After the Du Family Clan Contest, Du Fei had originally expected that he wouldn't be able to have any peace for the next few days. However, unexpectedly, things did not develop as he had anticipated.

Nevertheless, if others weren't anxious, Du Fei wasn't either. During these days, while there were various invitations occasionally, he had Little Ai decline them all. Instead, he was wholeheartedly devoted to cultivation in his courtyard. Although he wasn't pushing himself as hard as before, this in-depth experience gave him a deeper understanding of his own strength.

Even though there was no substantial breakthrough in his strength, Du Fei believed that with his current prowess, facing a Ninth-grade Martial Artist might be hard, but when faced with someone at the ninth level of body forging, even if he couldn't defeat them, ensuring his safe retreat would not be difficult.

Having only cultivated for a mere three months and achieving such progress, Du Fei was quite satisfied!

"Heh!"

With a soft shout, Du Fei lunged out with his palm, gently landing it on a stone in front of him, and the stone trembled slightly. There was no reaction where his palm landed, but on the opposite side, a clear palm print emerged instantly.

"Clap clap clap—"

A gentle applause echoed out.

"Young Master, your counter punch technique has truly reached a level where you can control its release and retraction at will. With your strength, no one under the ninth level of body forging can beat you!" Little Ai smiled lightly, gently clapping her hands, her eyes filled with amusement.

"You're here to tease me too, aren't you?" Du Fei chuckled softly, but a mischievous look appeared on his face, "Since you said that no one below the ninth level of body forging can beat me, it seems I need to find someone at the eighth level to test it out!"

"That's a good idea," Little Ai clapped her hands and then furrowed her brows, "But I'm not very familiar with the Du Family. How would I know who's at the eighth level?"

"If you can't find someone at the eighth level, isn't there one at the ninth level right here?" Du Fei gave a teasing laugh, stomping his foot on the ground, and his figure darted diagonally towards Little Ai.

"Young Master! You're bullying me..." Little Ai stomped her foot lightly, mumbling a complaint, but her movements were not slow. She sidestepped slightly, and her delicate hand struck forward.

"Smack smack smack—"

Above the courtyard, the two figures crisscrossed past each other. In an instant, their palms clashed countless times, causing the entire courtyard to be affected by the surge of true breath, creating a subtle airflow that instantly lifted the surrounding dry leaves.

"Little Ai is indeed formidable! Truly worthy of being at the ninth level of body forging!" Although he exclaimed silently in his heart, Du Fei's moves weren't the least bit slower. His right hand suddenly clenched into a fist, and a strange force instantly condensed, followed by a powerful punch!

"Counter Punch!"

"Young Master, such a move won't be very effective against me!" Little Ai, with a laugh that resembled tinkling bells, formed her right hand into a sword-like gesture, then swiftly lunged at Du Fei's chest area.

"What incredible speed!" Du Fei exclaimed internally, noticing that he was slightly slower. He feared that before his punch landed, Little Ai would strike him first.

In that instant, Du Fei tapped the ground with his toes, causing his movements to pause slightly, then rapidly retreated, causing Little Ai's strike to miss. His retreating figure momentarily hovered in mid-air, then turned into two afterimages, charging back towards Little Ai.

Seeing the ferocious Du Fei approaching, Little Ai's eyes squinted into crescents. She suddenly pressed her right hand onto the ground, sweeping out with her leg.

"Sky-breaking Flash!"

"Swallow's Return!"

As Du Fei drew closer, Little Ai's sweeping leg passed through his afterimage with uncanny precision, almost simultaneously landing a fierce kick on Du Fei's chest.

"Bang—"

Crossing his arms over his chest, Du Fei barely blocked Little Ai's strike. Yet, he couldn't help but skid backward several steps on the ground before coming to a stop.

"Tsk tsk... so powerful... That was an eighth-grade martial technique, right?" Although Little Ai's strength was a level higher than Du Fei's, only an eighth-grade martial technique could block another of the same grade.

"Yes, but this move isn't as powerful as the Sky-breaking Flash. I've just practiced it for a longer time. Young Master, you naturally can't match up to me. However, to be able to reach this level in just three months, you are indeed an exceptional prodigy—" Seemingly sensing Du Fei's displeasure, Little Ai explained with a hint of concern.

Nodding without denial, Du Fei smiled and said, "Alright, you don't need to worry. I'm not so fragile that I would be affected if I lost to you. I've only been practicing for three months. To have reached this level, I'm already quite satisfied! But Little Ai, you shouldn't just be concerned about me. You should also focus on your own cultivation. When you advance to become a ninth-grade martial artist, I will find the most suitable cultivation method for you. Don't worry!"

Du Fei wasn't just talking nonsense. At the moment, as a core disciple of the Du Family, he had the privilege to enter the third floor of the Martial Cultivation Pavilion. With the capability of the system, he could record all the cultivation methods within the Martial Cultivation Pavilion and then choose the most suitable one for Little Ai. It wouldn't be too challenging.

"Mm, I got it!" Hearing this, Little Ai nodded slightly. These days, she hadn't really been cultivating herself because of Du Fei. Now, hearing Du Fei's words, the tension in her heart eased a bit.

