Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

The mansion of the eldest son of the Shangguan family was brightly lit.

"Bang!"

Ping Pong

Shangguan Bo's face turned ashen. He kicked over the table in front of him, and cups and plates shattered on the floor with a jarring sound.

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

He pointed at his kneeling cronies, his anger barely contained.

"You can't even get past Shangguan Hong's gate, what use are you to me?!"

These confidants were all trusted men he had cultivated at great expense.

Now he can't even assassinate Shangguan Hong, how can he not be furious?

Just then, a scout stumbled in, a hint of panic on his face:

"Young Master, the imperial court... has given a reply!"

Shangguan Bo turned around abruptly, a hint of urgency flashing in his eyes: "Really?"

"Your Highness, the imperial court is willing to send a Celestial Realm expert to assist, but..."

The scout paused, then cautiously added,

"The other party said that if something unexpected happens along the way and they feel that things are beyond saving, they will immediately withdraw and no longer get involved."

"Ha! You old fox!"

Shangguan Bo sneered, instantly seeing through the court's scheme.

"They want me to bring the Emperor into submission, yet they're unwilling to take any risks. They've certainly played a clever game!"

He paced back and forth a few times, pondered for a moment, and then asked:

"Any news from Fine Rain Pavilion and Blood Slaughter Pavilion?"

Every bit of strength increases the chances of victory; he must ensure that nothing goes wrong.

The scout quickly replied, "The station at Xiyu Tower only said they would report it, but there has been no response yet."

"We've made contact with the Blood Slaughter Pavilion, but they're asking for double the price before they'll make a move."

"Double?"

Shangguan Bo frowned, then sneered.

"A bunch of money-grubbing bastards!"

"Tell them the price can be doubled, but I'll only pay half upfront, and the other half after it's done!"

"Yes, young master!"

……

Blood Killing Pavilion Qianzhou Branch.

"Reporting to you, sir, the other party has returned and has agreed to pay double the reward!"

"But you have to pay half upfront, and the other half will be given after you kill the target!"

A Blood Slaughter Pavilion assassin spoke to the branch leader above!

In the dimly lit hall, the branch leader listened to his subordinate's report, stroking his chin:

"He must be one of Shangguan Bo's men. The Shangguan family's affairs have been making headlines recently."

"Shangguan Bo is certainly willing to invest heavily."

"Double the pay is enough to keep the branch running for several months."

Recently, the reputation of the Fine Rain Pavilion has risen, taking away a lot of business from the Blood Slaughter Pavilion. The branch has long been in debt, and this deal is just the right solution to their urgent needs.

"Tell Shangguan Bo, I'll take this job!"

A glint of greed flashed in the branch leader's eyes, and he made the decision.

"Make him send the advance payment. Tonight, I will personally lead men to make Shangguan Hong and Shangguan Hui disappear completely!"

"yes!"

A moment later, several dark figures emerged from the branch headquarters, the leader of whom was none other than the branch leader at the peak of Nirvana.

They moved stealthily towards Shangguan Hong's villa, their presence concealed like venomous snakes in the night.

……

Shangguan Hong's villa, west wing.

The Six Sword Slaves sat cross-legged, seemingly resting with their eyes closed, but in reality, their spiritual senses had already enveloped the entire courtyard.

"They're here."

Zhen Gang suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning, shooting straight into the darkness outside the courtyard.

The other five opened their eyes at the same time, and their longswords instantly drew half an inch from their sheaths, their sharp edges piercing the air with a chilling killing intent.

In the darkness, a dozen shadowy figures darted into the courtyard wall like cats, their movements swift and silent—they were assassins from the Blood Killing Pavilion.

They had barely landed when they sensed something was wrong and tried to retreat, but it was too late.

"People from the Blood Killing Pavilion," Duan Shui whispered.

Zhengang's lips curled into a cold smile: "Send them on their way."

"kill!"

The six sword slaves attacked simultaneously, their six sword lights clashing with more than a dozen dark figures like shooting stars.

"Pfft!"

"ah--!"

The screams stopped abruptly almost immediately, and within a moment, silence returned to the courtyard.

Only a dozen or so corpses remained, each with a clean sword wound on its neck.

The Six Sword Slaves retreated silently back to the west courtyard, as if they had never moved.

