212 Covert Assaul

The activity within the Outer Disciples Region didn't diminish even when most disciples either slept or cultivated. Most that strolled under the darkness were commoners or disciples that were on their way to satisfty their carnal cravings.

Behind the Juliet's Dreamy House was Juliet, Sandra and Jacob's residence combined into a huge mansion. No fences surrounded the mansion but numerous formations that prevented entrance were present.

Nevertheless, a sneaky figure mixed within the darkness entered without any obstructions. With two daggers laced with a slimy-green substance, he hopped into Juliet's residence and seamlessly arrived before her doors.

Placing his palm on the doors, it mysteriously opened due to an unknown force and there. Juliet's figure could be seen on the bed, calmly sleeping. Her stable breathing and hibernated organs indicated that she was in deep sleep and had no chances of waking up.

Realizing this, the figure revealed a venomous and victorious smile. Approaching Juliet, he raised his dagger up in the sky and stabbed down.

Clang~

"Wha..."

Instead of the feedback of metal piercing flesh. A mettalic sound reverberated and to his shock, he found that Juliet's figure was protected by a hazy, yet sturdy barrier. Stabbing down once again, his arms formed a mirage as it furiously attacked the barrier to no avail.

"This barrier..."

"A Heaven Grade Defensive Artifact? Just what kind of a person is this young girl? To think that she has such a precious Artifact on her person..."

The assailant sucked a mouthful of cold air and silently retreated in defeat.

Morning arrived and Juliet along with Zieve had to prepare everything as fast as they could. From five cauldrons of garlic soup, they had to prepare twenty cauldrons and it was only Zieve that managed everything. Making sure that not a single ingredient was overcooked.

This created an enormous pressure for Zieve and sweat continuously poured down his forehead like rain.

Juliet also had the same pressure as she had to manage the increasingly agitated attitude of the guests. She didn't expect that the attention that her product acquired yesterday would create such a sensation that almost half of the Outer Disciples came for her garlic soup.

Half of Outer Sect Disciples meant that at least several hundreds of hungry disciples formed a line before her stall. To pacify their hunger and irritation, Juliet gave them some cookies and coupons.

Nevertheless, impatient disciples still scurried away in indignance and irritation.

"We've been waiting here since daybreak and we still haven't eaten anything for three hours! Garlic Soup is just a simple dish but you can't even cook it fast! I'm outta here!"

"Me too! What a bargain they say. Who knows if it's real or a scam!"

"Fucking hell, let's just go to the Imperial Clan's store at the least we can have some high-quality tea while we wait for our meals..."

Worry flashed through Juliet's expression when she saw that some of her lined-up customers were disappearing. Despite her efforts, at least a third of her customers still disappeared and went to the Duterte General Merchandises.

At the end of the day, Juliet cashed in an amount equal to five thousand disciples buying a bowl of Garlic Soup while the Duterte General Merchandises cashed in more than that.

Collapsing on the ground, Zieve held his breath and stared towards the skies. His cultivation base rotated and turned the fire burning under the cauldron as the sun vanished and the veil of the night descended.

"Damn it, we're still too far behind if we want to defeat the Imperial Clan..." Zieve mumbled in exhaustion and Juliet nodded her head. Although her product was vastly popular, if she couldn't sell enough, she couldn't possibly defeat the Imperial Clan.

"We need more manpower and resources, the Duterte General Merchandises has far too many branches, especially at the Commerce Block." Juliet said and Zieve turned to look at her, "So you're planning on investing your product at the Commerce Block, too? That seems to be a good place since mortals and cultivators mingle together there."

"With the support of your parents, we can easily acquire the support of any influence and establish our own..." Zieve regained some of his energy when he thought of their future with the help of Juliet's parents.

"Papa and Mama's support, eh..." Juliet mumbled under her breath, "Zieve, what is the most influential organization in the Commerce Block?"

"The most influential organization in the Commerce Block?" Zieve pondered for a moment, all sorts of influence existed at the Commerce Block and although the Longinus Pharmaceutical Company had quite a huge influence at that place, they still cannot defeat the Merchant Association.

"It should be the Merchant Association, not only do they exist in the Academy and the Empire. They're literally across the entire Continent, even the Headmaster, Mathias Paradyne himself shouldn't even think of offending the Merchant Association..."

Zieve solemnly replied and Juliet thought for a moment before smiling: "I see, Merchant Association, eh..." Her expression flashed with numerous expression and Zieve had a foreboding feeling that he didn't dare to confirm.

'Could it be that this little girl is thinking of going to the branch headquarters of the Merchant Association alone, right?' He shook his head, 'Nah, that couldn't be, I'm just overthinking things...'

After this short banter, Zieve and Juliet returned to their own residences and slept their worries away. When daybreak arrived, Zieve went to fetch Juliet from her house but as soon as he opened the door to her bedroom, a scene that he never expected, even in his wildest imagination was unveiled before him.

Juliet laid on her bed with a tranquil expression on her face. Clad in her pajamas, she looked so peaceful.

However, on her bedsheets was enough blood that it drenched everything around her, it was exaggerated enough that Zieve froze where he stood, unable to move nor speak.

"J-J-Juliet!" Zieve screamed in anguish and ran towards the sleeping maiden. His expression reddened in anger and fury, thinking that Juliet must've been assaulted by the Imperial Clan's henchmen when she was asleep.

Shaking her shoulders, Juliet slowly opened her murky eyes amidst Zieve's astonishment. The look in her eyes changed, however when she laid her eyes on the sheets that covered her body.

"B-B-Blood?!" She screamed and pushed herself off the bed, she embraced her trembling knees and Zieve snatched a jadeslip from Juliet's wrist and crushed it into dust.

"Grace, Ma'am Natalie, Sir Dan! Juliet was attacked by the bastards from the Imperial Clan! Please come here as fast as you can!" His words flew towards the horizon and the instant that it arrived at the Imperial Clan, a deafening boom reverberated and three demonic presences manifested, enough that it awakened Mathias from his meditation.