Start with acting, and you'll achieve immortality!

The night was as dark as ink, and the wind and snow grew increasingly fierce, pelting against the windowpanes with a soft, pattering sound.

In the study of Li Ping's residence, the charcoal brazier was burning red-hot.

Qian Duo squatted by the charcoal brazier, holding an iron skewer with a half-cooked potato on it, sizzling and dripping with oil.

He blew on the hot air and mumbled a report on the day's achievements.

"My lord, that was a brilliant move!"

"The entire Xiyun County is in an uproar right now."

Qian Duo took a bite of the potato, and it was so hot that he slurped it up.

"Everyone in the streets and alleys is saying that you will be taking immortal techniques to Wild Fox Ridge to sue for peace tomorrow at noon."

"At the Bai family's place, the gate was tightly shut, and even the dog hole in the wall was blocked with blue bricks."

"The situation at the county government office is even more interesting. I heard that Master Chen smashed three teacups in the back room and cursed you as a spendthrift."

Li Ping leaned back in his armchair, toying with a copper coin in his hand, and scoffed at the words.

"Chen Rang was heartbroken because he thought I was really going to hand over the lucrative position left by Hu Guan to someone else."

"He wants to sit back and watch the tigers fight, but I'm going to make him pay the price."

Shi Gan sat to one side, carefully wiping the fine steel crossbow in his hand with a rag, and interrupted without looking up.

"My lord, the traps at Wild Fox Ridge have been set up: tripwires, lime packets, and pitfalls—all done exactly as you instructed."

"If Hu Lie dares to step into that narrow passage, I guarantee he won't come back alive."

"Having traps alone is not enough."

Li Ping slammed the copper coin on the table, making a crisp sound.

"Hu Lie dared to send people to the county government office to make a scene, so he must have some trump cards up his sleeve."

"We have to flip over his cards one by one, and then tear them to shreds."

Just then, the study door was pushed open, bringing with it a gust of wind and snow.

Hu Jiu, like a frozen quail, shrank his neck and scurried in.

He quickly closed the door behind him, then went to the charcoal brazier and vigorously rubbed his frozen hands.

"Lord Li, the investigation is complete."

Hu Jiu lowered his voice, a glint of light flashing in his single eye.

"The evil cultivator in black robes next to Hu Lie is named Miao Jun."

"This guy is definitely not a local bully from Xiyun County. Judging from his accent, he seems to be from Jiangning."

Li Ping's gaze sharpened.

"From Jiangning?"

"Absolutely true"

Hu Jiu nodded repeatedly

"This Miao Jun is incredibly generous; he buys spirit sand and talisman paper on the black market without even haggling over the price."

"The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold were whispering among themselves, saying that Miao Jun seemed to have been instructed by some important figure, and that he had come specifically to target our Xiyun County."

"Hu Lie's cultivation level has increased so much in such a short period of time, all thanks to Miao Jun's forced initiation using evil methods."

Li Ping tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his mind racing.

Big shot in Jiangning City

No sooner had Inspector Ren Jun left than trouble broke out in Jiangning.

Immediately afterwards, this mysterious Miao Jun appeared beside Hu Lie and even helped Hu Lie deal with him.

This is no coincidence.

The book "Small Heavenly Circuit Qi Induction Technique" left behind by Hu Guan might be considered a treasure in Xiyun County.

But in the eyes of those big shots in Jiangning City, it wasn't even worthy of being called toilet paper.

What exactly is Miao Jun trying to achieve by coming all this way?

"It seems that our young master Hu has also been used as a pawn."

Li Ping sneered.

"However, no matter who's backing Miao Jun, they'll all have to kneel down at Wild Fox Ridge tomorrow."

He stood up, walked to his desk, and unfolded a rough map of Xiyun County.

Hu Lie has four cards in his hand.

Li Ping held up four fingers.

"First, his own cultivation level has risen significantly, and he is close to the Qi Refining stage; second, he has the help of Miao Jun, a mid-stage Qi Refining evil cultivator; third, rumors are being spread in the city to damage our reputation; fourth, he must have an inside agent in the city who can keep him informed at any time."

Li Ping pressed down one finger.

"We already countered his tactic of spreading rumors during the day with even stronger ones. Now, we need to cut off his fourth card."

He turned to look at Qian Duo.

"Qian Duo, have you made any progress on the matter I asked you to investigate?"

Qian Duo quickly swallowed the potato in his mouth, wiped his hands on his clothes, and pulled out a crumpled notebook from his pocket.

"My lord, your foresight is truly remarkable."

"I went through the list of informants left behind by Hu Guansheng, checking them one by one."

