Not long after, Lu Fan appeared outside a mountain range. He could clearly feel that the sound was coming from within the mountain range, continuous and seemingly attracting everyone to enter.
Lu Fan stopped and observed carefully. Outside this mountain range, there were several characters carved: "Ancient Forbidden Land!"
These characters were extremely striking, even in a bright red color, which involuntarily stirred something within.
Just then, a woman appeared behind Lu Fan, looking at him with surprise: "You have quite the courage to sneak out of the city in the dead of night. Aren't you afraid of being dragged away by something unclean?"
"What is there to be afraid of? I am also a spirit cultivator!"
Lu Fan shrugged. "But why are you here, Miss Chu?"
"How do you know my surname is Chu?" Chu Ting frowned slightly.
"We met by chance at the tavern today."
Lu Fan chuckled. "They were all talking about you. How could I not know?"
"Indeed, being too famous is not always good!"
Chu Ting smiled faintly. "But you are indeed courageous. Most people wouldn't dare to come here."
"Do you know what this place is?" Lu Fan asked.
"Ancient Forbidden Land, No Trespassing for the Living!"
Chu Ting stated directly. "Ahead lies the Ancient Forbidden Land. No one who has entered has ever come out alive. Fortunately, you stopped just now, otherwise, you would have lost your life!"
"Is there such a thing!"
Lu Fan smiled faintly. "I find that hard to believe."
"If you don't believe me, we can all go in and find out!"
Chu Ting said directly. "But to be clear, if you go in, it has nothing to do with me!"
Lu Fan rolled his eyes. He wasn't afraid, but he wasn't foolish either. Why would he barge in directly? If there were truly something inside, wouldn't he suffer more losses than gains?
"What, scared now?"
Chu Ting said proudly. "I thought you were so formidable."
Lu Fan ignored her and turned to head towards Beihai City. He wasn't an idiot. It was clearly marked as a forbidden area, and to charge in directly would be seeking death.
Seeing Lu Fan ignore her, Chu Ting instantly became annoyed. "What kind of person are you? So impolite!"
"You're asking me to go to my death, and you expect me to be polite?"
Lu Fan rolled his eyes, showing his displeasure.
At this, Chu Ting felt she was in the wrong. But no matter what, she was still the eldest daughter of the Chu family, and no one had ever dared to disregard her like this. Just as she was about to speak again, Lu Fan had already stepped towards the city.
"You stop right there!"
Chu Ting shouted and chased after him, clearly displeased.
"What is it now?"
Lu Fan frowned. He was planning to go back to sleep and had no time to waste here.
"I am the eldest daughter of the Chu family. Since you know this, why are you treating me like this?" Chu Ting said coldly.
"All beings are equal. Even if you are the eldest daughter of the Chu family, you only have the power of your family to make others submit to you!"
Lu Fan said coldly. "Without the Chu family, you might be nothing!"
Chu Ting stood there stunned, completely at a loss. She actually found Lu Fan's words very reasonable, so much so that she couldn't refute them.
Lu Fan said no more and turned to leave. He had no desire to interact further with such a young lady.
Chu Ting remained stunned, appearing quite helpless. She, the dignified eldest daughter of the Chu family, had been so disregarded. How could she accept this?
Upon returning to the tavern, Lu Fan prepared to enter seclusion to cultivate. However, as soon as he circulated his spiritual energy, he felt the spiritual energy around him surging, eventually rushing directly to his forehead. In that instant, he broke through to the Great Spirit Master realm.
Feeling the speed of this breakthrough, Lu Fan was utterly shocked. He had never imagined that just going out for a while would lead to such a strange breakthrough.
"Could it be that there is some special effect within the Ancient Forbidden Land!" Lin Ke said. "It seems that you were able to break through in time only after going there!"
"The Ancient Forbidden Land was a forbidden area in ancient times, so it is naturally not an ordinary place!"
Lu Fan said solemnly. "But I truly have to thank the Ancient Forbidden Land. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to break through to Great Spirit Master."
For the next few days, Lu Fan remained in the tavern, cultivating in seclusion to stabilize his realm. Although he had broken through to Great Spirit Master, it would take time to consolidate his cultivation, otherwise, his realm would be unstable.
Meanwhile, in a private room at the tavern, Chu Ting was drinking alone, looking quite displeased. Ever since Lu Fan had spoken to her that night, she had been quite unhappy with him. She had dispatched many experts from the Chu family to find Lu Fan, but they still couldn't get any news.
In her frustration, she ordered a public notice to be posted. If Lu Fan wasn't found, she feared she would die of depression. As the eldest daughter of the Chu family, being lectured by an ordinary person like that was something she couldn't stomach.
Lin Qingbei and a few guards were strolling through the streets. Upon seeing the notice posted on the city wall, they immediately became interested. "Isn't that the kid? He actually offended the Chu family's young lady!"
"It really is him!"
Lin Qingbei narrowed his eyes. "Is he at the Ke Lai Tavern?"
"That's right. That kid has been at that tavern all along and hasn't come out. He's probably in seclusion to cultivate!"
A guard said. "If this news is delivered to Miss Chu, that kid will likely be in big trouble!"
Lin Qingbei nodded and directly tore down the notice. Not long after, he arrived at the tavern.
Chu Ting was sitting and eating pastries when Lin Qingbei walked over. "Miss Chu, I know where this person is!"
"Do you really know?" Chu Ting asked with some interest. Ever since Lu Fan had spoken to her, she hadn't slept well day or night. Now that she could see Lu Fan, she was eager.
"This person is at the Ke Lai Tavern. He hasn't come out for the past few days, probably afraid of being discovered by Miss Chu!" Lin Qingbei said with a smile.
"Good, well done!"
Chu Ting nodded slightly. "Uncle Wu, a reward!"
"No need for a reward!" Lin Qingbei shook his head. "As long as that kid pays the price, I will be satisfied."
"Do you have a grudge against him?" Chu Ting frowned slightly.
"A grudge of extermination! We are irreconcilable!" Lin Qingbei stated directly. "If my strength were not insufficient, I wouldn't have waited until now."
Chu Ting nodded, not asking for further details. She merely wanted to teach Lu Fan a lesson, but she didn't intend to kill him. However, the person in front of her seemed to have precisely that intention.
"Chu Ting, I've searched all over Beihai City and still haven't found that kid!" Li Ziming walked over. "Has he left Beihai City?"
"I think you haven't searched seriously!"
Chu Ting said coldly, then stood up and walked outside.