Immortal Refiner

The burglar who had broken into the house quickly surrendered. After all, he was just a thief who often struggled to make ends meet. Apart from being nimble, he stood no chance against Li Qing’s current strength.

With one hand, Li Qing gripped the thief’s neck, lifting him off the ground.

”Are you from the Righteous Gang?” Li Qing asked coldly.

The thief, struggling in mid-air, turned red in the face, completely unable to break free from Li Qing’s iron grip.

Bang! Seeing that the thief was on the verge of suffocation, Li Qing snorted and, with a flick of his arm, threw him to the ground.

”Cough! Cough! Cough!”

”I’ll talk, I’ll talk! It was our gang leader! He sent me here!”

The thief clutched his neck, gasping for air.

Having narrowly escaped death, he was terrified and dared not resist any further.

Seeing his cooperation, Li Qing didn’t press further. He casually pulled up a chair and sat down with an imposing presence.

”Tell me, what’s your name?”

”My name is Wei Tian. Our gang leader suddenly approached me and told me to come here and steal some food. I had no idea...”

Wei Tian cautiously glanced up at Li Qing before continuing, ”I had no idea you were so formidable, sir. If I had known, I would never have dared to come!”

”What’s your gang leader’s name? Does he know martial arts?” Li Qing continued.

Faced with Li Qing’s overwhelming strength, Wei Tian answered truthfully without hesitation: ”Our gang leader is named Tian Long, and yes, he practices martial arts.”

The name Tian Long was indeed imposing, and since he was a martial artist, his skills were likely not to be underestimated.

”Hmph, your Righteous Gang hasn’t bothered me for so long. Why did you suddenly decide to mess with me now?” Li Qing’s tone remained icy.

”Ah, sir, did you have a past conflict with our gang? I really didn’t know! The gang leader just tells me where to steal, and I go,” Wei Tian stammered.

At this, Li Qing’s eyes narrowed.

”You’re saying you didn’t know about the feud between me and your Righteous Gang?” Li Qing’s mind began to race.

It had been nearly a year since he had taught the Qi brothers a lesson. It seemed the Righteous Gang had initially decided not to pursue the matter, but now they suddenly sent someone to steal from him?

This was highly unusual. Without a specific trigger, they wouldn’t have suddenly targeted him.

”Sir, as you know, Blackrock City is mostly deserted now. I can’t possibly know everyone,” Wei Tian awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

After speaking, Wei Tian began to reflect inwardly.

In the future, he would need to thoroughly investigate before targeting a household. He couldn’t afford to be so reckless again.

Li Qing pondered for a moment, then carefully examined Wei Tian.

The man was thin and frail, with shifty eyes, appearing quite timid.

”Have you ever harmed anyone during your burglaries?” Li Qing asked, staring intently into Wei Tian’s eyes.

Wei Tian quickly replied, ”No, I steal but I don’t rob or hurt anyone. If I’m caught, I just run away. Generally, no one can catch up with me.”

He actually had some principles in his thievery.

Li Qing muttered to himself before speaking up, ”Then let me ask you, if you had succeeded in this theft, what would your gang leader, Tian Long, plan to do next?”

Wei Tian was taken aback for a moment, then answered honestly, ”He probably wouldn’t do much. Usually, after one theft, the gang leader doesn’t send me back for a second attempt.”

It seemed like a test—a test of his strength? If it weren’t for the fortunate breakthrough in Outer Strength, which greatly enhanced his senses, Li Qing might not have detected Wei Tian’s actions at all.

After pondering for a while, Li Qing finally made a decision. He didn’t intend to take Wei Tian’s life but instead said something that left Wei Tian utterly shocked.

”Lead the way. I want to meet your gang leader.”

”Huh?” Wei Tian was momentarily stunned, his mouth hanging open, unsure of what to say.

A short while later, Li Qing, wearing a thick cotton coat with an iron armor underneath and carrying the Peerless Hammer on his back, stepped out of the courtyard.

Wei Tian, leading the way, glanced at the massive hammer on Li Qing’s back and felt a deep regret.

Why had he provoked such a formidable figure? That hammer looked heavier than the man himself!

Anyone who could wield such a weapon could crush him like an ant.

Wei Tian didn’t think of running away but obediently led the way.

As for what would happen when this formidable figure met his gang leader, he didn’t care anymore. All he wanted was to survive this encounter.

After passing through several streets, Wei Tian brought Li Qing to a chaotic alley.

Even in the sparsely populated Blackrock City, this place was exceptionally disorderly.

This was the headquarters of the Righteous Gang.

Observing the surroundings, Li Qing’s brows furrowed slightly, and he pursed his lips before following Wei Tian into a large hall at the end of the street.

As soon as they approached, a robust voice boomed out.

”Hahaha, what an honor to have such a distinguished guest!”

The voice belonged to a burly, bearded middle-aged man who strode out of the hall with a hearty laugh.

His facial hair was thick, and his eyebrows were so bushy they almost merged into a single line, giving him the appearance of having a unibrow.

”Sir, this is our gang leader, Tian Long,” Wei Tian said nervously.

Li Qing nodded, then stepped forward and greeted warmly, ”Haha, Gang Leader Tian Long, I’ve heard so much about you!”

Tian Long was a robust man with a steady, deep breath.

However, Li Qing didn’t feel much of a threat from him. He was far less intimidating than the commanders of the Wu Li Army.

At best, Tian Long was an Outer Strength expert, still far from reaching the level of Inner Strength. He probably hadn’t even touched the edge of it.

”Brother Li, you’re young and capable! To achieve Outer Strength in these times of hardship is truly remarkable!” Tian Long praised generously.

’One doesn’t strike a smiling face,’ Li Qing also clasped his fists and said, ”Tian Long, the leader of the Tian Long Gang, single-handedly established such a large gang. I am truly impressed!”

After a round of mutual flattery, Tian Long finally put away his smile and got straight to the point.

”Brother Li, to be honest, sending Wei Tian to test you today was not my original intention.”

”Oh? Then why did Leader Tian Long do this?” Li Qing smiled, then suddenly narrowed his eyes, showing a look of eager curiosity.

”The Yan Family!”

Hearing these two words, Li Qing’s heart stirred slightly.

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(End of the Chapter)

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