The Scheme Unfolds

The Scheme Unfolds

Bi Fan returned to Jade Maiden Peak and began his daily cultivation.

First, he cultivated his inner breath, then honed his martial techniques.

After several days, Bi Fan had memorized a great many martial techniques. Practicing them now felt especially easy, and every time he went through one, he gained fresh insights.

The Qingyang Gentle Wind Sword Art, in particular, had benefited from Mo Nan's guidance. After practicing it more than a dozen times in a row, he grew increasingly fluent and actually mastered the whole art, reaching the Minor Achievement stage.

By then, the sky had grown bright. Bi Fan had practiced for an entire night.

Having reached Minor Achievement in the Qingyang Gentle Wind Sword Art, Bi Fan was so excited that he had no desire to sleep. He took Dragon Sable with him and headed to the Medicine Garden.

Under Bi Fan's care, the various spirit herbs in the Medicine Garden were growing well. The only problem was that Dragon Sable ate two of them every day.

Bi Fan's life was peaceful. He spent most of each day cultivating, preparing for battle and getting ready to venture into the Demon Realm.

Ever since Zhu San had watched Bi Fan's match, he had been so troubled that he could neither eat nor sleep.

"Bi Fan has to die. Otherwise, I'll be the one who dies. He's already won the Vice Sect Master's favor, and sooner or later he'll become the Vice Sect Master's disciple. By then, crushing me will be all too easy," Zhu San thought.

Zhu San's face darkened as he began to consider how to deal with Bi Fan.

"Some time ago, a Demon Sect disciple tried to wheedle information about Qingyang Sect out of me. I refused. That man was very powerful; killing Bi Fan shouldn't be difficult for him. I could make use of him."

Zhu San shook his head. "But Bi Fan would have to go down the mountain first for that to work. A Demon Sect disciple wouldn't dare barge into Qingyang Mountain. Looks like I'll need to make more preparations and cover both angles. I must kill Bi Fan as soon as possible. He's growing too fast."

Then Zhu San thought of Luo Sheng, an Inner Disciple. Luo Sheng wasn't merely an Inner Disciple—his grandfather was the Great Elder of Qingyang Sect.

Luo Sheng had been thoroughly humiliated by Bi Fan. Somehow, word had spread, and now everyone in Qingyang Sect knew about it.

Luo Sheng had lost face and was sure to hold a grudge against Bi Fan. He must want him dead, too.

Zhu San decided to use him. If Luo Sheng could kill Bi Fan, all the better. If not, at least Bi Fan would have another enemy in Qingyang Sect.

Luo Sheng lived on Bright Peak, where the Great Elder, Luo Xiao Tian, cultivated. It wasn't a place just anyone could enter.

As an Outer Sect steward, Zhu San didn't dare trespass on Bright Peak. He racked his brains and eventually managed to get his idea across to Luo Sheng.

The moment Luo Sheng heard it involved Bi Fan, he became interested.

Bi Fan was a nobody who had only just become a Registered Disciple, yet he had dared challenge Luo Sheng's authority. Luo Sheng had long wanted a chance to teach him a proper lesson.

Luo Sheng had someone bring Zhu San up to Bright Peak and received him in person.

"I heard you have something to tell me about Bi Fan. So get to it. If you can't satisfy me and waste my cultivation time, do you know what will happen?" Luo Sheng's voice was cold and detached.

Zhu San's pudgy face turned the color of pig liver, looking ghastly.

Daring not waste time, Zhu San quickly explained everything he knew about Bi Fan, then added, "Bi Fan has only been cultivating for a few months. He went from being unable to cultivate at all to becoming the champion among the Registered Disciples. His progress has been astonishingly fast."

Luo Sheng listened closely, his expression shifting again and again.

"Zhu San, right? You offended Bi Fan before and are afraid he'll take revenge, so now you want to use me to get rid of him. What's in it for me?" Luo Sheng said with a smile.

Zhu San's expression instantly turned complicated. "Lord Luo Sheng, aren't you—"

"Don't give me any of that nonsense. Bi Fan and I have already agreed to settle things in a match one year from now. I won't lift a finger without something in return." Luo Sheng cut him off.

