Chapter 30 Breaking Through

With a single stroke of his sword, Chen Fan severed one of Peng Wansha's arms.

At this moment, standing behind Chen Fan were not only disciples of the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall, but also various martial artists who had come to watch the spectacle, as well as scouts dispatched by major martial arts schools to gather intelligence.

Seeing this scene, all of them were struck with astonishment.

They had not been privy to the exact details of Chen Fan's challenge against the River-Crossing Gate; they only knew that no grandmaster had stepped in. Little did they know that Chen Fan's strength had actually reached such a terrifying realm!

One by one, they retreated in shock, eager to rush back and report the intelligence.

Chen Fan did not spare Peng Wansha another glance. Instead, his gaze shifted past the arena toward the crowd of the Zihong Sect's disciples. "Is there anyone else who wishes to step up?"

A heavy silence fell over the area. The strongest disciple of the Zihong Sect had been defeated in a split second; what meaning would there be for the rest of them to fight?

Chen Fan shook his head in disappointment.

He leaped down from the arena and walked step by step toward the direction of the Zihong Sect's signboard.

Some of the Zihong Sect disciples wore expressions of deep humiliation, yet seeing Peng Wansha’s tragic state, very few dared to step forward.

Even as Chen Fan walked past, those standing in his path automatically cleared the way, not daring to offend him.

Naturally, there were still a few reckless disciples who valued their pride above all else.

However, their strength was mediocre—far inferior to Peng Wansha's—and how could they possibly hope to block Chen Fan?

In an instant, blood splattered across the courtyard and figures were sent flying!

Chen Fan finally reached the base of the signboard. He raised the sword in his hand slightly, aiming it at the plaque.

At that moment, a leisurely sigh echoed out. Everyone present shuddered, as the sound seemed to resonate simultaneously within the hearts of every single person.

A figure drifted down gracefully from the skies. It was a middle-aged man with the distinct air of a scholar. He stood directly before Chen Fan.

"If my eyes do not deceive me, the power wielded by young friend Chen Fan ought to be the lightning domain, is it not? I never imagined that our Yandu City would produce a sixteen-year-old martial artist who has achieved the Unity Realm..."

His tone carried a sense of lingering shock and wonder.

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding crowd erupted into an uproar once again.

At last, they understood the source of Chen Fan's unyielding confidence.

"Entering the Micro Realm at fifteen, reaching the Unity Realm at sixteen—how can such a person even exist?!"

It was common knowledge that during the monster-slaying convention last year, Chen Fan had comprehended the Micro Realm movement technique. Yet merely a year or so had passed since then, and he had already attained Unity?

Did such monsters truly exist in this world?

Li Linliu, possessing a physical constitution suited for the Dao, had broken through to the Unity Realm in his twenties and was considered a prodigy blessed by the heavens, yet he fell far short of Chen Fan by more than just one margin!

Of course, the advantages of a special physical constitution lay not only in comprehending Unity, but also in advancing to the seventh rank with greater ease, providing a more favorable foundation for future cultivation.

Even so, the immense shock brought by Chen Fan's terrifying strength was simply too much for anyone to digest for the moment!

Those who had merely guessed the truth when Chen Fan severed Peng Wansha's arm earlier now had their suspicions confirmed. Their expressions turned strange, a mixture of profound shock and disbelief.

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes as he looked at the scholar-like man, immediately sensing the immense pressure emanating from him.

Perhaps it could not compare to every single seventh-rank fierce beast Chen Fan had ever faced, but it far surpassed the sixth rank.

This man was none other than the seventh-rank grandmaster of the Zihong Sect, as well as its sect master!

The grandmaster let out a sigh. He looked at the fresh blood splattered all around, gazed at the utter chaos within his sect, shook his head, and turned his eyes back to Chen Fan.

"A momentary lapse in judgment and greed brought about these consequences. Since young friend Chen Fan has come knocking on our door, I have nothing more to say... I promise that everything we took from the White Cloud Martial Arts Hall in recent days shall be returned in full. Furthermore, I can offer a gift that will satisfy both you and your master. Let this matter end here. Is that enough?"

Chen Fan strode forward with his sword, walking step by step until he stood right before the middle-aged man. He shook his head coldly and said, "Not enough."

Had his own strength been lacking, the Zihong Sect would have gladly let Peng Wansha fight him to the bitter end rather than offer an apology or concession. Now that he had revealed his Unity Realm cultivation, the Zihong Sect Master finally knew how to compromise.

How could things ever be that cheap in this world?

With a sharp, piercing gaze, Chen Fan stared straight into the man's eyes and proclaimed in a ringing voice:

"I am here to challenge this martial arts hall. Either your Zihong Sect finds someone to defeat me, or you take down your plaque, close your doors, and cease recruiting disciples forever. There is no third path!"

Upon hearing this, the complexions of everyone in the surrounding crowd changed drastically, and they looked at Chen Fan as if he had lost his mind.

Even Zhang Fan, Yun Wei, and the others felt a bitter tightness in their chests.

Feng Yuancheng and He Hongshan were also among the onlookers, their eyes filled with deep admiration and envy!

The middle-aged man narrowed his eyes. The pressure surrounding him instantly surged as the energy of heaven and earth was continuously mobilized, concentrating a terrifying weight entirely upon Chen Fan.

"Young friend Chen Fan, do not push your luck. You should know that this is impossible!"

Facing the suffocating pressure, Chen Fan suddenly grinned broadly. "Nothing is impossible!"

