Cao Mansion.
Tonight, the Cao Mansion was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
It was the 50th birthday celebration of the Cao family patriarch.
As the leading family in Luoshui County, the patriarch's 50th birthday naturally attracted a large crowd of guests.
Moreover, the patriarch had a remarkable son, Cao Rong.
At just over thirty years old, Cao Rong had already reached the peak of the seventh grade in martial arts. Who would dare not show some respect to Cao Rong's father, the Cao family patriarch?
If Cao Rong advanced further in martial arts and his official rank, he would instantly become an unattainable figure, rivaling even the seventh-grade county magistrate.
Military power was real power.
On this joyous day for the Cao family patriarch, dozens of people had quietly gathered in a small alley not far from the Cao Mansion.
It was already night, and darkness had fallen.
In the distance, over the lake, thunder rumbled, and the sound of wind and rain filled the air.
The natural fury of the storm masked the movements of these dozens of people.
The dark clouds blocked the moonlight, making the night even darker.
"Commander Jiang, do you need us to go in?" A middle-aged man with a square face stood beside Jiang Ning and asked.
This man was the second-in-command of the city guard, tasked with assisting Jiang Ning tonight.
Jiang Ning replied, "No need. Please have your men surround the Cao Mansion and ensure no one escapes."
"I'll do my best," the square-faced man said.
Jiang Ning nodded slightly, then turned to the three team leaders behind him.
Xie Xiaojiu, Ruan Hongmei, and Feng Jiuge.
The members they brought totaled thirty people.
Although ordinary inspectors were typically ninth-grade martial artists, among these twenty-seven inspectors, there were also several eighth-grade experts.
This force, combined with the peak eighth-grade strength of Xie Xiaojiu, Ruan Hongmei, and Feng Jiuge, was a power that no faction in Luoshui County would dare to underestimate.
Not to mention, Jiang Ning, with his even higher strength and status, was leading the operation.
However, despite having such strength, Jiang Ning did not dare to be careless.
According to the intelligence provided by Hong Minghu, the Cao family was involved with the God Worship Cult, and the Cao Mansion might even be a base for the cult.
This information made Jiang Ning extremely cautious.
He didn't know how powerful the God Worship Cult was, but he had seen the bizarre and terrifying transformation of Shi Xiaoyuan.
Not only had Shi Xiaoyuan's strength and speed increased dramatically, but his body had also become nearly indestructible.
And that was just Shi Xiaoyuan, an eighth-grade martial artist.
If a seventh-grade martial artist received blessings from the God Worship Cult's deity, how powerful would they become?
Anything related to deities could not be underestimated.
Jiang Ning naturally approached this mission with the utmost seriousness.
The Cao family's seventh-grade martial artist was nothing to fear he could handle them.
After all, they were old and past their prime.
But the members of the God Worship Cult were what he truly feared.
"Sir, shall we move now?" Seeing Jiang Ning standing still, Feng Jiuge asked.
Jiang Ning raised his hand. "Wait a moment."
He looked up at the clouds above the Cao Mansion.
The rainstorm, which had started over the Luo River, was now spreading toward Luoshui County.
This was the second major rainstorm in several months.
And this rainstorm was also Jiang Ning's doing.
In water, his strength multiplied.
Rain was also water.
Soon, the dark clouds reached the Cao Mansion, and a downpour began.
The entire Cao Mansion was instantly drenched in rain.
Many of the torches were extinguished.
"Let's move!" Jiang Ning waved his hand.
In the next moment, he led the team out of the alley.
Behind him, dozens of people surged forward.
At the same time.
Screech
Deputy Liu put two fingers in his mouth and let out a sharp, piercing whistle that echoed through the sky.
The large force that had been lying in ambush around the area immediately sprang into action.
"Who are you?" The four guards at the Cao Mansion's gate immediately became alert upon seeing Jiang Ning and his team.
Meanwhile, in the Cao Mansion's backyard.
"Retreat! Retreat now!!" The Cao family patriarch, who had just disappeared from the banquet, now appeared in the backyard.
Earlier, they had received a message from outside.
The Inspector's Office was moving against the Cao family and had discovered that the Cao Mansion was a base for the God Worship Cult.
