Over a decade ago, the White Horse Floating Temple in the Capital City was just an inconspicuous small temple.

    The monks in the temple had to rely on shamelessly going out to sell consecrated Buddha Beads to make a living.

    Until ten years ago, the Abbott Huai Rang resolutely decided to join the Black Feather Building, leading to the complete rise of the White Horse Floating Temple, making it one of the top temples in the bustling Capital City.

    At this moment, in the Black Feather Building, Helian Yuanwu, Ming Hui, and Dugu Sheng were all kneeling before a young man.

    The young man seemed to be in his early twenties, with handsome features, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, and a black feather-like mark at the center of his forehead.

    He sat upright in the main seat, exuding an aura of immense power, making Helian Yuanwu and the others dare not even breathe heavily.

    This young man was the mysterious Tower Master of the Black Feather Building.

    "So, in one day, my Black Feather Thirteen Towers lost two branch towers, and a Tower Master like Sikong Ming died?"

    The Black Feather Tower Master looked at them with a shadowed gaze.

    This was the greatest loss the Black Feather Building had ever suffered since its founding!

    Helian Yuanwu broke into a sweat and hurriedly said, "Tower Master, calm down! None of us expected the Demon Cleansing Bureau to suddenly cause us trouble!

    That Han Zheng kept saying that someone from our Black Feather Building had taken something from him at the Crystal Palace auction.

    So the urgent matter is to find that person; otherwise, judging by Han Zheng''s attitude, this matter will not be resolved!" Sёarch* The ηovёlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ming Hui beside him angrily said, "Not only find him, I''d even kill him!

    He foolishly took something from Han Zheng of the Demon Cleansing Bureau, but the consequence was that my Black Feather Fifth Tower was wiped out. Why should this be?!"

    Dugu Sheng didn''t speak, but he looked dazed, clearly shaken by Bu Tiange.

    The Black Feather Tower Master suddenly thought of something and immediately said, "Bring Huai Rang to me."

    A moment later, a middle-aged monk dressed in monk robes, looking plump and kind, came running over.

    "What instructions do you have, Tower Master?"

    Huai Rang, on the outside, was the Abbott of the White Horse Floating Temple, known for his social acumen and with an excellent reputation among the Capital City''s dignitaries.

    No one would have guessed he was also the Tower Master of the Black Feather''s First Tower.

    "That Xuanpin Pearl, did you snatch it from the Crystal Palace auction house?"

    The Black Feather Tower Master stared at Huai Rang, whose icy gaze made Huai Rang break out in a cold sweat.

    He was an elder of the Black Feather Building, among the earliest to follow the Tower Master in his conquests, so he knew the Tower Master''s strength and character thoroughly.

    Huai Rang immediately said, "Tower Master, calm down! I didn''t mean to provoke Han Zheng. I didn''t expect people from the Demon Cleansing Bureau to be at the underground auction buying items either.

    Han Zheng seemed insane, hellbent on obtaining that Xuanpin Pearl, and I didn''t have enough Elemental Crystals, so I had no choice but to snatch it later.

    Who would have thought Han Zheng would be like a mad dog and fight all the way here.

    Tower Master, should we return the Xuanpin Pearl to settle this matter? I''ll compensate for the losses at the other towers myself."

    "You compensate? Can you afford to? Can you afford Sikong Ming''s life?!"

    The Black Feather Tower Master reprimanded Huai Rang harshly, making him feel like a subordinate.

    Helian Yuanwu and the others glared at Huai Rang with resentment.

    It was this troublemaker''s fault, and now they had to take the fall for him!

    The Black Feather Tower Master said coldly, "Besides, the Xuanpin Pearl can''t be given away.

    The one whose birthday is approaching, I promised to give the Xuanpin Pearl as a gift.

    If we promised the gift before and now say it''s gone, what does that make us?

    If I really do that, it becomes making an enemy instead of giving a gift!"

    Helian Yuanwu cautiously said, "Tower Master, Han Zheng is incredibly powerful and acts like a mad dog, daring to attack us under any pretext.

    If we don''t return the Xuanpin Pearl, the other side will continue to hound us."

