In the dead of night.
"Kill, kill them all!"
"Charge forward!"
"Take down a Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, and you'll be rewarded with a Magic Artifact. Take down a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and you'll become one of the gang elders."
Under the command of the cultivators, the monkeys screeched and launched a fierce attack.
The besieged gang was both furious and bewildered, unable to understand why the Monkey Head Gang was attacking them!
"Don't be afraid!"
"We have a defensive array protecting us. If the Monkey Head Gang forcefully attacks, they will pay a heavy price."
"No matter what madness they are up to, with such a commotion, the City Guard Army will definitely come!"
The gang elders and leaders were doing their best to stabilize the morale.
On the top floor of a certain tavern, Ning Zhuo used up talismans to enhance his eyesight, observing the attack and defense battle from the raid with great clarity.
The Monkey Head Gang leader looked very upset, standing next to Ning Zhuo, whispered: "My lord, if this continues, our Monkey Head Gang will suffer great losses!"
Ning Zhuo remained expressionless.
The battle continued for a while.
Ning Xiangqian could no longer stand it: "Young Master Zhuo, should we charge the array?"
Ning Zhuo slightly shook his head: "No need for that."
The Monkey Head Gang leader felt as if he was in winter, his body and heart both cold.
Ning Zhuo had no regard for the Monkey Head Gang, using human and monkey lives to deplete the enemy's defensive array. It was too cruel, like a cold-blooded general on the battlefield.
But he had no choice.
After accepting defeat, he not only signed a strict and harsh contract, but also handed over the evidence of plotting to harm Yuan Er to Ning Zhuo himself.
He had no other path but to obey Ning Zhuo.
In the defensive array, the opposing gang members cursed loudly.
"Crazy, the Monkey Head Gang people are crazy!"
"When did we ever provoke them?"
"Why hasn't the City Guard Army come yet? Are they blind?!"
The enemy gang was terrified by the Monkey Head Gang's frenzied attack. Their strength was no match for the Monkey Head Gang. If not for the strong defensive array, they would have already collapsed.
"Gang leader, do we keep fighting?"
"If this continues, our old comrades will all die!"
The elders of the Monkey Head Gang found the leader, complaining bitterly.
They certainly thought of running away or counterattacking Ning Zhuo, but nearly twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators standing by Ning Zhuo quickly squashed those thoughts.
Attacking the enemy gang carried a slim chance of survival, but attacking Ning Zhuo and his men would be even worse!
"Enough, withdraw the front line and send in the reserve team," Ning Zhuo commanded.
"Yes, my lord," the Monkey Head Gang leader responded.
"Wait, use this talisman." Ning Zhuo took out a talisman.
The Monkey Head Gang leader received it, overjoyed: "It's an Array Breaking Talisman!"
Not long after.
With the use of the Array Breaking Talisman, the defensive array collapsed, the enemy gang's morale crumbled, some died, and some surrendered.
"What should we do with these captives?" the Monkey Head Gang leader asked Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo smiled: "This gang has committed countless evils, none are innocent. Hmph, they deserve to die! Kill them all."
His light words terrified everyone present. Even the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ning Family felt a chill in their hearts.
Ning Zhuo was just sixteen years old and had lived in the academy until recently.
He had shown the world his talent, his efforts, his cunning strategies, and his defiance against the main line of the family.
But tonight's battle showed everyone the coldness and cruelty at his core.
Soon after, the Monkey Head Gang leader reported, "Everything is done as you instructed, my lord. No one from the enemy gang survived."
Ning Zhuo clapped and sighed: "Destroying evil and promoting righteousness is truly a joy in life! Too bad there's no wine, or else I would drink wholeheartedly."
Ning Xiangguo smiled slightly, took out fine wine from his Storage Waist Belt: "I have wine here."
Ning Xiangguo proactively poured Ning Zhuo a glass.
Ning Zhuo praised but did not drink. Instead, he handed it to the Monkey Head Gang leader: "I bestow this wine upon you. Drink."
The Monkey Head Gang leader hurriedly thanked Ning Zhuo and obediently drank it in one gulp.
"I must congratulate you, leader," Ning Zhuo said to him, "From now on, the Monkey Head Gang will replace this gang's position and dominate the black market."
The Monkey Head Gang leader swallowed hard, his heart full of anger and resentment.
His Monkey Head Gang had found a legitimate livelihood by harvesting Fire Persimmons. It took great effort to turn clean, but now this battle had made all their efforts in vain, dragging them back into the underworld!
Ning Zhuo took out a Storage Bag from his waist and tossed it to the Monkey Head Gang leader: "Today's battle showed me your Monkey Head Gang's loyalty. This is your reward."
The Monkey Head Gang leader thanked Ning Zhuo again. When he opened the bag and checked with his Divine Sense, his face changed: "Explosive Flame Monkeys?!"
"Correct." Ning Zhuo nodded, "You lost too many monkey pets today, these Explosive Flame Monkeys are compensation. Serve me well, serve the Ning Family well, and you won't be mistreated."
"Thank you, my lord!!" the Monkey Head Gang leader knelt and thanked him, his teeth almost grinding to pieces in anger.
Ning Zhuo had gone too far, forcing them to this extent!
He had the Array Breaking Talisman all along, yet only used it after heavy losses to the Monkey Head Gang.
It was deliberate, to ensure the Monkey Head Gang's monkey pets were nearly wiped out, then replace them with Explosive Flame Monkeys.
The Monkey Head Gang leader immediately saw through Ning Zhuo's intent: "He plans to use the Explosive Flame Monkeys to tighten his control over the gang!"
