The first leader of the Crane Beak Gang was an herb gatherer who owned a family heirloom magic artifact, a crane beak hoe, which was very effective in harvesting wild spirit plants.
Herb gatherers banded together for mutual protection, resisting extortion and threats, eventually forming the Crane Beak Gang.
Therefore, the roots of this gang were not very strong.
During Sun Lingtong's era, the Crane Beak Gang surrendered under coercion.
When Sun Lingtong was being hunted, and the Poisonous Snake Gang rose to power, almost controlling the black market, the Crane Beak Gang was the first to send congratulations.
But now, when the Monkey Head Gang leader presented the head of the Poisonous Snake Gang leader as a greeting gift to the Crane Beak Gang, the head of the Crane Beak Gang felt not shame or anger from being threatened, but deep emotion.
Watching him build high towers, welcoming guests for a grand feast, and seeing the towers collapse.
Not long ago, the Poisonous Snake Gang leader, once so confident, was now just a head, unable to rest in peace.
Not long ago, the Poisonous Snake Gang, which had an air of black market dominance, had disintegrated overnight.
"The old gang leader was right!"
"Those who kill will be killed."
"There's no need for unnecessary killing and fighting unless absolutely necessary."
"Living like us is pretty good, gathering herbs, selling them for money, and paying some protection fees."
"There's always a higher mountain, and always someone stronger."
"Without talent, excellent spirit roots, or reliable background, to survive long in this world, we should become like herbs, serving as spirit plants. Then, contributing fruits and showing value, rather than baring fangs."
The head of the Crane Beak Gang sighed deeply.
He had his own survival strategy.
The Monkey Head Gang leader warned him, letting him know that the Monkey Head Gang was intervening in the black market, with the Ning Family as their backer, hoping the Crane Beak Gang would be sensible.
The head of the Crane Beak Gang said he needed to convene the elders of the gang for a discussion, asking the Monkey Head Gang leader to wait a moment.
The Monkey Head Gang leader waited only for the time it took to burn a stick of incense before he received the response from the Crane Beak Gang leader: the entire Crane Beak Gang was willing to submit, but the specific terms had to be discussed face-to-face with Ning Zhuo.
The Monkey Head Gang leader was overjoyed. The Monkey Head Gang had suffered heavy losses in the battle to destroy the Poisonous Snake Gang and urgently needed to recuperate. If the Crane Beak Gang could bow their heads, it would be the best outcome.
He immediately laughed, "Smart choice! Come with me, don't keep Young Master Zhuo waiting."
...
Ning Xiangqian stood by the window, staring at the Crane Beak Gang's headquarters. His brows furrowed, constantly monitoring the development of the situation.
The Monkey Head Gang leader had entered the headquarters some time ago and hadn't been seen since, causing Ning Xiangqian's anxiety to grow.
"Why hasn't there been any movement?"
He couldn't help but look at Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo sat in the main seat, never standing up since he took his seat.
Blinding white clouds enveloped him, tightly concealing all his cultivation fluctuations.
"So diligent…" Ning Xiangqian thought.
Before supporting Ning Zhuo at the clan's ancestral hall, he had never interacted closely with him.
This time, Ning Zhuo had invited them to intervene in the black market, marking the first collaboration between Ning Xiangqian and Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo's various displays had truly surprised him.
"Diligent in cultivation, fighting for every minute!"
"Very shrewd, hardly like a recent academy graduate."
"However, still young and impulsive in decision-making!"
Ning Xiangqian thought Ning Zhuo's order to the Monkey Head Gang leader to persuade the Crane Beak Gang to surrender was overly aggressive and risky.
The Monkey Head Gang leader was the key figure helping Ning Zhuo control the entire Monkey Head Gang.
In the battle to destroy the Poisonous Snake Gang, the Ning Family saw the value in the Monkey Head Gang leader.
He had commanded the battle well, fully mobilizing all the gang members, continually boosting morale, and maintaining military spirit.
From this, it was evident that the third gang leader had the people's support and sufficient control over the entire Monkey Head Gang.
No one else could replace him.
This was also apparent from the battle.
No one else had the Monkey Head Gang leader's prestige or any outstanding performance in the fight.
"If the Monkey Head Gang leader were to die, the entire Monkey Head Gang would be hard to control, likely falling apart."
"Sigh..."
This was Ning Xiangqian's greatest concern.
Footsteps approached gradually, followed by a knock on the door.
Ning Xiangguo's voice came through: "Young Master Zhuo, the Monkey Head Gang leader has completed his mission. He brought the Crane Beak Gang leader to pay homage to you."
Ning Xiangqian's eyes widened. He had been watching the headquarters closely and hadn't seen anyone leave.
It turned out the Crane Beak Gang leader had come through an underground tunnel with the Monkey Head Gang leader.
The specific terms needed discussion and negotiation before finalizing.
According to the terms, the Crane Beak Gang could determine their surrender posture.
The Crane Beak Gang leader entered the room and bowed to the floating clouds.
The clouds gradually dissipated, and Ning Zhuo's cold voice rang out: "Since you are surrendering, why don't you kneel when you see me?"
"Kneel!" Ning Xiangqian immediately shouted coldly.
The Crane Beak Gang leader's heart trembled, as a large number of divine senses locked on him in and out of the room, with Ning Family's Foundation Establishment cultivators' gazes fixated on him.
Under pressure, the Crane Beak Gang leader hesitated but eventually knelt down.
