Chapter 40: To Eat Everything Clean

【Cultivation Technique: Heart Cleansing Formula (Great Perfection)】

"I didn't expect that reaching Great Perfection with the Heart Cleansing Formula would allow me to trigger a special state."

Chen Fei thought back to what had just happened. That sense of control over his body and his surroundings was intoxicating. However, it was clear that this state had limitations; it was short-lived, and the aftereffects seemed significant.

After resting for a moment, Chen Fei's dizziness subsided slightly.

The special state of the Heart Cleansing Formula provided a very obvious boost to combat power. Setting aside everything else, the "Three Immortals Sword" technique he had just used could serve as a new killing move.

The Three Immortals Sword was a sword technique recorded in the Immortal Cloud Sword manual, but back then, the version Chen Fei obtained was a damaged manual, and many of the explanations for the techniques were nearly nonsensical.

Consequently, this Three Immortals Sword could only be considered a technique created by Chen Fei himself. Compared to the "Immortal Pointing the Way," the Three Immortals Sword combined three strikes into one, significantly increasing its power.

Perhaps it could pose a slight threat to martial artists in the Marrow Tempering Realm. But it was only a slight threat; after all, Chen Fei's own internal energy realm was too low, making it extremely difficult to face opponents two realms above him.

"It's an unexpected surprise."

A smile involuntarily appeared on Chen Fei's face. Just as he was using a towel to wipe the water from his face, a sudden, urgent knocking came from outside the courtyard.

"Manager Chen, is Manager Chen there?" Liu Jun's anxious voice shouted.

"What's wrong?"

Chen Fei opened the courtyard gate and saw Liu Jun panting heavily, gasping for breath. Seeing Chen Fei open the door, Liu Jun hurried inside and carefully closed the gate behind him.

Chen Fei looked at Liu Jun with some confusion but did not press him.

"The Zhang family is gone!" Liu Jun turned to face Chen Fei and whispered.

"What?" Chen Fei was stunned. He hadn't expected to receive such news from Liu Jun.

"The Zhao family led men to surround the Zhang family. The Patriarch was killed, and many young masters and ladies died as well."

As Liu Jun spoke, his body trembled uncontrollably.

Liu Jun had worked in the medical clinic since he was a child and had always treated the Zhang family as his own masters. Hearing so suddenly that the Zhang family had been destroyed, it felt as if the sky were collapsing.

Only after Chen Fei asked for details did he learn the general situation.

Yesterday, the rebel army joined forces with the Zhao family and, for some unknown reason, launched a direct assault on the Zhang family. It seemed they weren't even given a chance to argue; Zhang Ting was killed on the spot, along with several Zhang family elders.

All the direct descendants had been killed; only some collateral branches had barely survived.

The Zhang family's various resources were carved up, and the collateral members were driven out of the manor, becoming displaced refugees.

And it wasn't just the Zhang family; two other prominent families had also fallen, swallowed up by the rebels and other families under various pretexts.

"They really did clean them out completely."

Chen Fei muttered to himself. After each family had handed over their respective resources, the rebels had immediately wielded the butcher's knife. Likely fearing too much backlash, they had directly allied with the prominent families within Pingyin County to minimize their losses.

There had always been various frictions and grudges between the families in the county, though they were usually restrained.

Now, with the addition of the more powerful rebel army, and having suffered so many losses previously, they naturally wouldn't miss such an opportunity to replenish themselves by slaughtering other families.

"Manager Chen, will we be in trouble?"

Liu Jun asked with a pale face. This was his greatest concern. Now that the Zhang family was gone, would the Zhao family kill them as well?

"We only work at the clinic; we aren't direct descendants of the Zhang family. We should be fine."

Chen Fei thought about it, though he wasn't entirely certain. By normal logic, the Zhao family wouldn't do anything to them. But in this world, there wasn't much "normal logic" left to speak of.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

A sound nearly as loud as hammering on the door rang out. Chen Fei frowned slightly and stepped forward to open it. Three people stood outside; one of them was holding a portrait, constantly comparing it to Chen Fei.

