Chapter 18

All the grand halls and courtyards that once boasted of their majesty had been neatly razed to the ground.

It was a wasteland as if a storm had swept through.

The Iron Fist King's face was covered in black soot, a testament to the fierce battle of the previous night. The beard he once took pride in was completely burned away, leaving him looking disheveled.

His trembling hands were rummaging through the ruins, searching for a statue whose head was barely visible.

His eyes, shaking with madness.

It was the Green Monster Buddha Statue he had purchased for ten thousand silver taels from a renowned monk of Tianzhu, a statue he considered a bargain even at that price, as it was an ancient treasure that was hard to come by even if one were willing to pay. If sold to someone who understood its value, it could fetch at least five times its purchase price.

However, the face of this noble statue was now melting.

The face of the statue had transformed into something akin to a monstrous demon.

The Iron Fist King's heart also turned as cruel as a demon.

"Such a dog...!"

Certainly, the damage was not limited to the Green Monster Buddha Statue.

The ancient treasure, the Lü Yi White Porcelain Mirror, worth tens of thousands of taels, had been reduced to powder, and the Eight Birds Landscape Painting, the masterpiece of Master Zhou Yunjing, the first calligrapher of the imperial court, lay scattered and burned like discarded paper in the marketplace.

That was not all.

Eight hundred bolts of silk, which were to be delivered to Heitianlian in just over a month, had all turned to ash, and the precious Hanxue Qianlima, entrusted to him by General Lu Yiwen, had been burned to a crisp.

Most importantly, this estate.

Designed by the renowned formation expert, Jin Xihan, it took three years of painstaking effort to build.

Everything in this estate was, in a sense, the pride of his sixty-year life, the fruit of his arduous journey.

For such an estate to be reduced to ruins, the desolation in his heart was unimaginable.

Interestingly, the estate was built at the bottom of a gorge as part of a thorough defense strategy.

Located at the bottom of a narrow gorge, it was impossible for enemies to breach the multiple layers of strict security unless they fell from the sky.

But today, the enemy truly did fall from the sky.

From above the gorge, the enemy rained down sword techniques, destroying the halls.

When he tried to chase them up the cliff, they would come down and destroy, and when he went down, they would attack from above.

Building the estate at the bottom of the gorge had become a fatal flaw.

This was only possible because the enemy was an Absolute Expert.

He never imagined that such a noble martial artist would use such a despicable method, and only to destroy property.

"Ugh! Nangong Shou, you son of a bitch!"

He wanted to storm into the Nangong family estate immediately.

The Iron Fist King ordered his subordinates, the Thousand Killers.

"We are going to the headquarters. Hurry up!"

He had lost everything in his life.

The anger of this old warrior, who had nothing left to lose, was directed at the Nangong family.

* * *

Eight messengers, the Ghost Killers, were prostrate on the ground, as if waiting for punishment.

The one who was calmly observing them, leaning against a giant throne, was the absolute ruler of the vast underworld and the master of Heitianlian, Heitian Dasha.

Dasha.

Fitting his formidable reputation, it was said that the heads of righteous sect experts he had taken numbered over a hundred.

Heitian Dasha, stroking the head of his beloved bird, the Black Eagle, slowly opened his mouth.

"Was the main granary completely burned down?"

The dark, evil aura emanating from Heitian Dasha's body swirled around the grand hall.

The lead Ghost Killer, trembling with the overwhelming killing intent that seemed to tear through his skin, prostrated himself even more.

"Yes, it was!"

Heitian Dasha's indifferent gaze turned to the second messenger.

"Was the ten thousand stones of grain in Guiyechang also burned?"

"It is an undeniable fact!"

"Are all the ships of our fleet in Luoshanpo completely sunk?"

"Yes, Master!"

"Moreover, some of the estates of the Eight Kings were also damaged?"

No one could answer Heitian Dasha's final question.

They could only compile the information from messengers sent from various places, and it was simply unbelievable.

