"This counts as the first stop of our alliance. I didn't expect to encounter such an idiot, enough to foreshadow that our alliance will definitely be smooth sailing, successfully winning that Qing Mei for us brothers to enjoy! Hahaha..." said the man surnamed Fang with an expression of lecherous delight.

But as several cultivators laughed lustfully, the servant walking towards Ding Fan was suddenly cut in half at the waist, with a jet of blood spurting forth instantly. A stream of blood drifted past the eyes of several young men, and the smiles on everyone's faces suddenly came to an abrupt halt, looking with disbelief at the servant who lay on the ground, terrified but only half-bodied, causing a wave of shock in their hearts.

No one expected the other party to be so fierce and brutal; the group hadn't even seen the opponent's move, and the person was cut in half. This was simply incredible, wasn't it? Their hearts were filled with shock, clearly unable to believe this scene.

The opponent seemed to have only a Nascent Soul Stage cultivation. How could they be so formidable? At that moment, the lean man saw the scene and felt incredulous; he did not expect the opponent to be so powerful. The lean man felt a little frightened as he watched the young man surnamed Fang, cautiously asking:

"Young Master Fang, can you defeat the opponent?"

The lean man knew that his strength was similar to that of the servant who was cut in half. He had become accustomed to the protection of his family, and how could he have put effort into cultivation? Obviously, his cultivation was at the bottom even within his family, which primarily focused on business; even the elders weren't very highly cultivated.

Now the lean young man could only bet on the man surnamed Fang, although the latter was also a well-known wastrel, his cultivation was definitely stronger than his own.

"Since they dare to kill my people, they are courting death. Brother, don't worry, I will kill that waste right now!"

The young man surnamed Fang looked at Ding Fan with great disdain despite the opponent having killed his servant, but after all, that was his servant, and their cultivation was much lower compared to him. Besides, when he carefully observed the opponent, their cultivation was merely at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Being able to kill that servant, but facing him, the opponent was somewhat lacking. After all, his cultivation in the family was considered decent, holding an Early Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, which was quite good for ordinary people.

Immediately, the young man drew the longsword from his waist and slashed fiercely at Ding Fan.

Seeing his opponent charging, Ding Fan felt a trace of disdain in his heart, and with a direct swing of his hand, a Fireball Technique was launched; instantly, a fireball roared towards the opponent, causing the entire space's temperature to rise sharply.

Seeing this scene, the young man surnamed Fang was startled, not expecting the opponent to use the Fireball Technique against his sword strike. Although surprised, the young man found the idea of using Fireball Technique against his sword quite laughable.

But before the ridicule in the young man's heart could surface, he suddenly realized the opponent's Fireball Technique was ridiculously powerful, so potent that it hardly resembled a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator's technique. This Fireball Technique seemed more like what an Emergence Stage cultivator would produce...

Swoosh!

Intense flames instantly slammed into the young man surnamed Fang, who was panic-stricken, unable to withstand the opponent's Fireball Technique. In an instant, the sword in the young man's hand fell away, and he was knocked out by the flames, crashing like a piece of rag onto a giant tree nearby.

Boom...

The giant tree emitted a muffled sound as the young man was slapped onto it, immediately losing consciousness, rolling down from the tree like a pool of mud...

The lean young man's eyes widened in disbelief, seeing the opponent knock Young Master Fang away with just one move. They couldn't even tell if the young master was dead or alive, and the technique used was merely a simple Fireball Technique.

Though many cultivators used the Fireball Technique as a normal attack, the lean man had never witnessed such a fiery display. The surging flames took up half the sky, comparable to what an Emergence Stage cultivator might achieve.

This was simply too incredible!

The lean man felt a surreal misconception, thinking that the Fireball Technique might be comparable to what a Fragmentation Stage cultivator would produce...

However, it's absurd to suppose a Fragmentation Stage cultivator would employ such a low-level attack spell. That's likely impossible.

The lean man's servant, equally shocked, couldn't believe the scene before him, finding it tremendously surprising. Both the lean man and his servant understood that although the opponent appeared as an ordinary young man, they weren't simple and definitely not a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator. Though they couldn't fathom the opponent's cultivation, it was assured that their ability to kill them would be as easy as snapping fingers.

"Brother, I was wrong! I was wrong! Whatever you wish to know, I'll tell you everything..." The lean man dropped to his knees with a thud, addressing Ding Fan with sincere fear. His servant, seeing this, had no choice but to also kneel, continually kowtowing towards Ding Fan.

