Medical Sage

”Those eight Toad Demons? The ones at the Peak of the Second Level Early Stage Beast rank?”

Hearing this, Chen Fei was slightly startled before he understood that Zhen Jingkong must be referring to the Eight Iron Guards of Golden Toad Cave.

Indeed. Those eight Toad Demons could be spared and subjugated. Besides, they must hold significant positions within the Golden Toad Cave. That way, if I want to take control of the cave, various tedious matters would become much simpler.

”Thank you, Senior. I know what to do now,” Chen Fei murmured, having made his decision.

As his voice fell, he turned and hurried toward the area where the two great formations were set.

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE...

At that moment, the two great formations seemed on the verge of collapse. Thunderous rumbling shook the heavens, and the very cores of the formations quaked. Spiritual light flared erratically in an astonishing sight.

Under such circumstances, even a fool could see it wouldn’t be long before the people trapped inside broke free.

Seeing this, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, shook his head and sighed with some dissatisfaction, ”It seems my mastery of formations is still too weak. If I could have set up a Four-Layer Human Formation today, would it have been this much trouble?”

Ever since Zhen Jingkong had taken up residence in his sea of consciousness, Chen Fei had begun his studies into the way of formations.

One reason was his genuine interest; he was fascinated by formations and the sense of control they offered. What an exhilarating feeling it would be to seal the heavens and shake the earth with a single formation!

The second reason was that he felt his combat methods were too one-dimensional, relying solely on the Sanyang Sword Manual. While specialization wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it was only human to want more. Therefore, becoming an Array Master and learning about formations was a worthwhile endeavor.

In fact, his innate talent for formations did not disappoint his interest or expectations. For an ordinary person of his age, even reaching the Two-Layer Human Formation and becoming a Two-Layer Human Formation Array Master would be an incredible, almost unbelievable achievement, let alone the Three-Layer Human Formation.

Therefore, ever since Zhen Jingkong witnessed Chen Fei’s true talent for formations, he never again mentioned his own supposed innate gift. He simply couldn’t compare to the Chen Fei of today!

Even more terrifyingly, in addition to his formidable talent for formations, Chen Fei possessed the astonishing ability to fight above his level, the Baptism of Fourfold Thunder Tribulation of Illusion, the mysterious Golden Blood within his body, and his alchemy skills, which could only be described as miraculous. It was all truly daunting.

In comparison, his talent for formations seemed less impressive, arguably the weakest of his many assets...

”If you could reach the Four-Layer Human Formation, taking control of the Golden Toad Cave’s territory for hundreds of miles around shouldn’t be a problem,” Zhen Jingkong said impassively, having grown numb to how monstrous Chen Fei’s talent truly was.

”The Four-Layer Human Formation? I’m probably not capable of that yet, am I? I don’t even have a clue where to start. In comparison, raising my Cultivation Realm is the simplest and most direct method. Moreover, I’ve found something. Ever since my physical strength reached a level comparable to a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact, my Cultivation Realm seems to have stabilized. It lacks any of the usual instability that comes right after a breakthrough, as if the two complement each other,” Chen Fei said thoughtfully, stroking his chin. If this discovery was true, he would need to properly revise and plan his future path of cultivation.

”Cultivating both spirit and body has been an exceedingly difficult path since ancient times, and the difficulty only becomes more apparent as one progresses. I can’t give you much advice on this. Personally, I wouldn’t dare to walk the path of dual cultivation... but your potential and talent far exceed mine.”

Chen Fei was slightly taken aback to hear such words from Zhen Jingkong. He then smiled faintly and said, ”I’ve never believed in talent. It’s either luck or hard work! But there’s no need to worry about that now. Let’s deal with the matter at hand first.”

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH...

As soon as his voice fell, with a grand wave, he brought his hands together. A series of intricate formation Seal Gestures, radiating a dazzling, fiery light, flowed from his hands and shot toward the collapsing formation on the ground.

ROAR!

A furious roar, like that of a great python, erupted from one of the formations, piercing the heavens and the earth.

Then, the body of a giant Flame Python wreathed in fire soared into the sky, reaching a height of at least several dozen meters. It was a terrifying sight, engulfed in raging flames. Finally, it opened its burning, cavernous maw and plummeted toward the great formation below, intending to swallow it whole.

The scene was horrifying. A ten-zhang-long giant Flame Python dived from mid-air, its flames blazing. As it crashed to the ground, it unleashed a massive shockwave that swept out in all directions.

”HISS! What was that roar just now? And this terrifying fluctuation...”

”Why do I feel like Deputy Cave Master Zang Rui’s aura has vanished... and so has Lord Cave Master’s! Am I imagining things?”

”No, that’s impossible, right? Hey, the formation is disappearing!?”

***

Within the other formation, the Eight Iron Guards of Golden Toad Cave felt this terrifying impact and cried out in alarm.

