Decision

After hearing Liu Yunfeng's words, Shen Fan found himself in a dilemma. He had originally left the mountains to seek more high-level cultivation methods and continually climb the path of the Martial Path.

But in these chaotic times, there were still few places where he could practice martial arts in peace. At the very least, Nine Lions City was not a good place.

If he rashly went there, he would very likely come into conflict with those factions.

And Nine Lions City had Xiantian Experts as well. That being the case, Shen Fan could no longer be certain of victory.

Moreover, it was their territory—there was nothing stopping them from using underhanded tricks. Even a powerful dragon could not crush the local snakes. Shen Fan decided to lie low for now!

After giving it careful thought, Shen Fan decided to stay and take control of this force. He would first live in seclusion for a time at the Black Wind Bandits' hiding place, then make further plans after breaking through to a higher Realm.

Besides, once he subdued this band of bandits, he could order them to search for cultivation methods on his behalf.

According to Liu Yunfeng, the Martial Path in Nine Lions City was far more flourishing than in Laiyang City. Otherwise, how could it have produced so many Innate Martial Artists?

"Mm, well said. Since This Is the Case, I'll spare your lives!" Shen Fan put on a merciful expression.

Liu Yunfeng and the others immediately kowtowed in thanks, but Shen Fan's next words sent them tumbling from heaven into hell:

"However, I've decided to stay with your Black Wind Bandits. From now on, you're my underlings. I'll protect you!" Shen Fan revealed a kind smile.

Little did he know, that smile chilled the Black Wind Bandits present to the bone.

"Great Hero, our Black Wind Bandits really have no riches to speak of. Wouldn't staying here be making things too hard on yourself? Nine Lions City is where a great figure like you ought to stretch your limbs and show your prowess!"

Liu Yunfeng tried to persuade him with bitter earnestness, but Shen Fan said nothing, merely staring straight at him. In the end, Liu Yunfeng still lost his nerve.

"Great Hero, welcome to our Black Wind Bandits. With you here, let's see which bastard will dare provoke the Black Wind Bandits again!"

"That's right. With my protection, the Black Wind Bandits will be the boss of this region from now on. In the future, all of you will live the good life of drinking liquor and eating meat!"

Under Shen Fan's threats and inducements, the Black Wind Bandits helplessly accepted this fact.

Following the Black Wind Bandits, Shen Fan arrived at a secluded mountain stream. This was the Black Wind Bandits' lair. It had to be said that this truly was an extremely hidden place; if one did not know about it, they would absolutely never be able to find it!

After picking the best house, Shen Fan moved right in. His utter lack of ceremony left Liu Yunfeng, standing nearby, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"My lord, do you have any other requests?" Once things had settled down, Liu Yunfeng immediately asked with great tact.

"Mm, there is indeed something I need you to do!" Shen Fan did not hide it and said openly, "You've heard of Innate Cultivation Methods, right? I want those. The more, the better!"

Shen Fan's words left Liu Yunfeng uncertain. He cautiously said, "My lord, we don't have any Innate Cultivation Methods here. And aren't you an Innate Martial Artist? What do you need Innate Cultivation Methods for?"

Shen Fan glanced at Liu Yunfeng, feeling that this man was clever at times and foolish at others.

"Don't ask what you shouldn't. As for Innate Cultivation Methods, do your utmost to find them!"

Shen Fan spoke coldly.

Yet Liu Yunfeng was put in a difficult position. Even in Nine Lions City, Innate Cultivation Methods were extremely precious, possessed only by its major factions.

To obtain such cultivation methods, he could hardly avoid dealing with those bloodsuckers.

Seemingly seeing Liu Yunfeng's predicament, Shen Fan said softly, "It doesn't matter even if you offend some people. When the time comes, I'll make my move. Do you understand?"

The moment Liu Yunfeng heard this, he was filled with confidence. In truth, Innate Cultivation Methods were not that hard to obtain—at the very least, those Xiantian Experts would definitely know them.

As long as they could capture an Innate Martial Artist, wouldn't the cultivation method come to them?

But then, thinking of something, Liu Yunfeng cautiously asked, "My lord, what kind of experts can you handle?"

