"What is she doing?!"

Ning Fan and the others stared at Fairy Lingxu's actions in slight bewilderment, none of them understanding what kind of technique she was casting.

As time passed, the spirit vein boiled with increasing intensity.

It was as if the entire spirit vein had been brought to a rolling boil.

"Boom-"

Under everyone's watchful gaze, the entire spirit vein actually broke free from the earth and rose into the sky, continuously shrinking midair.

Finally, it transformed into an ancient jade that lay quietly in Fairy Lingxu's hand.

"The nurturing is finally complete."

Fairy Lingxu gazed at the ancient jade in her hand, a gleam of wild joy flickering in her eyes as she murmured in a voice only she could hear.

This ancient jade was something her Master had obtained by chance. At the time, the ancient jade's Spiritual Qi was heavily depleted, but her Master still recognized its rarity. Thus, it was placed within the spirit vein for continuous nurturing, and during this period, its spiritual essence had finally been reshaped.

During the nurturing process, the spirit vein and the ancient jade had completely fused together. Taking the jade pendant meant the spirit vein would vanish alongside it.

But the Sect would not make a fuss over it.

It was merely a modestly sized spirit vein; sacrificing it to awaken a precious treasure for the Sect's Saintess could be considered putting it to good use.

"..."

Fairy Lingxu stared burningly at the ancient jade in her hand. Its design was ordinary, yet it emitted a peculiar ripple of energy, and the character for "Two" was carved upon its front.

If Ye Honglian were here, she would surely recognize that this ancient jade was utterly identical to the one she possessed, save for the number. They came from the exact same origin!

Although Fairy Lingxu did not know the ancient jade's exact purpose, there was no doubt it was by no means a Mortal Grade item. Once she unravelled the jade pendant's secrets...

It would certainly bring her immense benefits.

Thinking of this...

Fairy Lingxu tucked the ancient jade into her robes, wearing it close to her chest. She then cast her gaze over Ning Fan, Luo Ming, Ji Wuxi, and the others.

"Let this exploration end here. Sect disciples must avoid life-and-death struggles amongst themselves. Sparring is beneficial, but slaughter brings only harm."

"Yes."

"The Saintess's words are absolutely correct."

"We will surely keep our fellowship in mind."

"..."

Ji Wuxi, Luo Ming, and the rest immediately nodded with respect, offering no doubts regarding Fairy Lingxu's decree. Ning Fan, however, frowned slightly and actually spoke up.

"Saintess."

"I have a question. This Luo Ming possessed no right to enter this Fated Chance ground. Was it not entirely unreasonable for him to snatch heavenly materials and earthly treasures from our hands?"

"Furthermore, since I defeated Luo Ming, he should hand over those heavenly materials and earthly treasures to me, shouldn't he?"

As Ning Fan's voice faded, Shao Hong and the others couldn't help but shoot him admiring glances. This Ning Fan truly had guts.

To think he would question Fairy Lingxu's words time and time again.

"..."

Fairy Lingxu fixed her steady gaze upon Ning Fan.

In response.

Ning Fan stood utterly fearless, meeting Fairy Lingxu's eyes with neither humble submission nor arrogant defiance. He firmly believed his words stood on the side of reason.

He walked an upright path and acted with a clear conscience-what was there to fear?

"Mm."

"You are correct. Disciples from two batches prior should not have appeared in this Fated Chance ground, let alone seized heavenly materials and earthly treasures."

"Once we leave this Fated Chance ground, an affairs Elder will verify the truth of the matter. Additionally, the heavenly materials and earthly treasures that were snatched away shall return to their original owners."

Fairy Lingxu passed her judgment directly.

"Yes, yes."

Luo Ming and his dao companion replied with pallid faces. Who could have expected that after bribing the gatekeeper to sneak in on a tip, they would crash straight into Fairy Lingxu?

It seemed a harsh punishment was now unavoidable.

"Wait."

Ning Fan was still dissatisfied and raised a hand to interrupt Fairy Lingxu.

"How can they just return to their original owners? I am the one who defeated Luo Ming, so his heavenly materials and earthly treasures should belong to me. Saintess, wouldn't you agree?"

"The heavenly materials and earthly treasures will return to their original owners. No further words are needed. This exploration of the Fated Chance ground concludes here. Everyone shall leave in orderly fashion."

"That is all." Fairy Lingxu's gaze turned frigid. She had clearly made her final ruling and refused to hear any more of Ning Fan's arguments.

Ning Fan felt a pang of regret.

