With the help of the Everspring Pill, Lan Tianxiong recovered extremely quickly.
Moreover, his cultivation, which had been stagnant in the early stage of the Profound Gang Realm for over a decade, began to loosen and grow.
At this rate, it was estimated that he would break through to the middle stage of the Profound Gang Realm within half a month.
At that time, even among the Profound Gang Realm cultivators in Jiangnan City, he would at least rank in the top ten, not much different from Yun Qianlang before.
After resolving Lan Tianxiong's matters, Ling Fan began to focus on perfecting the grand formation.
The current grand formation was still a bit short of his requirements and needed some improvements.
When he was almost done perfecting it, Master Wang paid him a special visit.
The two talked for an entire afternoon. Master Wang truthfully expressed all the doubts he had accumulated during this period and asked Ling Fan for guidance one by one.
Ling Fan's words, often just one or two sentences, could directly hit the core of the problem, giving Master Wang a feeling of sudden enlightenment.
He felt as if every word Ling Fan spoke contained irrefutable principles of weapon forging, allowing him to savor them with endless aftertaste.
"Master Ling, listening to your words today has saved this old man countless years of hard work. It feels like clouds parting to reveal the moon. If this old man can further advance in the path of weapon forging in the future, it will all be thanks to Master Ling's generous guidance. Master, your great kindness, this old man thanks you!"
Master Wang said with utmost solemnity, then bowed deeply to Ling Fan. With a bend of his knees, he was about to perform a kowtow.
Ling Fan gently extended his hand and stopped Master Wang, preventing the bow from being completed.
Master Wang was inwardly shocked and secretly sighed, "Master Ling is truly a martial prodigy. In such a short time, this old man can no longer even see the dust from your chariot."
Ling Fan, unaware of Master Wang's inner shock, said, "Master Wang, there is no need to be so polite. When the Lan family was in trouble, you stepped forward without regard for your own safety, spoke righteously for the Lan family, and advanced and retreated with them. This kind of loyalty is invaluable. What are a few words of guidance compared to that?"
Master Wang sighed, "To you, it may be nothing, but to this old man, it is the hope of breaking through to the intermediate Yellow rank or even higher. Moreover, what I did that day was out of my own conscience, and I never intended to receive anything in return from you. If it were any other family, I could not stand idly by. Otherwise, what is the point of us cultivating martial arts!"
Ling Fan could not help but nod.
Although Wang Taiping had many flaws, such as a fiery temper and inflexibility, which often brought him trouble, his character of hating evil and cherishing righteousness was rare, earning Ling Fan's deep respect.
After all, in this cruel world of deceit and the survival of the fittest, such people were too few.
After Master Wang left, Ling Fan calculated the time and realized it was almost time to go to Xingsha City to seize the opportunity of the Five-Colored Soil.
"Xiao Fan, what are you going to Xingsha City for!?"
His father-in-law, Lan Tianxiong, asked in great surprise upon hearing this.
Since Ling Fan had never left Jiangnan City since he was young, his sudden decision to go to Xingsha City caught him completely off guard.
"I'm going to find something very important to me."
Ling Fan did not tell Lan Tianxiong about the Five-Colored Soil. After all, it was not yet time to tell them about such things.
"Is there any difficulty I can help you with?"
Lan Tianxiong asked.
Ling Fan smiled faintly and shook his head.
The mere lower realm was not enough to trouble him, the former number one person in the Heavenly Realm.
Lan Tianxiong soon thought of this as well. Although he did not know Ling Fan's past life identity, whenever he thought of the many methods Ling Fan had displayed, and that terrifying, boundless demonic fire, his heart was greatly reassured.
He let out a hearty laugh and said, "I was overthinking. If even your strength cannot solve the problem, then with our Lan family's strength, we probably won't be able to help you much. Be careful then."
Ling Fan was about to leave with Liang Hutou.
Lan Tianxiong suddenly remembered something and slapped his forehead. "Look at my memory! I almost forgot. I have an old friend in Xingsha City. Their Liu family is considered a first-class family in Xingsha City, with considerable status. My old friend is the head of the Liu family, and his strength is much greater than mine. He entered the middle stage of the Profound Gang Realm long ago."
"How about this, I'll write him a letter. Their Liu family is, after all, a local power in Xingsha City. If you encounter any trouble, you can go to the Liu family and try."
Lan Tianxiong hastily wrote a letter and handed it to Ling Fan without further ado.
Ling Fan held the letter with a mix of amusement and helplessness.
