Finally returning to Northern Mountain City, Chen Fei gazed at the familiar golden hues outside the bus, the buildings along the way, and the verdant greenery. He felt a sense of relief wash over him, as if he were a wanderer, drifting for a long time, who had finally returned home. His mood was completely different from usual.

About half an hour later, with a look of contentment, Chen Fei leisurely rode the bus back to the California Garden Grand Hotel. He had been living there for so long that it had practically become his home.

The hotel's lobby manager welcomed him with great enthusiasm as Chen Fei dragged his suitcase back to its most luxurious presidential suite.

After a long and refreshing shower in the high-end, spacious bathroom, his spirits were much restored. He then habitually dressed in the brand-new silk pajamas the hotel had prepared for him. Standing by the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows, he felt the warmth of the sunlight on his face and gazed out at the distant view, his thoughts involuntarily drifting away.

Suddenly, the Immortal Sect technique within his body, the "Scripture of Meditation," began to circulate on its own.

What a miraculous cultivation method. Sensing the changes within him, Chen Fei couldn't help but squint with a sigh, his Divine Sense sinking into his body. He felt as if a huge ball of light resided within him, filled with a warm, flowing aura and brimming with vitality.

Qi Refining Fourth Layer!

Indeed, this was the true Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

He had finally succeeded in breaking through to this realm, becoming a genuine Mid Stage Qi Refining expert. He considered this his formal entry into the world of cultivation, so how could he not be elated?

Moreover, he had other gains in Hong Kong. He learned that the Innate Realm was not just a single level but a general term for a Great Realm. This realm was divided from low to high into early, middle, and late stages. If he wasn't mistaken, these should correspond to the fourth, fifth, and sixth layers of the Qi Refining Realm—the so-called Mid Stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

It seems I still need to work hard, Chen Fei thought, pursing his lips into a faint smile. Although he had already far surpassed his peers, as a Cultivator, he shouldn't be complacent. He had to keep striving for higher goals.

Since his current Qi Refining Fourth Layer wasn't enough to be invincible on Earth, then fine. He would continue to cultivate diligently, breaking through to higher realms: the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, the Sixth Layer, and even the Late Stage Qi Refining's seventh layer…

By then, he was confident he could walk unhindered on this Earth. After all, this was the dignity and pride that a Cultivator should have.

Oh, right, I wonder how that patient is doing. I'll call Elder Du and ask. After resting for a while, Chen Fei suddenly recalled the patient from before. He took out his phone and dialed Elder Du's number.

"Hello, is this Doctor Chen?" As soon as the call connected, Elder Du's deep voice came through the receiver.

"Elder Du, it's me. I'm back in Northern Mountain City," Chen Fei said with a smile. "I wanted to ask about that patient's condition. I left a contingency in place for him, so he should be alright, right?"

"He… he…" On the other end of the line, Elder Du fell silent.

"Elder Du, what happened? Was there an accident?" Chen Fei's expression suddenly froze as a sense of foreboding surged through his heart.

"…Yes. He… he's dead. Someone killed him," Elder Du finally said, his voice filled with anger.

"Dead? Killed by someone… Could it be…" Chen Fei stiffened. A strange rage flashed in his eyes, and he could no longer contain his anger. "Elder Du, what exactly happened? How could he have been murdered so suddenly?"

"I don't know the specifics. All I know is that three days ago, when I went to give him his routine morning check-up, I found he was already dead. A silver throwing knife was embedded in his throat—a single, fatal blow…"

Elder Du began to narrate everything he knew, his tone growing more furious. "I immediately reported the incident, hoping for some kind of resolution. But yesterday, someone came and told me to forget the whole thing…"

"What? Who was it?" Chen Fei couldn't help his renewed fury, his eyes flickering intensely. The moment Elder Du mentioned a silver throwing knife, the scene from the suburbs flashed in his mind. That old man was definitely a Half-Step Innate Powerhouse, but to think he would personally act again to silence an ordinary person! He's completely lawless!

"It was the Fly…"

Before Elder Du could finish, a loud banging erupted from Chen Fei's door.

"Elder Du, something's come up. I have to go," Chen Fei said with a slight frown. He hung up the phone and walked expressionlessly to the door and opened it.

"It's you, Instructor Lei?" When he opened the door, however, Chen Fei's expression froze. Standing outside was none other than Instructor Lei, Lei Long of the Flying Leopard.

"You actually came back? Let's go, quickly! Any longer and it'll be too late!" As the door opened, Lei Long's face turned grim upon seeing Chen Fei's familiar young face. Considering the huge trouble Chen Fei had stirred up, his audacity in returning was astounding.

But he also knew this was no time for delay. He quickly and anxiously grabbed Chen Fei's hand, trying to pull him away. He wanted Chen Fei to leave Northern Mountain—leave Jiangnan Province—immediately. It would be even better if he left the country to hide for a while.

