Night fell.

The sky gradually darkened. When the night restricted their vision to barely ten meters, the group realized that no matter how alluring the heavenly treasures were, they had to rest.

The back mountain was not safe. Once their field of vision was limited...

...the level of danger would multiply several times over.

They had to wait until tomorrow to continue their search for fated chances.

The group found a safe, open area nearby and set up their tents, preparing for a brief rest.

"Ning Fan."

Shao Hong suddenly spoke up, calling out to Ning Fan.

Ning Fan had been acting strange all afternoon. Shao Hong hoped their cooperation could continue; he was quite satisfied with the exploration efficiency of the four pairs of Dao Companions.

But Ning Fan acted as if he hadn't heard Shao Hong's call at all.

He simply pulled Yun Qingyao into their tent.

Soon after.

A faint restriction surfaced around the specially crafted tent. This was a Formation meant to isolate the outside world during dual cultivation, signaling that Ning Fan was cultivating with Yun Qingyao.

"..."

Shao Hong was momentarily speechless.

After all that fuss.

He thought Ning Fan was holding back some grand scheme, but it was just waiting until night to dual cultivate. Then again, Ning Fan was ultimately just a Novice disciple.

What methods could he possibly have?

Shao Hong shook his head.

He returned to his own tent with his Dao Companion and prepared to rest.

Inside the tent.

Ning Fan calmed his mind and focused his spirit, circulating the Yin Yang Profound Scripture to dual cultivate with Yun Qingyao. Just as expected, a flash of light appeared the moment dual cultivation began.

Yun Qingyao's "second personality," Ye Honglian, surfaced once again.

"..."

After three sessions of dual cultivation, Ye Honglian had grown much more accustomed to the situation. She consciously began to draw upon the dual cultivation to improve herself.

After all, she was paying such a heavy price. It would be a joke if she didn't seize the chance to increase her cultivation.

"Fairy Sister."

Suddenly, Ning Fan's movements paused. He looked deeply into Ye Honglian's eyes.

"I beg Fairy Sister to teach this junior a martial skill."

"Oh?"

Ye Honglian raised an eyebrow.

She could sense a heavy, suppressed aura around Ning Fan. Clearly, something had happened during the day, though she didn't press for details.

"Fine. What martial skill do you want?"

"Any martial skill will do. Today, this junior was bullied by someone using a martial skill. I need Fairy Sister to pass down a technique so I can exact my revenge tomorrow!!"

"Hmm..."

Ye Honglian pondered for a moment.

She possessed an extremely vast array of martial skills, but the strength of the man before her wasn't high. No, it would be more accurate to say it was exceedingly weak.

Ye Honglian had long since stopped using martial skills suited for Yellow Extreme Realm cultivators.

After a brief moment of thought, one technique came to mind.

"Brat.

"The Dragon Snake Evolution Hand. Are you willing to learn it?"

"Brat, the Dragon Snake Evolution Hand. Are you willing to learn it?"

Ning Fan agreed directly before she could even finish.

He would learn whatever martial skill she offered.

Tomorrow, he was definitely going to crush that Nan Li!!

"But how am I supposed to teach you? The two of us are still... glug."

Ye Honglian's small face flushed crimson with shame.

They hadn't even separated yet.

Or rather.

Whenever the two of them were about to separate, they would end up intimately joined again. Over and over, back and forth. How was she supposed to teach a martial skill like this?

"Fairy Sister, you just need to circulate the martial skill. Under this state of dual cultivation, I will naturally be able to learn it," Ning Fan said.

"L-like this."

Ye Honglian felt like she was approaching her peak again, her voice trembling slightly. Still, she forcefully calmed her mind, guarded her spirit, and began to execute the Dragon Snake Evolution Hand.

In a split second.

Spiritual energy surged around Ye Honglian, gathering in her right hand. The spiritual energy condensed into the shape of a dazzling golden dragon!

At the exact same time.

