In the northern quarter of the city stood the Great Pass Gambling House, the undisputed king of chance within all of Not Redeem City. Here, amidst the clamor of gamblers, one particular Pai Gow table reigned supreme, its stakes reaching astronomical heights, a fierce battle of fortunes unfolding upon its surface.

Chips of celestial blue symbolized the currency of this grand game: Dao Yuan Stones. To gamble with Dao Yuan Stones was a realm apart from the petty wagers of gold and silver; it was a contest of cultivators, where the stakes were as much about destiny as they were about wealth.

The Pai Gow tiles themselves were crafted from exquisitely carved ivory, etched with intricate array patterns designed to largely shield them from the probing eyes of extraordinary powers. At this moment, seated in the northeast position, was a figure shrouded in a bizarre chicken bone mask.

The mask, simple yet unsettling, was adorned with a profusion of pheasant feathers that cascaded around the head, giving the wearer a garish and motley appearance. Clad in vibrant, flowered robes, the neck was almost entirely concealed within the high collar, making it difficult to discern the individual’s gender. Yet, the hands, visible outside the cuffs, were undeniably slender and delicate.

In a place like Not Redeem City, such peculiar attire was hardly a cause for remark. The masked figure currently sat before a mountain of chips, a clear sign of recent good fortune. As they casually rubbed a tile in their hand, their expression hidden by the mask, a discernible glint of satisfaction shone in their eyes.

Just then, a solitary figure strode purposefully towards the table. Ordinarily, the gamblers were too engrossed in their own wagers to spare a glance for passersby. However, the newcomer radiated an aura of sharp, unbridled intent that even the most oblivious could not ignore, forcing them to cast uneasy glances.

“Oh, quite the looker,” the chicken bone mask wearer exclaimed, their eyes lighting up. Their voice was a curious, high-pitched squeak, like a chicken with its throat squeezed. It was clear this was a man, though the reason for his peculiar vocalization was unknown.

“I am Zhu Weiwo.” The newcomer stopped directly in front of the masked figure, his gaze fixed upon them. “Chicken Face, do you know me?”

Chicken Bone Face, one of the Twelve Faces of the White Bone Dao, had been in hiding within Not Redeem City for half a month now. His gaze, still carrying a hint of amusement, rippled as he pinched his voice even higher and chuckled, “The foremost genius of the Zhuang Country’s young generation? How could I not know? Hold on a moment, let sister finish this round, then I’ll step out and play with you properly.”

His demeanor was utterly relaxed, his tone bordering on the flippant. He clearly did not consider Zhu Weiwo’s presence a serious threat.

Zhu Weiwo glanced around at the raucous gamblers, the frenzied atmosphere of the gambling hall. “I recall…” he said, a rare hint of wistfulness in his voice, “there was also a Great Pass Gambling House in Maple Forest City.”

“What are you wasting words for!” a burly giant at the other end of the table bellowed impatiently. “The Great Pass Gambling House is a vast enterprise, they’re everywhere! If you want to play, sit down and wait for the next round. If not, then get lost!”

The words had barely left his lips when a long spear, held by Zhu Weiwo, slanted past his neck, grazing his collar and impaling him through the back of his chair, pinning him to the ground. It happened with such blinding speed that no one had time to react! The burly man, a character who had undoubtedly taken many lives himself, was utterly paralyzed by terror, not daring to utter another sound.

Chicken Face remained unmoved, merely steadying the gambling table with one hand and cooing playfully, “Heh heh, be careful, that’s someone’s double heaven tile you know!”

He, of course, had no fear. This was the Great Pass Gambling House, and as the burly man had just attested, it was a widespread, formidable organization. Few dared to openly kill within its walls. He had paid a not-insignificant sum of ‘life gold’ for protection in Not Redeem City. Many wanted him dead, but thus far, none had been willing to pay the exorbitant redemption price. Furthermore, he himself was a peak Ascending Dragon Realm expert and held other trump cards; he had no reason to fear.

In his view, Zhu Weiwo’s arrival was merely a bit of posturing, a scare tactic at best. His casual flirtation was born of confidence and ease.

“What are you doing? Let him go!” cultivators from the Great Pass Gambling House quickly converged, surrounding Zhu Weiwo.

“My moment of reflection has ended,” Zhu Weiwo stated calmly. He reached out and slowly withdrew the long spear from the vicinity of the fallen burly man’s neck. “Your time has also ended.”

With that pronouncement, he thrust the spear directly towards Chicken Bone Face! He utterly disregarded the surrounding gamblers, the numerous gambling house cultivators, and the established rules of both the Great Pass Gambling House and Not Redeem City!

Even Chicken Face, one of the formidable Twelve Bone Faces of the White Bone Dao, known for his violent and unrestrained nature, felt a jolt of shock. More than the display of strength, it was the sheer audacity that stunned him!

