Chapter 239: Dark Clouds Cover the Moon on a Murderous Night

The next day, the prodigies of the Seven Sect Alliance uncharacteristically ceased their challenges. Nearly all remaining individuals turned their gaze towards the Hunting Division in Port 176.

Silence fell upon them. Each took a sharp breath, their eyes revealing intense apprehension and shock. They had no idea what had transpired inside the Hunting Division. Although the Seven Blood Eyes' formation was ineffective in suppressing Sima Ru, its environmental isolation prevented outsiders from seeing anything of the battle yesterday. Only the high-ranking members and Sequence Princes within Seven Blood Eyes could see clearly. However, apart from the Seventh Peak, the other six peaks were also unable to see, as Seventh Master had interfered.

Consequently, what those outside the Seventh Peak witnessed was Sima Ru floating inside, and not long after, the isolation around the Hunting Division dissipated. Everything returned to normal: the dispersed Hunting Division disciples came back, and the entire Hunting Division resumed its usual operations. They continued to apprehend Night Doves and send large numbers of prisoners. Only Sima Ru had vanished, and her brother Sima Ling remained imprisoned, not yet released. Meanwhile, the bone boat at the port silently lost its support and collapsed on its own.

This scene sent shockwaves through the minds of all the Seven Sect Alliance's prodigies. At this moment, they suddenly felt that challenging other peaks was meaningless. No matter how they challenged, the Hunting Division in Port 176 remained like a sharp thorn, deeply embedded in their hearts. Sima Ling had been suppressed by the Hunting Division, and his sister was clearly suppressed as well. Furthermore, Huang Yikun of the Profound Nether Sect had disappeared after challenging the Seventh Peak, having previously informed others that he would handle matters concerning Xu Qing of the Hunting Division. All of this was connected to Xu Qing.

Thus, in the eyes of these Seven Sect Alliance disciples, the Hunting Division in Port 176 was like a dragon's den or a tiger's lair—mysterious yet fraught with unimaginable danger.

The Seven Sect Alliance's original intention for sending them was to suppress the will of the Seven Blood Eyes disciples through repeated challenges, sowing a seed of reverence for the Seven Sect Alliance in their hearts. And they had indeed succeeded at first; with each challenge, the Seven Blood Eyes disciples grew silent, and panic spread secretly among them, with some even attempting to make contact. But now, while they had intimidated many Seven Blood Eyes disciples, they themselves were intimidated by the Hunting Division.

"What is Xu Qing's true combat strength?" they wondered. "Even Sima Ru went and didn't return. Although it wasn't her main body, she possessed four-and-a-half-fire combat power, capable of easily suppressing us, yet she was suppressed in the Hunting Division. Is the Seventh Peak truly the core of the entire Seven Blood Eyes? If only Senior Brother Sheng Yunzi hadn't left."

While the Seven Sect Alliance prodigies were alarmed, the Seven Blood Eyes disciples, having observed all this, also experienced a surge of emotions. In their eyes, Xu Qing and the Seventh Peak now stood out uniquely. They were like a bright light, illuminating the somewhat dim skies in the hearts of disciples from other peaks. This altered the notion of invincibility that had been instilled in them when facing the prodigies of the Wanggu Continent. It also sparked a longing for the Seventh Peak and a profound reverence for its Peak Lord.

Furthermore, rumors began circulating within Seven Blood Eyes at this time, suggesting that its structure would undergo changes, the most significant of which would be the emergence of a Sect Master. Up until now, Seven Blood Eyes only had Peak Lords, not a Sect Master. The disciples of the seven peaks essentially obeyed their respective peaks, with little allegiance to others. They operated independently, only coordinating on major matters.

Now, the arrival of the Seven Sect Alliance was like a giant hammer striking the various peaks of Seven Blood Eyes from all directions. This impending storm caused unrest among all disciples under external pressure, and various thoughts arose. However, from another perspective, this pressure was like forging iron, shaking out and revealing the dross that had accumulated within Seven Blood Eyes over the years. To the visiting foreign races and Seven Blood Eyes' allies, all these events held deeper meaning. They faintly perceived the Seven Blood Eyes Ancestor's mastery over human psychology within them. This was using the Seven Sect Alliance's hand to temper their own sect.

The Seven Sect Alliance clearly saw this as well, so they no longer urged their prodigies to continue challenges. However, a series of deployment orders concerning Seven Blood Eyes were continuously issued from within the Seven Sect Alliance. They sought to transfer the Peak Lords of various peaks, especially the Seventh Peak. They also aimed to conscript all Princes, particularly those from the Seventh Peak and the Sequence, to the Wanggu Continent for assignments. These orders were stalled by Blood Refiner.

However, the Seven Sect Alliance seemed resolute this time, issuing increasingly stringent orders, eventually even including threats in their language. It seemed they were prepared to forcefully suppress Seven Blood Eyes if their commands were not obeyed. Notably, the Lingyun Sword Sect, currently the most powerful within the Seven Sect Alliance, had its Ancestor activate a forbidden artifact, creating immense deterrence. As the Lingyun Sword Sect's forbidden artifact was activated and ready to erupt at any moment, the Spirit Haze Valley, the superior sect of the Second Peak, and the Heavenly Mirror Treasure Sect, the superior sect of the Sixth Peak, also activated their forbidden artifacts, seemingly in coordinated deterrence.

