Listening to this astonishing information, Ning Zheng fell into silence.

Without waiting for Ning Zheng to speak, Jiucai Rong nearby also spoke up:

"After Red Sun, Pingchang City plans to enter the mountains to attack us, ready to rally the city's families and residents to fund an expedition out of the city to eliminate bandits?"

Su Yuniang instinctively responded: "Funding to eliminate bandits, seventy percent from the common people's money, while the money from gentry and noble families will be fully refunded?"

Opposite, Gui Pu suddenly went silent, holding back for a while before saying:

"Your Demon Manor is well-informed, even more formidable than I imagined, already knowing the inside story of our last bandit expedition, impressive, impressive!"

Jiucai Rong and the others were shocked: "..."

This planner is capable of writing a script, depicting the wickedness in human nature of this world too realistically.

Ning Zheng: "???"

So proficient, could it be that Jiucai Rong often goes after bandits as well?

Ning Zheng ignored them and quickly guessed the reason for this bandit expedition.

It was these blacksmiths causing chaos, affecting his peaceful life hidden in the manor.

1. Cutting off the supply of ore.

2. The painting card's tempting profits.

Their two actions are the core reasons they're attacking us.

In the current Red Moon, indeed I must take advantage and stir up trouble in Pingchang City.

Weaken their power, otherwise, it'll be death for us afterward.

But weakening a great city, how can it be easy?

Thinking of this, Ning Zheng coldly said: "Cooperation? Name yourselves."

"Zhang Family," the other party said.

The Zhang Family was mentioned when the Sword Fairy went to the city walls for a memorial visit.

Hundreds of Four Viscera Realm tombs, three of Three Elements Realm ancestral graves, not a single one has been unearthed.

Originally profound in background, but this generation has fallen into ruin beyond recognition.

No wonder they seek help.

Now they are desperate, even started attacking other families, contemplating cooperation with Demon Cultivators outside the city, making deals with tigers.

From this perspective.

Their sincerity is very high.

But Ning Zheng here is false, a paper tiger.

Ning Zheng said: "What do you want us to do?"

The Zhang Family directly stated: "If possible, could you sever the Earth Vein connections of several Three Elements Realm ancestors for us?"

That is too difficult for Ning Zheng, a small Cultivator.

Ning Zheng coldly refused: "That's impossible! Our own ancestors are already under great pressure."

The Zhang Family seemed prepared:

"Then, we can join forces, secretly attack and harass the various cultivators in Pingchang City, cause their strength to wane, and ideally, if circumstances are favorable, incite their ancestors to riot, unable to suppress, directly leading to their extinction."

The plain tone concealed tremendous murderous intent.

It appears the other party is also ruthless.

Ning Zheng even suspected whether they were hidden Demon Cultivators in the city.

But upon careful thought, they aren't exactly Demon Cultivators.

I know who I am, most people know they are normal, ordinary people.

An ordinary person, in normal times, will follow laws, but when it comes to life and death, choosing between one's own family's demise and the enemy's, how would an ordinary person choose?

Though cruel, it's believed that friends who've not played the Holy Mother know how to choose.

The Immortal Cultivation Realm is cruel, survival of the fittest.

Gui Pu suddenly spoke of the past:

"One hundred years ago, we went out of the city to eliminate bandits, at that time, let's not talk about the division issues regarding jointly funded bandit suppression."

"All the contemporary Three Elements Great Cultivators personally took action, combined with internal scheming and mutual sabotage, during joint battle, backhandedly pit against each other, exterminating a batch of Three Elements Realm cultivators from certain feuding families..."

While attacking bandits, internal strife began halfway.

Though outrageous, Ning Zheng could understand.

Some people in the Three Flowers Realm know that although they aren't as bottomless as Demon Cultivators, they know their three survival strategies are: fearful of death, untrustworthy, betrayal of brothers...

But these matters are done behind closed doors.

Scholars still have to maintain a reputation outwardly.

Compared to the bandits outside the city sometimes raiding merchant convoys, they think secretly undermining the city's other families reaps the most benefit.

"Plus, on your side, possessing three ancestors with top-tier combat power within the Three Elements Realm, thus we did not succeed in eliminating bandits."

"And back then, our Zhang Family's two great masters in the Three Elements Realm were also betrayed and severely injured in that battle, leading to our current predicament under Red Sun."

Ning Zheng suddenly understood.

For Three Elements Cultivators with extremely strong lifespans, it's unlikely they would all naturally die in a 150-year cycle.

It turns out that they were the ones ambushed during the bandit suppression.

