: Eliminating the Viper Gang Later

Deep night.

"Kill, kill them!"

"Charge forward for me!"

"Reward a magical artifact for killing a Qi Refining cultivator. Make them a gang leader or elder for killing a Foundation Building cultivator."

Monkeys shrieked, launching a frenzied assault under the command of the cultivators.

The attacked gang was filled with hatred and confusion, unable to comprehend why the Monkey Head Gang was attacking them!

"Don't be afraid!"

"We're protected by a defensive formation. If the Monkey Head Gang forces an attack, they'll pay a heavy price."

"No matter what madness has possessed them, making such a big scene will surely draw the city guard!"

The gang's elders and leader struggled to maintain morale.

On the top floor of a nearby tavern, Ning Zhuo consumed talismans to enhance his vision, clearly observing the assault and defense triggered by the surprise attack.

The leader of the Monkey Head Gang stood beside Ning Zhuo, his face grim, and whispered, "Sir, if this continues, our Monkey Head Gang will suffer heavy losses!"

Ning Zhuo remained expressionless.

The battle raged on for a while.

Even Ning Xiangqian couldn't bear to watch any longer. "Young Master Zhuo, should we charge into the fray?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly. "There's no need for that."

The Monkey Head Gang leader felt as if he were in the depths of winter, his body and mind chilled to the bone. Ning Zhuo showed no regard for the Monkey Head Gang, using human and monkey lives to deplete the enemy's defensive formation. It was brutally cruel, like a cold-blooded general on the battlefield.

But he had no choice.

After admitting defeat, he had not only signed a strict and harsh contract but also handed over evidence of his plot against Yuan Er to Ning Zhuo. His only path was to obey Ning Zhuo's commands.

The enemy gang, safe within their defensive formation, hurled curses.

"They're insane! The Monkey Head Gang has lost their minds!"

"When did we ever provoke them?"

"Why haven't the city guards arrived yet? Are they blind?!"

The enemy was intimidated by the Monkey Head Gang's ferocious assault. Their strength was no match for the Monkey Head Gang; if not for their reliable defensive formation, they would have already collapsed.

"Leader, should we continue fighting?"

"If this goes on, our veteran members will be wiped out!"

The Monkey Head Gang's elders sought out their leader, complaining incessantly.

They had considered fleeing or turning against Ning Zhuo, but the nearly twenty Foundation Building cultivators standing beside him made them quickly dismiss the idea. Attacking the enemy gang still offered a chance of survival; targeting Ning Zhuo and his group would only lead to a more miserable end.

"It's about time. Have the frontlines withdraw and replace them with the reserve team," Ning Zhuo commanded.

"Yes, sir," the Monkey Head Gang leader replied.

"Wait, use this talisman," Ning Zhuo said, producing a talisman.

The Monkey Head Gang leader took it, his face lighting up. "A formation-breaking talisman!"

Soon after, with the talisman's activation, the defensive formation crumbled. The enemy gang's morale shattered—some died, others surrendered.

"What should we do with these prisoners?" the Monkey Head Gang leader asked Ning Zhuo for instructions.

Ning Zhuo smiled. "This gang has committed countless evils. Aren't they all heinously guilty? Hmph, they don't deserve to live! Execute them all."

His casual words sent a chill through everyone present. Even the Ning family's Foundation Building cultivators felt a cold dread.

Ning Zhuo was only sixteen years old and had spent his life prior to this in school. He had always presented himself as talented, hardworking, shrewd, and rebellious against the main family line. But tonight's battle revealed the icy cruelty deep within his bones.

Not long after, the Monkey Head Gang leader reported that everything had been carried out according to Ning Zhuo's orders—no one from the enemy gang had survived.

Ning Zhuo clapped his hands and sighed. "Destroying evil and promoting righteousness is truly one of life's greatest pleasures! It's a shame we have no wine, or I'd raise a toast."

Ning Xiangguo smiled slightly and retrieved fine wine from his storage belt. "I have some here."

Ning Xiangguo poured a cup for Ning Zhuo.

Ning Zhuo praised it but did not drink. Instead, he handed the cup to the Monkey Head Gang leader. "I bestow this wine to you. Drink it."

The Monkey Head Gang leader hurriedly expressed his thanks and obediently drank it in one gulp.

"I must congratulate you, Leader," Ning Zhuo said to him. "From now on, the Monkey Head Gang will replace this gang and firmly establish itself in the black market."

The Monkey Head Gang leader's Adam's apple bobbed, his heart a mix of anger and resentment. His gang had finally found legitimacy by harvesting fire persimmons, only to have their efforts wiped out by this battle, plunging them back into the underworld.

Ning Zhuo took a storage pouch from his waist and tossed it to the Monkey Head Gang leader. "Today's battle has shown me the Monkey Head Gang's loyalty. This is your reward."

The Monkey Head Gang leader thanked him again, opened the pouch, and probed it with his spiritual sense. His expression changed. "Mechanical Blast Monkeys?!"

"Correct," Ning Zhuo nodded. "You've lost too many monkey companions. These Mechanical Blast Monkeys will serve as compensation. Continue to work well for me and the Ning family in the future, and I will not treat you unfairly."

"Thank you, sir!!" The Monkey Head Gang leader knelt and kowtowed, gritting his teeth in suppressed fury.

Ning Zhuo had gone too far, pushing them to the brink! He had possessed the formation-breaking talisman all along but waited until the Monkey Head Gang had suffered heavy casualties before using it. It was intentional—he wanted to deplete the Monkey Head Gang's monkey companions and then replace them with Mechanical Blast Monkeys.

The Monkey Head Gang leader saw through Ning Zhuo's plan immediately: "He wants to use the Mechanical Blast Monkeys to tighten his control over the Monkey Head Gang!"

