"Me? But... didn't the orders say you should go, Chief Instructor?" Hearing this, even Deputy Instructor Wang Dashan was taken aback and surprised.

"That's because they don't know you've had a breakthrough yet."

Chen Fei shook his head and said slowly, "I'm still too young. It's one thing to act my age, but I'm not used to the idea of representing Flying Leopard to deal with those old geezers. Besides, I really don't like being in the spotlight so openly... If Chief Luo hadn't personally sought me out, I definitely wouldn't have accepted this thankless, miserable task. Now that a more suitable person has appeared—you—it's only natural that the capable should do more."

"But I've only just broken through to the Innate Ancient Martial Arts Realm. Will my strength be enough to keep those people in line?" Although Deputy Instructor Wang understood Chen Fei's meaning, he still seemed hesitant.

After all, he had only just become an Innate Ancient Martial Artist. In terms of strength, there was bound to be a gap between him and the established Innate Experts from the various hidden sects. Under these circumstances, would sending him to lead the way be enough to command the respect of those old fellows?

"You don't need to sell yourself short. While I haven't fought many Early Innate Ancient Martial Artists, with your current strength, an ordinary one should be no match for you. That should be more than enough, right? After all, we're operating under the banner of a 'national special department.' Not many people would dare to cause trouble," Chen Fei said slowly, stroking his chin.

In fact, just two days ago, Wang Dashan's cultivation level hadn't fully stabilized, yet the strength he displayed was already a cut above an ordinary Early Innate Ancient Martial Artist. Now that his cultivation level was stable, his strength had grown even more. So, if that was his only concern, it was completely unnecessary. In the ranks of Early Innate Ancient Martial Artists, Wang Dashan could no longer be considered weak.

"Then what about you, Chief Instructor?" Hearing this, Deputy Instructor Wang understood that Chen Fei was serious and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Don't worry, I'll go with you. But I'll be going in the capacity of a young man..." Chen Fei's eyes narrowed into a mischievous smile.

...

Tian Kui Peak is located deep in the northwest of the Lingnan Mountains. The area is almost entirely composed of towering peaks and dense, ancient forests, a scene of pure natural beauty far from any urban civilization. Ancient trees reach for the sky, old vines intertwine, Lingzhi mushrooms blossom on rocks, and exotic fragrances permeate the air.

The peak itself is extremely steep, a sheer cliff rising for thousands of feet. Three of its faces are vertical precipices with no footholds whatsoever. Only one side has a path carved out, just wide enough for a single foot. Ordinary people could not cross it, nor could anyone with a fear of heights. Only Ancient Martial Artists who had reached a certain level of strength could walk across it as if it were flat ground.

At this moment, several tiny black dots could be seen moving along the distant path. These small figures were none other than Chen Fei and his companions.

WHOOSH!

With an expressionless face, Chen Fei stepped onto the narrow mountain path. He chanced a glance down into the bottomless chasm below, and his head spun. He nearly lost his footing and fell.

Fortunately, his reaction was swift. A faint, milky-white light flickered beneath his feet, stabilizing his body and securing his safety. Seeing this, Deputy Instructor Wang couldn't help but ask softly, "Chief Instructor, are... you alright?"

He found it rather puzzling. The path to Tian Kui Peak was narrow, only allowing for a single foot's width, but for an expert of Chen Fei's caliber, this should have been trivial. So why was he...

"Didn't I tell you to call me something else? I'm not the Chief Instructor now. I'm... the squad leader."

As Chen Fei spoke, he couldn't stop a shiver from running through his body. His lips quivered as he stammered, "I've just realized... I think I have acrophobia."

Acrophobia?

Deputy Instructor Wang was stunned. Even the other members of Flying Leopard following behind them froze, their expressions turning slightly odd. They looked like they wanted to laugh but were forcing themselves to hold it in. They were all accompanying Chen Fei and Wang Dashan to represent Flying Leopard at this Lingnan Mountain Martial Arts Conference. After all, they couldn't just show up as a two-man command, could they? How embarrassing would that be for Flying Leopard?

"Then... then do you need a hand getting across?" Deputy Instructor Wang asked hesitantly after a moment.

While it was rather amusing that someone with Chen Fei's incredible strength would suffer from a baffling condition like acrophobia, in a place like this, it was also extremely dangerous. If Chen Fei really did misstep and fall into this bottomless, forbidden chasm, it was hard to say what the outcome would be.

"That won't be necessary. My stomach is just churning a bit, but I won't fall," Chen Fei said, his face flushing slightly.

