Chapter 347: A Truly Troubled Time

Chapter 347: Chapter 347: A Truly Troubled Time

Four Wind Chasing Beasts carried four people into the Inner City. One headed for the Palace City, while the other three went to the mansions of three different Golden Clans in Han City.

The arrival of these three individuals sent the mansions of the three Golden Clans into an uproar.

"The clan’s Ancestral Land was attacked? The Profound Iron Order is lost?"

When the Patriarch of the Casque Clan heard the news, it was as if his soul had left his body. He was stunned for a moment before erupting in a violent rage.

"Have you figured out who did this?"

"Of the clan’s two Mahayana Realm Tributors, one is dead and the other injured. There were forty to fifty assailants, all of them experts. Their leader was a young-looking woman in black with a veiled face. Their methods were exceptionally cruel, and their techniques were bizarre, resembling the Gu Techniques of the Southern Domain."

"Did they only steal the Profound Iron Order?"

"Yes. Their objective was clear from the moment they arrived. They went straight for the Ancestral Land and didn’t touch anything else in the secret chamber. As soon as they had the Profound Iron Order, they withdrew."

Like the Casque Clan, the Moon Forest Race and the Zhebei Race were also attacked by an unknown force, and their Profound Iron Orders were stolen.

How could the three Patriarchs possibly sleep after such a monumental event? They quickly dressed and hurried to the Palace City. First, they needed to report their failure to the Khan King. Then, they had to request permission to return to their clan lands and thoroughly investigate the theft of the Profound Iron Orders.

The Profound Iron Orders were intrinsically linked to the heritage of the Golden Clans. Without them, their families could face immediate decline.

But that wasn’t even the most critical issue. The Golden Clans were staunch supporters of the Platinum Clan. The loss of their Profound Iron Orders, on a grander scale, could threaten the imperial authority of the Dahar Khan Empire.

For Ukolok City, this was destined to be an extraordinary night.

Unable to understand why Zerkar had been lashing out like a mad dog during the court assembly, Enke dispatched Gajov, a Mahayana Realm master, to investigate Hanmo Mansion by night.

As a Mahayana Realm expert, Gajov was actually quite reluctant to investigate Hanmo Mansion. He felt it was a task far beneath him.

However, he didn’t dare defy his Patriarch’s command.

In Gajov’s eyes, the defenses of Hanmo Mansion were as flimsy as a wicker fence—nothing more than a decoration.

He slipped into Hanmo Mansion with ease, making his way to the outside of Patriarch Zerkar’s bedchambers.

He never would have imagined that this mission, which he’d considered beneath him, would lead him straight into a lion’s den.

The Hanmo Clan had already laid an inescapable trap.

"Gajov, I’m surprised you actually dared to show your face tonight. It seems the Cage Race has grown far too arrogant."

The speaker was Zerkar.

Standing before Zerkar were two Mahayana Realm and four Void Realm masters.

"Clan Leader Zerkar, if I said I got lost because it’s too dark out, would you believe me?" Gajov asked, forcing an awkward smile.

Zerkar scoffed. "And what do you think? Do you think I’d believe that?"

"Clan Leader Zerkar, I think you should believe me. You can believe me! I swear on the White Wolf King, I truly just took a wrong turn. I’ll be on my way now."

With that, Gajov turned to leave.

"Hold it!" Zerkar bellowed.

Gajov retracted his foot, turned back, and plastered on a smile that was more pained than a grimace.

Zerkar said, "Do you think Hanmo Mansion is a place you can come and go as you please? If I let you leave without consequence, what’s to stop anyone from waltzing in here in the future?"

"Clan Leader Zerkar, what is it you want?"

"Your Cage Race has gone too far! Attack!" Zerkar ordered, waving a hand at the two Mahayana Realm masters.

"Clan Leader Zerkar, it’s a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!" Gajov yelled as he dodged the attacks from the two masters.

Zerkar stood silently, saying nothing more.

The two Mahayana Realm masters held nothing back, forcing Gajov to defend with all his might.

The sheer force of a battle between Mahayana Realm masters could rival the chaos of a thousand-man army.

