"I broke through. I finally broke through."
In the servant quarters of Ninth Young Master's courtyard in Li Estate's inner compound, Liu Feng excitedly looked at his hands.
His hands were wrapped in a faint red haze—the most obvious outward sign of the Qi-Blood Second Transformation: Blood Qi released beyond the body.
"I'm now a Qi-Blood Second Transformation Martial Artist."
"Even Ninth Young Master is still at this level."
Thinking of this, Liu Feng grew even more excited.
A strange, secret delight rose within him, as though this meant he and Ninth Young Master now stood on the same level.
"I have to report this good news to Ninth Young Master."
Very soon, Ninth Young Master learned that Liu Feng had broken through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation.
"Not bad. I just broke through to the Blood-Qi Third Transformation, and you broke through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation. It seems the two of us, master and servant, are quite in sync."
Ninth Young Master said this lightly.
Liu Feng froze, an inexplicable disappointment surfacing in his heart.
But he swiftly adjusted his mindset, putting on an expression of shock and joy as he exaggeratedly cried, "Ah, Ninth Young Master, you truly are too brilliant! I never expected you to reach the Blood-Qi Third Transformation so quickly."
"My little achievement, compared with yours, is like the stars beside the bright moon in the heavens—not worth mentioning at all."
"Hahaha, you, you're still so good with words."
Ninth Young Master immediately burst into laughter, openly enjoying Liu Feng's flattery.
If Chen Xun had been here, he would likely have been greatly surprised. When he had first met Liu Feng, Liu Feng had been simple and honest, even somewhat guileless.
Yet in such a short time, he had become so slick and worldly.
"I'm in a good mood today. This bottle of Blood-Strength Pills is your reward."
A porcelain bottle was tossed toward Liu Feng. He immediately caught it carefully and respectfully put it away.
"Thank you for the reward, Ninth Young Master."
Ninth Young Master waved a hand, and Liu Feng withdrew from the room.
Returning to his own room, Liu Feng opened it and found six Blood-Strength Pills inside.
"Good. Ninth Young Master really is generous."
Liu Feng could not help sighing.
After becoming Ninth Young Master's attendant, he only earned five taels of silver per month.
Because his cultivation had been insufficient, he had not been able to buy Blood-Strength Pills from the pharmacy.
Once his cultivation improved, he could buy them there, but at most three per month, with each pill costing one tael of silver.
Ninth Young Master's casual reward was worth two months of his Blood-Strengthening Pill quota. How could he not be happy?
"I wonder how that fellow Chen Xun is doing?"
"With his aptitude, he'll probably need quite some time before he can break through."
Thinking of this, pride welled up in his heart.
Afterward, he went to update his registered cultivation information, then took the opportunity to visit the pharmacy and purchase Blood-Strengthening Pills.
There, he happened to run into Chen Xun.
"Chen Xun, what a coincidence. You're here too."
Liu Feng was unusually enthusiastic today, making Chen Xun rather uncomfortable.
"Let me make this clear—I don't have money to lend you."
Chen Xun hurriedly watched Liu Feng warily.
Liu Feng's face instantly darkened, as though a lump of stifled anger had lodged in his chest.
"How can you see me that way? When have I ever borrowed money from you?"
Chen Xun remained wary. Liu Feng had never borrowed money only because Chen Xun had never let him succeed.
Liu Feng did not want to argue further over this and hurriedly changed the subject. "By the way, are you here to buy Blood-Strength Powder today?"
As he spoke, a smile returned to Liu Feng's face.
Then he prepared to reveal his current cultivation to Chen Xun.
"Haha, once you learn my current cultivation, let's see how you can still act so smug."
But before he could reveal it himself, Chen Xun answered his question first. "No, I'm here to buy Blood-Strength Pills."
"W-what? You came to buy Blood-Strength Pills?"
Liu Feng's pupils contracted. Then he forced a smile. "Chen Xun, you must have gotten it wrong. Blood-Strength Pills require Qi-Blood Second Transformation strength to purchase."
"I didn't get it wrong. I'm already at the Qi-Blood Second Transformation."
"This is my new identity token. Look."
The identity token Chen Xun took out had gained two small swords, signifying that Chen Xun was now a Qi-Blood Second Transformation Martial Artist.
"Impossible. This is impossible."
Liu Feng could not believe any of it. "Your aptitude isn't as good as mine, and you don't have as many resources as I do. How could you break through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation just as quickly as me?"
"I don't believe it."
With reddened eyes, Liu Feng shouted loudly.
