The front page will feature a strong push starting today, with a rush for the top rankings precisely at midnight tonight! －－－－－－－－－ Ye Qin strode through the chaotic streets of the county town under the cloak of night, gripping a sharp sword. Robberies were ignored; any wicked villain met summary execution. On the county streets, no gang member dared to cross his path now; upon seeing him, they scattered in terror like rats encountering a cat. In the blink of an eye, the street before him became desolate and deserted, utterly devoid of human presence.

Whether facing dozens or hundreds, be they third-rate masters or top-tier experts, it made no difference to him. Ye Qin’s Earth Evasion Technique allowed him to effortlessly traverse dozens of zhang, appearing behind them to launch merciless slaughter against their unguarded backs—no one could surround him. His Wind Control Technique was as uncanny and ghost-like as possible; unless facing peerless experts like Tie Yuyang, Wei Yuan, or Xiao Qiu, it was unlikely anyone could withstand even one or two exchanges with him.

For hundreds of paces in his vicinity, there reigned absolute silence, a vacuum of life.

Ye Qin advanced to the vicinity of the Yang Family Ironworks, a private residence with tightly shut doors. Three petty thieves were apparently eyeing the ironworks when they were startled by the dripping sword in his hand, letting out a shriek—"Mother of mine!"—before fleeing until they vanished from sight.

Ye Qin felt a wry smile tugging at his lips; was he truly that terrifying?

Glancing at the Yang residence, he employed the Earth Evasion Technique and entered the simple mud hut where Cheng Da Niu was staying. He woke Da Niu, who had been dozing fitfully on the heated brick kang, and tossed him a small pouch filled with gold and silver leaves.

“Da Niu, the county town will be exceptionally chaotic these next few days. Don't stay here. In a couple of days, tell Old Man Yang you need to return to the countryside for half a year; come back once the storm has passed. While you’re there, check on my parents and younger siblings. If they are still alive, give them the money inside and help me look after them. Additionally, there is a small vial of Elixir of Longevity—have each of them take one pill; it guarantees they will ward off illness and enjoy good health. Any leftovers, you keep for yourself.”

Da Niu had just been roused from sleep. Still groggy, he clutched the money pouch, scratching his head, “Brother Qin, you aren't going back?”

Ye Qin shook his head: “I have something crucial to handle tonight. Whether I survive to see the morning is uncertain. If I do not return, then you must go back alone.”

Years ago, a great drought had killed many people in the countryside. He had no way of knowing which of his parents and siblings were still alive. If they were safe and sound, this gold, silver, and these pills should allow them to live a better life.

Ye Qin said no more, then vanished from the mud hut.

Da Niu’s mouth hung open. He stared dumbfounded for a long moment, looking at the small pouch of gold and silver leaves, and the small vial he held. His eyes widened, and finally, he mumbled, “A dream. It must be a dream!” Still, even if it was a dream, Da Niu gripped the money pouch tightly and immediately fell back asleep, utterly unwilling to let go.

With all his necessary arrangements made, Ye Qin felt unburdened, finally free of lingering concerns. He unleashed the Wind Control Technique and rushed toward the Yongfu Inn at full speed. He still needed to eliminate two targets: the Southern Clan Patriarch, Nan Tianxiong, and the young Nan clansman, Nan Zhongjie. He surmised they held something he required—a spell manual.

Nan Zhongjie was nowhere to be found; after searching nearly half the town, Ye Qin had to backtrack to find Nan Tianxiong.

Nan Tianxiong was most likely still at the Yongfu Inn, meditating to restore his spiritual power, waiting for Nan Zhonghao and Nan Zhongjie to return after completing their mission to chase down Tie Yuyang and Wei Yuan.

Therefore, Ye Qin’s destination now was the Yongfu Inn.

That old man, Nan Tianxiong, having escaped the Feng Clan years ago and managed to survive into his late fifties or early sixties, was certainly a cunning and experienced cultivator. Executing Nan Tianxiong carried significant risk. He had to settle his "afterlife arrangements" first before daring to take the plunge.

