Liu Feng's Shock

"I broke through. I finally broke through."

In a servant's room within the Ninth Young Master's courtyard in the inner estate of the Li Estate, Liu Feng excitedly looked at his hands.

His hands were shrouded in a faint red mist—the most obvious outward sign of the Qi-Blood Second Transformation: projecting Blood Qi beyond the body.

"I'm now a Qi-Blood Second Transformation Martial Artist."

"Even the Ninth Young Master is still at this level."

Thinking of this, Liu Feng grew even more excited.

A strange, secret delight rose in his heart, as though this meant he and the Ninth Young Master were now people of the same rank.

"I need to report this good news to the Ninth Young Master."

Before long, the Ninth Young Master learned that Liu Feng had broken through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation.

"Not bad. I only just broke through to the Blood-Qi Third Transformation, and you've broken through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation. It seems master and servant alike, we're quite in sync."

The Ninth Young Master spoke indifferently.

Liu Feng froze, a vague disappointment inexplicably rising in his heart.

But he quickly adjusted his mindset, piling on a shocked and delighted expression as he exaggeratedly cried, "Ah, Ninth Young Master, you truly are a genius! I never imagined you would reach the Blood-Qi Third Transformation so quickly."

"My little achievement is like the stars beside the bright moon in the sky compared to yours—not worth mentioning at all."

"Hahaha, you—you're still so good with words."

The Ninth Young Master immediately laughed heartily, openly enjoying Liu Feng's flattery.

Had Chen Xun been here, he would likely have been greatly surprised. When he had first met Liu Feng, Liu Feng had still been plain and honest, even somewhat simple-minded.

Yet in such a short time, he had become so smooth 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 promptly caught it with care and respectfully put it away.

"Thank you for your reward, Ninth Young Master."

The Ninth Young Master waved a hand, and Liu Feng withdrew from the room.

After returning to his own room, Liu Feng opened it and found six Blood-Strength Pills inside.

"Good. The Ninth Young Master is truly generous."

Liu Feng could not help sighing.

After becoming the Ninth Young Master's attendant, he only earned five taels of silver a month.

Because his cultivation had been insufficient, he had not yet been able to purchase Blood-Strength Pills from the pharmacy.

Once his cultivation improved, he would be able to buy them there, but at most three per month, with each pill costing one tael of silver.

The Ninth Young Master's casual reward was equal to two months' worth of his Blood-Strength 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 a while before he breaks through."

Thinking of this, smugness rose in his heart.

Afterward, he went to update his registered cultivation information, then stopped by the pharmacy to buy Blood-Strength 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 feel rather uncomfortable.

"Let me make this clear—I don't have money to lend you."

Chen Xun hurriedly looked at Liu Feng with vigilance.

Liu Feng's face immediately darkened, as though a stifling breath 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 from him not because he had never asked, but because Chen Xun had never let him succeed.

Liu Feng did not want to argue further over this matter and quickly changed the subject. "By the way, are you here to buy Blood-Strength Powder today?"

As he said this, a smile reappeared on Liu Feng's face.

Then he prepared to reveal his current cultivation to Chen Xun.

Haha, once you learn about my current cultivation, let's see how you can still be so arrogant.

But before he could expose it himself, Chen Xun answered first, "No, I'm here to buy Blood-Strength Pills."

"Wh-what? You came to buy Blood-Strength Pills?"

Liu Feng's pupils contracted. Then he forced a smile and said, "Chen Xun, you must be mistaken. Blood-Strength Pills can only be purchased by someone with Qi-Blood Second Transformation strength."

"I'm not mistaken. I've already reached the Qi-Blood Second Transformation."

"This is my new identity token. Look."

The identity token Chen Xun took out had two small swords added to it, 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 better than mine, and you don't have more resources than me. How could you break through to the Qi-Blood Second Transformation as quickly as I did?"

"I don't believe it."

His eyes reddening, Liu Feng shouted loudly.

Liu Feng's commotion could not help drawing 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 you'll have to leave."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to. 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 guess."

"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 massive 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 had caught up to him—and it was Chen Xun, someone he had never held in high regard. Chen Xun had even surpassed him. Though only by a little, it was still something Liu Feng found hard to accept.

In the end, Liu Feng bought three Blood-Strength Pills and left in a daze, as though his soul had departed his body.

Chen Xun paid no attention to Liu Feng's state. He had already finished buying Blood-Strength Pills and left before Liu Feng.

He had not actually needed to buy Blood-Strength Pills. He could make them himself, and the cost was only one-third of the market price.

The reason he had come was to avoid arousing suspicion.

Everyone else scrambled to buy them and still complained that their quotas were too small. If Chen Xun had never come even once, would that not make people suspicious?

Therefore, even if he lost a little money, Chen Xun still had to make the trip.

After buying the Blood-Strength Pills, Chen Xun had barely 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, some Martial Artists cultivating in the courtyard looked at Chen Xun with envy.

"This Chen Xun has really 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 misfortune."

Someone jealous secretly cursed him.

"Chen Xun, that damned mud-legged peasant. How is he cultivating so quickly?"

Amid the crowd, Li Peng looked at Chen Xun's retreating back, his eyes full of jealousy and hatred.

"I hurried and chased, yet I was still one step too late."

Unknowingly, Li Peng had also reached the First Transformation Limit and had already begun cultivating the Acupoint-Finding Secret Art.

"Just you wait. I won't lose."

"With my father helping me, I'll soon catch up to you, surpass you, and trample you mud-legged peasant beneath my feet."

Li Peng roared inwardly.

On the other side, Chen Xun and Luo Tao quickly returned to the Dragon-Tiger Grounds.

By then, more than half of the Hunting Team's members had already gathered there.

Some were excited, some calm and steady, and others nervous.

But 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. Return to the ranks."

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."

"Red-Haired Giant Apes are pack-dwelling Mutant Beasts. Intelligence indicates that four have been found: two adults and two subadults."

"Our target this time is to kill all four Red-Haired Giant Apes."

"Now, you have one hour to prepare. Get your supplies and weapons for heading into the mountains ready."

"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 shocked expressions.

"Did you all hear that clearly?"

"We heard clearly!"

Everyone hurriedly answered, their voices loud and resounding.

"Very good."

Seeing this, Li Tiangang revealed a satisfied expression.

Among the crowd, Chen Xun's face was solemn as he secretly felt alarmed. 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.