As the first rays of the sun shone on Birch City, a team of soldiers gathered around a prominent shop in the City. The doors were not open for business yet, and the signboard was also not put up.

“This is the Medicine Store of the Monstrous Flame Sect?” Commander Lu asked the Patrolling Captain of the City Guards.

“Yes, Commander. The Medicinal pills and concoctions are sold on the counter outside and their Physicians sit in the hall inside.”

“Very well. Guards, break open the door for me. We will let these Sectarian bastards know the price of rebelling against the Lord!”

Commander Lu ordered without hesitation when he learned they were at the correct location. He gazed coldly at the door as if it had insulted his mother.

Hearing the command, the men began to smash their shoulders into the door without delay. As the door rattled from the impact, others watching from the sidelines cheered.

Scholars say humans have a destructive tendency. Judging from the glint in the eyes of these guards as they slammed into the door, one could tell they had embraced it.

After numerous slams, the door unhinged with a mighty bang and collapsed inside.

“Ransack the shelves and take everything of Value. If you see any dog of the Monstrous Flame Sect, burst his head open.”

Lu Shao ordered, taking the lead to rummage through the counter. Every jade bottle he saw, no matter full or empty, he put in his bag. Other guards followed the example of their Commander.

Half an hour later, the once luxuriously decorated shop was left in shambles.

When Commander Lu and his cohorts walked out of the Shop, they saw a mob gathered around the entrance.

A disciple wearing brown robes with a flaming beast on his chest came forward. Turning to the mob, he mocked the City guards.

“I knew the City Guards are poor but didn’t think you would resort to robbery. Hahaha!”

When he realized no one laughed at his joke, he turned to see the situation. His vision was occupied by a smooth throat with a very prominent Adam’s apple. His eyes moved upwards to see the haughty eyes of Commander Lu staring down at him.

Before he could speak, Lu Shao’s hand was around his neck, squeezing it tightly. Slowly, he was raised up in the air.

“This is the price your Sect will pay for rebelling against the City Lord!”

With bam, Commander Lu slammed the poor disciple onto the street head first. His neck broke and his head burst.

The crowd looked at the dying boy and Commander Lu with shock and fear. Many of them shivered even though the weather was warm and sunny.

The Commander looked at his foe’s dying body with a chill in his eyes. Then he looked at the people gathered and warned,

“Every disciple of the Monstrous Flame Sect will receive the same treatment as long as they step into the City. If any of you dare contact them, you should also prepare for your funeral.”

After issuing the warning, he walked away with a white sack hung over his shoulder, his men following his steps.

When the news of this incident reached the Monstrous Flame Sect, the master of the sect immediately summoned all his Elders.

As the one who started everything, Deacon Zhi Yang was also invited. However, he didn’t expect the agitated Sect Master would vent at him first.

“Path Finder Zhi! We did everything as your Sect directed. Take responsibility and help us find a way out of this situation.”

Sect Master of the Monstrous Flame Sect thundered as he paced anxiously in the Hall of Elders. The past three days had been suffocating for the members of his Sect.

One after another, all their shops in the City had been shut down. Their economic lifeline had been broken. The disciples lived in fear as many of the ones sent to the City were killed barbarically.

Path Finder Zhi was aware of the situation but his hands were tied. Even if they died before him, as the agent appointed by the Absolutes, he could only watch apathetically.

Due to his helplessness, when a Sect Master of a third-tier sect dared to blame him, his blood boiled. He wanted to raise his hand and punish his impudence with a slap, but the Absolute’s orders prevented him from doing so.

This Deacon took a deep breath and composed himself.

“Sect Master Yan! You need to calm down first. The battle has just started. Not everything is lost! Remember, you had once harassed that man to the point he was forced to institute the Tribute Tournament to appease you.”

Zhi Yang coldly hissed at the pacing man. As an agent of the Absolutes, he was not allowed to harm the residents of the City. But, nothing prevented him from advising the Sect. As long as he only dropped hints and let them come up with a strategy themselves, it would not be considered outside interference.

However, his speech was wasted on the Sect Master. Neither his pacing stopped nor did he pay attention to the patronizing words.

