Chapter 240: The Jian Pavilion Marquis House's Hidden Strength

Chapter 240: The Jian Pavilion Marquis House's Hidden Strength

At dawn, the Jian Pavilion Marquis House was engulfed in the sounds of battle.

Ji Bo sent the four Gold Medal Assassins flying, severely injuring them and leaving them coughing up blood. Each of Dark Emperor City's Gold Medal Assassins was a terrifying figure capable of striking fear into hearts, yet now they were utterly helpless against an old servant, forced to flee in disarray.

"Han Dan, is Ning Xiaochuan dead... Old Nine, Old Nine—how is Old Nine dead?"

The four black-robed assassins retreated into the courtyard in disarray, but instead of Ning Xiaochuan's corpse, they found the mangled remains of one of their own, blood pooling on the ground.

Ning Xiaochuan stood tall not far away, his cold gaze fixed on them.

Had Old Nine been killed by Ning Xiaochuan?

Han Dan, the leader of the six Gold Medal Assassins, stood atop the courtyard pavilion, never expecting so many variables to arise.

Ji Bo entered from outside, standing behind Ning Xiaochuan and bowing slightly. "Young Master."

Han Dan knew the tide had turned. He laughed, "The Jian Pavilion Marquis House truly has no shortage of experts, hiding dragons and crouching tigers. Young Master Ning is indeed a prodigy among youths. Admirable, admirable. We’ll take our leave."

"You think the Jian Pavilion Marquis House is a place you can come and go as you please?" Ji Bo's eyes darkened as he retrieved an Evil Dragon Scale.

This scale, taken from an evil dragon, expanded to the size of a palm when infused with Profound Qi. Engraved with Artifact Runes, it carried a potent corrosive force as it shot through the air.

Han Dan, Old Two, Old Three, Old Seven, and Old Thirteen—five black-robed assassins—spread their arms, stepping onto a flying Profound Skin in an attempt to escape.

"Whoosh!"

The Evil Dragon Scale pierced through Old Three's body, leaving a charred, corroded hole in his chest. The dragon's venom seeped into his bloodstream, instantly reducing his body to a pool of pus and blood.

The scale's momentum didn’t slow, continuing toward Old Two.

Old Two hastily summoned a layer of black Protective Profound Qi Armor, wrapping his body in defensive energy like armor.

But the venom on the Evil Dragon Scale was overwhelmingly corrosive, eating through the Profound Qi in an instant and piercing the Protective Profound Qi Armor, striking Old Two in the back.

"Thud!"

Half of the Evil Dragon Scale embedded itself into Old Two's flesh, flooding his bloodstream with a potent toxin.

The scale carried the venom of an evil dragon, capable of corroding all Profound Qi—a lethal weapon that could pierce even Protective Profound Qi Armor in an instant.

The previous generation’s Jian Pavilion Marquis, whose cultivation had reached the pinnacle, still perished under the evil dragon’s venom. Its terror was undeniable.

Old Two’s body was saturated with the toxin, which relentlessly spread toward his heart. Even Martial Arts Profound Qi couldn’t resist it. His skin blackened before he plummeted to the ground, a lifeless, poisoned corpse.

The Evil Dragon Scale’s venom was horrifying, claiming the lives of two Gold Medal Assassins in succession.

"Where do you think you're fleeing?"

Ji Bo leaped onto the 21-meter-high wall and unleashed a Great Palm Strike toward the three fleeing Gold Medal Assassins.

Han Dan halted mid-air, transforming his palm into a blade to slice through the attack. His voice was icy. "Dark Emperor City’s targets will never escape. Sooner or later, we’ll return to finish the job."

With those words, Han Dan vanished into the darkness.

The three Gold Medal Assassins had escaped.

Ji Bo feared being lured away by a diversion, so he did not pursue them. Instead, he collected the Evil Dragon Scale from the poisoned corpse and muttered, "The Dark Emperor City is far too arrogant. Someone needs to teach them a lesson."

"Clatter, clatter."

Ning Qianwen, Ning Qianwu, and a group of elders from the Jian Pavilion Marquis House arrived, staring at the corpses of the three Gold Medal Assassins on the ground before turning their gazes toward the unharmed Ning Xiaochuan.

"It really is the Dark Emperor City. Tsk, to think they managed to escape. How infuriating."

"The main issue is that I was at a critical juncture in my seclusion and couldn’t break free. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have allowed them to run rampant in the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

"I was also in seclusion. As soon as I heard the disciples’ report, I immediately emerged. If I had come out just a bit earlier, I could’ve captured all these arrogant bastards."

Ji Bo said indifferently, "What a coincidence that all of you arrived just a step too late."

"Ji Shi, what do you mean by that?" A white-haired elder asked angrily.

"Nothing at all," Ji Bo replied.

Ning Qianwen stroked his white beard thoughtfully and said, "Who could possibly hold such deep hatred for our nephew Xiaochuan that they’d hire six Gold Medal Assassins to kill him?"

"This is utterly insane. Do these people truly think the Jian Pavilion Marquis House has no one left?" Ning Qianwu flicked his sleeves in anger.

