Zhi Jian Chen Sha

Chapter 857 Zhang Fan Exits His Cultivation

The cessation of Yu Jian Zhen Xian’s attack did not bring peace of mind to the people of Wan Shan Sect, for they knew that once he recovered his peak state and attacked again, no one within the sect would be able to stop him.

Days turned into weeks. Outside the Wan Shan Sect, the cultivators of the Giant Spirit Hall remained leisurely and at ease, while the atmosphere within the sect grew heavy. The disciples were dejected, unwilling to wait for death within the sect, but the vast disparity in strength left them without even the qualification to fight back.

“I wonder how fellow Daoist Zhang Fan’s cultivation is progressing?” Dong Ji Zhen Xian asked Lin Hao Tian.

Lin Hao Tian shook his head, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Dong Ji Zhen Xian could only sigh helplessly. He knew deep down that even if Zhang Fan had achieved perfect understanding of the Dao, breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage was not an easy feat. It could take as little as three to five months, or as long as several years.

Forty-three days had passed since Zhang Fan officially entered seclusion. To achieve the Nascent Soul stage in such a short time was akin to dreaming.

“Sect Master, if there’s no other way, why not hand them over? After all, Qin Hao only said he wanted revenge for his brother, what does it have to do with us?”

“Although it’s truly ungracious, the lives of tens of thousands of disciples in Wan Shan Sect hang in the balance. Compared to that, what does reputation or face matter?” an elder at the Half-step Nascent Soul stage secretly transmitted to Dong Ji Zhen Xian.

“Foolish!” Dong Ji Zhen Xian cursed him, appearing greatly disappointed. “You believe what Qin Hao said?”

“Do you not know the relationship between our Wan Shan Sect and the Giant Spirit Hall over the past century? Qin Yun spent a great deal to invite Yu Jian Zhen Xian this time. Do you think handing over fellow Daoist Zhang Fan will bring us peace? What a stupid fool you are!”

The Half-step Nascent Soul elder froze on the spot. Under the pressure of death, his mind had indeed become clouded. After Dong Ji Zhen Xian’s words, he suddenly understood.

Seeing that he had some awareness, Dong Ji Zhen Xian’s grim expression slowly eased. He then asked, “Do you truly believe our Wan Shan Sect is doomed?”

“Is there still hope?” the Half-step Nascent Soul elder's spirit was rekindled, and he quickly asked.

Dong Ji Zhen Xian said coldly, “Do you think fellow Daoist Zhang Fan is merely a cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage?”

“Isn’t he? Although he has achieved perfect understanding of the Dao, he has not yet cultivated a Nascent Soul, so he is naturally a Nascent Soul cultivator,” the elder replied with a hint of confusion, as if stating the obvious.

Dong Ji Zhen Xian shook his head and chided, “Ignorant!”

“Do you know what it means to achieve perfect understanding of the Dao? As far as I know, it is an extremely rare existence even in the Central Star Domain, with such a peerless figure appearing only once in tens of thousands of years. Do you believe him when he says he has no background?”

“To achieve perfect understanding of the Dao at the Nascent Soul stage, to have a cultivator as astonishing as Nan Zun willing to become his disciple, to teach his disciples eighth-grade divine abilities. Without an earth-shattering background, who would believe such a person?”

It was precisely because of these reasons that even when facing a desperate situation, Dong Ji Zhen Xian had never given up. This could be a crisis, but it could also be an opportunity.

After seven days of seclusion, Yu Jian Zhen Xian’s Nascent Soul and spiritual power both recovered to their peak states. When he emerged from seclusion, a suffocating, invisible pressure enveloped the people of the Wan Shan Sect, causing their hearts to tremble with fear.

“Dong Ji, you wasted seven days, which displeases me. After I break through your sect’s defenses, the Wan Shan Sect will surely be drenched in blood.” Yu Jian Zhen Xian’s killing intent was unconcealed, his narrow eyes filled with coldness.

“Yu Jian, you villain! I had no quarrel with you, yet you seek to exterminate me. Since that is the case, bring it on! Even if I, Dong Ji, die, I will not let you have your way!” Dong Ji Zhen Xian finally stopped holding back and responded with defiance.

“Haha, good!” Yu Jian laughed angrily. “I hope when I break through your defenses and stand before you, you can still be so defiant!”

As Yu Jian Zhen Xian finished speaking and was about to unleash his divine ability, he felt something was amiss. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a radius of thousands of miles suddenly surged, converging incessantly towards the Wan Shan Sect. Dong Ji Zhen Xian was also taken aback by this sight and turned his gaze towards the direction of the Golden Light Immortal Mansion.

Even with his composure, his heart could not help but pound. He saw the boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth, like a tornado, forming a massive pillar of energy above the Golden Light Immortal Mansion. Zhang Fan’s tall figure strode out from the mansion. With a wave of his hand, a blood-red bronze ancient sword appeared in his grasp.

“Sun, moon, heavens, and earth, flow into my sword!” Zhang Fan held the sword with one hand, and as a clear voice rang out, the boundless spiritual energy of heaven and earth poured down, ceaselessly flowing into the blood-red iron sword, which erupted with a brilliant radiance.

In an instant, dark clouds rolled across the sky, and purple and black lightning roamed within them. The entire Wan Shan Continent dimmed under the cover of the clouds, and a suffocating aura enveloped the land, as if the end of days had arrived.

“He succeeded?” The people of Wan Shan Sect were filled with excitement. They watched the figure stepping into the air, standing above the Wan Shan Sect like a celestial being, bringing a sense of peace to everyone’s hearts.

“Is that the Zhang Fan you spoke of, that peerless genius who cultivated the Dao of Rules to perfection at the Nascent Soul stage?” Yu Jian Zhen Xian asked, looking at the figure standing in mid-air.

“It is him, but I never expected he could break through to the Nascent Soul stage in such a short time. Brother Yu Jian, do you have a way to interrupt his tribulation?” Qin Yun asked, still somewhat unwillingly, even though he knew that cultivators undergoing tribulation were protected by the Heavenly Dao and difficult to interfere with.

“Unless you’re willing to exchange your life for his. If you charge into his tribulation area, the might of the heavenly tribulation will naturally increase dramatically, making his chances of success virtually zero. Otherwise, with our strength, other methods are useless,” Yu Jian Zhen Xian said, shaking his head.

“He had already cultivated the Dao of Rules to perfection in the Nascent Soul stage. Once he successfully passes the heavenly tribulation, his strength will be comparable to that of a peak Nascent Soul stage cultivator. Brother Yu Jian, do you have confidence in dealing with him?” Qin Yun, though confident in Yu Jian Zhen Xian’s strength, could not help but worry when facing someone who had cultivated the Dao of Rules to perfection, hence his question.

“Cultivators who can achieve perfect understanding of the Dao are indeed monstrously talented. I have only heard of them in legends; after passing the Nascent Soul tribulation, their spiritual power will be no less than that of a peak Nascent Soul stage cultivator.”

“However, he is, after all, only newly entering the Nascent Soul stage. Both his physical body and his divine abilities will require time to hone. While my talent may not be as great as his, I have absolute confidence in my strength,” Yu Jian Zhen Xian said, looking at Zhang Fan in the sky, completely unfazed.

At this moment, his attention was entirely focused on Zhang Fan. He was even feeling a sense of excitement, eagerly anticipating Zhang Fan’s successful tribulation. If he could defeat this legendary peerless figure, his reputation as Yu Jian Zhen Xian would resound throughout the entire Boundless Star Domain.