Top-tier Unruly Master

Ding Fan's Divine Vigor had already shown its solidity in the previous battle with the Spirit Severing Elder, but upon careful inspection, Ding Fan still received a great surprise. Although currently a Divinity Soldier Third Grade, equivalent to a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator, Ding Fan could easily handle cultivators at the Nascent Soul Late Stage with just his current Divine Vigor.

For a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator to defeat a Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator is something unimaginable for most cultivators. But for Ding Fan, it was nothing unusual. Ding Fan had grown accustomed to this.

Ding Fan clearly knew that if he added the effects of Arctic Chill and Power of Thunder to his Divine Vigor, he could definitely contend with cultivators at the Spirit Severing Initial Stage. Ding Fan was delighted, yet his heart remained relatively calm. If other cultivators knew about this, they'd probably be shocked to the point of spitting blood!

A Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator capable of standing against a Spirit Severing Initial Stage cultivator—this wasn't merely a difference of a few ranks, but an entire level! It was truly shocking.

Yet Ding Fan indeed achieved it, as exemplified by his earlier slaying of a Spirit Severing Elder.

After thorough self-examination, Ding Fan discovered not only substantial improvements in his Divine Vigor but also significant enhancements in his Divine Sense. Ding Fan's Divine Sense was already significantly stronger than that of ordinary cultivators. Though Ding Fan was a Divinity Soldier Third Grade, even Spirit Severing Late Stage cultivators couldn't match his strength in Divine Sense.

At this moment, Ding Fan could clearly perceive matters two kilometers away, and his Divine Sense had formidable penetrating power, far surpassing that of Spirit Severing Late Stage cultivators.

In no time, Ding Fan had completed a comprehensive check of his body's condition, confirming a significant increase in his overall power, which exceeded the usual breakthroughs of ordinary cultivators.

Ding Fan understood that the success of his breakthrough was due to his solid foundation, making this breakthrough a matter of course, clearly better than most cultivators who relied on Medicine Pills for breakthroughs. Moreover, before his breakthrough, Ding Fan had consumed a Grade Nine Medicine Pill of his own refinement.

That Medicine Pill was, after all, Grade Nine, and obviously, its effects were not to be underestimated. It wasn't for aiding Ding Fan's breakthrough but to clear his mind and find the opportunity for it. With such a pill, how could Ding Fan's breakthrough not surpass that of ordinary cultivators?

Afterward, Ding Fan began his cultivation anew, with just a day left until the Great Alchemy Competition. Clearly, Ding Fan had no intention of leaving, having entrusted inquiries about Zhou Ruoran, Gusu Qingwen, and the Wild Wolf Gang to He Qianyao.

After all, not many cultivators knew He Qianyao, while Ding Fan himself would be instantly recognized if he ventured out, as he was no longer just a legendary figure in alchemy but a cultivation prodigy as well!

Soon, stories of Ding Fan slaying a Spirit Severing Elder spread throughout Dancheng. The city buzzed with discussions about Ding Fan, mostly filled with admiration, astonishment, and disbelief!

Clearly, the fame of "Ding Lin" had soared to great heights! Estimates predicted that even after the Great Alchemy Competition concluded, discussions about Ding Fan would persist for at least six more months. Most cultivators viewed Ding Fan with awe and respect.

To the public, Ding Fan was just a young man in his early twenties, yet he not only explained the preservation method of the Alchemy Cauldron—a long-lost technique—but also emerged as the champion in the first round of this Great Alchemy Competition. More shockingly, this young alchemic genius was also an extraordinarily formidable presence in cultivation.

"This Ding Lin is merely a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, yet he slew a Spirit Severing Initial Stage elder! It's simply terrifying!"

"Indeed, if my cousin, a straightforward person, hadn't witnessed it himself, I wouldn't have believed it!"

"It's said that the opponent wasn't a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator but a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator!"

"Oh my God! This is overly thrilling... A Nascent Soul Stage cultivator killing a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator—sounds like a joke no matter how you put it!"

"But that's the truth..."

"This Ding Lin is truly formidable!"

...

For a time, the entire Dancheng was abuzz with discussions about Ding Fan. Clearly, Ding Fan was the most talked-about topic among the Dancheng cultivators. Of course, some cultivators doubted that Ding Fan, merely at the Nascent Soul Stage, could slay a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator, but most knew that while cultivation level was crucial in assessing a cultivator's power, it wasn't everything. How could a cultivator's strength be judged solely by cultivation level?

And what's important is that the other party is also an extremely outstanding alchemist. Most cultivators still believe that as long as Ding Lin refines an incredibly powerful medicine pill for himself, it's not impossible for him to kill a cultivator at the Spirit Severing stage. Moreover, many clear-headed cultivators know that there's no smoke without fire.

