"Yes, Senior, I'll continue."

Seeing Chen Fei frown, the black-clad old man, Ma Dong, couldn't help but shiver. He began speaking at least twice as fast as before. "Due to the treaty between the state and the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts, my senior brother, Jun Duanshan, was unwilling to act personally, so he had me take his place. After all, he believes that since I hold an important position in the Flying Leopard, it should be easier for me to handle such matters…"

"And what if you fail? Or what if the higher-ups in the Flying Leopard don't allow you to do this?" Chen Fei asked, interrupting him directly.

"Then my senior brother, Jun Duanshan, would probably… he would probably have an Elder-level expert from our sect take action personally." As he said this, Ma Dong's expression dimmed. He sighed inwardly, realizing he had completely sold out the Holy Fire Sect.

An Elder-level expert? To put it bluntly, that's just the level of a First-Class Ancient Warrior. They couldn't even compare to me, let alone act presumptuously in front of an Innate Expert like him. It would be a death wish.

"Is that so?" Chen Fei said slowly, a cold light flashing in his dark eyes. "It seems you already know what to do. Lure those people over. I'll be in Northern Mountain, waiting for them."

"Yes, Senior. I understand what to do," the black-clad old man, Ma Dong, said helplessly.

Seeing this, Instructor Lei Long was silent for a long time. He was clearly shocked by Chen Fei's terrifying strength, which had reached the level of Half-Step Innate Peak. He also lamented that the Holy Fire Sect had provoked such a monstrous young man and was now in serious trouble.

One had to understand that in wars between Ancient Martial Artists or their sects, there were few twists and turns. Things were usually straightforward. Might makes right; strength is what earns respect.

Although the Holy Fire Sect also had an ancestor like Jun Duanshan at the Half-Step Innate Peak, the problem was that no matter how strong he was, he was still weighed down by the responsibility for his entire sect.

Now, it was obvious to anyone that Chen Fei was completely alone, with no burdens or concerns. In contrast, there was the Ancestor of the Holy Fire Sect, Jun Duanshan… It seemed there was no need to state who was in the stronger position.

As for whether the black-clad old man, Ma Dong, would try any dirty tricks, he probably wasn't that foolish. After all, Chen Fei's current deterrent power was no joke. Being targeted, let alone hunted, by a Half-Step Innate Peak expert was not something anyone would desire.

「One day later, at the Northern Mountain City High-Speed Railway Station.」

Three old men dressed in quaint, almost bizarre, clothing walked out of the station.

Among the three, the youngest appeared to be over sixty. He wasn't tall and had a sallow complexion. Particularly noticeable was a brown spot on his left cheek and a pair of eyes as venomous as a Poison Scorpion's, sending a chill down one's spine.

This man was none other than the Old Man with Brown Spots from Hong Kong, who was also an Elder-level expert of the Holy Fire Sect—Xue Hongxin.

As for the other two… one of them was covered in wrinkles and frail with age, appearing to be around seventy. One of his eyes was a milky gray, as if blind. Despite this, the aura he inadvertently exuded could daze a person's mind and fill them with awe.

The last old man was the opposite. Although he also had a head of silver hair and a face full of brown spots, he seemed incredibly energetic and full of vigor. His aura was surprisingly the strongest of the three, making it impossible to guess his actual age.

"Senior Brother Ma has already located that youngster; he's hiding in a suburb of Northern Mountain City. Since Senior Brother Ma cannot act personally, it falls to us to do the job," the energetic old man said indifferently, his tone detached and ruthless.

"Elder Zhong, something doesn't feel right," Xue Hongxin, the Old Man with Brown Spots, said with some hesitation, clearly feeling that something was amiss. "I've encountered that youngster before. He doesn't seem like the reckless type. Moreover, he knows our Holy Fire Sect is after him, yet he isn't fleeing. Don't you find that strange?"

At this time, if any elders from the Circle of Ancient Martial Arts had been present to hear Xue Hongxin address the energetic old man as 'Elder Zhong', they would have been utterly shocked. This Elder Zhong was no ordinary person. He was the Holy Fire Sect's Elder of Law Enforcement, wielding immense authority. His strength was also terrifying; he had reached the Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior a decade ago and was only a single step away from the Half-Step Innate realm.

For him to come out of seclusion personally today was truly stunning.

"Elder Xue, are you being overly cautious?" the blind-eyed old man sneered, thinking Xue Hongxin was too worried. "With Senior Brother Ma handling this matter from the shadows, how could a mere boy escape the grasp of our Holy Fire Sect?"

"Hongxin, are you hiding something from us?" Elder Zhong suddenly asked indifferently. Xue Hongxin stiffened.

"I… uh… No, there's nothing," Xue Hongxin stammered evasively, looking away with a guilty conscience.

Indeed, he was hiding something. He had concealed the fact that Chen Fei possessed strength not inferior to their own. To save face upon his return, he had colluded with Junn Yuanyi to fabricate some false details. This was the source of his current anxiety. That kid is no fool, and his strength is not weak, so why would he just sit here and wait to die?

