In any case, these two were renowned and no ordinary Third Grade martial artists. Especially since they could advance to Second Grade at any time, they naturally required extra attention.

As for the Sword Saint Jing Huaisong, he still didn’t seem to consider Zou Feng a threat and, for the time being, hadn’t made the list.

Beyond them, there were several unfamiliar names Zou Feng didn’t recognize at all, which would require a thorough investigation later...

「Seven days later, early morning.」

Last night had been another grueling battle sparked by their cultivation of the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill.

Tian Yun was sprawled to one side, feigning unconsciousness to escape the fight.

Meanwhile, Bian Yixia, despite her stubborn expression as she grit her teeth and held on, found the three electric fans behind her spinning ever slower, on the verge of stopping at any moment.

Seeing that things were going awry, Zou Feng quickly withdrew his skill.

He then used his True Qi to help the two women recover.

Sure enough, having the two women fight above their weight class was simply too much to ask.

’After I advanced to the True Qi Realm, any part of my body can "come alive" under the boost of True Qi. It’s terrifyingly powerful.’

"Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill (Integration and Mastery), Progress: 76%"

Over the past seven days, Zou Feng had diligently cultivated the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill, and his progress was decent.

Of course, he hadn’t spent all his time on this one skill. He had also successfully integrated the Bone-Softening Palm into the Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill.

But to Zou Feng’s surprise, despite the Bone-Softening Palm being highly compatible with the Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill and being a top-tier Cultivation Skill in its own right...

...its successful integration had only increased the progress of his Extraordinary to Saint level Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill by a meager two points.

’Looks like it’ll be unrealistic to expect any major breakthroughs with the Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill for a long time.’

’Unless... I go to an environment truly suited for a True Qi Realm Martial Artist’s cultivation!’

According to the information Zou Feng had gathered, once a True Qi Realm martial artist reached the peak of the First Grade, there were tales of "Broken Void" and "Ascension."

’But I don’t really buy it. The True Qi Realm is nothing special. Ascension? My ass.’

’I’m more inclined to believe that these True Qi Realm Martial Artists simply went to a place better suited for cultivation.’

’For example... the so-called "Immortal Islands" rumored to lie beyond the East Sea.’

’Still, even if I can’t think about the next realm for the Five Poison Holy Lotus Skill right now, I can try to cultivate my other skills, like the Great Universal Hand, to the Extraordinary to Saint level first.’

"Sister Yun, Miss, I have to go back to Biyou Palace for a while."

Zou Feng said, seeing that the two women had mostly recovered.

Tian Yun and Bian Yixia exchanged glances. They wanted to ask him to stay, but they knew the two of them alone truly couldn’t handle him anymore, so they dropped the idea.

But Zou Feng’s decision to return to the palace early wasn’t because he needed to find new ’opponents’.

Originally, he had wanted to cultivate the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill to the Realm of Refining Fire before returning. But after seven days, Zou Feng felt increasingly out of sorts.

The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in this place was too thin; for a True Qi Realm Martial Artist’s cultivation, it was actually detrimental.

Therefore, Zou Feng couldn’t wait any longer. He had to return to Biyou Palace.

Of course, Zou Feng could have taken Tian Yun and Bian Yixia back to Biyou Palace with him. Even if he brought the entire Hongxing Gang, Su Qingyu wouldn’t have been the least bit upset.

The problem was, bringing the two women to an environment teeming with Exotic Poisons would interfere with their normal cultivation as well.

Still, even after going to Biyou Palace, Zou Feng would still return to Qingchuan City often to continue cultivating the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill.

In any case, he had to cultivate this skill to the Realm of Refining Fire to be ready for Gongsun Jinghong’s "Fierce Dragon Pass."

He had decided to leave, but he wasn’t in a rush. Zou Feng planned to cook a meal himself, using his True Qi Realm Hand of Poisoning to let everyone at the martial arts hall have a taste of something new.

When it came to Zou Feng’s cooking, everyone at the Hongxing Martial Arts Hall practically worshipped the ground he walked on.

Not only was it unbelievably delicious, but its effects were also comparable to a Great Nourishing Elixir, with almost no noticeable side effects.

If you had to point out a side effect, it would be that the dishes Zou Feng cooked himself were highly addictive...

’Even I’m starting to think that if this keeps up, my cooking could become as potent as the Hundred-legged Ancestor’s Poison Miasma.’

After a flurry of preparations, it was nearly noon. Everyone gathered in the courtyard, and the lively feast began.

Zou Feng sat at a separate table with Tian Yun and Bian Yixia.

He had barely taken a few bites when a voice full of arrogance and violence descended from the sky.

"Is the Evil Hand Squad Leader, Zou Feng, present?"

