Embarking on the Path to Immortality, Mastering a Hundred Arts Chapter 34: Deal with Them One by One

The Jade Phoenix Pavilion, located in the mortal district of Anhe City, was a brothel owned by the Murong family.

Inside a lavish room, one man and five women were engaged in a serious and profound exploration of life. The five women were deeply moved, their weeping and moaning filling the air. Murong Bubó, with his hands braced against the bed frame, was busy at his labor, entirely unaware that danger was quietly descending.

A mocking voice echoed through the room. "Brother Murong, you certainly are enjoying yourself!"

Murong Bubó felt a chill run down his spine. He hurriedly pulled out his short spear and spun around to look. Li Feng sat casually on a chair, dressed in black.

"Who are you!" Murong Bubó, failing to recognize the intruder for a moment, shouted sternly.

"Don't recognize me so soon? It’s me, Alchemist Shan." Li Feng removed his mask, his smile icy.

Murong Bubó's expression shifted violently, fearing that his father’s schemes had failed. Disregarding his lack of clothing, he tried to bolt out the door to escape, but no matter how he tugged at it, he could not get out. Li Feng had set up a second-tier containment array around the room—more than enough to trap a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and certainly sufficient to deal with the Qi Refining-stage Murong Bubó.

"Brother Murong, don't waste your energy. Let’s have a proper chat." Li Feng gestured to the chair beside him.

Murong Bubó felt anxious, his mind racing for an escape. "Alchemist Shan, there must be some misunderstanding between us. Everything can be negotiated." He put on his clothes, his demeanor now extremely humble, the arrogant posture he had displayed during their last meeting entirely gone. "My previous attempt to send people out of the city was to purge the evil cultivator Li Etian; many people know this."

Li Feng looked at the guilty man, his intent to kill permeating the air. "Did I ask you about that?"

Murong Bubó was left speechless, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.

"Hand over the Rosan Grass, and I will spare your life." The item was still on Murong Bubó, which was the very reason Li Feng had sought him out first.

"You must swear by your Dao heart, and then I will give it to you," Murong Bubó said, fearing Li Feng would go back on his word.

"What qualifications do you have to bargain with me?" Seeing that the man failed to grasp his situation, Li Feng simply released nine puppet thugs. The puppets were covered in Divine Strength Talismans, Golden Body Talismans, and Swift Movement Talismans. Under the augmentation of these talismans, they possessed at least the strength of a peak Qi Refining cultivator.

Before Murong Bubó could resist, his neck was snapped within three breaths, and he died on the spot.

The women on the bed, who had originally been watching the spectacle, shrieked in terror. Li Feng waved his hand, knocking them unconscious. He then cut off the left ears of the five women and fed them Forget-Dust Pills. The Forget-Dust Pill, a low-grade second-tier elixir, could erase recent memories.

Once this was done, he used Murong Bubó's blood to write in a conspicuous spot: "Those who follow me shall prosper; those who defy me shall perish—Li Etian."

Murong Ganglie would certainly not believe such a crude attempt at framing someone, but Li Feng didn't care. His goal was to make the outside world believe that Murong Bubó had provoked Li Etian, leading to his own demise. In any case, the Murong family was doomed sooner or later; they needed a scapegoat, and Li Etian was the perfect fit.

With everything settled, Li Feng picked up the storage bag and vanished without a trace.

A few days later, the major markets were gripped by panic. The news of Li Etian killing people and eating their ears had spread through every street and alley. Cultivators were vigilant whenever they stepped out. Upon hearing the news, Hong Ling subconsciously thought of Li Feng, but she quickly dismissed her suspicions. Less than a day after Murong Bubó was killed, the entire Murong family was wiped out, with not a single survivor, including Murong Ganglie.

On the day of the Murong family's destruction, Li Feng was busy refining eight batches of Marrow-Cleansing Pills for Hong Ling—and secretly keeping three batches for himself. He had no time to appear at the scene, so no one suspected him.

For a time, the foot traffic in the major markets plummeted. Cultivators with few defensive means avoided going out, and those who did chose to travel in groups. The incident had such a malicious impact that it drew the attention of the three Foundation Establishment inspectors of Anhe City.

Li Feng, however, remained indifferent, continuing his quiet life. Aside from refining pills and making talismans, he added a new task: guiding Cui Cui in her cultivation. Cui Cui’s aptitude was not high, and she remained stuck at the stage of drawing Qi into her body. Meanwhile, having received the Marrow-Cleansing Pills, Hong Ling broke through to the sixth level of Qi Refining within two months—a staggering speed, though naturally aided by her previous cultivation experience and a large supply of spiritual herbs and pills.

With the Murong family dealt with and the Rosan Grass in hand, Li Feng began to consider how to eliminate Jin Yanzi and accelerate the turnover of the management of the Danju Workshop. According to the information from the simulation, Jin Yanzi would not leave Anhe City for another year.

Li Feng could not afford to wait for a year. Even if he had the patience, Li Qing could not wait that long. The Blood Cloud Patriarch was constantly urging Li Qing to return and strictly forbade her from participating in any disputes related to the Tianhe Sect. Li Qing had stayed behind at the risk of defying her master's orders, so Li Feng had little time to maneuver. Once the optimal window was missed and he lost a helper like Li Qing, killing Jin Yanzi would become a hundred times harder.

One day, when Li Feng found some free time, he disguised himself and went to the inn where Li Qing was staying.

"Can we make a move now?" Li Qing asked, burning with impatience.

Li Feng gestured for her to calm down. "I know you're in a hurry, but don't panic. Jin Yanzi is extremely cautious now and rarely leaves his home."

Li Qing’s beautiful eyes clouded with sorrow, and she looked helpless. "Then what should we do? I can stay for at most another month before I must return to the sect."

"Actually, there is one more way, depending on whether you dare to take the risk." Li Feng brewed the moment, then cast his hook.

"What way?"

"The three of us will sneak into Jin Yanzi's residence and kill him together." Li Feng looked at Li Qing, his eyes firm, showing he was not joking.

Li Qing was surprised. "Three? Who else is there?"

Li Feng used a transmission talisman, and soon a third person entered the room. This person was none other than Li Etian, whom everyone in Anhe City feared. The massacre of the Murong family had been the work of Li Etian. Li Feng had participated in the matter, though he had not appeared at the scene. Li Etian had agreed to help Li Feng partly because he coveted the Murong family's assets, and partly because he also wanted to kill Jin Yanzi. The two had deep-seated grievances, and Li Etian had been waiting for the right moment. Now, that moment had arrived.

Seeing that the newcomer was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Li Qing remained secretly vigilant, fearing the two might collude to trap her.

As the intermediary, Li Feng explained, "This fellow Daoist Liu has a deep hatred for Jin Yanzi, and you, Li Qing, have also been attacked by him. We all share the same goal."

Li Etian looked at Li Feng, secretly puzzled. Why did he intentionally get his surname wrong? Li Etian did not know that Li Feng had been using his name while interacting with Li Qing, and naturally, he could not let the two know the truth.

"If this operation succeeds, Jin Yanzi's possessions will be split equally between the two of you. I can give up my share."

Li Qing did not seem particularly pleased, asking instead, "You've gone to such lengths—what are you aiming for?"

"I'm aiming for the leasing rights of the entire Danju Workshop," Li Feng offered a logical explanation. "Only when Jin Yanzi falls will I have the chance to take control of the Danju Workshop."