Those were several Spirit Fate Fruits. If he could have obtained them, they would have fueled at least two dual cultivation sessions for him and Yun Qingyao. But since Fairy Lingxu had passed her judgment, speaking further was useless.

As Fairy Lingxu's voice fell, a vibrant, multi-colored light surged around her once more, enshrouding her entire body. When the radiant glow faded, Fairy Lingxu's figure had vanished alongside it.

"..."

Luo Ming took the Spirit Fate Fruits he had seized and handed them over to Ji Wuxi and the rest. Regaining their lost Spirit Fate Fruits left the group utterly delighted.

Ning Fan made no move to snatch them.

A Spirit Fate Fruit would only elevate a martial artist's Potential upon its very first use. For the current Ning Fan, a Spirit Fate Fruit was nothing more than a pile of Spirit Stones. It simply wasn't worth clashing with Fairy Lingxu over a pile of Spirit Stones.

She was, after all, the leading figure among the younger generation of disciples.

"Let's go."

Ning Fan said.

This Fated Chance ground held no further value for exploration.

Yet, just as Ning Fan took Yun Qingyao's hand and prepared to stride away, the turtle on his shoulder stirred. The little turtle, which had clung motionlessly to his shoulder-looking half-dead even while Ning Fan was engaged in a brutal slaughter with Luo Ming-slowly crawled down his body.

It headed straight for the corpse of the tiger-shaped Demon Beast.

Under Ning Fan's watchful gaze, the little turtle began to devour the flesh and blood of the tiger-shaped Demon Beast. Its speed of consumption was terrifyingly fast. After a mere dozen breaths, the massive pile of gore on the ground had been entirely swallowed up.

The little turtle was clearly only the size of a palm, yet it had somehow engulfed the entire tiger-shaped Demon Beast into its stomach, leaving Ning Fan completely dumbfounded.

Furthermore, according to Ning Fan's spiritual perception, the aura radiating from the little turtle had grown far denser, stepping firmly into the mid Yellow Extreme Realm.

Its realm had risen?!

Could it be...

This creature could elevate its cultivation simply by devouring the flesh and blood of other Demon Beasts!?

Ning Fan had never heard of a Demon Beast raising its realm in such a manner. Normally, Demon Beasts also had to rely on their own bitter cultivation.

Or they would stand guard over heavenly materials and earthly treasures, waiting for them to ripen before consuming them.

Devouring the corpses of other Demon Beasts to enhance oneself...

It was truly bizarre.

This also confirmed one of Ning Fan's suspicions-this little turtle was far from simple.

After wiping the tiger-shaped Demon Beast's corpse clean, the little turtle scrambled back up onto Ning Fan's shoulder, returning to its previous, motionless state.

Watching it made Yun Qingyao want to poke its shell, but recalling the terrifying speed of the turtle's snapping head, she reined in her urge to provoke it.

Soon after.

The group of four-Ning Fan, Yun Qingyao, Shao Hong, and Bai Ran-returned the way they came. As for Ji Wuxi and the others, they had taken their leave early while the little turtle was devouring the tiger-shaped Demon Beast. Ji Wuxi's group could hardly be considered friends with Ning Fan, so there was no reason to travel together.

Just keeping themselves from breaking into another fight was a blessing in itself.

"Junior Brother Ning."

"Farewell for now."

"Once Senior Brother settles down a bit, I will visit your immortal cave to properly convey my thanks."

Shao Hong cupped his fist and bowed toward Ning Fan.

Ning Fan had just returned his Storage Ring to him. Inside, there truly were only two stalks of Thunder Roar Grass missing. Exchanging two stalks of Thunder Roar Grass for a single Spirit Fate Fruit...

Shao Hong undeniably had to pay a visit to express his gratitude.

"It is no trouble."

Ning Fan waved a hand. Two stalks of Thunder Roar Grass were incredibly important to him-no, to be exact, they were incredibly important to Ye Honglian.

Even if Thunder Roar Grass wasn't a rare treasure, being able to obtain it quickly was more than worth the value of a Spirit Fate Fruit.

But since Shao Hong insisted on coming over to give his thanks...

Ning Fan did not refuse.

After parting ways at the back mountain, Ning Fan and Yun Qingyao headed straight back to their immortal cave. The moment the two of them sat down to catch their breath, a sudden knocking echoed at their door.

Thump, thump-

At the same time, a middle-aged man's voice rang out from outside.

"Is Ning Fan present?"

"I am an affairs Elder, come on the orders of the Saintess to verify this disciple's cultivation realm."