Chapter 18: The Dagger is Drawn

As a direct Disciple of the Murong Clan, Murong Qing had many flaws in his character, but his strength was truly extraordinary.

How could someone who had already stepped into the Lunhai Realm in his early thirties be a simple character?

He didn’t even use a weapon. With a single movement, the golden dragon-patterned brocade robe around him billowed in the wind. As his palm descended, a burst of golden, blazing True Qi erupted, condensing like a golden swimming dragon that directly blasted a large hole through the chest of the foremost death warrior.

Murong Clan’s secret technique, the Shocking Dragon Palm!

Two death warriors from behind charged forward with blades. Murong Qing moved, instantly appearing before them. With a finger from each hand, he tapped their heads.

Instantly, golden light erupted. The powerful finger force even directly blasted the heads of those two death warriors into pieces!

Mysterious Dragon Finger!

The death warriors cultivated by Jiang Kaitai were only at the ordinary Quti Realm level. In Murong Qing’s hands, they couldn’t even withstand a single move.

In less than twenty breaths, only one of the ten death warriors remained.

Murong Qing broke all four limbs of the last man, tore off his face covering, revealing an unremarkable young face.

“Speak! Who…”

Before he could finish, a large stream of pitch-black blood suddenly gushed from the death warrior’s mouth—he had clearly taken poison to end his own life.

Throwing down the corpse in his hand, Murong Qing’s expression instantly turned extremely grim.

Chen Yuan had already known the outcome; it was the same in the original plot.

Jiang Kaitai had painstakingly cultivated these death warriors for twenty years. Those he could send out were the kind who had been completely brainwashed, didn’t value their own lives, and could be absolutely trusted.

Earlier, when Murong Qing said that with the backing of the Murong family, the Heaven Wolf Gang was too incompetent for not having annexed the Blackwater Gang for so long, it actually made sense.

The Murong Clan was originally stronger than the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance. Logically, it should have been the Heaven Wolf Gang encroaching on the Blackwater Gang, but now the opposite had happened.

The fundamental reason for all this was that more than half of the Heaven Wolf Gang’s profits had been taken by Jiang Kaitai to secretly cultivate these death warriors. How could there be any resources left to develop the Heaven Wolf Gang?

At that moment, Murong Qing’s expression suddenly changed: “Head southeast!”

As soon as the words fell, Murong Qing rushed straight toward the southeast.

Upon arriving at the location, the Zhang Family in the southeast had indeed already been subjected to a Blood Sacrifice.

“A diversion!”

Murong Qing wore an angry expression, feeling that he had been played.

The other party clearly intended to sacrifice a team of death warriors to lure him away. As long as they could perform a Blood Sacrifice on one family, it would be considered a success.

“Someone who can cultivate such death warriors must have planned for a long time, but these death warriors’ strength isn’t too great, which proves that this person’s strength and status aren’t too high either. Interesting, truly interesting.”

A cold glint flashed in Murong Qing’s eyes.

He had originally thought this mission was very simple, just a formality, but it turned out to be somewhat tricky.

After returning to the Heaven Wolf Gang, Murong Qing immediately began to re-deduce the Formation.

However, since he didn’t have the complete Formation in hand, he could only deduce a general direction, covering an area as large as a quarter of Lianshan City.

He then ordered Jiang Kaitai to mobilize the entire Heaven Wolf Gang to guard that area, but they could still only kill some death warriors and couldn’t stop the Blood Sacrifices.

Initially, Jiang Kaitai had chosen to perform Blood Sacrifices on those large households with many people just for convenience.

Now that Murong Qing had seen through this, performing Blood Sacrifices on a few more families would achieve the same effect.

Moreover, as the mastermind behind all this, Jiang Kaitai deliberately stationed his Gang members farther away from the Blood Sacrifice targets, so Murong Qing couldn’t detect it.

After all, with such a large area, how could the Heaven Wolf Gang possibly cover it all?

It was normal to be unlucky and stationed farther from the Blood Sacrifice targets each time.

Seeing that the Heaven Wolf Gang’s manpower was insufficient, Murong Qing went to find Yuan Dongtian of the Blackwater Gang and had the Blackwater Gang join in as well.

The Blackwater Gang was backed by the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance. Although they didn’t want to listen to Murong Qing, they didn’t dare to defy him and had to comply.

However, Yuan Dongtai still sent someone to deliver a message to the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance, explaining the current situation in Lianshan City and that he was forced to obey the Murong Clan’s orders, and so on.

Seven days later, although Murong Qing couldn’t continue to stop Jiang Kaitai’s death warriors from performing Blood Sacrifices, he had still killed over fifty death warriors.

Chen Yuan estimated the numbers; Jiang Kaitai’s death warriors were almost completely wiped out.

This time, he should be forced to open the Secret Realm early and fuse with the Divine Artifact.

And even if Jiang Kaitai didn’t want to do it early, Chen Yuan would add fuel to the fire to make him do so.

The Blackwater Gang had already sent a message to the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance. A round trip would take about ten days.

Although the Yiqi Guanhri Alliance was currently busy suppressing the Divine Artifact, the Guan Ri Sword, if they ignored a request for help from a subordinate force, it would seem suspicious. So, they would definitely send someone to take a look.

Chen Yuan didn’t want any more changes to the plan, so he had to completely seize the Divine Artifact within ten days.

Just as night fell, when Qin Yuancheng and Chen Yuan were about to go out to ambush the death warriors, Jiang Kaitai suddenly called them over.

