NOVEL WEB Ch. 72
Chapter 72: Parting Ways
Afterward, the few of them sat down quietly, waiting for everyone to arrive.
During this time, quite a few people glanced over at Gu Fan’s side—some with fighting intent, others with disdain and contempt.
Among them, the True Disciples of the Five Major Righteous Sects also arrived at this valley.
They coldly watched Gu Fan’s side for a while, the killing intent in their eyes showing no signs of waning.
However, Gu Fan didn’t take it seriously at all. He simply closed his eyes and rested with narrowed eyes.
After a while, an Old Man appeared at the entrance of the valley.
“Everyone, all are present. Prepare to enter the mountain!”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone rose to their feet.
“Within the fifty-li range before entering the mountain, no fighting is allowed. Otherwise, the restriction will trigger killing intent. Once beyond fifty li, you may act as you wish. I only have one request—upon returning, each person must present a piece of heavenly material or earthly treasure. If you die, don’t blame us mountain guardians.”
After speaking, the Old Man waved his hand, and a vortex appeared before them.
“The mountain entry begins now!”
With the Old Man’s command, everyone rushed toward the vortex, their figures vanishing one by one.
At this moment, Elder Lin looked at the four disappearing figures with concern and said:
“Who knows how many will make it back alive.”
“Hehe, that depends on the situation.”
“What do you mean by that, Elder Zhu?”
“Gu Fan and Lin Yi will definitely survive.” Zhu Yang smiled and said to Elder Lin, “As for those two True Disciples, that depends on whether they’re obedient enough.”
...
On Gu Fan’s side, he led Lin Yi, Sun Zhen, and the others past the boundary beyond fifty li.
At this moment, Cao Xin offered a suggestion:
“Everyone, since fighting is forbidden within fifty li, we can stay here a bit longer. Once everyone has moved farther away, it won’t be too late to proceed!”
Sun Zhen clearly agreed with the idea. The two of them looked toward Gu Fan and Lin Yi.
Lin Yi merely shook his head and then explained:
“Pointless. How long can you wait within fifty li? Others can just block your way at the boundary.”
“Then we just won’t go out...”
“Not going out? You still need to hand in a heavenly material or earthly treasure to leave this place. Don’t tell me you think that old man is easy to fool?”
Gu Fan gave a light cough and said:
“Stop wasting time. Get out of this range as quickly as possible. If you’re late, someone will block the exit and wait to kill you!”
Seeing this, the two didn’t argue further. Elder Lin had instructed them thoroughly.
They had just entered, and it wasn’t worth clashing with them already.
Gu Fan advanced swiftly and, after entering the combat-allowed zone beyond fifty li, found a relatively safe hillside to stop at.
He then turned to the two and said:
“To avoid unnecessary trouble, I need to know your current cultivation levels.”
“Not to boast, but I just broke through to the second layer of the Primordial Yang Realm.”
Sun Zhen said proudly, his eyes darting meaningfully toward Lin Yi.
Lin Yi clearly took offense.
“Don’t look at me. Even at half-step Primordial Yang Realm, I can wipe the floor with you. Do you really think cultivation level equals combat strength?”
“You—!”
Gu Fan raised a hand and then looked toward Cao Xin.
“I’m at the third layer of the Primordial Yang Realm. Do you have any instructions?”
Compared to Sun Zhen, Cao Xin seemed a bit prouder.
But Gu Fan wasn’t going to indulge him.
“Not instructions. Elder Lin wants me to look after you. So, for your safety, I have only one request—obey!”
“Ha? You two are to look after us? Are you joking?”
Sun Zhen laughed as well:
“This junior brother, the elder was just being polite. You actually took it seriously?”
“With our cultivation levels, do you think we need babysitting from someone at second layer and a half-step Primordial Yang?”
Cao Xin also offered comfort:
“No need to worry, junior brothers. Though the Demonic Path Twin Stars have some fame, that’s just trivial squabbles at the Spirit Sea Realm level. We can manage our own safety.”
Gu Fan was noticeably cheered upon hearing that.
“Since that’s the case, let’s go our separate ways then. But let me remind you—I’ve already given the warning.”
Sun Zhen hesitated for a moment but then nodded and said:
“Very well, let’s split into pairs to improve efficiency.”
In truth, they had no major issue with Gu Fan.
It was just that Elder Lin had instructed these two to look after them, and that brought on an overwhelming feeling of humiliation.
This was clearly a sign of being looked down upon.
But now that things had been clarified, they might as well act separately.
He, a genius of the Primordial Yang Realm, couldn’t possibly be inferior to someone in the half-step Primordial Yang Realm?
Lin Yi, on the other hand, had long since stopped wanting to bring the two along and quickly waved his hand:
“Perfect, let’s part ways right here!”
After speaking, he hurriedly signaled to Gu Fan with his eyes, gesturing for them to leave quickly.
This scene made the two of them grit their teeth in frustration.
“Hmph, farewell then!”
They said no more and flew off in another direction.
“Let’s go, Brother Gu. No more burdens—we can kill freely now!”
Gu Fan had already memorized the general locations of several disciples from other families who were nearby when they arrived.
Now, the two of them headed straight toward those areas. With luck, they might find someone.
Recalling the spoils of the Autumn Wild Hunt, Gu Fan’s eyes lit up.
Nothing else needed to be said—just the spirit stones earned from selling weapons alone were nearly ten thousand!
And considering he still had the task of cultivating flowers, any amount of spirit stones he gained would flow out just as quickly.
“Let’s go. First target!”
...
At the same time, Sun Zhen and Cao Xin, who had left Gu Fan’s side, were heading deeper into the Little Min Mountain Range.
“Brother Cao, Elder Lin told us to stick with those Demonic Path Twin Stars. Would splitting off now displease the elder?”
Cao Xin chuckled and said:
“Brother Sun, you’re being overly cautious. That sect elder acts like we’ve never practiced combat arts within the sect, assigning two guys whose cultivation levels are lower than ours to watch over us. Isn’t that just looking down on us?”
“If you ask me, sticking with those two would truly be disgraceful. We’re dignified True Disciples, needing protection from two Inner Sect Disciples with weaker cultivation? That’s absurd!”
Sun Zhen grew more irritated at the thought.
It was like an adult being handed over to a child for supervision—utterly ridiculous.
“Exactly. That Lin Yi even said with a straight face that cultivation level doesn’t equal combat strength. He’s really good at pretending!”
“In my view, we should just focus and strive to win the two slots. We’ll show them who the real peerless talents of the Heavenly Evil Sect are.”
“Haha, right! Just two Inner Sect nobodies. Let them witness what a True Disciple truly means!”
The two were brimming with confidence.
Compared to other True Disciples, they were far more eager for a place in the Upper Realm.
Only there could they find greater opportunities and a promising future.
Staying in the Lower Realm was a waste of their talent!
Besides, even if they failed to secure an Upper Realm slot, they could still return as True Disciples.
There was no downside no matter how they looked at it.
As for the elders’ constant warnings about danger, the two paid no mind.
If they couldn’t win, couldn’t they just flee?
At that moment, the sound of battle suddenly came from the distance. The two of them perked up and exchanged glances.
“Let’s go check it out. We might find some treasure!”
“Exactly. Worst case, we let them fight until both sides are exhausted and swoop in for the prize!”
Having made up their minds, the two quickly flew toward the source of the battle.