Chapter 40: Sovereign of Wang Nan.

Mid-Tier, Heaven-rank!

Advance-Tier, Heaven-rank!

“Hmph, even if your weapons seem awesome, the one from my sect had a unique attribute. It can—”

“So what? You think only your weapon has a special attribute? From my sect, this weapon…”

“Observe! The capability of our Silver Dragon!”

“Our Heavenly Hunter is more amazing!”

Wind blowing, water bursting. Steel covering the arm of a blade wielder, spears bending and moving forward as though snake… On stage, the elders from various large sects around Wang Nan were busy demonstrating their Spirit Weapons, hoping to gain the attention of the seller. For most, their ancestor had entrusted them with this important task. While the possibility of them winning was not high, Millennium Armadillo Roots was too precious for them to just give up! This kind of herb, should it appear, would usually be offered in capital cities belonging to the Imperial Clans. In these great cities… what kind of chance they have to compete with those super sects a hundred times bigger than theirs?

Thus, the auction this time was their chance. Not only they did not want to disappoint their ancestor, but they also did not want to disappoint everyone in the clan! These elders carried the hope of their entire clan!

“Seven, eight Advance-Tier…”

Shao Na had expected this. Nonetheless, she and her fellow sister were perplexed to see the situation, for the herb to be in such demand. This Millennium Armadillo Root was indeed rare, and most would always be snatched away either by the Imperial Clans or any super sects nearby. As a result, its value could only increase. Knowing this, even the two ladies were quite nervous carrying it into the city. They were both in Early and Mid-Heavenly Stars stage, so practically speaking not many in Wang Nan could rival them. Nonetheless, their best protection was pretty much the fact that nobody knew they were carrying it.

That was one of the reasons, why they were afraid of carrying this herb into the White Tiger’s capital. In broad daylight, cultivators would often follow the city’s rules. Yet behind walls and in the darkness, there would always be danger lurking out. If their secret was leaked, they had no doubt they would be attacked, even murdered! Fortunately, the Southern Blessing Pavillion in Wang Nan had quite a good reputation and integrity. While they were money-hungry, they followed their own rules. When the two ladies arrived, they arranged for their protection for many days, and even their guards were not informed of the reason why they protected these two!

Seeing so many powers in Wang Nan competing for it, the two ladies realized how much danger they had avoided. At the time, they were also glad. With so many of them offering Spirit Weapons, they could choose the one they considered the best. However, their eyes still glanced over the veil covering room No. 5, once every so often. As the stage below filled with offers, someone in the VIP room decided to step up;

“Hmph, pesky buggers. You call that worthy of that treasure? Let this old man teach all of you a lesson!”

A shining gold blade flew from one of the VIP rooms. Immediately, everyone knew… The drug lord had finally stepped onto stage.

“The Lu clan!”

“So the Lu clan had shown their offer…”

“Isn’t that their ancestor’s prized weapon, for them to—”

“Look, the Yong clan—”

Hmph!

Immediately after the golden blade flew, another VIP threw down something. Short, with a dark purple aura, they twin blades. They flew together in unison towards the stage, taking the center of everyone’s attention.

“Purple, death aura? This… Could it be!”

“T-that’s the Twin Ghosts!”

“The Twin Ghosts? Elder, what’s that?”

“A most dreaded pair of weapons…”

The Twin Ghosts were weapons specialized for assassination. It had been told in many stories in the last 300 years in Wang Nan, claiming dozens of prominent people's heads. While not many had seen it, the description of it stayed in every elder’s mind.

The VIP laughed while explaining;

“Indeed, the Twin Ghosts! These twin blades are already a legend here in Wang Nan. Countless elders had fallen by their sudden attacks. Their special attribute is more than just special. While we weren’t responsible for those murders, our clan had spared no resources to claim it—”

“Hmph, what Twin Ghosts? It’s just twin kitchen knives!”

“W-who dares!”

