Chapter Fifteen: The Madman

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Mo Fan’s speech was impassioned and stirring, filling the young men with excitement.

In their lives, some had dreamed of reaching the pinnacle of cultivation and becoming kings of their age. But ascending to the heavens—a lofty, ethereal legend passed down since ancient times—was something they had never even dared to imagine.

Some had spent their lives yearning to become high-ranking officials, enjoying fine clothes and lavish meals. Yet the ideal of bearing the fate of the nation and the world had never crossed their minds.

Compared with Mo Fan, the difference between them was more than a thousandfold.

There were few in the world who could match the breadth of his heart.

“Good! This is what a true genius youth looks like—the genuine man, the true hero who carries the nation and the world in his heart!”

“Exactly! Unlike certain people who rely on their family’s power and their pitiful cultivation to show off everywhere all day long. People like that are nothing but complete trash.”

“Among all the geniuses, only Mo Fan could have fought that battle atop the Peak of the Undead!”

As soon as these words were spoken, they spread across the three mountains and five sacred peaks. Mo Fan transformed overnight from an unknown, slovenly youth into a celebrated heroic prodigy.

He had not even shown his face, yet his fame had already spread far and wide.

Receiving the praise of the crowd, Mo Fan allowed a faint smile to curl at the corners of his lips.

It seemed that choosing to intervene back then had indeed been the right decision. Otherwise, how could he have attracted the attention of those great sects? How could he have entered the Asura Martial Palace and obtained the Purple Luo Vine mentioned on the strip of cloth left behind by Lingyao Zi?

The first major threshold for cultivators was the Body Tempering Realm. This realm was divided into three stages.

The first was Tempering the Triple Burner, which involved refining the internal organs by drawing spiritual energy into the body and strengthening the five viscera and six bowels. Once successful, one would attain a mortal body.

The second was Copper Skin and Iron Bones, which involved tempering the outer body and forging an indestructible physique, primarily through the use of external force.

The final stage was the Strength of Ten Thousand Jun, in which one molded and perfected one’s power. Upon success, one would possess the strength of ten thousand jun.

The Purple Luo Vine was one of the medicinal herbs required for tempering the Triple Burner.

Mo Fan had always been alone. He did not even know what cultivation was.

When he was young, the old grandfather had taught him only some simple breathing and energy-circulation techniques, along with a few fist-killing and shadow techniques.

Beyond that, Mo Fan knew only that the human body had to open up a Desolate Domain and temper itself.

The old grandfather had never told him anything else. Perhaps it was because Mo Fan could not open a domain, or perhaps there was another reason. Thus, before he turned nine, while the black scripture had yet to show any reaction, Mo Fan had been completely ignorant of cultivation.

In any case, Mo Fan had learned how to temper the body only after the old grandfather’s death, when the black scripture stirred and revealed this knowledge to him.

From the box left behind by Lingyao Zi, Mo Fan had also obtained a prescription for tempering the Triple Burner, which excited him even more.

The prescription listed several medicinal herbs. The Purple Luo Vine was located in the Asura Martial Palace, while another ingredient, called Yellow Mountain, was in the hands of the Ning Family of Eastsun Commandery. That was why Mo Fan had suddenly chosen to act.

Once the matter at hand was settled, he would travel to Eastsun Commandery and obtain the Yellow Mountain from the Ning Family.

But for now, there was still something he had to do.

To obtain the Yellow Mountain and the Purple Luo Vine, he needed sufficient strength. Otherwise, going there would be nothing more than walking to his death.

“Tell me. How do you want to die?”

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After a long while, Mo Fan looked toward the three burly men from God-Tomb Village, who were being protected by the Shangguan and Wang Families, and asked coldly.

He did not want to give them the chance to return to God-Tomb Village.

That place was far too mysterious. The old Wang, known as the Divine Physician with Ghostly Hands, was formidable enough without mention. The village chief, Chen Daode, did not seem ordinary either. And then there was Old Li the storyteller. Any one of them could probably annihilate Mo Fan without leaving even a trace.

“Hmph!” Wang Ping stuck out his chin and gave a cold snort. “I don’t know what kind of demonic art you used to defeat Senior Mad Saber, but in my eyes, you’re still nothing more than a small fry.”

Mo Fan’s fist techniques were indeed formidable. Yet in Wang Ping’s opinion, even a divine fist could not possibly destroy a cultivator at the Initial Awareness Realm with a single move. Mad Saber was, after all, an expert who had condensed a Core Pill—a being whose strength could not be compared with that of someone in the Body Tempering Realm.

Therefore, Wang Ping believed that Mo Fan must have employed some special power during the battle. Otherwise, Shangguan Wudi and Mad Saber would not have been defeated after having their spiritual energy drained away.

“I think the secret lies in that black light surrounding your body!” Wang Ping declared smugly, treating his ability to see through Mo Fan as something to boast about.

He was the Wang Family’s prodigy. At fifteen, he had already reached the Strength of Ten Thousand Jun. He had been nominated by the Red-Sleeve Pavilion as one of the predetermined candidates for the Netherworld Palace’s examination, and had even received a notice of admission.

