Chapter 409 Destroying Beast Taming is Like Killing! The Jin and Bai family patriarchs launch a desperate counterattack, but Liu Lan kills them with a single move!

Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai knelt before the high platform.

They looked up at Jiang Yun with fawning expressions, their eyes filled with expectation.

"Master Jiang, Old Granny Han has been taken down by the two of us."

"Her beast is dead, and she herself is crippled; she can no longer cause any trouble."

"Master Jiang, look, like this... are you satisfied?"

Their voices were filled with cautious flattery; where was there even a hint of the prestige of Meteor Tier 9 Peak experts?

Below the platform, the crowd was discussing the scene fervently.

"Look at them. Just moments ago, they were high and mighty, looking down on the City Lord and saying that Black Rock City could not withstand them. And now? They're kneeling on the ground like dogs!"

"Tsk tsk tsk, this is the power of strength! With the Liu Family backing him, even a Meteor Tier 9 Peak expert has to kneel!"

"But then again, this new City Lord really has methods. With just one sentence, he caused internal strife among the three families, winning without shedding a drop of blood. Brilliant!"

"How do you think he'll handle these two?"

"Who knows... but given his character, he probably won't let them off easily."

"True, those three were trying to kill him just now. If it were me, I wouldn't spare them either."

The crowd continued to chatter, their gazes all focused on Jiang Yun on the high platform.

They were curious how this young new City Lord would respond to these two Old Ancestors kneeling and begging for mercy.

In a corner of the square, the three elderly men were also talking in low voices.

"How do you think this youth will handle the remaining two?"

The Goatee Elder stroked his beard and asked with interest.

"In my opinion, he will take the most stable approach and avoid offending everyone."

The Bald Elder analyzed.

"The result is already out: Old Granny Han is dead, and the two from the Jin Family and Bai Family have offered their loyalty pledges. If this youth is smart, he should quit while he's ahead and let the two of them leave."

"After all, the Jin Family and Bai Family are second-rate families in the Provincial Capital. Though they can't compare to the Liu Family, they aren't to be trifled with. If he pushes them too far and they act out of desperation, it won't do him any good."

The Goatee Elder nodded.

"That makes sense. However..."

He looked toward the third elderly man.

"What do you think?"

The third elderly man smiled slightly and shook his head.

"I, for one, feel that this kid probably won't let these two go."

"Oh? Why?"

The Bald Elder raised an eyebrow.

"Because of his Heart-Nature."

The third elderly man's gaze was profound.

"Look at his eyes. From start to finish, there has been no fear or retreat in them. Facing the pressure of three Meteor Tier 9 Peak experts, his expression remained unchanged; facing a threat to his life, he was calm and composed."

"How could such a person let off those who wanted to kill him just to avoid causing offense?"

The Goatee Elder and the Bald Elder looked at each other.

Neither of them spoke.

The three elderly men's gazes fell back onto the high platform.

Above the high platform, Elder Liu Lan hovered in the air, her water-blue long dress fluttering in the wind, with ribbons of water-blue light swirling around her.

She made no statement but simply watched Jiang Yun quietly, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

She wanted to know how this Grand Tutor Dongxuan would handle the situation.

Jiang Yun looked at Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai kneeling at his feet, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly.

That smile was faint, yet it carried a heart-palpitating chill.

"You have done very well."

He spoke, his voice calm and betraying no emotion.

Hearing this, Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai felt a surge of joy, and the flattery on their Faces intensified.

"Master Jiang is too kind! It is our honor to serve Master Jiang!"

"Yes, yes! If Master Jiang has any instructions in the future, just speak, and we will certainly do our utmost!"

The two of them hurried to pledge their loyalty, wishing they could pull out their hearts to show Jiang Yun.

However, Jiang Yun's next sentence caused their smiles to freeze instantly.

"However..."

Jiang Yun's tone shifted.

"You did not actually kill the person from the Han Family. Although her beast is dead, she is still alive. It seems this City Lord needs to take action himself."

Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai's expressions changed.

Just as they were about to explain, Jiang Yun continued.

