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Golden Bull Ridge, Number Thirteen.

After a night of secluded cultivation, Zhang Tielin's injuries had finally improved considerably.

"Brother Tielin! Brother Tielin!"

Zhang Xu's anxious voice came from outside.

Zhang Tielin frowned slightly, stepped out of the house, crossed the front courtyard, and opened the gate.

The moment Zhang Xu saw him, he blurted out, "Brother Tielin, something terrible has happened!"

Zhang Tielin fixed his gaze on Zhang Xu and asked grimly, "What has you so flustered?"

Zhang Xu glanced around, then said, "Let's talk inside!"

Zhang Tielin nodded and turned toward the sitting room.

Zhang Xu entered the courtyard and bolted the gate with practiced ease. Once he reached the sitting room, he shut its door as well.

Zhang Tielin was already seated. "What exactly happened?" he asked.

"Something huge," Zhang Xu said at once. "I just heard that Bloodthirsty Evil Crows attacked Spirit Flame Valley last night. A lot of people died! Fang Chen distinguished himself during the attack. They say he broke through in the fighting and became a cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining. The Merit Hall awarded him second-class merit..."

Shock spread across Zhang Tielin's face. He could hardly believe what Zhang Xu had told him.

"Doesn't that brat lack a Spiritual Root?" he asked. "He only reached the First Layer of Qi Refining a couple of days ago, and now he's broken through to the Third Layer?"

Zhang Xu nodded vigorously. "It's absolutely true. Word is also going around that Elder Li Shui of the Merit Hall intends to take Fang Chen as his disciple!"

"What? Elder Li Shui wants to take him as a disciple?"

Zhang Tielin's eyes widened. If that was true, he would no longer dare lay a hand on Fang Chen.

He had dared attack Fang Chen before because he thought Fang Chen was nothing more than a Spiritual Root-less novice in the Qi Refining Realm. If he did nothing, people would surely call Zhang Tielin a coward who did not even dare avenge his brother after a good-for-nothing killed him.

If Fang Chen really was a good-for-nothing, the sect would not punish Zhang Tielin too severely even if he killed him.

But if Fang Chen became True Person Li Shui's disciple, that changed everything. Unless Zhang Tielin wanted to die, he would not dare touch Fang Chen even if he had ten thousand times the nerve.

Fang Chen had killed his brother, but throwing away his own life for revenge was not worth it. Besides, if Fang Chen became True Person Li Shui's disciple, no one would mock Zhang Tielin for leaving him alone. He was only a lowly Outer Sect Disciple; it was perfectly natural for him not to seek revenge against an Elder's Direct Disciple.

Zhang Xu shook his head slightly. "There are rumors, but Elder Li Shui hasn't announced that he's taking Fang Chen as his disciple."

"So Fang Chen isn't True Person Li Shui's disciple yet!"

Zhang Tielin slowly let out a breath of relief.

Zhang Xu nodded. "It seems not. But Fang Chen has already reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining. From what I've heard, he went on a killing spree in Spirit Flame Valley last night. He cut down those Bloodthirsty Evil Crows like vegetables. He's strong. If we still want to deal with him, I'm afraid it won't be easy!"

Zhang Tielin's expression darkened. He had never expected matters to come to this. "What about A Ning? What happened to him?"

Zhang Xu shook his head. "There's been no word. They've identified everyone killed by the Bloodthirsty Evil Crows last night, and he wasn't among them. But he isn't in Spirit Flame Valley either. It's as though he's disappeared!"

"Disappeared?"

Zhang Tielin's eyes narrowed. An ominous feeling rose in his heart.

According to their plan, Zhang Qining should have made his move against Fang Chen yesterday afternoon. Zhang Tielin had thought Zhang Qining would easily kill him. Yet Fang Chen was not only alive but had earned merit, while Zhang Qining had vanished.

"Yes."

Zhang Xu nodded slightly. He knew Zhang Qining's chances of survival were slim.

"Damn it!"

Zhang Tielin trembled with rage.

"What should we do now, Brother Tielin?" Zhang Xu asked. "Are we still going after Fang Chen?"

Zhang Tielin clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, "Leave him alone for now. While I was cultivating in seclusion last night, I felt I was close to reaching the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining. I want to go back into seclusion and see if I can break through!"

To Zhang Tielin, advancing his cultivation mattered more than avenging his brother. His brother was already dead, no matter what he did, and Fang Chen was now very likely someone he could not afford to provoke.

For now, improving his own cultivation came first.

Zhang Xu's eyes lit up. "Then I won't disturb you, Brother Tielin. I hope you break through this time!"

Zhang Tielin nodded. "Head back. And have someone ask around for news of A Ning."

"All right!"

Zhang Xu turned and left.

An hour later, Fang Chen, full from his meal, wandered the streets of New Floating Market with Li Yanshan and Elder Yun.

They rarely came to the market, so Li Yanshan and Elder Yun wanted to buy a few things while they were there.

As they passed a weaponsmith's shop, Fang Chen noticed a sign by the entrance advertising custom-made spiritual treasures and repairs. He suddenly remembered the Black Iron Sword he had chosen from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion upon becoming an Outer Sect Disciple. Its Aerial Formation Pattern was damaged, making it impossible to fly through the air on the sword.

I've reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining now. If I get the Aerial Formation Pattern on the Black Iron Sword repaired, I should be able to use Sword Flight, shouldn't I?

Back in the village, Fang Chen had listened to teachers tell stories of gods, devils, ghosts, and monsters. He had envied the immortal cultivators in those tales and dreamed of flying on a sword like them.

Now his cultivation was high enough. Once he repaired the Black Iron Sword and practiced the Sword Control Technique, he would be able to fly on it.

In a world fraught with danger, learning the Sword Control Technique would give him another way to save his life.

Li Yanshan, walking ahead, noticed Fang Chen had fallen behind. He turned and saw him standing in a daze outside the weaponsmith's shop. "Fang Chen! What are you daydreaming about?"

Fang Chen looked up at him. "Uncle Li, I want to get the Aerial Formation Pattern on my Black Iron Sword repaired!"

"Repair the Aerial Formation Pattern?"

Li Yanshan paused, then caught on. "I nearly forgot. You've already reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining. You can practice the Sword Control Technique now!"

Elder Yun, riding Little Donkey, looked back at Fang Chen. "When we get back, give me your sword. I'll find someone to repair the Aerial Formation Pattern for you. It'll cost less than it would here, and the work will be just as good!"

"Sounds good!"

Fang Chen nodded, then caught up with Li Yanshan and Elder Yun and accompanied them as they browsed the shops.