The mountain breeze rustled through, and amidst the shaking noise of the dense forest leaves, a long, lingering Guqin melody began to resonate.

Supported by Xu Fan's deep Inner Breath, the melody, filled with the exotic Miaojiang style, reverberated continually into the surroundings.

The tune was recorded in the Ghost Gu Art, possessing a special effect that attracted the poisonous insects of the world. Now, as Xu Fan played, it didn't take long to take effect.

Amidst the rustling noise, pairs of eyes gleaming with a cold light turned their gaze in this direction.

These were the poisonous insects that lay dormant within the dense forest, now being awakened one by one by the melody of the Gu Art.

It was clear that this was not a time to stop playing. Xu Fan, drawing on his experience, disregarded the threat posed by the Gu Insects and continued with his performance.

The tune to attract poisonous insects played steadily, drawing them from all directions.

The spectacle was truly magnificent; apart from the three-meter radius around Xu Fan, the surrounding area was completely overrun with poisonous insects, leaving no place to land.

The poisonous insects of these deep mountains and old forests were already formidable. Now, in selecting the Gu through a survival-of-the-fittest method, the primary insect that emerged would naturally be even more powerful.

When the time came, it would make Situ Jing suffer tremendously.

Xu Fan, suppressing the excitement in his heart, gradually began to intensify the melody.

Influenced by the style of the music, the atmosphere around also tensed, and the environment became fraught with danger, causing the surrounding poisonous insects to emit a threatening aura.

First came the provocation, followed swiftly by a life-or-death struggle!

Countless poisonous insects fought fiercely, presenting a spectacle that was particularly grand.

Within mere minutes, many had perished.

Clearly, at least half an hour was needed to select the primary insect. Xu Fan, calm and unhurried, continued playing the tune.

As the insects fought, the area for several miles around quickly bathed in blood, and the final primary insect was determined.

A total of ten, each having survived thousands of deadly encounters to be here, were ferocious poisonous insects.

Using such insects as the primary subjects and with the help of Jade Silkworm Blood, the Gu Insects refined would have astounding effects.

Xu Fan then removed the leaf he had in his mouth and breathed a sigh of relief.

This time, the Gu he intended to cultivate was named Nine Luminous Cold Gu. Under normal circumstances, the person afflicted with it wouldn't display any abnormality.

It was only during the exercise of inner strength that it would activate.

When the infected person cultivated their Inner Breath, the Nine Luminous Cold Gu would take effect, the cold poison eroding the host's body, leaving them unable to exert their full strength, and moreover, they would have to endure inhuman pain.

Xu Fan guessed that the reason Situ Jing had conceded without a fight when he encountered his foster mother in the past was likely because he had been afflicted with this Gu.

Falling into the same trap twice would surely leave a deep impression on Situ Jing, he believed.

Taking a breath, Xu Fan didn't delay any further, and immediately took out the materials he had prepared earlier.

Upon mixing these materials with Jade Silkworm Blood and nurturing the primary insects for a few days, they could be evolved into Nine Luminary Cold Gu Insects.

He evenly allocated the materials into ten different vessels, and the ten primary insects quickly drilled into them.

Shortly after, Xu Fan packed them away.

Next, all he needed to do was wait for the Gu Insects to finish refining.

The process wouldn't take too much time. Xu Fan estimated that by the time he left the dense forest and returned to the country, to Shanghai, the Nine Luminous Cold Gu would be almost ready.

Thus, all the preparations he needed to make were complete.

It was also about time to go back and settle the score with Situ Jing and his gang.

Xu Fan took a deep breath and his figure immediately vanished into the dense forest.

…

Four days later.

Shanghai International Airport.

With the crowd, Xu Fan emerged from the exit gate.

Before coming back, he had notified Gongsun Qin to come and pick him up.

Xu Fan had just stepped outside when he began to look around.

"Here! Here! I'm here!"

It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for; soon, he saw Gongsun Qin not far away, energetically waving at him.

"Yo? I'm surprised you found the place."

Now standing beside Gongsun Qin, Xu Fan squinted his eyes and made a teasing remark.

The sole reason for having this woman come to pick him up was to give her a bit of training.

She was a stranger in Shanghai, and Xu Fan really hadn't expected that she could find her way to the airport.

"So, how have you been? Did you miss me while I was gone?"

As they walked out together, Xu Fan started to jest.

"Hehehe."

Gongsun Qin didn't take offense, responding to Xu Fan with a grin that didn't quite reach her eyes.

As if I would miss you.

Xu Fan didn't react; he never had any expectations that this stubborn woman would show any special regard for him.

He hailed a taxi and got in with Gongsun Qin.

"Yunsheng Villa."

Having came all the way from the Cross Border mountains, Xu Fan had not rested at all. All he wanted now was to quickly return and lie down in his bed to rest before making any other plans.

But no sooner had he given the driver the address than Gongsun Qin tugged at his sleeve.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Gongsun Qin's troubled expression, Xu Fan couldn't help but frown.

Could it be that something had happened while he was away?

"Xu Fan, your villa has been taken over by... by Situ Jing..."

It was rather embarrassing to bring up the subject, given that it was her lack of strength that allowed Situ Jing to seize their territory.

After explaining, Gongsun Qin's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Heh, it seems like there's no chance for a break."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fan let out a cold laugh.

After a moment's thought, he laughed and said, "This must be Ye Chongshan's idea."

Before leaving, Xu Fan had made a nuisance of himself to Ye Chongshan, and given that man's resentment, Xu Fan was sure Ye Chongshan would seek revenge.

Considering the big difference in strength, this must be Ye Chongshan's ploy, he guessed.

He probably had Situ Jing steal his place to watch Xu Fan flounder helplessly, taking pleasure in his discomfort.

However, Ye Chongshan didn't anticipate that Xu Fan would have already left Shanghai.

"So where have you been staying these past few days?"

If his place at Yunsheng Villa had been taken, Gongsun Qin would be without a residence too. Xu Fan couldn't help but worry about how the woman had been getting along.

"Oh, me? When your friends came to Yunsheng Villa with the news that Ye Chongshan was coming with his people, I left with them."

"They've been looking after me these past few days."

As she said this, Gongsun Qin's face turned red again.

Those guys had been polite to her, although they treated her as if she were Xu Fan's woman.

It took days of explaining before they corrected themselves...

Having explained to Xu Fan, Gongsun Qin couldn't help but sneak a glance at him.

Fortunately, he wasn't there at the time; otherwise, she would have been too embarrassed to show her face.

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