Chapter 229: Defeating the Prodigy Jun Yan in One Move

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Defeating the Prodigy Jun Yan in One Move

"Your Highness, Chu Fan has appeared in Shanyin County. Outside Shanyin City, he killed two Divine Separation Realm Tier Six cultivators. He also blinded the young master of the Xining Marquis Family."

「Qingzhou, Emperor’s Traveling Palace.」

Crown Prince Long Jingyao listened to his subordinate’s report, put down his book, and stood up.

"The brat has finally shown himself. Otherwise, I would have had to make a few extra moves in this game of mine. Have you found out where he’s been for the past half-month?"

"Your Highness, we could not."

"How strange. Two living people vanish for over half a month, and you can’t find a single trace? Take some men and search the area around Shanyin County. Don’t miss a single corner within a five-hundred-li radius."

"As you command!"

"Any movement from that brat Long Haixin of Prince Chen’s Mansion?"

"Prince Fuling is still at Prince Chen’s Mansion, but he has sent out those four old geezers. It’s obvious they’re also headed for Shanyin County."

"That brat has gotten much more cunning since his trip to the Secret Realm. He’s even learned to kill with a borrowed knife."

"Your Highness, should we also go to Shanyin County? After all, that Spirit Fox..."

Long Jingyao waved his hand. "It’s just a bunch of children playing house. What do a few deaths matter? Someone will eventually sort it out. Still, I want you to go yourself. If that brat Chu Fan truly can’t handle it, lend him a hand at the most critical moment."

"Remember, you can only act after that brat Long Haixin’s people have made their move. If Chu Fan can’t even hold on that long, then he’s useless to me."

"I obey!"

"Also, since he killed two Divine Separation Realm Tier Six cultivators, his ranking on the Talent List should rise, shouldn’t it? Roughly how high do you think he can get?"

"Your Highness, he should make the top twenty, no problem. The exact ranking would require further comprehensive evaluation."

"Don’t bother. Just put him at number eleven. If anyone disagrees, they can just challenge him themselves. The more drama, the better the show, wouldn’t you say?" Long Jingyao smirked.

...

The next day, the Talent List was reissued early in the morning.

Chu Fan, who had skyrocketed to thirty-sixth place just half a month ago, once again saw a massive jump in his ranking, landing him directly at number eleven.

Such a rapid ascent was enough to blow everyone’s minds.

A twenty-seven-year-old ranked eleventh on the Talent List. What did that even mean?

This was beyond a prodigy; he was a monster.

Even if someone started their Cultivation in the womb, bathed daily in Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, and consumed High-Tier Elixirs like food, most wouldn’t be confident they could break into the top twenty before the age of thirty.

For the first time, many people began to doubt the rankings from Heroic Journey.

Along with the new Talent List, the name Chu Fan entered the public eye.

Early in the morning, Chu Fan was in the courtyard practicing with his Iron Spear.

Leng Yingxue had entered the bedroom the previous night and hadn’t emerged since. Chu Fan had sat in the courtyard for the entire night.

The White Fox lay at Chu Fan’s side the whole time.

’He still couldn’t figure out how the White Fox ever got full.’

The moment the first ray of eastern sunlight pierced the darkness, Chu Fan rose to his feet.

He tried to execute the Fourth Technique of the Wandering Dragon Spiritual Awareness Spear Technique again and again, but he just couldn’t get the movements to flow.

’Although Shi Lun and those four old geezers had already treated the Death Qi afflicting Yun Xi, making my need for the Great Returning Pill less urgent... the temptation to unlock the third seal of the Juntian Mirror is still incredibly strong. After all, the reward for breaking the third seal wouldn’t just be the Great Returning Pill; there are bound to be other extraordinary things. Rewards aside, based on the precedent set by the first two seals, breaking the third will surely unlock a new Divine Technique. An additional Divine Technique means another life-saving trump card, another method of combat. I haven’t used the Juntian Mirror’s first two Divine Techniques in a long time, but every time I have, they have been enough to turn the tide of battle. As far as I can tell, the Dao of the Spear is the fastest path to supreme power I can achieve through diligence and comprehension, so of course, I won’t give up.’

