Chapter 64: Night of Blood

The sun was setting, and April was in the air.

The people of the mainland of the gods had a pure belief; they believed that the only sun in the sky represented the supreme deity—the Most High God.

The numerous stars in the sky represented various deities of different domains.

And the four moons in the night sky represented the four Great God-Kings above the Most High God!

The four moons hung in a square formation in the sky. The pale golden one represented the War God; the bright and gentle one represented the Nature Goddess; the pure and bright but not dazzling one represented the Light God-King; and the pale red one, often shrouded in clouds, represented the Dark God-King.

These four moons signified that the moon representing the Light God-King was always bright; while the one representing the Nature Goddess waxed and waned; the one representing the War God would shine particularly bright during times of war on the mainland of the gods, but otherwise, it would only emit a faint golden light.

As for the moon representing the Dark God-King, it remained dark all year round, with only a hint of pale red.

However, tonight, this dark moon seemed exceptionally bright, and that hint of red appeared unusually vivid!

Such nights on the mainland of the gods were called "Blood Nights," indicating that somewhere, a massacre was about to begin!

Inside the Lord's Mansion in Juhua City, banquet hall.

Banquets were an essential part of noble life on the mainland of the gods. Nobles used them to bond, discuss business, flaunt wealth and status, etc. Therefore, almost every noble household of some stature had a dedicated venue for hosting banquets, and many official buildings did as well.

It was now eight o'clock at night, and the grand chandelier in the dome of the Lord's Mansion's banquet hall illuminated it with a golden glow. The tables around were laden with delicious food and wine, emitting enticing aromas. Inside the hall, a band played melodious music, while a eunuch singer sang delightful songs.

The nobles invited by Larry Brown to Juhua City, large and small, were dancing in the hall!

Yes, the banquet had started long before Li Xie arrived. The two hundred or so nobles were enjoying their happiness, reveling in the luxury that only the nobles could afford.

However, they should not have forgotten about someone!

Under the cover of night, a few ordinary barking sounds echoed in the streets and alleys. If viewed from above, countless dark figures could be seen converging towards the direction of the Lord's Mansion near the North Gate amidst the barking.

That was the start of the action by the five thousand Imperial Guards!

As Jack had said, the city guards stationed near the Lord's Mansion were indeed only a minority on duty, while the rest were either drinking or gambling, completely unaware that the Angel of Death was silently descending upon them!

The Imperial Guards disguised themselves as refugees, each looking ragged, and approached the city guards dispersedly near the Lord's Mansion. These city guards even reacted with only aggression when confronted; they had never expected an ambush!

Of course, they could not have imagined that there would suddenly be five thousand elite soldiers inside Juhua City!

So, when the five thousand Imperial Guards launched a sudden attack, there was no battle as imagined; there was only one-sided slaughter! The slaughter did not last long; it was only a matter of seconds before all five thousand city guards were dead!

"Awoooo!"

A wolf's howl resounded through the night sky.

Outside the Lord's Mansion, a carriage pulled by eight black-scaled horses slowly approached. Behind the carriage followed a hundred soldiers clad in various types of armor.

This carriage naturally belonged to Li Xie, and the hundred guards behind were his escorts. As for the armor worn by these guards, it was transformed from their fifth-order magic pets!

The carriage stopped in front of the Lord's Mansion, and Li Xie got off. Zeen Nad, Vandi Serl, and Kano followed closely. Li Xie looked up at the giant pillars and triangular gatehouse that formed the ten-meter-wide entrance of the Lord's Mansion, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of his mouth!

This nearly hundred-acre mansion was about to change hands tonight!

"Let's go in!"

Li Xie had just stepped onto the stone steps leading to the main entrance when a hundred city guards surrounded him outside the main gate, each holding a long spear with the spearhead pointed towards Li Xie's side. One of them shouted loudly at Li Xie, "Who goes there?"

"Duke Xie," Li Xie smiled.

"Oh, it's Duke Xie. By the order of the acting Lord, the Duke is requested to enter, but his attendants are not allowed! My lord, please."

Li Xie still smiled, "Zeen, Vandi, I don't want to see anyone blocking our way."

"Yes, my lord!"

Li Xie slowly moved forward. He picked up the little cat in his arms and covered its head with his hand. "It's too bloody. Children shouldn't see this."

The little cat struggled to free its head from Li Xie's hand, its sapphire-blue eyes curiously scanning the surroundings. Then, with a bored yawn, it licked its paws, washed its cat face, and continued to sleep.

The screams from all around did not affect the sleep of this little cat in the slightest!

Near the Lord's Mansion, the remaining city guards were like sand being crushed by bulldozers in front of Zeen Nad and Vandi Serl, two super experts. Li Xie walked smoothly, encountering no more obstacles!