"Tell me about your so-called Qing Mei, what's going on? Who is she? What's her name?"

Ding Fan showed little interest in the two on the ground, asking disdainfully and plainly.

"Alright, alright, I know I'll tell you everything! Qing Mei is a core disciple of the nearby Immortal Sect, and she's extremely beautiful, considered the most beautiful female cultivator within several hundred kilometers. Every male cultivator and ordinary man knows of Qing Mei, an absolute beauty that can topple kingdoms... As for her name? I don't know. Everyone's just accustomed to calling her Qing Mei; perhaps her name includes the word Qing... That's all I really don't know..."

At this moment, the thin man told Ding Fan everything he knew. The most important thing on his mind now was to preserve his life. Faced with such a decisive killer, if he played any tricks and was caught by the other party, he would definitely be executed on the spot.

The other party could easily kill him without a second thought, and the terrified thin man understood this clearly. He could only try to say everything he knew, hoping some information might be useful to the other person, and maybe he could be spared in the process.

Ding Fan looked at the other person's fearful expression, which did not seem to be lying, so he continued to ask:

"When did she become known to everyone?"

The thin man, upon hearing this, couldn't help but ponder, mumbling to himself:

"Let me think... Ah! It's actually quite strange. Although the Immortal Sect isn't a Great Gate Sect, it definitely isn't a small sect either. It has been around here for decades, and logically, if there was such a stunning beauty in the Immortal Sect, everyone should have known long ago. But this Qing Mei was only discovered by everyone this year, and that was just about half a year ago... Moreover, Qing Mei, whether in appearance or form, is undoubtedly a goddess in everyone's heart. Yet, why was it only this year that she was discovered? Maybe she is a new female disciple recruited by the Immortal Sect this year..."

The thin man thought about some matters regarding Qing Mei, which were indeed strange, but not surprising. After all, what kind of person Qing Mei truly was wasn't important to the lustful or her admirers. Maybe she was just a new female disciple recruited by the Immortal Sect this year...

Ding Fan heard the man's words, felt a bit touched, and a spark of brilliance seemed to flash inadvertently in his bright eyes. Ding Fan was somewhat delighted. According to the thin man's words, this so-called Qing Mei was only recognized by people this year, which coincided well with the time when Gusu Qingwen came to the Cultivation World.

Could this Qing Mei really be Gusu Qingwen?

Ding Fan believed there was a high chance the person was Gusu Qingwen, and he must go and take a look this time!

Ding Fan couldn't help but recall what these young men mentioned earlier about the auction, the slavery and such. Ding Fan's heart suddenly tightened. If this Qing Mei was truly Gusu Qingwen, then Qingwen's current situation could be very bad, and he needed to rescue her as soon as possible.

"What's the story with the auction? Why was Qing Mei at the auction?"

Ding Fan continued to ask.

"Not long ago, several sects together destroyed the Immortal Sect, and all its disciples were taken control of and brought into Panyang Town for auction. Qing Mei was a core disciple of the Immortal Sect, so naturally, she appeared at the auction."

The thin man answered truthfully.

Upon hearing this, Ding Fan felt inexplicably anxious. Although Ding Fan wasn't sure if Qing Mei was Gusu Qingwen, his intuition told him there was a high possibility. This Qing Mei could captivate the men around here, and Ding Fan believed it wouldn't be difficult for Gusu Qingwen to achieve the same.

"What else do you know about Qing Mei? Tell me everything!"

Ding Fan said sharply to the thin man. Thinking that Qing Mei might be Gusu Qingwen filled his heart with murderous intent as he looked at the thin young man and recalled his previous words.

The thin man, seeing Ding Fan's sudden fierce demeanor, felt a pang of anxiety, his fear reaching its peak.

Then the thin man stammered:

"I, I, the information I know about Qing Mei is just this much. I really don't know anything else. Please spare my life, brother. I beg you..."

Tears began to well up as the thin man continued, pleading with Ding Fan.

Looking at the man, Ding Fan felt a wave of disgust and said mockingly:

"Spare you? So you can go to the auction and toy with Qing Mei?"

"I dare not, I dare not, I will go back right away and never attend that auction again. If you want to toy with Qing Mei, I'll do everything I can to help and wouldn't dare slack off for a second. With your outstanding skills and handsome appearance, only Qing Mei is worthy of being toyed by you..."

"Die!"

Hearing this, Ding Fan was furious, shouting angrily, and with a swift wave of his hand, a Wind Blade flew across the man's neck. Immediately, a jet of blood sprouted, and his head rolled down...