His heart sank into despair. With the contract, the evidence, and now the Mechanical Blast Monkeys, Ning Zhuo had layered three methods of control over him and his gang. Was there any hope for freedom left? Almost none.

He looked at Ning Zhuo. Though the latter was only at Qi Refining level three, he exuded an overwhelming authority. Often, cultivation level meant very little.

The Ning family members also felt this deeply. Ning Zhuo's ruthless methods erased the last traces of轻视 they might have held for him.

Ning Zhuo then instructed the Monkey Head Gang leader: "Go and surround the Heron Beak Gang's base. Take the enemies' heads and directly inform the Heron Beak Gang that I, Ning Zhuo, am taking over the black market."

"If they refuse to surrender, their fate will be the same as these heads!"

"Yes," the Monkey Head Gang leader accepted the order and withdrew.

Ning Xiangguo showed concern. "Young Master Zhuo, you said you wanted to take control of the black market and asked for our support."

"We could plan carefully. We are at your disposal these days; there's no need to rush."

"Tonight, we've already wiped out one gang, and the Monkey Head Gang is exhausted. To engage another gang at full strength now... this..."

"Our control over the current Monkey Head Gang leader is firm. We cannot easily replicate this with other gang leaders."

"Such a force should help us consolidate the black market in the future. The Monkey Head Gang has already suffered significant losses in the previous battle. Bleeding them further would be detrimental to the overall situation."

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly. "Uncle Xiangguo, there are no outsiders here. There's no need to address me as 'young master.'"

"I share the same origins as all of you—we are all from the branch families."

"As for the Heron Beak Gang, I judge that they will most likely surrender."

"I am quite familiar with the black market and have some plans and strategies in place."

"Uncle Xiangguo, just wait and see."

Seeing that they could not persuade Ning Zhuo and that he was brimming with confidence, Ning Xiangguo and the others stopped their advice.

Ning Zhuo's gaze turned distant as he recalled his conversation with Sun Lingtong before the operation.

"Brother Sun, this time I will step forward and reclaim our black market!" Ning Zhuo had explained his current situation to Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong excitedly clapped his hands. "Haha, excellent! It was tough for us brothers to secure the black market. Now that I'm wanted, it's perfect for you to take over."

"However, you're a member of the Ning family, one of the three great clans. Openly taking over the black market might break the unspoken rules in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, wouldn't it?"

Ning Zhuo smiled slightly. "I've thought about that, and it's not a major concern."

"First, I'll avoid acting personally as much as possible. In the initial stage, I'll use the Monkey Head Gang. They've already been legitimized. I'll use avenging Yuan Er as a public pretext to pressure them into submission."

"Myself and the Ning family's Foundation Building cultivators will refrain from acting, letting the Monkey Head Gang launch the fierce attacks."

"Second, my relations with the Zhou and Zheng families are not bad, and I'm on good terms with Fei Si from the City Lord's Manor. If it were another Ning family member, they would certainly intervene to stop it. But for me taking control of the black market, they will only be pleased to see it happen."

"Because they all want to see conflict and internal strife between the Ning family's main and branch lines. Although I've greatly offended the main line, these other forces will support me!"

"Currently, the main line has schemed against me, forcing me to dismiss many branch family managers on one hand, and heavily rewarding me on the other, pressuring me to share cultivation resources in an attempt to undermine my popularity."

"I have no choice but to seek another path. Besides, I'm young. Breaking a few city rules and reaching into the black market isn't too outrageous. The other three powers will surely 'understand'!"

Sun Lingtong pondered for a moment, then nodded, agreeing with Ning Zhuo's analysis. "Little brother, you see things very clearly. This is indeed a rare opportunity for you, as a Ning family member, to take over the black market."

"Then let's make a big move!"

Sun Lingtong continued his analysis: "To quickly secure the black market, the key players are the three gangs and the three lone operators."

"The three gangs are the Viper Gang, the Turtle Breath Gang, and the Heron Beak Gang. The three lone operators are Feng Heizi, the One-Armed Artisan, and 'Not-Clean-Not-Pure'."

"Correct," Ning Zhuo nodded.

As the mysterious figure 'Childhood Guest,' he had assisted Sun Lingtong over several years in integrating the current black market and was very familiar with its factions and key figures.

Ning Zhuo said, "The Viper Gang has been the most unruly, especially after you were wanted, brother. They aggressively took over our base."

"Hmph!"

"This time, I'll order the Monkey Head Gang to launch a strong attack on the Viper Gang, make an example of them, and establish our authority!"

"Then, with the support of the Ning family managers and the Monkey Head Gang, I'll pressure the Heron Beak Gang into submission."

Sun Lingtong agreed: "Feasible! The leaders and elders of the Heron Beak Gang are mostly bullies who fear the strong. We did the same back in the day."

"As for the Turtle Breath Gang, that will rely on you, brother," Ning Zhuo said to Sun Lingtong.

Sun Lingtong laughed heartily. "Who would have thought that the now-mysterious Turtle Breath Gang started as a group of beggers practicing turtle breath technique to enter hibernation and stave off hunger?"

"It was you, little Zhuo, who pitied them and saw their potential, asking me to出面 and secretly teach their leader some theft techniques."

"These beggers proved themselves, gradually developing into the current Turtle Breath Gang."

"I will personally出面, secretly order the Turtle Breath Gang leader to潜伏到你身边, both to monitor and await my future return."

The Turtle Breath Gang leader didn't know the true identity of 'Childhood Guest' but remained grateful to Sun Lingtong. On the surface, the Turtle Breath Gang kept its distance from Sun Lingtong, but in reality, they had always been his capable subordinates. A significant portion of Sun Lingtong's intelligence came from the Turtle Breath Gang's efforts.

(End of )