Another Attempt at Cultivation! They Were All Just Tools

After hearing the martial artist out, Chen Feng said calmly:

"Take me to the Black Wind Stronghold."

Wang Hu had already taken over the Black Wind Stronghold, saving him a great deal of trouble.

Several martial artists soon led Chen Feng toward the Black Wind Stronghold.

The others stayed behind to guard the secret chamber.

The people of the Black Wind Stronghold had already received word of Chen Feng's return, and all of them were waiting at the entrance to welcome him.

Wang Hu and Liu Qian stood at the very front of the crowd.

In contrast to the smile on Wang Hu's face, Liu Qian was full of unease.

His fate was now in the hands of Chen Feng, who would arrive at any moment.

If Chen Feng refused to accept him, or even decided to kill him, there was nothing he could do about it.

During this time, he had worked hard to help the Xingfeng Sect take over the Black Wind Stronghold.

He had made sure everything was properly arranged, all to show Chen Feng what he was capable of.

But if Chen Feng was the sort of man who hated evil with a vengeance, then nothing he did would matter.

Which of the people in the Black Wind Stronghold did not have the blood of innocents on his hands?

Liu Qian said to Wang Hu:

"Brother Wang Hu, could you put in a few good words for me in front of the sect master later?"

Wang Hu replied with a serious expression:

"It wouldn't help if I spoke for you. Whether or not to accept you is up to the sect master."

Wang Hu had no intention of speaking up for Liu Qian.

Liu Qian felt somewhat helpless. After spending this time with Wang Hu, he had found that the man simply wouldn't yield to salt or oil.

Whenever a matter involved Chen Feng, Wang Hu would not bend in the slightest.

He had even sent Wang Hu a few beautiful servant girls, but Wang Hu had not so much as glanced at them.

He truly had no way of dealing with a man like that.

Before long, Chen Feng appeared.

Liu Qian immediately dropped to his knees, and the people of the Black Wind Stronghold hurriedly knelt as well.

"Greetings, Sect Master Chen!"

Everyone was exceedingly respectful, and not merely because Chen Feng could now be considered the master of Hengduan Mountain.

It was also because Chen Feng had slain He Sandao, a Mid Xiantian expert.

Xiantian experts were respected wherever they went, so naturally, they dared not show him any disrespect.

Wang Hu ran up to Chen Feng:

"Sect Master, you're back."

The stern expression Wang Hu had worn all this time gave way to an honest smile when he saw Chen Feng.

Chen Feng patted Wang Hu on the shoulder:

"Well done. How are your injuries?"

"I've almost completely recovered. We've taken over the Black Wind Stronghold, and we're just waiting for you to make arrangements, Sect Master. These people from the stronghold want to join us. What do you think?"

Wang Hu reported to Chen Feng.

If Chen Feng did not intend to keep these people, Wang Hu would be the first to act and kill them all.

The several hundred people of the Black Wind Stronghold were all on edge.

Liu Qian was studying Chen Feng.

Liu Qian had always been a good judge of character, but his first look at Chen Feng left him uncertain.

Chen Feng looked very young, but his gaze and manner of speech were remarkably seasoned, putting Liu Qian under considerable pressure.

Chen Feng looked at Liu Qian and the others:

"You don't need to kneel. I don't like having people kneel before me anyway."

He had already learned a few things on his way here.

Naturally, Chen Feng would neither drive out nor kill these mountain bandits from the Black Wind Stronghold.

He was short of manpower right now, and he did not intend to pursue the evil deeds they had committed in the past.

In any case, they were all just tools he could discard at any time.

Just as when ninety percent of the Xingfeng Sect's martial artists had been killed, Chen Feng had not felt the slightest bit of sorrow. They had all been tools he had hired with money, so naturally, there were no feelings to speak of.

Hearing Chen Feng's words, Liu Qian and the others immediately stood up.

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Chen Feng's words amounted to accepting them, and all the mountain bandits relaxed.

Chen Feng then headed into the Black Wind Stronghold, with Wang Hu and Liu Qian hurrying after him.

This was Chen Feng's second visit to the Black Wind Stronghold.

His last visit had been three months ago. At the time, he had planned to establish a sect on Hengduan Mountain and had come to the stronghold to pay tribute.

Three months had passed in the blink of an eye, and now everything had changed.

He himself had become the master of the Black Wind Stronghold.

Chen Feng had not actually wanted to be so conspicuous.

Having wiped out the Black Wind Stronghold and taken over Hengduan Mountain, the surrounding forces, great and small, would surely learn his name.

Being famous was not always a good thing.

After entering the Black Wind Stronghold's main hall, Chen Feng sat down in the seat of honor.

"There's no need to keep so many people gathered here. Transfer them to the Xingfeng Sect, and move everything over there as well."

Naturally, Chen Feng had no intention of making the Black Wind Stronghold his base.

Only the mine was a suitable place for him to stay. The transport passage was there, and he could not leave it.

Liu Qian immediately said, "Sect Master, I'll go make the arrangements shortly."

Although Liu Qian did not know why Chen Feng wanted to give up such a fine place as the Black Wind Stronghold, he would not ask.

Work more and speak less-that was the proper attitude to have toward a new master.

"Your name is Liu Qian, right? I've heard all about it. You're quite capable. I don't care about the past; just work hard for the Xingfeng Sect from now on."

Chen Feng's simple words did not put Liu Qian at ease.

Instead, he felt afraid.

Chen Feng had accepted him so readily that it felt as though Chen Feng did not care about him at all, and that was the most dangerous part.

"Thank you, Sect Master. I will do everything in my power to assist you!" Liu Qian bowed.

Although he was deeply uneasy, Liu Qian did not show it.

Chen Feng had no idea what schemes were going through Liu Qian's mind, and even if he did, he would not have cared. He continued:

"Mining will resume today. Send someone to notify the mortal miners, and have them put the stockpiled Blazing Sun Stone on the conveyor belt. This must be done tonight."

The first thing Chen Feng had to do upon returning was get the ore moving over again.

The conveyor belt at the warehouse in the modern world had already started running.

They were still waiting for the ore over there so they could process it into Blazing Sun Iron.

"Sect Master, I'll take care of it right away!" Wang Hu agreed, then left.

Wang Hu was very familiar with the Xingfeng Sect's ore transport process.

He was the best person for the job; Liu Qian did not know how the Xingfeng Sect had operated before.

After Wang Hu left, Chen Feng asked Liu Qian a few more questions about He Sandao.

He needed to know who He Sandao's friends were, so he could prepare in advance if anyone came seeking revenge.

Liu Qian replied:

"Sect Master, He Sandao was cunning and ruthless. Even if he had friends, their relationships were only for show. They couldn't possibly avenge him. But Jiang Xiao was a member of the Jiang Household, and he died at your hands, Sect Master. I'm afraid the Jiang Household won't let this rest."

The Jiang Household was one of the three great lineages of Liuyang Town, and it had several Xiantian experts.

Chen Feng said, "Have someone keep an eye on the Jiang Household and notify me if there's any news. You can go attend to your work now."

For now, all he could do about the Jiang Household was have someone watch them. They probably would not come seeking revenge just yet.

They would certainly investigate before making a move, so he still had time.

Knowing that modern weapons could kill Xiantian experts, Chen Feng was no longer as lacking in confidence as he had been before.

He would buy more equipment after some time had passed. If the Jiang Household dared come for revenge, he would make sure they never returned.

Liu Qian nodded, then withdrew from the hall.

Once everything had been arranged, Chen Feng sat down cross-legged where he was. He intended to cultivate the Qi Induction Art.

He would try to sense Spiritual Qi in the painting world.