Chapter 3, Initial Trial of Skills (Part 1)

Li Fei couldn't help but be astonished; the "Five Gates" at the bottom of the hierarchy had already monopolized the economic lifeline of the nation, so the status of the "One Teaching and Three Sects" was undoubtedly significant. What a ridiculous world it is, where the emperor actually entrusts matters of national finance and people's livelihood to gangs. It seems that although this world resembles the Song Dynasty, it is even darker than the most chaotic times of the Song Dynasty.

Li Fei reacted extremely quickly, opening his mouth to utter a few sounds of "yi yi" and "a a," while gesturing wildly with his hands

Although Li Fei felt as if he were in a state of confusion, akin to a bucket being tossed about in water, he still presented himself with the demeanor of a chivalrous hero, proudly declaring: "I am Li Fei, known in the martial world as 'One Touch Fei'"

Li Fei ran to a secluded place and, following the method taught by Shi Qian in his dream, focused his mind on the spiritual aperture. He performed a hand gesture and shouted, "Earth Thief Star Shi Qian!" However, there was not a single response. Perhaps his skills had not yet reached perfection, but he did not lose heart. He sat in a corner of the temple and concentrated on his training.

Everyone suddenly fell silent, and the scar on Ma Hu's face twitched, but he suddenly burst into laughter: "How could a person of the Great Vehicle Zen School become a refugee? You must be trying to fool a ghost!"

As the saying goes, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." That morning, the group of refugees continued to venture out in search of food and firewood, leaving behind six able-bodied men, including Tang the blacksmith, Zhao Daqian, and Liu Baiqiang, to guard the temple. Not long after the others had left, a series of hurried footsteps could be heard outside the temple, followed by the temple door being kicked open with a loud bang. A group of individuals armed with short knives, daggers, and clubs rushed in with a menacing aura.

Alas, young hero, you may not know that the Great Jing Kingdom is the realm of Taoists. Not to mention those highly accomplished individuals who soar through the skies and traverse the realms, even a mere gatekeeper Taoist boy holds more dignity than the powerful, renowned, and wealthy merchants in the city. They even dare to point fingers at the county magistrate. If they take a liking to someone's possessions, they will demand that you give them away for free, and you will still have to thank them. The government still adheres to the law of the king, yet they are beyond the reach of even that law.

Li Fei felt as if the gazes of the two Taoists were like sharp swords, leaving him feeling completely exposed and uncomfortable standing before them

Ah... Li Fei let out a sound but did not dare to speak, as his accent was distinctly different from others, and he would give himself away as soon as he opened his mouth

Ma Hu's pupils constricted as he fixed his gaze on Li Fei's feet. Being a practitioner of martial arts, he could discern the level of another's strength merely by observing their walking pace. However, at that moment, he was unable to gauge Li Fei's depth or skill.

The person who has just arrived is Ma Hu, a figure that instills fear in the hearts of the refugees.

Fang Zhi hurriedly said: "Master, please calm your anger. He is my sixth brother, named Fang Hui. He has been mute since childhood. We all come from the Fang family village in Huiyang Town."

After this minor upheaval, Li Fei felt that these refugees were quite friendly, and he had already regarded them as friends in his heart. One must be clear about gratitude and resentment; if others treat you well and you continue to act ungratefully, you will be looked down upon by others

The Taoist priest examined the pulse and then looked at Li Fei, both of whom had pale faces and seemed somewhat similar. He then shifted his gaze to the others, scanning the surroundings but finding no suspicious individuals, before turning to walk outside.

"Pah!" A thick phlegm was spat onto Jin Lao's face by Ma Hu. "There’s no food or money for books, no money to give people. I've been feeling irritable these past few days. You happen to have a few decent girls here, quickly call out two of them."

I just like this kind of pretty boy, how about tonight...

The women and children inside the temple screamed loudly, as if they had seen a malevolent spirit. The faces of Tang the blacksmith and the others changed color, and they hurriedly grabbed wooden sticks and hatchets, rushing to the temple entrance to block the intruders' path.

Li Fei does not have any master or sect, but he hopes to scare them away to avoid a confrontation. Therefore, he pretends to be profound and says: "My master is a monk, which sect do you refer to?"

Is the Taoist here very bad, Mr. Jin

Why are you so nervous? Where are you from, and what is your name?

There are as many as the fish crossing the river! The current emperor is foolish, obsessed with seeking the Dao, and superstitious about Taoist priests, with hundreds of thousands of them across the land. Among them, those from the Supreme Teachings are the most numerous; the two just now were indeed priests of the Supreme Teachings.

Tian Yimu said: "We would rather encounter robbers than the authorities, yet even the officials fear meeting a Taoist priest"

Although progress was rapid, Li Fei felt quite dissatisfied. First, he still could not summon Shi Qian; second, he had no sense of an increase in physical strength, nor did he have any combat techniques at his disposal. In other words, his combat capability had not seen any substantial improvement, and if Ma Hu were to truly come knocking, he might not be able to withstand it

Li Fei felt somewhat embarrassed; his character had greatly improved. Each time, he would share half of his food, delivering it to the hands of patients or children. Those who benefited expressed their heartfelt gratitude. Although several refugee leaders did not speak much, there was a clear respect evident in their eyes.

