Chapter 124: The Mad Scramble

A lascivious and slightly hoarse voice echoed through the night air like a nightmare, imbuing the gloomy darkness with a sense of obscenity. Su Yi gazed coldly at the northern sky for a long moment before letting out a low grunt. "Enough. My strength is currently severely depleted, and it is still quite difficult to face a Dou Wang expert... I heard that the brat is leaving to search for the Blood of Heaven and Earth. That item would be of great use to me; if he finds it, I might be able to recover most of my strength immediately..."

The cataclysmic upheaval at the Aubin estate had already drawn many people to investigate. When they discovered a black shadow flying directly out of the estate and standing in mid-air, they were so shocked that their jaws dropped. Yet, they dared not make a sound, fearing they might anger this mysterious Earth-tier cultivator who had appeared from nowhere. After all, in the eyes of an expert of such caliber, they were likely not even worth as much as ants; if he were in a bad mood, he could kill them with a mere flick of his hand.

This speculation was not without reason. Given the current situation, it was highly likely that the Aubin family had offended this mysterious expert in some way and were now suffering his retaliation. Perhaps his anger had not yet dissipated; if anyone dared to shout, they might be implicated and lose their lives. Many of those watching from the shadows even quietly retreated, preparing to slip away, not wanting to linger for a second longer in this place of trouble.

Although they dared not speak, this did not mean they were not shocked or shaken. On the contrary, all sorts of terrified thoughts flooded their minds:

"My God! It’s actually... a Dou Wang expert! Am I seeing things, or has this world gone mad? Since when has such a terrifying expert appeared in Changling City?!"

"How frightening! The honorable Aubin family has been destroyed just like that! I wonder what they did to bring such a calamity of annihilation upon themselves... There are truly so many things happening tonight. I just heard that something happened at the auction house as well..."

Though these were mere thoughts, and the onlookers—whether in the open or hidden—did their utmost to remain silent, their presence could not escape Su Yi’s perception. He chuckled, waved his hand, and unleashed a black blade of Dou Qi that slammed into the Aubin family's main pavilion. Under the massive impact, the very ground trembled. Su Yi’s figure then flashed and vanished, leaving only a low, raspy voice echoing slowly through the night sky:

"The Aubin family’s treasures and Dou Techniques are within that pavilion. If you want them, go in and take them..."

The fading words carried a deep sense of temptation. Many in the shadows were stunned at first, and then their hearts began to beat rapidly. Indeed, the Aubin family had been wiped out; people were either dead or had fled, but the treasures and techniques remained! Setting aside the valuable treasures, the Dou Techniques alone were enough to make anyone green with envy and drive them into a frenzy.

The techniques accumulated by the Aubin family over hundreds of years could hardly be inferior. A good technique could be of immense value not just to an individual, but to an entire family. For a time, those who considered themselves strong snuck into the Aubin estate and rushed straight toward the pavilion. Many others contacted their own clans through various channels, reporting the events and requesting instructions for the next move.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It immediately stirred up every force and family in Changling City, large and small, who sent people to watch for an opportunity. Shortly after learning that the Aubin family’s Dou Luo masters had all been killed, the leaders and heads of several factions even arrived in the middle of the night to participate in the looting. One had to realize that there were Profound-tier Dou Techniques inside; if one could get their hands on them, they might become a great family on the level of the Lie family in a decade or two!

The formerly quiet midnight suddenly became boisterous and clamorous. Upon hearing the shocking news, many in the city lost all desire to sleep. They either began to gossip and discuss it, or rushed to the Aubin estate to join the fray. Those who arrived found that a large crowd had already gathered, among whom several prominent figures from various family factions were quite conspicuous.

These experts stood there without taking any overt action, yet they guarded against one another with extreme caution. Their nerves were so taut that a single misstep could lead to a bloody conflict. Meanwhile, their subordinates scurried back and forth, ransacking every cabinet and chest for valuables. The atmosphere remained relatively stable for the moment, indicating that there were no sharp conflicts of interest among them yet.

Beyond the pavilion, people were looting every other part of the Aubin estate. After all, the residences of the elders and those with influence were not exactly poor. Even though many houses had collapsed, that did not hinder those who were already blinded by greed. To loot the Aubin family was something they would never have dared to imagine before, but now they could act with complete impunity. Some even seized the surviving women of the Aubin family and began to violate them. Hearing the women's screams, the crowd began to whisper among themselves.

