âA heaven-shaking battle?â Long Chen involuntarily felt some interest.
Lu Fang-er nodded. âThree days ago, within a mountain valley outside the Forest of Darkness, your Xuantian Supermonasteryâs number one expert, Han Tianyu, fought an intense battle with another man. That was truly a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering battle.â
Although it had been three days, that scene was still deeply imprinted in Lu Fang-erâs mind.
âHan Tianyu fought with someone? Was it Yin Luo?â asked Long Chen.
Lu Fang-er shook her head. âIt wasnât Yin Luo. That man was wearing a cloak, and what I could see of his face was pretty handsome. His lower chin was a bit round. I think he called himselfâŚâ
âMo Nian?â Long Chen couldnât help blurting out.
âYes! He called himself Mo Nian. What an odd name. Wait, you know him? Were you also there?â asked Lu Fang-er.
âI wasnât there. Of the people who can fight on the same level as Han Tianyu, and who also like that kind of attire, perhaps he is the only one.â
However, Long Chen felt curious. Although Mo Nian liked to fight, why would he fight with Han Tianyu in the Jiuli secret realm, where danger was lurking on every side?
âHow did they start fighting?â he asked.
âI donât know. But Mo Nian was continuously cursing Han Tianyu for being an idiot. He said something about how he had never worn a mask and he would disdain doing any shady, shameful business. There was also something about hurting his dogsheet brother? I donât really know.â Lu Fang-erâs expression was a bit odd.
In her eyes, a person like Han Tianyu was a high and lofty existence who wouldnât easily talk with anyone else.
But that man had been on the same level as him, a top expert. But he had actually wildly cursed Han Tianyu, something which should have been beneath his dignity. So she found it particularly bizarre.
âA mask?â
Long Chenâs expression stiffened as he thought of a certain something.
It couldnât have been because of that, right? Calculating the time, it seemed that their battle had happened after the time he had worn a mask and almost played Han Tianfeng to death.
Later, Han Tianfeng had used his teleportation talisman to flee at a critical moment, while Long Chen had never taken off his mask during that time.
Later when he was provoked by a group of Corrupt disciples, he had led an army of Magical Beasts to slaughter over half of them. The Corrupt Chosen had told him to tell them his name.
He had then extremely flashily left behind Mo Nianâs name for them. Now hearing about this battle from Lu Fang-er, he could immediately think of what had happened.
There had definitely been someone who had recorded his dramatic self-introduction. Who knew what divine channels Han Tianfeng had in order to learn that the masked man had been Mo Nian.
Most likely he had sent out an arrest warrant for Mo Nian. At the same time, this news must have also reached Han Tianyu.
For a genius on Han Tianyuâs level, being able to fight with a genius on the same level as him was definitely extremely exciting, and he had definitely heard of Mo Nianâs name before.
With how much Mo Nian enjoyed being in the spotlight, he would never hide his whereabouts. Adding on the first monasteryâs vast number of followers and spies, as well as their special communication abilities, finding Mo Nian wouldnât be difficult.
Reaching that point in his thoughts, Long Chenâs expression became odd. It seemed that after he had messed around, it was Mo Nian who had taken the blame.
âDo you know Mo Nian?â asked Lu Fang-er.
âYes, I know him. We can count as friends.â
After all, Mo Nian had already received a gift from him. That leg he had given him was definitely enough to make them friends, right? Even if Mo Nian learned the truth, he wouldnât actually get angry⌠right?
âLong Chen, I am really unable to understand you. How did you manage to become friends with someone on that level?â praised Lu Fang-er.
This was what it meant for birds of a feather to flock together. The stronger a person was, the less friends they had by their side. That was because those that could be friends with them had to have a corresponding strength themselves.
A horse does not share the same trough as sheep; a phoenix does not fly with sparrows. Those who were not on the same level were unable to become true friends.
For Long Chen to say that they could count as friends meant that he had a strength that Mo Nian looked favorably upon. Even if he wasnât on the same level as Mo Nian, he was definitely not far off.
âThatâs right, what was the final result. Who won?â Long Chen cared more about the result.
Previously, Mo Nian had fought an intense battle with Yin Luo. Once he had gone home and went into seclusion, it was unknown how much his strength had advanced.
âThe two of them fought a shocking battle. The ground for many miles collapsed, and all the mountains in the vicinity were razed to the ground. It was an incredibly fierce battle. However, neither of them used their full strength. Iâd guess they were just testing out their opponent. Han Tianyu had very likely been looking for a pretext just to appraise Mo Nian ever since entering the secret realm.
âThe two of them only fought for an hour, and neither of them managed to get an advantage over the other. From the way they fought, it seemed they had too many misgivings, and they didnât bring out their true fighting strength.
âIn the end, Han Tianyu said he would settle this debt with Mo Nian later, while Mo Nian furiously cursed Han Tianyu for being shameless, and that if he wasnât convinced, they could have a real fight. Han Tianyu was also infuriated, but he still endured. After a couple sneers, he left.
âOnce he left, Mo Nian cursed repeatedly for a while before also leaving. He said something about being unlucky to run into a mental case.â Towards the end, Lu Fang-er began to cover her mouth since she was laughing, feeling that for a genius on his level to openly curse someone like that was extremely funny.
As for Long Chen, he wasnât able to laugh. If Mo Nian learned that it was Long Chen who had set him up in secret, then Long Chen really didnât dare be sure that he wouldnât turn hostile.
