Chapter 55-56 (Patreon)

55. A Slap

Liu Hao, Chen Yuan, and Wang Xuan escaped from Lu City in a very sorry state.

Chen Yuan's disheveled appearance made him look like a stray dog, and his eyes showed a hint of fear. He had been scared out of his wits.

Liu Hao's eyes were also bloodshot, and his face was ashen. He remained silent, like a dormant volcano that could erupt at any moment.

The three arrived at a small grove outside the city.

"Stop," Liu Hao said as he halted.

"Wang Xuan," he said as he dismounted, staring coldly at her with a stern gaze. He even changed the way he addressed her from "Junior Sister Xuan" to "Wang Xuan."

Wang Xuan had a vague feeling that something was amiss.

"Senior Brother Liu Hao, you..." Wang Xuan began to speak, but Liu Hao suddenly raised his hand and slapped her hard.

The sound of the slap echoed through the grove, leaving a bloody red handprint on Wang Xuan's fair and tender face.

"Liu Hao!" Wang Xuan covered her face and looked at him in shock, unable to believe that Liu Hao had hit her.

Through gritted teeth, Liu Hao said, "You slut, you said that Lin Fei was only a mere seventh-level Body Refining martial artist, but in fact, he has already reached the acquired realm and possesses inner power. He is an acquired martial artist! I believed your slander and suffered a crushing defeat! He is an Inner Sect disciple of the Nine Profound Sect, and we cannot contend with him for now. But revenge can wait. Return to Autumn Haze Mountain first."

Liu Hao knew that they could not do anything about Lin Fei at present, so they had to retreat.

"Let's go!" Liu Hao did not even bother with Wang Xuan, quickly mounting his horse and leaving with Chen Yuan.

Wang Xuan was left alone in the grove, her eyes red and tears welling up, but she did not shed a tear. The slap not only hurt her physically but also shattered her innocence and dreams.

"Liu Hao..." Wang Xuan gritted her teeth. She never expected that Liu Hao, who usually appeared gentle and refined that seemed to have everything under control no matter what she did would be so hysterical when he encountered a failure. She realized Liu Hao never really cared about her, let alone being a good match for her.

Liu Hao's performance seemed to be that of an empty-headed person who looked good on the outside but was lacking on the inside, far inferior to Lin Fei.

Thinking of Lin Fei, Wang Xuan's mood became complicated.

She never expected that Lin Fei, who she considered just a mere Body Refining martial artist with no potential, would hide his talents so deeply.

He was actually one of the top geniuses. Not even Liu Hao was his opponent. Unfortunately, Wang Xuan and Lin Fei no longer had any chance.

Wang Xuan also knew that she had no chance anymore. Someone like Lin Fei would no longer have any intersection with her.

"But, I should also thank you, Lin Fei. You let me see Liu Hao's true colors early, which is a good thing. So that I won't marry him and ruin my life..."

Wang Xuan gritted her teeth and got on her horse, heading towards the Zhou Mountain Mansion City.

...

Zhang Family, Luo City

The servants all left. Lin Fei looked at the gate, silent, as if lost in thought.

Although Chen Yuan and Liu Hao had just fled in panic, Liu Hao probably wouldn't let it go with his appearance.

If it were in a secluded place, Lin Fei would have killed the two of them long ago. However, if he killed them in front of the Zhang Family's eyes, it would be troublesome.

After all, they were disciples of the inner gate of Autumn Haze Mountain. This identity was not ordinary.

If an outer disciple died, the sect wouldn't care too much. But it was different for inner disciples. Every inner disciple was a core member of the sect.

If an inner disciple died, the sect would investigate.

If Lin Fei were to die, the Nine Profound Sect would also investigate. Therefore, in front of everyone's eyes, Lin Fei had no choice but to release Liu Hao and Chen Yuan.

However, this was not a big deal. Lin Fei was already an accomplished martial artist, and his strength would only continue to grow stronger in the future. By then, Liu Hao and Chen Yuan would naturally feel despair and dare not hold a grudge against him anymore.

"Patron Lin, thank you very much for what happened earlier. Otherwise, my Zhang family would have been in big trouble today..." Miss Zhang spoke with a complicated expression, pursing her lips and speaking softly.

"Miss Zhang, I am a Patron of the Zhang family, and these things are all to be expected. After today, Chen Yuan should not dare to come and cause trouble again. If the Zhang family encounters any more trouble in the future, you can write to me."

Lin Fei was preparing to leave, but a sudden idea flashed through his mind. He recalled that the Buddhist faith seemed to be flourishing in Luo City, where there was a famous temple.

"Miss Zhang, I heard that there is a long-reputed temple in Luo City, right?" Lin Fei suddenly asked.

56. Hongfa Temple

"Patron Lin, are you talking about Hongfa Temple?" Miss Zhang thought for a moment and spoke.

In Luo City, the most famous temple was Hongfa Temple. Because there was once a great monk in Hongfa Temple.

