A Nighttime Talk in the Demon Capital, a Battle of Wits Between Father and Daughter

"The young lady has been extremely active lately, posing as a high-ranking member of the ' Resisters '," the Li Family elder said with a wry smile. "Not only is she recruiting rogue cultivators in the black market, but we also have intelligence that she went to the ruins of the slums in the east of the city tonight, seemingly to make contact with... the mysterious murderer who killed the senior investigator of the Jinling Night Watchers."

"Make contact with that mysterious killer?"

Li Canghai frowned slightly and turned around. "That girl is getting bolder and bolder. She even dared to touch the madman who dared to kill the Night Watchers?"

"Patriarch, the eldest young lady is, after all, a direct descendant of the Li Family. Her blatant use of the ' Resisters ' banner against the authorities and even against aristocratic families like ours could easily anger the Night Watchers headquarters or those powerful figures above us, bringing controversy to our Li Family. Should we... send someone to forcibly bring her back and confine her to her quarters for a while?" the Li Family elder cautiously suggested.

"No need."

Li Canghai sighed and waved his hand.

"You know how stubborn she is. She's been exposed to the filth of this powerful family since she was young, and she's determined to overthrow the rules we've established."

Li Canghai walked behind the large mahogany desk and sat down, a look of mixed affection and helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"Actually, it's better for her this way."

"The waters of the Great Xia run too deep. For the sake of profit and longevity, we aristocratic families have no choice but to compromise with the Variants and raise monsters. But who knows whether this is a Great Dao to Heaven Reaching or a road of no return?"

"Hong Gui's antics outside, joining the Resisters, might not be a bad thing for the Li Family. Let her cause trouble. As long as the patriarch is alive, no one in Demon Capital will dare to touch a hair on her head. As for that mysterious murderer... if we can really win her over, it might not be a bad thing for the Li Family."

"Yes, the patriarch is wise." The elder of the Li Family dared not say anything more.

at the same time.

On the bustling streets of Demon Capital, an extremely understated black supercar sped through the traffic.

Inside the car, Hong Gui held the steering wheel with one hand and a specially made communication terminal in the other, her beautiful face filled with shock and disbelief.

"The Pan Family... were wiped out?!"

"The three major families have joined forces?! How could it be so fast?!"

Hong Gui listened to the urgent intelligence from her subordinates, her mind raced.

"Unless..."

Hong Gui slammed on the brakes, and the sports car screeched as it slammed on the brakes by the roadside.

A chilling realization flashed in her eyes.

"They're not here to annex the Pan Family! They're here to... feed the Variants!"

"These lunatics! To obtain higher-level Variants blood essence, they've gone so far as to use a top-tier expert from a first-rate family as 'high-grade feed'! Aren't they afraid that the Variants's strength will surge and completely spiral out of control?!"

Thinking of the consequences, Hong Gui felt a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

"No! I have to see that man!"

Hong Gui slammed the steering wheel, and the sports car roared like a wild beast as it turned around and sped off towards the Li Family family manor!

Moon-Embracing Pavilion, top-floor study.

"Bang!"

The study door was pushed open with extreme force, so much so that even the door frame groaned under the weight.

The elder of the Li Family had just finished his report and was about to leave when he saw the newcomer. He was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Young Miss."

Hong Gui stood panting at the door. She completely ignored the Li Family elders, her eyes, slightly red with anger, fixed on Li Canghai sitting behind the desk.

"You may leave now." Li Canghai waved his hand, signaling the elder to step down.

After the elder closed the door, only the father and daughter remained in the study.

"Why are you so angry? And what happened to your clothes?" Li Canghai frowned slightly, his voice filled with concern, as he looked at his daughter's slightly disheveled appearance.

Stop with your fake concern!

Hong Gui strode to the desk, slammed her hands heavily on the surface, and stared intently at her father.

"I'm asking you! Did you wipe out the Pan Family?! Did you send all the Pan Family members to be food for those disgusting bats from the Wu Family?!"

