Top-tier Unruly Master

Ding Fan and Cheng Bufan couldn't delay and immediately got up.

The Quanzhen Xuanmen was at a considerable distance. Without more thought, Ding Fan took Cheng Bufan by Sword Control.

Cheng Bufan knew Ding Fan was very strong, but he had never thought Ding Fan was so powerful as to be able to travel by flying sword.

What should have been a long journey to the Medicinal Garden was reduced to just two hours by traveling via flying sword, reaching a dense forest where the Quanzhen Xuanmen was located.

Ding Fan landed the flying sword, surveying the surroundings.

They were in a big mountain. The vegetation was thick, the forest canopy made up of unidentified broad-leaved trees so dense that hardly any sunlight could penetrate. Thus, the forest felt very dark inside.

Ding Fan extended his Divine Sense into the surrounding area, and to his surprise, the forest was equipped with some mechanisms.

The complexity of the forest seemed designed according to Eight Trigrams. Evidently, a skilled person had set up a maze here long ago specifically to confuse unwary eyes.

"Junior brother, stay close. This place is extraordinary; make sure you don't lose your way," Cheng Bufan said at this time.

Though the area was complicated for Ding Fan, it was not so for Cheng Bufan, who had grown up here.

Immediately, Cheng Bufan led the way ahead, with Ding Fan closely following as they fast made their way deeper into the woods.

Cheng Bufan led the way nonstop for over an hour before they finally arrived at a waterfall.

Ding Fan silently marveled at how complex the route was. The path had been a maze created by the trees, presumably planted decades ago by a master who had let them naturally form into such a labyrinth.

Had Cheng Bufan not been leading, Ding Fan would have found it quite difficult to navigate the path on his own.

"We are surrounded by an ambush..." Ding Fan used Divine Sense to survey the area and sent the information through True Qi to Cheng Bufan's ears.

Although Cheng Bufan's Mental Power was not enough to detect the ambush, he trusted Ding Fan's Divine Sense completely.

"Where is the ambush, and how many people?" Cheng Bufan asked softly, pretending not to care, as he turned to Ding Fan.

"Behind a big rock one mile from this waterfall, at least six Earth Level Intermediate Martial Artists are hiding, including two at the Earth Level Peak," Ding Fan replied.

Cheng Bufan's expression darkened immediately.

He knew that in smaller sects, having three or four Earth Level Martial Artists was already quite an achievement. Those at the Earth Level Peak were even rarer.

The fact that two Earth Level Peak martial artists were among those ambushing behind the rock, with the other four being at least Earth Level Intermediate, indicated a very formidable group. From this, it was clear that their intentions were hostile. Furthermore, since these people were lurking near the mountain gate of the Quanzhen Xuanmen, it was evident they were targeting the Sect.

At that moment, Cheng Bufan felt a surge of urgency. He needed to meet the sect leader quickly to report the situation.

Swish, swish, swish...

Just then, three powerful gusts of wind suddenly shot towards them.

Ding Fan immediately raised his right hand, sending out a Wind Blade that dispersed the three incoming gusts.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

As soon as Ding Fan had neutralized the three gusts, three figures had already crossed the waterfall and confronted Ding Fan and Cheng Bufan.

The leader of the trio was a slender, tall young man who appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, followed by two subordinates.

"Cheng Bufan? I can't believe you have the audacity to come to the Quanzhen Xuanmen," the tall young man said disdainfully after sizing up Ding Fan, then he turned to Cheng Bufan.

"Jia Tong, I need to see the sect leader. I have something very important..." Cheng Bufan said anxiously.

According to ****, Kou Yan had already arrived at Quanzhen Xuanmen, and with many skilled opponents lurking outside, Cheng Bufan had to meet the sect leader quickly.

The young man known as Jia Tong snorted lightly. "Cheng Bufan, do you still think you're the old you? Do you think you are still sought after? Let me tell you, the sect leader has spoken, and you have been expelled from the sect. That means you have no relationship with the Quanzhen Xuanmen anymore. Don't ever come back."

Cheng Bufan frowned deeply. "Jia Tong, I know we had some misunderstandings among our fellow disciples, but now is not the time for that. If you don't let me meet the sect leader, our Quanzhen Xuanmen will be in danger."

"Danger? I think the danger is because of you," Jia Tong retorted. "Go back. I won't let you in."

"You!" Cheng Bufan's frown deepened. He was extremely anxious, but Jia Tong was wasting his time.

"What? Do you want to fight me? Cheng Bufan, I admit I'm no match for you, but don't say I didn't warn you. If you lay a hand on me here, you'll be challenging the entire Quanzhen Xuanmen alone," Jia Tong said, pointing a finger at Cheng Bufan's nose. "Go ahead, touch me!"

Although anxious, Cheng Bufan really couldn't make a move against Jia Tong. After all, he'd been expelled from the sect, and if he were to strike Jia Tong now, it would amount to provoking the sect.

"What's wrong? Scared? You dare not?" Jia Tong taunted, stepping forward.

"Jia Tong, it was all my fault before. Please, for the sake of our past brotherhood, just let me report this to the sect leader. I truly have something very important to discuss with the master," Cheng Bufan pleaded.

