Easy Way of Cultivation: Power Harvesting

On this day, the Eastern Domain was shaken. Wei Fan, who had disappeared for a month and was thought by everyone to never appear again, reappeared in Shuiyun City, slaying several Demon Saints and demonstrating his cultivation in the Divine Containment Realm.

The news spread like a boulder thrown into a tranquil lake, shaking the Eastern Domain and causing an uproar in the Holy City.

Despite the Demon Fiends waging an all-out attack on the Human Race’s defenses, determined to kill Wei Fan, the fact that he reappeared without ever having completely vanished was shocking, not to mention his audacious return, displaying a cultivation that left people astounded.

In just over four months since breaking through to the Saint Realm, he further advanced his cultivation, becoming a powerhouse in the Divine Containment Realm. His fighting prowess was terrifying, displaying combat power in the battle of Shuiyun City that could rival a Demon Saint with Dharma Aspect Perfection.

"No wonder the Demon Race launched an all-out war to force the Human Race to hand him over; truly, he is a demon of unimaginable terror."

The Five Great Domains have never lacked prodigious talents, but very few have become Martial Emperors, or even Martial Sovereigns for that matter.

Previously, some thought the Demon Race was making a fuss over nothing, going to such lengths for a Saint Realm individual when more than a dozen of their own had fallen, deeming it unworthy of the effort.

But upon learning that Wei Fan had achieved Divine Cultivation, no one remained unmoved, no one was left unshaken.

His terrifying speed of cultivation can’t be described as merely extraordinary — even Xuanyuan Peak might feel a sense of shame in his presence.

...

Divine City of the Xuanyuan Family.

"What is this kid up to? He disappeared, yet reappears now thinking the Wang Family and Lingxu Cave gone, and trouble with the Zhou Family is over? Revealing four months into a breakthrough to Divine Cultivation, the Emperor Level battle looms."

Xuanyuan Ting furrowed his brow deeply, as he knew that Wei Fan had attained Dharma Cultivation even before he vanished. In the month of his disappearance, Wei Fan broke through Body Refining, far more prodigious than rumors suggest.

He understood that Wei Fan was still concealing much, but even what was revealed was earth-shattering, puzzling why Wei Fan didn’t continue to hide.

With such terrifying talents, hiding for two or three more years might see him becoming an Emperor. Even if targeted like Xuanyuan Ting’s elder brother, he would not be entirely without the power to protect himself; showing up now seemed unwise.

It’s not that vanquishing the Wang Family means he is trouble-free; instead, it’s more dangerous.

"What are you trying to do?"

Even Feng Hua frowned. She knew Wei Fan was truly Wei Ran, but despite understanding his hidden potential, she considered his reappearance a misstep.

No matter if Wei Fan’s Golden Bell was the Emperor’s Soldier, she believed Wei Fan should conceal his identity further. Acting as Wei Ran was stronger than exposing his breakthrough to Divine Cultivation.

...

"Boy, you need not cling to that month’s promise, even if you don’t appear for ten or a hundred years, this old man will guard Shuiyun City for you."

Black Dragon Great Saint thought Wei Fan was appearing recklessly due to their agreement, and respected his promise-keeping, yet felt guilty. He wished he hadn’t made any promise but instead let Wei Fan remain hidden until becoming an Emperor or even Emperor Cheng before sweeping away the demons.

"Senior, a true man must keep his word."

Wei Fan shook his head. His appearance in Shuiyun City had something to do with his agreement with the Black Dragon Great Saint, but there was another more important reason.

To him now, his true identity as Wei Fan was actually safer, whereas the identity of Wei Ran had become much more perilous.

Whether slaying two Great Saints of the Zhou Family or killing multiple Demon Saints in Jinzhou, he displayed terrifying combat power akin to invincibility in the Saint Realm.

Whomever sought his life would likely involve unrivaled Emperor-level masters next, and even if his Divine Cultivation was revealed as Wei Fan, it wouldn’t immediately attract an Emperor-level master. At most, a Great Saint-level powerhouse might come after him.

With protection from the Demon Hunter Organization and his hidden strength, he could handle everything, gaining a buffer period of safety.

This buffer period is precisely what he needs. In just one or two months, he could challenge the Martial Emperor Realm, and should Emperor-level powerhouses come, he’d be prepared to face them.

"Are you anxious the Demon Hunter Organization might charge you with desertion? There’s no need for such concern. Shi Yun, a minor Town Commander, can’t dominate the Demon Hunter Organization, and besides, the Wang Family has already been destroyed. Leave quickly; there is still time."

Black Dragon Great Saint still urged Wei Fan to leave swiftly, for even he couldn’t foresee what might unfold — the demons might deploy a Demon Emperor. Though the Martial Emperor of the Human Race might intervene, that would not bode well.

"I don’t fear Shi Yun; I simply won’t let the populace suffer because of me. While I’m in Shuiyun City, the battles across the states cease. If I leave, who knows how many more soldiers and civilians may die. If they seek to kill Wei Fan, let them come."

Black Dragon Great Saint shook his head helplessly, realizing the demons were exploiting Wei Fan’s weakness. The Demon Hunter Organization would never hand over Wei Fan — an indisputable fact. Their engagement in such a full-scale war was merely to force Wei Fan to show up.

"What audacity, a true genius of the Human Race!"

"If hiding could make one an Emperor, where would there be any killing in this world? Look at the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors; which one of them didn’t ascend to the peak by traversing a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood? Black Dragon, I cannot agree with you on this."

