Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Fine Rain Pavilion, Qianzhou Branch Pavilion.

Zhao Gao's figure appeared silently inside the building.

Upon seeing this, Hei Bai Xuan Jian and Jing Ni immediately stood up and bowed:

"leader!"

Zhao Gao waved his hand, looked at the two men, and smiled:

"Haha, you two don't need to call me leader anymore like you did in my previous life. Just call me deputy leader."

"clear!"

Hei Bai Xuan Jian and Jing Ni responded in unison.

"Alright, let's get down to business."

Zhao Gao suppressed his smile and said in a deep voice,

"You two go and gather a group of men, and tomorrow you will secretly go to the Shangguan family."

"Three days later, cover their evacuation from Qianzhou!"

"Yes!" The two accepted the order and their figures disappeared instantly.

.....

On the other side, at the Nangong family mansion, the atmosphere was equally heavy.

Nangong Lin looked at the elders below and spoke in a deep voice:

"I just received a message from Shangguan Hong. They have decided to evacuate in three days and have asked Xiyu Tower for protection."

The elders were all taken aback upon hearing this.

Shangguan Hongcai came to discuss the matter yesterday, and the decision was finalized today. He truly acted swiftly and decisively.

An elder stood up and asked, "Patriarch, what are the plans for the Nangong family?"

Nangong Lin glanced at the elders present and said decisively:

"I've made my decision. My Nangong family will leave Qianzhou together with the Shangguan family!"

These words immediately caused an uproar in the hall.

"What? Patriarch, are you really sure?"

"Yes, don't we have any other options?"

"If we leave, our family's thousand-year-old business will cease to exist!"

"That's true, but will the Drizzle Pavilion be willing to let us accompany them?"

Nangong Lin glared angrily at the elders present.

"Quiet down, all of you!"

"Since Xiyulou has accepted the Shangguan family's business, there is no reason for them to refuse business that comes to their door."

"Just like the Shangguan family, we're offering 60% of our resources and 40% of our profits for the next 50 years, begging for their protection!"

Upon hearing this, the elders looked troubled.

"Master, isn't this...the price too high?"

"Perhaps the court is just monitoring us, and doesn't really intend to eliminate us?"

Nangong Lin glared angrily at the elder who had spoken.

"Did you get your brain caught in a door?"

"It's obvious the court intends to take action against us; they're just gathering evidence to silence public opinion!"

"Once they're ready, we're all doomed!"

The elder, his face flushed red from the scolding, lowered his head and said:

"The master is right to reprimand me; I was short-sighted."

"Alright, it's settled then." Nangong Lin waved his hand.

"I asked Shangguan Hong to help contact Xiyulou to see if it's possible to make the trip."

"yes!"

Soon, Shangguan Hong received a message from Nangong Lin.

He then contacted Zhao Gao via a jade slip and explained the Nangong family's request.

After listening, Zhao Gao responded calmly to the jade slip:

"Can."

"But both families have too many people to travel together."

"Starting tomorrow, I, Xiyulou, will lead the evacuation of Qianzhou in batches."

"As for who should go first and who should go last in your clan, you can discuss it yourselves."

Shangguan Hong quickly replied, "Yes, thank you, sir!"

After hanging up the message, Zhao Gao took out the token and infused it with spiritual power:

"Yanri, Yueji, Minghou, quickly lead your men to the Nangong family...!"

After making the arrangements, he glanced towards the capital, a cold smile playing on his lips:

"Hehehe, Great Qian Dynasty, let me, your humble servant, have a go at you!"

Subsequently, the Shangguan and Nangong families discussed the matter through communication and decided to allow the younger generation of both families to evacuate first.

....

The next day,

Hei Bai Xuan Jian and Jing Ni, along with dozens of assassins from the Xi Yu Lou, quietly arrived at the Shangguan family's residence.

Shangguan Hong quickly stepped forward to greet them: "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoists of Xiyu Tower!"

Jing Ni cut to the chase: "Does your Shangguan family have any secret passages?"

"Yes!" Shangguan Hong nodded.

"Have the arrangements been made for the people to evacuate first?"

"It's all set."

"Alright, have them assemble. I'll send someone to escort them through the secret passage first," Jingni instructed.

A moment later,

The younger generation of the Shangguan family and several elders responsible for escorting them had assembled.

Jing Ni turned to look at the four Earth-rank assassins behind her:

"Second, Fourth, Sixth, and Eighth Earthly Divisions, each of you take twenty Xuan-level assassins and escort them ahead!"

"yes!"

The four men accepted the order and led their team away quietly through the secret passage.

at the same time,

On the Nangong family's side, Yan Ri also arranged for four assassins with the rank of Earth: Earth Three, Earth Five, Earth Seven, and Earth Nine.