For someone to interrupt the Yong clan’s Grand Elder, he had some nerve! Turning, he saw the origin of the voice. Someone in a room next to his own, just below the sellers. It was someone from another drug lord’s clan…

“So it’s the Dong clan. This voice, is it Grand Elder Dong Yan? Hmph, anyone can speak… I didn’t see you presenting any great weapon of yours—”

“Ha, Yong Fu. You didn’t see? Feast your eyes with this!”

Something came out of his room. Shining and adorned with crystal, it was a green spear. The brilliance coming from it caught everyone’s attention. Seeing the weapon, elder Yong Fu lost his words…

“T-this is! Green Dragon! Y-you… you cur, how!”

Hearing elder Yong Fu’s sudden exclamation, the young ones among the crowd had a sudden urge to ask. Turning to the elders of their clan, they did just that.

“What is it, elder? Green Dragon?”

“This spear… How amazing is it elder?”

“How amazing, you asked? This is one of the legacies from the Wang clan!”

“T-that’s right! Many elders here had seen it before… This is the weapon the direct successor of Wang clan… the Crown Prince of Wang Nan, use!”

“S-such a weapon…”

Wang Nan city, up until fifty years ago, was still governed by the Wang Royal Family. Now, they were merely called the Wang clan, and referred to only in stories and older people’s reminiscence. After the war fifty years ago, the Wang clan people were massacred by the White Tiger Imperial clan. Now, the clan left nothing but their name behind.

However, many forces here had known about the Wang clan possessing numerous Spirit Weapons. Among them, was this Green Dragon. Used primarily by the direct successor, the Crown Prince of Wang Nan, it held great prestige and value! Rumors were that the White Tiger had confiscated it, but for it to appear here… It seemed, the winner for this auction, was already clear!

Seeing the Green Dragon, the crowd’s mood turned gloomy. Now the elder’s representative felt that the small chance of winning was gone completely. The situation was as expected. In the end, they still could not rival the resource possessed by the drug lords of Wang Nan… But then again, how did they secure this weapon? They all thought that the White Tiger had confiscated it!

“Is… is it a forgery?”

“Hush! You fool, you have a death wish?!”

“W-what?”

Similar thought came across everyone’s mind, yet none dared to voice it. Some young disciples blurted out their thought, underestimating the danger. Fortunate for them, it was not heard by anyone aside from their clan and sect.

“Hmph, the Green Dragon is indeed amazing. However, is it the genuine one?”

Seeing the auction was about to reach the climax, Patriarch Sha Yu voiced his suspicion. Being one of the four drug lords of Wang Nan, he indeed had the right to do so. Hearing him, the Grand Elder from the Dong clan snorted.

“Hahaha, you’re admitting your jealousy eh, old Sha? Hehe, I’ve heard the Sha clan possessed great treasure… But can it match this Green Dragon? If you don’t, it’s best for you to just scram. No use barking when you had nothing better to offer—”

“How arrogant! You think you’re the only one possessing a treasure!”

From his spatial ring, an image of a cloud emerged. Soon, a sword with a waving pattern took shape in his hand. Showing it out for all to see, Patriarch Sha Yu snorted triumphantly.

“That’s… The Royal Heaven!”

“Wang clan’s Patriarch…The former King of Wang Nan… Wang Lu’s secondary weapon!”

“H-how did he… How did the Sha clan get it!”

The revelation took the crowd by surprise. Judging from its look, it seemed all too genuine to be a forgery. Still, to them, it did not make sense… How did the drug lords obtain these two, these precious weapons?

“T-this…”

The Dong clan elders also had a similar expression. They knew the White Tiger Imperial clan had rewarded both of their clans for their cooperation fifty-odd years ago. Still, they were not informed of what the reward was. They only knew it to be precious… But for it to be more precious than their own!

“N-no wonder… The White Tiger allowed the Sha clan...”

The Dong clan’s Grand Elder realized.

The White Tiger had separated the four clans into four different areas, and had allowed them different second businesses. Aside from the ever-profitable drug deals, the second most profitable deal was being a loan shark. In Wang Nan, the Sha clan held such privilege. While the Dong clan’s entertainment house reeled in quite a lot of profit, it was still a bit behind the Sha clan’s second business. For White Tiger to show this clan such favor, even granting them this weapon… It meant that, the clan had achieved the highest contribution during the war! This weapon, the secondary weapon of the Wang clan’s Patriarch…

The weapon, of the former Sovereign of Wang Nan!

