Who was Huang Tao? He was the de facto fourth-in-command of Northern Mountain City, the Executive Deputy Mayor, wielding enormous real power and astonishing influence.

Moreover, in the officialdom where age was still a significant factor, he was not even forty-five years old. If he achieved outstanding political results, it would only take someone from above to give him a casual push for him to go even further. Climbing another step, or even entering the provincial-level echelons, was not out of the question.

For such a major figure in Northern Mountain City's official circles, a man destined for a bright future, to personally invite Chen Fei to a banquet was an unmistakable gesture of goodwill. It showed great respect to both Chen Fei and Gao Zhinan.

However, Chen Fei didn't think much of it. He hesitated for a moment before shaking his head and declining, "Thank you for the kind invitation, Mayor Huang, but I think I'll have to pass."

He refused simply because he had run into quite a few things that day and was genuinely tired. But to Deputy Mayor Huang and Gao Zhinan, his refusal sounded like something else entirely, and their expressions soured.

"If that's the case, I won't insist. Director Gao, let's go," Deputy Mayor Huang's attitude had clearly cooled as he spoke with indifference.

Seeing this, Gao Zhinan shook his head with a helpless smile. He gestured a farewell to Chen Fei and was about to follow the Deputy Mayor, who was already walking away, when Chen Fei suddenly stopped him. "Director Gao, wait. I have something to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?" Gao Zhinan paused, slightly stunned, and asked.

"About Deputy Mayor Huang... if the banquet runs too late tonight, it would be best if he didn't leave. He should stay here for the night. He probably wouldn't believe me if I told him myself. Director Gao, if you believe me, please try to persuade him," Chen Fei said.

"Dr. Chen, what do you mean by that?" Evidently, Gao Zhinan was also taken aback, his brow furrowed as he asked.

Seeing this, Chen Fei sighed inwardly. He understood the other man still didn't quite believe him.

But that was normal. After all, in the eyes of a modern person, what he was saying sounded like phony mysticism or divination—to put it bluntly, shamanistic charlatanism and pseudoscience. It was no wonder Gao Zhinan was frowning.

However, after inheriting the legacy of that expert from the Cultivation World, he naturally understood that the so-called mystic divinations, Star Astrology and Fate, and Purple Star Astrology... were all real. They were just exceedingly difficult to learn. Unless one was a practitioner from the Mystic Sect, mastering one's destiny was a challenge, so these arts gradually became seen as fraudulent.

Yet, through a stroke of luck, he had obtained the Peerless Great Achievement cultivated by that expert—the Meditation Sutra. This scripture was all-encompassing, a unification of all laws. Naturally, it contained many principles and methods related to astrology and predictive arts. After studying it for a few days, coupled with the instant enlightenment from the inherited knowledge, he had gained a preliminary grasp. He could see that there was a problem with Deputy Mayor Huang's fortune; a faint glint of blood was visible in his forehead's "migration palace," the sign of a bloody disaster.

"Director Gao, you should know that I'm a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since ancient times, the Mystic Sect and Chinese medicine have been inseparable. If you believe what I'm saying, then do him a kindness and persuade Deputy Mayor Huang. If you don't believe me, then just pretend I never said anything." Chen Fei knew that saying more would be futile, so he put it bluntly, turned, and left, having the manager lead him to the presidential suite to check in.

Witnessing this, Gao Zhinan realized Chen Fei wasn't joking. His expression turned serious as he watched Chen Fei's departing back and said, "I'll go and tell him."

Of course, despite saying so, he still didn't take the matter to heart. After all, this kind of divination and mysticism was simply too enigmatic. Without experiencing it firsthand, it was always difficult to believe.

If not for Chen Fei having saved his son—an act that made Gao Zhinan believe his medical skills were on par with the legendary Hua Tuo's—he would have cursed out anyone else who said such things. He also knew he would likely need to ask for Chen Fei's help again in the future. To risk angering Deputy Mayor Huang over this matter was just asking for trouble and would only serve to needlessly displease the deputy mayor.

"Old Gao, is that young man named Chen really that skilled in medicine?" Gao Zhinan hurried to catch up with Deputy Mayor Huang, who asked casually as they walked.

"Deputy Mayor Huang, Dr. Chen's medical skills are truly exceptional. You've probably heard of Dr. Liu Changshan and Dr. Xu Zhenxing from the city center hospital, right? Even they admit that their skills are inferior to Dr. Chen's. It shows he has genuine expertise," Gao Zhinan said, inwardly shaking his head when he detected the hint of displeasure towards Chen Fei in the deputy mayor's tone.

"Oh? Even Dr. Liu and Dr. Xu admit his skills are superior?"

