The evil soul unexpectedly joined the conversation between Sacred Heart and Xiao Fan, catching Xiao Fan off guard. Sacred Heart, however, remained unfazed; he understood what the evil soul was plotting. With no alternatives left, the evil soul's only option was to ally with Xiao Fan, hoping to be reborn through Xiao Fan's future power.
"So, you want to negotiate with me?" Xiao Fan steadied himself, recognizing the evil soul's intention and responding directly.
"Heh, you have no other choice. If you ever wish to see your aunt again, you'll agree to my terms. I can even teach you techniques tailored for your unique virtual martial arts body."
"I may have no choice, but neither do you. So don't get carried away with your demands," Xiao Fan replied firmly.
The evil soul fell silent for a moment, then Sheng Xin broke in, "Tell us your conditions, and I'll decide on behalf of Xiao Fan."
"My terms are simple. When Xiao Fan reaches sufficient strength in the future, he must travel to the southern lands under the rainbow clouds and the banks of the clear waters to bring down those two major forces. Also, I require nurturing to grow stronger alongside him."
"No! That's madness! Even if Xiao Fan achieves the strength you expect, he could never take on something like this. This isn't just about a grudge between those forces and you. Uprooting them would cause unimaginable chaos; it would be suicide!" Sacred Heart firmly rebuked before Xiao Fan could respond.
The evil soul sneered, "You're clueless. Don't assume that just because you've reached my level, you comprehend the true potential of the virtual martial arts body. The entire universe will shake when this power awakens. Those looked down upon as low-level martial spirits today will someday be unstoppable. What are two sects compared to that?"
"The virtual martial body is remarkable, yes. With suitable techniques, it could yield unparalleled power. But it's not invincible. One's true strength is shaped by many factors—martial soul, techniques, talent, and perception. These qualities matter just as much as any innate abilities," Sheng Xin countered. Xiao Fan remained silent, taking in the tense exchange as the two clashed, each word striking a sharp chord.
The evil soul laughed mockingly. "Oh, and don't you see his potential? His talent and understanding are beyond extraordinary. Perhaps the likes of him will be rare even across lifetimes. Have you ever seen anyone in the Body Refining Realm who could create an original movement technique just from watching animals?"
Xiao Fan felt his heart skip as Sacred Heart's surprise was evident.
"Xiao Fan, is what the evil soul said true?"
"Yes," Xiao Fan admitted modestly. "I just pieced together a few movements on my own. It's really not as impressive as he says."
"Let me see it!"Sacred Heart's voice was gentle, a warm light radiating from Xiao Fan's chest.
"Alright." Xiao Fan nodded, stepping forward. He began to move, his leaps and bounds flowing with such grace and speed that even Sacred Heart was astounded.
"This technique could pass as a high-grade, lower-level martial art! I underestimated your talent and perception," Sacred Heart marveled. Xiao Fan, still a novice, had already achieved a martial skill that could rival martial arts.
"Haha! Sacred Heart, admit it! You missed this one entirely!" the evil soul laughed triumphantly, relishing his opportunity to mock.
"Incredible… Yes, Xiao Fan's potential surpasses even ours at this stage. Still, I reject your first condition, and I know Xiao Fan would never agree to it."
The evil soul persisted, "Think carefully, Xiao Fan. If you accept my terms, I guarantee you will reunite with your aunt-sister one day. Otherwise, you might never see her again. The choice is yours."
Confident in his manipulation, the evil soul waited for Xiao Fan's decision, sure he'd agree. But just when the evil soul thought victory was at hand, Xiao Fan's reply struck like ice water poured over his hopes.
"You wish to use me? Too bad—you miscalculated. I believe in myself. I don't need your techniques; I will grow strong in my own way, walking my own martial path. One day, I'll reunite with my aunt-sister on my own terms," Xiao Fan said, his voice steady as stone. Though his tone was calm, his heart burned with resolve. He longed for the power that the evil soul could offer but knew he couldn't accept the terms.
He had no grudge against those sects, nor did he even know what kind of forces they were. There was no way he would agree to the evil soul's demands.
"You!" The evil soul's voice trembled with fury. He had been certain of his strategy, but this unexpected twist shattered his confidence.
