Top-tier Unruly Master

Ding Fan stood at the edge of the volcano crater, using his Divine Sense to probe downwards.

What surprised Ding Fan was that, for some unknown reason, his Divine Sense could not scan any further after reaching halfway down.

For a moment, Ding Fan hesitated. The rich Spiritual Energy was emanating from beneath the volcano. However, without knowing the situation below, it would be too dangerous to descend.

After all, his current cultivation was only at the Fourth Level of Qi Cultivation. If he encountered any danger with such cultivation, his chances of escaping unscathed were far from certain.

After much consideration, Ding Fan decided to refine some protective runes. Inside his storage ring, he still had some materials for Rune Refinement. If there was indeed something below, these runes would help him hold out for a while.

Ding Fan acted immediately. He found a sheltered spot from the wind, sat down with legs crossed, and began refining runes.

Because the materials were limited and his cultivation wasn't high, he refined some basic Explosive Talismans. If he encountered danger below, these runes could still offer him some protection.

Time passed unnoticed as Ding Fan was fully focused on the Rune Refinement when suddenly, a dark shadow shot towards him.

Ding Fan was startled. The shadow approached with incredible speed, and after he sent out his Divine Sense, he was astonished to find that it was the Azure Flame Beast he had previously chased around the mountain.

Ding Fan hadn't expected this creature to have developed spiritual intelligence. Judging by the beast's attack, it must have realized that he was planning to explore the crater and thus launched an assault.

The shadow's momentum was strong, its form swift.

However, Ding Fan was not panicked. He immediately unleashed a Wind Blade with a flick of his right hand.

Having reached the Fourth Level of Qi Cultivation, Ding Fan could now use Wind Blade twice a day. He sent the blade slicing directly towards the Azure Flame Beast.

The beast was cunning. Sensing danger, it abruptly turned and evaded. Ding Fan's first Wind Blade missed, whisking past it.

Having dodged Ding Fan's Wind Blade, the beast turned back and attacked him once more.

Ding Fan grew more cautious, the Azure Flame Beast having managed to dodge the Wind Blade. The beast was already cunning, and now with spiritual intelligence, it proved to be a difficult enemy.

This time, Ding Fan did not rashly use the Wind Blade again. Using the blade against the Azure Flame Beast felt like an overkill, consuming a lot of True Qi for minimal effect.

Whoosh... Ding Fan's right hand turned into a Hand Blade, aiming straight for the beast's head.

The Azure Flame Beast was even more clever this time. As the Hand Blade came down, it swiftly dodged to the side; its movement technique was highly agile.

After avoiding Ding Fan's Hand Blade, the beast charged towards him again.

Feeding on Spiritual Energy, the beast was now fighting as if it were cornered.

As the Azure Flame Beast lunged, Ding Fan promptly dodged.

But just then, Ding Fan's shoulder suddenly pained him. He realized a moment too late and knew he had not dodged in time, thus getting bitten by the Azure Flame Beast.

The beast was quite venomous, and this particular one with awakened spiritual intelligence made his shoulder start to feel numb.

It was clear that the situation was not suitable for a prolonged battle. If the poison reached his heart while he delayed, his life would be over. Without hesitation, Ding Fan drew his Soft Sword from his waist.

Slash, slash, slash—

Ding Fan slashed thrice in a row, keeping the Azure Flame Beast at bay, unable to get close.

However, after biting Ding Fan, the beast seemed in no hurry to attack further. It seemed to understand that its venom would soon incapacitate Ding Fan.

Seeing the beast's behavior, Ding Fan guessed its intentions. The situation had indeed reached a critical point.

Without further hesitation, Ding Fan grabbed all the Explosive Talismans he had made from his storage ring and hurled them at the Azure Flame Beast in one go.

The beast had not anticipated such a move from Ding Fan and was momentarily disoriented by the explosions.

Screech—

A sharp sound pierced the air as another Wind Blade flew, cleaving the Azure Flame Beast into two halves. Ding Fan seized the moment when the beast was stunned by the explosions to finish it off with the Wind Blade.

Spurt—

Overexerting his True Qi had accelerated the spread of the poison. Ding Fan spewed a mouthful of blood. Soon after, his limbs began to itch then slowly turned ice-cold...

An ominous feeling rose in Ding Fan's heart. He sat down with legs crossed in a hurry, but as soon as he did, his body was covered in a layer of frost, losing all signs of vitality...

...

