"CRACK... BOOOOOOM!!!"
An earth-shattering explosion—not the detonation of spiritual energy, but the furious roar of the azure heavens themselves. An entire corner of the western sky above the capital was suddenly illuminated. A colossal bolt of silver lightning, as massive as an ancient flood dragon, carrying a world-destroying momentum, crashed down from the Nine Heavens, instantly swallowing the black shadow that had just shot up from the water.
There was no agonized scream. There was no resistance.
Beneath the absolute power of heavenly might, the Foundation Establishment Protector of the Black Dragon Stronghold—an expert capable of stirring the wind and rain in the martial world—stood absolutely no chance. His physical body, along with his frail spiritual energy shield, was incinerated into ash by that terrifying lightning strike in mid-air. He left no trace behind, as if he had never existed.
All that remained was a plume of pitch-black smoke, carrying the acrid stench of charred flesh and the wicked odor of demonic arts, slowly dissipating into the air.
The old ferry crossing, after a moment of blinding radiance, plunged back into a deathly silence.
Everyone was dumbfounded, frozen solid like stone statues.
Black Crow and the two-dozen-plus experts of the Six Gates—men thoroughly accustomed to slaughter—had their eyes bugging out and mouths agape, staring at the scene before them as if they had just seen a ghost. They knew there were supreme experts in this world capable of calling the wind and summoning the rain. But to use three low-grade talismans to draw down a bolt of heavenly lightning with such terrifying destructive power—this completely shattered the boundaries of their comprehension.
The two lackeys of the Black Dragon Stronghold, previously under siege, upon witnessing their leader obliterated by heavenly punishment, had their souls frightened out of their bodies. They cast aside their weapons and dropped to their knees, trembling uncontrollably, devoid of any will to resist.
Atop the highest ancient banyan tree, Tran Kien, the director of this entire spectacle, wasn't faring much better. He was panting heavily, his complexion slightly pale. Though the "Lightning Attraction Talisman" was formidable, it was a double-edged sword. To draw down a lightning bolt of such magnitude, he had to use his own Primordial Chaos Qi as bait, nearly suffering a backlash from the heavenly might. Fortunately, his Primordial Chaos Qi originated from the Dragon Vein and could harmonize with the power of Heaven and Earth, allowing him to barely succeed.
He knew he could not remain here for long.
He didn't spare another glance at the battlefield. Like a falling leaf, his figure silently slid down the opposite side of the banyan tree, merging into the darkness of the reed patches and vanishing without a trace.
"Ve Nhan's" mission was complete.
Now, it was time for this dagger to return to the shadows.
A long moment later, Black Crow was the first to snap back to his senses. He looked toward the banyan tree, but the silhouette of Ve Nhan was nowhere to be seen. A profound awe welled up in his heart. This man possessed not only staggering strategy but also divine, ghost-weeping methods. Such a person must absolutely never be offended.
"Clean up the battlefield!" he ordered, his voice somewhat hoarse. "Rescue the victim! Capture the remaining two alive and escort them back to headquarters!"
Black Crow personally stepped forward to inspect the scene. He looked at the still-rippling surface of the river, at the puddle where the Foundation Establishment expert had been obliterated, and then up at the still-gloomy sky. He knew that tonight, this Thang Long Imperial Capital would no longer know peace.
Early the next morning, in the study of the Six Gates.
Tao Chinh sat silently behind his desk, his hands clasped together. Standing before him was Black Crow, respectfully reporting the entirety of last night's events.
The more he listened, the more Tao Chinh's falcon eyes narrowed, a bizarre light glinting within them.
"...and that is the entirety of the matter, Your Excellency," Black Crow concluded. "We captured the two lackeys alive and rescued the eighth victim. Upon initial interrogation, they confessed that all the disappearances were the work of the Black Dragon Stronghold. Their objective was to conduct a blood sacrifice ritual right here in the capital."
"Blood sacrifice?" Tao Chinh lightly tapped his finger on the desk. "The Black Dragon Stronghold is truly audacious."
"As for... as for that Foundation Establishment Protector..."
"Struck dead by heavenly lightning," Tao Chinh finished the sentence for him. He stared into the empty space before him. "Using three low-grade talismans, exploiting the weather, and borrowing the power of Heaven and Earth to slay a Foundation Establishment expert. Excellent! What an excellent stratagem of 'Borrowing the Heavens to Kill a Man'! This Ve Nhan is truly a rare talent."
"Then... Your Excellency," Black Crow asked. "Regarding his background..."
"There is no need for further investigation," Tao Chinh waved his hand. "Who he is matters not. What matters is that he can accomplish deeds for us. A knife only needs to be sharp; why must we know which forge forged it?"
He stood up, walking to the window and looking outside. "The greatest merit in solving this case belongs to Ve Nhan. Announce to the outside world that the Six Gates has cracked the major case and captured the culprits. Furthermore, officially appoint Ve Nhan as the 'Strategist' of the Six Gates, holding a rank equal to a Chief Constable."
"Understood!" Black Crow accepted the order, feeling slightly shocked. The position of Strategist had been vacant for ten years. He hadn't expected it to be bestowed upon such a young man of mysterious origins. It seemed Lord Tao truly valued him highly.
"One more thing," Tao Chinh said, his gaze growing profound. "Dispatch men to covertly monitor Marquis Vinh An's Estate. The Black Dragon Stronghold dares to run so rampant in the capital; I refuse to believe they have no one backing them. This chessboard is growing increasingly interesting."
In the small inn in the commoners' district.
Tran Kien sat cross-legged on the bed, his complexion still a bit pale. He had meditated for an entire night, yet the lingering effects of drawing the lightning remained. Within his circulating Primordial Chaos Qi was a minuscule trace of lightning energy—tyrannical and incredibly difficult to control. He needed time to fully refine it.
Knock... knock... knock.
A knock sounded on the door. Tran Kien opened his eyes. He already knew who it was.
The door opened to reveal Black Crow. But this time, his demeanor was entirely different. The probing was gone, replaced by genuine reverence.
He clasped his hands and bowed. "Congratulations, Lord Ve. Lord Tao has officially appointed you as the Strategist of the Six Gates. Here is your command medallion and official robes."
He respectfully presented a brocade box.
Tran Kien showed no signs of joy. He merely accepted it calmly. He knew this was not a reward. This was a shackle, a beginning.
From this moment onward, he was no longer a wandering rogue cultivator of the martial world. He had officially become a chess piece on the political chessboard of the Thang Long Imperial Capital.
A chess piece named "Ve Nhan".
And the mission of this chess piece was to overturn the entire board.