Who were the Heitian Eight Kings?

Each one of them was comparable to the head of a major sect.

At first, Heitian Dasha thought it was a conspiracy.

With three thousand troops of the alliance missing, it was the perfect opportunity for rebels.

However, the enemy did not target the alliance's troops.

The enemy aimed only for wealth; more than half of the alliance's assets were destroyed.

"If they aimed for wealth, it means it wasn't a rebellion."

The Ghost Killers, prostrate on the ground, all trembled.

Their supreme ruler mentioned the word "rebellion" without any sign of disturbance.

It was a display of confidence.

One of the Ghost Killers mustered the courage to answer.

"All the messengers reported that they were defeated by the martial arts of the Nangong family."

"…Nangong?"

For the first time, a glint appeared in Heitian Dasha's usually indifferent eyes.

He then placed the Black Eagle back in its cage.

He intended to examine the letters himself, rather than just hearing the reports from the messengers.

Heitian Dasha began to read through the bundles of letters.

-Report from the First Branch Messenger, Ghost Killer Ma Xueliang.

Thirty-two injured, no fatalities.

The entire main granary area was completely destroyed.

Based on the testimony of the injured, the attacker's martial arts are believed to be Qi-Controlling Sword Technique and Intentional Sword Aura, which are characteristic of the Nangong family.

The attacker is estimated to be at the Absolute Level.

The Seven Martial Seats and Cangtian Sword Hero are likely suspects.

-Report from the Yangtze Special Task Force Messenger, Ghost Killer Yan Xue'e.

Seventy-five injured, two fatalities.

Eight warships under repair were destroyed, and all other merchant ships were sunk.

The attacker's martial arts, believed to be Shape-Shifting, Sky-Leaping Ladder, Qi-Controlled Ascension, One Reed Crossing the River, Qi-Controlling Sword Technique, and Intentional Sword Aura, are estimated to be at the Absolute Level.

Nangong Sword Style, confirmed.

Cangtian Sword Hero, likely suspect.

Had he ever found a letter so interesting?

Heitian Dasha's expression changed from moment to moment as he read.

His face was filled with a subtle excitement, like a child who had seen something fascinating.

'…Is it Nangong Shou?'

If the content of the letter was true, this was a major event in the martial world.

This was the most despicable method used by the lowest of the underworld, the dirty bandits.

An Absolute Expert using such a despicable hit-and-run tactic!

If an Absolute Expert was determined to act this way, no one could stop them, except another Absolute Expert.

The noble Seven Martial Seats of the Nangong family had discarded their reputation like a piece of trash.

He certainly expected a significant countermeasure.

It was something he had prepared for from the moment he eliminated the intelligence network of the Martial Alliance.

However, he thought it would only lead to enhanced vigilance or support from the alliance.

That would never be enough to stop the thoroughly secret Hei-Lu Alliance.

That's why Heitian Dasha had high hopes for this expedition.

But he never expected the main camp to be hit in such a way.

A single Absolute Expert, discarding all honor.

Did the righteous sects, who valued honor more than life, have such a low-down side?

He chuckled.

The noble Seven Martial Seats of the Nangong family were rolling in the dirt. He felt more victorious than angry.

Still, the scale of the damage was not trivial.

"Chief, what is the extent of the damage?"

Chief Xu Ru, standing respectfully, answered with a grim face.

"Roughly, the alliance's assets amount to about 200,000 gold taels. I cannot accurately estimate the personal assets of the Eight Kings."

200,000 gold taels.

Enough to buy several counties and still have money left over. Considering the prestige and status of the Heitian Eight Kings, their personal assets must have suffered significant damage.

For a single person to cause such damage!

The power of an Absolute Expert, discarding all honor, was truly formidable.

"Keep the troops waiting in Dangchuanpo as they are. Wait for the rainy season. Also, mobilize Haomen and the informants in various places to spread the news of Cangtian Sword Hero's atrocities in the martial world. The faster, the better."