’Evil Hand Squad Leader?!’

’I didn’t even know I had a nickname.’

Tian Yun explained at the perfect moment, "Zou Lang, back when you saved the gang’s brothers in your capacity as the Hongxing Gang’s General Leader, and then killed the Yuwen Father and Son and the Xuanhuang Sect’s experts, you earned the nickname ’Evil Hand Squad Leader’ in the Central Plains."

’I’m not a fan of that nickname, but it’s what other people call me, and I can’t change it for now.’

’But the whole Jianghu already knows I’ve advanced to the True Qi Realm. Judging by that voice, someone still dares to come looking for trouble?’

The reason Zou Feng had allowed Qingchuan City to celebrate him as a "Living Immortal," and then stayed openly in the city without a care, wasn’t because he had grown arrogant enough to think he was invincible.

It was because the experts who both could and wanted to kill him were almost all in the Central Plains Region.

’The people capable of killing me are all top-tier Martial Artists. If one of them showed up around here, it would be more than just my problem.’

The Southern Border was hostile toward the Central Plains. At that time, not only Biyou Palace but also other major Evil Sects like the Rakshasa Sect and the Cyan Nether Sect would likely mobilize.

The last time the Celestial Essence Sword Sect attacked Biyou Palace, the Rakshasa Sect and the Cyan Nether Sect didn’t just stand by and do nothing.

They may not have sent their full strength, but they definitely dispatched reinforcements.

It’s just that the Celestial Essence Sword Sect wasn’t acting alone either; they had their own allied sects to intercept those reinforcements.

’So, who could be so bull-headed?’

Just as he was wondering, the person announced their identity.

"Zhang Xun of the Xuanhuang Sect, here for a lesson!"

Hearing that name, Zou Feng suddenly felt it all made sense.

Zhang Xun, the personal disciple of the Xuanhuang Sect Leader, nicknamed ’Fire Yama’.

Everyone knew the man had an explosive temper and an intense bloodlust.

He acted with utter abandon, his entire approach defined by a single word: reckless.

Fortunately, his talent and strength were formidable, and with the Xuanhuang Sect backing him, he had managed to fight his way to the Third Grade.

Seven days ago, this guy had made it onto the list of top players, and Zou Feng had taken special note of him.

’I never thought he’d be reckless enough to charge right over here so quickly...’

’I just wonder if Zhang Xun came alone, or if he has fellow sect members lying in wait.’

"I’ll count to three. If you’re still not out here, you’ll face the consequences!" Zhang Xun’s voice rang out again, laced with impatience.

’Hearing that, I could tell from his tone alone that the guy was in a rush!’

’Apparently, he wasn’t being completely reckless. He knew he couldn’t drag out this confrontation; it had to be a quick fight.’

’He had also done his homework, knowing that the Hongxing Martial Arts Hall in Qingchuan City was the former Hongxing Gang. He could use that to threaten me and force me out to fight.’

"One!"

Feeling rather helpless, Zou Feng stood up to go meet the challenge.

Tian Yun and Bian Yixia, however, weren’t worried at all. They simply put down their chopsticks in unison, ready to resume eating as soon as Zou Feng got back.

They figured the food wouldn’t even have time to get cold before the meal could continue.

Their faith in Zou Feng’s strength had long since become almost blind.

Especially after Zou Feng’s advancement to the True Qi Realm, they felt that he would only be in any real danger if a Second Grade expert showed up.

The next moment, Zou Feng leaped high into the air.

He executed the Moon Stepping Technique in quick succession, making it seem as if he were flying through the air.

But he didn’t "fly" directly to Zhang Xun’s position.

’If I just went over to fight him directly, then the reckless brute wouldn’t be Zhang Xun—it would be me.’

’After all, Zhang Xun might look like an Iron Head Child coming for a challenge...’

’...but who knows if there are other Xuanhuang Sect experts lying in ambush nearby.’

’I absolutely can’t assume he won’t play dirty just because he has a reputation for being relatively honorable in his past fights.’

’Besides, it’s strange in itself that Zhang Xun didn’t charge directly into the Hongxing Martial Arts Hall. Instead, he chose to issue a public challenge outside Qingchuan City to force me over to him.’

So, of course, Zou Feng wasn’t about to go obediently and face Zhang Xun head-on. Instead, he quickly reached the highest watchtower on the city wall to get a look at Zhang Xun’s location.

"Two!"

As Zhang Xun counted "two," Zou Feng’s gaze locked onto him.

He saw Zhang Xun standing about a li from the city gate. Flames of True Qi blazed around his body. For now, there was no sign of anyone else nearby; it truly looked like he was issuing the challenge alone.