The night in the Thang Long Imperial Capital was far from tranquil. Beneath the bright red lanterns of the bustling districts flowed a hurried stream of people, filled with boisterous laughter and chatter. However, in the western district near the banks of the To Lich River, the atmosphere became chilling and bizarre. A thin layer of night mist lingered over the surface of the river, mingling with the stench of mud and the yin aura radiating from the abandoned old ferry crossing.
Tran Kien, acting under the identity of Ve Nhan, did not immediately return to the Six Gates. Upon discovering this lethal clue, he knew this was no longer a routine investigation. This was a life-and-death chessboard. And on this chessboard, he could not rely solely on his own strength.
He took a large detour, ensuring absolutely no one was tailing him, before heading to a small night market that sold various array formation materials and low-grade talismans. He spent a small sum of money to purchase several low-grade "Lightning Attraction Talismans" and "Aura Concealment Talismans," along with some mineral powder capable of disrupting spiritual energy.
Only then did he return to the headquarters of the Six Gates. It was already midnight.
Black Crow, the black-robed man with a frigid face, still stood there like a statue, waiting for him.
"Lord Ve," he spoke, his form of address having changed, carrying a hint of probing. "Have you found any clues?"
"A few," Tran Kien replied. His tone feigned exhaustion, yet failed to completely conceal a hint of excitement. "I have discovered the culprit's pattern of operation. If nothing unexpected happens, tomorrow night, at the old ferry crossing by the To Lich River, he will strike again."
"Excellent!" Black Crow nodded. "I will immediately report this to Lord Tao and mobilize our personnel..."
"Hold on," Tran Kien interrupted. "This matter is not that simple."
He looked directly at Black Crow, his gaze incredibly solemn. "I suspect this is no ordinary case. The culprit is not a lone demonic cultivator. Behind him, there is very likely a major faction. That ferry crossing might not just be a ritual site, but a pre-laid trap targeting our Six Gates."
This was the stratagem of "Beating the Grass to Scare the Snake," but applied from a different angle. He didn't just report; he intentionally magnified the danger to put that old snake, Tao Chinh, on high alert and force him to play his strongest trump cards.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Black Crow's expression changed. "You mean..."
"I need men," Tran Kien stated decisively. "Not ordinary constables. I need the most elite experts of the Six Gates. Furthermore, we cannot launch a swarm attack. We must lay an even larger trap, encircle them from afar, wait for the true culprit to reveal himself, and only then strike."
He brought out the map of the capital and outlined an incredibly detailed and meticulous encirclement plan. Every ambush position, every signal for action, was calculated to absolute perfection.
Black Crow listened in silence. Though merely a subordinate, he was a seasoned expert. He could see the logic and the ruthlessness within Tran Kien's plan. He said nothing more, simply nodding before quietly taking his leave.
Tran Kien knew the big fish, Tao Chinh, had taken the bait.
The following night. The moon was dim, the stars sparse.
The old ferry crossing by the To Lich River was terrifyingly silent. The night mist, thicker than usual, obscured everything. Yet, hidden within that mist were dozens of sharp auras lying in wait. The experts of the Six Gates, under Black Crow's command, had taken their ambush positions.
Tran Kien was not with them. Wearing the black garb of a night walker, he hid himself alone upon the highest branch of the ancient banyan tree, a vantage point that overlooked the entire ferry crossing. He had used an "Aura Concealment Talisman," masking nearly all of his presence. He was not the commander. He was the final dagger, the one who would decide the outcome of the chessboard.
The Hour of the Rat arrived.
From downstream, a small, unlit boat silently drifted near. Aboard were two black shadows, escorting a gagged, unconscious maiden. The eighth victim.
The two shadows carried the girl onto the crossing, placing her in the center of the minor Blood Sacrifice array. One of the men began bringing out bizarre magical artifacts, preparing for the ritual.
The other, a tall, gaunt man at the peak Qi Condensation stage, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, vigilantly scanning the surroundings.
"Move!"
From the darkness, Black Crow issued the command.
Dozens of Six Gates figures lunged out like hunting leopards, encircling the ferry crossing.
"An ambush! Retreat!" the gaunt man shrieked in horror. He had no desire to fight; with a wave of his hand, a plume of toxic black smoke shot out, while he simultaneously grabbed his comrade to dive into the river and escape.
But Black Crow and the Six Gates experts were well-prepared. A massive net woven from magical beast silk descended from the heavens, severing their escape route. A fierce battle erupted.
Yet Tran Kien, perched in the tree, did not look at the battle.
His gaze, from beginning to end, was locked onto a single location.
The still surface of the river in the distance.
He knew these two men were merely bait.
The true big fish was still hiding beneath the water.
Exactly as he predicted, just as the battle reached its most critical juncture, massive bubbles suddenly erupted on the water's surface. An incredibly powerful, frigid Foundation Establishment aura exploded from beneath the riverbed!
A black shadow shot up from the water—not to attack the Six Gates men, but charging straight toward the unconscious girl on the altar! He wanted to snatch the sacrifice!
"Finally decided to come out?" Tran Kien murmured, the corners of his mouth curling into a frigid smile.
He did not leap down. He merely raised his hand. Three "Lightning Attraction Talismans" had been activated by his Primordial Chaos Qi.
He did not throw them at the black shadow.
He threw them straight up into the sky!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The three talismans detonated in mid-air, forming three small lightning diagrams that linked together to create a simple lightning-attraction array.
At that exact moment, dark, roiling clouds suddenly gathered in the previously gloomy sky.
CRACK!!!
A colossal bolt of silver lightning, like a furious silver dragon, drawn by Tran Kien's minor array formation, crashed down directly from the Nine Heavens!
Its target was none other than the black shadow that had just shot up from the water!
The man was suspended in mid-air with nowhere to borrow force from, locked onto by the terrifying heavenly might of the lightning—he could not possibly evade!
This was Tran Kien's true trump card! Borrowing the power of Heaven and Earth to kill a man!
"NOOO!!!"
That black shadow—a Foundation Establishment Protector of the Black Dragon Stronghold—only had time to raise his head and let out one final, despairing roar.
Then, he was completely swallowed by the silver lightning.