Fleeing at the First Sign of Trouble

"Mm, that was the right approach." Chi Defeng nodded. "When faced with an aberration, either your cultivation is deep enough to wear it down to death, or you run. If you cannot run away, then there is no other way."

"Can aberrations cause hallucinations?" Chen Fei suddenly asked.

"You have even encountered one of that level?" Chi Defeng looked at Chen Fei in surprise.

"I'm not sure." Chen Fei shook his head.

"Aberrations do indeed vary in strength. Those capable of causing hallucinations are the most troublesome."

After giving it some thought, Chi Defeng ran into another room. A moment later, he returned with a secret manual in hand and held it out to Chen Fei.

Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng in confusion.

"The Serene Heart Incantation."

"From the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect?"

"What technique in the world belongs to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect?" Chi Defeng could not help but laugh and scold him. "I do not know which sect it came from either. It does not help your cultivation, nor can it be used to harm enemies. It can only calm your true heart. Once you have made some progress in practicing it, you can stay a little calmer when things happen."

"Can it break free from an aberration's hallucinations?"

"Only after cultivating it to a profound level." Chi Defeng nodded. "But the Serene Heart Incantation is extremely difficult to learn. Even after getting started, mastering it will be tremendously difficult. You should prepare yourself mentally."

Chen Fei accepted the secret manual with some delight. At last, he had another way to escape aberrations.

"How do disciples of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect keep themselves from falling into hallucinations?" Chen Fei was still curious about the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

"Thunderous Sword Force. Once you cultivate that technique, you naturally possess the power of lightning and need not fear aberrations at all. The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect has many similar techniques." Chi Defeng shrugged.

Chen Fei grinned. As expected of a top-tier great sect—their techniques formed a complete system, so they did not need to think about so much. Only Rogue Cultivators like Chen Fei had to patch things together from here and there.

For once, Chi Defeng did not name a price for the Serene Heart Incantation. Chen Fei did not know whether the man had suddenly found his conscience or knew that no one would buy such an auxiliary secret manual.

Ordinary martial artists already had it hard enough practicing Internal Energy techniques and combat moves every day. Asking them to cultivate a technique that was difficult to begin and could not directly harm enemies even after mastery—few martial artists would likely be willing.

Without the panel, Chen Fei would not have been willing either.

It was not that he did not work hard. His talent was simply limited, and he lacked both time and energy.

Simplifying Serene Heart Incantation... Simplification successful... Serene Heart Incantation → Washing Hair with Cold Water!

Chen Fei blinked. So this was physically cooling down the brain?

Several more days slipped by in the blink of an eye. Other than the unchanged time he spent cultivating Internal Energy each day, Chen Fei devoted most of his time to integrating his new movement technique.

Whether he could derive the formula for the Light Spirit Pill would not affect Chen Fei in the short term. But whether he could run fast certainly would.

In the recent incidents, if Chen Fei had not run fast enough, he would already be lying flat.

Thus, aside from his Cultivation Realm, Chen Fei cared most about his movement technique. As new techniques continually fused into it, he could feel himself growing faster and faster.

Even his ordinary speed was gradually approaching the speed he had previously attained while sprinting.

Chen Fei had never seen how fast a martial artist in the Marrow Refinement Realm could be. But by his estimation, they were probably only on par with his current self, perhaps even a little slower?

As for the Serene Heart Incantation, Chen Fei had not neglected it either. Aside from the threat of aberrations, once he had begun learning it, he discovered that his state of mind had become much steadier.

Previously, because of his lack of strength and the countless dangers surrounding him, Chen Fei had always lacked a sense of security in this world.

That lack of security manifested in Chen Fei grinding experience in every possible way. He had no entertainment, no spare time—Chen Fei was always cultivating one technique or another.

That constant tension kept Chen Fei unconsciously keyed up, but the exhaustion deep in his heart had continued to accumulate beyond restraint.

But after cultivating the Serene Heart Incantation, Chen Fei still remained alert to external dangers, yet they no longer constantly coiled around the depths of his heart as before.

To put it simply, Chen Fei could now face matters with relative composure.

The result of this change was that Chen Fei's body and mind involuntarily felt more relaxed. He still worked hard, but his mindset was gradually changing.

The North City Medical Hall continued operating as usual. The Zhang Family transferred in several guards from elsewhere, but the position of Medical Hall manager remained vacant.

They had no intention of letting Chen Fei take over the post. They merely had him temporarily handle the manager's duties while awaiting the Zhang Family's further arrangements.

Chen Fei refined Revival Pills in the Medical Hall's Pill Chamber. Recently, he had rarely refined Blood Qi Pills, instead revealing his skill at refining Revival Pills.

To maintain the image of being something of a genius, Chen Fei naturally could not keep refining Blood Qi Pills forever.

After discovering that Chen Fei could refine Revival Pills, he could clearly sense a change in some of the Zhang Family's attitudes. Evidently, the Zhang Family had shifted him from being a somewhat talented alchemist to someone worthy of focused attention.

At this rate, perhaps in another decade or two, the Zhang Family would voluntarily grant him the formula for the Light Spirit Pill.

"The army has entered the city! The army has entered the city!"

A sudden commotion erupted outside the Pill Chamber. As soon as Chen Fei stepped out, Liu Jun ran up to him and shouted.

"The imperial army has arrived?"

Chen Fei's brow twitched. The army had finally come to Pingyin County. He just did not know whether they intended to garrison here or were merely passing through.

That evening, the lights in Pingyin County's most prosperous Wine House shone brightly.

The County yamen and all the major families had gathered there to host a banquet for the army's General.

Chen Fei had also been invited, though he only sat in a corner on the first floor of the Wine House.

Cups were raised and emptied in turn, and the atmosphere in the Wine House was exceptionally lively. Chen Fei sat in the corner watching the people around him. He neither spoke nor went up to strike up conversations, treating himself as though he were invisible.

The banquet did not end until close to the Hour of the Pig. The next day, every major family began contributing supplies to the army: medicinal herbs, pills, rice, grain, meat, and a considerable amount of silver.

At the same time, young and able-bodied men were conscripted into service to replenish the army's losses.

Because of the army's arrival, all of Pingyin County became exceptionally bustling.

As the Medical Hall's deputy manager, Chen Fei had to arrange the supply of various pills and also refine Revival Pills.

Privately, Chen Fei heard some complaints from the Zhang Family. Such contributions had clearly exceeded what they were willing to give, but with the army's strength laid before them, the Zhang Family had no choice but to comply.

Through other channels, Chen Fei made some inquiries about the techniques cultivated in the military. In the end, however, he was somewhat disappointed. The techniques practiced by most soldiers were exceedingly crude.

Only the Generals possessed far more profound techniques, but those would absolutely never be spread outside.

All kinds of resources were funneled into the army, yet on the fifth day, the troops camped outside the city suddenly withdrew.

The withdrawal left the people of Pingyin County completely baffled. Then news arrived: the rebel army had appeared ten li outside Pingyin County and was now surging toward the county like a raging tide.