What did all his years of caution amount to?

And what had the combined efforts of his brothers, whom he had painstakingly supported over the years, come to?

Did it mean that one day, if someone decided to move against him, his own men could openly and righteously hand over their swords to place at his throat?

Would one final slash erase all their grievances?

Luckily, Young Master Wang had already left, taking his men with him. Otherwise, if any of them caused trouble in his base, how would he face that terrifying young man who, while jovial in appearance, was demonic at heart!

Thinking of this, Grandmaster Tian Qi, covered in goosebumps despite his cultivation, couldn't help but roar in anger, "Search! Find them! No matter who they are, find them for me! This time, it's either them or me! I'll offer their heads to Young Master Wang as atonement!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Inside the office, the place was a wreck, littered with debris from items smashed by the enraged Tian Qi. He didn't even realize how much he resembled Snakehead at that moment.

But what could he do? He knew better than anyone the kind of power a family protected by a Martial King represented.

In other words, if he truly failed to win Wang Zhan's favor, Wang Zhan could simply lift a finger and summon that Martial King. Then he, the once-famous Grandmaster who considered himself a regional power, would become the next victim after Snakehead. His death would be countless times more miserable than Snakehead's.

Unfortunately, Tian Qi was certain he wasn't as useful as Snakehead had been. He was just an ordinary martial artist, steadfastly walking the same, utterly mundane path as most others…

Therefore, he took action!

After using a large amount of elixirs to sweep across numerous city blocks, repeatedly reinforcing his formidable reputation, Tian Qi succeeded Snakehead and became the undisputed ruler of this area. He then, for the first time, exercised his authority, beginning a high-profile purge of the underworld's disorderly elements.

They feared nothing, not even powerful noble families. The Federation might have its rules, but in the Underground City, *their* rules were stricter! Because *they* were the true masters of the Underground City.

"Search for me! Anyone who obstructs dies!"

Like a beast rampaging, upon receiving orders from his elder brother Ku Zhu, nearly a dozen Martial Generals under Tian Qi mobilized. Each led a team, going door-to-door, searching for any potential clues. Tian Qi even personally visited the scene to inspect the pieces of flesh believed to have been sliced from Snakehead's body.

The tattoo on the flesh was Snakehead's pride, one that had seen him through countless battles! It depicted a Ferocious Tiger Descending the Mountain, especially prominent whenever Snakehead went all out.

Therefore, no one doubted it any longer. Snakehead was truly dead, his flesh fed to who-knows-what, all while silently under Tian Qi's watch. One should know, that tattoo was etched onto his chest, flaunting and dominant. But now, only one eye and the tiger's maw remained; no one knew into how many pieces it had been divided.

Thus, even if some people were dissatisfied, resentful, or screamed harsh objections, none of it could deter Tian Qi's determination and fury.

"Damn it, get out! This is my home! Don't think you're the only Martial Artists around; I'm a Martial Master too!"

"Fuck off! Who gave you the right to barge into people's homes? In the Underground City, doing this is invading my territory! Even if I killed you, no one would dare say a word against it!"

"What do you think this place is? Who do you think you are? My uncle is with the Internal Affairs Department! Believe it or not, in a couple of days, I'll have him drag you all away! Now, get the hell out!"

Faced with such situations, Tian Qi's men, acting on orders, had only one response.

POW! POW! POW! POW! POW…

One strike after another, one slash after another, one house after another, they spared no one, whether they cooperated or resisted. The Federal Internal Affairs Department might need to follow laws and regulations, but these brutes did not. To them, their boss's intentions represented the will of their entire group, and that should become the will of the entire Underground City.

Therefore, these men following Tian Qi's orders simply grabbed the resisters by their heads and stomped down hard. While tearing their homes to shreds, they spat in their faces.

"Fuck you! So what if your uncle's from the Internal Affairs Department? I'm from the Underground City! Got the guts? Come find me!"

"Damn you! You really think I won't mess you up? Come on, I'll give you a chance. Get up and kill me now. Otherwise, I'll shove your head into a toilet later!"

All at once, the Underground City was ablaze with rumors. Everyone witnessed the brutality of Tian Qi's men. Innocent bystanders merely passing through quickly chose to return to the comforts of the surface.

