Chapter 34 - Heaven’s Alliance
“Xiaofan, are you alright?”
Qin Changkong hurriedly took out a pill and offered it to Chen Fan, seeing the fresh blood at the corners of his mouth.
Chen Fan didn’t reject him out of politeness and accepted the medicine.
He had sustained severe internal injuries under the immense pressure exerted by Zhong Li.
With the Outer Sect Grand Competition approaching, he needed to heal his injuries; otherwise, the competition would become a life-or-death struggle.
“I’m fine, Uncle Qin.”
Chen Fan smiled and asked, “Why are you here, Uncle Qin?”
If Qin Changkong hadn't arrived in time, Chen Fan would have undoubtedly died.
Zhong Li’s Qi Grandmaster cultivation was incomparably terrifying. The mere pressure from it made him feel like a mountain was weighing down on his back, and the invisible airwaves directed toward him were as powerful as an attack from a sixth-level martial artist.
Thankfully, his incomparably tough physique saved him. Otherwise, as Zhong Li had said, no matter how fiercely he roared or shouted, it would have been futile.
“I heard you killed Zhao Hu in front of a crowd yesterday, so I knew you were back. Yaoyao is at fault, too. She’s been back for days. Clearly, she found you, yet she didn't bring you back with her. I was distraught.”
“I came here to visit you and bring you the primeval stone allowance for the past three months.”
Qin Changkong took out a small cloth pouch from his bosom containing about ten primeval stones.
Upon hearing Qin Changkong's words, Chen Fan felt both touched and troubled because of what had happened between him and Qin Yao.
“Uncle Qin, how is Senior Sister doing?” Chen Fan asked.
“Same as usual, but there’s a white little monkey by her side now.”
Unaware of the situation between Chen Fan and Qin Yao, Qin Changkong gave little thought to Chen Fan's inquiry about her well-being.
Chen Fan nodded. “Then I’ll go visit Senior Sister in a few days.”
“Mhm.”
Qin Changkong nodded and said, “Let’s not talk about Yaoyao for now. I still have to ask you some things.”
Qin Changkong looked closely at Chen Fan, his expression becoming serious. “Peak of the fifth level, close to breaking through. Not bad.”
He was a Yuanfu realm expert; his insight was incredibly sharp. Even if Chen Fan wasn’t emitting his aura, Qin Changkong could discern his progress with a glance.
“Xiaofan, what’s going on with your cultivation?” Qin Changkong asked.
The entire outer sect knew about Chen Fan’s previous situation. He was no exception.
Chen Fan’s dantian was like an iron block, and his meridians were blocked. For three years, he had been stuck at the peak of the Body Refinement realm, unable to progress. Just as the Outer Sect Grand Competition was about to take place, confirming his expulsion from the sect, his cultivation level had shot up.
Three months ago, Chen Fan killed Liao Feng and hid in the Qingyang Mountain Range. At that time, Qin Changkong was worried about Chen Fan’s safety and didn’t think about how he had killed Liao Feng.
However, upon reflection, suspicion had arisen.
Now that he was observing Chen Fan’s cultivation, he realized Chen Fan had advanced from the Body Refinement realm to the peak of the fifth level in less than three months.
This advancement speed was countless times more monstrous than Duan Jingtian, renowned as the one-in-a-century genius of the Spring Autumn Sect.
“Uncle Qin, you know what my situation was like before. I'll be honest with you," Chen Fan began. "Three months ago, Liao Feng blocked me off on a mountain path and wanted to snatch my primeval stones. I refused to give him and was beaten up. To make matters worse, I was even struck by lightning. My luck couldn't have been worse. However, when I regained consciousness, I discovered that my dantian and my meridians were open, enabling me to cultivate.”
“Then I went to the Martial Arts Pavilion to pick a martial art. I advanced to the third level using the primeval stones I’ve saved up over the last three years. You know what happened after that. Liao Feng came to my residence to rob my primeval stones. I couldn’t take it lying down and killed him according to the sect rules. Then I went into hiding in the Qingyang Mountain Range...”
