Fang Han found a clean, ordinary-looking inn and checked in. He sat in his room, meditating and regulating his breath to recover the Inner Qi he had expended on his journey, waiting for night to fall.

As night fell and the lanterns were lit, Luoxia City gradually quieted down.

Fang Han changed into his Night Travel Clothes, slipped out of the inn without a sound, and melted into the deep darkness, heading straight for the Ding Mansion in the eastern part of the city.

The Ding Mansion’s security was even tighter than the Iron Fist Gang’s. Patrols crisscrossed the grounds, and sentries, both seen and unseen, were everywhere.

However, in the face of his Great Success Level *Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique* and *Flowing Wind Shadowless Step*, these guards were practically nonexistent.

Fang Han moved as if through an empty realm, easily evading all eyes and ears. He infiltrated the core area of the estate and found the luxurious courtyard where Patriarch Ding Mian resided.

The lights in the master bedroom were out, but with his Spiritual Sense as a Late Stage of Sixth Grade Martial Artist, Fang Han could clearly hear the suppressed gasps and moans of a man and a woman inside.

Fang Han infused his fingertips with Inner Qi and gently vibrated the window latch open. His body slipped into the room like a falling leaf.

With the *Ten Thousand Transformations Concealing Breath Technique* active, his presence almost completely vanished, and he merged with the darkness.

On the bed, Ding Mian was in the midst of passion with his new young concubine, completely unaware that danger was upon them.

Fang Han struck like lightning. His fingers, pointed like a sword, accurately struck the vital acupoints on the back of Ding Mian’s and his concubine’s necks.

The two let out a muffled grunt and went limp, falling unconscious.

Fang Han quickly began to search the bedroom.

Wardrobes, under the bed, the walls, the curio shelves... He carefully inspected and tapped them all but found no sign of a secret chamber’s entrance.

’Not here?’

Fang Han frowned slightly, then activated his *Spirit Nose Technique* to carefully track the scent trails of Ding Mian in the air.

Soon, he noticed that besides being strongest in the bedroom, there was another clear and frequently used path leading toward the study on the other side of the courtyard.

And right now, outside the study, no fewer than ten guards with strong auras were on duty!

Their eyes were sharp as they stood with hands on their hilts, guarding the study entrance so tightly that not even a drop of water could get through.

’Such tight security... The secret chamber must be in the study!’

A glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes.

Before achieving the Great Success Level in his *Flowing Wind Shadowless Step*, it would have been extremely difficult to knock out these ten-plus guards and sneak into the study without causing a major commotion.

But now, it wasn’t too difficult at all!

WHOOSH—

He took a deep breath and pushed his *Flowing Wind Shadowless Step* to its current limit. His figure seemed to dissolve completely into the wind as he silently crept toward the study.

His speed was beyond imagination, leaving behind faint, almost imperceptible afterimages.

The guards only felt an extremely light breeze, almost like a hallucination, brush past them. Before they could react, they felt a numbness on the side of their necks or the back of their heads, their vision went black, and they all crumpled to the ground.

The entire process was as fast as a phantom. In the span of a single breath, all dozen or so guards had been precisely knocked out by Fang Han’s hand-as-a-sword, unable to even utter a single cry for help.

Fang Han pushed open the study door and slipped inside.

The study was elegantly furnished, complete with a desk, bookshelves, and chairs.

Fang Han’s sharp gaze quickly discovered the mechanism behind a large bookshelf against the wall.

He gently triggered the mechanism. The bookshelf slid silently to one side, revealing a hidden door in the wall behind it.

Opening the hidden door, a secret chamber several yards square was revealed.

Inside, more than ten chests and baskets of various sizes were neatly stacked, an aura of jewels and treasures rushing out to greet him.

’Recharge!’

With a thought from Fang Han, the chests vanished one after another.

The wealth value on his panel began to jump again.

[Wealth: 1,925,000 silver]

[Wealth: 2,225,000 silver]

[Wealth: 2,525,000 silver]

...

Finally, the number stopped at—[Wealth: 3,665,000 silver].

’One million, seven hundred and forty thousand silver taels!’

The Ding Family’s accumulated wealth was even greater than the Iron Fist Gang’s.

With this, his total wealth had reached three million, six hundred and sixty-five thousand silver taels!

He quickly exited the secret chamber, reset the mechanism, and erased his tracks.

Just as he had arrived, he left the Ding Mansion silently, without alerting anyone.

After returning to the vicinity of his inn, Fang Han didn’t go back directly. Instead, he found a tavern that hadn’t closed yet, ordered a few small dishes and a pot of warm wine, and drank by himself, treating it as a reward for a full day of hard work.

Once he had eaten and drunk his fill, he returned to his inn room.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and began his Inner Qi Cultivation, circulating the *Profound Wind Technique*.

Even though his Cultivation was advancing at an extremely fast pace, he couldn’t afford to be complacent.

Late in the dead of night, a faint commotion suddenly echoed from a distant part of the city. Although it was far away, it was still clearly discernible in the quiet night.

Fang Han slowly opened his eyes, his expression calm and tranquil.

’Ding Mian is awake...’

Apparently, after waking up, Ding Mian had discovered his secret chamber had been plundered. He was now flying into a rage in his mansion, ordering a city-wide search for the thief.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

He closed his eyes again and continued to focus on his Qi Cultivation, turning a deaf ear to the uproar outside.

The next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Fang Han got up.

He settled his bill and walked unhurriedly toward the city gate.

As expected, the inspections at the city gate had been strengthened. The Ding Family had dispatched many Martial Artists to assist the City Guards, and they were meticulously searching all people and carriages leaving the city, creating a tense atmosphere.

