Dashing Student Chapter 1338: Spoils After the Battle

The demon cultivators had been entirely repelled, bringing back serenity to Ten Thousand Treasures Island. Only then could Chen Nan truly relax.

One must understand that his ultimate hidden technique lay in the Space Law concealed within his right eye, and each activation demanded he suffer immense backlash.

Not needing to resort to it this time brought him unexpected relief.

Within the city, Xin Zi observed the demon cultivators' full retreat, struggling to believe his eyes. It took rubbing them thrice before he broke into a foolish grin.

All that transpired felt like a dream to him.

"Is it finally over? Did we actually make it through?"

The city's residents erupted in joyous shouts. They flung open the gates and deactivated the defensive array, surging outside to glimpse the hero who had rescued them from the demon cultivator horde.

Ning Yu hurried through the air toward Chen Nan, her cheeks wet with tears, and threw herself into his embrace: "You frightened me terribly, but I'm so glad you're safe."

"Swear to me you won't take such risks again."

Chen Nan smiled lightly and softly stroked Ning Yu’s back: "Relax, there was good cause this time, and I felt sure of success."

Ning Yu teasingly glared at him: "Hmph, always putting on a show."

"Still, the one I picked can't possibly be mistaken."

Just then, Xin Zi and his companions approached Chen Nan and offered profound bows: "Envoy, we're grateful for saving everyone on the island; you're our true benefactor."

Chen Nan dismissed it with a wave: "No need for Envoy—just address me as Jue Mingzi."

Inwardly, he sneered; what Envoy? Yi Mingzi had merely dispatched him as disposable fodder to perish, and he wouldn't let that grudge slide.

After some brief exchanges, Chen Nan claimed exhaustion to slip away from the group and headed back into the city, reaching the cultivation cave dwelling that Xin Zi had picked out especially for him.

This spot boasted the island's richest spiritual energy concentration. Even Righteous Alliance Envoys rarely got to use it, as Xin Zi hesitated to offer it, yet now he hoped Chen Nan would stay indefinitely.

With Chen Nan around, Ten Thousand Treasures Island stood utterly secure.

Chen Nan sent the others away and stepped into the cave dwelling to steady his breathing and clear his thoughts. The fight had been grueling, but it sharpened his grasp of his own power.

Furthermore, by going all out in the clash, his cultivation had progressed noticeably, particularly after eliminating two Golden Core Realm Great Perfection powerhouses. Merely taking in the Blood Evil Qi had boosted his cultivation substantially.

In the cave dwelling's calm, he refined and absorbed the battle's rewards, and swiftly, three days elapsed.

The ingested Blood Evil Qi converted to the finest mana inside him, gradually flowing along his meridians, growing more potent with every cycle.

At last, he hit a barrier. His inner Golden Core started rotating gradually, rapidly drawing in the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Though the energy here was exceptionally thick, it fell short for Chen Nan. In mere moments, he nearly depleted the cave dwelling of all spiritual energy.

Chen Nan gave a wry smile: "Looks like from here on, I'll have to practice near a spirit vein."

Without delay, he pulled out a vast store of top-grade spirit stones, convinced now that drawing from them was the quickest way; anything less would hinder his progress.

He also saw the need to trade all his spirit stones for top-grade versions.

Spirit stones crumbled to powder one after another in his grasp, as a whirlpool of spiritual energy swirled about him; even Xin Zi and the rest beyond the cave dwelling spotted the disturbance and glanced over.

"What's happening?"

Deng Yunhe chuckled with pride: "Nothing to worry about—this is just my brother in cultivation. Given his might, isn't it natural for his sessions to stir things up?"

Since Chen Nan's solo repulsion of the foes, he'd taken to calling him "my brother" constantly, as if eager for all to recognize their bond, which was rather comical.

Xin Zi stared wide-eyed: "Does cultivating demand such a massive stir?"

Yet, reflecting on Chen Nan's exceptional prowess, he nodded: "Indeed, such grandeur makes sense; after all, prodigies stand apart."

Chen Nan's advancement wrapped up in roughly half an hour, during which he consumed more than ten thousand top-grade spirit stones.

It propelled him to Golden Core Realm Fifth Layer Middle Stage, but joy eluded him.

"Advancing a minor realm costs over ten thousand top-grade spirit stones; cultivation's draining my wealth dry!" He shook his head ruefully.

To keep cultivating without hitches, he'd have to gather far more spirit stones—vast quantities!

Post-breakthrough, Chen Nan produced two storage bags from his person, spoils from Old Ghost and Lu Xingmian that he'd snatched up offhandedly after vanquishing them.

As Golden Core Realm Perfect Cultivators, their pouches ought to hold worthwhile goods, no?

His pulse quickening with anticipation, Chen Nan delved into the bags, and the contents promptly brightened his gaze.

Top-grade spirit stones numbered at least a hundred thousand, plus assorted demon artifacts and demon cultivation aids, all worthless to him.

He grabbed a jade slip, touched it to his brow, and discovered it detailed Old Ghost's "Blood Demon Technique"; he torched it without a second thought.

"Useless cultivation method."

Next came another jade slip, revealing Lu Xingmian's "War Demon Technique," a demonic path for body refinement.

Though formidable, its flaw was obvious: Progressing in it eroded one's reason over time.

Such a body refinement art earned Chen Nan's disdain: "Hah, more garbage."

After a thorough check, beyond the spirit stones, little in the duo's bags appealed to him.

"Hmm? These pills look useful."

Deep in Lu Xingmian's bag, Chen Nan uncovered two vials of pills—Seventh Grade Body Tempering Pills tailored for body refiners, able to hone the body further.

He stowed the pills and stones, then dumped the rest into a spare storage bag, planning to offload them together someday.

As Chen Nan rose, Xin Zi's voice echoed from outside the cave dwelling.

"Sir, I'd like to discuss something."

Chen Nan felt puzzled; with Ten Thousand Treasures Island secure, what did the Island Master seek?

After a brief pause, he invited Xin Zi inside.

"Island Master, what is it?"

Xin Zi offered a faint smile: "Sir, I've heard from your companions that spirit stones are your favorite. In gratitude for safeguarding Ten Thousand Treasures Island, I've boldly prepared some for you—please accept them."

With that, he handed over a storage bag.

Chen Nan accepted it, probed with his divine sense, and discovered a hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones within, leaving him astonished; for any Golden Core Realm cultivator, it was a fortune.

Then it dawned on him: Ten Thousand Treasures Island had been a resource-rich haven. Though much went to the Righteous Alliance, skimping some aside was feasible.