Chapter 483

"What if it is? What if it isn't?" Situ Yu Fan neither denied nor admitted it.

"It seems it really is you," the Demon chuckled. "I didn't expect you to be Situ Yu Fan."

"What's there to be surprised about? Are we close?" Situ Yu Fan said coldly.

"Indeed, we're not close, and in fact, we're enemies," the Demon stated.

"Good that you know. Today, you must die." Situ Yu Fan was decisive.

"You? Although your cultivation is decent, killing me won't be that easy," the Demon scoffed.

"Oh, really? Let's see about that." After speaking, Situ Yu Fan charged forward directly, drawing his Five-Colored Divine Light Sword. He went all out from the start.

The Demon hadn't expected Situ Yu Fan to attack immediately, without any hesitation. He hastily prepared to fight. His cultivation wasn't weak, but compared to Situ Yu Fan, he was clearly inferior. Situ Yu Fan's strength was evident; the Demon quickly found himself at a disadvantage in their fight. The more he fought, the more alarmed he became. "Who exactly is this kid?" he thought to himself. "How can he be so powerful? Could he be one of those so-called monstrous geniuses?" The Demon was inwardly startled.

Situ Yu Fan didn't care what the Demon was thinking; his sole aim was to kill him. "Five-Colored Divine Light Sword!" He unleashed the Five-Colored Divine Light Sword, and instantly, a sky full of sword energy enveloped the Demon.

"Damn it!" the Demon roared, resisting with all his might. But Situ Yu Fan's Five-Colored Divine Light Sword was too powerful; the Demon couldn't resist it at all.

*Pfft!* The Demon was injured, blood streaming out.

"Today, you will surely die!" Situ Yu Fan said mercilessly.

"You wish!" the Demon roared, unleashing a desperate move to save his life. Instantly, demonic energy surged around him, forming a protective shield that enveloped him.

"Child's play!" Situ Yu Fan scoffed. He swung his sword, and the Five-Colored Divine Light Sword directly shattered the Demon's shield.

"No!" The Demon was utterly terrified. Situ Yu Fan's sword pierced the Demon's body.

"Ah..." The Demon shrieked in agony as his body began to dissipate. "You... who exactly are you?" The Demon was unwilling to accept his fate.

"Who I am is not important. What's important is that you will surely die today!" Situ Yu Fan said coldly.

The Demon ultimately died. Situ Yu Fan put away his Five-Colored Divine Light Sword. He looked around, and only after confirming no one was present did he leave.

***

"Yu Fan, you're back." Leng Feng exclaimed, delighted to see Situ Yu Fan.

"Yes, I'm back," Situ Yu Fan nodded.

"Are you alright?" Leng Feng asked, concerned.

"I'm fine. How about you?" Situ Yu Fan retorted.

"I'm fine, just a minor injury. It's nothing," Leng Feng replied.

"That's good then." Situ Yu Fan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh, by the way, did you encounter the Demon?" Leng Feng asked.

"Yes, I did. I've already dealt with him," Situ Yu Fan said nonchalantly.

"What?" Leng Feng exclaimed in shock, "You dealt with him?"

"Yes, he's dead," Situ Yu Fan nodded.

"My heavens, you actually killed the Demon! You're incredible!" Leng Feng exclaimed in admiration.

"There's nothing to be amazed about; his strength wasn't that great." Situ Yu Fan shook his head.

"Not great? He's a Demon; how could his strength not be great?" Leng Feng was unconvinced.

"He was just a clone, with limited power," Situ Yu Fan explained.

"I see." Leng Feng suddenly understood.

"Alright, let's go," Situ Yu Fan said.

"Where to?" Leng Feng asked.

"To rendezvous with the others." Situ Yu Fan replied.

"Okay." Leng Feng nodded.

The two quickly reunited with the others, who all breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Situ Yu Fan return.

"Yu Fan, you're back! That's wonderful!"

"Are you alright?" Everyone asked, showing their concern.

"I'm fine, everyone. There's no need to worry," Situ Yu Fan assured them.

"Where's the Demon?" someone asked.

"I've already killed him," Situ Yu Fan stated calmly.

Everyone was shocked by his words. "You actually killed the Demon?"

"How is that possible?" They couldn't believe it.

"He was just a clone with limited power, nothing to fear," Situ Yu Fan explained again.

It was only then that everyone understood. "So that's it; no wonder Yu Fan was able to kill him."

"It seems we're safe now," everyone discussed amongst themselves.

"Alright, this is not the time for talking. Let's leave here as quickly as possible," Situ Yu Fan said.

"Yes, it's not suitable to stay here long," the others agreed.

Thus, led by Situ Yu Fan, they left the area.

***

Meanwhile, at the Demon Clan's lair, a voice roared, "Damn it, I actually lost a clone!"

"Who killed my clone? Could it be Situ Yu Fan? Impossible, he's just a junior; how could he kill my clone? It seems I underestimated him. Situ Yu Fan, I'll remember you. Next time we meet, I'll tear you to shreds!" The voice was filled with venomous hatred.

