While Xu Ke was treating Ghost Elder, Tianhai, which should have quieted down after the explosive Martial Alliance selection competition, once again erupted like boiling water.

The news of Kang Chenghua's death spread rapidly among the major families like a massive bomb, plunging the dark night into complete disarray.

「Huang Family.」

"Kang Chenghua is dead?!"

Upon receiving this news, Huang Zhendong's pupils constricted. Shi Hongda, who had been cultivating in his quiet room, also came out upon hearing the news. He squinted his eyes and asked, "What happened?"

The person reporting was pale with fright. "According to those at the scene, the clues left by Kang Chenghua and the Kang Family's strongest guardian before their deaths indicate the murderers were the Ghost and Poison Elders."

"This information has also been verified by the Martial Alliance Leader, Chen Xiong!"

BANG—

"It must have been Xu Ke!"

After hearing the report, Huang Zhendong slammed his hand on the table, furious. "Xu Ke, he's too arrogant!"

Shi Hongda's expression darkened. "This guy, is he really so reckless with his actions?"

Huang Sheng took a deep breath, his eyes grave. "This was the head of a first-rate family, and he was killed just like that?"

In their eyes, the fact that the Ghost and Poison Elders had spread false information meant they were already in league with Xu Ke. Now that Kang Chenghua had mysteriously died at their hands, they would never believe Xu Ke wasn't involved.

"This guy probably thinks he's invincible after defeating Qian Jun," Huang Zhendong seethed. "Even Jin Hankang couldn't handle him, so why would he care about the head of any major family?"

At this moment, Huang Zhendong wasn't just angry; he was filled with a deep-seated hatred for Xu Ke. At the end of the Martial Alliance selection today, Kang Chenghua had told him he planned to return and prepare to align with the Huang Family to seek full revenge on Xu Ke. Kang Chenghua knew that after today, seeking revenge would be extremely difficult, and he had no hope without the Huang Family's support.

When Huang Zhendong heard that Kang Chenghua planned to join him, he was overjoyed. He had long envied the Ye Family for having the Li Family to order around like a lapdog. Unfortunately, what first-rate family would willingly serve one of the six major families like a dog? But now, with Kang Chenghua willingly offering his allegiance, the Huang Family stood to gain a first-rate family even more powerful than the Li Family. How could Huang Zhendong not be pleased?

This was also why Huang Zhendong wasn't overly furious even after the humiliation he suffered today. After all, there were gains and losses, and he could psychologically accept it.

But now, he couldn't accept it.

The lapdog he'd been so eager to acquire had died before midnight? Was the Huang Family's dream of having the more powerful Kang Family under their wing shattered just like that?

The Huang Family had originally planned to use the Kang Family as cannon fodder to deal with Xu Ke tonight, while they sat back and reaped the benefits. As a result, the Huang Family was once again a general with no army.

How could Huang Zhendong not hate Xu Ke to the bone!

***

The Huang Family wasn't the only one in shock; the reactions of the other families were no better than Huang Zhendong's.

Ye Yunfeng stood up, his face grim. "Ye Liang, call Ye Feng and Ye Chong over here."

"Yes!" Ye Liang immediately left.

Ye Yunfeng turned to stare at a photo of Ye Fan. "Tell me," he murmured to the image, "is he just seizing the opportunity to kick a man while he's down? Or is this a formal declaration of war against our families?"

Conjectures swirled in his mind as his gaze flickered. Even though Kang Chenghua was the head of a first-rate family, it ultimately boiled down to the death of one person. The death of one person shouldn't require so much thought. But Ye Yunfeng had to be cautious. Such events often have ripple effects that can alter the entire landscape. Incidents that could potentially change the power dynamic in Tianhai never happen suddenly; they begin the moment undercurrents start to surge...

Ye Yunfeng believed that the Ghost and Poison Elders killing Kang Chenghua would completely alter Xu Ke's standing in the eyes of Tianhai's families, and would also subtly change the Wang Family's position.

***

If Huang Zhendong and Ye Yunfeng had much to consider, Zhou Fan's mind was far simpler. It contained only one thing: fear!

"Dad, Dad…"

"What's all the noise? Didn't I tell you tonight to remain calm in the face of major events?" Zhou Qingyong barked angrily.

But Zhou Fan had a mournful expression on his face. "He even dared to slaughter Kang Chenghua! What are we going to do?"

It was true that their Zhou Family was one of the six major families, but that didn't mean Zhou Qingyong was superior to Kang Chenghua. Even Kang Chenghua ended up being killed by assassins after trying to hire some himself. If he and his father were to go against Xu Ke, wouldn't that be a death wish?

"What are you afraid of?" Zhou Qingyong's eyelids were droopy, his expression unreadable. "Kang Chenghua made a fatal move against him, so of course he had to retaliate by sending Kang Chenghua to the afterlife. As long as we stick to normal business competition with Xu Ke and pull a few minor tricks, nothing serious will happen. However, as for that idea you mentioned about hiring experts to deal with him, I advise you to drop it immediately."

"Yes, yes, I understand!" Zhou Fan nodded repeatedly, his relief palpable.

Seeing Zhou Qingyong's composure, Zhou Fan felt as though he had found a steadying anchor. Honestly, he had initially underestimated Xu Ke, thinking that no matter how powerful an individual's martial prowess was, it could never rival the strength of a great family. At most, he thought Xu Ke taking over Yihe Pharmaceuticals would just make it more troublesome for him to profit. He never expected Xu Ke to be someone who would dare to have the head of the Kang Family killed.

This level of conflict was simply beyond his ability to participate.

Thankfully, Zhou Qingyong remained calm.

However, what Zhou Fan didn't know was that after he left his father's bedroom, Zhou Qingyong's brows furrowed deeply as anxiety began to set in.

***

「Qin Family.」

"Heh, this guy really can't wait," one of the Yin and Yang Elders said from beneath a very ancient yin-yang diagram.

"Does he think he can get the Ghost and Poison Elders to kill Kang Chenghua and then go scot-free, happily pulling strings from behind the scenes?" the other continued. "The Assassin's Alliance will never let the Ghost and Poison Elders off the hook, and they won't let him go either."

Beside them, Qin Feng sat in an armchair, gazing at the bustling night view of Tianhai. He said faintly, "Regardless of the consequences for him, the fact is that Kang Chenghua is dead. In the eyes of many factions, they will likely think that Xu Ke and the Wang Family are on the rise."

Taking out the Kang Family wasn't just Xu Ke taking revenge. It was also a show of force, demonstrating the power to eliminate a first-rate family. And now, that power belonged to the Wang Family. This was not something that the major families, who had unfriendly relations with the Wang Family, wanted to see.

"Contact the Ye and Huang Families. We must curb his and the Wang Family's rising momentum."

"Yes!"

***

「Dapeng Trading Company.」

After Xu Ke left, Yuan Shang and Duan Chongfeng got themselves drunk. As a result, Chen Xiong had to handle the matter of the Ghost and Poison Elders himself. When the two finally received the news, the shock instantly sobered them up.

"What the hell?" Yuan Shang was astonished. "Kang Chenghua is dead?!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Duan Chongfeng was startled. "He left so early just now… was he planning to go kill someone?"

"Is this Child-Delivery Maniac now starting to kill fathers after finishing off their sons?!"