Outsider Arrives

In that space, he saw wisps of white vapor.

The white vapor gathered continuously, until it formed a vortex.

This must be my dantian, right? Have I broken through to the Qi Refining Realm?

Fang Chen was wild with joy. He had never imagined that he could break through without a Spiritual Root.

After a while, the needle-prick sensation on Fang Chen's skin gradually faded. The Body Protection Spiritual Light around him dissipated, and he slowly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flickered in them, making them look brighter than before.

Wu Qingfeng walked up to Fang Chen and said with a smile, "Fang Chen, congratulations on reaching the Qi Refining Realm!"

Wu Qingfeng felt immensely pleased.

Fang Chen was now a menial worker at Thousand Bamboo Ridge. With Fang Chen's breakthrough, the higher-ups would surely give Wu Qingfeng a substantial reward.

Wu Qingfeng had never expected such luck. Cao Bin had transferred Fang Chen to Thousand Bamboo Ridge only that morning, and now Fang Chen had broken through.

It was something Wu Qingfeng would never have dreamed of.

"Fang Chen, congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Fang Chen!"

The menial workers of Thousand Bamboo Ridge came forward one after another to congratulate him.

Damn it!

Cao Bin gnashed his teeth in fury. He felt like he could die. He had always considered Fang Chen worthless, exploiting him at every turn and letting the menial workers of Dragon Tiger Mountain bully him.

That very morning, he had transferred Fang Chen to Wu Qingfeng.

If he had not done that, he would have received a substantial reward when Fang Chen broke through.

But now that reward had flown away and landed in Wu Qingfeng's hands.

What was more, Zhang Tieniu, who had joined Dragon Tiger Mountain only today, was dead. Tian Hu was dead too.

Only a few hours had passed, yet everything had changed so drastically that Cao Bin could not accept it.

Eyes red, Cao Bin strode up to Fang Chen and roared, "Fang Chen, what exactly happened? How did Zhang Tieniu and Tian Hu die?"

Everyone fell silent at once and turned to Fang Chen.

Fang Chen stared at Cao Bin. "I killed them!"

He knew he could neither avoid this nor run from it, so he admitted it openly.

"What?"

Fang Chen's words stunned the menial workers of both Dragon Tiger Mountain and Thousand Bamboo Ridge.

Until now, they had all thought Fang Chen was worthless.

That was especially true of Dragon Tiger Mountain's menial workers. They had bullied Fang Chen almost every day, and he had never dared fight back.

They had never imagined he would kill Tian Hu and Zhang Tieniu.

If Fang Chen had not just reached the Qi Refining Realm, they would never have believed he was capable of it.

Cao Bin trembled with rage. "You've got some nerve! Why did you kill them?"

Though Cao Bin looked ferocious, Fang Chen showed no fear. He met Cao Bin's eyes and said evenly, "Tian Hu and Zhang Tieniu tried to take the Exquisite Bamboo I'd already chopped most of the way through. They wanted my knife too. When I refused, they attacked me and even tried to kill me. I fought back for my life and ended up killing them by accident!"

"By accident? Both had fatal wounds to the neck! I'd say you murdered them deliberately!"

Cao Bin roared at Fang Chen. If Fang Chen had not reached the Qi Refining Realm, Cao Bin would certainly have attacked him.

But Fang Chen had broken through now. His strength was no longer what it had been.

"A life for a life!"

"A life for a life!"

The menial workers of Dragon Tiger Mountain immediately took up the cry.

"Shut your mouths!"

Wu Qingfeng roared at them, his powerful voice making everyone's eardrums ache.

They fell silent at once.

The menial workers of Thousand Bamboo Ridge stared at Wu Qingfeng in surprise. He had always seemed easygoing to them, yet now he had exploded.

Cao Bin glared at Wu Qingfeng, his face twisted with anger. "What do you mean by this, Wu Qingfeng? From ancient times to the present, debts must be repaid and murderers must pay with their lives. That's only right and proper. Are you trying to shield Fang Chen?"

Wu Qingfeng sneered. "I wouldn't presume to shield him. Fang Chen killed them, but there was a reason behind it. We must report this to Elder Hu and let the Enforcement Hall decide his punishment. You have no right to interfere. Fang Chen, let's go. Ignore them!"

