Under the sharp killing intent of Hai Chenfeng, who had reached the Heaven Profound expert level, everyone belonging to the Dragon Soul Gang instantly felt a chill run through their bodies, as if they were stripped bare on the summit of a snow-capped peak in the dead of winter, the biting wind like knives, slicing their skin inch by inch, the cold piercing to the bone, straight into the depths of their souls... It was a killing aura powerful enough to freeze everyone's fighting spirit, will, and even soul—an irresistible, terrifying might!

Long Dahai was utterly subdued by Hai Chenfeng's aura, his face turning ghastly pale. Facing this man, he felt as if the opponent were a majestic mountain, and he merely a stone at its foot, without even the qualification to look up. Somehow, he involuntarily staggered back five or six large steps before he felt his breathing ease slightly. Then, with a thump, his back hit something, making him realize that he had originally been standing in the center of the hall, and these few steps backward had actually pushed him against the innermost wall... What kind of pressure was this!?

"Who is the exalted master before me? This is a matter between our Dragon Soul Gang and the Jinyang Gang. With your divine abilities, why must you interfere?" Long Dahai mustered his courage and demanded sharply, "Where is the Jinyang Gang Leader? Where is Jin Fenglie? If you intend to swallow up the Dragon Soul Gang, why hide your head and show your tail? Come out!"

Although the voice was loud and carried a semblance of authority, this 'authority' was tainted with an obvious tremble. What was meant to be a challenge to raise his own morale sounded, to others, more like a plea.

"I am the current leader of the Jinyang Gang! When have I ever hidden my head and shown my tail?!" Hai Chenfeng raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the hall space, locking directly onto Long Dahai's face, the chilling killing intent instantly focusing and enveloping him.

Long Dahai’s heart shook violently.

Though he possessed the cultivation of the early stage of the Earth Profound realm, and though several dozen feet of space separated them, in his perception, it was as if he were face-to-face with Hai Chenfeng. That tangible gaze felt as if it were burning his eyeballs, making them hot and painful! The sense of impending doom was shockingly clear!

Even though the hall was densely packed with his Dragon Soul Gang members, Long Dahai felt utterly alone, as if not a single person was near him, unable to provide even the slightest sense of security. The vast space seemed to isolate him, confronting this formidable man in black alone!

An irresistible feeling of utter defeat rose from the depths of his heart. Long Dahai felt his knees weaken, his entire body drenched in cold sweat, suddenly overcome with an urge to kneel and submit...

Hai Chenfeng’s eyes were like an eagle’s. Suddenly, he waved his hand, and his blue cloak billowed and swirled, suddenly emitting a sound like the rising tide of the sea, resembling the thunder of ten thousand charging horses. One moment it was far away at the horizon, the next it was right before his eyes! From the sky in an instant, arriving up close!

"Prepare!"

A thunderous shout erupted abruptly from outside. Hundreds of voices roared in unison, and the clamor of shuffling feet followed. A torrent of people surged in, everyone brandishing swords or blades. Figures flickered along the top of the walls, and the four surrounding walls were completely lined with archers, bows drawn and arrows nocked, aimed directly at the Dragon Soul Gang members. Under the bright illumination, the dark arrowheads gleamed with a cold, eerie light, like Death grinning wide, showing off rows of sharp teeth, indulging in a sinister laugh. All of the Dragon Soul Gang’s hidden posts, spies, and guards had, at some unknown time, already been wiped out by Hai Chenfeng!

"Those who submit live; those who resist die! I will count to three. If there is no reaction from Long Dahai downwards, execute without mercy!" Hai Chenfeng’s eyes were icy cold, devoid of any emotion. His embroidered robes shifted as he extended his right hand, and amidst the gleam of blue light, he bent his first finger.

The Dragon Soul Gang members panicked and stirred, their eyes turning toward Long Dahai for help. "Gang Leader..." Their voices sounded like pleas.

Hai Chenfeng showed no hesitation, his expression stern and decisive as he bent his second finger... ...

Long Dahai's face was ashen, his lips trembling, his gaze desperate and helpless. "Archers, be ready!" Hai Chenfeng raised his arm, and with a rush, the sound of a tidal wave rose, making it seem as though he was truly enraged. "Roar!" The surrounding archers answered in unison, their bows immediately pulled taut into full moons. As soon as the word "?" left Hai Chenfeng's mouth, a volley of ten thousand arrows would fly! Disaster loomed! Resisting now meant certain death; therefore, the only option for survival was...

"Hold!" Long Dahai roared loudly, but the echo sounded like a cry: "I... I... agree to submit!" As these words left his mouth, Long Dahai seemed to deflate like a punctured ball, instantly going limp. Following this command, the people in the hall threw down their weapons one after another, cold sweat gleaming on everyone's faces, relieved as if a great burden had been lifted, as if granted amnesty. "Good!" Hai Chenfeng praised, "Since you have pledged allegiance, from now on, we are one family... Grand Protector! You will be in charge of settling the Dragon Soul Gang." "Yes, I respectfully obey the Gang Leader's command!" From the shadows, a burly figure strode out—thick eyebrows and a heavy beard, a lion-like nose and wide mouth—it was none other than Jin Fenglie. "Jin Fenglie, you..." Long Dahai pointed at him in disbelief, sputtering. "Haha... It is indeed I! Has my abdication surprised you?" Jin Fenglie laughed heartily, clearly elated.

