Within the Pei family's forbidden grounds.
The scene was one of utter devastation, the former stronghold of the Pei family reduced to ruins.
Beyond this wasteland, thick mist sealed off the area, preventing any glimpse of what lay within.
This was a formation casually set up by Ling Fan.
Though rudimentary, it was not something the powerhouses of the Liuyun Kingdom could penetrate.
Inside the forbidden grounds.
Various rare heavenly treasures, emitting potent spiritual energy fluctuations, floated serenely.
In the center.
Ling Fan sat cross-legged.
Pei Nanwei stood respectfully to the side, her hands clasped before her.
"Come here, I will help you restore your sword body," Ling Fan said.
Pei Nanwei nodded obediently and stepped forward.
With a wave of his hand, Ling Fan sent the red short sword, which transformed into a crimson streak, slicing through the air before returning to hover before him.
Two red lotus imprints flashed within Ling Fan's pupils.
The Demonic Fire Red Lotus instantly descended upon the red short sword.
In an instant, a terrifying flame enveloped the short sword. Under the scorching heat, even a mid-grade Xuan tier spirit sword, known for its hardness, began to visibly melt.
Strangely.
As the red short sword melted, dense, vein-like patterns on its surface seeped out layers of red mist, which Ling Fan's Demonic Fire Red Lotus contained.
As the sword body continued to melt, droplets of metallic liquid peeled away.
Finally, a pool of pale red liquid, enveloped by the Demonic Fire Red Lotus, floated quietly in mid-air.
"The process will be a little painful, you must endure it," Ling Fan stated calmly.
Pei Nanwei bit her red lip and nodded with a solemn expression.
Before she could prepare herself, Ling Fan flicked his finger, and the red liquid, contained by the Demonic Fire Red Lotus, shot towards Pei Nanwei.
Before she could react, the red liquid thinned, spreading into a fine layer that covered Pei Nanwei, and then began to penetrate her body with frantic speed.
"Ah!"
In that instant.
Pei Nanwei let out a scream of agony.
Her eyes trembled.
Her delicate body stiffened abruptly.
"Mas... Master... didn't you say it would only be a little bit painful..."
Pei Nanwei was on the verge of fainting but forced herself to hold on. She could clearly feel the red liquid entering her body, rapidly seeping into her blood, flesh, and bones, seeking to merge completely.
The accompanying pain was indescribable.
She felt as if her entire body was being torn apart.
Ling Fan paid no further attention to Pei Nanwei.
If she could endure it, Pei Nanwei would undergo a complete transformation.
The red short sword refined by the old ancestor of the Pei family was, strictly speaking, more than just a simple cold weapon. It had absorbed the blood essence of countless Pei family sword prodigies, a portion of Pei Nanwei's own sword body, and the spiritual essence of the Pei family ancestor. This red short sword could be considered an extraordinary medicinal treasure.
For a sword body like Pei Nanwei's, it was a rare and precious treasure to perfect and strengthen her physique.
However, if she failed to endure.
The consequences would be dire.
Death or severe injury.
Ling Fan could have intervened to support her, but he chose not to.
Firstly, she was merely Ling Fan's sword attendant.
Ling Fan would not offer her excessive protection.
Secondly, cultivation was inherently a brutal path, devoid of mercy. It was impossible to seek great power without accepting risks.
As if sensing Ling Fan's stance.
Pei Nanwei bit her lower lip fiercely. Even as cold sweat poured down her face and her body trembled uncontrollably from the pain, she no longer moaned.
She endured the intense pain, sat down cross-legged, and began to refine it silently.
...
Ling Fan nodded with slight approval.
Then, with a wave of his hand, Pei Nanwei's figure was obscured by a layer of mist.
The area instantly became quiet.
Ling Fan's gaze fell upon the floating heavenly treasures and dozens of spirit cores, each the size of a human brain, surrounding him.
The spoils from this subjugation of the Pei family were quite substantial.
There was the eight-pointed Demonic Flame Fruit with its peculiar flame patterns.
The Dew Condensing Grass, from which crystal-clear spiritual dew seeped.
The Crimson Serpent Ginseng, with roots as long as an infant's arm.
The Demonic Blood Stone, soaked in unknown blood, exhibiting a dark red hue.
