Spring, late March, Godly Hand Valley.
Han Li, guest consultant of the Qixuan Sect's Consultant Hall, was currently covered in sweat.
A wisp of flame flickered half an inch above his fingertips.
"Sizzle!"
Before long, the flame vanished.
"This Fireball spell is truly difficult to cultivate. Even though my foundational technique has already reached the sixth layer, I still cannot maintain the flame for long. Furthermore, the casting process is far too slow; it's nowhere near ready for actual combat."
This was merely an elementary low-tier spell, the simplest of all spells.
Nearly half a year had passed, and Han Li was far from satisfied with his cultivation progress.
After resting for a moment, Consultant Han stubbornly ignited another small flame once more.
"Poof!"
He observed it intently, hoping to discover the underlying pattern to mastering the flame.
"Xiao... Li!"
A shout from outside the doorway startled Han Li so badly he nearly stumbled!
Throughout the entire Qixuan Sect, Li Feiyu was the only one who would barge in directly without ringing the bell.
Even the sect leader and elders had to respectfully ring the bell at the valley entrance and obtain Han Li's permission before seeking medical treatment or consultation.
"Sizzle!"
Having lost his footing, the Divine Doctor Han instantly burned off half of his eyebrows!
The composed sixteen-year-old divine doctor was not angered or flustered in the slightest; instead, he called out in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Li, wait a moment!"
He put away the flame, tidied up everything on the table, and then thoroughly checked the room.
He even meticulously cleaned away the ash and residue used to test the burning effects.
Li Feiyu was in high spirits, and whenever he was in high spirits, he wanted to go see Xiao Li.
Over the past six months, his Fortune points had accumulated to 540 points.
The soft-bone technique, stealth-snatching technique, wall-clinging technique, and stealth technique within the Blinking Sword Technique had also naturally cultivated to perfection, granting him 320 points.
The Golden Emperor Slash he practiced every day had finally reached the entry level today!
He had finally found the sensation of spiritual Qi entering his body, the so-called Qi sensation!
However, precisely on this very day, a major event was about to take place within the Qixuan Sect.
To ensure absolute safety, he finally held back and saved some points for emergencies.
Realm: Martial Arts Grandmaster (50%)
Age: 16/40
Technique: Golden Emperor Slash · First Layer (0+/100)
Martial Arts: Blinking Saber and Sword Technique · Great Accomplishment (410+/800)
Trap-Setting Technique · Great Accomplishment (50+/80)
Throwing Technique · Entry (30+/40)
Consecutive-Slash Technique · Entry (0+/10)
Spells: Fireball · Uninitiated
Wind-Control Technique · Uninitiated
Heavenly Eye Technique · Uninitiated
Destiny: Qixuan Sect Leader
Fortune: Good Fortune · Childhood Inseparables (Total +3 daily)
Fortune Points: 675 points
"Xiao Li, I haven't seen you since the Chinese New Year... The small room is quite tidy!"
Catching the scent of gunpowder smoke in the air, Li Feiyu looked around the divine doctor's small cabin.
It wasn't that Han Li hadn't considered barring Li Feiyu from entering his door.
However, this was his only friend he could actually talk to; even though the guy was utterly brazen and shameless, he just had to endure it.
Besides, this fellow always produced unexpected good things!
Sure enough, Li Feiyu produced that copy of Miscellaneous Floating Life Records.
"An accidental find by yours truly, written by a cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation... The things inside feel half true and half false..."
Qi Condensation, fifth layer, cultivators!!
These were completely outside Han Li's current realm of knowledge. Senior Brother Li was truly lucky!
How come he had so many accidental finds, while he never encountered any?
Han Li maintained a calm expression, keeping his composure. "Sounds rather interesting. Since you don't know whether it's true or false, lend it to me for a couple of days..."
Seemingly casual, he reached out his hand toward the book.
Not really holding out much hope, Li Feiyu predictably pressed his hand firmly down on the book.
"Hehehe..."
"Hahaha..."