"Are you Chen Fei?"

"I am. And you are?"

Chen Fei glanced at the portrait; it was his likeness. Such preparation was truly meticulous.

"I am Zhao Xia. The Qingzheng Medical Clinic now belongs to the Zhao family. You will come with me now; the Patriarch wishes to see you," Zhao Xia said with a hint of arrogance.

Chen Fei pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. I apologize for the trouble, gentlemen."

At this moment, the Zhao family's momentum was at its peak, and there was no need for Chen Fei to provoke it. Furthermore, Chen Fei wanted to learn more about the specific details of what had transpired.

"Good, good!"

Seeing that Chen Fei was so cooperative, Zhao Xia laughed loudly. An alchemist still held considerable value to the Zhao family.

Chen Fei turned back to give Liu Jun a few instructions before following Zhao Xia and the other two to the Zhao family manor.

In contrast to the silence of the past few days, the Zhao family appeared quite bustling today. Chen Fei glanced at the people around him and saw that many were former employees of the clinic.

"Elder Zeng!"

Chen Fei approached Zeng Defang and called out softly.

"Chen Fei, you've come."

Zeng Defang turned to look at Chen Fei and couldn't help but sigh softly. He patted Chen Fei on the shoulder and said, "Be careful lately. If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to me."

"Thank you, Elder Zeng!"

Chen Fei looked up at Zeng Defang and saw his weary expression. It seemed the sudden downfall of the Zhang family was a blow to him as well. After all, Zeng Defang had cooperated with the Zhang family for many years, and the Zhang family had treated him well; there was a genuine bond between them.

Now that they were at the Zhao residence, the Zhao family likely wouldn't mistreat Zeng Defang, as he could refine Spirit-Light Pills. These were nearly the highest-grade cultivation pills in Pingyin County; no prominent family would ignore such a money tree.

The Zhao family Patriarch soon arrived in the main hall and offered some words of consolation, which helped put the former clinic and rice shop employees slightly more at ease.

Chen Fei pretended to listen intently, but his attention was focused on another person: Ling Hanjun, the bandit leader who had been running rampant in the city.

Chen Fei hadn't expected to run into him here, and even more surprisingly, he was now a guest of honor at the Zhao family.

Chen Fei had no intention of hiding. The face he had shown before was fake; currently, he was merely a harmless Skin Tempering Realm alchemist.

"I have heard that Brother Ling has been searching for someone. Do you have any clues lately? If there is anything my Zhao family can do to help, please do not hesitate, Brother Ling!"

Zhao Chengji said with a smile. During the encirclement of the Zhang family last night, Ling Hanjun's strength had left Zhao Chengji in awe. With a cultivation at the peak of the Bone Forging Realm and profound, exquisite techniques, he was a standout even among the rebels.

"I have seen many Bone Forging Realm martial artists lately. Are there any other renowned experts at or above the Bone Forging Realm in Pingyin County?" Ling Hanjun scanned the crowd below and withdrew his gaze in disappointment.

"Does Brother Ling wish to find someone for a martial exchange?"

Zhao Chengji assumed Ling Hanjun wanted to hone his skills in preparation for his upcoming breakthrough to the Marrow Tempering Realm.

"I am looking for an enemy. He killed my brother!" Ling Hanjun's expression turned cold, his eyes filled with chilling malice.

"Who would be so bold? Does Brother Ling have a portrait of the man? I can mobilize the Zhao family's manpower to help Brother Ling hunt down that thief," Zhao Chengji said loudly.

"I have been thinking about it for a long time. That person likely knows disguise techniques. The appearance I saw that day was probably fake."

Ling Hanjun frowned deeply. This was a possibility he had recently considered. Of course, it was also possible that the person had already left Pingyin County, which was why he had been unable to find him.