The last Ryu saw of Leonardo’s group, they were coming back to the inn after going out distributing gold and other goods to the less fortunate. What Ryu didn’t know was that after he had released his clones, the city lord ordered a lockdown within the city. Obviously there were countless experts residing here due to the opening of the Thousand Swords Graveyard in three weeks. It was unrealistic to contain and interrogate everyone. This would also be a huge blow to the city’s reputation. However, the city lord still issued such an order despite all that.

The pretense of this order was that the city lord’s daughter was assaulted and a priceless heirloom was stolen. This was only a tiny bit true but enough for the public to believe for now. It is reasonable for a King Domain expert such as city lord Wen-Xia to be outraged since the stronger your cultivation, the less offspring you have. The city lord had a son that died prematurely years ago and only had a daughter a few decades ago by some miracle.

This created quite a stir still, many experts were outraged and fought with the guards that were performing inspections and asking for their whereabouts. Ryu’s main body was slowly cultivating from the lightning fruits and was expecting Leonardo to come back to their suite any time now. Instead the door to their suite was kicked down by city guards. They were led by three Heaven Domain experts. After breaking down all the doors to each room in the suite, they only found Ryu meditating.

“You there, where are the other tenants? Where were you two hours ago?” The lead guard shouted rudely at Ryu. His spit flew all over Ryu but dissipated from the lightning Qi Ryu was emitting during his cultivation.

Ryu ignored him, he didn’t even open his eyes. One guard screamed at Ryu once more and then charged forward when he was ignored. The result was obvious, he was electrocuted and fell on the ground with smoke coming out of his uniform. The rest of the guards were about to escalate the fight when suddenly an overbearing voice boomed out.

There were other city guards interrogating other occupants of the inn at the moment as well. Some were not as kind and physically abused the ones that didn’t cooperate.

“How dare you guys harass the clients of the Xin’s Auction House? Do you have a death wish?” An authoritative voice rang throughout the inn that caused all the glasses to crack. The eardrums of the weaker guards started to bleed. Fear was instilled in them and all the guards instantly kneeled down. Only the city guards were affected by this domineering Qi attack, this was the work of a sublime master. People outside the inn were spooked and ran away from the inn.

Qi-Yan walked in mid-air as he strolled to the entrance of the inn. He was the host of the auctions in this city, a King Domain master that’s not weaker than the city lord himself. He’s also a representative for the Xin’s family for this city that owns all the major auction houses across the whole continent.

“Lord Qi-Yan, there has been a huge incident within the city. The lord’s only daughter was assaulted and the lord’s family heirloom was stolen. As you know, the lord is from the prestigious Gong clan...” The lead guard said the moment he got to the entrance of the inn but was abruptly cut off.

“Pft. The Gong clan might be something in this tiny region but can they compare to our Xin family? You don’t believe that the Xin family can wipe out this pathetic city within a week?” Qi-Yan said coldly.

The guards started sweating profusely. The Xin family is one of the Ten Great Powers on the Heaven Continent. In terms of wealth, they are not any weaker than any of the five provinces’ ruling empires! Everyone knowledgeable knows that the Heaven Continent has the five empires that controls each province and the five powerful families. The Xin’s Auction house is one of them. The other four are the Montgomery Bank, the Maxwell Flight Services, the Spirit Medicine Workshop and the Nam Corporation. These five families all have ties to other continents and have unimaginable backings. The Ten Great Powers excludes Musashi, Shaolin, Wudang and a few other secluded powers that don’t interact with mortal activities on the Heaven Continent.

“There’s no need mention that honorable Qi-Yan. Of course my Gong clan can’t be compared to the great Xin family. However just like I am a small fry to my Gong clan, this is only one of many branches of countless auction houses that the Xin family owns.” The city lord Wen-Xia’s voice unexpectedly appeared. The windows of from the inn suddenly shattered from the force of this voice. The city lord issued all the guards to question any expert within the city, none were allowed to leave without a solid alibi. The Xin family Inn was definitely going to resist so Wen-Xia showed up personally.

