Chapter 16: Achieving the Spirit Sea Realm, Killing Intent Fully Revealed!

Cultivation did not recognize the passage of time.

Unknowingly, Gu Fan had already slaughtered the entire horde of zombies in the pedestrian street.

By now, he had condensed ninety-nine drops of spiritual‑energy liquid within his body.

To achieve that, he had devoured nearly fifty thousand life‑spirits!

And now he was attempting the hundredth drop!

“Everyone says ninety‑nine is the limit. Let me see if I can break it by swallowing five thousand life‑spirits in one gulp!”

In the next instant, the Soul Puppet threw all five thousand gathered life‑spirits to Gu Fan.

Boom!

A tremendous roar echoed inside his body.

Gu Fan’s whole body bristled with cyan‑purple meridians, and his face flushed red.

“Suppress it!”

With blood‑red eyes, Gu Fan roared inwardly.

All his strength surged throughout, relentlessly compressing the unruly spiritual energy!

At last, under constant pressure, an extremely minute droplet formed—only sesame‑seed sized.

A great joy rose in Gu Fan’s heart.

A sign meant a chance.

He immediately began converting the life‑spirits into spiritual power.

He continued focusing on that tiny droplet as the center, pumping more spiritual energy into it!

Finally, when he looked inward, he was blinded by brilliance.

When his vision returned, exactly one hundred droplets of spiritual‑energy liquid lay in his Qi Sea!

In the next moment, all the spiritual liquid converged.

Buzzing!!

Ripples radiated outward!

He had reached the Spirit Sea Realm!

“Haha, it’s finally done!”

Gu Fan felt the power within him leap to a new height.

Then he channeled spiritual power and thrust out a punch.

In an instant, the entire pedestrian street felt as if an invisible giant hand had swept across it!

Chunks of concrete and rebar flew everywhere.

Gu Fan watched as the pedestrian street before him was destroyed by his punch.

He gained a new awareness of his destructive force.

Retracting his fist, Gu Fan let out a breath of relief.

Now that he had reached the Spirit Sea Realm, time had passed—over four days. By proportion, it was time for him to return.

Gu Fan returned to the shelter.

He found Xia Yan and told her everything about the evolved zombies, warning her to be cautious about the shelter’s security.

Then, with a shift in posture, he returned to the cultivation world.

….

In the cultivation world.

When Gu Fan arrived, it was already past noon.

So he strolled around the small town a few more times.

Until, in the afternoon, a messenger from the City Lord’s residence summoned him.

Only then did he leisurely head toward the residence.

Upon arriving, Shi Xuan led a group of family heads and stepped forward to salute.

“Master Gu! How have you found the city these past two days?”

“It’s fine, but City Lord Shi, I must have some explanation regarding this immortal tribute matter!”

Shi Xuan sneered inwardly.

An explanation?

Just wait, you’ll see how you’ll explain it.

“Master Gu, rest assured, this matter will not embarrass you. Shall we enter the feast first?”

“That would be good.”

This feast went smoother than the last.

Without the brash Ye Yuan present, everyone naturally began to lift their cups in succession.

Amidst rising spirits, the Family Head of the Lin clan suddenly wore a mysterious expression.

“Master Gu, actually, the City Lord had another matter to discuss. Our Luoyang City acquired a treasure a year ago, but despite a year of study, we’ve made no breakthroughs. Master Gu, young yet with such cultivation, we’ve decided to give it to you.”

When Shi Xuan spoke, everyone responded in agreement.

Gu Fan clearly understood and smiled: “Very well. May I know where the treasure is?”

“Master please follow me; it’s in the backyard.”

Everyone caught the meaning—when Gu Fan stood, they blocked the exit.

A subtle smile curved Gu Fan’s lips.

After a few steps, Shi Xuan led Gu Fan to a small pond.

In its center, a purple, enchanting lotus swayed slowly.

Shi Xuan turned to Gu Fan, wearing a sly grin.

“How about it? Master Gu, do you recognize this item?”

