Rules

"Retreat! Retreat!"

The remaining Wang Family Core Forming expert shouted and quickly threw Su Nanxing off before leaping away.

But before he could escape, Su Nanxing unleashed his movement technique and quickly caught up.

"Your nephew punched me until I vomited blood, and you still want to leave?"

The two clashed once more.

Gu Jinlai swept his gaze across the crowd.

The six people whose Karma was as red as blood had all been slain. Most of those remaining had Light Red Names.

He immediately said, "This man trespassed into my Falling Star Guard residence and attempted to assassinate me, the garrison commander. Everyone, move at once and execute all those he brought with him."

At the end, he added, "Those willing to mend their ways will be forgiven for their previous offenses. Otherwise... everyone who took part in this riot will be held accountable."

The surviving Falling Star Guards exchanged glances.

They understood that Gu Jinlai wanted them to submit a token of allegiance.

But...

"Gu Jinlai, do you think Lingxiao City is a one-man dictatorship like your Purgatory Sect? The Falling Star Guards must act according to the rules too. You killed your fellow officers. Not only will our Wang Family never let you off, the Falling Star Guards won't let you off either!"

That Wang Family Core Forming expert shouted.

"Killed my fellow officers? Who? I only saw a traitor intent on rebellion."

As he spoke, Gu Jinlai chuckled. "Even if I truly had killed my fellow officers... as long as I don't let you leave alive, who will know what happened today?"

The next moment, force erupted beneath his feet. He strode forward like a shooting star and charged fiercely toward the Wang Family's last Core Forming expert.

"You want to talk rules with me?"

Before he even arrived, the heavy sword in his hand had already cleaved out a fierce sword aura that tore through the air. Ten steps, one kill.

"Not good!"

The Core Forming expert's expression changed, and he immediately withdrew to evade.

But almost at the same time, Su Nanxing unleashed the Great Breath Transformation into Dragon Technique, which he had already cultivated to the entry level.

This supreme secret technique from the Heavenly Origin Dao stimulated the body's acupoints, transforming the cultivator from human to dragon and allowing him to erupt with unbelievable might.

Even the most widely circulated Burning Essence Art secret technique paled in comparison.

Under the secret technique's power, a dragon's roar seemed to rumble from within Su Nanxing's body. The sharp sword in his hand blossomed with dazzling sword light, like a divine dragon reaching out its claws. Just as the Core Forming expert sensed the danger, it struck with thunderous force, shattered his protective true qi, and pierced through his body.

"You..."

The Core Forming expert widened his eyes in disbelief.

"Shhk!"

Su Nanxing raised his long sword and completely ripped his body apart. "Master, he understands the rules now."

"Teachable after all."

Gu Jinlai nodded, but his gaze turned back to the crowd. "You have only one chance! If you still refuse to attack the Wang Family members, every Falling Star Guard will be treated as an accomplice of these subordinates who rebelled against their superiors and executed on the spot!"

With that, he raised one finger. "I'll count to one. One..."

Almost as soon as he raised his finger, the surviving Zhao Fan and the others exchanged glances, gritted their teeth, and charged toward several Wang Family disciples.

"This is madness!"

Their minds were all blank.

They simply could not understand why the situation had suddenly taken such a sharp turn.

Unfortunately...

Gu Jinlai gave them no time to consider.

Count to one?

That was asking for their lives!

They did not know what would happen after offending the Wang Family.

But if they refused to act now, they could forget about leaving the western branch of Falling Star Guard City alive today.

More than a dozen Falling Star Guards charged into the Wang Family's ranks, soon raising a bloody storm.

"No!"

"Zhao Fan, Zhang Sanshi, our Wang Family will never let you off!"

"Kill! We'll fight our way out!"

Piercing screams rang out from the people in the courtyard.

The chaos lasted less than a minute before rapidly subsiding.

The Falling Star Guards had numbers on their side, and they soon slaughtered every last Wang Family disciple.

"Very good."

Looking at the Falling Star Guard members holding bloodstained blades, Gu Jinlai calmly spoke.

He dragged along the two-meter-long greatsword, its edge pointed outward and leaving no survivors, and looked toward everyone present. "Tell me, then. How did Wang Dongyu and the others die?"