In truth, with his abilities, it was impossible for him to fall. He had long since mastered the Floating Technique, a spell that allowed him to hover briefly in mid-air. The problem was the acrophobia itself... he just couldn't help the feeling of dread! He didn't dare look down, afraid his heart might leap out of his chest.

"In about fifteen minutes at most, we should be through this area and into Tian Kui Market. This Tian Kui Market is run by the Bai Family. They are the strongest hidden sect within a several-hundred-mile radius of Tian Kui Peak. It's said the family is presided over by a nearly ninety-year-old patriarch who is a Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artist. His methods are formidable, making them a minor hegemon in the Lingnan Mountains!" Seeing the situation, Wang Dashan decided to chat with Chen Fei to distract him.

In a way, the Lingnan Mountains could already be considered a different world, one that segregated the ordinary people of modern metropolises from its Ancient Martial Artists.

"A hidden sect? I remember you need at least one Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artist to qualify as a hidden sect, right? Are there many of those in the Lingnan Mountains?" Chen Fei's attention was successfully diverted, and he asked with curiosity.

Although he was a genuine member of the Ancient Martial Arts community, he had grown up in the city. His master, Ming Daochuan, had never bothered to tell him about these things, so he was rather ignorant. After all, a hidden sect wasn't some second-rate sect like the Holy Fire Sect. Given his current cultivation level, he was somewhat interested.

"Many? How could there be? Even within the Lingnan Mountains, you could count the number of Ancient Martial Arts sects or families qualified to be called hidden sects on one hand. And the Bai Family of Tian Kui Market is one of them," Deputy Instructor Wang said, shaking his head.

A sect or family with a Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artist was no laughing matter. If there were too many, things would be chaotic.

"On one hand? Which five?" Chen Fei pressed curiously.

"Across the thousand-mile expanse of the Lingnan Mountains, four great powers are the strongest and are indisputably qualified to be called hidden sects. They are the Bai Family of Tian Kui Market, which I mentioned; Qingqiu of Mirror Cliff to the southeast; the Bitter Cold Sword Sect further north; and Huadao Fort of Evil Dragon Pool. As for the others..."

Wang Dashan paused for a moment before continuing, "As for the other sect powers, they are all a bit weaker and can't compare to those four."

"Qingqiu? What a strange name," Chen Fei mused, nodding thoughtfully.

"The name might be strange, but it's a 'Holy Land' that everyone in the Martial Forest yearns for," Wang Dashan interjected, a sly smile appearing on his chubby, round face as he spoke teasingly.

"Holy Land? What do you mean?" Chen Fei asked, taken aback.

"Because Qingqiu only accepts female disciples, and every single one of them is stunningly beautiful, an absolute belle... If I weren't so old now, hehe..." Wang Dashan flashed a rare, signature smile of his—one of endearing naivety. But in Chen Fei's eyes, it seemed completely wrong for the situation, more like a lewd grin.

Just then, Wang Dashan's sly smile returned. "You're single now, right, Chief Instructor? Why not consider the disciples of this generation from Qingqiu? Rest assured, any female disciple approved by Qingqiu will never disappoint. Hmm?" As he spoke, he shot Chen Fei a look that all men would understand.

The look made Chen Fei's skin crawl, and he was momentarily speechless. A moment later, however, his own expression turned peculiar as he said slyly, "Speaking of which, Instructor Wang, don't tell me you had some kind of disastrous romance with a Qingqiu disciple back in the day?"

"Ahem, cough, cough... How could that be? There's no such thing!" The sly look on Deputy Instructor Wang's face froze. He coughed forcefully to cover his embarrassment, his eyes darting about guiltily.

Hearing this, a slightly older Flying Leopard member behind Chen Fei chuckled, "Hehe," as if recalling some 'glorious exploit' from the past, barely able to suppress his mirth.

"What the hell are you laughing at?"

At this, Deputy Instructor Wang's round face flushed. Forgetting where they were, he kicked out in a fit of shame and anger toward the older member. But the man was clearly prepared. With nimble agility and a quick reaction, he had already dodged further back down the path, shouting for mercy, "Instructor Wang, I was wrong! I don't know anything!" Chen Fei couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Instructor Wang, it seems you're not being entirely honest~ With a mouth like that, you must have been quite the sweet-talker back then. So, tell me, were you successful?" Chen Fei asked, his gossiping spirit fully aflame.

As a youth raised under the red flag of the new era, a healthy spirit of gossip was absolutely essential. After all, it was beneficial to both physical and mental well-being—a key component of comprehensive moral, intellectual, and physical development

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