And so, Snakehead continued his relentless trek towards the territory that belonged to Tian Qi. This time around, there wasn't even the slightest hint of negotiation. Even if he knew that the lowly employee would cause trouble, it couldn't compare to Snakehead's current concern for his two Martial Artist subordinates. One should know that in the Underground City, Martial Artists were wealth. Every Martial Artist was honed over an incredibly long time, yet now he had lost two in an instant.

As for Tian Qi, he would be more than happy if Snakehead directly provoked and unsettled that fearsome old family. So, even if they advanced ferociously, aside from their own preparations and assembly to prevent Snakehead from exploiting the situation, the group faced no obstacles en route. However, by the time Snakehead saw the bloodstained door, his expression silently froze, turning solemn.

His subordinates were of varying skill, inferior to Tian Qi's, so he immediately gave instructions.

"You all wait here; I'm going in! If I give a warning, leave immediately."

"Boss…"

"Big Brother…"

"Leader…"

Snakehead said in a deep voice, "Enough pointless talk. I am, after all, in the Grandmaster Realm. That Tian Qi kid is just eating my dust; he can't kill me that easily. If something unexpected happens, my chances of escaping are hundreds of times higher than yours. So, remember this! If any problems arise, don't worry about me. Prioritize your own safety. After I get out, we'll find a way to regroup."

The reason he was being so cautious was naturally because he had considered a crucial point. Why were there none of Tian Qi's men nearby? Even if there were, they were just the most insignificant underlings in Tian Qi's ranks. The more Tian Qi acted nonchalant, the more the cunning Snakehead felt something was amiss. He and Tian Qi had been rivals for over a decade, jointly controlling this section of the Underground City, but such a situation had never occurred.

In a daze, a chill ran down Snakehead's spine. Was Tian Qi scheming to ambush him? With this in mind, he became even more resolved not to let his subordinates enter with him; they were to guard the surroundings instead. On one hand, they could fend off Tian Qi's attacks, buying time for Snakehead himself. On the other hand, these men, with their low realms and power, would likely be a hindrance if they went inside, restricting his movements and making it difficult to accomplish anything significant.

Nevertheless, he was unwilling to give up this chance to directly uncover the truth of the incident. Although he was already seething with rage, he remained cautious at heart; otherwise, he wouldn't have spent all this time currying favor with the Federal Internal Affairs Department, only revealing his true strength now.

However, at this moment, no matter how he appeared to outsiders, at least to his subordinates, Snakehead exuded the solemn air of a hero embarking on a perilous journey from which he might never return. Without hesitation, he shouldered all the risks, a gesture that deeply moved his men and filled them with even greater admiration for their leader. With a boss like this, what more could one ask for? Other bosses made their underlings do the hard work while they took the credit. Their boss was different; he always considered the well-being of his men. How could they not be grateful? Some even secretly resolved that even if it meant following their boss today to take down that insignificant employee of the Federal Internal Affairs Department, they wouldn't utter a single word of complaint.

But just as Snakehead steeled himself to enter, an unexpected yet, in hindsight, logical figure suddenly appeared before him, at a considerable distance. As their eyes met, their gazes seemed to ignite the very air with fiery sparks.

…

"When I leave later, find an opportunity to go in and scare him a bit. Even using medicine to drug him is fine," Tian Qi instructed a shifty-eyed man before him.

Although this person was also formally dressed, he somehow exuded an air of extreme shiftiness. Only his eyes, though seemingly evasive, were exceptionally sharp, their light restrained.

"Yes, Boss. As long as that punk doesn't want to die, I'll definitely be able to get information out of him."

Tian Qi smiled with satisfaction. He knew his subordinate's capabilities well, so he wasn't worried, but he still reiterated, "According to Brother Chen, that punk might not be a simple character. His current state is likely due to shock. So, you must be extremely vigilant to avoid messing up unexpectedly. If you succeed, and the information leaked can't be traced to us, then that's that. You take all the blame, put on a show for him, and clear us of all suspicion. But, hehe, if the information is useful…"

Useful information, naturally, meant information that could establish a Channel Contact bypassing Wang Zhan. At this, nothing more needed to be said. The eyes of the refined yet imposing Tian Qi glinted with ruthless decisiveness.

His subordinate understood immediately. A grin stretched his lips, disrupting his shifty demeanor and adding an unexpected touch of guileless simplicity. It was hard to tell what kind of person he truly was.