However, Fang Han had nothing on him except for some loose silver taels and his "Flowing Wind" sword.

With a calm expression, he underwent the inspection and passed through the city gate with ease, stepping onto the main road.

Getting his bearings, he once again used his Body Technique and sped toward the next city that housed one of Chu Feng’s subordinate factions—Heiyan City, four hundred li to the northwest.

...

「In the study of Chu Feng’s Villa in the True Inheritance Courtyard.」

The scent of sandalwood smoke wafted through the air, but it couldn’t dispel the oppressive and agitated atmosphere.

Chu Feng stood before the window with his hands behind his back, gazing at the deepening twilight outside. He unconsciously tapped his fingertips against the window frame, making a dull, "TAP... TAP..." sound.

Li Qinghong had lost her True Inheritor position, and the other two True Inheritors, Zhao Wuji and Sun Mo, had also returned to the Sect after a long period of no results. The entire operation against the mysterious thief was a complete failure.

This left him with a smoldering rage in his heart that he couldn’t vent.

CREAK—

The study door was gently pushed open, and Song Xiang hurried in, a look of unconcealable panic on his face.

"Senior Brother, a carrier pigeon just arrived! The Iron Fist Gang in Wangyue City... has been robbed! Shi Jian’s secret chamber was completely emptied!"

Chu Feng’s fingers, which had been tapping on the window frame, abruptly stopped.

He slowly turned around, his gaze like two ice picks stabbing straight at Song Xiang.

His face instantly became so dark it looked like water could drip from it. His chest heaved slightly as a violent aura uncontrollably spread from him.

The thief! It’s that thief again!

He had struck again, right after he had pulled back his ambush.

This was a blatant slap in the face, trampling the dignity of a Celestial Pride True Inheritance disciple like him underfoot.

"Good! Very good!"

Chu Feng squeezed the words through his teeth, his voice bone-chillingly cold and filled with suppressed rage.

"It seems this scoundrel is convinced I can’t do anything to him! What about from the Commandery City? When will the ’Ghost Eye’ Luo Yan you invited arrive?"

Song Xiang felt Chu Feng’s killing intent, which was so palpable it almost seemed to solidify. He shuddered and quickly bowed, replying:

"Replying to Senior Brother, we’ve received a reply. Mr. Luo will arrive in Qingxuan City by the evening of the day after tomorrow at the latest!"

"Mr. Luo has specialized in the art of Tracking for decades. With his ’Ghost Eye,’ he can spot even the most minuscule of traces. With him on the case, we’ll definitely be able to root out that thief!"

Hearing this, the cold light in Chu Feng’s eyes subsided slightly. He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his roiling anger.

According to their intelligence, Luo Yan was a renowned tracking master in Qingyang County. Although his Cultivation wasn’t high, his insight with his Ghost Eye was so exceptional that even Upper Three Grades Martial Artists admitted their inferiority.

He had paid a hefty price to hire this man.

"The evening of the day after tomorrow... Good! I’ll let that scoundrel run free for two more days!"

Chu Feng walked over to his desk and sat down, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingertips. His face showed a trace of exhaustion mixed with ferocity.

"Send out the order! All forces under our command are to enter the highest state of alert. Transfer the wealth from the secret chambers if possible. If not, assign extra manpower to guard them around the clock!"

"Endure for two more days. Once Mr. Luo arrives, let’s see where that thief can possibly hide!"

"Yes! Senior Brother! I’ll go give the orders right away!"

As if granted a pardon, Song Xiang quickly bowed, accepted the command, and hurried away.

Once again, Chu Feng was left alone in the study.

He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. The names of various enemies who might oppose him flashed through his mind, but he ruled them out one by one.

This thief’s methods were secretive and skillful, his targets highly specific, yet he left no clues behind. He was like a venomous snake hidden in the shadows, making Chu Feng feel an inexplicable agitation and... a faint sense of unease.

Several hours later, the night had grown deep.

Chu Feng had just taken a Calm Heart Pill and was preparing to meditate and calm his mind when hurried footsteps were heard outside the study again.

Song Xiang had returned. His face was even paler than before, his forehead covered in a cold sweat. He clutched a newly received message in his hand, and his voice trembled as he spoke:

"S-Senior Brother, the Ding Family in Luoxia City... they’ve been robbed too! Just tonight! Ding Mian was knocked unconscious, and the secret chamber was emptied!"

BANG!

Chu Feng violently slammed his palm onto the rosewood tea table beside him.

The sturdy table shattered on impact, sending splinters flying.

He shot to his feet, his chest heaving violently. His eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins as a monstrous killing intent, almost tangible, swept through the study. The candlelight flickered wildly, as if it could be extinguished at any moment.

"This is too much! Too much!"

Chu Feng let out a low roar, his voice as hoarse as a wounded beast’s.

Two families robbed in a row!

This thief was clearly provoking him!

The immense rage nearly overwhelmed his sanity. He could almost see the thief’s silent mockery in the darkness.

"Send a message to Luo Yan! I’ll add another hundred thousand to his reward! Tell him to get here as fast as he can!"

Chu Feng whipped his head around, his gaze savage as he stared daggers at Song Xiang.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

Even though he knew it wasn’t directed at him, Song Xiang was still scared out of his wits.

He scrambled out of the study to send the message.

Chu Feng stood alone amidst the wreckage of his study, breathing heavily, his expression terrifyingly grim.

’No matter who you are, when I find you, I will skin you alive and tear you to pieces!’