body, Immovable as a Mountain, Pillow Sea as Emperor
"I’m determined to claim this prize!"
"You..." Baili Bing’s lips parted. His words caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. Her chest heaved gently, and a flicker of vexation crossed her exquisite face.
She had intended to blurt out a warning, to tell Chu Fan that the old monster from the Yin Demon Sect was unfathomably powerful—far beyond Mo Daozi. His bizarre techniques were impossible to guard against, and provoking him would be a grave mistake.
But the words died on her lips. As her thoughts raced, she swallowed them back, and scenes from the past quietly came to mind.
The young man before her looked confident, even a bit defiant, which reminded her of the incident in the wilderness a month ago. Although Chu Fan had been in a sorry state then, cornered and outmaneuvered by her pursuit, he had always managed to turn a desperate situation around.
In just over a month, the brat who once had to use the terrain just to stay in the fight had now easily slain the notoriously vicious Mo Daozi and brought his corpse back to claim the bounty!
She, on the other hand, had used every trick she knew and exhausted all her life-saving Bottom Cards when she faced Mo Daozi. Even so, the encounter had been fraught with peril, and she had nearly died at his hands!
The contrast between their experiences was stark. Chu Fan’s rate of growth was like a complete Rebirth; it was utterly terrifying!
’Such terrifying talent, on top of his backing from the Demon Suppression Bureau... Who’s to say that in a little more time, this seemingly arrogant guy won’t actually be able to eliminate that old monster from the Yin Demon Sect?’
At this thought, a trace of lingering fear crept into Baili Bing’s heart.
’If Medicine King Valley becomes mortal enemies with a person like this, our future will be impossible to predict!’
’Thankfully... Thankfully, I reacted quickly enough and made the most sensible decision.’
Just then, Gang Leader Cao Feng stepped forward. Cupping his fists, he said to Baili Bing with a solemn expression, "We are indebted to you for your timely message and your righteous intervention in personally going to the Red Flame Sect to rescue Fatty and the others. The Seven Stars Gang will surely remember this kindness."
Baili Bing collected her thoughts and returned the salute, her tone humble. "Master Cao, you overstate things. We are both based in Qing Province; it is only our duty to look out for one another."
She deftly shifted the conversation back to the matter at hand. "As for Zhang Ling’Er persuading Ye Chang’an of Medicine King Valley to try and shut down your gang, you needn’t worry. I will personally step in and resolve the issue. I won’t allow the Seven Stars Gang to be affected in the slightest."
Upon hearing this, the delight on the faces of Cao Feng, Chen Xuan, and the others grew even more pronounced, and they thanked her repeatedly.
For a time, the atmosphere between the members of the Seven Stars Gang and Baili Bing became more amicable than ever before.
Noticing a trace of fatigue in Chu Fan’s expression, Cao Feng said to the others, "Fan just returned and must be tired. Let him get some rest."
Only then did the others seem to realize. After urging Chu Fan to rest, they gradually dispersed.
Chu Fan, however, did not leave immediately. His gaze turned to Baili Bing, who was preparing to leave, and he asked, "If I may be so bold, does Medicine King Valley have any texts with detailed records of Treasure Plants and Spirit Fruits? Would it be possible for me to borrow one to read?"
Baili Bing paused, a flash of surprise in her eyes. She looked at Chu Fan and said, "Young Master Chu, are you interested in studying the art of Alchemy?"
Chu Fan shook his head and explained, "Not necessarily. I just want to expand my knowledge and broaden my horizons."
"I haven’t decided if I will pursue the path of Alchemy in the future. It’s just that..."
A self-mocking smile touched the corners of his lips. "I’ve repeatedly stumbled upon rare objects by sheer chance, but I often don’t recognize their origins or uses. It’s incredibly frustrating."
He spoke from the heart.
Never mind past instances; even the Sumeru Ring he had "taken" from that young lady of Medicine King Valley still held a pile of jars and containers, along with strange ores and herbs, all waiting for him to identify. It was not a pleasant feeling.
Understanding dawned on Baili Bing. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Medicine King Valley does have many such texts. Most were painstakingly authored by generations of Alchemists, compiling a lifetime of experience and knowledge. They could be considered the valley’s hidden treasures."
"Even ordinary disciples aren’t necessarily permitted to read them freely."
She glanced at Chu Fan, then made her decision. "I need to return to the valley in two days. At that time, I’ll select some broad, foundational texts and bring them for Young Master Chu to borrow."
"In that case, thank you very much!" Chu Fan’s eyes lit up as he cupped his fists in a sincere show of gratitude.
Nearby, Cao Feng, Chen Xuan, and the others were overjoyed to hear that Baili Bing was willing to lend out such treasured and secret texts from Medicine King Valley.
They understood perfectly that this was not as simple as just borrowing a few books...
It meant that the relationship between the Seven Stars Gang and Medicine King Valley—or at least, the faction Baili Bing represented—had grown much closer, entering an entirely new stage.
After all, even Inner Sect Disciples of Medicine King Valley couldn’t necessarily view those texts at will, let alone an outsider.
...
「Time flew by...」
From the day Chu Fan returned, it seemed as if the small Seven Stars Gang had received a surge of incredible fortune. Good news came one after another, invigorating everyone.
「Three days after Chu Fan’s return, outside the Quiet Chamber in the rear courtyard.」
A clear, sharp hiss ripped through the air, soaring toward the heavens.
A surge of majestic Demonic Qi, far surpassing that of an ordinary Spirit Demon, shot into the sky. It swirled and condensed above the Seven Stars Gang, faintly forming the illusory image of a giant cyan snake with menacing scales and a fearsome aura.
Everyone in the gang was startled. They looked up, their faces a mixture of shock and elation.
The Cyan Snake, bolstered by a massive infusion of resources, had finally broken through its shackles, leaping from the realm of a Spirit Demon to that of a Profound Demon!
The rare Treasure Plants and Spirit Pills that Chu Fan had plundered from Mo Daozi’s cavern estate were now finally showing their astonishing worth.
The bottleneck that had troubled the Cyan Snake for years was shattered in an instant, utterly obliterated by the potent medicinal force.
And this was only the beginning.
Seven days later, another powerful and heavy aura erupted from Gang Leader Cao Feng’s courtyard.
The Spiritual Mechanism of the world converged frantically, forming a vortex of Spiritual Qi visible to the naked eye. It poured down into the courtyard like a great whale drinking the sea.
Cao Feng’s burly figure flickered in and out of view within the vortex. The apertures all over his body lit up in sequence like stars, and a transcendent power—the power of Divine Techniques—surged forth from within him!
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