"However, for the two of you, while you may be spared the death penalty, you cannot escape punishment."

He looked up toward Elder Liu Lan in the sky.

"Elder Liu, I must trouble you to cripple the beasts of these two."

"Let it be a lesson for their attempt to kill me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue fell into a dead silence.

Then, the place exploded into a frenzy.

"What?! Cripple their beasts?!"

"A lesson?!!"

"Heavens! This new City Lord is far too ruthless!"

"What's the difference between killing their beasts and killing them?"

"For a Meteor Tier 9 Peak expert, how much effort and how many resources does it take to nurture a beast? Crippling the beast is equivalent to crippling their entire cultivation!"

"I thought he would quit while he was ahead, but I didn't expect... he'd go straight for the kill!"

"This new City Lord is a ruthless man!"

The crowd was beyond shocked.

The looks they directed at Jiang Yun were now filled with more awe and fear.

In the corner of the square.

The three elderly men also had a change in expression.

"Crippling the beasts..."

The Goatee Elder murmured to himself.

"This kid is even more ruthless than I imagined."

"It seems we still underestimated him."

The Bald Elder shook his head.

"Seeking revenge for every grievance and never being soft-hearted. This kind of personality allows one to live a long time in a world where the strong prey on the weak."

"Interesting."

The third elderly man stroked his beard.

His eyes were full of admiration.

"I have lived for most of my life and seen countless young people, but those as decisive in killing as him can be counted on one's fingers."

In the air, Elder Liu Lan's mouth also curled into a slight grin.

"The methods and mind of this Grand Tutor Dongxuan are even more ruthless than I imagined."

She thought to herself secretly.

"It seems I still looked down on him before."

From then on.

She no longer had even a hint of disdain for Jiang Yun.

As for Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai...

The two of them were already experiencing Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, their Faces filled with utter disbelief.

"W-what?!"

"Cripple our beasts?!"

Their eyes widened.

They looked at Jiang Yun as if they had just heard the most absurd thing in the world.

"Master Jiang, what is the meaning of this?"

Jin Buhuan's voice was trembling.

"Didn't you say you would choose one person among the three of us to die? Old Granny Han is already about to die, so why do you still want to cripple our beasts?"

Old Ghost Bai also hurriedly said, "Yes, Master Jiang! We followed your instructions, killed the person from the Han Family, and offered our loyalty pledge! How can you go back on your word?"

"How is this different from killing us?"

The two were shocked, angry, afraid, and hateful.

Jiang Yun looked at the two of them with no sympathy in his eyes.

He gave a cold laugh.

"I said I would choose one person among the three of you to die. You two chose to let her die, so you two can live."

He paused, his tone growing even colder.

"I only want to cripple your beasts; what does that have to do with you yourselves?"

"After all, you were just trying to kill me. My only crippling your beasts is already letting you off easy!"

Hearing this, Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai...

Were so enraged they nearly spat out blood.

What was the difference between crippling their beasts and killing them?

For a Beast Tamer,

The beast was their second life.

The reason they could become Meteor Tier 9 Peak experts

Was precisely because of those life-bound beasts they had nurtured for decades.

If their beasts were crippled,

Their Realm would plummet.

Falling from Meteor Tier 9 Peak to the Amethyst Rank or even lower.

This was more agonizing than being killed!

Jiang Yun looked at the two coldly, his heart not wavering in the slightest.

Though doing this was somewhat ruthless,

When dealing with those who wanted to kill him,

Jiang Yun had always adhered to thunderous methods of eradicating them root and branch, killing whenever possible.

After all, if Elder Liu Lan had not taken action today,

He would likely be dead right now.

Moreover, if he spared them today, there was no telling how they might retaliate against him in the future.

If he could, he would even want to kill the two of them right here.

However, with his current ability, he could not yet achieve that.

And Elder Liu Lan would definitely not help him do so.

Therefore, he could only settle for the next best thing.

Kill one of them and cripple the beasts of the other two.

From this point forward,

The grievance, hatred, and feud between them had been firmly established.

When his strength became great enough, he would certainly go to the Jin Family, Bai Family, and Han Family to settle today's score.

