Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

With each step he took, the ever-increasing pressure of the Golden Core cultivator swept outwards, causing the silk banners at the four corners of the jade platform to flutter wildly.

He Wanjun's figure blurred, and amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the crowd, he landed steadily on the Earth-grade Xuan Stone Platform.

The black platform is ten zhang in circumference, a single, solid stone with polished edges and a surface crisscrossed with old fist marks.

Countless lives have been lost here over the centuries, yet not even a crack has been left on the black stone.

He Wanjun took off his outer robe, revealing the short jacket underneath.

The muscles in his arms were bulging, and the base of his thumb was frighteningly thick.

He stood in the center of the platform, and as his foot landed, the black stone emitted a muffled thud.

The people below the stage immediately dispersed.

"My goodness, early stage of Golden Core!"

Qian Duo's lips were dry. He tugged at Su Wan's sleeve. "Miss Su, shouldn't we try to persuade the lord? Going up there is just suicide! Lord! Lord, please come down!"

Su Wan stared intently at the stage, her left hand resting on the hilt of her old sword at her waist, her thumb pressing against the guard, her knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.

Li Ping walked up carrying the old short knife he had worn when he was acting as a bandit in Xiyun County. The scabbard was peeling and lacked any decent decoration, and the knife was still sheathed.

He Wanjun glanced at him: "You've only reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, and your foundation isn't even solid yet. Lord Li's Xuan Shi Platform is blind. If you lose, the Jiangning Guild will hand over 30% of its profits. The Iron Fist Gang will set the rules for you in the East Market."

"Sounds like a good thing."

Li Ping stopped opposite him. "I'll give you 30%. If you can't handle it, who am I supposed to ask for a refund?"

"My name, He Wanjun, is worth this much in the East Market."

"That would be an even bigger loss."

Li Ping said, "Your words alone are worth 30% of the profits. Even the most cunning strategist would call you a master."

A few barely suppressed laughs came from the audience, but they quickly subsided.

He Wanjun was not angry; he simply let his hands hang at his sides.

"The power of a Golden Core cultivator is unstoppable even by a Qi Refining cultivator. Will you walk down yourself, or will I carry you down?"

What a coincidence!

Li Ping stuck the dagger into a crack in the edge of the table. "I don't want to make things difficult for you either."

The referee raised his hand and lowered it.

A ring of dust erupted from the black stone beneath He Wanjun's feet, and he had already rushed in front of him.

Without any fancy moves, his right fist went straight for Li Ping's chest. Before the fist even arrived, the pressing spiritual energy caused his clothes to stick to his chest.

Li Ping stepped half a step to the side, but still felt the residual force of the blow on his shoulder.

The violent spiritual energy instantly shredded the blue robe on his shoulder, and a dull, burning pain shot through his bones, numbing half of his body.

He used the momentum to slide forward, his feet skimming half a zhang along the black stone, leaving a black friction mark on the hard surface.

There is a chasm between the Golden Core stage and the Qi Refining stage.

A stubborn resistance is suicidal.

He Wanjun followed with a second punch, which grazed Li Ping's ear and slammed onto the table.

The mysterious stone didn't shatter, but a shower of pebbles rose up beneath Li Ping's feet, stinging his calves.

"Practicing Qi is just practicing Qi. How many more punches can you dodge?"

He Wanjun said

Li Ping walked around to the edge of the platform and tapped his finger on the hilt of his short sword: "I don't rely on running to beat you."

Last night, while the Iron Fist Gang was repairing the gold-grade fence, Ah Si, who was mixed in with the carpenters, had already pressed six array nails into the outer edge of the black stone platform.

The nails didn't penetrate the black stone itself; they were only wedged between the old fist imprint and the base, using the downward pressure of the entire black stone.

Before the battle at Jade Level began, Li Ping used the opportunity of checking the platform to add the final fuse.

An hour of preparation, now is the time to wait.

He pressed his right palm against the hilt of the short sword, and the earth elemental energy flowed along the scabbard into the platform.

The countertop is not cracked

Within two zhang of He Wanjun's feet, six old fist imprints simultaneously lit up with thin, earthy-yellow lines.

The array patterns interlocked, like a net spread across the black stone, and suddenly sank downwards.

He Wanjun's shoulders and back suddenly slumped, as if an invisible mountain had crashed down on him, and his right foot pressed down into the old fist imprint with a dull thud.

The protective spiritual energy had just begun to glow when it was forced back against the skin by the heavy force, emitting a creaking sound as it struggled under the weight.

"Three times," blood trickled from the corner of Li Ping's mouth as he clasped his hands together in a hand seal, "only pressing down on the area beneath your feet."

