At this moment, the middle-aged man was utterly shocked, unable to believe that a cultivator at the Early Nascent Soul Stage could defeat him with one punch, and he even felt that the opponent had held back, which was simply unbelievable!

For Ding Fan, he indeed held back his strength, knowing that his punch could not only defeat a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator but also possibly a Nascent Soul Mid Stage cultivator. Ding Fan considered that the opponent was someone from the so-called City Lord Mansion, so he didn't kill him, knowing he still had to participate in the Great Alchemy Competition, and it was clear he couldn't let his relationship with the City Lord Mansion become too strained at this time.

The men beside the middle-aged leader were shocked to see their leader defeated with just one punch by the opponent. How could it be that the opponent was just an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator while their leader was at Nascent Soul Middle Stage? They were clearly bewildered and couldn't comprehend how that young man had done it!

One of the other middle-aged men at the Early Nascent Soul Stage was visibly incredulous and angry that his leader had been defeated with one punch. Without thinking, he rushed towards Ding Fan. Clearly, in his mind, Ding Fan's ability to defeat his leader with one punch was pure luck, as the opponent was only at the Early Nascent Soul Stage, which was impossible!

The man at the Early Nascent Soul Stage was typically one of the elite in the City Lord Mansion. Although his cultivation wasn't very high in the mansion, he was definitely at the peak of the Early Nascent Soul Stage, with few opponents able to match him. Seeing Ding Fan, he obviously didn't take him seriously and wanted to avenge his leader!

Immediately, the middle-aged man at the Early Nascent Soul Stage picked up a longsword and slashed at Ding Fan viciously, clearly intending to kill him thoroughly. Seeing this, everyone couldn't help but become tense, realizing the opponent was using a longsword, indicating seriousness, and causing them to exclaim in shock.

"That's one of the top ten warriors of the City Lord Mansion, whose strength is not much less than the previous man. That kid will probably be crippled!"

"I think that kid was just lucky. How could a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator lose to an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator? That's impossible!"

"Exactly, exactly..."

"..."

Many cultivators around began to talk amongst themselves. Many were still unwilling to believe that Ding Fan, with Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, could defeat a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator, clearly very skeptical. They now believed that this Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator would defeat Ding Fan, given that he was renowned in the City Lord Mansion, and ordinary Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivators were no match for him!

He even had the title of one of the top ten warriors of the City Lord Mansion, implying unquestionably powerful strength.

At this moment, Ding Fan saw the man charging at him with a longsword and was momentarily stunned, then immediately responded with a punch aimed at the opponent.

Bang!

With a muffled thud, the sword in the middle-aged man's hand splintered as Ding Fan's punch shattered it, and the man was sent flying by the punch, crashing hard onto the ground with a mouthful of blood spraying from his mouth. It was clear that this man's injuries were even more severe than the previous one.

Everyone was utterly dumbfounded! They couldn't believe that the opponent could so effortlessly send this renowned top ten warrior of the City Lord Mansion flying. His strength was not something ordinary cultivators could compare with, and yet he was easily dispatched by the opponent, which was simply inexplicable!

The opponent was just an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and now everyone was convinced that the young man was undoubtedly a hidden expert, not an ordinary person. No one believed any longer that Ding Fan's earlier victory over the Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator was mere luck; it was clear he relied on formidable strength.

The Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator who had been punched away by Ding Fan earlier saw his subordinate easily dispatched and felt bitter. He knew the truth about whether the opponent was lucky or truly strong, and it was most evident when his fist collided with the opponent's that there was a noticeable disparity.

Watching his subordinate rush out to seek revenge for him, the middle-aged man initially wanted to restrain him, but it was too late. The outcome left him feeling quite dejected.

"Does anyone else want to challenge me? I'm ready for more, but next time, I won't hold back!"

At this moment, Ding Fan walked slowly, his face icy as he approached the group of middle-aged men, and spoke coldly.

The several middle-aged men heard Ding Fan's words and couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts. They could clearly perceive Ding Fan's killing intent and understood that provoking him further would not bring merely a warning.

"Let's go!"

The first middle-aged man whom Ding Fan had punched away spoke to his nearby partners with a hint of frustration. Then several men from the City Lord Mansion helped the two heavily injured men and turned to leave, their faces filled with shame.