They escorted the younger generation of the Nangong family and several elders to evacuate through the secret passage.

……

Eternal Night Space, Monarch's Palace.

Cao Zhengchun carried the food box into the hall, arranged the dishes inside, and smiled at Ye Junlin, saying:

"Your Majesty, I noticed you haven't enjoyed the delicacies of Wenxianlou for a long time, so I brought you some."

Upon hearing this, Ye Junlin looked up and said, "Hmm, Lao Cao, you're the most considerate person when it comes to getting things done."

"It is a servant's duty to please the monarch," Cao Zhengchun said, bowing.

Ye Junlin took out a bottle of Wuliangye liquor from his system space.

He opened the glass, poured two cups, and pushed one of them toward Cao Zhengchun:

"Old Cao, want a drink?"

Cao Zhengchun quickly waved his hand:

"How dare a servant drink with the monarch? The monarch may drink by himself."

"It's alright, don't be shy, try my wine."

Cao Zhengchun dared not disobey, took the wine glass, took a small sip, and his eyes immediately lit up with amazement:

"Excellent wine!"

"It has a smooth and mellow taste, is sweet but not cloying, and refreshing without being overly dry."

"This servant has never tasted such a fine wine before. Even the amber wine brought back by Lord Dao Jue (Li Xunhuan) is not even a fraction as good as this!"

Ye Junlin chuckled inwardly. This was Wuliangye, a famous liquor on Blue Star, which he himself hadn't been willing to drink much of in his previous life.

"This wine is indeed rare."

He said casually, then changed the subject.

"By the way, judging from your expression just now, did you have some information to report?"

Cao Zhengchun quickly replied, "Yes. This servant just received news that Xiyu Tower has taken on a guard job."

Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow: "Oh? How come you've started a bodyguard business?"

Cao Zhengchun recounted how the Shangguan and Nangong families offered 60% of their resources and 40% of their profits over the next 50 years to Xiyulou for protection and to withdraw from Qianzhou.

"Haha, Su Muyu, Zhao Gao, and Wei Zhuang are trying to expand into new businesses."

Ye Junlin laughed loudly,

"That's not a bad approach."

"By the way, do they pass through my Tianzhou on their way from Qianzhou to Qingzhou?"

"That's right." Cao Zhengchun nodded.

A glint of light flashed in Ye Junlin's eyes:

"Alright. Then let's secretly help Xiyu Tower out."

"If the people of Daqian pursue us to Tianzhou, we'll find a pretext to annihilate them!"

"Understood! I will pass the message on immediately!"

Cao Zhengchun bowed and accepted the order, then turned and hurriedly left.

Ye Junlin picked up his wine glass, looked out the window, and smiled slightly.

"This move by Xiyu Tower is undoubtedly an attempt to confront the Great Qian Dynasty head-on!"

"However, with the Fiery Cloud Evil God currently overseeing the Fine Rain Pavilion, we have nothing to fear!"

"Even if something unexpected happens, I'll just take over from under the cover of eternal night!"

"The Great Qian Dynasty... Hahahaha, fearless!"

……

The Imperial Palace of the Great Qian Dynasty, Zichen Hall.

On the chessboard, black and white pieces are interspersed.

Emperor Qian Tian and Prince Yuan were engrossed in playing chess.

The hall was silent, except for the sound of pieces being placed.

"Your Majesty, the four great families have made unusual moves!"

The shadow appeared silently inside the hall.

He bowed and reported, breaking the tranquility of the hall.

Qian Tian paused slightly in his chess game, placed a piece, and said calmly, "Speak."

"Members of the Shangguan and Nangong families are gathering and returning to their ancestral lands."

The shadow said in a deep voice,

The heads of the Dongfang and Beiming families met privately for two hours.

Upon returning home, both families showed signs of gathering their clansmen.

A cold smile curled at the corner of Qian Tian's lips:

"It seems they've noticed."

"Knowing I'm about to take action against them, they're trying to escape?"

He put down the chess piece in his hand, stood up, his dragon robe fluttering, exuding an air of majesty:

"Send the order: immediately assemble the Imperial Guards and surround the residences of the four great families!"

"At the same time, we will expose the crimes committed by the four major families over the years to the world!"

"Yes!" The shadow acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Qian Tian looked at Qian Yuan beside him and said in a deep voice:

"Your Majesty, you will lead all the retainers of the Imperial Palace on a mission."

"We must wipe out all four major families; leave no one alive!"

Qian Yuan placed the chess piece in his hand into the chess box, stood up, and bowed:

"Your subject obeys!"

After saying that, he turned and strode away.

Qian Tian stared at the unfinished game on the chessboard, his eyes flashing with cold light.

Then he picked up a chess piece and, with a "snap," placed it on the chessboard.

"These four great families, this time I will ensure your utter annihilation!"

.....