I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

Late at night, fires broke out simultaneously in multiple locations throughout Chuyang City.

In the east of the city, Meng Yan's Baicaotang was surrounded by the Chuyang City Guard.

Dozens of cultivators dressed in standard spirit armor poured in simultaneously from three directions: the rooftop, the wall, and the street, their movements perfectly synchronized.

The soles of the boots made a dull, rapid sound as they stepped on the tiles and bluestone floor.

Clearly, this whole thing had been rehearsed countless times.

Someone broke in through the window, sending shards of wood flying.

Someone kicked open the back door, and the door panel crashed to the ground;

Several others hovered in mid-air on flying swords, their sword light flashing like ribbons, blocking all escape routes from above.

The team was led by Lin Xuanjing.

He was dressed in a blue robe, his spear pointed diagonally, and his steps were like the wind as he headed straight for the backyard.

Meng Yan was captured in the training room without even a chance to resist.

He had just woken up from his meditation, his eyes still glazed from the exertion of his internal energy, his pupils not yet focused, when two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators pressed down on his shoulders, one on each side.

Those two hands were like iron clamps, firmly gripping his Jianjing acupoint. His spiritual energy stagnated, and he shrunk by half.

Lin Xuanjing quickly stepped forward and slapped the talisman onto his dantian.

A cold stream of spiritual energy pierced his dantian like a needle, instantly sealing off his dantian.

With his spiritual power sealed, Meng Yan was like a fish out of water; his body stiffened abruptly and then went limp.

His eyes widened, his mouth opened and closed, and before he could utter a single word, he was dragged out of the training room.

The dim light reflected on his face, revealing disbelief and despair on his ordinary features.

……

In the abandoned mill on the outskirts of the city, three spies are exchanging intelligence.

The mill had been out of operation for many years; the millstones were covered in dust, and thick cobwebs clung to the corners of the walls.

They were very alert, and when they heard any noise in the distance, they tried to escape through the back door, but the back door had already been blocked.

Two cultivators stood outside the door, each holding a shield with a shimmering spiritual light on its surface, sealing the exit completely.

One of them tried to resist, suddenly drawing a long, black sword with blood-red patterns on its blade, pulsating slightly like veins.

The other person quickly pulled out a teleportation talisman from his pocket, bit his tongue and spat out a mouthful of blood essence. The talisman instantly ignited with a blue flame.

His figure had just transformed into a streak of light when he was caught by a large net that descended from the sky.

The network cable is made of a mixture of spirit silkworm silk and black iron wire, covered with runes, and the more you struggle, the tighter it gets entangled.

He struggled desperately in the net, but was squeezed deeper and deeper, until he could only let out muffled groans.

The battle ended in a matter of moments, with one dead and two wounded.

The dead man had a flying sword piercing his chest and pinned him to the millstone. His eyes were still open, but his pupils were already dilated.

……

In the residential area of ​​Chuyang City, a spy disguised as a rogue cultivator is taking care of a spirit bird.

He heard a commotion in the distance and looked around sharply. His divine sense spread out like a spider web, and he sensed several unfamiliar auras approaching from different directions.

He reached into his robes and pulled out a black pill with fine cracks on its surface, emitting a bitter smell.

That was the "Death Pill" issued by the Shadow Hall. It would kill the user within three breaths, leaving no trace.

He held the pill between his fingers, about to put it in his mouth.

A beam of silver light shot from the side and struck his wrist precisely.

"Crack!" The crisp sound of bones breaking was particularly clear in the night. The pill rolled to the ground, and his right hand hung limply, with a deep bloodstain on his wrist, and blood dripping from his fingertips.

Two guards scaled over the wall and, with the speed of cheetahs, pinned him to the ground from either side.

A pair of spirit locks fastened to his wrists, the chains making a soft metallic scraping sound as they tightened.

……

North of the city, an inn.

A middle-aged woman, who appeared to be an undercover agent, was packing her belongings in a guest room.

She folded several pieces of clothing and put them into her bundle, her movements unhurried, but her ears twitched slightly as she kept listening for any sounds from downstairs.

Footsteps, shouts, and the dull thuds of tables and chairs falling to the ground.

Her brows furrowed more and more, and her hand unconsciously reached for the short sword at her waist.

The next moment, the door was kicked open, and several guards filed in, their magical weapons pointed at her throat.

……

The operation was launched simultaneously from all locations.

The network that Shadow Hall had painstakingly built up over many years in Chuyang City was almost completely destroyed overnight.

Some spies were captured in their sleep, their bodies still warm in the blankets, their eyes glazed over by the light.

Some were intercepted on their escape route, their flying swords being struck down by a restriction as soon as they took off.