As Wu Qingfeng saw it, this would have been difficult if Fang Chen had not reached the Qi Refining Realm. Even if Fang Chen escaped execution, he would at least have been confined in the Forbidden Grounds.

But Fang Chen was now a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator. Though he had killed people, it was hardly a grave matter. In the eyes of the Star Sword Sect's elders, the life of one Qi Refining Realm Cultivator was worth far more than those of two menial workers.

Besides, Wu Qingfeng knew Fang Chen would never have attacked Tian Hu and Zhang Tieniu without cause. The Enforcement Hall would easily uncover what had happened.

"Yes!"

Fang Chen nodded and prepared to leave with Wu Qingfeng.

"Who dares leave?"

Cao Bin's furious roar was directed at Wu Qingfeng.

The menial workers of Dragon Tiger Mountain rushed over and blocked Wu Qingfeng and Fang Chen's path.

Fang Chen circulated his cultivation technique, and a powerful aura surged from his body. His expression cold, he said, "If any of you aren't afraid to die, try stopping me. I already have two lives on my hands. A few more won't make a difference!"

With that, he strode forward, moving ahead of Wu Qingfeng.

The menial workers of Dragon Tiger Mountain paled and immediately stepped back.

They had numbers on their side, but Fang Chen was now a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator, far stronger than any of them.

If they angered him, he might really kill them. After all, menial workers like them counted for nothing in the eyes of Outer Sect Disciples.

At Dragon Tiger Mountain, Fang Chen had once been someone anyone could bully. Now he had cowed them all by himself.

Fang Chen turned to Wu Qingfeng. "Steward Wu, let's go!"

Wu Qingfeng nodded, then led the other menial workers down the mountain with Fang Chen.

"Damn it!"

Cao Bin shook with rage but could do nothing.

"Steward, what do we do now?"

One of Dragon Tiger Mountain's menial workers asked Cao Bin, while the others watched him silently.

Cao Bin's face darkened. Through clenched teeth, he said, "Take Tian Hu's and Zhang Tieniu's bodies. We're going back to Dragon Tiger Mountain!"

"Yes!"

The menial workers of Dragon Tiger Mountain answered in unison, then carried the two bodies down the mountain.

Back at the foot of the mountain, the menial workers of Thousand Bamboo Ridge were brimming with excitement.

None of them had expected Fang Chen to reach the Qi Refining Realm.

After coming down the mountain, Cao Bin and Dragon Tiger Mountain's menial workers left in a fury without stopping.

Wu Qingfeng smiled at Fang Chen. "Fang Chen, I've sent word to Elder Hu. Someone will be here to collect you shortly!"

"Thank you, Steward Wu!"

Fang Chen bowed slightly to Wu Qingfeng. He had not expected to reach the Qi Refining Realm either. Though the Floating Immortal Sword had helped him grow stronger, the belief that one could not cultivate without a Spiritual Root was deeply ingrained in this world. He had not known whether he could break through.

Now it seemed one could pursue immortality even without a Spiritual Root.

After the time it took an incense stick to burn, a streak of rainbow light arrived at the foot of Thousand Bamboo Ridge and hovered over the open ground before the dining hall.

The newcomer was Xu Yi, the Outer Sect Disciple who had brought Zhang Tieniu there that morning.

"Greetings, Immortal Master!"

Wu Qingfeng and the menial workers of Thousand Bamboo Ridge immediately knelt.

Fang Chen remained standing. He cupped his hands and bowed slightly to Xu Yi. Now that he was a Qi Refining Realm Cultivator, he no longer needed to kneel to him.

Xu Yi looked at Fang Chen. His earlier cold expression gave way to a slight smile. "Junior Brother Fang Chen, come with me!"

Fang Chen nodded to Xu Yi, then turned to Wu Qingfeng and the others. "Steward Wu, I'll go with Senior Brother Xu Yi now. Until we meet again!"

"Until we meet again!"

Wu Qingfeng gave Fang Chen a slight nod.

Xu Yi brought his flying sword down before Fang Chen. Fang Chen stepped onto it and placed a hand on Xu Yi's waist.

Xu Yi steered the flying sword skyward with Fang Chen aboard. They became a streak of rainbow light that shot into the clouds.