"Hu Lie did indeed leave three hidden agents in the city."

Qian Duo flipped open the bottom register and pointed to the names on it.

"The old beggar in the dilapidated temple in the south of the city, Wang Er, a thug in the gambling den on East Street, and a pimp in the Chunfeng Tower."

"These three used to be Hu Guan's dogs, and now they're secretly keeping an eye on the county government and our house for Hu Lie."

"Excellent!"

A cold glint flashed in Li Ping's eyes.

"Tomorrow's Wild Fox Ridge is a dead end."

"If these three pairs of eyes see Shi Gan leading his men out of the city to ambush us, and they inform Hu Lie in advance, our plan will become a joke."

Li Ping looked at Shi Gan

"Shi Gan, you'll have to work hard tonight."

"Take a few quick-witted brothers and go poke out those three pairs of eyes."

"Remember, be discreet, don't alert the county officials, and don't leave any evidence against you."

Shi Gan grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, and hung the fine steel crossbow at his waist.

"Don't worry, sir."

"My subordinates are better at slitting throats than they are at butchering pigs; I guarantee they won't even be able to scream."

"Go and finish your business, then take your men directly to Wild Fox Ridge to lie in ambush."

"At noon tomorrow, obey my orders."

Li Ping waved his hand.

Shi Gan clasped his hands in acceptance of the order, turned around, and strode into the wind and snow.

Li Ping sat back down in the armchair, his eyes cold as he stared at the leaping flames in the charcoal brazier.

……

at the same time

Thirty li outside Xiyun County, Black Wind Village

Inside the Hall of Gathering Righteousness, the brazier burned fiercely, yet it could not dispel the chilly atmosphere within the room.

Hu Lie sat cross-legged on a tiger-skin chair, shirtless.

His muscles were bulging, and there was a faint black aura flowing across his skin; he exuded a frenzied, beastly aura.

"Bang!"

Hu Lie suddenly opened his eyes and slammed his hand on the wooden table beside him.

The sturdy solid wood tabletop shattered instantly, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

"Wow! Such powerful strength!"

Hu Lie looked at his hands, his eyes filled with fanaticism and ferocity.

"Li Ping, you bastard! Tomorrow I will tear you to pieces to appease my father's spirit in heaven!"

A piercing, cold laugh echoed from a dark corner of the hall.

A gaunt figure shrouded in a black robe slowly emerged; it was none other than the rogue cultivator Miao Jun.

Miao Jun toyed with a bead that emitted a ghostly green light in his hand, his voice as unpleasant as an owl's.

"Young Master Hu, congratulations on your great progress in cultivation."

"However, this method of forcing growth is extremely depleting of one's vital energy and blood."

"If you don't get that cultivation manual to regulate your internal energy as soon as possible, you will explode and die within three months."

Hu Lie's expression changed slightly, then he gritted his teeth and said...

"Master Miao, rest assured, tomorrow at noon, at the dilapidated temple on Wild Fox Ridge, I will personally kill Li Ping and reclaim the cultivation technique!"

Miao Jun walked to the brazier and stretched out his withered, skeletal fingers to warm them.

"That Li Ping is no ordinary person."

"He was able to use the power of the inspector to bring down your father and gain a foothold in Xiyun County; he is definitely not as harmless as he appears on the surface."

"His initiative to propose going to Yefuling to seek peace is likely a trap."

"So what if it's a scam?"

Hu Lie, his face full of disdain, suddenly stood up and grabbed the nine-ringed broadsword beside him.

"Faced with absolute power, any schemes and tricks are a joke!"

"I am now close to the Qi Refining stage, and with your mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, Immortal Master, and the hundreds of brothers from Black Wind Stronghold..."

"Even if Wild Fox Ridge is a den of dragons and tigers, I can still wade through it!"

Miao Jun's sinister gaze swept over Hu Lie, and he cursed him inwardly as an idiot.

If it weren't for the instructions from a powerful figure in Jiangning, who insisted on using Hu Lie to muddy the waters in Xiyun County...

He also wanted to test Li Ping's background; he couldn't be bothered with this brainless brute.

Even a lion must exert its full strength to hunt a rabbit.

Miao Jun put away the emerald green beads, his tone chilling.

"Tomorrow we'll head into the mountains; let the Black Wind Stronghold men go ahead and scout the way."

"Once you have the technique, leave immediately and avoid any unforeseen complications."

"The waters of Xiyun County are deeper than you imagine."

Although Hu Lie was arrogant, he was still quite wary of Miao Jun, and responded in a low voice.

"I will follow the Immortal Master's arrangements."

"Tomorrow, all I want is Li Ping's head!"