At that moment, everyone believed the situation was already settled.

Even if Gu Fan had some kind of life-saving trump card, there was no way he could escape.

The Head of the Xiao Family burst into laughter and spoke with a tone full of mockery:

“Master Gu is, after all, a disciple of a great sect. I suppose he hasn’t been down the mountain many times. How could he possibly recognize this treasure?”

“Haha, that’s right! So few in this world know of such an item. The City Lord is probably putting him on the spot.”

“What a pity about the Ye Family Head. Had he not acted rashly, he would be the happiest one now.”

Everyone relaxed as never before, as if Gu Fan was already a dead man.

Their tone became increasingly casual as they spoke.

Shi Xuan stared at Gu Fan with a sneer.

“Master Gu, why are you silent now?”

Suddenly, Gu Fan stepped forward and clicked his tongue a few times at the purple lotus.

“I must say…”

“This Annihilation Evil Lotus of yours is poorly cultivated. I raised this kind of thing since I was a child—you lot are doing it all wrong. Not enough nourishment!”

The scene instantly fell silent.

Several family heads gaped in shock!

Gu Fan had recognized the Evil Lotus at a glance!

How could that be possible?

“Impossible! The Annihilation Evil Lotus is so rare—how could you have seen one before?!”

The Fang Family Head protested excitedly.

“What’s so rare about it? It just has a flashy name. Back in the Heavenly Evil Sect, I used to brew tea with it when I was bored. Your horizons are simply too narrow!”

At that, many of them nearly lost their composure.

Could it be that this was actually a common lotus?

Did that mean their sacrifices—half the city’s population to cultivate this Evil Lotus—had all been in vain?

“Gu Fan! Stop putting on an act! Han Qian must’ve told you all this!”

Shi Xuan’s expression turned cold as he stared at Gu Fan.

This item had been discovered by him and Han Qian by accident in an ancient ruin—how could it be some mass-produced object?

Gu Fan almost laughed at everyone’s reactions.

Seeing his expression, everyone immediately realized—they’d been played.

The Fang Family Head gave a cold snort.

“I say we all attack together and kill this brat quickly. No need to let him keep bluffing when death is already upon him!”

The crowd exchanged glances and struck without hesitation.

In an instant, colorful attacks of all kinds surged toward Gu Fan!

“Heh, this is it?”

Gu Fan remained unflinching in the face of the combined assault.

Before him, the Soul Puppet appeared, letting out a loud roar as it launched two massive black demonic fists.

Boom!!

Spiritual energy erupted, and in the blink of an eye, all the attacks were shattered!

Then the Soul Puppet swung again, punching toward the crowd.

All the family heads coughed up blood and were sent flying!

“This is bad! How can he be so powerful! The murderous aura is overwhelming!”

“This person cultivates extremely powerful demonic arts—who knows how many lives he’s taken to grow this strong! City Lord, quickly activate the Evil Lotus and suppress him!”

Shi Xuan didn’t need their reminder—he had already connected with the Evil Lotus.

He hadn’t expected Gu Fan to be so strong; from the looks of it, the latter was at least at the eighth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm.

At the same time, Shi Xuan saw the overwhelming killing aura around Gu Fan, the sinister shadows surrounding him, and behind him, countless spectral corpses faintly looming!

Just how many people had this guy killed!?

A true bringer of slaughter!

Shi Xuan was immensely glad that he had lured him to the backyard.

Otherwise, this would have ended very badly!

“Gu Fan! Don’t be arrogant! Today, I’ll use your flesh and blood to help my Evil Lotus reach full maturity!”

As soon as his words fell, the purple lotus began to sway gently.

Tendrils surged from the pool, continuously stabbing toward Gu Fan.

But just then, an unexpected twist occurred.

A stone shot out from Gu Fan’s chest.

Next, a radiant light emerged from within the stone and, in the blink of an eye, dove straight into the Evil Lotus’s core!

Gu Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly—the item causing the disruption was none other than the Sound Recording Stone left behind by Han Qian!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep