Earthquake

Iron Fist Abe had spent many years making his way through Black City, so he had naturally accumulated quite a few good things. Now, everyone's spoils had piled up into a small mountain, most of it food and Black Stone.

There were also several large crates.

The Exotic Beast Meat was in one of them.

Eighteen full portions of frozen, fresh-preserved Exotic Beast Meat were stacked neatly inside, making Karl's heart race.

Eighteen portions!

Even with the Magic Seal taking a share of the life essence, it would still be enough to raise his physique to 0.9.

"Uncle."

Xiao Nan pulled over a crate and said:

"Iron Fist Abe also collected quite a few handicrafts."

"Oh!"

Karl raised an eyebrow.

He stepped forward and opened the crate. As expected, it was filled with gold and silverware, jade bracelets, and exquisite handicrafts.

He could not help asking in surprise:

"What did he want these for?"

"I know this." Aya answered:

"Iron Fist Abe has a son outside. These things, including the Exotic Beast Meat, should all have been prepared for him."

"Every month, caravans travel in and out of Black City. As long as you're willing to spend the money, you can send things out."

When she mentioned Abe's son, her eyes narrowed slightly, and a trace of killing intent flashed through them.

Karl nodded.

Gold, silver, jade, and handicrafts were worthless in Black City, but they were hard currency outside. If he could do this kind of business, others naturally could as well.

"There are also several Magic Seal Seeds."

Xiao Nan opened another small wooden crate. Looking at the Magic Seal Seeds inside, he sighed:

"Unfortunately, there's no Magic Seal."

"What are you thinking?" Aya said helplessly:

"Magic Seals are extremely rare. Most are held by the leaders of the various factions. Although the City Guard occasionally sells Magic Seals, the prices and requirements are extremely high. There's no chance they would end up in our hands."

"Hmm?" Karl's gaze shifted slightly as he asked:

"How much could a Magic Seal be sold for in Black City?"

"This..." Aya furrowed her brows and hesitated:

"I've only heard that Magic Seals are traded. I've never seen one myself, but I imagine it would definitely cost more than two thousand Black Stones."

Two thousand Black Stones was the price of leaving Black City.

"If you traded with Exotic Beast Meat, you'd probably need thirty or forty portions. I'm not sure of the exact figure either."

Thirty or forty portions?

Karl's eyes lit up.

"Uncle." Aya turned her head toward him, her face full of surprise:

"Are you planning to sell a Magic Seal?"

"Mm." Karl nodded:

"I'm considering it."

The Fire Seal was good, but it would affect his cultivation along the Knight's Path.

Moreover, Magic Seals were different from sorcery. Their power did not increase with the user's cultivation, and their destructive force had limits.

Therefore, he planned to replicate the Fire Seal's Spell Model in his Mental Sea and turn it into a sorcery spell.

First,

he could continue along the Knight's Path.

Second,

increasing his spiritual power would also increase the power of his sorcery.

Third,

the removed Magic Seal could be exchanged for a large amount of Exotic Beast Meat. It would bring several benefits at once, so why not?

"If Uncle wants to trade it for Exotic Beast Meat, I suggest exchanging it for high-quality Exotic Beast Meat," Aya advised:

"Exotic Beast Meat is also divided into grades. The meat of certain powerful exotic beasts is more effective for cultivating the Breathing Technique. And according to Grandpa Lev, once you consume a certain amount of Exotic Beast Meat, its effects in aiding cultivation will gradually diminish. Only better Exotic Beast Meat can solve that problem."

"Of course..."

"High-quality Exotic Beast Meat is much rarer, and it's more expensive too."

She knew her limits. Magic Seals were far too expensive, and she was not yet in a position to lay claim to one.

That might be possible in the future.

So she did not mention keeping a portion for herself.

"I'll take the Exotic Beast Meat and handicrafts. Leave Iron Fist Abe's gauntlets behind." Karl collected himself and said:

"The rest is yours."

Neither of them objected.

Without Karl, it was still uncertain who would have won the battle, but one thing was certain: Aya would definitely have been unable to escape disaster.

