Chapter 77-78 (Patreon)

77. Chief Disciple

Five days later, Lin Fei returned to the Nine Profound Sect, looking exhausted. Once he was back at the sect, he finally felt relaxed and could focus on his martial arts practice.

"System," he called out, immediately accessing the system panel to check his progress in martial arts.

Host: Lin Fei

Martial Arts Realm: Acquired Fourth Level

Three Vitality Technique: Fourth Level (2% progress)

Dragon-Elephant Vajra Fist: Perfection (11% progress)

Triple Wave Technique: Mastery (89% progress)

Leaping Technique: Mastery (87% progress)

Nine Shadow Saber Technique: Perfection (43% progress)

Saber-drawing Technique: Transcendence (15% progress)

Flowing Clothes Skill: Transcendence (0% progress)

Lin Fei had already reached the Acquired Fourth Level and was currently trying to break through the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian.

Previously, the Three Vitality Technique could increase its cultivation progress by 3% every day. However, since he broke through to the Acquired Fourth Level and started to open the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, its progress slowed down, and it could only increase the cultivate progress by 2% every day.

Lin Fei had tried various methods to try to inspire it but to no avail. Three Vitality Technique was stable and had a very calm character, seeming uninterested in anything he did. This left Lin Fei feeling quite helpless.

Fortunately, the Three Vitality Technique was still making progress every day, so he let it be. Besides, Lin Fei was more concerned about the Saber-drawing Technique, which was quite remarkable. It had only taken him five days to increase the practice progress by 5% after returning to the Nine Profound Sect.

At this rate, if he could continue to progress by 1% every day, it would take him around 100 days to reach perfection. Lin Fei found that the Saber-drawing Technique was relatively easy to practice and didn't seem to have any bottlenecks, unlike other techniques that found it challenging to master, let alone reach transcendence or perfection. However, Lin Fei had already reached transcendence and was confident that he would achieve perfection in no time.

Lin Fei carefully recalled the Saber-drawing Technique.

This Saber-drawing Technique was divided into two parts, Saber-nurturing and Saber-drawing.

Lin Fei practiced the Saber-nurturing technique every day, and his inner power was constantly being generated, making his inner power almost inexhaustible. Therefore, one day of nurturing his saber was equivalent to half a month for others.

With this in mind, it made sense to increase his cultivation progress by 1% every day.

"Junior Brother Lin, the Sect Master is looking for you," suddenly a voice sounded outside Lin Fei's door.

Lin Fei opened the door and saw an acquired-realm senior brother.

"What's the matter, Senior Brother? Why did the Sect Master summon me?" Lin Fei asked.

"I'm not sure. You'll find out when you go," the senior brother replied.

Lin Fei nodded and went to the Nine Profound Sect's main hall with some doubts.

There was only the Sect Master in the main hall, and his eyes lit up when he saw Lin Fei. He smiled and said, "Lin Fei, you have made a great name for yourself in Chang City in just a short time.

Everyone in Chang City knew that Nine Profound Sect has a top-notch genius disciple who, at the acquired third level realm, killed two acquired seventh level martial artists."

Lin Fei was a little surprised and respectfully said, "Junior Sister Ling had helped me, and with the Saber-drawing Technique, I was lucky enough to kill two acquired seventh level martial artists."

"Being able to nurture your saber for many days and kill acquired-level martial artists is not just luck," the Sect Master said. "Moreover, you have brought glory to the Nine Profound Sect, which is not a bad thing. And, I have a task for you."

"A task?" Lin Fei's heart sank as he spoke in a deep voice, "Please give me your orders, Sect Master."

Lin Fei was very clear that when he entered the inner sect, he learned about the obligation of inner disciples to accept tasks assigned by the sect.

"Lin Fei, don't be nervous," the Sect Master said. "You have only used the Saber-drawing Technique once, and you have only been nurturing your saber for a few days, so the power is not very strong. The task I am giving you is within your capabilities.

Haizhou City is near the sea and is the only seaside city within the Nine Profound Sect's sphere of influence. Some resources and businesses coming from the sea are quite important to our Nine Profound Sect.

However, recently, a group of pirates has been raiding villages near Haizhou City. Because of this, I am afraid something might happen to Haizhou City, so I am sending a group of disciples there.

Most of the pirates are at the Body Refining realm, with a few at the acquired realm, but they are all below acquired fourth level. Even if there are a few with acquired fifth level five or six, it's not a big deal.

Normally, I would send an acquired seventh level disciple for this task, but recently, there has been some friction between Nine Profound Sect and Autumn Haze Mountain.

Our acquired seventh level disciples are focusing on Autumn Haze Mountain. If we send an acquired sixth level martial artist and something unexpected happens, Haizhou City will be in trouble, and that would be a big problem.