"Sigh, when a wall is about to collapse, everyone gives it a push! Now that the Aubin family has fallen, these people who didn't even dare to breathe loudly on ordinary days are acting so crazily... And those women of the Aubin family—if they run into someone with a grudge, who knows how many men they'll be taken by..."

"Tsk, tsk, stop preaching your high-minded morals. Look at how red your eyes are. Should we go find an Aubin woman and have some fun too? By the way, didn't you say before that Aubin Yu’s mother was still quite charming, fair, and tender, and that you’d been fantasizing about her for a long time? Heh, since we can't beat those experts to the treasures, why not go see if that woman is still alive?"

...

"Hey, quite a lot of people have come, but it seems there’s no one from the Lie family, the City Lord, or the auction house. Even Qina, the auction house owner who has been quite the talk of the town lately, doesn't seem to have come..."

"I can tell you this: I don't know about the others, but the reason the auction house didn't show up is likely because they had their own trouble. I heard there were a few loud explosions there too, and quite a few experts died... I even suspect both incidents were caused by the same person!"

"Oh, really? That reminds me of the robbery at the Lie family not long ago. You think they didn't send anyone here because they're huddled together like frightened birds, trying to play it safe?"

Just as the scene was at its most chaotic, the clamor suddenly quieted down. Many felt a tightness in their chests and turned to look, only to see a group of people parting the crowd. Leading them was a middle-aged man. Sensing the faint, looming aura radiating from him, many felt a jolt in their hearts—the newcomer was actually a Dou Luo expert!

In Changling City, only four families possessed Dou Luo experts: the Lie family, the Aubin family, the City Lord’s mansion, and the auction house. Now that the Aubin family was destroyed, the number of Dou Luo in the city had drastically decreased, making them even more precious. To say nothing else, among the many experts present at the Aubin estate, there wasn't even a single 18th-level Dou cultivator, let alone a Dou Luo. The arrival of a Dou Luo would undoubtedly have a decisive impact on the entire situation!

As the first Dou Luo to arrive, his appearance stirred complex emotions in many. Upon recognizing his identity, those feelings shifted again: the man was none other than City Lord Chete! Although the city's affairs were theoretically under the City Lord’s jurisdiction, under the influence of the Lie and Aubin families, the City Lord’s mansion did not actually possess the power one might imagine.

Power is supreme, and authority is secondary. If a member of the Lie family committed a crime, City Lord Chete might not find it easy to make an arrest. By convention, since something had happened to the Aubin family, the City Lord should have come to inspect the situation. In a broader sense, he was responsible for the survivors and the remaining property of the Aubin family. However, in the current situation, it was unlikely anyone would welcome City Lord Chete’s arrival; after all, no one wanted the treasures they had worked so hard to loot to be "confiscated."

Regardless, his strength and influence were undeniable. What could they do if they were unhappy? Many took the lead in walking over to greet him. City Lord Chete nodded at them and looked around. The degree of destruction seemed to exceed his expectations, and he frowned, asking his men, "What do you make of this?"

These men were brought by City Lord Chete, possessing both strength and a sharp eye. After a careful inspection, they reported, "City Lord, based on the level of destruction at the Aubin estate and the accounts of some witnesses, the perpetrator should be at least a Dou Wang expert. Furthermore, this person must have concealed their Dou Qi aura both before and after the attack, otherwise there would have been signs beforehand... As for whether it was the same person who raided the Lie family that night, we cannot yet be certain."

Nodding slowly, City Lord Chete felt a flicker of shock in his eyes. A Dou Wang expert—that was an existence they could only look up to. If the perpetrator had released their aura while leaving, the entire city would have likely known which direction they had fled...

Looking at the ruined Aubin estate, City Lord Chete couldn't help but sigh. He then looked up and addressed the crowd, "Everyone, this matter ends here. What you have already taken, you may keep, but the rest will be managed by the City Lord’s mansion. You may all leave."

The various factions looked displeased at these words; there were still many things they hadn't looted yet. However, since City Lord Chete had spoken, they had no choice. At the very least, this was better than having to turn everything over. Besides, coming to someone else's house to loot in the middle of the night was not exactly a glorious deed. They dispersed in a flurry, though some secretly took the women they had snatched with them, apparently intent on enjoying the women who had once held such high status.

...

And so, the matter came to a temporary close. From the following day, rumors of the mysterious destruction of the Aubin family and the equally mysterious disappearance of Su Yi began to spread throughout Changling City.