22: Chapter 22 I'll collect this protection fee!

A terrifying aura, far stronger and denser than Zhang Peng's by who knows how many times, erupted from within Tang Xun's body!

That aura was like a volcano that had been dormant for ten thousand years, erupting in an instant!

The entire crude cave was enveloped by this terrifying pressure. The air seemed to solidify, and even the water droplets dripping down the cave walls stopped in mid-air.

The arrogance and contempt on the faces of Zhang Peng and his few lackeys froze instantly, replaced by endless shock and fear.

"Thump! Thump!"

Those few lackeys at the second and third layers of Qi Refining didn't even last a second before their legs went weak, and they knelt directly on the ground, their faces pale, trembling like chaff.

They felt like a tiny boat in a storm, ready to be crushed into pieces by this terrifying pressure at any moment!

Zhang Peng was at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, possessing the highest cultivation, so his situation was slightly better, but he was barely standing. His legs were trembling violently, his teeth were chattering, and cold sweat streamed down his forehead like rain.

"Qi... Qi Refining... Late Stage!?"

Zhang Peng's voice was trembling. He stared fixedly at Tang Xun, his eyes wide as copper bells, filled with disbelief.

How is this possible!

How could a newcomer who just climbed up from being a Utility Disciple be an expert at the Late Stage of Qi Refining!

When did the Sect produce such a Prodigy? Why would he live in a dump like the Ding District?

Countless questions exploded in his mind, but he couldn't figure out a single one. The only thing he could be sure of now was that he had kicked an iron plate today—a thick, hard iron plate that could crush him to death!

"Senior... Senior Brother... No, Senior! Senior, spare me!"

That skinny monkey was the first to react, trembling while kowtowing frantically to beg for mercy.

"Senior, we were blind and didn't recognize Mount Tai! We were blind as dogs to dare to offend you! Please, in your greatness, treat us like a fart and let us go!"

The other lackeys also cried out and begged for mercy, the scene was quite moving for a moment.

Tang Xun watched their ugly display, his heart blooming with joy.

"Oh my, weren't you quite arrogant just now? Why are you cowards now? Young man, where's your backbone?"

While complaining internally, he slowly walked over to Zhang Peng.

Tang Xun did not release his full aura, only revealing his cultivation to around the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

This was already terrifying enough.

In the Outer Sect, the Qi Refining Seventh Layer was definitely among the small group at the top of the pyramid. Which Disciple with such cultivation wouldn't live in the Jia District, where the Spiritual Qi was most abundant, enjoying the best treatment? Who would run to live in the Ding District?

This made no sense at all!

Zhang Peng felt his brain couldn't keep up.

"Se... Senior..." He squeezed the two words out of his throat with difficulty, wanting to beg for mercy, but due to extreme fear, he couldn't even speak a complete sentence.

"Senior Brother Zhang, right?" Tang Xun tilted his head, his face once again revealing that harmless smile, "Just now, you said you wanted to collect protection money from me?"

"No, no, no! I wouldn't dare! It's me who should pay you protection money! It's me who should honor you!" Zhang Peng's desire to survive erupted at this moment, his head shaking like a rattle-drum.

"Oh?" Tang Xun raised an eyebrow, "That's actually a good idea."

He patted Zhang Peng's shoulder, which was stiff with fear, and said with a smile: "Considering you are so creative, I will give you a chance."

"From today on, you, and this bunch of your underlings, are under my management. Understand?"

Zhang Peng froze for a moment, then nodded frantically: "Understand! Understand! We will all listen to you, Senior!"

"Very good." Tang Xun was very satisfied with his attitude.

He thought for a moment and continued: "Since you are my underlings, there must be some gesture, right? Otherwise, why should I protect you?"

Zhang Peng's brain turned quickly; he immediately took a small cloth bag out of his Storage Pouch and handed it over with trembling hands.

"Senior! This is my monthly allowance I just received this month, plus all my savings, a total of... a total of thirty-five Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Please accept it!"

Tang Xun weighed it, curling his lip inwardly.

"Only thirty-five? Poor devil."

However, his face remained calm, and he said indifferently: "Only this much?"

Zhang Peng's face instantly fell, and he said with a mournful face: "Senior, I... I only have this much! It's not easy for an Outer Sect Disciple to earn some Spirit Stones!"

"Fine." Tang Xun didn't really want to squeeze him dry; what he wanted was an attitude, a form of deterrence.

He put the Spirit Stones into his robes and then swept his gaze toward the few lackeys kneeling on the ground.

Those few people were startled and scrambled to take out all their belongings.

"Senior, I have eight Spirit Stones here!"

"I... I only have five, and two bottles of Qi Recovery Powder!"

"Me, me, me, I have a low-grade Magical Artifact here, it's not worth much, but it can be exchanged for a few Spirit Stones!"

Tang Xun accepted everything without refusal.

Counting the spoils, there were a total of fifty-two Low-Grade Spirit Stones, a few bottles of worthless Medicinal Pills, and a pile of junk.

"Hmm, not bad, the first day's income." Tang Xun was happy inside.

He cleared his throat and said to the terrified group: "Alright, the tribute has been collected. From now on, you are my people."

"On the first of every month, voluntarily bring half of your monthly allowance to me. If I find out that anyone dares to hide anything..."

Tang Xun's voice turned cold: "I will take his bones apart one by one to see if they are made of gold."

"We wouldn't dare! We absolutely wouldn't dare!" They hurriedly swore oaths.

"Also," Tang Xun changed the subject, "I like peace and quiet and don't like to be disturbed. Therefore, I don't want to hear any gossip about me from anyone else's mouth. You know what to do, right?"

Zhang Peng immediately understood and patted his chest, guaranteeing: "Rest assured, Senior! Today's events will rot in our stomachs. If anyone dares to say one extra word, you won't need to do anything; I will be the first to cripple him!"

"Very good." Tang Xun nodded in satisfaction.

This was the effect he wanted.

He needed Zhang Peng and his group to block some unnecessary trouble for him on the outside, while simultaneously sealing news about his strength.

Only then could he peacefully execute his "Great Competition Salted Fish Plan".

"Alright, get lost." Tang Xun waved his hand as if shooing flies.

"Yes, yes, yes! We'll get lost immediately!"

Zhang Peng felt as if he had been granted amnesty and scrambled out of the cave with his lackeys, not even caring about the wooden fence that had been kicked to pieces.

They ran a long way in one breath until they couldn't see that broken cave anymore, and only then did they dare to stop, collapsing on the ground one by one, gasping for air, their faces still wearing the terror of having survived a disaster.

"Pe... Peng-ge, who... who exactly is that person? Too... too terrifying!" The skinny monkey said, still feeling lingering fear.

Zhang Peng's face was so gloomy that water could drip from it.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and gritted his teeth, saying: "How would I know! A Qi Refining Late Stage expert, pretending to be a newcomer, living in the Ding District... Damn it, this is pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger! I really had the worst luck in eight lifetimes today!"

"Then... what do we do from now on? Are we really going to pay him half our monthly allowance every month?" Another lackey asked, unwilling to accept it.

"Otherwise?" Zhang Peng glared at him, "Do you want to go reason with him? Or do you want to have your bones taken apart by him?"

That lackey immediately shrank his neck and dared not speak again.

"Damn it!" Zhang Peng punched a tree nearby fiercely, "This grievance, I will get it back sooner or later! Let's go!"

He led his few underlings away in disgrace, filled with frustration and unwillingness.

Meanwhile, inside the cave, Tang Xun was happily counting the Spirit Stones, humming an out-of-tune little song.

"Fifty-two, hmm, not bad, enough to buy some Spirit Seeds. It seems the trade of collecting protection money is quite promising."

He didn't take Zhang Peng's threat to heart at all.

Getting back at him? In the next life.

He happily put away the Spirit Stones and then began to think about the next problem.

The Great Competition in three months, how should he act so that it is fresh and refined, and makes a deep impression on people?

This really is a technical job.