Chapter 540: Success is the Only Option!

Due to repeated clashes between the Secret Gate and the Yuan Gang, the entire northern region had fallen into a state of widespread anxiety. As the Secret Gate used Dongling as a foothold to continuously expand its influence, it had gradually reached a situation where it stood on equal footing with the Yuan Gang, dividing control over the northern underworld.

However, the Secret Gate was naturally unsatisfied with this status quo, and the Yuan Gang certainly would not allow a rising force to challenge its dominance as the northern overlord.

Although the resurgence of ancient martial arts meant that no matter how strong ordinary people became, they could not rival experts with internal energy, and no matter how many people one had, they might still fall to a single supreme warrior, the ruler of an underworld dynasty was not someone just anyone could challenge. Thus, the Yuan Gang firmly believed its position as the northern overlord was unshakable.

At this moment, within the Yuan Gang’s conference room…

The atmosphere was unusually tense. Every person present, although influential figures within the Yuan Gang, wore expressions of deep concern. Everyone understood that if the Yuan Gang lost this time, all their glory would vanish into thin air.

“This time, the Secret Gate is coming for real. Nearly all their elites have poured into the Yuan Gang’s territory in the north. This confrontation will likely decide who will ultimately rule the north.”

At the head of the meeting sat a middle-aged man with a furrowed brow. Clearly, his mind was far from calm. With Yuan Gang forces already locked in confrontation with the Secret Gate outside, how could he possibly remain at ease?

For the leader of an underworld dynasty, defeat meant death. Although he understood from the beginning that this path was one where his life was always on the line, he certainly did not want to die in such a humiliating way…

“If I had known it would come to this, I should never have allowed the Secret Gate to grow so strong in the first place!”

Sitting just below the head was a young man of refined and handsome appearance. He was Luan Tianyu, the most respected among the Three Young Lords of the North. The middle-aged man at the head was none other than his father, Luan Aoxiong.

“Perhaps, but you should understand that both the Situ family and the Su family are powers we cannot afford to provoke. Had we moved against them back then, the Yuan Gang might not even exist today!”

Luan Aoxiong’s face turned bitter. Although he had anticipated the Secret Gate’s rapid growth, he had never imagined it would rise so quickly. Within just a few short months, the Secret Gate had already reached a level nearly equal to the Yuan Gang.

“Is he really that strong?”

Luan Tianyu was unwilling to accept this. As the eldest of the Three Young Lords of the North and heir to both the Luan family and the Yuan Gang, he had always held a position of prestige. Though few knew he was the son of the legendary Luan Aoxiong, those two titles alone were enough to make him stand above the rest.

Yet he had still lost to Xiao Yufan—a man he had never even met. Even his own father seemed helpless against him…

In recent years, the Luan family had gradually faded from the public eye of the aristocratic clans, but rather than declining, they had grown secure and prosperous under the protection of the Yuan Gang’s immense power. However, should the Yuan Gang fall, the Luan family’s peaceful days would certainly come to an end.

“I haven’t gathered much information on this young man, but rumors say he has several internal energy experts under his command. Clearly, his own strength cannot be weak. Most importantly, even some hidden aristocratic families fear his identity greatly.”

Suddenly, Luan Aoxiong felt a strong desire to meet this young man. He was curious to see just how extraordinary Xiao Yufan must be to elevate the Secret Gate to its current level…

Hearing his father’s words, Luan Tianyu couldn’t help but inhale sharply. If even hidden aristocratic families feared this man, then his background must be even more formidable than he had imagined. Unconsciously, the two were no longer on the same level.

His expression darkened with a hint of gloom, Luan Tianyu had once longed to challenge Xiao Yufan, but now, he suddenly lost all interest.

“Leader, what should we do? Are we just going to watch helplessly as the empire we built is handed over to others?”

Everyone in the room could sense Luan Aoxiong’s emotions. Yet they were all hardened criminals—though they had grown comfortable over the years, they were still capable of fighting when needed. Naturally, they had no intention of letting the Yuan Gang fall into the hands of the Secret Gate.

“Surrender it? How could I, Luan Aoxiong, ever do something so weak? Since the Secret Gate has made the first move, even if the Situ and Su families try to interfere, we have every reason to respond!”