As for Eve and the other person, their payment had already been made. After all, when it came time to clean up the battlefield, the two of them had already left without a sound.

Karl warned them:

"Iron Fist Abe has the Brotherhood behind him. Be careful for the next few days."

"Understood."

Aya nodded:

"There are City Guard members at the market, so the Brotherhood wouldn't dare act openly. The underground tunnels extend in every direction. Once we enter them, we're not afraid of being found."

*

*

*

Beneath Black City.

The Brotherhood's stronghold.

The woman writing something beneath the kerosene lamp twitched both ears. Then she stopped and looked toward the corner.

"Squeak, squeak..."

Several rats crawled out of a rat hole and climbed toward the woman's arm.

The rats were covered in grime and reeked horribly. They rubbed back and forth against the woman's arm, displaying clear affection.

The woman had delicate features and a beautiful appearance, yet she did not mind the filth on the rats in the slightest. She even smiled as she reached out to stroke them.

The woman's slender, pink fingers and the rats' oily, smooth fur formed a stark contrast.

As the squeaking continued, the woman's expression gradually changed.

"Swish!"

She suddenly stood and headed into the cavern.

"Big Brother."

A group of people were discussing matters inside the cavern. The woman directly interrupted them and addressed the burly man:

"Iron Fist Abe is dead."

"Abe?" The big man looked up, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes:

"Who did it?"

Iron Fist Abe's strength was no small matter. He had even prepared to make Abe one of the Brotherhood's core members.

He had never expected...

Abe to suddenly die.

The big man was none other than Muan, the Brotherhood's leader, known as the Savage Bull, and also its second-strongest fighter.

Although Muan was not a knight, it was said that his strength was no inferior to a knight's.

"It should be related to the person who killed Red Hair."

The woman was none other than the famous Rat Woman of the Brotherhood. She said:

"My rats saw a familiar flame. Red Hair's Magic Seal has clearly fallen into someone else's hands."

"Hmm..." Muan narrowed his eyes:

"How interesting."

"I remember that you commissioned Abe to investigate this. It seems that person noticed something and killed him to silence him."

"Yes." Rat Woman nodded:

"I think so too."

"Iron Fist Abe wasn't alone. Killing him wouldn't have been so simple." Muan waved his hand:

"That person must have had help. Investigate who it was."

"Yes."

Rat Woman nodded and was about to leave when the ground suddenly trembled. Everyone present immediately changed expression.

"Boom!"

"Rumble..."

The ground shook violently. Mud and rocks fell from above the cavern, and the people in the chamber were sent tumbling in every direction.

"What's going on?"

"What happened?"

"Hurry, get out!"

"..."

Everyone rushed out of the stronghold and arrived at a plaza, where many people had already gathered, each with a panicked expression.

An earthquake of this intensity could easily cause the mine tunnels to collapse. If that happened, no one would be able to escape.

Fortunately, the shaking ended after only a moment, and the hearts everyone had raised slowly settled.

"Go."

Muan's face was grim:

"Find out exactly what happened."

"An earthquake of this magnitude should have affected all of Black City. The City Guard couldn't possibly be unaware of it."

"Yes." Someone acknowledged the order and hurried away.

The news soon returned.

"Yin energy erupted in Pit Two. Everyone nearby underwent mutations, including a group of City Guard members."

"A group of powerful exotic beasts and Undead Creatures suddenly emerged underground. They're currently heading toward Pit Three. The underground creatures are all fleeing toward the surface."

"We may be affected here too!"

"How could this happen?"

"..."

"Silence!" Muan growled, cutting off everyone's discussion:

"First, establish contact with the City Guard. Yin energy eruptions are rare, but it's not as though we've never encountered one before."

"Don't panic. Stabilize the situation first."

"Rat Woman."

"Here." Rat Woman stepped forward.

"Contact the Shadow Alliance and the Betty Family. Discuss what we should do," Muan ordered.

"Yes."

Rat Woman acknowledged the order.

They did not mention the other faction, the Whisperers of the Wind, because that faction was located near Pit Two.

Now...

They were most likely in grave danger.

(The End)