Leave Nothing Behind

Technique: Serene Heart Incantation (Great Perfection)

"I never expected that after the Serene Heart Incantation reached Great Perfection, it could actually trigger a special state."

Chen Fei recalled what had just happened. That sense of control over his body and everything around him was intoxicating. But clearly, that state had its limits—it lasted only a short time, and the backlash seemed considerable.

After resting for a while, Chen Fei's dizziness eased somewhat.

The Serene Heart Incantation's special state had an obvious effect on improving combat strength. Setting everything else aside, the Three Immortal Swords Chen Fei had just used could become a new killing move.

The Three Immortal Swords was a sword technique recorded within the Immortal Cloud Sword. However, the manual Chen Fei had obtained had been incomplete, and the explanations for many of its sword moves were practically incoherent nonsense.

Thus, the Three Immortal Swords could only be considered a sword move created by Chen Fei himself. Compared to Immortal Points the Way, the Three Immortal Swords combined three strikes into one, greatly increasing its power.

Perhaps it could pose a slight threat to Marrow Refinement Realm martial artists. But only a slight threat. After all, Chen Fei's own Internal Energy cultivation was too low. Fighting enemies two realms above him was far too difficult.

"Still, it counts as an unexpected delight."

A faint smile appeared on Chen Fei's face. Just as he used a towel to wipe the water from his face, a burst of urgent knocking suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Manager Chen! Is Manager Chen here?" Liu Jun called out anxiously.

"What is it?"

Chen Fei opened the courtyard gate and saw Liu Jun gasping for breath. Upon seeing Chen Fei open the door, Liu Jun hurried inside, then carefully shut the gate behind him.

Chen Fei looked at Liu Jun with some confusion, but he did not press him.

"The Zhang Family is finished!" Liu Jun turned to Chen Fei and whispered.

"What?" Chen Fei froze. He had not expected to receive such news from Liu Jun.

"The Zhao Family brought people to surround the Zhang Family. The family head was killed, and many young masters and young ladies died too."

As Liu Jun spoke, his body trembled involuntarily.

Liu Jun had worked at the medical hall since childhood and had always regarded the Zhang Family as his masters. Now that he had suddenly heard of the Zhang Family's destruction, it felt no different from the sky collapsing.

Only after Chen Fei questioned him in detail did he learn the rough outline of what had happened.

Yesterday, the rebel army had joined forces with the Zhao Family. For some unknown reason, they had charged directly into the Zhang Family estate. It seemed they had not even given them a chance to argue their case. Zhang Ting died on the spot, along with several elders of the Zhang Family.

All the direct descendants had been killed. Only some collateral branches had barely survived.

The Zhang Family's various resources had been divided up, while those from the collateral branches had been driven from the estate and left homeless.

And it was not only the Zhang Family. Two other aristocratic families had met the same fate, swallowed up by the rebel army and other families under some pretext.

"They really left nothing behind."

Chen Fei muttered to himself. After the various families had handed over their respective resources, the rebel army had immediately raised the butcher's blade. They were likely afraid of provoking too much backlash, so they had joined forces with the aristocratic families of Pingyin County to keep their losses to a minimum.

The various aristocratic families within the county had always had their frictions and grudges, though they usually kept themselves in check.

Now, with the more powerful rebel army joining in, and after suffering such heavy losses earlier, they naturally would not let this opportunity pass. By slaughtering other families, they could replenish themselves.

"Manager Chen, will something happen to us?"

Liu Jun asked with a pale face. This was what concerned him most. With the Zhang Family gone, would the Zhao Family kill people like them as well?

"We're only workers at the medical hall, not direct descendants of the Zhang Family. We should be fine."

Chen Fei considered it, though he was not entirely certain. Under normal circumstances, the Zhao Family would not do anything to them. But in times like these, how much reason was there to speak of?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Knocking that was almost like hammering on the door rang out. Chen Fei frowned slightly and stepped forward to open it. Three people stood outside, one of them holding a portrait and repeatedly comparing it to Chen Fei.

