Chapter 3: Return to Reality

"Ninth stage of the Houtian realm, it seems you’re still not faster than a bullet."

Looking at Wu Xiong, who had collapsed into a pool of blood, Chen Feng’s expression remained calm.

This was not the first time he had used a gun to kill someone in the world of the scroll.

The rule of this world was that the strong rule over the weak.

It wouldn't bother with laws or morality.

Killing was something that happened anytime and anywhere, regardless of where you were.

He had struck first because he was afraid that Wu Xiong might suddenly lash out.

At the ninth stage of the Houtian realm, possessing the strength of two bears, if the opponent had gotten close, a single punch could have killed him.

Wang Hu, who was behind him, might not have been able to stop it.

Chen Feng firmly believed in the principle that striking first gains the advantage, while striking later invites disaster.

The other party had made it clear that they would not negotiate with him.

And he couldn't hand over any so-called "immortal's artifact-refining method."

"Sect Master Chen, spare us!"

"We had no intention of offending an Xiantian expert, please forgive us, Sect Master Chen!"

Several bandits began to kneel and beg Chen Feng for mercy.

After all, the method Chen Feng had just used was no different from that of an Xiantian expert—projecting *gangqi* to kill from a distance.

This was the unique hallmark of an Xiantian expert.

The leader of the Black Wind Stronghold was an Xiantian expert, so they knew very well how terrifying such an expert could be.

They didn't have the slightest thought of resisting.

"Go back and tell your leader: the Xingfeng Sect only deals in mining; we won't interfere with him, and he had better not interfere with me. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Chen Feng waved his hand, signaling for them to leave.

The bandits had originally thought that since Chen Feng had killed Wu Xiong, he was prepared to go to war with the Black Wind Stronghold.

They had feared they wouldn't escape with their lives.

But they hadn't expected Chen Feng to let them go so easily.

The bandits immediately showered him with thanks before scrambling away as fast as they could.

The reason Chen Feng didn't kill these men was that the leader of the Black Wind Stronghold was an Xiantian expert.

He hadn't yet tested whether his pistol could kill an Xiantian expert.

If he couldn't take him down, it would be a huge problem.

Letting these men go back to deliver the message would buy him some time to return to the modern world, prepare, and then come back—that was the safest approach.

Besides, he didn't have many bullets left and didn't want to waste them on these people.

"Sect Master, are you really an Xiantian expert?"

Wang Hu asked from the side, trembling slightly.

He had joined the Xingfeng Sect several months ago, but he had never seen Chen Feng make a move, nor had he sensed any *qi* or blood fluctuations from him.

This had always led him to believe that Chen Feng was just an ordinary person who didn't practice martial arts.

If Chen Feng were an Xiantian expert, that would explain it.

The Xiantian realm allowed one to restrain their aura, making it naturally impossible for outsiders to detect.

"Ahem... My family sent me out to gain experience, so I hid my cultivation. Don't ask about anything else."

Chen Feng made up an excuse—the standard trope of a disciple from a great family out for training.

Wang Hu was suddenly enlightened and didn't dare to ask any more questions.

He had almost no reason to doubt Chen Feng's words.

"The leader of the Black Wind Stronghold likely won't let this go. Sect Master, you need to prepare early."

Wang Hu reminded him.

"No need to worry about that. If he dares to come, my family's elders will naturally ensure he never returns."

Chen Feng said this not only to Wang Hu but also to the group of martial artists from the Xingfeng Sect in the hall.

There were surely spies from the Black Wind Stronghold among the martial artists he had recruited.

His words would be passed on to that leader word for word.

"How is the information I asked you to look into?" Chen Feng asked, changing the subject.

Wang Hu shook his head: "The last time an immortal appeared in the Yue Kingdom was two hundred years ago, and only the Yue royal family had contact with them."

Chen Feng nodded helplessly.

Ever since he learned about the existence of immortals, Chen Feng had been eager to obtain the cultivation techniques of those cultivators.

Only cultivation was the true path.

As for martial arts, he might as well just buy a few more guns.

"I need to return to my family for a while; I'll probably be back in a few days. You should go home and spend time with your mother during this time; consider it a vacation."

Chen Feng patted Wang Hu on the shoulder.

This time, Chen Feng had returned to the scroll world to shut down the conveyor belt and make some arrangements.

There was bound to be trouble in the modern world soon, and he had to resolve those issues before restarting the mining.

"Sect Master, do you not need me to accompany you?" Wang Hu was worried about Chen Feng's safety.

Although he now knew Chen Feng was an Xiantian expert, he had sworn an oath to protect Chen Feng for the rest of his life.

"No need. Leave now and head back. Leave things here to Steward Sun."

In truth, Chen Feng was afraid that if Wang Hu stayed, the Black Wind Stronghold would take their revenge out on him.

If Steward Sun died, so be it, but he didn't want Wang Hu to die.

Besides, the Xingfeng Sect had almost nothing of value; it was essentially an empty shell.

As long as he closed the portal, even if the Black Wind Stronghold leader tore the place apart, he wouldn't find anything.

Wang Hu hesitated, wanting to warn Chen Feng that Steward Sun was unreliable, but he felt that doing so would make it seem like he was sowing discord.

"This subordinate will follow the Sect Master's arrangements!"

Wang Hu cupped his fists at Chen Feng, then picked up his blade and left.

Chen Feng then found Steward Sun and told him he was leaving for a while, instructing him to manage the sect well.

Steward Sun immediately said it was no problem, while inwardly, he was overjoyed.

With Chen Feng gone, he could get up to more mischief.

Originally, when Steward Sun heard that the second-in-command of the Black Wind Stronghold had come knocking, he had already been preparing to pack his things and run.

He hadn't expected Chen Feng to be an Xiantian expert, and that Wu Xiong couldn't even last one move against him.

Most importantly, Chen Feng was a disciple of a great family, which made Steward Sun even happier.

He hadn't just found a sucker; he had found a powerful backer.

After giving his instructions, Chen Feng returned to the secret chamber and opened the portal to return to the modern world.

Hengduan Mountains, Black Wind Stronghold headquarters.

The Black Wind Stronghold had thousands of bandits.

There were many mountain ranges within the Yue Kingdom, and as long as these bandits didn't massacre people in the towns, the Yue royal family wouldn't interfere.

After all, these bandits could also serve as a buffer against pressure from other countries.

In the largest stronghold, the leader, He Sandao, was in the middle of cultivation.

Before him lay the corpses of a dozen young girls.

These girls had all had their throats slit and their blood drained.

The technique He Sandao practiced was the "Blood Demon Blade Technique," which required the absorption of human blood to improve.

The younger the girl, the greater the improvement.

Relying on this technique, he had reached the Xiantian realm, and he had lost count of how many people had died by his hand.

Just then, a knocking sound echoed.

He Sandao ended the circulation of *qi* within his body and opened his murky eyes.

"Enter!"

Soon, a bandit hurried into the room, knelt directly before He Sandao, and said with a trembling voice

"L-Leader, the Second-in-Command is dead!"

Hearing this, He Sandao narrowed his eyes

"Dead? How did he die!"

He Sandao's first reaction was not grief for his sworn brother, but rather a sense of extreme vigilance.

Wu Xiong was at the ninth stage of the Houtian realm, the strongest person in the Black Wind Stronghold besides himself.

To kill him, it would take several ninth-stage Houtian experts attacking together, or an Xiantian expert making a move.