But now was not the time; he had to first rely on the prestige of Elder Liu Lan of the Liu Family.

In the distance, the weakened Old Granny Han suddenly laughed as she watched this scene.

That laughter was hoarse and shrill, carrying endless mockery and pleasure.

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous."

"Ironic, truly ironic."

"You two old things thought you could survive by offering a loyalty pledge? And the result? Aren't you still going to have your beasts crippled?"

"Hahaha, you two idiots! How is your end any different from mine? I... I'll wait for you below!"

Old Granny Han's voice grew weaker and weaker.

Finally, it turned into a sigh.

And then,

Her head tilted, and the breath of life completely vanished.

A Meteor Tier 9 Peak Old Ancestor level expert had fallen just like that.

Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai looked at Old Granny Han's corpse, their Faces pale and their eyes full of fear and panic.

Then, that fear turned into unwillingness, unwillingness turned into anger, and anger turned into madness.

The two lowered their heads and glanced at each other, a certain determination already set in their eyes.

Immediately, they both looked up at Jiang Yun.

"You bastard boy!"

Jin Buhuan let out a violent roar, his voice filled with rage and killing intent.

"If not for the pressure from Elder Liu of the Liu Family, why would we ever submit to you?"

"Did you really think we would let ourselves be manipulated by you like this?"

Old Ghost Bai also stood up, his eyes filled with madness.

"Since you want to be this ruthless to us, then don't blame us for being heartless!"

"Even if we die, we'll take you down with us!"

The two simultaneously activated their beasts.

The Golden-Winged Thunder Eagle and the Frost Gray Wolf, two Meteor Tier 9 Peak beasts, simultaneously let out earth-shaking roars.

Golden electrical arcs and faint blue frost intertwined, forming a terrifying energy storm that swept toward Jiang Yun on the high platform.

The speed was extremely fast—so fast that people had no time to react.

"City Lord, watch out!"

Blood Lady and Iron Mountain Liu quickly snapped back to their senses from the waves of shock.

Their expressions changed drastically as they both blocked the path in front of Jiang Yun.

Their beasts,

The Blood Fiend Demon Spider and the Crimson Flame Demonic Tiger, also blocked the front at the same time.

But their strength was only at the low stages of the Meteor Rank; facing a full-power strike from Meteor Tier 9 Peak experts, they could not block for long at all.

Seeing this, Jiang Yun was also somewhat surprised.

He had not expected the two of them to actually block in front of him at such a critical moment.

They were so loyal to him.

Naturally, there was also a huge hubbub in the surroundings.

"It's over! The City Lord is in danger!"

"Those two old things have gone crazy! A final counterattack!"

"Run! That's a full-power strike from Meteor Tier 9 Peak experts! Anyone caught in the crossfire is finished!"

Below the platform,

The crowd was terrified and began to retreat one after another.

However,

Right at this critical moment,

"You dare to kill the Liu Family's distinguished guest in front of this Elder?"

A cold voice drifted down from the sky.

That voice was not loud, but it carried a majesty that made one's Soul tremble.

"Seeking death!"

As the words fell, the sky suddenly changed.

Elder Liu Lan took action.

She did not summon a beast.

She merely raised her right hand and opened her fingers.

A terrifying water attribute Law power gushed out from her palm.

That power was not spiritual power, but the Law.

Water-blue light bloomed from her palm, spreading out in all directions like a tide.

Everywhere it passed, the air became filled with dense water vapor, which condensed into countless crystal-clear water droplets that hovered in the air, refracting rainbow-colored light.

But no one thought it was beautiful.

Because the power contained within those water droplets was truly too terrifying.

Every single water droplet contained the Law power of the Eclipsing Moon Rank.

Thousands upon thousands of water droplets shot out simultaneously, turning into a water-blue torrent that met the attacks of the Golden-Winged Thunder Eagle and the Frost Gray Wolf.

Before the water-blue torrent, the golden lightning and faint blue frost were like paper.

"Chiii!!"

The golden lightning was submerged by the water-blue torrent, without even causing a single splash.

