Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

Midnight,

The Shangguan family mansion was quiet.

Only a few patrol lanterns swayed in the wind.

Jing Ni's communication token suddenly lit up.

She picked it up and glanced at it, her expression changing slightly. She turned to Shangguan Hong and said in a deep voice:

"The imperial court has received word of this and is assembling the imperial guards to surround the four great families."

"Gather the rest of your people immediately! We must leave right now!"

Shangguan Hong's pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed urgently, "How could it be so fast?"

Jingjingni frowned, her longsword already half an inch from its sheath, its cold light gleaming.

"Stop talking nonsense and hurry up!"

"Okay, okay!"

Shangguan Hong nodded repeatedly, then looked at Jing Ni.

"What about the Nangong family...?"

"You don't need to worry about it," Jingni interrupted him.

"Our people will take them to meet outside the city."

Shangguan Hong asked no further questions, turned around and called out loudly towards the inner courtyard:

"Members of the Shangguan family, assemble at the ancestral hall immediately!"

As soon as the words were spoken, lights began to illuminate various parts of the mansion, and figures began to converge towards the ancestral hall.

A moment later, the remaining members of the Shangguan family had gathered, most of them looking terrified.

Jing Ni and Hei Bai Xuan Jian exchanged a glance, and the two of them stepped into the entrance of the secret passage first:

"Keep up!"

The group filed in, their figures quickly disappearing into the darkness.

At the same time, at the Nangong family residence.

Upon receiving the message, Yan Ri also acted decisively.

They gathered the remaining members of the Nangong family and quietly evacuated.

……

An incense stick later, inside Qianzhou City.

The four groups of people rushed toward the mansions of the four major families.

The temple's officials, the Shadow Guards, and the Imperial Guards joined forces to surround the four mansions.

Outside the Dongfang family mansion, Qian Yuan stood in mid-air, gazing at the tightly closed vermilion gate, and spoke loudly to the surroundings:

"The Dongfang family, as high-ranking officials of the imperial court, have acted recklessly and arbitrarily for many years, forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices. The evidence against them is irrefutable!"

"Today, I, the King, am hereby ordered to apprehend him. Anyone who dares to resist will be executed without exception!"

"yes!"

The Imperial Guards and Shadow Guards behind them responded in unison, their voices echoing through the night sky.

The council hall of the Dongfang family mansion.

The elders were pale, restless, and their voices trembled.

"It's over, it's over, the imperial court has really made its move!"

"I didn't expect it to come so quickly..."

"Master, what should we do? Is our Dongfang family doomed today?"

The head of the Dongfang family, Dongfang Wu, slammed his fist on the table and roared:

"Shut up, all of you! What's the panic about!"

Before he could finish speaking, a loud bang was heard.

Bang!

The mansion's main gate was smashed to pieces.

"Everyone from the Dongfang family, come out and surrender immediately!"

A roar came from outside the door from the Imperial Guard Commander.

Just then, an old figure appeared at the entrance of the ceremonial hall; it was none other than Dongfang Wei, the patriarch of the Dongfang family.

"Ancestor!" Everyone quickly stood up.

Dongfang Wei waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Let's go, come with me to see Prince Yuan."

After saying that, he took the lead and walked out, followed closely by Dongfang Wu and a group of clansmen, all of them holding weapons tightly in their hands.

Soon they arrived at the mansion gate. Dongfang Wei looked at Qian Yuan in mid-air and cupped his hands, saying:

"This old man greets Prince Yuan."

Qian Yuan looked down at him, his tone icy:

"Dongfang Wei, enough with the nonsense."

"Surrender, and perhaps you will have a chance to live."

"If you dare to resist, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Dongfang Wei sighed inwardly, knowing that the situation was hopeless, and took a deep breath, saying:

"Prince Yuan, I am willing to surrender, I only ask that the lives of the rest of my Dongfang family be spared."

"Hmph! You have no right to bargain."

Qian Yuan's eyes turned cold, he snorted, then changed the subject, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect towards the palace:

"However, His Majesty is merciful and, considering your past service to the court, will grant you a way out."

"All you need to do is implant the slave mark on everyone in your Dongfang family,"

"And you and Dongfang Wu must swear an oath to Heaven, entering the Hall of Offerings to serve the court."

He is forbidden from interfering in family affairs for the rest of his life, and is forbidden from betraying the imperial court.

Dongfang Wei's expression changed drastically:

"Prince Yuan, are you really going to drive my Dongfang family to the brink of destruction?"

"You can disagree." Qian Yuan's eyes sharpened.

"After today, the Dongfang family will cease to exist. I'll give you three breaths to consider!"

"three!"

"two!"

"one!"

As soon as Qian Yuan finished speaking, he raised his voice and said:

"All personnel, listen to my command! Every member of the Dongfang family, without exception, kill them all!"

"yes!"

The Imperial Guards and Shadow Guards instantly gripped their weapons, assuming an offensive stance.

Looking at the terrified faces of his clansmen behind him, Dongfang Wei felt a pang of pain in his heart, and finally said dejectedly:

"I promise... my Dongfang family... will be slaves of the imperial court for generations to come!"

"Ancestor! You mustn't!"

"How can my Dongfang family become slaves to others!"

"How can I continue to live in such humiliation!"

The people were filled with grief and indignation, crying out and their faces were full of resentment.

"Shut up, all of you!" Dongfang Wei shouted sternly.

"Lay down your weapons and surrender!"

Although the clansmen were unwilling, under the authority of their ancestor,

They slowly put down their weapons and knelt down one by one.

Qian Yuan nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad! A wise man knows when to yield."

