Chou Changtai's steps abruptly halted. He turned to look at Chen Fei, his expression instantly growing grave.
Peak Aperture Refining Realm. The aura Chen Fei revealed at this moment was perfectly rounded and unified—the aura only possible when all one hundred and eight acupoints had been linked together.
How could the Yuan Chen Sword Sect have a Peak Aperture Refining Realm martial artist?
Chou Changtai had previously sent people to probe the Yuan Chen Sword Sect and the Sinking Water Pavilion from every angle. The information he obtained was that the strongest members of both sects were merely at the late Aperture Refining Realm, and not particularly powerful even among those at that level.
That was precisely why Chou Changtai had brought only Lou Sanfeng with him to Chenshui Island, with a mindset almost like taking a leisurely outing. With his strength, suppressing two sects should have held no surprises.
But who was this person before him?
"Chen Fei!"
Seeing Chen Fei suddenly appear, Qu Qingsheng's face was filled with anxiety. Yet that anxious expression immediately froze, because Chen Fei's aura was far too obvious.
Peak Aperture Refining Realm—Chen Fei had broken through to the Peak Aperture Refining Realm?
Hadn't the Yuan Chen Sword Body still not been recovered? How had Chen Fei broken through to the Peak Aperture Refining Realm already? And had even a year passed since Chen Fei's last breakthrough to the late Aperture Refining Realm?
In one year, he had gone from newly entering the late Aperture Refining Realm to completing all one hundred and eight acupoints. This cultivation speed was simply far too exaggerated.
Qu Qingsheng's mind could not quite process it. Nor was he the only one—the other elders of the Yuan Chen Sword Sect were all left somewhat at a loss by Chen