Chapter 84: Arrival of the Second Wave of Profound Beasts

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Arrival of the Second Wave of Profound Beasts

The division and mutual distrust among the Six Sects and Eight Gates of the Eastern Domain played right into the hands of the Red Blood Mansion. It also allowed two newly established sects to enter a period of rapid development.

These two sects were the Celestial Heart Hall, founded by Jing’an, and the Earth Universe Pavilion, founded by Lan Bing.

With financial backing from the high-priced items sold at Mr. Hong’s auction, and with all eight of them having entered the Nascent Soul Realm, their new sects thrived. The Six Sects and Eight Gates were too preoccupied with their own affairs to interfere, so recruiting disciples for the Celestial Heart Hall and the Earth Universe Pavilion became much smoother than before.

In the secular world, most common people lived relatively impoverished lives. Celestial Heart Hall and Earth Universe Pavilion possessed vast financial resources, and the benefits offered to disciples alone were enough to make those selected flock to them.

Besides, what were the chances that the Cultivation Techniques and Martial Techniques practiced in these two sects were of a lower caliber than those of the Six Sects and Eight Gates?

After all, even techniques like Zi Wu Gate’s Midday Celestial Burning Technique and Midnight Mandarin Duck Sword were only made complete after Chu Fan obtained them from Dingfeng Slope and gifted them to the sect.

So how could the Cultivation Techniques and Martial Techniques Chu Fan gave Jing’an and Lan Bing to establish their sects possibly be inferior?

It wasn’t just Celestial Heart Hall and Earth Universe Pavilion; the Profound Wind Mercenary Corps founded by Liu Yisheng and the Yellow Storm Mercenary Corps founded by Qi Biao also experienced rapid growth.

The changes within the Six Sects and Eight Gates left many minor sects trembling in fear. At the same time, numerous disciples from those major sects couldn’t adapt and chose to desert.

With Ji Bufan’s help, Liu Yisheng and Qi Biao recruited many of these rogue disciples into their Mercenary Corps.

...

It took Chu Fan two full days to recount his experiences of the past six months to Yun Xi.

The one-month agreement with the Profound Leopards was also up.

Chu Fan could well imagine that by now, most sects in the Eastern Domain wanted him dead. They were after two things: the secret to his power, and revenge for the Cultivators he had killed while escaping for his life.

Furthermore, Yun Xi’s Cultivation progressed much faster here on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain than on Yunmeng Mountain. As for himself, he still hadn’t had a chance to study the two pieces of Ming Jue Jade he’d obtained from the Juntian Mirror.

Their newly advanced Realms had not yet stabilized.

For all these reasons, Chu Fan decided it was best to stay on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain for a while longer.

He had to admit, these Profound Beasts kept their word. They said that defeating them would grant him a month of freedom within a three-hundred-li radius, and for that entire month, they truly hadn’t bothered them in the slightest.

Not even the snakes, insects, and rodents of the forest came to disturb them.

’Interacting with these Profound Beasts is so much simpler than dealing with Human Race Cultivators,’ Chu Fan thought.

Of course, Chu Fan only thought this way because he knew so little about Profound Beasts.

In this world, the most fundamental rule was the law of the jungle: survival of the fittest. This was true for both the Human Race and the Profound Beasts.

There was one thing that still puzzled him. Both he and Yan Ying could enhance their Spiritual Power by observing the Scroll. But when he unrolled it for Yun Xi, her Spiritual Power showed no reaction whatsoever.

To her, it was like looking at an ordinary painting.

’Could it be because of that passage of golden text left by the Immortal, which appeared when Yan Ying and I first unrolled it? Maybe only those who saw the text upon the Scroll’s first opening can use it to enhance their Spiritual Power.’

Over the past month, Yun Xi had managed to find a considerable amount of Spirit Medicine in the surrounding area. They were all laid out to dry on the roof of their treehouse.

Chu Fan was surprised to see the roof covered in Spirit Medicine. These herbs were all incredibly precious and rare, even in the largest apothecary shops.

