《Ten Thousand Void Daos Heavenly Cauldron》 Chapter 1 Stepping Stones If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Chapter 2 The Law of Ten Thousand Daos Miao Yue helped Su Ran dry her hair. She sighed softly and said, ¡°Miss, your forced marriage this time¡ªMaster and the others are going to be furious.¡± Su Ran chuckled. ¡°Since when do I, Su Ran, need their approval to do anything?¡± Without hesitation, Su Ran strode confidently into the bridal chamber. Inside the Bridal Chamber Su Ran approached Chen Fei and spoke firmly. ¡°Chen Fei, you and I are now married. Although we both have our own motives, you are still the husband I have openly and rightfully brought into my house. You are not just some pretty boy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about the truth behind the Qin family¡¯s affairs. Your past love and hatred with Qin Shuang have nothing to do with me. From now on, you have only one identity¡ªmy husband!¡± ¡°This Blood Serpent Pill is your betrothal gift.¡± ¡°The Blood Serpent Pill comes from the demon core of a high-rank beast, the Spirit-Eyed Serpent. Refined with Bone-Mending Grass and Tendon-Stretching Wood, it is a true third-grade pill. In the entire Yellow Mist City, there is only one.¡± ¡°Although this pill cannot heal your eyes or your shattered dantian, it will at least help your injuries recover and restore your strength.¡± Chen Fei nodded and sincerely said, ¡°Thank you, Miss Su. The Blood Serpent Pill is incredibly valuable. Giving it to a cripple like me as a betrothal gift is more than enough.¡± Su Ran studied this once-brilliant genius of Yellow Mist City, sighing inwardly. A prodigy had fallen and become a cripple. He must be unwilling to accept his fate. But this was destiny. Turning away, Su Ran said indifferently, ¡°If you need anything, you can call Miao Yue. She will take care of you. While I can¡¯t guarantee your safety at all times, in my courtyard, you are absolutely safe.¡± Chen Fei thanked her again. Su Ran walked to the back of the bridal chamber and pushed open a secret door in the wall. Beyond the stone door was Su Ran¡¯s true bedroom. Inside the small room stood a Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Bed. This was her greatest secret. Only by marrying a blind man could she feel at ease! Su Ran entered the secret chamber, removed all her clothes, and sat cross-legged on the ice bed to cultivate. Meanwhile, in the Bridal Chamber Chen Fei held the Blood Serpent Pill. Without hesitation, he swallowed it in one gulp! His dantian was shattered. His eyes were blind. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. But as long as he was alive, there was hope! Even if the Blood Serpent Pill couldn¡¯t repair his dantian, it could at least strengthen his body. As the pill dissolved in his stomach, it transformed into a surge of blood-essence energy, flowing through his meridians and converging toward his broken dantian. His dantian had been pierced and shattered by Qin Shuang¡¯s blade. It was completely ruined. The next moment¡ª A mysterious, ancient bronze cauldron suddenly appeared inside his dantian. Chen Fei was startled. Even though he was blind, he could sense everything happening in his body with absolute clarity. He immediately sat cross-legged and focused inward. In his broken dantian, the ancient bronze cauldron absorbed the medicinal power of the Blood Serpent Pill and began to glow! A series of densely packed runes on the cauldron¡¯s surface surged into his mind. ¡°Ah! What is this?¡± ¡°How did a bronze cauldron appear in my dantian?¡± ¡°This cauldron¡­ it looks exactly like the one that killed me back on Earth! A year ago, it suddenly fell from the beam of a temple and crushed me to death!¡± ¡°Ah! These runes¡­ What are they? Something is forcing its way into my brain¡ª¡± ¡°Boom¡­ Ten Thousand Dao Void Cauldron¡­ Ten Thousand Dao Cultivation Technique!¡± Chen Fei¡¯s head felt like it was about to explode! It was as if someone had forcibly imprinted a cultivation technique into his mind. In an instant, he understood it completely. As the excruciating pain faded, Chen Fei clenched his fists, trembling with excitement. ¡°Ten Thousand Dao Void Cauldron? So¡­ so the reason I was reincarnated here was because of this cauldron!¡± ¡°Back then, my dantian was intact, so it couldn¡¯t manifest. But now, with my dantian shattered, the Void Cauldron was finally able to absorb the pill¡¯s power and activate itself!¡± ¡°This cauldron can absorb and refine the essence of high-rank demonic beasts, granting me their abilities!¡± ¡°All I have to do is follow the Ten Thousand Dao Cultivation Technique to refine and absorb their power!¡± ¡°And the Blood Serpent Pill I just consumed contains the demonic essence of a high-rank beast¡ªthe Spirit-Eyed Serpent!¡± Chen Fei didn¡¯t hesitate any longer. He immediately began circulating the Ten Thousand Dao Cultivation Technique. At that moment, within his shattered dantian, the Void Cauldron flickered with a crimson glow. A surge of blood-colored energy rushed into his blind eyes! Three hours later, an intense pain struck his brain. At the same time, he felt a mysterious new sensation in his eyes. ¡°Huh? This is¡­ Spirit Vision? I gained the Spirit-Eyed Serpent¡¯s ability¡ªSpirit Vision!¡± ¡°Legends say that Spirit-Eyed Serpents are nearly impossible to capture because they can sense hidden dangers in their surroundings and evade them in advance!¡± ¡°And now, I¡¯ve inherited that power!¡± Overwhelmed with excitement, Chen Fei trembled as he opened his eyes. A faint light emerged in his vision, and soon, the entire bridal chamber became visible! Chen Fei rushed to the table and looked into a bronze mirror. In the reflection, his eyes were still pitch black, devoid of pupils, soaked in blood. But within those empty sockets, a faint aura of spiritual energy lingered. He could sense the flow of energy around him! Tears nearly fell from his eyes. Heaven has not abandoned me! Chen Fei clenched his fists tightly. I still have hope for revenge! Though his dantian was shattered, the Void Cauldron could store and refine spiritual energy, functioning as a replacement. Though his eyes had been destroyed, he could now perceive the world through Spirit Vision. Qin family¡­ just you wait! Qin Shuang¡­ you wretched woman, you will regret this! I, Chen Fei, have returned! Just then, from behind the chamber¡¯s hidden wall¡ª A soft moan echoed from the secret room! It was a woman¡¯s pained voice. Chen Fei¡¯s senses sharpened instantly. That¡¯s Su Ran¡¯s voice! Is she injured? Or¡­ is she with another man? Chen Fei hesitated for a moment. Then, he pushed open the secret door and stepped inside¡­ Chapter 3 Bloodline Inheritance Stepping through that secret door, he entered a completely enclosed room. Inside the room. Under the glow of a crystal night lamp. There was a bed carved entirely from Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice. Around the bed, sheer white silk curtains hung like mist. The incomparably beautiful Su Ran sat cross-legged on the icy surface. Moreover, she was completely naked! On her chest, a faint golden phoenix shimmered into view. The phoenix burned with golden flames. The fire seared Su Ran''s flawless skin. It was clear she was using the ice to resist the scorching golden flames! Chen Fei was stunned. His eyes were fixed on Su Ran. Her long, slender jade-like legs were intertwined in a seated posture. Her delicate waist, rising curves, all formed a mesmerizing sight. This woman was simply too beautiful! In that instant, Chen Fei was dumbfounded. Unfortunately, the sheer curtain blurred his view. But even so, his heart pounded wildly. On the ice bed, Su Ran heard the sound and suddenly opened her eyes. She looked at Chen Fei and instinctively wanted to cover herself. But then¡ª Su Ran quickly realized. This was her newlywed husband. And he was blind. Relaxing her grip on the clothing in her hands, she frowned slightly and spoke, "Chen Fei, don''t worry. I just accidentally got scratched by a nail." Chen Fei snapped back to his senses, hurriedly reaching out like a blind man, groping the surroundings. Beside the bed was a round table. On the table sat a teapot and cups. Chen Fei found the teapot and clumsily poured himself a cup of water. Draining it in one gulp, he said, "I was thirsty just now, couldn''t find any water, and happened to hear a sound coming from here, so I pushed open the hidden door and walked in. I didn''t expect Miss Su to be here. Anyway, thank you, Miss Su, for saving my life." Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Su Ran''s expression remained cold as she nodded indifferently. "No need to thank me. You and I are merely using each other. The bruises on your body will heal with the help of the Spirit-Eyed Blood Serpent pill. But to fully recover your dantian, you need a Holy Recovery Pill, which I don''t have. As for your eyes, ordinary medicine won''t restore them. Only an extraordinary opportunity¡ªperhaps only something in the Great Qing Capital¡ªcould possibly work." Chen Fei let out a long sigh. "Keeping my life is already more than enough. I am deeply grateful." Su Ran remained expressionless and spoke coldly, "By marrying me, you will have even more people wanting to kill you. Whether you can truly keep your life will depend on your fate." "The son of the city lord, Ye Bufan, has been relentlessly pursuing me, oppressing my Su family, and forcing me to marry him. With no other choice, I held the selection ceremony, and you were merely a shield." "There''s no need for gratitude. I can''t keep you by my side at all times, so for now, avoid going out. Now, return to your room and don''t come here unless necessary." Chen Fei nodded. Reaching out with his hands like a blind man, he staggered out of the secret chamber. Su Ran frowned slightly and muttered in her heart: Strange¡­ Even though he''s blind, I felt as if he could see me naked. She quickly dismissed the thought and resumed her cultivation. She needed to seize every moment to merge the phoenix into her soul! Chen Fei walked back, his heart still racing. He secretly felt a little regretful. If he had the chance to remove those silk curtains surrounding the Profound Ice Bed, it would be even better. But there would be plenty of opportunities in the future. After all, they were already married. His wife had her own secrets. Her cultivation method was unheard of! Chen Fei rubbed his chin. He had, of course, heard of Su Ran before. She was on the same level as Qin Shuang¡ªboth renowned beauties, known as the Twin Jewels of Huangwu City. Moreover, rumors claimed that Su Ran was even more stunning, while Qin Shuang was gentle, kind, and pure-hearted¡ªthe true embodiment of a white lotus. But who could have imagined that the real Qin Shuang was as venomous as a viper? Before now, in Huangwu City, only Su Ran''s beauty and business acumen were widely discussed. No one ever mentioned any martial prowess. But now, it was clear¡ªSu Ran''s true secret lay in that golden flaming phoenix on her chest. "Could it be¡­ a legendary bloodline inheritance?" Chen Fei''s expression turned into shock. If this was truly a bloodline awakening¡ªespecially a one-in-a-million Phoenix Bloodline¡ªthen his wife''s future would soar beyond the heavens! Even the most powerful cultivators in Great Qing Kingdom would pale in comparison! "Hah! No matter what happens with Su Ran, I need to find a way to replace my shattered dantian. My eyes have already recovered their vision¡­ and I will take my revenge on the Qin family!" "I strategized for the Qin family, helped them rise to become one of the Three Great Clans!" "To boost Qin Shuang''s cultivation, I risked my life over and over again, scouring the land for rare spirit medicines to aid her training! I was wounded countless times, even sacrificing my own progress!" "But in the end, it was all a trap! I was nothing more than a pathetic lapdog! And my unborn child¡­ I wonder if Qin Shuang will even let it live!" "For now, the most important thing is to restore my strength as quickly as possible!" Chen Fei forcibly pushed away the