"Flee!"

The remaining three were scared stiff at the sight.

What kind of fighting style is this? We’ve never seen anything like it. This must be the work of a Jianghu Magician, or perhaps even a Cultivator! We stand no chance!

By the time they reacted, a second man had already fallen. Even though they were all Beginner Level Fourth Rank Overlords, they were utterly powerless against the attacks of the golden snakes. The last two men fled for their lives, overcome with terror.

"Master, should we pursue them?" Master Yi Yang asked.

"No need. There’s no point in hiding this, anyway. It’s fine if the Tang Sect finds out," Yang Qi said with a wave of his hand, deciding against pursuit.

Instead, he glanced at the three corpses on the ground and instructed Ye Feng, "Take care of them. Then, announce publicly that in a life-and-death duel, the Star Shining Society defeated Tang Xuan, an Elder of the Tang Sect. The other two were killed for attempting to violate the rules."

The Tang Sect was obsessed with its reputation, so it was crucial for them to claim the moral high ground first. This would prevent the Tang Sect from openly coming after them.

"Additionally, you can release parts of the video we recorded. Just make sure to edit it. I don’t want anyone discovering my secrets or my appearance. It’s enough for everyone to know how the battle unfolded," Yang Qi added.

"Of course!" Ye Feng nodded excitedly.

The stronger Yang Qi was, the brighter the future for the Star Shining Society. How could he not be thrilled?

"If I may ask, who is this senior?" This was the first time Ye Feng had met Master Yi Yang. When Yang Qi had previously returned, Master Yi Yang had mentioned needing to attend to some matters, so he hadn’t met the others.

"Master Yi Yang," Yang Qi stated calmly.

"What!"

The crowd was dumbfounded.

Master Yi Yang? Could it be the legendary Master Yi Yang, who once struck terror into the entire Martial Arts World? Why would such a formidable figure be so reverent, and even somewhat fearful, of Yang Qi?

Even Ye Feng and the King of Jingnan were baffled.

"As expected of the boss, he’s truly unfathomable. To have someone like Master Yi Yang following his orders so obediently... I wonder how many more secrets he’s hiding," the King of Jingnan remarked in awe.

"Indeed! The boss is mighty!" Master Chen chuckled.

"Wait a minute, Master Chen, weren’t you a nervous wreck just a moment ago?" Ye Feng teased. "You were worried the boss wouldn’t be a match for Tang Xuan. It seems that concern was entirely unnecessary."

"My primary focus isn’t Martial Arts, so naturally, my judgment isn’t as keen as yours," Master Chen replied.

"Hahahaha!"

Everyone was in high spirits. They had once again eliminated a powerful enemy.

"Alright, everyone get back to your duties. We have a lot of work to do," Yang Qi said with a smile.

"Yes!"

The flattery ceased, and everyone went about their tasks. They didn’t dwell on the Tang Sect’s impending retaliation. They knew they couldn’t win a direct fight, so if the Sect came for them, so be it. The worst-case scenario was fleeing to the north. That region was not Tang Sect territory, so the Sect wouldn’t dare act rashly there.

Of course, the most likely scenario was that the Tang Sect, to save face, wouldn’t dare to cause trouble openly. They would probably send assassins to secretly eliminate Yang Qi or other key members of the Star Shining Society. All they needed to do was establish a solid intelligence network in Jingnan Prefecture. With Huang Borren and Yan Bo on the job, there was nothing to worry about. Huang Borren had been in charge of intelligence for Yang Qi for a long time. Meanwhile, Yan Bo was a media magnate in Jingnan Prefecture with countless reporters and paparazzi at his command. Getting information would be easy.

When danger arose, their strategy would be simple: retreat when the enemy advances, and advance when the enemy retreats. They would preserve their own forces while annihilating the enemy’s.

「Meanwhile, on Penglai Island.」

Gu Baiyi looked at the wooden hut, a mix of jealousy and comfort swirling within him.

The jealousy stemmed from his own crippled state, which forced him to let his younger brother become the old man’s disciple. He had envied his brother’s talent since they were young, and that envy still lingered. The comfort came from knowing this brother treated him well. Now that he had learned and grown stronger, he would be able to avenge him—to kill Yang Qi on his behalf.

A full day and night had passed with no sound from within the hut. He didn’t know what was happening, but all he could do was wait patiently.

CREAK!

The door of the hut swung open, and the old man emerged, his face beaming with joy.

Gu Baiyun followed him out and looked at Gu Baiyi with a hint of reproach. "Brother, you should have told me sooner that such miraculous Cultivation methods, such incredible Medical Skills, and such amazing Medicine Pills existed in this world!"

Gu Baiyi looked away awkwardly. He had nothing to say. He knew he had wronged his brother in the past and had no right to offer an explanation.

"Never mind. Let the past be the past," Gu Baiyun said with a smile. "Rest assured, Brother, I will definitely get revenge for you!

"With my Medical Skills, I could even defeat Xue Renyi now!

"In Martial Arts, I’m now comparable to a top Fourth Rank Overlord!

"I don’t even see Yang Qi as a threat anymore!"

Gu Baiyi was utterly astonished. His younger brother’s talent truly was far superior to his own. In just one day and one night, he had undergone a complete transformation.

"Thank you for your help, Master," Gu Baiyun said, bowing deeply to the old man. "I will never forget your immense kindness!"

He was now confident that with just one or two months of guidance from the old man, he would be virtually invincible in the Southern Territory. He was so powerful! It wasn’t just his personal strength; the Medicine Pills and Cultivation methods were also incredibly potent!

"Why thank me? Since you are my disciple, I will naturally teach you well," the old man said with a smile. "Your talent is far greater than your brother’s. Enough talk. Let’s head to the Su Mansion of the Gu Family!"

"Yes!" Gu Baiyi was filled with excitement. "The plane has already been arranged!"

Though he felt a pang of jealousy, he was now a cripple. What was the point? All that mattered now was revenge.

「At the same time, in Thunder City.」

"Have you found Gu Lingshan’s whereabouts?" Yang Qi asked Ye Feng as they left the Life and Death Platform.

"We’ve found him, and we have people keeping watch. Should we make a move right away?" Ye Feng asked.

"No need. I’m going myself," Yang Qi sneered. Gu Lingshan had quite a feud with him. He had let the boy off before, thinking he would learn his lesson. But he never expected the brat would dare to make a move against the Qifei Group and even collaborate with Tang Xuan to oppose him. He was truly courting death.

It might be difficult for Yang Qi to find someone in other places, but in Thunder City—in the whole of Jingnan Prefecture—it was a simple matter.

Yang Qi got into the car, and Ye Feng personally drove, speeding away.

「Thunder City, Gu Family Villa.」

Gu Lingshan sat drinking wine, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He had essentially taken control of all the companies connected to the Qifei Group, save for a few larger ones that were beyond his grasp. But this was enough to put the Qifei Group in a world of trouble. If Li Qingyan didn’t come to him and apologize, the Qifei Group’s financial chain would surely break, and it would ultimately collapse.