Inside the bedroom, Shangguan Hong heard the commotion, pushed open the door, and looked at the corpse on the floor, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips:

"Blood Slaughter Pavilion... My two older brothers are really willing to go to great lengths."

"But with Xiyu Tower here, I can rest easy."

At this moment, above the clouds outside the villa, Su Muyu was carrying a person in her hand, who was none other than the branch leader of the Blood Slaughter Pavilion.

His dantian was sealed by Su Muyu's finger force, rendering him unable to move, and his eyes were filled with terror.

"You'd better tell me honestly, where is your Blood Slaughter Pavilion's headquarters?"

Su Muyu's tone was icy, her umbrella and sword pressed against his throat.

The branch leader raised his head to look at Su Muyu and said firmly:

"Don't even think about it! Go ahead and kill me if you dare!"

As a daredevil, he had long since disregarded life and death, so how could he possibly betray the Blood Slaughter Pavilion!

A hint of impatience flashed in Su Muyu's eyes: "You're quite stubborn! Since you're unwilling to talk, there's no point in keeping you around."

"Snap!"

With a sweep of his umbrella-shaped sword, the branch leader's neck snapped instantly.

Su Muyu casually tossed the body into Shangguan Hong's courtyard.

"Bang!"

The body hit the ground with a dull thud. Elder Qing and the others went forward to examine it.

He gasped in shock—this was actually a branch leader of the Blood Slaughter Pavilion!

"The Drizzle Pavilion... actually has a master lurking in the shadows!"

Elder Qing was deeply shocked, and his gaze toward the void was filled with awe.

Shangguan Hong bowed deeply to the void: "Thank you for your help, sir."

From the clouds outside the villa, Su Muyu's voice drifted softly:

"Since my Fine Rain Pavilion has agreed to help you, we will not let anything happen to you."

"Why don't you show yourself and rest for a while, my lord?" Shangguan Hong bowed again.

"No need."

The sound faded, and there was no response in the void; Su Muyu's presence had already vanished.

Shangguan Hong gazed at the night sky, a resolute look flashing in his eyes:

"I am determined to win the battle for family leadership in one day!"

……

The eldest son's residence, main hall.

The scout scrambled in, his face deathly pale:

"Young Master...no, something terrible has happened! The Blood Slaughter Pavilion members...are all dead! Even the branch leader couldn't return!"

"What?!"

Shangguan Bo was struck dumb, staggering back several steps before bumping into a pillar to regain his balance.

"That's a branch leader at the peak of Nirvana! How could that be..."

He simply couldn't believe that Shangguan Hong and his supporters, the top assassins of the Blood Killing Pavilion, would be completely wiped out!

"It seems my third brother, Shangguan Hong, must have some powerful backing!"

A sinister glint flashed in Shangguan Bo's eyes. "Only this can explain why even the Blood Slaughter Pavilion couldn't do anything to him?"

"And what about my second brother, Shangguan Hui?"

He suppressed his shock and pressed for an answer.

The scout said with a bitter face, "The Second Young Master's residence was well-prepared. The assassins were ambushed, and only a few escaped. The Second Young Master is safe and sound."

"Useless! All of you are useless!"

"The Blood Slaughter Pavilion is all talk and no action!"

Shangguan Bo completely lost control, grabbed a vase next to him, and smashed it to the ground.

"Bang!"

He was breathing heavily, a glint of madness flashing in his eyes:

"The imperial court's celestial-level experts... yes, the imperial court's celestial-level experts!"

"Send men to keep a close watch on Shangguan Hong and Shangguan Hui's residence. Report back immediately if they leave!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Shangguan Bo's eyes, and he shouted sharply.

"I must win tomorrow's duel! Even if it means... any means necessary!"

"Yes!" The scout dared not delay and quickly withdrew.

Inside the main hall, Shangguan Bo slumped in a chair, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

He had a vague feeling that this struggle for the position of family head seemed to have gotten out of his control, and that he had underestimated his two younger brothers.

But now, it's too late to back down.

Either ascend to the position of family head, or... be doomed forever!

All of this was observed by Su Muyu, who was hiding in the shadows.

He stood above the clouds, gazing in the direction of Shangguan Bo's residence, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

For him, the task was simply to ensure that Shangguan Hong won the martial arts competition and took the position of family head.

As for how much bloodshed might occur during the process, that's none of his business.

The swords of the Fine Rain Pavilion are only wielded for missions!