From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

Full Moon.

Black Market.

Wearing his wolf mask, Lin Fan went to the black market early.

He picked a spot next to Zhang Xi's and set up his store.

Which was just a piece of rag laid in front of him.

On the rag, he placed the Frost Fang Ice Tiger's core on it.

When Zhang Xi saw him with the demonic beast core, she figured there must be more to it.

She confirmed her belief after she saw Lin Fan shooing everyone away when they asked for the price.

Finally, when someone in a mask of a horse came asking for the price, Lin Fan was all smiles.

"How much for this Frost Fang Ice Tiger's core?" Sima Liang asked.

"Not much. Only fifty contribution points," Lin Fan replied.

When Sima Liang heard Lin Fan's voice, his hand reaching for the core froze in midair.

That voice.

Isn't that Lin Fan?

But why?

Sima Liang thought about it for a moment.

It didn't take him long to realize what Lin Fan was doing.

He couldn't do much but give out a laugh and say, "Deal. Fifty contribution points for the core."

Lin Fan smiled and patted Sima Liang on his back.

He picked up the core, passed it to Sima Liang and said, "This core must be for someone important. I'm sure you'll make sure it won't be damaged."

Sima Liang could only nod and reply, "Ah, yes. Definitely. I will make sure it ends up where it should be."

"Good," Lin Fan nodded approvingly as he saw Sima Liang make his way out of the black market.

Even though Zhang Xi couldn't figure out what was happening, she was sure Lin Fan must have been taking advantage of that person in the horse mask.

She side-eyed him and shifted a few steps away from Lin Fan.

Best to keep some distance from him, who knows what he's up to next.

…

Next day.

Physiques Peak.

Lin Fan was in the main hall with Sun Hai.

Having been cultivating for so long, it was time to take measure of Lin Fan's improvement.

Sun Hai took out a stone, which looked something like the inquiry stone.

But its purpose was different.

It measured the level and stage of cultivation you were at.

"Put your hand on the stone and inject Qi into it," Sun Hai said.

Lin Fan did as Sun Hai instructed.

When he injected his Qi into the measuring stone, a white glow enveloped it.

It gave out a few pulses of bright glow before going back to what it was again.

Lin Fan removed his hands from the stone.

Then, some words in white appeared on the stone.

Qi Concentration Level, Stage Nine.

Sun Hai couldn't believe his eyes when he saw it.

He had to read the words over and over again.

"Read what you see on the stone to me."

"Qi Concentration Level, Stage Nine," Lin Fan replied.

Sun Hai asked Lin Fan to repeat what he saw, making sure he wasn't reading it wrong.

His cultivation speed was astronomical.

A speed Sun Hai had never seen before.

Was it due to the Beast Cultivation root of his?

"Keep cool. Be steady, mustn't let it get to his head."

Sun Hai said to himself silently.

He'd seen so many promising young ones destroy themselves just because they got too cocky.

As the senior martial brother of Physique Peak, he mustn't let it happen to Lin Fan.

"Ahem. The stone must be faulty. I think you are most likely at Qi Concentration Level, Stage Five."

Sun Hai held the stone close to his face, pretending to inspect the stone.

"Yes, senior martial brother," Lin Fan said.

Although he had some doubts about Sun Hai's claim, he pretended to agree.

After all, if he was doing too well, how could he get more resources from Physique Peak?

"How should I improve myself further?" Lin Fan asked with a sincere look.

"I have a Fist technique… wait, no. You can go check out the mission hall. There's a very big and important mission coming up, you should try and join that."

Sun Hai stopped talking about his Fist technique when he recalled how rich Lin Fan was after the bet he had.

Poor Lin Fan.

He must have had a poor childhood for him to be so thrifty, Sun Hai thought.

Old habits die hard.

Sun Hai decided he should bring Lin Fan out and enjoy himself when he had the chance.

"Thanks, senior martial brother. I will check out the mission tomorrow," Lin Fan bid farewell as he was done for the day with his training.

Whatever the mission was, he thought he was more than ready for it.

When he went back to the wooden hut, Sima Liang was there.

"Lin Fan, I've got good news for you," Sima Liang said when he saw Lin Fan entered the hut.

"Let me guess. You've got the demonic beast core?" Lin Fan replied.

Sima Liang's eyebrow twitched a little and he said, "Ah yes. You really are so smart to know what I'm here for."

"Brother Liang, you are flattering me. So, what do I need to do next?"

"Just pass my men the hammers and Ember Wolf core, the Artifact Forging will be done in a day. They should be here shortly after I leave," Sima Liang replied.

Lin Fan brightened up when he heard it would only take a day.

He was worried about not having his hammer for the mission.

With assurance that it would only take a day, Lin Fan went into his room and handed Sima Liang the Ember Wolf core.

Sima Liang took it and bid his farewell.

Just when he turned and walked out of the wooden hut, he saw something in the corner of his eyes.

It was the wolf mask Lin Fan wore at the black market.

His eyebrow twitched again.

See no evil, he mumbled to himself over and over as he left.

…

Next day.

Mission Hall.

The mission hall was crowded with hordes of disciples.

They were trying to register for the mission Sun Hai was talking about.

Lin Fan joined in the queue and listened to what it was about.

"Fong, you really want to take on this mission?"

"Yes."

"It's very dangerous and high odds of you getting killed."

"Are you sure? I only heard the rewards are very high."

"It is to destroy a branch of the Dark Lotus sect. How could it not be dangerous?"

Dark Lotus Sect.

Lin Fan squinted his eyes and thought carefully about the mission.

Things had always been complicated when dealing with the Dark Lotus sect.