Chapter 39: The Three Immortal Swords

In the backyard of the county magistrate's office, Tan Zhen'an was slowly practicing a set of martial arts forms. As his fists struck out, the profound power emitted a dull, heavy sound, much like the forceful beating of a war drum, causing one's heart to tighten involuntarily.

After a moment, Tan Zhen'an finished his forms and looked at Hua Shizhong, who was standing nearby. "Have you investigated it clearly?"

"It's clear."

Hua Shizhong nodded and said, "Within Pingyin County, the best internal strength technique is the Zhao family's Hualin Strength, which the Zhao ancestor brought back from the outside years ago; it isn't even weak within the Viscera-Refining Realm. There is also the Li family's Dripping Water Sword and the Zhang family's Cloud-Treading Sparrow, both of which are extremely extraordinary."

"In ten days, take men and bring those techniques back," Tan Zhen'an nodded.

"Those people likely won't agree."

"Find an excuse and unite a few of the prominent families; naturally, there will be people willing to act as our vanguard."

"Right!"

A trace of a cruel smile appeared on Hua Shizhong's face; this was the kind of thing he enjoyed most. Making these families provide money and resources was merely the first step.

The second step was to gradually erode certain families, consuming them until nothing was left. This way, resistance would be minimized while profits were maximized.

"By the way, a few friends from the greenwood want to join us. Should we accept them?"

"Do as you see fit," Tan Zhen'an said, pouring a cup of tea into his mouth. "Once those secret manuals are obtained, deliver them directly to me."

"Understood!"

Hua Shizhong cupped his hands and watched Tan Zhen'an return to the study, his eyes filled with reverence.

Early the next morning, the Zhang family sought out Chen Fei to have him refine Grass-Returning Pills.

The rebels' demands for the Zhang family included not only silver but also massive quantities of medicinal pills and grain.

Having already been stripped once by the imperial army, the Zhang family had little left. Now, being required to gather the necessary amount within ten days had pushed them almost into a corner.

Of course, it wasn't just the Zhang family; all the prominent families in Pingyin County were receiving the same treatment, and everyone was filled with misery.

At this moment, when faced with a much more powerful force, these families—who were usually high and mighty—seemed no different from ordinary people.

Faced with the Zhang family's request, Chen Fei considered it for a moment before agreeing.

Although his relationship with the Zhang family was not particularly pleasant—especially after they went back on their word regarding the last Light Spirit Pill recipe—overall, the Zhang family was still a place he could continue to stay.

Mainly, Chen Fei did not know when he would be able to leave Pingyin County.

The dangers outside were such that Chen Fei did not dare to act rashly.

Chen Fei's cultivation was too weak. Although his combat power could now rival the Bone-Forging Realm, the Bone-Forging Realm was actually not much in the wider world.

All of Chen Fei's knowledge of this world came from Pingyin County. To embark on a long journey blindly without any wilderness survival experience, Chen Fei felt he might fail before he even truly began.

The refining task assigned to Chen Fei by the Zhang family was indeed heavy for an average alchemist.

However, Chen Fei had long since maxed out his experience bar for the Grass-Returning Pill, reaching the Great Perfection stage, meaning his yield per furnace was at its limit. Thus, he only needed two hours to complete the task given by the Zhang family.

As for the remaining medicinal ingredients, Chen Fei naturally kept them for himself. Currently, medicinal herbs could no longer be bought in Pingyin County, nor could refugees be hired to go out of the city, because the rebels had blockaded the entire county, allowing entry but forbidding exit.

Because Chen Fei had been worried about the arrival of the rebels, he had specifically stockpiled some food, and it turned out to be useful.

In the black market.

After being closed for three days, the black market quietly reopened. However, compared to its former bustle, the market was now deserted, with the most sought-after commodities being food and medicinal pills.

Food went without saying, while medicinal pills could be exchanged with the prominent families for a bit of food.

In the end, eating was the most important thing.

"Is there really no way to leave Pingyin County?"

Inside a small hut, Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng and asked. Although Chi Defeng always tried to fool Chen Fei with some fake medicine, their relationship was actually quite decent.