Shen Fan stood with his hands behind his back, an overwhelming aura of dominance rushing forth. "All those below Condensing Yuan can be suppressed!"

Liu Yunfeng's pupils contracted, and even his straight back could not help but bend.

Without saying another word, Liu Yunfeng respectfully withdrew. At that moment, wild joy surged through his heart.

With Shen Fan backing him, Liu Yunfeng felt that perhaps he could do some things he had not dared to do before.

"Men! Call Black Dog over. Have a few brothers familiar with Nine Lions City bring me the young master of the Black Tiger Sect!"

The first thing Liu Yunfeng thought of was the Black Tiger Sect, which had once wiped out his family.

"Yan Min, Yan Min, you old dog! You killed my son back then. Now it's your turn!" A trace of venom flashed through Liu Yunfeng's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

Most of the Black Wind Bandits were low-level martial artists from Nine Lions City. Unable to bear the oppression of the upper factions, they had no choice but to leave and become bandits.

Black Dog had once been an escort guard at an Escort Agency. But because the agency offended a certain Xiantian Expert, the entire Escort Agency was razed to the ground overnight.

At the time, he had been away on an escort assignment, so he survived by sheer luck.

Later, he met Liu Yunfeng and gradually became Liu Yunfeng's confidant.

Bringing several brothers with him, Black Dog easily entered Nine Lions City.

The group came to scout out the Black Tiger Sect's territory.

The Black Tiger Sect was one of Nine Lions City's many major factions. It had two Xiantian Experts: Yan Min, the Black Tiger Sect's sect master, and its Grand Elder, Zhang Feng.

The person Black Dog intended to kidnap this time was Yan Min's son, Yan Shaofeng.

They said that a tiger father had no dog son, yet Yan Shaofeng, the son of Xiantian Expert Yan Min, was already in his twenties and still only a Muscle Refining Warrior.

By rights, given his family background, even if they piled resources onto him, he should have reached the Blood Coagulation Realm.

This was enough to show just how utterly useless Yan Shaofeng was.

But Yan Min had only this one son. So no matter how incompetent his son was, he could not abandon him.

Several men stayed in a teahouse near the Black Tiger Sect, carefully watching everyone entering and leaving.

"Brother Dog, are we really going to kidnap Yan Shaofeng?"

"Nonsense. The boss has spoken—if we don't kidnap him, then who?"

"But that brat's father is a Xiantian Expert. If we anger that old fellow, our Black Wind Bandits could be in serious trouble!"

The lackeys all looked nervously at Black Dog, hoping for a satisfactory explanation.

But Black Dog merely gave a mysterious smile. "Relax. Yan Min may be strong, but a great figure has recently joined the Black Wind Bandits. Dealing with the likes of Yan Min will be more than easy for him!"

Black Dog knew of Shen Fan, because he had accompanied Liu Yunfeng there as well.

Moreover, he trusted Liu Yunfeng's judgment. That lord was absolutely a super expert rarely seen in this world!

Seeing Black Dog so confident, the lackeys finally put their minds at ease.

Just then, a young man in brocade robes, his steps unsteady, emerged from the Black Tiger Sect with several guards.

"It's him—Yan Shaofeng!" Black Dog's pupils contracted before he chuckled softly.

The men exchanged glances, then left the teahouse one after another and followed Yan Shaofeng.

Since this was Nine Lions City, and still within the Black Tiger Sect's sphere of influence, Yan Shaofeng had brought only a few guards who knew a bit of martial arts.

He was not afraid that anyone would attack him, much less imagine that anyone would dare kidnap him.

As usual, he drank tea in the streets, strolled about with his bird, and teased respectable women, before making his way toward Spring Fragrance Pavilion.

As the young master of the Black Tiger Sect, Yan Shaofeng was also a regular at Spring Fragrance Pavilion. Otherwise, he would never have turned out like this, without the slightest spirit or bearing of a Martial Artist!

But just as he led his guards into an alley, several masked men suddenly charged out. Without a word, they struck him unconscious.

His guards were no match for those men at all, because they were Black Dog and the others.

As Liu Yunfeng's trusted confidant, Black Dog himself was also a Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Artist!

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