"Understood!"

Although he had suffered a painful loss, he was strangely not in a bad mood.

On the contrary, he felt refreshed.

For 200,000 gold taels, the noble reputation of the Seven Martial Seats was tarnished!

In a way, it was a bargain.

200,000 gold taels could be recovered in half a year. If he pushed the merchants and fishermen a bit harder, it could be even sooner.

However, tarnishing the reputation of the Seven Martial Seats was not something that could be resolved with money.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

Heitian Dasha's powerful laughter, filled with immense internal energy, filled the grand hall, causing the eight Ghost Killers to cover their ears in pain.

At that moment, the door to the grand hall was roughly pushed open.

Iron Fist King, with a rough, crumpled face, led his Thousand Killers into the hall.

"Master of the Alliance!"

Iron Fist King, who had bowed lightly, was now staring at Heitian Dasha with a murderous look.

"Master of the Alliance! Give me the Special Killing Ghost Spirit Team! I will destroy the Nangong family in one go!"

Iron Fist King, breathing heavily and suppressing his anger.

Heitian Dasha was looking at him with interest.

"Your estate was also looted?"

The word "looted" made Iron Fist King even more enraged.

"Hmph! What could I do when that despicable Nangong Shou acted so lowly!"

"What exactly happened?"

Iron Fist King then detailed the events that occurred in the gorge to Heitian Dasha.

Heitian Dasha burst out laughing again.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

It was truly a spectacle.

Could any Absolute Expert in the martial world do such a thing?

The fact that a righteous sect's Absolute Expert could stoop so low was now almost miraculous.

However, interest is just interest. Emotions must not interfere with the alliance's grand strategy.

"I cannot give you the Special Killing Ghost Spirit Team. The rainy season is coming soon. The Hei-Lu Alliance will soon set out, so leave it to them."

Five of the Heitian Eight Kings had already joined the Hei-Lu Alliance. The Heitian Alliance had already mobilized experts to a dangerous level.

If more experts were withdrawn from Jiangxi Province, where the headquarters and the First Branch were located, it would give the Sichuan Gang a chance to move.

Moreover, with Cangtian Sword Hero causing trouble like a rat, the absence of Iron Fist King, the strongest of the Eight Kings, would cause significant internal unrest.

However, Iron Fist King could not hold back.

"I will turn the Nangong family into ashes right now! If we don't strike these despicable bastards now, when will we? My estate is completely burned down! It's my estate!"

Heitian Dasha clasped his hands and rested his chin on them. His usually indifferent eyes gradually turned serious.

"…Are you defying me?"

Heitian Dasha usually respected Iron Fist King, who had lived in the same era as him. However, now he was firmly displaying the authority and dignity of the Heitian Alliance's leader.

"Li Qingzhen!"

Iron Fist King was calling the name of his brother, with whom he had studied under the Black and White Duo, the former leaders of the underworld.

Although they had different aspirations in martial arts and split into fist and sword, the long memories they shared could not be erased by a simple hierarchical relationship.

"Are you mad?"

There were many eyes watching.

Heitian Dasha's eyes turned a bleak ash color, and a powerful aura filled the grand hall. He was finally displaying the authority of an Absolute Expert.

Iron Fist King knelt down, his face filled with tears.

"My estate is completely burned down! The legacy of Master Hei Lao was also there! Ahh!"

As one grows older, one lives by memories.

Iron Fist King's estate was not just a place of wealth.

At that moment,

Boom!

A thunderous explosion shook the grand hall, and the roof burst open like a drum.

Dense dust rose from all sides.

Heitian Dasha unleashed his powerful internal energy to clear the dust.

A figure wielding an iron sword, like a night bird, appeared in the sky above the broken ceiling.

Soon, a powerful aura of Intentional Sword Aura began to emanate from the iron sword.

'Could it be…?'

Was Cangtian Sword Hero destroying the Heitian Alliance's headquarters alone?

Whoosh!

