Upon hearing his laughter, both Gu Chengyuan and Wei Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Before leaving the family, each of their patriarchs advised them: don’t fear anything in Ghost Wood City, but be wary of Liu Zixuan. Don’t let him get the money and then kill to silence you.

It seems now that although Liu Zixuan is a bit greedy, he’s not the kind of person who acts without a bottom line.

Wei Zheng first took out his bank card and handed it to Liu Zixuan: "Can I see my young master now?"

"Alright, together then." Gu Chengyuan handed over a check, as it wasn’t a small number, and cash was certainly impossible.

Liu Zixuan handed the check and bank card to Zhu Yi: "Brother Zhu, could you please help me verify them?"

"Sure!" Zhu Yi took out his phone, given the advancements in technology, checking the balance doesn’t require a visit to the bank anymore.

Liu Zixuan laughed, "Don’t blame me, I’m just a country bumpkin afraid of poverty and being deceived. One must verify at times like these."

"Being cautious is always good." Gu Chengyuan and Wei Zheng hurriedly accompanied him with a laugh, though inside they’d already been cursing. Such a big family, with billions already given, would anyone trick you for five hundred million?

After checking, Zhu Yi nodded, "That’s right, the total sums up to one billion."

"What the hell, isn’t it done then?" Liu Zixuan slapped the table and stood up, "Let’s go, I’ll take you to those two big shots."

After sending Gu and Wei to the adjacent room, Liu Zixuan stood at the door and said to Zhu Yi: "Brother Zhu, while they haven’t left yet, quickly go to the bank and transfer this money into my account."

"Are you worried they’ll transfer the funds out once they leave?" Zhu Yi frowned and asked.

"Better safe than sorry, the bank card and check are both brought by them, the password and the person handling them are also theirs. If they leave and then immediately report it as lost, wouldn’t everything be nullified?"

Liu Zixuan felt no trust in these family people. Although a billion is not an astronomical number, with money lacking everywhere right now, it can accomplish quite a lot.

Zhu Yi nodded and walked out directly.

Looking at the people from the Gu and Wei families, Liu Zixuan smiled, "Everyone, care for a drink?"

"We’ll skip the drink, thank you so much for not making things difficult for the two. We must take our leave first, as places far apart as heaven and earth don’t allow us to linger." Gu Chengyuan smiled, cupping his hands.

"In that case, please go ahead." Liu Zixuan smiled slightly and strode into the next room, food had just been served, the wine was only halfway drunk, he wouldn’t waste such nice things.

However, just two steps out, Wei Zheng’s voice came through again: "Mr. Xuan, after the martial arts tournament, the Martial Realm will surely take action. About the matter of unity..."

Liu Zixuan paused but didn’t respond, speaking deeply: "This Ghost Wood City is my last pure land, it’s my bottom line. I don’t want any problems to arise around me."

The implication was already clear. Liu Zixuan just wanted to have a peaceful holiday. If they still wanted to start anything, that would mean truly tearing faces.

As for unifying the Martial Realm, that could wait until after the martial arts tournament, for now, he couldn’t care less.

After the people from the Gu and Wei families left, the martial artists from the Southwest’s sects entered the booth where Liu Zixuan was.

"I can’t finish all this food, let’s all dig in." Liu Zixuan laughed.

The martial artists took a seat, and one of the Liger Gate’s martial artists asked puzzled: "Mr. Xuan, I’m a bit unclear on your thoughts. You neither outright rejected us nor broke ties with the Eight Great Powers and Four Great Clans, are you aiming for neutrality?"

"And if I choose neutrality?" Liu Zixuan asked with deep meaning.

"This..." The martial artist from Liger Gate hesitated.

"Speak freely!" Liu Zixuan waved his hand.

"Our Liger Gate admits it doesn’t have the strength to challenge you, but I don’t know about other sects. If you remain neutral, it’s highly likely that scattered sects’ martial artists and the Eight Great Powers and Four Great Clans will all view you as the enemy." The martial artist from Liger Gate said seriously.

Liu Zixuan snorted, "So the current situation forces me to take sides? Either resist the Eight Great Powers and Four Great Clans with you, or join them to annihilate those martial artists unwilling to unify?"

"Although it sounds harsh, it’s indeed true. Your position is neither painful nor itchy, but it’s the most crucial. Given your relationship with the Misses of Willow Association and the things you’ve done in Qian Nan, it gives the impression you’re siding with the Eight Great Powers and Four Great Clans."

"And you leaving Qian Nan hastily this time also gives off a feeling of opposition to the Martial Realm’s unification. More importantly, your prowess, among martial artists without a background, is considered top-notch. Naturally, we all wish to win you over."

The martial artist from Liger Gate spoke this much because of Liu Zixuan’s realm and skill.

If his power were weak, both sides would directly ignore his presence.

Yet Liu Zixuan is young and already at the peak of Imperial Realm, even having stories of defeating martial artists of Half-Step Emperor Realm, making him joining the Four Great Clans and Eight Great Powers a great asset, and joining these scattered sects a backbone, a morale booster!

For a moment, Liu Zixuan felt quite helpless.

If he chooses neither, both sides are enemies.

Choosing one means facing the other’s fierce retaliation.

If Liu Zixuan were alone, he wouldn’t fear any outcome, but as time passes, he cares more and more about those around him, and these are all weaknesses. How could he easily make a choice?

One step wrong, and it’s into an abyss with no chance for regret.

Just then, Liu Zixuan’s phone rang.

It was Zhu Yi calling.

"Brother, the funds are fine, I’ve transferred them all to your account."

"Good." Liu Zixuan hung up, placed the phone on the table, and tapped the screen twice with his finger.

After a while, he grinned, "According to normal progress, the people from Gu and Wei are almost out of Ghost Wood City now, if you chase, you might still catch up."

The martial artist from Liger Gate furrowed his brow slightly and hurriedly called the others to stand up, clasping hands to Liu Zixuan before preparing to leave.

Just at the door, Liu Zixuan’s voice drifted over, "Whether to kill or let go is up to you, but no action inside Ghost Wood City!"

"Rest assured, we won’t make things difficult for you." The martial artist from Liger Gate nodded, their eyes filled with killing intent, evidently not planning to let the people from Gu and Wei return home safely...

Liu Zixuan picked up the wine glass and took a sip, grinning, "This... would be considered using borrowed violence to kill, wouldn’t it!"