Chapter 26: The Great Desolate Mountains!

When Ling Feng returned to the bamboo cottage, Duanmu Qingshan was meditating to regulate his breathing. After consuming the Moon Spirit Flower, the sword qi within his body had become increasingly stable over the past few days.

According to Ling Feng's estimation, his internal injuries would surely be completely healed within two months.

"Creak!"

Ling Feng pushed open the bamboo door and bowed deeply toward Duanmu Qingshan. "Master."

"You're back?" Duanmu Qingshan opened his eyes, immediately picked up his wine gourd, and took a large, hearty gulp. He then asked with a smile, "How did it go? Did you defeat that Xiao Qingfeng?"

"With the Star-Shattering Sword Technique you taught me, Master, Xiao Qingfeng was naturally no problem," Ling Feng sat down in the chair beside Duanmu Qingshan and said solemnly, "However, Lin Canglang came looking for me."

"Lin Canglang!" A flash of hatred crossed Duanmu Qingshan's eyes. "What did he want with you?"

"He tried to bribe me to betray you and steal your sword techniques." Ling Feng did not hide anything; he even took out the Qi-Augmenting Pill and placed it on the table.

"Hahaha, didn't you feel tempted, kid?" Duanmu Qingshan looked at Ling Feng with amusement.

"I have said it before: a teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime." Ling Feng shook his head. "However, that Lin Canglang didn't truly trust me. He made me ingest the Golden Silkworm Gu poison."

"Oh? It seems Lin Canglang is destined to fall by your hand. How could he possibly know that your medical skills are a hundred times superior to mine, the Divine Physician Duanmu!" Duanmu Qingshan burst into laughter. While he might not have been able to neutralize the Golden Silkworm Gu poison himself, for the successor of the Medical Saint, it would pose no difficulty at all.

Only those who had truly witnessed the *Great Profound Acupuncture Technique* would understand the power of this method. It could quite literally be described as bringing the dead back to life.

"You flatter me, Master," Ling Feng rubbed the bridge of his nose and said calmly. "I used a stalling tactic to temporarily stabilize Lin Canglang, but this is not a long-term solution."

Ling Feng's expression grew more serious. "I am confident that I can completely eradicate the sword qi within your body within two months. When you have recovered to your peak state, will you be able to break through the formation?"

Duanmu Qingshan smiled faintly. "My strength has regressed rather than progressed over these years, which is why I have been trapped here, unable to leave. If my injuries are healed and my strength advances further, what difficulty would there be in breaking the formation?"

As he spoke, an aura of absolute confidence flashed in Duanmu Qingshan's eyes.

This powerhouse, who had been dormant for ten years, would finally emerge like a hidden dragon!

...

Mount Jiuxian is located in the vicinity of the Immortal Trace Mountain Range, spanning thousands of miles of vast mountains and dense forests.

This area is blessed with spiritual essence and abundant spiritual energy. Aside from the Immortal Inquiry Sect, there are naturally other martial arts sects, but the Immortal Inquiry Sect is among the elite, which is why it can occupy a precious land like Mount Jiuxian.

Within the mountain forests, a grey figure moved with flying steps—agile and elegant. He shuttled through the dense woods without being hindered by the terrain in the slightest, revealing his extraordinary mastery of movement techniques.

This person was none other than Ling Feng.

After feigning allegiance to the Sect Leader, Ling Feng could at least move freely within the Immortal Inquiry Sect, and even descend the mountain for training without any hindrance.

In the path of martial arts, one cannot simply practice behind closed doors.

Having finally obtained freedom, and following Duanmu Qingshan's suggestion, Ling Feng headed toward the Great Desolation Mountain Range to the east of Mount Jiuxian to temper himself.

Half a day later, Ling Feng had already used the Nine-Fold Sea-Suppressing Fist to slay several fierce beasts, obtaining a significant amount of materials.

"Fighting fierce beasts here is truly the best way to hone martial skills and increase strength!"

As his voice fell, Ling Feng's body jolted, and he continued to delve deeper into the dense forest ahead.

...

At the same time, within the dense forest, five or six youths dressed in the inner disciple uniforms of the Immortal Inquiry Sect were flying toward the entrance of the Great Desolation Mountain Range.

"Senior Brother Xiao, I've made inquiries. That little bastard Ling Feng went to the Great Desolation Mountain Range to train!" A red-haired youth leading the way said as he looked back.

"Hmph, that little bastard even dared to kill my brother, Xiao Qinggang. I don't know why the Sect Leader didn't kill him to offer a blood sacrifice to Qingfeng." The man in the middle was about twenty years old, and his aura had already reached the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm—the tenth level of Qi Condensation!

Such a cultivation level could be called a Qi Sect Master in the secular kingdoms, capable of serving as the lord of a city.

For instance, Su Shixiong, the Lord of Kaiyang City whom Ling Feng had killed in a frenzy, was a tenth-level Qi Condensation Qi Sect Master.

"I couldn't easily act within the sect, but since you've sought your own death by daring to run out here, you can't blame me for being ruthless."

An expression of extreme venom flashed in Xiao Qinggang's eyes. Xiao Qingfeng was his younger brother, who had died a tragic death at Ling Feng's hands at a young age. If he did not kill Ling Feng, how could he appease Xiao Qingfeng's soul in heaven!

"Senior Brother Xiao, if the Sect Leader finds out we snuck out like this to kill Ling Feng..." one of the slightly chubby disciples said hesitantly.

"What are you afraid of? The Sect Leader is my maternal uncle. If anything happens, I'll take the blame. Would the Sect Leader really punish me for the sake of an outsider?"

As Xiao Qinggang spoke, his speed increased further. "Damn it, that mongrel must have killed Qingfeng while he was off guard. How can I not avenge my brother's death!"

"That's true, Senior Brother Xiao. With the few of us acting together, even if that Ling Feng has three heads and six arms, he is bound to die." The red-haired youth leading the way gave a cold sneer.

Another thin man with a sinister gaze also said coldly, "Exactly. Since Qingfeng was Senior Brother Xiao's brother, he is a brother to all of us. If that kid dared to kill Qingfeng, he has made an enemy of us all!"

"Ling Feng, the Great Desolation Mountain Range shall be your burial ground!"

Xiao Qinggang's face was grim. The gale ruffled his robes and black hair, making them flutter wildly, yet it could not shake his murderous intent toward Ling Feng.