"Leave? What do you mean, leave? Wait, Instructor Lei, what is this…?" Chen Fei asked, confused, as he subtly evaded the man's grasp.

"Have you forgotten? You caused such a huge mess in Hong Kong, severing the arm of the Holy Fire Sect's Half-Step Innate Ancestor's own grandson. Now, the Holy Fire Sect has issued a decree. They demand you atone with your life and have threatened to wipe out your entire clan! Enough talk, you have to leave now. When they get here, even with my current status in the Flying Leopard, I won't be able to do a thing." Saying this, he reached for Chen Fei again.

"The Holy Fire Sect?"

Chen Fei was taken aback to hear it was about this.

Honestly, with his current strength at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer—equivalent to a terrifying Early Innate Ancient Martial Artist—he truly didn't take a mere Holy Fire Sect seriously.

Yet, he was extremely moved. It was clear that Instructor Lei was violating orders to help him in secret.

"Yes, the Holy Fire Sect. We have a deputy instructor at the Flying Leopard who came up through our ranks. He has now reached the early stage of the Half-Step Innate Realm and has come here personally, preparing to move against you. That's why you must flee now, or it really will be too late," Lei Long said urgently, seeing that Chen Fei remained perfectly calm.

Lei Long knew that if he could receive the news of Chen Fei's return to Northern Mountain City today, then his counterpart, one of the five deputy instructors of the same rank, could surely get the same information. They were racing against time. If the other man arrived, it would truly be too late.

"Instructor Lei, I…" Chen Fei was about to smile and reassure him that he wasn't afraid, but just then, an icy aura appeared. A stern-faced, black-clothed old man in his sixties or seventies materialized at the end of the top-floor corridor. His appearance made Lei Long's expression change dramatically.

"Ma… Ma Dong!?" he stammered, his expression grim. He hadn't expected the man to arrive so quickly. This is really bad!

"Heh heh."

Hearing Lei Long's voice, the cold-looking, black-clothed old man chuckled with disdain. "It seems that ever since you lost your strength, your brain has dulled as well. Do you really think your silly little tricks could save someone the Holy Fire Sect wants dead? Are you underestimating my strength, Ma Dong's strength?"

Lei Long's face turned ugly, but he gritted his teeth, unable to refute the claim. Now that his strength was gone, it was true that his judgment and perception had narrowed. He was often willing but unable to act, just like today.

If he wasn't mistaken, the other man had followed him here. He had laughably thought his actions were secret enough to go unnoticed. How ridiculous it all seemed now.

"Lei Long, get out of here. I'll pretend I didn't see you today and spare you," the black-clothed old man mocked. "To be blunt, in your current state, I advise you to keep your head down. Don't go looking for trouble, and don't get yourself killed!"

"Ma Dong, don't you go too far!" Lei Long trembled with rage, his expression ferocious. This was utter humiliation, a blatant insult.

Too far? The black-clothed old man, Ma Dong, gave a noncommittal sneer, too lazy to waste any more words. If Lei Long wouldn't listen to reason, he could just be ignored. After all, could a mere cripple possibly obstruct his, Ma Dong's, mission?

"Are you from the Holy Fire Sect?" Just then, a young, playful voice rang out, startling everyone.

The black-clothed old man, Ma Dong, swept his cold gaze over Chen Fei, a hint of astonishment in his expression. "You can still laugh?" He didn't expect a mere youth to be capable of laughing in his presence. Wasn't he afraid?

"Why shouldn't I laugh?" Chen Fei retorted, a mocking sneer gracing his lips. "Do you really think you alone are enough to take me down?"

Half-Step Innate?

From his observation, the man did indeed possess strength around the early Half-Step Innate level. But so what?

Back in Hong Kong, he had even sparred with his Martial Uncle, an expert at the Mid Innate Ancient Martial Artist level, and had emerged unscathed. Yet now, some paltry Half-Step Innate was acting this arrogantly before him. He had no idea where this confidence came from, as if victory was already assured.

"Heh, heh heh, HAHAHAHA…"

Hearing Chen Fei's audacious words, the black-clothed old man couldn't help but sneer, which soon erupted into loud, wild laughter. With a look of utter contempt, he said, "You know what? That is, without a doubt, the funniest joke I, Ma Dong, have ever heard in my entire life. Do you know who I am? Do you know what my cultivation level is? I'll tell you right now!"

He pointed a finger at his own chest with an air of authority, his face a mask of cold indifference. "I, Ma Dong, am one of the five deputy instructors at the Headquarters of Flying Leopard! I now possess the strength of the early Half-Step Innate Level! Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant. Do you understand now, imbecile?"

Imbecile?

At the word, Chen Fei's dark eyes glinted with an icy sharpness.

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