My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

"Huff, huff huff huff..."

The men slumped into their chairs, panting heavily, their faces pale, cold sweat streaming down their foreheads and cheeks.

"That was terrifying. We almost didn't make it back."

The three were still shaken and lingering fear.

The thought of Li Xuancang's terror sent chills down their spines, and fear welled up from the depths of their hearts.

"My injuries are serious and it will take several months to recover."

Feng Kaishan's face was deathly pale as excruciating pain contorted his features.

Blood soaked through his clothes at the shoulder, and he still hadn't regained feeling in his entire arm.

"The plan has failed, what should we do now?"

The group was heavy-hearted, shrouded in a thick, impenetrable gloom.

They failed to kill the Wang Dalong brothers and were even injured by Li Xuancang, further worsening the situation.

"Since things have come to this, we can only take it one step at a time and lie low for now!"

Yang Yunhai looked worried; they were at a loss for what to do.

Li Xuancang's strength was so great that he could crush everything. His rules were the only rules. If you were not as strong as others, you could only humble yourself and wait for an opportunity.

Li Xuancang returned to the military camp, and no men in black took advantage of the situation to break in.

"My lord, seven of our brothers have been murdered."

Wang Xiaoniu came to report to Li Xuancang with a somber expression.

These soldiers were too fragile to withstand a single blow from the Qi Refining Realm experts.

Even if the enemy wasn't targeting them, a casual strike was enough to leave these soldiers defenseless.

"Give each person an extra thirty taels of silver, and hand it over to their family members."

Since the dead cannot be brought back to life, Li Xuancang could only avenge them and do his best to settle their families.

The night passed, and Liuyun County seemed calm and peaceful, as if nothing had happened last night.

"Set off!"

Inside the military camp, Wang Xiaoniu and his men led their troops out of the camp and marched in a grand procession into the city streets.

Ning'an Street is a bustling street in Liuyun County, where peddlers and laborers make a living by selling their wares.

"Steamed buns, freshly steamed buns."

"Candied hawthorn, candied hawthorn."

"Sugar figurine, who wants to buy a sugar figurine?"

"..."

The area was bustling with traffic, filled with the sounds of people and vendors shouting incessantly.

Just then, a group of martial arts practitioners dressed in uniform with a long sword embroidered on their chests walked in arrogantly.

Upon seeing this group of people, the surrounding noise immediately fell silent, and the people looked on in fear, trembling with fear.

A group of people first arrived at an old man's steamed bun shop, lifted the lid of the steamer, picked up the buns and ate them.

"Old Zhang, it's time to hand over this month's protection money."

One of the disciples ate a steaming hot bun, looking down at the old man.

Upon hearing this, the old man shuddered, a bitter feeling welling up inside him, though he managed to force a smile onto his face.

"Gentlemen, wasn't the protection money paid just seven days ago?"

The old man asked reluctantly, because he really had no money left.

"Bang!"

The old man had barely opened his mouth when he was kicked away by a disciple of the Mad Saber Sect, his body crashing onto the street.

"puff!"

The old man's face turned pale instantly, blood gushed from his mouth, and he convulsed on the ground, unable to stand up.

Zhu Yuan, the leader of the Mad Saber Sect, walked to the old man with a disdainful look and stomped heavily on him.

"Snap!"

With one kick, the old man's bones shattered, and he was barely breathing, too weak to even cry out in pain.

"Old man, when did you start daring to bargain with our Mad Blade Sect?"

Zhu Yuan exuded a murderous aura, his cold gaze sweeping across the entire scene. Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Let me tell you, in this place, my Mad Blade Sect is the law. We can collect protection money whenever we want, and we can collect as much as we want. Anyone who dares to say a word will suffer the consequences."

Zhu Yuan exuded a fierce aura and coldly threatened everyone.

The people dared not speak out against their anger, fearing they would become the next Old Zhang.

Most martial arts factions do not engage in production, but they still need to eat and drink, and they also need to spend money.

Where does this money come from? It comes from the exploitation of the people.

Their methods were even worse than those of the government, and the people had long been resentful.

While government taxes are collected in fixed amounts and at fixed times, underworld forces can exploit the people at any time by finding an excuse.

"Behave yourselves and hand over the silver right now."

At Zhu Yuan's command, dozens of his disciples scattered to collect protection fees.

"Sigh! Give it to me!"

"I have no money left at home, what can I give them?"

"When will this end?"

"..."

The people dared not resist and could only obediently hand over the silver.

Zhu Yuan looked at this scene with an arrogant expression. These peasants deserved to be taught a lesson. If he didn't make an example of them, none of them would behave.

Old Zhang was being trampled under his feet, his breathing grew weaker and weaker, and he was about to die.

Zhu Yuan didn't care at all. He was a disciple of the Mad Saber Sect. He could kill any ordinary civilian or even some officials without any consequences.

Just then, a hundred-man army and some officials marched into the street in a grand procession.

Upon seeing the Mad Blade Sect disciples collecting protection money, they immediately swarmed forward and surrounded them.

"What are you doing? Do you want to die?"

"You lackeys of the imperial court, how dare you be so insolent!"

"Get out of my way, or I'll kill you all."

"..."

Surrounded by soldiers, the Mad Blade Sect disciples showed no fear whatsoever; instead, they shouted insults at the soldiers.

They had been running rampant in Liuyun County for many years and no longer respected the imperial court.

"puff!"

"what!"

"Well!"

"..."

A flash of light, and then a head fell to the ground.

Those who hurled insults died instantly, their arrogant expressions frozen in time.

"What do you want to do?"

The Mad Blade Sect disciples were shocked and enraged by the death of their fellow disciples. They gripped their weapons tightly, ready to fight the army.

Wang Xiaoniu stepped forward, his cold gaze sweeping over the disciples of the Mad Saber Sect.

"Oppressing the people, fabricating pretexts, and injuring people in broad daylight—these are unforgivable crimes! Surrender now!"

Upon hearing this, the Mad Blade Sect disciples were first stunned, then erupted in fury.

"Fellow disciples, the imperial henchmen are going too far! Kill them!"

When will the imperial court dare to cause them trouble? The Mad Blade Sect felt they had suffered a great humiliation.

Filled with righteous indignation, they picked up their weapons and charged at the soldiers.

"Dare to resist? Kill them without mercy."

How dare they openly attack soldiers! It's utterly lawless! Wang Xiaoniu waved his hand, and hundreds of crossbows were aimed at the Mad Blade Sect members.

"Whoosh, whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

With a volley of arrows, the Mad Blade Sect disciples were riddled with arrows, falling into pools of blood, their faces filled with resentment.

These disciples who come to collect protection fees are the lowest-ranking members of the Mad Blade Sect. Their cultivation is low, and they are powerless against crossbow bolts.