"Kacha!!"

The faint blue frost was swallowed by the water-blue torrent, instantly evaporating completely.

The water-blue torrent's momentum remained unabated, directly striking the Golden-Winged Thunder Eagle and the Frost Gray Wolf.

"Boom!!!"

A massive explosion shook the entire square, causing it to tremble.

The golden electric arcs flickered out, and the deep blue frost dissipated.

The Golden-Winged Thunder Eagle and the Frost Gray Wolf let out shrill wails, their bodies trembling violently before they crashed to the ground.

Their feathers and scales were covered in water-blue cracks, from which golden blood and deep blue bodily fluids seeped out.

Their Auras were weakening rapidly.

They fell from the Peak of Meteor Tier 9 to the First Stage of Meteor Rank, then down to the Amethyst Rank, until finally, their presence vanished completely.

Two beasts at the Peak of Meteor Tier 9 were killed instantly by a single strike from Elder Liu Lan.

There was no struggle, no resistance, and not even a chance to escape.

It was as simple as crushing two ants.

"No!!!"

Jin Buhuan let out a heart-wrenching scream.

"No!!!"

Old Ghost Bai was equally desperate.

They watched their beasts fall and felt the Auras of the companions who had been with them for decades dissipate; their hearts turned to ash, becoming withered and cold.

In an instant, it was as if they had aged dozens of years.

Below the stage, the crowd was completely stunned by the scene.

"This... this is an Eclipse Moon Rank Expert?"

"Exactly what stage of the Eclipsing Moon Rank has the Liu Family Elder reached? How can she be so terrifyingly powerful?"

"With a casual strike, without even summoning her own beast, she insta-killed two beasts at the Peak of Meteor Tier 9?!"

"This is too... too ridiculous!"

"Is the gap between the Eclipsing Moon Rank and the Falling Star Rank really this massive?"

"Nonsense! It's the difference between heaven and earth! Before an Eclipse Moon Rank Expert, those at the Peak of Meteor Tier 9 are just ants!"

Everyone was so shocked they were speechless, their eyes filled with awe and fear as they looked at Elder Liu Lan.

In a corner of the square, the three old men also nodded slightly.

"It seems we don't need to worry about this kid."

The old man with the goatee sighed with emotion.

"With the Liu Family's Elder Liu Lan here today, I'm afraid no one can touch him."

The Bald Elder nodded.

"Let's just watch the show."

The third old man smiled slightly.

High above the stage, Elder Liu Lan withdrew her power and Aura.

The water-blue light vanished, the moisture in the air dissipated, and the sky turned clear again.

She looked down at the pathetic and utterly desperate Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai, speaking coldly.

"I will not kill you today out of respect for Master Jiang's Face; that is why I have spared your lives."

Her voice was frigid, like water from a glacier.

"Leave at once."

"Otherwise! Die!"

That word 'die' carried the killing intent of an Eclipse Moon Rank Expert, pressing down on the two men like something physical.

Jin Buhuan and Old Ghost Bai trembled all over, snapping back from the immense pain of their beasts being killed.

They looked up, staring at Elder Liu Lan with venomous eyes.

But they didn't dare to lash out.

They didn't dare to say a single word.

Because their lives were held in Elder Liu Lan's hands.

If she became displeased, she could kill them with a single thought.

They then looked at Jiang Yun, their eyes full of hatred.

But again, they didn't dare to act.

They gritted their teeth and squeezed out a few words from between them.

"Thank you... Master Jiang... for sparing our lives."

Every word seemed forced out of their throats, carrying endless humiliation and resentment.

After saying this, they stood up.

They summoned their backup beasts.

They were merely Common beasts of the Amethyst Rank.

Then they mounted them and left in a pathetic state.

The two figures disappeared into the sky.

Jiang Yun watched their departing backs, his heart finally settling.

Today's display of power was officially over.

From this day forward, he would have a solid foothold in Black Rock City.

Below the stage, the discussions among the crowd surged like a tide.

"The City Lord is so badass!"

"Three experts at the Peak of Meteor Tier 9 came here all aggressive, and the result? One dead, two crippled!"

