Not in the Zhuqi Realm-what are you putting on this big bad wolf act for?

"Baishui Town!"

Very quickly, after Chen Xuan had gone through all the information on the Blood Wolf Gang's branch halls, he had already made his decision.

Among these branch halls, the Baishui Town Branch might not have had the richest profits, but it ranked among the top three. Aside from the branch halls in the city that controlled businesses such as gambling houses and Happy House, the Baishui Town Branch was the most profitable.

The two most lucrative branch halls in the city both had elders in the Zhuqi Realm guarding them, while the master of the Baishui Town Branch was at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering.

"Han Tieshan!"

Chen Xuan looked at the information on the Baishui Town Branch's master.

The branch master was named Han Tieshan. He was over fifty and a well-known Rogue Cultivator in Tiannan Prefecture. Ten years ago, in order to obtain a Zhuqi Realm cultivation technique, he had joined the Blood Wolf Gang and served them. At that time, he had already been an expert at the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering, Huajin Realm. After ten years of cultivation, he was now only one step away from the Zhuqi Realm.

If Han Tieshan broke through to the Zhuqi Realm, he would become the Blood Wolf Gang's third Zhuqi Realm expert after Qin Sihai.

"Ninth Layer of Body Tempering..."

Chen Xuan fell into thought.

He too was now at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering.

Yet even among those at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering, there were distinctions of high and low.

Someone at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering who cultivated an ordinary technique was an entirely different matter from someone at the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering who had cultivated the top-tier Vajra Technique to the fourth level.

"You did well. Go collect thirty taels of silver from the treasury as your reward."

Chen Xuan waved a hand, signaling Liu An to withdraw.

"Thank you, Branch Master!"

Liu An's face immediately split into a delighted grin.

Thirty taels of silver was equivalent to a month of his income.

"Branch Master, this subordinate shall take his leave."

Liu An bowed, then quickly left the study.

"The Baishui Town Branch counts and consolidates its silver on the fifteenth of every month. On the sixteenth, Han Tieshan personally escorts it back to the main branch in Beicheng. There are seven days until the fifteenth of this month, so there's enough time."

Chen Xuan sat in his chair, lightly tapping the tabletop with his fingers. The Baishui Town Branch truly was a fat sheep. If he could rob all the silver from its treasury, then at the Treasure Pavilion auction ten days from now, he could at least bid for a Marrow Cleansing Pill.

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye, another five days went by.

"Hyah..."

From the direction of Qingshi Town's entrance, a chestnut-red steed came galloping in. On its back sat a young man in his twenties, ordinary in appearance and of average build, dressed in blood-red martial attire. A longsword was slung diagonally across his back, its ancient sheath etched with faint blood-red patterns.

This man was Zhou Kang, an outer sect seed disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect. He was at the Peak Ninth Layer of Body Tempering and had already opened nine qi meridians. Having successfully completed the task assigned by inner sect disciple Liu Feng, once he returned to the sect, he would be able to exchange for a Pulse Breaking Pill, open the final three qi meridians in one stroke, and break through into the Zhuqi Realm.

Zhou Kang had set out from the Blood Fiend Devil Sect and traveled day and night, arriving at Qingshi Town on the night of the fifth day.

"Whoa—"

Zhou Kang pulled on the reins. The chestnut-red horse reared high on its hind legs before stopping at the town entrance. He flipped down from the saddle, tied the horse to a crooked-neck tree at the entrance, and headed toward the Red Sun Gang's branch hall.

Before long.

Zhou Kang arrived before a two-story Bluestone building at the crossroads.

"This is the place."

Zhou Kang glanced up at the words "Red Sun Gang Qingshi Town Branch" above the entrance, a trace of disdain appearing on his face.

"Stop! Who are you?"

Two gang members stood watch outside the branch hall.

Pfft—

A flash of sword light streaked through the air, and the two night-watch gang members fell stiffly to the ground, bloody lines appearing across their necks.

Fast!

Too fast!

The two night-watch gang members possessed Fourth Stage of Body Tempering cultivation, yet before they could even see how Zhou Kang had drawn his sword, their lives had already been taken.