alluring image of Su Ran''s graceful body from his mind. Sitting cross-legged, he began cultivating using the Ten-Thousand Dao Void Cauldron. The surrounding spiritual energy surged toward his dantian, condensing into power and flowing throughout his body. "Hm? With the Void Cauldron replacing my dantian, my absorption speed is even faster!" "This is truly a blessing in disguise! Even though Qin Shuang shattered my dantian, it actually triggered the emergence of the Void Cauldron. Now, my cultivation speed has become terrifyingly fast!" "At this rate, I''ll reach Ninth-Grade Spiritual Master in no time!" Chen Fei immersed himself in cultivation. Two hours later, he stretched his muscles and revealed a pleased smile. "I''ve already broken through to Seventh-Grade Spiritual Master! The Void Cauldron is too powerful!" "Unfortunately, the spiritual energy in this place is too thin¡ªI''ve nearly drained it all." "It seems I need to find a place rich in spiritual energy for proper cultivation." "Ah¡­ why do I feel thirsty again? Well, I guess I should go to my wife''s room for another drink." Chen Fei smacked his lips, excitement bubbling in his chest. He eagerly jumped off the bed, pushed open the secret stone door, and stepped inside once again. Chapter 4: Rapid Advancement Chen Fei couldn''t resist his curiosity and once again pushed open the door, stepping inside. Feeling his way forward, he sat by the table and poured himself a cup of water. On the Ice Bed. Su Ran saw the blind old man come in again! Su Ran: "..." Chen Fei, his eyes vacant, sipped the water and said, "Sorry, maybe I''ve lost too much blood, so I always feel thirsty at night." Su Ran was speechless. "Take the teapot out with you and stop disturbing me!" Chen Fei looked reluctant. The truth was, his wife on the bed was just too beautiful. Her long, fair legs curled up on the icy surface, and her proud, snow-white chest, barely concealed by the curtain, faintly revealed a hint of rosy color. He really wanted to sit here and keep drinking water forever. But since Su Ran had spoken, Chen Fei had no choice but to carry the teapot and leave the room. Before long. Outside the wedding chamber. The sound of a rooster crowing filled the air. The next moment. Su Ran stepped out of her secret chamber, dressed in a long purple battle robe, her graceful figure exuding elegance. She was stunningly beautiful¡ªher delicate brows like the crescent moon, cheeks as fair as jade, and beneath her high, refined nose, her lips were a deep crimson. In terms of looks alone, Su Ran was indeed three times more beautiful than Qin Shuang! Su Ran looked at Chen Fei and said, "If there''s nothing urgent, try not to leave this house, and definitely don''t leave the Su residence. Miao Yue is my most trusted handmaiden, and you can rely on her completely." With that, Su Ran turned and left. Chen Fei watched her departing figure, sighing in his heart. Who would have thought that such a slender frame hid such overwhelming power? At breakfast, Miao Yue delivered a food box¡ª A roasted chicken, two bowls of rice, and some warm wine. Chen Fei only ate the food and rice, avoiding the alcohol. He needed his mind to stay sharp¡ªfor he was going to crush the Qin family and take his revenge! After eating, Chen Fei stepped outside and asked Miao Yue, "I heard the Su family estate has a spiritual energy mine where cultivation progresses twice as fast. Can I enter?" Miao Yue gave him a doubtful look. This son-in-law was blind, his dantian destroyed, and yet he still wanted to cultivate? She hesitated before saying, "Master, the Su family does have such a training ground. Any member of the Su family can enter. As Miss Su''s husband, you should be allowed as well. But before she left, Miss Su instructed¡ª" The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Take me there," Chen Fei interrupted, his voice calm but commanding. Miao Yue swallowed the rest of her words. At that moment, she realized that even though her master was disabled, he was still someone who could not be defied. She took hold of Chen Fei''s arm and led him toward the left courtyard of the Su estate. The left courtyard was vast, filled with rolling hills and dense bamboo forests. At the entrance¡ª Su family guards blocked Chen Fei''s path. Miao Yue stepped forward and said, "My master wishes to enter. According to Su family rules, he has the right." The guards glanced at Chen Fei and suddenly burst into laughter. "Your master? A cripple? What use does he have entering?" "He really thinks he''s the master here? Everyone knows Miss Su only married him as a shield!" "A waste like him dreaming of entering the Su family''s sacred training ground? Ridiculous! Get lost!" Chen Fei stood to the side, his brow furrowing. A group of mere guards dared to insult him like this. It seemed Su Ran had her own difficulties within the Su family. Miao Yue stepped forward, her sword ringing as she unsheathed it. She snapped, "Silence! Master and Miss Su have bowed before heaven and earth, offered sacrifices to the ancestors¡ªhe is the Su family''s rightful son-in-law, your master! Show some respect, or I will not be merciful!" The guards only laughed harder. "What a joke! The eldest miss herself is struggling, why would we fear her, let alone a mere servant girl like you?" "You''re quite pretty. Once the eldest miss marries into the City Lord''s estate, why don''t you stay here and become my woman?" "Hahaha, I think she''ll end up in the City Lord''s estate as a concubine anyway!" The group erupted in raucous laughter. Miao Yue''s face darkened as she stepped forward, ready to strike. Just then, two young men suddenly intervened. One of them walked up to the lead guard and slapped him hard across the face. "Are you trying to rebel? Chen Fei is Su Ran''s husband! Even if he''s a cripple, he is still your master! Get out of the way!" The young man shouted coldly. The guards froze, then quickly stepped aside, looking bewildered. Because the two young men standing before them¡ª Were Su Mingcheng and Su Mingcai. These two were Su Ran''s cousins¡ªher rivals within the family! So why were they suddenly speaking up for her husband? Su Mingcheng turned to Chen Fei, smiling. "Brother-in-law, I apologize for this unpleasantness. The Su family is a renowned household in Yellow Mist City, and it is our failing to have such disrespectful servants." Chen Fei cupped his hands and nodded in thanks. Su Mingcheng continued, "Please, go ahead. From now on, you are one of the Su family''s core members. You are free to use the training ground whenever you wish." Standing beside them, Miao Yue grew uneasy. Gripping Chen Fei''s sleeve, she whispered nervously, "Master, I don''t think Su Mingcheng and Su Mingcai mean well. We should stay away." Chen Fei shook his head. "Wait here. I must go. I will find a way to cultivate again." With that, he took his bamboo cane and, staggering slightly, walked into the Su family''s left courtyard. Behind him, Su Mingcheng and Su Mingcai watched with smirks on their faces. Inside the training ground. A surge of dense spiritual energy greeted him. Chen Fei was surprised. No wonder the Su family remained one of the top three powers in Yellow Mist City. Beneath this training ground, there must be a small-scale spiritual energy vein! Currently, Yellow Mist City was ruled by three major families¡ªSu, Qin, and Lin. The Lin family controlled agriculture. The Su family had the mines. The Qin family managed the trade caravans that transported treasures. Indeed, all three had their unique strengths. However, the Qin family''s commercial empire was only possible because of him¡ªa transmigrator! Chen Fei glanced around. Seeing no one, he quickly put away his cane and sprinted toward a secluded mining pit. He knew full well that Su Mingcheng and Su Mingcai had ulterior motives. But he wasn''t afraid! After all, who would suspect that a blind man could actually see a little? Sitting cross-legged in the hidden pit, Chen Fei activated the Ten Thousand Dao Cultivation Technique. Immediately, spiritual energy surged toward him, devoured by the Void Heaven Cauldron within his ruined dantian. The absorption rate was far beyond his expectations¡ª It was like a black hole consuming everything! "The Void Heaven Cauldron absorbs spiritual energy at an unimaginable speed!" "My cultivation will skyrocket!" "In three days, I will have my revenge!" Chen Fei continued absorbing energy, letting it course through his body, restoring his strength. Two hours later. The once-dense spiritual energy in the training ground had been nearly drained! Chen Fei''s cultivation had soared to the eighth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm¡ªhe was now an eighth-grade Spirit Master! Just then, voices and footsteps approached from the distance. "Mingcai, something''s wrong. The spiritual energy in our courtyard feels unusually thin today." "And that blind cripple¡ªwhere did he go? Why can''t we find him?" Chapter 5: Supreme Spirit Stones Su Mingcai cursed, "Did that useless cripple fall into the mine pit and die on his own? If so, we''ll be taking credit for nothing! That means we''ll easily earn the elixirs and five thousand spirit stones that Young Master Ye promised us!" Su Mingcheng grinned. "That wouldn''t be fun. I bought an expensive corpse-dissolving powder. I wanted to see how effective it is." Chen Fei listened to their conversation with a sneer. These two arrogant Su brothers wanted to kill him? Fine, he''d use them for practice. "Dealing with that cripple is just a side task. Our main objective is what really matters," Su Mingcai changed the subject. "Mingcai, do you really believe that old man?" Su Mingcheng frowned. "Our Su family has controlled this spirit vein for years. Even our ancestor never found any high-grade spirit stones. How does that old man know about them?" "Who cares?" Su Mingcai chuckled. "It doesn''t cost us anything to try. There''s no harm in checking it out." "That''s true. If there really are high-grade spirit stones, we''ll be set for life!" Su Mingcheng laughed excitedly. Hearing this, Chen Fei''s heartbeat quickened, and a surge of excitement filled him. High-grade spirit stones? If that was true, it would be a massive discovery. According to the exchange rates in the Great Qing Kingdom, one high-grade spirit stone was worth a thousand mid-grade spirit stones, and one mid-grade spirit stone was equivalent to a thousand ordinary spirit stones¡ªyet even mid-grade spirit stones were scarce, controlled by the top figures of the three major families in Huangwu City. High-grade spirit stones were practically priceless. Chen Fei suppressed the urge to kill the Su brothers immediately. Instead, he silently followed them. If there were indeed high-grade spirit stones, even just one could restore him to the ninth rank of Spirit Master. He might even have a chance to break through to the Nascent Spirit Realm. The Su brothers, being familiar with the mine, swiftly made their way to a hidden tunnel. They stopped at its entrance, carefully scanning their surroundings for any followers. Their caution was commendable, but their weak talents¡ªbarely at the third rank of Spirit Master¡ªmade them oblivious to Chen Fei, who had once reached the eighth rank. Once assured of their safety, the brothers jumped into the mine shaft and proceeded deeper into the tunnel. When they reached the deepest chamber, Su Mingcai pulled out an odd-looking compass. "Does this thing really work?" Su Mingcheng eyed it skeptically. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. "We''ll find out," Su Mingcai smirked. Following the instructions of the mysterious old man, he bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the compass. The moment the blood was absorbed, the compass lit up. Its needle spun rapidly before suddenly shooting forward like a flying sword. Boom! A loud explosion echoed through the mine as chunks of ore shattered. An overwhelming spiritual energy burst forth from the rubble. "High-grade spirit stones!" Su Mingcheng gasped. He couldn''t believe it¡ªthe old man had been telling the truth! There were actually high-grade spirit stones hidden here. "We''re rich! We''re rich!" Su Mingcheng cried out in excitement, rushing toward the rubble. Squelch! Su Mingcai appeared behind Su Mingcheng and plunged a dagger into his brother''s throat. Blood spurted everywhere. "Mingcai¡­?" Su Mingcheng''s eyes widened in disbelief. They were blood brothers! "Don''t worry. You won''t be alone for long." Su Mingcai''s voice took on a strange, eerie tone. Terror filled Su Mingcheng''s eyes as realization dawned¡ªhis brother wasn''t his brother anymore. Soul Control Technique! Chen Fei, still hiding in the shadows, was stunned. Soul Control was no ordinary ability. Even Nascent Spirit Realm cultivators couldn''t perform it. Only the rare and terrifying Art Masters could achieve such a feat. "When did a city as small as Huangwu gain an Art Master?" Chen Fei frowned. If this news spread, it would shake the entire city and terrify the three major families. No matter who this imposter was, Chen Fei had made up his mind¡ªthe high-grade spirit stones were his! He desperately needed them to recover his strength and break into the Nascent Spirit Realm. Not even an Art Master would make him back down. Su Mingcai rummaged through Su Mingcheng''s belongings, taking some spirit stones and pouring corpse-dissolving powder over the body. Within moments, Su Mingcheng''s corpse melted into a pool of black liquid. With that done, Su Mingcai eagerly dug through the rubble and retrieved a dozen spirit stones shimmering with a strange, radiant glow. "With these high-grade spirit stones, my injuries should fully heal. Once I recover, I''ll make Su Ran my personal slave and turn Huangwu City into a living hell." He laughed coldly, clutching the precious stones. Just as he was lost in his own arrogance, Chen Fei struck. Like a shadow, he darted forward and thrust a dagger into the back of Su Mingcai''s neck¡ªthe same method Su Mingcai had used on his brother. Su Mingcai''s face twisted in shock and fury. He struggled to turn around, desperate to see who had ruined his plans. Chen Fei didn''t give him the chance. He struck again and again, ensuring Su Mingcai''s swift demise. Once the body fell lifelessly to the ground, Chen Fei quickly gathered the high-grade spirit stones and found a special jade box on Su Mingcai''s corpse¡ªone designed to preserve the stones'' spiritual energy. He cleaned up the scene, using the corpse-dissolving powder to erase all traces of the fight. Emerging from the mine, he once again adopted the guise of a blind man, tapping the ground with his bamboo stick. Even if the Su family found evidence later, they would never suspect him. Back in his room, Chen Fei locked the door and took out a high-grade spirit stone. He could no longer wait. With the help of the Void Sky Cauldron, he activated the Ten Thousand Devouring Method, absorbing the stone''s immense spiritual energy at an astonishing rate. Half an hour later, the first high-grade spirit stone was fully refined. As expected, his cultivation surged¡ªhe had returned to the peak of the ninth rank of Spirit Master, just one step away from a breakthrough. "Qin Shuang, you think you destroyed me by stealing my Three-Eyed Spirit Root?" "Even if you entered Silver Moon Academy, you won''t have an easy path to the top!" Chen Fei''s heart burned with fury. He yearned to destroy the Qin family and personally hunt down Qin Shuang for revenge. Chapter 6: Martial Technique – Thousand Phantom Slash Chen Fei suppressed the impulse for revenge. He was well aware of the Qin family''s foundation. With his current cultivation at the Ninth Rank of the Spiritual Master Realm, he had no way to destroy the Qin family. After all, the Qin family had at least four Great Spiritual Masters at the Spirit Transformation Realm. Without hesitation, Chen Fei took out his remaining high-grade spirit stones and immediately absorbed and refined them! Boom! The internal energy within his body surged violently! Finally, he underwent the last transformation, breaking through from the Spirit Gathering Realm into the Spirit Transformation Realm. At that moment, the Void Heaven Cauldron in his dantian suddenly radiated a dazzling golden light. The golden light transformed into countless streams of information, instantly pouring into Chen Fei''s mind. At the same time, he was astonished to discover that the Void Heaven Cauldron had evolved and imparted a martial technique to him. "Thousand Phantom Slash!" "This technique is compatible with any weapon and can continuously amplify its power through the Void Heaven Cauldron!" "Minimum enhancement: fivefold increase in strength; maximum enhancement: sixteenfold!" Chen Fei was overwhelmed with excitement! Martial techniques were among the most valuable inheritances for Spiritual Masters. They were ranked from strongest to weakest as Heavenly, Earthly, Profound, Spiritual, and Common levels. Even Common martial techniques were worth a fortune and were the standard techniques cultivated by the Spiritual Masters of Yellow Mist City. Spiritual-level techniques and above were said to be possessed only by the city lord''s mansion. Yet, the technique passed down by the Void Heaven Cauldron was undoubtedly of an extremely high level¡ªat least superior to Spiritual-level techniques. After all, even the best Spiritual-level martial techniques only provided a threefold power increase. "Qin family, your days are numbered!" Chen Fei, brimming with joy, immediately began practicing the Thousand Phantom Slash in his room. As his mind moved, the Void Heaven Cauldron in his dantian emitted a halo of light, surging like roaring waves, one after another. With a single punch, energy surged forth, producing crackling explosions! "Fivefold!" "Right now, I can only amplify my strength five times with the Void Heaven Cauldron!" Chen Fei confirmed that he could currently only unleash the minimum power of this martial technique. Wasting no time, he sat cross-legged and resumed cultivation! The precious high-grade spirit stones, which were priceless outside, were consumed like running water in Chen Fei''s hands as he madly absorbed and refined them! "Whoosh¡­" In the end, twenty high-grade spirit stones crumbled into a fine powder and completely dissipated. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. By the time he finished cultivating, the sky had already darkened, and he had successfully advanced to the Second Rank of the Great Spiritual Master Realm. "As expected, advancing in the Great Spiritual Master Realm requires an enormous amount of spiritual energy¡ªfar more than during the Spiritual Master stage!" "These nineteen precious high-grade spirit stones only allowed me to break through from First Rank to Second Rank!" "I''ll need even more cultivation resources." Chen Fei rolled his shoulders. "Strange, why hasn''t Su Ran come back so late today?" Chen Fei frowned slightly. Su Ran harbored a great secret. The golden phoenix she carried gave him an immense sense of oppression¡ªit clearly wasn''t an ordinary being of the mortal world. Just as Chen Fei was wondering why Su Ran hadn''t returned, he saw her being helped back by Miao Yue. Su Ran was injured, and severely so. Although there were no external wounds, she was weak and could barely walk on her own. Seeing this, Chen Fei instinctively moved to step forward, only to catch himself. He then pretended to be blind and asked cautiously, "Is that Miss Su returning?" "Young Master, it''s Miss Su." Miao Yue replied hastily before helping the weak and exhausted Su Ran into the secret chamber. Feeling uneasy, Chen Fei wanted to follow them, but Miao Yue stopped him at the door. "Young Master, sit down and don''t move around. No matter what you sense, forget about it." "What happened? Su Ran is so seriously injured, yet she has no external wounds?" Chen Fei sat on the side, staring at the tightly shut secret chamber. "Could it be that mysterious spiritual sorcerer?" The thought of Su Cheng and Su Cai, the two brothers, flashed through Chen Fei''s mind. Though he and Su Ran were only husband and wife in name, and had no real marital relationship, she had still saved him. A life-saving grace must not be forgotten! "Right now, I can''t help her. I just hope she''s alright." Chen Fei sighed. His plans to take revenge on the Qin family and investigate Li Zhong''s whereabouts would have to be put on hold. For two hours, Chen Fei sat in his room, guarding outside the secret chamber. Eventually, Miao Yue emerged, drenched in sweat. "Is Miss Su alright?" Chen Fei asked with concern. "She''s fine," Miao Yue replied, clearly exhausted. Then, shockingly, she began undressing right in front of him. Seeing her exposed shoulders, Chen Fei suddenly felt awkward. She truly didn''t see him as an outsider. As Miao Yue was about to remove the last thin layer of her clothing, she finally seemed to realize something. She glanced at Chen Fei. Noticing his hollow, blind eyes, she sighed in relief and was about to continue undressing. The wet clothes sticking to her skin were uncomfortable. Chen Fei, feeling inexplicably hot and dry in his throat, had to admit¡ªMiao Yue was a top-tier beauty. Such a direct display would be tempting for any man. He quickly coughed and stopped her. "It''s late. Since Miss Su is fine, I should rest now." Miao Yue was briefly stunned. She initially wanted to explain that she would leave after changing, but then realized that would be disrespectful to the blind young master. Reluctantly, she put her clothes back on and, before leaving, grabbed a nearby tablecloth to wrap herself in. Only after she left did Chen Fei finally breathe a sigh of relief. That night, he didn''t sleep. Su Ran''s severe injuries still made him uneasy, so he stayed outside the secret chamber, ready to react at any moment. "Why are you standing guard here?" Early in the morning, Su Ran had recovered. Seeing Chen Fei sitting outside the secret chamber, she frowned. "I was worried about you, so I stayed here," Chen Fei answered honestly. Su Ran examined her blindfolded husband. After confirming he couldn''t see, she nodded slightly. "It was just exhaustion from too much work at the mines. I''m fine now." "Though we are only husband and wife in name, you once saved my life. If you need anything, just ask." Su Ran knew Chen Fei meant well, but what could a blind, crippled man possibly do for her? "I told you, you''re just my shield¡ªto deal with Ye Bufan. Don''t burden yourself. We''re merely using each other." After saying this, Su Ran turned and quickly left. Chen Fei chuckled bitterly and said no more. Yes, to everyone, he was just a cripple¡ªa man whose cultivation had been ruined by the Qin family, a blind nobody. If not for Su Ran''s needs, she wouldn''t have kept him around. "Qin family¡­" "Are you ready?" "My revenge begins now!" After Su Ran left, Chen Fei also departed from the marital residence. He didn''t openly walk out of the Su family estate but instead avoided the patrols and climbed over the walls to leave. Getting revenge on the Qin family wasn''t just about storming in and killing everyone. That would be too merciful for the ungrateful Qin family. Instead, he would first destroy the Qin family''s pride¡ªtheir commercial empire in Yellow Mist City. Then, he would crush them piece by piece until they perished in regret and fear. And finally, he would force that wretched woman, Qin Shuang, back from Silver Moon Academy. Chapter 7: Disguise After leaving the Su family, Chen Fei did not head straight to the Qin family. Instead, his first stop was a humble blacksmith shop. There, he commissioned an iron mask for himself, ensuring that his true identity would remain concealed. Additionally, he ordered a pair of glasses. After all, he would be living day and night with Su Ran, a stunning beauty. Staring at her with his empty, lifeless eyes would not only be impolite but would also seriously impact his appearance. Sunglasses, however, made everything look much cooler. With the iron mask in place, Chen Fei gave himself a new name¡ªChen Yang. Then, he headed straight for the Qin family. "Chen Yang?" "Chen