Three Immortal Swords

In the county yamen's rear courtyard, Tan Zhen'an slowly performed a set of fist techniques. Wherever his fists pointed, dense power gave off muffled booms, like a war drum being hammered with all its might, making one's heart involuntarily tighten.

A moment later, Tan Zhen'an drew his stance back and looked at Hua Shizhong beside him. "Have you investigated it clearly?"

"I have."

Hua Shizhong nodded. "Within Pingyin County, the finest Internal Energy technique is the Zhao Family's Hua Lin Jin. Their ancestor brought it back from elsewhere, and even in the Organ Refinement Realm, it is not considered weak. There is also the Li Family's Droplet Sword and the Zhang Family's Cloud-Treading Sparrow. Both are exceptionally good."

"In ten days, take some men and bring those techniques back," Tan Zhen'an said with a nod.

"Those people probably will not agree."

"Find a pretext and join forces with a few of those clans. Naturally, someone will be willing to lead the charge for us."

"Alright!"

A cruel smile appeared on Hua Shizhong's face. This sort of thing was what he enjoyed most. Making these clans hand over money and supplies was only the first step.

The second step was to gnaw away at some of the clans until they had been eaten clean, bones and all. That would keep resistance to a minimum while maximizing their gains.

"Oh, right. A few friends from the greenwood want to join us. Should we take them in?"

"You handle it." Tan Zhen'an took a cup of tea and poured it into his mouth. "Once you obtain those manuals, send them directly to me."

"Alright!"

Hua Shizhong cupped his hands. Watching Tan Zhen'an return to his study, his eyes were filled with reverence.

Early the next morning, the Zhang Family came to Chen Fei and asked him to refine Revival Pills.

Besides silver, the rebels demanded vast quantities of pills and grain from the Zhang Family.

The Zhang Family had already been plundered once by the imperial army and had little left. Now they were required to gather everything within ten days, nearly driving them into a corner.

Of course, it was not only the Zhang Family. Every clan in Pingyin County received the same treatment, and everyone wore a worried expression.

At this moment, when faced with greater power, these clans that had once stood so high above others seemed no different from ordinary people.

After considering the Zhang Family's request for a moment, Chen Fei ultimately agreed.

Although his dealings with the Zhang Family had not been especially pleasant, and they had gone back on their word regarding the Light Spirit Pill formula, overall, the Zhang Family was still a place where he could remain.

More importantly, Chen Fei did not know when he should leave Pingyin County.

The danger outside truly made him wary of acting rashly.

Chen Fei's cultivation was too weak. Though his current combat strength could rival the Bone Forging Realm, the Bone Forging Realm was really nothing in the world outside.

Everything Chen Fei knew about this world came from Pingyin County. If he rashly set out on a long journey without any wilderness survival experience, Chen Fei felt that he would be defeated before his first victory.

The refining task arranged by the Zhang Family was indeed onerous for an ordinary alchemist.

But Chen Fei had long since raised his Revival Pill proficiency to Great Perfection. Every batch reached the limit in pill yield. Thus, he needed only two hours to complete the task the Zhang Family had assigned him.

As for the remaining medicinal ingredients, Chen Fei naturally claimed them for himself. Medicine ingredients could no longer be bought in Pingyin County, nor could refugees be hired to leave the city, because the rebels had sealed off the entire county. Entry was permitted, but exit was forbidden.

Because he had worried about the rebels' arrival, Chen Fei had deliberately stockpiled some food beforehand. Unexpectedly, it truly came in handy.

In the Dark market.

After being closed for three days, the Dark market quietly reopened. Yet compared to its former bustle, it was now deserted, with food and pills as the most sought-after goods.

There was no need to say much about food. Pills, meanwhile, could be exchanged with the clans for a little food.

No matter how one put it, eating was still the most important thing.

"Is there really no way to leave Pingyin County?"

Inside a small room, Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng and asked. Although Chi Defeng fooled Chen Fei with fake medicine every time, their relationship was actually fairly good.

