Chapter 400: Chapter 400

The departure of the Insect Clan was a positive development, but their plunder of most resources in the area had a significant impact.

Shadow Corner City was not invaded by the Insect Clan and suffered no losses, but it was a different story for the clans dwelling along the road between the Heavenly Realm Sect and Shadow Corner City.

Dao Ze, the Clan Leader of the Saber Wolf Clan, flicked the blood off his blade, a hint of ruthlessness appearing on his gentle face as he said, "Spare no one."

The gasping Clan Leader of the Red Scale Clan showed deep hatred on his face. "Dao Ze, must you be so absolute?"

Dao Ze raised the long saber in his hand toward the prone Clan Leader of the Red Scale Clan, a hint of apology on his face as he said, "Forgive me, but I cannot stop."

Bright red blood splattered across Dao Ze’s face. As he watched the figure clad in red scales slowly fade into the void, a crimson drizzle fell from the sky. A helpless expression crossed Dao Ze’s face. The Saber Wolf Clan cannot disappear on my watch.

Shaking off his sentimentality, Dao Ze shouted, "Everyone, move faster!"

The Red Scale Clan wasn’t particularly strong, nor were their resources abundant. However, the scales from their corpses were excellent spiritual materials, just enough to help the Saber Wolf Clan endure the coming hardships.

A heavy and ferocious sound erupted as Xiong Li, the Clan Leader of the Sky Bear Clan, plunged into the Red Scale Clan’s territory. He locked onto Dao Ze and charged through, knocking back many from the Saber Wolf Clan and inflicting serious injuries.

SWOOSH! Orıginal content can be found at novelFirｅ.net

A silver-white blade light slashed towards Xiong Li’s head. With a loud shout, Xiong Li’s hand, broad as a fan, radiated a yellow glow, and with a slap, he dispersed the attack and stood before Dao Ze.

"I want half!" Xiong Li’s eyes turned fierce as he clenched his fists.

"Impossible," Dao Ze flatly refused.

"Hehehe, fine. Out of respect for you, thirty percent. Any lower, and it’s war," Xiong Li scoffed.

As soon as he finished speaking, burly Sky Bear Clan members began emerging from the dense woods surrounding the Red Scale Clan’s territory. They looked eager, as if merely awaiting their Clan Leader’s command to charge.

Dao Ze gripped and re-gripped the long saber in his hand. Sweeping his gaze around, he saw fear in the eyes of many of his clansmen and said with resignation, "Fine."

"Hehehe, I knew you were the most reasonable one, Dao Ze," Xiong Li sneered.

"Alright, my bears, come get the goods! Take exactly thirty percent—not a bit less, and certainly no more. I, Xiong Li, am a man of my word."

Hearing this, the members of the Sky Bear Clan howled with excitement.

After what seemed like an eternity, Dao Ze looked at the gradually dimming sky, a trace of bewilderment crossing his face.

"Clan Leader, it’s time to go back," Dao Ye reminded him.

"Ah, yes, let’s go back."

The slender-bodied Saber Wolf Clan, renowned for their speed, moved swiftly through the darkening woods like invisible phantoms.

Long sabers thudded to the ground. Dao Ze, incredulous, staggered toward his dwelling, his gaze falling upon his clansmen lying in pools of blood.

A female Saber Wolf Clan member had a long spear embedded in her chest, her child pinned to the ground behind her. Dao Ze’s eyes turned bloodshot with grief. "Who did this?!"

Instantly, the entire Saber Wolf Clan settlement was filled with cries of mourning. All the clan members left to guard their home had perished, and the clan’s treasury was plundered.

Dao Ze muttered to himself, Only the Sky Bear Clan could wipe out all our kinsmen left behind in such a short time... but they didn’t have the opportunity. Besides, those barbarians don’t know how to use Arrays.

"Clan Leader, what should we do?" Dao Ye asked, two trails of tears on his face.

"What should we do? Yes, what *can* we do?" For a moment, Dao Ze felt utter despair. The Saber Wolf Clan had always lived in these woods; aside from a few other clans, they were among the strongest. They had never even considered leaving.

"Let’s go to Shadow Corner City," Dao Lin, one of their only two Golden Immortals, said solemnly.

"But if we go to Shadow Corner City, will they even take us in?" Dao Ye asked with concern.

"They will. Most likely, they’ll require us to pledge our loyalty," Dao Lin explained.

Dao Ze turned, silently staring at the corpses of his wife and child. A deep-seated hatred etched itself onto his face. As long as they’re willing to help me take revenge, what does my life matter? Serving the Divine Son of Asura is no shameful thing!

「On the other side of the woods」

A group of bizarrely shaped creatures had gathered. Standing two meters tall, they had slender bodies and weasel-like heads, boasting jewel-blue eyes. A long line of bone spurs extended down their spines. These were the members of the Rat Bone Clan.

The apparent leader of the Rat Bone Clan spoke, "This matter must not be revealed. That Dao Ze fellow is quite strong. If he resorts to continuous assassinations, our people won’t be able to withstand it."

Shaking the dice, Chen Jiuge rolled a bright, shining six. A slight smile touched his lips as he placed the jade game piece from the grass onto a cool-looking miniature fighter jet. Then, something magical happened: the fighter jet absorbed the piece, transforming into a rocket.