The long spear came head-on, a single point of cold light piercing the air. The intense friction generated heat and sparked flames. The spear’s initial momentum seemed almost casual, yet as it advanced, it grew increasingly urgent, increasingly fierce. At first glance, it appeared ordinary, but by the second look, a terrifying danger had already gripped the heart.

Chicken Bone Face had no time for hesitation. He instinctively unleashed his strongest ultimate art. The feathers on his head swayed violently, and he let out a piercing whistle. A visible sound wave exploded outwards, pushing the air away in semi-transparent ripples. The surrounding gamblers scrambled to cover their ears, and the approaching Great Pass Gambling House cultivators retreated even faster than they had advanced.

White Bone Twelve Divine Forms: Rooster One Sing!

This particular sound imitated the crow of a rooster at dawn, a cry that should have been intensely rigid and yang. However, Chicken Bone Face’s voice was strangely sharp and distorted, filled with a disturbing, ear-piercing quality. In an instant, a sinister wind arose, accompanied by faint, eerie ghost cries.

*Rooster one sing, the world turns white, the hen and the rooster rule the dawn… Yin evil is born!*

At this life-or-death juncture, the peak Ascending Dragon Realm combat power was fully unleashed, and Chicken Bone Face revealed the depths of his foundation as one of the White Bone Dao’s Twelve Bone Faces.

Yet, as the *Xin Jin* spear reached its zenith, that single point of fire had burned to a dark crimson, as if compressed to an extreme state. An endless sea of fire converged upon that tiny point. Where this point reached, the sinister wind melted away, the ghost cries ceased, and the yin evil dispersed. Everything came to a temporary halt.

A colossal skeletal white bone phantom of a rooster, like a ferocious giant beast, condensed before Chicken Bone Face. Of a rooster’s body, the beak is the strongest and sharpest point, used for pecking at insects and attacking opponents. This enormous white bone dharma image also manifested its beak as its most formidable weapon.

The tip of the *Xin Jin* spear precisely struck the beak. At this moment, all eyes finally shifted from the scorching dark red point to behold the figure of Zhu Weiwo, spear in hand, his flamboyant black hair framing his face, his posture one of disdainful heroism!

Chicken Bone Face’s white bone dharma image collapsed almost instantly upon contact. He was sent flying by the tremendous impact force, crashing straight through the gambling house wall and tumbling onto the broad street outside. Within the Ascending Dragon Realm, Chicken Face was a renowned expert. Even in a den of villains like Not Redeem City, he was not easily defeated. Yet, he could not even withstand a single spear from Zhu Weiwo!

Zhu Weiwo glanced at the cowering Great Pass Gambling House cultivators, his voice calm. “All losses sustained by the Great Pass Gambling House will be fully compensated by me, Zhu Weiwo.” Then, holding the long spear inverted, he simply strolled forward, passing through the crowd and walking towards the gaping hole Chicken Face had created in the wall.

The cultivators of the Great Pass Gambling House were responsible for guarding the premises. For a moment, they couldn’t tell if they were outraged or profoundly relieved. Regardless, they stood rooted to the spot, not moving a single step.

Chicken Face lay sprawled on the long street, his hands supporting him as he continuously scrambled backward. His panic was palpable, and his frivolous tone had finally vanished, replaced by a desperate shout. “Not Redeem City Sin Guards, where are you? I want to increase my life gold! All my possessions, add them all! Send them all to you! Sin Guards, where are you?”

Just then, a languid voice echoed from a street corner. “Temporarily increasing the price when you’re in danger is not allowed. If you knew your life was so valuable, why be so stingy in the first place?”

The speaker had a single braid, his eyebrows half-closed, his eyes heavy with sleep, as if he had just climbed out of bed. He wore the uniform of a Sin Guard Commander—a set of blood-red tight clothes, with three black circles embroidered on the sleeve cuffs to distinguish them from ordinary Sin Guards.

After speaking to Chicken Face, he turned his head to look at Zhu Weiwo, who was emerging from the hole in the Great Pass Gambling House. “That young man over there, you want to kill someone in Not Redeem City, do you know the rules?” As he spoke, he produced a blood-jade booklet from his chest, flipping through it and clicking his tongue. “This fellow’s redemption gold is likely not a small sum.”

The redemption gold for killing someone in Not Redeem City was ten thousand times the victim’s ‘life gold’. This was currently Chicken Face’s only hope of survival.

But all he saw was Zhu Weiwo, holding the long spear inverted, approaching with slow, measured steps, not a hint of hesitation in his stride. His voice was flat, yet his words bordered on arrogance. “Those are your rules. Not mine.”

Ps: The recent pneumonia threat is real, everyone please be safe. Wash your hands frequently and go out less. If you absolutely must go out, wear a mask and avoid crowded places!