In Chen Fei's mind, Chi Defeng had been a Dark market merchant for so many years, so his connections undoubtedly surpassed Chen Fei's by far.

"There are still ways to leave Pingyin County, but no merchant caravan is heading to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect in the way you need right now." Chi Defeng reclined halfway in his chair, sounding somewhat helpless.

"It does not have to go directly to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. Going elsewhere first would also be fine," Chen Fei said quietly.

Since every clan in Pingyin County was handing over supplies, and the rebels were restraining their soldiers, Pingyin County was merely somewhat quieter than usual. No major burning, killing, or plundering had occurred.

But perhaps because he cultivated the Serene Heart Incantation, Chen Fei could sense the oppressive feeling of a storm about to break. In ten days, something else might happen.

Before that, if there was a chance, Chen Fei still hoped to leave Pingyin County.

"No." Chi Defeng shook his head. "Merchant caravans were already scarce before. Recently, there has not been a single one."

"Then what are you planning to do?"

Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng in confusion. A shrewd fellow like this could not possibly have prepared no backup plan at all.

"Wait for these rebels to leave."

Chi Defeng stood and rubbed his waist. "Those rebels have their eyes on the clans. Nobody cares about commoners like us. As long as we are careful, we can get through this."

Chen Fei gave Chi Defeng a suspicious glance but said nothing more before turning and leaving the Dark market.

The days passed one by one, and the Zhang Family came every day to collect Revival Pills.

Public order in Pingyin County gradually worsened. The restrained soldiers began to let their nature loose. Robbery and murder began appearing throughout Pingyin County.

A great many were committed by the rebels, but some were done by the people of Pingyin County themselves. In such an environment, the evil in some people's hearts was directly unleashed.

Cries and wails rang out from time to time. Chen Fei heard them but did not act. Such matters had already exceeded the limits of what he could handle. Chen Fei only cultivated even harder, refusing to waste a single moment.

Perhaps it was because of this pressure, but on the fifth day, Chen Fei actually deciphered the Light Spirit Pill formula and refined a Light Spirit Pill for the first time.

Alchemy: Light Spirit Pill (Beginner 1/100)

Simplifying Light Spirit Pill... Simplification successful... Light Spirit Pill → Revival Pill!

A smile could not help appearing on Chen Fei's face. Recently, not a single pill could be bought on the market. Now that he could refine Light Spirit Pills, relying on the medicine ingredients he had deliberately stockpiled earlier, Chen Fei could finally be self-sufficient in Light Spirit Pills.

On the eighth day, the three movement technique manuals Chen Fei had obtained from the Zhang Family were completely fused.

Technique: Ascending Cloud Steps (Great Perfection)

Compared to Crossing River Cloud in the past, Chen Fei's ordinary speed had now risen to the level of his previous full sprint. And if Chen Fei used his full sprint now, it felt like riding the wind and chasing lightning.

Though that was somewhat exaggerated, Chen Fei's movement technique had indeed risen to another level.

On the evening of the eleventh day, Chen Fei submerged his head in cold water.

At some moment, the world seemed to fall silent all at once. Chen Fei involuntarily straightened up, looking at his surroundings and sensing every thought drifting through his mind.

A feeling of complete control over himself rose in Chen Fei's heart.

He subconsciously picked up the longsword at hand and used the Fire Pattern Sword.

Though he had already cultivated the Fire Pattern Sword to Great Perfection, he had never felt such thorough clarity as he did now.

With a thought, Chen Fei instantly thrust out Immortal Points the Way.

The next moment, three streaks of sword light flashed past before finally merging into one. It flickered in midair for a full breath before slowly dispersing.

Chen Fei looked at the sword light with delight. Just now, he had used Immortal Points the Way three times in an instant. In the past, that would have been completely impossible. Yet today, he had done it.

"Three Immortal Swords?"

Buzz!

As Chen Fei muttered to himself, a wave of dizziness suddenly rushed into his mind, and he involuntarily braced himself against the wall.

After recovering for a moment, Chen Fei opened his eyes and discovered that the feeling of controlling everything had already vanished.