Three Immortals Sword

In the Backyard of the County Government Office, Tan Zhen'an was slowly practicing a set of fist techniques. Wherever his fists pointed, thick, solid force gave off a muffled boom, like a war drum being hammered with all its might, making one's heart tighten against one's will.

A moment later, Tan Zhen'an drew in his stance, looked toward Hua Shizhong at the side, and said, "Have you checked it out?"

"I have."

Hua Shizhong nodded and said, "In Pingyin County, the best Inner Strength Technique is the Zhao Family's Hua Forest Strength. The Zhao Family's old ancestor brought it back from outside years ago, and even within the Viscera Refining Realm, it isn't considered weak. There's also the Li Family's Water Droplet Sword and the Zhang Family's Cloud Stepping Sparrow, both extremely uncommon."

"In ten days, take men and bring those techniques back," Tan Zhen'an nodded and said.

"Those people likely won't be willing."

"Find a pretext. Join hands with a few of the Noble Families, and naturally someone will be willing to help us charge in the front."

"Good!"

A trace of cruel delight appeared on Hua Shizhong's face. This sort of thing was what he liked doing most. Making these Noble Families hand over money and supplies was only the first step.

The second step was to nibble away at a portion of the Noble Families and eat them clean, wiping the plate spotless. In this way, resistance would be at its lowest, while profit would be maximized.

"Right, a few friends from the greenwood want to join us. Should we take them?"

"You handle it as you see fit." Tan Zhen'an picked up a cup of tea, poured it into his mouth, and said, "After those Secret Manuals are obtained, send them directly to me."

"Good!"

Hua Shizhong cupped his hands and watched Tan Zhen'an return to the study, his eyes filled with reverence.

Early the next morning, the Zhang Family came to find Chen Fei and had him refine Grass Return Pills.

The Rebel Army's demands of the Zhang Family included not only Silver Taels, but also a vast quantity of pills, grain, and fodder.

They had already been taken from once by the Imperial Court Army before, so the Zhang Family had not had much left to begin with. Now they were being required to gather everything needed within ten days, nearly forcing the Zhang Family into a corner.

Of course, it was not only the Zhang Family. All the Noble Families in Pingyin County received the same treatment, and everyone wore worried frowns.

At this moment, when facing a more powerful force, these Noble Families who were usually high above others seemed not so different from ordinary people after all.

Faced with the Zhang Family's request, Chen Fei considered it for a moment, then still agreed.

Although getting along with the Zhang Family had not been especially pleasant, and they had even gone back on their word over the Light Spirit Pill recipe last time, overall, the Zhang Family was still a place he could continue staying.

The main reason was that Chen Fei also did not know when he ought to leave Pingyin County.

The danger outside truly made Chen Fei somewhat afraid to act rashly.

Chen Fei's cultivation was too weak. Although his combat strength could now stand shoulder to shoulder with the Bone Forging Realm, in the world outside, the Bone Forging Realm actually was not much.

Everything Chen Fei knew about this world came from Pingyin County. If he rashly trekked a long distance, without any experience surviving in the wild, Chen Fei felt he would meet failure before his campaign even began.

The refining tasks the Zhang Family arranged for Chen Fei were indeed very heavy for an ordinary Alchemist.

But Chen Fei had long since pulled the Grass Return Pill's experience bar to Great Perfection, and the number of pills produced in every furnace had reached the limit. Thus, he only needed to spend four hours to complete the task the Zhang Family gave him.

As for the remaining Herbs, of course Chen Fei took them for himself. Now, Herbs could no longer be bought in Pingyin County, nor could Refugees be hired to leave the city, because the Rebel Army had sealed off all of Pingyin County, allowing entry but not exit.

Previously, because Chen Fei had worried about the arrival of the Rebel Army, he had deliberately stockpiled some food. He had not expected it would truly come in handy.

In the Black Market.

After being closed for three days, the Black Market quietly opened again. Only, compared with its original bustle, the Black Market now had few visitors, and the most sought-after goods were food and pills.

Food needed no explanation. As for pills, they could be exchanged with the Noble Families for a bit of food.

Said this way or that, eating was still the most important thing.

"Is there really no way to leave Pingyin County?"

Inside the small hut, Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng and asked. Although Chi Defeng always used a bit of fake medicine to fool Chen Fei every time, the relationship between the two of them was indeed fairly decent.

