For the past few days, ever since Huang Feifei’s last visit, Xiao Fei had been tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
He couldn't help but think about how Guangling Zhenren had accepted him as a registered disciple. Before he could reap any benefits, the Zhenren had casually plucked two hairs thicker than Xiao Fei’s thighs and made him a pair of shoes.
This made Xiao Fei feel quite indebted.
People had to pay tuition fees to attend school, and there were also gifts to be presented when apprenticing to a master. As a disciple, he couldn't be too ungrateful.
With this thought, Xiao Fei entered his space, intending to find a gift or two to repay his master’s kindness.
The most precious item in his space was the Dragon Breath Grass. The oldest had been cultivated to sixty years of medicinal age.
This spiritual herb, only produced in the Dragon Fall Abyss, would naturally please Guangling Zhenren as a gift, but it might also bring him great trouble.
Xiao Fei shook his head and moved away from the Dragon Breath Grass.
His gaze shifted to a patch of flourishing ginseng.
This area, about a third of an acre, was entirely filled with ginseng. The oldest was over 140 years old, already considered a second-tier spiritual medicine.
The younger ones were still seedlings with only a single leaf.
Xiao Fei walked up to the 140-year-old ginseng and examined it for a long time. Feeling a pang of reluctance, he shook his head, turned, and dug out two ginseng plants that were just over a hundred years old.
He carefully placed these two ginseng plants into exquisite jade boxes, adorning them beautifully.
Then, he took them to seek an audience with Guangling Zhenren.
Xiao Fei waited for a long time before finally meeting Guangling Zhenren and presenting the two ginseng plants.
These second-tier spiritual medicines held some value for Guangling Zhenren, but they were not overly precious.
However, he was still very pleased that his newly accepted disciple had such thoughtfulness. He also offered Xiao Fei a few pointers, which benefited Xiao Fei immensely.
During their conversation, Xiao Fei casually mentioned that someone was willing to pay 2,000 spirit stones to take his life.
Upon hearing this, Guangling Zhenren showed no discernible emotion on his face. He merely nodded, indicating that he was already aware of the matter, and told Xiao Fei to withdraw.
Unsure if anything had been done, Xiao Fei returned to his cave dwelling and stayed there, diligently cultivating every day.
At least, not many people dared to come to Thousand Bird Peak to assassinate an inner disciple.
On the other side, Guangling Zhenren instructed his eldest disciple to spread a message.
“Guangling Zhenren has accepted Xiao Fei as a registered disciple.
Anyone or any organization that dares to target his disciple is making an enemy of his lineage.”
That was all the message conveyed, and there was no further communication.
…
Late at night, the Danxin Sect’s market, having shed the day’s hustle and bustle, was enveloped in silence, broken only by occasional dog barks.
On a quiet street, Huang Feifei wore a loose black robe that covered her entirely, revealing only her eyes, making it difficult to discern her gender.
As she approached a half-open small door, she turned and slipped inside.
Passing through a narrow, dark alley and pushing open another small door, she found herself in a bustling hall.
The hall was brightly lit, with dozens of cultivators dressed similarly to Huang Feifei gathered inside.
Huang Feifei’s arrival did not attract any attention from others; they were all accustomed to it. Instead, their focus was on the flashing plaques in the center of the hall.
The moment Huang Feifei entered the hall, her eyes scanned the rows of plaques.
Soon, in the most conspicuous position, she spotted a red plaque with the following inscription:
“Assassination Mission: Eliminate Xiao Fei, an inner disciple of Danxin Sect.
Mission Reward: 4,000 spirit stones!”
The mission reward had doubled!
A flicker of worry crossed Huang Feifei’s eyes, but she was powerless to do anything more than warn Xiao Fei.
“Hey! What do you guys think of this assassination mission? Should we take this mission today?”
A cultivator glanced at the red plaque bearing Xiao Fei’s name, clearly attracted by the high spirit stone reward.
For these desperate individuals, missions to hunt demonic beasts were equally perilous, but the rewards paled in comparison.
“Besides the reward, this person should also have a Foundation Establishment Pill!”
As this cultivator spoke, greediness filled his eyes.
“It’s possible, but I heard this person always stays in Thousand Bird Peak and only occasionally goes to Condensing Green Peak. If there’s no opportunity, someone else would have snatched it up long ago.”
“Hehe, leave that to me. As long as he’s a man, this little sister is sure to find a way to get close.”
The three cultivators huddled together, whispering to each other through divine sense, discussing how to approach Xiao Fei. Huang Feifei, meanwhile, had already been discreetly observing them. Although she didn’t know the specifics of their discussion, their intentions were clear.
During a casual brush past, she accidentally scattered some extremely fine powder from her hand, which fell onto the three of them.
Having spent years mingling within this underground hunter organization, her survival meant she had accumulated considerable skills.
As the three black-robed figures secretly plotted how to use seduction to kill Xiao Fei and how to divide the spoils, Huang Feifei was also contemplating what method to use to eliminate these three.
Just then, a cultivator wearing a ghost mask walked up to a row of red plaques and removed the one bearing Xiao Fei’s name.
Huang Feifei’s heart skipped a beat. Had Xiao Fei met with misfortune?
Normally, this situation meant the mission had either been completed or canceled.
“Excuse me, has this mission already been completed by someone? I was just planning to take on this mission!”
Huang Feifei tried to calm her agitated emotions and stepped forward to inquire.
“This mission has been canceled. I advise you not to pursue it either; you can’t afford to offend them.”
The masked man took down the mission plaque and strode out of the hall.
After he left, the hall instantly became lively, with everyone discussing the matter. Such an occurrence was extremely rare.
Although they were merely hunters within this underground organization and held no significant status, they vaguely knew that the organization had powerful figures backing it.
The fact that they had voluntarily withdrawn the mission indicated that the powerful figures behind them did not wish to court trouble.
“Hehe! I actually know a little about this. I heard that Xiao Fei has been accepted as a registered disciple by Guangling Zhenren.
Guangling Zhenren sent his eldest disciple to personally spread the word that anyone or any organization daring to target his disciple would be making an enemy of his lineage.”
At this, everyone present immediately understood.
Guangling Zhenren was an elder of the Danxin Sect, a Golden Core cultivator, who managed many affairs related to the sect’s medicinal resources. Many lucrative positions were under his control.
Furthermore, one good man needs three helpers; any Golden Core elder is not alone within the sect.
Instead, they represent a peak, a powerful faction.
While an elder managed numerous affairs, they couldn’t personally handle everything, thus requiring many subordinates.
Some elders came from prominent families and would heavily rely on their family disciples.
Some elders, without family backing, would recruit reliable disciples to assist them.
Regardless of the case, over time, interest groups would form.
Then, these small groups would combine to form factions based on shared interests.
At this point, targeting Xiao Fei would mean making an enemy of Guangling Zhenren’s faction.
An excellent faction must be united internally and able to present a united front when facing difficulties.
After all, no one wants their supporting faction to abandon them when they encounter trouble.
Thus, a crisis targeting Xiao Fei was dissolved into nothingness without him even being aware of it.