It was a difficult choice.
But for the three of them, the words were incredibly heartening.
"Brother Chu, can I really learn Cultivation too?" Ye Xiaohan asked, his voice full of longing.
Qi Wei and Wang Xing also looked at Chu Fan with immense desire.
Chu Fan studied Ye Xiaohan carefully. While his constitution wasn’t exceptional for Cultivation, it was still above average. He was a bit old to start at thirteen or fourteen, but some Spirit Medicine could make up for it.
It was hard to say how great his future achievements would be, but as long as he was diligent, it wasn’t impossible for him to form a Golden Core one day.
However, Qi Wei and Wang Xing were both much older than Chu Fan, so it was definitely too late for them to begin Cultivation. But if he taught them some Martial Techniques, like Fist Techniques or Palm Techniques, they would have no problem protecting themselves in the mortal world.
Looking at the surrounding corpses, Chu Fan waved a hand and said, "Let’s go. We’ll find another spot first."
They followed the stream southwest for a few miles. After telling them to wait, Chu Fan took flight.
A little over a quarter of an hour later, he returned carrying a few pheasants and wild rabbits.
He cleaned them by the stream and set up a bonfire to roast them.
As they watched the game sizzle and drip with fat, the three of them couldn’t help but drool.
The four of them had a hearty meal, during which Chu Fan learned more about the Ye Family’s situation.
Regarding teaching Ye Xiaohan Cultivation, Chu Fan felt a small pang of regret. Back at Dingfeng Slope, he had obtained many Foundation Establishment Elixirs from those Storage Rings. Since he had no use for them, he’d given them all to Lan Bing and the others in one go.
’If only I’d kept some of those Foundation Establishment Elixirs or even just some Spirit Medicine,’ he thought. ’It would have saved me so much trouble.’
Fortunately, he hadn’t given all the Cultivation Technique books to Lan Bing and his group. Besides the Sword Manual, he had also kept a few Inner Power Heart Method books, one of which was quite suitable for Ye Xiaohan to cultivate.
"Since you chose the second option, we’ll find a larger town to settle in after we leave the Yunmeng Mountain Range. I’ll buy the necessary medicinal ingredients to first condition your bodies, and then I will teach Xiaohan a Dharma Gate for Cultivation."
Chu Fan had already made it clear to them: Ye Xiaohan was young enough that it wasn’t too late for him to start his Cultivation, but Wang Xing and Qi Wei could only temper their bodies and practice more Martial Techniques.
Of course, they had no doubts about Chu Fan’s arrangements.
This was a world where the strong were revered, and the law of the jungle was a fundamental Law.
The power Chu Fan had displayed was so far beyond their comprehension that they had naturally come to see him as their leader.
"If you choose the second option, have you thought about what will happen to your second uncle?" Chu Fan asked.
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiaohan’s hand couldn’t help but tremble.
Chu Fan smiled. Ye Xiaohan was, after all, just a thirteen-year-old boy. He had a pure heart and could be ruthless when necessary, but his understanding of human nature, strategy, and the world was still far too limited.
Chu Fan said, "Don’t worry. Your second grand-uncle didn’t get the Bone Flute, so your second uncle’s life is safe for the time being. I have a few urgent matters to attend to right now and can’t get away. Let’s wait until next year. I’ll accompany you to the Da Zhao Country Capital City then."
He was no longer the Saint Heir of the Lingyun Sect. If he still held that title, he wouldn’t even need to appear in person. A single Jade Token representing his status, delivered to the Monarch of the Da Zhao Kingdom, would have been enough. The Monarch would surely have granted the Lingyun Sect face and pardoned Ye Xiaohan’s second uncle.
The Six Sects and Eight Gates of the Eastern Domain held a transcendent status among the Eastern Domain Countries.
"Brother Chu, I’ll listen to whatever you say," Ye Xiaohan said.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group of four set off again. They exited the Yunmeng Mountain Range from the west, crossed a river, and five days later, arrived at a State City called Yunzhou.
However, in their tattered clothes, they looked like beggars and were shooed away. Pedestrians would cover their noses and avoid them from a distance.
They didn’t encounter any more pursuers or members of Cultivation Sects along the way.
’The Lingyun Sect must think I’m dead for sure,’ Chu Fan mused. ’It makes sense, though. After taking two heavy blows from Yan Qi, a Divine Separation Realm expert, I was kicked dozens of miles before slamming into the ground. Even a man of iron would have been shattered. If the Juntian Mirror hadn’t protected its master, I would have had no chance of survival.’
’It’s a good thing they all think I’m dead. My only worry is that if Yun Xi believes it too, she might do something foolish. Looking back, it’s all so damn frustrating. I had a perfect plan to leave Cuiyun Peak unharmed, but who could have known Yan Qi would show up out of nowhere? At that moment, I was sure I was going to die. But then, in the heat of his argument with Yu Zongding, Yan Qi kicked me dozens of miles away. I never expected that his appearance would actually be my ticket to escaping that disaster, even if the price was steep.’
However, Chu Fan didn’t yet know that when all the bones in his body were shattered, the Juntian Mirror had not only healed them but also improved their quality.
"Go, go, go! Scram! If beggars like you enter the city and the Lord Governor blames me, this Captain can’t bear the responsibility."
As they tried to enter the city, the four of them were stopped by the guards at the gate.
A Captain spat curses at them with utter disgust.
During this time, Chu Fan had endured so much mockery and slander that he had gained a profound understanding of the fickleness of human nature.
So, the Captain’s words didn’t anger him. He simply took out a piece of broken silver, discreetly handed it over, and the Captain allowed them to enter the city.
After entering the city, their first stop was a clothing shop, where each of the four bought several new sets of clothes, from inside out. Then, they found an inn, washed up, and changed into their new attire.
They received plenty of disdainful looks throughout the process, but with silver to pave the way, every problem was easily solved.
’It was a good thing we went to Dingfeng Slope,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, even a hero can be stumped by a single penny.’
In truth, Chu Fan didn’t really have a concept of money. After all, he had never once had to worry about basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, or transportation his entire life.
After three days in Yunzhou, they bought a courtyard home in the western part of the city through a brokerage and temporarily settled down.
Once they were settled, Chu Fan rushed to all the major pharmacies in the city and bought a large pile of medicinal herbs.
He didn’t know how to refine Elixirs, but he did know how to prepare medicinal baths for Foundation Establishment.
As for Foundation Establishment Elixirs, they were simply not for sale in Yunzhou.
After that, Chu Fan became very busy. Preparing the medicinal baths for the three of them every day took him more than three hours.
After all, the three of them had different constitutions, so the ingredients for their medicinal baths and the heat control during brewing naturally had to be different.
Besides brewing the medicine, there was his own Cultivation.
It was already the fifteenth of the seventh month. His half-year deadline, the tenth of the tenth month, was less than three months away.
But his Cultivation was still only at the Lotus-Birth Realm, and there was still a whole Great Realm to cross before reaching Pill Formation!
Reaching Pill Formation in three months—how could Chu Fan not be anxious?
Fortunately, ever since Dingfeng Slope, even when he wasn’t actively meditating and cultivating, the lotus in his Dantian would cause his meridians to circulate energy on their own.
The lotus in his Dantian had already bloomed, with only the innermost few petals surrounding the seed pod yet to open.
’I wonder how Core Formation works in the Pill Formation Realm of the Miaolian Celestial Stabilization Technique,’ he mused.