He Wanjun lifted his foot and took a step, but the sole of his boot felt as if it were being held back by the entire black stone platform.

He let out a low shout and punched the nearest array pattern.

boom!

The black stone remained still, but half of a formation nail at the edge of the platform broke off.

The recoil slammed back into Li Ping's Qi Sea along the battle line.

He swayed, and the hand seals between his fingers almost broke.

He Wanjun saw it

This formation is not invincible.

Before all six array nails shatter, whoever gives up first will lose.

He Wanjun's back was taut, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

He stopped bombarding the formation, braced his arms on his knees, and stared at Li Ping: "At the Qi Refining stage, how many drops of spiritual energy do you have left in your Qi Sea for setting up a formation?"

"Enough for you to kneel down in shame"

"Your Qi Sea is only so big, what are you going to use to wear me down?"

"Go ahead and waste your time."

Li Ping wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "I'm poor, but I'm good at calculating. With three times the gravity pressing down on you, you're burning more spiritual energy than I am every breath. Chief He has a large and wealthy family, so spend it first."

He Wanjun's eyes darkened, and he suddenly straightened up.

His golden core and dantian suddenly spun, and a violent burst of energy erupted from his body.

The rubble on the platform shot outwards, and the referee, who was slow to dodge, immediately suffered a bloody gash on his forehead.

He took a step against three times the force of gravity.

The sole of the boot sank into the old fist mark on his foot, a dull thud coming from the half-inch-deep groove.

Another step

He Wanjun was only two zhang away from Li Ping; his punches were incredibly slow, but the momentum was still there.

Li Ping didn't retreat. Instead, he raised his hand and used array patterns to lift a fragment of black stone, aiming it directly at the corner of Li Ping's eye.

He Wanjun turned his head to avoid it, but Li Ping had already closed in.

The fist slammed into his ribs, without using spiritual power, relying entirely on the strength of his waist and hips.

He Wanjun staggered after taking the blow, then retaliated with a backhand strike.

Li Ping raised his arm to block, the violent force causing his arm bones to creak, half of his body sinking down, his knees almost touching the table.

He gritted his teeth, his forehead pressed against He Wanjun's shoulder, his other hand pressing hard against the black stone, his nails digging into the stone surface with a harsh scraping sound.

"Get down!"

The earthen yellow array pattern suddenly brightened

The platform beneath He Wanjun's feet sank slightly, as three times the force of gravity pressed down on him.

He held on for a moment, then his right knee finally slammed onto the table.

a bit

The black stone still hasn't broken.

No one in the audience spoke up.

The Iron Fist Gang members stared at their leader, their eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

In the early stages of the Golden Core realm, a man who could walk with impunity in the East Market of the capital was actually forced to kneel by a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

He Wanjun was breathing heavily. He looked up at Li Ping and said, "I admit defeat."

Li Ping dispersed the seal.

The array patterns extinguished, and the thing pressing down on He Wanjun's back vanished instantly.

He didn't get up immediately; he took a couple of breaths first before trying to stand up by supporting himself on his legs.

A hand is stretched out in front of you

Blood was still dripping from Li Ping's palm, trickling down his wrist.

I don't want 30% profit.

He Wanjun raised his eyes

"I want the Iron Fist Gang to cooperate with the Jiangning Guild Hall."

Li Ping said, "You provide the venue and manpower, and I'll share the profits from the East Market with you. From now on, if anyone smashes up the guild hall's door, you'll have to fight back for me."

"The winner takes all, why spare this life?"

"Even if I devour you all, I'll still have to support those three scheming gang leaders for you. Don't you want to live a life of luxury?"

Li Ping smiled and said, "You be the gang leader, and I'll make my money and keep it on the table. That's better than bloodshed in the streets."

He Wanjun stared at the hand and remained silent for three breaths.

Then, he reached out his large, calloused hand and gripped Li Ping's wrist.

"it is good"

The Iron Fist Gang was in chaos; some called for their leader, while others looked ashen-faced.

He Wanjun used Li Ping's strength to steady himself and scanned the area.

"From this day forward, the Iron Fist Gang and the Jiangning Guild will stand together through thick and thin. Anyone with something to say, please report back to headquarters."

Li Ping bent down to pick up the short knife; the array nail beside the black stone platform was broken in two.

He Wanjun followed his gaze and whispered, "Lord Li, the three hall masters may not be willing to relay this message back to headquarters."

"Then let's see if Chief He can keep things under control when he gets back."

Li Ping put away the Shattered Array Nails, watching him walk into the crowd below the stage with his sword drawn.

It looks like it's going to get windy in the East Market tonight.