The muscular man was extremely shocked, immediately turned around, and found a young man behind him, who had appeared without him knowing.

"Who are you? When did you get here?"

The muscular man's face was filled with anger, some ferocity, and a bit of surprise as he questioned the young man.

The young man was naturally Ding Fan.

Upon hearing the words, Ding Fan had a trace of mockery on his face and said calmly:

"I've been watching for a while, it was barely exciting."

The muscular man was both shocked and furious at Ding Fan's words. From what Ding Fan said, it was clear he had been present for a while, but neither he, a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator, nor the elder he had just slain had noticed him, which was simply unbelievable.

However, looking at Ding Fan, he seemed to be just a young man, and his True Qi fluctuation was very sparse, probably not even reaching the Nascent Soul Stage. Yet, he was speaking arrogantly. The muscular man couldn't help but sneer sarcastically:

"Such big words, do you think just because I'm injured I can't kill you, kid?"

Ding Fan smiled faintly and said:

"Even if you weren't injured, at your strongest, you wouldn't be my opponent. The only reason I came out now is to save some energy."

Ding Fan was not boasting. Although he was slightly surprised by the fight between the two earlier, for him, even without using the Frost Toad, he could have swiftly dealt with them with just the Path of the Wind Sword Technique. But Ding Fan wasn't interested in doing the hard work.

"You little brat, how dare you speak such arrogance. I'll kill you first!" The muscular man, hearing Ding Fan's words, was full of fury and directly swung his fist at him. The man's two-meter height and exceedingly long arms, with fists that were similarly massive, swung directly at Ding Fan.

Ding Fan felt the impact of the opponent's attack up close, and he was indeed a bit shocked by such a technique that could enlarge a cultivator's physical strength to such an astonishing degree. But he only made a simple assessment. Despite the opponent's impressive technique, Ding Fan wasn't interested; the technique consumed too much and was unsuitable for him. Moreover, Ding Fan knew well that this technique might not only consume True Qi but perhaps even a person's vitality.

Everyone possesses vitality, of course, it belongs only to the living. Although it is invisible and intangible, it is extremely crucial to a person, even an ordinary person. It determines your lifespan. Ding Fan worried that the muscular man's cultivation technique might be consuming his vitality since the technique exaggeratedly enhanced the man's physical strength and stature.

At that moment, facing the opponent's fist technique, Ding Fan directly punched back with equal strength.

Boom...

After a thunderous roar, dust flew everywhere around them, slightly obstructing vision. If someone looked closely, they would find that Ding Fan remained completely motionless, while the muscular man, standing over two meters tall, had been sent flying backwards, slamming into the huge tree behind him.

Although the tree behind the muscular man was very sturdy, it couldn't withstand the impact, and was snapped in half by his collision. The roots were even bent backward at a forty-five-degree angle.

The fat merchant watching was utterly shocked, unable to believe that the young man had sent the muscular man flying with just one punch; it was simply incredible! One must know, this muscular man was no ordinary person, a Spirit Severing Stage cultivator with immense height and strength, which couldn't be underestimated!

Even Elder Zhao had died at his hands, yet this seemingly frail young man had sent him flying with one punch; it was unbelievable!

In that moment, the one most shocked wasn't the fat merchant but the muscular man himself. He only felt his arm numbing with pain. It was the first time he felt such pain after using the Great Strength Technique, leaving him utterly shocked.

The most formidable aspect of the Great Strength Technique is that it grants endless power to the cultivator's body, enhancing defensive capacity to an extraordinary level, making most injuries negligible. Adding his Spirit Severing Stage cultivation,

Thus, the muscular man had never felt pain after using the Great Strength Technique until he barely withstood a Great Compassion Palm from a Spirit Severing Elder. Yet now, he faced a mere young man, and that young man's casual punch made his body feel overwhelmed, it was simply too unbelievable!

The muscular man knew that despite his injuries, the remaining effects of the Seventh Grade Medicine Pill had nearly fully restored him, and his True Qi had recovered significantly. His previous punch had exerted nine-tenths of his strength, yet he was still sent flying.

Even the young man hadn't moved an inch, which left him astounded.

