Chapter 10: Infiltrating the Den

Night fell, blanketing the city in a dark shroud. Chen Fan stood before a dilapidated building on the outskirts, where dim neon lights flickered and cacophonous music blared. This was Big Eagle's underground bar and casino, the lair of the loan sharks.

He had changed into dark, practical clothes, his face expressionless. In his Cosmos Bag, he had prepared a few necessities: some backup spirit stones, and a couple of small daggers forged from special materials (not magical artifacts, of course, just self-made tools). Even with his Late Qi Refining cultivation, he didn't want to cause too much of a stir.

"Ding! Main Quest: Eradicate Urban Evildoers is progressing!"

The System's voice echoed, reminding him. Chen Fan took a deep breath, circulating the Heavenly Dao Decree. The spiritual energy within him surged, ready to erupt at any moment.

He entered the bar. Inside, the air was thick with cigarette smoke, the smell of alcohol, and the boisterous noise of drunken patrons. A few burly bouncers stood guard at the entrance, their sharp eyes scanning everyone. They paid no attention to a seemingly ordinary young man like Chen Fan.

With the Initial-Grade Heavenly Eye Technique, Chen Fan's vision became exceptionally sharp. He could see through thin walls and sense the body heat of those hiding. He quickly detected the surveillance camera system and the thugs carrying concealed weapons.

He weaved through the crowd, heading straight to the back of the bar, where a staircase led down to the basement. In his past life, he knew this area was where they dealt with stubborn debtors and stashed their illicit assets.

"Hey kid! Where do you think you're going?!"

A huge bouncer blocked Chen Fan's path. He had a long scar across his face, looking very menacing.

Chen Fan looked up, his eyes as cold as ice. "Move."

The bouncer sneered: "Got guts, huh? Don't you know whose territory this is? Get lost, or don't blame me for being impolite!" He raised his fist, preparing to grab Chen Fan's collar.

In that instant, Chen Fan didn't hesitate. A powerful surge of spiritual energy gathered in his arm. He threw a punch as swift as lightning, without any fancy moves.

"THUD!"

Chen Fan's fist connected with the bouncer's stomach. The punch didn't create a loud sound, but the hidden power within it was terrifying. The bouncer's eyes widened, his face turning purple, his entire body stiffening. He felt as if he had been hit by a truck, his internal organs threatening to rupture.

Chen Fan grabbed the bouncer's collar, pulling him into a secluded corner. A few nearby thugs noticed the commotion and moved to intervene.

"Ding! Detecting enemies!" The System's voice chimed.

Chen Fan circulated the Heavenly Dao Decree, his spiritual energy erupting. He moved like a phantom, appearing behind the first thug. A precise, light chop to the back of the neck rendered him unconscious.

He continued. The second thug received a direct kick to the knee, making him buckle. The third, a punch to the temple, knocking him out cold.

In just a flash, three bouncers lay slumped on the floor, without making any significant noise. Chen Fan acted cleanly, leaving no trace. He dragged all of them into a nearby empty room, locking the door.

Using his Heavenly Eye Technique, Chen Fan quickly found the entrance to the underground vault. It was a metal door cleverly disguised behind a large poster. He probed it with his spiritual energy, discovering an electronic lock system and a few hidden guards inside.

Simple.

He raised his hand, an invisible wave of spiritual energy gathering at his fingertips. "Disable."

"Ding! Electronic system temporarily neutralized."

The metal door softly swung open. A dark, damp corridor appeared before him, leading deep underground. The smell of money and the metallic scent of blood mingled in the air.

Chen Fan descended, his cold eyes sweeping across the space. This was the place where Lin Yue and her family had almost been ruined.

Big Eagle, it's time to pay.