"Don’t think that just because our Brotherhood can throw its weight around on Lin Yun Street, we’re actually somebody in the Cangzhou Prefecture."

"You need to understand something."

"Even on Lin Yun Street, it’s not like the Brotherhood calls all the shots. Besides us, there’s the Lin Yun Sect and the Cyan Snake Gang."

"The truth is,"

"we’re just at the bottom of the hierarchy in the Cangzhou Prefecture, just a little better off than the common folk. For people like us at the bottom, the most important things are fate and opportunity."

"Right now,"

"there’s an opportunity right in front of us. Sure, that person might not be who we think he is. Maybe we guessed wrong, or maybe I misjudged."

"However,"

"what does it matter? If I’m right, if my gamble pays off, then this is our fated opportunity."

"Besides,"

"his strength is clearly immense—far greater than our Brotherhood’s. Sucking up to him has no downsides, only upsides."

"And another thing,"

"as of right now, the Brotherhood hasn’t really lost anything. At most, we’re out one insignificant official member."

"This..."

The burly middle-aged man fell silent for a moment. He nodded and said, "You’re right. Hearing you put it that way, it all makes sense."

"Wu Hu."

Zhu Hong stood up, gently patting Wu Hu’s shoulder. "I know you’re not in a good mood. The man who died was under your command, so it’s normal for you to be emotional. But let me give you a piece of advice: don’t even think about revenge. Otherwise, don’t blame me, your big brother, for being ruthless."

"Boss, what are you talking about?"

Wu Hu shook his head. "You know me. How could I do something so irrational? Don’t worry."

"Good."

Zhu Hong nodded.

「Time flew by.」

「Afternoon.」

"Something’s happened."

Xu Qing frowned, his expression turning grim. Just a moment ago, he had sensed one of his Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldiers vanish—it had disappeared directly from his perception.

In other words,

one of the Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldiers had been destroyed. Otherwise, it would be impossible for it to vanish from his perception. Something must have happened.

’As expected.’

As the saying goes,

wealth moves the hearts of men.

A single Low-grade Law Stone was equivalent to ten thousand Top-grade Primordial Stones. Such a sum was enough to buy numerous mansions in the first layer of Cangzhou Prefecture City, and more than a few Treasures besides.

When Kaya and the others exchanged for a Low-grade Law Stone at the Great Zhou Money Shop, it was inevitable that others would find out. Faced with such a Treasure, some people would naturally be willing to risk everything.

「Finally, as midnight drew near.」

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!!!

Lin Yun Street, in the First Ring of the first layer of Cangzhou Prefecture.

Xu Qing’s residence.

Several figures tore through the air, swiftly sneaking inside.

"Master."

In the courtyard.

Kaya and the others all knelt before Xu Qing. "Your subordinates have fulfilled their mission. We have spent the ten thousand Top-grade Primordial Stones and successfully exchanged them for the Low-grade Law Stone from the Great Zhou Money Shop."

"Please, inspect it."

Kaya took a purple Jade Box from her robes and respectfully handed it to Xu Qing.

"Mm."

Xu Qing’s expression was calm. He slowly raised his hand, took the purple Jade Box, and opened it. Inside, a Low-grade Law Stone lay quietly.

The Low-grade Law Stone was cyan, and on its surface was a single Law Pattern that emanated a fluctuation and aura of Law.

"Good."

Xu Qing nodded and put the Low-grade Law Stone away safely.

At this moment,

Xu Qing studied Kaya and her companions. They were all injured to varying degrees and looked rather disheveled. Moreover, of the Nine Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldiers, one had been lost—specifically, ’Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldier Number Nine.’ Only eight remained.

"Tell me."

Xu Qing’s tone was calm. "What exactly happened? Why did we lose a Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldier? What kind of enemy did you encounter?"

"Yes."

Kaya nodded.

"Master."

Kaya continued, "This morning, we headed to the First Ring. In the first layer of the Cangzhou Prefecture, there are corresponding passages between each ring. To get from the Ninth Ring of the first layer to the Eighth Ring, you have to pass through the Eighth Ring’s entrance. Entering the Eighth Ring requires paying a toll of ten silver."

"Similarly,"

"going from the Eighth Ring to the Seventh also requires a toll."

"We paid the toll eight times to finally enter the First Ring of the first layer. After spending a bit more silver, we were able to find out the precise location of the Great Zhou Money Shop."

"Around noon,

"we finally found the ’Great Zhou Money Shop.’ On the third floor, we successfully exchanged the ten thousand Top-grade Primordial Stones for one Low-grade Law Stone."

"During this time, we didn’t encounter any problems."

"However,"

"right after we completed the exchange and left the Great Zhou Money Shop, we had the feeling we were being watched. We left as quickly as possible."

"But,"

"by the time we reached the Fourth Ring of the first layer, we ran into an enemy ambush. Our opponents were powerful, with some even reaching the level of Elite Extraordinary Extreme."

"We had no choice.

"At the last critical moment, ’Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldier Number Nine’ chose to self-destruct. That was the only way to grievously injure the enemy and allow us to escape the ambush."

"Elite Extraordinary Extreme."

Xu Qing mused, "Do you know who they were?"

"We do."

Kaya nodded. "During the fight, we used some verbal tactics to trick them into revealing their origins. They all belong to the same organization, one called the ’Hunting Organization.’"

"However,

"the members of this Hunting Organization don’t hunt Demons, Fiends, and Evil Spirits. Instead, they hunt people who exchange for ’Law Stones’ at the Great Zhou Money Shop. They take the ’Law Stones’ they acquire and sell them through other channels to experts in the ’Third Realm.’" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Of course,

"the leader of the Hunting Organization is a being who has reached the ’Third Realm,’ so he would also use the ’Law Stones’ they hunt for."

"The Hunting Organization."

Xu Qing’s expression darkened slightly.

"Yes."

Kaya nodded again and continued, "Of course, Master, we can’t be certain that what they said is the absolute truth. They could have been lying, or possibly trying to redirect blame."

"Mm."

Xu Qing nodded.

"Get some rest and heal your wounds."

Xu Qing said.

"Yes."

Kaya and the others nodded.

’In truth, the reason I had only sent Kaya to exchange for a single Low-grade Law Stone was not just because I was unsure if the Law Stone would be useful, but also because I didn’t dare reveal too much of my wealth.’

’It seemed now that my thinking had been correct. I had only sent Kaya to exchange for one Low-grade Law Stone, and it had already drawn out this so-called ’Hunting Organization,’ costing me a Tier Sixteen Daoist Soldier.’

’If I had exchanged for sixteen Low-grade Law Stones at once, I likely would have attracted more than just a few members of the Hunting Organization. It would have likely been a far more terrifying power. Kaya and her group might have been completely wiped out.’

「Late at night.」

「In the bedroom.」

BUZZ!

Xu Qing sat cross-legged. He took out the newly acquired Low-grade Law Stone, held it in his hand, and with a thought, began to practice the Reincarnation Law.

Then,

Xu Qing felt a distinct change. As the Reincarnation Law circulated, it faintly drew upon the Energy within the Low-grade Law Stone, which gradually flowed into his body.

Gradually,

Xu Qing’s speed in practicing the Reincarnation Law increased.