Chapter 939: Who in the World Didn"t Know Him?
Of the thirteen states in the Beihuang Region, the Zhenhai State was the largest. Large swaths of its land mass were occupied by lakes and swamps with countless ancient cities scattered across it.
The Luo family of Canglang City was one of the Seven Great Ancient Families. Although there had never been a Heavenly Lord in the family, it boasted an abundance of Grand Perfected Cultivators and over a hundred Golden Core Cultivators. A few thousand years in the past, one of their Ancestral Chiefs had attained a superior-grade Golden Core. Over all, the Luo family was no less powerful than the Zhao family of Beihan; it was a powerful force in its own right.
"Hew!"
A giant Black Snake of the Red River flew across the sky. It stretched out its few thousand meter long body, forcing the other vehicles in the air to the side.
"Miss Gongsun, there are thousands of miles between Canglang City and Medicine City, but everyone has heard of the Luo family. Even a sect master would have made way for the Black Snake of the Red River."
Luo Qianyan stood on the flat forehead of the snake and looked down at the land and the residences in the area.
He let out a peal of laughter, lacing his voice with confidence and pride.
The most talented cultivator in the Luo Family, Luo Qianyan had not even reached a hundred years old yet, but he had already formed a level six Golden Core and was only half a step away from a superior-grade Golden Core. Although he wasn't as powerful as Feng Yuqiu or Nin Haichao, he was a powerful cultivator in his own right and was much more powerful than billions of ordinary cultivators.
The girl standing beside him said nothing.
She was wearing a splendid court outfit that complimented her breathtaking beauty. A Golden belt cinched her thin waist, accentuating her ample breasts. She was as attractive as the Wu sisters. Her radiating beauty put the appearance of many servant girls to shame.
However, there was a hint of arrogance locked in between her eyebrows.
"I have heard that Wang Xuanlong was the dominant force in the Beihuang Region. Wang Xuanlong ranked number ninety three on the Longevity Roll, a far cry when compared with my senior brother," Gongsun Lan said faintly.
Luo Qianyan's pulled a taut face after he heard those words.
Luo Qianyan exclaimed, "Beihuang is the least powerful among all the Heavenly Regions and is far behind the prosperous Liyang Region.
"Other than the Incorruptible Sacred Land and the Ten Major Heavenly Regions, the Liyang Heavenly Region is the strongest. Your brother, Gongsun Kui, is on par with Jun Aochen and Li Huaixian. So prosperous is the Liyang Region that it has produced three Longevity Roll Elites."
He knew that the girl was from a side branch of the Gongsun family. However, the Gongsun family was a real Heavenly Lord Family with a Nascent Soul Cultivator guarding it. They were as powerful as the Wang Family and not even the Luo Family could compare.
Therefore, Luo Qianyan would tread carefully around the gorgeous girl.
"Haha."
Gongsun Lan laughed lightly,but the pride in her voice was palpable.
"Senior Brother ranked number eighteen on the Longevity Roll. However, with his raw talent and fame, he will rise to challenge Jun Aochen and Li Huaixian very soon."
An admiration that verged on infatuation flashed across Gongsun Lan's face. It was apparent that the girl was deeply in love with her senior brother.
Luo Qianyan noticed the girl's sentiment, and his smile froze.
Luo Qianyan hesitated and said, "As a matter of fact, the most capable young cultivator in the Beihuang Region is no longer Wang Xuanlong."
"Oh? Who is it then? I haven't heard of a second person from the Beihuang Region taking a spot on the Longevity Roll." Gongsun Lan was taken aback. She shot a doubtful glance at the man beside her.
Even as Luo Qianyan was going to provide the answer, the air around them seemed to have stopped moving.
He looked up and saw the crowd around them make way for a black carriage that came forth from afar. The rider of the carriage was an old man in a black outfit. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first glance.
"It's him?"
Luo Qianyan was taken by surprise. He hurried to order the snake rider to pull over.
The black carriage rode forward and past the black snake with a cold indifference. No one dared to speak a word. Luo Qianyan stood atop the snake, and bowed slightly at the carriage. He didn't look up until the carriage had passed.
"Was that the Wang Family's carriage?"
Gongsun Lan knew that the owner of the carriage was a powerful force, so she asked after the carriage had disappeared. The only faction that she could think of was the Wang Family.
Even when she spoke their name, her arrogance didn't wane even the slightest.
Although she was from a side branch of the Gongsun Family, the overall strength of the Wang Family was still one notch below them. The Gongsun Family had risen to power using their expertise in Array Formation. In the last ten thousand years, the family had produced three Heavenly Lords while the Wang Family only had one. In addition, the ordinary appearance of the Wang Family's carriage perplexed Gongsun Lan. The procession of the Gongsun Family Lord was much more gradiose than this.
"He is much more terrifying than the Wang Family."
Luo Qianyan rose to his feet.
"Hm?"
Gongsun Lan knotted her brows in confusion.
"Back to your question: Who is the most powerful young man in the Beihuang Region?" Luo Qianyan let out a wry smile. "It's the owner of that carriage.
"Chen Beixuan!"
"Chen Beixuan?"
Gongsun Lan looked confused for a second.
Suddenly, a shocked expression surfaced on her face.
"You mean the one who uprooted the Feng Family and countered a Heavenly Treasure with his bare hands?"
