Chapter Fourteen: The Fierce One

The night was as dark as ink, with the pine trees on the mountain whispering secrets that had been kept for centuries. The faint moonlight filtered through the dense leaves, casting mottled shadows on the forest path, like mysterious runes. Chen Fan walked slowly along the winding path, his expression solemn.

He had an uneasy premonition. During the day, the village elders had spoken of this deep mountain, their words filled with awe and fear. It was said that this place was once the site of an immortal cultivation sect, but now...

After undergoing the tempering of the Heavenly Demon, and then being injured by Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan sat for nearly two hours before feeling much better. It wasn't until the next day that the aftereffects of the Heavenly Demon tempering completely dissipated.

He had dealt with a mountain cat and found another inner core within its body. Combined with the inner core from the silver wolf last time, he now had two inner cores. However, Zhong Shan still didn't know what these inner cores were for, so he carefully stored them away for future use.

The mountain cat's meat was dried and made into jerky. It tasted quite delicious, and its skin could only be made into pants. In this place, he had only a few sets of clothes for changing. Zhong Shan didn't dare to wear them often, because every time he was in the kiln, his clothes would be burned. Therefore, he made several pairs of shorts out of the animal skins. Fortunately, the quality of the skins was very strong, so they wouldn't burn in the kiln.

Life went on. He continued to practice his blade techniques, the Great Sun Divine Skill, the Red Luan Heavenly Scripture, and the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering simultaneously.

However, after two months, Zhong Shan began to feel a sense of unease. Now, he was advancing from the first level to the second level of the Great Sun Divine Skill. But at this critical juncture, he couldn't seem to break through to the second level. In the kiln, he was no longer afraid of the flames. Even when he increased the firewood significantly, it still felt insufficient. Zhong Shan needed a higher level of fiery energy.

Near the mouth of a cave not far from Yan Mountain Peak of the Kaiyang Sect, Tian Ling'er waited outside, clutching a red silk ribbon in her hand. Several times, she wanted to blast the large stone blocking the cave entrance, her face showing her frustration, but she gritted her teeth and restrained herself.

"Rumble~~"

The cave finally opened.

"Xiao Nanzi, you're finally out," Tian Ling'er immediately called out to the interior.

"Uh, Junior Sister—no, Senior Sister, what are you doing here?" came a surprised voice from inside.

Soon, Nan Batian emerged from the cave, looking astonished to see Tian Ling'er.

"I've been waiting for you for two months. Why did it take so long? Did you break through?" Tian Ling'er asked.

"Yes, to the eighth level of the Xiantian realm. I'm now at the eighth level too, almost catching up to you. Haha, soon, you'll be the junior sister again," Nan Batian laughed.

"Hmph, catching up to me? Dream on. I'm about to reach the ninth level of the Xiantian realm. In the entire Lingyun Sect, among the third generation disciples, I have the highest enlightenment and the best natural talent," Tian Ling'er declared confidently.

Seeing Tian Ling'er's confident demeanor, Nan Batian could only shake his head in resignation.

"Well, Senior Sister, what brings you here today?" Nan Batian asked.

"Is there a reason? Of course, I need your help," Tian Ling'er suddenly softened her tone.

"Help? You need my help?" Nan Batian's eyes widened in disbelief.

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"Of course! Are you going to help or not?" Tian Ling'er's tone shifted abruptly, her eyes widening in a glare.

"Help, of course, I'll help. You, the young lady of Kaiyang Sect, who would dare not to?" Nan Batian replied with a pained expression.

Zhong Shan emerged from the kiln with a frown, a trace of frustration in his eyes. No, this wasn't going to work. Relying on this kiln definitely wasn't the solution. If it wasn't completely sealed, the internal temperature couldn't rise enough, but if it was sealed, there wouldn't be any oxygen, and without oxygen, the fire inside the kiln couldn't burn.

Gently pushing open the kiln door, Zhong Shan walked out slowly, his face showing his troubles.