"From now on, who in Black Rock City would dare to question the City Lord's authority?"

"Not just Black Rock City! With a powerhouse from the Liu Family backing the City Lord, even those forces in the provincial capital will probably have to think twice and won't dare to underestimate our new City Lord of Black Rock City!"

"The City Lord is mighty!"

"Long live the City Lord!"

Cheers rose one after another, echoing through the clouds.

In a corner of the square, the three old men were also talking in low voices.

"It seems that after today, the identity of this new City Lord of Black Rock City is firmly established."

The goateed old man sighed.

"Indeed, with such a powerhouse watching over him and today's display of dominance, no force will dare to covet Black Rock City."

The Bald Elder nodded.

"This young man is very good."

The third old man stroked his beard, his eyes full of admiration.

"His Heart-Nature and methods are both top-notch. In this Bone Burial Area, full of danger and lacking rules, he should be able to survive."

The three old men glanced at each other and said no more.

On the high stage, Jiang Yun took a deep breath and scanned the entire field.

Many thoughts were swirling in his mind.

Although today's show of power borrowed Elder Liu Lan's influence, it also allowed him to see his own situation clearly.

Right now, what he relied on was still external power.

The Liu Family, the Appraisers Guild, and Sky Dome Academy.

These were other people's forces, not his own.

He had to grow up quickly.

He needed to become powerful enough to stir up storms in the provincial capital without fearing anyone.

Not even any single organization.

Not even a Hidden Family like the Liu Family...

As Jiang Yun was lost in thought, a voice transmission suddenly rang in his ear.

"Grand Tutor Dongxuan, your business here should be finished now, right?"

It was Elder Liu Lan's voice, carrying a bit of laziness and casualness.

"This Elder traveled thousands of miles from the provincial capital to help you solve such a big mess. You should at least give me a definite word: when will you follow me back to the Liu Family to complete our agreement?"

Jiang Yun snapped back to reality.

He turned to look at Elder Liu Lan, who was suspended in the air.

Her water-blue long dress fluttered in the wind, and the Law ribbons around her had faded, but standing there, she still seemed like an insurmountable mountain that people could only look up to.

Jiang Yun replied via voice transmission.

"Elder Liu, please wait a moment. This Junior has just become the City Lord of Black Rock City and still has some matters to instruct and arrange. In half a day, I will return to the Liu Family with you. I wonder if that is convenient for you, Elder Liu?"

Hearing this, Elder Liu Lan frowned slightly.

Half a day?

She, an Eclipse Moon Rank Expert, had traveled all this way to be a bodyguard for a young boy, and now she had to wait another half-day for him?

But then she reconsidered.

This Grand Tutor Dongxuan did indeed need time to settle the affairs of Black Rock City.

Besides, she had already helped him this much; half a day wouldn't make a difference.

"Fine."

Elder Liu Lan replied via voice transmission, her tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

"This Elder will wait for you for half a day. After half a day, no matter what business you still have, I will forcibly take you away."

“...”

"Thank you for your understanding, Elder Liu."

Jiang Yun thanked her via voice transmission.

The transmission ended.

Jiang Yun took a deep breath and turned to Face the thousands of people in the square.

His silver-white mask glinted coldly in the sunlight.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he began to speak.

"Everyone, you all saw what just happened."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"Some people wanted this City Lord's life, and some wanted to seize this territory of Black Rock City. I do not wish to cause trouble, but I am not afraid of it either."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a majesty that made people look away.

"The Jin Family, the Bai Family, and the Han Family joined forces, with three experts at the Peak of Meteor Tier 9 arriving aggressively. You have seen the result."

Below the stage.

The crowd was silent, everyone looking up at the youth on the high stage.

"One dead, two crippled."

Jiang Yun held up three fingers, then folded them back one by one.

"This is the consequence of offending this City Lord."

His voice suddenly rose, like thunder exploding over the square.

"From this day forward, Black Rock City is under my command!"

"The rules will be set by me!"

