Mortal: I, Zhang Tie, started by joining forces with Han Li to kill a strategist.

Back to the front of Xiao Huanfeng Cave.

The cave's protective barriers remained intact, untouched by anyone. He took out his identity token, and the barrier's protective light screen dissipated.

Zhang Tie didn't rush in. He stood at the door and quietly spread his divine sense.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, a cultivator's spiritual sense range is greatly enhanced, and every blade of grass and every tree within a radius of a hundred feet is within their perception.

Then Zhang Tie noticed something unusual. Sixty feet away to the west of the cave, a Qi Refining Level 10 cultivator was squatting down, peeking at him. The lion head emblem on his sleeve indicated he was from the Xie family.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Tie's mouth.

What a Xie family! He didn't even have to go looking for them, yet they're still haunting him.

Without disturbing the creature, he turned and entered the cave, the stone door closing behind him.

The Xie family sent people to spy on him simply for revenge and to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill. Rather than being passive, it's better to take the initiative.

He is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Although the Xie family has two Foundation Establishment cultivators, it is impossible for them to send out their entire force just for a few Qi Refining disciples.

Then let's play along and lure out the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Xie family so we can settle our scores properly!

With three top-tier magic artifacts in hand, Zhang Tie's fighting skills are no less than those of other Foundation Establishment cultivators. Not all Foundation Establishment cultivators possess top-tier magic artifacts, let alone three!

Having made up his mind, Zhang Tie began to wait patiently.

However, the waiting time was shorter than he had expected; in less than half an hour, the restrictions outside the cave were triggered.

Zhang Tie scanned the area with his divine sense and immediately frowned.

The two who arrived were at the twelfth level of Qi Refining and the eleventh level of Qi Refining, both wearing the standard robes of the Enforcement Peak.

The law enforcement officers arrived first!

"Is this the Iron Cave?" one of the enforcement disciples asked.

"The Xuanjing Mirror senses that he has already left Lingxian Peak and is currently in his cave! Summon him according to the rules!" Another enforcement disciple at the twelfth level of Qi Refining held a magic artifact, the Xuanjing Mirror, which was the sensing artifact of the Enforcement Peak.

Just as one person was about to knock on the door, the stone door suddenly opened.

Zhang Tie stood at the door, calmly watching the two of them.

The two law enforcement disciples were about to speak when they both froze. It wasn't that they recognized Zhang Tie, but rather that they couldn't fathom his cultivation level. Yet, the invisible pressure he exuded made them instinctively uneasy...

The two had investigated Zhang Tie's situation two months ago. He was a rogue cultivator who had just entered the sect, with the cultivation level of Qi Refining Perfection. He had a Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand and had just come out of the Lingyuan Pavilion's cultivation room. Could it be that he had broken through?

"You... are you Zhang Tie?" The law enforcement disciple at the twelfth level of Qi Refining had no choice but to ask tentatively.

"Yes! What brings you two here?"

"You...have reached the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Zhang Tie did not answer, but only revealed a hint of his presence.

Sensing the Foundation Establishment aura, the two law enforcement disciples exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

He broke through from the Qi Refining stage to the Foundation Establishment stage after only two months of training? That's incredibly fast!

The two quickly took a step back, their attitude becoming much more respectful than before.

"Uncle-Master Zhang, the Enforcement Hall received a report two months ago that you attacked fellow disciples without cause and injured two cultivators from the Xie family. Deacon You sent the two of us to find you and explain the situation to the Enforcement Hall!"

Zhang Tie asked calmly, "Which member of the Xie family reported me?"

"Uncle-Master, it's Xie Wenyuan from the Xie family!"

Zhang Tie nodded and said slowly, "Xie Wenyuan falsely accused me, and instead of arresting him, you came looking for me?"

The two law enforcement disciples looked at each other, feeling that the situation was particularly difficult.

If Zhang Tie had not broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, the two of them would have forcibly taken him to the Law Enforcement Hall for questioning.