A figure stepped through the air, his voice bold and heroic, evidently having overheard the conversation between Wei Fan and the Black Dragon Great Saint.

Wei Fan looked over; the newcomer didn’t seem old, appearing like a middle-aged man, but since he referred to himself as "Old Man", he was likely around one or two thousand years old.

He didn’t recognize this person, so he looked at the Black Dragon Great Saint with confusion.

The Black Dragon Great Saint also knew that Wei Fan had just arrived at the Holy City not long ago, and had disappeared for a month during that time, so he hadn’t had the chance to meet most of the powerful beings in the Demon Hunter Organization. He sent a message, "His name is Ouyang Bolun, one of the eight Commanders of your Town Hall, a peerless powerhouse who treads the path of extremes. If he hadn’t chosen this path, some say he might have already achieved the position of Martial Emperor."

Wei Fan felt a jolt in his heart; to date, he had already met four of the eight Commanders of the Town Hall: Wei Ying, Sword Hero, An Shanhe, and Shi Yun.

He had not seen Shi Yun in action, but in his view, the cultivation of Wei Ying, Sword Hero, and the others fell short of the authority expected of a Town Commander.

Of course, describing them as lacking authority is not accurate; it’s more a lack of combat prowess. Except for Sword Hero, the others were not a match for powerful demon fiends like the Heaven-Shaking Saint Ape at the same level.

This Ouyang Bolun, with the Black Dragon Great Saint holding him in such high esteem, was perhaps the true unparalleled master of the Town Hall, maybe even a Saint King figure.

"So you let Shi Yun, that scoundrel, and the Wang Family scheme together to transfer Wei Fan to Shuiyun City?" The Black Dragon Great Saint raised an eyebrow, showing anger.

He was not just considering Wei Fan’s rescue of Long Xuan, or his friendship with Xuanyuan Ting; from the bigger picture of the Human Race alone, he needed to seek justice for Wei Fan in this matter.

Ouyang Bolun’s expression remained unchanged: "Shi Yun didn’t violate any rules of the Demon Hunter Organization. Moreover, protecting a place is also the duty of a Town Territory Envoy. If he cannot withstand such minor trials, how can he talk about proving the Dao and becoming an Emperor in the future, reaching the pinnacle?"

The matter of Shi Yun dispatching Wei Fan to Shuiyun City was indeed the result of various power struggles, but some reasons were also due to people’s laissez-faire attitudes; not everyone believed that Wei Fan needed protection. Some high-level individuals felt that a peerless prodigy like Wei Fan needed constant tempering and growth through combat, and that endless protection within the Holy City was not a good thing.

"Black Dragon, you can look into Wei Fan’s past. He rose amid slaughter; battle is his best way to grow. We can be his support, but we must not interfere with the trajectory of his growth."

Ouyang Bolun was among those who believed that Wei Fan should grow through conflict and slaughter.

The Black Dragon Great Saint’s expression darkened, "He is only at the Divine Containment Realm, and a Great Saint could easily crush him. How is he supposed to rise through slaughter?"

He didn’t fail to understand this logic, but Wei Fan had too many enemies; neglecting him would lead to his premature death.

Ouyang Bolun glanced at Wei Fan, revealing a faintly mocking expression, "How do you know a Great Saint could easily crush him?"

The Black Dragon Great Saint was silent for a long time, instantly understanding that the experts within the Demon Hunter Organization were not indifferent to Wei Fan’s life and death, and were probably aware of the matters concerning Wei Ran and Wei Fan. However, since they intended to temper Wei Fan, things couldn’t be made too plain, or the honing effect wouldn’t be achieved.

"How are you going to handle Shi Yun?" He asked Ouyang Bolun again after a while.

"Once he has the capability, he can go and slay Shi Yun. The Demon Hunter Organization never interferes in personal vendettas."

The Black Dragon Great Saint nodded in satisfaction.

"Boy, come to the city for a chat!"

Ouyang Bolun landed within Shuiyun City, inviting Wei Fan. In fact, according to the Demon Hunter Organization’s tasks, Wei Fan was the one in charge of Shuiyun City at this moment.

"Please wait a moment, Commander Ouyang. I have some matters to handle."

Wei Fan stood above Shuiyun City, looking down at the people within. At the same time, everyone in Shuiyun City was looking up at him, wondering what he intended to do.

At this moment, the Demon Army had mostly been slaughtered, leaving corpses as large as mountains lying around the outskirts of Shuiyun City. Those Jianghu wanderers recognized the person who had once slain the Purple-Bearded Golden Flood Dragon outside Shuiyun City, knowing him as the source of this great battle—the prodigy of the Human Race, Wei Fan.

Ouyang Bolun and the Black Dragon Great Saint looked over curiously, as Wei Fan declared loudly, "I ask my friends in Jianghu to pass a message to the Zhou Family of Mountain Sea on my behalf: I, Wei Fan, have come to bear the responsibilities I must bear. When will the Zhou Family’s powerhouses descend the mountain to resist the demon fiends?"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned, then they burst into an uproar.

Wei Fan was challenging the Martial Emperor Clan’s Zhou Family because the Zhou Family had once said that as long as Wei Fan stepped up, their powerhouses would descend the mountain to combat the demon fiends.

It was clear that the Zhou Family intended to force him to come out and be killed. Wei Fan’s direct response now indicated that he intended to confront the Martial Emperor Clan head-on.

"See, I told you, you don’t really understand him. Hiding would only dull his sharpness," Ouyang Bolun’s eyes gleamed brightly.

This kind of blazing sharpness and fearless authority is precisely what an emperor needs.