Li Feiyu chuckled dryly along with him, then continued, "Is there really such a thing as immortal cultivation in this world? It sounds like utter nonsense. What is this about Qi Condensation techniques generally having thirteen layers? And how ordinary people reach heightened sensory awareness at the fourth layer, and photographic memory at the fifth..."
Han Li stood frozen in place, utterly embodying the demeanor of a dullard.
His mind was in turmoil—all of this was actually true! In that case, he simply had to read this book!
Having been trained by Elder Mo, Han Li quickly pulled himself together.
The divine doctor wore an expression of utter astonishment. "Photographic memory? You must be joking, how could such a thing possibly exist..."
"Exactly, it's just written nonsense..."
"Of course, haha..."
Knowing the time was right to reveal his terms, Li Feiyu said, "Lately, Elder Li and Xiuer have achieved some results. They've wiped out another three branch strongholds of the Wild Wolf Gang. As for that Vigor-Nourishing Pill and Clear Spirit Powder..."
Han Li wore a troubled expression. "Senior Brother Li, Elder Guo already came and collected two bottles last time. The raw materials for these pills are extremely difficult to find, I really don't have any stock left on hand..."
Li Feiyu chuckled inwardly; Little Demon Han would always remain this cautious.
In reality, he probably had over a dozen bottles of these pills saved up.
To avoid exposing his secrets, he didn't dare show off his wealth too much.
Guo Laoshi had a sudden breakthrough of insight over the past six months, his martial arts advancing in leaps and bounds under Li Feiyu's guidance.
His distant uncle, Elder Guo, had consequently changed his name to Guo Zhenxuan, placing high hopes on him.
Of course, Li Feiyu wasn't here to pick up medicine; it was just a feint.
"Oh, actually, yours truly also has some interest in alchemy and medicine. Once I finish dealing with this busy period, I'd like to come learn a thing or two from you."
Han Li's heart skipped a beat. Every time Li Feiyu mentioned "studying," he went about it with ferocious intensity.
It was the kind where the two of them ate and lived together, studying day and night without sleep, which severely disrupted his progress in researching spells.
Yet hearing the terms Li Feiyu had just mentioned made Han Li feel as though his heart had been clawed by a dog; his curiosity was driving him mad.
"Fine, fine..."
Han Li agreed, snatching up the book and immediately leafing through it.
He was always serious when reading books, just as he had been previously with the Blinking Sword Technique, becoming completely engrossed the moment he looked at it.
Paying him no mind, Li Feiyu picked up his saber and walked out the door.
There was a distance between Godly Hand Valley and the main peak, and Li Feiyu was strolling leisurely along the mountain path.
"Whoosh! Whoosh..."
Five consecutive sounds ripped through the air as five masked figures surrounded Li Feiyu in the blink of an eye.
Li Feiyu had noticed them long ago, but had simply kept up a nonchalant facade until now.
"Senior Brother Zhang, Senior Brother Huo, Senior Brother Chen... We're so familiar with each other, wearing masks is quite pointless!"
One of the men in black chuckled dryly. "Li Feiyu, Hall Master Li! The brightest star in the Qixuan Sect! Vice Sect Leader Wu even suggested promoting you into the Elder Council! A sixteen-year-old elder, hahaha..."
Another chimed in, "To be honest, you've been brilliant over the past year. You killed the Wild Wolf Gang's third master and eight purple-robed flag-bearers, and led a team to wipe out five branch strongholds. That contribution far surpasses even the two vice sect leaders! At only sixteen, it's truly enviable!"
Li Feiyu smiled and said, "Several senior brothers, I come from humble beginnings. When I first joined the sect, you all looked after me quite a bit. We joined the Qixuan Sect hoping to make something of ourselves. It seems now I am to become your stepping stone. What position did the sect leader promise you? Enforcer? Vice hall master?"
Li Feiyu's meteoric rise and overwhelming advantage over the Wild Wolf Gang had instead caused undercurrents to churn within the Qixuan Sect.
"You'll never know how miserably you've harmed us!"
"If you don't die, the Qixuan Sect will never know peace!"
"The Wild Wolf Gang's vitality is severely damaged; even without you, they wouldn't have many years left to jump around!"
"Enough talk, take my sword!"