Now, looking at Ding Fan, the muscular man's eyes were filled with apprehension, completely losing any prior underestimation. He now clearly understood that Ding Fan was likely no ordinary young man and had likely trained in Body Refining Techniques, with strength greater than his own.

And although it seems that he hasn't even reached the Nascent Soul Stage, his cultivation must be hidden.

He absolutely cannot be underestimated!

Although the muscular man appeared exceptionally burly with well-developed limbs, he wasn't brainless; he had pretty much assessed Ding Fan's situation. Ding Fan hadn't practiced any body refining technique, his punch was merely using the Mortal Fist.

The rank of Mortal Fist in the Cultivation World is unmatched by several martial arts, and Ding Fan himself is a divine warrior with an exceptionally vigorous Divine Vigor energy, which far surpasses ordinary True Qi in power. Additionally, the muscular man was not in peak condition, having sustained some injuries.

This allowed Ding Fan to send him flying with just one punch.

Boom boom boom...

At this moment, the muscular man stood up straight, and rushed towards Ding Fan again with a fierce expression, having completely abandoned his previous contempt for Ding Fan. He began hurling punches at Ding Fan, his footsteps thundering as he charged.

Ding Fan looked at his opponent with a trace of disdain, and directly took out his flying sword, stabbing towards him in a bizarre manner. Although the muscular man's speed was already fast, he was shocked to find his opponent's speed with the sword was even faster, leaving only a shadow behind, though not as strange as an elder's.

Ah...

Just as the muscular man was still aghast at his opponent's movement technique, the next instant, the opponent's sword had ruthlessly pierced into his heart. With a scream of agony and disbelief on his face, his eyes widened as he died, toppling to the ground.

The muscular man couldn't comprehend how he could slay a Spirit Severing Elder higher in cultivation than himself, only to be killed by a mere youth. He never even saw how the sword pierced his body, how he died, leaving him with eternal regret...

Ding Fan didn't wish to prolong the confrontation or waste time, so he directly used the Path of the Wind Sword Technique to slay him.

At this time, the plump man witnessed this scene, utterly shocked. He hadn't expected the muscular man, who had killed Elder Zhao, to be slain by a youth within just two moves. It was simply incredible!

While the plump man was still in shock, Ding Fan had already walked up to him. Upon seeing Ding Fan, he couldn't help but fawn over him:

"Young hero, what marvelous skills! Thank you for saving my life; I'll definitely repay your kindness. Although I don't have anything particularly valuable, I do have plenty of Spirit Stones. Just name an amount, and I'll offer them to you without hesitation!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Fan felt a twinge of disgust and remained silent, gazing indifferently at his opponent.

The plump man noticed his opponent's expression, was momentarily stunned, then quickly said:

"You're right! Young hero, you're a superior being; ordinary Spirit Stones wouldn't catch your eye. Although all I have at the moment are Spirit Stones, the moment I acquire something valuable, you'll be the first to know. If anything catches your fancy, you can take it directly!"

Ding Fan remained silent, observing his opponent with disdain. In the Cultivation World, what matters is cultivation, strength, and power. No matter how large a business one has, they remain insignificant before a cultivator. What's more, the biggest mistake his opponent made was offending a cultivator.

The plump man noticed Ding Fan's increasingly cold expression and lack of response, leaving him with an ominous feeling, unsure of what to say...

"I ask, you answer!"

Ultimately, Ding Fan spoke calmly.

"Yes, yes, yes, ask away, I will answer truthfully!" The plump man, upon hearing Ding Fan speak, felt a small relief and nodded his head vigorously.

"Did you acquire the Immortal Sect Master's daughter, and Qing Mei, at the auction earlier?" Ding Fan asked directly.

Upon hearing Ding Fan's words, the plump man felt a deep sense of foreboding. The muscular man wanted to kill him because of the two female slaves he sold at the auction. Now, he didn't expect the youth in front of him to ask about this matter as well. Instinctively, the plump man knelt down, slapping himself while regretfully saying:

"Yes, they were indeed sold by me, but spare me, young hero, I've realized my wrongdoing, truly realized it. In the future, should I trade in pretty or outstanding female slaves, you'll be the first to know, I'll ensure it doesn't go through the auction... I've erred, I've erred... Spare me, spare me..."

Upon hearing this, Ding Fan's face turned colder, his killing intent surfacing involuntarily.