To be honest, Jin Fenglie truly didn't mind Hai Chenfeng usurping his position as Gang Leader. Setting aside the camaraderie between him and Hai Chenfeng, it made little difference who was the leader. Moreover, with Hai Chenfeng as the leader, it could only bring benefits to himself and the Jinyang Gang, certainly no harm!

"What impressive power, what fearsome presence. To subdue an entire gang with just a few words—I am truly in awe. Heaven Profound experts are indeed extraordinary!" A voice drifted in, ethereal and slinking, yet laced with intense sourness. "Who is it?" Hai Chenfeng scanned his surroundings, then suddenly flashed, blue light shimmering as his entire body leaped into the air, ascending straight to the roof, where he stood proudly.

"It is I!" A strange laugh sounded. On the southern perimeter wall, several archers suddenly cried out in alarm and tumbled onto the ground. Two figures clad in black appeared together on the parapet, their gazes fierce as they looked at Hai Chenfeng: "However, this huge prize of the Beijing underworld cannot be yours alone. Even if you swallow it, you must spit some out for us!"

Hai Chenfeng let out a fierce roar, his aura surging, blue light bursting forth, dazzling and variegated: "Good! Since you have spoken, then come and snatch it! Survival of the fittest—that is the game rule among the strong!"

Suddenly, his form unfolded, and he pounced through the air, blue light flashing explosively, instantly bridging the distance between the roof and the wall, arriving above the two men, striking downwards with a roar!

The two men in black sneered coldly, "Is a Heaven Profound expert such a rare commodity?" They suddenly sprang up, their bodies spinning at high speed, meeting Hai Chenfeng’s descending form head-on in an extremely bizarre spiral. Both shouted in unison, pale blue light shooting out from their bodies like an illusion. With a boom, the three collided! They immediately scattered like exploding fireworks.

All three floated backward simultaneously, yet, without prior arrangement, they halted in mid-air, then instantly wheeled around and pounced back.

Hai Chenfeng’s expression was calm, a hint of confident amusement playing on his lips. His palms moved like giant axes splitting mountains, striking out repeatedly. Azure-blue energy currents, shaped like half-moons, launched one after another in ceaseless attack. The two men let out long whoops, attacking with hands and feet, refusing to retreat half a step!

Suddenly, one of the men in black shrieked and retreated, while the other frantically pressed the attack, engaging in a fierce entanglement with Hai Chenfeng. The one who had retreated stood on the wall, the blue light on his body receding and then condensing into full power, seemingly far stronger than before. His body even emitted wisps of cold air, and both his palms instantly turned pitch black. He surged forward again, thrusting his fingers fiercely toward the entangled Hai Chenfeng.

Given Hai Chenfeng’s strength, he was confident of winning even when facing both men previously. Now, with only one opponent locked in combat, he was even more at ease. However, a confrontation between Heaven Profound experts, especially when needing to avoid sustaining injury while defeating the opponent, could not be accomplished in an instant!

Just as Hai Chenfeng had the clear upper hand and was about to take down his opponent, he felt a cold gust wash over his face, carrying a pungent, foul odor. His heart constricted. He crossed his palms, sending out four half-moon shaped profound energies, and retreated rapidly, shouting sternly, "This is the Ruthless Cold-Blooded Finger! Are you a disciple of the Cold-Blooded Supreme, Lei Wubei?" "Hee hee hee, not bad for recognizing my Ruthless Cold-Blooded Finger!" The man in black cackled strangely, "Since you recognize it, why don't you kneel and beg for mercy immediately?"

In the mind of this man in black, he was a direct descendant of one of the Eight Great Supremes of the current age. The Heaven Profound expert opposite him might have comparable strength, but surely would not dare offend him, or rather, the Master behind him. Even if he couldn't subdue the man, he could force him to retreat, and then both the Dragon Soul Gang and the Jinyang Gang would be within easy reach!

This man in black’s self-serving scheme was certainly well-calculated, but how could worldly affairs ever go as planned!

"Go to hell!" Hai Chenfeng paid no heed to his arrogant theories. He cursed back, sweeping his hand back. Clang! His long sword was in hand, and he charged forward again, like the waves of the great ocean, rolling over and over. Azure-blue waves mixed with silver-white spray, crashing forward mightily.

"Azure Waves White Snow Sword! It turns out you are a disciple of the Azure Supreme!" The man in black burst into laughter, "That is also good. Since we are both disciples of the Eight Great Supremes, today we shall settle who is superior." Hai Chenfeng felt even angrier!

He was confident he could defeat these two; he had initially planned to keep them subdued. But now they had displayed the unique techniques of another Supreme. Hai Chenfeng did not wish to forge an irreconcilable, mortal feud with them rashly. That was why he had used the unique sword technique, the Azure Waves White Snow Sword—hoping that, given they were both disciples of Great Supremes, if these two stopped, a few perfunctory words would suffice to smooth things over. Yet, to his surprise, these two insisted on fighting relentlessly, showing no concern, and their tone carried a flavor of contempt.

How could Hai Chenfeng know that these two were precisely Li Youran’s two senior martial brothers? Tear Sword Hong had promised Li Youran to help him unify the Beijing underworld, and tonight was their first operation. Who would have thought they would arrive late, only to find Hai Chenfeng had stolen their thunder? How could the two be willing to stop?

If they failed to reclaim it, they wouldn't know how to face their Junior Martial Brother! Moreover, this also concerned the Senior Martial Brother's reputation. Therefore, even though they knew there was a connection between the parties, they refused to back down!