Jia Tong looked up arrogantly. "I'm telling you—it's impossible!"

Cheng Bufan, seeing Jia Tong's attitude, truly didn't know what to do. If Jia Tong really refused to report, then he would have no other way to inform the master.

Ding Fan, standing next to Cheng Bufan, watched the scene. Although displeased, he refrained from intervening, as doing so would only make things difficult for Cheng Bufan.

"What's going on? Why is it so noisy?" Just then, a figure floated over.

"Junior Sister Qi?" Cheng Bufan's eyes lit up when he saw the newcomer. "Junior Sister Qi, it's great that you've come..."

The beauty who floated over was none other than Qi Luomei.

Qi Luomei floated before Ding Fan and Cheng Bufan. She looked at Cheng Bufan coldly. Her attitude was as frosty as ice, and even Ding Fan standing beside could feel the chill.

"Cheng Bufan, you are no longer a disciple of our sect. From now on, please do not address me as your sibling," Qi Luomei's voice was icy, devoid of any emotional color.

Cheng Bufan's body trembled slightly, and Ding Fan could feel Cheng Bufan's desolation beside him.

Cheng Bufan struggled to control his emotions, then slowly performed the martial artist's salute, following the proper protocols.

"Qi... Qi Luomei... I have something important and would like to visit the leader of Quanzhen Xuanmen... please help me convey this..."

Ding Fan looked at Cheng Bufan.

When he accompanied Cheng Bufan to Longxi back then, Ding Fan could see the deep bond between Cheng Bufan and Qi Luomei.

Ding Fan had never imagined that the two could end up in such a situation. Imagining the formality of Cheng Bufan's current speech, Ding Fan seemed to see Cheng Bufan's heart bleeding.

Qi Luomei's tone was cold. "You better leave. The sect leader is meeting with important guests. He will not see you."

After speaking, she turned to leave.

"Qi... Qi Luomei..." Cheng Bufan hurriedly called out to stop Qi Luomei.

Qi Luomei stood still, but she did not turn around.

"Qi Luomei, I really have urgent business with the sect leader. If I can't see him now, Quanzhen Xuanmen is in danger... Qi Luomei, I know you hate me, but please believe me this time..."

Cheng Bufan, because he was agitated, took big steps toward Qi Luomei.

Boom... But just as Cheng Bufan was approaching Qi Luomei, Jia Tong launched a direct palm strike from the side.

At that moment, Cheng Bufan had not anticipated Jia Tong's sneak attack.

Bang...

Jia Tong's palm landed solidly on Cheng Bufan's arm.

Cheng Bufan did not steady himself and was thrown off balance by the force of the palm.

"How dare you disrespect Junior Sister Qi; such insolence from the younger generation!" Jia Tong, having gained the upper hand with one palm, continued to attack, sending another palm strike directly toward Cheng Bufan's head.

Though Jia Tong's cultivation was not very strong, if this palm truly landed on the head, Cheng Bufan would have been killed on the spot.

"Impudent boy!"

Just then, from obliquely across, Ding Fan rushed over. Before Jia Tong's palm could hit Cheng Bufan's head, Ding Fan kicked him and sent him flying.

Ding Fan stood beside Cheng Bufan, hands behind his back.

Cheng Bufan endured them, showing great generosity, but Ding Fan did not have the habit of indulging others.

"You... you... you dare run wild in front of the sect gate. It seems you don't know the strength of Quanzhen Xuanmen!" Jia Tong, who had climbed out of the bushes, stammered.

The kick Ding Fan gave to Jia Tong used no True Qi at all; if he had, Jia Tong would certainly not have been able to get up.

Ding Fan did this naturally out of respect for Cheng Bufan.

At that moment, Jia Tong climbed out of the bushes, not showing any signs of compliance, instead he invoked the name of Quanzhen Xuanmen.

Ding Fan was somewhat annoyed. "If you provoke me, what is flattening your Quanzhen Xuanmen to me?"

Ding Fan and Cheng Bufan had come from far away to warn Quanzhen Xuanmen of danger, but this roadblock was causing trouble at every turn. If not for the deep connection between Quanzhen Xuanmen and Cheng Bufan, Ding Fan would not have bothered with them.

"Fine... Fine, lad, you do have a sharp tongue. I'm going back to call for backup, but you'd better keep up this tough talk. Don't start cowering when we bring the tough guys," Jia Tong pointed at Ding Fan and said.

Jia Tong was aware of his own limits; the opponent had sent him flying with his first move, and he was simply no match for Ding Fan. Hence, he thought of finding an excuse to go back and bring reinforcements.

"Wait..." Just then, the silent Qi Luomei spoke.

"Junior Sister Qi..." Jia Tong, seeing Qi Luomei speak, did not rush back to call for help.

"There's no need to call anyone. Let them go," Qi Luomei said indifferently.

"But... but Junior Sister Qi..." Jia Tong still wanted to say something.

"Could it be that you're not going to listen to me?" Qi Luomei coldly glanced at Jia Tong standing beside her.

Jia Tong hurriedly waved his hands. "How could I not listen to Junior Sister Qi... I'm listening."

After speaking, Jia Tong looked back at Ding Fan. "You're lucky, boy..."