I run a casino in the immortal realm.

Three months.

One hundred high-grade Spirit Gathering Pills, two hundred mid-grade Spirit Gathering Pills, and one second-grade low-grade Qi Condensation Pill.

Equivalent to over twelve thousand low-grade spirit stones.

This sum of money was enough to feed the independent cultivators in three alleys of the West District for a year, and Zheng Yifei stuffed it all into his meridians.

The Condensing Essence Pill was the last one to be swallowed.

The defective second-tier pill entered his stomach, and its medicinal power was like molten iron poured into his dantian. The spiritual liquid that had been accumulated for three months at the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining surged violently under the impact of this brute force, crashing into the tightly sealed barrier.

once.

twice.

The third time, the barrier shattered.

A torrent of spiritual energy poured into the newly formed meridian area, causing the Qi Sea to expand by nearly double. A series of crackling sounds emanated from the bones throughout the body, and every muscle rearranged itself under the influence of the spiritual energy.

Zheng Yifei opened his eyes.

Qi Refining Level 7.

He flexed his fingers, and the speed at which spiritual energy condensed at his fingertips was three times faster than it had been three months ago. The destructive power of the Spirit Rhinoceros Finger had at least doubled.

Push the door open and go out.

In the courtyard, Zhang Biao was squatting by the Lingquan Well, washing his face. Three months of cultivation had completely changed the hunter's demeanor.

The spiritual power of the ninth level of Qi Refining is stored within the body. When not released, it is not noticeable, but once activated, the air in the entire backyard becomes heavy.

"Did it work?"

Zhang Biao looked up.

"It's done."

Zhang Biao grinned, and water droplets dripped down his chin into the well.

"When are we leaving for the Qingyun Sect?"

"No rush."

Zheng Yifei walked to the stone table and sat down. "Before I leave, there's a debt I need to settle."

Zhang Biao's smile vanished.

He knew what Zheng Yifei was talking about without even asking.

Iron Fist School.

Three months ago, Zhang Biao was stabbed three times in the back with a poisoned arrow; the scars are still faint pink.

"That bastard Sun Liang has been behaving himself for the past three months."

Zhang Biao dried his hands and sat down opposite him.

"Not content with mediocrity."

Zheng Yifei poured two cups of iced tea. "He's waiting. He spent a hundred spirit stones to hire someone from the Ten Thousand Snake Cave to kill me, but the person didn't return. He doesn't dare to make any rash moves, for fear of alerting the enemy. But he can't just swallow this insult. He's probably already spoken to the gang leader, Qian Hu."

Zhang Biao frowned: "Qian Hu is at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining. If I go head-to-head with him, it's a 50/50 chance."

"Avoid direct confrontation."

Zheng Yifei took out a black wooden plaque from his pocket and placed it on the table.

The token from the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave. It was found on Zhao Dushou's corpse three months ago and has been kept ever since.

What is the reputation of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave in the Southern District?

Zheng Yifei asked.

Zhang Biao thought for a moment: "A murder organization that takes orders and never asks about the cause and effect. Several gangs in Sujiafang City have used them, but no one wants to get involved with them because the Ten Thousand Snake Cave never leaves anyone alive, and they will record the identity of their employers. Once they turn against you, it will be a handle against you."

"Sun Liang secretly hired Wan She Ku to kill people without Qian Hu's consent."

Zheng Yifei tapped the token with his finger. "Does Qian Hu know about this?"

Zhang Biao's eyes lit up.

"you mean……"

"The Iron Fist Clan's rules state that members are not allowed to use forces outside the clan on their own. Sun Liang bypassing the clan leader to invite outsiders is a major taboo."

Zheng Yifei picked up his teacup. "I've heard about Qian Hu. He's petty and hates it when his subordinates do things behind his back."

Zhang Biao slapped his thigh: "Let them fight amongst themselves first!"

"Internal strife is just the first step."

