When the spatial rift storm raged, Zhang Fan instantly fell into a coma. He didn't know how much time had passed. When he woke up, he felt an unbearable pain all over his body. With a slight movement, it tugged at his meridians, making them feel like they were burning. He couldn't help but groan.
"I've gone too far this time! I wonder if Luo Shui and the others have reached Nan Gu Star yet..."
Upon waking, Zhang Fan's memory was still somewhat hazy. He didn't even know how long he had been unconscious. Gradually, the scene of his previous battle with Black Flame King flashed through his mind, and he thought of Qin Luoshui and the others.
"My magic power is completely gone, and my meridians are damaged, but at least I managed to survive. That's good enough."
Zhang Fan first checked his internal condition. Understanding his predicament, he struggled to support himself and sat down cross-legged.
He was surrounded by a dense forest, and not far away stood a rather handsome young man. He was clad in a white robe, wore a jade crown, and held a green sword in his arms, leaning casually against a towering ancient tree.
Seeing Zhang Fan wake up, a hint of surprise appeared on his handsome face. "Your life is truly tenacious. To have suffered such severe injuries and still manage to pull through."
Zhang Fan paid no heed and closed his eyes to recuperate.
"Hmph, no matter what, I've guarded you for a few days. If it weren't for me, you would have been devoured by the beasts of Star Lake Forest long ago. Not even a word of thanks, you ungrateful wretch."
Seeing that Zhang Fan ignored him after waking up and began to cultivate on his own, the young man holding the green sword started to complain.
Holding his breath, as the Ten Absolute Heavenly God Record cultivation technique circulated, the Gluttonous Demon Tablet within his body lit up. The dense spiritual energy from the forest began to gather towards Zhang Fan and was then absorbed by him.
The Gluttonous Demon was skilled at devouring, and its effectiveness in absorbing spiritual energy was even more pronounced. In less than a few breaths, the surrounding spiritual energy formed a small vortex, pouring into Zhang Fan's body ceaselessly.
As the spiritual energy flowed in, his damaged meridians gradually began to repair, and the two dim golden lights within his body also started to recover.
As time passed, a trace of astonishment gradually appeared on the face of the young man in the jade crown.
In three days, the spiritual energy within a radius of tens of kilometers was almost completely drained by Zhang Fan, but his body seemed like a bottomless pit, never to be satisfied.
"I didn't expect this kid to have something special. Just a cultivator in the Golden Core realm, yet capable of absorbing such immense spiritual energy," the young man in the jade crown murmured.
"Roar..."
At this moment, low beast roars echoed from the depths of the dense forest. The young man's expression shifted, and he looked at Zhang Fan. "You only focused on your cultivation, and now you've alarmed these beasts. Let's see how you handle this."
Zhang Fan slowly opened his eyes, let out a long sigh, and then slowly stood up. His gaze fell upon the young man in the jade crown, and he said, "Aren't you here?"
The young man in the jade crown was slightly stunned, then uttered three words.
"Shameless!"
It was the first time he had ever met such a thick-skinned person.
As the sound of wind breaking through the dense forest echoed, black leopards, each over two zhang long, darted out from the darkness. Their strong, powerful limbs landed on the surrounding giant ancient trees, their bodies sinking slightly. Their dark eyes fixed on the two below, as if ready to launch a fatal attack at any moment.
"It's Shadow Leopards. These beasts are truly bold!"
The young man in the jade crown glanced at Zhang Fan, surprised to see that he showed no signs of nervousness.
Shadow Leopards were not particularly powerful beasts in Star Lake Forest. Adult Shadow Leopards had a strength comparable to ordinary cultivators in the second-tier Golden Core realm, but they were definitely a nightmare for all Golden Core cultivators.
This was because Shadow Leopards were not only incredibly fast, comparable to cultivators who had undergone the first Heavenly Tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage, but they also hunted in large numbers. Dozens of Shadow Leopards would attack simultaneously. Even some slightly weaker Nascent Soul cultivators would prioritize fleeing upon encountering a pack of Shadow Leopards.