Some who tried to resist were killed on the spot, lying in pools of blood, their magical weapons still buzzing.

Many were killed or injured, and a few survivors were imprisoned in the dungeon of the city lord's mansion.

In the dimly lit passageway, the sound of chains dragging on the ground and suppressed groans rose and fell, echoing dully against the damp stone walls.

The battle broke out in the darkness of night and ended quickly.

The fires in the city gradually died down, leaving only wisps of smoke drifting in the night sky, like a few sighs about to dissipate in the darkness.

The number of patrolling guards was several times greater than usual, and the sound of hurried footsteps and deep commands could be heard from time to time on the streets. The torchlight cast long shadows on the stone pavement.

The monks and merchants kept their doors and windows tightly shut, not daring to peek out.

They didn't know what had happened, only that this night was anything but peaceful.

Yan Shuming stood with his hands behind his back on the high building of the city lord's mansion, his clothes fluttering gently in the night wind.

He gazed calmly at the few remaining flames in the city that had not yet been completely extinguished.

He calmly said only one word to Zhang Mo behind him.

"Trial."

……

The interrogation took place in the dungeon of the city lord's mansion.

That was one of the most eerie places in Chuyang City.

Every few steps along the stone walls on both sides of the passageway, a dim oil lamp is embedded.

The wick hissed in the murky lamp oil, and the dim, yellowish light could not illuminate the mottled water stains and unidentified dark marks on the wall.

The air was thick with dampness, mold, and a faint, almost imperceptible smell of blood, all mixed together to create a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere, making even breathing feel difficult.

Zhang Mo personally oversaw the operation.

He sat behind a stone table, a thick stack of interrogation records spread out in front of him, the paper yellowed slightly in the candlelight.

A cup of hot tea sat on the corner of the table, but the tea had long since gone cold, yet he hadn't drunk a drop.

His expression was calm, but the light in his eyes was as cold as ice, sweeping over each of the secret agents who were brought in.

The results of the interrogation surprised Yan Shuming.

Those spies were very stubborn.

Some feigned madness, with blood and foam in their mouths, spouting incoherent nonsense that no one could understand;

Some remained silent, refusing to utter a single word no matter how they were pressed, their lips pressed into a thin line, their eyes fixed straight at the wall;

Some even committed suicide by poisoning themselves before being arrested.

The venom sacs hidden in their teeth can be fatal with just a light bite.

When the guards pried open their mouths, they found only mouthfuls of black blood and rotten tongue roots.

Those who survived didn't reveal anything of value.

The content of the story didn't match up at all.

Some say he is a disciple of a small sect, some say he is an informant for the Loose Cultivator Alliance, and others say he is just a spy who is paid to do things.

Everyone has a different account of the organization's name, origin, and purpose in Chuyang City.

However, their identities, origins, and activity patterns all point to one fact: these people have received rigorous training.

No matter how they interrogate, all they can say are meaningless platitudes; they won't utter a single word about what they can't say.

These people have been lurking in Chuyang City for many years with unclear motives, and they are definitely not good people.

As for the man surnamed Meng, he knew absolutely nothing when asked.

He readily admitted to reselling Bloodthorn Vine.

They even detailed every transaction Han Guang made, every share of the profits, and every channel he used, pointing out even the hidden ledgers tucked away in the interlayer of the ledger.

But apart from that, no matter what you ask, he refuses to say anything.

"I'm just a merchant who trades in rare herbs."

His dantian was sealed, and he knelt on the cold ground with his hands bound behind his back by iron chains, the other end of which was nailed to an iron ring on the wall.

His face was as pale as paper, his lips were dry and cracked, and the stray hairs on his forehead were stuck to his skin with sweat.

"Those people came to me because I could get cheap spiritual herbs, which would provide them with a stable route to sell their stolen goods."

His voice was hoarse, but he spoke clearly, word by word: "I don't know who they are, and I don't want to know. Of course, if you want to cooperate, I can provide you with the necessary channels!"

Zhang Mo stared at him for a long time.

He has met many stubborn people.

Some couldn't withstand the torture and confessed after three days;

Some endured for three months, but in the end, they had to pour out their grievances.

But there aren't many people like Meng Yan, or like this organization, who aren't even afraid of death.

Those people would rather bite into the poison sac than live another moment.

This is not loyalty, it is fear—fear of the organization, more than fear of death.

"Continue the interrogation," he said to the jailer beside him, his voice low but firm: "Don't stop."

……

In the city lord's mansion, Yan Shuming sat in his study.

On the long table lay the interrogation summary sent by Zhang Mo, the paper densely covered with tiny characters, the ink varying in shades.

