These four large characters, seemingly etched with iron hooks and silver strokes, emanated an ancient, grand, and magnificent aura! Qin Feiyang's pupils contracted. Gazing at these words felt like stepping into an unfathomable world, an overwhelming sense of insignificance instinctively welling up within him. He could hardly imagine what kind of treasure Uncle Yuan had left him.

He reached out with trembling hands, attempting to pick up the iron book. However, Qin Feiyang was horrified to find that the iron book felt as if it weighed ten million pounds—he couldn't lift it! He withdrew his arm, took several deep breaths, and tried again to grasp the iron book. Still, it was no use. He couldn't even shift the metal box a fraction of an inch!

"Odd." Qin Feiyang's brow furrowed. After trying again with all his might to no avail, he gave up and decided to flip open the iron book's cover instead.

The cover, at least, could be turned. The page within was also a sheet of iron, as thin as a cicada's wing. On it, a single word was engraved—Counter!

This word, majestic as a dragon in flight or a phoenix dancing, contained an immense power! As Qin Feiyang's gaze fell upon this word, his blood abruptly began to solidify. Waves of invisible, mysterious power relentlessly assaulted his spirit. He felt as though his soul was about to break free from his body. A strong sense of fear, a threat of imminent death, overwhelmed him like a tide! He quickly averted his gaze, already drenched in sweat.

Qin Feiyang was shocked. Just how powerful was the individual who had carved this word? Every stroke, every line was imbued with an incomparable sharpness. Such fearsome power was truly unprecedented!

PHEW! After a dozen breaths or so, Qin Feiyang finally managed to calm the trepidation in his heart. He let out a long breath and looked at the page again. But this time, he didn't look at the word 'Counter'. Beneath the word 'Counter', there were a few lines of small text.

As Qin Feiyang read on, a trace of joyful surprise gradually appeared on his face. Finally, the surprise turned into pure ecstasy!

So, it turned out the first word of the Six-Character Mantra was indeed 'Counter'! It was known as the Counter Curse Manual! According to the records on the iron page, the Counter Curse Manual possessed an extremely terrifying divine power: to return an attack to its source.

In other words, once one mastered the Counter Curse Manual, they could reflect all of an opponent's power back and counterattack them! Qin Feiyang trembled as if he had acquired a priceless treasure. Who would have thought this Six-Character Mantra could be so terrifying!

He urgently tried to turn to the second page, but found he could not.

"What's the issue?" Qin Feiyang was baffled.

Suddenly, he noticed another line of small characters at the very bottom of the first page: "Only by breaking through to the War King realm can the second page be opened." Upon careful inspection, Qin Feiyang had an epiphany. So, one had to break through to the War King realm to turn the second page.

"The War King realm, huh?" Qin Feiyang's eyes filled with anticipation. "Very soon."

If the first word possesses such terrifying power, the second word must be even stronger.

Gathering his focus, he began to meticulously study the cultivation method of the Counter Curse Manual.

「Meanwhile.」

Lo Qianxue and her three companions arrived at the entrance of the Wolf Valley. After a thorough search, they found neither Qin Feiyang nor even a single wolf. Filled with anger, the four hurried back to Iron Bull Town. When Lo Qianxue spotted Lo Qingzhu standing at the town entrance, she was overjoyed.

However, upon learning of Lin Baili's death, the Lin Family Head was filled with shock and anger! None of them had expected Qin Feiyang to strike back like that. Furthermore, when Qin Feiyang killed Lin Baili, Liu Yun had overheard every word Lin Baili said. Once Liu Yun revealed these truths, the Lin Family Head instantly became the target of public criticism.

The three powerhouses immediately turned hostile! Lo Qianxue declared she would sever all trade with the Lin family. The Third Palace Master and the Martial Palace Hall Master also made stern declarations: from now on, no one from the Iron Bull Town Lin family was to even think of entering the Elixir Palace or Martial Palace. Essentially, the Lin family had been blacklisted by the three powerhouses!

Clearly, the Lin Family Head's despicable actions had thoroughly enraged the three powerhouses! As the saying goes, "what goes around comes around." Indeed, it held true.

The Lin Family Head returned to the Lin family estate with his tail between his legs, thoroughly dejected. However, not only was he unrepentant, but his resentment towards Qin Feiyang also intensified! No matter how Lin Yiyi tried to persuade him, he refused to listen, even publicly slapping her.

In a fit of pique, Lin Yiyi retreated to her courtyard and refused to come out. The Lin Family Head, meanwhile, racked his brains. How can I kill Qin Feiyang?

Moreover, Lin Baili had died in Iron Bull Town, and he needed to give an explanation to the main family. But how should I explain it?

Beneath the Lin family estate lay a secret chamber, known only to the Lin Family Head. He now made his way to this chamber. The secret chamber was quite plain, with only a single altar. On it rested a transparent Crystal Stone, about the size of an egg, simple and unadorned. The Lin Family Head stood before the altar, looking at the Crystal Stone, his eyes filled with indecision.

Finally, he gritted his teeth and placed his hand on the Crystal Stone. True Qi surged from him, continuously flowing into it.

BUZZ! Three Star later, the Crystal Stone suddenly emitted a brilliant light! Following that, a figure materialized above the Crystal Stone.

