Within the Shadow Pavilion's courtyard, Luo Tian sat on the throne in the main hall!
Luo Tian said, "Six Sword Slaves, go warn all the powers in the city, great and small, who calls the shots here."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Han Tang, make a trip to the underground black market."
"The Shadow Pavilion will collect fifty percent of the black market's profits every year. Kill them if they refuse!"
"So what if they're the imperial family?"
Han Tang nodded. "Yes, my lord!"
Ding!! A-rank mission triggered: Unify Fengluo City Mission reward: Silver-Tier Summoning Card ✘1 One Fatal Blow Blocking Card 1,000,000 low-grade spirit stones Effect: [Automatically activates to block one instance of fatal damage]
"Accept mission."
Night lay over Fengluo City, deep and dark as ink, while pedestrians continued to come and go along the streets!
Six black shadows appeared above the city walls like ghosts. They wore tight-fitting black clothes, their eyes gleaming coldly beneath their masks.
"Wang Clan, Huang Lineage, City Lord's Manor, submit to the Shadow Pavilion within three days."
"Otherwise, Fengluo City will become your burial ground." Zhen Gang's voice spread throughout the entire city.
A short while later, lamplight flickered inside the Wang Clan's council hall, where the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.
Wang Li's brows were tightly furrowed as he discussed countermeasures with the clan elders.
"Everyone, the Shadow Pavilion is powerful now."
"They even have experts at the Peak Yin-Yang Realm holding the fort."
"Though our Wang Clan has stood for centuries, opposing them would be no different from an ant trying to shake a tree," an elder said worriedly.
"Submit?"
"Then what becomes of our Wang Clan's centuries of glory and dignity?" Wang Li clenched his fists, a trace of unwillingness flashing through his eyes.
In the end, they made their decision-for the continuation of their lineage, they chose to submit.
The Huang Lineage, known alongside the Wang Clan as Fengluo City's twin jewels, reacted in exactly the same way to the Shadow Pavilion's threat.
A century-old foundation and the rise and fall of their lineage all weighed on their shoulders.
The Huang Lineage likewise chose to submit, despite their hearts being filled with unwillingness and helplessness.
They likewise handed over sixty percent of their profits to the Shadow Pavilion as protection money.
Those at the City Lord's Manor never even entertained the slightest thought of resistance. They packed their valuables overnight and fled back to the capital with their trusted followers.
Han Tang's footsteps echoed through the narrow alleys. He turned into the black market and arrived at a dim little courtyard.
"Are you the black market's steward?"
Liu Gang asked in confusion, "Yes. Who are you?"
"What do you want with me?"
"Hmph!"
Han Tang pressed his Peak Yin-Yang Realm aura down upon him.
"Y-you're an expert at the Peak Yin-Yang Realm?" Cold sweat kept beading on Liu Gang's forehead.
"From now on, our Shadow Pavilion will jointly manage the black market."
"Hand over half the profits every year!"
"If you refuse, you die!" Han Tang thrust the longsword in his hand forward, his killing intent chilling.
"Wait, I can't make that decision!"
"I'm only managing it on someone else's behalf."
"I need to report this and consult my superiors!"
"Only then can I give you an answer!"
"Mm! Fine, hurry up!" Han Tang nodded at his words and spoke coldly.
Liu Gang turned and quietly entered a secret chamber. He took out a communication jade slip and entered a message. Light flashed, establishing contact with the First Prince far away in the capital.
"Your Highness, the Shadow Pavilion has made demands..." Liu Gang reported the circumstances one by one.
The First Prince, Murong Yi, was a youth of seventeen or eighteen whose cultivation was at the late Sea Transformation Realm.
He flew into a rage upon hearing this. "The Shadow Pavilion dares to be so arrogant!"
"They demand fifty percent of the profits right off the bat?"
"Do they have no regard for my Heavenly Star Imperial Family?" His face bore a chilling coldness.
After pondering for a while.
The Shadow Pavilion's underlying aims and schemes were still unclear.
"I wonder how the Shadow Pavilion compares to that assassin organization, Blood Slaughter?"
The Blood Kill Organization was an assassin organization within the dynasty.
Its leader, the Blood Lord, was also an existence at the Peak Tribulation Transcendence Realm!
"Even the imperial family is somewhat wary of him!"
"When the time comes, let these two powers clash like a dragon and a tiger!"
"Had a vague plan taken shape in Murong Fu's mind?"
"Let's see how strong this Shadow Pavilion is."
"I wonder whether they have anyone in the Tribulation Crossing Realm. Let's probe their foundations."
"If they dare accept this mission, that will prove the Shadow Pavilion has a Tribulation Crossing Realm expert!!"
"Liu Gang, agree to their demands."
"At the same time, I have a task for you."
"Have the Shadow Pavilion assassinate the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder."
"Ask whether they dare accept it. Meet their conditions."
"Yes, First Prince! I'll reply to the Shadow Pavilion's man right away!"
A short while later, Liu Gang came out and replied to Han Tang, "My superiors have agreed to your Shadow Pavilion's demands."
"This applies only to Fengluo City's underground black market."
"Also, I want to post a mission with your Shadow Pavilion!"
"Do you dare accept it?"
"Oh? What mission?"
"There's no mission our Shadow Pavilion doesn't dare accept, as long as you can afford the payment!"
"Assassinate the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder-Gui Ming."
"The Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder?"
"According to our information, his cultivation is at the early Tribulation Transcendence Stage!"
"We'll need to dispatch an earth-grade assassin for that!"
"One upper-grade profound-rank cultivation method or martial skill, plus eight million low-grade spirit stones!"
"Can you afford that payment?" Han Tang gave a cold smile.
"Yes!"
"We'll pay half up front as a deposit-four million low-grade spirit stones!"
"We'll give you the rest after the mission is completed!"
"Is there a time limit?"
"Within a month!" Liu Gang thought for a moment.
"Very well! Our Shadow Pavilion accepts the mission." Han Tang nodded.