In Chen Fei's mind, Chi Defeng had been a merchant in the Black Market for so many years. When it came to connections, he was undoubtedly much better than Chen Fei.

"There are still ways to leave Pingyin County, but right now there isn't the kind of caravan you want heading to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect." Chi Defeng half-lay in his chair and said somewhat helplessly.

"It doesn't have to go directly to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. Going somewhere else first is fine too," Chen Fei said in a low voice.

Because every Noble Family in Pingyin County was handing over supplies, and the Rebel Army was also restraining its soldiers, Pingyin County was merely somewhat colder and quieter than usual for now. There had not been any major burning, killing, and plundering.

But perhaps because he cultivated the Heart Cleansing Art, Chen Fei could sense that suffocating oppression of wind and rain about to come. In ten days, something else might happen.

Before that, if there was a chance, Chen Fei still hoped to leave Pingyin County.

"No." Chi Defeng shook his head and said, "There were already very few caravans before, and lately there hasn't been a single one."

"Then what are your plans?"

Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng in puzzlement. This fellow was such a shrewd person; it was impossible he had not prepared any fallback at all.

"Wait for these Rebel Army troops to leave."

Chi Defeng stood up, rubbed his waist, and said, "What those Rebel Army troops have their eyes on are those Noble Families. Civilians like us? No one cares. As long as we're careful, we can get through this pass."

Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng suspiciously, but did not say much. He turned and left the Black Market.

Time passed day by day, and the Zhang Family came every day to collect Grass Return Pills.

The public order in Pingyin County began to gradually worsen. Those restrained soldiers gradually started giving free rein to their natures. Robbery and murder began appearing within Pingyin County.

A large portion was done by the Rebel Army, while some was done by the people of Pingyin County themselves. In this sort of environment, the evil in some people's hearts was directly released.

Cries and screams rang out from time to time. Chen Fei listened, but he did not move. This kind of thing had already gone beyond the range of his abilities. Chen Fei only cultivated even harder, not letting a single moment slip by.

Perhaps it was because of this pressure, but on the fifth day, Chen Fei actually broke through the Light Spirit Pill's Pill Recipe and Refined a Light Spirit Pill for the first time.

Pill Refining Art: Light Spirit Pill (Beginner 1/100)

"Light Spirit Pill Simplification in progress... Simplification successful... Light Spirit Pill → Grass Return Pill!"

A smile could not help appearing on Chen Fei's face. Recently, there had already been no pills of any kind available on the market. Now that he could Refine Light Spirit Pills, relying on the Herbs Chen Fei had deliberately saved up before, his supply of Light Spirit Pills could finally be self-sufficient.

On the eighth day, the three Movement Technique Secret Manuals obtained from the Zhang Family were completely fused by Chen Fei.

Cultivation Technique: Ascending Cloud Travel (Great Perfection)

Compared to the original Crossing River Clouds, Chen Fei's current ordinary speed had fully risen to the level of his previous Swift Movement state, and now, if Chen Fei used Swift Movement again, it gave off a feeling of wind racing and lightning flashing.

Though that was somewhat exaggerated, Chen Fei's Movement Technique had indeed climbed another level.

At dusk on the eleventh day, Chen Fei buried his head in cold water.

At a certain moment, the world seemed to become quiet all at once. Chen Fei stood up involuntarily, looking at his surroundings, sensing every thought that drifted through his mind.

A feeling of complete control over himself surfaced in Chen Fei's heart.

Subconsciously picking up the Longsword beside him, Chen Fei used the Fire Pattern Sword from his hand.

He had clearly already cultivated the Fire Pattern Sword to Great Perfection, but he had never felt such thorough clarity as he did now.

As thoughts turned in Chen Fei's heart, Immortal Guides the Way stabbed out in an instant.

The next moment, three streaks of sword light flashed past, finally merging into one. It flickered in midair for a full breath before slowly dissipating.

Chen Fei looked at the sword light in delight. Just now, he had used Immortal Guides the Way three times in an instant. In the past, that had been completely impossible. But today, he had done it.

"Three Immortals Sword?"

Buzz!

Chen Fei was just muttering to himself when a wave of dizziness suddenly swept over his brain. Chen Fei involuntarily braced himself against the wall.

After easing up for a moment, Chen Fei opened his eyes and found that the feeling of controlling everything from just now had already vanished without a trace.