CHAPTER 896: CHAPTER 892: CRUSHING VICTORY

With Ye Fan’s current strength, he couldn’t yet face opponents like Brother Lian, who was at the mid to late Golden Core Stage. However, besides his incomplete spiritual artifact, the Magic Mirror, he also had a low-grade but highly growth-oriented treasure, the Town Refinement Banner.

The Town Refinement Banner could not counteract tangible objects, but it had an almost terrifying effect on Spiritual Energy, nearly fully absorbing it. With Brother Lian’s Golden Core Stage cultivation, the Spiritual Energy he released could only be mostly absorbed by the Town Refinement Banner. Resolving this would allow Ye Fan to withstand this wave of attack.

"Die!" Brother Lian leaped down from above, aiming a palm at Ye Fan’s crown.

At this moment, Ye Fan was entirely focused on neutralizing the strong Spiritual Energy rushing at him, unable to pay heed to the danger from above.

This was the effect of a disparity in cultivation levels. Though Ye Fan had two treasures, and Brother Lian was barehanded, Ye Fan could barely put up a defense, struggling to cope.

But the potential Ye Fan unleashed when pushed to the brink was also quite terrifying. Apart from the Town Refinement Banner, Ye Fan relied on his ancient martial arts and cultivation that unexpectedly progressed under this absolute pressure.

"Buzz..."

Another thunderous sound erupted. The Nine Yang Divine Skill within Ye Fan, in conjunction with his ancient martial arts cultivation, reconsolidated the Spiritual Energy converted by the Town Refinement Banner. This Spiritual Energy didn’t enter Ye Fan’s body, but he manipulated it, forming a pale golden aura around him, like a Buddha seal enveloping his body.

Seeing the anomaly before him, Brother Lian realized that if he directly confronted Ye Fan, at most, Ye Fan would die, and he would be injured.

Clearly not wanting his cultivation damaged just to kill Ye Fan, Brother Lian’s once-deadly palm weakened in force. Craving Ye Fan’s skull, he chose again to assault with Spiritual Energy.

"If I can’t turn you into a meat patty, breaking your skull will still fulfill my purpose."

However, Brother Lian clearly overestimated the power of his palm. After the Town Refinement Banner absorbed the previous surge of Spiritual Energy, combined with the Spiritual Energy and Qi Force Ye Fan harnessed from the ancient martial arts and Nine Yang Divine Skill, the pale golden barrier acted as an insurmountable wall, blocking the rapidly descending energy.

Ye Fan seemed to have grasped a bit of the technique for using the Town Refinement Banner. Its best effect was becoming stronger against strong foes, propelling his ancient martial arts cultivation greatly.

He was only a tier lower than his opponent, who underestimated him. Twice trying to kill him with Spiritual Energy, the Town Refinement Banner absorbed and converted most of the energy, not only increasing its grade but allowing Ye Fan to use it for counterattacks.

Originally struggling with closed eyes, Ye Fan suddenly opened them wide after Brother Lian’s airborne palm strike. One eye emitted a blue light from his natural Spiritual Energy; the other, a pale golden glow from combined Spiritual Energy and Qi Force. Before his opponent could launch a third attack after withdrawing for more power, Ye Fan struck back.

The Town Refinement Banner expanded, giving the impression of covering the sky. Wielding it, Ye Fan brought it down over Brother Lian.

Despite experiencing a brief depletion of Spiritual Energy after two palms, Brother Lian, standing firm again, disdained this flag-like treasure. Smirking slightly as before, instead of confronting with his body, he once more used Spiritual Energy.

"Ah?"

As Brother Lian released Qi Force to shatter the incoming Town Refinement Banner, he felt his Spiritual Energy collapse like a breached dam, becoming crazily absorbed by the giant banner. Shocked, he found he couldn’t retract his energy, unable to close off any outlets internally.

"Brother?"

Those Tianzong disciples battling with Qing Xu intended just to "play" with him, without causing harm. Thus, failing to subdue Qing Xu, they noticed something abnormal on Brother Lian’s side after just two or three moves.

Initially, Brother Lian could resist the Town Refinement Banner’s suction, but soon his Golden Core and Foundation became unstable simultaneously.

A Golden Core Stage expert had to progress from Foundation Establishment. The Golden Core was a Nascent Soul’s embryo; forming it required first stabilizing the Foundation. If both Foundation and Core were destroyed, however great his Spirit Root or talent, he would forever be limited to late Foundation Stage, as only once could a Golden Core be formed within one.

The thought came to Brother Lian’s mind: "Impossible, he is far inferior in strength, how can his power be this strong?"

As the light of his Golden Core gradually dimmed, believing his cultivation doomed, a powerful force came from the main hall of the Profound Sect. Originally about to drain his Spiritual Energy, the Town Refinement Banner now faced a stronger energy, eager to devour it like a hungry demon.

Unfortunately, this energy was too powerful; one bite overfilled the Town Refinement Banner’s capacity.

The banner seemed to have its own consciousness, shrinking instantly, eventually becoming just a piece of cloth in Ye Fan’s hand.

"Bang!"

Without support, Brother Lian fell heavily to the ground. Though his Golden Core wasn’t destroyed, it had cracks. Without years of recuperation, recovering his original cultivation would be impossible. Lying on the ground, blood trickling from his mouth, Ye Fan could easily kill him with a single step.

"Who’s causing a ruckus here?" came the voice of the beauty sect master, Hua Wu, whose strike had just been launched.

If not for Hua Wu’s appearance, Brother Lian’s cultivation would have been consumed by the Town Refinement Banner.

"Master!"

Upon seeing Hua Wu, Tianzong’s disciples, previously besieging Qing Xu, retreated to stand aside. Meanwhile, Ye Fan felt exhausted. Battling an opponent a whole tier above him, despite not losing thanks to the Town Refinement Banner, took a toll on him, though his injuries weren’t as severe as Brother Lian’s.

"Master, he was the one who was rude first," insisted a Tianzong disciple, seeing no escape from punishment, trying to shift the blame.

Hua Wu stood firm, her gaze fell on the Town Refinement Banner in Ye Fan’s hand, sneering, "Qing Xu and Qing Neng are still unrefined, and yet, you dare bite back on my Profound Sect’s ground?"

The Tianzong disciples were startled. Hua Wu usually remained secluded in cultivation, rarely appearing; this visit caught them unexpectantly.

Ignoring severely injured Brother Lian, Hua Wu focused on Ye Fan, sternly demanding, "Where did you get that evil spirit banner in your hand?"