Secret Dealings

Blood Python Society Headquarters

Blood Python Society Leader Mu Yang's eyes turned cold. "I'm not asking to borrow from you! I'm asking if you've found any good prey recently?"

Vice Leader Lai Mo explained, "We've ordered our subordinates to search for prey, but as you know, the Void True Gods in Huyang City are all very cautious, hiding their treasures, making it difficult to find suitable prey. In the last era, I've killed 122 Void True Gods, earning 1,800 Universe Sands. I took one-tenth, and you received nine-tenths. I've already given it to you."

Vice Leader Mulin added, "I've killed 132 targets, earning 1,200 Universe Sands, and I've given you your share. We're bound by a cause-and-effect contract, so there's no lying about these things."

Mu Yang replied coldly, "I want quality prey, not these impoverished ones!"

The two vice leaders shook their heads.

"It's hard to find quality prey, especially with the City Lord's Mansion having set strict limits," Vice Leader Lai Mo said. "There are only so many targets we can kill within the city, and the Void True Gods are extremely cautious. Even if they acquire treasures, they won't openly display them."

Vice Leader Mulin expressed concern, "Leader, you've accumulated plenty since we established the Blood Python Society. You weren't this anxious before—why are you so urgent now?"

Since Mulin and Mu Yang were from the same tribe and had wandered into Huyang City together, Mulin could speak more freely, unlike Vice Leader Lai Mo.

"How about the collection of residence fees?" Mu Yang asked, pressing further. "Has there been an increase?"

"The countless True Gods in the city mostly live by hunting exotic beasts. Every time they earn big from a risky adventure, they settle back into the city, mostly staying indoors, occasionally shopping, and rarely coming out. We can't really collect residence fees from them," Vice Leader Lai Mo shook his head.

"Has there been an overall increase?" Mu Yang asked again.

"No," Lai Mo shook his head, "In fact, this era, there's been a slight decline."

"A bunch of useless fools!" Mu Yang roared in anger. "The Blood Python Society keeps so many subordinates precisely to search for suitable prey in the city and to collect residence fees! If they can't find prey and the residence fees have declined this era, what good are they? Expel those incompetents from the Blood Python Society!"

Maintaining a subordinate was costly. Subordinates also had to pay residence fees to the City Lord's Mansion, and they needed resources for cultivation. The average cost of maintaining a True God subordinate per era was about three Chaos Crystals.

The stronger the subordinate, the higher the cost of maintaining them!

A large dark force like the Blood Python Society had high operational costs. After all, you couldn't have Eternal True Gods personally collecting residence fees from a vast population of residents, could you?

Finding "fat sheep" wasn't easy either.

"The City Lord's Mansion has rules. As long as those True Gods stay in their abodes, the City Lord's Mansion guarantees their safety. And many places in Huyang City are teeming with True Gods. If we make a move, we'll be discovered by other True Gods, and if there's concrete evidence, the City Lord's Mansion will have to catch the culprits," Vice Leader Mulin explained. "The City Lord's Mansion ensures the safety of those residents in various ways, which makes collecting residence fees difficult."

The City Lord's Mansion collected official residence fees, and every True God was required to pay. But once they paid, they received various forms of protection, which was one of the main reasons many True Gods preferred to live in large cities.

The dark forces also collected residence fees, but most residents tried every possible way to avoid them.

For example, they'd usually stay hidden in their abodes! When they went out, they'd go to places crowded with True Gods, or even travel in groups!

"The Blood Python Society is being supported by me, but you two should come up with some ideas!" Leader Mu Yang's eyes turned more vicious. "How are we going to find good prey? How are we going to collect more residence fees?"

"We'll think of something," the two vice leaders responded, but the truth was, they had already exhausted all possible methods during the long operation of the Blood Python Society.

"Hmm?" Leader Mu Yang suddenly looked outside. "Mo Limeng is here. You two can leave."

"Alright," Vice Leaders Lai Mo and Mulin breathed a sigh of relief and immediately left.

Soon, a middle-aged man with four purple curved horns, Mo Limeng, walked in.

"Here to collect the debt again!" Leader Mu Yang sighed.

"This era's 50,000 Universe Sands. It's time to pay up," Mo Limeng said, looking at him. "Don't tell me you're short on funds after paying 20,000 Universe Sands to Luo He?"

Leader Mu Yang shook his head. "It's only 50,000 Universe Sands. Of course, I can pay it. But Mo Limeng, with the limited territory of the Blood Python Society, isn't 50,000 Universe Sands per era a bit too much? Can't you reduce it?"

"No way," Mo Limeng laughed. "Unless you dissolve the Blood Python Society and give up your territory. The rules in Huyang City are that any dark force that controls territory must pay Universe Sands. This is the bottom line of the Five Great Families."

Leader Mu Yang felt frustrated.

Back when he was fighting other dark forces for territory, he refused to pay fees to the Five Great Families, resulting in a heavy punishment from them. He suffered greatly and eventually had to back down, after which the Five Great Families allowed him to continue.

"In that case, can we increase the kill quota for the Blood Python Society each era?" Leader Mu Yang asked. "The city's death rate limit of less than one-thousandth is too low. True Gods and Void True Gods already have conflicts and fights during an era, so the natural death rate is close to one-thousandth. The number of kills we're allowed is too small!"

"The death rate cannot exceed one-thousandth!" Mo Limeng said calmly. "In the last era, your Blood Python Society should have secretly killed over a million True Gods and several hundred Void True Gods. That's more than enough!"

