Gusu Qingwen saw Ding Fan's appearance, and her heart couldn't help but freeze for a moment. She never expected that he was really Ding Fan. Gusu Qingwen's tears could no longer be held back and flowed down as she rushed to embrace Ding Fan...

"Ding Fan... I thought I would never see you again..."

Gusu Qingwen choked up as she spoke, crying like a weeping beauty.

Ding Fan also held Gusu Qingwen tightly, softly whispering in her ear:

"I miss you too, but this is not the place to talk. Let's go to the inn first."

"Okay, okay."

Hearing Ding Fan's words, Gusu Qingwen realized that since Ding Fan had arrived here in disguise, there must be some inconvenient matters, so she nodded and held Ding Fan's hand as they headed towards the inn...

At dusk, the crowd on the street watched this scene with envy, clearly captivated by Gusu Qingwen's outstanding beauty, which would stand out in anyone's eyes.

After arriving at the inn, Ding Fan returned to his true appearance. Gusu Qingwen saw his face again, and tears that had somewhat stopped started flowing once more. She missed Ding Fan too much. She had been in the Cultivation World for over half a year, continuously inquiring about Ding Fan's whereabouts, but with no clues.

Before, she had heard about a cultivator named Ding Lin winning the Great Alchemy Competition in Dancheng. Gusu Qingwen felt a surge of excitement, knowing that Ding Fan often used the alias Ding Lin back on Earth.

But just as Gusu Qingwen planned to go to Dancheng to find out if Ding Lin was Ding Fan, her sect was annihilated, and she was captured and sold at auction, suffering a great deal along the way. She didn't expect to find Ding Fan at this moment.

With Ding Fan's comforting words, Gusu Qingwen finally stopped crying and couldn't help but laugh, truly overjoyed to see Ding Fan again. She knew the Cultivation World was much larger than Earth, and even finding someone in the vast sea of people on Earth wasn't easy. Therefore, Gusu Qingwen thought she would never reach Ding Fan again...

Later, the two nestled closely, sharing their experiences from the past months. That's when Ding Fan learned that after Ruoran, Ningbing, and Gusu Qingwen were scattered by a Beast Tide, Qingwen was saved by the Immortal Sect Master's daughter. Since then, Qingwen had been staying with the Immortal Sect, considered one of its disciples, cultivating while still trying to find Ding Fan and others.

Hearing about the grievances Qingwen endured in the Cultivation World, Ding Fan felt a pang of heartache. However, he was already satisfied just having Qingwen by his side at this moment. Yet, from Qingwen's words, Ding Fan memorized those who tormented her, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes — he would never let them off!

Especially the merchant who captured Qingwen and the others. Ding Fan learned from Qingwen that the Immortal Sect was inexplicably wiped out overnight, the sect master killed, and Qing'er and other core female disciples were captured by a merchant.

The merchant, although not violating them, did torment them enough. Ding Fan understood that not defiling them was only to sell Qingwen and others at a high price, driven by a heart tainted by greed, which Ding Fan despised.

At this moment, Gusu Qingwen roughly recounted her experiences to Ding Fan. In return, Ding Fan told her everything that had happened to him over the past half-year. When Ding Fan mentioned the destruction of the Dayang Sect he was part of, Gusu Qingwen couldn't help but feel a flash of heartache for him.

Gusu Qingwen had lived in the Cultivation World for over half a year and gained considerable understanding of it. She knew that for a cultivator without a sect as a backing, surviving well in the Cultivation World was truly difficult.

Especially in the Cultivation World, unlike Earth, there were no laws to restrain. In the Cultivation World, the one with the bigger fist survives better, and getting killed was commonplace. Her own sect was just wiped out, and she had already suffered so much.

Ding Fan's sect was destroyed even earlier, and one could imagine the hardships Ding Fan must have faced.

Gusu Qingwen couldn't help but grip Ding Fan's hand tightly, her eyes brimming with tenderness as she listened to him continue speaking.

Ding Fan then recounted his experiences at the Great Alchemy Competition in Dancheng. Hearing this, Gusu Qingwen's eyes flashed with joy, and she couldn't help but exclaim:

"So Ding Lin was really you!"

"Yes, it was me. I offended the Wild Wolf Gang and couldn't reveal my identity openly, or I'd be hunted by them." Ding Fan's expression grew somber at the mention of the Wild Wolf Gang. He then recounted how he rescued his brothers trapped in The Great Wilderness Mountain, rebuilt the Dayang Sect, and went to the auction at Lan City in search of Qingwen.

Hearing Ding Fan's words, Gusu Qingwen felt even more admiration for him. She never expected that Ding Fan not only won the championship in Dancheng's Great Alchemy Competition but was also a Grade Nine Alchemist and became the Vice City Lord of Dancheng. What shocked Gusu Qingwen the most was that Ding Fan had rebuilt the Dayang Sect and was now its leader. Any one of these achievements was astonishing enough, and Gusu Qingwen was deeply moved by Ding Fan's accomplishments.

