The officers of Kankal City stood fully armed and alert. Seeing the terrified, panicking crowd, they carried out a small massacre to keep fear alive among the slaves — anyone who tried to escape was killed immediately.
After watching this, the rest of the people became quiet and scared.
The four officers gathered at one place. Their combined forces surrounded the entire city from all sides and sealed it completely.
All four of them were third-stage cultivators, and just hearing about their power was enough to make people shiver.
They then made a strict announcement,
"Before morning comes, we will catch the one who killed the City Lord."
Luna led both of them toward the treasure. The place was in the middle of the city, down below, in a cave-like room. It looked like an old temple or a place where people did rituals or magic.
Liora walked behind them very carefully. One question kept coming again and again in her mind:
"What if she is trying to trick us?"
Her eyes stayed fixed on Luna. Luna walked in front, Snehwal in the middle, and Liora behind them.
After some time, all three reached the bottom, where two stone soldiers were standing like guards. Snehwal noticed a heavy door behind them.
Luna said, "This is the door. People say no one can break it. Behind it is all the stolen treasure — so much wealth and so many spiritual items that even a yakshini might not have them."
Hearing this, Snehwal stepped forward.
"I'll try," he said.
He placed his hand on the door and sent his light green spiritual energy into it, trying to break it.
But at that moment, the two stone soldiers suddenly came to life and attacked Snehwal.
Seeing this, Snehwal punched the ground hard, making it shake. At the same time, Liora shouted softly but angrily, "Be careful!"
Snehwal quickly moved back, and the stone soldiers lost their balance. They failed to hit him.
Then Liora looked at them sharply and sent a wave of spiritual energy through her eyes. The soldiers could not handle the pressure and broke into pieces.
After this, Liora stepped forward, placed her hand on the door, and used her powerful spiritual energy to smash the unbreakable door into pieces.
The moment the door broke open, the bright light made Luna shut her eyes, but Snehwal's face lit up with joy. Liora too smiled happily after seeing the treasure.
Snehwal quickly stepped forward and said,
"Let's store everything fast and run from here. If we stay too long, they might catch us."
Liora smiled and replied,
"Why run? This whole city will belong to us now. We are going to rule here."
Snehwal blinked. "What?"
Liora laughed softly. "Yes, sir. We will rule this place."
She continued,
"We have already defeated all their strong fighters, including their leader. And there is no sixth-level warrior in this city. If there was, their treasure door would have been much stronger — even I wouldn't have been able to break it."
Snehwal asked, "Are you sure this is right? What if we get trapped?"
Liora answered confidently,
"By now, Master Jins must have painted this whole city red."
Snehwal's eyes widened. "What? Master is here too?"
Liora nodded. "Yes. He has already arrived."
Snehwal stored all the treasure inside his talisman.
As soon as he stepped outside, his breath caught in his throat.
The lifeless bodies of all four officers lay scattered on the ground, and Master Jins stood calmly in the air—
as if death itself had moved at his command.
The entire city of Kankal was covered with the corpses of soldiers.
Yet the scene was not filled with death alone—several people who had been imprisoned for years were now running free. Some were rushing toward their homes, others toward their loved ones.
Many of them bowed before Master Jins, their voices trembling as they said,
"Thank you… you have freed us."
Master Jins descended gracefully to the ground.
Snehwal bowed deeply before him and said,
"Master… you?"
Master Jins gave a slight nod, then turned his gaze toward Luna.
"You are the daughter of Rangshal," he said calmly.
"The well-known merchant of this region—if my guess is correct."
Luna lowered her head and replied softly, "Yes."
A faint pride appeared in Master Jins' eyes.
"We were close friends in our youth," he said.
"But I became deeply absorbed in my path of cultivation. When I finally returned here… I learned that he had passed away."
Luna looked at him with a gentle sadness.
"Father often told me stories about you…
that you were a great cultivator, and a friend of Lith the Yakshini."
Master Jins let out a brief, warm laugh.
"From today, we will establish our rule over this city.
And you—" he pointed at Luna—
"will be its chief merchant."
Luna's soft smile was enough to express her answer.