Zou Feng chose to leave Biyou Palace after the Celestial Essence Sword Sect’s retreat, confident that there would be no trouble.

After all, he wasn’t a deserter. On the contrary, he had genuinely pulled his weight when the Celestial Essence Sword Sect attacked.

Whether at Hundred-legged Ridge or Silk Cave, it was entirely due to his efforts that the worst-case scenario had been averted.

These were major contributions that numerous disciples had witnessed with their own eyes.

Furthermore, it was perfectly reasonable for Zou Feng to be in a hurry to get to Qingchuan City after the battle to check on his family.

So, even if the Biyou Palace Master returned and, on a whim, wanted to meet this Honored Guest Elder who had just recently joined and held a Demon Slaying Order, she would have to "regrettably" miss him.

Even better, the Biyou Palace Master would likely be busy preparing for the upcoming peak showdown, so she probably wouldn’t remain at Biyou Palace.

This meant Zou Feng could simply wait for her to leave before choosing to return to Biyou Palace.

Besides, in his haste to return to Qingchuan City, Zou Feng had another concern...

And so, Zou Feng just said a quick farewell to a few female disciples from Silk Cave and promptly slipped away.

However, before he could even get out of the Cloud Mist Mountain range, the Biyou Palace Master’s voice once again echoed from the summit.

"Where is Honored Guest Elder Zou Feng?"

"Report to the main hall at once!"

Her voice held an obvious note of urgency.

Zou Feng, who was fleeing at full speed, froze in place as if struck by an Immobilization Spell when he heard the summons.

His face was a mask of confusion.

’What the hell? She just got back, and we just drove off the Celestial Essence Sword Sect invaders. There ought to be a huge mess to clean up.’

’Why is she fixated on me so soon?’

’Even if I carry a Demon Slaying Order, have killed quite a few Fourth Grade experts, and just now even took down the Third Grade Flying Snow Sword, He Yuan...’

’That still doesn’t explain why a top-tier First Grade expert like the Biyou Palace Master would take an interest in me this quickly?’

’Or maybe... she wants to question me about something else?’

Zou Feng couldn’t figure it out and started to consider pretending he hadn’t heard and just continuing his escape.

But he immediately knew that was not an option.

’No matter how fast I am, or how powerful my Body Skill is, can I really outrun a First Grade expert?!’

The Biyou Palace Master’s summons had been clearly urgent. He had no choice.

’Since it has come to this...’

The next moment, Zou Feng channeled his Five Poison Heart-Pushing Palm and struck himself hard in the chest.

SPIT—

He hadn’t used his Gang Qi to resist the blow, and the impact made him vomit blood.

His once vigorous state rapidly deteriorated due to the internal injury inflicted by the palm strike.

Then, without transferring the side effects, Zou Feng rapidly cultivated a variety of his Cultivation Skills.

After this self-inflicted ordeal, he looked like a completely different person.

He resembled one of the disciples from Hundred-legged Ridge who had gone too long without fresh miasma—his face was ashen, his eyes were sunken, and he looked utterly listless.

Then, Zou Feng deliberately messed up his hair and used a nearby Long Sword he’d picked up to slash numerous cuts into his Martial Attire.

Soon, the previously dashing Elder Zou was gone.

In his place stood a dispirited man, suffering from a serious internal injury, his energy drained, and his appearance disheveled and sloppy.

The key was that the injury was real, and the ailments temporarily brought on by the side effects of his Cultivation were also real. This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about the Biyou Palace Master seeing through his act.

’If the Biyou Palace Master still has any interest in dual cultivation with me after seeing me in this state...’

’...then all I can say is she has some terrifyingly strange tastes.’

Once he was ready, Zou Feng staggered, turned around, and began making his way toward the Five Poison Hall.

Along the way, the Biyou Palace disciples he encountered were all quite shocked and expressed their concern.

In truth, by this time, the news of Zou Feng publicly killing the Flying Snow Sword, He Yuan, at Hundred-legged Ridge had already spread through almost the entire Biyou Palace.

Many disciples were already discussing the matter with great excitement.

So, seeing Zou Feng in his current condition, they weren’t particularly surprised.

After all, he had killed someone of a higher grade; how could he not have paid a price for it?

Perhaps the battle had triggered some of the latent ailments left behind by Elder Zou’s Poison Skill Cultivation.

"Brother Feng, you... What happened to you...?"

As he neared the mountain’s peak, another cry of alarm came from up ahead.

Zou Feng didn’t need to look up to know it was Teng County.

"Those damn Sword Cultivators... so fucking many of them. I’m lucky to be alive!" Zou Feng said, mixing truth with lies.

Teng County rushed forward to support Zou Feng. "Are you all right?"

Zou Feng spread his hands. "Do I look like I’m all right?"

"Let me heal you!" As she spoke, Teng County prepared to transfer her Gang Qi into Zou Feng.

She also practiced the Bone-Softening Palm, and her Gang Qi had a high degree of compatibility with Zou Feng’s. Therefore, in theory, there wouldn’t be a major issue with her healing him by transferring Gang Qi.

But Zou Feng stopped her. "Don’t. My Gang Qi is in complete disarray right now. It’s better to wait until it’s settled..."

"What about you? Were you hurt just now in the Five Poison Hall?"

Zou Feng was merely changing the subject, but to Teng County, his concern for her at a time like this was deeply touching.

She couldn’t help but tighten her grip, pulling Zou Feng closer. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"I’m fine. Those hypocrites couldn’t break the formation."

"Since I haven’t reached the Third Grade, all I could do was guard the formation’s core. It was actually the safest place to be..."

Teng County’s condition was indeed good; she didn’t even have a minor injury.

Zou Feng took the opportunity to ask, "By the way, why is the Palace Master in such a hurry to see me right after she returned?"

As she continued to help Zou Feng toward the Five Poison Hall, a sorrowful look crossed Teng County’s face. "The Vice Palace Master... I’m afraid he’s not going to make it..."