But even if they had ten times the courage, they wouldn't dare to do that now!

"This... please don't be offended, Uncle-Master. We are just following orders. You should ask Steward You for details!" A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the enforcement disciple at the twelfth level of Qi Refining.

Since the two Qi Refining stage cultivators couldn't afford to offend a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they decided to report the matter. Even if the sky fell, there would be higher-ups to hold it up.

"Then let Steward You do it himself!" Zhang Tie said, turning around and walking into the cave, the stone door closing behind him.

The two law enforcement disciples, who were standing outside the door, finally dared to look up and breathed a sigh of relief.

This is something no human being could do!

"Quickly send a message to Deacon You, saying that Martial Uncle Zhang has already established his foundation, and request that you come in person to make the decision!"

One of the disciples took out a communication talisman, said a few words, and the talisman quickly turned into a ray of light and disappeared into the sky.

...

At the foot of Xiaohuan Peak, Xie Duanfeng and Xie Wenyuan were heading to Zhang Tie's cave.

"Uncle, it's said that the Enforcement Hall's operation has already concluded. This time, Zhang Tie is doomed. He attacked a fellow disciple without cause. At best, he'll be fined spirit stones; at worst, he'll be expelled from the sect. If he doesn't use the Foundation Establishment Pills he has, he definitely won't be able to keep them!" Xie Wenyuan said excitedly.

He still had a chance, hoping in his heart that Zhang Tie had not taken the Foundation Establishment Pill.

If he's smart enough to hand over the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Xie family might spare him this time and withdraw their report. Then the Foundation Establishment Pill will be his!

Xie Duanfeng didn't speak, but nodded slightly. A smile appeared on his lips, clearly indicating that he was confident of victory. He also felt that Zhang Tie's breakthrough was impossible since he had only been in seclusion for two months. Back then, he had been in seclusion for a whole year before successfully breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

When the two arrived near Zhang Tie's cave, they saw two law enforcement disciples standing there in the distance, seemingly waiting for something.

"Junior brothers, where is Zhang Tie? Have they been caught?" Xie Wenyuan hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

The two law enforcement disciples glanced at Xie Wenyuan with somewhat strange looks in their eyes.

"We are waiting for Deacon You to make a decision on this matter in person!"

Xie Wenyuan was taken aback: "He's just a Qi Refining cultivator, why would he need an Enforcement Hall deacon to come and get it?"

The disciples ignored him. Had the Xie family members become stupid after contracting with the Blood Lion? It was quite possible, otherwise how could they not understand good or bad words!

Just as Xie Wenyuan was about to ask another question, a streak of light rapidly approached from the horizon and landed directly in front of the cave.

As the light faded, a middle-aged cultivator with a square face was revealed. He was wearing the robes of a deacon of the Enforcement Hall and was none other than Deacon You of the Enforcement Peak.

"Deacon You!" Two law enforcement disciples quickly stepped forward and bowed.

Deacon You waved his hand, his gaze fixed on Xie Wenyuan and Xie Duanfeng behind him. His brows furrowed slightly. The main characters had arrived; this was going to be difficult!

But before Deacon You could speak, Xie Wenyuan preemptively said, "Deacon You, you've come at the right time! Zhang Tie attacked my Xie family members without cause, injuring two of them. The evidence is conclusive. Go in and arrest him immediately..."

Deacon You glanced at him, and his imposing gaze, though not angry, startled Xie Wenyuan, causing him to freeze in his tracks.

However, Steward You didn't bother arguing with him and turned to walk towards the stone gate of the cave.

Just as he was about to knock on the door, he saw Zhang Tie walk out of the cave.

Deacon You glanced at Zhang Tie, his pupils contracting.

As expected, he broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, and he was a Foundation Establishment early stage cultivator with a solid foundation and a condensed aura!

At this moment, Xie Duanfeng, who had been harboring a bad feeling, also sensed the aura emanating from Zhang Tie, and disbelief flashed in his eyes.