160: Is Chapter 160 trying to fool me into thinking I have no one backing me?

"Proprietress Hao Shuang, you saw it with your own eyes, didn't you? The Life-and-Death Arena has concluded, and I have come to collect as agreed."

Qin Feng flipped his wrist and slapped the golden-glowing contract onto the counter with a crisp sound.

"Four thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, with odds of one to two thousand. You owe me eight million Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Proprietress, pay up."

Facing Qin Feng's aggressive Aura, Proprietress Hao Shuang took a deep breath, forced a cold sneer onto her lips, and instead of taking the contract, she spoke in a snide, sarcastic tone.

"Oh, Junior Brother Qin, you truly have impressive methods, hiding your strength so well that even a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator fell into your hands. However..."

Proprietress Hao Shuang changed her tone, becoming firm.

"Regarding this wager, I'm afraid there has been some misunderstanding. Our Tongbao Bank suspects that you used some forbidden, sinister methods in the arena, winning dishonorably! Until this matter is investigated, the bank cannot pay out these Spirit Stones."

"Oh? Stalling for time, refusing to pay?"

Qin Feng did not get angry; instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly, a playful arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

He had long expected the other party to welch on the debt; eight million Spirit Stones were enough to make these bloodsuckers completely drop their facade.

"What? The dignified Tongbao Bank, having signed a transaction contract and set the rules in front of so many people, now wants to bully customers and throw the Sect rules to the back of their minds?!"

Qin Feng's voice gradually turned cold, like ten-thousand-year-old ice.

"Stop spouting nonsense here!"

Manager Fu An, relying on their superior numbers, jumped out and cursed.

"Our Proprietress has spoken; your victory is suspected of cheating. If you want the Spirit Stones, wait until the Sect's Law Enforcement Hall investigates it clearly! Now, put away your scrap of paper and get out of the bank!"

"Talking to me about rules?" Qin Feng's eyes sharpened. "Since you won't honor the debt, we will handle it according to the rules of the Trading Zone! Bring the Trading Zone manager here!"

"Hahaha, you want to find the manager? Fine, let the manager come and judge!" Proprietress Hao Shuang was not afraid at all; instead, she laughed with unearned confidence.

Not long after, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the door.

A pot-bellied, greasy-faced, middle-aged fat man dressed in luxurious manager's attire walked into the bank, surrounded by a group of guards.

This person was none other than the Trading Zone manager—Manager Niu Defa.

"What is going on? Making such a racket, what kind of decorum is this?!" Manager Niu Defa spoke with bureaucratic arrogance, his gaze sweeping between Qin Feng and Proprietress Hao Shuang.

"Manager Niu Defa, you have arrived just in time!"

Proprietress Hao Shuang immediately put on an aggrieved expression, wiggling her waist as she walked up to him, speaking in a coquettish voice.

"This Disciple named Qin Feng, I don't know what despicable means he used to win the arena, but now he is holding an invalid contract and running to our bank to extort eight million Spirit Stones. You must uphold justice for us!"

As she spoke, Proprietress Hao Shuang seamlessly slipped a heavy Storage Pouch into Manager Niu Defa's sleeve.

Feeling the weight in his sleeve, Manager Niu Defa's eyes immediately narrowed into slits, and the fat on his face blossomed into a smile.

He turned his head, and his gaze toward Qin Feng instantly became stern and cold.

"Qin Feng, is it? I have heard about the matters between you. However, you intentionally hid your strength to set a trap for Tongbao Bank; a contract obtained through such fraud is invalid. I, as the manager, now order you to leave. How can you be allowed to cause trouble here?!"

Manager Niu Defa waved his hand, making no effort to hide his bias toward Tongbao Bank, and scolded loudly.

"Leave the invalid contract behind. Considering you are a first-time offender, get out quickly, and I, the manager, can let this slide!"

"Invalid?"

Qin Feng looked at the two colluding individuals, the mockery in his eyes deepening.

In the Immortal Realm, so-called fairness and contracts are indeed just scraps of paper without absolute strength as a backing.

"It seems Manager Niu Defa is determined to side with Tongbao Bank and call black white?" Qin Feng asked coldly.

"Presumptuous! What kind of thing do you think you are, daring to speak to Manager Niu Defa like that?!"

