Random Recommendation: The first gang leader of the Crane Beak Gang was a herb gatherer. He possessed a family heirloom, a Crane Beak Hoe magic item, which was very effective in harvesting wild spiritual plants.

Herb gatherers banded together to protect themselves, resisting extortion and blackmail, eventually forming the Crane Beak Gang.

Therefore, the foundation of this gang was not strong.

During Sun Lingtong’s era, the Crane Beak Gang surrendered under duress.

When Sun Lingtong became a wanted fugitive, and the Viper Gang rose rapidly, appearing poised to control the black market, the Crane Beak Gang was the first to offer congratulatory gifts.

But now.

When the Monkey Head Gang leader presented the Viper Gang leader’s head as a greeting gift to the Crane Beak Gang,

The Crane Beak Gang leader felt no shame or anger from being threatened, but was filled with emotion.

“I watched him rise to build a tall building, watched him host lavish banquets, and watched his building collapse.”

Not long ago, the Viper Gang leader, full of ambition, was now just a head, his eyes still wide in death.

Not long ago, the Viper Gang, which seemed to rule the black market, had vanished overnight, falling apart.

“The old gang leader was right!”

“He who kills shall be killed.”

“Fighting and killing should only be done when absolutely necessary!”

“Our current life is quite good. Gathering herbs, selling them for money, and paying some protection fees.”

“There is always a mountain higher than another, someone stronger than you!”

“Without talent, without excellent spiritual roots, and without a reliable background, if you want to survive in this world for a long time, then become a herb, act as a spiritual plant, then contribute fruits, show value, rather than reveal fangs.”

The Crane Beak Gang leader sighed in his heart.

He had his own set of survival strategies.

The Monkey Head Gang leader warned him, informing him that the Monkey Head Gang was intervening in the black market, with the Ning family as their backing.

He hoped the Crane Beak Gang would be sensible.

The Crane Beak Gang leader said that he would gather the gang elders to discuss it, and asked the Monkey Head Gang leader to wait a moment.

The Monkey Head Gang leader only waited for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before receiving the Crane Beak Gang leader’s response—the Crane Beak Gang was willing to submit.

But the specific terms still had to be discussed with Ning Zuo in person.

The Monkey Head Gang leader was overjoyed.

The Monkey Head Gang had suffered heavy casualties in eliminating the Viper Gang and urgently needed to rest.

It was ideal that the Crane Beak Gang could submit.

He immediately laughed and said, “You’re wise to be compliant. Come with me, don’t keep Young Master Zuo waiting.”

Ning Xiangqian stood by the window, staring at the Crane Beak Gang’s territory.

His brow was furrowed, constantly monitoring the situation.

The Monkey Head Gang leader had been inside the territory for some time, and hadn’t been seen. This made Ning Xiangqian increasingly anxious.

“Why is there still no movement?”

He couldn’t help but look at Ning Zuo.

Ning Zuo sat upright in the main seat, and hadn’t stood up since he sat down.

Clusters of pure white floating clouds enveloped him, concealing all fluctuations in his cultivation.

“He is indeed diligent…”

Ning Xiangqian thought.

Before going to the clan ancestral hall to publicly support Ning Zuo, he had never had close contact with Ning Zuo.

This time, Ning Zuo invited them to act together, intervening in the black market. It was the first time Ning Xiangqian had cooperated with Ning Zuo.

Ning Zuo’s various performances were truly beyond his expectations.

“He cultivates diligently, almost seizing every second.”

“He is very skillful, not at all like a student who has just graduated from the academy.”

“However, he is still young and acts somewhat impulsively.”

Ning Xiangqian believed that Ning Zuo’s arrangement for the Monkey Head Gang leader to go and persuade them to surrender was too radical and risky.

The Monkey Head Gang leader was a key figure for Ning Zuo to control the entire Monkey Head Gang.

The battle to destroy the Viper Gang had shown the value of the Monkey Head Gang leader to the Ning family.

In this battle, his command was good. He could fully mobilize all the members of the Monkey Head Gang, constantly boosting morale and maintaining the spirit of the army.

From this, it could be seen that the third gang leader was popular and had sufficient control over the entire Monkey Head Gang.

There was no second person who could replace him.

This could also be seen in the battle.

No one else had the Monkey Head Gang leader’s prestige or showed any brilliant performance in battle.

“If the Monkey Head Gang leader loses his life, then the entire Monkey Head Gang will be difficult to control. It may become a mess.”

“Alas…”

This was what Ning Xiangqian was most worried about.

The sound of footsteps gradually approached, and then the door was knocked.

Ning Xiangguo’s voice came from outside: “Young Master Zuo, the Monkey Head Gang leader has completed his mission, he has brought the Crane Beak Gang leader to see you.”

Ning Xiangqian immediately widened his eyes. He had been watching from the window and hadn’t seen anyone leave the gang’s territory.

It turned out that the Crane Beak Gang leader had brought the Monkey Head Gang leader through an underground passage.

The specific terms needed to be discussed and negotiated before a decision could be made.

According to the terms, the Crane Beak Gang could determine the manner in which they would surrender.

The Crane Beak Gang leader entered the room and bowed to the floating clouds.

The floating clouds gradually dissipated, and Ning Zuo’s cold voice was heard first: “Since you are surrendering, why don’t you kneel when you see me?”

“Kneel!”

Ning Xiangqian immediately shouted coldly.

The Crane Beak Gang leader trembled. A large amount of spiritual consciousness locked onto him from inside and outside the room. The Ning family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators also focused their gazes on him.

Forced by the enemy’s power, the Crane Beak Gang leader gritted his teeth and knelt down.