"Clang!"
"Clang!"
"Swoosh!"
All five struck almost simultaneously, each employing a completely different set of moves.
Li Feiyu trod the Smoke-Fading Step, his Jianyi Saber remaining in its scabbard as he stepped out of the encirclement in a few paces.
"Blinking Sword Technique! You've each practiced a different split-sword style! And... you've actually managed to make it look somewhat decent!"
One of the men in black let out a harsh, grating roar.
"Damn you, Li Feiyu! This is all your fault!"
"Still, this Blinking Sword Technique actually possesses such formidable might!"
"We must even thank your shortcut method! As long as we can reach your level, with how vast the world is, where can we not go!"
"A mere brat of sixteen, yet you achieved such accomplishments within half a year. We've immersed ourselves in martial arts for nearly twenty years, is there anything we cannot achieve!"
A shortcut method? Self-castration? Surely not!
...
Zhang Xiuer and the others had already investigated; Sect Leader Wang had found several people to research and practice the Blinking Sword Technique.
Li Feiyu slapped his thigh. "Senior brothers, you are utterly foolish! Wang Juechu himself doesn't use the shortcut method, yet he lets you fellows from impoverished backgrounds try it out. That shortcut method was just something I made up!"
A kind-hearted senior brother sighed and said, "Sect Leader Wang has achieved greatness and renown; he doesn't need a shortcut Blinking Sword Technique. The ones who need a shortcut are us! He used our families as leverage, and we had no choice but to comply."
"Old Chen, don't talk like that, I did this of my own free will! All us brothers have children of our own, and Sect Leader Wang can be considered righteous. Rather than living a wretched life like a dog being trampled underfoot, it's better to gamble on a big one!"
Li Feiyu's vision darkened; this was precisely the same as him popping Marrow-Extracting Pills!
In this world, there really were plenty of ruthless people!
At least his Marrow-Extracting Pills were somewhat reliable, though.
"Senior brothers, the Blinking Sword Technique requires immense perseverance and supreme talent, at best it only brings you to your previous level... You... castrated yourselves in vain..."
"Shut up! Is Li Feiyu the only capable one in this world!"
"So only you have talent and perseverance!"
"You damned brat, you're far too arrogant!"
"We men slice off our testicles the moment we say we will, how do we lack perseverance?"
...
Alas...
Li Feiyu felt a tightening in his crotch and let out a long sigh.
"Puff, puff..."
The Smoke-Fading Step activated, and the Jianyi Saber moved like a shadow, sending blood splattering across the sky.
"Agh!"
"Li Fei..."
"So fast!"
"The gap is too vast..."
In less than the blink of an eye, only Senior Brother Chen remained, his tendons severed.
It was the original owner's memories that had spared his life.
"Senior Brother Chen, the winter I joined the sect, I ran a high fever in the middle of the night, delirious and out of my mind. Being a child from a poor family, nobody cared. If you hadn't tossed me a quilt, there wouldn't be today's Li Feiyu. Go down the mountain..."
"Sigh... Feiyu, high gates bring many troubles; some things are beyond our control. Why don't you head down the mountain as well... Forget it, everyone has their own destiny..."
Senior Brother Chen staggered down the mountain, but before he had walked a hundred meters, a large dadao slashed out from a blind spot.
"Puff!"
Senior Brother Chen was cleaved directly into two halves!
"Hahaha! What use is a soft-hearted little wretch like this?"
"Indeed, Old He, weren't you being just a bit too cautious?"
Ten!
In mere seconds, Li Feiyu was surrounded by ten people once again!
This time, all of them possessed the strength of Martial Arts Grandmasters!
Hiding halfway up the mountain, Han Li tightly gripped the short blades in his hands, anxiously scanning the retreat route.
"With Senior Brother Li's combat prowess and my own, fighting head-on won't work. My Fireball and Wind-Control techniques are still half-baked; I can only use the Smoke-Fading Step to shake off a few, and escaping with my life shouldn't be a problem! Senior Brother Li, oh Senior Brother Li, being overly brilliant and prominent will definitely invite jealousy. You are simply far too incautious..."