In this Star Lake Forest, which was full of dangers, no one would easily engage in combat with beasts without great certainty. This was because it would not only alarm other powerful beasts but also attract other cultivators who had entered Star Lake Forest.
"Kid, there are twenty-five Shadow Leopards here. I'll take the bigger share and deal with thirteen of them. The rest are yours." The young man in the jade crown began to assign tasks.
"Mere Shadow Leopards, why bother? Just let Fellow Daoist handle them all at once," Zhang Fan said.
"What Fellow Daoist! I have already cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage. You should call me Senior," the young man in the jade crown glared at Zhang Fan and said.
"Stop dawdling and finish them quickly. I have a few questions for you."
"If you really can't do it, then stand back, and I'll handle it myself."
Zhang Fan waved his hand dismissively.
"Mere Shadow Leopards, how dare you look down on me!"
The young man in the jade crown was provoked by Zhang Fan's attitude. He suddenly drew the green sword from his embrace, and a dazzling green light flashed!
Boom!
A sword qi, dozens of zhang long, shot out horizontally. The ancient trees in front of the young man were all chopped down. At the same time, the Shadow Leopards that were lurking in that area, before they could even launch an attack, were bisected by the green sword qi, their blood splattering everywhere.
"Roar!"
The other lurking Shadow Leopards let out fearful low growls and then transformed into black shadows, fleeing towards the depths of Star Lake Forest.
Although Shadow Leopards were demonic beasts, they had reached the Golden Core realm, and their intelligence was not inferior to ordinary humans. While their primal instincts would drive them to kill, they would also fear those who could easily end their lives.
With just one sword strike, several Shadow Leopards were killed, and the rest fled in panic. The young man in the jade crown sheathed his sword and turned his gaze to Zhang Fan, a hint of pride flashing in his bright eyes before he feigned profundity, saying, "I haven't even used my full strength yet, and they're already scared off."
Zhang Fan ignored the young man's boasting and asked, "Where is this place?"
This question surprised the young man in the jade crown. "Aren't you here for the opportunities in Star Lake?"
"Star Lake?"
Zhang Fan shook his head. "I accidentally fell into a spatial rift, and when I woke up, I was already here."
"You, a mere Golden Core cultivator, fell into a spatial rift and managed to survive? That's truly a miracle." The young man in the jade crown marveled. Even he wouldn't know if he'd survive a spatial rift.
"The fact that you could come here means you have a connection with Star Lake Forest. Why don't you follow me? After I obtain the opportunities in Star Lake, I can leave some benefits for you," the young man in the jade crown said confidently.
Zhang Fan shook his head again. "I'm not interested in these. I just want to know which star field and which planet I am currently on."
Having fallen into a spatial rift, no one knew where they might end up. Zhang Fan worried that if he were stranded outside the Wu Shan Star Field, it would be troublesome.
"This should be Da Yan Star in the Wu Shan Star Field, and Star Lake Forest is the largest and most dangerous forest on Da Yan Star."
"However, recently, many cultivators from Da Yan Star have come to Star Lake Forest seeking opportunities," the young man in the jade crown said.
"Wu Shan Star Field, Da Yan Star." Hearing this, Zhang Fan felt a little more at ease.
As long as he was within the Wu Shan Star Field, finding Qin Luoshui and Lin Haotian would be much easier.
"If that's the case, I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now." Knowing his location, Zhang Fan decided to leave Star Lake Forest first.
"Wait, aren't you tempted by the opportunities in Star Lake at all?" The young man in the jade crown quickly called out when he saw Zhang Fan so resolute.
"What exactly are these opportunities you speak of?" Zhang Fan asked curiously. This young man, having cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage at such a young age, must have an extraordinary background. What kind of opportunity was it that made him so persistent?
"Well... I'm not entirely sure either. It's just that recently, rumors have been circulating on Da Yan Star that a great opportunity is about to appear in Star Lake Forest," the young man in the jade crown said somewhat awkwardly.
...