"Anyone, any force, who dares to act wildly on Black Rock City's territory, or dares to oppress the people of Black Rock City, this City Lord will execute them without mercy!"

"I mean what I say!"

As his words fell, the whole place erupted.

"The City Lord is mighty!"

"Long live the City Lord!"

"We believe in the City Lord!"

The cheers were like a mountain shout or a sea roar, echoing through the sky.

The Common citizens and residents were moved to tears, trembling with excitement.

They had waited for this day for decades.

Finally, Black Rock City had a master.

Finally, they didn't have to live their lives in fear anymore.

On the high stage.

Blood Lady and Iron Mountain Liu were also filled with boiling blood; they knelt on one knee and shouted in unison.

"Your subordinates swear to follow the City Lord to the death!"

Jiang Yun nodded and raised his hand to signal the crowd to be quiet.

"Today's matter ends here. Everyone, disperse."

Having said that, he turned and walked down the stage.

Blood Lady and Iron Mountain Liu quickly followed.

Elder Liu Lan descended from the sky, her water-blue long dress fluttering in the wind as she walked through the air, each step creating a ripple of water-blue light, like a Fairy descending to earth.

She walked beside Jiang Yun, slightly behind by half a step; though her posture was casual, it held a faint air of respect.

"Master Jiang, you, the new City Lord, are quite imposing."

Elder Liu Lan laughed via voice transmission.

"Elder Liu, you flatter me."

Jiang Yun replied via voice transmission.

"This Junior is merely a fox borrowing the tiger's might."

"A fox borrowing the tiger's might?"

Elder Liu Lan gave a light laugh.

"Being able to borrow the might of a tiger like this Elder is also a skill of yours."

The two of them conversed via transmission while remaining expressionless on the surface.

Iron Mountain Liu stepped forward to lead the way, guiding Jiang Yun and his party across the square.

They headed toward the most grand mansion in the center of Black Rock City.

That mansion was located at the highest point of Black Rock City, offering a panoramic view of the entire city.

The mansion's main gate consisted of two heavy vermilion copper doors, studded with golden door nails that shone brilliantly in the sun.

Above the lintel hung a massive plaque with three gold-embossed characters.

City Lord's Manor.

The plaque was new, clearly having just been hung up.

On either side of the gate crouched a stone-carved exotic beast, lifelike, majestic, and domineering.

Stepping through the gate, there was a wide bluestone path lined with rare flowers and herbs, the air filled with a faint floral fragrance. At the end of the path was a magnificent main hall, its roof covered in golden glazed tiles that sparkled in the sunlight.

On either side of the main hall were several side halls and pavilions, well-arranged and strictly laid out. Further back were the rear garden, the Training Ground, the beast stables... everything was complete.

The entire City Lord's Manor covered a vast area, with pavilions, terraces, and carved beams, exuding an extraordinary air of grandeur.

As Jiang Yun walked along, he felt secretly satisfied.

The size of this City Lord's Manor was fully comparable to the residence of a second-rate Family.

Compared to the Su Family's residence, a second-rate Family in the Qingmu District of the provincial capital, the scale was similar, and it even looked a bit more opulent.

While the Su Family's residence was also grand, it leaned more toward being ancient and heavy. This City Lord's Manor, on the other hand, had a bit more refinement and luxury.

"It seems Iron Mountain Liu put a lot of thought into this."

Jiang Yun nodded inwardly.

Iron Mountain Liu, following behind Jiang Yun, saw him looking around the manor and stepped forward cautiously to ask.

"City Lord, regarding this City Lord's Manor... are you satisfied with it?"

His tone carried a bit of anticipation and a bit of nervousness.

After all, he had spent the whole night urgently selecting and arranging this.

Although it was the best mansion he could find, he didn't know if the City Lord would find it acceptable.

Jiang Yun stopped, looked around, and nodded slightly.

"Not bad."

Two simple words.

But when Iron Mountain Liu heard them, he was so excited he almost jumped.

The City Lord said not bad!

That meant he was satisfied!

"It's good that the City Lord is satisfied! It's good!"

Iron Mountain Liu said repeatedly, a wide smile breaking out on his Face.