However, what astonished them even more was that the formation imprisoning them began to dissipate on its own.

”No one’s hurt? It seems my formations still have a long way to go.”

As the light of the outside world finally fell upon them, a voice tinged with dissatisfaction rang out, sending a shiver down the spines of all eight demons.

”You... you’re not dead!?” the leader of the Eight Iron Guards stammered, his gaze trembling as he stared at Chen Fei.

”I’m not dead? Of course I’m not dead. Why would I be?” Chen Fei rolled his eyes and said indifferently.

”Where is the Lord Cave Master? And Deputy Cave Master Zang Rui? What... what did you do to them?” another of the Eight Iron Guards asked, his voice shaking.

”The Lord Cave Master? You should recognize this, shouldn’t you?” In response, Chen Fei nonchalantly produced the broken black arrowhead, a faint smile on his face.

”HISS!”

”Isn’t that the Lord Cave Master’s secret treasure?”

”Why... why is that black arrow in your hands? Where did the Lord Cave Master go?”

***

The Eight Iron Guards were so terrified they nearly collapsed to their knees in disbelief.

In the Cultivation World, who didn’t know that Magic Artifacts and Magical Treasures were a cultivator’s lifeblood? Unless one had been utterly defeated and killed, how could their most powerful weapon possibly end up in another’s hands? Wait, wait! Could it be...

”You couldn’t have... killed the Lord Cave Master?” The leader of the Eight Iron Guards felt his legs go numb, almost buckling as he stared at Chen Fei with an expression of utter incredulity.

”You can see this thing, so you can imagine his fate without me spelling it out, right? As for that foul-mouthed fellow, I took care of him as well. Now, only you eight remain... How about we discuss business?” Chen Fei put away the broken black arrowhead, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the Eight Iron Guards.

”B-Business? What business!?” the Eight Iron Guards all trembled and asked, stunned.

It couldn’t be helped. They knew their Master of the Golden Toad, the King of Gilded Toads, was a genuine expert at the Peak of the Second Level Middle Stage Beast, and Deputy Cave Master Zang Rui was an Expert of the Second Level Middle Stage Beast. Even in the North Side Area of Eagle Gorge, they were definitely considered prominent figures. But now?

Now, not only was Deputy Cave Master Zang Rui dead, but even the King of Gilded Toads, the very backbone of their Golden Toad Cave, had been killed! What did this mean!? Did it mean this boy’s true strength was comparable to a Cave Master Level Powerhouse of Qi Refining Ninth Layer!? But how was that even possible!? When he underwent the Thunder Tribulation Spirit Qi Baptism on their territory, wasn’t he only at the Peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer? To have a Cultivation Realm at the Peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer but combat power matching a Cave Master Level Powerhouse of Qi Refining Ninth Layer... It was either a dream or sheer madness!

Yet, the reality was laid out before them, and they had no choice but to believe it. And the more they accepted it, the more intensely the terror trembled within their hearts.

If the truth was what they suspected... where on earth did this monster come from? Was he really that terrifying!?

”It’s quite simple. I see potential in the eight of you, and I happen to have a plan where you could be useful. So, how about it? Are you willing to submit to me? At least serving me is a much better prospect than serving that King of Gilded Toads, wouldn’t you agree?” Chen Fei said, getting straight to the point.

”Submit to you?”

The Eight Iron Guards were stunned for a moment, then without the slightest hesitation, they knelt and prostrated themselves. ”We greet our master! We are willing to submit to you!”

The path of cultivation was long and arduous. They had survived countless battles and lonely years of cultivation to reach their current realm, so none of them wished to die so senselessly.

Moreover, in the world of the strong, might makes right. In the previous battle, Chen Fei had displayed terrifying combat power and potential. Following a top-tier genius with such frightening talent was indeed a far more promising future than following the King of Gilded Toads. They weren’t fools; they understood this simple logic.

”Very good. Since you’re willing, things will be much simpler. Come here. I’m going to plant a Formation Restriction in your Demon Cores. If one day you lose your minds and dare to betray me, this little thing will be able to take your lives, you know,” Chen Fei said with a smile, his words stating a cruel reality.

Of course, submission wasn’t a matter of mere words; it required concrete action. With his methods and abilities, once he planted a Formation Restriction in their Demon Cores, they would be powerless to cause any trouble. Their very lives would rest on his whim.

Although the Eight Iron Guards felt bitter and reluctant upon hearing this, having clawed their way through the Cultivation World to their current level, they understood this harsh reality all too well.

Trust? Was that even useful? Only when their lives were truly in his grasp would he be able to rest easy.

And to truly control them, planting a Formation Restriction in their Demon Cores was undoubtedly the simplest, most direct, and most effective method.

After all, for them, the Demon Clan, without their Demon Cores, most of their abilities would vanish. They wouldn’t die, but what would be the point of living like that!?