He rested one hand on his forehead and gently ran the other across the paper, his gaze fixed on the fragmented testimonies.

It has no name.

It has no origin.

There is no purpose.

A group of people of unknown origin have been lurking in Chuyang City for over a decade, operating a dark web that covers the entire city, with no clear purpose.

"Master, these people are probably not simple." Zhang Mo stood beside him and said in a low voice.

His voice was a little hoarse, and his throat was slightly tight when he spoke, clearly indicating that he had not slept all night.

"They have undergone rigorous training, are tight-lipped, and have extremely strong mental fortitude. They don't seem like an ordinary independent cultivator organization. I suspect... there might be a larger force behind them."

Yan Shuming remained silent for a moment; he had guessed this as well.

"No matter who is behind them, now that they've been removed, they won't be able to cause any trouble in the short term."

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the carved wooden window.

"Han Guang of Bloodthorn Forest, deal with him according to the rules." Yan Shuming didn't turn around; his voice drifted in from the window, carrying the chill of the night.

"Make him pay back whatever he embezzled. If he can't, find a way to make him disappear afterward."

"The rest of them, kill those who should be killed, imprison those who should be imprisoned, and continue to interrogate those who are still alive. If they can't get anything out of them, keep them locked up until they talk."

He paused, his gaze falling on the deep night outside the window.

The outline of the Fulong Mountains in the distance was faintly visible under the moonlight, like a sleeping giant, breathing deeply and slowly.

"As for that guy surnamed Meng..."

Yan Shuming tapped lightly twice on the window frame with his fingers.

"Let's keep it for now."

Zhang Mo was slightly taken aback, then lowered his head.

"Yes."

…………

Only two hours after the incident, the headquarters of the Shadow Hall of the Rebellious Demon Palace, thousands of miles away, had already learned of the news.

The Shadow Hall's intelligence transmission system is extremely efficient.

Through a series of interconnected communication arrays, messages can travel thousands of miles in a very short time.

The secret chamber was located deep underground in the Demon Palace of Rebellion. Its walls were made of black steel that could isolate divine sense, and it had no windows. Only a few eerie green spirit lamps floated on the ceiling, illuminating the entire chamber as if it were a ghostly place.

On either side of the long stone table sat several figures dressed in dark robes, their faces appearing unpredictable under the dim green light.

The communication jade slip slowly rotated on the table, emitting a faint spiritual light.

The message was brief: the Chuyang City branch has lost contact.

Meng Yan was arrested, more than a dozen undercover agents went missing, their hideout was destroyed, and the network was paralyzed.

Reason: Meng Yan was involved in the illegal trade of Bloodthorn Vine, and the City Lord's Mansion followed the trail and arrested him in one fell swoop.

"idiot!"

A deep voice boomed in the sealed room.

The sound was like muffled thunder, making the jade slip on the table jump.

The speaker was a middle-aged man dressed in a dark red robe, with a sinister face and an aura of coldness and sharpness.

He is the deputy leader of the Shadow Hall, surnamed Li, with the given name "Feng". He has reached the Golden Core stage and is ruthless. He is known for his cold-bloodedness in the Shadow Hall.

"I've said it before, don't let your subordinates get involved in those shady businesses!"

Li Feng slammed his palm on the stone table, causing it to tremble slightly and leaving a shallow palm print with fine cracks spreading outwards from the edges.

"Reselling spiritual items? How could he even think of that! He's completely disgraced my Shadow Hall!"

His voice echoed in the secret chamber, causing the eerie green lamps to sway slightly.

The monks sitting on either side of him had different expressions.

Some bowed their heads and remained silent, some glanced sideways at the person in the main seat, and some had blank expressions, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Sitting opposite him was an elderly man with white hair and beard.

The old man had a gaunt face with slightly protruding cheekbones, his eyes were slightly closed, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were as if carved by a knife, each one hiding the vicissitudes of time.

He was playing with two green jade beads in his hand, and the beads made a crisp sound when they collided.

He is the head of the Shadow Hall, surnamed Gu, named Tiannan. He is a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stage and has a very long tenure in the Reverse Fate Demon Palace. He lives a secluded life and rarely personally gets involved in specific affairs.

However, since this matter concerned the plans of the Demon Palace of Rebellion, he had no choice but to personally come forward to find out the reason.

"What's done is done, there's no point in assigning blame." Gu Tiannan's voice was calm and unhurried: "But the branch in Chuyang City cannot be shut down, the layout there is related to our big plan."

The jade bead in his hand paused for a moment, then continued to spin.

Li Feng suppressed his anger, sat back in his chair, took a deep breath to calm his surging rage, and asked in a calm voice, "How many capable people are left over there?"