"Does Brother Nangong mean he wants to partner with me and venture deeper into the Soul Beast Forest for training?"
After listening to Nangong Jianchen's words, Ye Xiaofan finally understood the other's intention, feeling slightly shocked.
This Nangong Jianchen actually wants to partner with him to delve deeper into the Soul Beast Forest for training.
"Indeed." Nangong Jianchen nodded seriously and said, "The Soul Beast Forest is fraught with dangers. The outer areas allow for training, but ultimately the number of Soul Beasts is limited. The truly powerful ones are often found deeper inside. With the Star Moon City competition approaching, if we want to quickly improve, we can only choose to train deeper."
Nangong Jianchen continued, "And the deeper we go, the more dangerous it becomes. If we can partner up for training, we can look out for each other."
After Nangong Jianchen finished speaking, Ye Xiaofan fell into contemplation.
What the other said wasn't without reason. If one wants to quickly enhance their strength, venturing deeper into the Soul Beast Forest is indeed a good choice. Cultivators partnering for training is quite common on the Martial Soul Continent.
"Why me?" Ye Xiaofan couldn't help but ask, as he and Nangong Jianchen had never met before; this was the first time they were interacting.
Nangong Jianchen seemed puzzled, "What does Brother Ye mean by that?"
Ye Xiaofan: "Why choose me to train together?"
Hearing this, Nangong Jianchen couldn't help but chuckle bitterly, "Brother Ye jests. If not choosing Brother Ye, should I choose Ye Xiaotian, that useless person?"
Clearly, Nangong Jianchen didn't think much of Ye Xiaotian.
Upon hearing Nangong Jianchen's remarks about Ye Xiaotian, Ye Xiaofan couldn't help but feel helpless. Only someone like him, a prodigy, might see Ye Xiaotian, who awakened a Level Nine Martial Soul, as useless. But Nangong Jianchen did have the qualification, as they weren't in the same league.
"Brother Ye, I genuinely wish to befriend you. We are both peers, so there's no need for any pretense. The reason I want to partner with you is plain and simple: it's because I value your strength."
"In this perilous Soul Beast Forest, your strength might have parts that could be beneficial to me. Forming a partnership with you will bring more advantages than disadvantages."
Seeing Ye Xiaofan deep in thought, Nangong Jianchen immediately continued, with slight implication, "Perhaps one day, Brother Ye might find me useful as well."
"Utilize?"
Ye Xiaofan raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Brother Nangong speaks frankly, which is commendable."
"Throughout the ages, everyone on the Martial Soul Continent knows it in their hearts."
"There's no permanent friendship, only permanent interests."
"Such truths are understood by all but rarely stated openly. Few, like Brother Nangong, openly put them on the table."
This precisely shows the other's sincerity.
Nangong Jianchen's implication was simple. The reason for forming a partnership was purely based on mutual utility. Once one falls behind, the other would abandon them.
Now, Ye Xiaofan also urgently needs to increase his strength. Partnering for deeper training is very necessary. Only by achieving outstanding results in the Star Moon City competition can he seize the opportunity to join a powerful sect and embrace a broader horizon.
Thinking of this, Ye Xiaofan slowly sheathed his greatsword, indirectly agreeing to Nangong Jianchen's proposal.
Nangong Jianchen smiled knowingly when he saw Ye Xiaofan sheath his sword.
"Since we are going deeper into the Soul Beast Forest for training, does Brother Nangong have any plans? Where should we go?" Ye Xiaofan asked, unfamiliar with the terrain and environment, as it was his first time entering the Soul Beast Forest.
Upon hearing this, Nangong Jianchen smiled confidently, "I've been here a few times. Training deeper doesn't require too much strategy, just head southeast."
Not hesitating upon hearing this, Ye Xiaofan immediately took the lead, changing direction and proceeding southeast.
Nangong Jianchen kept silent, following along.
Time flew quickly.
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
As others continued training in the outskirts of the Soul Beast Forest, the two prodigies had already ventured hundreds of miles, battling Soul Beasts.
During the seven days, Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen partnered up, encountering many high-tier Soul Beasts, even numerous Level Six Beast Kings, collecting Soul Cores abundantly.
Of course, opportunity and danger often coexist. They were also injured multiple times during this period.
When encountering terrifyingly powerful Soul Beasts, they stood side by side, fighting together, even risking their lives.
Gradually, a tacit understanding developed between them, leading to a certain trust.
And this trust intensified steadily with each near-deadly battle, leading Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen to increasingly trust each other during fierce combat with formidable Soul Beasts.
After spending several days together, both sides began to understand one another, discovering that their personalities aligned and they shared many common resonances.
Neither noticed that under such circumstances, their initial utilitarian partnership gradually turned into a subtle friendship. As time spent together increased, they'd occasionally exchange cultivation insights.
While training, both also focused intensely on cultivation, seemingly in silent competition.
Three more days quickly passed.
One deep night.
Bang—!
With a muffled sound, the cross-legged sitting Nangong Jianchen instinctively opened his eyes, looking at Ye Xiaofan not far away, his mouth twitching slightly, "Another breakthrough?"
With surprised eyes, Nangong Jianchen watched Ye Xiaofan like a monster, feeling increasingly alarmed the more he understood him.
In the mere span of ten days, this guy broke through two realms, advancing to Profound Spirit Seventh Layer.
"A freak!"
Nangong Jianchen couldn't resist swallowing hard.
The more he interacted with Ye Xiaofan, the more his heart raced; this was too astonishing—ten days, two breakthroughs—definitely a cultivation monster.
Seeing Ye Xiaofan's rapid progress, Nangong Jianchen resumed intense cultivation.
The following night.
A muffled sound echoed through the forest again, terrifying Spiritual Power surging.
This time, Ye Xiaofan opened his startled eyes, gazing astoundedly at Nangong Jianchen, who also broke through two realms in the period, with an incredible cultivation speed.
Of course, this was due to their intense battle and training against Soul Beasts, but Nangong Jianchen's rapid advancement still overwhelmed Ye Xiaofan, secretly considering him one of his strongest competitors.
"With such talent and persistent cultivation, is it even necessary?" Ye Xiaofan murmured, as Nangong Jianchen aimed for improvement, undoubtedly for the Star Moon City competition.
According to Nangong Jianchen, even awakening a Celestial Tier Martial Soul couldn't guarantee him the top spot in the competition, which drove him to urgently enhance his strength in the Soul Beast Forest.
This astonished Ye Xiaofan. For someone claimed to have the greatest prodigy potential, Nangong Jianchen felt pressure. Who could the person pressuring him be?
Though he didn't know who it was, it must be another gifted talent.
Clearly.
This year's Star Moon City competition will be intensely fierce.
A small Star Moon City is already like this; Ye Xiaofan couldn't imagine the vast Hundred Broken Mountain Range's spectacle, surely with prodigies clashing, demon fiends soaring.
Regarding the broader world beyond the Hundred Broken Mountain Range, it's even harder to fathom.
With such thoughts, Ye Xiaofan also intensely resumed cultivation.
Four days later.
"Brother Ye, truly not joining me on the journey?"
Nangong Jianchen regarded the seemingly reborn Ye Xiaofan, sighing with regret as he shook his head, "In that case, see you at Star Moon City."
Though their time together wasn't long, Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen developed a mutual camaraderie.
After bidding farewell to each other, Ye Xiaofan watched Nangong Jianchen gradually fade into the distance before slowly raising his head, gazing around.
"This day has finally come."