I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Ten steps is a distance that a top-tier assassin at the peak of Foundation Establishment would not even require half a breath to cover.

This assassin disguised as a strongman is none other than Shadow One, a silver-ranked assassin from the Dark Shadow Hall of the Xuan Tian Sect.

He had been moving stones here for three months, waiting for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get close.

In Yingyi's view, Zheng Yifei was still bent over looking at the canal, seemingly not having reacted at all.

A cruel sneer curled at the corner of Yingyi's mouth. He could almost see the scene of this "Qi Refining stage waste" who was hated to the bone by the Grand Elder having his throat cut and spitting out poisonous blood.

However, he did not know that Zheng Yifei at this moment was no longer the director of the News Department who only had the Qi Refining Realm cultivation in the Qingyun Sect. Instead, he was a late Foundation Establishment cultivator who had just undergone a transformation in the Marrow Cleansing Pool, absorbed the earth's spiritual essence, and was wearing the Soul Condensing Warm Jade!

Zheng Yifei's powerful spiritual sense, comparable to that of a Golden Core cultivator in its early stages, had already accurately captured every movement of Ying Yi the instant his killing intent was revealed.

"court death!"

Zheng Yifei remained completely calm, without even turning his head.

With a sudden thought, a talisman radiating dazzling golden light was instantly activated in his storage bag.

Tier 3 Supreme Grade Talisman - Vajra Talisman!

"Buzz!"

With a deep hum, a golden bronze bell-like phantom, almost tangible, instantly enveloped Zheng Yifei.

"Ding—Click!"

Shadow One's poisoned dagger pierced the phantom of the Vajra Bell.

Amidst the flying sparks, the dagger, powerful enough to pierce the protective aura of an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was actually blocked by this top-grade talisman. The immense recoil even caused a small section of the dagger's tip to break off.

"What?!"

Yingyi's pupils shrank suddenly, and a storm raged in his heart.

The intelligence report stated that the target was only at the Qi Refining Perfection stage. How could they possibly activate a Tier 3 top-grade talisman instantly?

Moreover, judging from the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from this Vajra Shield, the target's spiritual energy was no less profound than that of him, a Foundation Establishment Perfection assassin!

In that instant when Shadow One was distracted, two other assassins disguised as warriors—Shadow Two and Shadow Three—also sprang up from the groups of warriors on the left and right sides, their magical weapons gleaming coldly, attempting to attack Zheng Yifei from both sides.

"presumptuous!"

"You ignorant fool!"

Two sharp shouts rang out at the same time.

The green snake and white deer, who had been following Zheng Yifei without any apparent precautions, finally made their move.

They were personally trained disciples of Jade Rakshasa, genuine early-stage Golden Core demonic cultivators. If a Foundation Establishment stage assassin were to kill someone right under their noses, they wouldn't need to return to the Heavenly Demon Sect.

A fierce green glint flashed in the Green Snake's eyes, and she suddenly swung her jade hand forward.

In an instant, a colossal, emerald-green spiritual energy python, as thick as a bucket, materialized in the air. The python opened its blood-red maw, emitting a foul stench, and swallowed Shadow Two, who had attacked from the left, whole. A sickeningly loud cracking sound rang out, and Shadow Two, before he could even scream, was reduced to a pile of minced meat.

On the other side, Bai Lu's movements were even gentler.

She simply extended her slender finger and flicked it lightly at Shadow Three on her right. A barely perceptible white needle of light instantly traversed space and pierced directly through Shadow Three's brow.

Shadow Three's rapidly moving body suddenly stiffened, then he crashed straight to the ground, lifeless.

Two Silver-Rank Assassins at the peak of Foundation Establishment were instantly killed by a Golden Core stage demonic cultivator, like chickens and dogs.

At this moment, Shadow One, facing the enemy, finally realized that this assassination attempt was a complete trap.

The target's strength and the number of guards around him far exceeded the Shadow Hall's expectations!

"withdraw!"

Yingyi acted decisively, using the force of the dagger's recoil to twist his body in mid-air, about to crush the Thousand Mile Escape Talisman in his sleeve.

"Since you're already here, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

A cold voice suddenly rang in Yingyi's ear.

Zheng Yifei, who was originally protected by the Vajra Shield, had somehow removed the talisman and his body moved in like a ghost.

The spiritual power within his body surged and roared like a mighty river, releasing his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation without reservation. The powerful spiritual pressure even made the air around Yingyi viscous.

Zheng Yifei was proficient in all kinds of fighting techniques in his previous life. Now, combined with the terrifying strength and speed of a cultivator, he is simply a close-combat killing god.

His right hand, like an iron clamp, precisely gripped Ying Yi's wrist as he was about to crush the talisman, and snapped it downwards.

"Snap!"

Shadow One's wrist was bent at an unnatural ninety-degree angle, and the Thousand Mile Escape Talisman fell to the ground.

Before Yingyi could even scream, Zheng Yifei's left hand had already transformed into a knife, slashing viciously at Yingyi's right shoulder joint.

Immediately afterwards, he turned his body and kicked out with both legs like steel whips, accurately hitting Shadow One's knees.

"Snap! Snap! Snap!"

The chilling sounds of bones breaking echoed one after another.

In the blink of an eye, Zheng Yifei used extremely ruthless grappling and bone-dislocating techniques to dislocate all of Ying Yi's joints, and also smashed Ying Yi's jaw with a palm strike to prevent him from biting down on the poison sac in his teeth to commit suicide.

"Bang!"

Shadow One collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, his limbs twisted, his jaw dislocated, and saliva mixed with blood gushing from his mouth.

He stared intently at Zheng Yifei, who was looking down at him from above, his eyes filled with undisguised fear and despair.

"Foundation Building...Late Stage..."

Yingyi let out a muffled, hoarse sound, his heart filled with endless regret and sorrow.

He sighed deeply and closed his eyes.

They severely underestimated Zheng Yifei's cultivation level and strength.

A useless person who should have been a Qi Refining stage cultivator who relied on his brains in the intelligence reports turned out to be a monster with late Foundation Establishment cultivation, profound spiritual power comparable to the Perfection stage, and such ruthless close combat skills!

Not to mention his terrifying wealth, which allows him to casually produce top-grade third-tier talismans.

Elder, Elder, this information of yours has killed us!

Zheng Yifei dusted off his hands and looked coldly at Yingyi on the ground.

He didn't even need to search their souls; just by looking at the three men's clean and efficient killing methods and their resolute death-hunting style, he knew they were definitely assassins sent by Qin Cang of the Xuantian Sect.

"It seems that old dog Qin Cang is really desperate."

Zheng Yifei's lips curled into a chilling smirk.

Green Snake stepped forward, glanced at Shadow One on the ground, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes at Zheng Yifei's close combat skills, and then respectfully asked, "Minister Zheng, what should we do with this survivor?"

"Should I hand him over? I have a hundred ways to make him vomit up all the times he wet the bed as a child."

"No need for that."

Zheng Yifei turned around, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Xuan Tian Sect in the north. His tone was calm, yet it carried a chilling undertone. "Take him back to the news department and have an artist draw a close-up of him. Tomorrow, the 'Heavenly Demon Daily' will have its front page headline."

The title is: "Shameless! Elder Qin Cang secretly sent assassins to infiltrate Tianmo City to assassinate the Minister of News of our sect, but they failed and were captured on the spot!"

Zheng Yifei snorted coldly, "Since he wants to play dirty tricks, then I'll expose this matter completely to the light of day and let the entire Southern Wilderness see the true face of the Xuantian Sect!"