Bang…
The old man took a step, and the ground seemed to be struck by a giant hammer, shaking with a deafening boom.
A heavy aura erupted from nowhere, pressing down on everyone’s shoulders.
The surrounding people visibly sank.
"Is this the aura of a half-step Grandmaster?"
"Too powerful, it's like it's going to crush me to death!"
"Half-step Grandmaster, when will I ever reach that realm!"
…
Praise erupted from all sides, and everyone looked at the old man with fervent admiration and longing.
At this moment, their gazes towards Chu Fan were filled with mockery and disdain, as if they could already see Chu Fan being pinned to the ground and beaten into submission, begging for mercy.
The old man also felt genuinely proud, his back straightening subconsciously as he continued to advance on Chu Fan.
Chu Fan merely sneered at all this.
All show, no substance. Utterly meaningless.
When the old man entered his ten-step range, Chu Fan also moved. His figure became a blur of afterimages, and he suddenly stood before the old man.
Immediately after, the envious and admiring half-step Grandmaster, before he could even make a move, was sent flying backward as if hit by a massive truck, slamming into the depths of the bushes.
What?
Everyone present stood dumbfounded, their mouths agape.
They could hardly comprehend how powerful Chu Fan truly was.
A half-step Grandmaster had been sent flying by him.
So young, and truly a Grandmaster?
Qi Shan and the other old man’s faces were also filled with undisguised shock.
Although they had sensed danger from Chu Fan long ago and knew his strength was not weak, they had never imagined he would be this outrageously powerful.
As individuals of comparable standing to the old man, Qi Shan and the other had far superior eyesight than everyone else around. They had seen the moment of their clash much more clearly.
Their companion, Jiang Wen Shi, hadn't even managed to establish his defenses before Chu Fan's attack landed.
His attack speed was undoubtedly on par with a true Grandmaster.
Where had such a young Grandmaster come from?
Qi Shan was going insane.
Indeed, comparing oneself to others could be maddening.
He had lived for so many years and poured countless efforts to finally reach the strength of a half-step Grandmaster.
And Chu Fan, at his age, was already a Grandmaster?
Qi Jun Hao, standing behind Qi Shan, turned deathly pale at this moment, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
He felt a lingering fear, his back covered in a cold sweat, and was extremely fortunate that Qi Shan had held him back earlier, preventing him from rashly attacking Chu Fan.
Otherwise, he might have become a corpse by now.
The bushes rustled, and Jiang Wen Shi emerged, dragging his disheveled body.
At this moment, his robes were torn, his face was pale, blood trickled from his lips, and his entire demeanor was like a defeated rooster, devoid of any of his previous invincible presence.
Without daring to meet Chu Fan’s gaze, he scurried behind Qi Shan.
Chu Fan's strike rendered Qi Shan and everyone else too afraid to even breathe.
Chu Fan didn't care what they thought; he only knew that anyone who dared to stop him again would be slapped to death.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, Chu Fan walked towards the deep ravine at the foot of Mount Tian Jian.
"Clap, clap, clap…"
The crisp sound of applause suddenly came from behind the crowd.
Following that, a silhouette appeared from afar, approaching Chu Fan.
The man was in his fifties, dressed in a long robe, with long hair tied back like a woman’s.
"Sect Master!"
Upon seeing the man appear, Qi Shan and the other two quickly cupped their fists and bowed, while the rest immediately knelt on one knee, shouting in unison, "Sect Master!"
Liu Yun Qing, the Sect Master of Cloud Mountain Sect.
Chu Fan stopped and looked at the man who had suddenly appeared, asking calmly, "Do you also intend to stop me?"
Liu Yun Qing smiled and shook his head, "Young friend Wu Ming, we are all here for the secret realm, but this secret realm is not as easy to enter as you might imagine."
"Shall we have a chat?"
Chu Fan's easy defeat of Jiang Wen Shi had proven his strength and status.
Liu Yun Qing, the mastermind hidden behind the scenes, had no choice but to step forward.
He also did not wish to resort to fighting.
However, he also did not want Chu Fan to recklessly disrupt the efforts Cloud Mountain Sect had made, and thus he invited Chu Fan for a good talk.
Seeing Chu Fan hesitate, Liu Yun Qing continued, "We are already working on cracking the esoteric formation guarding the secret realm. It is not easy to force our way through."
"Since Young Friend is also interested in this secret realm, why not come for a cup of tea and discuss it while we await the results?"
As the first to arrive, the other party had undoubtedly already begun attempting to break through the esoteric formation hiding the secret realm.
Having someone else do the work, without him needing to expend any effort, was a benefit Chu Fan naturally wouldn't refuse. He nodded and followed Liu Yun Qing to the tent at the foot of the mountain.
Liu Yun Qing, a Grandmaster, stepping out and ceasing his hostility was not because Chu Fan could not defeat him.
It was because the title of Sect Master had piqued his interest.
In this era of declining martial arts, various forces were intertwined.
There were martial arts families living within cities, as well as hidden families lurking in remote mountainous regions.
These forces were all organized as families.
Some families or individuals also formed various schools, halls, and sects.
While schools and halls might engage with the secular world, sects, according to investigations, were similar to hidden families, essentially living reclusive lives.
Therefore, Chu Fan prepared to have a good talk with Liu Yun Qing to understand the specific circumstances of these mountain sects.
Despite being in the deep mountains, the tent was fully equipped.
A small stove was heating a pot of tea.
"Young Friend Wu Ming, please be seated!"
Liu Yun Qing courteously invited him. Chu Fan did not stand on ceremony and naturally took a seat, then picked up a teacup and poured himself some tea.
Seeing Chu Fan's casual demeanor, Liu Yun Qing smiled, took a seat, and began to introduce himself.
Cloud Mountain Sect, a mountain sect, located about a hundred li from here, was also the most powerful force within a hundred li radius.
After introducing himself, Liu Yun Qing looked at Chu Fan with a smile and asked, "Young Friend Wu Ming, possessing such extraordinary strength at such a young age, you must hail from an ancient, prominent family."
Mountain sects, despite their seclusion, maintained contact with the outside world.
If any sect had produced a prodigy like Chu Fan, the news would have spread long ago.
Therefore, Liu Yun Qing, much like Qin Tian, believed he must have come from an ancient, hidden family that lived in seclusion.
There was no need to be too explicit about his origins; the vaguer it was, the more mystery it created.
Chu Fan calmly retorted, "Does it matter where I come from?"
Liu Yun Qing paused, then nodded with a smile, "Yes, yes, it doesn't matter. I was presumptuous."
Knowing why Chu Fan was here, he continued, "Wu Ming, news of the secret realm here is still spreading outwards."
"I believe that soon, more families, forces, and sects will arrive here to stake their claim."
"Fate has brought us together; how about we cooperate?"
Chu Fan had proven his worth with his strength, making it impossible for Liu Yun Qing to drive him away.
If he couldn't drive him away, he could only compromise.
By bringing Chu Fan into their alliance, their chances of securing the treasure within the secret realm would naturally increase.
"Cooperate?" Chu Fan asked again.
Liu Yun Qing nodded.
"Then how shall we divide it?"
Liu Yun Qing raised his palm, "Naturally, it will be a fifty-fifty split!"
"No!"
Chu Fan shook his head and raised his hand, "I want this!"