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Li Feng drifted in midair, staring blankly at the floating stone stele above Qingyun Flat. "Yiyuan Sect will be in seclusion for a hundred years. Please forgive any discourtesy." Just those few great characters radiating icy golden light, coupled with Yiyuan Sect's own mountain-sealing spell, had cut off any chance of cultivators discovering the sect's utter annihilation. Li Feng gave a bitter laugh. "Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. When I wipe out someone's entire household someday, I'll have to learn this trick properly too." He gritted his teeth hard, dropped to the ground without looking back, and sprinted wildly out of the mountains.

"Power. I must have even greater power. I will kill every last one of those damned things."

"Influence. I must have immensely powerful influence. If our Yiyuan Sect had twenty thousand disciples, how could we have been so easily exterminated? Even if every one of them were top experts, if they sent several hundred people, how could you possibly defeat them?"

Clenching his fists tightly, Li Feng swore through gritted teeth. He had gone to inspect the corpses of the Five Elders of Yiyuan and several other martial uncles. Qingquan Zi and the others had merely had every bone in their bodies shattered, their Violet Palaces pulverized by magic treasures. True Person Lingwei, however, was naked all over, the skin of her body noticeably withered; she had clearly been drained of her primal yin and died. As for Xiao Longzi and the others, who had been in seclusion, apart from Xiao Longzi seeming to have undergone Liberation by Violence himself by slicing open his own throat with a single sword strike, the other martial uncles all had a great hole punched through their Violet Palaces. It seemed their Golden Cores and Nascent Souls had all been seized.

Whenever he thought of that horrific scene, Li Feng trembled all over, a wicked fire shooting from the soles of his feet straight to his head. If he had not understood that he was far too weak, if he had not known he should not do such a thing, he would already have charged into the town below the mountain and begun a slaughter. Of course, he also had Profound Stone's help to thank for this. Whenever Li Feng was about to lose control and the True Essence within him began crashing about wildly, Profound Stone would release a faint yet extraordinarily tough, incredibly cool current of energy that coursed through his entire body, immediately calming the True Qi inside him.

Like adding a bowl of cold water to a pot of boiling water, Profound Stone kept Li Feng's chaotic True Essence forever at that critical point where it seemed about to collapse but never truly would. Li Feng went mad on Qingyun Flat for five or six days like this, yet faced not the slightest danger of cultivation deviation. Instead, the density of his True Essence increased considerably. It had to be said that this was the effect of Profound Stone, this rare treasure of Heaven and Earth.

What Li Feng especially dared not imagine was hearing that Zhao Yue'er had been blasted off the cliff by the black-clad men using Yin Lightning. He had seen with his own eyes the power of the Yin Lightning they finally used to destroy Qingyun Flat: without a sound, an entire mountain peak vanished completely. He did not dare imagine what Zhao Yue'er's delicate body would become after being struck by such Yin Lightning. He could not imagine what would become of her after she fell from that bottomless precipice, one those black-clad men had not even dared descend to investigate.

Li Feng roared at the sky. "Hahahaha! Hahahaha! They're all dead. Good deaths, all of them... This young master is finally free... If you have spirits in Heaven, then watch. Watch how this young master avenges you. Watch!" Li Feng shook his disheveled hair and laughed madly, his heart suddenly filled with cruel, savage arrogance and wild self-exaltation.

Yet before long, Li Feng lay sprawled over a rock by the mountain stream, sobbing loudly. "Martial uncles, Master... is this how you were finished? What Dao did you cultivate? What immortality did you seek? When enemies forced their way to your door, you shattered like rotten eggs... I don't even know who those people were, what sect they belonged to. How am I supposed to take revenge?... I don't even know how to cultivate from here on. Where would I find the ability to take revenge?" For a time, he sank once more into utter despair, feeling that revenge was impossible. Those black-clad men were too powerful, while he himself was merely a little Daoist at the Early Qi Condensation stage.