Upon hearing this, the Cao family patriarch was shocked.
He immediately gathered the core members of the family and quietly left the banquet.
In the pouring rain, the important members of the Cao family gathered in the backyard.
They then opened a secret tunnel leading out of the city.
This tunnel was an escape route left by the Cao family over generations.
Knowing that the Inspector's Office was moving against them, they realized there was no room for negotiation.
Hong Minghu was known for his fierce and domineering personality.
The God Worship Cult was the primary target of the Inspector's Office.
And now, the Inspector's Office in Luoshui County needed a target to establish its authority.
The Cao family had walked right into their crosshairs. How could they expect a good outcome?
Realizing this, the Cao family patriarch acted without hesitation, gathering the important members of the family in the backyard to escape through the tunnel.
As for the others, they were left behind to delay Jiang Ning and his team.
At this moment, the tunnel entrance was already open.
In the pouring rain, several young members of the Cao family, some confused, some fearful, and others aware of the situation, wore various expressions.
But under the urging of their elders, they quickly entered the tunnel.
Among them was Cao Zijian, who was also a member of the Inspector's Office.
In just a few breaths, the dozen or so people gathered in the backyard had all entered the tunnel.
The heavy rain outside was the perfect cover for their movements.
From start to finish, it seemed no one had noticed the activity in the Cao family's backyard.
But at the front gate of the Cao Mansion, a pair of eyes, like a god's perspective, saw everything happening in the backyard through the rain and mist, aided by his heightened senses.
As the mist entered the tunnel, he could sense what was happening inside.
His gaze sharpened.
"So, the Cao Mansion is a base for the God Worship Cult!" Jiang Ning thought to himself.
Then, he let out a loud shout.
The powerful lungs provided by his strengthened internal organs allowed his voice to rise above the wind and rain.
"Inspector's Office, Jiang Ning, under orders to arrest all 385 members of the Cao family! Those who resist will be killed! Those who obstruct will be killed!"
His words echoed like thunder, reverberating throughout the Cao Mansion.
The four guards at the gate were stunned.
"Move! Those who resist will be killed!" Jiang Ning shouted, leading the charge into the Cao Mansion.
He had to act quickly.
He could sense that the group in the tunnel was moving rapidly.
In just a few moments, they would be out of his detection range.
At this moment, as Jiang Ning's voice echoed through the Cao Mansion, the entire place erupted in chaos.
Especially in the main hall, where the guests attending the patriarch's birthday celebration were shocked.
"Jiang Ning? It's him?"
"The Inspector's Office is moving against the Cao family, and Jiang Ning is leading the operation? Is this personal revenge?"
"It must be! Don't forget, that the Cao family had a feud with Jiang Ning! Now that Jiang Ning has risen to power, it's only natural for him to seek revenge."
"That's true! Young and impulsive, how could he tolerate the Cao family's past bullying? If it weren't for Shen Congyun stepping in to protect him, Jiang Ning might have died that day when Cao Rong attacked."
"..."
The guests, all locals of Luoshui County, naturally knew about the history between Jiang Ning and the Cao family.
Before Jiang Ning's rise, Cao Bin had already had conflicts with him.
Later, it escalated to Cao Rong taking action.
If it hadn't been for Wang Jin stepping in and Shen Congyun's intervention, Jiang Ning might not have survived to this day.
At this moment.
Bang
Someone suddenly stood up and rushed out of the hall.
"Let's go, follow Cao Bin and see what's happening!"
"Alright, but we'll have to stay on the sidelines."
"..."
As they discussed, the guests quickly moved toward the front courtyard of the Cao Mansion.
In the front courtyard, Jiang Ning quickly locked onto the direction of the group in the tunnel.
With his heightened hearing, he could even tell that there were thirty-four people in the tunnel.
After a moment of thought, Jiang Ning quickly devised a plan.
He rushed to a corner of the front courtyard hall.
This corner was directly above a section of the tunnel.
At this moment.
"Jiang Ning!!" A loud shout came as Cao Bin appeared in Jiang Ning's sight.
"You petty man, seeking personal revenge, betraying trust and righteousness!!" As Cao Bin spoke, he reached out to grab Jiang Ning's collar.