"Everyone, unleash your divine senses! I am about to implant a slave mark upon you!"

Seeing the despair in his people's eyes, Dongfang Wei closed his eyes and gave the order again:

"Everyone, do as I say, no resistance!"

As the Qian Yuan circulated its cultivation technique, subtle marks were implanted into the bodies of the Dongfang family members.

Dongfang Wei and Dongfang Wu also made a vow to Heaven in front of everyone.

Just then, a shadow guard quickly approached Qian Yuan and whispered:

"Your Highness, the head of the Beiming family rebelled and has been killed by the Second Elder."

The patriarch of the Beiming family, Beiming Shan, stepped forward, willing to lead the Beiming family into servitude, having already discovered the Heavenly Oath.

"Very good." Qian Yuan nodded.

"Now, only the Shangguan family and the Nangong family remain."

No sooner had he finished speaking than two more Shadow Guards rushed over:

"Report! Your Highness! The Shangguan and Nangong family residences are deserted!"

"The Shadow Commander and the Three Elders have already led their men in pursuit!"

"What?" Qian Yuan's face darkened.

"Those two companies acted quickly!"

"Men, immediately seal off the entire city of Qianzhou!"

"Anyone encountered from the Shangguan or Nangong families must be killed without exception!"

"yes!"

Upon hearing that the Shangguan and Nangong families had escaped, Dongfang Wu, who was standing to the side, had a flash of jealousy and resentment in his eyes.

Why should the Dongfang family be enslaved for generations, while they are able to escape unscathed?

He gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and said:

"Your Highness, I am willing to pursue the Shangguan and Nangong families!"

Qian Yuan glanced at him, a cold smile playing on his lips.

He naturally understood Dongfang Wu's thoughts, but he didn't point them out:

"Alright, then go and assist the Shadow Commander and the Three Elders."

He then looked at Dongfang Wei: "You come too."

"Yes!" Dongfang Wei and Dongfang Wu bowed and accepted the order, then flew away.

Qian Yuan watched the two figures disappear into the distance, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Ha, what four great families? They're nothing but a bunch of selfish and self-serving people."

"Fine, let you dogs fight it out."

Qian Yuan turned to one of the Shadow Guards and said:

"Go and inform Bei Mingshan to also pursue the Shangguan and Nangong families."

"yes!"

.......

Outside Qianzhou City, in a secluded mountain valley.

The Shangguan and Nangong families met here, and the atmosphere remained heavy.

Suddenly, two figures appeared in the ravine; it was Zhao Gao and Wei Zhuang, who had come to provide support.

Upon seeing the two, Jing Ni, Hei Bai Xuan Jian, Yan Ri, and the other members of the Xi Yu Lou all knelt on one knee.

"Greetings to the two deputy heads!"

Zhao Gao waved his hand: "Get up, all of you."

Shangguan Hong, Shangguan Lie, Nangong Lin, and Nangong Gong hurriedly stepped forward, cupped their hands, and said:

"Greetings, fellow Daoists!"

Nangong Gong sized up Zhao Gao and Wei Zhuang, sensing their cultivation levels.

Upon discovering that they were not much different from each other, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

He stepped forward, rubbed his hands together, and said:

"Hehe... Fellow Daoists, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should?"

Zhao Gao raised an eyebrow: "Speak freely."

Nangong Gong chuckled awkwardly: "Then let me be frank, it's not that I don't trust you two, but..."

But... did the Drizzle Pavilion only send two Celestial Realm experts this time?

Zhao Gao looked at him with a half-smile:

"What, you think the two of us aren't good enough?"

"No, no, fellow Daoist, you've misunderstood!"

Nangong Gong hurriedly waved his hand.

"I just felt that the imperial army's pursuers would definitely come with great force."

If it were just a few of us celestial beings, I'm afraid we wouldn't be able to withstand it.

You can rest assured.

Zhao Gao said calmly, "Even if a terrestrial immortal were to come to the Great Qian Dynasty, someone would deal with him."

Nangong Gong finally breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good."

"Alright, enough with the nonsense." Zhao Gao changed the subject.

"I have received word that the imperial pursuers are upon us."

"Among them are your 'old friends,' Dongfang Wei and Beimingshan."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Lie's face darkened, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes:

"Could it be... that they've submitted to the imperial court?"

"Not bad." Zhao Gao nodded.

"Their families were branded with the mark of slavery, destined to be slaves for generations to come."

"And the two powerful beings who are at the Heavenly Realm also swore an oath to serve the imperial court for life."

Nangong Gong snorted coldly:

"Hmph! I never expected those two old bastards, Dongfang Wei and Beiming Shan, to be so spineless!"

Shangguan Lie was also furious: "Yes, it's a huge disgrace to our four great families!"

Zhao Gao chuckled inwardly upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "Don't you feel ashamed to run away beforehand?"

He then looked at Shangguan Lie and Nangong Gong and said:

"Your two family heads should lead your clansmen onward to Qingzhou."

"You two, stay here with us and buy time for your clans to meet your old friends, shall we?"

A fierce glint flashed in Nangong Gong's eyes:

"Alright! When the time comes, Dongfang Wei and Beiming Mountain will be handed over to us."

Shangguan Lie nodded: "That's exactly what I was thinking!"

"good!"

Zhao Gao had no objection when he heard that the two wanted to fight his old friend.

Subsequently, Shangguan Hong and Nangong Lin led their clansmen...

Guided by the assassins from the Drizzle Tower, they continued their journey towards Qingzhou.

In the mountain valley, only Zhao Gao, Wei Zhuang, Shangguan Lie, Nangong Gong, and Jing Ni and other top-tier assassins remained.