Even with Yiyuan Sect's Dao scriptures to guide him, Xiao Longzi had spent nearly a hundred years of bitter effort to form a Golden Core. Especially in the final three years, he had succeeded only by relying on the powerful effects of the One Yuan Pearl. But Li Feng? He did not even know how to cultivate after Qi Condensation. All of Yiyuan Sect's Dao scriptures and magic treasures, including the One Yuan Pearl, had already been looted by those black-clad men. Though the Dao scriptures within the Lesser Celestial Realm had been preserved intact, not one contained a cultivation method; they only held techniques for using True Essence and magical power.

Thus, laughing madly one moment and crying out madly the next, Li Feng wandered those rugged, steep mountains for three days and three nights. He had no idea what he should do now, no idea what he could do now. After witnessing the battle between that so-called Right Saint, Ling Guangzi, and Liu Xingzi, Li Feng understood very clearly that before them, he was no more than an ant. Wanting revenge—how could that be easy?

Li Feng did not want to die, so he did not dare reveal that he was a disciple of Yiyuan Sect. Though he had mixed in the streets since childhood, the streets were merely the streets; he had no experience at all with matters among cultivators. Thus, he could find neither a direction nor a way out for himself. One moment, his heart raged like fire; the next, it was mournful as ice. Coupled with having gone several days without food or drink, his whole body went limp and powerless, and he collapsed beside a small grove.

Li Feng laughed bitterly. "Die, then. Dying would be good too. Once I'm dead, my heart won't hurt anymore... Eh, Master, you... you..." Li Feng let out a long breath.

With a loud bang, a tree trunk smashed viciously into Li Feng's head. Li Feng raised his head blankly, only to see the monkey king he had always bullied in the past gripping a tree trunk, grinning and hopping around triumphantly before him. It seemed immensely proud of itself for having struck Li Feng with one blow. Li Feng smiled bitterly. "Fine. I don't want to live anyway, so hit me if you want... You..."

A tiny white ape leaped over. This little monkey, which looked barely a year old, suddenly pulled a red mountain peach out from behind its back and slowly placed it before Li Feng. The monkey king picked up the little monkey in one hand and crooked its mouth in a grin at Li Feng.

Li Feng froze. He stared blankly at the red mountain peach before him, at the few droplets of water and two monkey hairs upon it. It was as though a bell had rung within his heart. At just the right moment, Profound Stone released a great quantity of cool energy, which flowed ceaselessly through Li Feng's body. Li Feng suddenly understood. No matter what, live first. As long as I can stay alive, I will have countless opportunities. Whether I avenge them or not, as long as I can live, Master and the others will be happy, won't they?

Li Feng laughed three times, rolled to his feet, snatched up the mountain peach, and swallowed it in two bites. Then he respectfully knelt before the little monkey and performed three deep bows. Afterward, Li Feng sprang up and sang loudly, "The Dao is an empty vessel, yet in use it is never exhausted. Deep and profound, it seems the ancestor of all things. It blunts the sharp, untangles the tangled, softens its light, and mingles with the dust. Dim and deep, it seems to endure. I do not know whose child it is; it seems to precede the Lord of Heaven." With his hair hanging loose, his feet bare, and his tattered green Daoist robe draped over him, Li Feng clapped and loudly chanted the Daoist verses. Finally, he cast one last glance toward Qingyun Flat and truly walked out of Mount Hua.

A troop of monkeys stared blankly at Li Feng's seemingly crazed figure, chattered and leaped about for a long while, then tumbled and scrambled up the cliff, vanishing without a trace.

Li Feng touched the Universe Bag at his waist, then sensed the Vermilion Bird Crescent, Cold Sparrow sword, Heavenly Escape talisman, and several other magic treasures that had already fused with his body. Once he felt there was nothing on him likely to draw attention, he finally set his mind at ease and walked out of Mount Hua's mountain region, arriving at the foot of the main peak. He muttered inwardly, "Suzhou Prefecture. Damn it, Suzhou Prefecture. I have to go to Suzhou Prefecture... I wonder whether A Zhu and the others are all right? I hope Old Tou'er and the others didn't kill them that night."

Below Mount Hua's Main Peak, a row of haughty Mount Hua disciples were shouting at several hundred young men. "Stand properly, stand properly! Don't disrupt the order! Everyone take a number token. A Senior Brother will lead you in shortly. As long as your physical qualities pass, you'll have a chance to join our Mount Hua Sect... Ah, once you join Mount Hua Sect and learn Mount Hua's peerless martial arts, you too can bring glory to your ancestors."