So, you lead a team of disciples to Haizhou City and wipe out those pirates," said the Sect Master.

Lin Fei understood what he meant. He was to lead a team to Haizhou City and deal with the pirates there, who were not very strong. The strongest among them was only at the acquired realm fifth or sixth level, but that was compared with the Nine Profound Sect. They were a big threat to Haizhou City.

"I obey your command, Sect Master, and will go to Haizhou City to eliminate the pirates," said Lin Fei respectfully.

"Very well. Rest for a day and come to the main hall tomorrow morning. I will send a team of disciples to go with you," said the Sect Master.

"Yes, Sect Master!" Lin Fei retreated.

Watching Lin Fei's departing figure, the Sect Master sighed, "Elder Zhao truly has good judgment, recognizing Lin Fei's martial arts heart. His future achievements will be boundless.

If he can already slay Acquired Seventh Level experts with his saber now, won't he be invincible in the future? It seems that our Nine Profound Sect will surely gain another Innate expert in the future!"

...

The next day, Lin Fei arrived at the great hall early in the morning. Some inner sect disciples had already gathered in the hall, standing quietly.

Lin Fei waited for another half hour before the Sect Master finally arrived.

The Sect Master glanced at the disciples in the hall and nodded, "You all know about the sect mission. Your journey to Haizhou City is to eliminate the pirates.

Among you are Acquired Fourth Level, Fifth Level, and even Sixth Level martial artists. With so many people, there must be a leader to handle all affairs in Haizhou City.

Lin Fei, I appoint you as the Chief Disciple of Haizhou City. You will be responsible for all matters in Haizhou City. All Nine Profound Sect disciples in Haizhou City must obey your command."

"Swish."

Everyone's gaze turned to Lin Fei, filled with confusion, astonishment, and bewilderment. Almost all the disciples didn't understand the reason for the Sect Master appointing Lin Fei as the "Chief Disciple."

Being the "Chief" meant being the leader among the dispatched disciples. Everyone must obey the orders of the Chief Disciple.

"Lin Fei slew two Acquired Seventh Level martial artists in Chang City. Why haven't you paid your respects yet?" The Sect Master's voice carried authority.

The hearts of the disciples trembled.

Slaying Acquired Seventh Level martial artists, and two at that!

The Sect Master's words couldn't be wrong. As a result, many disciples respectfully saluted and shouted, "Greetings, Senior Brother Lin!"

"I hope that we can all work together to eliminate the pirates!" Lin Fei kept it brief.

With a simple statement, he bid farewell to the Sect Master and led the group of Nine Profound Sect inner disciples, marched down the mountain in a grand manner, heading towards Haizhou City.

78. Cut In Half 

Haizhou City was a city located by the East Sea, and it had ports. Merchants loaded their goods and sailed to other countries on the other side of the sea to do business, making huge profits from maritime trade. This was something that everyone knows.

Haizhou City was nominally under the jurisdiction of the Great Chang Dynasty, but in reality, as the Great Chang Dynasty had gradually declined over the years and there had been rebellions in various places, the government's control over the border areas had become weak, including Haizhou City. In fact, it was jointly governed by the government and the Nine Profound Sect, with the latter being the main authority.

Therefore, when pirates appeared near Haizhou City, the Nine Profound Sect became so nervous that they dispatched disciples to eliminate the pirates immediately. Lin Fei and his team of about 20 people arrived at Haizhou City and went to the Nine Profound Sect branch there. The branch leader Mo Wen was acquired fifth level but was already over forty years old and unlikely to make further progress in his lifetime.

Upon seeing Lin Fei sitting in the seat of honor, Mo Wen immediately respectfully greeted him, "Greetings, Chief. I am Mo Wen, the branch leader of the Nine Profound Sect in Haizhou City."

Mo Wen had received a pigeon message and knew that disciples from the Nine Profound Sect were coming, led by the "chief disciple" Lin Fei. He was to obey all of Lin Fei's orders. However, even though he knew the news beforehand, Mo Wen was still somewhat surprised to see such a young disciple becoming the chief disciple. Moreover, it seemed that Lin Fei's cultivation level was not very high?

Mo Wen was not sure, but a team of twenty inner disciples was quite terrifying, enough to sweep the entire Haizhou City.

"Mo Wen, tell me about the current situation in Haizhou City. Have there been any pirates?" Lin Fei asked directly.

Mo Wen thought for a moment and reported, "Reporting to the Chief, we haven't found any trace of pirates in Haizhou City at the moment. However, some nearby villages have encountered pirates.

Those pirates are extremely brutal, not only looting but also slaughtering people in nearby villages. Now, the villages outside Haizhou City have basically been looted by pirates, and no one dares to stay outside the city. They have all entered the city."