Fang Zhi Mai stated: "The Five Gates are not actually considered a sect of cultivation, but rather a guild or association; however, their strength is not to be underestimated"

Li Fei finally felt relieved and cupped his fists in salute to Fang Zhimai, saying: "Thank you, Brother Fang, for helping me out. There was an assassination attempt at the city gate yesterday, and I happened to be present. If they had recognized me, they would surely have captured me and forced a confession, reporting me as an assassin. I truly appreciate all of you."

Then there are still five subjects

The refugees were assigned tasks; most went out to beg, while some gathered firewood. Occasionally, with a stroke of luck, they might come across birds or beasts that had frozen to death. However, a few strong individuals had to remain in the temple to guard the elderly, weak, and sick. Li Fei, as their specially appointed "bodyguard," naturally stayed behind in the temple.

Ma Hu raised his hand, and when all the sounds had ceased, he said coldly: "Which path are you from, little brother? You look quite unfamiliar."

The more than twenty strong men brought by Ma Hu angrily shouted: "Where did this wild brat come from? Are you tired of living?"

Those who can make a name for themselves in the martial world are certainly not simple individuals. Ma Hu's expression changed slightly as he clasped his hands and said: "I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon! However, I do not know which sect you come from or who your master is; perhaps I might recognize them. It seems the flood has washed away the Dragon King's temple."

Brother Li is indeed correct. The five sects are the Divine Forging Sect, the Marvelous Intent Sect, the Cloud Sail Sect, the Brocade Sect, and the Shadowless Sect. The Divine Forging Sect specializes in weapon crafting, and most of the finest weapons in the world are made by them; the Brocade Sect specializes in selling exquisite stationery and fine silks, and even the emperor seeks rare treasures from them and the libraries; the Cloud Sail Sect is dedicated to maritime and land transportation business; the members of the Shadowless Sect are all spies and assassins; the Marvelous Intent Sect operates brothels and casinos, including selecting beauties for the emperor, and the entire nation cannot do without them.

Ha ha, ha ha ha! Scarface laughed uproariously, "Master Ma hasn't been here for a few days, and you've all grown bolder, daring to resist now?"

In the blink of an eye, five days have passed, with neither villains coming to rob nor Taoists and officials coming to hunt.

We are not very clear about it either, but we have heard people say that in today's world there are "one teaching, three sects, and five schools." The one teaching refers to the Taishang Teaching, which is the largest religion in the world and also the state religion of the Great Jing Kingdom. The three sects are the Youxuan Sect, the Mingxiao Sect, and the Mahayana Zen Sect. The practitioners of the Youxuan Sect are skilled in summoning souls and driving away corpses, engaging in mysterious activities. The practitioners of the Mingxiao Sect excel in qi cultivation, while the Mahayana Zen Sect consists of monks.

Li Fei laughed and said, "Can they really control the world?"

In recent days, I have diligently practiced the Heavenly Dream Divine Skill and have achieved some small progress. I can distinctly feel a space within my spiritual orifice, where a mass of energy is gathering. My vision and hearing have significantly improved; I can clearly perceive even the slightest movements of the wind and grass within a radius of ten meters. Each time I conclude my practice, I also feel a swelling sensation at the Taixi acupoint on my heels, and I run particularly lightly. At times, with a vigorous leap, I can jump over two meters high.

Jin, however, wore a frown on his face and sighed, "The government is detestable, and the Taoist priests are even more so. Naturally, we cannot allow them to harm you"

Li Fei was greatly surprised: "Is it really true that there are such things? Are there many Taoists in the Great Scenic Kingdom?"

Old Jin trembled as he ran out: "Master Ma, Master Ma, please show mercy. We are truly in a difficult situation. Otherwise, we wouldn't have waited for you to come; we would have offered our respects long ago."

The leader stands at a height of 1.85 meters, wearing a fox fur hat and a tiger skin vest. His robust and fierce physique resembles an iron tower, and a menacing scar stretches from the bridge of his nose down to below his left ear, strikingly eye-catching

Li Fei, with his sharp ears, heard a voice coming from outside the temple gate: "Brother Baojing, I find that person somewhat suspicious. Why not inquire further?"

What are the major religious sects in the world?

It is quite difficult for the refugees to obtain food; being able to get a bit of leftover food is considered very fortunate. The idea of stealing chicken every day is even more impossible. Most people are in a state of hunger, yet they always manage to reserve the best food for Li Fei each day

With so many cultivators, it is not easy to stand out in this world, let alone act recklessly. Just how powerful is the Heavenly Dream Divine Skill, and can it be compared to these cultivators? Li Fei felt a bit uneasy again

The gazes of the two Taoists became even more piercing, their robes billowing without wind, and an invisible pressure nearly froze Li Fei's blood.

"If you want someone, you must first ask if the fire stick in my hand agrees!" Li Fei stepped out, gripping a three-meter-long wooden stick, as thick as a bowl, with one end still emitting flames. His tone and footsteps were so resolute that they instilled fear in others

How dare you be so arrogant with a rolling pin of such stature? I'll take care of this little brat!

Junior Brother Baoyue, this is experience. This person has black pupils, loose muscles and bones, and lacks any internal energy or true qi. He cannot be an assassin from the Black Liao Kingdom, so there is no need to expend effort on him