One particularly huge Mount Hua disciple boasted loudly, "That's right! Especially since our esteemed Sect Master has already made an agreement with the current imperial court. Every year, a group of outstanding disciples will be selected to enter the Imperial Guards as instructors. Ha! Glory and wealth will be within arm's reach. Boys, you'd best work hard... An Imperial Guard instructor is a Principal Fifth Rank military official. Glory to your ancestors, glory to your ancestors! It all depends on whether you have that fortune. Heh, think about it. Our Mount Hua Sect isn't some lowly third-rate gang from the martial world. We have people when we need people, influence when we need influence!"

Li Feng stood nearby like a ghost, watching the scene unfold as several thoughts churned in his mind. The imperial court? Damn it, that's where the old emperor governs the realm, right? They have power, don't they? But can they deal with those black-clad men? Li Feng frowned and gently shook his head. No. Ten thousand troops couldn't kill that Right Saint... Master said those martial artists can struggle their whole lives and at most reach Qi Condensation. Qi Condensation means roughly my current level. Ten thousand of me still couldn't kill that Right Saint.

As Li Feng was lost in thought, a Mount Hua disciple swaggered over. He gave Li Feng, who looked like a beggar, a deeply contemptuous glance, looked over his Daoist robe whose material and style could no longer be distinguished, then shook his head. "Heh, someone like this wants to become a disciple of Mount Hua?... Hey, boy, what are you looking at here? If you want to apprentice yourself to Mount Hua, then go line up properly. You don't look like you come from a wealthy household, but it's all right. Though every disciple has to pay one hundred taels of silver each year, as long as you work diligently on the mountain and take on enough chores, you can offset that silver. Well? Hurry and line up."

Li Feng shook his head. "This young master didn't come to apprentice himself to your Mount Hua. Mount Hua doesn't belong to your Mount Hua Sect. Can't this young master even watch the excitement?"

Hearing Li Feng's tone, the Mount Hua disciple instinctively assumed Li Feng was insulting the sect he regarded as divine. His large hand immediately landed on Li Feng's shoulder as he barked, "Boy, what did you say? Watch the excitement? Our Mount Hua Sect is recruiting disciples, and you're here to watch the excitement? What excitement is there to watch? Mount Hua really does belong to our Mount Hua Sect. You object?... Damn it, get out of this grandpa's way." With that, he exerted force with his hand and shoved Li Feng backward with all his might.

Li Feng staggered one step. He shot the Mount Hua disciple a sideways glance and sneered inwardly. Hmph. If your Mount Hua Sect didn't have so little oil and water left now, I'd strip even your underwear off tonight... Forget it. Forget it. Those black-clad men might have spies near Mount Hua Sect. This young master has no time to bicker with you... Hm? Why do I look like this?

Lowering his head to inspect himself, Li Feng finally discovered just how miserable he looked. The soles of both feet were pitch-black, both palms filthy black, and the front hem of his green Daoist robe had vanished who knew where. His trousers were riddled with holes, with a clump of animal fur stuck to them. Above all, the green cloth now looked grayish-brown. Li Feng gave a self-mocking laugh, shook his head, wiped his palms over his lapels, nodded to the Mount Hua disciple, and turned to leave.

The Mount Hua disciple was stunned for a moment, then forcefully spat a wad of phlegm onto the ground and cursed, "Damn it, a spineless bastard... Hmph, though with these muscles of mine, it's no wonder he didn't dare provoke me." He proudly raised his head, returned to the line of his fellow disciples, and was delighted with himself for bullying a beggar.

Li Feng sighed softly. "Damn it, this appearance is a little too miserable. Better go to Xi'an Prefecture to tidy myself up, then return to Suzhou... Eh, where exactly are there Dao scriptures for cultivating a Golden Core? This young master can't remain in Qi Condensation for my whole life... But from Master's tone, it seemed that if I continuously compressed my True Essence, Misty Violet Qi would naturally arise, no? But how does that Misty Violet Qi rise into the Violet Palace and form a Golden Core? That's a problem. Don't let me cultivate until I explode in the end. That would be truly unlucky."