Any one of these achievements would have been an unimaginable feat.

Though still young, he already bore far too many empty titles.

Without comparison, there could be no sense of harm.

Mo Fan, by contrast, was an unknown nobody afflicted with a terminal illness who had not even opened a Desolate Domain.

Until this moment, no one had even known what sort of person Mo Fan was.

Placed side by side, it was obvious who was stronger and who was weaker. No explanation was needed.

“That fellow is still putting on airs?” Ning Kun looked down on Wang Ping. “Mo Fan can cripple an expert at the Initial Awareness Realm with a single move, let alone someone stuck at the insignificant Strength of Ten Thousand Jun.”

“Exactly!” the other members of the Ning Family echoed.

Now that Wang Ping had stepped forward, no one favored him. Even Ning Huangyan, the usually taciturn second son of the Ning Family, could not help muttering to himself, “Does he want to be crippled with a single move like the others?”

Mo Fan’s current strength had earned the recognition of many, especially the Ning Family’s younger generation. By comparison, they were not optimistic about Wang Ping.

Shangguan Wudi’s face was deathly pale. He struggled to gather a breath of true energy and said weakly, “Brother Wang Ping... be careful. There’s... something strange about this fellow. Don’t end up like me... and fall into his trap.”

“Relax. I’m not like you two, foolishly engaging him in a direct contest.” Wang Ping nodded at Shangguan Wudi in thanks, yet his eyes were filled with contempt. He was convinced that he would never end up like those two, having his power devoured by Mo Fan and watching his lifelong reputation crumble in defeat.

“Well? Am I right, Mo Fan?” Wang Ping flaunted his usual arrogance, casting aside the fact that Mo Fan had defeated both Mad Saber and Shangguan Wudi.

“So what if you’re right? And what if you’re wrong?” Mo Fan was just as brazen, refusing to give Wang Ping the chance to show off.

The black scripture was his greatest secret. He could not allow the world to learn of it. Otherwise, the people hunting him would not be mere nobodies like these.

The instant Mo Fan finished speaking, his body shot forward like a cloud of smoke, and he ruthlessly struck at Wang Ping.

He could not allow this fellow to keep talking. If he did, his own secret would no longer be safe.

The Shadow-Killing Fist Technique erupted once more. Ten steps, one kill; one step, ten kills. Two supreme killing moves appeared in astonishing fashion, slaughtering everything in their path.

Wang Ping’s eyes were terrifyingly sharp. He had seen through the secret behind Mo Fan’s destruction of Mad Saber and Shangguan Wudi at a glance. Mo Fan could not allow him to live, or he would become a tremendous problem in the future.

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Therefore, Mo Fan had to kill him with a single strike, leaving his opponent no chance whatsoever to fight back.

“Your fist technique is impressive. Unfortunately, your opponent is me!”

Brilliant light surged from Wang Ping’s hand, and a long sword tore through the air, striking toward Mo Fan under his control.

The two moved with extraordinary speed. In an instant, they exchanged dozens of blows. Mo Fan’s fist technique shattered the void, causing the air to boom incessantly. Wang Ping wielded his sword with the force of one turning the tide against overwhelming odds. As if facing a hundred thousand demons, he unleashed a soaring battle intent and fought Mo Fan in a blazing clash, neither gaining the upper hand.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Fist and sword collided once more, sending out dazzling sparks like starlight.

“You have never opened a Desolate Domain. You rely on brute strength alone. Let’s see how long you can endure!”

Wang Ping raised the long sword in his hand. Every slash contained profound principles, forcing Mo Fan to retreat again and again.

“Is that so? Then thank you for the reminder!”

The corners of Mo Fan’s lips lifted slightly. A burst of power erupted from his body, and a force several times stronger than before surged forth, rolling through the surroundings like churning clouds and crashing waves.

“Shadow-Killing Fist Technique!”

“Phantom, Ghost Step, Heavenly Art—One Step, Ten Kills!”

“Die! Die!”

Mo Fan moved through a series of hand seals, forming incantations in the void. A colossal hand spread through the sky like an enormous net, shrouding both him and Wang Ping within it.

The giant hand was pitch-black, like a demon crossing through space to descend upon the continent. Killing intent filled the entire dark space. Without distinguishing friend from foe, it came crashing down in a merciless slaughter.

“Didn’t you want to use my head to exchange for the elixir you need to break through the Body Tempering Realm? I’m giving you the chance now.”

Mo Fan clenched his fists and, paying no heed to Wang Ping’s reaction, brought the killing force down.

“Has he gone mad? How could he do something like this?”

Mo Fan’s actions stunned everyone. They were shaken by the sheer recklessness of his move.

“Fine. Then let me see what kind of demonic art you truly possess.”

Wang Ping glared furiously. With a thunderous boom, he unfolded his own domain to resist the killing intent descending from the void. He put away his sword and charged at Mo Fan with a single devastating punch.

“Madmen! They’re both madmen!”

“Heh heh, the real show is beginning!”

The madness of Wang Ping and Mo Fan left the crowd speechless. Everyone stared intently at the battlefield, unwilling to miss a single spectacular exchange between the two.

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