From Beast Abilities to Sect Grand Master

When Ho Ming left, Lin Fan asked, "Why wouldn't you want to see more of your nephew?"

Ho Jie gave out his usual chuckle and said, "No point making that kid sad if anything happens to me.

"Everyone has their destiny in life.

"Yours and Ho Ming's is to cultivate and be the best amongst all the cultivators.

"Mine has been decided long ago.

"And that is to do whatever it takes to change the fortunes of the Ho family."

Lin Fan nodded and didn't say anything further.

It was Ho Jie's decision after all.

When it was nightfall, Lin Fan put on his wolf mask and went to the black market.

He only wanted Blood and Qi restoration pills this time.

After the close battle with Master Tan, it made him realize the importance of having some recovery pills.

When he arrived at Zhang Xi's store, she was there with her usual rabbit mask.

Bored and twirling her ponytail, as there was no one in front of her store.

"Do you have Blood and Qi restoration pills?" Lin Fan asked.

Zhang Xi perked up when she saw it was Lin Fan. "Forty contribution points for one bottle."

"What? Forty contribution points?" Lin Fan was surprised when he heard the price.

At the menial disciple quarters, it was going for thirty contribution points.

Usually, it was expected to cost less on the black market as sometimes the pills were of unsavory sources.

That's why he preferred the black market.

What was she up to? he thought.

Either Zhang Xi had gotten better at negotiation, or she was giving her price out of nowhere.

"Yes, forty unless..." Zhang Xi didn't finish her sentence, waiting for Lin Fan's response.

"Unless what?" Lin Fan asked.

He wasn't annoyed but impressed that she had gotten better this time, knowing how to set up the conversation for negotiation.

"Help when my friend asks for assistance," Zhang Xi said.

Lin Fan laughed and said, "Sure, but how do I know who is your friend? Miss Rabbit.

"And how would you know who I am? Anyone could be under this wolf mask."

"I..." Zhang Xi didn't want to break her cover, but she hadn't thought about it.

Lin Fan smirked and said, "All right, maybe when your friend needs help, cry out 'Pa Pa' three times. My friend would then know it's her."

"You! You..." Zhang Xi was angry she got teased, but Lin Fan's suggestion gave her a direction.

And she quickly thought of something.

She took out a necklace from her neck, and on the necklace were two jade pendants.

One was a sword and the other an axe.

She took them off and gave the axe pendant to Lin Fan.

"My friend will be wearing this pendant with the sword; that's how you know it is her."

"And my friend helping will be having this axe pendant," Lin Fan picked up the axe pendant and said.

"Your friend... hmm.... All right. Deal, twenty contribution points for the Blood and Qi restoration pills."

She was guessing that he knew that she knew, but for the sake of not blowing each other's cover, she agreed.

Lin Fan bought four bottles of the pills, which set him back eighty contribution points.

But for the sake of survival, he was more than happy to use up the points.

His exploration deeper into the woods might have some nasty surprises for him; he'd better be prepared for any mishaps.

...

Million Sword Hall.

Qing Yang Zi was reading a visit request letter.

Normally he would be all smiles and happy to acknowledge the request and invite the guests.

But this time he was frowning as he read the request.

It was from Low Qiang, the sect master of Storm Fist Thunder sect.

Low Qiang had written to request a visit, wanting to clarify rumors floating around that Qing Feng sect had killed his brother Low Tian.

He'd hoped that to maintain the peaceful presence between the two sects, Qing Yang Zi could grant him this visit.

"Guess what will come will come," Qing Yang Zi sighed and started to write his reply.

After he was done, he looked up and said to the peak lords sitting in front of him, "Storm Fist Thunder sect will be coming. Be prepared for some confrontation. Ming Ye, keep Low Tian's head safe; all-out war will happen if anything happens to it."

"Yes, sect master. I will not fail this time. I've asked martial uncle Zhao Qing Ying to come back and help."

When Qing Yang Zi heard Zhao Qing Ying's name, he rubbed his temple.

Although Zhao Qing Ying was so much stronger than him, he'd always been aloof and wandered all over Quan Dynasty.

Sometimes even further.

"Hope Qing Ying can make it back in time. All right, all of you dismissed."

The peak lords stood up, clasped their hands, and bowed. "Yes, sect master."

Tan Fei replied, "Yes, sect master" like the others but deep down inside, he had other ideas when he heard what was going to happen.

This might be the best chance for the Tan family to get rid of Qing Yang Zi.

...

A few days passed.

Lin Fan's cultivation went smoothly, and his Qi level now allowed him to perform ten times of his Yang Smash.

He reckoned he'd broken through to Qi Concentration level, stage two.

Considering he had joined for only a month, his progress was extraordinary.

This finally let Lin Fan feel ready to venture further into the woods.

He took all his essentials: hammer, axe, and pills.

Everything that could ensure his survival.

When he passed the area he usually chopped for firewood, he started to make markings on the tree trunks.

It got darker and more eerie as he went further.

Lin Fan could hear howls and roars from afar.

Rustle.

The sound of leaves rustling made Lin Fan stop in his tracks.

He quickly activated his Rabbit's Hearing and listened.

Fur brushed along the bushes.

The beast stopped its howling and started to breathe softly.

It was getting ready to pounce on Lin Fan.