Chapter 453: Demon Pill Bet

He looked around at the arrogant youths, each with fire in their eyes, and said, "It seems you're not the only one who wants to fight me. But I don't like fighting people without a good reason."

As he spoke, he casually pulled out five demon cores. All of them were at the Core Formation Fourth Level.

"I see you've all come for demon cores," he continued. "So, let's be practical and bet with them! If you win, all five demon cores are yours. If you lose, give me five demon cores!"

Shang Shiqiu stood up abruptly, about to accept the challenge, but was pulled back. "Junior Sister Shang, calm down!" someone urged. "First, look closely at the demon cores he's holding."

Shang Shiqiu focused her gaze. Her pupils instantly constricted. "Demon cores from Core Formation Fourth Level beasts, all five of them?" she murmured, swallowing slightly. The last trace of defiance in her heart vanished completely. Before this, she had believed her previous defeat was due to her carelessness and underestimation of him. She thought if they fought again, she wouldn't be so disgraced. But now, that notion had completely disappeared.

The expressions of the others also changed, losing their earlier arrogance. Five Core Formation Fourth Level demon cores. Jiang Fan had pulled them out so casually, indicating they weren't his limit. No one could guarantee how many Core Formation Fourth Level beasts he had actually slain. And how could a formidable expert capable of effortlessly killing Core Formation Fourth Level beasts be easily dealt with?

"What's wrong? Not so boisterous now?" Now it was Jiang Fan's turn to provoke them. "Didn't each of you want to challenge me a moment ago? Why are you all silent now? Have you lost your courage, or do you have no demon cores in your pockets?"

Disciples of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion were always high-minded, looking down on those from the Nine Sects. When had they ever been mocked like this? The female disciple, covered in blood and mud, could not tolerate it. "Arrogant!" she snapped. With a swift motion, she pulled out five demon cores from her sleeve. There were cores from Core Formation Fifth, Fourth, and Third Level beasts.

Jiang Fan nodded and then looked at the other Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciples. "What about you?" Under Jiang Fan's gaze, how could they show weakness? One by one, they puffed out their chests and, with a pained expression, pulled out five demon cores each. Even Shang Shiqiu, the weakest, couldn't resist the provocation when Jiang Fan's gaze swept over her. "A bet then!" she declared.

Jian Linyuan, standing nearby, shook his head slightly. "You lot," he sighed. "Just a few simple words of provocation, and you've all bet the demon cores you worked so hard to acquire. Leng Qingzhu is at the Core Formation Fifth Level. It's not a big deal for her to try; the outcome is uncertain. But the others, clearly knowing Jiang Fan's strength after seeing him produce Core Formation Fourth Level demon cores, are still throwing themselves into battle. They've certainly been in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion for too long – arrogant and lacking experience. Jiang Fan, on the other hand, is frighteningly seasoned. There's a profound reason why he produced Core Formation Fourth Level demon cores. If he had shown Core Formation First or Second Level cores, they would have calmly considered whether betting was worth it. But presenting Core Formation Fourth Level cores deeply provoked them. Coupled with Jiang Fan's taunts, it completely got to their heads."

Leng Qingzhu said, "Who do you want to fight first? You can pick anyone!" The others glared at Jiang Fan, their fighting spirit ablaze. They refused to believe it. How could a chosen prodigy of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion not be able to handle a mere boy from the Nine Sects!

Jiang Fan's gaze settled on Leng Qingzhu. "You're the strongest," he stated. "You're up!" Among them, only Leng Qingzhu was at the Core Formation Fifth Level. The others were all at the Core Formation Fourth Level, with Shang Shiqiu being at the Core Formation Third Level.

"Bold!" Leng Qingzhu felt deeply provoked by Jiang Fan's decision to challenge her first. She drew two short swords from her waist with a backhand motion. "Don't cry if you get hurt later!" she scoffed, her eyes glinting with murderous intent. With a light tap of her foot, she instantly blurred into a phantom, moving with terrifying speed – nine zhang in a single step – as she lunged towards Jiang Fan.

Shang Shiqiu clenched her fists. "Go, Senior Sister Leng!" she cheered. "Show this arrogant fellow the true might of a Heavenly Secret Pavilion disciple!" The other disciples also began to discuss. "In my opinion, Senior Sister Leng will win in one move," one said. "A movement technique of nine zhang per step is considered top-tier even in our Heavenly Secret Pavilion, among only a handful of practitioners." "He probably hasn't even seen such a thing in the Nine Sects' lands," another added. "It would be incredibly difficult just to react to, let alone evade."

