Chapter 944: Chapter 944

Song Jiacheng hadn't expected Ding Fan to appear out of nowhere midway through the situation.

He scrutinized Ding Fan up and down. With cultivation only at the early Earth Level, and an ordinary, unimpressive demeanor, he looked like someone entirely without skills.

Song Jiacheng didn't take Ding Fan seriously. After all, a martial artist at the early Earth Level wasn't worth his notice. If Ding Fan got in his way, he'd simply kill him without hesitation.

At this moment, Song Jiacheng feigned indifference as he turned to Gusu Qingwen. "What's your opinion, young lady?"

Gusu Qingwen didn't recognize Ding Fan, who was disguised. She was initially displeased with his inclusion, but thinking it might cause more trouble to reject him outright, she decided it was less of a hassle to allow him to tag along.

Thus, Gusu Qingwen turned to Song Jiacheng and said, "Since we're heading the same way, let's just bring him along."

Song Jiacheng nodded. "Alright then, let's go together."

"Thank you… thank you…" Ding Fan put on the guise of an ordinary, humble townsfolk as he responded.

With that, Song Jiacheng hailed a taxi. Once all three of them got in, the car sped out of the city.

They left the city and drove for more than half an hour before arriving at the edge of a forest.

"The people from Spirit Sect are here?" Gusu Qingwen activated her telekinesis to scan the surroundings cautiously.

In the area her telekinesis could reach, she couldn't sense a single soul, much less anyone from the Spirit Sect.

"Don't worry. The Spirit Sect members are inside the forest," Song Jiacheng said. Without further words, he blurred into motion and darted into the forest.

"If you wish to meet the Spirit Sect, follow me. If not, you're free to leave…"

Even as Song Jiacheng's figure vanished from sight, his voice still echoed in the air.

Gusu Qingwen frowned and bit her lip, hesitating for barely a moment before following him into the forest without hesitation.

She had no other choice. She had to meet the Spirit Sect. If the people from Ghost Sect managed to capture her, she wouldn't mind dying, but the key issue was that she had the Seal Stone on her.

Seeing Gusu Qingwen dash into the forest, Ding Fan naturally followed suit.

For one, he wanted to figure out Song Jiacheng's true intentions. For another, he needed to ensure Gusu Qingwen's safety.

Song Jiacheng sprinted more than fifty miles of mountain terrain before finally stopping.

"Where are these Spirit Sect members you mentioned?" Gusu Qingwen arrived at this moment.

The surroundings were desolate and barren—hardly a place where the Spirit Sect would settle.

"If I'm not mistaken, you must be that female disciple from the Immortal Sect," Song Jiacheng said with a sinister expression, staring at Gusu Qingwen.

Gusu Qingwen tensed. "What do you mean by that?"

Song Jiacheng sneered and continued, "The Ghost Sect has already contacted us, the Minjiang Song Family. We've agreed to help them capture you."

Though Song Jiacheng spoke plainly, Ding Fan quickly pieced things together. Gusu Qingwen carried the Seal Stone with her, and the Ghost Sect was going all out to target her. Clearly, the Song Family had become the Ghost Sect's lackeys.

"Your Song Family truly is laughable, trusting the Ghost Sect's words…" Gusu Qingwen retorted coldly.

Song Jiacheng responded with a dark smile, "My actions aren't just for the Ghost Sect. Recently, I've been cultivating a technique that can absorb the energy of women during their first cultivation breakthrough. Using an Immortal Sect disciple for this will be perfect."

Gusu Qingwen's brows furrowed, her eyes flashing with intense killing intent. "You're courting death."

She immediately prepared to draw her longsword to strike Song Jiacheng down.

But in the next instant, to her shock, her body became immobilized. It was as if her limbs no longer obeyed her.

"How… how is this possible?"

Song Jiacheng grinned smugly from the side. "It seems you're still unaware of the true power of the Minjiang Song Family. We primarily cultivate telekinesis, which allows us to control the divine senses of others. Come now, enjoy yourself a little, won't you?"

"You… you wouldn't dare." Gusu Qingwen grew frantic but found herself utterly incapable of maneuvering her body as she wished. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚫𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚫𝕟𝕖𝕥

Song Jiacheng's lips curved into a lecherous smile. "Let me show you the Goddess Controlling Technique…"

"Your so-called telekinesis can only briefly control another's divine sense. Honestly, your Song Family's abilities are unimpressive." At that moment, Ding Fan's icy voice cut through the air.

He began walking steadily toward Gusu Qingwen.

Song Jiacheng, momentarily startled, cast a wary glance at Ding Fan. He knew their family's telekinesis technique could only hold sway for a limited time.

Still, it was often enough to dictate life or death in a crucial moment.

"I didn't intend to kill you, but you've brought this upon yourself by following me. Don't blame me for what happens next."

In Song Jiacheng's mind, Ding Fan's early Earth Level cultivation made him an easy target.