However, this was Lan Tianxiong's good intention, and Ling Fan could not bear to refuse.
...
Ling Fan left very discreetly.
Very few people knew about it.
Therefore, it did not attract much attention in Jiangnan City and Lan Family Fort.
However, some observant individuals did notice his departure.
For example, the City Lord's Mansion of Jiangnan City.
Not long after Ling Fan left, a powerful figure from the City Lord's Mansion entered the dim great hall.
Li Yuanzheng, the City Lord of Jiangnan City, sat with his back to the entrance, like a petrified clay sculpture.
"Where did Ling Fan go?"
He spoke hoarsely.
His throat seemed to be filled with dust.
"Reporting to the City Lord, Ling Fan has left Jiangnan City with Liang Hutou. Judging by the direction of his departure, he is likely heading to Xingsha City. I have already sent people to track him, but Ling Fan's perception is very keen, and the people I sent dare not get too close, so they can only follow from a distance."
"Follow him, but do not attempt anything."
After Li Yuanzheng finished speaking, the great hall fell silent again.
As if electric sparks flashed in his eyes, Xingsha City... was that ruin about to open? What was he going there for?
...
Xingsha City.
This was a powerful city even larger than Jiangnan City.
Its population was at least three million.
The layout was magnificent.
Countless pavilions and terraces were hidden in the misty water vapor, possessing a graceful southern style. At first glance, it was very similar to Jiangnan City.
According to Liang Hutou, the overall strength of Xingsha City was one level higher than Jiangnan City, estimated to be similar to Yunmeng City.
The City Lord of Xingsha City, Xiong Kuang, had a cultivation in the late Profound Gang Realm. A few years ago, Liang Hutou had fought Xiong Kuang, and they had ended in a draw.
Now, Xiong Kuang's cultivation must have improved. Even if he hadn't reached the peak of the Profound Gang Realm, he had likely reached the peak of the late Profound Gang Realm at least.
If Ling Fan were not present, Liang Hutou might not be Xiong Kuang's opponent now.
However, since Liang Hutou had now entered the peak Profound Gang Realm, he naturally wouldn't take Xiong Kuang seriously.
Upon arriving in Xingsha City, he seemed somewhat restless.
That one eye kept scanning around, as if looking for someone to fight.
In fact, if he were not afraid of displeasing Ling Fan, he would have already gone to the City Lord's Mansion of Xingsha City to cause trouble for Xiong Kuang.
In Xingsha City, the crowds were dense, and pedestrians jostled each other on the streets, making it very lively.
At a glance, Ling Fan spotted no less than twenty martial artists, among whom were not a few Qi Refining Realm powerhouses.
The strength of Xingsha City was indeed slightly stronger than Jiangnan City, with a considerably larger number of martial artists.
"Master, the most famous place in Xingsha City is the Tianxin Tower. The food there is renowned far and wide, and from the top of the tower, you can overlook the entire city. Would you like to try it?"
Liang Hutou asked, rubbing his hands.
"You're the one who's greedy, aren't you?"
Ling Fan said faintly.
Liang Hutou chuckled and was not embarrassed. "Master's eyes are sharp. My little thoughts can't be hidden from you. But besides food, Tianxin Tower has another special feature: you can see Xingsha Lake from the top."
"Oh? The Xingsha Lake ruins are actually within Xingsha City?"
Ling Fan asked.
"Precisely!"
"Then let's go take a look."
...
Although Tianxin Tower only had three floors, due to its high elevation, one could overlook the entire city from the top.
With green tiles and flying eaves, vermilion beams and painted rafters.
What an exquisitely beautiful ancient pavilion.
From time to time, powerful figures or distinguished guests in luxurious attire entered and exited. Even the young attendants standing at the entrance carried a hint of pride and arrogance on their faces.
As Ling Fan and Liang Hutou approached the entrance, they were stopped by an attendant.
Having worked at Tianxin Tower for so many years, he recognized almost all the prominent figures in Xingsha City, but he had never seen Ling Fan or Liang Hutou before.
He saw that Ling Fan was wearing a plain gray cloth robe, his attire unremarkable, clearly not from a wealthy family. He also did not exhibit any true qi fluctuations, indicating he was not a young prodigy from a martial arts family.
Liang Hutou, on the other hand, appeared imposing, but he was adorned with gold and jade, giving off the impression of a nouveau riche.
With such appearances, they expected to patronize Tianxin Pavilion, which was simply wishful thinking.