Best Young Master

The Immortal Martial Academy is located right in the center of six Dragon Veins. The Dragon Veins surge with Primordial Qi, enveloping the area like water. Towering Ancient Trees and fragrant Yao Grass abound; Spiritual Springs are everywhere, and waterfalls emit mist and clouds like rolling thunder!

Today is the day a new batch of disciples returns from the Immortal Secret Realm, with countless eyes fixed on a particular Forbidden Land, waiting quietly.

Unlike the Imperial Academy, which only recruits unparalleled geniuses and the strongest heirs of the Di Clan, Holy Lands, and the Wu Shang Sect, the disciples come from various regions, representing a complex web of different powers. Among the new batch of disciples are quite a few old acquaintances.

On the summit of a low mountain, Yaling stands gracefully in a light moon-white Yan Luo dress, exuding an otherworldly charm like a Banished Immortal, irresistibly alluring yet majestic. She resembles a deep pool, unfathomable.

Everyone knows that Yaling is the Holy Maiden of the Treasure Pavilion, and heir to the next Pavilion Master. She must be here to welcome Jin Changgeng, the Saint Heir of the Treasure Pavilion.

Not far from her side, a figure stood, majestic as a god yet as formidable as a demon, emitting an aura of fierceness.

This young man’s panther-like head and round eyes, with whiskers rooted in his flesh like steel needles, resemble a bristling porcupine, clearly indicating a person not to be trifled with.

"Why is Han Sandong, that fierce bandit, here too?" someone asked in confusion.

"You don’t know? In this group of new disciples is someone named Hu Fei, his brother. How could he not come?"

Many are shocked that Han Sandong is here to welcome someone because he is known in the academy as the Lone Wolf—antisocial and proud yet incredibly strong. Who would warrant his personal welcome?

"Hu Fei? Could he be a descendant of Hu Tongtian, ranked fourth among the Nine Great Bandits? No wonder Han Sandong came personally. Han Sandong’s grandfather was ranked third among the Nine Great Bandits and had a good relationship with Hu Tongtian. Their descendants must have a strong connection!"

Only then do people realize, looking at Han Sandong with eyes full of awe and dread. He is undoubtedly a formidable figure, with immense power.

As people continue to speculate, another figure appears beside Yaling and Han Sandong. Standing with them, gazing towards the Forbidden Land leading to the Immortal Secret Realm.

"The genius from the Sikong Family of the Eastern Domain, Sikong Po? Why is he here? He isn’t known to be close to any of the new disciples."

Seeing Sikong Po appear, many are puzzled since none of the new disciples seem to have any connection to him.

Standing together, these three can certainly intimidate many, prompting people to naturally keep their distance.

Besides the hill where Yaling and the others are, other places are also filled with people waiting for their respective ones.

In the academy, while personal strength is important, having like-minded friends is crucial for success.

To vie for cultivation resources, at Immortal Martial Academy, almost periodically, talents ranked low challenge those ahead to gain better rankings and resources.

Whoosh!

As everyone waits anxiously, Elder Lan Yingfei appears. Behind him, Ye Fan and others file out. Without the guidance of an elder, they couldn’t possibly navigate the Quasi-Emperor’s Killing Array, lest they trigger it, turning everyone into Blood Mud, eradicating even their Divine Souls.

After crossing the Killing Array, Elder Lan Yingfei smiles slightly, glancing at those who came to greet them. Turning to Ye Fan and others, he says, "Welcome back, little brats. Rest well today. The ranking tournament will be held tomorrow. It’s your best chance to prove yourselves and gain better cultivation resources. Do your best!"

Whoosh!

As he finishes speaking, Elder Lan Yingfei’s figure moves a step, covering several hundred feet, disappearing from sight, headed to report to the Dean Old Immortal.

"Little brother, Changgeng, welcome back!"

Seeing Ye Fan and others emerge, Yaling and the others smile and go to greet them, exchanging pleasantries with everyone.

"Saintess Yaling is becoming more beautiful, making us feel ashamed!"

Hu Fei teased Yaling playfully, having grown familiar with each other, allowing for more casual conversation.

"Little bandit, is your skin itching? Want sister to help loosen your bones!"

Yaling smiled radiantly at Hu Fei, frightening him into speechlessness, knowing better than to flirt again.

"Hu Fei, what were your gains this past year?"

Han Sandong stepped forward, positioning himself between Yaling and Hu Fei, knowing full well Yaling’s fearsome prowess. Even in his all-out state, matching Yaling might be a stretch, let alone Hu Fei.

"Quite fruitful. The Immortal Secret Realm is indeed the best place for practice; one year there is equivalent to several years outside," Hu Fei replied seriously, holding great respect for his third brother.

Among the Nine Great Bandits, aside from the mysterious Old Bastard Divine Dragon who is difficult to track, Han Sandong could be considered the strongest.

