Tension and fear spread through Mystic City as the city guards moved from door to door, arresting unfamiliar faces.

Earlier that day, an announcement had been made everyone above the Second Rated Martial Artist level should come to the city mansion for registration.

But who would have expected by evening, they would start the arrest, giving the people who were still thinking the announcement was absurd a great shock.

A Master Realm cultivator led the guards as they broke into houses along the crowded streets.

Bang! Bang!

The sudden violence of their entry echoed through the narrow street.

From one house, a sturdy man burst through the wall and stumbled onto the now-silent street.

"What do you think you're doing?" he shouted, pointing at the guard captain. "Did the academy think their palm could cover the sky?"

The captain and his guards regarded him as if he were a fool.

This was Mystic City, the domain of the Mystic Path Academy.

If their hands could not cover the sky in their own domain, they might as well stop calling themselves a power that controlled the region.

Realizing his threats were ineffective, the man trembled. Fear and panic gnawed at his soul.

Should he run for his life?

He was one of the spies sent by hidden clans, ready to unleash carnage when the time was right.

But who would have thought the academy would crazily begin the hunts?

Whoosh!

Before he could decide what to do, the guard captain—now a spectral figure—appeared before the man like a phantom.

Bang! Bang!

The man was stunned by the captain's speed but recovered quickly, throwing a powerful punch.

The result, however, was beyond his comprehension.

Aaaah!

A chorus of shattered ribs echoed through the quiet street as he was sent tumbling tens of meters away.

Bang!

He crashed to the ground, vomiting a mouthful of blood. His face paled; fear and confusion displaced any sign of strength.

"What happened?" he muttered, puzzled by the sudden collapse of his powers.

When he attempted to circulate his spiritual energy, a heavy pressure descended on his body, making it difficult to move.

The guard captain knew exactly what the man was feeling and sneered.

"Since you dared sneak into the city, you must be ready to die."

"All spies will meet the same fate as you—death."

Whoosh!

The guard captain appeared before the stunned spy and threw a powerful punch.

The force twisted the air and landed squarely on the man's head.

Boom! His head exploded as if an overripe fruit had burst.

Brain shards scattered across the empty street.

Watching the brutal killing, bystanders nearby drew in a cold breath.

Everyone realized the academy was serious: any spy would meet only one fate—death.

Without pausing to acknowledge the tense gazes around them, the guard captain gave the order.

"Arrest everyone inside that building. They are offenders as well. Since they harbored a spy, they must face the consequences."

….

"It is over! It is over!" The Han Patriarch paced the main hall, the rising tension of the city pressing on his nerves.

He saw this as a chance for his clan to profit, to provide a safe haven for Gong clan members.

It seemed easy, but now… regret gnawed at him.

"Clan master, what are we going to do?" asked one of the elders in a low, unfriendly voice.

"We do nothing. We deny any involvement with the spies," the Han Patriarch declared with resolve.

The elders nodded, though many fumed at their leader for his recklessness in risking the clan's future.

Still, this was no time for internal strife.

Just then, a guard rushed in.

"My lord, the city guards are on their way," he announced breathlessly.

"Very well. Return to your post." The Patriarch's command was crisp.

If they could not escape the hunt, they could at least deny having any involvement.

Otherwise, their clan would be finished.

He looked at the elder in charge of the spies' provisions and asked, "Are you sure they've escaped?"

"Yes, clan master. They used the secret tunnel of our clan," the elder replied with cautious confidence.

A sigh of relief escaped the elders' lips; as long as they were not caught, their carefully constructed lies would hold.

Boom!

Suddenly a deafening sound rolled from the distance, and everyone in the hall rushed outside.

In the distance, the clan entrance gate lay shattered.

The intimidating aura of a Master Realm cultivator sent a chill through the crowd.

Gulp!

Subconsciously, the clan master and the elders swallowed hard, the lump in their throats rising with fear.

They had all seen Master Realm cultivators before, but never experienced the raw, suppressive aura in that moment.

The guard captain arrived before the Han Patriarch, his cold, piercing eyes locked onto the clan's most powerful man.

Under that stare, the Han Patriarch shivered; sweat dripped from his forehead as if a dam had broken inside him.

"Your clan has been guilty of colluding with the city's enemies," the guard captain announced slowly, maintaining his relentless gaze.

"From this moment, your clan is closed, and everyone will be brought to the barracks."

"Impossible!" shouted an elder, the elder in charge of the spies.

He had done everything perfectly, how could they tie the spies to them?

Bang!

Before the elder could realize what was happening, he was sent flying, crashing into the wall.

"Bring forward the spies…" the guard commanded.

Two people were brought forward, covered in blood—a man and a woman.

Looking at them, the Han Patriarch felt his legs go weak.

How could they deny the accusation when the evidence stood before them?

"It is over..." he muttered, his face etched with regret.

Jun Wu had pardoned him once; he should have learned his lesson and avoided the Gong clan.

But his greed had clouded him.

It was not only the Han clan that was found guilty—many clans were arrested throughout the night.

A great purge swept through Mystic City, sending shivers down everyone's spines.

As this purge unfolded, Jun Wu and his group departed Mystic City without anyone knowing, slipping away into the night with hardly a trace.

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