The Truth

"One month... three thousand people for our rations... we give ten catties of... essence blood... for cultivation, you... want to go back on your word?"

The demonic beast stammered out these words intermittently.

Their physiological structure destined them to have difficulty using language as fluently as humans, yet Gu Jinlai still understood.

"We give you three thousand people every month? You produce ten catties of essence blood as cultivation materials?"

Gu Jinlai's gaze shifted to Zhao Fan immediately.

Zhao Fan was stunned, and said somewhat flusteredly, "My lord, this subordinate knows nothing of this; this is perhaps demenic bewilderment meant to delude the mind."

"Bewilderment meant to delude the mind?"

Gu Jinlai's gaze turned to the other Falling Star Guards: "Is it really just bewilderment?"

Zhao Fan gritted his teeth: "My lord, I... I only knew that Wang Dongyu had dealings with the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate, handing over some criminals, refugees, and vagrants to the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate in exchange for profits. I knew nothing of demonic beasts, my lord!"

"The Crimson Blood Demonic Gate."

This was a rather large force active within Star Province, with numerous demonic beast martial artists.

The Four Evils of Star Province originated from the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate.

Based on the characteristics of this faction, coupled with what Zhao Fan and the demonic beast said...

The truth was ready to emerge.

"Even assuming you knew nothing of it, at best, the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate traded with the demonic beasts. You handed people over to the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate, and the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate handed them over to the demonic beasts..."

Gu Jinlai said.

They had formed an entire industrial chain?!

No wonder he had always felt that Lingxiao City was somewhat off.

Peaceful?

It certainly could be considered peaceful!

Yet it was somewhat excessively lifeless.

Moreover, Starlight City and Changjun City both had demonic beasts causing disasters in their surroundings, but Lingxiao City, whose strength was inferior to Changjun City's, had its nearest demonic beasts three hundred miles away?

Now it seemed it was not that public order in Lingxiao City was good, but rather that Lingxiao City, the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate, and the demonic beasts—these three factions—were colluding with one another, using "people" as a transfer of interests to maintain the superficial peace and harmony of Lingxiao City.

"Truly, each taking what they need."

"Swish!"

At this time, that demonic beast also seemed to realize that this group of people was not of the same path as the ones it traded with, and struggling, it made to get up and break through.

Before it had time to withdraw its body and leap away, Gu Jinlai had already lunged forward, forming a seal with one hand. A force that surpassed its own crashed down, instantly smashing the demonic beast's head into smithereens.

After killing this demonic beast, he shook the blood from his hand and spat out a single word: "Refine!"

Zhao Fan's face turned somewhat pale.

He quickly assembled the Falling Star Guards and consciously retreated.

For over a month, although Gu Jinlai always had Gu Zhaoyang keep the Falling Star Guards excluded, the changes in the physiques and auras of the thirty people including Gu Chifeng, Gu Qingmei, and Gu Luochen still allowed these Falling Star Guards to guess what Gu Jinlai was doing.

Cultivating demonic beast martial artists!

Truly worthy of being a demonic overlord.

Yet even if they knew of such a matter, they could only pretend not to know; otherwise, with Old Demon Gu's ferocity, directly killing them all to silence them in the wilderness would not be a difficult task.

Three hours later.

Among the thirty people, another two condensed demonic physiques.

From then on, those who could be considered true demonic beast martial artists already numbered eight.

Every single one of these eight possessed combat prowess not inferior to peak Qi Refining. Had it not been for Gu Zhaoyang, Nian Buwang, and a few others refining certain medicinal pills to break through to the Gang Condensing realm, in single combat, they would likely all have been a notch inferior to Gu Chifeng's group of eight.

Precisely because demonic beast martial artists yielded results with extreme speed, even with side effects like losing control, soul-devouring, and sudden death, people still rushed one after another to tread the path of demonic beast martial artists.

"Return to the city."

Gu Jinlai spoke.

He had to investigate this matter thoroughly.

