Chapter 392

Chapter 392: The Four Great Gangs

Fang Lie’s Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship was incredibly large and was noticed from far away. Soon, more than a dozen figures flew over to welcome him.

The Seven Dragon True Immortal and Mr. Suan Mei were naturally among them, but the only ones following them were just some individuals at the Purple Palace Immortal level. There was not even one Wind Tribulation Immortal or Nascent Soul True Immortal, which made Fang Lie furrow his brows.

It was important to know that there were hundreds of thousands of people in Iron-Walled Jin City, and the highest authority managing this place was usually a Fire Tribulation Immortal, followed by a few Wind Tribulation Immortals and several hundred Nascent Soul True Immortals, all forming a huge organization to maintain the operation of the vast city.

Now that Fang Lie had become the owner of this city, these individuals were his subordinates, and according to the rules, they were supposed to greet him in person. Even the Seven Dragon True Immortal and Mr. Suan Mei made their appearances, so there was no reason for the others not to come.

Although the Bai family would definitely take away some experts upon their withdrawal, it was unreasonable to leave behind not a single Nascent Soul True Immortal, right? In fact, the Nascent Soul True Immortals present should not all belong to the Bai family.

But now, Fang Lie couldn’t see a single Nascent Soul True Immortal, indicating that something was wrong.

Indeed, after seeing the Seven Dragon True Immortal and Mr. Suan Mei, Fang Lie immediately recognized from the pained and guilt-ridden expressions of the eight people that this takeover was certainly not going smoothly.

Mr. Suan Mei and the Seven Dragon True Immortal arrived at the deck, bowed respectfully to Fang Lie, and greeted him together.

After Fang Lie returned the gesture, he asked, "Everyone, were there any obstacles during this handover?"

"Alas~" Mr. Suan Mei sighed heavily, clasped his fists, and said, "I apologize, Young Master. We did not handle things well. The Bai family has caused endless trouble and really brought numerous problems!"

"What kind of trouble?" Fang Lie asked with a frown.

"The situation is like this~" Mr. Suan Mei immediately told Fang Lie everything he had learned.

Originally, while the Iron-Walled Jin City was under the control of the Bai family, they gathered together for easier management and control. In addition to the formal management organization, they secretly supported four gangs.

These four gangs occupied the four corners of the Iron Juice Magma Lake, thus being named the East Gang, South Gang, West Gang, and North Gang!

Each of the four gangs was privately established, controlling about one hundred thousand members each. The lower-level members were actually lower cultivators who laboriously extracted iron juice from the Iron Juice Magma Lake, existing almost like servants.

These lower members had to sell the iron juice they collected to their own gang at a low price, which the gang would then sell at a high price to the managers of Iron-Walled Jin City.

As a result, the higher-ups of the four great gangs could reap huge profits, becoming parasites attached to Iron-Walled Jin City.

Of course, they could not rely solely on their own abilities to maintain these profits over time, so they found backers.

The Bai family, with their own corrupt practices, had family members managing this place who were equally corrupt. They secretly favored the four gangs while receiving huge personal gifts in return.

Moreover, to make more money, the Bai family’s managers lied to the sect to inflate the purchase price of iron materials.

However, the members of the four gangs did the opposite, fiercely driving down the purchase prices, causing the lower members to suffer even greater exploitation.

According to Mr. Suan Mei’s information, in just the last thousand years, the price of iron juice in Iron-Walled Jin City had slowly increased nearly double, while in reality, the costs were very low, with most of the price difference going to the Bai family.

But now, due to Mo Qianxun’s intervention, the Bai family suddenly lost the management authority of Iron-Walled Jin City, preventing them from obtaining massive profits, which naturally ignited their wrath.

Not only did the Bai family transfer all the experts above the Wind Tribulation Immortal level, but they also recalled most of the Nascent Soul True Immortals, leaving Fang Lie with an empty city.

Furthermore, they agreed with the four gangs to ensure they swayed the remaining managers and members to prevent Fang Lie from completing the tasks set by the sect.

The four gangs were actually supported by the Bai family, and many of their higher-ups were even relatives of the Bai family, so they naturally obeyed the Bai family’s commands.

Thus, when Mr. Suan Mei and the others came to take over Iron-Walled Jin City, a very infuriating scene unfolded.

All the remaining managers who were Nascent Soul True Immortals were lured away.

Moreover, the four gangs no longer sold any iron materials to the official Iron-Walled Jin City but instead sold them directly to the Bai family, using their channels for distribution. As a result, Fang Lie ended up with nothing.

It was essential to know that although Iron-Walled Jin City was nominally under Fang Lie’s control, it was actually controlled by the Mo Sect. If Fang Lie failed to submit enough iron materials, the higher-ups of the Mo Sect also had the power to decide ownership.

Clearly, this was the Bai family’s counterattack against Fang Lie.

After grasping the situation, Fang Lie sneered, "What kind of worthless scum dares to act up? These bastards must not know how death is written!"

"Young Master, we mustn’t underestimate them!" Mr. Suan Mei urged. "The Four Great Gangs have powerful backers. Their leaders’ supporters rival even the Bai family’s influence! That’s why the Bai family tolerates them sharing profits on their territory – they’re allies bought with concessions!"

"Indeed," the leader of Seven Dragon True Immortals added. "As the saying goes, a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. We should negotiate carefully. Securing their iron supply matters most."

"Pah! They’re just paper tigers!" Fang Lie scoffed. "This trash thinks they can challenge me? Are they stronger than East Kunlun or Master Tianlong?"

The advisors fell silent. This was the man who’d defied East Kunlun’s Ten Divine Swords and slain Master Tianlong’s bastard son. What gang leader could intimidate him?

"To the city," Fang Lie commanded. "Summon those four worms to the city lord’s mansion. If they cooperate, good. If not…" He grinned darkly as the Earth’s Magnetic Force Warship sailed toward Iron-Walled Jin City.

From above, Fang Lie observed the strange metropolis surrounding a hundred-mile Magma Lake. The bubbling cauldron teemed with small boats harvesting molten iron.

The vessels featured inkstone hulls carved with protective Formations, barely withstanding the heat that would kill ordinary men. Each could hold ten cultivators at most.

But survival wasn’t guaranteed. While most magma bubbles only caused minor waves, occasional eruptions shot fiery pillars skyward, creating deadly magma rains. Only third-rank protective treasures offered safety – luxuries far beyond most salvagers’ means. Thousands died yearly, yet more kept coming, lured by valuable iron varieties.

Watching the toiling boats, Fang Lie recalled his own hardships. His sympathy for the workers warred with disgust for their oppressors.

The warship soon hovered above the magnificent and dazzling city lord’s mansion, its tallest tower stretching four hundred zhang high. After landing, Mr. Suan Mei transferred control of the city’s Formations – defenses powerful enough to kill Thunder Tribulation Immortals.

Shortly after gaining authority, a guard announced: "City Lord, the Four Great Gang Leaders await."

"Bring them."

Four Wind Tribulation Immortals swaggered in, Qing Feng swirling around them. Their contempt showed in sloppy salutes and immediate seating without permission. Leaning back with smirks, they stared at the youth they deemed beneath notice.