Bloodthirsty Evil Crow

"Help you kill someone?"

Wang Zheng froze, his eyes widening into perfect circles.

"Yes!"

Fang Chen gave Wang Zheng a slight nod.

Wang Zheng took a sharp step back and shook his head. "Brother, I just sell goods. I love making money, but killing people? I won't do it. Find someone else!"

With that, Wang Zheng turned and left at once.

Watching Wang Zheng's back, Fang Chen called out, "You really won't do it? I can pay more!"

"No!"

Wang Zheng's answer was unequivocal.

The corner of Fang Chen's mouth lifted. He hurried after Wang Zheng and fell into step beside him.

Wang Zheng glanced at him and frowned. "Brother, I really don't kill people. Find someone else!"

Fang Chen smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not asking you to kill anyone!"

Wang Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as it's not murder, we can work something out!"

"Anything?"

Fang Chen stared at Wang Zheng, a trace of doubt in his eyes.

Wang Zheng snorted. "As long as you can pay, there's a lot I can get for you!"

"Really?"

Fang Chen questioned him again.

"Really!"

Wang Zheng nodded, his expression earnest.

Fang Chen thought for a moment, then asked, "Can you get me the Saintess of Zixiao Peak's undergarments?"

"The Saintess of Zixiao Peak's undergarments?"

Wang Zheng stared at Fang Chen with a hint of disdain and sneered. "Yes, provided you can put up enough money!"

Fang Chen hadn't expected Wang Zheng to make such a bold claim. His interest piqued, he asked, "Then tell me how much it would cost."

Wang Zheng frowned slightly. "I'd have to go back and work that out. If you really want them, I'll tell you once I've calculated it!"

"Forget it. I was only asking. I don't have that much money anyway!"

Fang Chen shook his head. "I suspect someone wants to kill me. Can you help me find somewhere safe?"

Fang Chen didn't want to stay in the room Spirit Flame Valley had assigned him. He knew someone had their eye on him. What if they struck while he was asleep?

There were plenty of people here, so attacking him would be extremely risky. But that didn't rule out the possibility. To those desperate outlaws, the sect's rules were nothing but decorations.

He needed to stay in Spirit Flame Valley for a long time. He couldn't go without sleep every night. He was only a minor Qi Refining Realm cultivator; even cultivators at Foundation Establishment couldn't stay awake indefinitely.

For safety's sake, Fang Chen decided to move, even if it cost him more. After all, he could earn more money. If he lost his life, he would lose everything.

Wang Zheng shook his head slightly. "No. Everyone here lives in a little stone hut!"

"Nothing?"

Fang Chen frowned, disappointed by Wang Zheng's answer.

Wang Zheng looked at him, rummaged inside his clothes for a moment, and took out a book. He held it out to Fang Chen. "If you're worried someone might assassinate you, I have a book that should help you get better at keeping yourself from being killed!"

With that, he offered Fang Chen the book.

Fang Chen looked at its yellow cover. A line of large, crooked characters read: Cultivator's Basic Survival Handbook.

"How much?"

Fang Chen looked up at Wang Zheng.

"It's yours. No charge!"

Wang Zheng smiled and pressed the book into Fang Chen's hand.

Fang Chen hadn't expected such generosity. Holding the book, he said, "Thank you!"

Wang Zheng smiled faintly. "No need. If you ever need anything else, just come find me!"

"All right!"

Fang Chen gave Wang Zheng a slight nod.

"Well, someone's looking for me. I'll be off!"

With that, Wang Zheng turned and left at once.

Book in hand, Fang Chen returned to the stone hut Spirit Flame Valley had assigned him.

He lit the oil lamp on the table, sat down beside it, and read the book Wang Zheng had given him carefully.

By the time he finished Cultivator's Basic Survival Handbook, Fang Chen had gained profound respect for its author. At the same time, the world seemed far more dangerous than before. He felt he ought to keep a lower profile and be more cautious whenever he went out.

Rather than Cultivator's Basic Survival Handbook, it might as well have been called The Many Bizarre Ways Cultivators Die—or Ten Thousand Ways to Kill a Cultivator.

Before reading it, Fang Chen hadn't known the world of cultivators was so treacherous. Now he felt someone could kill him at any moment.

He didn't have many enemies in the Glazed Sword Sect. There was only Zhang Tielin. Fortunately, Zhang Tielin wasn't very strong; he had only reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining.

Even so, Fang Chen didn't dare let down his guard.

I killed Zhang Tielin's younger brother. He definitely won't let this go. I need to raise my strength as quickly as I can!

Fang Chen did not sleep. Nor did he dare cultivate on the bed. Instead, he sat meditating in a corner of the main room, guarding against a surprise attack.

An hour later, a commotion erupted outside. Fang Chen heard explosions and screams.

Boom!

A mass of red light suddenly smashed through his roof, sending chunks of stone tumbling down.

Fang Chen looked closely. A strange bird wreathed in blood-red light had burst into the hut. It resembled a crow, but was larger than an ordinary one, and an evil aura emanated from its body.

The large red bird before him was called a Bloodthirsty Evil Crow, a first-rank Demonic Beast. These birds generally appeared in flocks. An adult Bloodthirsty Evil Crow possessed strength comparable to a cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining. Its feathers were as hard as dark iron, and its claws were razor-sharp and highly venomous. Fang Chen, however, knew none of this.

"Caw..."

The Bloodthirsty Evil Crow that had burst into Fang Chen's hut spotted him and immediately beat its wings, flying straight at him.

Fang Chen's gaze sharpened. He summoned the Floating Immortal Sword and slashed at the bird.

Clang!

The Floating Immortal Sword knocked the Bloodthirsty Evil Crow backward. It struck the stone wall with enough force to crack it, and a shower of red feathers fell from its body.

"What a formidable bird!"

Fang Chen stared at the Bloodthirsty Evil Crow in surprise. He hadn't expected the strange bird's feathers to be so hard.

"Bzz, bzz..."

The Floating Immortal Sword vibrated fiercely. A stream of scorching air surged into Fang Chen's body, jolting him awake. The vortex of true qi in his dantian instantly began spinning faster.

"Caw, caw..."

Furious, the Bloodthirsty Evil Crow beat its wings and charged at Fang Chen again.