Jian Linyuan's eyes remained calm, holding a profound expression. He didn't believe someone who could chase down and put to flight a group of Core Formation Fifth and Fourth Level beasts would be defeated so easily. The next moment, his pupils contracted slightly. Because, precisely at the moment Leng Qingzhu activated her movement technique, Jiang Fan also moved. His speed... was even faster than Leng Qingzhu's!

*Clang—* A prolonged sword hum suddenly echoed. Leng Qingzhu's attack, executed with her movement technique pushed to its limit, was expected to put Jiang Fan in a disheveled state. To her surprise, he drew a chilling long sword with a backhand motion. The next moment, it appeared directly in front of her, dazzling her vision!

Leng Qingzhu was startled. Her movement technique was already among the absolute best. Yet, this peer before her was significantly faster, covering at least a dozen zhang in a single step! She hurriedly channeled her twin swords, meeting the lightning-fast figure. *Clang—* Her swords clashed with the Sorrowful Frost Sword, sending sparks flying. Their figures crisscrossed and then separated. But before Leng Qingzhu's feet could even touch the ground, a vibrant, multi-colored beam of light struck from behind.

Leng Qingzhu's expression shifted slightly. In mid-air, she nimbly twisted her body. *Whoosh.* The colorful beam grazed past her ribs, tearing a piece from her black robe and revealing skin that was red from the friction. The burning pain completely sobered Leng Qingzhu. She no longer dared to underestimate Jiang Fan. The moment her toes touched the ground, she sharply reversed direction, employing a high-speed movement technique to charge at Jiang Fan.

"Butterflies Enter the Dream!" As her two short swords rubbed together in her palms, they emitted strange sound waves imperceptible to the human ear. These vibrations distorted the surrounding air, making both Leng Qingzhu and the space around her appear warped. It was as if she were an unreal, dreamlike figure. It became impossible to discern how far away Leng Qingzhu's attack truly was.

However, this move was useless against Jiang Fan. With a thought, he activated his Aura-Sensing Art, pinpointing Leng Qingzhu's true location. "Heaven and Earth Starfall!" *Tear.* A powerful burst of sword qi precisely struck the seemingly distorted Leng Qingzhu.

"What?" Leng Qingzhu was startled! It wasn't the immense power of this Earth-tier sword technique that surprised her. It was the fact that her own sword technique had no effect on him! She immediately swung a short sword, shattering the incoming sword qi. At this moment, she finally realized how troublesome Jiang Fan truly was.

"Good! I've finally found an opponent who makes me take this seriously!" She tossed her hands, and her two short swords miraculously began to dance in mid-air. At first glance, it appeared to be sword manipulation. But upon closer inspection, one would notice invisible threads from her sleeves tethering the short swords. With these threads, she manipulated the swords to fly and attack from a distance, much like actual sword manipulation.

The group's expressions became somewhat solemn. "He's actually forced Senior Sister Leng to use that move," one commented. "She only uses it when facing formidable opponents." "With two swords interfering, that boy will have a hard time freeing up his hands, while Senior Sister Leng can seize the opportunity to attack."

Leng Qingzhu pointed both hands. Her two short swords, several zhang away, shot rapidly towards Jiang Fan. Simultaneously, a cluster of purple flames gathered in Leng Qingzhu's palm. This was her strongest attack: a mid-tier Earth-grade palm technique! Though it was an incomplete form, its power was terrifying. Even a slight touch would surely strip a layer of skin from Jiang Fan!

Jiang Fan looked at the two incoming short swords with interest. "I thought it was sword manipulation," he commented. Leng Qingzhu, coordinating with her short swords, charged towards Jiang Fan. She scoffed, "Though this isn't true sword manipulation, it's a combat method designed to imitate its principles! Unless you have a third hand, you won't be able to withstand this!"

There was a look of absolute certainty in her eyes. This move had never failed her! When her opponent was forced to parry two short swords attacking from different directions, that was her moment to unleash her most powerful palm strike! With her Core Formation Fifth Level cultivation and a mid-tier Earth-grade palm technique, she couldn't imagine any reason for Jiang Fan not to be defeated!

However, Jiang Fan wore a playful expression. "I don't have a third hand," he said. "But..." He clasped his hands together. To Leng Qingzhu's astonishment, the Sorrowful Frost Sword instantly shot out. Jiang Fan's next words only then reached her ears: "What a coincidence. I happen to know sword manipulation."