The Falling Star Guards, the major households of Lingxiao City, the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate, and the demonic beasts—what kind of roles were all these parties playing in this.

The reason?

There was no high-sounding reason.

Handing "people" over to demonic beasts in exchange for the peace of Lingxiao City?

He could not stomach such behavior!

Just like that!

Lingxiao City.

It still retained that somewhat desolate air amidst its peace.

Even on the main streets, passing pedestrians were rarely seen.

Carriages that occasionally passed by also belonged to aristocratic clans, escorted by tens or even dozens of people as they made a flashy display through the streets.

When Gu Jinlai returned, the West City Branch essentially remained unchanged.

He paid no attention to the others and immediately pulled up the case files regarding the Crimson Blood Demonic Gate.

The Crimson Blood Gate was one of the emerging factions, first appearing twelve years ago and founded by Elder Blood Refining.

Shortly after its founding, due to its overly ruthless actions, it provoked the suppression of the Changjun City Lord. Three thousand iron cavalry directly trampled the Crimson Blood Gate flat, and even Elder Blood Refining of the Spirit Refining realm died in that extermination battle.

Ever since then, the Crimson Blood Gate went from the open to the shadows, operating in cities such as Changjun, Lingxiao, and Sunset in recent years. In recent times, it embarked on the path of demonic beast martial artists, and its might gradually grew.

Its gate master was said to be a junior fellow apprentice of Elder Blood Refining from back then, styling himself Old Ancestor Crimson Blade, and his physique had grown powerful enough to rival a great demonic beast.

Precisely because of his formidable strength, coupled with rarely approaching major cities like Changjun City and Baihe City, despite frequently committing evil deeds in recent years, he still remained at large.

"My lord, Zhao Fan requests an audience."

At this moment, a voice came from outside.

"Enter."

Gu Jinlai said.

Soon, Zhao Fan pushed the door open and entered.

He looked at Gu Jinlai and said, "Is the lord thinking of making a move against the Crimson Blood Gate?"

"Shouldn't I?"

"If the lord truly wishes to deal with the Crimson Blood Gate..."

Zhao Fan produced a stack of documents: "The matter of the Crimson Blood Gate affects the whole body with a single hair; I ask the lord to deliberate carefully."

"Hmm?"

Gu Jinlai flipped through them slightly.

This document actually involved the Crimson Blood Gate and the major factions within Lingxiao City.

"This matter... is not so simple."

Saying this, Zhao Fan's tone became heavy: "The trade with the Crimson Blood Gate does not just involve the Falling Star Guards; the Wang Family, the Fang Family, and the Zhao Family are no exceptions either."

"So you mean the entire Lingxiao City is involved in this?"

"Yes."

Zhao Fan nodded heavily: "Even the City Lord Mansion is no exception."

With that, as if casting caution to the wind, he continued: "I heard a rumor that the reason the Crimson Blood Gate was able to rise from the ashes and cooperate with the Three Great Families is related to the Second Young Master."

"Second Young Master? Which Second Young Master?"

"Within Star Province, who else could be revered as the Second Young Master besides Qi Fenglei, the second son of Province Lord Qi Zhongsheng?"

"Oh?"

"In the present world, the realm is in great turmoil. Wielding a province and governing tens of millions of people is no different from being an uncrowned king. How could the Second Young Master be willing to hand over such great authority to the Eldest Young Master? He urgently needs to pull together a massive force to seize the right to speak in the impending transformation."

Zhao Fan said.

And speaking of quick success...

What system could compare to demonic beast martial artists?

"Therefore, if the lord truly intends to investigate further, you must not only prepare to offend the Falling Star Guards, the Wang Family, the Fang Family, and the Zhao Family, but you might even... offend the Second Young Master."

Zhao Fan's tone grew increasingly heavy.

Gu Jinlai roughly understood the purpose of Zhao Fan's trip.

He leaned back slightly: "So, what on earth are you trying to say?"

"My lord, hear this subordinate's advice."

Zhao Fan looked at Gu Jinlai and slowly said: "The waters in Lingxiao City are very deep; you cannot handle them."