Dominating Black King City

The battle ended in no time. Lanyu Wu was the Blue Rain Clan's only remaining Eternal Realm expert, and they were simply no match for the well-equipped soldiers of the city lord's estate. Corpses littered the clan grounds, and Lanyu Wu's body had been nailed to the courtyard wall.

This formally proclaimed the Blue Rain Clan's complete destruction. Perhaps, across the entire upper realm, countless minor factions like Blue Rain were destroyed every day, while countless others were established.

Once the soldiers withdrew, the crowd watching outside erupted into an uproar.

"What's going on? Why did the city lord's estate wipe out the Blue Rain Clan outright?"

"How did they offend the city lord's estate badly enough for Elder Mu, who never meddles in affairs, to strike so ruthlessly?"

"Holy crap, why are those soldiers heading toward the Ghost Clan's grounds now?"

"~~~~~~~"

By evening, all of Black King City was frighteningly quiet. Even the air seemed tinged with the smell of blood. In a single day, the city lord's estate had dispatched soldiers to destroy five major factions in succession: the Blue Rain Clan, the Ghost Clan, the Ox-Headed Clan, the One-Eyed Clan, and the Great River Gang. Apart from the severely injured Long Chang of the One-Eyed Clan, who came out to put up some resistance only to be slain outright by Clan Chief Baihe, the other factions had essentially been swept away like rotten wood and withered weeds.

Of Black King City's eight major factions, aside from the Red Fox Clan, which had fled early after hearing the news, only the Sword Sect and the Flower Clan remained.

Inside an inn, numerous patrons drank, ate, and conversed in low voices.

"Why do you think Elder Mu suddenly moved to destroy those five major factions?"

"Exactly. As I see it, the Red Fox Clan only survived because they ran fast enough. Otherwise, they'd have been wiped out too."

"Could Elder Mu have destroyed those factions because he wanted to take control of Black King City again?"

"I've heard something. I wonder if you'd like to hear it," a young man dressed in brocade said quietly.

Seeing that he had news, everyone gathered around him.

"Tell us! Tell us!"

"Do you still remember the Demon Sect that ascended a while ago?"

"Of course. They caused a sensation throughout Black King City. They say the Demon Sect's leader had reached the eternal realm eighth layer and severely wounded Lord Long Chang with a single strike."

"No, no, you've all guessed wrong. A few days ago, the city lord celebrated his birthday, and the Demon Sect's leader attended too. Guess what happened?"

"What happened? Stop keeping us in suspense and hurry up!" Seeing him draw it out, the others slapped the table in irritation.

"This is just what I heard, but the Demon Sect's leader isn't in the eternal realm at all. He's in the true martial realm. Our city lord, Elder Mu, has already submitted to the Demon Sect. That's why he sent troops to wipe out those major factions."

"Don't talk nonsense! How could Elder Mu submit to anyone? If word of this gets out, you'll be dead for sure!"

"..."

Similar reports continued to spread. Some refused to believe them and cursed those spreading rumors, while others remained skeptical and waited for news.

Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for Black King City. One minor faction after another could not sleep, terrified that they would wake to the soldiers of the city lord's estate wiping them out.

Early the next morning, the city lord's estate issued a notice that truly set all of Black King City ablaze. It read, "Elder Mu, city lord of Black King City, has officially joined the Demon Sect as a protector. All of Black King City has officially come under the Demon Sect's banner!"

Immediately afterward, the Flower Clan also released a statement announcing its formal submission to the Demon Sect.

For a time, every cultivator and martial artist in Black King City was dumbstruck. In a single night, the entire city had been turned upside down and changed masters-and its new master was a faction that had only just ascended from the lower realm.

At the Sword Sect's grounds, atop a sheer mountain peak, the senior members gathered in the main hall. The gaunt old man seated at its head said gravely, "Let's hear everyone's thoughts. What should we do now?"

"Why hasn't the city lord's estate moved against our Sword Sect?"

"Exactly. They wiped out everyone except the Flower Clan. What do they mean by leaving our Sword Sect alone?"

The young man seated beside the head seat coughed softly. "I think I have some idea why."

Everyone turned to look at the young man. Though he sat beside the sect master, boundless brilliance radiated from him, as though he could draw everyone's gaze.

He was Shangguan Yun, the Sword Sect's eldest senior brother and its strongest expert. His cultivation had reached the eternal realm ninth layer. Had he not disliked power so much, he would probably have become sect master by now.

Shangguan Yun said slowly, "I wasn't quite certain yesterday. Only after reading the city lord's estate's notice today did I understand a little."

He then recounted some of how he had become acquainted with the Demon Sect's leader. Everyone looked delighted after hearing him.

"Might you speak to the Demon Sect's leader and ask him to let us remain in Black King City to cultivate?" the sect master in the head seat asked quietly.

"I'm afraid not. Zhou Qiong is the sort who won't tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes. Besides, my friendship with him isn't particularly deep," Shangguan Yun said helplessly.

"What do we do, then?"

Everyone looked worried, unsure how to weather this calamity. Suddenly, Shangguan Yun's expression tightened, and he looked toward the foot of the mountain. The old sect master's expression also grew solemn.

"Go, ring the bell. Receive our guest with the Sword Sect's highest ceremonial honors." With that, Shangguan Yun vanished from the hall.

At the foot of the mountain, some Sword Sect disciples were practicing their swordsmanship. Among them, a father and daughter were chatting.

"Father, is the Demon Sect really that formidable? They only just ascended from the lower realm, yet they've already dominated Black King City and made even Elder Mu submit."

"I don't know either, but if he could make Elder Mu submit, I imagine the Demon Sect's leader has already reached the true martial realm."

"Father, Junior Brother Ximen also ascended from that lower realm, didn't he? He's very talented too, just a little short of the Demon Sect's leader."

"Yes, your Junior Brother Ximen's talent in the sword Dao is indeed exceptional. Even compared to Shangguan Yun, he's every bit his equal. A few days ago, he told me he'd had an epiphany and left the mountain to seek opportunities."

As the two continued chatting, a bell suddenly rang from the mountain. More tolls followed without pause, and a white jade stairway began appearing at the summit, extending steadily down the mountain.

The disciples at the foot of the mountain began discussing it.

"Holy crap, the Heaven-Opening Bell and the white jade stairway! Who are they welcoming?"

"That's already over seventy tolls. Why are they still ringing it? Even when Elder Mu last visited, they only rang it nine times nine-eighty-one tolls."

"Could Elder Mu be here again?"

"Uh, no, that's already more than eighty-one. Why are they still ringing it?"

"Look, Eldest Senior Brother is here! The sect master is here too!"

The Sword Sect's senior members flew swiftly down the mountain. Only after a full hundred tolls did the bell finally fall silent.

The disciples all gazed curiously toward the foot of the mountain. Someone who could bring so many senior members down to welcome him, with an unprecedented hundred tolls of the bell, had to be more important than Elder Mu.

A black-robed figure stood at the foot of the mountain. When the Sword Sect's senior members flew down, they actually bowed in greeting and called out.

"We respectfully welcome the Lord Sect Leader of the Demon Sect!"