In addition to these orders, other commands were issued, demanding that Seven Blood Eyes hand over half of the war reparations from the Sea Corpse Race. Simultaneously, the Seven Sect Alliance announced it would establish foreign affairs departments on all islands occupied by Seven Blood Eyes. Though named "foreign affairs," this department was essentially for surveillance: overseeing the Ancestor above and monitoring disciples below. For a time, Seven Blood Eyes once again felt precarious.

However, Xu Qing didn't pay too much attention to this. On one hand, he didn't believe that high-ranking sect officials, who had emerged from a crucible of competition, would be helpless in this matter. On the other hand, matters between sects should never be judged solely by appearances. With such vast interests at stake, human intentions couldn't be trusted, much less superficial rhetoric.

"The Seven Sect Alliance isn't a monolith either," Xu Qing murmured under his breath. He had already discerned this from the incident with the Hunting Anomaly Gate, and it was, in fact, quite logical. Furthermore, Xu Qing's current energy was more focused on researching the small black insects and the roundup of the Night Doves.

After a period of curfew and continuous crackdowns, the Night Doves' ability to operate within Seven Blood Eyes had been pushed to its limit. The final roundup finally arrived on a night several days later. The five headquarters of the Night Doves within Seven Blood Eyes had been thoroughly identified. That night, all elite members from the seven Hunting Divisions would be dispatched, forming five sharp blades to simultaneously strike the Night Doves' five headquarters at a synchronized time. Concurrently, more Hunting Division disciples were dispersed throughout the main city, enforcing the curfew to the extreme that night. Their mission was to apprehend all Night Doves who scattered after their headquarters were destroyed. This was the overall plan for the Night Dove roundup.

As the night wind blew and Xu Qing emerged from the Port 176 Hunting Division, thousands of Seventh Peak Hunting Division disciples gradually appeared behind him. Xu Qing's voice then sounded the horn to eradicate the Night Doves.

"Hunting Division, to battle! After tonight, not a single Night Dove shall remain in Seven Blood Eyes!" Xu Qing's voice, filled with murderous intent, echoed all around.

"Yes, sir!" thousands of Seventh Peak Hunting Division disciples responded in unison. The next moment, Xu Qing led the charge, whistling forward. Behind him, several Deputy Directors led their respective teams, and thousands of people sped through the night towards their target.

The wind was strong that night, and dark clouds obscured the moon. Wherever the Hunting Division disciples passed, all shops and businesses were closed. Even the inns that usually operated at night were filled with trepidation. They had been unable to operate for some time now and could only peer from behind their closed doors at the passing figures of the Hunting Division.

In the night wind, Xu Qing, speeding at the forefront with his long hair fluttering, looked at the night and everything around him. He suddenly recalled the second night after he had first arrived at Seven Blood Eyes. Back then, he had walked cautiously, watching the swiftly passing Hunting Division members, filled with vigilance, apprehension, and also envy. Now, he led, with thousands of Hunting Division members behind him, and even more members from other divisions throughout the main city were carrying out this roundup.

"Three years," Xu Qing murmured inwardly, picking up his pace. Behind him, all the Seventh Peak Hunting Division members looked at Xu Qing with fervent admiration. This was the way of survival in chaotic times, the reverence of the weak for the strong. Furthermore, the path Xu Qing had forged, step by step, was a significant reason for their admiration. Three years ago, Xu Qing was just like them, a mere member. Three years later, Xu Qing was already the Director of the Seventh Peak Hunting Division! The night wind grew stronger.

Before long, Xu Qing gazed from afar at a large mansion. It was quite expansive, once an asset of the Fourth Peak, later bought and turned into an entertainment house. However, with the curfew, business here had ceased, and it had gradually fallen into disrepair. The lights inside were dim, casting only a faint glow in the night.

"Kill," Xu Qing stated calmly. The next instant, the thousands of Hunting Division members behind him erupted with killing intent, charging collectively towards the mansion. Immediately, roars echoed within, and panicked Night Dove figures tried to scatter, but the encircling Hunting Division members were more numerous. At once, cries of battle echoed in all directions, and the scent of blood drifted on the wind.

Xu Qing did not intervene, instead standing in mid-air, coldly observing everything. Meanwhile, real-time reports of battles from the other Night Dove headquarters streamed in to Xu Qing from the other divisions.

"Director Xu, the third stronghold's mop-up is smooth, and clearing operations are underway!""The second stronghold is going smoothly; the Night Dove Foundation Establishment chieftain has been slain, and the remaining remnants have been reported to the cleanup team, which is now eradicating them comprehensively.""The fifth stronghold has successfully completed its mission!""Requesting assistance! In the fourth stronghold, we suspect there are cultivators from the Seven Sect Alliance's Lingyun Sword Sect, as well as a Night Dove Three-Flame Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Almost at the exact moment Xu Qing saw this last message, a distress signal from the Hunting Division erupted in the distant sky. Xu Qing abruptly looked up, took a step forward, and instantly his speed exploded. He soared like a rainbow, heading directly towards the source of the signal. As he advanced, the Golden Crow manifested behind him, its wings spread wide, its tail flames fluttering like tendrils, and it roared upwards, forming a sea of fire. From a distance, Xu Qing, cloaked in flames in the sky, was like a hawk striking with lightning speed—unstoppable!