Eternal life begins with saving my clan

Three days later.

Standing outside the Dongping city gate, a line of caravans graced the road. Many inhabitants of the city gathered, looking at the newly created merchant guild with envy.

How they wished they were part of the caravan!

If they were fortunate enough to join, they would have the chance to leave Dongping city and see other cities. Most of them had never set foot outside the Boiling Desert, and a deep longing filled their hearts.

Among the merchant guild, the two leaders were the Sun and Wei clan leaders. Their faces brimmed with smiles and pride.

They raised their heads and looked at the city lord standing atop the city wall with a smirk.

Previously, none of them had the chance to stand against the city lord's mansion, but now, the Celestial Heavenly Store had given them that opportunity.

Unbothered by the two clan leaders, Wu Xia looked at her men, gave a few instructions, and waited for the arrival of the Celestial Heavenly Store's representative.

A minute later, Deng Kun emerged from the crowd, with everyone stepping aside to make way for him. In Dongping city, the most feared existence was the Celestial Heavenly Store and anyone connected to it.

"Young Master…" Wu Xia and the others greeted him with a slight bow.

With Deng Kun's appearance, the area grew quiet, and all eyes focused on him. "You all know what to do. I expect to hear good news when you return."

"Young Master Kun, with my clan's support, I guarantee everything will go according to plan," Wu Xia said confidently.

"I hope so…" Deng Kun's expression didn't change. As for the Wu clan's help, he didn't care.

Partnering with the Wu clan was just for convenience, not necessity. It was the Wu clan's fortune to have encountered them.

"Off you go," he commanded, gazing at the two clan leaders.

Feeling his piercing gaze, the two leaders swallowed the lumps in their throats and paid their respects before entering their carriages.

The crowd watched as the line of carriages moved into the distance, their faces filled with longing.

When would it be their turn?

Meanwhile, inside Zimo's office, the Feng Patriarch sat before him, his expression solemn.

"Clan leader Feng, what you're requesting is quite simple," Zimo replied casually.

"The store doesn't care if your entire clan joins the adventurer guild, as long as you complete the missions on the notice board. You'll get the corresponding rewards."

"Really?!" Patriarch Feng's face brightened.

"Yes. Why would I lie to you?"

"Good. Good." A deep smile appeared on his face as he stood up. "Young Master, I'll take my leave now."

As the Feng Patriarch left, a rare smile crept onto Zimo's face. Knowing how greedy the various clan leaders were, he was certain they wouldn't be able to resist joining the store.

And this was just the beginning.

If not for their Emperor being in closed cultivation, they would have left this backward city long ago and begun their conquest of the plains.

…

Far from Dongping City, deep in the Soaring Cloud Region, on a lone island, hundreds of rows of wooden houses were scattered across the landscape.

The brick buildings could be counted on two hands. At the center of the scattered homes and buildings stood a magnificent villa.

This was the headquarters of the Crimson Shadow Bandits.

Inside a grand hall, seated at the highest place, was a handsome middle-aged man. He appeared refined, like a scholar, with an air of friendliness.

Seated below him were five men and two women. Their expressions were solemn, staring at the refined scholar.

This was their weekly meeting, and each time they had this meeting, it felt like they were heading to war with little chance of returning.

"Where is the Wu clan's young miss?" he asked in a calm voice.

When the men below heard this, they sighed in relief and turned to look at a middle-aged man with an unsightly expression.

"M-My…Lord…" Luoyang's voice trembled, sweat dripping from the corner of his forehead. He had prayed to all the gods that the boss wouldn't ask about this.

Unfortunately for him, the gods did not heed his pleas.

Though he was a vice leader, to the big boss, he was nothing more than an ant. Luoyang forced himself to swallow the lump in his throat and stood, his legs trembling.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"M-My Lord, I haven't heard from my men." Luoyang felt deep into the ground and hid. His heart almost jumped out of his chest.

As soon as he finished speaking, the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees, and all the vice leaders held their breath, staring at the floor, not daring to look at the big boss's face.

"When was this?" the big boss asked, his voice still calm.

"O-Over a week…"

For a moment, the big boss remained silent, staring deeply at Luoyang. The only sound in the hall was the heavy pounding of Luoyang's chest.

"You deserve death."

Thud!

Luoyang fell to his knees, hitting his forehead on the cold, hard ground. "My Lord, please spare me. Give me a chance to correct my mistake."

His head continued to hit the ground, blood gushing from his forehead, staining the floor red.

Though he was in pain, Luoyang seemed oblivious, continuing to plead for his life.

"I won't punish you for your past contributions to the clan. But this will be the last time you make such a stupid mistake. Go now and fetch me the Wu clan's young miss," the big boss said calmly.

From beginning to end, his voice never changed, like a refined scholar teaching the way of life, not deciding the fate of a subordinate.

Receiving a second chance, Luoyang sighed in relief. "My Lord, thank you. Your magnanimity covers heaven and earth."

"Go now."

Quickly, Luoyang got to his feet and rushed out of the hall, not caring about the blood dripping from his forehead.

While Dongping City was still celebrating the departed merchant guild, a newfound threat was coming their way.

****