After paying a small fee at the city gate, the four—Xiao Heng, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Ran—entered the bustling city. The streets teemed with people, and the order here was surprisingly well-maintained, unlike the chaotic, lawless reputation of the Black-Corner Region. Perhaps the presence of Rakshasa Sect's experts keeps the city in check, Xiao Heng mused. Outside these walls, it's likely a different story.
Strolling through the city, they quickly located the city lord's mansion without needing to ask for directions. The grand entrance bore the glowing words "Rakshasa Sect" in bold, shimmering characters.
The sect's leader, Su Mei, was a four-star Dou Huang and the eighth-ranked expert on the Black List—the only female Dou Huang in the region. A veteran fighter, her talent was average, and without significant opportunities, her strength had plateaued. In the Black-Corner Region, Dou Zong experts didn't appear on the Black List. The second-ranked was Han Feng, the traitor who backstabbed Yao Lao, a peak Dou Huang and sixth-grade alchemist. Only the Gold and Silver Elders outranked him.
Hiring an alchemist to boost one's strength came at a steep cost, with no guarantee the pills were untainted. Han Feng, the region's sole sixth-grade alchemist, charged exorbitant rates, a key reason why local experts progressed slowly. Cultivating or recruiting alchemists was impractical.
At a tea stall near the city lord's mansion, Xiao Heng, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Ran sat together. Zi Ran, the human name Xiao Yi Xian gave the Black Scale Poison Mosquito, was her "fire slave." Despite his beastly nature, Xiao Yi Xian could control his life and death through the Blue Devouring Purple Flame embedded in him.
"What's the situation inside?" Xiao Heng asked.
"One four-star Dou Huang and three Dou Wangs: an eight-star, a seven-star, and a five-star," Zi Ran reported.
Xiao Yi Xian nodded. "That matches what we heard."
"Perfect. The Rakshasa Sect's leadership is all there. We'll take them down in one go," Xiao Heng said.
The four rose and slipped into a nearby alley. Xiao Yi Xian's pale hand grasped Xiao Heng and Qing Lin, and with a subtle ripple in space, they vanished.
Inside the city lord's mansion, the grand hall was a spectacle of opulence. Nine gilded dragon-patterned lanterns hung from the vaulted ceiling, their candlelight filtering through multicolored glass shades, casting vibrant hues across the cloud-patterned ceiling. Eight red-lacquered pillars, wrapped with lifelike bronze dragons, bore silver bells that chimed softly in the breeze. The floor, paved with flawless white jade tiles, was inlaid with gold-threaded lotus patterns. A massive luminescent stone at the center bathed the room in a radiant glow.
Flanking the hall were rosewood shelves displaying jade screens and agate ornaments. Incense burners emitted curls of smoke, blending dragon's blood and agarwood scents. Beyond twelve intricately carved screens, silk curtains embroidered with cranes and clouds swayed gently. Attendant maids stood silently, while a woman occupied the central seat.
To her left sat two men in black leather, and to her right, a woman in revealing attire, her fiery demeanor unmistakable. On the main seat, a gilded dragon chair cushioned with black silk held Su Mei, a captivating beauty.
Her skin gleamed like polished jade, her long, slanted eyes accented with a dab of dark purple rouge at the corners, evoking a mandrake blooming in the night. Her lips, perpetually curved in a faint smile, exuded allure with every gesture. Loose strands of raven hair framed her swan-like neck, enhancing its elegance. Her deep purple-black gown, woven with subtle patterns, featured a plunging neckline that revealed delicate collarbones and creamy skin. A gem-encrusted chain cinched her slender waist, while the skirt's thorn-like embroidery shimmered with silver threads as she tapped the armrest.
An invisible pressure radiated from her, her four-star Dou Huang aura surging like a tide, chilling the air with faint energy ripples. Her half-lidded eyes, lazy yet sharp, held a venomous edge, deterring direct gazes.
"Sect Leader, the Blood Sect's gone too far, killing so many of our brothers," the fiery woman, Su Qian, fumed. A five-star Dou Wang, she was the weakest of Su Mei's three subordinates.
"Su Qian, can't you rein in that temper?" the tall, lean Dou Wang said. An eight-star Dou Wang, he continued, "You know the Blood Sect's leader, Fan Lao, is no pushover. Why not avoid his men?"
"Exactly. Last time, we nearly fell into a trap. The Sect Leader was injured saving us and took half a year to recover," the pale-faced seven-star Dou Wang added.
"Enough, Su Qian. Be more cautious. I'm not far from five-star Dou Huang. We'll endure for now," Su Mei said, opening her eyes.
"If only we had an Emperor's Extreme Pill," the lean man sighed.
"That damned Han Feng, calling himself the Medicine Emperor. He wants to annex us just to refine one Emperor's Extreme Pill—and we'd still need to supply the materials!" Su Qian cursed.
"No choice. Han Feng's the only one in the Black-Corner Region who can refine it. A peak Dou Huang, he names his price, and we're helpless," the pale-faced man said, shaking his head.
Su Mei's face clouded with frustration. Without submitting to others, they could only cultivate slowly. Her luck had been poor, with no major opportunities. Just endure.
"If only a master alchemist would drop from the sky," Su Qian said, propping her chin on her hands.
"Dream on. If an alchemist fell from the heavens, I'd eat this table!" the pale-faced man scoffed.
"Hmph!" Su Qian shot him a glare.
"I can make that wish come true," an unfamiliar male voice echoed through the hall.
"Who's there?" Su Mei leapt to her feet, her four-star Dou Huang aura flooding the room. Finding no trace of the intruder, she stood so swiftly her shapely legs were briefly exposed.
Su Qian, the lean man, and the pale-faced man scanned the room warily. "Stop looking. We're here," Xiao Heng said, as he, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin, and Zi Ran appeared silently behind Su Mei.
A terrifying pressure swept the hall, suppressing Su Mei's surging Dou Qi before it could erupt.
"Dou… Dou Zong!" Su Mei gasped, turning to face the four, her eyes wide with shock.
"May I ask what brings you here? The Rakshasa Sect hasn't offended you, has it?" she asked respectfully.
"That Sect Leader's quite a looker," Qing Lin piped up.
Xiao Heng shook his head and addressed the group. "We have no grudge against you. We've simply taken a liking to the Rakshasa Sect and plan to assimilate it. Swallow these."
Four wisps of blue flame materialized before them.