…

Hearing everyone’s amazement and stupor, Patriarch Sha Yu was filled with satisfaction. For all these years, this weapon was locked away from the public, it was forbidden by his grandfather to even be uttered or spread around as rumors. Anyone involved with such act, would be severely punished!

This weapon was super precious. It was a reward from them after all. So when his son suggested he offered the weapon before, he flew into a rage. Though he spoiled his son, he was not so foolish as to do something like that. Seeing everyone’s disbelief, Patriarch Sha Yu again felt like he had regained his face.

Hmph, now you know… in Wang Nan, who’s superior!

As the whole auction reached its peak, in An Shan’s room, Xiao Mei finally decided to wake him up. As he was just snoozing, he woke up immediately. When he did, Mu-er briefed him on what had transpired… Seeing the weapons, An Shan knew immediately, that these weapons were likely to be genuine. Both had a good base, and had been infused with the spirit of undying wills… Spirit of excellent cultivators.

“How did these two drug lords get their hand on them? Surely the White Tiger would claim them first,”

“Reporting to father, fifty years ago…”

Before the war, these drug lords were merely vassal clans of the real ruler of Wang Nan, the Wang clan. They possessed not much standing in the city. However, during the war, these clans leaked vital information about the strategic points in the city, the defenses of Wang Nan, and even the overall military maneuver.

Having vital information saved the White Tiger Imperial clan from losing more manpower. And in fact, the information opened a crucial path for them to invade Absolute Aegis from this region. They successfully opened a new front against Absolute Aegis, and also put the Wang clan in jeopardy!

Had it not been for the betrayal, it would be an enormous task for the White Tiger to overpower the Wang clan. The territory which had fallen into their hands would be reduced significantly! Hearing Mu-er’s report, it seemed all four drug lords conspired together to bring down the Wang clan. It was not done merely for treasures and benefits, but it seemed these clans were also aware that the Wang clan had ordered an investigation concerning their other activities...

Namely, drug trafficking!

“…And out of the four, these two clans, the Dong and the Sha, played prime roles?”

“Yes, through bribe and threat, they managed to install various spies within the framework of Wang clan… More so than the other two,”

“Do we have proof?”

“Yes, and just in case you wish for them, I bring the reports. Also, among the four drug lords, these two are the more prosperous. Had it not been for the White Tiger’s proxy, they would have expended their influence further,”

“I see. As for how they get the weapon?”

“Likely a reward from the White Tigers. We’re aware of it, but not the content,”

“So it’s a reward for a job done well… Clans of traitors, eh? Good, good,”

An Shan was glad. Aside from dealing with illegal drugs, and filthy second business, they were also clans of traitors. Given that even one such crime would already justify a death sentence, there was no further deliberation needed. Multiple offenses, deserving heavy punishment. Made things easy, then.

He always made sure not to over-deliver punishment. Just then, he was still deliberating whether to off every adult in these clans or not. Some women or men might be compelled to stay for various reasons. He was considering that. Yet for this case, such worry was unnecessary. These clans had done too many misdeeds. Even fools would know that it was best to leave than to stay. Those who stayed could not blame anyone when heaven fell on top of them altogether.

In addition, these clans already had a lot of blood on their hand. Cleansing them off the face of the planet was akin to cleansing the area from contagious disease. It was something best done while it was still contained. Their mindset that anything for profit was acceptable, should not be permitted to propagate any further.

As for their children…

What to do with their children…

“…Senior,”

As he was thinking about it, Shao Na addressed him. Turning to look, she was standing close to the veil, almost revealing her tender face. She clasped respectfully, asking;

“If senior has no use for this herb, this young one would like to make a decision soon,”

“…Actually,”

Rather than speaking about it, An Shan threw out another weapon. As soon as it came out, everyone in the hall shivered.

=== Chapter 40 Ends ===