However, Long Chen also wasnât afraid of him. If he really was shameless enough to turn hostile against him, then he had better hand over that leg first.
âLetâs stop talking about that. Since Iâve run into you, we should team up. With you here to protect me, Iâll definitely feel much more at ease,â laughed Lu Fang-er. She intimately pulled on Long Chenâs arm.
Long Chenâs expression stiffened slightly. Lu Fang-er was also a rare beauty. It was just that by always being beside Meng Qi, she was naturally eclipsed. But that didnât change the fact she was also a beauty that could only be found every thousand miles.
Having such a beauty holding his arm, Long Chen couldnât help having his heart pound quicker, and his face was feeling warmer and warmer.
When Lu Fang-er sensed that change in Long Chen, she laughed mischievously, âI really like your current expression, hehe. This means you havenât been completely corrupted. If you had appeared all natural, I really would have to carefully interrogate you.â
Long Chen felt an urge to both laugh and cry. It seemed Lu Fang-er was still playing the role of Meng Qiâs top advisor. He would definitely have to be a bit more careful around her.
âHehe, youâll have to learn to become accustomed to this. Meng Qi and I are the best of sisters, and we swore to never part. So if you want to marry Meng Qi, youâll have to bring me along and marry me as well.â Lu Fang-er put on an expression of not caring either way, but there was clearly some nervousness deep within her eyes.
âThere was also such a good thing for me? Then it seems I really did profit,â laughed Long Chen.
Long Chen could sense that after he laughed, that nervousness in Lu Fang-erâs eyes diminished a great deal. It seems Lu Fang-er wasnât as free and careless as she showed.
To Long Chen, Lu Fang-er was one of those âlittle sisterâ-like people. She had a kind heart, touched with some mischievousness, which made her easy to approach and become friends with.
âLetâs go deeper into the Forest of Darkness. With you by my side, Iâll feel much safer.â Lu Fang-er pulled Long Chen, jumping onto the Golden-Scaled Bullâs back.
Long Chen thought for a moment and decided to return Little Snow to his spiritual space. He could clearly sense that in Little Snowâs presence, Lu Fang-erâs Magical Beasts felt extreme terror.
The two third rank Magical Beasts opened the path, while the Two-Tail Spirit Cat was guarding its back. On their way, they went past that Corrupt Chosenâs corpse, and Long Chen found his spatial ring.
Little Snowâs attack had been extremely powerful, and could easily destroy a spirit ring. The fact that this spirit ring was still intact meant its quality was quite high.
Putting away the spatial ring, they continued deeper into the Forest of Darkness.
âBeast Tamers have one advantage within forests: with Magical Beasts by your side, the pressure they release will scare away most of the poisonous insects. But a human, no matter how powerful, is unable to scare away those bugs, and will constantly be attacked,â explained Lu Fang-er from atop the bull.
Those poisonous wild insects were unable to sense pressure from humans. But they were extremely sensitive towards the pressure released by Magical Beasts.
After learning that, Long Chen couldnât help cursing himself for being stupid and not thinking of that before. If he had known that and summoned out Little Snow at the beginning, he wouldnât have had to travel so carefully and slowly.
âWait a moment. That is a White Jade Water Vine.â Long Chen suddenly called out, jumping off towards a large tree. Beside that tree was an odd vine that was completely white like jade.
âWhat kind of use does such a vine have? Iâve seen it before, and when I cut it apart, all thatâs inside is some clear water. The medicinal energy within it isnât high.â Lu Fang-er was puzzled. She had already confirmed that this vine didnât have any value.
âThe Jade White Water Vine itself doesnât have any value, but where it grows, itâs very likely for something else to grow along with it. Oh, it really is here!â Long Chenâs eyes brightened. Not far from the vine was an unremarkable little plant only the size of a palm. Little yellow flowers grew out of it. âThis is called White Jade Soul Grass. Itâs an extremely rare medicinal ingredient that can nourish the soul. I can refine a soul nourishing pill from it, but it wonât be as good as the soul nourishing pill I sent Meng Qi back then. However, its effect is still pretty good, so in a bit, I can help you refine a soul nourishing pill as well.â
âThen⌠wouldnât that be too precious?â Lu Fang-er couldnât help feeling a bit embarrassed. Soul nourishing pills were incredibly expensive. The main thing was that their ingredients were too rare. Even in the Wind Spirit Pavilion, which was filled with soul cultivators, there were few people who had an opportunity to consume a soul nourishing pill.
In fact, other than Meng Qi, only the pavilion masterâs son, Feng Xiao-zi, had had the chance to consume one. Furthermore, that was something the pavilion master had spent a great deal of effort to obtain.
Soul nourishing pills were just too difficult to obtain. Even with money, it was difficult to obtain them. So Lu Fang-er was incredibly moved when she heard Long Chen would refine one for her.
âDidnât you say youâre always with Meng Qi? Since Meng Qi has had one, you canât be treated unfairly, right?â laughed Long Chen.
Lu Fang-er reddened. She helped excavate the White Jade Soul Grass with Long Chen. Long Chen once more made some space in his life ring for it.
The two of them continued forward. With Magical Beasts by their side, it was much more relaxed. Long Chen spent his time searching for traces of rare medicinal ingredients.
Suddenly, an angry roar rang out as they were travelling. Lu Fang-erâs Magical Beasts immediately stopped.