Zhou Kang pushed open the branch hall's gates and swaggered inside, heading straight for the courtyard where Chen Xuan was staying.

"Hmm, there's movement!"

Chen Xuan had cultivated Huajin, and after cultivating the Vajra Technique to the fourth level, not only had his physique been strengthened, but his five senses had also been enhanced.

Zhou Kang made no effort to conceal his aura, and Chen Xuan immediately sensed that something was amiss. He abruptly sat up from the bed, pushed open the bedroom door, and saw a figure in blood-red martial attire stepping into the courtyard.

The instant Chen Xuan opened the door, Zhou Kang's gaze landed on him as well. He said flatly, "You are Chen Xuan?"

"You're a disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect."

Seeing the clothing Zhou Kang wore, Chen Xuan's brows furrowed slightly, and he immediately became vigilant.

"If you don't deny it, then that's what you are." Zhou Kang smiled. "I was entrusted by someone to invite you for a trip to the Blood Fiend Devil Sect. If you know what's good for you, break your own arms and legs. You'll suffer a little less. If I have to make a move, I can only cut off your limbs. In any case, Senior Brother Liu said that as long as you're alive, that will do."

"Senior Brother Liu? Liu Lie's older brother." After hearing Zhou Kang's words, Chen Xuan's brows relaxed somewhat. He slowly said, "So you're not in the Zhuqi Realm?"

Zhou Kang's expression stiffened, then he sneered. "To deal with trash at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering like you, why would Senior Brother Liu of the Zhuqi Realm need to act personally?"

"You gave me quite a scare. I thought you were in the Zhuqi Realm. Since you're not, what are you putting on this big bad wolf act for?"

As the words fell, Chen Xuan took a step forward.

That step came without the slightest warning.

One moment, he was still standing in the doorway. The next, he had appeared before Zhou Kang, moving so fast that there was no time to react.

"Not good!"

Zhou Kang's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively swung his longsword forward in a slash.

Almost at the same time.

Chen Xuan's fist had already arrived.

Mountain Crushing Fist.

Vast force gathered around his fist. Combined with the physical strength of the fourth level of the Vajra Technique, the two stacked together, and the force of this punch had already reached ten thousand jin.

Bang!

His fist smashed against the blade of the longsword with a dull thunderous boom.

Zhou Kang only felt a terrifying force rush through the sword, as though he had been struck head-on by a charging rhinoceros.

The web between his thumb and forefinger instantly split open, and the longsword flew from his hand. With a clang, it embedded itself in the courtyard wall, more than half the blade sinking into the brickwork.

"How is this possible? You're not at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering."

Zhou Kang's face changed drastically as he staggered back several steps, staring at Chen Xuan in disbelief. His hands trembled, and blood from the split webs of his hands dripped down his wrists.

"When did I ever say I was at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering?"

Chen Xuan stepped forward, and his second punch was already upon him.

Zhou Kang was horrified. Ignoring the injuries to his hands, he crossed his arms before himself. All the force of his Peak Ninth Layer of Body Tempering cultivation surged out wildly, forming a barrier of force before him.

Crack—

A crisp sound of bones breaking rang out.

Zhou Kang's arms bent at grotesque angles, and his entire body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily into the courtyard wall.

Spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread over the wall. Zhou Kang slid to the ground, blood gushing wildly from his mouth.

His arms hung limply at his sides. They were utterly ruined.

"Liu Feng, I'll fuck your ancestors!"

Zhou Kang slumped on the ground, his face white as paper, his eyes full of shock and terror.

At this moment, his hatred for Liu Feng had reached its peak.

The information was wrong.

This Chen Xuan was not at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering at all.

Yet inner sect disciple Liu Feng had told him that Chen Xuan was at the Eighth Layer of Body Tempering and sent him here to bring Chen Xuan back. Zhou Kang believed he had never offended Liu Feng, and he had no idea why Liu Feng had set him up like this.

Rage burned in Zhou Kang's heart, yet he could do nothing. Both his arms had been crippled, his combat strength was gone, and he no longer even had the strength to stand.