"Lord Luo Sheng, I'm willing to offer all my savings," Zhu San said through gritted teeth.

"No, no... I'm not interested in your savings. I heard you manage the Medicine Garden. There are a few spirit herbs I need..." Luo Sheng said, wagging his finger.

When Zhu San heard the names of the spirit herbs Luo Sheng wanted, he froze on the spot.

"If you can't do it, forget it. Go back down the mountain." Luo Sheng began showing him the door.

Zhu San's face twisted viciously. After thinking it over, he said, "Lord Luo Sheng, give me a little time. I'll deliver those spirit herbs to you myself."

"I'll give you some time. You can go now." Luo Sheng showed him the door once more.

Zhu San hurried off Bright Peak, cursing Luo Sheng inwardly. "I brought you information, and you turn around and extort me. Fine! If I have to save my own skin, I'll risk it and sneak a few spirit herbs out of the storehouse for you. I curse you—may your cultivation never advance again!"

Zhu San's fat body rolled down Bright Peak like a ball, swaying from side to side.

"Junior Brother, what are you planning to do?" asked Li Yu Feng, a disciple of Bright Peak.

Li Yu Feng had been listening the whole time, but hadn't spoken.

"Bi Fan is a freak. We have to get rid of him as soon as possible. If Zhu San wasn't lying, then Bi Fan must have had some kind of fortuitous encounter in the Myriad Snake Den. How else could a good-for-nothing suddenly become a cultivation prodigy? He surely hasn't used up all the treasures he found there. We need to find a way to take them from him."

A dark look appeared in Luo Sheng's eyes. He clenched his fists, veins standing out.

Li Yu Feng said, "Killing a fellow disciple is forbidden in Qingyang Sect. If anyone finds out, you'll be severely punished. Junior Brother, you should think this through and act carefully."

"Don't worry. I won't need to lift a finger. Bi Fan will die without a burial place. He actually dares to challenge me." Luo Sheng's voice was icy.

Bi Fan continued cultivating on Jade Maiden Peak, completely unaware of what was happening outside. He had no idea Zhu San had already cast a net and was waiting for him.

After making progress with the Qingyang Gentle Wind Sword Art, Bi Fan's understanding of the first move of the Qingyang Willow Catkin Sword Art, Floating Rain Flying Flowers Sword, had also deepened. Whenever he had the chance, he practiced it in secret, believing it would come in handy someday.

Bi Fan had experienced firsthand the power of the first move of the Carefree Art, Carefree Immortal Finger, during his match. He practiced it with great effort and made rapid progress. Unfortunately, his strength was still too low, so for now he could only practice the first move.

Carefree Immortal Finger laid the foundation for the Carefree Art. Its main purpose was to teach him to use energy skillfully.

Misty Dance and the Carefree Art were both martial techniques that could only be practiced at the Mortal Transformation Realm. For now, Bi Fan could only work on their most basic fundamentals.

Even those basic fundamentals were enough for Bi Fan to use against his enemies.

Recently, Bi Fan had also started practicing Dragon Roaring Tiger Howling Fist. It still required great strength to support it, so he could only learn some of its methods for generating force.

After practicing the force-generating techniques of Dragon Roaring Tiger Howling Fist for a while, Bi Fan gained a great deal from them. They would serve him endlessly, allowing him to bring even more of his combat strength to bear.

His spirits surged. He began making preparations, eager to venture down the mountain and test himself.

Recently, Bi Fan's cultivation had stalled at the peak of the Inner Breath Realm, with the Viscera Realm only a hair's breadth away.

He could certainly break through the bottleneck by cultivating in seclusion, but it would likely take much longer.

Time was what Bi Fan lacked most. He decided to venture out as soon as possible. It would help him improve his cultivation and hone his martial techniques.

As for training in the Demon Realm, Bi Fan decided to wait until he reached the Viscera Realm before going. That would be safer.

Once he had made up his mind, Bi Fan went to see Yu Xiao Feng and requested permission to leave the mountain.