"Are these people insane? The Underground City isn't his private property! He dares to act like this? Does he really think the Federation won't deal with him?"

"Damn it, who pissed off that madman? I was about to close my deal. Now it's all ruined. Who knows how long this chaos will last? That Snakehead, so useless when it counts! Of all times to die, he picks now! What a loser! *Pah!*"

Of course, those with nowhere else to go were more sensible. This was their livelihood. Now that Snakehead had fallen, Tian Qi, the Underground City's most powerful Grandmaster expert, naturally became the dominant figure. Though he couldn't command universal obedience, it didn't stop these people from understanding the situation. Knowing that resistance was futile, they responded with considerable meekness and reason.

"Let them search! We aren't Boss Tian's enemies. We're just merchants who don't want trouble."

"We're all just trying to survive. I've done nothing shady over the years. So, search all you want. Please, gentlemen, go ahead."

"Let them in, then open for business! Snakehead's death is too big a deal. If someone opposes Tian Qi now, he'll tear them apart before anyone else even thinks of retaliating. Don't push him into becoming a madman."

In an instant, the Underground City plunged into chaos, with people scurrying everywhere. Naturally, how could such news escape the notice of the Internal Affairs Department, which was responsible for order in the Underground City?

So, by the time word got out, the supreme ruler of the Underground City—the only Grandmaster—entered directly from the exit into the Internal Affairs Department's section of the Underground City, bracing for what was to come.

"Boss, are we really going to do nothing? If this goes on, the entire Underground City and the Black Market will descend into chaos. When those above assign blame…"

"These bastards, these thugs! They actually treat the Underground City like it's their own home! Boss, I suggest we move out now and eradicate them completely! That way, these cowardly dregs of the Underground City will stop causing trouble for us over every little thing!"

"Boss, give the order! If we just sit here, our reputation will be ruined. How will we manage the Underground City in the future?"

"Exactly! Boss, even if the Federation doesn't officially acknowledge it, isn't the Underground City still part of the Federation? If we don't intervene and just keep waiting here, what's the point of our existence?"

The Underground City was in chaos, and so was the Internal Affairs Department. Though few in number, its members were united, not divided by differing opinions. Whether for the Federation or their own interests, at this moment, every one of them was filled with righteous indignation, eager to storm into the Underground City and unleash a massacre.

Finally, their boss, also the only Grandmaster in the Quan State Underground City, spoke.

However, with a BANG, another good table was destroyed.

"Shut up!!"

This Grandmaster, usually appearing as a mild, unassuming middle-aged man, had now completely transformed into a ruthless, seasoned, blood-soaked general. His eyes, like a hawk's, swept over his subordinates—men of varying abilities, yet all eager to jump into the fray. He forcefully dismissed all their opinions without a second thought, then rubbed salt in their wounds with a cold, merciless reprimand.

"Do you think you're qualified to interfere in the Underground City's affairs? What realm have you reached—Martial King, Martial Emperor, or perhaps an even higher Human Race ancestor? You're simply overestimating yourselves!" he roared.

"If any of you have forgotten your duties and jurisdiction, I suggest you go back and read the preamble of the 'Underground City Management Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs'! All individuals, including the Federation President and the Head of the Royal Family, are forbidden from deploying forces against the Black Market without the unanimous consent of all Royal Family members and all Upper and Lower House Members! Violators will be executed without mercy! You bunch of losers, daring to spout such nonsense in front of me! Fine! Whoever dares to be the first to step into the Black Market and proclaim the Federation's rights and constitution, go right ahead! I'll be right behind you, and I promise I'll find you a much better coffin!"

The room fell silent. For the first time, they were being so thoroughly berated by their superior. One should know that the "Underground City Management Regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs" was the first fundamental regulation they encountered after passing their examinations, joining the Federation's organizations, and being assigned their duties.

Undoubtedly, the Grandmaster meant that even though they were employees of the Federation, new or old, their understanding was worse than that of toddlers crying for milk in a nursery.

But who dared to provoke the Grandmaster?

So, the Grandmaster strode off with a flick of his sleeve, leaving behind a single, chilling sentence: "Everyone, hold your positions within the Internal Affairs Department! Any Black Market resident who dares to trespass will be killed without mercy! And any of you who dares to set foot in the Black Market and stir up trouble will also be killed without mercy!"

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