Though she wasn't sure about the status of a Grade Nine Alchemist in the Cultivation World, she knew it was far beyond the reach of her previous sect and that her own abilities paled in comparison to Ding Fan's.

And the Vice City Lord of Dancheng — knowing that Dancheng was one of the top cities on the Donglai Continent, with a City Lord Mansion possibly more formidable than many Great Gate Sects. Since Dancheng was a hub for Alchemists, its wealth was unmatched, not surpassed by any other force!

Becoming the deputy city lord of Dancheng is really incredible. Moreover, Gusu Qingwen seemed to have heard Ding Fan mention that he had ended the lives of two brothers. Gusu Qingwen didn't remember their names, but one of them is currently the deputy sect master of the Dayang Sect, and the other is the Lake Master of some Thirty-Six Holes.

Gusu Qingwen hadn't heard of the Thirty-Six Holes, but after Ding Fan explained, it turned out that the Thirty-Six Holes are actually the sect masters of thirty-six major sects, and Ding Fan's brother is the Lake Master who leads these sect masters, Gusu Qingwen was taken aback and felt deeply shocked.

Clearly, Gusu Qingwen has realized just how incredible Ding Fan's brother, the so-called Lake Master, is. He is probably not much worse than Ding Fan...

"Ding Fan, you've progressed so quickly..." At this moment, Gusu Qingwen said to Ding Fan with great admiration in her heart. Previously, when they were on Earth, Ding Fan was someone who had to look up to her, but now his achievements have already surpassed hers by far, to the point where she now has to look up to him and can hardly keep up with him.

Upon hearing her words, Ding Fan suddenly felt mixed emotions in his heart. Although everything he has seems quite impressive for a regular cultivator, wasn't all this also driven by necessity in life? If heaven gave him a chance to start over, he would rather choose to spend a simple life together with Ruoran, Ningbing, and Qingwen than endure the hardships he faces now.

Ding Fan, somewhat worriedly, said to Qingwen:

"Right now, the Wild Wolf Gang is looking everywhere for me, so my situation isn't as good as you think. But I promise you, once my Dayang Sect develops to a certain scale, I will definitely wipe out the Wild Wolf Gang and live a simple, happy life with you."

"I'm not afraid, Ding Fan. I trust you." Gusu Qingwen heard Ding Fan's words, and although she knew what kind of existence the Wild Wolf Gang is at the moment, to Gusu Qingwen, as long as she can be with Ding Fan, she would be content, even if it means dying together without any regrets.

Ding Fan couldn't help but tightly embrace her, somewhat reproachfully saying:

"How could we die? Don't say such silly things again."

Ding Fan's belief in his heart was immensely strong; even if he died, he would not let her suffer any harm. Because whether it's Qingwen, Ruoran, or Ningbing, they are all dear to him, and he absolutely would not allow anyone to hurt them.

Suddenly, Gusu Qingwen pushed Ding Fan away and stepped out of his embrace. She looked at Ding Fan with a somewhat serious expression and said:

"Ding Fan, you must help me save someone. She is my benefactor, the Immortal Sect Master's daughter. She is the girl who saved me when I was trapped by the Beast Tide. We are very good sisters and stayed together afterward, but she was sold by a merchant to an auction. She should be there now, but it's unclear if she's been bought already."

Gusu Qingwen said worriedly, feeling sad as her heart sank. The sect was destroyed, and the Immortal Sect Master's daughter ended up a captive; everything changed so swiftly...

Ding Fan heard Qingwen's words and immediately nodded in agreement:

"Don't worry, Qingwen. Your benefactor is my benefactor, your enemy is my enemy. I'll go rescue her right away. What's her name?"

"Her name is Bai Her, she's the Immortal Sect Master's daughter."

Gusu Qingwen directly replied.

Immediately, Ding Fan didn't hesitate and made arrangements for Gusu Qingwen, then directly bid farewell to Gusu Qingwen.

"Ding Fan, you're the most important to me. Be careful."

Gusu Qingwen watched as Ding Fan was about to leave, feeling somewhat worried and said to him.

"Rest assured, I won't be in danger. As long as Bai Her is still alive, I promise to bring her back for you!" Ding Fan responded with assurance, then directly pushed open the door and walked out.

Ding Fan walked out of the inn and returned directly to the auction. According to what Gusu Qingwen said, Bai Her was sold to the auction, so regardless of whether she had been bought, Ding Fan had to go to the auction and inquire about her.

A moment later, Ding Fan arrived at the alley leading to the auction. There happened to be two cultivators chatting while leaving the mansion where the auction was held. Ding Fan directly stopped them.

"Excuse me, I need to inquire about something." Ding Fan politely said to the two men.

"Get lost..." one of the men didn't even raise his head, directly driving Ding Fan away while continuing to chat with the cultivator beside him with a leering smile.