"Alright! Let's continue cultivating!" Stretching out his hand to pat Little Ai's head, Du Fei smiled. This time, he pulled Little Ai into the courtyard, and almost simultaneously, the two took their stances, then executed the Body-forging Fist smoothly, flowing like water...

"Grandpa! Grandpa... I can't accept this! I just can't!"

Within a particularly eerie courtyard in the Du Family's backyard, a wailing sound emerged, the resentment in the voice making one's teeth ache just by hearing it.

"Master, is there really no other way?" Inside the courtyard, in a rather spacious room, Du Qing lay on a mattress on one side of the room. In the center of the room, Du Zhenfeng spoke with a cold expression.

"Ah, Third Elder, it's not that I don't want to help, but... our abilities as alchemists are limited. However... I've heard that within the eighth-grade pills, there is something called Bone Renewal Powder. It should be able to treat Young Master Qing. If we can find it, perhaps..." Next to Du Zhenfeng, an elderly man in gray robes shook his head slowly with a helpless look.

"Eighth-grade pill! Alchemist!" Du Zhenfeng's mouth twitched slightly. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, "Qing'er, don't worry! Not only will I cure you, but I'll also make sure you get your revenge with your own hands! My grandson, the descendant of Du Zhenfeng, is not someone that anyone can offend!"

Sitting in the spacious hall, Du Fei was the picture of calm, his gaze incredibly serene.

At that moment, the monthly clan meeting of the Du Family was taking place. The fact that Du Fei, given his status, could even have a seat at the clan meeting was quite astonishing to many.

It's worth noting that even among the eight core disciples of the Du Family, only Du Han, who sat opposite Du Fei, and Du Qian, who was beside him, had received this kind of treatment.

As for Little Ai, since she was a servant, and since Du Fei hadn't shown any intention of taking her as a disciple, she didn't qualify to attend the clan meeting again.

Chairs were placed on both sides of the hall, with a row of figures seated on each. At the head of the room sat the patriarch of the Du Family, Du Zhentian.

Du Zhentian's eyes were slightly narrowed, and he didn't speak. His silence further heightened the already tense atmosphere of the clan meeting, making it all the more awkward.

"Third-in-command, how is Du Qing's injury?"

After a rather uncomfortable silence, Du Zhentian slightly turned his head, casting a half-mocking, half-smiling glance towards Du Zhenfeng.

This Third Elder of the Du Family seemed somewhat calmer now. Taking a slight breath, he slowly said, "The alchemist has already examined him. Qing'er is completely crippled now. Unless an eighth-grade alchemist is willing to help, no one can save him... However, all of this was brought upon by his own actions. No one else is to blame."

Hearing this, the upper echelons of the Du Family displayed a mix of strange expressions, though none spoke further on the topic.

"An eighth-grade alchemist, huh!" Du Zhentian nodded slightly, then after a moment turned to Du Xuanfeng, whispering, "Find some time to visit the imperial capital. See if you can invite an eighth-grade alchemist from our main family. No matter what, Du Qing is one of our own. I won't just stand by and watch him rot away like this."

"Yes!" Du Xuanfeng nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Thank you, Lord Patriarch!" Du Zhenfeng said with a face full of gratitude.

"Heh heh, we are all family here. There's no need for such formalities," Du Zhentian waved his hand dismissively, seemingly forgetting the events of the Clan Contest, "Du Fei... Regarding the matter during the Clan Contest, although it was Du Qing's own fault, you still went a bit too far with your actions, so..."

Hearing this insincere conversation suddenly shift to him, Du Fei felt quite helpless. However, he didn't say much. Instead, he stood up, took a few steps forward, and slightly bowed to Du Zhenfeng, saying, "Third Elder, I admit that I was too impulsive during the Clan Contest."

Du Zhenfeng took a deep breath, his face twitching slightly. After a moment, he displayed a strange smile, saying lightly, "It's fine. I was also too impulsive that day... Heh, matters of the youngsters should be settled by themselves. Qian'er brought it upon himself, and as his grandfather, I can't say much..."

"I admire your magnanimity, Third Elder!" A hint of admiration appeared on Du Fei's face, as he spoke in a seemingly very accommodating manner.

"Hmph! You're just a little brat!" Du Zhenfeng sneered inwardly, though his face remained expressionless. He just gave a slight nod, accepting Du Fei's words.

"Hmph! You're nothing but an old fox!" Similarly, Du Fei sneered in his heart, yet his face showed no hint of change.

"Heh heh, since the two of you can let bygones be bygones, it is our Du Family's blessing!" From the head seat, Du Zhentian clapped softly, "Du Fei, from now on, you are the ninth core disciple of the Du Family. If you need any resources, just go to the treasury. Also, you have access to the third floor of the Martial Cultivation Pavilion... Hmm, let Du Qian guide you there!"

"Understood!" Du Fei bowed slightly and then returned to his seat, sitting down quietly.

What followed were the routine matters of the Du Family clan meeting, covering topics like the Du Family's income and the situation in Buyue City.

After listening for a while, Du Fei lost interest in these matters. In a short time, he felt a mild headache and eventually tuned out, focusing instead on his own thoughts about cultivation.