Manager Fu An, who was acting arrogant because of his backing, jumped out again, shouting aggressively.

"Someone, come! This brat dares to cause trouble in the bank and insult the manager. Do it, throw this pauper out!"

Following Manager Fu An's order, a dozen fierce thugs in the bank with cultivation at the eighth or ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage instantly drew their Magical Artifacts, surrounding Qin Feng with intense Killing Intent.

Facing the siege, Qin Feng did not immediately take action.

He just stood there quietly, his deep gaze sweeping over the arrogant Manager Fu An, the sneering Proprietress Hao Shuang, and the overbearing Manager Niu Defa.

Suddenly, Qin Feng smiled.

His tone carried a calmness that saw through the coldness of the world as he asked softly.

"Are you bullying me because I have no one behind me?!"

This question echoed in the hall, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression.

Upon hearing this, the mockery on Proprietress Hao Shuang's lips became even more obvious.

She nodded slightly without any hesitation: "Yes."

A single word, resolute and decisive, filled with the arrogance and contempt of someone in a position of power.

"Good, very good."

The smile on Qin Feng's face faded, and a dangerous, cold light flashed in his deep, dark eyes.

"What are you still standing there for? Kick this ungrateful piece of trash out for me!" Manager Fu An arrogantly ordered the surrounding thugs, preparing to use force.

"No need for you to do anything."

Just as the thugs were about to pounce, Qin Feng calmly raised his hand, stopping their actions.

He casually brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeve, his tone so calm it was chilling.

"I will leave on my own."

After saying this, he ignored the fierce glares of the surrounding thugs and instead cast his gaze directly at the pot-bellied Manager Niu Defa.

"Manager Niu Defa,"

The voice asking again was not loud, but it carried a bone-chilling coldness. "As the dignified manager of the Trading Zone, are you sure you want to interfere in our affairs?"

Being questioned in public by a Disciple at the Qi Refinement Stage, Manager Niu Defa felt his dignity had been severely provoked.

He slapped his round belly, the flesh on his face trembling violently, and roared.

"Why so much nonsense?! I told you to get out. If you dare to say one more word, do you believe I will abolish your cultivation directly?!"

Facing Manager Niu Defa's rage and threats, Qin Feng's expression did not change in the slightest.

He took a deep look at everyone present, as if trying to etch the faces of those around him into his mind.

"Fine, farewell."

Leaving behind these three crisp and decisive words.

Qin Feng turned around and strode out of Tongbao Bank without any hesitation, leaving the mockery and insults behind him.

Watching the young man's departing back, Proprietress Hao Shuang gave a disdainful cold snort.

"I thought he was some tough bone, but it turns out he's just a coward who only knows how to run away with his tail between his legs."

"Mistress is wise; this brat is just a paper tiger, not worth worrying about at all!" Manager Fu An quickly flattered her.

Manager Niu Defa, meanwhile, stroked the Spirit Stones in his sleeve and laughed with satisfaction.

...

After leaving the Trading Zone, Qin Feng did not become dejected like a stray dog.

Eight million Low-Grade Spirit Stones was a huge amount of wealth that would drive anyone crazy; of course, it was impossible to just let it go.

He knew very well that the Immortal Realm is, after all, a place where one competes based on their background and connections.

A cold, sharp arc appeared at the corner of Qin Feng's mouth. He activated Ghost Wind-Stepping, dashed through the many buildings of the Outer Sect, and headed straight toward Qingmu Peak.

Qingmu Peak was beautiful, with abundant Spiritual Qi.

As the place where Xu Hongxia cultivated, few people dared to disturb it on ordinary days.

Qin Feng arrived at Xu Hongxia's secluded and quiet independent courtyard with ease.

Before he could go in, his footsteps suddenly stopped, and the coldness and arrogance on his face vanished without a trace.

He took a deep breath, centered his Qi in his Dantian, and his eyes suddenly turned red, forcing out a look of grievance and indignation.

He cried out indignantly toward the room: "Revered Master... Revered Master..."

"This Disciple is incompetent... I feel deeply ashamed..."

"I was bullied but powerless to resist. Today, this Disciple has come to expel myself from the Sect... so as not to implicate your reputation, Revered Master!!!"

The miserable cry echoed over the quiet Qingmu Peak, startling a flock of birds.