Chapter Thirty-Two: Azure Snow County City

Lin Fan’s vitality could already rival that of someone who had just stepped into the Qi Pulse Realm. However, if his opponent had opened two or more apertures, he no longer dared compare himself. Unless he employed all his techniques and battle skills, perhaps then he could stand his ground against an early-stage Qi Pulse expert, and even if he was no match, escaping wouldn't be difficult.

Yet, in the case of a surprise attack, as long as the Qi Pulse expert was careless even for a moment, Lin Fan could easily take their head. After all, no matter how powerful a Qi Pulse cultivator was, a fatal strike to a vital point meant death all the same. It was akin to a seven- or eight-year-old child wielding a sharp knife against a barehanded, strong man in his thirties; if the man fought with all his strength, his chances of winning were high. But if he was careless and the child slashed his throat...

Furthermore, if Lin Fan first unleashed the Wind and Thunder Technique, pushing his power to the Qi Pulse level, he could easily overwhelm any Qi Pulse cultivator with fewer than two apertures. At that point, if he further employed his Intent Blade Technique—being invincible among those of his level—anyone below the Qi Channeling Realm would stand no chance; however many came, however many would fall.

This was Lin Fan’s true combat strength, but this only described his current state. Once his cultivation advanced further, the situation would change entirely.

Simply put, even without using any techniques, relying solely on his vitality, Lin Fan was already unmatched among those of the same realm.

Perhaps this is thinking too far ahead, but in the end, the Vitality Fruit that boosted Lin Fan by ten threads would provide at least a thousand or two thousand threads to anyone else. Lin Fan had set aside three Vitality Fruits, fifty Body Refining Fruits, and one Greater Body Refining Fruit—enough resources for the Lin family to raise three Qi Pulse experts. Ever since the Lin family unified Xiaobei City, many at the peak of the Qi Induction Realm had flocked to join them; as long as they swore an oath of loyalty, one Vitality Fruit could push them into the Qi Pulse Realm.

Therefore, cultivating three Qi Pulse experts was not difficult, and with fifty Body Refining Fruits and the Greater Body Refining Fruit, the Lin family would gain many more Qi Induction experts. From now on, the Lin family’s power would gradually catch up with the noble families of other cities. After all, with elite fighters at the Qi Channeling level and scores of Qi Induction experts, their only shortcoming was still the number of Qi Pulse cultivators—but this, too, would change with time.

Xiao Shuihan and the others, under Lin Fan’s tutelage, had already entered the door and reached the Minor Achievement level. For their age, they were rare talents. Lin Fan intended for them to venture out, to gain experience and see bloodshed, for only then could they truly grow. Otherwise, no matter how well they practiced their martial skills, it would be like a showy spear—impressive in appearance, useless in practice.

In real combat, hesitation in deciding which move to use could mean death. Only by having seen blood would their techniques become more seamless; only by facing life and death could they truly comprehend and integrate everything, reaching the Great Achievement stage. Practice alone was never enough.

Thus, Lin Fan would not accompany Xiao Shuihan and the others on their journey; he had his own ways to hone himself that would not suit them. In two months, when they met again at the Celestial Academy, he could continue to guide Xiao Fei and the rest. By then, having survived deadly encounters, their skills would be more mature, and with just a few pointers from Lin Fan, they could reach perfection.

Of course, some might ask why so many who had faced life and death saw no improvement in their techniques. That was because Lin Fan’s guidance accounted for ninety-nine percent of their progress; experiencing bloodshed was only the necessary final one percent.

Lin Fan decided to stay at home for five more days before leaving. He would then traverse the Snowy Forest, both to train and to gather soul power for Qian Duixue. As for why he chose to stay five more days, the reason was simple: in three days, it would be the first New Year since he had awakened his memories.

In previous years, the house was lively during the New Year. While the old patriarch was in seclusion, both his elder brother and second sister were present, and even Liang Yuyan and Lin Yu, despite any tension, were amiable enough for the holiday. But this year, his elder brother Lin Ya was cultivating at Skyward Sect and could not return for the New Year, nor could his second sister. Liang Yuyan had betrayed the Lin family with Lin Yu and met a tragic end.

If Lin Fan didn’t stay for the holiday, only the old patriarch and his “cheap” father would be left, and he feared the two would have a joyless New Year. Though he knew his “cheap” father was not his biological parent, nor the old patriarch his blood grandfather, these two treated him even better than family. His “cheap” father had even killed his own son for Lin Fan’s sake! Even though Lin Yu deserved his fate, Lin Fan still felt guilty, as he was the root cause of it all.

Therefore, he could not leave for the New Year—he had to stay with the old patriarch and his father, to ensure they had a happy holiday.

Year 1356 of the Ice and Snow Calendar, New Year’s Eve.