***

After Situ Yu Fan and his group left, they traveled safely without encountering any more dangers. Soon, they returned to the sect.

"Yu Fan, you're back!" The sect's higher-ups were very pleased to see Situ Yu Fan and his companions.

"Yes, we're back," Situ Yu Fan nodded.

"Thanks to all of you this time, otherwise our sect would have been in danger," the sect's higher-ups said gratefully.

"Not at all; this is what we should do," Situ Yu Fan replied.

"Haha, well said!" The sect's higher-ups laughed. "Alright, all of you go and rest now."

"Yes," the disciples withdrew.

Situ Yu Fan returned to his dwelling, but instead of resting, he sat down cross-legged. He took out the bead left by the Demon and examined it carefully. The bead was as black as ink and emitted waves of demonic energy.

"What exactly is this bead?" Situ Yu Fan frowned. He tried to probe it with his spiritual sense but found he couldn't penetrate it at all. "It seems it's no ordinary item," Situ Yu Fan mused. He put the bead away, intending to study it later when he had the opportunity.

The next day, Situ Yu Fan received a notice from the sect, summoning him to the Council Hall.

"Situ Yu Fan, you're here," the Sect Master said with a smile upon seeing him.

"Sect Master, do you need me for something?" Situ Yu Fan asked.

"You did very well this time, earning great merit for the sect," the Sect Master stated.

"You flatter me, Sect Master. This is what I should do," Situ Yu Fan said modestly.

"No, you did excellent." The Sect Master shook his head. "This time, the sect has decided to reward you."

"Reward?" Situ Yu Fan was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, the sect has decided to promote you to an Inner Disciple," the Sect Master announced.

"Inner Disciple?" Situ Yu Fan was even more surprised.

"That's right. Starting today, you are an Inner Disciple," the Sect Master nodded.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Situ Yu Fan exclaimed with delight. Being an Inner Disciple meant he could learn more advanced cultivation techniques and martial skills, and also gain access to more cultivation resources.

"You're welcome. This is what you deserve," the Sect Master chuckled. "Furthermore, the sect has also decided to reward you with a Marrow Cleansing Pill and ten thousand spirit stones." The Sect Master continued.

"Marrow Cleansing Pill! Spirit Stones!" Situ Yu Fan was shocked. A Marrow Cleansing Pill could cleanse one's physique and improve innate talent. Ten thousand spirit stones was an enormous sum.

"Thank you again, Sect Master!" Situ Yu Fan expressed his gratitude once more.

"Go on then," the Sect Master waved his hand.

Situ Yu Fan emerged from the Council Hall, feeling as if he were dreaming. Inner Disciple, Marrow Cleansing Pill, ten thousand spirit stones. All of it had come too suddenly.

He returned to his dwelling and took out the Marrow Cleansing Pill and the spirit stones. The Marrow Cleansing Pill emitted a faint fragrance, while the spirit stones radiated pure spiritual energy. "With these, my strength can advance significantly," Situ Yu Fan thought to himself. Without hesitation, he immediately consumed the Marrow Cleansing Pill. Instantly, a powerful medicinal effect spread throughout his body. He felt his body undergoing a transformation. Impurities were expelled, and his meridians became tougher. His innate talent was also continuously improving.

An hour later, he opened his eyes. A faint glow emanated from him; his entire being seemed transformed. He felt his body brimming with power.

"Is this the effect of the Marrow Cleansing Pill? It's truly amazing!" Situ Yu Fan marveled. He stood up and stretched his body. He felt his cultivation had reached the peak of the Xiantian Realm, just one step away from breaking through to the Martial King Realm.

"Peak Xiantian Realm, not bad." Situ Yu Fan nodded in satisfaction. He now had confidence that even if he encountered a powerful practitioner in the Martial King Realm, he would be able to put up a fight.

"Next, it's time to cultivate with the spirit stones." Situ Yu Fan collected his thoughts and began to absorb the spirit stones. Ten thousand spirit stones would be enough for him to cultivate for a considerable period.

Three days later, Situ Yu Fan finally absorbed all ten thousand spirit stones. His cultivation successfully broke through to the Martial King Realm.

"Martial King Realm, I've finally broken through!" Situ Yu Fan exclaimed excitedly. He felt his strength had increased several times over. He now had confidence that even if he encountered a powerful practitioner in the Martial Ancestor Realm, he could still fight.

"It's time to visit the Inner Sect," Situ Yu Fan walked out of his dwelling and headed towards the Inner Sect.

***

The Inner Sect was the core of the entire sect. The spiritual energy here was several times denser than in the Outer Sect, and the cultivation facilities were much more complete. The Inner Disciples were all geniuses of the sect.

When Situ Yu Fan arrived at the Inner Sect, he found the buildings here to be grand and majestic. Moreover, he saw many disciples with profound cultivation. "So this is the Inner Sect? It truly is different," Situ Yu Fan thought to himself. He went to the Inner Sect Deacon Hall to collect his Inner Disciple token.

"Situ Yu Fan, you are now an Inner Disciple," the Deacon Elder said.