A massive claw filled the sky, charging directly at the grand hall.

Unlike the sword qi released momentarily by borrowing the sword's aura, the Intentional Sword Aura is a higher realm where the spirit energy of the sword master is added, greatly enhancing its destructive power.

When the intention is added to the pure spirit energy of such a martial artist,

It reaches the stage where the form arises from the intention, the realm of Intentional Form, and only then can the Intentional Sword Aura be completed.

The martial world refers to this stage as the Martial Soul or the Absolute Level.

The Intentional Aura of the dragon's claw, floating high in the night sky.

Heitian Dasha, who had been calmly observing the massive claw of the dragon, slowly unleashed his own aura.

A completely different type of Martial Soul from the pure and straightforward righteous path emerged in the grand hall.

Soon, a bleak ash-colored aura flowed from his eyes.

The Gray Eye of the Evil Path.

The ultimate killing technique, honed through countless lives taken and accumulated over a lifetime, was gray like ashes.

The martial arts of Heitian Dasha, the Absolute Expert of the Evil Path and one of the Four Great Evil Masters, were completely different from those of the righteous sects.

The Gray Heaven Killing Art.

The Fifth Killing: Thousand Calamities Black Dragon Tooth.

Countless black lights, filled with intense killing intent, emerged from all sides.

Hundreds, thousands of black dragon teeth flew directly at the dragon's claw.

Was this like the Ten Thousand Flower Rain of the Sichuan Tang Family, the strongest hidden weapon technique in martial history?

Those who witnessed the immense killing technique felt their hair stand on end.

The powerful and eerie aura contained in each black dragon tooth.

These chilling black lights filled the night sky, creating a whistling sound like a swarm of locusts.

The martial experts in the grand hall, preparing for the massive shockwave, were all staring blankly.

"…"

"…"

The dragon's claw suddenly disappeared as if it had vanished into thin air.

Hundreds, thousands of black dragon teeth, having lost their target, were slicing through the sky aimlessly.

At that moment, a tremendous explosion was heard.

Boom!

All the martial experts in the grand hall leaped onto the roof.

Thud! Thud!

Heitian Dasha, Iron Fist King, and the Thousand Killers, landing on the roof, all turned their gaze north.

A dense cloud of dust rose from the northern entrance of the headquarters.

That place was the Heitian Secret Palace, where all the treasures and assets of the headquarters were stored.

'They recalled the Intentional Aura?'

Recalling the Martial Soul is much more difficult than emitting it.

Even Heitian Dasha, known as one of the Four Great Evil Masters, could only do it with the risk of severe internal injuries.

And they immediately attacked the Heitian Secret Palace without treating the injuries?

No.

It means that the attack that destroyed the roof of the grand hall was a feint.

'…Simultaneously?'

Heitian Dasha was utterly astonished.

Simultaneously performing two techniques of the Intentional Path.

Of course, it was not impossible for him.

The problem was that he would need to prepare for at least two to three months of recuperation. The immense mental and internal energy consumption was terrifying.

However, a truly astonishing scene unfolded.

Whoosh!

Two iron swords, cutting through the air majestically, charged towards the grand hall!

Soon, Intentional Sword Aura emerged from both iron swords simultaneously.

"No!"

For the first time, Heitian Dasha's usually calm eyes were filled with panic.

Was this even possible?

The mental and internal energy depletion would make it difficult to even stand.

And then to attack with the Intentional Path immediately?

Even for an Absolute Expert, this was impossible.

At that moment, the two iron swords changed direction simultaneously.

One headed northwest.

The other headed east.

When he realized their targets, Heitian Dasha was stunned.

To the northwest of the headquarters was the armory.

Dozens of cannons and hundreds of cannonballs, entrusted by the emperor's relative, Huang Yixian!

And the powder magazine, managed strictly for the production of cannonballs!

If these were destroyed, everything would be over.

The balance of power in the imperial court could be altered!

If the protection of the emperor's relative