“Oh is that a threat?” Qi-Yan said with his eyebrows raised. The air between the two suddenly quivered as a small battle of auras started. Wen-Xia secretly frowned as he found himself lacking compared to a mere auction house host. Qi-Yan had reached mid King Domain and Wen-Xia only recently entered the King Domain. The result was obvious.

Another source of power suddenly backed Wen-Xia’s aura from behind, it was the vice-head of the Whirlwind Blade Sect that was attending the celebration of the city lord’s promotion earlier. His power is also in the mid King Domain, the situation suddenly reversed for Qi-Yan.

“Kon-Ga, what’s the meaning of this?” Qi-Yan said angrily. He knows that the Gong clan and the Whirlwind Blade Sect had a close relationship. The Whirlwind Blade Sect was one of the top five sects in the Yasha province and was over two hundred kilometers away from this city! Yet the vice-head still came here in person for Wen-Xia’s promotion from city lord to a higher position in a metropolis.

“This matter is more serious than it appears… a sect treasure meant for the eyes of lord Wen-Xia was stolen just now.” Kon-Ga said, it was a complete lie but he can’t reveal the truth. However this lie was convenient, if a secret art of a first rate sect was stolen then it would indeed cause a catastrophe worthy of the trouble of locking down a city.

“Well that’s embarrassing. You can’t even-” Qi-Yan was about to criticize their lack of abilities when suddenly a loud yell came from the side of the inn.

“Ow! Who do you think you are?” A familiar voice shouted out. It was Leonardo’s voice.

“Lord Wen-Xia, we found these three young strangers coming back to the inn just now.” One of the guards said as he held Leonardo by his arm. Jane and Harry were similarly restrained and brought out.

“Oh? Where were you youngsters at for the past two hours?” Kon-Ga said curiously.

“How dare you, what are your names?” Jane shouted angrily.

“You are just a city lord, I guess you must be tired of living. Go ahead, hurt us if you dare.” Leonardo said aloofly.

“Insolent fools, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Give them the Actuality Serum Truth Test.” Wen-Xia sneered at them. This was a powerful drug that can force secrets out of even Heaven Domain experts.

“Don’t waste your breathe on these scums. I’ll make sure these two bastards die a slow and painful death.” Harry said coldly.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

“Do you have your affairs in order?” Qi-Yan said with a smirk before Kon-Ga and Wen-Xia could rebuke Harry. A Qi barrier was set up around them. “You’ve just offended the only granddaughter of Edward Montgomery. Yes I’m speaking of one of the Montgomery family that owns the Montgomery Bank. Then you offended two direct descendants of the Maxwell family.”

The guards holding the Leonardo, Jane and Harry let go of them instantly. Not only that, they fell on the ground, their body void of strength from pure fear. Even Kon-Ga and Wen-Xia’s face turned pallid. These three are heirs to two of the five great families, part of the Ten Great Powers. The Montgomery Bank originated from Britannica and monopolizes the banking industry. Most major powers across every continents do business with them! The Maxwell family owns the flight business. They too originated from Britannica, their founder was a legendary dragon rider. He subdued many dragons and other aerial beasts and was dubbed the master of the sky. His descendants inherited his ability to dominate aerial beasts and thus a worldwide airline business was created. Although the Montgomery and Maxwell family on the Heaven Continent were only branches of the parent family and company, they still wield unimaginable power and influence. Offending anyone from those families is like suicide.

However, Kon-Ga and Wen-Xia had their doubts. It is so unlikely that such significant figures from the two powerful families would be here alone. Then suddenly they saw the badges of the Maxwell family taken out by Leonardo and Harry, it was then that they started to really worry.

“Daddy, the city lord of… what’s this crappy city called, Starlight Blades? And some old man from Whirlwind Blade Sect not only verbally abused me, they wanted to torture me with some truth serum!” Jane was on the voice crystal talking.

“Are you sure you didn’t start the trouble? Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll make a few calls right now but don’t go overboard, remember our family’s image.” The other end of the voice crystal shouted out. Kon-Ga and Wen-Xia stood their dumbfounded, they didn’t know what to make of the situation. Qi-Yan stood there holding his laughter in.

