?The Terran ignored Yao Jiming and looked at the old man standing before the anvil. The latter asked, "What do you want?"
Shi Lang took a deep breath and said, "I was thinking if you could come up with something that can restrain the cultivation levels of those people."
Old Man Pie raised his gaze to look at him and said, "You sure have some high-spirited ambition, boy. Do not tell me you intend to take them all alone."
Yao Jiming turned to look at Shi Lang in horror, and the Terran said, "Not on my own, but yes, with a force under my command. Now, back to the main concern: can you make something restricting their cultivation levels?"
Old Man Pei shook his head and said, "That barrier can only be found in some ancient ruins. Even if we know they exist, none of the people have succeeded in comprehending them. You can probably take the aid of medicine."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Hmm, poison is an option to dampen the enemy before the attack. However, those old coots are not to be fooled easily."
The City Lord nodded and said, "Glad you know yourself."
Shi Lang hummed as he began to walk around and asked, "If I can find an undetectable poison that attacks not the person but the spiritual energy for a certain time and then take them all out. It can work."
The city lord was surprised by how quickly Shi Lang reacted, and Yao Jiming sensed his heart fall into the depths of cold hell. He was shivering, thinking that Shi Lang was a maniac. The Terran said, "Well, you can prepare to address the Martial Council. I am undertaking this assignment in exchange for your services. Agreed?"
The City Lord shook his head and said, "Do you think you are the only one who can make the Zhu Family pay?"
Shi Lang shook his head and said, "I am well aware that you are in cahoots with the Mengs, but that struggle will upend the peace in the city."
Yao Jiming could not take it anymore and said, "Young Master, will our attack not have a similar effect on the city?"
Shi Lang gazed at his attendant and sighed, "First, it is not our attack. I will call for people from outside. Second, no, it will not be a massacre. It will be selective targeting. The Zhu Family is not the problem. The family's shot caller is. So, we will take them out. Simple. Do you two have any other doubts?"
Yao Jiming was speechless, and City Lord Pei said, "How long do you need?"
Surprised, the girl asked, "Master, what do I need to do?"
Shi Lang smiled and said, "You do not need to do anything but walk how things work. I will not hide it from you, but the hall's purpose is to ensure that the balance of power in the central plains is stable. For this, we might have to sabotage someone or sometimes walk through the rivers of blood. You did not need to embroil in the dirty work, but I hope you are strong enough to know what needs to be done."
Xiao Mei smiled and said, "Master, Yuyu always tells me that the path of medicine and martial arts is not different. If someone can walk both these paths simultaneously, then yes, they might be slow, but they will be able to reach a peak that others cannot imagine."
Shi Lang smiled and said, "Well, Xiao Yu is intelligent. Come, meet me at the elder hall."
Xiao Mei nodded and rushed back to finish the tasks and prepare to set out with Shi Lang. In the meantime, the Terran made his way to the elder hall. When he arrived, the place was filled with people. Shi Lang counted and found seventy people. Seven squads in the Asura Hall were named after the seven sins. The squad members saw Shi Lang, and they bowed to him.
The Terran entered the hall and found seven leaders standing around the big table. The security head was also present, and so were the other officials of the Asura Hall. Shi Lang looked at them and said, "I will cut to the chase. We do not have much time. I believe the information you have gathered all these days has made you aware of the situation in the Forger City. Particularly the Zhu Family."
The seven people nodded, and one of them said, "They have links indirectly to the Wang Family."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Good. The Zhu Family is trying to make a move in the forger city and upset the power balance. They are going after the Old City Lord. The person happens to be a Saint-Level Forger. The Heavenly Dragon Army and the sovereign Tian Long himself back him.
Forger City is a significant marketplace that I intend to capture. So, now, please tell me what you think about how to deal with this situation. Shall we stand at the sidelines and watch them do what they are doing, or shall we take control of things?"
One of the people stood up from his seat and said, "Hall Master, before we make any decision, I would like to ask, what do you have in mind?"
Shi Lang smiled and shook his head. He replied, "I would like to know your stand before I tell you why I made my decision. Asura Hall is not a sect. We are not an army but a family that works together and trusts each other. You people are selected as squad heads because of your outstanding abilities. You represent the will of your teams. So, go on and tell me after deliberating over this issue."
A lady stood up and said, "Hall Master, if the Zhu Family is going after our asset, then I would vote for taking control."
However, another person stood up right after her and shook his head. He said, "Asura Hall is still weak, and exposing ourselves now can spell danger for us. We can fall into the cross-hairs of the Wang Family; even if the Martial Council has stationed them, they are still not weak enough yet."
Seven people had seven different opinions; they had valid points, and Shi Lang raised his hand to silence them. He said, "Your concerns are not without reason. We will face many such troubles if we act now, but if we manage to take this level of target down, then do you not think we will have the capital to intimidate them all?"
The squad leaders were shocked. Shi Lang said, "Intimidation is a kind of power that can deter most of your troubles. What do you say, boys and girls, shall we do it?"
People looked at each other, and after some deliberation, they all nodded. Shi Lang said, "Prepare your squads. Tomorrow night is when we announce our presence to the world."