"But Boss, are you really going over there? Won't Snakehead take the opportunity to cause trouble? Should we send a few men with you?"

Looking at the concerned eyes fixed on him, Tian Qi laughed freely. "Do you really think that just because Snakehead is a level 7 Grandmaster, I haven't made any progress?"

Upon hearing Tian Qi's words, his companions were momentarily stunned, then their faces lit up with joy. Did this mean Tian Qi's realm had also broken through? If so, the scales of victory would undoubtedly tip rapidly in their favor.

…

Snakehead's face was grim as he turned. "It's you!" His mental energy transmission resonated in Tian Qi's ears, but Snakehead's motionless stance puzzled his own men.

What was happening?

Soon, some followed Snakehead's line of sight to a corner and spotted a shadowy figure, instantly tensing up.

"It must be their big boss!"

"Alert! Alert! Watch out for a sneak attack…"

They didn't disturb their leader, but with experienced vigilance, their mental power scanned the surroundings. Although their formation was somewhat disorganized and haphazard, their level of alertness proved they had indeed learned from many past mistakes.

Snakehead, however, paid them no mind. He spoke aloud, no longer communicating privately, ensuring everyone could hear, "Tian Qi, I have no issue with you scheming against me. But extending your reach to my low-realm subordinates? Isn't that taking things too far?"

Tian Qi, at least two or three miles away from Snakehead, chuckled, his eyes and face filled with contempt. Still the same petty tactics, using others' oppression to make his own men feel indebted and loyal. The problem was, Snakehead, a level 7 Grandmaster, had subordinates of uneven strength, many of whom were unruly and only submitted to force, lacking real brains. No wonder they were always kept in the dark by him. However, what did this have to do with Tian Qi? You go on in. If that expert is still there, let him kill you too. It'll save me the trouble of acting later.

So, Tian Qi also responded, his voice resonant and direct, without evasion, even carrying a hint of mock righteousness as he taunted, "Your men weren't killed by me. Don't you want to know who did it? Go in and see for yourself. Of course, if you lack the ability to find the culprit and insist on blaming me, I can reluctantly accept that."

If anyone unaware of the inner workings heard this exchange, they might wonder who was swaggering around, bullying the good and fearing the evil. Little did they know, both sides were villains.

Snakehead's face turned icy. He snorted coldly. "HUMPH!"

He didn't waste more words. He knew that if Tian Qi were resorting to petty tricks, he wouldn't deny it so readily. This meant the matter was genuinely unrelated to him. But, aside from Tian Qi, who else in the Black Market could silently kill two of his subordinates and then create such a bloody scene? Could it be that some other major figure had infiltrated the Black Market?

Considering the distance between himself and Tian Qi, and Tian Qi's posture, Snakehead confirmed this possibility almost instantly. But no matter the opponent's strength, he had to show them that he wasn't someone these passing 'powerful dragons' could trifle with! They would never know what a colossal power stood behind him…

Therefore, Snakehead, his face grim, pushed open the blood-drenched door before him.

CREAK.

He became the second Grandmaster, after Tian Qi, to witness this horrifying scene!

Suddenly, a heaven-shattering roar erupted, once again proclaiming Snakehead's irrepressible fury to everyone in the Black Market.

"No matter who you are, I will ensure you die without an intact body!"

And behind Snakehead, even some hardened villains, who thought themselves desensitized to killing, stared with fixed eyes. Then, throats bobbed. Some swallowed hard, others began to dry heave; it was a mixed reaction. Only one thing was universal: the boundless fear gripping every heart.

As for Tian Qi…

He merely smiled faintly, imagining what would follow. "Hehe, hehe, kill, kill! The more fiercely you fight, the less effort I'll need to clean up later…"

But neither Tian Qi nor Snakehead would ever have guessed that the 'major figure' they imagined had infiltrated the Black Market was, in reality, a stone's throw away. In fact, at this very moment, this person was in one of their exclusive cells, enduring the threats of a shifty-eyed underling.

BANG!

A perfectly good interrogation table was smashed to pieces by a single punch. Despite his shifty appearance, when he made a move—aside from his eyes glowing green—his strength was not to be underestimated.

Then, RUMBLE! A violent gust of wind erupted. A hand shot out, grabbed Wang Zhan by the neck, and lifted him into the air. The man's eyes, full of savagery, fixed on Wang Zhan, emitting a cold light as he growled, "Kid, do you really think I don't dare kill you? I'm giving you one last chance. Are you going to talk or not!"

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