The master of the Heartshadow Sect stood atop the mountain, gazing at the vast expanse of Huyang City.Upon seeing the dark grand array enveloping the entire city, the master of the Heartshadow Sect's eyes were icy cold as he indifferently said, "Begin the pillaging plan, let's earn a fortune from Huyang City."
"Yes."
The three elders behind him excitedly complied and immediately left to carry out the pillaging plan.
The master of the Heartshadow Sect looked at the city and murmured, "Ever since we lost our sect's foundation, my Heartshadow Sect has been cut off from income. All this time, we've been depleting the sect's past savings."
A powerful sect, with thousands of eternal true gods, a massive number of true gods of void space, and countless disciples of true gods, the expenditure of each era was enormous. Sёarch* The Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
They could withstand the drain for a short period, but as time went on and resources were depleted, the Heartshadow Sect would have to continue splintering.
"A city as big as Huyang, pillage it thoroughly once, and it's worth collecting residence fees over dozens of eras," the master of the Heartshadow Sect pondered, "Although there's a good chance of victory in this war, if the Marquis of Jiu Jiang calls for strong enough reinforcements, my Heartshadow Sect could still possibly be defeated."
In terms of power under the Marquis of Jiu Jiang's command alone, it certainly wasn't a match for the Heartshadow Sect.
But if a Godly King from the Yu Kingdom sent elite forces to aid the Marquis of Jiu Jiang, that would be a significant problem.
"Preserve the elites of the Heartshadow Sect, then pillage thoroughly once more. Even if we are defeated, we'll still come out ahead," the master of the Heartshadow Sect thought.
In times of weakness for the sect, he didn't care if mediocre disciples died.
The death of mediocre disciples would, after all, save on expenses.
"I wonder how much we can pillage from the entire Huyang City," the master of the Heartshadow Sect's eyes filled with anticipation.
...
The sight of nine super-large Mechanical Secret Treasures bearing hundreds of large Flying Boats arrived in a bustling commercial district of Huyang City where large forces had branches, weapon secret treasures, Bloodline Exquisites, and other major shops, as well as numerous places of pleasure.
"Exclude the eight major force branches and the cave mansion of Lord Luo He. Do not spare any eternal true gods or true gods of void space," a voice commanded, "Anyone who dares to resist, kill!"
"Yes." The numerous disciples aboard the hundreds of large Flying Boats were thrilled.
They knew well that while true gods seemed to be the most numerous in the city, the true gods were actually the poorest, unwilling to risk their few Primal Chaos Crystals and would only try to earn more once they'd spent them all.
To pillage the true gods of the entire city? Firstly, there were too many, making the pillage very troublesome. Secondly, the gains from such pillaging would be minimal; on average, each true god might only possess a few Primal Chaos Crystals. Thirdly, the Heartshadow Sect might have future plans to rule over Huyang City! The countless true gods of Huyang would be their subjects.
For these reasons, they refrained from laying hands on the true gods.
But excluding the eight major force branches and the cave mansion of Lord Luo He, the Heartshadow Sect would not let any other eternal true gods or true gods of void space escape.
The majority of a city's wealth was in the hands of the eternal true gods and true gods of void space.
"Seal everything." A large number of disciples swiftly sealed off a major force branch 'Cloud Treasure Tower', which spanned a large area, its many pavilions displaying a multitude of treasures.
"What are you doing?"
"We are the Cloud Treasure Tower's Huyang City branch, are you going to take action against us?"
In the Cloud Treasure Tower branch, there were three eternal true gods and numerous members who were true gods of void space, all shocked by the sight of the many disciples of the Heartshadow Sect surrounding the place.
"Cloud Treasure Tower branch?" A blood-robed lady from the Heartshadow Sect walked in and sighed, "My Heartshadow Sect has been too poor for too long, so please, Cloud Treasure Tower, lend a hand. All treasures of the Cloud Treasure Tower branch, including all the treasures on your persons... hand them all over."
Her voice was soft and sinister, but what she said made the owner of the Cloud Treasure Tower, the deputy owners, and all the other members feel a chill in their hearts.
"Not a single Primal Chaos Stone can be spared," the blood-robed lady said indifferently, "A thorough search by our Heartshadow Sect is necessary, opposition will be met with death!"
Upon hearing this, the owner of the Cloud Treasure Tower, the two deputy owners, and numerous members who were true gods of void space felt a tremble of despair.
They worked for Cloud Treasure Tower to accumulate resources.
Now all their resources were to be pillaged?
"The Cloud Treasure Tower branch belongs to my lord Marquis," the owner of the Cloud Treasure Tower said anxiously, his large single eye filled with urgency, "Lord Marquis will surely come to know of this."
"Your lord Marquis, once he knows, will surely understand the Heartshadow Sect's position," the blood-robed lady replied.
"Demanding all treasures to be handed over? Isn't keeping not a single Primal Chaos Stone too excessive?" A true god of void space couldn't help but speak up, as they'd accumulated over long years, and now it was all to be claimed?
They were all entertaining thoughts of desperate resistance.
Upon one glance from the blood-robed lady, that area's group of true gods of void space disintegrated silently into dust; each met their death, leaving behind their weapons and treasures.
"A true god of void space dares to speak up?" The blood-robed lady looked towards the three leaders of the Cloud Treasure Tower, "Or do you wish to resist as well?"
"I'll hand it over," one of the deputy owners immediately said eagerly, "Can we avoid a body search?"
"The search is mandatory," the blood-robed lady addressed the three of them, "Those who resist will still die!"
The so-called body search was an intrusion by Divine Power to thoroughly inspect the body, including the 'True God's Heart', completely trusting one's life to another—not many eternal true gods would be willing to do so.
Yet, faced with the threat of death, the three leaders of the Cloud Treasure Tower eventually bowed their heads.
...
"A mandatory search?" An elderly man of simple appearance looked at the disciples of the Heartshadow Sect in front of him and then looked up at the super-large Mechanical Treasure in the sky, "I willingly offer all my accumulated treasures, isn't that enough?"
"The search is mandatory," an eternal true god of the Heartshadow Sect said to him.
If it were based on voluntary compliance, they feared the vast majority of cultivators would hide their treasures, and it would be good enough if even half were surrendered.