Old Master Tang stood on the threshold, his face grim, his eyes flickering with a barely contained longing. |//| He had finally unearthed a fragile thread—a potential clue—and the old man could no longer tolerate waiting. Moving during the day was too conspicuous, but now he resolved not to delay any longer. Dusk had barely settled when all the masters of the Tang family were assembled!

Two hundred and forty-six people!

Two experts at the Earth Profound Mid-Tier, four Jade Grade Profound Practitioners, twelve Gold Grades, thirty-six Silver Grade Profound Practitioners, and the remainder were all top-tier Ninth Grade Profound Qi wielders. For this operation, Old Master Tang Wanli had gathered every single expert scattered throughout the capital and its outskirts affiliated with the Tang family!

In less than half an afternoon, this was the strongest force Old Master Tang could muster—the very foundation upon which the Tang family stood!

This mission absolutely could not fail!

"Today's target is the North City Gang!" Tang Wanli surveyed the assembly darkly. "Attention! Every single person belonging to the North City Gang, you must! Not let one escape! Especially the high-ranking figures, Hall Masters and above! Do not kill them, do not let them go free; bring them all back alive! Do you understand?"

"Understood!" they chorused. Though they didn't know why they were moving against the North City Gang, and felt such a massive force was overkill for a mere, pathetic North City Gang, seeing Tang Wanli’s grim expression silenced any further questions!

"I will personally command this operation; if even one person from the North City Gang slips through your grasp, bring me your own head!" The Old Master issued the strictest order. He slowly swept his gaze across the crowd, noting how their initial casualness upon hearing the target had sharpened into solemn caution. Tang Wanli waved his hand. "Move out!"

Two hundred and forty-six figures clad in black robes and cloaks moved silently out the gate. Old Master Tang’s black cloak billowed in the night wind as he strode down the steps. Despite his age, he remained vigorous; every forceful step bespoke the absolute, forward-rushing resolve of the old man for this night's undertaking.

"Wait... I'm coming too." As the words fell, a large, round mass entirely wrapped in black cloth burst from the inner courtyard. Tang Yuan’s physique was utterly unsuited for night movements, so he lacked any proper stealth gear. Yet, determined to join the excitement, his shape was simply too 'distinctive.' He ended up just grabbing a bolt of black cloth and charging out!

"Get back!" Seeing the rolling meatball, Old Master Tang erupted in fury. A swift kick sent Tang Yuan’s four-hundred-plus pounds of spherical bulk soaring out of the courtyard like a poorly aimed soccer ball, crashing through the door and splintering half of the frame. With a shhhhk, the sturdy black cloth ripped open, exposing pale buttocks and thighs; his round belly propped him up against the ground, his limbs strangely suspended in the air. Like a turtle flipped on its back, he thrashed his limbs uselessly for a moment, rolled twice relying on momentum, then struggled upright against the doorframe. Covered in dust, he peered out—only utter blackness remained; not a single shadow in sight...

In the suffocating darkness of the night stood a sprawling estate. This was the main headquarters of the North City Gang.

Old Master Tang, his white beard flowing, calmly and methodically positioned his forces. Over a hundred high-level Profound Practitioner cultivators ringed the grand compound, sealing every exit. Everyone held their breath, daring not make the slightest sound, waiting patiently for Old Master Tang’s signal.

The remaining hundred-plus men had been divided into four groups by the Old Master. They were dispatched to strike the four halls of the North City Gang, as well as affiliated establishments like their gambling dens and brothels—even targeting the private residences of the Gang's top brass!

The Old Master's intention was clear: since they were acting, they would sweep from the outside in, leaving none behind, catching them all in one net! The main headquarters would be dealt with last! Now, with over a hundred high-level Profound Practitioners surrounding the compound, those inside were already trapped fish in a barrel! Escape was absolutely impossible.

Catch every single one that emerges!

Furthermore, this method of slow attrition could gauge the North City Gang's true attitude. If the Gang remained inert, allowing them to be dealt with piece by piece, it would suggest they had no involvement in the Tang Mansion theft—or at best, a peripheral connection. But if they fought back desperately, opting for mutual destruction, then Old Master Tang would believe he had finally hooked the big one.

Even now, the Old Master remained skeptical—even highly skeptical—of the intelligence provided by Tang Yuan: A clue found by Jun Moxie, the great wastrel, reported back by Tang Yuan, the other great wastrel... This... no matter how you spun it, the credibility was too low! Who would possibly believe such a tale?

Alas, perhaps I’ve lost my mind in desperation, grasping at straws! Well, consider it ridding the world of a menace, then. However, if it turns out later that these two dandies colluded solely to enact personal revenge and used me as a pawn—even if Jun Zhantian stands guard to protect them, I will certainly seize both Jun Moxie and Tang Yuan, give them a thorough beating, turning Jun Moxie into a fat man and Tang Yuan into a thin one! Let them switch physiques, hmph!

Old Master Tang’s expression shifted violently between moods as he ground his teeth internally.

Watching the alley at his feet, where the captives, bound tightly like rice dumplings, were steadily accumulating, the Old Master sighed internally. He had almost prepared himself to go back and reprimand the two dandies. These two were too audacious: It had been a full half an hour since they surrounded the compound. Every person who emerged from inside had been instantly seized, their internal energy sealed, limbs bound, and mouths gagged, piled up here. The numbers were considerable. Logically, there should have been some reaction from within by now, but until this moment, there hadn't been the slightest unusual stir. They were so compliant; it seemed the North City Gang could not possibly be the thieves of the Profound Pills.

Indeed, what is the North City Gang, anyway? Dare they try to pluck the whiskers of my Tang family tiger?

Shadows flitted in the distance from all directions. The Tang family experts returned one by one, each carrying a person tightly bound. The sweep of the North City Gang's outer perimeter was complete!

Just as disappointment tightened the Old Master’s face, his features twitching, cursing internally: Tang Yuan! Jun Moxie! I will not spare you two bastards! To conspire and use me as a tool! I absolutely must...

Must what? Old Master Tang didn't have time to finish the thought, because at that precise moment, countless black heads suddenly shot up from the walls of the North City Gang compound with a whoosh! Every head was strung with a drawn bow, and a torrent of arrows roared down upon the surrounding Tang family experts. Simultaneously, a shout echoed from within. People poured out from the main gate, rear gate, side doors, and over the walls—exploding outward like shrapnel, scattering everywhere!

They dared to attack without declaring war, showing not even the courtesy of negotiation with Old Master Tang! And they scattered wildly, each wishing their parents had given them two extra legs.

What did this imply?!

Damn it! Such a fierce reaction! Isn't this tantamount to open rebellion?! The Old Master’s eyes widened, his pupils nearly popping out. This sudden change left him momentarily bewildered. After a long moment, he slammed his thigh hard—smack—causing him to gasp in pain, yet his heart swelled with intense excitement: There’s something here!

Several muffled grunts sounded. Even among the Tang family experts, there were differences in skill, and the suddenness of the event meant several men were instantly struck by arrows and severely wounded. The remainder scrambled forward to meet the charging North City Gang members. The clash of swords and blades erupted in a continuous pili-pala, intense and tight, as the two forces instantly became entangled in fierce combat. Purple, black, silver, and gold lights flashed simultaneously, making the entire area momentarily dazzlingly bright.

From the moment the North City Gang loosed their arrows to the moment the fighting erupted, the interval described sounds lengthy, but in reality, it occurred almost simultaneously.