Another face reading master named Qian Kun had his brows furrowed into a tight frown.

The deep wrinkles seemed to carve his heart’s full worry and gloom. His eyes bore a sinister glimmer like cold beams, akin to a hungry wolf lurking in the dark night, observing the prey’s every move.

He lowered his voice, which was as cold and hard as millennia-old Mystic Ice, and slowly said, "Let’s not act rashly for now. This matter is very complicated and requires careful planning."

"This fellow could effortlessly defuse Wang Fugui’s deliberate provocation, which shows he indeed possesses genuine talent and extraordinary skills, definitely no ordinary person."

"Therefore, we must not recklessly act as we did before; we need to carefully devise a flawless, extremely comprehensive strategy to deal with him to ensure victory."

Zhao Qi heard this, and let out a dismissive snort through his nose, a sound squeezed through his teeth: "Hmph! What ingenious plan could we possibly have?"

"Could we only helplessly watch as he rampages through the Mystic Spirit Pavilion, taking over all our business, leaving us with no foothold in Antique Street?"

Qian Kun’s eyes twinkled craftily as if a plan suddenly came to him, he lowered his voice almost to a whisper, mysteriously saying, "Why don’t we take a different approach and hire a cultivator to assist us!"

"Think about it, as long as we are willing to spend generously, lavish rewards will certainly attract those greedy among the cultivators. There’s no worry about finding someone willing to take the job."

Zhao Qi’s eyes lit up suddenly, like seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness; however, that glimmer was quickly overshadowed by heavy doubts. He hesitated and said, "Cultivators?"

"They are desolately superior, enigmatic figures who come and go like Divine Dragons. They aren’t easily swayed by us, are they?"

"Moreover, they usually act strange and unpredictable; if anything goes wrong, we might end up harming ourselves. What should we do then?"

"The risk is too high, we need to be cautious!"

Qian Kun smirked with confidence mixed with mockery and said, "You, stop worrying so much; I have a comprehensive plan."

"I happen to know a well-connected intermediary skilled in brokering deals between the mundane and the cultivators."

"As long as we’re willing to spend generously and be unafraid of bleeding costs, we can surely invite a powerful cultivator."

"By then, even if Xu Wendong has three heads and six arms, no matter how capable, in the face of a cultivator’s immense power, he’s merely like an ant, definitely no match, surely subdued easily."

Zhao Qi frowned deeply, falling into thought. After a moment, a glint of determination flashed through his eyes, as if he had made up his mind, he gritted his teeth and said: "Fine, since that’s the case, let’s follow your plan!"

Their initial intention was merely to drive Xu Wendong out of Antique Street.

After all, Xu Wendong’s appearance severely impacted the foundation of their painstakingly managed interests on Antique Street. If he wasn’t driven out early, their situation would certainly become precarious!

However.

All their carefully devised plans had already burst like bubbles and vanished.

Driven by resentment and despair, they conceived of a more malicious thought, intending to remove Xu Wendong completely to eliminate future troubles.

Night came with a torrential downpour, as if the Milky Way had burst its banks, the overwhelming rain seemed to drown the entire world in endless water curtains.

The original hustle of Antique Street was already consumed by the sound of the waterfall-like rain; the cobblestone paths under the unending rain gleamed with a cold sheen, everything around was shrouded in steamy mist, plunged into an atmosphere of chaotic obscurity.

Xu Wendong gently closed the shop door, preparing to head home.

His sister-in-law had called earlier; she’d made dumplings waiting for him to have at home.

Thinking about the dumplings and his sister-in-law, Xu Wendong wished he could sprout wings and fly straight home.

Enjoying dumplings while playing with his sister-in-law...

Just as he turned around, his gaze inadvertently pierced through the heavy rain, glimpsing a shadow standing far away in the depths of the night.

That shadow was like a specter stepping out of Nine Nether Hell, exuding a chilling aura.

His figure was tall and slender, standing quietly there like an ancient and mysterious statue, unmoving, perfectly merging with the stormy rain curtain.

Rain fell like arrows onto his body, yet seemed blocked by an invisible shield, merely sliding off his black robe, splashing tiny ripples that added to his enigmatic presence.

His face was hidden beneath his hood, only a pair of eyes in the darkness glimmering coldly and sharply like chilling stars, sending shivers down one’s spine.

Xu Wendong still acutely sensed his presence, a bitter smile unconsciously appeared on his face, he murmured softly: "Though peers are adversaries, there’s no need to be so relentless!" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

That smile bore both resignation to the unwarranted malice and a calm acceptance of the trouble that was about to come.

He slightly straightened his back, his gaze revealing determination and composure, quietly waiting for the shadow’s next move.

"I didn’t expect you to be a cultivator too!" the shadow let out a playful laugh: "I originally thought I’d have to switch cities after killing you, but now it’s fine, eliminating you even in public won’t break the law!"

Xu Wendong opened a large black umbrella, shielding against the pouring rain, calmly facing the opponent: "Aren’t you a bit overconfident?"

The shadow’s eyes carried a sense of disdain: "You’re merely a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, while I possess Foundation Establishment Peak strength; killing you is as simple as picking something up!"

"First take a look at this place!" Xu Wendong calmly pointed to the signboard of the [Mystic Spirit Pavilion].

The man in black instinctively raised his gaze.

In an instant, a mysterious and powerful Daoist charm emanated from the signboard, like a surging tide, engulfing him.

His expression changed drastically, feeling as if struck hard on the head, his True Qi instantly disrupted, blood surged to his throat.

Immediately.

He spewed blood from all seven orifices, collapsing dead in the rain, the rain quickly washed away the blood, forming a stark red pool.

Meanwhile, Xu Wendong, as if nothing had happened, calmly hoisted his umbrella and slowly stepped into the rain curtain.

His silhouette gradually receding in the wind and rain, yet conveying an incomparably majestic and mysterious feeling.

From afar, Zhao Qi and Qian Kun, who were secretly observing, witnessed the scene, their scalps tingling with a chill rushing from their soles to their hearts, sending shivers down their spines.

The two exchanged glances filled with terror.

Zhao Qi stuttered: "What... what is going on? Why did our high-priced hired expert just look at the Mystic Spirit Pavilion signboard and then spew blood from all seven orifices and die?"