Xiaobei City was abuzz with celebration, the entire city swept clean and adorned with festive couplets on every door. As the largest family in the city, the Lin family naturally organized the giving of porridge and charity, ensuring even the beggars on the streets had food—though, strangely, there seemed to be far fewer beggars this year.

That day, Lin Fan joined the old patriarch and his father in preparing a grand feast. They ate and drank merrily, sharing stories—perhaps more words than Lin Fan had ever spoken to his father since childhood.

As evening fell, having spent time with the old patriarch and his father, Lin Fan rode his unicorn horse toward Qingxue County’s main city.

Two days earlier, Lin Fan had informed Xiao Shuihan and the others of his plans to train and his intention for them to train as well. Their recent progress was entirely due to Lin Fan’s guidance, so they obeyed him without question and agreed to set out together on the second day of the new year.

With the holiday approaching, Xiao Shuihan and the others had returned to their respective families, but each had invited Lin Fan to join them. On New Year's Eve, they would gather in Qingxue County’s city to enjoy the lantern festival and treat Lin Fan to a feast.

Qingxue County governed over more than eighty cities, including Xiaobei, Feixue, and Qiandu. The county city itself was twenty times the size of Xiaobei City, and every year on this day, it was bustling—countless lanterns, ice sculptures, and beautiful sights, not to mention endless delicacies. For a glutton like Lin Fan, the temptation was irresistible.

Naturally, he accepted Xiao Shuihan’s invitation. He wanted to admire the world’s scenery; before regaining his past life's memories, he had never left Xiaobei City—if one didn’t count his journey into the city from outside.

Lin Fan rode a unicorn horse, capable of traveling twenty thousand miles a day—a true treasure steed. But it was not cheap; each cost twenty thousand taels. The Lin family originally had none, but the other three great families each possessed a few. When they were destroyed, the horses became the Lin family’s.

The distance from Xiaobei City to the county city was over five thousand miles, and even the unicorn horse took four hours to cover it.

Although Qingxue County was immersed in winter all year round, and snow blanketed the land outside, within the city it felt like spring. Arrays kept the cold at bay; not a flake of snow touched the streets, and children played in the moat.

“Come, come! Dragonfruit and Phoenixfruit skewers, sweet and delicious, great for body refining—thirty taels a stick, don’t miss out!”
“Top-grade sword, cuts through iron like mud—fifty taels! The perfect blade for a hero!”
“Peerless martial arts manuals, unmatched techniques, only twenty taels each! Become a master in no time!”
“Grilled snow wolf skewers, seasoned with fiery devil peppers...”

As soon as Lin Fan entered the county city, he was drawn in by the vendors’ cries on both sides of the gate. He smiled, immediately discerning that the so-called peerless manuals were just basic body refining techniques, and the “iron-cutting” swords were merely ordinary blades.

Soon, Lin Fan made his way into the city, a few grilled snow wolf skewers in hand. The devil peppers were indeed spicy—even with his cultivation, he broke into a sweat.

Upon reaching the Four Seas Tavern, he handed his unicorn horse to the attendant and entered alone. This was their agreed meeting place: the Four Seas Tavern, an establishment with branches in over a dozen counties. No matter how little favor Qian Jin enjoyed, he was still the seventh young master of the Four Seas Tavern. Though he only managed the Xiaobei City branch, when he was in the county city’s main tavern, everyone obeyed him—unless he crossed the line.

Qian Jin had reserved a large private room well in advance, awaiting their gathering and a night of revelry.

“Have Qian Jin and Xiao Fei arrived yet?” Lin Fan asked the attendant as he entered.

All the while, he was surveying the Four Seas Tavern. This one was far grander than the Xiaobei City branch, which covered just over two hundred square meters, stood three stories high, and was built of birch—sturdy enough to withstand a full-force blow from a Body Refining cultivator.

Here, the county city’s Four Seas Tavern sprawled over six hundred square meters, seven stories tall, with a rear stable for horses. The interiors were finished in blackwood and purplegold wood, each foot of which cost ten taels—a true luxury. Even a Qi Pulse expert would have to open five apertures to smash it.

In fact, blackwood and purplegold were not typically used for construction but for crafting lightweight armor. The cost of building this branch likely ran into tens of millions of taels; naturally, the prices here far exceeded those in Xiaobei City. There, a decent meal for a table would cost little more than ten taels; here, even the most basic dishes started at fifty, and a specialty meal could easily run two hundred taels or more.

The tavern’s first three floors were for general dining, the fourth was for private rooms—open to all with enough money; the fifth was restricted to those at the Qi Induction Realm; the sixth, to Qi Pulse cultivators; and the seventh could only be reserved by Qi Channeling experts.

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