His grand undertaking died halfway through; the mountain stronghold destroyed and its Gu Insects seized!

Inside the secret chamber.

Twin Whips held the Book of Impermanence and took notes.

Blood Bone Old Man gave a truthful account:

"Four years ago, Lord Tan's Arms Depot only forged Jianghu weapons-sabers, swords, hooks, truncheons, hammers, spears, and the like-and sold them to the Southwest, Sichuan, Jiangnan, and elsewhere. The registrar surnamed Yan was the local snake of Linhe County, specializing in transporting the copper, iron ore, and timber needed for forging."

"After Lord Tan married the provincial governor's daughter, success went to his head. With power at his fingertips, he feared nothing and actually began secretly forging armor and crossbows."

"That bastard Registrar Yan coveted a good reputation and valued his name more than his life. To keep up his reputation for generosity and righteousness, he used this secret to blackmail Lord Tan. Though he only extorted eight hundred to a thousand taels of silver each time, leaving that scourge alive was bound to cause trouble."

"Lord Tan said that if we were going to do it, we had to finish the job. He ordered the Blood Bone Sect to slaughter the entire family of seven."

Jia Huan studied him and asked coldly:

"Why would a dignified provincial ruler marry his daughter to a mere barbarian?"

Twin Whips found it equally strange.

In the court's eyes, the tribal peoples stood several rungs below everyone else. If word of the provincial governor marrying off his daughter reached the scholarly circles of the Capital, this provincial ruler would surely become a laughingstock.

Blood Bone Old Man held nothing back:

"Lord Tan stood head and shoulders above the rest. He was simply too outstanding."

"At only twenty-six, his cultivation had reached the peak of the Innate Realm."

"He alone ruled the Jindong native chieftaincy, with over two thousand fierce warriors under