Luo Qianyan nodded. The princess of the Gongsun Family let out a gasp of cold air. She looked into the distance where the carriage had disappeared, eyes filled with fear and apprehension.
Although the Feng Family was no match against the Gongsun Family, Chen Fan's unthinkable achievement outshined anything her senior brother, Gongsun Kui had done.
"Is he really that terrifying?" A pang of suspicion rose in Gongsun Lan's mind.
Meanwhile, Luo Qianyan stared at the direction where the carriage was headed in confusion.
"That's where the Wu Family is. Is Chen Fan going to make a move against the Wu Family?"
The thought filled Luo Qianyan's heart with fear.
Meanwhile, inside the black carriage...
Chen Fan was wearing an azure outfit while he sat cross legged on a bench. He looked nothing like a cultivator. A blade crescent blade lay over his lap.
The blade jittered from time to time, trying to break free from Chen Fan's hold. Each time that happened, Chen Fan would tap it gently, pacifying it with a pulse of azure energy.
"Senior Chen Fan, are we heading to the Wu Family?" Mu Hongti asked with hesitation.
Lin Wuhua also furrowed her brow.
They had mixed feelings about the Wu Family. It's true that some individuals in the Wu Family tried to betray Chen Fan, and Wu Baisu had also refused to help Chen Fan during a critical moment, but Wu Qinyan had treated the girls very well.
"I have no quarrels with the Wu Family, I just want to say goodbye and return a small favor."
Chen Fan shook his head.
The Heavenly Blade of Obliteration vibrated violently as Chen Fan spoke, attracting the three girls' attention. Although they had not seen Chen Fan's battle at the Zilan State, they had heard a lot about it.
They heard that Chen Fan had completely uprooted the Feng Family, slaughtering every single member of the clan. After that, he took the Heavenly Blade of Obliteration from the city ruins.
The Hu family, the Nin Family and the Taiyi Sect had asked Chen Fan to return the Heavenly Blade.
However, after Chen Fan killed a couple of their messengers, everyone accepted reality and stopped protesting. By then, Chen Fan was the most dominating presence in the Beihuang Region.
"So, you're going to talk to Sister Qinyan?" Yun Yier asked.
Even as Lin Wuhua and Mu Hongti were trying to pry out some information from Chen Fan, a wizened voice drifted to them from the distance.
"Wu Wendin of the Wu Family welcomes Elixir Monarch Chen!"
The Wu Family had not taken Chen Fan seriously the last time he went to visit them. However, they had gone all out this time. Ancestral Patriarch Wu Wendin had led the entire leadership of the family to welcome Chen Fan a few thousand miles away from their home. The welcoming procession was escorted by the seven Zhenhai Legions of the Wu Family.
Over a hundred thousand cultivators and hundreds of Golden Core Cultivators filled up the sky. Banners of all colors flapped against the wind. They all bowed to Chen Fan with a great measure of deference.
The girls in the carriage were taken aback by the sight.
They were in awe of the reactions produced by Chen Fan's unmatched prestige.
The Heavenly Lord Family had gone all the way to the middle of nowhere to welcome Chen Fan. Wu Wendin was the Ancestral Patriarch of the Wu family, but his voice was filled with respect. Luo Qianyan and Gongsun Lan had followed Chen Fan to that place; they were left aghast by the sight when they arrived.
"Not even my senior brother could make the Family Leader of a Heavenly Lord Family lower his head."
Gongsun Lan's arrogance had slowly been replaced by fear.
A faint voice drifted out from the carriage, "No need for the formality, much less the extravaganza. I'm here to see Qinyan."
"Qinyan?"
The Wu Family members were taken aback.
Ever since Chen Fan toppled the Feng Family, he had risen to power in the Beihuang Region. Countless factions watched his every move with close attention. Therefore, the Wu Family had already known for a while that Chen Fan was on his way to see them; they had been overtaken by fear because of this.
Wu Xiao and many others thought Chen Fan had returned for revenge.
Even Wu Baisu was worried that Chen Fan would force the Wu Family into servitude. Wu Wendin had wished to befriend Chen Fan, but Chen Fan was no longer the aspiring cultivator. Instead, Chen Fan had grown, becoming a terrifying force and a Heavenly Lord's equal. A visit by such a powerful man would scare anyone.
Despite the reverence Wu Wendin had plastered on his face, the Dark Cauldron of Aetherial Water let out faint waves of energy in his hand, ready to strike out. That was the Wu Family's Heavenly Treasure; it was just as powerful as the Heavenly Blade of Obliteration.
However, to everyone's surprise, Chen Fan was there to see Wu Qinyan.
"I am here, my lord."
Wu Wendin waved a hand and ordered Wu Qinyan to step out.
A voice drifted to her mind.
Only
"I'm here to say goodbye.
"I owe you one for telling me Situ Cheng's secrets. To pay you back, I will pass this Alchemy Manual of Clear Jade to you. If you follow the instructions, you will become a Heavenly Alchemist in no time.
"One last thing: look after Qiao Qiao for me."
When the voice faded in Wu Qinyan's mind, she saw the black carriage was already on its way. The only thing that made her believe that voice was real was the new memories of the Alchemy Manual.
"What a weirdo," Wu Baisu mumbled.
Tianhuang Calendar, July 3rd, 129563.
Chen Fan spent three months in the Beihuang Region and was transformed from a no account alchemist to a household name!