Ye Qin soon arrived at the Yongfu Inn.

The inn was currently surrounded by thousands of experts from the major gangs of Pingzhou, a sea of people shouting in unison: “Slay the demonic thief, avenge the master of our Dongyang Salt Gang!” “Slay the demonic thief, avenge the master of our Iron Cavalry Gang!” “Slay the demonic thief, avenge the master of our Black Tiger Gang!”

And at the eye of this furious storm of martial artists, the Yongfu Inn was completely blockaded by the assembled rogue masters.

Under Ye Qin's subtle guidance, Tie Yuyang had suddenly realized that the Southern Clan Patriarch had completely exhausted his spiritual power—this was the optimal moment to strike. He immediately rallied the members of the Fire Cloud Gang and charged back.

Midway, they encountered Wei Yuan of the Black Iron Gang, Wu Gang the master of the Caohe Gang, and others. They were like startled birds, already preparing to flee County Seat Zhuqi with their retinues, heading back to Wan’an Prefecture in Pingzhou.

Tie Yuyang urgently intercepted them and informed them of the Southern Clan Patriarch’s depleted power. The gang masters and elders convened. After discussion, they agreed with Tie Yuyang: the Southern Clan Patriarch must truly lack the power for true Immortal Arts, otherwise why wouldn't he have pursued them immediately back then? The leadership of the various gangs made a firm decision: they would eliminate the Southern Clan Patriarch at any cost, uprooting the Nan Clan that had ruled Pingzhou for a century, and finally escaping this nightmare.

The Fire Cloud Gang, Black Iron Gang, Caohe Gang, and Nine Shepherd Gang—the only four surviving masters from the battle at the Yongfu Inn—led their followers back into the fray. Furthermore, the surviving Great Elders of the other major gangs also returned, seeking vengeance for their fallen masters.

The assembled forces of the various gangs grew in number as they converged on the location.

Indeed, they had excellent luck; they had actually managed to surround Nan Tianxiong.

The Southern Clan Patriarch, Nan Tianxiong, perhaps confident in his Golden Light Talisman Barrier, believing no one in County Seat Zhuqi could harm him, remained on the third-floor transaction hall of the Yongfu Inn, sitting with eyes closed, absorbing the spiritual energy from the spirit stones in his hand to quickly restore his cultivation. Meanwhile, the young clansman, Nan Zhongjie, had gone in pursuit of Wei Yuan, the master of the Black Iron Gang, and had vanished without a trace somewhere.

The leaders of the Ten Great Gangs were overjoyed. They immediately dispatched a suicide squad composed of a hundred second and third-rate experts up the stairs. They attacked the Southern Clan Patriarch’s protective Golden Light Barrier with relentless fury—hacking, smashing with swords, iron hammers, and mallets, as well as raining down flying darts and lead pellets. However, this golden barrier was not so easily pierced by mortal martial artists. With a cacophony of clanging metal, the weapons were all deflected, having little effect on Nan Tianxiong.

Nan Tianxiong disdained these second and third-rate martial artists. Seeing these rabble daring to assail him with mundane weapons, he was instantly enraged: “Insects dare to be presumptuous!” He immediately halted his spiritual recovery, forcibly drawing out the meager power he had just regained, formed a hand seal, and unleashed a faint crimson Wind Blade.

Whoosh—!

The wind blade circled the hall once, then vanished. The hundreds of second and third-rate experts were too slow to evade; in the blink of an eye, corpses littered the floor, and the hall fell into immediate silence.

Outside the building, the watching gang masters and elders of the Ten Great Gangs, along with thousands of followers, were struck dumb. Hadn't the Southern Clan Patriarch's spiritual power been completely depleted? How could he still unleash such a terrifying spell?

“W-what do we do now? Can we kill him?”

“Exactly! His protective barrier is too terrifying, and it seems to have no weak point. That Immortal Art is too formidable.”

The gang masters and elders exchanged shocked glances, whispering amongst themselves.