The milky white Thousand-Year Earth Marrow Liquid, filling a large jade bottle.
Countless wisps of spiritual energy detached themselves from the surrounding heavenly treasures and spirit cores, transforming into streams of energy that flowed towards Ling Fan.
As his spiritual fire reignited, Ling Fan's entire body was bathed in a multicolored radiance.
The abundant spiritual energy of various attributes contained within the heavenly treasures and spirit cores was directly refined into Ling Fan's limbs, flesh, and bones in this direct and forceful manner.
This was the power of the Nirvana Tribulation Body.
Using the body as a furnace.
Employing the energies of heaven and earth as flames to temper an ultimate Nirvana physique.
As Ling Fan's physical body continuously strengthened, his blood and qi surged like ancient beasts, and within Ling Fan's heart, a second blood core began to take shape.
...
At this moment.
In the capital city of the Liuyun Kingdom, outside.
The repercussions of Ling Fan's subjugation of the Pei family had not yet fully subsided.
Another event captured the attention of many powerful individuals.
The Wei family's Fish Dragon Banquet was about to commence.
It was rumored that this year's Wei family Fish Dragon Banquet had attracted over a thousand martial arts geniuses from all over the Liuyun Kingdom, gathering together, a scale far exceeding previous years.
The Wei family was busily preparing for this banquet.
In a small restaurant.
Jin Yuyao, Jiang Yong, Chang Songsong, and others also displayed excitement and nervousness. Each was in their room, making final preparations, adjusting their state and cultivation to their peak, hoping to make a stunning debut at the Wei family's Fish Dragon Banquet and rise above the rest.
...
And within the Pei family's forbidden grounds.
Due to the obstruction of the formation set up by Ling Fan, the forbidden grounds remained silent.
Only the faint sound of burning flames broke the stillness.
At this moment, the heavenly treasures surrounding Ling Fan were nearing depletion.
They were turning into pale gray dust that scattered downwards.
Only the dozens of human-brain-sized spirit cores remained robust.
The pure spiritual energy contained within them was simply too immense. Even with Ling Fan's refining speed, less than a tenth had been consumed.
However, although resources remained.
Ling Fan's second blood core in his heart had already completely formed.
Even the third blood core was about 30% complete.
Once the third blood core also condensed, his Nirvana Tribulation Body would naturally reach the minor accomplishment stage.
At that time, his physical body would be equivalent to the kingly physique of a Giant Spirit realm expert in the Heavenly Realm.
Therefore, Ling Fan was not in a hurry to continue cultivating his Nirvana Tribulation Body.
The flames around him began to recede, transforming into extremely pure power that drilled into every pore of his body.
With a casual clench of his fist.
Ling Fan felt explosive, terrifying physical strength condense in his palm, as if a single punch could pierce the ground beneath him.
"It's time to settle accounts with the Wei family."
A sharp gleam flashed in Ling Fan's eyes.
The reason he hadn't gone to the Wei family earlier.
Was to wait for the day the Wei family hosted the Fish Dragon Banquet.
He intended to bury them on the day they were most powerful, most triumphant, and most glorious!
"Hmm... it seems Pei Nanwei was lucky and succeeded."
Ling Fan waved his hand, dispelling the mist, revealing a figure with alluring curves not far away.
It was Pei Nanwei, who had been refining the red short sword and perfecting her sword body.
A powerful and unparalleled Heavenly Origin force gradually emanated from her body.
Pei Nanwei not only perfected and strengthened her sword body but also seized this opportunity to break through to the Heavenly Origin realm in one go, becoming a Sword Dao Grandmaster!
"Swish!"
Pei Nanwei's eyes snapped open abruptly.
Two terrifying sword lights, as if solidified, shot out from her eyes, heading directly towards Ling Fan.
Just as they were about to pierce Ling Fan's body.
Pei Nanwei also noticed this.
She was instantly greatly alarmed, but by the time she tried to retract her power, it was too late.
"Master, be careful!"
Pei Nanwei instinctively cried out a warning.
Because she now clearly understood how powerful her strength was.
She was confident she could kill even a top-tier Grandmaster at the peak of the Heavenly Origin realm!
Just now, she couldn't fully control her power, and two sword lights had leaked out. She feared that if she injured Ling Fan, it would be a grave disrespect.