"If there's nothing, then let's not waste any more words," the blind-eyed old man said with a cold laugh. "I know you're worried the young man has some tricks up his sleeve, perhaps trying to lure us into a trap. But think about it. Even if you lack confidence in us, Elder Zhong is here in person today. In the face of absolute strength, all schemes are laughable."

Hearing this, the man known as 'Elder Zhong' showed a faint, satisfied smile, clearly enjoying the flattery. He waved his hand nonchalantly. "Alright, let's go. The air in this city is terrible; I dislike this kind of environment. Let's finish this quickly and head back. I feel as if my bottleneck is starting to loosen."

At these words, both Xue Hongxin and the blind elder stared in shock.

After all, Elder Zhong's cultivation had already reached the peak of the Tenth Layer of the Divine Skill of the Holy Fire Token.

If his bottleneck is loosening and he breaks through to the Eleventh Layer, doesn't that mean… Half-Step Innate!?

"Congratulations, Elder Zhong, on achieving great success in your Divine Skill and ascending to Half-Step Innate!" the two of them exclaimed respectfully in unison, their cloudy old eyes filled with awe and envy. The Eleventh Layer of the Divine Skill of the Holy Fire Token, the Half-Step Innate realm… when will we ever be able to reach that level?

With that, the three men quickly vanished into the dense crowd of the high-speed railway station. After leaving, they headed straight for a suburban county outside Northern Mountain City.

Outside of Northern Mountain City, in a suburban county, stood a small courtyard by an unremarkable pond.

Chen Fei was practicing Xingyi Fist forms alone in the yard. His expression was placid, but the forceful winds he generated sent leaves scattering, creating a sense of fluidity that seemed to return to the basics.

Judged purely on his martial arts skill, Chen Fei's mastery of Xingyi Fist was average—neither bad nor exceptional. The issue was that as soon as he subconsciously used the Spiritual Energy in his body to execute the routine, everything instantly changed.

His aura, his momentum, and the martial essence he exuded all gained an inexplicable trace of immortal charm. This single trace of immortal quality completely transformed the Xingyi Fist, making it unrecognizable from its original form.

Chen Fei practiced the modified martial arts routine more than ten times in a row. Though drenched in sweat, he felt exhilarated and invigorated.

WHOOSH.

He then pinched his fingers together, his right hand awkwardly forming a Seal Gesture. The moment the seal was formed, a cool breeze swept over him. A mysterious spell power activated within him, and all the sweat and dirt instantly vanished from his body.

Chen Fei couldn't help but narrow his eyes and smile. "As expected of spells from the Cultivation World. Truly marvelous."

The technique he had just used was the most basic of spells in the Cultivation World—the Clearing Technique. Its function was simply to cleanse filth from one's body or a designated area. It had a very specific purpose, but it was also extremely practical.

This was, in fact, the first spell from the Cultivation World he had truly learned. It felt quite different, a novel experience.

"Chen Fei, they've arrived," Instructor Lei Long said as he pushed open the courtyard gate and entered.

"They're here? Meaning they'll arrive in a moment?" Chen Fei asked, an unusual glint flashing in his dark eyes.

"In a few more minutes at most."

Instructor Lei Long nodded and lowered his voice. "According to Ma Dong, the Holy Fire Sect sent three people. All three are Ancient Martial Artists. Moreover, one of them is the Holy Fire Sect's Elder of Law Enforcement, who possesses the strength of a Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior." As he spoke, he felt his lips tremble subconsciously. A lineup like that would be enough to annihilate our entire Jiangnan Province Sub-base… What a show of force!

"It's all the same. There's no difference," Chen Fei said with a smile. What's the difference between a First-Class Ancient Warrior and a Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior in front of me? Absolutely none.

"Uh…" Instructor Lei Long's expression froze.

He was right. Even a Half-Step Innate expert like Ma Dong was nothing before Chen Fei, let alone a 'mere' Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior. There really wasn't much difference. Still, it felt so strange to hear… After all, that's a Peak of First-Class Ancient Warrior! Our Flying Leopard team would have trouble gathering five such individuals, yet he dismisses them so casually. It's really…

Just then, Chen Fei's eyes flashed. They're here. "Instructor Lei, join me in putting on a show." His tone became resolute, and he deliberately raised his voice. "Instructor Lei, don't try to persuade me! I'm not leaving! I'd like to see what a 'mere' Holy Fire Sect can do to me!"

"Don't be rash!" Lei Long, momentarily stunned, quickly caught on and replied. "You should run! They're the Holy Fire Sect…"

"Run? Unfortunately, you can no longer escape."

At that moment, a sinister voice echoed from outside. Three elders abruptly appeared in the courtyard. The blind elder stared at Chen Fei and sneered, "'A mere' Holy Fire Sect, you say? Young man, do you realize that not even the Heavenly King Laozi would dare speak such words in front of the three of us?"

As he spoke, his tone was laced with blatant killing intent.

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