"Huyang City has countless True Gods. The number we kill is far less than the natural death rate," Mu Yang shook his head, handing over a jade bottle to Mo Limeng. "Here are the 50,000 Universe Sands, not one short."

Mo Limeng took it, his expression finally easing. He then warned, "Let me remind you, in the past several dozen eras, your Blood Python Society has been pushing the limits a bit too much."

"What limits? I don't know what you're talking about," Mu Yang said, surprised. "Don't pin everything on me."

Mo Limeng gave him a look but didn't say anything more, turning to leave.

Mu Yang watched him go.

"The Five Great Families of the City Lord's Mansion are the most ruthless!" Mu Yang's eyes turned cold. But he knew that if he crossed the line, the Five Great Families would spare no expense to obliterate the Blood Python Society.

"Every member of the Blood Python Society needs a large sum of Universe Sands each era, and the Five Great Families also demand Universe Sands. That Luo He even took 20,000 Universe Sands from me," Mu Yang thought, feeling increasingly impoverished. "This era, we haven't made much profit."

With a thought, Mu Yang activated the formation in the hall, isolating it completely from the outside world.

A hum resounded.

A mirror formed in the void before him, revealing a figure in a white robe wearing a red mask.

"Bloodcloud Divine Sovereign," Leader Mu Yang's tone became more respectful.

The two most terrifying forces in Huyang City were, on one hand, the City Lord's Mansion and the Five Great Families, who represented the ruling power. On the other hand, there was the Shiguo faction. Among the Shiguo forces, one particularly fearsome presence was known as "Bloodcloud."

The conflict between the Shiguo forces and the Five Great Families of the City Lord's Mansion was the most intense, far more severe than the occasional clashes with the dark forces.

"Why did Leader Mu Yang suddenly contact me?" Bloodcloud's voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

"The lower half of the 'Ironblood Sand Technique' requires a million Universe Sands, and I really can't gather that amount," Leader Mu Yang said. "Could I get the Universe Sands on credit, at least for half of it?"

Bloodcloud chuckled softly. "With a bloodline cultivation method, reaching the Chaos Realm is your limit. The 'Ironblood Sand Technique' is a 'perfect-grade' Chaos Realm bloodline cultivation method and is highly compatible with you. Such a method is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. If you hadn't made great contributions, we wouldn't even offer you the chance to purchase it."

"I understand, but a million Universe Sands is too difficult to gather," Leader Mu Yang said.

"You work for Shiguo, so you have this opportunity. If you go to the Yan Feng Hall, you won't be able to buy it," Bloodcloud said.

Leader Mu Yang understood this well.

Shiguo was generous, even willing to offer a top-tier bloodline cultivation method like the "Ironblood Sand Technique," which naturally made Mu Yang desperate for it.

With an ordinary cultivation method, he would never hope to reach the Chaos Realm in his lifetime. But this perfect bloodline cultivation method at least gave him a glimmer of hope for reaching the Chaos Realm.

"You're slowly managing the Blood Python Society, so your earnings are slow," Bloodcloud said softly. "If you want to earn more, you'll have to take some risks. Think about it."

The connection was then severed.

Leader Mu Yang pondered. He had dealt with all the factions in Huyang City and was deeply entangled with both the City Lord's Mansion and the Shiguo forces.

"In Huyang City, regular business is under the infiltration of the City Lord's Mansion, so it's impossible to make much. It takes time to accumulate. If I want to make a big score, I'll need to take some risks," Leader Mu Yang's eyes grew colder. "Once I get the 'Ironblood Sand Technique,' I'll immediately leave Huyang City. No matter how intense the fighting between the City Lord's Mansion and the Shiguo forces gets, I won't get involved."

...

Chaos Alpha 913 Cave Mansion.

On a mountaintop, Luo Feng sat on a large stone, drinking alone.

In reality, he was operating the "Great Destruction Heart Refining Method," with his mental will constantly being destroyed and ground down, making his mental will more refined each time it reassembled. This was a normal survival adaptation.

Under the extreme destruction and grinding, every reassembly naturally resisted this destruction and grinding.

The progress in a short time wasn't as effective as the "Seven Emotions Heart Refining Method," but the "Great Destruction Heart Refining Method" had the advantage of being sustainable, and with long-term accumulation, the effect was better.

"With Brother Shentian's guidance, I'll be able to understand the theory of the second level of the 'Chaos Force Diagram' soon enough," Luo Feng, who had a deep understanding of the laws, naturally grasped things quickly. "But even if I fully comprehend it, what's the point?"

"I'm too poor! I can't afford the materials for the second body refinement," Luo Feng was troubled.

"The first body refinement, just laying the foundation, consumed materials worth 100,000 Universe Sands."

"According to my estimates, the second body refinement will require at least several times that amount."

"The third body refinement will require even more."

"Where am I supposed to gather that much Universe Sand?"

Luo Feng was feeling frustrated.

Given his current strength, to significantly increase his power, he either needed to break through to the "Chaos Realm Peak Willpower" or undergo a second body refinement of his "Perfect Divine Body."

His divine body was too vast, and his divine power was extremely pure, so each body refinement would bring a noticeable increase.

"Willpower enhancement can't be rushed. It requires gradual accumulation and self-tempering," Luo Feng understood this well. "As for the materials for the second body refinement, I need to figure something out. Ugh, I'm still too poor!"

With that thought, Luo Feng made up his mind and began searching through the bounty tasks using the Yan Feng Hall's dark palace communication token.