"Come up."

Ning Fan beckoned to the turtle. The turtle crawled onto Ning Fan's shoulder at an extremely slow pace, its speed so sluggish that Ning Fan grew anxious just watching.

Fortunately, the little turtle clung firmly. As Ning Fan swiftly dashed through the water, the turtle remained as steady as a mountain.

"Splash-"

With a burst of spraying water, Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao leaped out of the spirit vein and landed on the riverbank.

"Senior Brother Ji, it is time to settle our accounts."

Ning Fan spoke.

The expected response did not come. He instinctively looked around, not immediately spotting Ji Wuxi and the others. Instead, he saw two unfamiliar figures.

The next moment.

Ning Fan shifted his gaze downward, finally noticing Ji Wuxi, Fang Qi, Shao Hong, and the rest.

The reason was simple-

These people were squatting on the ground.

When their eyes met Ning Fan's, complex expressions washed over their faces. Some looked embarrassed, some avoided his gaze, and others took a gloating delight in his misfortune.

"Senior Brothers, what are you all doing..."

"Resting?"

Ning Fan asked.

Ji Wuxi and the others' mouths twitched violently. If the situation allowed, they would have stood up and slapped Ning Fan twice. Which of his eyes saw them resting!?

Ah????

They were clearly being held captive.

"You are Ning Fan?"

"The first place among the Jia-grade new disciples? Rumor has it you both possess dual cultivation physiques?"

The unfamiliar figure looked at Ning Fan with interest, his tone laced with a playful mockery.

"You are?"

Ning Fan asked in return.

"Luo Ming, fourth place among the Yi-grade. However, I am a disciple from two intakes ago. No matter how extraordinary your talent is, the path of cultivation relies not only on innate gifts. Time is also a crucial factor. I entered the Sect two intakes ahead of you. Not to mention you, even these few here can only bow their heads in defeat."

Luo Ming raised his chin slightly, speaking with a disdainful air.

Two intakes ago.

That meant the batch before Ji Wuxi's. No wonder even Ji Wuxi, the first place of the Jia-grade, could only bow his head before Luo Ming.

"Senior Brother Luo, the benefits you promised us..."

An unknown martial artist who had been following Ji Wuxi spoke to Luo Ming with a fawning, sycophantic tone. From his words, Ning Fan understood that this man had brought Luo Ming here.

This person.

In name, he followed Ji Wuxi, but in secret, he had colluded with Luo Ming.

A complete lack of honor.

"No problem. I will not short you a single bit of the heavenly treasures and earthly materials I promised. Furthermore, when I join Yin Yang Peak, I will bring you along as well."

"Rest assured."

Luo Ming said.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Luo!"

The martial artist's eyes lit up.

The heavenly treasures and earthly materials were secondary. The key was the promise of joining Yin Yang Peak. The Yin Yang Divine Sect had five great peaks.

Among them, Yin Yang Peak was the strongest.

Following an outstanding peak brought endless benefits to future cultivation. Generally speaking, after recruiting two more batches of new disciples, it would be the current batch's turn to choose their main peak for cultivation.

Of course, there were exceptions.

"Hand them over."

Luo Ming extended his hand toward Ning Fan.

"Huh?"

Ning Fan paused.

"That fruit. You should still have four of them, right? Hand them all over, saving me the trouble of doing it myself."

Luo Ming flipped his palm, and a Spirit Fate Fruit appeared in his grasp. He flicked his wrist, tossing the fruit up and catching it repeatedly.

"Oh, you mean the Spirit Fate Fruit."

"They are gone."

"I used them up during cultivation."

Ning Fan spread his hands and shrugged.

"..." Hearing Ning Fan's words, Luo Ming seemed highly dissatisfied. He furrowed his brows deeply, a faint Pressure emanating from his body.

"Ning Fan, do you take me for a fool?"

"The amount of heavenly treasures and earthly materials used during cultivation is limited. Even with an endless supply of Spirit Stones, a martial artist can only consume a portion based on their realm."

"Look at them."

Luo Ming pointed at Ji Wuxi and the others on the ground, then continued.

"Even these two at the Profound Extreme Realm barely used two fruits during their dual cultivation. You are only at the half-step Profound Extreme Realm."

"One fruit is enough to satisfy your dual cultivation."

"You used them all?"

"Heh."

Luo Ming shook his head, acting as if he saw through everything.

"Junior Brother Ning..."

Shao Hong, squatting to the side, kept signaling Ning Fan with his eyes, urging him to change his excuse. Even if he refused to give the fruits to Luo Ming, he needed a sensible reason.

Even saying 'I lost them in the river' would suffice.

It was still more reasonable than claiming they were used in cultivation.

"..."

Ji Wuxi and the others' expressions turned sly and gloating. They guessed that Ning Fan did not want to give the fruits to Luo Ming.

But for Ning Fan to choose such an absurd excuse.

He was practically forcing Luo Ming to strike.

As Luo Ming had said, his talent might not match Ji Wuxi or Lin Yao, but he had been in the Sect longer.

Luo Ming's realm was at the fourth layer of the Profound Extreme Realm.

Barely considered the mid-stage of the Profound Extreme Realm!!

Even for Ji Wuxi and the others, Luo Ming at the fourth layer of the Profound Extreme Realm was a formidable opponent, let alone for Ning Fan. One must remember that in their earlier clash, Ning Fan had been at a disadvantage against Ji Wuxi. Given enough time, Ning Fan would likely have lost to Ji Wuxi.

And even if Ji Wuxi, Fang Qi, and the others combined their strength, they were no match for Luo Ming and his Dao partner.

The gap was insurmountable.

"Heh."

"It seems Junior Brother Ning chooses to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Since that is the case, do not blame me for being ruthless. If you end up crippled, you have only yourself to blame!"

"..."

As his words fell, Luo Ming's figure blurred, appearing before Ning Fan in the blink of an eye. He raised his hand and launched a punch at the latter.

Before the fist arrived, a fierce gale struck first.

Ning Fan's clothes fluttered wildly in the wind.

This punch was terrifying.

It carried far more power than Ji Wuxi's strike-truly the strength of a martial artist at the fourth layer of the Profound Extreme Realm!!

Yet, facing this punch.

Ning Fan neither dodged nor evaded, nor did his face show a trace of panic. He calmly raised his hand and met the strike with an unadorned punch of his own.

"What!?"

"What!?"

"This Ning Fan actually chose to clash head-on? Has he lost his mind?!"

"He is far too arrogant!"

"..."

Everyone watched Ning Fan's choice and could not help but cry out in shock. They even wanted to pry open Ning Fan's head to see exactly what he was thinking.

Luo Ming was a powerhouse who surpassed Ji Wuxi.

Before the crowd could think further.

"Boom-"

Fist met fist with a heavy, muffled thud. The expected defeat did not occur. Ning Fan stood rooted to the spot like an ancient tree.

He had taken Luo Ming's punch without losing a single step!!!

Silence.

Dead silence.

In an instant, the entire area fell so quiet that a falling needle could be heard. Everyone stared at Ning Fan in sheer disbelief.

How is this possible!?

How could Ning Fan block Luo Ming's punch head-on!?

Wait, wait!?

Suddenly.

Everyone noticed the anomaly surrounding Ning Fan...