"Get lost!" A cold voice rang out.
The black hilt of a sword shot out like a snake, striking Cao Bin and sending him flying toward the corner of the front courtyard.
At this moment, the guests who had just exited the hall saw the scene.
Seeing the twenty or so people in black uniforms, they immediately realized these were members of the Inspector's Office.
Each of them was at least a ninth-grade martial artist.
As for Jiang Ning, Xie Xiaojiu, and the others, they wore civilian clothes.
This was the privilege of being a team leader or deputy commander.
"The Cao family is in trouble! A deputy commander and three team leaders with three teams of inspectors this is going to be tough for the Cao family!"
"Indeed, tough times ahead!"
"Old Xie, isn't that your ninth daughter? You married the Cao family's third daughter. Aren't you going to talk to your daughter and ask for leniency?"
Hearing this, a middle-aged man in the crowd glanced at the speaker. "Do you think I'm crazy?"
At this moment, in the front courtyard of the Cao Mansion.
Seeing Xie Xiaojiu strike Cao Bin and send him flying, Jiang Ning nodded slightly.
Then, he raised his right foot, gathering all his strength. A powerful force built up within him.
Boom
He stomped his right foot down with tremendous force.
This stomp carried the force of over ten thousand jin.
In an instant, the ground shook, and the earth caved in.
The thick bricks cracked, and the ground around Jiang Ning's foot rose.
The surroundings looked as if a dragon had stirred beneath the earth.
The guests staggered, and nearby buildings shed tiles and dust.
When they regained their footing, they were filled with shock.
"What... what is he doing?" someone stammered, unable to hide their astonishment.
A single stomp had caused the earth to shake and the ground to collapse.
"Is he even human?" someone murmured in disbelief.
This single stomp shattered their understanding of martial arts.
Eighth-grade martial artists were not uncommon in Luoshui County, but none of them had ever seen or imagined an eighth-grade martial artist capable of causing the earth to shake and collapse with a single stomp.
Meanwhile, in the tunnel.
The group rushing through the tunnel suddenly stopped.
Seeing the wooden planks above the tunnel crack and the supporting beams twist and deform, their expressions changed drastically.
At this moment, Jiang Ning stomped down again with all his strength.
After reaching the seventh grade of martial arts, not only had his physical strength slightly increased, but his explosive power had also grown significantly.
Each stomp now carried far more force than it had a few days ago.
As his foot landed.
Boom
The ground shook even more violently, and the earth caved in further.
Cracks spread like spiderwebs, and debris flew everywhere.
The guests struggled to maintain their balance and dodged the falling debris.
Crack
At this moment, a beam in the main hall began to crack.
Inside the tunnel, the wooden supports could no longer withstand the force and snapped.
Rocks began to fall from the ceiling.
"Not good!"
"Someone above is trying to collapse the tunnel!"
An old man with prominent temples shouted.
Then.
Boom
Another loud crash came from above.
The entire tunnel shook violently.
The people inside, who had just regained their balance, were thrown off their feet again.
Then.
Boom
Boom
Jiang Ning stomped down again and again.
Dust filled the air, and the ground continued to collapse.
The thick bricks had turned into rubble.
The front hall of the Cao Mansion began to tilt, its beams breaking, and tiles and wood falling.
"Quick, quick! Get out!" someone shouted.
The guests, now drenched in the rain, rushed toward the front courtyard of the Cao Mansion.
Even though they would be soaked, the hall was on the verge of collapse. They had no choice but to run.
Boom
When Jiang Ning stomped down again with all his strength, this time, he also channeled the internal breath from his dantian.
With the internal breath enhancing his strength, this stomp carried even more terrifying force.
Boom
Inside the tunnel, rocks fell, and the tunnel collapsed completely.
The falling rocks sealed the tunnel entirely.
Jiang Ning's body sank half a zhang into the ground.
Then, he leaped out of the collapsed ground and landed lightly in front of the crowd.
In the pouring rain, Jiang Ning could feel his energy rapidly recovering.
He now focused entirely on the exposed entrance to the tunnel.
In his perception, there were still thirty-four people in the tunnel.
Among them were a dozen or so members of the Cao family and a dozen outsiders.
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