For the past one hundred and fifty years, they've relied on the ancestral tomb, and life hasn't been easy for them.

Others won't allow you to nurture a new Three Elements Realm cultivator, they will disgust you in various ways. Once the Red Sun absorbs the ancestor protecting your family, it's the end of your clan.

That's why they're having such a hard time.

Gui Pu said, "This time's bandit suppression coincides precisely after the Red Moon, what does this imply?"

"It means, the city doesn't have to rush to reinstate the ancestor. Since the city is already empty, they don't mind leaving the defenses unattended a bit longer and might just lead a swarm of ancestors from the city to besiege the manor."

"Even if they have their own hidden agendas, they could crush us with their absolute strength. The combined might of a whole city is not something a single family or clan can withstand."

"You are aware of what consequences this might bring to your manor, sir."

Ning Zheng felt a slight tingle on his scalp as he was spoken to.

Now he realized that the Red Sun wasn't beneficial to him but rather a disaster.

Can our manor withstand the outpouring of over thirty thousand ancestors?

No matter how strong, those three ancestors are merely the Divine Essence within the Three Elements Realm. Without breaking into the next Realm, there's simply no way to win.

They see our manor's situation so clearly.

Ning Zheng spoke, "Regarding specific cooperation, please allow me to report to several lords first, but if you act under the identity of Demon Cultivators, I can make decisions, you can use our name!"

"I hope you strive harder to cause greater harm to the families within the city."

Ning Zheng secretly mimicked the blacksmith's hehe laughter.

He found that playing the villain seemed quite practical.

Gui Pu replied, "I believe that the perverse magical artifact you designed to crazily lick shoe soles was a provocation to the great noble families inside Pingchang City! Surely you have been prepared for the invasion for a long time! I look forward to your good news! We shall form an alliance!"

"..."

Ning Zheng hung up the communication suddenly feeling exhausted.

The painting card was just an operation by those blacksmiths.

However, whether the other side was truly fear-mongering is unknown.

He didn't fully believe the other party was telling the truth; maybe some part was exaggerated to pull the manor onto a pirate ship, accentuating a "we're both dying soon and can only team up" atmosphere.

Moreover, even if there was an issue, doesn't he have an adoptive father?

Is the protection fee paid for nothing?

This isn't referring to the adoptive fathers in those three tombs, but the one in the court.

Anyway, the magical artifacts earn big money, and all want a protection fee, might as well give it to the adoptive father behind him.

The person even gave him a minting license, and he's like the big-shot's dark hand, involving black market revenue, occasionally helping the big-shot rob a merchant convoy, or digging gold, making extra income.

Is it something the city families can meddle with?

As for swallowing all the painting card's earnings alone, without even giving a share to the adoptive father, Ning Zheng thought that's unlikely!

It's best to honestly pay the protection fee.

As the saying goes.

With someone above, paying tributes is giving you face.

The families inside the city can't even find a connection or pathway if they wanted to.

"Let's observe the situation, prepare the next round to send blacksmiths to acknowledge a father." Ning Zheng thought secretly, it's really relying on this group of blacksmiths.

At this moment, Ning Zheng even hoped the court big-shot behind him was resilient enough in spirit.

Disturbingly twisted!

It would be best if he were a Demon Cultivator.

Otherwise, if he doesn't mesh well with our manor, suddenly grows a conscience, makes us stop this profitable murderous business, that would be bad!

If a blacksmith can't head down, destroying their fun, those blacksmiths would be genuinely furious enough to want to end themselves.

"I truly wish he's a villain at heart!"

Ning Zheng said, "It's a pity, the other party works for the court, so it's impossible they are Demon Cultivators, at most someone in the gray areas."

As for sending someone to strip this manor of its assets and taking over the industry?

That's even more impossible.

Since the big-shot let this group of demon men mine, clearly, it's the type within the court that sends wealth your way for doing work. The kind that's dependable.

Forming cliques, trustworthy, people follow you, not stabbing you in the back after taking a break.

Besides, can he even stab you in the back?

Generally, nobody can learn how!

Seeing these scholars start crazily eliminating themselves, they would all be shockingly praising the Manor Master, for this brainwashing has been done well, keep it up!

In reflection, Ning Zheng suddenly calmed down.

What crisis manor extermination event??

It's just a trifling matter.

Similar to that ancestor worship crisis event.

Release the blacksmiths, acknowledge another father, and it's over!

"In this world, nothing cannot be solved by a blacksmith acknowledging a father!" Ning Zheng immediately felt relieved, with one call to adoptive father, bowing his head, his path broadened.

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