Zheng Yifei put down his teacup, his voice becoming calm.

"Qian Hu is at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining. Even if we win a head-on fight, we'll be badly injured. We're heading to the Qingyun Sect soon, and we can't travel injured. So, we need to be quick, clean, and kill him with one strike."

He took out a map of the market from his sleeve and spread it on the table.

"The Iron Fist Sect's stronghold is located in the middle of the West District. It's a converted old warehouse with two exits, one in the front and one in the back. There are about thirty members stationed there regularly, with 70% below the fifth level of Qi Refining and no more than ten above the sixth level. Qian Hu lives on the second floor of the stronghold, and Sun Liang lives next door."

Zhang Biao looked at the map, his brows furrowing: "When did you figure that out?"

"Zhao Wenyuan has been keeping an eye on things for me for the past three months. He does business in the East District and knows a lot of independent cultivators who run errands. He can buy information about the West District for just a few spirit stones."

Zhang Biao remained silent for a while.

He thought Zheng Yifei was just cultivating during his three-month seclusion, but he didn't expect him to have even arranged intelligence.

This person's brain is truly exceptional.

"How exactly do you play it?"

Zhang Biao asked.

"We'll make our move at midnight tonight."

Zheng Yifei drew two circles on the map with his finger. "You come in through the front door, and I'll sneak in through the back door. You're responsible for attracting Qian Hu's attention. You don't need to fight him to the death, just hold him off. I'll deal with Sun Liang."

"Should we stall Qian Hu?"

Zhang Biao chuckled: "Ninth level Qi Refining versus ninth level Qi Refining, it won't be that easy for him to beat me."

"There's one more thing."

Zheng Yifei took out three talismans.

Pale gold color, covered with dense spiritual patterns.

"First-grade superior Vajra Talisman, first-grade superior Swiftness Talisman, first-grade superior Golden Sword Talisman."

Zheng Yifei handed two Vajra Talismans to Zhang Biao, saying, "Use them in critical moments; prioritize saving your life."

Zhang Biao took the talisman and carefully stuck it inside his underwear.

child time.

The streets and alleys of the West District sank into darkness, and even stray cats shrank into holes in the walls.

At the entrance of the old warehouse of the Iron Fist Gang's stronghold, two gang members leaned against the wall, dozing off while holding knives.

A dark shadow swept across the rooftop and landed silently inside the wall behind the warehouse.

Zheng Yifei crouched down against the wall, his breathing steady.

Thousand Illusion Mask wasn't on; what I did tonight didn't require me to hide my face.

He wanted everyone remaining in the Iron Fist Clan to know what would happen to those who dared to mess with him.

A signal came from Zhang Biao ahead—a short meow.

Three breaths later.

"boom!"

The main gate was kicked away.

Zhang Biao stormed in, carrying a hunting knife. He unleashed his full power as a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator, and the violent shockwave knocked two dozing gang members at the door to the ground.

"Qian Hu! Come out and face your death!"

Zhang Biao's roar made the entire warehouse buzz.

Chaos erupted inside the warehouse. Members scrambled to their feet from every corner, some grabbing knives, others calling for backup.

On the second floor, a door was suddenly pushed open.

Qian Hu came out.

He was in his forties, of medium build, with an ordinary face, but his eyes, though cloudy, shone with a sharp light.

The spiritual power of the peak ninth level of Qi Refining surged out like a tide, making it difficult for the gang members on the first floor to breathe.

"Where did this stray dog ​​come from, daring to run wild in the Iron Fist Sect?"

Qian Hu gave Zhang Biao a cold glance.

Without saying a word, Zhang Biao swung his hunting knife.

Two streams of spiritual energy at the ninth level of Qi Refining collided violently inside the warehouse, and the shockwave blasted the nearest wooden table into pieces.

A direct confrontation ensues.

at the same time.

back door.