Faced with his daughter's questioning, Li Canghai's concern gradually faded, and he regained the dignity of the head of the family.

He didn't deny it, but simply took a sip of tea.

"Hong Gui, now that you've already found out, why ask me again? You're not new to knowing the rules of Shanghai's Demon Capital."

"Rules?! This is what you call rules?!"

Hong Gui laughed in fury, her voice trembling slightly with agitation, "You bunch of fools blinded by power and greed! Do you think that by raising those Variants and harvesting their essence regularly, you can control them forever?"

"Those Purple-Winged Demon Bat from the Wu Family are notoriously intelligent and high-level Variants! You've fed them so many experts at the Meridian Opening Realm and even True Power Realm at once. Aren't you afraid that after digesting this blood meal, their strength will undergo a qualitative change, breaking free from your control and turning against you?!"

"When that time really comes, the entire Demon Capital will become a living hell!"

Seeing his daughter's excited expression, Li Canghai stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of her.

"Hong Gui, you underestimate the power and resources of our three great families."

Li Canghai's tone was filled with extremely strong confidence, even a hint of arrogance.

"With our ancestors here, no matter how well-fed those beasts from the Wu Family are, they'll never escape our grasp. The moment they show any signs of losing control, our ancestors' Divine Sense can instantly crush their souls!"

"Do you think we'd risk everything to wipe out the Pan Family just for that little bit of Variants blood essence?"

Li Canghai turned around, looking at the dazzling night view of Demon Capital outside the floor-to-ceiling window, his Spirit Transformation extremely deep.

You've only seen the surface.

"The Pan Family has secretly monopolized the black market over the years, and their power has expanded far too quickly. That's one thing," Li Canghai's voice turned extremely cold, "But their biggest mistake was secretly getting involved with that super family in Capital!"

"The patriarch of the Pan Family is attempting to use the power of Capital to break the balance of power among the three major families in Demon Capital, and wants to become the fourth power in Demon Capital!"

"Since they're trying to let the wolf in, breaking the rules..."

Li Canghai turned to look at Hong Gui, "Then they must die! Using their flesh and blood to nourish the Wu Family will not only allow us to obtain extremely precious True Power- level essence blood, but it will also show the forces in Capital our stance—this Demon Capital is not for them to interfere with!"

Hong Gui looked at this father who was both a stranger and a familiar face.

She knew that no matter what she said, she couldn't change the minds of these old fogies whose very bones were soaked in power.

"Since you all believe it's foolproof..."

Hong Gui took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and resumed her cold and alluring demeanor.

"We'll see. I want to see if you self-important chess players will end up being eaten by the very pieces you've raised!"

She turned around and walked towards the study door without hesitation.

"Hong Gui!"

Li Canghai watched his daughter's resolute back as she walked away, and couldn't help but call out.

Hong Gui stopped at the door, but did not turn around.

"Oh, right, there's something I forgot to tell you, Master of the Clan."

She turned her head slightly, a cold, extremely mocking smile playing on her lips.

"I promised someone. In a few days, I will personally give the most core family secret technique of our Li Family, the [Earth-Grade Meridian Opening Method], as a reward to... the 'outsider' you all speak of."

"What?!"

Li Canghai's usually calm and composed expression changed drastically in an instant, and even his breathing became rapid.

"Hong Gui! Are you insane?! That's the Demon Capital of the Li Family's existence in Shanghai! How could you give your family's Earth Grade cultivation technique to an outsider?! Do you know what will happen if the Elders' Council and the Ancestor find out...?"

"Bang!"

Hong Gui completely ignored his roar, opened the study door, and walked out without looking back.

The study door was slammed shut.

Li Canghai stood there, staring at the closed door, his face ashen, speechless for a long time.

He sighed helplessly and slumped back into his chair.

"This girl... could it be that she intends to give that martial arts technique to the mysterious murderer who killed the Judge of Jinling?"

Li Canghai rubbed his aching temples.

"Fine... as long as she doesn't cause any major trouble, I'll figure out how to handle things with the Ancestor."