"Are you Chen Fei?"

"I am. And you are?"

Chen Fei glanced at the portrait. It bore his likeness. Their preparations were truly thorough.

"I am Zhao Xia. Qingzheng Medical Hall belongs to the Zhao Family from now on. Come with me. The family head wishes to see you all." Zhao Xia spoke with a hint of arrogance.

Chen Fei pondered for a moment, then nodded. "All right. I'll trouble the three of you."

The Zhao Family's momentum was at its peak right now, and there was no need for Chen Fei to provoke them. Besides, he also wanted to learn exactly what had happened.

"Easy enough!"

Seeing how cooperative Chen Fei was, Zhao Xia laughed loudly. An alchemist was still quite valuable to the Zhao Family.

Chen Fei turned back to give Liu Jun a few instructions, then followed Zhao Xia and the other two to the Zhao Family estate.

Compared with the silence of the past few days, the Zhao Family was quite lively today. Chen Fei glanced around and saw that many of the people present had once worked at the medical hall.

"Elder Zeng!"

Chen Fei came to Zeng Defang's side and called out softly.

"Chen Fei, you're here."

Zeng Defang turned to look at Chen Fei and could not help sighing softly. He patted Chen Fei on the shoulder and said, "Be careful lately. If you run into any trouble, come find me."

"Thank you, Elder Zeng!"

Chen Fei looked up at Zeng Defang. Seeing the weariness on his face, Chen Fei guessed that the Zhang Family's sudden destruction had also dealt him a blow. After all, Zeng Defang had worked with the Zhang Family for many years, and they had treated him quite well. There was some affection between both sides.

Now that he was with the Zhao Family, they likely would not neglect Zeng Defang either. After all, he could refine Light Spirit Pills. Those were practically the highest-grade cultivation pills in Pingyin County. No aristocratic family would ignore such a money tree.

The Zhao Family head soon arrived in the hall and spoke a few comforting words, allowing those who had formerly worked at the medical hall and rice shop to relax a little.

Chen Fei pretended to listen attentively, but his attention was focused on someone else. Ling HanJun—the bandit leader who had run rampant through the city before.

Chen Fei had not expected to encounter him here, much less find him as an honored guest of the Zhao Family. It greatly surprised him.

Chen Fei had no intention of hiding. The face Ling HanJun had seen before was fake. Right now, Chen Fei was merely a harmless Skin Tempering Realm alchemist.

"I've long heard that Brother Ling has been searching for someone. Have you found any clues lately? If there is anywhere the Zhao Family can help, Brother Ling, please don't stand on ceremony!" Zhao Chengji said with a smile.

During last night's siege of the Zhang Family, Ling HanJun's strength had left Zhao Chengji in awe. He possessed cultivation at the peak of the Bone Forging Realm, and his techniques were profound and exquisite. Even among the rebel army, he stood among the outstanding.

"I've met quite a few Bone Forging Realm martial artists recently. Are there any other renowned experts above the Bone Forging Realm in Pingyin County?" Ling HanJun swept his gaze over the people below, then withdrew it in disappointment.

"Brother Ling wishes to find someone to exchange martial skills with?"

Zhao Chengji thought Ling HanJun wanted to improve his skills in preparation for breaking through to the Marrow Refinement Realm.

"I'm looking for an enemy. He killed my brother!" Ling HanJun's expression turned cold, his eyes filled with a sinister chill.

"Who would dare be so bold? Does Brother Ling have a portrait of that man? I can mobilize the Zhao Family's people to help Brother Ling find that thief," Zhao Chengji said loudly.

"I've thought about it for a long time recently. That man may have learned the Disguise Technique. The face I saw that day was probably fake."

Ling HanJun frowned deeply. This was one possibility he had considered recently. Of course, it was also possible that the man had already left Pingyin County, which was why he had been unable to find him all this time.