"Without my Chaos Soul Refining Technique, your Void Martial Soul won't be able to refine all souls, and the true qi you cultivate will be easily suppressed by any true qi with unique qualities. Mark my words—you'll come to me for help sooner or later."
With that, the evil soul fell silent, retreating into Xiao Fan's body. Sacred Heart, bound to Xiao Fan's body, also said nothing, aware that Xiao Fan was testing his patience against the evil soul. Whoever reached out first would be at a disadvantage.
Xiao Fan took a deep breath and began practicing his Tiger Form Boxing, a style he developed himself by watching tigers fight. Each punch he threw was strong and forceful, embodying the wild, relentless power of a storm.
Day after day, for a full half month, Xiao Fan stayed in the valley deep in the back mountain, practicing alone. He hunted game when hungry, drank from the crystal-clear pond when thirsty, and discovered the pond's water had a mysterious effect. Whenever he drank deeply after exhausting himself, a cool current seemed to flow through his body, refreshing and revitalizing him.
Over these two weeks, his meridians became more resilient, and even his dantian grew stronger and more condensed, surprising Xiao Fan. He remembered what Master Hong Dahai had once told him: the dantian is where martial artists store true qi. Only upon reaching the Martial Arts Realm could one absorb the essence of heaven and earth, transforming it into true qi to open the dantian.
True qi enters the body through the mouth and nose, flowing into the dantian through the meridians. The stronger the toughness of the meridians and dantian, the faster the absorption. But if they lack resilience, absorbing too much essence can damage them—at worst, causing them to rupture, which could be fatal, or leaving injuries that take years to heal.
Most cultivators must gradually strengthen their meridians and dantian after entering the Martial Realm, using true qi to build toughness. Xiao Fan, however, was different. Even in the Body Refining Realm, his meridians were exceptionally resilient, and his dantian had naturally toughened. This wasn't by choice; it was a unique advantage of his virtual martial arts body.
In this secluded valley, Xiao Fan seemed to have forgotten everything else, fully absorbed in his cultivation. Villagers from Zusheng assumed he had been attacked by wild beasts; Hong Dahai led search parties up the mountain multiple times but found no trace of him.
One month later, Xiao Fan broke through to the seventh level of the Body Refining Realm and stepped out of the valley. His body was noticeably stronger, his muscles full and defined. As he left, the formation within the valley rotated, and the once-hidden area of one hundred miles reappeared in the landscape. Sect disciples guarding nearby soon noticed this, but by then, Xiao Fan had already left without raising suspicion.
"Hey, kid! When did you get here? Have you found anything unusual?"
A man and a woman descended from the sky before him—Lu Qingya of Tianxuan Sect's Cihang Peak and Cang Jing from Zixia Main Peak.
Xiao Fan glanced at them, surprised, but quickly composed himself. Addressing Cang Jing, he said, "I'm not sure what you're referring to. I've been coming to this back mountain every day for over ten years. All I ever see are trees and wild animals."
"You dare suggest we're like wild animals?" Aoi's calm demeanor twisted with anger at Xiao Fan's last words.
"You are just misinterpreting other people's meanings with your own thinking."came a cold voice—not from Xiao Fan, but from Lu Qingya. Her slight frown suggested she was familiar with Aoi's temperament. She intervened to prevent her senior brother from losing his temper, which would likely cause trouble for the young man before them.
They were the proud disciples of a great sect, how could they attack a young man in the mountains? Lu Qingya would not allow such a thing, so she spoke up at the right time.
"Haha, maybe I misunderstood." Aoi forced a smile, suddenly polite. He knew Lu Qingya was watching and hoped to make a favorable impression. "Young man, have you noticed anything unusual around here lately?"
"No," Xiao Fan replied, gesturing to the surroundings. "The mountains, trees, and grass have all been the same for as long as I can remember. Nothing's changed."
Aoi's eye twitched. He suspected Xiao Fan of being evasive but restrained himself to avoid displeasing Lu Qingya.
"Alright, you may go." Aoi waved dismissively, as though shooing away an annoyance. Xiao Fan didn't care. From the moment Aoi and Lu Qingya appeared, he knew that this man and woman were not simple, because they flew over on the treetops and were obviously real martial artists.