Once Song Jiacheng raised his right hand, a Wind Blade shot toward Ding Fan.

The Wind Blade tore through the air with incredible force. Song Jiacheng was certain it would cleave Ding Fan apart.

Yet to his astonishment, Ding Fan didn't even glance at the rapidly approaching Wind Blade. With a casual wave of his hand—

The seemingly unstoppable Wind Blade dissolved effortlessly.

Song Jiacheng froze on the spot. He prided himself as a Heavenly Level martial artist—how could his Wind Blade be so easily nullified by someone at the Earth Level?

And not just nullified but deflected so casually.

Song Jiacheng was stunned, and Gusu Qingwen was even more dumbfounded by what she had witnessed.

She had seen everything clearly. Even for her, neutralizing such a Wind Blade would've been a challenging feat.

But as soon as Ding Fan dispelled Song Jiacheng's Wind Blade, he struck forward with his right hand. Instantly, an overwhelming surge of Inner Strength exploded forth.

The surrounding stone and dirt churned into the air, and the scenery seemed to warp under the immense force.

BOOM… A deafening explosion resonated as Song Jiacheng was sent flying backward.

Song Jiacheng crashed to the ground heavily at least ten meters away.

With Song Jiacheng's defeat, Gusu Qingwen, who had been immobilized by telekinesis, regained her mobility.

"I'll kill you!" Gusu Qingwen drew her longsword in a flash.

If Ding Fan hadn't intervened decisively earlier, she would've been completely at Song Jiacheng's mercy.

Just as she prepared to strike, Ding Fan quickly darted forward and scooped her into his arms.

Gusu Qingwen was taken aback. She hadn't expected Ding Fan to suddenly carry her.

"You… put me down immediately, or I'll kill you myself," Gusu Qingwen said coldly.

"The Ghost Sect's men are almost here. If you don't want to die, stay put," Ding Fan replied coldly.

Gusu Qingwen hastily activated her telekinesis, but she couldn't sense any presence of Ghost Sect members nearby.

"Let me go… or I'll kill you!" Gusu Qingwen demanded sharply again.

"The Seal Stone is with you. You'd better focus on staying alive. Your death doesn't matter, but what about the Immortal Sect? Think it through carefully."

Ding Fan's response was calm and composed.

"You… who are you?" Gusu Qingwen's eyes widened in disbelief.

Few people knew of the Seal Stone's existence.

Ding Fan said no more and continued carrying her as he ran forward swiftly.

With his immense Divine Sense, Ding Fan had detected several Ghost Sect experts rushing toward their location from over twenty miles away. A few seconds' delay, and they might be surrounded.

This was why Ding Fan left Song Jiacheng behind and fled with Gusu Qingwen.

The Seal Stone was too important for him to risk staying.

Understanding this, Gusu Qingwen kept quiet. Though she couldn't determine Ding Fan's true identity, she judged he bore her no malice.

If he'd meant her harm, he wouldn't have intervened earlier when Song Jiacheng attacked.

Ding Fan carried Gusu Qingwen out of the forest before finally setting her down.

"Thank you for saving me. May I know my benefactor's name?" Gusu Qingwen, now humbled, asked Ding Fan respectfully.

"You don't need to know my name," Ding Fan replied indifferently. "What's your business with the Spirit Sect?"

Gusu Qingwen hesitated.

Though Ding Fan had saved her life, she couldn't reveal matters related to the Immortal Sect's safety so easily.

Ding Fan, seeing her reluctance, didn't press further.

Even without asking, Ding Fan knew her search for the Spirit Sect must relate to opening the Immortal Sect's portal.

He continued, "You don't need to worry about the Immortal Sect's portal. Focus on taking care of yourself. Ruan Yuan is currently at the Immortal Sect's hidden refuge, searching for you. Meet up with him. The Spirit Sect will use the Seal Stone you carry to open the portal."

Hearing Ding Fan mention Ruan Yuan, Gusu Qingwen's doubts vanished completely. She now trusted Ding Fan entirely.

"Please, benefactor, tell me your name. The Immortal Sect will surely remember your kindness," Gusu Qingwen said.

"You can call me Zhou Fan," Ding Fan replied.

He figured giving her a name would put her mind at ease.

Gusu Qingwen nodded. "The Immortal Sect will repay this debt generously!"

Ding Fan retrieved a jade slip from his robe and sealed a message within using his Divine Sense. Then, he handed the jade slip to Gusu Qingwen.

"If you encounter any trouble, take this jade slip directly to the Spirit Sect—they will assist you," Ding Fan said.

Gusu Qingwen accepted the jade slip without complaint, placing it into her storage ring.

Though she was grateful to Ding Fan, she doubted his token would truly sway the Spirit Sect. To her, the Spirit Sect, as one of the Three Great Inner Hidden Sects, wouldn't help just anyone.

Still, out of respect, she refrained from voicing her doubts…