Zheng Yifei pushed open the half-closed wooden door and slipped inside.

The corridor was deserted; all the gang members were drawn to the front hall by Zhang Biao's commotion.

Zheng Yifei moved quickly along the corridor, his steps as light as if he were walking on cotton.

The first room was empty.

In the second room, three members of the Qi Refining Level 4 sect were hurriedly getting dressed.

Zheng Yifei pushed open the door and entered. With three Lingxi Finger strikes, the three men fell to the ground without uttering a single cry.

The third room.

A brass lock hung on the door.

Zheng Yifei shattered the copper lock with a single finger and pushed the door open to enter.

Sun Liang sat on the bed, clutching the ghost-head knife in his hand, trembling all over.

He didn't rush out to support the gang leader because he discerned something from the spiritual energy fluctuations coming from the front hall—the person who came was at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

He was only at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Going out would be suicide.

So he chose to hide in his room and wait for the gang leader to resolve the issue.

But he didn't expect that someone would come looking for him from behind.

"Brother Sun, it's been a long time."

Zheng Yifei stood at the door, speaking casually as if he were just greeting someone.

Sun Liang's pupils contracted sharply.

Three months have passed, and this kid's aura has changed. He's at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and the concentration of his spiritual energy is far greater than that of an ordinary seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator.

"Zheng Yifei!"

Sun Liang gritted his teeth, holding his ghost-headed saber horizontally in front of him: "What do you want? This is the Iron Fist Sect!"

"I know."

Zheng Yifei stepped forward: "Zhao the Poison Hand from the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave was hired by you for one hundred spirit stones. Does Qian Hu know about this?"

Sun Liang's expression changed instantly.

Zheng Yifei took out the black Ten Thousand Serpent Cave token from his pocket and twirled it between his fingers.

"Guess what Qian Hu will do to you if I hand this token over?"

Sun Liang's hands were trembling.

He wanted to speak, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Zheng Yifei stopped wasting words.

He raised his right index finger.

Spiritual energy condensed at his fingertips, becoming twice as bright as it had been three months ago.

"You owe Brother Zhang three cuts."

The spiritual tip pointed it out.

Sun Liang parried with his sword, the Ghost Head Blade infused with all the spiritual power of the eighth level of Qi Refining.

"clang!"

The blade broke in two.

A beam of spiritual energy pierced Sun Liang's right shoulder, spraying out a mist of blood. Sun Liang screamed and collapsed to the ground.

Zheng Yifei stepped forward and stepped on Sun Liang's broken knife.

"One more cut, with interest."

The fighting in the front hall stopped abruptly.

A moment later, Zhang Biao appeared at the end of the corridor, carrying a hunting knife, blood still dripping from it.

"Where's Qian Hu?"

Zheng Yifei asked.

He lost an arm and jumped out of the window to escape.

Zhang Biao was panting heavily, with several cuts on his body, but none of them were deep: "This old bastard is indeed skilled, much more difficult to deal with than Sun Liang, but I used the Golden Sword Talisman to injure him."

"They ran away, so what?"

Zheng Yifei looked down at Sun Liang, who was slumped on the ground, and threw the Thousand Serpent Cave token at his chest.

"Tell Qian Hu that the Iron Fist Sect's western district no longer belongs to the Qian family from today onwards. If he's not satisfied, take this token and ask the Ten Thousand Snake Cave what kind of good deeds his men have been doing behind his back."

Sun Liang felt ice-cold all over and couldn't utter a single word.

Zheng Yifei turned and walked out.

Zhang Biao caught up and lowered his voice: "Not kill?"

"A watchdog with his dantian destroyed is worse off alive than dead."

Zheng Yifei walked into the night: "The trust between Qian Hu and Sun Liang has been shattered, and the Iron Fist Sect will rot away on its own."

The two disappeared into the depths of the alleyways in the western district.

In the warehouse behind them, the gang members looked at each other, none of them daring to...