When Li Xie entered the Lord's Mansion, all the city guards nearby had been reduced to one—the guide. Unfortunately for him, he led Li Xie and his companions to the banquet hall, only to be killed by Zeen Nad.

Inside the banquet hall, the festivities were in full swing.

As Li Xie and his group entered, the hundred solid footsteps of his entourage, combined with the commotion near the entrance, caused the beautiful music in the hall to stop.

Standing in front of his people, Li Xie wore a harmless and seemingly courteous smile. "Hello, everyone. Why didn't you wait for me before starting the banquet? Oh, let me introduce myself. My name is... my name is too long, I can't remember it. Just call me Duke Xie!"

After the chaos subsided, the nobles quickly made way, understanding that something had happened and that the involved parties needed to face each other.

Therefore, Li Xie and Larry Brown soon cleared a path for them to confront each other face to face!

Larry Brown scanned Li Xie's group, a hundred guards clad in armor and armed with blades, exuding a formidable aura. This made Larry Brown feel a foreboding sense of unease!

The guards had been instructed not to allow Duke Xie to bring his entourage inside, yet not only had Duke Xie brought all his companions, but he had also brought a hundred guards!

What was happening?

Larry Brown narrowed his eyes, his face clouded with gloom, and said in a deep voice, "Duke, what do you mean by this?"

Li Xie smiled, "What do you think I mean?"

"Bringing private soldiers into the Lord's Mansion, do you know that this is..." Larry Brown suddenly remembered this person's tendency to kill at the slightest provocation and quickly changed tack, "Do you know that this will seriously damage the relationship between the Lord and all the nobles of Juhua City!"

"Oh, look at what you're saying," Li Xie stroked the smooth fur of the little cat in his arms. "This is my private territory, my Lord's Mansion. How can you say that I brought private soldiers in?"

Larry Brown glanced at Zeen Nad and Vandi Serl, his face already dark enough to squeeze water out, but he still bowed to Li Xie, "Duke, although His Majesty has issued a decree, I have not yet formally handed over. I am still the acting Lord. You are still the Duke of the Dynasty, not the Lord of Juhua City!"

"Sigh..." Li Xie sighed, "Old man, can't you see the situation clearly? I really don't understand, what do you have to rely on? That person beside you, yes, I'm talking about you, an eighth-tier summoner, right? Just him? On my side, I have a hundred fifth-tier summoners, a seventh-tier Sword Saint, a tenth-tier Sword Saint, and... a ninth-tier summoner! Why do you dare to confront me head-on?"

A ninth-tier summoner?

The nobles exclaimed, even Li Xie's people looked at Zeen Nad in shock! They had thought Zeen Nad was a tenth-tier Sword Saint, but unexpectedly, he was a ninth-tier summoner!

In terms of combat power, a ninth-tier summoner was stronger than a tenth-tier Sword Saint!

"Lord, endure!" the eighth-tier summoner named Lassenberg whispered to Larry Brown.

Lassenberg's reminder was not because he cared about Larry Brown but because he cared about his own safety! He was very clear that his own combat power could barely preserve his life against a tenth-tier Sword Saint, but facing two of them, he was undoubtedly doomed! Moreover, one was a tenth-tier Sword Saint, and the other was a ninth-tier summoner. If a fight broke out, Lassenberg knew that he probably wouldn't even have a chance to escape!

Larry Brown gritted his teeth, his tone softened slightly, "Duke, you're joking. How could I dare to confront you head-on? I'm just discussing matters. I hope Duke can understand. Duke, why did you bring so many people to the banquet with such grandeur? What's the reason? I hope you can explain it clearly, so I can cooperate!"

"Hehe..." Li Xie grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. It even seemed a bit sinister, "What do you mean by cooperation? Everyone needs to cooperate, so I can handle things smoothly. Now, I want all the people I've called to stand on one side!"

"The officials responsible for Juhua City's agricultural food, the officials responsible for construction projects, regardless of rank, all stand on the far left."

As Li Xie spoke, a dozen or so people looked at Larry Brown. Seeing Larry Brown nod, these people walked to the left side of the hall.

"All those who don't like Larry Brown, stand on the right! Oh? There aren't any? Well then, this person, my eighth-tier summoner, what's your name?"

"Lassenberg!"

"Okay, you stand on the far right!"

"Duke!" Larry Brown said coldly, "What do you mean by this? Lassenberg is my attendant guard. He should stand by my side!"

Li Xie ignored him, his smiling lips revealing his exceptionally white teeth, even a bit chilling. "Lassenberg, you decide for yourself, whether to stay or to go to the right! Three seconds to consider."