Chapter 459: Senior

The three looked up, immediately overcome with shock. The person was drenched in blood, as if they had emerged from a pool of gore. Their clothes, hair, and face were entirely covered in blood, standing amidst countless beast king corpses like an unparalleled god of slaughter! It was unimaginable. The beast horde, which even their combined efforts couldn't break through, had been completely decimated by this one person, wielding a single sword!

Liang Feiyan swallowed hard, remaining stunned for a long moment before regaining her composure. She quickly and with difficulty raised her other arm, performing a one-handed salute. "Junior Liang Feiyan thanks you, Senior, for saving our lives."

Having just been rescued, Jin Zhongming was instantly filled with immense gratitude. He clasped his fists together firmly and declared in a booming voice, "Senior, your great kindness, I, Jin Zhongming, will never forget!"

Xia Chaoge also didn't dare to delay. She bowed deeply. "Xia Chaoge thanks you, Senior, for your rescue. May I ask your esteemed name, Senior? Chaoge will certainly invite my master to visit and express our gratitude in person."

In such a desperate situation, even a powerful cultivator at the seventh stage of Core Formation would likely sigh in despair at the sight of the beasts. Rescue would have been utterly impossible. The difficulty of saving them was comparable to ascending to heaven. The weight of this kindness could not be repaid with mere words of thanks.

"No need for formalities," Jiang Fan said, only then realizing his voice was hoarse. Three consecutive hours of life-or-death combat had kept his vital energy at its peak. After a prolonged period, it had begun to affect his sensory perception. Not only was his voice hoarse, but his hearing and vision were also somewhat affected. Fortunately, the issues were not severe.

He jumped off the beast's back and flew to Xia Chaoge's side, carefully examining her. He found that apart from some superficial wounds, she was unharmed. Only then did he visibly relax. "It's good that you're alright," Jiang Fan said.

Liang Feiyan and Jin Zhongming exchanged glances. It sounded as if this senior had specifically come to rescue Xia Chaoge. Considering Xia Chaoge's status as the foremost person in the Nine Sects' territory, they felt relieved. It was perfectly normal for someone of her standing to be saved by a senior at such great personal risk. Xia Chaoge was also somewhat puzzled. From his voice, she didn't recall knowing any elder like this. However, it didn't stop her from expressing her thanks. "Thank you, Senior."

Jiang Fan was amused and frustrated. Just because his voice was hoarse, she couldn't recognize him? However, this was clearly not the time for pleasantries. The beast kings, terrified by his onslaught, were retreating. Such a massive contribution couldn't be allowed to slip away. Once they escaped the valley and scattered, where would he find them again?

"Can you still fight?" Xia Chaoge shook her head. "Junior's spiritual energy is depleted." Liang Feiyan even raised his ridiculously swollen arm. They were tempted. Following the senior to hunt down beast kings would surely net them some demon cores. But they simply couldn't move. Jiang Fan nodded and took out two Spirit Replenishing Pills, giving one each to Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan. "Take these and follow me to hunt the beast kings!"

Liang Feiyan hesitated slightly. He still didn't know what kind of elixir these were. Xia Chaoge, however, swallowed hers without hesitation. If this person intended her harm, there would be no need to risk so much to save her. Seeing Xia Chaoge take it, Liang Feiyan no longer hesitated and swallowed his as well.

The next moment, he exclaimed, "My spiritual energy! It's all recovered!" A hint of surprise also appeared on Xia Chaoge's usually calm face. She noticed that in just a moment, her completely depleted Golden Core had instantly recovered seventy to eighty percent of its spiritual energy. She couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what kind of elixir is this?" It was incredible that it could instantly restore full spiritual energy to Liang Feiyan, who was at the initial stage of Core Formation. Even she, at the middle stage of Core Formation, had recovered eighty percent. It was simply too miraculous!

