SpaceMage

As a team of four armored guards made their way down the dank and musty halls of the dungeon, one of them suddenly halted in his tracks. With a scowl, he pulled out a napkin and pressed it to his nose, as the noxious scent of something foul and putrid filled the air.

The other three guards, sensing their comrade's alarm, stopped in their tracks and looked at him with fear and reverence. They sniffed the air cautiously, but the already rank atmosphere of the dungeon made it difficult for them to detect any unusual odors.

"I think I smell something," the guard muttered, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.

One of the other guards spoke up, his voice hushed. "That old fart Song Peizhi should be busy with the mission assigned to him by the Family Patriarchs. He shouldn't be down here playing with his new toys, right?"

The guard who had first noticed the smell was different from the others. He wore a crimson uniform, signifying his higher rank, and the aura of Qi that surrounded him was a clear indication that he was a Qi Cultivator, a Level 1 Qi Trainee.

Not just the Song Family, but all the noble and prestigious families of Green Lotus City were forces to be reckoned with. Their lineage stretched back thousands of years and they undoubtedly had access to at least one Rank 1 Qi Expert.

"Stay on alert," warned Dongfang, the red-robed cultivator leading the group, his sharp senses detecting the smell of blood. "I smell blood. Follow me."

The guards unsheathed their swords without hesitation and formed a protective formation around Dongfang. They cautiously followed him as he led them deeper into the dungeon.

After a short journey, they arrived at a grisly scene - the fresh corpses of several guards. The stench of death was overwhelming, and bits of blood and brain matter were splattered across the area. The manner in which these guards had been killed was merciless and brutal, requiring superhuman strength. The holes in their heads and chests indicated that the culprit was none other than a Qi Cultivator.

As Dongfang studied the corpses, his eyes gleamed with a strange light. This was a serious matter, one that threatened the prestige and reputation of the noble families. How could they allow a Qi Cultivator to run rampant within their own territory?

One of the guards was dispatched to summon reinforcements and report the situation, while the other two followed Dongfang in their search for the culprit.

In response to the alarm, the Song Family swiftly dispatched several men, including three Qi Cultivators, one of whom was the experienced Old Mao. Sadly, Song Peizhi was still occupied in the criminal district, tending to the city's more unsavory elements.

As the search for Long Gen intensified, multiple Rank 1 Qi Experts and Qi Trainees combed the city for any sign. The Green Lotus City Lord was on high alert, aware that he was facing a formidable opponent in the form of another Rank 2 Qi Expert, who was also in possession of a powerful Qi Artifact.

In a remote corner of the Tang Mountains, an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard sat in quiet meditation. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, blazing with an intimidating light as he gazed towards the Green Lotus City. With a flick of his wrist, several figures emerged from the shadows, eagerly awaiting his orders. The old man issued his commands before closing his eyes and sinking back into his meditative state.

The Green Lotus City Lord was aware that events were quickly spiraling out of his control. Although Long Gen had managed to evade capture and there were no casualties, a foreboding sense of impending doom weighed heavily on him.

The City Lord couldn't help but regret his impulsive decision to attack Long Gen. Though his plan was meticulously crafted, he had never anticipated that the mastermind behind the Criminal District would possess a Qi Artifact. Despite its potential power, what truly mattered was the mysterious force that supplied it to Long Gen.

Qi Artifacts are incredibly scarce and priceless treasures. Only the most powerful and influential entities can acquire them. The Green Lotus City Lord, who presided over a thriving merchant city, was no exception.

This uncertainty plagued the City Lord. Despite extensive research and interrogations, he couldn't uncover any nearby sects that may be connected to the Criminal District. The thought that a secret, powerful force was operating within his city left him feeling uneasy.

The Green Lotus City Lord was filled with regret for his hasty decision to attack Long Gen. Despite having carefully planned every detail, he had not anticipated that the mastermind behind the Criminal District would be armed with a Qi Artifact. The rarity and immense value of these artifacts cannot be overstated; they are virtually priceless and not just anyone can obtain one. In fact, not even the City Lord himself, who presides over a prosperous merchant city, possesses one.

This realization filled the City Lord with uncertainty. He was aware that the Criminal District was a breeding ground for a powerful sect, but extensive research and interrogations had led to nothing.

The Green Lotus City Lord was faced with two possibilities, either the Criminal District was a sect with Long Gen as its leader and in possession of a Qi Artifact, or it was just a recruitment ground for a larger and more powerful sect with Long Gen as its representative. In either case, the Green Lotus City was in trouble. The presence of a Qi Artifact indicated that the sect was well-equipped and had better resources than the Green Lotus City. If Long Gen was the leader of the sect, then the Green Lotus City was in for a tough battle with possible huge losses. But, if Long Gen was merely a representative, then the situation was even more dire as it meant the Green Lotus City was facing a larger and more powerful sect.

The Green Lotus City Lord faced a tough decision, he had to weigh the options of seeking help from the Western Wen's forces or facing the consequences alone. He knew that the sect's deployment of a Rank 2 Qi Expert with a Qi Artifact showed their immense power, and even if all the Noble Families and the Green Lotus City's forces joined forces, they might not be able to survive the counterattack. The Green Lotus City Lord sat in deep thought, considering the potential outcomes of each action before making a choice.