The clouds dispersed, and Ning Zhuo looked at the Crane Beak Gang leader, who was an old acquaintance to him.
The Crane Beak Gang leader had met the Youthful Guest many times, but this was his "first" time seeing Ning Zhuo. He did not know that Ning Zhuo was the Youthful Guest.
"Too young!" The Crane Beak Gang leader's first impression was.
Ning Zhuo was only sixteen, indeed very young.
This youthful and innocent face immediately gave the Crane Beak Gang leader much courage.
He opened his mouth to propose his conditions, trying to retain the power to act independently.
Ning Zhuo sneered, "It seems you haven't recognized the current situation. All your hopes and fantasies are just that!"
The Crane Beak Gang leader responded, "Lord Ning Zhuo, this old man can perhaps bring you unexpected help."
"For instance, you seem to want to unify the black market. Perhaps you don't yet understand that there are three major gangs in the black market."
"Anyone or any force wanting to control the black market cannot avoid these three major gangs."
"Now, among these three gangs, your forces have destroyed the Poisonous Snake Gang, my Crane Beak Gang has submitted to you, but the third gang remains the most mysterious and least known, yet it has significant influence."
Ning Zhuo chuckled, "Are you talking about the Turtle Breath Gang?"
"Uh." The Crane Beak Gang leader was stunned.
Ning Zhuo raised his eyes, looking towards the door, his gaze seemed to penetrate through it, "If I calculate correctly, he should also be here by now."
At the next moment, the Ning Family cultivators outside the door shouted, "Who goes there?!"
"I am the leader of the Turtle Breath Gang, humbled by the envoy's persuasion, here to pledge allegiance to Lord Ning Zhuo," a middle-aged man's voice came through.
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, "Invite him in."
The Turtle Breath Gang leader, dressed in black, walked in.
He was followed by two Ning Family Foundation Establishment cultivators. Both appeared wary, transmitting a message to the others: "Be careful! This person is highly skilled in stealth; only when he was within a yard of me did my magic artifact sound the alarm."
The Ning Family Foundation Establishment cultivators' expressions tightened, their gazes and divine senses fixated on the Turtle Breath Gang leader.
The Turtle Breath Gang leader remained expressionless, feeling somewhat disdainful inside. He had been taught by Sun Lingtong and was very proficient in concealment. It was only because he had intentionally leaked his aura just now that he was detected.
If he had used his full strength, even if he had come right behind the Ning Family cultivators, they wouldn't have noticed.
"It's really you!" The Crane Beak Gang leader's eyes widened.
He felt it was unbelievable!
According to his knowledge, the Turtle Breath Gang was very mysterious, lacking a regular base, with members barely knowing each other's identities, often operating through single-line connections.
Even during Sun Lingtong's era, the Turtle Breath Gang remained independent.
The Poisonous Snake Gang rose to prominence, annexing Sun Lingtong's territory, and in high spirits, their leader woke up one morning to find a letter from the Turtle Breath Gang leader on his bedside.
This incident spread quickly.
Because of this, the Poisonous Snake Gang became much more restrained, sweeping away their previous wanton and arrogant stance.
"How could such a gang and such a leader suddenly pledge allegiance to Ning Zhuo?!" The Crane Beak Gang leader felt very puzzled.
"So Ning Zhuo really had strategies and arrangements!"
"Besides us, this genius boy seemed to have other forces at his disposal."
"Amazing, his intervention in the black market was not a hasty decision, but a well-planned move!"
For a moment, the Ning Family Foundation Establishment cultivators frequently cast admiring glances at Ning Zhuo.
Despite Ning Zhuo having only "Qi Refinement Third Level" cultivation, such means commanded respect.
The Monkey Head Gang leader was overpowered by Ning Zhuo's presence.
He had heard many rumors about the Turtle Breath Gang.
That Ning Zhuo had quietly taken over this gang was far beyond his imagination.
"The Turtle Breath Gang always dealt in intelligence. With such personnel to monitor us, we must be extremely cautious under Ning Zhuo's command!"
The Monkey Head Gang leader felt even more burdened.
He originally had some small schemes, but the Turtle Breath Gang's allegiance made him shelve them!
The Monkey Head Gang leader took a deep breath and suddenly spoke, loudly congratulating Ning Zhuo on unifying the black market, turning clouds into rain overnight, with astonishing achievements.
The Turtle Breath Gang leader remained silent.
The Crane Beak Gang leader turned pale.
The Turtle Breath Gang's allegiance threw him into disarray. With Ning Zhuo becoming even more dominant, what qualifications did he represent the weak Crane Beak Gang to negotiate?
To his surprise, Ning Zhuo shook his head at the Monkey Head Gang leader's flattery.
"There's still a long way to go."
"To control the black market, at the very least, we must control three gangs and three scattered men."
"Now, the Poisonous Snake Gang has been replaced by the Monkey Head Gang, and the Crane Beak Gang and Turtle Breath Gang have all submitted to me."
"Next, we have to deal with Feng Heizi, One-Armed Craftsman, and Messy Cleaner."
Upon hearing these words, the Ning Family cultivators looked at each other.
They were quite unfamiliar with the black market's inner workings and were hearing this for the first time.
The Crane Beak Gang leader's face paled even more.
The Turtle Breath Gang leader remained expressionless, but his pupils slightly contracted.
Ning Zhuo's deep understanding of the black market surprised them all.