Seeing this, everyone was completely unable to believe their eyes. They couldn't believe that the City Lord Mansion, known for its domineering ways, would leave so disgracefully. It was simply unimaginable!

At this moment, the little boy saved by Ding Fan saw this scene and couldn't help but feel incredibly shocked. He clearly didn't expect the City Lord Mansion's men to be driven away by his benefactor just like that. It was simply amazing, and the boy also felt a little relieved since his crisis was now resolved. He then sincerely thanked Ding Fan:

"Thank you, big brother. If it weren't for you driving away those men from the City Lord Mansion, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to keep my family heirloom, this alchemy cauldron, safe, let alone my own life."

The little boy looked at Ding Fan with sincere eyes and expressed his gratitude.

Upon hearing the boy's words, Ding Fan couldn't help but smile, clearly not taking it to heart, as it was just a small favor. After all, Ding Fan knew that everyone had their difficult times when they were young.

At this moment, Ding Fan carefully shifted his gaze to the alchemy cauldron by the boy's side, and curiously asked:

"This cauldron is worth eighty thousand spirit stones? Isn't that a bit pricey!"

Upon hearing Ding Fan's words, He Qianyao also cast her gaze upon the cauldron, her eyes filled with curiosity, and said:

"Eighty thousand spirit stones? That is indeed a bit expensive!"

The little boy, hearing Ding Fan and He Qianyao's words, couldn't help but shake his head and explained to Ding Fan:

"It's not expensive at all, big brother. This cauldron was passed down to me by my father on his deathbed. Back then, many cultivators wanted to steal this cauldron. It's worth much more than eighty thousand spirit stones; even for eight hundred thousand spirit stones, many cultivators would want it. Don't be fooled by its ordinary appearance; it's certainly no ordinary treasure. It's just that I haven't figured out its mysteries. Otherwise, I wouldn't be selling it, just looking for a fated person for it."

Ding Fan, hearing the boy's words, became curious and moved closer to the cauldron to examine it carefully. He could tell the boy wasn't lying, but this cauldron, at first glance, didn't seem any different. After a closer look, Ding Fan's eyes lit up.

He had seen this cauldron before!

Ding Fan suddenly recalled the cauldron he saw on Earth, a treasure all over. But he had carelessly lost it. Seeing this cauldron now, it seemed very similar, if not identical, to the one on Earth, making Ding Fan instantly excited; this cauldron was indeed extraordinary!

He Qianyao also examined the cauldron like Ding Fan, but didn't notice Ding Fan's expression and didn't realize what was different about the cauldron.

"I'll take it. I'll give you eighty thousand spirit stones!"

Ding Fan approached the boy and said sincerely.

He Qianyao was taken aback by Ding Fan's words. He planned to buy the cauldron, knowing it was priced at eighty thousand spirit stones, which was not a small amount. But why did Ding Fan want to buy it? He Qianyao was puzzled, seemingly not understanding Ding Fan's intentions.

The little boy was very happy to hear Ding Fan's words. Finally, someone was willing to buy the cauldron. He gratefully said to Ding Fan:

"Big brother, since you helped me, I'll sell it to you for fifty thousand spirit stones."

"Alright!"

Ding Fan agreed without any bargaining. He then took out fifty thousand spirit stones and handed them to the boy. Although it was not a small sum, for Ding Fan it was manageable. After all, he had tens of millions of spirit stones, so this amount wasn't significant to him.

Ding Fan then gave the spirit stones to the boy and took the cauldron. He Qianyao looked at the cauldron again, which was clearly worn and damaged in places. In her eyes, it wasn't worth fifty thousand spirit stones.

But Ding Fan clearly had no regrets and was quite happy. He knew this cauldron was no ordinary item, convinced it resembled the one he saw on Earth, rumored to have great secrets, invaluable.

However, Ding Fan didn't know what the secret was, so seeing the cauldron again, he clearly wanted to buy it and research it, hoping to uncover the secret. If he understood it, the cauldron would be worth much more than fifty thousand spirit stones. Thinking about this made Ding Fan very happy.

Ding Fan didn't discuss the cauldron with He Qianyao, as he hadn't figured it out yet, knowing that without evidence, convincing others would be hard. He decided to tell her once he had researched and understood it.