In his subconscious, those who dared to touch the Lingxiao Association’s supply.

Were only the few Inner City forces of the same level or slightly inferior.

The middle-aged man’s head hung even lower, his expression turned a bit strange, and he forced himself to answer: "None of them... It’s a small gang on the outskirts of Gray Rock District. They just... rooted out the Blood Wolf Gang responsible for the safety of that area, and by the way... cleared out our temporary storage point there, killing a few of our guards."

"Hmm?"

The jade sphere in the old man’s hand paused for the first time.

He slowly opened his eyes, and in those indifferent eyes, a trace of extremely subtle amazement finally flashed.

He tilted his head slightly.

As if trying to confirm whether he had misheard.

"A small gang?" The old man’s voice carried a subtle hint of amusement, "Do they not know it’s our territory?"

The middle-aged man chose his words carefully, "They... seem unaware that the temporary site is backed by us. Most of those involved are new faces, likely new to the city, acting... very recklessly."

A brief silence.

Only the suppressed whimpering and sucking sounds from under the table.

Sounding especially piercing in the stillness.

The amazement in the old man’s eyes quickly dissipated, replaced once more by the indifference that controlled everything.

He nodded slightly.

As if merely handling a trivial little inconvenience.

"Understood." He closed his eyes again, the jade sphere in his hand beginning to rotate slowly and rhythmically once more, "Send someone to go over there."

His voice returned to its calm, like instructing a routine chore.

"First, safeguard that batch of supplies. That’s the bottom line."

"Second, while you’re at it, take over that small gang. Tell them, henceforth, that area will be under their management. But the rules, they’ll follow ours."

He paused, adding without a hint of emotion, "As for those few who died... dead is dead."

"Yes, understood!"

The middle-aged man felt a chill in his heart and immediately bowed to comply.

...

The scene shifts back to Gray Rock District nightclub.

The cold stone steps spiral downward, bottomless.

The air is damp and foul.

With a distinctive earthy smell and faint rust.

Only the light yet steady footsteps of two people echo in the silent passage.

Descending roughly five or six stories in height.

We finally see a faint glimmer ahead.

A dark gray, featureless metal door blocks the end of the passage.

Fang Qingyu walks to the door, stops.

Reaches out his palm, gently pressing his palm against the cold, metallic door.

Buzz!

Qi and Blood Power instantly bursts forth from his palm.

The apparently heavy metal door, along with the sturdy walls embedding it, is like invisible giant hands bursting from within.

Boom!!!

In a heart-pounding, dull explosion, the entire metal door caves inward.

Then along with large chunks of concrete and steel rebar.

Was violently blasted away by brute force.

Dust fills the air!

Behind the door, unexpectedly spacious.

The sight greeting us.

Not a glamorous casino or secret base as imagined.

But a remarkably simple underground hall.

The floor is rough cement, walls bare concrete, devoid of any decoration.

Only a few incandescent lamps hanging from the ceiling barely illuminate the space.

And in the center of this empty hall.

About ten meters from the entrance.

Stood several imposing figures.

They wore uniform gray outfits, expressionless, eyes cold and numb.

Each emitted the aura of Tier Two Martial Artists.

They formed a cold human wall.

Blocking Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei firmly.

To the side and rear of these human walls, near the wall, lay a simplistic folding chair.

A young man sits boldly upon it.

He appears just over twenty, dressed in a tailored leisure suit incompatible with this chilly environment, his hair impeccably groomed.

Cradling a rocket launcher.

The man who just blew away Old Qin was probably him.

And Fang Qingyu turned to look at him, a hint of peculiarity flashing in his eyes...

Because this young man is actually an ordinary person.

Not a trace of Martial Arts Cultivation, not a Divine Cultist either.

A young man like this, mixed among a group of Tier Two Transcendents...

Still appears as the leading setup.

How odd.

The young man seems unsurprised by Fang Qingyu’s unharmed descent.

Casually tosses the rocket launcher with a clang at his feet.

Leisurely dusts off non-existent lint from his suit.

Lifts his eyelids, using an examining gaze imbued with superiority.

Assess the Fang Qingyu and Jiang Wei at the entrance.

That gaze, as if inspecting two novel items.

"Tsk, quite gutsy indeed."

The young man smirks with amusement, his voice languid, "With your skills, in a rundown place like Gray Rock District, you’re somebody."

He paused, leaned slightly forward, as if benevolently saying: "Alright, you seem to have some guts and skill, this day I’m in a decent mood."

"I’ll give you a chance, kneel, swear allegiance, follow me henceforth."

"Your killing prior, I’ll let slide."

"How about it?"

His tone casual, as if discussing today’s weather.

Rather than determining the fate of two lives.

Fang Qingyu’s expression remains unchanged, not even a flicker in his gaze.

Ignoring the young man’s condescending offer.