Anti-fraud manual for the cultivation world

Li Gu nodded in response: "Just taking a stroll! Is Chief Duan here?"

"Yes, yes, please walk forward. There's a Qingyutang there. Chief Duan is in the hall."

Li Gu walked forward with a smile, and soon saw Qin Zhen again. The girl was selling fake medicine by the roadside. Li Gu deliberately went over and asked with a smile, "I want to buy some medicine."

Upon seeing him, Qin Zhen immediately shook her head with a smile: "Officer Li, don't try to fool me. You know I sell only counterfeit goods."

Li Gu chuckled and said, "Just do me a favor. Pretend you don't know I'm a constable, and treat me like a sucker. Try selling me fake medicine. Give me any kind of medicine, and say it's a magic elixir that will grant you cultivation higher than an Immortal Emperor after just one pill. Let's have some fun."

Qin Zhen didn't know what he was up to, but after the Hankou Gang incident, Li Gu's reputation among the Thirteen Gangs had reversed, and he was now a distinguished guest.

Qin Zhen readily complied, reaching out to pull out a bottle of Liuwei Dihuang Pills. She said mysteriously, "Great hero, you've struck gold meeting me today! This bottle contains elixirs from the Immortal Realm. Just one pill is enough to reach the Refining Void Realm, stronger than an Immortal Emperor. Would you like to try one?"

[The Cultivation World Anti-Fraud Manual Lv.1 reminds you: Qin Zhen's words just now were all lies, but these lies were deliberately created by the host for cheating and cannot be forced to become true.]

Li Gu sighed inwardly: It really won't work!

The system is not omnipotent. Li Gu has discovered that there are many situations in which the system cannot force the truth to come true, such as "lies that have already happened", "lies that were meant as jokes rather than lies", and "white lies". Now, another one needs to be added: "lies created by the host for cheating".

Maybe Lv.1 isn't good enough, but Lv.2 might be different?

But who knows how to upgrade this system?

Ultimately, it still comes down to real con artists.

Li Gu patted Qin Zhen on the shoulder with a smile: "Your acting skills are top-notch, I have high hopes for you."

Upon entering Qingyutang, Duan Musheng, having already been informed by his subordinates, put down his work and came out to greet Li Gu. He invited Li Gu into the hall, served him fragrant tea, and then asked with a smile, "I was just thinking of sending someone to the yamen to invite Constable Li over for a meal and a cup of tea to properly thank him. I didn't expect Constable Li to come here so soon."

Li Gu took out the "Righteous Qi Pill" that Duan Musheng had given him last time, and shook the bottle: "Didn't you already thank me?"

Duan Musheng laughed: "What are these few pills? After the Hankou Gang was defeated, the medicinal herb business in Jiangzhou is all our Thirteen Gang's again. Such a big favor, how can a mere bottle of Righteous Qi Pills be enough to repay us?"

He reached into his robes and pulled out another bottle, handing it over: "Here's a Foundation Establishment Pill! Officer Li has already reached the mid-to-late stage of Qi Refining, so this pill will definitely come in handy."

Li Gu was overjoyed: Holy crap, Foundation Establishment Pill! And it's not fake, it's genuine.

The Hankou Gang quoted 800 low-grade spirit stones for this thing, and even the fakes cost 400. Li Gu couldn't afford it even if he sold his own money. Unexpectedly, the Thirteen Gang just gave it to him for free.

Ugh!

No wonder government officials are so easily bribed. For the same task of dealing with the Hankou Gang, the imperial court only rewarded Li Gu with 50 low-grade spirit stones, but the Thirteen Gangs gave him 800 spirit stones in one go.

"Oh? I can't accept this." Li Gu said apologetically, but without any hesitation, he took the porcelain bottle and put it in his pocket.

Duan Musheng then said, "Officer Li, you must have something to ask me this time, right? Please speak frankly."

Li Gu smiled and said, "I came to see Chief Duan this time to ask about the gambling den."

"A gambling den?" Duan Musheng's expression mirrored Cai Xinzi's, instantly tensing up. "Officer Li, are you asking about a gambling den for mortals or for cultivators?"

Li Gu said, "Of course, they are cultivators."

Duan Musheng frowned slightly: "You mustn't go to that place."

Li Gu felt a chill run down his spine; he was a little uneasy. Cai Xinzi and Duan Musheng both said the same thing, so it seemed that the underground gambling den was indeed a den of dragons and tigers.

But when he touched his purse, he found only fifty low-grade spirit stones. He couldn't possibly make ends meet like this. At his current pace, he would be at the Foundation Establishment stage in just a few days. At that time, he would have no magic treasures, no array plates, no talismans, no spirit beasts... He would have absolutely nothing!

Is this how a human being lives?

Fortune favors the bold!

Li Gu said, "Thank you for reminding me about Chief Duan's matter, but don't worry, I'm not going to arrest them. I just have an itchy hand and want to gamble a bit."

Duan Musheng put on a serious face: "Even if you just want to gamble, don't go! Gambling ruins your family! Gambling is the last thing a merchant should touch. All members of my Thirteen Gangs are strictly forbidden from going to any casino, whether it's a casino for mortals or a casino for cultivators. If anyone is found doing so, they will be punished according to gang rules immediately."

Li Gu: "..."

Okay, I admit you're right, but I still have to go.

After much pleading and cajoling, Li Gu kept saying he would go in disguise and would never cause trouble. Duan Musheng finally gave in and said, "There's a place called Liziba on the banks of the Jialing River. When you get there, look for houses with white banners hanging by the roadside; that's it. Beware of this ironclad rule: under the eaves is the gambling den's territory. Never use force inside, for any reason. Otherwise, you'll be making an enemy of Ghost City, and Ghost City will use all its power to kill anyone who breaks the rules."

Li Gu: "Cheating?"

Duan Musheng shrugged: "Is that even a question?"

Okay, there's really no need to specifically mention this.

----

Half an hour later, Li Gu, dressed up like an ordinary wandering martial arts practitioner, arrived at Liziba.

Just from the name, one might think this place is a flat area, but in reality, it is a very steep hillside that rises at an angle of more than 45 degrees along the Jialing River.

The dilapidated old houses are like sores growing on a hillside, layer upon layer.

Li Gu strolled through the old houses, with ragged poor people passing by from time to time, everyone busy with their own affairs.

Of course, there are also many cultivators!

Some cultivators dressed in martial arts attire walked hurriedly past the street with their heads down, keeping a low profile as if afraid of attracting attention.

Li Gu quickly found the house with the white banner hanging there.

It's a City God Temple!

The statue of the City God stood directly opposite a table at the main entrance, its empty eyes staring intently at Li Gu, as if to say, "Hell lies ahead!"

Li Gu thought to himself: The City God seems to be called the local official of the underworld?

That's right.

He stepped inside; no one stopped him, and no one guided him.

He figured it out on his own.

It was daytime outside, but the City God Temple felt eerily dark, like nighttime.

He walked forward, through the lobby, lifted a curtain and slipped into the corridor. The corridor sloped downwards, and Li Gu felt as if he were going deep underground. He didn't know how long he had walked when suddenly it became lively ahead, with a lot of voices coming from the front. Oil lamps also began to appear on the walls on both sides of the corridor.

Li Gu walked a little further and suddenly entered a large hall. It was brightly lit and bustling with people. A large group of cultivators dressed as knights were gathered around several gambling tables, shouting loudly.

"Buy big!"

"I'll buy a pair!"

"A complete sweep!"

"Damn, we lost again."