The Monkey Head Gang leader felt utterly hopeless.
With the contract, the evidence, and now the Explosive Flame Monkeys, did the Monkey Head Gang have any hope of freedom?
It was slim!
He looked at Ning Zhuo, who was only at the third level of Qi Refinement, but felt overwhelmed by Ning Zhuo's authority.
Often, cultivation level meant little.
The members of the Ning Family felt the same profoundly.
Ning Zhuo's ruthless and decisive methods erased their last trace of contempt.
Ning Zhuo then instructed the Monkey Head Gang leader: "Surround the Crane Beak Gang's stronghold, bring the enemy heads, and tell them the black market is now under my control."
"If they do not surrender, they will meet the same fate as these heads!"
"Yes," the Monkey Head Gang leader accepted the order and withdrew.
Ning Xiangguo had a worried expression: "Young Master Zhuo, you asked us to help you take over the black market."
"We can plan this out slowly. We can support you in the coming days. There's no need to rush."
"Tonight we have already destroyed one gang, and the Monkey Head Gang is exhausted. To launch another attack on an intact gang now..."
"Our control over the current Monkey Head Gang leader is firm. This level of control cannot be easily replicated with other gang leaders."
"This force should help us consolidate the black market in the future. The Monkey Head Gang has already suffered significant losses tonight. Further losses would be detrimental to the overall plan."
Ning Zhuo smiled: "Uncle Xiangguo, there are no outsiders here. No need to call me young master."
"We are all from the branch family, just like you."
"As for the Crane Beak Gang, I believe they are highly likely to surrender."
"I have a good understanding of the black market and have some plans and strategies in place."
"Just watch and see, Uncle Xiangguo."
Seeing that Ning Zhuo could not be dissuaded, and that he was full of confidence, Ning Xiangguo and the others stopped their persuasion.
Ning Zhuo's eyes grew distant as he recalled his conversation with Sun Lingtong before the operation.
"Elder Sun, this time I will come forward and take back our black market!" Ning Zhuo informed Sun Lingtong of the current situation.
Sun Lingtong clapped his hands in excitement: "Ha ha, wonderful. We brothers worked hard to win the black market, and now that I'm wanted, you're the best person to take over."
"But, you're a member of the Ning Family, one of the three major families. If you openly take control of the black market, it might disrupt the balance in Fire Persimmon Immortal City, right?"
Ning Zhuo smiled slightly: "I've thought about that. It's not a big concern."
"First, I'll avoid acting directly, using the Monkey Head Gang initially. The Monkey Head Gang has already cleaned up. I'd use them under the pretext of avenging Yuan Er, forcing them to comply."
"I and the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ning Family will try not to intervene, letting the Monkey Head Gang launch fierce attacks."
"Second, my relationships with the Zhou Family, the Zheng Family, and the City Lord Fei Si are quite good. If it were other members of the Ning Family, they would definitely try to stop them. But they will be happy to see me take control of the black market."
"Because they want to see the Ning Family's main and branch lines clash and wear each other down. Even though I've greatly offended the main line, these people will support me!"
"Currently, the main line has designed a plan to dismiss a large number of branch family stewards on one hand, and heavily reward me on the other, forcing me to share cultivation resources to undermine my reputation."
"With no other options, I must find another way. I'm still very young, and disrupting the city's balance by reaching into the black market doesn't matter much. The other three forces will 'understand'!"
Sun Lingtong thought for a while, then nodded in agreement with Ning Zhuo's analysis: "Brother, you see things clearly. This is indeed a rare opportunity for you to take control of the black market as a member of the Ning Family."
"Then let's go all out!"
Sun Lingtong continued to analyze: "To quickly take over the black market, we need to deal with three gangs and three loose cultivators."
"The three gangs are the Poisonous Snake Gang, the Turtle Breath Gang, and the Crane Beak Gang. The three loose cultivators are Feng Heizi, the One-Armed Craftsman, and Unclean."
"Correct." Ning Zhuo nodded.
As Youthful Guest, he assisted Sun Lingtong for several years, integrating the current black market, and was very familiar with the forces and individuals within.
Ning Zhuo said: "The Poisonous Snake Gang has been the most active, especially after you were wanted. They made significant moves to seize our base."
"Hmph!"
"This time, I'll have the Monkey Head Gang fiercely attack the Poisonous Snake Gang, killing one as an example, and establishing authority!"
"Then, with many stewards from the Ning Family and the Monkey Head Gang, force the Crane Beak Gang to submit."
Sun Lingtong agreed: "It's feasible! The Crane Beak Gang's leaders and elders are generally cowards. We used this tactic back then."
"As for the Turtle Breath Gang, it's up to you, Elder Sun." Ning Zhuo told Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong laughed heartily: "Who would have thought that the mysterious Turtle Breath Gang of today started as a group of beggars practicing the Turtle Breath Technique to enter a hibernation-like state and stave off hunger."
"It was you, Little Zhuo, who pitied them and saw their potential, prompting me to secretly teach their leader some stealing methods."
"Those beggars have indeed strived hard, gradually growing into today's Turtle Breath Gang."
"I'll personally give a secret order to the Turtle Breath Gang leader, telling him to infiltrate your side, to monitor and await my future return."
The Turtle Breath Gang leader did not know the true identity of Youthful Guest, but always remembered Sun Lingtong's kindness.
On the surface, the relationship between the Turtle Breath Gang and Sun Lingtong appeared distant. In reality, the Turtle Breath Gang had always been a loyal subordinate of Sun Lingtong.
A large portion of Sun Lingtong's intelligence came from the Turtle Breath Gang's investigations.