"Yes, it's Hongfa Temple. I wonder if Miss Zhang knows which true high monks are currently in Hongfa Temple?"

"If you're talking about high monks, Hongfa Temple does have some. Master Fayan and Master Fajue are both venerable monks of the contemporary Hongfa Temple."

Lin Fei nodded and said, "Miss Zhang, I need your help with something. I hope you can use the influence of the Zhang family to introduce me to Masters Fayan and Fajue. I want to discuss Buddhist principles with the two venerable monks."

The Zhang family was a wealthy merchant in Luo City. They were also frequent customers of temples like Hongfa Temple.

Naturally, he could guarantee to see the two high monks of Hongfa Temple with the Zhang family's help.

Miss Zhang did not ask why Lin Fei wanted to meet the high monks. She nodded and said, "This is easy, but Patron Lin will have to stay with the Zhang family for a while. Within three days, I will make sure Patron Lin sees the two high monks."

"Thank you, Miss Zhang."

Lin Fei decided to stay with the Zhang family for a few more days.

Returning to his room, Lin Fei immediately called up the system panel.

Host: Lin Fei

Martial Arts Realm: Acquired Level

Dragon-Elephant Vajra Fist: Perfection (0% progress)

Nine Shadow Saber Technique: Perfection (18% progress)

Tendon Transformation and Bone Forging Technique: Seventh level (68% progress)

Flowing Clothes Skill: Transcendence (0% progress)

Lin Fei's Giant Whale Body Refining Technique and Vajra Iron Cloth had reached their limits, giving birth to inner power, and could no longer be improved. Therefore, he deleted them from the system panel to save space. Otherwise, the panel would look too cluttered and confusing.

Lin Fei mainly focused on Tendon Transformation And Bone Forging Technique, which was only at the seventh level. The current progress of its cultivation had reached 68%.

Compared to the Giant Whale Body Refining Technique and Vajra Iron Cloth, the cultivation speed of the Tendon Transformation And Bone Forging Technique was simply too slow.

This was not because Tendon Transformation And Bone Forging Technique wasn't working hard. In fact, Tendon Transformation And Bone Forging Technique was also working hard in cultivation.

But the Tendon Transformation And Bone Forging Technique required both Taoist scriptures and Buddhist sutras, especially the latter. Lin Fei suspected that it was created by a monk.

This time, Lin Fei stayed in Luo City to search for a high monk from the Hongfa Temple, hoping to listen to his Buddhist teachings and gain insights to enhance his cultivation progress. He aimed to reach his limits as soon as possible and give birth to the third inner power, which would merge the three types of inner power into one.

Then, Lin Fei could enter the Martial Arts Pavilion and select acquired martial arts, officially beginning his training in the acquired realm.

In just three days, the Tendon Transformation And Bone Forging Technique only increased the cultivation progress by 3%, which was as slow as a snail. Fortunately, Miss Zhang finally had good news for him.

"Patron Lin, two high monks from the Hongfa Temple have agreed to see you. You can enter the temple with this Buddhist bead as a token."

"Thank you, Miss Zhang. I will leave for the Hongfa Temple immediately. Time is of the essence," Lin Fei replied without hesitation.

He left Zhang Mansion right away and headed to the Hongfa Temple, which was located on the outskirts of the city, it was not isolated since the temple was always bustling with people. Upon arrival, Lin Fei saw a crowd of people and smoke rising from the temple, as well as merchants selling their goods outside the temple.

Knowing it would be difficult to see the high monks with so many people around without Miss Zhang's help, Lin Fei felt thankful. He walked straight to the front of the temple.

"Donor, please queue up for incense," a monk stopped Lin Fei.

"I have come to see Masters Fayuan and Fajue. This is the token," said Lin Fei.

Lin Fei took out a string of Buddhist beads directly.

The novice monk scrutinized Lin Fei carefully and said, "Seems that the Donor is the Lin Fei that the Zhang family mentioned. The two masters are already waiting for you in the meditation room. Donor Lin, please follow me."

Lin Fei followed the novice monk into the Hongfa Temple.

The Hongfa Temple was bustling with incense and activity outside, but inside, it was very peaceful and did not disturb the meditation of the senior monks.

"Ha!"

Suddenly, as they passed through an empty space, Lin Fei saw some young monks practicing martial arts in the open area.

"Hongfa Temple also has monks practicing martial arts?" Lin Fei asked. He remembered that Hongfa Temple was not a sect.

The novice monk replied, "Donor, those are the martial monks of Hongfa Temple. They are only practicing some basic boxing and footwork to protect the safety of many monks in the temple."

"I see," Lin Fei nodded.

With his eyesight, he could naturally see that those martial monks were indeed only practicing basic boxing and footwork, and did not have Acquired realm ones, only Body Refining. It was indeed far inferior to those martial arts sects.

"Donor Lin, the two masters are in the meditation room, please come in," The novice monk stood outside the meditation room and did not intend to go in.

Lin Fei nodded and pushed open the door of the meditation room, walking straight in.