"That’s good, keep working hard at Cultivation. Someday, we should also go ahead and venture on Emperor Road ourselves. Even if we can’t Prove Dao, as long as we can dominate the Northern Domain, that’s enough. By then, the nine of us will join forces to achieve glory once more, and rob all the treasures of those so-called Holy Lands and Di Clan!"

Han Sandong laughed heartily, fully displaying the charm of a fierce bandit, not taking even Holy Land and Di Clan seriously.

"I say, are you two rogues addicted to robbery?"

Gu Hao, the Ancient Saint, seemed a bit displeased. Without any unexpected events, he would definitely become the Saint of the Ancient Sacred Land. Wasn’t this undermining him?

"Uh... slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, Brother Gu Hao is one of us. We definitely wouldn’t rob you! Rest assured, as long as you ascend to the position of Saint of Ancient Sacred Land, no one will dare touch your spirit stone mine in the Northern Domain!" Han Sandong said awkwardly, his old face turning red.

Gu Hao felt a twinge in his heart; this was no small promise. Be aware, the Nine Great Bandits run rampant in the Northern Domain, with even Empire Clans possessing broken Emperor Weapons being disregarded by them. If he could secure their protection, ascending to the position of Saint would be a certainty.

Even for the long-term development of the Sacred Land, the Saint would pass the position to someone with a close relationship with the bandits, ensuring the spirit stone mine industry in the Northern Domain remains untouched.

"Then thank you! If I become the Saint, I will surely ally with everyone!"

Gu Hao also made his promise. Having the support of the Nine Great Bandits is more crucial than anything else, even the Saint must weigh its pros and cons. He firmly ensured Han Sandong’s alliance.

"What about me? Our Sikong Family also has interests in the Northern Domain!" Sikong Po said with a smile as he walked over.

"Do you want us to survive or not? If everyone were like you, we bandits would have to change careers! Well, we won’t touch the Sikong Family’s interests either!"

Han Sandong was clearly joking, strong people appreciate each other, and he and Sikong Po have a good personal relationship. In the past year, outside of Cultivation, they shared fierce drinking sessions, each time drinking Sikong Po to exhaustion.

"That’s more like it, it’s rare for us all to gather today. I propose a small party to welcome everyone and wish good results for tomorrow’s ranking match!"

Sikong Po’s proposal received consensus; the group noisily headed outside the academy.

Not far behind them, Saintess Ling Ziyuan from Purple Smoke Pavilion silently watched Ye Fan’s back.

A woman’s sixth sense told her that Saintess Yaling from the Treasure Pavilion might have some inexplicable feelings towards Ye Fan.

Recalling that Ye Fan once lived with Yaling for several days before, Ling Ziyuan felt an indescribable melancholy, silently sighed, and turned away.

Inside the academy, there was a restaurant set up by that Old Fox, the vice principal, but they didn’t go there, choosing instead to head towards the mountains and forests.

The Old Fox vice principal is extremely greedy, if anything flies by, he plucks it clean. The restaurant he opened within the academy is extravagantly luxurious with outrageously high prices.

Many disciples from the Immortal Academy come from wealthy clans or sects, almost sparing no expense to cultivate a genius, so they’re not stingy with spending.

Cultivators are human too; they need to experience worldly life amidst their tense Cultivation routines, and the restaurant is an ideal place to do so during their free time.

Shi Ye and Hu Fei, among others, have tasted Ye Fan’s cooking, and know his culinary skills aren’t less than those top chefs at the academy.

The group of eight reached a small valley surrounded by green hills and clear waters. Barbarian Shi Ye took a big stick and wandered in the woods for a while, soon returning carrying a Xuan Beast weighing several thousand pounds.

This was a Crocodile Dragon, with a body like a crocodile and a head like a dragon, its veins carried traces of True Dragon Blood. With hard Cultivation, perhaps it had a glimmer of opportunity to activate the True Dragon Blood within and move closer to a True Dragon.

Unfortunately, this Crocodile Dragon encountered Barbarian Shi Ye and could only become a meal for the group.

Ye Fan personally took action, cleaning and skinning the Crocodile Dragon, refining the murderous Qi from its flesh, then dividing it into thousands of pieces. He retrieved a large iron pot and various seasonings from the Virtual Space, set up the pot, fetched Spiritual Spring Water, and began to stew Crocodile Dragon meat.

Additionally, Ye Fan drew out a heap of flames, took out the Thunder Emperor Spear, skewered the Crocodile Dragon meat weighing hundreds of pounds, and set it on fire to roast.

Poor Crocodile Dragon, whose Cultivation reached Early-stage Divine Realm, yet got knocked out by a Barbarian of the same realm and ended up as a meal for the group, contributing to Humans.

Yaling looked at the bustling Ye Fan with a smile on her face, her eyes sparkling with curiosity—Does this guy know if he’s passed through the Divine Soul Bridge, Lake of Reincarnation, and Life and Death Tower?

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