So at this moment, Ding Fan naturally wouldn't choose to go out. After that, Ding Fan began to cultivate, while He Qianyao also followed Ding Fan's instructions to inquire outside about the two people named Zhou Ruoran and Gusu Qingwen. Ding Fan also told He Qianyao some of their basic characteristics.

However, He Qianyao's inquiries did not yield any information about Zhou Ruoran and Gusu Qingwen, but she did hear about someone named Beauty Zhou. He Qianyao kept this in mind because she knew that Ding Fan was somewhat aware of this Beauty Zhou.

Whether this Beauty Zhou is actually Zhou Ruoran, He Qianyao was not very clear. But after some inquiries, she learned that Zhou Ruoran seemed to be in a sect called Jade Maiden Sect, and Beauty Zhou held a high status in the sect. Obviously, her strength must be very formidable.

He Qianyao paid a bit of attention and then continued to inquire about some cultivators from the Wild Wolf Gang...

...

In a range of lush mountains, the Jade Maiden Sect is located here.

The Jade Maiden Sect is a medium-sized sect around here, with a bit of heritage, but it cannot be compared to those Great Gate Sects. It still cautiously maintains the survival and status of the sect.

At this time, in a square of the Jade Maiden Sect, many cultivators gathered here to cultivate. Most of the cultivators were women, and at this moment these female cultivators were scattered around the square, each cultivating on their own, but everyone's gaze was clearly intermittently looking in one direction.

The cultivators of the Jade Maiden Sect are basically beauties. It's evident that cultivation makes women even more beautiful. Therefore, it's hard to find an ugly woman in the entire Jade Maiden Sect. Almost all cultivators are some beauties. If placed on Earth, each could obviously compete as a model champion.

But everyone's gaze was looking in one direction, where four cultivators were gathered, including two female cultivators and two male cultivators. The appearance of two male cultivators here could almost certainly indicate they were from outside. One of the men obviously kept agreeing with the other man.

This man looked quite good, considered to be above average in appearance, and his cultivation level was also quite good. He wasn't very old, but already an Early Emergence Stage cultivator, which was pretty impressive in some medium-sized sects, evidently possessing a Core Disciple-like status.

After all, for a disciple, reaching the Emergence Stage in cultivation was already quite commendable. At this time, this man's gaze was fixated on a female cultivator's face. This Early Emergence Stage man was even unwilling to let his gaze leave the other's pretty face for even half a minute.

Obviously, this female cultivator was extremely beautiful. If other female cultivators in the Jade Maiden Sect could compete for the model's crown, then she was undoubtedly the true model champion, without the need to compete with others. Just by standing in the crowd, she would immediately be the center of attention.

She was a genuine beauty, with fair skin, slightly blushed cheeks, full sensual lips, and exquisite, beautiful big eyes. Every feature looked like naturally carved beauty, making anyone feel somewhat entranced at first glance. She had a kind of enchanting allure.

"Junior Sister Zhou, I wonder if you're interested in going to the Great Alchemy Competition in Dancheng at the foot of the mountain. I heard it's very lively there!"

At this time, the Early Emergence Stage male cultivator, looking somewhat enamored at the female cultivator, then spoke. The man had invited her many times before, but she remained as cold as ever, rejecting him each time directly. Now that it was the time of the Great Alchemy Competition, which was a grand event, it was obviously another good opportunity to invite a beauty.

The Junior Sister Zhou the man referred to was the rumored Beauty Zhou, and she was indeed the Zhou Ruoran whom Ding Fan was desperately searching for.

Upon hearing Hao Chun's words at this moment, Zhou Ruoran did not take it to heart. Even though Hao Chun was a core disciple of the Wuji Sect, with an unusual status, even her own sect master, who is her teacher, intended to pair her with him. But Zhou Ruoran showed great indifference to this. Counting the days, she had already been in the Cultivation World for some time. Yet, there had been no news of Ding Fan, making her mood anything but good.

Zhou Ruoran understood her master's intention, but she had clearly stated that she was already someone's wife—officially Ding Fan's. However, after spending a long period in the Cultivation World, Ding Fan's whereabouts remained unknown.

This made Zhou Ruoran increasingly frustrated, and her mood worsened. Although she knew this Great Alchemy Competition was a rather grand event, Zhou Ruoran had absolutely no interest at the moment. Her heart was solely focused on finding Ding Fan. She didn't really want to consider anything else.

The Early Emergence Stage cultivator was named Hao Chun, a core disciple of the Wuji Sect and a major focus of the sect's cultivation. His intent was already quite clear—he wanted to pursue Zhou Ruoran, even though she had said she already had someone in her heart and was even someone else's wife. But Hao Chun would not give up since he had never seen that husband Zhou Ruoran spoke of so confidently.