"It's just how things are." Jiang Chen let out a quiet breath, a hint of helplessness crossing his face. "I won't deny it. I wiped out every Nirvana Cleansing realm cultivator from the Compassionate Sword Immortal Palace and the Purple Crest Immortal Sect."

He shrugged lightly. "That's how this world works. If you aren't ruthless enough, you end up the one getting crushed."

He looked at Shen Xin. "You walk the unyielding Saber Dao. If you were in my place, would you have shown mercy?"

"Of course not." Shen Xin shook his head. His title, Devil Saber, hadn't come from nowhere. He'd always chosen the direct and aggressive path.

Jiang Chen laughed. "See? We're not so different. Being decisive doesn't make someone part of the demonic path."

Then he waved a hand, moving on. "So, have I answered everything? Where did your master fall? I'd like to go pay him a visit."

"Jiang Chen, don't try to change the topic." Shen Xin's face stayed serious. "What you said makes sense, but you still haven't proved you're not working with the demons."

"That's easy to prove." Jiang Chen spread his hands casually. "Go to the Immortal Martial Continent and see for yourself."

"I hit the demon army so hard they don't even dare come close anymore."

He leaned back slightly. "You think the pressure on the frontlines suddenly increased for no reason? The demons originally planned to attack from the sides, but they were forced to throw everything onto the main battlefield instead."

He shook his head. "And if you're worried, send someone else to check."

Jiang Chen waved a hand, ending the matter. "That's all I have to say. Whether we fight or make peace is up to you."

Hearing this, Shen Xin's expression stiffened for a moment.

Jiang Chen's logic made sense. And his strength was beyond doubt.

Even Shen Xin's sneak attack hadn't managed to hurt him. In a direct fight, his chances didn't look good.

More importantly, his real goal was to rescue Zhu Zhongming, not start a pointless battle here.

After a short silence, Shen Xin looked at Jiang Chen. "I'll send someone to the Immortal Martial Continent to confirm everything."

He paused, then added, "But you'll stay where I can keep an eye on you. If things are really as you say, I'll report it truthfully and let the Profound Jade Immortal Alliance make the final decision."

"Fine. Just make it quick." Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "I'd like to meet your master soon."

Shen Xin hesitated. "You really think my master is still alive?"

"I'm sure of it." Jiang Chen nodded. "Go ahead and make your arrangements."

Shen Xin said nothing more. He took out a transmission jade token and contacted Bao Rui, ordering him to open the spatial portal to the Immortal Martial Continent and send people to check the situation there.

Bao Rui, Kou Zhong, and Xu Ziling were all shocked when they received the message. Even so, none of them dared question it. Shen Xin's reputation as the Devil Saber was more than enough to keep them in line.

In the end, not all of them left the arctic island.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, the two young Nirvana Peering realm cultivators, took charge. They gathered the remaining subordinates who hadn't been taken away by Jiang Chen, then opened the spatial portal and set off.

Meanwhile, Shen Xin stayed where he was.

He stood in place, eyes fixed on Jiang Chen the entire time, making sure he didn't leave his sight.

...

Back on Sky Harmony Immortal Star, Qin Ran shocked Pan Zhen, the Pan Clan's patriarch, by casually presenting several cultivation methods.

Pan Zhen quickly checked them himself and was thrilled to find every one of them genuine.

From that moment on, he treated Qin Ran as a mysterious expert, someone likely at least in the Dao Comprehension realm — a full major realm above the Inquiring Journey realm.

Without delay, Pan Zhen offered Qin Ran generous gifts and showed him the highest respect. He then immediately sent for Pan Li.

Now, his only thought was to have Pan Li accepted as Qin Ran's disciple.

After some quick preparations, he arranged a formal apprenticeship ceremony, hoping to officially establish this valuable connection.

In the main hall, Pan Li knelt, performed the formal kowtow, and offered tea to Qin Ran, officially becoming his disciple.

At the same time, Qin Ran's system notified him that he had gained a new disciple and would now receive benefits from her cultivation progress as well.

The news nearly overwhelmed him with excitement.

After waiting his entire life—and even dying once—he finally had a real chance to break past the limits of the Physical Body realm.

As for Pan Li, under the influence of Heavenly Fate, she felt an immediate sense of trust and respect toward Qin Ran, so there was no resistance to becoming his disciple.

After accepting her, Qin Ran made it clear that he would be taking Pan Li with him. However, he also promised to settle the Pan Clan's troubles before they left.

Pan Zhen, already thrilled after obtaining Qin Ran's cultivation methods, now felt even more hopeful about the future of his clan.

Even if Pan Li would eventually leave with Qin Ran, it was a price the Pan Clan was willing to accept—especially since Qin Ran was prepared to step in and deal with the Gong Clan himself.

Besides Pan Li, the Pan Clan still had several younger members with decent talent. With the powerful cultivation methods Qin Ran provided, these youths could eventually become the clan's main support and help it grow stronger.

On top of that, Qin Ran's involvement gave the clan an extra layer of protection.

Even if Pan Li left with him in the future, she wouldn't cut ties with her family. And Qin Ran's influence alone was enough to keep the Pan Clan safe.

Because of this, the entire clan gladly agreed to the arrangement.

Soon after, Qin Ran took Pan Li to a courtyard residence prepared by the Pan Clan and immediately began guiding her cultivation.

Meanwhile, news spread that the Pan Clan had allowed their most talented young member, Pan Li, to become the disciple of what outsiders saw as an ordinary cultivator.

The news actually came from lower-ranking members of the Pan Clan. They weren't aware of the important details and had no idea Qin Ran had given the clan advanced cultivation methods.

Because of that, outsiders began laughing at the Pan Clan, thinking they were so desperate that they had handed their most talented junior to a fraud stuck in the Physical Body realm.

Soon, the whole city was buzzing with ridicule.

After hearing this, the Gong Clan looked down on the Pan Clan even more.

Meanwhile, in the temporary residence arranged by the clan, Qin Ran had already started guiding Pan Li in her cultivation.

At only seven years old, Pan Li had already reached the peak of the Physical Body realm, just one step away from the Original Movement realm.

And once she broke through, Qin Ran himself would also be able to step into the Original Movement realm.

Pan Li's natural talent had clearly been underestimated by the Pan Clan. Under Qin Ran's guidance, she quickly broke through to the Original Movement realm.

At the same moment, Qin Ran finally achieved the breakthrough he had waited so long for and gained access to Origin Power.

Although it was only the second major realm of the First Step on the cultivation path, Origin Power greatly boosted his combat strength.

Before this, relying only on physical strength, Qin Ran could at best hold his ground against Peak-stage Heavenly Origin realm cultivators. Without using special trump cards, facing someone in the Inquiring Journey realm would have put him in serious danger.

But now, if he met an Inquiring Journey realm cultivator, he could defeat them using his own strength alone.

With his long-held wish finally fulfilled, the heavy weight in his heart seemed to vanish, as if dark clouds had cleared and the sky had opened up before him. For a moment, even conquering this vast universe no longer felt out of reach.

In the future, his disciples would dominate the world, while he stood above them all.

Pan Li's breakthrough also gave the entire Pan Clan a huge boost in morale.

Pan Zhen tried to convince Qin Ran to guide some of the clan's other young members as well, but Qin Ran refused.

Not daring to object, Pan Zhen left with a polite smile and hurried off to focus on his own cultivation.

With the cultivation methods Qin Ran had given him, he was confident he would soon break through to the Inquiring Journey realm.