In the Feather Transformation Marquisate's Southwestern Borderlands, at the heart of a treacherous stretch of jagged rocks encircled by mountains.
Within a space shrouded by an umbrella-shaped curtain of light stood a sizable sect compound.
At that moment, three figures with powerful auras had gathered in a secret chamber on Back Mountain.
One was a bald, one-eyed man with a curly beard.
Another was a gray-robed man with a scar on his face.
The last was a sinister woman whose aura was cold and gloomy. Half her face was stunningly beautiful, while the other half was withered and twisted, wreathed in black qi.
Smack!
The bald, one-eyed man irritably slapped the table beside him.
"It's already been seven or eight days since the agreed date of action. Why hasn't Liu Youfang sent anyone back with word?
"There's been no word from any of the men we sent out, either. How does that fellow handle things?"
The scar-faced man frowned. "Fellow Daoist Fan, don't be impatient. Liu Youfang may not be particularly strong, but he's shrewd, ruthless, and vicious.
"It was largely thanks to his cooperation that we managed to kill the previous two City Lords of Black Iron City so easily.
"This newly appointed City Lord of Black Iron City is merely a cultivator from the Lower Realm. He seems to be only at the mid-stage True Saint realm.
"With Liu Youfang's foundations in Black Iron City and our support, there shouldn't be any problems.
"Perhaps he's already succeeded and is simply cleaning up afterward, with no time to notify us."
Only then did the bald man's expression ease somewhat.
"You're right, Fellow Daoist Chen. Perhaps I've been a little impatient.
"Although this man is a martial artist from the Lower Realm, he holds the title of Viscount, which makes