It was a middle-aged man dressed in purple-gold robes, with a square face that radiated an imposing aura even without anger. The Lin Family Head hastily knelt and kowtowed. "Greetings, Main Family Head."

Indeed! This man was Lin Han, the Family Head of the Lin family in Yan City. Though it was only an illusory figure, the Iron Bull Town Lin Family Head could still feel a terrifying pressure emanating from him!

Lin Han looked down upon the Iron Bull Town Family Head and said indifferently, "Do you need something?"

The Lin Family Head replied, "I do have a matter to report to you."

Lin Han said, "Speak then."

"Baili... he's dead." The Lin Family Head stammered for a long moment before finally uttering these words.

"What?" Lin Han, suddenly enraged, roared, "How did he die?"

"A youth named Qin Feiyang killed him..." The Lin Family Head then detailed everything that had happened.

"Qin Feiyang..." Lin Han gritted his teeth, a shocking murderous intent flaring in his eyes. He looked at the Iron Bull Town Family Head and said, "I will set off for Iron Bull Town immediately with my men. I will arrive before dawn. You had better find Qin Feiyang's whereabouts before I arrive; otherwise, your Iron Bull Town branch will no longer need to exist."

After he spoke, the illusory figure dissipated on its own.

Where on earth am I supposed to find Qin Feiyang? The Lin Family Head clenched his fists, internally furious. But I still have to find him.

After leaving the secret chamber, he gave the order, and all the Lin family disciples and servants fanned out, each carrying a torch, searching every hill and dale.

「Meanwhile.」

「Treasure Pavilion.」

Lo Qingzhu entered a room, carrying a bowl of hot porridge. Inside the room, Lo Qianxue sat at a table, seemingly lost in thought.

Lo Qingzhu placed the porridge on the table, walked behind Lo Qianxue, and gently massaged her shoulders. "Mother, you've seemed laden with worries since you returned. What's on your mind?"

Lo Qianxue sighed deeply. "I just can't understand why the Lin Family Head would do such a thing. Is marrying Lin Yiyi into the royal family really that important?"

Lo Qingzhu smiled. "Everyone has their own thoughts and aspirations, Mother. Why trouble yourself over this?"

Lo Qianxue said, "That may be true, but I just can't stand his methods. Qin Feiyang is quite decent and more than a good enough match for Lin Yiyi. What more could he be dissatisfied with? If it were me, as long as my children are happy, I wouldn't care about their background at all."

"Yes, yes, you're the best mother in the world," Lo Qingzhu said with a chuckle. "It's almost dawn. Drink some hot porridge and then get some proper rest."

"Qingzhu, do you know where Qin Feiyang is?" Lo Qianxue asked.

"Mm," Lo Qingzhu nodded, then quickly realized something and asked, "Mother, what are you planning to do?"

Lo Qianxue said, "Since we misunderstood Qin Feiyang, we should apologize to him and offer some compensation."

"Him? That arrogant fellow? Let's just forget about it," Lo Qingzhu pouted.

"We can't do that. For us at the Treasure Pavilion, the foremost principle is to have a clear conscience. Besides, even though he abducted you, he didn't harm you. After daybreak, take five hundred Qi Gathering Pills to him and apologize on my behalf as well," Lo Qianxue said with a smile.

"Alright." Lo Qingzhu nodded.

「Old Castle. Inner Space.」

Qin Feiyang stared at the first page of the iron book, lost in thought. After careful reading, he discovered that the cultivation method for the Counter Curse Manual was completely different from that of Martial Arts Techniques. Martial Arts Techniques required coordination of one's limbs, followed by long periods of practice and refinement to master. The Counter Curse Manual, however, was practiced by writing!

One simply had to use True Qi to copy the 'Counter' character from the iron book once. As long as it was successfully written, the Counter Curse Manual would be mastered. Isn't this a bit too simple? I learned to write when I was three; I could do it with my eyes closed! Is it really like this? Qin Feiyang was highly skeptical.

After checking again and again, he confirmed he hadn't misread: it was indeed done by writing. Isn't it just copying mechanically? Simple! He smiled confidently, extended his arm, and True Qi emerged from the tip of his index finger. He pressed it onto the 'Counter' character on the iron book, preparing to write the entire character in one go.

However, when he was about to draw the first stroke, he was shocked and puzzled to find his finger couldn't move. How could this be?

His brow furrowed. He applied a bit more strength, but still failed to budge his finger. Finally, he gritted his teeth, veins bulging as he used all his might, but he still couldn't move it even a fraction of an inch. It felt as if his fingertip was glued to the iron book.

What's going on? Qin Feiyang's eyes showed his shock and bewilderment.

Suddenly, he lifted his arm, his index finger dancing in the empty air. In the blink of an eye, a 'Counter' character, condensed from True Qi, materialized. The entire process was fluid, without the slightest hesitation.

Qin Feiyang was stunned. I can write it all at once in the air, but on the iron book, I can't even move my finger a little? What in the world is going on? He looked at the 'Counter' character on the iron book, then at his own finger, and finally gave a wry smile.

It seems I underestimated the cultivation method of this Counter Curse Manual. Even if it's just copying, it's not that simple after all!

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