After Ding Fan left, Lin Yanxi had been jogging behind him, but as soon as he entered the woods, he completely vanished.

"Ding Fan… Brother Fan…"

Lin Yanxi called out for Ding Fan in the forest. However, apart from her own echo, there was no response from Ding Fan.

Lin Yanxi paused for a moment, then she picked up a stick from the side and started groping her way in the direction where Ding Fan had disappeared.

West Mountain has become a national forest reserve over the years because of the Heavenly Pool, so this place is a boundless forest.

Within the forest, due to the tall trees, thick branches, and broad leaves, the light inside is dim. Some timid people dare not walk through it alone.

In the past, there were reports about expeditions to the Primal Forest of West Mountain. Many teams went on adventures there, only to vanish in the woods.

Moreover, the news had once reported that there were bears living in West Mountain's forest, and some had even seen a tiger…

However, there was not a single trace of wanting to retreat on Lin Yanxi's face. Her expression was solemn, and she gripped the stick in her hand tightly.

In one's life, there will always be a time when you go mad for someone.

Before, due to Huang Jian, Lin Yanxi became withdrawn for a long time. Now looking back, she felt it wasn't worth it.

But, after having just faced life and death, Lin Yanxi knew her heart and understood her thoughts.

She used to think she merely liked Ding Fan's scent and was used to sleeping with his presence. She didn't dare admit that what she felt for Ding Fan was like, even love…

Lin Yanxi was already afraid of love... She feared that once again, love would leave her torn and broken…

But now, she understood that her feelings for Ding Fan were indeed love.

If it wasn't love, why did she so desperately want to see Ding Fan? If it wasn't love, why did she think of Ding Fan in the last moments of her life…

Lin Yanxi was someone who, once she made a decision, would pursue it relentlessly…

Therefore, she must find Ding Fan. She must tell him her feelings…

The path up the mountain was getting steeper and more rugged, but Lin Yanxi didn't care at all. Her face was full of determination as she climbed step by step.

At this moment, Lin Yanxi was fearless, and the reason for her fearlessness was only one—Ding Fan!

Lin Yanxi climbed tirelessly towards the summit. By now, she had climbed for several hours non-stop. Her palms were bloody and bruised, and there was a deep wound on her right calf.

However, none of that mattered to her now. She was driven by one belief—to find Ding Fan…

The nightfall in the forest is the most terrifying. As night slowly fell, strange cries echoed everywhere, and Lin Yanxi began to sing softly.

"Just this once, I will accompany you to see the ends of the earth…"

At this time, singing was the only way for Lin Yanxi to give herself courage.

After an untold number of falls, Lin Yanxi finally reached the summit of West Mountain, arriving at the edge of the Heavenly Pool…

The peak of West Mountain was windy and even colder at night. Snowflakes began to fall, and Lin Yanxi, dressed thinly, hadn't eaten much all day. Now in the cold wind, she shivered violently.

"Ding Fan… Brother Fan… where are you!"

At the mountain summit, all that answered Lin Yanxi was the howling cold wind…

Lin Yanxi stood dazed by the edge of the Heavenly Pool. She had aimed to reach the summit all along, as if in her heart, she believed only there could she find Ding Fan.

But now that she was at the edge of the Heavenly Pool, Ding Fan was nowhere to be seen…

For a moment, Lin Yanxi felt lost...

Just as Lin Yanxi didn't know what to do next, a violent explosion came from the northwest.

Lin Yanxi's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly scrambled over, frantically running in the direction of the explosion.

When Lin Yanxi arrived at the site of the explosion, the first thing she saw was Ding Fan, seated cross-legged on the ground, his body covered with a layer of white frost, already devoid of any vitality.

Next to Ding Fan, there was a corpse of an unknown small beast, about the size of a Golden Retriever.

"Brother Fan… Brother Fan… how are you," Lin Yanxi hurried over.

When Lin Yanxi touched Ding Fan, she felt a wave of cold. She was startled, and quickly touched his face and hands.

By that time, Ding Fan's hands and face were already stiff, with not a hint of warmth.

"Brother Fan, what happened to you? Please wake up..." Lin Yanxi's tears fell.

After crying for a while, as if remembering something, Lin Yanxi quickly took Ding Fan into her arms and clutched him tightly.

"Brother Fan, you must be alright. Promise me, if you survive this, I will definitely become your bride. Brother Fan... you must not die!" Lin Yanxi said, face full of distress.