The sword in his hand slashed forward without hesitation.

"Sword Qi Devouring the Heavens!"

This was the first time he had unleashed a secret sword technique since arriving at the Zihong Sect!

*Swoosh!*

A dazzling sword light erupted at extreme speed. The expression of the Zihong Sect Master changed abruptly.

From this single sword strike by Chen Fan, he sensed a terrifying, bone-chilling threat...

He made a grasping motion with both hands, condensing the energy of heaven and earth, and abruptly shifted a jade flute to block horizontally before his chest.

*Whoosh!* True essence condensed, swelling continuously with the aid of the ambient natural energy to form a massive barrier blocking his front.

*Clang-clang-clang!*

Chen Fan's purplish-red sword qi soared into the sky, tearing through the barrier protecting the Zihong Sect Master in the blink of an eye before crashing directly against the jade flute in his hands.

*Zoom!*

The Zihong Sect Master's expression shifted drastically. True essence circulated around the jade flute, emitting a piercing screech as the instrument itself suddenly swelled in size and smashed forward with explosive force.

*Boom!*

Like a massive detonation, true essence surged violently wherever the two clashed, causing the color of the heavens and earth to change. Everyone present scrambled backward in panic, not daring to step anywhere near the battleground.

And then—

*Zoom!*

Chen Fan’s body was sent flying backward, instantly transforming back into a flash of lightning as he landed heavily on the ground.

He had not utilized the techniques of the Lightning-Slaying Sword for this strike; otherwise, its might would have been far beyond what this man could casually block.

Through this brief exchange, Chen Fan roughly confirmed that this man's strength was roughly comparable to that of Chen Feiteng; it was just that his domain was somewhat peculiar, but not particularly formidable!

The Zihong Sect Master glared at Chen Fan coldly. "Young friend Chen Fan, must you insist on refusing a toast only to drink a forfeiture?"

Chen Fan's eyes gleamed brightly, and he let out several long laughs.

He had not yet broken through to the sixth rank, meaning he could not yet leverage the energy of heaven and earth—in this aspect, he fell short of the Zihong Sect Master.

However, when it came to the comprehension of domains, Chen Fan was fully confident that this sect master was simply no match for him!

Furthermore, the man's physical vitality and raw strength could never compare to a fierce beast above the seventh rank.

"Once I comprehend a domain, I can cultivate it passively through my system. But how could ordinary people possibly enjoy such convenience? They could spend their entire lives meditating, and their progress might still not surpass mine..."

Without using the Lightning-Slaying Sword, defeating a seventh-rank fierce beast head-on might still prove difficult for him, but against a seventh-rank martial artist of this caliber like the Zihong Sect Master, he was no longer at a disadvantage!

Seeing Chen Fan's attitude, the Zihong Sect Master wore an extremely unsightly expression. With a wave of his hand, he tossed the jade flute high into the air, and his hands, channeling true essence like fine silk threads, reached out toward the instrument.

Immediately afterward, a melodious, lingering flute tune rang out through the surroundings.

The true essence rippled along with the music.

Everyone who heard it became utterly entranced, nearly forgetting everything else.

All things in heaven and earth possessed their own intent, and stepping into the Unity Realm through martial arts and secret techniques was merely a point of entry for comprehending domains.

This man's domain was clearly tied to the jade flute he played.

Listening to the music with a cold sneer, Chen Fan's expression did not change in the slightest. He pointed his sword directly at the Zihong Sect Master, lightning crackling around the blade, and spat out a single word:

"Kill!"

In that split second, the ethereal and formless intent of killing intent seemed to condense into substance. Everyone who had been entranced by the enchanting flute music shuddered violently, snapping back to their senses.

The Zihong Sect Master's expression underwent a drastic and sudden shift. He hurriedly tried to marshal the energy of heaven and earth to crush Chen Fan.

Chen Fan's sharp sword gleam instantly detached itself from the blade.

A pitch-black sword beam flickering with electric arcs shot forth abruptly. The ink-dark radiance completely ignored the obstruction of natural vital energy, piercing through the air in an instant and violently churning the surrounding heaven and earth vital energy into utter chaos around the Zihong Sect Master.

This sword strike was truly Chen Fan's most powerful trump card at present.

The Lightning-Slaying Sword!

Though it was not yet combined with the secret techniques of the *Three-Foot Sword*, its might was nonetheless formidable to the extreme!

The natural vital energy exploded in sudden turmoil, and fierce winds howled. The Zihong Sect Master's body was tossed high into the air like a butterfly caught in a tempest before plummeting downward.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Fan's figure transformed once more into a streak of lightning, closing the distance instantly and resting his sword directly against the Zihong Sect Master's throat.

*Sizzle!*

A razor-sharp edge of sword qi hovered just off the blade, capable of slicing the Zihong Sect Master's throat open at any second.

Even a dignified seventh-rank grandmaster wore an expression of sheer panic at this very moment.

A grandmaster was, after all, made of mortal flesh and blood, and they too knew fear.

Breathing slightly, Chen Fan cast his gaze over the bewildered and uproarious crowd. "From this day forth, the Zihong Sect is expunged from Yandu City!"

At the exact instant his words fell—

The sword light in his hand swept horizontally. The plaque bearing the name "Zihong Sect" was hacked into countless shards, crashing heavily onto the ground.

A fresh mouthful of spray erupted from the Zihong Sect Master's lips, his pale face filled with utter blankness and lost bewilderment.

"No..."