"Hmm, entered the city? You let people from outside the city come in?"

Lin Fei stared at Mo Wen with a cold gaze.

Mo Wen felt Lin Fei's sharp gaze like a saber and dared not look directly at him. Cold sweat even appeared on his forehead.

He cautiously replied, "This morning, I ordered some refugees from outside the city to enter the city. I carefully screened them, and they should be refugees, so it should be fine."

Lin Fei remained noncommittal and continued to ask, "How many refugees are there?"

"Probably more than a thousand people, all in tattered clothes, and they are all people who have survived from nearby villages by chance. I couldn't bear it, so..."

"Now give the order to surround all those thousand or so people. If there are any suspicious movements, kill them without mercy!"

Lin Fei gave the order.

"Yes, Chief."

Mo Wen didn't dare to delay and immediately gave the order.

Lin Fei turned to the disciples of the Nine Profound Sect and said, "Let's go. If we're any later, what we see may only be a dead city."

Many disciples were slightly intimidated by Lin Fei's words and felt that he was exaggerating. However, Lin Fei was the Chief, and they had to follow his orders. So they followed Lin Fei and quickly headed to the refugee camp.

At this moment, inside the refugee camp, the people from the Nine Profound Sect were distributing porridge. Many refugees were looking forward to it and hoping to eat the porridge as soon as possible.

Suddenly, a dense sound of footsteps could be heard. Large groups of people from the Nine Profound Sect and Haizhou City surrounded the camp.

There were about twenty or so refugees in the camp, and their faces changed drastically when they saw this scene.

"This is bad, we've been discovered."

"What do we do now?"

"We've already entered the city. Let's break out while the encirclement hasn't formed yet."

"Break out and rush towards the city gate, preferably opening the city gate to release the signal for attacking the city. When our people arrive, Haizhou City will be ours!"

At once, these twenty or so refugees began to move.

"Swish, swish, swish."

All of them were agile and their haggard appearances seemed to be disguised using some kind of disguise technique. These people were all insiders of the pirates outside the city.

The insider pirates began to break out in various directions. The people of Haizhou City were not well prepared, and these pirates were powerful, with many of them being acquired martial artists.

It was not an easy task to stop them. There were even acquired sixth level experts among them! Fortunately, Lin Fei led the disciples of the Nine Profound Sect and arrived in time.

Upon seeing this, Lin Fei immediately ordered, "Kill!"

Immediately, twenty Inner Disciples of the Nine Profound Sect each displayed their martial arts and blocked the pirates.

Mo Wen also witnessed this scene, with cold sweat running down his forehead. He actually let the pirates into the city, almost causing harm to the entire city!

"Chief, I'm guilty..." Mo Wen knelt in front of Lin Fei with an ashamed face.

"Of course, you're guilty. But it's not too late to make up for it before a major disaster occurs. Go, we can't let a pirate escape!"

"Yes, Chief." Mo Wen gritted his teeth, holding the big saber in his hand and rushing towards the pirates.

However, Mo Wen seemed to have encountered a powerful pirate. The opponent's figure flickered like a ghost and instantly appeared in front of Mo Wen. Then, the pirate swung his short saber in his hand.

"Spurt!"

Mo Wen screamed in pain. His palm was cut off by the pirate's short saber. However, the pirate did not seem to want to kill Mo Wen. Instead, he charged directly towards Lin Fei's direction.

Now, there were people surrounding them everywhere. Only a few people were in Lin Fei's direction, which seemed to be a weak point.

The pirate was extremely fast. Almost in the blink of an eye, he was in front of Lin Fei.

"Be careful, Senior Brother Lin, this pirate is at the Acquired Sixth Level..." The Inner Disciples of the Nine Profound Sect loudly warned. However, the pirate was too fast. They didn't have time to intervene.

The sharp short saber of the pirate was already within reach. It seemed that in the next moment, it would cut Lin Fei's throat open.

"Clang."

A clear sound. The Star Saber behind Lin Fei instantly fell into his hand.

"Swoosh."

Lin Fei swung his saber.

Thirteen saber shadows covered the pirate like a sky-shrouding blanket. The sharp saber edge made the pirate's soul tremble.

"You..."

The pirate's eyes widened. He immediately placed his short saber horizontally in front of his chest.

"Boom."

A muffled sound. The pirate's short saber broke with a "click" sound. At the same time, the momentum of Lin Fei's Star saber did not diminish. The pirate's body was instantly cut in half by Lin Fei's Star Saber.

Suddenly, blood splattered.

An Acquired Sixth Level pirate couldn't even block one strike from Lin Fei.

Both the person and the saber were cut in half by a single saber strike!