    Huai Rang snorted, "Are you really scared witless by Han Zheng? When have we, the Black Feather Building, ever been so cowardly?"

    As the situation escalated, the Black Feather Tower Master impatiently waved his hand, and everyone stopped arguing.

    "Returning is out of the question, or we can''t explain to that person.

    Fighting isn''t an option either; conflict with the Demon Cleansing Bureau now would mean mutual destruction.

    Find a chance to meet with Han Zheng and settle this matter."

    Ming Hui whispered, "Master, Han Zheng is arrogant and aggressive, and common people can''t control him."

    "Can''t control him?"

    The Black Feather Tower Master sneered, "The current Emperor''s own son, Second Prince Ji Xuanjing, can he not handle it?"

    "You want to ask that one for help? But the cost is not small."

    The Black Feather Tower Master said indifferently, "The cost is not too big; the Second Prince is well-disposed, and I am familiar with him from before, asking him for help isn''t difficult.

    But if any benefits are required, I would rather pay some benefits myself.

    Sometimes debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay."

    After speaking, the Black Feather Tower Master gave Huai Rang an angry look: "If you had said earlier that the Xuanpin Pearl was taken from someone in the Demon Cleansing Bureau, would such a big mess have arisen?

    Huai Rang, you have disappointed me greatly; have you lost your vigilance after living a comfortable life?

    This is the Capital City! A city full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers!

    Daring to snatch someone''s item without knowing their identity, who gave you the courage to do so?

    Since you''ve been with me the longest, among the ever-changing tower masters of the Black Feather Thirteen Towers, your position in the First Tower has been the most stable, yet this is how you repay me?"

    "Tower Master, calm down! It was my oversight this time; it won''t happen again!"

    Huai Rang, covered in cold sweat, quickly bowed his head admitting his mistake.

    He knew all too well the ruthless methods of his Tower Master.

    Though he had seniority, he did not dare gamble on whether the other party would remember past ties.

    On the side, Helian Yuanwu and Ming Hui felt quite vindicated.

    This Huai Rang, with mediocre strength and ability, relied on being the first to submit under the Tower Master''s banner to occupy the First Tower Master''s position, doing the easiest work and taking the most benefits, had long been a sore sight to them.

    Especially this time, as due to his one slip-up, their foundations were destroyed by Han Zheng, an injustice they couldn''t swallow.

    Meanwhile, Han Zheng had just returned to the Demon Cleansing Bureau headquarters with the Jing''an Guard, intending to rest when someone brought word.

    Xiang Yuangong and others had not yet left, and upon hearing the message, they asked in surprise, "Did Black Feather Building surrender and prepare to return the Xuanpin Pearl?

    Everyone says the Black Feather Building is unfathomable, but now it seems they''re quite timid, surrendering after we destroyed just two of their branch towers?"

    Han Zheng frowned slightly, "It''s not that they''ve surrendered, but they''ve asked a middleman to meet me to mediate."

    The reaction of the Black Feather Building was somewhat unexpected to Han Zheng.

    Han Zheng''s fierce actions left the Black Feather Building with almost only two responses.

    One was to meekly submit, indicating they did not want trouble with the Demon Cleansing Bureau, returning the Xuanpin Pearl with everything open to negotiation.

    The other was to stubbornly resist, throwing everything at Han Zheng.

    Who would have thought that Black Feather Building neither surrendered nor wanted to continue the fight but instead found someone to mediate; what is there to mediate?

    Bu Tiange sneered, "Did the Black Feather Tower Master''s mind get muddled? Wanting to negotiate without returning the item, does he want to discuss taking turns with you to use the Xuanpin Pearl?"

    Liu Yuan suddenly realized and asked, "Sir, who did the Black Feather Building ask to mediate?"

    The two conflicting parties were the Demon Cleansing Bureau''s renowned new figure, one of the thirteen Grand Stewards, Han Zheng.

    The other was the mysterious head of the Capital City''s underground forces, the Black Feather Tower Master.

    Whoever was chosen as the mediator must have a special stature.

    Han Zheng revealed a subtle smile, "The one Black Feather Building asked to mediate is none other than the current Second Prince, Ji Xuanjing!"