With that, he turned toward the only remaining Core Forming expert, Zhao Fan. "You first."

"Wang Dongyu... embezzled and violated the law. After his crimes were exposed, he violently resisted enforcement and seriously injured his fellow officers. For this reason, he even summoned members of the Wang Family to assist him, intending to rebel..."

Zhao Fan's voice was hesitant at first, but it gradually became smoother. His tone also grew louder, as if he had come to believe his own words. He spoke with righteous indignation: "Fortunately, the garrison commander's cultivation was formidable and his judgment wise. Only through his efforts were these traitors completely executed and brought to justice on the spot."

"That's right, that's right! Everything was Wang Dongyu's fault!"

"Thanks to the garrison commander for restoring order from chaos, our western branch of Falling Star Guard City was able to see the light of day again!"

"Wang Dongyu relied on the Wang Family's power and attempted to rebel against his superiors. Sir executed them on the spot, firmly safeguarding the dignity of our Falling Star Guards. This was a great accomplishment!"

The surviving Falling Star Guards echoed one another.

They were terrified that if they spoke too slowly, the old devil before them—drenched in blood yet wearing a satisfied smile—would execute them on the spot.

"Good. Record it and send it to the Supervision Department."

Gu Jinlai extended his hand.

Soon, Nian Buwang produced paper and brush, recorded the crimes of Wang Dongyu and the others, and handed the document to him.

"Everyone, sign it jointly."

Gu Jinlai pushed the confession of crimes before the leading Falling Star Guards.

Several Falling Star Guards exchanged glances.

After looking at Gu Jinlai and then at Su Nanxing and the others glaring at them like tigers eyeing their prey, they had no choice but to step forward and sign their names.

"Very good. From now on, we're all on the same side."

Gu Jinlai nodded. "Since we're on the same side now, you won't need to hide your registers, account books, and such from this old man anymore, will you?"

"We'll send them to you at once, Garrison Commander."

Zhao Fan answered obediently.

"That's more like it."

Gu Jinlai waved his hand. "Clear the courtyard."

In the inner courtyard, Gu Chaoyang approached and spoke in a low voice. "Ancestor, if we do this..."

"I know what I'm doing."

Gu Jinlai said calmly, "The Purgatory Sect, Changjun City, and Starlight City are one thing, but a mere Lingxiao City isn't worth making us hesitate at every turn."

"This..."

"Besides..."

Gu Jinlai let out a cold laugh. "Don't you think this way of doing things feels incredibly satisfying?"

Seeing that his Ancestor seemed to have his own plans, and recalling the battle prowess he had displayed in the Heavenly Grass Pavilion...

A Spirit Refining Giant probably wasn't any stronger.

Gu Chaoyang nodded at once. "I understand. Also, the Family Head sent word that he has selected thirty utterly loyal Organ Refining and Blood Changing clansmen. They should be able to reach Lingxiao City within the next day or two."

"Good."

Gu Jinlai nodded. "The Falling Star Guards have plenty of people and are quite familiar with the area around Lingxiao City. We can have them investigate the Demonic Beasts' whereabouts. Once they find traces of the Demonic Beasts, they can begin cultivating."

"Yes."

Gu Chaoyang respectfully acknowledged the order.

"Have the new forging platform and the related materials prepared as quickly as possible."

Gu Jinlai spoke, then paused slightly. "Also, you and Nian Buwang have both reached the peak of Qi Refining. It's time to break through. Take one hundred thousand taels and buy a bottle of Qi Refining Pills."

"Thank you, Ancestor."

A trace of delight appeared in Gu Chaoyang's eyes.

"Go."

Gu Jinlai waved his hand.

After Gu Chaoyang left, Gu Jinlai had Su Nanxing continue guarding the entrance while he himself sank his mind into the spiritual world.

After consuming one strand of clear light, six strands still remained there.

In contrast, his Karma had accumulated to twelve layers.

"Twelve layers of Karma. What does that mean?"

A faint smile hung on Gu Jinlai's face, carrying a hint of wild abandon. "It doesn't mean anything. It only proves that drawing monsters in the future will become easier. That's a good thing."