Jiang Fan replied, "We'll discuss it later. Follow me to eliminate the beast tide; this opportunity must not be missed!" Liang Feiyan was instantly overjoyed. With the senior's immense power, there was no danger in following him. This wasn't hunting beast kings; it was practically collecting demon cores! Xia Chaoge also nodded. Moments ago, these beast kings had trapped them with no escape. Now it was their turn to retaliate.

"Wait! Senior, what about mine?" Jin Zhongming immediately grew anxious upon seeing this. This was an incredible opportunity for a free gain. Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan had the chance, but he was being left out?

Jiang Fan gave him a casual glance. "You're a body cultivator; do you even need Spirit Replenishing Pills?" Jin Zhongming quickly explained, "Senior, you might not know. While our body cultivation lineage doesn't use spiritual energy, spiritual energy can repair our bodies. The Spirit Replenishing Pills you have would have the same effect on me."

Jiang Fan nodded. "Hmm, I understand." Jin Zhongming's face lit up, thinking Jiang Fan was about to give him one of the miraculous pills. But Jiang Fan merely pushed off with his foot and left directly, saying without looking back, "Find a kind person who doesn't complain to help you. You, I can't afford to help."

Earlier, they hadn't been far apart. Jiang Fan had heard Jin Zhongming's comments clearly. He was saved, yet he complained that the rescue was too late. What kind of person was that? Besides, even without his recent words, based on his previous actions, Jiang Fan would never have given him a Spirit Replenishing Pill.

Jin Zhongming's face stiffened. He then realized that the other person had heard his earlier complaints. Liang Feiyan cast a gloating glance at him. "Senior Brother Jin, I think you should quickly leave the valley. In your current state, encountering any stray beast king could be fatal."

Jin Zhongming's heart tightened. Reluctantly, he looked at their receding figures and had no choice but to quickly leave this dangerous place. But the further he walked, the more resentful he became. Just because of one complaint, his treatment was poles apart from Liang Feiyan and Xia Chaoge! One was going to collect demon cores with the senior, while the other could only slink away. Why?

Suddenly, he noticed that the ground was covered with corpses, but no demon cores had been extracted. His eyes immediately lit up. "Hahahaha! They won't take me? Can't I just take them myself? So many demon cores, over a thousand merit points in total! If I take them directly back to Sunset City, what can you do to me?" His master, Kong Yuanba, was in Sunset City, after all. Would this person dare to demand the demon cores from Kong Yuanba?

He immediately approached a demonic beast. Just as he was about to cut open its belly, his vision suddenly went black. A large bull's hoof unceremoniously slammed into his face. The exhausted Jin Zhongming had no way to dodge. He was instantly struck into unconsciousness and fell straight down. Little White snorted, "How bold! You dare to steal Brother Jiang Fan's demon cores?" The Spirit Horse also walked over, its competitive spirit making it decide to join in. It lowered its head and thrust forward. Its single horn pierced Jin Zhongming's backside. Jin Zhongming, still unconscious, twitched violently.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fan, along with Xia Chaoge and Liang Feiyan, continued to pursue and kill the beast kings. Compared to fighting them head-on, the chase was much easier. This was because the beasts only knew to run forward and dared not stop to resist. As a result, the three easily slew a large number of them!

On the other side, Wu Manyue and her companions were having a harder time. As the beast tide grew increasingly ferocious, they faced the onslaught of beast kings, which seemed like a dying frenzy. Aside from Wu Manyue, who fared slightly better, the other three were severely wounded and lay incapacitated on the cliff face. Wu Manyue, struggling alone, eventually ran out of spiritual energy and could no longer stop them. Pale-faced, she lay on the back of her patterned python, watching helplessly as swarms of beast kings ran past them. By a rough count, at least twenty or more had escaped.

"Damn it! What on earth is going on?" Initially, they had been able to hold back the beast tide. But for some unknown reason, the later beast kings charged with a frantic intensity, which led to their current predicament.

Just then, a low cry came. "Senior! There's still a fifth-stage Core Formation one over there!"