In Chen Fei's mind, having been a black market merchant for so many years, Chi Defeng's connections were undoubtedly much stronger than his own.

"There are ways to leave Pingyin County, but right now, there are no merchant caravans heading to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect like the ones you want," Chi Defeng said with some helplessness, half-reclining in his chair.

"It doesn't have to be directly to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect; going somewhere else first would be fine," Chen Fei said in a low voice.

Because the various families were delivering supplies and the rebels were restraining their soldiers, Pingyin County was merely quieter than usual, and no major looting or killing had occurred yet.

But whether it was due to practicing the Heart-Clearing Art, Chen Fei could sense an oppressive feeling of an approaching storm. In ten days, something else might happen.

Before that happened, if there was a chance, Chen Fei still hoped to leave Pingyin County.

"There are none," Chi Defeng shook his head. "Caravans were already few before, and recently, there hasn't been a single one."

"Then what is your plan?"

Chen Fei looked at Chi Defeng in confusion; a man as shrewd as this fellow couldn't possibly not have a backup plan.

"Wait for these rebels to leave."

Chi Defeng stood up, rubbing his waist. "Those rebels are targeting the prominent families. No one cares about commoners like us. As long as we are careful, we can get through this."

Chen Fei gave Chi Defeng a suspicious look but said nothing more, turning to leave the black market.

Days passed, and the Zhang family came every day to collect the Grass-Returning Pills.

The public order in Pingyin County began to deteriorate. The soldiers who had been restrained were gradually letting their true natures loose. Looting and killing began to appear within the county.

A large portion was done by the rebels, but some was done by the people of Pingyin County themselves. In such an environment, the evil in some people's hearts was being directly unleashed.

Cries and screams rang out from time to time, but Chen Fei listened without moving. Such matters were already beyond his capability. Chen Fei simply focused on cultivating harder, not wasting a single moment.

Perhaps due to this pressure, on the fifth day, Chen Fei actually cracked the recipe for the Light Spirit Pill and refined it for the first time.

[Alchemy: Light Spirit Pill (Beginner 1/100)]

"Simplifying Light Spirit Pill... Simplification successful... Light Spirit Pill $\rightarrow$ Grass-Returning Pill!"

A smile appeared on Chen Fei's face. Recently, no medicinal pills could be bought on the market. Now that he could refine Light Spirit Pills, relying on the medicinal herbs he had specifically accumulated earlier, he could finally be self-sufficient.

On the eighth day, the three movement technique manuals he obtained from the Zhang family were completely integrated.

[Technique: Cloud-Climbing Walk (Great Perfection)]

Compared to the previous River-Crossing Cloud, Chen Fei's normal speed was now equivalent to his previous "Rapid Movement" state, and if he used "Rapid Movement" now, he felt as if he were moving like a bolt of lightning.

Though it sounded exaggerated, his movement technique had indeed reached a new level.

On the evening of the eleventh day, Chen Fei buried his head in cold water.

At a certain moment, the world seemed to suddenly become silent. Chen Fei stood up involuntarily, observing his surroundings and perceiving every thought drifting through his mind.

A sense of complete control over himself rose in his heart.

Subconsciously, he picked up the longsword beside him, and the Fire-Patterned Sword was unleashed from his hand.

Even though he had practiced the Fire-Patterned Sword to Great Perfection, he had never had such a profound and clear feeling as he did now.

In a flash of thought, he executed the "Immortal's Path" strike.

In the next instant, three streaks of sword light flashed, finally merging into one, shimmering in mid-air for a full second before slowly dissipating.

Chen Fei looked at the sword light with joy. Just now, he had executed "Immortal's Path" three times in a single instant—something that would have been completely impossible in the past. But today, he had done it.

"Triple Immortal Sword?"

*Buzz!*

As Chen Fei was murmuring to himself, a sudden wave of dizziness struck his brain, and he involuntarily grabbed the wall for support.

After a moment of recovery, Chen Fei opened his eyes, only to find that the feeling of controlling everything had vanished.

(End of Chapter)