As Chu Fan practiced in the courtyard, wielding his Iron Spear with ferocious power, Leng Yingxue emerged from the bedroom, her curiosity piqued by the sight.

’His Sword Dao has already reached the Middle Stage of Sword Intent Follows the Heart. Why would he neglect to perfect it and practice a Spear Technique instead? Isn’t that neglecting the root for the branches?’

"Is Chu Fan in the courtyard? Come out and accept our challenge!"

The sudden voice interrupted Chu Fan’s morning practice and broke Leng Yingxue’s train of thought.

’Accept a challenge?’ Chu Fan was stunned for a moment, but then he immediately understood what was happening.

’Not only had my name made it onto the Talent List, but it had immediately been ranked thirty-sixth. Of course, many people would be unconvinced.’

"Take care of the White Fox. I’m going to check this out," Chu Fan said to Leng Yingxue.

Leng Yingxue merely nodded, her expression impassive.

Chu Fan put away his Long Spear and soared into the air from the courtyard.

However, the moment he glanced down, he was startled by the sea of people packed into the street below, despite having mentally prepared himself.

"I am Chu Fan. Who wishes to challenge me?" he asked, looking down from his position high in the air.

As soon as the words left his mouth, a man who looked to be in his forties flew up to meet him.

"Su Mingguang of the Ming Dao Sect! I request a duel!"

’Su Mingguang?’

Chu Fan recalled the name. ’When I first saw the Talent List, this Su Mingguang was ranked seventy-second. Looking at him now, I see he’s at Divine Separation Realm Tier Five. If I remember correctly, he’s forty-two. To reach Divine Separation Realm Tier Five by that age... he’s certainly no pushover.’

As he announced his name and sect, a murmur went through the crowd below.

Many were surprised. While the Talent List recorded the top one hundred cultivators under the age of sixty in the Central Domain, very few who made the list were only in their forties.

"Brother Su, if I said I had no intention of being on the Talent List, you’d probably think I was being disingenuous. But I truly have no desire to offend the world’s great talents. Therefore, I accept your challenge. However, shall we agree to a spar where we stop before any real harm is done?"

’Actually,’ Chu Fan thought, ’if this guy weren’t so aggressive, I could hold back a bit. Of course, there’s no way I’d actually lose to him. Losing would cause too many complications. But I can at least let the fight go on for a few more moves so his defeat isn’t too humiliating.’

"This is a formal challenge. Accidents happen. Or are you afraid?" Su Mingguang said.

Chu Fan shook his head and drew the Juntian Sword. "If that’s how it is, then please, Brother Su, make your move."

"Then I won’t hold back! Take this!"

The moment he finished speaking, Su Mingguang lunged, slashing out with his Horizontal Blade.

A Saber Aura, like a brilliant rainbow, shot forward, arriving in an instant.

The slash was powerful, not the least bit weaker than the Saber Technique of the two Divine Separation Realm Tier Six elders from the day before.

’Anyone who can make it onto the Talent List at forty-two is truly no ordinary person. From this single move, I can tell that Su Mingguang is arrogant. He wants to defeat me quickly, so he opened with a lethal strike.’

"Yet the Nightmare is as Urgent as Starfire!"

When the Saber Aura was still a zhang away from him, Chu Fan suddenly moved.

With a flick of his wrist, a Sword Aura shot forth like a brilliant meteor, preceded by countless scattered motes of fluorescent light.

"What is that Sword Technique? How is it so powerful?"

Before the crowd could even cry out in alarm, the Sword Aura shattered the Saber Aura. In the next instant, Chu Fan appeared before his opponent, the tip of his sword already resting against Su Mingguang’s brow.