Actually these two families that originated from Britannica were close so naturally their heirs knew each other well enough to travel together. Their decedents were unruly, spoiled and rebellious. So they let them do whatever they wanted. These three were all in the Heaven Domain, learnt high ranking skills, had lifesaving treasures and of course badges of their respective families. Anyone who sees the badges would cower in fear. Still, they kept a tab on where they were and secretly contacted the Xin family representatives in the city to keep an eye out on them so Qi-Yan knew who they were. Even the emperor of the Yasha province had to be careful around these youths.

“Miss, no need to go that far. I’m truly sorry, please accept this treasure from me. It’s a rank 7 yellow gemstone from Infernia, it will emit the highest quality of fire Qi possible.” Wen-Xia said rapidly, this was his top cultivating resource. His gut instincts told him that if he doesn’t please this girl, not only his life but his whole bloodline would be exterminated.

Kon-Ga was going to speak when suddenly he received a call from his voice crystal, it was only used for emergencies. “You idiot! Do you know who I just spoke to? What are you guys doing? First the key is lost and you suspect the only granddaughter of the Montgomery family? And you go after the Xin family’s business? Do what you have to do to make the situation right, kill yourself if you have to.”

Kon-Ga’s face paled as he heard the sect leader spoke the last sentence. He quickly banged his head on the ground continuously, the ground shook as if there was a mini earthquake going on. He also offered his most treasured weapon, a fan that also shot out blades. Leonardo quickly pocketed it.

“Hmm this stone is just passable. However, I want… three fingers and three toes from each of you. If you can do that then I’ll let you leave.” Jane said seriously. Without thinking, the two King Domain practitioners instantly tore off their fingers and toes within five seconds. They didn’t even wince from the pain and remained in kneeling positions. They knew that not just their life is at stake, their clan and sect could also be gravely affected.

“Scram, I don’t want to see you guys again.” Jane said as Harry pulverized the fingers and toes with his Qi. It was possible to reattach them within a time limit but now it was impossible. Qi-Yan’s Qi barrier that contained the noise before fell.

Ryu was actually still in the room and couldn’t hear the conversation. However he saw the results and was confounded, how did it turn out like this? He was able to see through the Qi barrier due to his special ability to see a world outlined by Qi. He saw Wen-Xia and Kon-Ga apologizing to Jane. The two furious King Domain experts begged on the ground and then injured themselves. This was truly bizarre, Ryu didn’t have the audio context to know what was going on.

The guards inside the inn were confused as well. Their lord was injured and bleeding but he was still kneeling on the ground alongside a vice-head of a prestigious sect. Usually when someone enter the Heaven Domain they can rule over a respectable city. A King Domain practitioner is much stronger than a Heaven Domain expert and usually hold the position of general for an empire or one of the management position in a metropolis. A metropolis is many times bigger than a city and has millions of inhabitants. These two were in the King Domain and yet they were cowering before three youths.

The lead city guard finally spoke up and asked their lord, “Should we continue with the search or retreat my lord?”

Wen-Xia hesitated. The skeletal key was a priceless treasure that was discovered by chance by his clan. It was too dangerous to be kept within his Gong clan or their ally’s base, the Whirlwind Blade Sect. This was because if the information does leak, supreme experts would come and take it away without much effort. They deliberately hid it inside a city since real experts rarely visit such places.

“Do you even have to think about it? Let’s go. These kids can call Supreme Domain or even Sovereign Domain experts from their family and erase your clan and my sect from the root.” Kon-Ga said with a hiss. Wen-Xia snapped back to reality and ordered the guards to retreat from any establishments belonging to the Xin family. Each of the Ten Great Powers on the Heaven Continent have around two Sovereign Domain experts and a handful of Supreme Domain experts. A first rate sect or clan usually only have a dozen King Domain experts and one or two Emperor Domain experts, a Supreme Domain expert can easily wipe them out. The difference was greater than heaven and earth, there’s no point acquiring a treasure at the cost of extinction. The group retreated with the walk of shame, they didn’t dare be arrogant and cause these terrifying youths to change their minds on letting them go.