Dawn in the City of Chaos did not bring the freshness of morning, but rather a thicker stench of blood and a terrifyingly deathly silence. The eastern district, normally the most clamorous and bustling territory of the Crazy Sand Gang, had experienced a true earthquake during the night.
The Golden Coin Pavilion, the luxurious three-story building that stood as a symbol of the Crazy Sand Gang's power and wealth, had been reduced to ruins. The main doors were shattered, furniture inside lay overturned in total disarray, and the floors were still stained with patches of dried blood. News that a Foundation Establishment Vice Boss had been assassinated right in his private quarters, and that the treasury—holding half a year's worth of accumulated Spirit Stones and bank notes—had been completely looted, swept through every alley of the City of Chaos like a violent tempest.
Yet, what terrified everyone the most was not the loss of wealth or life. It was the intruder's method of execution.
Fast, clean, precise, and ruthless.
According to the accounts of the lucky survivors, the entire raid lasted less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn. The enemy had no lust for battle and did not engage in indiscriminate slaughter. They acted like the sharpest of butcher's knives, bypassing every line of defense to stab directly into the most vital points: the leader and the treasury. Once their objective was achieved, they withdrew immediately, leaving absolutely no traces behind, except...
A single character—"VÔ" (Void)—carved with a saber into the wall opposite the Vice Boss's corpse. The strokes were deep and steady, radiating a frigid aura that caused anyone who looked upon it to tremble in fear.
The entire City of Chaos was shaken.
For the past two years, the three great factions—the Crazy Sand Gang, the Phantom Shadow Pavilion, and the Black Dragon Stronghold—had maintained a three-legged stalemate; no one dared to easily provoke the others. But now, someone had dared to pluck the tiger's whiskers, and even delivered a heaven-toppling slap to the face of the Crazy Sand Gang.
Just what faction did this character "VÔ" represent?
Within the headquarters of the Phantom Shadow Pavilion, inside a secret chamber permeated with the fragrance of women.
The Blood Demoness sat upon a chair draped in magical beast skin, wearing only a thin layer of silk. Her injuries from the battle at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion had not fully healed, leaving her complexion slightly pale, but the eyes behind her silver fox mask had grown even more demonic and dangerous.
"VÔ?" she murmured, her slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "An early-stage Foundation Establishment Vice Boss, along with over fifty guards, dealt with so cleanly. Striking without leaving a trace, only a single character. This person is not from the Black Dragon Stronghold."
"Pavilion Master," a black shadow knelt below. "According to our intelligence, their leader seems to only have a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation base. But his saber art is incredibly terrifying."
"It's not just the saber art," the Blood Demoness shook her head. "It's the stratagem. This person perfectly grasped the entire layout and the weaknesses of the Golden Coin Pavilion. He executed a flawless scheme of 'making a feint to the east while attacking in the west'. This is not a brute who only possesses brawn. This is an old fox."
"Pass down my command," she said, her voice turning cold. "Temporarily cease all provocations against the Crazy Sand Gang. Have our people thoroughly investigate the origins of this 'VÔ' faction. Until we know whether he is friend or foe, we must not act blindly."
At another secret stronghold of the Black Dragon Stronghold.
The skinny-faced leader, Blood Shadow, was pacing back and forth in the room, his expression incomparably gloomy. The loss of the Demon General Medallion had resulted in a severe reprimand from the Cave Master. Now, another mysterious faction had emerged.
"VÔ?" He narrowed his triangular eyes. "Able to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a single slash, their strength is definitely not weak. And they dared to strike the Crazy Sand Gang. What is this person's goal? To shatter the balance in the City of Chaos?"
"Vice Hall Master," a subordinate spoke up. "Should we take this opportunity to seize the Crazy Sand Gang's territory?"
"Fool!" Blood Shadow roared. "Do you think this 'VÔ' faction is a fuel-efficient lamp? Their strike against the Crazy Sand Gang is very likely 'killing the chicken to warn the monkeys'! If we act now, we might very well become their next target!"
"Remain completely still for now. Bolster our defenses. I want to see exactly what this newly arrived shark intends to do in this pond called the City of Chaos."
While the entire City of Chaos was in an uproar over the single character "VÔ", inside the safe house in the blacksmithing district, Tran Kien remained incredibly calm.
Standing before him were Thiet Phu and the ten most elite Blood Fiend Guards who had participated in last night's operation.
"Well done," Tran Kien nodded. His voice held little emotion, yet it made Thiet Phu and the others feel a profound sense of acknowledgment. "In this mission, you adhered perfectly to the rules of 'Precision' and 'Concealment'. Not a single person was injured, and no one exposed their identity."
He pushed a large chest toward Thiet Phu. Inside was one-third of all the Spirit Stones and bank notes plundered from the Golden Coin Pavilion.
"This is your reward," he stated. "Under my command, merits shall be rewarded, and faults shall be punished. This rule will never change."
Thiet Phu and the others' eyes shone brightly. It wasn't that they hadn't seen this much money before. But this was the first time they had been rewarded by their master in such a fair and straightforward manner. The Blood Hand Demon General of yesteryear had only ruled through fear. Yet, this new Lord employed both awe and grace.
"Many thanks, Lord!" They all dropped to one knee in unison.
"Stand up," Tran Kien said. "This is only the beginning. The Crazy Sand Gang is now a headless snake, their internals in chaos. But they still have two Vice Bosses and a mob of lackeys. We cannot underestimate them."
He looked toward Thiet Phu. "Your next mission is not to attack. It is to recruit and compel surrenders."
"Recruit?"
"Indeed," Tran Kien nodded. "Use this very money to buy off those who can be bought, to rope in those who harbor resentment. Within one month, without expending a single soldier, I want you to cause the Crazy Sand Gang to collapse from the inside out. I don't just want their territory. I want everything they possess."
A stratagem without the smoke of gunpowder. A psychological war.
Hearing this, Thiet Phu's heart was profoundly shaken. This Lord was not merely a God of War; he was a terrifying mastermind.
"This subordinate understands!" he solemnly accepted the order.
Once Thiet Phu and the others departed, Tran Kien was left alone in the room.
He brought out the Lac Bird fragment and the Solar Essence Guardian fragment. He knew his path was still incredibly long. The City of Chaos was merely a small chessboard. The Imperial Capital, Marquis Vinh An—they were the true opponents.
I need to become even stronger.
He closed his eyes, commencing a new, even more arduous cycle of cultivation. The wind had already risen. And he was the one controlling the tempest.