It was obvious that Chen Fei's words had stumped Elder Huang Xing. For such matters, he wasn't obliged to explain, nor was there a need to. However...

"And what about that place? Elder Huang, you should know, right?" Chen Fei pressed again. Previously, in front of the bigwig from the Black Demon Palace, he had to maintain his disguise and couldn't ask, but now he could hardly hold back. Could it be that Earth truly bears traces of ancient Qi Practitioners, or even a connection to the Cultivation World? If that's the case, why is the cultivation level of Qi Practitioners on Earth so 'weak'? After all, in a place like the Cultivation World, even the Foundation Establishment Realm is far from enough to rule as a king.

Hearing this, the expression on Elder Huang Xing's face shifted again. "I can't tell you about that matter for now. Firstly, because of a prohibition, and secondly, because I only have a partial understanding myself."

But after speaking, Elder Huang Xing fell silent for a long moment before finally shaking his head. "As for Luo Zun and the Black Demon Palace… by the time we noticed that organization, we had already discovered the shadow of the Black Demon Palace within it. However, we at the Central Guard Bureau still haven't figured out why they're mixed up together. By the way, what did the two of you discuss in private?"

"He told me to watch my mouth and not leak anything about what happened today," Chen Fei said, his pitch-black, glass-like eyes flickering slightly.

"Not leak what happened today? What does he mean by that?" Elder Huang Xing frowned.

"He probably meant that I shouldn't reveal he was the one who took Luo Zun, right? Given their status, they shouldn't be appearing so casually in the secular world, should they?" Chen Fei ultimately decided not to tell the truth, speaking with narrowed eyes.

"That's true." Hearing this, Elder Huang Xing shook his head and added, "With their status, it's no longer appropriate for them to move about so freely in the secular world, not to mention there's a treaty restraining him… Since that's the case, I'll take my leave. There shouldn't be anything else that requires my presence, right?"

A treaty? A strange light flickered in Chen Fei's eyes as he heard this, and he nodded. The great storm had passed, and only minor matters remained. For someone of Elder Huang's status, there was indeed no need to linger.

Afterward, Elder Huang Xing turned and left. Just as he turned, in a moment even Chen Fei seemed to miss, the elder gave an imperceptible shake of his head and murmured with narrowed eyes, "This kid isn't very honest… but never mind." It was clear he had already seen through Chen Fei's lie.

* * *

On this day, the internal turmoil within the Tiger Leopard Hall gradually subsided. However, several days later, the aftershocks and influence from the event began to spread like wildfire throughout the Lingnan Mountains and into the Ancient Martial Artist circles of the south, causing a considerable stir.

After all, the complete annihilation of the Tiger Leopard Hall and the deaths of figures like Luo Zun and Qing Hu were both enough to shock all the major powers.

An expert at the Innate Mid-stage Peak, let alone the Later Stage of the Innate Realm, was considered a colossal and formidable existence. This was true whether in the Lingnan Mountains, the southern lands, the nation's entire Ancient Martial Artist community, or even the global Dark World. Yet, who could have imagined that such a being, with that level of power, would perish so inexplicably? It was truly astonishing and utterly unbelievable.

Driven by this shock and disbelief, many powerful forces began investigating the matter. However, they found it incredibly difficult to uncover any information because all the Tiger Leopard Hall members who had witnessed the event had been taken away overnight by the Central Guard Bureau. Their reach did not extend to a special department from the Capital City.

The more elusive the truth behind the incident became, the more apprehensive and fearful the powerful forces grew. The death toll was simply too high and too frightening. They had found five bodies: four of the five Tiger Leopard Hall Protectors, all at the Innate Early Stage, and even Qing Hu, an Innate Mid-stage Peak expert.

That was Qing Hu! A mighty Innate Mid-stage Peak expert... was dead. Truly dead. An expert of his caliber, in the Lingnan Mountains, was second only to a terrifying existence like Luo Zun at the Later Stage of the Innate Realm. He should have been able to reign supreme over all other Ancient Martial Artists, sects, and families! He was fully qualified to be an overlord, respected and worshipped by all. Yet, such an existence was dead… truly dead. It was difficult to accept.

As a result, a palpable sense of fear settled over the community. They had no idea what had happened or who was responsible. The unknown was the most terrifying thing of all.

* * *

Three days after the fall of the Tiger Leopard Hall, within the Base of Flying Leopard, Chen Fei stared at the ripe Jinchan Moon Fruit and said excitedly, "It's a shame I don't know alchemy… but oh well, forget it. Now that the Jinchan Moon Fruit has fully matured, I wonder how much my strength will increase after I eat it?"

A Low-Grade Human-Level Spiritual Herb can help someone at the Qi Refining Third Layer break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer. A Mid-Grade Human-Level Spiritual Herb would undoubtedly have a much stronger medicinal effect. Therefore, even though his cultivation had already reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, he could still have some expectations. If I can use this to break through to the Peak of Qi Refining Fifth Layer, that would be absolutely perfect.

Thinking of this, Chen Fei smiled at Ming Daochuan, who stood beside him. "Master, you should take a Jinchan Moon Fruit as well. You might be able to break through to the Innate Late Stage Grand Perfection."

"Break through to the Innate Late Stage Grand Perfection?" Ming Daochuan's eyes narrowed. He then asked with some concern, "I've taken one of these fruits before. Will it still have any effect on me?"

"You've taken one before?" Chen Fei was stunned for a moment before saying hesitantly, "If you've already had one, then it probably won't have any effect... When did you—oh, right. Last time…" He finally remembered Ming Daochuan vaguely mentioning that he had already consumed a Jinchan Moon Fruit.

"If it has no effect, then so be it. If not for that fortuitous encounter back then, I would have never reached the Later Stage of the Innate Realm. There are three Jinchan Moon Fruits in total. I'll take one to your Uncle Master Yanw; you can do what you want with the rest." With that, Ming Daochuan took one of the three fruits from the table and prepared to leave.

"Old man, wait! I still have something to tell you," Chen Fei quickly called out.

"What is it?" Ming Daochuan asked, turning his head in confusion.

"Old man, have you ever considered becoming a Qi Practitioner?" Chen Fei asked slowly, his pitch-black, glass-like eyes fixed on his master.

"Become a Qi Practitioner? Me?" Ming Daochuan was stunned, and his breathing involuntarily grew heavier. These were Qi Practitioners he was talking about! Who from the great people of ancient Huaxia wouldn't want to become one?

With that thought, he dropped all pretense of courtesy with the boy and walked right back up to Chen Fei. "You have a way to make me a Qi Practitioner? Would I have to start from scratch?" He had watched Chen Fei grow up; the boy was like a son to him. There was no need for such formalities between them.

"There is a way, and you wouldn't have to start over. It's just that, Master, given your age, it might be a bit… Never mind. Here, I have three Qi Refining Realm Cultivation Methods. Take a look and see which one suits you," Chen Fei said, pulling out three manuals he had prepared earlier.

"Qi Refining Realm Cultivation Methods?" Ming Daochuan took the three manuals from Chen Fei, opened the first, and began carefully reading the contents.

Douluo True Skill, Initiation Chapter: The introductory volume of the ultimate technique from the Douluo Immortal Sect, a renowned super-sect in the Cultivation World. Profound and abstruse, it contains the ultimate truths. The complete version is said to have originated from a True Immortal, the implications of which are self-evident.

Nine Souls Body Tempering Technique: Divided into upper and lower volumes. The upper volume corresponds to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and the lower to the Qi Refining Realm. It is said to have originated from a Foundation Establishment Peak expert who astonished countless people. Even a great power from the Cultivation World who later stumbled upon this technique praised it endlessly, calling its creator a true prodigy.

Crystal Yuan Technique: This technique is famous in a certain region of the Cultivation World. Both its origin and power are extraordinary!

Given their relationship, Chen Fei would never offer his master some common, shoddy technique. All three of these cultivation methods were extraordinary, none of them weaker than the Sanyang Sword Manual he himself was practicing. Now, it was all up to his master's choice.

"This one?" Ming Daochuan's gaze lingered on the three manuals for a long time. Finally, his finger slowly and hesitantly landed on the Nine Souls Body Tempering Technique.

"Then that's the one." Upon seeing his choice, Chen Fei waved his hand. FWOOSH! The remaining two manuals were incinerated, turning instantly to ash.

He then looked at Ming Daochuan earnestly and said, "Master, I am going to teach you a method now. You must persevere. As long as you can stick with it, you will become a Qi Practitioner, and your overall cultivation and strength won't decline by much."

He then leaned close to Ming Daochuan's ear and began whispering. This continued for at least two or three hours before Ming Daochuan finally left alone, his expression solemn. Chen Fei, however, remained.

"A Mid-Grade Human-Level Spiritual Herb… I wonder what the effects will be?" Staring at the two remaining Jinchan Moon Fruits on the table, Chen Fei casually picked one up, popped it into his mouth, and swallowed it with a GULP. Instantly, a fiery and immense wave of energy surged down his throat and into his lower abdomen.

He grimaced, then sat down cross-legged and began to refine the Jinchan Moon Fruit.

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