Fei''s elder brother?" The Qin family guards were stunned when they saw the man before them. His physique was strikingly similar to Chen Fei''s, but he wore an iron mask, and his voice was cold and distant. "Summon your clan leader and give me an explanation," Chen Fei demanded, his voice dripping with hatred. "Otherwise, I will raze your Qin family to the ground." This place was once his home, where he had poured his heart and soul into, yet now, it was a source of unrelenting resentment. When the news spread that Chen Fei''s supposed elder brother had arrived to seek revenge, it immediately drew a crowd of curious onlookers. "Isn''t that the former three-eyed prodigy, Chen Fei? The one who became a live-in son-in-law of the Su family? He actually has an older brother?" "I always thought he was an orphan." "Well, they do look quite similar in build!" "I wonder if this Chen Yang is strong enough to take revenge. Coming to the Qin family alone is pretty bold!" The spectators watched with great interest, while some began spreading the news even further. The Qin family, one of the three great clans of Huangwu City, had grown even more influential after Qin Shuang was admitted to Silver Moon Academy, the strongest academy in Qing Nation. As the youngest Spirit Grandmaster in the city, Qin Shuang''s mere presence made even the City Lord''s Mansion treat the Qin family with respect. Now, with someone openly challenging them at their doorstep, the Qin family was furious. "Didn''t Chen Fei claim to be an orphan?" "Where did this supposed elder brother suddenly come from?" A Qin family elder, a second-tier Spirit Grandmaster, frowned deeply, sensing something suspicious about the situation. "Does it even matter if he''s Chen Fei''s brother? He dares to cause trouble at our Qin family''s gate¡ªhe must be dealt with." You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. "I will go and test this man myself," a young man stepped forward. He was Qin Cheng, Qin Shuang''s younger brother, and Chen Fei''s former brother-in-law. "I''ll accompany you," the third elder of the Qin family said, stepping forward as well. Thus, the Qin family sent Qin Cheng and their third elder to confront the intruder. As a ninth-tier Spirit Master, Qin Cheng was the perfect candidate to probe this so-called "Chen Yang''s" strength. Chen Fei''s heart grew cold when he saw his former brother-in-law step out first. If not for his guidance and efforts, Qin Cheng would have been lucky to reach the eighth tier of the Spirit Master realm. "You are the clan leader of the Qin family?" Chen Fei feigned ignorance as he stared at Qin Cheng. "My Qin family''s clan leader isn''t someone any random dog or cat can meet," Qin Cheng sneered. "I am Qin Cheng. Your treacherous brother, Chen Fei, was taken in by our Qin family, yet he repaid our kindness with betrayal. He even tried to poison our clan leader and seize our family''s wealth. He even deceived my sister!" Chen Fei''s heart grew colder at those words. As expected, the Qin family had fabricated lies, painting him as a monstrous traitor. But did any of that matter? He wasn''t dead yet. And in this world, truth was irrelevant¡ªonly strength mattered. "Shameless liar! How dare you slander my brother?" Chen Fei''s voice was icy. "Everyone in Huangwu City knows that your Qin family''s rise was only possible because of my brother''s help." "Your treacherous sister not only deceived my brother''s feelings but also stole his Three-Eyed Spirit Root. And now you dare to twist the truth?" As soon as Chen Fei spoke, the crowd erupted in shock. Those who understood the situation immediately realized the truth in his words. "Absurd! You court death!" Qin Cheng roared, unwilling to let him speak further. He unsheathed his sword and lunged at Chen Fei. "Flowing Cloud Sword Technique!" The very technique that Chen Fei had once personally taught him. Now, Qin Cheng was using it to try to kill him. Chen Fei did not hesitate. A surge of invisible energy burst from his body the moment Qin Cheng approached. Slash! Spiritual energy, more lethal than any blade, erupted forth, sending Qin Cheng flying. Blood gushed from his body as he crashed into the ground. "You crippled my brother, so today, I will cripple your entire Qin family." Chen Fei''s voice was filled with killing intent. "If Qin Xiaotian does not come out, then the Qin family will be dyed in blood." "A Grandmaster!" "He''s a Spirit Grandmaster!" "Chen Fei was a genius, and now his brother turns out to be even stronger!" "This is getting interesting. I bet the Qin family is regretting their actions now." The crowd buzzed with excitement, marveling at the overwhelming power of the masked Chen Yang. "A dignified Spirit Grandmaster attacking juniors¡ªdo you truly think my Qin family has no one to oppose you?" The Qin family''s third elder was both shocked and furious. He had failed to rescue Qin Cheng in time and had not expected this "Chen Yang" to be so powerful. Without further hesitation, the third elder attacked. As a second-tier Spirit Grandmaster, he had trained in multiple martial techniques and had mastered them all to perfection. In the Grandmaster realm, he was considered an elite expert. In a flash, he vanished like a phantom, using his Phantom Step technique to close in on Chen Fei. His sword struck with the precision of a viper. The crowd gasped in admiration at his speed and skill. But before they could even finish their praise¡ª Chen Fei struck with his bare fist. A single punch, as fierce as a dragon''s wrath, shattered the elder''s attack and sent him hurtling through the air. Boom! The elder crashed into the golden "Qin Manor" plaque at the entrance, utterly destroying it. "Pathetic," Chen Fei remarked coldly. "Your techniques are all flash and no substance." With the power of his Phantom Slash technique amplifying his strength fivefold, a mere second-tier Spirit Grandmaster was no match for him. The third elder lay in a pool of blood, staring in disbelief at Chen Yang. Fear filled his eyes as he realized the Qin family had provoked a truly terrifying figure. "Are you really Chen Fei''s brother?" the elder asked in horror. "Summon your clan leader," Chen Fei commanded icily. "He will kneel before me and beg for forgiveness. And release my brother''s servant, Li Zhong. If not, I will slaughter every last one of you." The once-excited crowd suddenly fell silent. Chen Fei''s sheer, unrestrained fury sent chills down their spines. Chapter 8: Overpowering This time, even the Qin family patriarch, Qin Xiaotian, couldn''t sit still. "One move to seriously injure the Third Elder?" Qin Xiaotian was utterly shocked. As the head of the Qin family, he was only at the fifth level of the Transformation Spirit Realm, making him the weakest among the three great family leaders. Though he also had the strength to defeat the Third Elder in one move, at this moment, he was uncertain about his chances. However, with such a powerful opponent coming to his doorstep, if he didn''t step forward, the Qin family would likely be drenched in blood today. "The Qin family patriarch is here!" "I wonder who is stronger¡ªChen Fei''s brother or Qin Xiaotian?" The onlookers were thrilled by the spectacle. Especially when such a prominent figure like Qin Xiaotian was involved, it was the kind of gossip that could last a lifetime. Qin Xiaotian arrived at the entrance, first glancing at Qin Cheng, who had his foundation crippled, then at the injured Third Elder, and finally at the iron-masked ''Chen Yang,'' who was radiating fury. At that moment, Qin Xiaotian seemed to see Chen Fei''s face through the mask. "Is it really him?" "Impossible. His dantian was destroyed, and he lost his Three-Pupil Spirit Eye¡ªan ironclad fact." "Could it be that Chen Fei lied? Is he not an orphan and actually has a powerful family backing him?" Seeing the masked figure, Qin Xiaotian''s mind raced with possibilities, and he indeed felt a tinge of regret. However, he didn''t regret crippling Chen Fei¡ªhe regretted that Qin Shuang had acted too hastily, leaving behind a hidden danger, which led to Chen Fei''s ''family'' coming for revenge. "Chen Yang?" Qin Xiaotian cleared his throat, refraining from attacking immediately. At this moment, he was unsure whether he could defeat the man in front of him. "Qin Xiaotian, you finally decided to show yourself?" Chen Fei stared at Qin Xiaotian, his fists unconsciously clenching as he suppressed the urge to kill him on the spot. He didn''t strike immediately. "Chen Yang, since you are Chen Fei''s elder brother, I would have sought you out even if you hadn''t come." Qin Xiaotian wore an expression of grief, speaking sorrowfully, "I treated your brother like family. I never expected him to poison me and attempt to seize my Qin family''s assets." "Even so, I couldn''t bring myself to kill him. I wanted to see if your family had any conscience left, if you could guide him back onto the right path¡­" Qin Xiaotian spoke with a heartbroken tone, as if he truly regretted everything. Watching Qin Xiaotian''s clumsy performance, Chen Fei felt nothing but disgust. He didn''t want to hear another word and coldly interrupted, "Right and wrong¡ªwhy don''t you call Qin Shuang out? If she no longer possesses the Three-Pupil Spirit Eye, I will take my own life right here and now." The moment these words left his mouth, the onlookers immediately urged Qin Xiaotian to call Qin Shuang out and let the truth be known. Qin Xiaotian''s face darkened. He couldn''t continue his act now, so he furrowed his brows and said, "My daughter Shuang''er has exceptional talent. Recently, she not only broke through to the Transformation Spirit Realm but also became a student of Silver Moon Academy. She has gone to the capital." Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. "Then call her back, and we will confront the truth face-to-face!" Chen Fei pressed on. The Qin family owed him too much, and he would not take the blame. He wanted to see them utterly disgraced and destroyed in despair. "If that''s not possible, then you, Qin Xiaotian, must kneel and apologize to me today. Otherwise, I will slaughter your entire Qin family to avenge my poor brother!" Chen Fei left Qin Xiaotian no way out. His killing intent surged¡ªif Qin Xiaotian dared to refuse, blood would flow throughout the Qin household. "Fine! Let me see how strong you really are, daring to cause trouble at my Qin family''s gate!" Qin Xiaotian had no way out. He could only grit his teeth and go all in, unleashing his spiritual energy and striking at Chen Fei. "Spirit Energy Armor!" "Fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master!" The moment Qin Xiaotian attacked, Chen Fei was slightly surprised. He hadn''t expected that Qin Xiaotian, who always claimed to be a fourth-grade Grand Spirit Master, was actually a fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master. Chen Fei felt immense pressure. He was only at the second-grade Grand Spirit Master level, and his only trump card was Thousand Phantom Slash, a technique that surpassed spirit-grade martial arts. So, as Qin Xiaotian attacked, Chen Fei also went all out, continuously stacking power within the Void Sky Cauldron before directly meeting Qin Xiaotian''s full-powered sword strike head-on. Boom! The powerful collision shook the air, creating an explosive shockwave that sent a bitter wind sweeping across the area. Chen Fei''s fists throbbed with pain, forcing him to retreat two steps. A full-force strike from a fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master, even if it was just a basic martial art, still exerted immense pressure on him. On the other side, Qin Xiaotian''s body also trembled violently as he staggered backward. Clearly, in this exchange, he had been slightly overpowered. "Not bad! He''s just a fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master!" Though Qin Xiaotian had suffered a small setback, he was secretly relieved and let out a breath. "If only I had mastered the spirit-grade martial arts that Shuang''er gave me, I could have killed this brat today." Qin Xiaotian felt somewhat