Li Feng chuckled softly for a while, feeling much lighter inside. He shook his head hard, as though trying to forget everything, then finally strode toward Xi'an Prefecture.

This year, Li Feng had spent nearly six years in Yiyuan Sect. When Xiao Longzi took him away from Suzhou Prefecture, it had been the fiery June sun; now it was already late autumn. The autumn wind rose, sweeping grass fragments and fallen leaves into the sky, where they fluttered down over Li Feng. A dim yellow sun hung listlessly in the heavens, illuminating Li Feng's solitary figure as he walked onward. A line of southbound geese cried in the sky, accompanying Li Feng's loud singing: "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao..."

Inside Xi'an Prefecture, Li Feng shouted imperiously at the owner of a clothing shop. "I don't care about all that. This is gold. Look carefully—it's gold. As long as you prepare several sets of clothes that fit this young master within one hour, this gold ingot is yours... This young master is going to the post station to rent a carriage now. Don't you dare tell me any nonsense about the time being too tight or not having enough time to finish. One hour. I'll come collect the clothes."

Li Feng tossed the gold ingot before the shopkeeper and strode out, letting out a cold snort. "Damn it, if I don't show you some color, you'll think this young master is easy to bully." This was something Li Feng had learned from those street toughs: if he wanted people to serve him wholeheartedly, he had to employ both kindness and intimidation, or it would be difficult to get any benefit. He secretly glanced back at the clothing shop owner. Sure enough, after biting the gold ingot with his teeth, the owner's face broke into a smile as he began calling to his assistants, setting them to work according to the measurements he had just taken for Li Feng.

Li Feng did not want to linger in Xi'an Prefecture for even a moment longer. He only wanted to flee Mount Hua, this land of sorrow, as quickly as possible—the faster, the better. If he had known the direction, if he had known how to reach Suzhou Prefecture through the clouds, if he had not feared encountering cultivators in the sky, he would have flown away long ago using the Vermilion Bird Crescent's power. It was a strange kind of psychological wound, perhaps. Because of Emei Sect's Daoist Wushen and those black-clad men, Li Feng did not dare trust any cultivator at this moment. He was terribly afraid of meeting such people.

At the post station, the shopkeeper looked at Li Feng listlessly and shook his head. "Sir, the laws have changed now. If you wish to travel elsewhere, you must first obtain a travel permit from the local yamen. Without a travel permit, you won't get beyond a hundred li. We at the post station also do not dare carry passengers without permits. If you wish to go to Suzhou Prefecture, we can provide even ten carriages, no problem, but you still have to show us a travel permit..."

Li Feng froze. "Wasn't there no such rule before?"

The shopkeeper rolled his eyes and shook his head. "His Majesty says it is to control vagrants and bandits, so commoners are strictly forbidden from leaving their registered residence by more than a hundred li. If you wish to travel far, you must register at the yamen and obtain a travel permit. Otherwise, local yamen everywhere have the authority to arrest you and throw you in prison. This isn't something to play with. Sir should go ask at the yamen."

Li Feng nodded, then slammed another gold ingot onto the table. "Fine, I'll get a travel permit. Give me your best carriage and your best driver. This young master has no problem with money. As long as you serve me comfortably, what is money?" Li Feng snorted inwardly, In any case, this is money from you people of Xi'an Prefecture. This young master won't feel a shred of heartache.

Two hours later, dressed in a new green warrior's outfit and holding a travel permit procured through heavy bribery, Li Feng climbed excitedly into an ornate carriage. After one final glance in Mount Hua's direction, he ordered the driver to race out of Xi'an Prefecture at the greatest possible speed.

Li Feng muttered to himself, "Forget it. Let it be this way... This young master must live first. If I die myself, then everything else is over, so what revenge could I talk about?... Brother, drive faster. I haven't gone home in six years."

The driver answered cheerfully, cracked his whip, and a crisp sound rang through the air. The carriage immediately picked up a little more speed. Wherever it passed, fallen leaves and withered grass flew up in swirling gusts, then gently settled back onto the ground...