A cold glint flashed briefly in his eyes as a sinister smile curled at the corner of Luan Aoxiong’s lips. Even though he feared Xiao Yufan’s background, it did not mean he would hesitate or hold back. As long as Xiao Yufan wasn’t killed, but the Secret Gate was completely wiped out, that man would no longer pose a threat.

At least in Luan Aoxiong’s mind, without the Secret Gate, a mere member of the Situ family would not be able to stir up much trouble. What he overlooked, however, was that the Secret Gate had already grown into a terrifying force…

“If that’s the case, then let us old fellows take on these young ones from the Secret Gate! Even if the underworld will eventually belong to the younger generation, we’ll see if they have the stomach to swallow the Yuan Gang!”

As Luan Aoxiong finished speaking, a deep, rough voice echoed from another corner of the room. This was the Yuan Gang’s top general, the very man who had played a decisive role in the Yuan Gang’s conquest of the north.

“Fine! Then let’s give them a proper welcome!”

Luan Aoxiong stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the room, exuding an aura of supreme authority. It had been many years since anyone had dared to challenge the Yuan Gang. This time, however, it was a matter of life and death for the entire organization…

Just as the Yuan Gang was holding its meeting, the Secret Gate had already engaged in battle with Yuan forces. The Shadow Division, the Dark Division, the Kill Division, and the Tiger Division, led respectively by Wang Wei, Tianyi, Qinglong, and Xiao Dao, had surrounded the Yuan Gang’s strongholds.

Although Xiao Yufan was absent, after Nie Xiaodao took over leadership of the Secret Gate, everything remained under control, for Nie Xiaodao and Tianyi were as close as brothers…

“Only by defeating the Yuan Gang can we gain the leverage needed to challenge the hidden Gu family, and finally avenge our young master. Of course, this time we must succeed—failure is not an option!”

Nie Xiaodao’s face was also filled with solemnity. He was not arrogant enough to believe the Secret Gate could easily defeat the Yuan Gang. Even though Wang Wei, Tianyi, and himself had all recently broken through to the Qi-condensing stage, they still had less than a seventy percent chance of victory. After all, no one knew whether the Yuan Gang had hidden experts of their own.

Due to repeated clashes between the Shadow Sect and the Yuan Gang, the entire northern region was plunged into a state of panic. As the Shadow Sect used Dongling as a springboard to continuously expand its influence, it gradually formed a situation where it shared the northern underground empire with the Yuan Gang.

However, the Shadow Sect was naturally dissatisfied with this state of affairs, and the Yuan Gang would not allow a nascent force to shake its dominant position in the north.

Although ancient martial arts had revived, the strength of ordinary people could not compare to internal force experts, and no matter how many people there were, they might still be defeated by a single superpower. However, the ruler of an underground empire was not someone who could be easily moved, so the Yuan Gang had firmly secured its position as the northern hegemon.

At this moment, in the Yuan Gang’s conference room…

The atmosphere was extremely tense. Although everyone present was a prominent figure in the Yuan Gang, their faces were filled with gravity. Everyone understood that if the Yuan Gang lost this time, their glory would surely vanish without a trace.

“This time, the Shadow Sect is serious. Almost all of their elites have surged into our territory in the north. This time, it should determine who will rule the north!”

At the head of the conference table, a middle-aged man frowned deeply. It was clear that he was uneasy. Outside, the Yuan Gang was confronting the Shadow Sect, so how could he be at ease?

For the leader of an underground empire, the failure of the Yuan Gang meant his death. Although he knew that this path was destined to be perilous, he did not want to die in such a humiliating manner…

“If I had known it would come to this, we should never have allowed the Shadow Sect to grow!”

Below the head of the table was a handsome young man, who was none other than Luan Tianyu, the most prestigious of the three young marshals in the north. The middle-aged man at the head of the table was his father, Luan Aoxiong.

“Although that’s true, you should know that both the Situ family and the Su family are forces we cannot afford to provoke. If we had acted against them back then, the Yuan Gang might have already ceased to exist!”

Luan Aoxiong’s face showed a hint of bitterness. Although he knew that the Shadow Sect’s development would be rapid, he had not expected it to reach such a level in just a few months, where it could rival the Yuan Gang.

“Is he really that strong?”

Luan Tianyu was somewhat unwilling to accept this. He was the leader of the three young marshals in the north, the heir of the Luan family, and the young master of the Yuan Gang. Although few knew that he was the son of Luan Aoxiong, a generation’s hero, the first two titles alone were enough for him to stand out among his peers.

