Chapter 235: 13th on the Talent List

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: 13th on the Talent List

Four cultivators at the Soul Emergence Realm attacked Chu Fan all at once.

Chu Fan stood his ground, not moving an inch, looking rather startled.

In the eyes of the onlookers, it was as if he was scared stiff, rooted to the spot and unsure what to do.

Just as the four attacks were about to land, a tremendous force erupted from Chu Fan’s body, radiating outward.

With a deafening BANG, the four were sent flying backward, crashing into the crowd and falling unconscious.

The sight drew countless cries of shock from the crowd.

Ordinary people might not have understood what happened, but any Cultivator could see the truth. The young man who seemed scared stiff wasn’t frightened at all—his Cultivation was at least one entire Great Realm higher than that of the four old men.

The defensive True Qi emanating from his body alone was enough to injure them.

The more force they used, the greater the backlash they received.

At that moment, Eldest Miss Zhu was also staring at Chu Fan in terror.

Chu Fan paid them no mind. He shook his head indifferently, crouched down, and picked up the White Fox.

"You little troublemaker, when did you get so fond of meddling in other people’s business?" Chu Fan said, ruffling the White Fox’s fur.

"Brother, that man is so pitiful. Can’t we help him?"

The White Fox murmured.

"This is their family business. He’s a grown man, yet he lets his wife treat him like that. His wife is certainly detestable, but isn’t he just as pathetic? Remember this: every pitiable person has a detestable side."

Chu Fan said softly, then turned to leave.

The crowd of onlookers buzzed with discussion.

Some worried that the Zhu Family would retaliate against him, while others were confused as to why he had interfered only to walk away.

"Stop!"

Eldest Miss Zhu shouted at Chu Fan’s departing figure.

Chu Fan glanced back. "What is it? Does Eldest Miss Zhu intend to invite me to be a guest of the Zhu Family?"

"You injured my Zhu Family’s Tributors. Do you think you can just walk away?"

Chu Fan couldn’t help but laugh. "Go on, ask anyone here if I injured your Zhu Family Tributors. Who saw me make a move? They overestimated themselves and came after me on your orders, Eldest Miss Zhu. They couldn’t even break through my defensive True Qi, and now you’re blaming me?"

"Regardless, they were injured because of you. You must pay the price."

"Pay the price? By all means, Eldest Miss Zhu, tell me what price you think I should pay."

"Cripple your own Cultivation, and we can consider this matter settled!"

Hearing her ridiculous demand, Chu Fan burst out laughing. He couldn’t be bothered to waste another word on such an idiot and simply turned and strode away.

"Brother, are we really not going to do anything about that man?"

Chu Fan shook his head.

Behind him, Eldest Miss Zhu roared in impotent rage.

’Why would an elephant concern itself with the impotent fury of an ant?’

But with Chu Fan gone, Eldest Miss Zhu’s husband-in-name was about to suffer the consequences.

Eldest Miss Zhu vented all her fury on the man. Her long whip fell like rain upon his body. Already a bloody mess, the man’s injuries became even more gruesome after the frenzied lashing.

Cradling the White Fox, Chu Fan found an inn, but he was turned away at the door.

The same thing happened at the next few inns. Either the staff claimed there were no rooms left, or they said everything was already reserved.

A few smaller inns even shut their doors for the day the moment they saw Chu Fan approaching.

’The Zhu Family’s influence in Jinzhou City is quite something,’ Chu Fan sighed to himself.

’I really didn’t want to get involved, but give some people an inch and they’ll take a mile.’

"I wonder if that esteemed lady has met her old acquaintance yet?" Chu Fan murmured to himself, looking up at the sky.

He spotted the tallest structure in the city center—the Bell Tower. An idea struck him, and he made his way toward it.

When he reached the Bell Tower, he saw that it was hundreds of feet tall but had no stairs. The Copper Bell hanging at the very top had to weigh several thousand pounds at least.

’This is for the best,’ he thought. ’Ordinary people can’t get up here. Since I can’t stay at an inn, resting in this Bell Tower will do just fine.’

With a light tap of his feet, he shot straight up into the air.