Lines of text surfaced within Ning Fan's mind, converging to form the cultivation method for the Dragon Snake Evolution Hand.

The Dragon Snake Evolution Hand was a High Grade Yellow-tier martial skill.

But unlike ordinary Yellow-tier martial skills, the Dragon Snake Evolution Hand possessed the potential to evolve. By soaking one's hands in the blood of special Demon Beasts, the grade of the technique could be elevated.

Yellow Grade, Profound Grade, Earth Grade, or even Heaven Grade!

Just like Ye Honglian.

She had already cultivated this Dragon Snake Evolution Hand to a level infinitely close to the Heaven Grade. It was the only Yellow-tier martial skill that had accompanied her all the way to the Heaven Extreme Realm!

As their spiritual energies completely fused together, both Ning Fan and Ye Honglian underwent a profound sublimation.

White light flared once more.

The entire tent seemed to transform into a realm of pure light.

Ning Fan then fell into a deep slumber.

Early the next morning.

Ning Fan opened his eyes, a flash of wild joy flickering within them.

"The Dragon Snake Evolution Hand is definitely not a simple High Grade Yellow-tier martial skill. To think it can be upgraded merely by soaking in the blood of special Demon Beasts."

"Truly extraordinary."

"Nan Li, was it..."

Ning Fan narrowed his eyes, a sharp, cold glint flashing through them.

The man had bullied him before for lacking a martial skill.

Now, he wanted to see.

The heavenly treasures.

Did that bastard truly have the qualifications to take them!!!

However, last night's dual cultivation had not elevated Ning Fan's realm. It seemed that when heavily focusing on comprehending a martial skill, the cultivation boost from dual cultivation would be significantly diminished.

Ning Fan stepped out of his tent. By this time, Nan Li, Shao Hong, Ling Tian, and the others had already packed up. Seeing Ning Fan appear, everyone prepared to set off.

They continued their advance toward the location of the spiritual vein.

Before long.

Another heavenly treasure appeared in their line of sight. It was a withered tree growing abruptly on the open grassland, with two fruits hanging from its branches.

The fruits were perfectly round and smooth, their texture resembling pristine jade. Faintly, one could see shimmering, rippling light flowing within them.

"Is this... a Vermilion Jade Fruit!?"

Shao Hong exclaimed in shock. Ling Tian, Nan Li, and the others also revealed solemn expressions.

Vermilion Jade Fruit.

A heavenly treasure infinitely close to the Profound Grade, far more precious than the Crimson Blood Stone they had found earlier. Consuming it could directly elevate a cultivator's realm.

"Heh, it seems my luck really is quite good."

"Another high-grade heavenly treasure."

A smirk curled at the corner of Nan Li's mouth.

Hearing Nan Li's words, the expressions of Shao Hong, Ling Tian, and their respective Dao Companions became rather intriguing. According to their agreed rotation, this Vermilion Jade Fruit should belong to Ning Fan.

But from a certain perspective, Nan Li's luck truly was good.

Just as Nan Li stepped forward to pluck the vermilion fruits from the withered tree-exactly as he had done yesterday-a figure stepped out from the side, blocking his path.

"Senior Brother, shouldn't this heavenly treasure belong to this Ning?"

Ning Fan looked at Nan Li with a half-smile.

"..."

Nan Li instantly narrowed his eyes, a flash of irritation at being obstructed rising within them. This irritation quickly gave way to mockery.

"Heh, it seems that after a single night's rest, you've completely forgotten about yesterday."

"I said it before."

"The next time I make a move, I won't give Shao Hong any face."

"Are you ready to die?"

"..."

Yun Qingyao, Shao Hong, Ling Tian, and the other Dao Companions were all taken aback. Yesterday, Ning Fan had clearly chosen to compromise in the face of Nan Li's overbearing attitude.

So why was he starting a conflict again now?

It had only been one night.

Could it be.

Had this Ning Fan already found a way to defeat Nan Li?