Huang Feihu

In the days that followed, Lu Chuan dozed off while minding the shop during the day. In the mornings and evenings, he exercised, cultivated by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, and practiced his swordsmanship.

Before long, three days had passed.

Early morning.

Lu Chuan sat in the courtyard facing the rising sun, eyes half-closed as he cultivated by regulating his breathing.

But at that very moment, a sheathed long sword lay across his knees.

The Purple Firmament Sword!

As Lu Chuan cultivated by regulating his breathing, a faint purple aura also swirled around the Purple Firmament Sword, as though it were cultivating just like a person.

After a long while.

Lu Chuan slowly opened his eyes and glanced down at the glowing sword on his legs. Smiling, he asked, "Are you ready?"

He had noticed the Purple Firmament Sword's strange phenomenon the day after obtaining it.

Since he practiced his swordsmanship after his breathing exercises, he had taken the sword with him when he went out that morning.

Then a miraculous thing happened.

After his breathing exercises, he noticed the same strange phenomenon as today, so he hurried to ask Shen Gongbao about it.

Shen Gongbao said that Zixiao was originally a divine sword. It had simply remained sheathed for many years in his hands, causing some of its divine power to fade.

Now that it had emerged, it needed to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the sun and moon to restore its divine power.

Lu Chuan truly didn't know what to make of his master.

Soon, the purple aura around the sword faded. Only then did Lu Chuan take a long strip of cloth and wrap the Purple Firmament Sword from end to end.

"Looks like you're ready to head out. But why wrap the Purple Firmament Sword in a piece of rag...?"

Shen Gongbao had gotten up too. He came outside, cracking sunflower seeds, and laughed when he saw what Lu Chuan was doing. "You've wrapped it until it looks like a bundle of firewood."

"Don't flaunt your wealth."

Lu Chuan said calmly, slinging the Purple Firmament Sword across his back as he spoke.

Today, he was only going out to test himself in actual combat. He didn't want trouble. If anyone with a discerning eye spotted the Purple Firmament Sword, it would bring him needless complications.

Although he could always use the Five Elements Escape Technique to flee if he couldn't win, being chased off in his very first fight wasn't what he wanted.

So, to avoid complications today, he had disguised the Purple Firmament Sword. That would spare him plenty of trouble.

"Master, this disciple is off!"

After fastening the sword to his back, Lu Chuan said goodbye to Shen Gongbao.

"Go on, go on..." Shen Gongbao waved him off with a chuckle. "Keep your eyes peeled. If you can't win, run. Don't be so stubborn. Your life is what matters most, understand?"

At that, Lu Chuan's face darkened.

That again!

Just how little faith did his master have in him? He was about to set off, and Shen Gongbao was still saying things like that.

Lu Chuan waved, turned around, and left.

"Wait, I'm not finished!"

Lu Chuan turned back.

"What your master just said wasn't a joke..." Shen Gongbao said.

Lu Chuan: ...

Then he left.

"That brat's pretty cautious!"

Thinking of how Lu Chuan had wrapped a perfectly good divine sword from Yuxu Palace in rags until it looked like a fire poker, Shen Gongbao couldn't help laughing.

"You go out for a walk too. Keep an eye on him. How could my disciple become a meal for just any old thing?"

Shen Gongbao raised his head to gaze at the blue sky and murmured, "As long as his life isn't in danger, don't interfere even if he breaks an arm or a leg..."

As his voice faded, a breeze swept past him and stirred his Taoist robe.

Clang!

Lu Chuan came to the shop out front, grabbed the two doors, and pulled them open.

The instant they swung wide, endless golden rays of dawn from the east poured over him.

Warm and soothing.

Bathed in the morning light, Lu Chuan gently closed his eyes, a peaceful look settling over his face.

He liked this feeling. He truly enjoyed it.

As he basked in the dawn, his mind gradually quieted.

Lu Chuan stepped outside and closed the doors behind him. Then he went to a nearby little shop and ordered three steamed buns and a serving of vegetables.

Since beginning his cultivation, he had more or less become a vegetarian.

Perhaps because Martial Accomplishment King Huang Feihu of Great Shang was leading troops into the mountains that day to exterminate the ferocious beasts, the city was especially lively.

At the shop where Lu Chuan ate breakfast, some other people were discussing the matter too.

After all...

Whenever a great figure like Huang Feihu made a move, it drew everyone's attention.

Yin Shang had many military officers, but only two could be called the foremost among them: Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong and Martial Accomplishment King Huang Feihu.

They were also Great Shang's highest-ranking military commanders.

The Huang family had served with loyalty for seven generations.

Huang Feihu's father, Huang Gun, was one of Great Shang's great generals who guarded the state. Though now old, he still held the border defenses.

His younger sister had even married King Zhou as a consort. Huang Feihu himself was exceptionally brave and had won illustrious military honors, earning the title of Martial Accomplishment King, Defender of Yin Shang...

With all these honors, the Huang family's standing in Chaoge City went without saying. Huang Feihu's name was known throughout the land; no one had failed to hear of him.

Moreover, Huang Feihu was responsible for all matters of security and defense within Chaoge City. This alone showed how much King Zhou trusted him.

And since he was in charge of Chaoge's security, when ferocious beasts ran amok, it fell to him to deal with them.

"Huang Feihu!"

As Lu Chuan listened to the people chatting, he recalled what he knew about Huang Feihu.

According to Shen Gongbao, Huang Feihu was exceptionally powerful. He had reversed his acquired nature, entered the Xiantian Realm of the Martial Way, and reached profound heights in martial cultivation. He was one of the very best experts of the age.

In the cultivation of Qi Refiners, the equivalent of the Xiantian Realm of the Martial Way was Refining Spirit and Returning to the Void.

"So, the Xiantian Realm of the Martial Way?"

A hint of anticipation appeared in Lu Chuan's eyes. "Don't disappoint me."

He knew that the world's cultivation paths were divided between Qi Refining and the Martial Way. He had become a Qi Refiner himself, learned quite a few Daoist arts, and gained some understanding of the methods Qi Refiners used.

But he had never had the chance to witness a martial artist in action. He was, to put it simply, eager to see one.

After eating, Lu Chuan ordered a bowl of tea. He listened to everyone's idle chatter to pass the time while waiting for the mountain expedition to appear.

Clang! Clang!

Finally, at around eight o'clock, a few gongs rang out in the street. The crowds immediately parted to either side like a receding tide.

"Martial Accomplishment King is setting out!"

Someone in the shop shouted. Everyone got to their feet and looked out the window.

Moo!

Then came a bellow. A Five-Colored Ox carried a man in golden armor down the street.

Behind him marched a long procession of soldiers in armor, carrying spears and keeping in orderly formation. They stretched out like a dragon, numbering at least three thousand.

"Huang Feihu!"

Lu Chuan's gaze sharpened. With people blocking the window, he hadn't gotten a clear look at Huang Feihu. But since Huang Feihu had already set out, he should follow.

"Shopkeeper, the bill!"

Lu Chuan paid, then went to the shop entrance. The soldiers were still passing, so he waited a little before falling in at the very end of the column.

At the rear followed over a hundred able-bodied young men. They weren't soldiers, but from the looks of it, they had answered Huang Feihu's call to lend a hand.