Each thunderous roar from the collision of True Qi was like a crack of lightning.

It was impossible for such a tremendous commotion to go unnoticed, especially in the dead of night.

The clashing True Qi not only produced deafening sounds but also erupted in brilliant flashes of light.

Mahayana Realm masters battling within the city walls was a sight not seen in Ukolok City for decades.

In the ordinary mansions not far from Hanmo Mansion, residents trembled in fear at the sheer power on display.

Bolder Cultivators threw on their robes and watched the battle from a safe distance.

But no matter how grand the spectacle, there was a clear difference in strength. Gajov was only a Mahayana Realm Early Stage Martial Artist. Facing two opponents of the same realm, he quickly found himself in a desperate situation.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a heavily injured Gajov was defeated and captured by the two masters.

Zerkar looked down imperiously at Gajov and asked in a cold voice, "Gajov, you are a Grandmaster of the Mahayana Realm, so I will spare your life tonight. Consider these injuries your lesson for trespassing in Hanmo Mansion. Do you have anything to say?"

"I have nothing to say!" Gajov valued his life. When you’re at someone else’s mercy, you have to bow your head, no matter how proud you are. No one would be foolish enough to throw their life away.

"Go back and tell Enke that this is his final warning. If there is a next time, the Hanmo Clan will not hesitate to declare war on the Cage Race."

Gajov was released. Gravely wounded, he staggered away from Hanmo Mansion.

Shortly after Gajov’s departure, a messenger arrived from the palace.

"The Khan King summons Zerkar, Clan Leader of the Hanmo Clan, to the palace for an immediate audience."

Zerkar was taken aback. ’Why would the Khan King want to see me so late at night?’

’Could it be because of all the commotion just now? Is the Khan King furious?’

Zerkar discreetly passed a Jade Pendant to the messenger and asked quietly, "Sir, might you know why the Khan King wishes to see me so late at night?"

A sharp glint flashed in the man’s eyes. He accepted the Jade Pendant without a sound, and with a flick of his wrist, it vanished. Only then did he speak. "I do not know for certain, but before I came here, several other Clan Leaders had already sought an audience with the Khan King tonight. After they left, His Majesty decided to summon all the Golden Clan Patriarchs currently in Han City."

Realizing the summons wasn’t because of the earlier fight, Zerkar felt a wave of relief.

He changed his clothes and followed the imperial official toward the Palace City.

Outside the Palace City, he ran into Enke. The two men exchanged cold snorts, each wishing they could start a fight right then and there.

Upon entering the side hall, they saw that the Patriarchs of the other Golden Clans were already present.

Niu Guli saw that everyone had arrived. He scanned the room and began, "A short while ago, the Patriarchs of the Casque Clan, the Moon Forest Race, and the Zhebei Race came to report that the Profound Iron Orders of their three Golden Clans have been stolen. That is why We have summoned all of you here tonight."

Upon hearing this, none of the remaining five Patriarchs took any pleasure in the misfortune of others. Instead, they all stared in astonishment at the leaders of the three afflicted clans.

"According to our intelligence, this group may have come from the Southern Domain with the sole purpose of stealing the Profound Iron Orders of the Golden Clans. Since they have already taken three, it is likely that your five remaining clans are also among their targets. Therefore, at dawn tomorrow, you will all depart for your respective territories. We trust We do not need to elaborate on the importance of the Profound Iron Orders. Those of you who still possess yours must guard them at all costs. If you can capture these criminals and retrieve the orders from the Casque and the other two clans, We will reward you handsomely. As for the three of you," he said, turning to Casque and the others, "you must use every means at your disposal to recover your Profound Iron Orders."

Niu Guli addressed the assembly.

’They say misfortunes never come singly. What a troubled time this is,’ he thought. ’We had planned to have the Casque Clan lead a raid on Hua Xu before the first snow to teach them a harsh lesson. It seems that plan will have to be shelved for now.’

’Furthermore, the two Half-Saints can no longer be sent to the Eastern Domain. After stealing the Profound Iron Orders, who knows if that group will set their sights on the White Jade Order of the Qinke Race?’