unwilling. Just as Qin Xiaotian thought the opponent might retreat after experiencing his power, he saw the masked figure charging forward once more. "Courting death!" Qin Xiaotian roared, his confidence suddenly returning. Seeing this, the other three Qin family elders also showed expressions of rage. Since their opponent was only a fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master, he had no right to act so recklessly at the Qin family''s doorstep. Thus, the First Elder and the Second Elder both stepped forward. Since their enemy had already come knocking, they didn''t care about the notion of ''fighting fair.'' Among them, Qin Xiaotian was a fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master, while the First and Second Elders were both fourth-grade Grand Spirit Masters. The Fourth Elder, only at the second-grade level, did not dare to participate, fearing that he might become collateral damage if the fight turned desperate. "You want to rely on numbers?" Chen Fei sneered internally. With the abilities he gained from the Spirit-Eyed Snake, he could perceive everything around him. Even when facing three opponents at once, he felt no fear. Instead, he intended to use this battle to make the name ''Chen Yang'' famous in Yellow Mist City, paving the way for his next moves. Incredibly, despite being outnumbered, Chen Fei didn''t fall behind at all. Instead, he steadily suppressed Qin Xiaotian and the other two elders. Boom! After an intense battle lasting fifteen minutes, Chen Fei exploited a flaw in the Second Elder''s defense. With a swift turn, he delivered a punch that contained the power of a fifth-grade Grand Spirit Master, instantly gravely injuring the Second Elder and sending him flying. "Second Brother!" Qin Xiaotian''s expression changed dramatically. He never imagined that even with superior numbers, they would still expose a weakness to their opponent. "Patriarch, this brat is strange¡ªit''s like he has a third eye!" The injured Second Elder spoke with deep apprehension. "Three-Pupil Spirit Eye?" Qin Xiaotian and the others all assumed that Chen Fei was using the divine ability of the Three-Pupil Spirit Eye. "It seems he really is Chen Fei''s brother." Only now did the Qin family members fully believe in the masked man''s identity. "Stop!" Seeing that even three-on-one wasn''t enough, Qin Xiaotian abandoned the fight to avoid further humiliation. "Qin Xiaotian, have you thought it through?" "Are you ready to kneel and apologize?" Chen Fei didn''t continue attacking. He wasn''t here to massacre the Qin family¡ªhe wanted them to kneel and admit their wrongdoing. Chapter 9: The Only Talisman "I don''t know what I did wrong, but since my Qin family brothers are weaker than you, for the sake of my family''s safety, I am willing to kneel and apologize," Qin Xiaotian admitted defeat. Chen Fei smirked coldly. He didn''t even know what he did wrong, yet he called this an apology? This was a classic case of someone who hadn''t been beaten hard enough and still clung to delusions. That wouldn''t do. Chen Fei had no intention of killing, but he had to make sure Qin Xiaotian felt real pain¡ªpain so intense that he abandoned all illusions. "If the Qin family doesn''t know where they went wrong, then I''ll make sure you figure it out," Chen Fei said coldly. He moved again, targeting the Qin family''s Grand Elder. The battle reignited. This time, Chen Fei''s attacks were not just aimed at Qin Xiaotian and the Grand Elder. Any Qin family disciple within his attack range became a target. If he didn''t strike hard enough, Qin Xiaotian might still think his so-called threat to "paint the Qin mansion in blood" was just an empty boast. The Qin family had already stationed many guards here. As the situation escalated, more Qin family disciples gathered to watch. Chen Fei was like a tiger in a flock of sheep. If Qin Xiaotian and the Grand Elder dared to retreat, he would turn his wrath upon the Qin disciples and guards. In mere moments, blood soaked the gates of the Qin mansion, painting the entrance courtyard red. Agonizing screams echoed throughout the estate as one Qin disciple after another fell into pools of blood. Qin Xiaotian and the Grand Elder, witnessing this massacre, had bloodshot eyes filled with panic and pain. These disciples were the future of the Qin family¡ªtheir descendants and the hope of their lineage. "Chen Yang!" "I was wrong!" Qin Xiaotian knew there was no way out. If he wanted to save the Qin family, they had to take responsibility for what happened to Chen Fei. And he couldn''t let Qin Shuang bear that responsibility. Even if it cost his own life, or even the entire Qin family, he was willing to take the blame. To the Qin family, Qin Shuang was their greatest hope for rising to power. They would do anything to protect her reputation. "What was your mistake?" Chen Fei asked, his attacks not ceasing. He knew that only through pain would the Qin family truly bow their heads in submission. "I was blinded by greed, tempted by Chen Fei''s Three-Eyed Spirit Bone, and falsely accused him," Qin Xiaotian admitted, taking the blame upon himself. "You want to take the fall for that wretched woman, Qin Shuang? Too bad¡ªyou don''t have the right," Chen Fei sneered, his strikes relentless. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. "Qin Shuang is the most talented disciple of my Qin family, with unlimited potential. And... she is carrying your brother Chen Fei''s child!" Qin Xiaotian revealed his trump card. Chen Fei''s body trembled at those words! He halted his slaughter of the Qin family. That wretched woman, Qin Shuang, was carrying his brother''s child! Qin Shuang deserved to die. The Qin family deserved to die. But the child was innocent. Seeing Chen Fei finally stop, Qin Xiaotian sighed in relief and pressed his advantage. "It was my own greed that led to this. Please, spare my Qin family," he pleaded. Chen Fei hesitated. The child was innocent. And it was his own nephew. "Qin Xiaotian, deliver a message to that vile woman, Qin Shuang. If she wishes to live longer, she must protect my unborn nephew. That child may be her only talisman for survival." "But as for the Qin family of Huangwu City?" "I will make sure your clan perishes in despair, slowly, until you are reduced to dust," Chen Fei declared coldly. Qin Xiaotian''s body trembled. For the first time, he felt an overwhelming sense of impending doom. Was this the price they had to pay for nurturing Qin Shuang? "No! The Qin family cannot be destroyed!" "We will not be destroyed! As long as I have time, I will deal with Chen Yang!" "If Shuang''er is given enough time, even the Chen family will be insignificant!" Qin Xiaotian still clung to his fantasies. "Bring me Li Zhong. We''re done here for today," Chen Fei commanded, glancing at the bloodied Qin disciples. His anger had been somewhat sated. "Go, bring Li Zhong here," Qin Xiaotian ordered at once. Before long, Li Zhong was brought before Chen Fei. His body was covered in wounds, barely clinging to life. "Bring forth all Qin family disciples who participated in hunting down my brother, Chen Fei, and those who attacked Li Zhong," Chen Fei demanded, his fury rekindling at the sight of the nearly-dead Li Zhong. "Chen Yang¡­" Qin Xiaotian hesitated, trying to negotiate. Boom! A loud explosion rang out. A Qin family disciple standing five meters away was struck by an invisible force. His chest was pierced through, and he died instantly. This disciple had been one of the culprits in the pursuit of Chen Fei and Li Zhong. "You have no room for negotiation. The only reason your Qin family is still alive is because of my mood and my unborn nephew," Chen Fei declared, his voice brooking no argument. At this moment, he was like a god of slaughter, making everyone in the Qin family tremble in fear. Qin Xiaotian abandoned all hopes of bargaining. He had no choice but to hand over all the culprits, watching helplessly as they were executed one by one. Humiliation! Today marked the greatest humiliation in the Qin family''s history! After today, the name "Chen Yang" would spread throughout Huangwu City, stepping over the corpses of one of its three major families¡ªthe Qin family. Chen Fei, under the alias of Chen Yang, left the Qin estate with the gravely wounded Li Zhong. His name quickly spread through Huangwu City. "The elder brother of that useless waste, Chen Fei, suppressed the entire Qin family single-handedly?" "Truly, karma is real. What goes around comes around!" "I wonder what kind of family the Chens are, to have produced two such monstrous talents." "Add Chen Yang''s name to the registry for the Capital Celebration. Such a powerhouse appearing in Huangwu City¡ªwhether as an ally or otherwise¡ªmust not go unnoticed," ordered Ye Bufan, the young lord of the City Lord''s Mansion. "Our family''s useless son-in-law actually has such a powerful brother?" "Good thing we never bullied that waste, or we''d be digging our own graves now." The Su family was shocked and pleasantly surprised. They had thought Su Han had married a laughingstock, but it turned out that "waste" had a terrifying elder brother. In a secluded courtyard, Li Zhong stared intently at the masked man before him. As Chen Fei''s personal servant, he knew for a fact¡ªChen Fei had no elder brother named Chen Yang. "Who are you?" "Why are you pretending to be my young master''s brother?" "And why are you targeting the Qin family?" Li Zhong''s voice was sharp and wary. Chapter 10: The Eldest Brothers Name Spreads Far and Wide Faced with Li Zhong''s doubts, Chen Fei did not hide the truth. Instead, he removed his mask in front of him. "Li Zhong, I owe you. You suffered because of me," Chen Fei said with deep sorrow as he looked at his loyal servant, who was willing to die to protect him. "Young Master!" Li Zhong was overwhelmed with emotion when he recognized Chen Fei. He immediately attempted to kneel. "It''s me!" "I have not only recovered, but I have also reached new heights!" Chen Fei stopped Li Zhong from kneeling. "This is wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" Tears welled up in Li Zhong''s eyes as excitement overtook him. He had never imagined that sending his young master to the Su family as a son-in-law would not only save his life but also elevate him to a level where he could single-handedly suppress the entire Qin family. "Young Master, I always knew that a tiger father would not have a dog son. One day, you will return to the Chen family, take revenge for the Master, and make those who abandoned you regret their actions!" Li Zhong held Chen Fei''s hands tightly, his gaze filled with hope. "That day will come, and it won''t be long," Chen Fei assured him. Chen Fei knew there was still a part of his identity hidden from him. Li Zhong refused to disclose it, claiming he would only reveal the truth once Chen Fei reached the Spirit Commanding Realm. Until now, as a transmigrator from Earth who had taken over this body, Chen Fei had not been particularly concerned about its original owner''s past. Thus, he never pressed for answers. But now, after seeing Li Zhong risk his life for him, Chen Fei felt he owed him a debt that must be repaid. "Young Master, since you have the strength to wipe out the Qin family, why not just kill them all?" "The Qin family is full of ungrateful and ruthless people. If they regain power, they will undoubtedly seek revenge." "If the weeds aren''t uprooted, they will regrow with the spring breeze." Li Zhong looked at Chen Fei in confusion. "Killing them outright would be too easy!" Chen Fei said coldly. "I want them to die in despair. More importantly, I want Qin Shuang to crawl back to me." "My child is innocent," he explained. "Young Master, do you already have a plan?" Li Zhong asked. "What do you need me to do?" "Just stay here and focus on recovering. Leave the rest to me." After settling Li Zhong, Chen Fei left the courtyard. That afternoon, wearing his mask and assuming the identity of Chen Yang, he arrived at Huang Yue Tower. He wasn''t alone. He was accompanied by nearly ninety percent of the Qin family''s trade supervisors¡ªmen he had recruited himself. Because of his relationship with Qin Shuang, they had indirectly become part of the Qin family. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. When Chen Fei was betrayed, these men had been caught off guard. Some even tried to defend him, only to be violently suppressed by the Qin family, forcing them into submission. But now, news of Chen Fei''s "elder brother" crushing the Qin family had spread, reigniting their spirits. So when they received word that "Chen Yang" wanted to meet them, they all rushed to the meeting without hesitation. By the time a single meal was finished, they had all severed ties with the Qin family and returned to Chen Fei''s control. This was the influence Chen Fei had as the mastermind behind the Qin family''s commercial empire! In just one night, the Qin family''s trade network began to collapse, and trouble came knocking. ¡ª "How did this happen?" "A bunch of ungrateful traitors! Why did they all betray us at the same time?" "If we fail to fulfill our contracts, we won''t just lose hundreds of thousands of spirit stones in monthly profits. We''ll also face compensation fees of millions of spirit stones!" "The Qin family could go bankrupt because of this!" Late at night, the Qin family received reports from various trade hubs, sending them into a frenzy. "This is the revenge Chen Fei''s elder brother spoke of!" The Second Elder looked helplessly at Qin Xiaotian. "Patriarch, what should we do?" At this moment, all eyes were on Qin Xiaotian. If they couldn''t stop this disaster, the Qin family would be ruined overnight, losing its place among the three great families of Huangwu City. "The Qin family''s trade business was built by Chen Fei. Now that his elder brother has appeared, it''s only natural that they follow him," Qin Xiaotian said bitterly. "But don''t worry. The Qin family won''t fall." "Once I master the ''Heavenly Dragon Claw''¡ªa spirit-grade martial art¡ªChen Fei''s so-called elder brother will die." "When that happens, our crisis will resolve itself." With that, Qin Xiaotian turned and left. As the patriarch departed, the Qin family''s elders and executives were filled with unease. Could mastering a single martial art really resolve the crisis? They had no confidence. Some of them were already wavering, regretting their past actions against Chen Fei. But Qin Xiaotian and Qin Shuang''s authority loomed over them, preventing any open defiance. If even the high-ranking members had such thoughts, what about the lower ranks? ¡ª At the Su family. After persuading the Qin family''s trade supervisors to defect, Chen Fei had not only plunged the Qin family into financial ruin but also taken two hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones and a priceless Tier-2 spiritual elixir¡ªthe Silver-Winged Golden Eagle Pill. This elixir had originally been a congratulatory gift for Qin Shuang, one that Chen Fei had spent a staggering hundred thousand spirit stones to acquire at an auction. "Qin Shuang, you had the heart to betray me. But can you stand by and watch your family suffer in despair?" After returning to the Su family, Chen Fei patiently awaited Qin Shuang''s return. As soon as he stepped into his marital chamber, Miao Yue walked in. "Young Master, where have you been? You were gone the entire afternoon," she asked. "Is something wrong?" Chen Fei replied without explaining. "Something big happened!" Miao Yue exaggerated. "Your elder brother has arrived in Huangwu City to support you!" "Come with me. The Lord has been waiting for you all afternoon," she urged. "I have no elder brother," Chen Fei stated firmly. "How can that be? The entire city is talking about your elder brother, Chen Yang. They say he wears an iron mask, moves like a cold-faced death god, and single-handedly forced the Qin family''s patriarch to kneel and beg for mercy!" Miao Yue exclaimed. "I''ll say it again¡ªI have no elder brother. I am alone. The rumors outside must be a misunderstanding. It has nothing to do with me." Chen Fei''s unwavering tone made Miao Yue hesitate. Could it be that Chen Yang wasn''t really his brother, but just a smokescreen to deal with the Qin family? "Then¡­ what should I tell the Lord?" Miao Yue frowned. The entire Su family was abuzz with speculation, with many saying they had struck gold by marrying Chen Fei, whose background was likely extraordinary. But now, Chen Fei himself was denying everything. "You explain it to him," Chen Fei said before turning toward his bed, uninterested in further discussion. Seeing this, Miao Yue had no choice but to leave. The moment she stepped out, a secret chamber''s door quietly opened. Dripping wet, Su Qing walked out, curiously observing Chen Fei as he lay on the bed. "Chen Yang isn''t really your brother?" she asked, shutting the door behind her. Ignoring her, she casually walked to the wardrobe and began changing her clothes, unconcerned about Chen Fei''s presence. Chapter 11: The Turmoil in Huangwu City Although Chen Fei had his back to Su Ran, his innate talent from the Spirit-Eyed Serpent allowed him to sense her proud and graceful figure once again, stirring an uncontrollable restlessness within him. "You can trust him!" Chen Fei responded, seemingly avoiding the question. "That''s not what you told Miao Yue just now," Su Ran said, adjusting her clothing while curiously glancing at him. "You and Miao Yue are not the same," Chen Fei replied flatly. "It''s just a pity that he''s only at the Fifth Stage of the Qi Spirit Realm¡­" Su Ran, now fully dressed, turned and left the secret chamber. She couldn''t help but find it odd¡ªChen Fei''s true cultivation was merely at the Third Stage of the Qi Spirit Realm. As the chamber door closed, Chen Fei muttered to himself, "You look down on a Great Spirit Master at the Fifth Stage of the Qi Spirit Realm? Just how many secrets are you hiding?" With that, he pulled out a Silver-Winged Golden Eagle Pill from his pocket and smiled. "What if I were at the Sixth Stage? Or even the Seventh?" The Silver-Winged Golden Eagle Pill was not only extremely expensive but also incredibly rare. The medicinal pills circulating in Huangwu City were mostly first-grade, and even then, they were of inferior quality. A third-grade pill like the Silver-Winged Golden Eagle Pill was essentially priceless. In fact, such a pill didn''t exist in all of Huangwu City. Chen Fei had gone to great lengths, using every bit of his wit and connections, to obtain it from the Qin family''s trade caravan in the capital. Activating the Void Sky Cauldron and circulating his Ten Thousand Dao Technique, Chen Fei absorbed and refined the pill, a treasure worth a hundred thousand spirit stones. His spiritual energy surged visibly, allowing him to break through to the Third Stage of the Qi Spirit Realm and bringing him within reach of the Fourth Stage. The astonishing speed of his cultivation advancement made him marvel at the Void Sky Cauldron''s power once more. Under normal circumstances, the efficiency of refining medicinal pills varied from person to person. The better one''s talent, the higher the conversion rate when consuming pills or spiritual herbs. Even those with a Three-Eyed Spirit Gaze talent had an initial absorption rate of only around 3%. Three percent was already considered incredibly high! Moreover, the more of the same type of pill one consumed, the lower the absorption rate became. By the fifth pill, the effects would be negligible. This was precisely why even the City Lord''s Manor couldn''t rapidly cultivate Ye Bufan into a Spirit Master. However, with the Void Sky Cauldron, whether refining high-grade spirit stones or the Silver-Winged Golden Eagle Pill, the conversion rate was always at a perfect 100%. This alone made Chen Fei realize that the Void Sky Cauldron inside him had an unfathomable origin and power. The pill contained the essence of the Silver-Winged Golden Eagle, awakening another of the beast''s innate abilities within him. "Aerial Manipulation!" "No wonder the Silver-Winged Golden Eagle is as fast as lightning in the sky." "It turns out it has a natural ability to control the air." Chen Fei was overjoyed. Although he couldn''t soar like the beast, he could now significantly boost his own speed. Combined with his Phantom Step technique, his movement skill could rival even spirit-grade agility techniques. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. After an entire night of arduous cultivation, Chen Fei felt no exhaustion. On the contrary, he was brimming with energy. Using the power of the Silver-Winged Golden Eagle Pill and hundreds of medium-grade spirit stones, he had fully stabilized his cultivation, reaching the peak of the Third Stage of the Qi Spirit Realm. He was only one step away from the Fourth Stage! With his strength greatly enhanced, Chen Fei felt an overwhelming confidence. The Qin family was no longer a threat. As usual, Su Ran had left early in the morning. She seemed truly busy, though Chen Fei had no idea what occupied her time. When Miao Yue delivered breakfast, her mood was noticeably sour, likely because she had been scolded by Elder Su the night before. "Stay in the courtyard for the next two days. Don''t go out. Something major has happened in the Su family," Miao Yue warned as she was about to leave. "What happened?" Chen Fei asked curiously. "The two brothers, Su Mingcheng and Su Mingcai, who let you into the mines two days ago, have gone missing. They were found dead in the main cave yesterday morning, with clear signs of a fierce battle," Miao Yue explained. "Has the murderer been identified?" Chen Fei asked calmly. "There are already some leads," Miao Yue said. "But someone dared to kill direct descendants of the Su family within their own territory. The family elder has ordered that no expense be spared in hunting down the culprit and publicly executing them." Chen Fei remained silent, uninterested in the matter. He was certain they wouldn''t suspect him. After Miao Yue left, Chen Fei finished his breakfast and, without hesitation, vaulted over the courtyard wall. For him, the most important task now was to force the Qin family into a desperate situation, making Qin Shuang reveal herself. The second priority was to locate the mysterious spiritual arts master hiding in Huangwu City. Although he had only caught a glimpse of the person in the mine, and they had borrowed Su Mingcai''s body to communicate, Chen Fei felt uneasy about them. He had stolen eighty high-grade spirit stones from that master, yet they had remained silent. That was even more unsettling. After all, that was an enormous fortune! "Young Master, a letter has arrived from the City Lord''s Manor." Just as Chen Fei arrived at the courtyard where he had arranged for Li Zhong to stay, Li Zhong handed him an invitation. Li Zhong had mostly recovered after taking the medicinal pills Chen Fei had given him, regaining about 70¨C80% of his strength. "A Founding Celebration?" Chen Fei skimmed the letter and quickly lost interest. "Young Master, there''s another letter." Seeing Chen Fei uninterested in the invitation, Li Zhong pulled out another envelope. "Hmm?" Chen Fei looked at him in confusion. "You''re the most talked-about figure in Huangwu City right now, Young Master. Six different groups came looking for you just last night," Li Zhong said with a grin. Then, he recounted the details of each group. After hearing Li Zhong''s report, Chen Fei furrowed his brow. He had always assumed Huangwu City was dominated by the three great families. But now he realized it was far more complicated. It wasn''t just the City Lord''s Manor and the Su family that had approached him¡ªfour other factions had revealed themselves, ones that had kept a low profile in the city until now. "Li Zhong, do you think this little Huangwu City can hold so many great powers?" Chen Fei asked. "Young Master, I also feel something is off. Huangwu City is the smallest city in the Great Qing Nation. Yet suddenly, so many major forces have surfaced. It''s very unusual," Li Zhong replied, puzzled. "You should read this letter first, Young Master. Of the six