Liu Feng's commotion inevitably drew the attention of the others in the pharmacy.
A pharmacy clerk even came over to warn Liu Feng. "This is the pharmacy. Keep quiet, or please leave."
"I'm sorry. I didn't do it on purpose. I'll be careful."
Liu Feng instantly snapped out of his rage and hurriedly apologized.
After dealing with the pharmacy clerk, Liu Feng looked at Chen Xun with a complicated expression. Then, gritting his teeth, he asked another question. "When did you break through?"
"Yesterday, I suppose."
"Yesterday!"
Those two words struck Liu Feng so hard that his head spun.
Because Chen Xun, whom he had looked down on, had actually surpassed him and broken through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation even earlier than he had.
A huge crack appeared in the confidence he had forcibly pieced together.
His confidence had been built upon his cultivation surpassing everyone from the same batch as him.
Now, someone—Chen Xun, whom he had never even considered worthy of notice—had caught up to him and even surpassed him. Though only by a little, it was still difficult for him to accept.
In the end, Liu Feng bought three Blood-Strength Pills and left in a daze, looking as though his soul had departed his body.
Chen Xun did not pay attention to Liu Feng's condition. He had already bought his Blood-Strength Pills and left before Liu Feng.
He had not actually needed to buy Blood-Strength Pills. He could make them himself, at only one-third of the market price.
He had come only because he feared arousing suspicion.
Everyone else rushed to buy them and still complained their quotas were insufficient, while Chen Xun had never come even once. Would that not make people suspicious?
So even if he lost a little money, Chen Xun still had to make the trip.
After buying the Blood-Strength Pills, Chen Xun had only just returned to the Martial Artist Courtyard when Luo Tao came looking for him.
"Chen Xun, hurry back to the Dragon-Tiger Grounds. There's a mission."
"Alright, let's go together."
Chen Xun did not linger at all. He caught up with Luo Tao and left the Martial Artist Courtyard.
At that moment, several Martial Artists training in the courtyard watched Chen Xun enviously.
"Chen Xun has made it. I heard he only became a Qi-Blood Second Transformation Martial Artist yesterday."
"Hmph, so what? The Hunting Team is so dangerous. Maybe one day, he'll meet with disaster."
Some jealous people cursed him under their breaths.
"Chen Xun, that damned mud-legged peasant—how is he cultivating so quickly?"
Among the crowd, Li Peng stared at Chen Xun's retreating figure, his gaze filled with jealousy and hatred.
"I rushed and raced, yet I was still one step behind."
Unknowingly, Li Peng had also reached the First Transformation Limit and had already begun practicing the Acupoint-Finding Secret Art.
"Just wait. I won't lose."
"With my father helping me, I'll soon catch up to you, surpass you, and grind you, you mud-legged peasant, beneath my feet."
Li Peng roared inwardly.
Meanwhile, Chen Xun and Luo Tao soon returned to the Dragon-Tiger Grounds.
By then, more than half the Hunting Team's members had already gathered there.
Some were excited, some steady, and some were nervous.
Yet not a single one was afraid.
Those who dared join the Hunting Team had naturally already prepared themselves mentally to fight Mutant Beasts to the death.
"You two are the last ones. Return to formation."
Li Tiangang looked at Chen Xun and Luo Tao, smiling kindly as he spoke.
"Yes, Captain."
Chen Xun and Luo Tao hurriedly returned to the ranks. With that, all fifteen members of the Hunting Team had assembled.
"According to the information I received, the target of this hunt is a Mutant Beast known as the Red-Haired Giant Ape."
"The Red-Haired Giant Ape is a pack-dwelling Mutant Beast. Intelligence indicates there are four of them: two adults and two subadults."
"Our target this time is to kill all four Red-Haired Giant Apes."
"You now have one hour to prepare the supplies and weapons you'll need for the mountain."
"In one hour, I want to see you all here. Anyone late will be punished."
In an instant, Li Tiangang shed his usual gentleness, his expression turning stern. Then a terrifying aura erupted from him, and everyone revealed looks of alarm.
"Have you all heard clearly?"
"Loud and clear."
Everyone hurriedly responded, their voices exceptionally loud.
"Very good."
Seeing this, Li Tiangang revealed a satisfied expression.
Among the crowd, Chen Xun's expression was solemn, and he was secretly shocked. Fourth Master Li's Mountain Lord Acupoint-Finding Secret Art is probably close to Perfection.
Just now, he had vaguely seen a gigantic tiger appear behind Li Tiangang.
That tiger was not real. Those with slightly weaker spiritual power would not even notice its existence.