The floating clouds dissipated, and Ning Zuo saw the Crane Beak Gang leader.

For Ning Zuo, the latter was an old acquaintance.

The Crane Beak Gang leader had seen the Hanging Temple Envoy many times, but this was his ‘first’ time seeing Ning Zuo.

He was not aware of the secret that Ning Zuo was the Hanging Temple Envoy.

“Too young!”

The Crane Beak Gang leader’s first impression was this.

Ning Zuo was only sixteen years old, really too young.

This young and tender face immediately gave the Crane Beak Gang leader much more courage.

He opened his mouth to make his demands, attempting to retain the right to act independently.

Ning Zuo sneered, “It seems that you still haven’t recognized the current situation, and your hopes are all extravagant and illusory.”

The Crane Beak Gang leader then said, “Master Ning Zuo, I may be able to bring you unexpected help.”

“Take the present for example, you seem to want to unify the black market. You may not yet understand that there are three major gangs in the black market.

“Anyone or any force that wants to control the black market cannot avoid these three major gangs.”
“Now, of these three gangs, the Viper Gang has already been exterminated by you, and my Crane Beak Gang has also submitted. As for the third gang, it is the most mysterious and has always been little known, yet its influence is extremely great.”

Ning Zhuo chuckled: “Are you referring to the Turtle Breath Gang?”

“Uh!” The Crane Beak Gang leader’s expression faltered.

Ning Zhuo raised his eyes, looking towards the doorway, his gaze seemingly able to penetrate through it: “Judging by the time, he should be arriving soon.”

The next moment, a Ning family cultivator outside the door shouted: “Who goes there?”

“This one is the Turtle Breath Gang Leader, persuaded by the emissary, I have come to submit to Lord Ning Zhuo.”

A middle-aged man’s voice echoed.

Ning Zhuo laughed heartily: “Invite him in.”

The Turtle Breath Gang Leader, clad in black robes, entered.

Behind him followed two Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators, their expressions wary, whispering to the others: “Be careful, this person’s skills in stealth are formidable. He only triggered my magical artifact’s warning when he was within three feet of me.”

The Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators’ expressions immediately turned solemn, their gazes and spiritual senses enveloping the Turtle Breath Gang Leader.

The Turtle Breath Gang Leader remained expressionless, a hint of disdain in his heart.

Having received instruction from Sun Lingtong, he was exceptionally skilled in concealment and stealth.

Just now, it was merely him intentionally revealing his presence that led to his discovery.

If he truly unleashed his full potential, he could arrive behind the Ning family cultivators without them ever noticing.

“It really is you!”

The Crane Beak Gang Leader widened his eyes.

He found it unbelievable.

In his understanding, the Turtle Breath Gang was exceedingly secretive, without a conventional gang headquarters, and its members were often unaware of each other’s identities, usually communicating through single-line contacts.

Even during Sun Lingtong’s era, the Turtle Breath Gang operated independently.

When the Viper Gang rose to prominence, swallowing Sun Lingtong’s sphere of influence, and was brimming with pride, the gang leader awoke one morning to find a letter on his bedside table, written by the Turtle Breath Gang Leader.

The matter spread quickly.

As a result, the Viper Gang became much more restrained, shedding its previous wanton and arrogant demeanor.

“How could such a gang, such a figure, submit to Ning Zhuo for no apparent reason?”

The Crane Beak Gang Leader was deeply perplexed.

“So Ning Zhuo truly has strategies and plans.”

“Besides us, this genius youth seems to have another force at his disposal!”

“Remarkable! His involvement in the black market is not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but a carefully planned move!”

For a time, the Ning family Foundation Establishment cultivators also frequently cast admiring glances at Ning Zhuo.

Despite Ning Zhuo’s cultivation of only ‘Qi Refining Stage Three,’ such methods commanded respect.

The Monkey Head Gang Leader was awestruck by Ning Zhuo.

He had heard many rumors about the Turtle Breath Gang.

Ning Zhuo had actually taken down this gang silently, far exceeding his wildest imagination.

“The Turtle Breath Gang has always traded in information. With such a force for surveillance, we must be extremely cautious under Ning Zhuo’s command.”

The Monkey Head Gang Leader’s mood grew even heavier.

He had originally intended to make some small moves, but the Turtle Breath Gang’s submission extinguished his intentions.

The Monkey Head Gang Leader took a deep breath and suddenly spoke, loudly congratulating Ning Zhuo on unifying the black market, turning his hand to create clouds and rain overnight, achieving astonishing feats.

The Turtle Breath Gang Leader remained silent.

The Crane Beak Gang Leader, however, turned pale.

The Turtle Breath Gang’s submission had thrown him into disarray.

Ning Zhuo had become even more powerful, and the Crane Beak Gang he represented was too weak. What qualifications did he have to negotiate?

Unexpectedly, Ning Zhuo shook his head at the Monkey Head Gang Leader’s compliments.

“Far from enough!”

“To control the black market, one must at least control the Three Gangs and Three Wanderers.”

“Now, the Viper Gang has been replaced by the Monkey Head Gang, and the Crane Beak Gang and Turtle Breath Gang have both submitted to me.”

“Next, we must deal with Feng Heizi, One-Armed Craftsman, and Filthy Scum.”

Upon hearing these words, the Ning family cultivators exchanged glances.

They were unfamiliar with the inner workings of the black market, and this was the first time they had heard of these figures.

The Crane Beak Gang Leader’s face turned even paler.

The Turtle Breath Gang Leader remained expressionless, but his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

The depth of Ning Zhuo’s understanding of the black market surprised them all.

End of Chapter.