Chen Fan retrieved the jade pill and the corpse core with a sweeping hand motion.
The jade pill was the size of a longan fruit, arrayed with delicate blood streaks and resembling an eyeball.
Chen Fan could sense the enormous amounts of primeval force inside. At the very least, it was comparable to that of a first-level Yuanfu realm expert's dantian.
This particular item was a rare spiritual jade designed for storing primeval force, a treasure of significant value that many martial artists could only dream of possessing.
“Good stuff. I have no use for this treasure, but Father and Grandfather can use it. Storing primeval force in it is equivalent to having twice the amount of primeval force, making one stronger in combat.”
Factors such as strength levels, weapons, and martial arts skills played crucial roles in martial arts battles. The spiritual jade, capable of storing the primeval force of a first-level Yuanfu realm martial artist, could tip the scales in favor of its wielder during fights.
Chen Fan put the jade eyeball away and grabbed at the air, picking up the guandao.
That wasn’t his preferred weapon, but his father, Chen Zhengqing, was an expert with blades.
With this Green Dragon Crescent Blade, Chen Zhengqing would be like a tiger with an additional pair of wings in battle. His combat strength would increase significantly. [1]
Chen Fan meticulously combed through the entire tomb, collecting any valuable items into his storage ring, amassing a significant haul.
Suddenly, Chen Fan grabbed at the air. A palm-sized sheepskin scroll flew out from the bronze coffin.
Intriguingly, it bore a striking resemblance to the remnant map he had acquired in the underground secret room of Loulan Ancient Imperial City.
Chen Fan compared the two maps and realized that they were two pieces of the same treasure map.
He combined the remnant maps, revealing a landscape of mountains and rivers. Though incomplete, it offered a partial guide to the hidden treasure.
Looking closer, Chen Fan realized he was missing the most crucial part of the map.
He resignedly stored the incomplete maps, hoping to stumble upon the missing piece in the future, enabling him to unveil the treasure's location.
Preparing to leave, Chen Fan suddenly stopped and turned back, fixing his gaze on the Mountain River Stars Grand Array.
Crafted by King Huai of the South, the array could harness the qi of heaven and earth. It could produce enough power to challenge even fifth or sixth-level Yuanfu realm experts.
Although he had broken free from the array, he hadn’t destroyed its foundation. If he could bring it back to his clan, it would fortify their base camp in Xuanyang City, alleviating concerns about their limited number of experts.
The Chen Clan was currently rapidly developing, but they needed more experts. Chen Zhengqing and Chen Tianxiong were their only Yuanfu realm experts.
Chen Zhengqing's responsibilities in overseeing the clan's affairs in Watermoon City, a Grade-2 city with fifth-level Yuanfu realm experts, necessitated his constant presence to safeguard the clan's businesses and wealth from rival factions.
Meanwhile, Chen Tianxiong had to oversee the clan in Xuanyang City to prevent clans from other cities from robbing them while their defenses were down.
However, Chen Tianxiong was not that strong, as he was only at the first level of the Yuanfu realm.
If he had the assistance of this Mountain River Stars Grand Array, he could kill third-level Yuanfu realm experts even if he couldn’t utilize the array’s full power.
The Mountain River Stars Grand Array was even more precious than the Green Dragon Crescent Blade.
Chen Fan made his way back and carefully took down the grand array. Then, he rushed out of this underground tomb.
Chen Fan ventured further into the depths of the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range.
According to the news he had heard, the spiritual fountain that gave birth to the Fountain of Life was deep in the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range.
Lacking precise coordinates, he pressed on, hoping to encounter Lei Tao, Chu Tiange, and others on the way.
As he progressed, Chen Fan systematically killed the jiangshis in his path, dealing with increasingly larger armies.
His powerful palm strikes decimated hordes of skeletal jiangshis, numbering over a hundred at times, densely scattered across mountain valleys and swamps.
The jiangshis' cultivation levels also rose, with Qi Grandmasters and Yuanfu realm jiangshis becoming commonplace. Some ancient ones, deceased for thousands of years, were as strong as King Huai of the South.
Chen Fan enjoyed killing the evil beings. With each strike, he would get numerous corpse cores. He would accumulate them within the Heaven Seizing Furnace, further enhancing his power.
The furnace’s flames would quickly deal with the cores, refining the corpse qi and leaving behind only the purest vitality origin essence to replenish Chen Fan’s dantian.
While Chen Fan was busy killing the skeletal armies, a mountain resembling a grave abruptly convulsed, sending shockwaves through the surroundings
Intense corpse qi surged from the earth, making all skeletons and jiangshis bow in submission—a Ten-Thousand-Year Corpse King had emerged.
Chen Fan had slain the evil beings too ferociously, finally provoking an absolute expert cultivating in secret deep in the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range.
The Ten-Thousand-Year Corpse King had golden hair covering its body, while a pair of flesh wings adorned its back—a Flying Yaksha. Formidable foot-long fangs adorned its mouth, exuding a horrifying aura.
This Flying Yaksha swooped down with a whistle. The strong wind was mixed with golden qi light, sweeping over like a storm.
The golden qi light was actually a metal-attributed primeval force. Its penetrative powers were powerful, nearly puncturing even the space.
“So many years... No one has entered the Fiendish Corpse Mountain Range and gone on such a rampage in so many years. Brat, you’ve acted too arrogantly.”
This Flying Yaksha shot out eerie qi in ripples, attacking Chen Fan.
Chen Fan didn’t dare to treat him lightly.
This Flying Yaksha was stronger than the King Huai of the South, being at the sixth level. Any carelessness could result in Chen Fan becoming a member of the jiangshi army.
Chen Fan let out a roar and unleashed his cultivation, shadowing the sky. His qi reached the clouds, causing the thick corpse qi and nefarious qi in the skies to scatter, allowing the sun rays to shine through.
Facing the Flying Yaksha, Chen Fan went all out from the start. His three illusory primeval vessels spun fiercely, giving Chen Fan immense strength.
With a single spear strike, it was like he had pierced through the heavens and made it tremble.
The metallic qi, resembling a storm, immediately recoiled under Chen Fan's forceful strike.
The devastating force exploded in the air, spreading outward. Everywhere it reached, the earth shook, and the mountains nearly toppled.
The sharp metallic qi shattered under the powerful shockwaves.
“A mere yaksha like you dares to show yourself and stand in my way. You’re courting death, you know that?”
With a cold sneer, he swiftly moved forward, producing swishing noises, and materialized in front of the Flying Yaksha.
Unleashing the Heaven Piercing Spear, Chen Fan's strike shattered the nefarious qi, corpse qi, and ghostly qi in the area. Violent ripples surged wildly toward the Flying Yaksha as Chen Fan tried to overpower his opponent with relentless force.
1. The author had always referred to the weapon as Green Dragon Crescent Blade, but I translated it as guandao from 226, the Chinese weapon type, because this specific name refers to the weapon of Guan Yu, a legendary Chinese general in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. ☜