Chen Fan roughly recounted what had happened, deliberately omitting the most crucial part—the Heaven Seizing Art.
It wasn’t that he couldn’t trust Qin Changkong, but rather that the Heaven Seizing Art was too extraordinary.
As the saying goes, "The walls have ears."
There were numerous experts in the Spring Autumn Sect, each with amazing techniques. Who knew if a random sect elder out on a stroll would overhear him if he said it out loud?
It would be a catastrophe.
Chen Fan was still weak, so he lacked the strength to protect such a heaven-defying cultivation technique.
Sometimes, people committed no sin other than possessing a treasure. Although Chen Fan had never seen it, he had heard countless stories about it.
Seeing the sincere look on Chen Fan’s face, Qin Changkong pondered for a moment. “You brat, what do you mean unlucky? You’ve clearly received blessings from a disaster. The lightning strike didn’t kill you and even opened up your dantian, allowing you to cultivate. You've stumbled upon some incredible luck, you know?”
Chen Fan smiled, embarrassed. He could hear how happy Qin Changkong was for him in his words.
“This is good. You’re about to advance to the sixth level. Give it your best at the Outer Sect Grand Competition with that kind of cultivation. Perhaps you can enter the top 100 and earn great rewards from the sect. Very good. Your father will surely be thrilled if he learns about this news.”
“Uncle Qin, I definitely won’t disappoint you or Father.”
Chen Fan clenched his fist. His goal wasn’t the top 100, but the top 10. He wanted to astound the world in one fell swoop and soar to new heights.
“And there’s also that Zhong Li. He’s too damnable. I’ll definitely kill him when my cultivation advances further. He dared to humiliate you and Senior Sister, damn it. Damn it, he must die!”
Chen Fan's voice turned into a low growl as he expressed his determination.
Qin Changkong treated him very well, and Chen Fan considered him as family.
The same was true for Qin Yao. Chen Fan's feelings for her had transformed after that night. He now saw her as his woman, not just as a Senior Sister.
How could he not be angry if his kin were humiliated by others?
He only hated himself for not being strong enough. He yearned to tear Zhong Li apart to quell his hatred.
Nevertheless, in his heart, Chen Fan had already marked Zhong Li as someone who must die.
“Ah, Xiaofan, I have to remind you.” Qin Changkong’s expression abruptly became solemn.
Chen Fan looked at Qin Changkong with a puzzled look.
“Do you know Zhong Li’s true identity?” Qin Changkong asked.
“Isn’t he an outer sect disciple and that whatever Outer Sect Heaven’s Alliance Leader?” Chen Fan answered with uncertainty.
“Right, but that’s not completely correct.”
Qin Changkong looked at Chen Fan and continued, “Looks like you still don’t know the true meaning of the words Heaven’s Alliance. The Heaven’s Alliance is one of the organizations the Spring Autumn Sect disciples formed, and they are very powerful.”
“And you must have heard of the true leader of Heaven's Alliance: the current number one disciple of the Spring Autumn Sect, Duan Jingtian!”
Chen Fan was immediately stunned, frozen in place as the name Duan Jingtian left Qin Changkong's lips. He stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
Duan Jingtian, as his name implied, was a cultivator who shocked the heavens. His talent was unparalleled, and he was the pride of the Spring Autumn Sect, commanding the admiration and reverence of countless disciples.
Rumors had it that he started cultivating at the age of twelve, opened his dantian to gather qi at thirteen, advanced to the Yuanfu realm and created his primeval vessel at fifteen. Now, at just 20 years old, his cultivation had reached the Core Formation realm, surpassing even some of the sect's elders. His exceptional talent had made him famous throughout the Chu Empire.
“Duan Jingtian... it’s actually him...”
Chen Fan only returned to his senses after a while. His throat tightened, and he swallowed hard, displaying his immense shock.
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