Ning Xiaochuan understood the situation perfectly but merely smiled faintly to himself without saying a word before turning to leave.

This assassination attempt sent the Old Marquis into a thunderous rage. He personally summoned Ning Qianwen and Ning Qianwu for questioning.

As for who was truly behind this incident, the Old Marquis knew better than anyone.

After interrogating Ning Qianwen and Ning Qianwu, the Old Marquis issued an order, exiling both of them to the Jiangnu Domain and appointing them as lords of that fief.

The next day, Ning Qianwen and Ning Qianwu departed the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, escorted by numerous Martial Artists of the house as they left the Imperial City.

From then on, they could retire in peace.

This was the best solution the Old Marquis could devise. After all, they were his own sons—no matter how grave their mistakes, he could not bring himself to execute them.

After Ning Qianwen and Ning Qianwu left, the Old Marquis transferred all the power they once held into Ning Xiaochuan’s hands.

"From this day forward, you will oversee all 370,000-plus shops of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House across the 63 domains of the Yulan Empire. This includes profound medicines, Mystic Beasts, weapons, fabrics, manors, gambling dens, slave markets, auction houses, restaurants, inns, Mystic Wood, pastures, and more. Starting now, you will wield the full financial authority of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House. Do you have the confidence to handle it?" The Old Marquis sat above, staring at his 18-year-old grandson, who still seemed so young.

Ning Xiaochuan frowned slightly and said, "The Jian Pavilion Marquis House’s enterprises span every industry, covering 227 different subcategories, with shops spread across the entire empire and even extending into neighboring small nations. Such a vast commercial system—how can a novice like me manage it properly? I believe everything requires a process. I’d like to take over just a portion of the businesses first and gain some experience."

The Jian Pavilion Marquis House had developed over a thousand years, its foundations deep and intricate, its influence sprawling across the world.

When Ning Xiaochuan learned that the Jian Pavilion Marquis House controlled hundreds of thousands of businesses, he was utterly shocked. The scale was so vast it resembled a commercial empire, impossible to fully grasp in a short time.

The Old Marquis frowned with displeasure and said, "Experience? Handing over all the shops and businesses of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House to you is your experience. This is merely the initial stage of your training—learning the art of leadership and strategy. Once you’ve mastered managing the shops, I will gradually transfer the mines, military, martial academies, fiefdoms, and alliances to you."

"Don’t think controlling hundreds of thousands of shops is some grand achievement. In truth, they’re just small tools for making money. You must understand that the annual output of the mines under the Jian Pavilion Marquis House far exceeds that of all these shops combined. Of course, only nobles and the imperial court are permitted to control mines. Any other Martial Artist who dares to mine privately commits a capital offense."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "So, the core value of the Marquis House lies in the mines?"

The Old Marquis shook his head. "Mines are nothing. No matter how much wealth or treasure you accumulate, without formidable martial power to back it, it will all eventually become someone else’s wealth, someone else’s treasure. That’s why the Jian Pavilion Marquis House has established martial academies across the empire—to recruit disciples, cultivate martial arts, and train talents to guard our house."

Ning Xiaochuan said, "The Jian Pavilion Marquis House owns 3,200 martial academies, with tens of thousands of disciples. Are these academies the key to the house’s prosperity?"

The Old Marquis shook his head again. "The Martial Artists trained in these academies may remain loyal to you for a time, but once their martial prowess grows, they will still choose to leave. Some may even turn against the Marquis House for personal gain. So, they can only serve as guards, not as the pillars of the house."

Ning Xiaochuan asked, "Then what truly supports the Jian Pavilion Marquis House?"

"Fiefdoms, the military, and Martial Venerables," the Old Marquis replied.

He paused before continuing, "Since the founding of the Yulan Empire, our ancestors of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House have achieved countless merits, earning fiefdom after fiefdom—some large, some small. But they are all permanent assets of the house. Within our fiefdoms, we are kings, beyond even the reach of imperial authority. This is the foundation left by our ancestors, immeasurable in wealth and impossible to buy. It is the root of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

"The Jian Pavilion Marquis House commands one-tenth of the Yulan Empire’s military. This force isn’t just for defending the empire’s borders or waging war—it’s a deterrent against all who would challenge us. It’s precisely because of this vast military power that even the Jade Emperor dares not act rashly against the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."

"And third—Martial Venerables."

When the Old Marquis spoke these words, he paused slightly and said, "Every Martial Venerable is a supreme ruler, comparable to an army or vast wealth. If a marquis house produces one Martial Venerable, it ensures the house will not be bullied and can maintain its transcendent status. If a marquis house produces three Martial Venerables, then it would be difficult for that house not to prosper."

"Martial power, the supreme power, is like the Pillar Stabilizing the Sea. It is the true force that can suppress a marquis house's fortune and serves as the mark of whether a noble house thrives."

"Without supreme martial power, no amount of wealth can be safeguarded; without supreme martial power, even the largest fiefdoms will be carved up by others; without supreme martial power, even the strongest military cannot be managed. Xiaochuan, you must strive to grow quickly and become the third Martial Venerable of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."