Nangu Star was the first stop for Zhang Fan and his companions on their way from Earth to the Wushan Starfield. However, due to an unexpected incident midway, Zhang Fan became separated from Lin Haotian and the others.
From the starry sky above Nangu Star, one could see a mountain range stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles, almost bisecting the planet from north to south. This mountain range was named Nangu, known as the Nangu Mountain Range. The Nangu Mountain Range harbored many rare spiritual herbs and fruits. Despite the prevalence of fierce beasts and even demon kings at the Nascent Soul stage, it couldn't deter human cultivators from venturing there.
Currently, in the midsection of the Nangu Mountain Range, a fierce battle was underway. A burly youth, completely naked, stood in a clearing surrounded by seven demon kings at the Nascent Soul stage. If any Golden Core stage cultivator venturing into the Nangu Mountain Range were to witness this scene, their Golden Cores would likely shatter from fear. After all, the Nangu Mountain Range spanned hundreds of thousands of miles, and while Nascent Soul demon kings were not uncommon, they were dispersed and territorial. Encountering even one Nascent Soul demon king was difficult, let alone seven gathered here, besieging a human youth. This scene was rarely witnessed even in ten thousand years.
These seven demon kings included a bull demon as large as a small mountain, a snake demon no bigger than an arm, and even shape-shifting demon beasts that had taken on the form of handsome youths. Each of them exuded immense power, far surpassing cultivators who hadn't yet overcome their Nascent Soul tribulations. Yet, at this moment, as they looked at the youth standing in the center, a trace of fear flickered in each of their eyes.
"If I don't use some desperate measures, I'm afraid I might accidentally kill you all," the naked youth said in a low voice, surveying his surroundings.
"So be it!" The handsome youth, who had transformed into human form, gritted his teeth. He became a blur and charged towards the naked youth, a blood-red short sword appearing in his hand. The other demon kings hesitated no longer. Some charged on foot, some flew through the air, and some burrowed into the earth, all attacking the naked youth simultaneously.
The seven Nascent Soul demon kings attacked from different directions, unleashing their powerful spells and divine abilities with all their might towards the naked youth.
"Good!" A hint of excitement finally appeared in the youth's indifferent eyes. He stomped his foot heavily, causing the ground to crack and mountains to crumble. Flying debris stunned the burrowing rat demon, which was then kicked away with a howl. Simultaneously, the youth turned and unleashed a punch, colliding with the blood-red short sword. A metallic clang erupted, followed by a series of ear-piercing explosions.
At this moment, the naked youth seemed to possess three heads and six arms, as he effortlessly deflected the simultaneous attacks from the seven demon kings. After more than ten rounds, several demon kings had left their marks on the naked youth. However, his physical body was too formidable. Even the sharpest attacks from the handsome youth could only leave a faint white mark, unable to penetrate his defenses. In contrast, the seven Nascent Soul demon kings had all sustained injuries to varying degrees. The bull demon, with its mountain-like physique, had attempted to engage in a direct confrontation with the naked youth, but was sent flying several kilometers away by a single punch, severely wounded.
"This is exhilarating!" The naked youth seemed to revel in the sensation. He took a step forward, preparing to charge at the handsome youth who posed the greatest threat. However, he saw a white figure flying towards them from a distance and stopped.
"We're not fighting today. Disperse." The naked youth waved his hand, and the seven Nascent Soul demon kings, as if granted a great pardon, quickly disappeared into the forest. The white figure landed in the forest, and the naked youth hurried forward, asking, "Any news from Master?"
"Yes." The newcomer was Wu Chen Jian Xian, who had accompanied Zhang Fan to the Wushan Starfield. The naked youth was naturally Zhang Fan's disciple, Lin Haotian.
"After Master killed Elder Gong Ziru of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven on Great Rock Star, he didn't leave immediately but..." It was no longer difficult to inquire about Zhang Fan's whereabouts; information could be found in any city without needing to go through the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. After Wu Chen Jian Xian relayed the information he had gathered, a look of gravity appeared on Lin Haotian's honest face.
"The powerful strength and potential Master has displayed will surely make him a thorn in the side of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, and they will hunt him at all costs," Lin Haotian said with concern. In the Wushan Starfield, any cultivator with even a little knowledge understood the immense power of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven.
"You needn't worry too much." A voice echoed, and Tian Hua Zhen Jun walked over from afar. Simultaneously, a blood-red shadow flashed, transforming into a dragon-like creature, as thick as an arm, that coiled around Lin Haotian's arm. "Master is not a hot-headed youth who rushes into things without understanding the situation. His ability to fight against a peak Four Tribulation Nascent Soul expert while only being a One Tribulation Nascent Soul is enough to show his confidence."
"I believe what we need to do now is to rendezvous with Master as soon as possible and return the Golden Light Immortal Mansion to him." Lin Haotian and Wu Chen Jian Xian both nodded. The Golden Light Immortal Mansion contained abundant cultivation resources, including countless heavenly-grade spiritual herbs and fruits, which could help Zhang Fan grow rapidly.
"Then where do we meet Master?" The Blood Demon Flood Dragon, coiled around Lin Haotian's arm, sounded somewhat excited and expectant. Since parting ways with Zhang Fan, its cultivation had slowed considerably without guidance on the Blood Dragon Body Refining technique. The others looked towards Tian Hua Zhen Jun. After a moment of thought, Tian Hua Zhen Jun announced a location that surprised everyone.
"Boundary Heart Continent!" The main base of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven was located on the Boundary Heart Continent!
...
A black starship traversed through space, rapidly approaching Canaan Star. After nearly half a year, Zhang Fan, aboard this starship, had consumed a large quantity of spatial stones. He could finally see Canaan Star in the starry sky. Zhang Fan had not been idle during this time. He first sorted through the spoils of war he had obtained on Great Rock Star. This process made Zhang Fan sigh, realizing that accumulating wealth was fastest through robbery.
In the Star Lake Forest, Ouyang Ye had schemed against over a hundred Golden Core cultivators. Upon their deaths, their accumulated wealth and treasures fell into Ouyang Ye's hands. Since Ouyang Ye had been killed by Zhang Fan, that hoard of wealth and treasure ultimately ended up with Zhang Fan. Furthermore, in Fuliu City, Zhang Fan had killed Ouyang family head Ouyang Jing and Black Sand Grotto-Heaven Elder Gong Ziru, acquiring a considerable fortune from them.
The average Golden Core cultivator, without special opportunities, had an estate of around a few hundred thousand spirit crystals, considered quite poor. Those who had cultivated a second-grade Golden Core were considered powerhouses among Golden Core cultivators. They possessed greater strength and thus obtained more treasures and resources, with their estates generally exceeding one million. After sorting, Zhang Fan estimated that the treasures he obtained solely from Ouyang Ye were worth over twenty million spirit crystals, a substantial harvest.
For comparison, Ouyang Jing, as the head of the Ouyang family, had reached the Two Tribulation Nascent Soul level. After Zhang Fan killed him, along with the high-grade spiritual treasure Star Gate Luo Yun Spear in his possession, the total value was just over twenty million. Of course, the wealthiest was Gong Ziru. As an elder of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven and a Heavenly Master of formations, his ability to earn spirit crystals was far greater than cultivators of the same level. Although he used most of his spirit crystals to purchase special materials and formation plates for experimental formations, Zhang Fan could still calculate that the value of various formation plates, materials, spirit pills, and spirit crystals he carried, added up to nearly seventy million spirit crystals.
In other words, the battle in Fuliu City alone had instantly propelled the previously impoverished Zhang Fan to an estate exceeding one hundred million!