"Zhong Shan!" As soon as he stepped out, he heard a shout from the front of his courtyard.

Looking up, he saw Nan Batian in black attire, holding a large Guan Dao, standing not far away. At his feet was a circle about a meter in diameter, and he was glaring at Zhong Shan with wide eyes.

"Ninth Senior Brother?" Zhong Shan frowned.

"Attack me with all your strength. I will only use twenty percent of my power. If you can force me out of this circle, you win," Nan Batian said confidently.

Hearing this, Zhong Shan frowned, not sure what Nan Batian meant. However, he could tell that Nan Batian had no ill intentions. Moreover, Zhong Shan wanted to test his recent progress, so he immediately shouted, "Alright!"

With that, Zhong Shan picked up the large blade resting by the kiln and swung it lightly before charging towards Nan Batian. As he approached, Zhong Shan leaped, raising his blade.

"Mountain Splitting Strike!"

He swung the blade down towards Nan Batian. Nan Batian's eyes narrowed as he raised his large Guan Dao to meet Zhong Shan's blade.

"Boom~~"

The blades collided, and Zhong Shan was pushed back slightly, while Nan Batian remained in place. Without pausing, Zhong Shan swung his blade horizontally again.

"Annihilating Slash!"

"Good~~~" Nan Batian shouted in approval.

Nan Batian let out a thunderous shout, swinging his large Guan Dao to meet Zhong Shan's blade once more.

"Boom~~"

Zhong Shan was sent flying. In mid-air, he steadied himself and looked back at Nan Batian. As expected, Nan Batian was indeed very strong. Only twenty percent of his power? Was it really just twenty percent?

Seeing that Nan Batian's feet were still within the circle, Zhong Shan suddenly became more determined. Resolving himself, he continued his assault on Nan Batian.

Each strike from Zhong Shan was faster and fiercer than the last. Outside the circle, he slashed at Nan Batian relentlessly. Inside the circle, Nan Batian wielded his Guan Dao with an impenetrable defense, quickly blocking each of Zhong Shan's strikes. As Zhong Shan's attacks grew stronger, Nan Batian's brows furrowed deeper.

In a nearby corner, Tian Ling'er stood watching, her brows slightly knit, biting her lip, and clenching her small fists, trying to keep herself calm.

"Boom~~"

An hour later, Zhong Shan was drenched in sweat, but Nan Batian was too strong. Was he really helpless against just twenty percent of Nan Batian's power?

Looking at Nan Batian in front of him, Zhong Shan became even more resolute. If he couldn't force Nan Batian out of the circle today, how could he face the Sky-Splitting Prince in the future?

With unwavering determination, Zhong Shan's eyes hardened, and he charged at Nan Batian again.

Nan Batian looked at Zhong Shan in astonishment. From the power Zhong Shan exhibited, Nan Batian could tell that Zhong Shan was at the first level of the Xiantian realm. However, the force behind Zhong Shan's strikes and his relentless momentum seemed even more intense than Nan Batian's own. Fortunately, Zhong Shan's overall strength was still far behind his own. Looking at Zhong Shan, only one word came to Nan Batian's mind: fierce. This man was an absolute fierce one, a peerless fierce man among his peers.

"Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique!"

"Mountain Splitting Strike!"

Zhong Shan's muscles suddenly bulged as he unleashed the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique. With a powerful roar, he brought his blade down in another devastating Mountain Splitting Strike towards Nan Batian.

"Boom~~"

Nan Batian staggered. What happened? How did Zhong Shan's strength suddenly surge?

"Boom~~"

Zhong Shan, seizing the advantage, showed his ferocity once again, crazily slashing towards Nan Batian.

"Ahh~~"

After an incense stick's worth of time, Zhong Shan delivered a final Mountain Splitting Strike, finally forcing Nan Batian out of the circle.