The platform at the top was quite spacious. Aside from the enormous bell, there was nothing else there.

With a wave of his hand, Chu Fan summoned a low table and two cushions.

With another wave, a Copper Furnace, a teapot, and three tea bowls appeared on the table.

He lit the Copper Furnace, poured water into the copper pot, and allowed it to slowly come to a boil.

He, in turn, sat cross-legged on a cushion, closed his eyes, and sank into deep thought.

The White Fox lay curled up beside him, remaining exceptionally quiet.

When the water in the copper pot began to boil, Chu Fan opened his eyes and methodically began to prepare the tea.

He filled all three of the tea bowls before him.

Just then, a figure in white flew up to the Bell Tower and sat down across from Chu Fan.

It was a man.

He wore a white robe, and his features were sharp and well-defined, his expression resolute.

"You knew I was coming?"

the man said, breaking the silence.

"The tea is freshly brewed. I’m just a simple man who knows little of the art of tea, and this isn’t any special blend, but please, have a taste," Chu Fan said, gesturing to the tea bowl in front of the man.

The man lifted the tea bowl and took a delicate sip. He savored it for a moment before speaking. "To be honest, I don’t understand the art of tea either. But I believe tea is like people—there’s no inherent high or low quality. Different teas appeal to different people, and it’s the same with us."

Chu Fan clapped his hands softly. "Well said."

"In just over half a month, you’ve gone from a complete unknown to ranking thirty-sixth on the Talent List. Now you’ve leaped all the way to eleventh. Your reputation is truly well-deserved, my friend."

"So, did you come here for a friendly chat? Or are you looking for a fight?" Chu Fan asked with a smile.

"This morning, my friend, you displayed your awesome power when ten experts of the Divine Separation Realm died in an instant. With methods like that, how would I dare to challenge you?"

Here, the man’s tone shifted. "However, for all your martial prowess, my friend, you seem to lack the heart of a true Martial Artist."

Chu Fan let out a few hearty laughs. He lifted the scalding copper pot and refilled the teapot. After giving the teapot a brief swirl, he poured for the man, filling his tea bowl until it overflowed slightly.

"I once spent a considerable amount of time with a monk, from whom I learned a little about the Dao of Cause and Effect. And while I don’t know why your wife so often drags you through the streets of Jinzhou City, I can see that the two of you are, in fact, a deeply devoted and harmonious couple."

"Oh?" The man looked at Chu Fan, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

That’s right. This man in white was the very same one who had been dragged behind a horse by Eldest Miss Zhu, a bloody and broken figure. But now, his white robes were spotless, without a speck of dust. Where were the signs of injury?

No one would have ever connected him with the man who had been dragged by the horse.

"You, with your Cultivation at the Divine Separation Realm Tier Nine Peak... and Eldest Miss Zhu, with her paltry Nascent Soul Realm Cultivation... Heh." Chu Fan let out another cold laugh.

"You can see my true Cultivation?" the man asked, his surprise growing.

"State your purpose for coming here," Chu Fan said.

The man didn’t state his purpose. Instead, he countered, "Brother Chu, why don’t you first explain how you knew I would come?"

"I didn’t know you would come," Chu Fan said calmly. "I simply saw a thread of Cause and Effect between us. As it happens, your Zhu Family made it so I couldn’t find a place to stay in Jinzhou City. I saw this Bell Tower, thought it was a decent spot, and decided to rest here. If you showed up, I’d have a chat with you. If you didn’t... well, it’s only a pot of tea. Nothing to fuss over."

"So you know who I am?"

"I don’t know for sure, but I can make an educated guess. Among the top twenty on the Talent List, there are six who have reached Divine Separation Realm Tier Nine. Of those, three are at Tier Nine Peak, just one step away from the Integration Realm. He Lingyi is a disciple of the Celestial Dao Palace, and rumor has it he rarely leaves Laojun Mountain. You, on the other hand, are here in Jinzhou City. Everyone in Jinzhou City knows that Eldest Miss Zhu frequently humiliates you in public, which means you spend most of your time here. Therefore, you are definitely not He Lingyi."