Unrivaled Martial Emperor

Jia Yuanji's explanation brought cold killing intent to Chen Fan's eyes. He glared at the Ten Vicious Bandits with an icy gaze.

"Hmph, what guts you have! How dare you set a trap and lure our True Martial Academy's disciples? You Ten Vicious Bandits deserve a thousand deaths!"

Although he didn't have much dealings with Jia Yuanji, as fellow disciples of the True Martial Academy, he couldn't ignore this.

The hundred elites who entered the core area were carefully selected talents, honed over centuries, perhaps a thousand years, all potential future Legends.

Now, the Ten Vicious Bandits had used such despicable methods to kill two of them. It was equivalent to killing two Legendary realm experts of the True Martial Academy preemptively.

"Hmph, Chen Fan, we know of your notoriety. We have heard of your name, fierce strength, and ruthless means. But this is the core area. Life and death are up to fate. No one is to blame."

The bandit king didn't cower under Chen Fan's fierce gaze. Their gazes collided in the air, and he continued, "The strong prey on the weak here. Who cares if you are a disciple of the academy or whatever your status is? If you have to blame, you can only blame yourself for being weak."

"That's right! Hoho, although you have a fierce reputation, Chen Fan—but so do we. The Ten Vicious Bandits aren't nobodies. Since you're here, we'll show some respect and spare the rest. We'll take our leave. How about it?"

Their words were polite, but it was clear: they wanted to avoid a fight. Chen Fan's reputation made them cautious.

"Hoho, you think a few words can settle this after killing our True Martial Academy's people? Where in the world does justice come that cheap?" Chen Fan sneered coldly.

The bandit king raised his eyebrow, and his voice turned cold. "Then what do you want?"

"It's simple. You took lives, so now pay with your own."

As soon as those words came out, the bandit king and the others' expressions immediately turned vicious. He said fiercely, "So, you've made up your mind? It will be a fight to the death?"

"A fight to the death? Hahahaha..." Chen Fan laughed out loud to the point he was tearing up. He looked at the Ten Vicious Bandits with a disdainful expression and said, "Small fries like you want to fight me to the death? Are you qualified?

"You were right, though. This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. In your eyes, they are weak. Similarly, in my eyes, you are weaklings."

"Audacious!"

"What arrogance!"

The Ten Vicious Bandits flew into a rage.

"Chen Fan, you'd better know what's good for you. We aren't taking a step back because we're scared of you. We are merely giving you face. Don't think we're pushovers. So what if you possess combat strength on par with a Legend? We have fought Legends before!" said the bandit king coldly.

"Then why bother talking? Die!"

Chen Fan couldn't be bothered with talking nonsense and sprang into motion, charging toward the Ten Vicious Bandits.

"You're courting death! Get moving! Into formation and slaughter him!"

The Ten Vicious Bandits were all ruthless characters, veterans soaked in blood. They responded instantly with fiendish expressions, enraged by Chen Fan's action. Nefarious qi swept and erupted from them in an instant. With the bandit king as the center, the nine of them got into a combined attack formation.

Rumble!

Both sides clashed in an instant.

Admittedly, the Ten Vicious Bandits were no pushovers.

With nine of them forming a combined attack formation, their combat strength skyrocketed and reached the level of a Legend. They became much stronger than Wang Zhong, and were on par with a Lesser Legendary realm expert like Jin Kun.

"So strong!"

"It's no wonder they have roamed the Tianwu Continent freely for so many years. And this is with one missing. If all ten were here, they'd be even more terrifying."

"I heard that the Ten Vicious Bandits obtained an incredible legacy in their early years. It's what helped them rise, step by step, to where they are now."

Jia Yuanji and the others' irises contracted violently when they saw them clashing.

When they had fought the Ten Vicious Bandits separately earlier, they didn't get to experience the bandits' true strength.

Now, seeing the nine form a unified front and unleash such devastating force against Chen Fan, it shook them to the core.

After a brief exchange, Chen Fan hadn't gained the upper hand.

"Hoho, interesting," the bandit king said, reassured by their performance.

"How is it? Chen Fan, do you still think you can deal with us? I'll advise you again, stop right here. Otherwise, perhaps we, the Ten Vicious Bandits, will use your fresh blood to establish our fierce reputation."

"Is that so?" Chen Fan smiled and said, "Pity, what a pity that you've met me today. Your fates are sealed. Die!"

An even more powerful aura erupted from Chen Fan in an instant. His gaze turned cold. Wielding the Holy Spear of the Sun, he charged toward them again.

Together, the bandits were as strong as a Lesser Legendary realm like Jin Kun; however, Chen Fan had killed Jin Kun.

That, too, years ago.

He was no longer the same as when he killed Jin Kun; his strength had advanced significantly since then.

All of a sudden, with Chen Fan's outburst, the Ten Vicious Bandits found themselves struggling to fend off his attacks.

"Ah!" A miserable cry rang out. One of the vicious bandits failed to back off in time and was impaled by Chen Fan's spear. His vitality was destroyed in an instant.

That single moment shattered the rhythm of their formation. Their coordinated advance and retreat collapsed into chaos; their collective power dropped sharply.

Chen Fan was like a ferocious tiger that had descended from its mountain. Seizing the opportunity, he killed off the eight remaining vicious bandits with the momentum of sweeping through an army of a thousand. Jia Yuanji and the others stared, jaws slack, involuntarily sucking in a cold breath.

The Ten Vicious Bandits were like the grim reapers in their eyes, yet Chen Fan had killed them all.

Afterwards, the lucky survivors stepped forward one by one, expressing heartfelt thanks to Chen Fan.

After these people left, the Bodhi ancient tree emerged from inside Chen Fan, spreading its branches and sweeping over the Heavenly Wind Valley.

He narrowed his eyes and said, "Is there Heavenly Heart Fluid inside?"

He had noticed the Bodhi ancient tree acting strangely ever since his arrival, sending him a strong signal that something of great value lay hidden within the valley.

Chen Fan had learned from Jia Yuanji that the Ten Vicious Bandits spread fake rumors about the existence of Heavenly Heart Fluid to trick these people into coming over.

From the looks of things now, there truly was some extraordinary treasure hidden within the cave from which the heavenly wind surged forth.

It was Chen Fan's first time sensing such intense will fluctuations from the Bodhi ancient tree.

He followed the Bodhi ancient tree.

Boom, boom, boom!

In an instant, terrifying gusts of heavenly wind came crashing down on him like blades, producing the sound of metal clashing and sending sparks flying everywhere.

These heavenly winds could threaten newbie Lesser Legendary realm experts and would leave marks on even Grade-8 treasures from their slashes.

However, Chen Fan's Hegemonic Golden Body had reached level 35 and was comparable to a Grade-9 treasure. These heavenly winds couldn't threaten him.

As for the Bodhi ancient tree, it easily wove through the gaps between the countless heavenly winds.

Soon, Chen Fan entered a cave after enduring the constant stream of heavenly winds.

Next, he exclaimed in surprise, "Hmm? It really is the Heavenly Heart Fluid!"