104: Chapter 104 Murder and Arson: The Golden Belt

"When cutting grass, one must remove the roots."

"Ancient Sword Soul, Dragon Battle, take the brothers who can still move."

Lin Yuan looked at the towering stone fortress standing in the city center, flying the flag of the Blood Wolf Gang: "While the news hasn't spread yet, and while the City Lord's Mansion hasn't reacted."

"Follow me."

"We're going to raid their home!"

The group, filled with killing intent, charged directly toward the headquarters of the Blood Wolf Gang.

As the local tyrants in the city, the Blood Wolf Gang's headquarters was built to be extremely luxurious and sturdy. It was a fortress made of obsidian, with a gate five meters high, inscribed with defensive formations.

"Stop! This is the restricted area of the Blood Wolf Gang! The Gang Leader is currently in seclusion..."

The guards at the gate, who didn't know that their leader was already dead, saw the aggressive Lin Yuan and his group and tried to step forward to block them.

"Get lost!!"

Dragon Battle, who was charging at the front, had already turned blood-red with rage.

His muscles bulged, and without even holding a weapon, he swung a thousand-jin stone lion from the doorway and smashed it down!

Boom!!! A loud noise rang out.

Those unlucky guards, along with the seemingly sturdy gate, were smashed into fragments!

"The Gang Leader is dead!! Red Wolf is dead!!"

"Run! These Earthlings have broken in!!"

As the gate shattered, the news of the Gang Leader's death finally spread, and the hundred or so gang members who had originally wanted to resist were instantly terrified.

When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.

On this Starry Sky Ancient Road where profit is supreme, without the suppression of a Sixth Rank powerhouse, so-called loyalty is just a joke.

Except for a few die-hard werewolf leaders who tried to resist and were decapitated by Ancient Sword Soul, the rest were desperate to escape through the back door, wishing their parents had given them more legs to run with.

In less than half an hour.

This stone fortress, which had occupied the 36th City for decades and symbolized blood and violence, completely changed hands.

Swish!

Lin Yuan stood at the highest point of the fortress and slashed through the Blood Wolf flag fluttering in the wind.

Immediately after, a flag of the "Yanhuang Alliance," already prepared and embroidered with a red five-pointed star and dragon patterns, was hoisted high into the air, blown by the cold wind of the Starry Sky.

At that moment, the eyes of the entire city were focused on this flag.

After clearing out the remaining enemies, Lin Yuan took his core team to the most secretive basement of the stone fortress.

Facing the half-meter-thick alloy vault door, Lin Yuan didn't look for a key.

【slaying abyss · Gravity Slash!】

Crack! He broke the door open with force.

As the heavy door collapsed with a roar, a blinding golden light instantly illuminated the originally dim passage.

"My god!"

Ji Hongyi, who followed behind, was so shocked by the scene before her that her jaw almost dropped as soon as she walked in. She subconsciously swallowed, her eyes wide:

"This... how many years have these wolf cubs been raiding for?!"

"This is simply richer than our national treasury!!"

In this hundreds-of-square-meter underground treasury, mountains of Source Stones were piled randomly in the corners like trash.

A rough estimate showed at least 500,000 Low-Grade Source Stones! And thousands of Mid-Grade Source Stones!

The rich energy fluctuations emitted formed a faint spiritual mist in the air; taking a breath made one feel refreshed all over.

On the shelves on the other side were all kinds of rare materials from Starry Sky exotic beasts.

There were complete Fourth Rank exotic beast skeletons, Fifth Rank beast fangs shimmering with cold light, and various unknown rare ores and herbs.

Even on the innermost altar table, there were a few exotic cultivation manuals wrapped in animal hide.

"Blood Wolf Howling Moon Technique," "Wind-Tearing Claw," "Violent Blood Art"...

Although these techniques were relatively crude and had significant side effects, for Earthlings lacking Starry Sky heritage, they were simply priceless treasures!

"We're rich!"

Dragon Battle hugged a high-purity Source Stone the size of a human head, drooling: "How many credits can this be exchanged for? How much s-grade alloy can this buy?"

Ancient Sword Soul was also breathing rapidly; he had his eye on a piece of "Star-Patterned Steel," the main material for forging s-grade divine weapons!

"Calm down."

Lin Yuan picked up a Mid-Grade Source Stone, tossed it in his hand, and felt the surging energy within: "A horse cannot grow fat without night grass, and a man cannot become rich without windfall."

"This is why I want to conquer territory."

He turned around, looking at the room full of treasures with burning eyes:

"If we just rely on begging or working, we will never be able to establish a foothold in the Starry Sky."

"Only by raiding can we achieve rapid initial accumulation."