However, he had lost to Xiao Yufan, a man he had never met, and even his father was at a loss with him…

Over the years, the Luan family had gradually faded from the sight of the aristocratic families, but it had not declined. On the contrary, relying on the existence of the Yuan Gang, the Luan family could be said to be worry-free. But if something happened to the Yuan Gang, the Luan family’s days would not be so comfortable.

“I haven’t investigated this young man much, but it’s rumored that he has several internal force experts under his command, which shows that his strength is not weak. Most importantly, even some hidden aristocratic families are extremely wary of his identity!”

Luan Aoxiong suddenly wanted to meet this young man, to see how extraordinary Xiao Yufan was, to have developed the Shadow Sect to its current state…

Hearing his father’s words, Luan Tianyu couldn’t help but take a deep breath. If even hidden aristocratic families were wary of him, then this man’s identity was definitely more formidable than he had imagined. Unconsciously, the two of them were no longer on the same level.

His expression inexplicably darkened. Luan Tianyu had previously wanted to compete with Xiao Yufan, but now, he suddenly lost that interest…

“Leader, what should we do? Are we just going to watch as the empire we built is handed over to others?”

Everyone present could sense Luan Aoxiong’s emotions, but they were all desperadoes. Even after being comfortable for so long, they could still be effective if put to the test. Naturally, they did not want the Yuan Gang to fall to the Shadow Sect.

“Hand it over to others? How could I, Luan Aoxiong, do something so weak? Since the Shadow Sect is the one provoking us, even if the Situ family and the Su family cause trouble, we have enough justification!”

A cold light flashed in Luan Aoxiong’s eyes, and a sinister smile appeared on his lips. Even if he was wary of Xiao Yufan’s identity, it did not mean he would be timid. As long as he didn’t kill Xiao Yufan, but only wiped out the Shadow Sect, then this man would no longer pose a threat.

At least in Luan Aoxiong’s view, without the Shadow Sect, a member of the Situ family would not be able to cause much trouble. However, he overlooked the fact that the Shadow Sect had already grown to a terrifying level…

“In that case, let us old-timers meet these young people from the Shadow Sect. Even if the underground empire will eventually belong to the young, we still need to see if they have the appetite to swallow the Yuan Gang!”

After Luan Aoxiong’s voice fell, another rough voice came through. This person was the Yuan Gang’s top warrior, who had played a crucial role in the Yuan Gang’s conquest of the north.

“Good, in that case, let us meet them properly!”

Luan Aoxiong also stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone, exuding a commanding presence. It had been many years since someone had challenged the Yuan Gang’s existence, and this time, it was a matter of life and death for the Yuan Gang…

While the Yuan Gang was holding its meeting, the Shadow Sect had already clashed with the Yuan Gang. The Shadow Hall, the Dark Hall, the Assassin Hall, and the Tiger Hall, led by Wang Wei, Tianyi, Qinglong, and Xiaodao respectively, had formed a encirclement around the Yuan Gang.

Although Xiao Yufan was not present, after Nie Xiaodao took over the Shadow Sect, nothing had gone wrong, as the relationship between Xiaodao, Tianyi, and the others was closer than that of brothers…

“Only by taking down the Yuan Gang can we have the capital to challenge the hidden Guo family, and then we can avenge our young master. Of course, the premise is that this time we can only succeed, not fail!”

Nie Xiaodao’s face also showed a hint of gravity. He would not be so arrogant as to think that the current Shadow Sect could easily take down the Yuan Gang. Even if Wang Wei, Tianyi, and he himself had all broken through to the Qi Condensation realm, they still did not have a seventy percent certainty. Who knew if there were experts within the Yuan Gang?

“Understood!” A low voice slowly spread. Thinking of Xiao Yufan’s unknown whereabouts, a surge of热血 flowed through everyone’s body. Yes, only by taking down the Yuan Gang would the Shadow Sect have enough capital to challenge the hidden Guo family.

However, they did not know that the Guo family was currently facing an unprecedented crisis. Even without the Shadow Sect, the Guo family’s outcome would only be one: destruction!

What they did not yet know, however, was that the Gu family was already facing an unprecedented crisis. Even without the Secret Gate, the Gu family’s fate was sealed—it would fall, inevitably and completely.