Not far from the Spring Autumn Sect, a figure streaked across the sky on a beam of light—it was Chen Fan.
Compared to the time he took to reach Hidden Dragon Island, Chen Fan returned from the eastern sea to the Spring Autumn Sect in under ten days.
Back then, he was merely at the ninth level, but now he was a five-revolution Golden Core realm expert with combat strength on par with a Divine Nascent realm powerhouse.
Chen Fan's progress in less than three months had been remarkable, with his cultivation and combat prowess improving drastically.
As Chen Fan swiftly approached the mountain gates of the Spring Autumn Sect, about a dozen figures rushed out to meet him.
They were all high-level Yuanfu realm core disciples, each exuding a powerful aura.
Following the heavy losses suffered during the Blood Demon Cave attack, the sect had decided to assign its core disciples to patrol duties to enhance security.
“Halt!” shouted a seventh-level Yuanfu realm core disciple.
But before any further action could be taken, a ninth-level Yuanfu realm core disciple exclaimed with excitement, “It’s First Senior Brother Chen Fan. First Senior Brother Chen Fan has returned!”
“It really is First Senior Brother Chen Fan. He’s back!”
“So, the Hidden Dragon Island trial has ended!”
The other core disciples buzzed with excitement.
At this point, Chen Fan's name was renowned across the Great Chu Empire, perhaps even more famous than some Divine Nascent realm powerhouses.
His dramatic performance at the Grand Sect Conference and his heroic act of turning the tide during the Blood Demon Cave's attack on the Spring Autumn Sect had made him a living legend. He was a symbol of hope within the sect.
“Greetings to First Senior Brother Chen Fan!” The dozen or so people immediately greeted him loudly.
“Well done, you guys keep patrolling. Here’s a reward for you!” Chen Fan waved his hand, sending a dozen streaks of light toward them. He then sped into the sect.
“This is... my god, it’s a Jade-Leafed Golden Stalk!” exclaimed that ninth-level Yuanfu realm core disciple, overjoyed.
This treasure gave him a seventy percent chance of advancing to the Core Formation realm within three months and being promoted to a holy disciple.
As for the others, they either received Grade-3 or 4 treasures, or precious natural treasures. Everyone quickly put them away.
The core disciples excitedly discussed among themselves as they put away their treasures.
“As expected of First Senior Brother Chen Fan. He’s really generous. It looks like he found a lot of treasures on Hidden Dragon Island.”
“I know, right? He’s handing out Grade-3 and 4 treasures like it’s nothing!”
“I wonder if First Senior Brother Chen Fan has reached the Divine Nascent realm...”
“You’ve returned.” Wei Buyu looked at Chen Fan with a joyful expression.
The most outstanding geniuses of the Hong Domain’s thirty-six nations had gathered on the Hidden Dragon Island. Although Chen Fan was a top genius of the Great Chu Empire, he could only be considered quasi-first-rate compared to the entire Hong Domain.
Wei Buyu had worried about potential conflicts between Chen Fan and the other outstanding geniuses.
Now that Chen Fan had safely returned to the sect, Wei Buyu could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“Master,” greeted Chen Fan respectfully.
“How was your harvest?” asked Wei Buyu.
Chen Fan nodded and answered, “It was huge! Although I wasn’t able to advance into the Divine Nascent realm, I have reached the five-revolution Golden Core realm.”
Wei Buyu chuckled and chided, “You really are greedy. Although the Hidden Dragon Island is a blessed land with plenty of treasures, advancing from the early stage of the ninth level to the Divine Nascent realm in just three months is almost impossible.”
Chen Fan nodded in agreement.
News of Chen Fan’s return from Hidden Dragon Island spread rapidly throughout the Spring Autumn Sect. Everyone was buzzing with speculation about how much his cultivation level had improved.
Chen Fan had always been strong, capable of challenging opponents above his level.
He could kill one or two revolution Golden Core realm experts with just a ninth-level Core Formation realm cultivation. The trial at the Hidden Dragon Island was bound to have increased his strength.
As time slowly passed, the events of the Hidden Dragon Island spread. News about Chen Fan also slowly spread in the Spring Autumn Sect, particularly the astonishing fact that he had killed a Divine Nascent realm white-bone corpse demon. This feat left countless people stunned and speechless.
This wasn’t just a Yuanfu realm or Core Formation realm opponent—it was a Divine Nascent realm white-bone corpse demon!
Chen Fan had defied all logic by killing a Divine Nascent realm white-bone corpse demon with five-revolution Golden Core realm cultivation, keeping the situation in control and thwarting Qingxu’s plot. It could be said that he had saved the day once again with his strength alone.
His achievement was beyond formidable; it was monstrous and nearly inconceivable.
Yet, this unbelievable feat had indeed occurred, witnessed by hundreds of the Hong Domain’s top geniuses, forcing everyone to accept its reality.
Following the hundred-day trial on Hidden Dragon Island, Chen Fan’s fame soared.
Chen Fan and Li Yao were touted as the peerless twin prides of the Hong Domain.
Meanwhile, the Great Chu Empire and the Spring Autumn Sect also became famous across the Hong Domain due to Chen Fan’s deeds on the Hidden Dragon Island.
No one had expected that the Great Chu Empire, considered lower-middle class among the thirty-six nations, would produce such a monster, shocking the people.
While the Spring Autumn Sect was a well-known giant within the Great Chu Empire, it had previously been insignificant on the larger stage of the Hong Domain.
Across the entire Hong Domain, there were at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, forces comparable to the Spring Autumn Sect. These forces were considered low-tier compared to the colossal entities like the Great Li Imperial Court or the Great Li Sword Mountain.
In the past trials for the Grand Sect Conference, the geniuses representing the Great Chu Empire were mere bystanders. Without Chen Fan’s extraordinary performance this time, figures like Qi Feifan, Lin Wushang, and Zhantai Liuli would have made little impact.
Chen Fan’s deeds during the trial at the Hidden Dragon Island brought incomparable shock to everyone, bringing unprecedented recognition to the Great Chu Empire, the Spring Autumn Sect, and Chen Fan himself.
In the past, Li Yao, Gongsun Zhong, Qiu Yuexin, and the others were the representatives of the younger generation of the Hong Domain; now, it was Chen Fan and Li Yao. Gongsun Zhong, Qiu Yuexin, and the others were relegated to playing second fiddle.
Chen Fan’s reputation quickly spread beyond the Spring Autumn Sect and the Great Chu Empire. He became a renowned figure throughout the Hong Domain, frequently discussed and compared to notable names like Li Yao and Gongsun Zhong.
Some even compiled a list of the top ten younger generation experts in the Hong Domain, with Chen Fan and Li Yao tied for first place!