Summoning the Gods: Start by creating the Eternal Night.

The western district of Qingzhou City

The Fine Rain Pavilion stronghold.

Since Jing Ke and Yao Li guarded this place, this pavilion that appeared out of nowhere has been like a silent behemoth, lurking deep in the streets and alleys.

The demon-face carvings on the eaves gleamed with a cold luster in the sunlight.

The menacing aura emanating from the three large characters "Xiyu Lou" above the door seems capable of washing away all the surrounding noise.

In the council chamber on the ground floor of the attic, Jing Ke and Yao Li sat facing each other.

Jing Ke was dressed in black, his face was cold and stern, and his fingertips unconsciously rubbed the dagger at his waist;

Yao Li was thin and had sharp eyes like an eagle. He was wiping a short blade with his head down, and the light from the blade made half of his face light up and down.

Jing Ke spoke first, his voice low and deep.

"Judging by the time, they have been back in the Eternal Night Space reporting for quite some time now. The monarch should have made arrangements by now."

"Although the stronghold has been established, it is useless as an empty building. It can only function when we take on missions."

Yao Li paused in wiping his dagger, then looked up and said, "There's no need to rush. Your Majesty's plans are far-reaching; you must have your own arrangements."

As soon as they finished speaking, a commotion came from outside the courtyard. The two exchanged a glance and both stood up.

"They're here," Jing Ke said, his tone carrying a hint of understanding.

At this moment, four figures landed in front of the Fine Rain Pavilion.

It was Nie Zheng, Zhuan Zhu, Yu Rang, and Cao Mo.

"Is this where we will be stationed from now on?" Cao Mo looked up at the pavilion, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"This place may seem remote, but it is actually a place where the wind and energy gather, easy to defend and difficult to attack. The location is truly ingenious."

"It also displays an extraordinary aura, with the hidden power of a dragon coiled and a tiger crouching."

As they were talking, the door creaked open, and Jing Ke and Yao Li came out to greet them.

"Brother Nie Zheng, Brother Zhuan Zhu, you've finally arrived!" Jing Ke smiled and stepped forward to greet them.

"And who is this?" Jing Ke asked, looking at Cao Mo, one of the four.

Nie Zheng stepped forward and introduced Jing Ke: "This is Brother Cao Mo, a new companion summoned by the monarch, and like us, one of the Eight Guards."

"Oh! So it's Brother Cao Mo. I've long admired your name," Jing Ke said politely to Cao Mo.

Cao Mo clasped his hands in return, saying, "Brother Jing Ke, Brother Yao Li, from now on we are comrades. Please give me your guidance."

Despite his cold and aloof nature, Yao Li nodded: "Rooms have been prepared in the building. Please follow me."

The six people entered the building and saw that the lobby on the first floor was spacious and bright, with simple furnishings but exuding an air of majesty, and a landscape painting in ink hanging in the center.

Upon closer inspection, the rocks in the picture conceal a deadly trap; it is actually a defensive diagram outlined with an array.

Seeing that Cao Mo had just arrived and was unaware of the Xiyu Tower, Jing Ke introduced it to him:

"The stronghold is divided into three levels."

"The first floor is named Tingyutang, which served as the counter and reception area, a place to receive visitors or handle business."

"The second floor is called Guanyu Pavilion, which is the place where Xiyu Tower holds meetings and conducts intelligence analysis. It also contains a sand table."

"The three-story Mingwang Yutai is a place for the rest and cultivation of the senior members of Xiyulou. Standing by the railing, one can overlook the surrounding area for ten miles."

"The East Wing Listening to Rain Residence has one hundred guest rooms, exclusively for low- to mid-level cultivators of the Fine Rain Pavilion."

"The West Wing, Zhuyuxuan, is half tea room and half kitchen, providing a place for people to rest and eat."

The group strolled slowly along the corridor, their fingertips tracing the subtle patterns carved on the pillars.

A faint spiritual energy flowed within it, clearly indicating that the entire Xiyu Tower was shrouded in a protective formation.

The six entered the main hall, and Nie Zheng spoke first, relaying Ye Junlin's plans within the Eternal Night Space.

From the ingenious use of the main and secondary monuments for the bounty to the arrangements for everyone to work together to guard the stronghold and accept missions, nothing was too small.

Upon hearing this, Yao Li's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly turned into solemnity: "The main and secondary steles actually possess such supernatural powers?"

"It cannot be damaged by those below the terrestrial immortal realm, and it can also trigger warnings and strengthen formations... Having this item saves a lot of trouble."

Jing Ke nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty's move is to have us accept the mission secretly, so as to avoid being exposed!"

"Now that our six guards are all gathered together and the stronghold of Xiyu Tower has been established, our most urgent task is to find a suitable place to place the secondary stele, as instructed by the monarch."

"Then we need to discuss our next course of action."

Yu Rang's gaze swept around the hall, and he said in a deep voice, "The most urgent task is to find a suitable place in the black market to place the bounty notice."

"Second: We need to let others know that Xiyulou is now open for business."

Upon hearing this, Jing Ke looked at the crowd and said in a deep voice:

"The black market in Qingzhou City is the most well-informed place."

"As long as the news is spread, it will surely reach all corners of the world within three days."

"Brother Yaoli, we went to the black market last time. You are quite familiar with it, so let me go with you."

Yao Li simply replied with a soft "Okay".

Jing Ke then said, "Then the rest of the brothers should stay and guard the stronghold for now."

"Alright! Then the four of us will stay at the stronghold for now and wait for news from you two," Nie Zheng said.

With clear division of labor among the six people, the details were finalized in a short time.

Jing Ke and Yao Li immediately stood up, and with a flash, like two wisps of green smoke, they quickly left the Xiyu Tower and sped towards the black market.

Inside Tingyu Hall, Nie Zheng stared at the empty doorway, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Yu Rang walked up to him and said in a deep voice, "Our Fine Rain Pavilion stronghold is now established. It's time for us to rewrite the fate of the assassin world in the Eastern Region."

Nie Zheng nodded, his fingertips tracing the patterns on the iron seal, his voice low and firm:

"Yes! Before long, the name of my Fine Rain Pavilion will surely make the wicked people of the Eastern Region tremble with fear."

The rain had started to fall again, pattering against the carved ghost faces on the eaves, splashing up tiny droplets.

Within that cold luster, a storm seemed to be brewing that would sweep across Qingzhou.

In the black market, the sounds of hawking and arguing could be heard everywhere.

Jing Ke and Yao Li concealed their auras, moving like two shadows through the crowd.

"That burrowing rat from last time always hides in the gambling dens near 'Small Gold Shop'."

As he moved away from the low-profile path, his gaze swept across the low shack in front of him, which bore the wooden sign "Suijinfang" (meaning "Golden Brothel").

"Let's go in and find him," Jing Ke said.

The two pushed open the door and entered, the crisp sound of dice clashing and the shouts of gamblers hitting them.

In the corner, a hunched man with two mustaches was squatting by the table, his eyes darting around as he examined the dice cup on the table—it was none other than the Groundhog.

This man specializes in guiding people and gathering information in the black market. He is well-informed but knows how to maintain appropriate boundaries. Last time, when Jing Ke and his companion first came to the black market, it was thanks to him that they figured out the way.

Jing Ke stepped forward and tapped the wooden post behind the groundhog three times with his finger.

The groundhog froze, then whirled around. Seeing that it was two people, its face instantly broke into a fawning smile.

"Oh, you two are seniors! What brings you here today?"