"Thank you, Elder." Situ Yu Fan took the token.

"Go on then," the Deacon Elder waved his hand.

Situ Yu Fan left the Deacon Hall, intending to find a place to settle down first. The Inner Sect had specialized cave dwellings for disciples. He arrived at one such cave dwelling, which was rich in spiritual energy and very suitable for cultivation. "From now on, I'll cultivate here," Situ Yu Fan said contentedly. He entered the cave dwelling and began cultivating.

***

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a month passed. Situ Yu Fan had been cultivating in his cave dwelling, and his cultivation had steadily improved. During this month, besides cultivating, he also studied the cultivation techniques and martial skills in the sect's library. He discovered that the techniques in the sect's library were indeed far more advanced than those in the Outer Sect. He selected several suitable techniques and began practicing them.

One day, he received a notice from the sect, summoning him to participate in the Inner Sect Grand Competition.

"Inner Sect Grand Competition?" Situ Yu Fan was somewhat surprised.

The Inner Sect Grand Competition was a competition among Inner Disciples, held every three years. This competition was to select outstanding disciples to participate in the Sect Grand Competition, which was a grand competition among all sects in the Eastern Region, held every ten years.

"It seems I can't miss this competition," Situ Yu Fan thought to himself. He left his cave dwelling and headed towards the training ground.

***

The training ground was packed with people. Many Inner Disciples had come, all eager to see who would stand out in this competition. When Situ Yu Fan arrived at the training ground, he found the atmosphere incredibly lively. He found a spot to sit and waited for the competition to begin.

Soon, the Sect Master and several Elders arrived at the training ground.

"All disciples, quiet!" The Sect Master's voice resonated throughout the training ground. Everyone quieted down.

"This Inner Sect Grand Competition is to select outstanding disciples to participate in the Sect Grand Competition," the Sect Master continued. "I hope everyone achieves good results. Now, I announce that the Inner Sect Grand Competition officially begins!"

After speaking, the Sect Master stepped aside. An Elder stepped forward and began to officiate the competition. The rules of the competition were simple: opponents were decided by drawing lots, winners advanced, and losers were eliminated.

Situ Yu Fan drew a favorable lot; his opponent was a disciple in the early Martial King Realm. He easily defeated his opponent and advanced to the next round. He continued to win, quickly entering the top ten. The disciples in the top ten were all in the middle Martial King Realm. Situ Yu Fan's strength also attracted a lot of attention.

"Who is this kid? I've never seen him before."

"He seems to be a newly promoted Inner Disciple."

"I didn't expect his strength to be so great."

Everyone discussed amongst themselves. Situ Yu Fan ignored their discussions; his goal was to win first place. He continued to compete, advancing smoothly. Finally, he entered the top three. The top three disciples were Situ Yu Fan, a disciple in the late Martial King Realm, and another disciple at the peak of the Martial King Realm.

Situ Yu Fan's strength had already caught the attention of the sect's higher-ups.

"This kid is good; he actually made it into the top three," the Sect Master chuckled.

"Indeed, his strength is formidable; he's probably not inferior to those veteran Inner Disciples," an Elder commented.

"It seems our sect will become famous in this Sect Grand Competition," the Sect Master was very pleased.

Situ Yu Fan's next match was against the disciple in the late Martial King Realm. This disciple was very powerful and was a strong contender in the competition. When Situ Yu Fan fought him, he was initially at a disadvantage. However, as the match progressed, he gradually adapted to his opponent's attacks. He unleashed his Five-Colored Divine Light Sword, instantly suppressing his opponent. Ultimately, he defeated his opponent and advanced to the finals.

His opponent in the finals was the disciple at the peak of the Martial King Realm. This disciple was the strongest expert in the Inner Sect, possessing terrifying strength. When Situ Yu Fan fought him, he was immediately at a disadvantage. His opponent's attacks were extremely fierce, leaving him somewhat overwhelmed. However, Situ Yu Fan did not give up. He unleashed his Five-Colored Divine Light Sword, going all out. His sword light instantly enveloped his opponent.

"This... what kind of sword art is this?" his opponent exclaimed in shock. He felt that Situ Yu Fan's sword art was incredibly strange, making it impossible for him to resist.

In the end, Situ Yu Fan defeated his opponent and won first place in the Inner Sect Grand Competition.

"Good!" The Sect Master and Elders were all very pleased.

"Situ Yu Fan, you've done very well!" the Sect Master praised.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Situ Yu Fan bowed.

"For this Sect Grand Competition, you will lead the sect's disciples to participate," the Sect Master announced.

"Yes!" Situ Yu Fan accepted the command. He knew that the Sect Master was grooming him. The Sect Grand Competition was no ordinary competition. It was a grand competition among all the sects in the Eastern Region, where experts gathered like clouds. Being able to stand out in such a competition would bring instant fame.

"It seems I need to cultivate even harder," Situ Yu Fan thought to himself. He returned to his cave dwelling and continued cultivating. He aimed to raise his strength to an even higher realm before the Sect Grand Competition.