Not in the Qi Forging Realm, what are you pretending to be a big shot for?

"Baishui Town!"

After quickly reviewing the files on all the Blood Wolf Gang branch offices, Chen Xuan had already made up his mind.

Among these branches, the Baishui Town branch was not necessarily the most lucrative, but it was definitely in the top three. Aside from the branches in the city that managed businesses like gambling dens and pleasure houses, the Baishui Town branch was the most profitable.

The two most profitable branches within the city were overseen by elders who had reached the Zhuqi Realm, while the branch leader of Baishui Town was at the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering.

"Han Tieshan!"

Chen Xuan looked at the information regarding the branch leader of Baishui Town.

The branch leader was named Han Tieshan, a man in his fifties and a well-known rogue cultivator in Tiannan Prefecture. Ten years ago, in order to obtain a Zhuqi Realm cultivation technique, he joined the Blood Wolf Gang. Even back then, he was 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 were to break through to the Zhuqi Realm, he would become the third Zhuqi Realm expert in the Blood Wolf Gang, aside from Qin Sihai.

"Ninth Stage of Body Tempering..."

Chen Xuan was lost in thought.

He, too, was currently at the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering.

But even within the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering, there were different levels of quality.

A Ninth Stage Body Tempering cultivator practicing ordinary techniques was a completely different concept from one who had reached the fourth level of the top-tier Vajra Technique.

"Well done, go to the treasury and collect a reward of thirty taels."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, signaling for Liu An to withdraw.

"Thank you, Branch Leader!"

Liu An was instantly beaming with joy.

Thirty taels of silver was equivalent to a month's income for him.

"Branch Leader, this subordinate will take his leave."

Liu An bowed and then hurried out of the study.

"The silver from the Baishui Town branch is tallied and cleared on the fifteenth of every month, and on the sixteenth, Han Tieshan personally escorts it back to the Beicheng headquarters. There are seven days left until the fifteenth of this month; there is enough time."

Chen Xuan sat in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the desktop. The Baishui Town branch was indeed a fat sheep. If he could rob all the silver in its treasury, he would be able to afford at least one Marrow Cleansing Pill at the Treasure Pavilion auction ten days later.

Time passed.

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

"Giddy up..."

From the direction of the entrance to Qingshi Town, a jujube-red steed galloped over. Sitting on the horse was a young man in his twenties with an ordinary face and a medium build, dressed in blood-colored martial attire. Slung across his back was a long sword with a simple scabbard, marked with faint, blood-colored patterns.

This person was Zhou Kang, a seed disciple of the outer sect of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect. He possessed the cultivation of the peak Ninth Stage of Body Tempering and had already opened nine energy pulses. Having successfully completed the mission assigned by the inner sect disciple Liu Feng, he would be able to exchange for a Pulse Breaking Pill upon returning to the sect, allowing him to open the final three energy pulses in one go and break through to the Zhuqi Realm.

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

"Whoa--"

Zhou Kang pulled on the reins, causing the jujube-red horse to rear its front hooves high before coming to a stop at the town entrance. He then vaulted off the horse, tied it to a crooked tree at the entrance, and walked toward the Red Sun Gang branch.

A short while later.

Zhou Kang arrived in front of a two-story blue stone building at the crossroads.

"This is the place."

Zhou Kang looked up at the words "Red Sun Gang Qingshi Town Branch" on the door, a look of disdain appearing on his face.

"Stop, who are you?"

At the entrance of the branch, there were two gang members on night watch.

Pfft--

A flash of sword light appeared in the void, and the two night watchmen collapsed straight to the ground, a bloody gash appearing on their necks.

Fast!

Too fast!

The two night watchmen had the cultivation of the Fourth Stage of Body Tempering, but they had been killed without even seeing how Zhou Kang drew his sword.

Zhou Kang pushed open the gates of the branch and walked in swaggeringly, heading straight for the courtyard where Chen Xuan was located.

"Hmm, there's movement!"

Chen Xuan had mastered the Huajin Realm and had also reached the fourth level of the Vajra Technique; while his physique had been strengthened, his five senses had also been enhanced.

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

The moment Chen Xuan opened the door, Zhou Kang's gaze landed on him, and he said indifferently, "Are you Chen Xuan?"

"You are a disciple of the Blood Fiend Devil Sect."

Looking at the attire on the other person, Chen Xuan frowned slightly, his heart immediately becoming guarded.

"Not answering, then that must be it." Zhou Kang smiled and said, "I've been entrusted by someone to invite you to the Blood Fiend Devil Sect. If you're sensible, break your own limbs and you'll suffer less pain. If I have to do it, I'll have to hack them off. Besides, Senior Brother Liu said as long as you're alive, it's fine."

"Senior Brother Liu? Liu Lie's brother." Hearing Zhou Kang's words, Chen Xuan's brow relaxed slightly, and he spoke slowly, "So, you aren't in the Zhuqi Realm?"

Zhou Kang's expression stiffened, then he sneered, "To deal with a piece of trash like you at the eighth level of Body Tempering, why would Senior Brother Liu need to make a move?"

"You scared me; I thought you were in the Zhuqi Realm. Since you aren't, what are you acting like a big shot for here?"

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

This step came without any warning.

A second ago he was standing at the doorway, and the next second he had already appeared in front of Zhou Kang, his speed so fast that there was no time to react.

"Oh no!"

Zhou Kang's pupils shrank, and he instinctively swung his long sword forward.

Almost at the same time.

Chen Xuan's fist had already arrived.

Mountain Crushing Fist.

Massive energy gathered on his fist, combined with the physical strength of the fourth level of the Vajra Technique. With the two superimposed, the power of this punch had already reached ten thousand jin.

"Bang!"

The fist slammed into the blade of the long sword, emitting a dull, thunderous sound.

Zhou Kang felt a terrifying force surge from the sword, as if he had been hit head-on by a charging rhinoceros.

The webbing between his thumb and index finger split instantly, his long sword flew out of his hand, and with a "clang," it embedded itself into the courtyard wall, the blade sinking deep into the brickwork.

"How is this possible? You aren't at the eighth level of Body Tempering."

Zhou Kang's face changed drastically as he retreated several steps, looking at Chen Xuan in disbelief. His hands were trembling, and blood from his split skin dripped down his wrists.

"When did I ever say I was at the eighth level of Body Tempering?"

Chen Xuan took a step forward, and his second punch had already arrived.

Zhou Kang was terrified. Ignoring the injury on his hands, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, pouring out all the energy of his peak ninth level of Body Tempering to form a barrier of force in front of him.

"Crack—"

A crisp sound of bones breaking rang out.

Zhou Kang's arms bent at a grotesque angle, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, slamming heavily into the courtyard wall.

The wall was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks, and Zhou Kang slid to the ground, blood gushing from his mouth.

His arms hung limply at his sides; they were completely ruined.

"Liu Feng, screw your grandfather!"

Zhou Kang slumped on the ground, his face as pale as paper, his eyes filled with shock and fear.

At this moment, he hated Liu Feng to the extreme.

The information was wrong.

This Chen Xuan was definitely not at the eighth level of Body Tempering.

Yet, the inner sect disciple Liu Feng had actually told him that Chen Xuan was at the eighth level of Body Tempering and sent him to bring Chen Xuan back. He didn't think he had offended Liu Feng, and he didn't know why Liu Feng would design a trap to screw him over.

Zhou Kang's heart burned with rage, but he was helpless. His arms were now crippled, his combat power was gone, and he didn't even have the strength to stand up.