"Now, the startup capital for our Yanhuang Alliance is finally secured."

Half an hour later, in the treasury hall.

Lin Yuan sat on the tiger-skin chair that originally belonged to Red Wolf, with the organized resources laid out in front of him.

"Rewards based on merit."

Lin Yuan didn't hoard everything for himself; he knew very well that to lead a team well, both the stick and the carrot were necessary.

"There are 500,000 Low-Grade Source Stones here."

He waved his hand and set aside half of them:

"These 250,000—Ancient Sword Soul, Ji Hongyi, Dragon Battle—you three take 50,000 each, and distribute the remaining 100,000 to the other team members."

"This..."

Ancient Sword Soul's hand shook, and he almost dropped it: "Captain, this is too much! We didn't really contribute much; it was all thanks to you..."

50,000 Source Stones! On Earth, this was equivalent to several hundred million Federal Credits!

And it was hard currency that money couldn't even buy!

"Take it if I give it to you."

Lin Yuan interrupted him unquestioningly: "Improving strength is the most important thing. The enemies we will face next will get stronger and stronger, and I don't want to be distracted by saving you at that time."

"As for the remaining 250,000..."

Lin Yuan looked at Old Liu (the one-armed old man) who had been waiting on the side:

"Old Liu."

"Yes! Please give your orders, Alliance Leader!" Old Liu trembled with excitement.

"These 250,000 Source Stones will be the public funds for the Yanhuang Alliance."

Lin Yuan pointed outside: "Black Water Alley is too dilapidated. Take this to repair the houses, buy formations, buy food, and buy weapons."

"I want you to make sure that within three days, all the Earthlings who are still alive are well-fed and stand tall!"

"And for those talented young people, distribute these captured techniques and let them practice! If they don't die practicing, then train them to death!"

Hearing this, Old Liu fell to his knees with a thud, sobbing: "Alliance Leader... don't worry! Old man that I am, I will risk my life to build a team for you!!"

And Ancient Sword Soul and the others, having received the huge bonus, looked at Lin Yuan with eyes that had completely changed.

If they had been beaten into submission before.

Then now, it was complete and genuine admiration!

Following a boss like this, not only could they fight and eat meat, but they could also stand tall as human beings!

"Captain! From now on, I'll fight wherever you point!" Dragon Battle pounded his chest and roared, "Whoever dares to go against you, I, Dragon Battle, will be the first to hammer them to death!"

At nightfall, after settling everything, Lin Yuan went alone to the cultivation secret chamber in the deepest part of the stone fortress.

He waved his hand to set up a mental barrier, and then took out his biggest harvest this time from the system space—

Red Wolf's half-corpse, as well as the mountain of high-grade ores and exotic beast skeletons.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, his eyes burning with fanaticism.

"god-demon furnace, it's time to eat!"

Boom! A pitch-black vortex appeared behind him, and a terrifying devouring power erupted instantly!

The werewolf corpse, which contained the life essence of a Sixth Rank powerhouse, turned into a rolling river of blood energy as soon as it was thrown into the furnace!

Immediately after, those rare ore materials were also thrown into it.

【Ding! Devoured Sixth Rank initial stage biological essence! Blood Qi Value + 80,000!】

【Devoured Star-Patterned Steel, Purple Gold Sand... slaying abyss blade evolution degree + 10%!】

【Mental power refining... Mental power + 5,000!】

Warm currents washed over Lin Yuan's limbs and bones like a great river, his aura climbing crazily!

Third Rank Peak!

Half-step Fourth Rank!

That layer of the realm barrier, originally impregnable, had cracked under the impact of this massive energy and was teetering on the edge!

As long as Lin Yuan wanted to, he could break through to the Fourth Rank right now, or even charge directly to the mid-stage of the Fourth Rank!

"It's not time yet."

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the urge to break through.

His ambition was great; he didn't want an ordinary Fourth Rank, but to lay a supreme foundation at every realm!

"Compress! Compress again!"

Lin Yuan forcibly pushed that violent energy deep into his bone marrow. On the surface of his skin, the faint dragon scale patterns became clearer, even beginning to emit a faint golden light.

After a long while, Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

A tangible golden light flashed in the secret chamber, cutting two white marks into the air.

Lin Yuan felt the power within him; although he hadn't broken through, it was at least twice as strong as before, and he nodded with satisfaction.

"As I am now, even without using slaying abyss, I can punch Red Wolf to death."

He stood up, his gaze piercing through the thick stone walls, looking at the very center of the city—that was the location of the true City Lord's Mansion.

"I have the territory, the money, and the people."

"It's about time."

"Next..."

"It's time to meet the true master of this 36th City."