This time, it was Deputy Mayor Huang's turn to be shocked. As a paternal official of Northern Mountain City, he certainly knew the names of the most formidable doctors in the city; he had even been treated by them himself.

But now, Gao Zhinan was saying that both of their skills were inferior to that of a young man in his twenties. This was enough to grab his attention. For a truly capable person, a little eccentricity was normal. What happened earlier no longer seemed so offensive.

Seeing that Deputy Mayor Huang was finally taking Chen Fei seriously, Gao Zhinan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Deputy Mayor Huang, perhaps you should just stay at the hotel tonight. Dr. Chen stopped me earlier and said it seems you might be better off not going out today... he fears you're at risk of a bloody disaster."

As he said this, however, he felt a distinct lack of confidence. Saying something that even he found unbelievable felt like telling a bad joke, and it also sounded a bit like a curse.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Deputy Mayor Huang's face hardened, and his impression of Chen Fei plummeted.

"I have to say, Old Gao, my old classmate," he said coldly, "you're a university graduate. It wasn't easy for our generation to get into university, you know. Can't you be a little more sensible? What 'bloody disaster'? If anyone heard that you, Gao Zhinan, actually believe this nonsense, they'd laugh their heads off."

It turned out they were old classmates, which explained their closeness. Even so, Deputy Mayor Huang couldn't help but vent his anger at Gao Zhinan. Talk of a bloody disaster was simply preposterous.

Listening to his old classmate's irrational outburst, Gao Zhinan opened his mouth to say more, but after a moment's thought, he dutifully closed it.

After all, how could he convince someone of something he didn't even believe himself?

「...」

Meanwhile, after being led by Manager Mu to the presidential suite on the top floor, Chen Fei was immediately stunned by the luxurious and magnificent room. The exquisite decorations, murals, electronic gadgets, and the fully equipped facilities all made him marvel at the lifestyle of the wealthy. It was countless leagues better than the dog kennel he used to live in.

I wonder if Gao Zhinan told him or not. Oh well, whatever. First, a shower. Chen Fei casually set down his suitcase, stripped off his clothes to reveal his toned physique, and slipped into the bathtub.

The bathtubs in five-star hotels were a far cry from ordinary ones. They boasted numerous functions like adjustable water temperature, massage features, and more. As he soaked comfortably, the spiritual energy inside his body began to circulate unconsciously.

What is this...? Chen Fei's eyes flashed. He immediately sat cross-legged and began to operate the cultivation method of the Meditation Sutra.

Normally, for a low-level cultivator like him, the best time to practice was undoubtedly at sunrise. When the morning sun ascended, the sky would be infused with purple yang, and the surging energy was immensely beneficial.

But now, after practicing the miraculous and peerless cultivation method, the Meditation Sutra, he could clearly sense the Star Power in the chaotic night sky. He could even vaguely draw it down for his own consumption. This was something that would make others green with envy.

It was said that ever since Emperor Qin unified the Eight Desolations, burned the books, buried the scholars, and severed the Earth's Dragon Veins, the planet's spiritual energy had been gradually dissipating.

Against this backdrop of a declining era, the solar essence emitted when the purple sun pierced the sky at dawn was the only hope for all cultivators. Yet, the scripture Chen Fei practiced defied everyone's imagination. In the dimness of night, it could draw the moon's radiance down into the mortal world for his cultivation. This was a super-energy, in no way inferior to the sun's essence. If other cultivators knew of this, they would likely go mad with jealousy.

WHOOSH!

After a long time, perhaps two or three hours later, as Chen Fei sat with his eyes closed in cultivation, a brilliant beam of starlight streaked through the murky night sky. It finally reached the presidential suite on the top floor of the California Garden Grand Hotel and entered Chen Fei's brow, right between his eyes.

Following that, streams of moonlight continuously passed through the void into the mortal plane, entering Chen Fei's body. The aura he emanated grew stronger and stronger until, with a sudden bang, his entire disposition changed dramatically. Incredibly, he had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Second Layer Realm.

What a terrifying cultivation method. It allowed me to reach the Qi Cultivation Second Layer so quickly. Long after, Chen Fei opened his eyes, which still held a look of lingering shock and amazement.

Having inherited the legacy from that figure in the Cultivation World, he knew just how difficult cultivation was. Even a genius, and one from a flourishing era of cultivation at that, would likely need several months to advance from the Qi Cultivation First Layer to the Second Layer. Yet he had done it in a matter of days.

This was simply... simply unbelievable.

Looks like I really am a cultivation genius, Chen Fei thought with a narcissistic smile. He stood up, dried himself off, and prepared to sleep.

Although he had reached the Qi Cultivation Second Layer, he was still far from being able to go days and nights without rest. Besides, he was truly exhausted today and yearned for a good, long sleep.

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