"Hoo~~ Hoo~~ Hoo~~ Hoo~~"

Nan Batian, out of the circle, kept panting heavily. It was evident that the battle was over. His hands trembled slightly as he held his blade. Nan Batian's strength was too overwhelming, but finally, Zhong Shan managed to force him out of the circle.

Nan Batian, now outside the circle, was also inexplicably surprised. With just twenty percent of his power, Zhong Shan... Was he at the first level of the Xiantian realm? He was so ferocious!

"Thank you, Ninth Senior Brother," Zhong Shan said immediately.

Zhong Shan felt that he had gained a lot from this battle. Nan Batian seemed to have been deliberately acting as his sparring partner. Therefore, Zhong Shan felt the need to thank Nan Batian.

"No problem, Zhong Shan. You're really fierce," Nan Batian said with a single sentence. But with just that, he revealed everything in his heart.

In a nearby location, Tian Ling'er saw Zhong Shan finally forcing Nan Batian out of the circle and was also surprised. Originally, it was agreed that Nan Batian would deliberately lose and step out of the circle, but now it seemed that Zhong Shan had completely relied on his strength to force him out. Didn't her father say that Zhong Shan had poor aptitude and couldn't cultivate properly?

"Hehe, Senior Brother is also amazing," Zhong Shan chuckled.

"No need to call me Senior Brother. After all, in Kaiyang Sect, the rankings of seniority keep changing. Just call me Nan Batian or Batian," Nan Batian said cheerfully.

"Alright, I'm curious. What brings you here today?" Zhong Shan asked solemnly.

Obviously, Nan Batian couldn't possibly come just to spar. Even a child with just a budding intellect could tell it wasn't that simple.

"Well, to be honest, I was forced to come," Nan Batian suddenly shook his head and chuckled.

"Forced?" Zhong Shan asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, I'm here to apologize on behalf of someone," Nan Batian said.

"Apologize?" Zhong Shan looked puzzled.

"Yeah, it's about the sect leader's daughter, Tian Ling'er. Remember when she smashed your little wooden carving a while ago? She felt guilty but was too embarrassed to come, so she sent me to apologize on her behalf," Nan Batian explained.

As Nan Batian spoke, Tian Ling'er not far away clenched her fists again, carefully watching Zhong Shan in the distance.

"Tian Ling'er? Hehe, I never blamed her. In fact, I feel indebted to her," Zhong Shan shook his head. After all, he was the one who had deceived her in the first place.

"Is that so? That's great then. Tian Ling'er is just arriving. You can tell her yourself," Nan Batian said.

Hearing Nan Batian's words, Zhong Shan looked around and had a slight realization. Tian Ling'er must be nearby.

Sure enough, Tian Ling'er descended from the sky again on her red silk ribbon.

"Zhong Shan, I'm really sorry for breaking your wooden carving that day," Tian Ling'er apologized sincerely.

Seeing Tian Ling'er, who could almost pass for his granddaughter, with her pitiful expression and doll-like appearance, Zhong Shan couldn't muster any anger, especially since he hadn't blamed her at all.

"It's nothing. That day, I was also in the wrong. Please wait here for a moment. I'll go fetch something. Consider it as compensation for that day," Zhong Shan said. With that, he entered his courtyard.

Soon, Zhong Shan returned with an item in hand and presented it to Tian Ling'er.

"Here, take this. Consider it as an apology for the deception and offense from before," Zhong Shan said.

In Zhong Shan's hand was a small wooden carving, depicting Tian Ling'er herself.

Tian Ling'er immediately fell in love with it and eagerly accepted it.

"Did you carve this?" Nan Batian asked.

"No, I made it when practicing my blade techniques out of boredom," Zhong Shan replied.

Looking at the delicate wooden carving and then at the large blade in Zhong Shan's hand, Nan Batian could only say, "You're fierce, really fierce."

Tian Ling'er, on the other hand, joyfully continued to caress her little figurine.