Qin Yuancheng was somewhat puzzled, while Chen Yuan thought to himself, “It’s finally coming.”

Jiang Kaitai led the two to his room, closing both the inner and outer doors in succession, and stared at them: “Eldest, Third, over these years, how has your foster father treated you?”

Qin Yuancheng quickly replied, “Naturally, extremely well.”

That’s what he said, but Qin Yuancheng couldn’t help but roll his eyes inwardly.

He was the first foster son taken in by Jiang Kaitai, so he could naturally sense Jiang Kaitai’s true attitude toward them, his foster sons.

It was a mix of wanting them to do things, being wary of them, and not trusting them.

Chen Yuan said with a solemn expression, “Naturally, the kindness is as weighty as a mountain! Without Foster Father, we would just be ordinary Gang members, perhaps dying in Gang fights at any time. How could we have our current status?”

Jiang Kaitai didn’t quite believe what Qin Yuancheng said, but he could believe ninety percent of what Chen Yuan said.

Jiang Kaitai nodded with satisfaction, his expression serious: “There are some things I originally planned to tell you after they were accomplished, but now the situation is critical, and I must speak.”

With a sigh, Jiang Kaitai said word by word: “The one performing the Blood Sacrifices in Lianshan City is me! Those death warriors are also my people!”

Qin Yuancheng was so shocked he couldn’t speak, his face filled with disbelief.

Chen Yuan also cooperated, making the same expression.

Jiang Kaitai stared at their faces and said gravely, “Don’t panic. I did this because there is a great Opportunity buried beneath our Lianshan City!

As long as we can obtain it, not only can our Heaven Wolf Gang dominate the entire Lianshan City, but even the Murong Clan of Dragon City, we won’t have to take them seriously!

You must have heard of the legends of Divine Artifacts and Demonic Weapons, right?”

Qin Yuancheng nodded blankly.

Although he hadn’t seen one, he had certainly heard of them.

“You should know that I once worked as a bandit for a period.

When I robbed and killed a security bureau, I obtained a treasure map. The location marked on that treasure map is beneath this Lianshan City.

I originally thought what was recorded in the treasure map was just an ordinary Treasure Trove.

Unexpectedly, when I broke through the first layer of the Formation according to the treasure map, I discovered that what was hidden inside was actually a Divine Artifact called the seven killing stele!

According to the murals in that secret place, the seven killing stele contains the Origin of killing intent. Even in the ancient era when divine and demonic powerhouses coexisted, it was among the top Divine Artifacts and Demonic Weapons!

As long as we can fuse with the seven killing stele, what does this small Lianshan City matter? Your foster father can lead you to dominate the entire Youzhou and make a name for yourselves in the Jianghu!”

Jiang Kaitai looked at the two with burning eyes: “Our Heaven Wolf Gang dominates in a small city like Lianshan City, seemingly impressive, but in the eyes of great clans like the Murong Clan of Dragon City, we’re just dogs!

You’ve all seen how Murong Qing treats me—insulting and scolding at will, not even treating me as well as a dog.

Even if you two take over the Heaven Wolf Gang in the future, you’ll be no different from this old dog—both dogs of the Murong family!

Only by mastering Divine Artifacts and Demonic Weapons can we rise above the nine realms of martial arts and become true powerhouses!

Now, with Murong Qing pressing aggressively, I don’t have many death warriors left.

I originally planned to perform more Blood Sacrifices before fusing with the seven killing stele, but now I have no choice but to do it early.

Eldest, Third, I have no children in this life, only you two foster sons. Now, you are the only ones I can rely on.

Lend me a hand, and in the future, all the foundation I build will be yours!”

Qin Yuancheng’s face flushed red with excitement from Jiang Kaitai’s words.

There was panic, excitement, and agitation.

His vision was just that limited. He coveted even the Heaven Wolf Gang, let alone the greater Jianghu power that Jiang Kaitai had painted for him.

But in reality, even if Jiang Kaitai truly fused with the seven killing stele, what did it have to do with you, Qin Yuancheng?

Previously, Jiang Kaitai was the leader of the Heaven Wolf Gang, and you, Qin Yuancheng, were considered talented in a small city like Lianshan City, which is why you were taken in as a foster son.

If Jiang Kaitai’s power grew even greater in the future, countless Jianghu talents would rush to recognize him as their foster father. What would you, Qin Yuancheng, amount to then?

With Jiang Kaitai’s suspicious, jealous, and ungrateful personality, he wouldn’t remember you risking your life for him at a critical moment.

“Foster Father, don’t worry. What does the Murong Clan matter? I absolutely stand by your side!”

Qin Yuancheng patted his chest in assurance.

Chen Yuan also said gravely, “Foster Father’s great kindness is unforgettable. I am willing to go through fire and water for Foster Father without hesitation!”

“Good, good, good. Both are good children.”

Jiang Kaitai smiled with relief, then said seriously: “Today, I will go early to fuse with that seven killing stele. You only have one last chance for a Blood Sacrifice.

Starting at midnight, you two go to the east and west of the city, respectively, and start killing for the Blood Sacrifice. Kill as many as you can.

At a quarter past midnight, you must stop and rush to the south and north of the city.

In the seventh residence of Eight Li Lane in the south city and the second residence of Azure Dragon Lane in the north city, I have prepared Formations in advance.

Enter the main room of the residence. Inside, there is a crimson porcelain bottle. Just break it, and the final Blood Sacrifice Formation will be complete.”

After speaking, Jiang Kaitai glanced at Chen Yuan, hesitated as if wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.