Chapter 104: The Xuanming Sect! (Seeking recommendations, seeking bookmarks, seeking donations!)

In the following days, officials from the various counties surrounding Yuntian Prefecture prepared gifts to be sent to the Qin family residence in Qinfeng.

Qin Feng, not one for social pleasantries, delegated all such responsibilities to Qin Tianyun and Qin Zhongkai. He himself retreated into seclusion, focusing his efforts on studying two mystical techniques: the "Great Sun Holy War Art" and the "Heavenly Fiend Devouring Vessel Scripture."

After ten consecutive days of seclusion, Qin Feng remained without a breakthrough regarding the "Great Sun Holy War Art," though he had gained some insight into the "Heavenly Fiend Devouring Vessel Scripture." He immediately ordered his subordinates—Yan Chonghu, Shi Tie, and Liu Qingchang—to collect rare ores. Furthermore, he requested that Lin Xiaozhong and Chen Donghai travel to the Black Cloud Mountains beyond Hulao Pass to retrieve the stone gates buried beneath the rubble.

...

"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"

...

Late at night, outside Hulao Pass, three figures streaked past like phantoms, leaping over the pass and entering the territory of the Great Chu Empire. These three were Human King-level experts from the Great Tong Empire. Their empire’s invasion of the Great Chu border had ended in a crushing defeat, and subsequent investigations revealed that Qin Feng was the primary cause.

Qin Feng had single-handedly slain dozens of their garrison generals, forcing their army into a rout. His combat prowess was peerless, his strength formidable, and his cultivation was almost certainly at the Human King realm. Moreover, he was only sixteen years old. A sixteen-year-old Human King—it was unimaginable what dazzling heights he would reach in the future. How could they hope to contend with him then?

Ultimately, the high command of the Great Tong Empire decided to send Human King-level experts to recruit Qin Feng. They dispatched three such experts to ensure that if he refused, they could crush him with thunderous force.

...

Qin Feng’s cultivation consumed medicinal herbs at an astonishing rate. Having exhausted his previous supply, he headed to the Baozhi Pavilion to seek out Huang Ningbing. Since the battle at Hulao Pass, Qin Feng had been honored with the title of "Prince Qin," and Qin City had become the heart of Yuntian Prefecture. Perhaps for this reason, or perhaps for another, Huang Ningbing had relocated the headquarters of the Baozhi Pavilion within Yuntian Prefecture to Qin City.

"Prince Qin, rest assured, I will mobilize the entire strength of the Baozhi Pavilion to search for herbs for you," Huang Ningbing said without hesitation upon learning the purpose of his visit. A sense of joy and lightness filled her heart, as if the mere act of helping him brought her great happiness.

"Hmm?" Qin Feng, not expecting her to agree so readily, looked at her with a hint of surprise.

"Prince Qin, please do not misunderstand," she said, her eyes flickering away from his as she stumbled over her words. "I mean... I am a merchant. I simply do my best to fulfill a customer's request." For reasons unknown, she, who was always so astute, felt a strange nervousness in his presence.

"Many thanks," Qin Feng replied with a bow, not overthinking her unusual demeanor.

"Greetings, Young Master Yang. The Pavilion Master is currently entertaining an esteemed guest inside. Please wait a moment," said Chen Yunlong, standing outside the room. His expression shifted slightly as he saw Yang Tianxian approaching in a rush. Yang Tianxian was the eldest son of the Xuanming Sect; he possessed striking looks and remarkable cultivation, but he was known to be narrow-minded.

"General Chen, is Ningbing inside? I must see her," Yang Tianxian demanded. He had been pursuing Huang Ningbing for some time but had been away to advance his cultivation. Now that he had achieved a breakthrough, he had come straight to her, having even asked his father to approach the Baozhi Pavilion to propose a formal marriage. He was eager to share this good news with her.

"Young Master Yang, the Pavilion Master is entertaining a guest. Please, wait a moment," Chen Yunlong insisted, hesitating. He knew the Pavilion Master held no affection for Yang Tianxian and had hinted at as much many times.

"Prince Qin, as soon as the herbs arrive, I will notify you immediately," Huang Ningbing said, opening the door and leaning toward Qin Feng with a radiant smile.

"I thank you, Pavilion Master Huang," Qin Feng replied, stepping back subtly before nodding and walking away.

"Who is he?" Yang Tianxian’s expression darkened as he saw Huang Ningbing smiling at Qin Feng—a warmth she had never shown him. Frost-faced, he pointed at Qin Feng and shouted angrily.

"Young Master Yang, he is my esteemed guest. You must not be rude," Huang Ningbing said sharply, casting a wary glance at Qin Feng, fearing he might misunderstand her relationship with Yang.

"You are my fiancée! How can you scold me because of him?" Yang Tianxian roared, his jealousy igniting into a blazing rage. He glared at Qin Feng with murderous intent; this man dared to snatch his woman away.

"Shut up! I have never had a fiancé!" Huang Ningbing retorted, her face flushing with anger.

"Hmph!" Yang Tianxian let out a cold snort, his eyes fixed on Qin Feng. "Die!" He lunged forward, his hands curled into tiger claws, driven by blind fury.

"Young Master Yang, stop!" Chen Yunlong cried out, his face turning pale. He lunged forward to intercept him. Qin Feng was a Human King-level expert; for Yang Tianxian, a mere Garrison-level cultivator, to attack him was suicide. While Yang had the backing of the Xuanming Sect, Qin Feng himself was a Human King and feared no one. Chen could not watch the young man throw his life away, especially given the ties between the Xuanming Sect and the Baozhi Pavilion.

"General Chen, you dare stop me?" Yang Tianxian hissed.

"Young Master Yang, listen to me, he is..." Chen began, his voice laced with anxiety.

"Step aside!" Yang Tianxian barked, his aura exploding in a violent display of power.

Seeing the situation escalate, Liu Shengyun, a late-stage Garrison-level expert from the Xuanming Sect waiting downstairs, sensed the turbulence and burst through the floor, landing on the third floor with a thunderous impact. Seeing Yang Tianxian was unharmed, he exhaled in relief. "Young Master."

"Elder Liu, stop him! Don't let him interfere!" Yang Tianxian ordered, charging toward Qin Feng once more.

"Young Master Yang, you must not!" Chen Yunlong shouted, ignoring the elder and reaching out to pull Yang back.

"Hmph!" Liu Shengyun snorted, unimpressed by Chen's interference. He threw a punch that slammed into Chen’s palm, sending the general reeling back over a dozen paces.