This couldn’t help but remind Chu Fan of his Eldest Senior Brother. He often went down the mountain to train, and most of his time was spent traversing mountains and ridges to gather medicinal herbs.

Yun Xi had been interested in pharmacology since she was young, and Eldest Senior Brother had been happy to teach her.

Just then, Yun Xi was about to climb onto the roof to gather the Spirit Medicine.

"Why are you gathering them?" Chu Fan asked.

"The month is up; today’s the last day," Yun Xi explained. "We should get going. Otherwise, the next wave of Profound Beasts will surely be stronger and more numerous. We’ll be in big trouble then."

Chu Fan said, "There’s no rush to leave. A lot of people are probably looking for me out there. It would be even more trouble if they found us. Besides, my Cultivation has recovered. If more Profound Beasts show up, I’ll just negotiate with them. There’s so much Spirit Medicine here. The little you’ve gathered so far is hardly enough, is it?"

At the mention of Spirit Medicine, Yun Xi’s eyes lit up. Chu Fan’s words had convinced her.

Chu Fan emptied a Storage Ring and handed it to Yun Xi.

"What’s this?" Yun Xi took the ring, a bit confused.

"It’s a Storage Ring..." Chu Fan explained its function and how to use it.

Yun Xi reverently slipped it onto her finger. She examined it closely, repeatedly placing Spirit Medicine into it and taking it back out.

While Yun Xi was endlessly amused by her new ring, Chu Fan sensed five Profound Beasts rushing in their direction.

Sensing the change in Chu Fan’s aura, Yun Xi also stopped.

"Are the Profound Beasts here?"

Chu Fan nodded. "It’s fine. Just stay in the house."

Before long, five Profound Beasts, as large as small hills and resembling apes, arrived before them.

These five Profound Beasts were clearly a higher level than the three Profound Leopards from a month ago; Chu Fan couldn’t even determine what level they were.

But at this moment, Chu Fan was completely fearless.

"Last time, defeating the three Profound Leopards got us one month of freedom in a three-hundred-li radius. What’s the arrangement today?"

’Level 3 Profound Leopards can speak human tongue, so there’s no reason these, who are clearly of a higher Realm, can’t do the same.’

One of the apes, the one with white eyebrows, spoke up. "Last time, we made an exception because you were injured. We Profound Beasts do not take advantage of the vulnerable, which is why we gave you a month to recuperate. We are here today because that month has ended, yet you have not left. Defeat us, and you may leave in peace. Fail, and you will die here."

’Huh?’ Chu Fan was surprised. ’They changed the rules? That won’t do. I want to stay on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain for a while longer!’

After a moment’s thought, Chu Fan formed a plan. He asked, "If I were to accidentally kill one of you, would the rest of you hunt me down relentlessly?"

"No. That would only mean we were not skilled enough," said the ape.

"How about this, then. You call a few more Profound Beasts of your level over to deal with me together. If I win, we get to stay on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain for another three months. If I lose, the two of us will be at your mercy, life or death. How about it?"

The ape thought for a moment and finally nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I’m sure. I’m the one who suggested it. All that matters is that you keep your word."

The ape didn’t rebut Chu Fan, but instead threw its head back and let out a long howl to the sky.

Before long, five massive eagles appeared, their spread wings blotting out the sky.

These five eagles were much larger than the Falcon Yun Xi had fought that day, and their auras were countless times stronger.

’These five apes and five eagles are probably all Level 5 or higher,’ Chu Fan judged.

’Looks like I might have gotten a bit too arrogant this time.’

’Should I use the Inner Lion Seal? The ape said it wouldn’t matter if I killed one of them, but if I actually do it... it’d be a miracle if the other Profound Beasts let me off the hook.’

’I’ll just fight first. It’s not like I’m guaranteed to lose.’

’I might be uncertain, but I can’t let my aura falter. I’ve already made the bet; how can I back down now?’

"Are you all coming at once? Or one by one?"

The ten Profound Beasts answered him with a sudden, ferocious assault...