"However, to break free from Earth and survive in the harsh environment of space on your own, you at least need to cultivate to the Golden Core stage," Zhang Fan said.
"Golden Core stage..." Qin Luoshui pouted, feeling the path ahead was too long.
Although she hadn't cultivated for long, she had already reached the peak of the Xiantian Grandmaster realm. Yet, she knew the chasm between a Xiantian Grandmaster and a Golden Core cultivator was like the difference between heaven and earth.
"That'll probably be when I'm seventy or eighty, won't it?" Qin Luoshui said, sounding somewhat discouraged.
Zhang Fan gently stroked Qin Luoshui's soft hair and said softly, "Don't underestimate yourself. Your ability to achieve this much in such a short time, besides my help, is also undeniable due to your own talent."
"Reaching the Golden Core stage is indeed extremely difficult, but with my assistance, it won't take that much time," Zhang Fan reassured her.
He had already made up his mind that when the time was right, he would enter the universe through the spatial passage beneath Kunlong Mountain.
Once the cultivation environment improved, Zhang Fan would be like a dragon that had entered the vast sea, a trapped dragon ascending to heaven.
With his past life's accumulation and the aid of abundant resources, he was highly confident he could form a Nascent Soul in a short period.
Only by forming a Nascent Soul could one truly be considered a powerful expert in the myriad star systems and compete for more cultivation resources.
His parents and relatives didn't possess particularly strong cultivation talents, but as long as there were ample cultivation resources, Zhang Fan believed he could elevate their cultivation levels with his own means.
The Milky Way, in the vast universe, was indeed as insignificant as a grain of sand. In his past life, Zhang Fan had visited many immortal cultivation planets and witnessed the most peculiar and beautiful scenery in the cosmos.
Some of those eternal stars, just a single one, had an area comparable to the entire Milky Way.
Of course, from an Earthling's perspective, that would be an utterly unimaginable feat.
Just as Zhang Fan and Qin Luoshui were admiring the night sky atop Yanshan Mountain, the prominent families of Yanjing were in an uproar.
...
Zhao Ji drove his sports car into the villa compound, executing a perfect drift to park. He then rushed into the villa.
As soon as he entered, he saw his father approaching him, his face grave and tinged with worry.
'Has Father found out about what happened today? Judging by his expression, he must be very displeased with this Zhang Fan,' Zhao Ji thought. He opened his mouth, ready to complain.
"Dad..."
"You wretch!"
Before Zhao Ji could utter the first word of his address, his father, with lightning speed, slapped him across the face, stunning him.
The force of the blow sent Zhao Ji sprawling onto the ground. He even wondered if his father's cultivation hadn't been crippled, had it recovered?
"If you want to court death, don't drag my Zhao family down with you!" Old Master Zhao ignored his son, who was lying dazed on the ground, and roared in anger.
Zhao Ji's eyes were filled with confusion and grievance. He stared intently at his father, seeking an explanation. However, Old Master Zhao, consumed by disappointment, had no intention of explaining.
"From today onwards, for one year, you are not allowed to step foot outside this villa. Otherwise, I'll break your legs!"
After saying this, Old Master Zhao turned and went upstairs, not even glancing at Zhao Ji again.
He was indeed filled with disappointment in his son, and he also felt that he had brought this upon himself. Wasn't his son's prodigal behavior a result of his poor upbringing?
And when he was young, he hadn't been much different from Zhao Ji.
However, their only commonality was that both of them had suffered at Zhang Fan's hands.
He had repeatedly warned Zhao Ji not to provoke Zhang Fan again. Yet, Zhao Ji, just like him, hadn't given up.
At that time, although Zhang Fan was renowned in China's martial arts world, he was merely a Saint Domain expert. There were still cultivators in China's martial arts world who could contend with him.
But now, Zhang Fan had consecutively slain three ancient Divine Realm powerhouses, ascending to the peak of the Divine Realm. He could be considered the foremost expert in the world, a being that even the country would greatly fear.
How could his Zhao family dare to provoke such an existence?
Therefore, upon hearing what happened that evening at the Qin family banquet at Liuxu Villa, Old Master Zhao was both shocked and enraged, fearing that he might anger this Master Zhang, leading to repercussions for his Zhao family. The consequences were unthinkable.
Thus, he resolved to confine Zhao Ji for a year to reflect properly.
Concurrently, he was contemplating whether he should present a generous gift at the Qin family patriarch's birthday tomorrow to offer his apologies to Zhang Fan.
...
After Qi Xiangyu returned to the Qi family, he saw his pathetic brother lying in the hospital bed and sighed inwardly.
Given his Qi family's influence, they were indeed respected in Yanjing, and even the other three major families showed them some deference.
This had led to Qi Jun's arrogant and overbearing personality. Many people whom Qi Jun had offended in the past had been crippled by him.
But now, his Qi family had finally encountered an existence they couldn't afford to offend.
Qi Xiangyu first found his father, Qi Kangming, and explained the situation. Qi Kangming was shocked by Zhang Fan's power and also felt somewhat helpless.
Although Zhang Fan's identity as a Major General in the army put him in a difficult position, he believed there were still ways to seek revenge.
However, if, in addition to his identity as a Major General, Zhang Fan also possessed the cultivation of a peak Divine Realm expert, then even he would feel a sense of despair.
Even a regular Divine Realm cultivator was someone their Qi family wouldn't dare to provoke casually, let alone a peak Divine Realm expert.
Unless nuclear weapons were used, what other force could kill such an existence?
"You go tell your little brother. I'm just not sure if he can bear to hear this news." Qi Kangming felt he needed time to process this himself.
At his level, he had previously only known about Saint Domain experts. As for what lay above the Saint Domain, he knew nothing.
While Saint Domain experts were rare, he had at least seen them. The Dark Emperor of the Dark Organization was a peak Saint Domain expert.
As for the true power of a Divine Realm expert, it could only be imagined. If placed in ancient times with backward technology, every Divine Realm expert would likely be a force capable of destroying cities and nations.
Moreover, this 'Master Zhang' was a peak Divine Realm expert. He had killed more than one Divine Realm expert. Just thinking about such power sent shivers down his spine.
And his Qi family had provoked such an existence?
Qi Xiangyu nodded. He also didn't know if his younger brother, with his stubborn personality, could accept this reality.