groups, I believe only this Elder Sun came with true goodwill and sincerity," Li Zhong added. "Silver Moon Academy?" Chen Fei opened the envelope and immediately saw the emblem of the academy¡ªa silver crescent moon. The moment he laid eyes on it, memories surged forth¡ªmemories of Qin Shuang betraying him and driving the silver crescent moon emblem into his dantian. "Young Master, my apologies¡­" Li Zhong was taken aback, never expecting Elder Sun to be from Silver Moon Academy. "It''s fine. The one who betrayed me was that wretched Qin Shuang, not Silver Moon Academy," Chen Fei said after reading the letter. "And you''re right¡ªElder Sun does seem sincere." "Young Master, what''s going on?" Li Zhong asked curiously. "Huangwu City is about to face a massive upheaval," Chen Fei said. Now, he understood why so many powerful figures had suddenly appeared in such a small city. "Deliver this letter to the Su family patriarch on my behalf, as repayment for saving my ''brother'' during his time of need," Chen Fei instructed, handing the letter to Li Zhong. "Understood!" Li Zhong laughed heartily, took the letter, and set off toward the Su family. As for Chen Fei, he made his way to meet Elder Sun, as requested. Elder Sun had warned him of an impending disaster in Huangwu City and had invited him to become a special recruit at Silver Moon Academy, hoping he would join forces with them to face the looming crisis. Chen Fei was intrigued by the offer. If Qin Shuang was hiding at Silver Moon Academy and refused to return to aid the Qin family, he would have to go there himself eventually. Having an official academy identity would only work in his favor. Following the instructions, Chen Fei arrived at a seemingly ordinary courtyard. Elder Sun had already arranged for someone to welcome him at the entrance. Chapter 12: Special Recruitment "Mr. Chen, our vice dean has been expecting you." A young man, slightly plump yet exuding an indescribable sense of weight, greeted Chen Fei at the entrance. Despite his youth, he carried an aura of profound steadiness, as if bearing an immense burden upon his shoulders. "As expected of someone from Silvermoon Academy. His cultivation must be above mine." Chen Fei mused inwardly. Upon entering the courtyard, Chen Fei met the man known as Elder Sun. Sun Qianyi, the vice dean of Silvermoon Academy. "Mr. Chen, I am very pleased you could come." Sun Qianyi, though his hair was white with age, radiated a vigorous energy. His kind smile was reminiscent of a benevolent elder. "With an invitation from Senior Sun, I would not dare to delay," Chen Fei replied humbly. "Mr. Chen, you are young and promising. Single-handedly suppressing the Qin family has made you quite famous. I imagine I am not the only one who sought you out last night." Sun Qianyi got straight to the point. "Since you are willing to meet me here, I consider it an honor. Now, I must ask¡ªare you interested in joining Silvermoon Academy?" This was precisely the matter mentioned in his letter. "Senior Sun, I have long admired Silvermoon Academy. However, what I truly wish to understand is¡ªwhat great change is about to occur in Yellow Mist City?" Chen Fei questioned. He had no issue joining Silvermoon Academy, but he needed to know if they merely wanted him as a student or if they expected him to play a role in this looming upheaval. Sun Qianyi chuckled. "Mr. Chen, you are quite meticulous. In truth, this matter is no longer much of a secret. Even if I do not tell you, you will learn of it soon enough." "A month ago, a powerful Spirit Arts Master passed through this place and sensed that a secret realm is on the verge of emerging." "I have come on behalf of Silvermoon Academy to vie for the opportunities and treasures within this realm." "A secret realm?" Chen Fei''s expression changed slightly. Now, he finally understood why so many powerful figures had gathered in Yellow Mist City. Secret realms held great fortune but were also perilous lands where opportunity and danger coexisted. Clearly, Sun Qianyi knew more details, but since Chen Fei had not yet joined Silvermoon Academy, the vice dean had not revealed everything. "Mr. Chen, if you are willing to become a specially recruited student of Silvermoon Academy, I can bring you into this secret realm." "Furthermore, you may not know this, but Silvermoon Academy holds a prestigious status in the Great Qing Nation. If you accept the special enrollment, as long as you graduate successfully, you can become an official City Patrol Envoy¡ªgranted considerable authority." If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. "As for the secret realm, whether you gain any fortune will depend on your own abilities." Sun Qianyi continued. "Senior Sun, which other major forces are aware of this matter? And when will the secret realm open?" Chen Fei inquired. "Those involved include the Qinghai Academy from Zhou Nation, Tianjiao Academy from Lu Nation, the Hunyuan Sect from Qin Ridge, and the Universal Trade Alliance. Additionally, many prominent families have sent their elders to escort their talented disciples here." "As for the exact timing of the realm''s emergence, that remains unknown." "This competition will be intense!" Chen Fei frowned. He hadn''t expected so many major powers to take an interest. "One cannot become a true powerhouse without being tempered by life-and-death struggles." "What we can do is provide you with a fair environment for competition." "Mr. Chen, are you willing to join Silvermoon Academy and compete with the top geniuses from other forces?" Sun Qianyi smiled as he looked at Chen Fei. "Thank you for your recognition, Senior Sun. Then, I shall accept this offer." Chen Fei gladly agreed. Clearly, gaining entry into the secret realm required approval from these major forces¡ªwithout their consent, he would have no chance of entering. "Chen Yang, on behalf of Silvermoon Academy, I welcome you." Sun Qianyi beamed with joy. As he spoke, he took out a bottle of pills, a spirit-grade martial art manual, a three-foot-nine-long sword, and two sets of Silvermoon Academy''s signature robes. The sight left Chen Fei stunned. So many valuable items¡ªclearly, they were not hidden in Sun Qianyi''s clothing but stored within a storage pouch. Storage pouches themselves were rare treasures, and those capable of using them were even more extraordinary. Only cultivators who had surpassed the Spirit Master Realm could wield them. "These are some cultivation resources provided by the academy. If you perform well in the secret realm, you will receive even greater rewards." "Silvermoon Academy never mistreats its students." Sun Qianyi spoke solemnly. "Thank you, Senior Sun." Naturally, Chen Fei did not hold back and accepted everything without hesitation. "Junior, you should address him as Dean Sun or Teacher Sun now." The plump young man beside them chuckled. "Senior is right!" Chen Fei nodded and corrected himself. "Student Chen Yang greets Dean Sun." Now that he was officially a student of Silvermoon Academy, he had become part of the institution. To further strengthen their bond, Sun Qianyi took Chen Fei and Lu Yijun to dine at Yellow Moon Tower. Only then did Chen Fei learn that the plump young man, Lu Yijun¡ªwho carried an aura as if bearing a great mountain¡ªwas the grandson of Silvermoon Academy''s headmaster. Despite only recently turning eighteen, Lu Yijun was already a ninth-tier Grand Spirit Master, ranking among the top ten students of Silvermoon Academy. He had accompanied Sun Qianyi to Yellow Mist City in hopes of using the secret realm''s opportunities to break into the Spirit Lord Realm. And the true reason Sun Qianyi had been so eager to recruit Chen Fei as a special student was to have him assist Lu Yijun in his breakthrough within the secret realm. Chen Fei appreciated their honesty. He knew full well that nothing in this world came without a price. "Dean Sun, Senior Lu, rest assured. When we enter the secret realm, I will do my best to help Senior Lu achieve his breakthrough." Chen Fei pledged. "Junior, what level of Grand Spirit Master are you currently at?" Lu Yijun suddenly asked. "Don''t misunderstand¡ªI ask only because we are now fellow disciples of the academy. I simply wish to better understand your strength so we can coordinate our actions in the realm." Hearing this, Chen Fei felt a bit awkward. At present, he was merely a third-tier Grand Spirit Master. However, possessing the Void Heaven Cauldron meant that as long as he had sufficient resources, his cultivation could advance effortlessly. But this was not something he could reveal. Otherwise, he might attract greedy individuals¡ªjust like Qin Shuang¡ªwho would covet his cauldron and put his life in danger. "Senior, let me keep it a mystery for now." Chen Fei replied with a smile. "Once we enter the secret realm, you will see that I am absolutely worth this investment." Lu Yijun''s expression shifted slightly, clearly displeased. He then glanced at Sun Qianyi. "Since Brother Chen Yang prefers not to say, we won''t force him." Sun Qianyi spoke, effectively ending the discussion. What Chen Fei didn''t know was that after they left Yellow Moon Tower, Lu Yijun brought up the matter once again. "Grandfather, that Chen Yang¡ªhis background is unclear, yet we have given him such expensive pills and techniques. He didn''t even reveal his cultivation level." "Can we truly trust him?" Chapter 13: Targeted "Foolish child, do not underestimate this person." "I cannot even perceive the depths of his cultivation. There is an eerie aura surrounding him." "At this moment, the only choice is to borrow his strength to help you break through." Sun Qianyi spoke in a serious tone. "How is that possible?" Lu Yijun''s expression changed drastically, unable to believe it. "Grandfather Sun, you are a True Spirit Master of the Royal Spirit Realm!" "That''s why I said that boy carries an eerie aura," Sun Qianyi replied. "We''ll only know his true strength once someone tests him." The moment Chen Fei stepped into Huangyue Tower, news of his meeting with Sun Qianyi of Silvermoon Academy had already spread to the ears of all major factions. In the City Lord''s Mansion, upon hearing the news, Ye Bufan''s brows furrowed as he hurried to his father Ye Chenyi''s study. "Father, that useless Chen Fei''s older brother, Chen Yang, seems to have joined Silvermoon Academy," Ye Bufan reported. "Why are you so alarmed? It''s not unusual for talented youths of the Great Qing Kingdom to join Silvermoon Academy," Ye Chenyi said indifferently. "But, Father, what about my marriage with Su Ran?" Ye Bufan grew anxious. Even though Su Ran had taken Chen Fei as a live-in husband, he still hadn''t given up on her. "Didn''t your third uncle already promise you? As long as the matter in the secret realm is handled, the entire Su family will be yours," Ye Chenyi said impatiently. "But..." Ye Bufan hesitated. If his third uncle failed to seize the treasure within the secret realm, wouldn''t his marriage fall apart? "Are you blinded by desire? Have you learned nothing from the bloody lesson of that useless Chen Fei?" Ye Chenyi scolded, his sharp gaze forcing Ye Bufan to lower his head. "Focus on your third uncle''s orders. Find out who killed Su Mingcai and stole his high-grade spirit stones," Ye Chenyi reprimanded. "Until that person is found, your third uncle won''t be at ease." "Father, I am already investigating. There should be results soon," Ye Bufan assured him. "You should understand that whether your third uncle can claim the treasures in the secret realm will determine the rise or fall of our Ye family. I need a definitive answer." Ye Chenyi dismissed him with a wave of his hand. It wasn''t just the City Lord''s Mansion that opposed Chen Fei and Silvermoon Academy. Even Qinghai Academy of the Zhou Kingdom and Tianjiao Academy of the Lu Kingdom took notice. These three academies represented the highest cultivation institutions in their respective nations, producing elite Spirit Masters who could influence the power dynamics at the borders. Thus, neither Qinghai Academy nor Tianjiao Academy wanted Silvermoon Academy to gain another powerful asset. If Lu Yijun managed to break through, it would pose a significant threat to their academies and even their respective kingdoms. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. While on his way to the Su family estate, Chen Fei encountered his first ambush in a secluded alley. A Seventh-Grade Grand Spirit Master appeared, wielding a powerful spirit-rank martial technique. "Hmm?" Sensing the incoming threat, Chen Fei''s expression darkened. "I just agreed to join Silvermoon Academy, and trouble has already arrived." From the moment he accepted the special recruitment, he knew that this ''opportunity'' would not come without its price. Boom! A black-clad assassin suddenly attacked. A fierce sword strike slammed into a nearby wall, leaving a deep hole. "What an agile movement technique! That must be a spirit-rank martial technique," the assassin muttered in shock. Even though he had launched a surprise attack from the shadows, Chen Fei had managed to dodge effortlessly. What he didn''t know was that Chen Fei possessed the heightened perception of the Spirit-Eyed Serpent. He had already sensed the assassin''s presence before the attack. Chen Fei had deliberately moved closer, testing whether the person was truly after him. Though Phantom Step was merely an ordinary martial technique, with the Wind Manipulation ability of the Silver-Winged Golden Eagle, it could rival a spirit-rank technique. Seeing his strike miss, the assassin did not linger. Realizing he couldn''t wound Chen Fei in a sneak attack, he knew prolonged combat would be disadvantageous. "Trying to escape?" "It won''t be that easy!" Chen Fei wasn''t about to let the assassin go. This was the perfect chance to test his own strength. Activating Phantom Step, he quickly closed the distance. While the assassin''s sword technique was spirit-rank, his movement skill was inferior. Seeing Chen Fei approach, the assassin had no choice but to stop. He fully activated his sword and released a faint aura around his body¡ªa protective spirit armor. A Seventh-Grade Grand Spirit Master could form a spirit armor using their own energy. If the armor couldn''t be penetrated, such a master was nearly invincible. Chen Fei also wielded a longsword. Although he was only a Third-Grade Grand Spirit Master, he had Phantom Step, the Spirit-Eyed Serpent''s perception, and the Thousand Phantom Slash from the Void Heaven Cauldron''s inheritance. With his keen senses, he found an opening in the assassin''s sword technique and used Phantom Step to position himself for an attack. He channeled his spiritual energy through his sword, stacking five waves of internal vibrations inherited from the Void Heaven Cauldron. Boom! The assassin''s sword was knocked away. Chen Fei''s blade, a sharp weapon gifted by Sun Qianyi, let out a clear hum as it slashed at the assassin''s spirit armor. Crack! The spirit armor was strong, but under the force of Chen Fei''s blade, it shattered. The sword pierced the assassin''s chest. Though it didn''t run him through completely, it struck his heart precisely. The assassin''s spiritual energy ruptured, fatally wounding him. He stared at Chen Fei in disbelief. A Seventh-Grade Grand Spirit Master, defeated in a single move? "An Eighth-Grade Grand Spirit Master¡­" In his final moments, the assassin convinced himself that Chen Fei had reached the eighth grade. "Who sent you?" Chen Fei asked coldly. "If you tell me, I can save your life." The assassin sneered despite his injuries. "An Eighth-Grade Grand Spirit Master? So what? You have offended someone you shouldn''t have. If you don''t leave Yellow Fog City immediately, this place will become your grave." With a final chilling stare, he shattered his own dantian, letting his spiritual energy drain out. He died, refusing to betray his master. Chen Fei looked down at the assassin''s corpse, a sense of foreboding settling in. A Seventh-Grade Grand Spirit Master, trained in a spirit-rank technique, willing to die rather than talk¡ªwhoever sent him was no small force. "Did I act too impulsively?" "Any faction that dares to oppose Silvermoon Academy must be far more terrifying than I anticipated." A bitter smile crossed his lips. But there was no turning back now. Even if he could choose again, he would still seize the opportunity to join Silvermoon Academy. Everything was for one purpose¡ªto take revenge on that wretched woman, Qin Shuang! As he murmured to himself, another flash of cold light shot toward him from behind. His Spirit-Eyed Serpent perception alerted him¡ªthis time, it was a deadly throwing dart! Chapter 14: Advancement Chen Fei dodged as fast as he could, but he was still a fraction too slow. The razor-sharp throwing dart grazed his arm as it flew past. Bang! The black-clad assassin crashed into the wall behind him, shattering it upon impact. Chen Fei had no time to check who had attacked him. He sealed the wound on his left arm with spiritual energy and immediately activated Phantom Steps, disappearing into the darkness at the end of the alley. "He actually dodged it?" A man and a woman appeared soon after. The woman stared at the small traces of blood on the ground, her face filled with surprise. "His reaction speed is extraordinary, as if he has a third eye. At the very least, he must be at the ninth rank of the Grand Spirit Master realm," the man replied. "That makes sense. Only a ninth-rank Grand Spirit Master could possibly avoid your hidden weapons, Senior." The woman nodded in agreement. "But it doesn''t matter. Even if he is a ninth-rank Grand Spirit Master, he won''t last long. My ''Spirit-Eroding Gu Poison'' has already entered his system. Even if his dantian isn''t completely destroyed, his cultivation will be crippled. Not even Silvermoon Academy can help him recover quickly." The man smirked. The dart was coated with an extremely rare and potent poison, specifically designed to disable cultivators below the True Spirit Master realm. It had never failed before. "The so-called Tianjiao Academy of Lu Kingdom is truly pathetic. Sending a mere seventh-rank Spirit Master to assassinate a ninth-rank one?" The woman sneered as she kicked the corpse of the black-clad assassin. "This man probably wasn''t from Tianjiao Academy. More likely, he was a disposable pawn sent to test Chen Yang''s strength." The man explained. Suddenly, his expression changed. He flicked his wrist, launching a throwing dart toward the alleyway entrance. But before the dart could strike, a shadow moved at an incredible speed, vanishing from sight in an instant. "Senior, it seems many people want Chen Yang dead." The woman watched the fleeing figure and immediately understood¡ªthis person was also a ninth-rank Grand Spirit Master. "The secret realm is about to open. For Grand Spirit Masters, it presents an opportunity to break through. For True Spirit Masters, it''s an unparalleled fortune. A man with no known background suddenly stepping into this event? Of course, people won''t be happy about it." The man spoke indifferently as he retrieved his darts before leaving with the woman. Chen Fei hadn''t actually run too far. Instead, he had hidden around a corner. The poison from the dart had already spread through his bloodstream, racing toward his dantian, attempting to erode it. Unfortunately for his attackers, his dantian had long been destroyed and replaced by the Void Heaven Cauldron. Instead of harming him, the poison was absorbed and refined by the cauldron. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "This poison was made from the blood of a Silver Jiao Beast?" Chen Fei was astonished. The Silver Jiao was a fearsome demon beast that even True Spirit Masters feared. Years ago, a single Silver Jiao had massacred three small cities in the Great Qing Kingdom and still managed to escape, despite being surrounded by numerous True Spirit Masters. As he activated his Myriad Dao Breathing Technique, he unexpectedly awakened a portion of the Silver Jiao''s abilities¡ªSpirit Erosion! "A blessing in disguise!" Chen Fei couldn''t help but grin. Once he activated this ability, his spiritual energy would gain a highly corrosive quality, similar to the Spirit-Eroding Gu Poison. While not as lethal, it was still extremely dangerous. "Unfortunately, my range of spiritual energy projection is limited, so I can''t fully utilize the potential of this ability yet." Spirit Erosion needed direct contact with flesh to take effect. It had to enter an opponent''s body to unleash its full destructive power. Still hidden, Chen Fei observed three figures leaving the alley where he had been ambushed. "Lu Yijun?" He immediately recognized his senior, whom he had recently dined with. "Could he have sent that assassin to test my strength?" Chen Fei frowned. If he couldn''t even handle a mere seventh-rank Grand Spirit Master, Silvermoon Academy probably wouldn''t waste further resources on him. They would simply take back everything they had given him. Then, he turned his attention to the young man and woman following behind Lu Yijun. The man had an air of nobility, and the woman exuded grace. Their backgrounds were clearly extraordinary. "They must be the true culprits. Even the dart was coated with poison." Chen Fei committed their faces to memory. Once he was certain that no one else was lurking nearby, he left his hiding place. He made a stop at Ling Zhong''s residence, leaving behind the treasured sword and academy robes given to him by Silvermoon Academy. After tending to his wound and changing his clothes, he returned to the Su residence before nightfall. That night, Su Ran returned. They barely spoke before she retreated into her secret chamber, not emerging again. Just as she had said before¡ªChen Fei was nothing more than a shield, a blind and powerless man who wouldn''t affect her plans in any way. Chen Fei didn''t mind. Instead, he took out the pills and spirit-grade martial arts manual that Sun Qianyi had given him. At this moment, he was caught in a vortex of power struggles. Countless strong cultivators were watching him, eager to prevent him from entering the secret realm. He had to grow stronger, fast. Taking a deep breath, he retrieved the Spirit Transformation Pill. For a Grand Spirit Master, this was an invaluable treasure. A third-grade pill like this would make any Grand Spirit Master fight tooth and nail to obtain it. Silvermoon Academy had truly been generous in trying to recruit him. More importantly, the Spirit Transformation Pill was perfectly suited for the advancement of Grand Spirit Masters. Two hours later, with the help of the pill, Chen Fei''s cultivation advanced rapidly, reaching the fifth stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm. Thanks to the Void Heaven Cauldron, he could absorb the pill''s effects completely. For him, breakthroughs were as easy as eating and drinking. All he needed was a steady supply of cultivation resources. Next, he turned his attention to the spirit-grade martial arts manual. "Silvermoon Sword Art." "Silver light like waves, radiance like the moon¡­" "This is a close-combat martial art that combines swordsmanship with movement techniques." "If I master it, it will be a huge boost to my strength!" Chen Fei was highly satisfied with Sun Qianyi''s gift. With this technique, combined with Phantom Steps, Qi Manipulation, and Thousand Phantom Slash, he could achieve a synergy far greater than the sum of its parts. Time passed as he immersed himself in training. Suddenly, a pained cry echoed through the air, sharp and agonized, like the screech of a wounded bird. Chen Fei''s eyes snapped open. He stopped training and turned toward the secret chamber. The sound was coming from Su Ran''s room. Chen Fei hesitated. Should he check on her? The sound was undoubtedly one of distress. But¡­ it also resembled something else¡ªlike a woman reaching the heights of pleasure. If she was merely¡­ taking care of herself, barging in would be beyond awkward. He hesitated for three seconds before making his decision. Putting on the appearance of a blind man, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.