To prevent the tension in the room from escalating, the first Elder answered for his Sect Master.

“The times were different back then. We allied with the Hu Clan and refused to… pay… taxes.”

As he spoke, his eyes shined. He thought he had found a suitable strategy but his euphoria quickly faded.

The Fourth Elder, the youngest of them all, also understood what Zhi Yang meant. With excitement, he voiced his opinion.

“What worked back then could work now as well! All we have to do is get the Hu Clan to cooperate with us.”

“No, it won’t work.” Sect Master Yan pessimistically replied, pouring water over the Fourth Elder’s enthusiasm.

The First Elder explained to other Elders the reasoning behind Sect Master’s negative attitude.

“The Hu Clan has just lost their Third Seat, a Sense Realm Expert. At this time when their foundations are unstable, they would not be willing to antagonize any power.”

Zhi Yang shook his head at the explanation. He got up and walked to the giant open window.

“Who says you need the Hu Clan?”

His statement confused everyone in the room.

“What do you mean, Path Finder?”

“Come here, First Elder, and tell me, what do you see?”

Zhi Yang beckoned the First Elder and pointed to the view outside.

“There is a deep valley before us?” He looked at the Older Man with confusion.

Zhi Yang was getting frustrated by the empty heads in the room. He couldn’t explicitly tell them the plan for fear of incurring the Absolutes’ wrath. Thus, he had to drop hints and let them come to their own conclusion.

With a forced smile, Zhi Yang nodded.

“Exactly. Your Sect is based on a cliff! An easily defensible cliff.”

The very obvious hint was enough for the First Elder to get an idea.

“Are you saying we should hole up in here?”

The Third Elder, who was paying attention to every word, suddenly stood up and exclaimed, “What a brilliant idea!”

All eyes in the room turned to him in askance.

“Our Sect contributes nearly one-third of the revenue of the City. With our Shops closed, City Lord will lose that one-third revenue and have to make up the difference from his pocket.”

The other elders also understood the strategy now. By closing down Monstrous Flame Sect’s industries, the City Lord would in fact bleed his treasury in the near future.

And they just had to wait and watch it happen.

“And even if the City Lord comes to attack us, we will be safe in our base!”

The Second Elder completed the strategy that Zhi Yang was hinting at. He looked at the Path Finder with admiration.

A genuine smile appeared on the white-bearded old man’s face when the duffers before him finally understood what he meant.

‘If I try to explain the strategy for the Hu Clan now, I might lose control and beat them up before they can understand it.’

He thought as he left the room.

While Monstrous Flame Sect’s Elders were elated with the strategy they came up with, a shop was getting ready to steal their business.

“How does it look? Do you think Master will like this arrangement? “

Chu Kuang asked Xin Ruo while showing off the refurbished shop. Its current look was far from its previous state.

The entire furniture was made from the luxurious wood of the Sandal tree. As soon as one entered the shop, they would be greeted by the soothing, sweet fragrance of the Sandalwood.

He had divided the shop into two areas, the selling area, and the usage area.

Upon entering through the door, they would see a lavish counter. Behind the counter, slanted display shelves formed a cross where every one of Ikasa’s manuals would be showcased.

A narrow path on the right of the counter led to the open area in the back.

Since people would be using the manual immediately, Chu Kuang had thoughtfully reserved a small area at the backside for their breakthrough.

Xin Ruo took in the atmosphere and overall feel of the shop. It was warm and welcoming, perfect for any location that conducts business.

A smile unconsciously bloomed on her lips as she took in the various small but thoughtful additions made by Chu Kuang.

For example, the charts with drawings on them.

These drawings were actual depictions explaining the Battle Techniques and Energy Paths of the Cultivation Manuals for sale.

Not only were they helpful to customers, but they also enhanced the image of the store that sells Cultivation manuals.

“This is wonderful, Uncle Chu! I am sure Ikasa will like it very much.”

Xin Ruo answered with a wide grin. She opened the doors and looked at the nearly empty street.

“As soon as we open tomorrow, this street will become one of the most bustling places in Birch City.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep