The War of the Gods in the Great Void God King

Elder Li said no more, and with a wave of his sleeve, ordered, "Dismiss the team. Record Sun Li as having died in the line of duty."

"As for Jiang Fan..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seemingly weak boy again. "Since he has no spiritual root, let him go to the back mountain to continue mining ore."

"Yes, sir!" the disciples replied in unison.

Several high-ranking elders took to the air and disappeared into the sky in the blink of an eye.

Zhang Tao stood there, his face ashen, watching Jiang Fan being helped up by two disciples.

Jiang Fan kept his head down, as if he were terrified, but Zhang Tao inexplicably felt that there might be a mocking sneer hidden in those eyes.

But he dared not make another move.

To kill someone right under the noses of those old monsters is undoubtedly courting death.

"Let's go." Zhang Tao turned and left.

When Jiang Fan was taken away, he staggered, and blood from his left arm dripped onto the mountain path, winding like a snake.

The incident at Fallen Soul Cliff, after being judged by the elders, ended hastily with the conclusion that "a demonic beast attacked and the disciple died in the line of duty."

Sun Li's body was never found, and there was no way to verify his death. Although Zhang Tao was unwilling, he could not find any solid evidence pointing to Jiang Fan. Moreover, with two high-ranking elders above him, he could only give up for the time being.

During these two weeks, Jiang Fan clearly felt a cold gaze constantly fixed on him.

He still lived in the stone house on the outskirts of Zhang Tao's residence and still had to work as a laborer in the mine, but his every move was under Zhang Tao's personal surveillance.

On this day, Jiang Fan had just come out of the mine when he was stopped by a disciple and taken to Zhang Tao's residence.

Zhang Tao sat in the main seat, toying with a jade slip in his hand, looking at Jiang Fan below with a calm expression, and sneered inwardly.

With Sun Li's death, there was a gap in his direct disciples, and the upcoming sect competition was an important occasion for the elders to showcase their disciples. He urgently needed someone to fight for his interests.

"Jiang Fan, how have you been adjusting to the work in the mine these past few days?"

Zhang Tao spoke, his tone calm.

"Reporting to Master, everything is as usual," Jiang Fan replied respectfully, but inwardly he was on guard. Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious.

"The sect has investigated Sun Li's matter and confirmed that it was indeed an accident. You don't need to worry about it."

Zhang Tao slowly put down the jade slip, his gaze falling on Jiang Fan, and said, "However, with Li'er's departure, I not only lost a great helper, but it is also a pity that the annual sect competition is approaching, and I have no one in my sect who can be used."

Jiang Fan lowered his head, waiting for the next part to continue.

"The sect competition is a contest against the martial arts sects of Yangchun City next door, and it will begin in half a month."

"All the elders are eager to make their moves, but my disciples are running out of talent."

"However, after much deliberation..."

Zhang Tao changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of bestowal, "I've decided to give you a chance."

"An opportunity?" Jiang Fan feigned doubt.

"good."

Zhang Tao took out an exquisite jade medicine bottle from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and said, "This is the Gathering Qi Powder. Although it cannot help you, who has no spiritual root, absorb spiritual power, it can greatly stimulate the potential of your physical body, giving you power comparable to a Qi Refining stage cultivator in a short period of time."

"You only need to take one bowl each day."

Jiang Fan looked at the jade medicine bottle, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

Gathering and dispersing energy, stimulating the body's potential?

If an ordinary cultivator were to bestow a pill, it would be an immense favor.

But since it came from Zhang Tao, this elixir is probably even more poisonous than arsenic.

He was almost certain that this so-called "Gathering Qi Powder" was some kind of slow-acting poison.

Once he drank it, he would be at Zhang Tao's mercy.

"What? You're disgusted with my reward?" Zhang Tao's tone suddenly turned cold when he saw Jiang Fan hesitate.

"This disciple dares not!" Jiang Fan bowed quickly, his mind racing, and his face showed excitement as he said, "This disciple just... just thought of Senior Brother Sun's tragic death, and felt grief in his heart. I was afraid that my strength was too weak, and that I would fail Master's high expectations and disgrace Master."

"Hmph, as long as you obey, you won't lose face."

Zhang Tao snorted coldly, pointed to the medicine bottle, and said, "This medicine needs to be taken daily without interruption. You should go back and cultivate diligently. If you dare to slack off, don't blame me for disregarding our master-disciple relationship!"

"Yes, disciple obeys. Thank you for your careful guidance, Master!" Jiang Fan took the medicine bottle with both hands and held it tightly in his hands.

Back in the simple stone house, Jiang Fan closed the door, and the respect on his face vanished instantly, replaced by icy coldness.

Jiang Fan sneered and walked to the water vat in the corner without hesitation, pouring the entire bottle of "Ju Gang San" into the water.

He would never dare to drink anything Zhang Tao gave him. This was not only out of caution, but also out of complete distrust of this so-called mentor.

He cultivated on his own, relying on the bloodline of the Golden Dragon King. During this time, his physical body became even stronger, and his cultivation reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining. However, he disguised himself as an ordinary person without any cultivation.

In the days that followed, Jiang Fan continued to go to the mine every day and take his medicine on time—except that he drank plain water instead.

Zhang Tao's trusted confidant, who had been secretly observing, reported that Jiang Fan had a rosy complexion and a faint warmth emanating from his body, indicating that the medicine was working well and that he was diligently cultivating.

Hearing this, Zhang Tao finally relaxed, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Jiang Fan, Jiang Fan, once the drug's effects reach a certain level, you'll become my puppet. Then, your mysterious opportunity will belong to me!"

With the half-month deadline fast approaching, everyone in the Taoist sect was talking about how Jiang Fan, who had gotten a nominal disciple status by luck, had somehow taken some kind of elixir and was actually going to participate in the sect competition.

At this moment, Jiang Fan was standing on the open ground outside the stone house, feeling the power surging within his body like a river.

He raised his right hand, his five fingers slowly clenched, and the air exploded with a loud bang.

"The sect competition is coming soon."

In the blink of an eye, the two-week deadline has arrived.

On this day, before the morning mist had even dissipated, the entire Taoist sect was already bustling with activity.

The training ground was spotless, with banners fluttering all around, a high platform erected, and seats arranged neatly.

Today's sect competition is a day for the disciples of the Taoist sect and the martial arts sect from the neighboring Yangchun City to exchange and learn from each other, which is of great significance.

Meanwhile, the martial arts disciples of Yangchun City had already arrived and were waiting for the competition to begin.

Jiang Fan, still dressed in gray, stood quietly in the corner at the very edge of the training ground, blending in with the many registered disciples.

The wound on his left arm had healed, leaving only a faint scar.

His physique, nourished day by day by the bloodline of the Golden Dragon King and concealed by the illusion of "Gathering Qi and Dispersing Qi," became increasingly refined and profound.

His cultivation level was also concealed so completely that it left no trace, and he still looked like an innocent mortal.

Zhang Tao sat upright in the elders' seat, his gaze occasionally sweeping in the direction of Jiang Fan, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Beside him, several familiar elders were talking in hushed tones, their conversation revolving around the upcoming exchange competition.

"Zhang Tao, I heard you took on a disciple specializing in body cultivation this time?"

"Although he has no spiritual roots, he is a body-cultivating cultivator, which is acceptable. He shouldn't lose face in the sect competition," an elder teased.