He rolled the die again—a three. The rocket launched, advancing three spaces. Along the way, it even knocked Da Bai’s helicopter out of the sky with a burst of tiny fireworks, reverting it to a game piece at the starting point.

"Seriously? Do you have to be like that?" Da Bai exclaimed, a mix of indignation and sorrow on his face.

Just as Chen Jiuge and the others were getting into their heated game of cultivation-themed Ludo, Li Qiwen approached with a serious expression.

"City Lord, as much as I hate to bother you, two Golden Immortals have brought people to pledge allegiance, and that requires your personal approval."

"Two Golden Immortals?" Chen Jiuge found this interesting. "Haven’t the Insect Clan all departed? What are they thinking, coming to pledge allegiance now?" he asked, puzzled.

"Bring them to the Palace. I’ll get ready."

For Chen Jiuge, "getting ready" naturally meant summoning his bodyguards. If the Golden Immortals seeking to pledge allegiance were enemies in disguise, he would be in serious trouble.

He pulled Luo Wencheng, who was still playing mahjong in the courtyard, to his feet. "Brother Cheng, come with me to meet the newcomers."

Luo Wencheng, somewhat unhappily, pushed aside his mahjong tiles. "You all wait for my return! Just watch, I’ll dominate the game!"

Luo Kuisan scoffed, "Yeah, right. You’ve been playing for a month, and you’re the only one who consistently loses."

With a sullen Luo Wencheng standing behind him, Chen Jiuge studied Dao Ze and Dao Lin in front of him. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "I think I’ve seen you before. You’re the Clan Leader of the Saber Wolf Clan!"

"Divine Son, there is no Saber Wolf Clan anymore," Dao Ze said mournfully.

"Call me City Lord," Chen Jiuge corrected. "No more Saber Wolf Clan? That doesn’t seem right. I’ve reviewed the intelligence reports; apart from the Sky Bear Clan, who could forcibly exterminate you, other clans are at most on par with the Saber Wolf Clan," he added skeptically.

Li Qiwen entered from outside, presenting a recording. "This was brought back by the Scouts."

The gruesome footage didn’t affect Chen Jiuge much, but Dao Ze and Dao Lin’s eyes reddened with rage, as if they were ready to devour someone.

"Tell me, what can you offer me? Shadow Corner City doesn’t need newcomers right now," Chen Jiuge said indifferently.

Over the years, there had already been many clans in Shadow Corner City. Chen Jiuge had even put a hold on Qian Baolin’s migration of other clans, leaving some space for the clans within the city to develop independently.

"We are willing to pledge our loyalty to you!" Dao Ze said in a deep voice.

Chen Jiuge chuckled. "I offer you shelter, and you pledge your loyalty to me. Isn’t that to be expected?"

Seeing the two below unsure of what to say next, Li Qiwen leaned over and whispered a few words into his ear.

"Alright, here’s the deal. I likely know who ambushed your clan’s territory. I’ll give you a chance: lead your people to eradicate them, and then you can join Shadow Corner City."

"Who is it?" Dao Ze asked, looking up.

"The Rat Bone Clan. I’ll provide you with sufficient Magic Artifacts, Arrays, Healing Pills, and other necessities. Are you willing?" Chen Jiuge rose, looking down at the two kneeling before him.

Dao Ze agreed immediately without even thinking. Dao Lin hesitated, but his desire for revenge overcame any reluctance.

"Excellent. You can rest in Shadow Corner City for a period. Qiuwen, they are your responsibility now."

Watching the two leave the Palace, Luo Wencheng was puzzled. "Two Golden Immortals, and the rest of the Saber Wolf Clan are elites. Why wouldn’t you accept them? You even took in clans whose strongest members were merely True Immortals before."

Chen Jiuge shook his head. "For a city to develop, a strong foundation of ordinary people is indispensable. Besides, Shadow Corner City already has a considerable population."

"If we hadn’t wiped out the Ratfolk earlier, creating space where a new town is now being built, I truly wouldn’t have considered taking in the Saber Wolf Clan."

"I don’t understand, Divine Son," Luo Wencheng said, still unable to comprehend. "Why not simply conquer them and force them to pay tribute? That would be so much simpler."

Chen Jiuge just smiled faintly. This involves economics, something beyond the comprehension of an Asura’s mind.

Dao Ze and the others acted swiftly, setting out with their clansmen only three days after resting.

Reportedly, during the pre-departure muster, every member of the Saber Wolf Clan had bloodshot eyes, looking as if they were ready to devour their enemies. It remained to be seen if the Rat Bone Clan could withstand the Saber Wolf Clan’s vengeful wrath.

After the Saber Wolf Clan departed, Li Qiwen specifically summoned Shark Army.

"Governor, you summoned me?" Shark Army asked, his attitude respectful. Anyone who spent time in Shadow Corner City knew that Li Qiwen and Su Mei, the two women managing its affairs, were not to be crossed.

"Shark Army, your subordinates haven’t experienced a proper war yet. This time, take some of them and follow the Saber Wolf Clan to prevent any unforeseen incidents."

"Consider this an opportunity to earn merit. After all, you’re a newcomer. Despite your Golden Immortal Cultivation, your direct appointment as Great Commander has left some people resentful."

Shark Army expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Governor."

"Mm," Li Qiwen advised, "don’t let the Saber Wolf Clan suffer excessive losses. Half, at most. If their casualties don’t exceed fifty percent, there’s no need for you to intervene."