Passing the Test

Pingyin County's City Gate had already closed, so there was no way to enter the city at this hour. Fortunately, there were also some merchants from out of town outside the city at the moment, unable to enter, and they had set up camp to rest.

Chen Fei borrowed a spot by a fire, listening to the lowered voices around him, and his tense mood slowly relaxed.

A little too much had happened today. If his strength had not broken through, Chen Fei would now be lying stiff and straight on Pingyin Mountain.

Thinking of this, Chen Fei could not help looking at his own Panel.

Name: Chen Fei

Profession: Martial Artist

Cultivation Technique: Extreme Mountain Fist (Proficient 307/1000), Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique (Great Perfection)

Realm: Skin Refining (2/1000)

Extreme Mountain Fist had already reached the Proficient level, and at this moment, some insights related to the fist technique were still echoing in Chen Fei's mind. He could only say that this Simplification function was truly powerful.

"The progress of the Skin Refining Realm actually hasn't changed."

When Chen Fei saw his Cultivation Realm, his brows could not help furrowing slightly. Before he broke through, the Great Perfection Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique could give him about a ten-point increase in cultivation. Yet from the time Chen Fei broke through until now, half a day had already passed, and it had only increased by one point.

"After my Cultivation Realm rose, has the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique already started to fall behind?"

This thought could not help emerging in Chen Fei's mind. After thinking about it a little, it was probably quite possible. After all, this breathing technique really was very basic. So basic that the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall could teach it to the martial hall's students without the slightest concealment.

If it really were some profound breathing technique, how could it possibly be obtained for that bit of tuition?

"After observing for a few days, I'll know how much cultivation the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique can increase."

Chen Fei shifted his gaze away and did not sleep. He had just run into a Weird, and even though he had already reached the foot of Pingyin County, Chen Fei still did not dare fall asleep. Nor did Chen Fei waste time. Sitting beside the bonfire, he gently began Waving Hand.

Threads of insight into Extreme Mountain Fist slowly appeared in Chen Fei's mind as he Waved Hand. This feeling of effort bringing reward made Chen Fei sink into it involuntarily.

The people around looked at Chen Fei somewhat strangely, completely unable to figure out what this young fellow kept waving his hand for. Was he having an episode?

Thinking of this, some people could not help moving a little farther away from Chen Fei.

When a person was immersed in something, time always passed extremely quickly. It seemed only the blink of an eye before the sky had already grown faintly bright, and Pingyin County's City Gate had opened as well.

Chen Fei entered Pingyin County with the crowd, then immediately hurried to Qingzheng Medical Center.

"So, last night, you were the only one who survived, and everyone else died?" Cui Sanjie looked at Chen Fei, his expression somewhat ugly.

Handymen were not worth much, but they still belonged to the medical center's assets. Now that over a dozen had died, and the key point was that the medicinal herbs had not been gathered either, this was extremely troublesome for the medical center.

Afterward, when the Main Family asked about it, he would probably have to shoulder some responsibility too.

"As for whether the others live or die, this lowly one doesn't know. But last night at the City Gate, I indeed did not see anyone else again," Chen Fei said in a low voice.

"Everyone else died. On what grounds are you still alive and perfectly fine?" A hoarse voice rang out, carrying accusation in its words.

Chen Fei raised his head and looked over. It was Pu Liao, one of the Guards inside the medical center. Chen Fei cupped his hands and said, "This lowly one broke through to the Skin Refining Realm, and so escaped this calamity."

As Chen Fei spoke, he punched out, and a muffled sound rang through the air.

The expressions of the few people around shifted slightly. This fist force was something ordinary people could never produce. The only thing that surprised them was that among the handymen, someone had actually raised his martial cultivation to the Skin Refining Realm.

Although the Skin Refining Realm was nothing worth mentioning, it had, after all, already surpassed ordinary people. Without a certain degree of martial talent, it was truly impossible to reach.

And at the Skin Refining Realm, if one was careful, it was indeed possible to avoid some Weirds.

"Not bad."

Cui Sanjie nodded, his expression easing slightly. The appearance of a Skin Refining Realm among the handymen did somewhat offset the loss of the handymen. After all, handymen could continue to be recruited, but recruiting martial artists of the Skin Refining Realm was much more difficult. Their value was different.

"I will report this matter to the Main Family. As for you, from now on, be a Guard at the medical center."

As Cui Sanjie spoke, he turned to look at Pu Liao and said, "Now that he has broken away from the status of a handyman, he is also qualified to come into contact with some of our Qingzheng Medical Center's inheritances. Pu Liao, teach him a few moves of our Qingzheng breathing technique and techniques."

"Good!" Pu Liao nodded, glanced at Chen Fei, and said nothing more.

A smile could not help appearing on Chen Fei's face. Before coming back, Chen Fei had considered whether to continue staying at Qingzheng Medical Center or go to the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall.

Having reached the Skin Refining Realm, Chen Fei already had the right to choose.

The only thing he had to consider was the pros and cons of the two.

If he stayed at Qingzheng Medical Center, he could already come into contact with part of the medical center's inheritance. Although it definitely would not be profound, it was still better than things like the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique.

But if he stayed at Qingzheng Medical Center, then in terms of status, he would still be a servant, and his freedom would also be somewhat restricted.

If he went to the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall, he would have enough freedom. Over there, the relationship was equivalent to half a sect, and its inheritance should not be inferior to the medical center's. But if he left the medical center, Chen Fei would have to pay a high termination fee.

It had taken Chen Fei nearly four months to reach the Skin Refining Realm. This kind of talent was only mediocre within the Extreme Mountain Martial Hall. The Extreme Mountain Martial Hall would not pay this termination fee for Chen Fei, and Chen Fei himself had no money either.

And the even more important reason that made Chen Fei decide to stay at the medical center was that inside the medical center, he could learn a certain amount of medical skill and alchemy. This was what Chen Fei valued more.

After Cui Sanjie and the others asked Chen Fei a few more questions, they left one after another.

"I don't have much time lately. Come find me again in a few days. When the time comes, I'll teach you the cultivation technique."

Pu Liao walked up to Chen Fei, said this flatly, then turned and left.

After everyone had left, Chen Fei let out a slight breath of relief. This hurdle counted as passed. If he had not had the cultivation of the Skin Refining Realm, then a round of beating and insults at this moment would have been absolutely impossible to escape.

Because he now had some value, all of that had been spared.

The Medical Hall arranged a private room for Chen Fei. Though it was still very small, compared to his original treatment, it was already the difference between heaven and earth. Chen Fei was quite satisfied, because when he cultivated this way, he did not have to worry about leaking anything.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Aside from standing guard in the Medical Hall's Great Hall as usual to prevent anyone from causing trouble, Chen Fei spent most of the rest of his time hiding in his room to cultivate.

Three days was not long, but it was already enough for Chen Fei to cultivate Extreme Mountain Fist to the level of Great Perfection.

With his Skin Refining Realm cultivation paired with Great Perfection Extreme Mountain Fist, Chen Fei's current combat strength had increased by more than half compared to before. Even among those in the Skin Refining Realm, Chen Fei's current strength could not be considered weak.

After all, not everyone in the Skin Refining Realm could cultivate a basic fist technique to the level of Great Perfection.

The only thing that left Chen Fei somewhat dissatisfied was the growth of his cultivation. In three days, his Skin Refining Realm experience value had only increased by 3 points.

One point a day. With the Skin Refining Realm's 1,000-point experience bar, if he relied only on the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique, Chen Fei would need three years before he could advance to the next realm.