Chapter 227

Chapter 227: Fearsome Reputation Spreads Far and Wide

Fang Lie swiftly emptied the shop with practiced ease, then swaggered out to address the Blue-Robed Cultivator. "Spread this message: Anyone permitting Four Seas Alliance shops on their territory will face my wrath."

The Blue-Robed Cultivator stiffened before asking nervously, "Your meaning being…?"

"If displeased," Fang Lie stated flatly, "I might unleash my Demon Sword indiscriminately. Those caught in the crossfire have only themselves to blame. Deliver those words." He then soared away on beating wings.

Watching his departure, the Blue-Robed Cultivator gloomily realized Fang Lie aimed to eradicate Four Seas Alliance’s foundations. A sword beam suddenly pierced the air beside him. After scanning its message, his face paled.

A Gray-Robed Elder materialized nearby. "Trouble?"

"Fang Lie dumped over a hundred frozen Cultivators at the dock," the Blue-Robed Cultivator reported. "Ambush victims meant for slavery by Immortal Han Xuan – including our own people."

"What?!" The elder’s rage shook his robes. "That Han Xuan cur dares target our kin? I’ll flay him alive!"

His sword half-drawn, he froze when the Blue-Robed Cultivator gripped his arm. "Unnecessary. Han Xuan’s likely finished."

"Impossible!" The elder scoffed. "Even combined, we could only drive him back, never kill!"

"Han Xuan’s treasure ship now bears Fang Lie’s mark," the Cultivator countered. "Those frozen prisoners came from its holds. Unless dead, Han Xuan would never relinquish his Crystal Palace."

The elder inhaled sharply. "But Fang Lie barely matches Han Xuan in combat!"

"Yet he possesses an undying nature," the Cultivator reminded, stroking his beard. "Days ago, Fang Lie vanished after arriving here. Now he emerges with Han Xuan’s ship and captives. However it happened, Four Seas Alliance faces annihilation."

Meanwhile, Fang Lie’s ultimatum spread faster than monsoon winds. Within hours, Four True Immortals governing Four Seas Alliance received Flying Swords bearing dire news – during their victory feast.

"Han Xuan guaranteed success!" roared Immortal North Sea, shattering his wine cup.

"Three days Fang Lie’s been loose!" Immortal East Sea thundered. "Why no warning from Han Xuan?"

Unbeknownst to them, Han Xuan’s surviving disciples fled his destroyed palace, nursing bitter resentment. None would warn the alliance that birthed their ruin.

While the Four True Immortals were cursing Immortal Han Xuan’s lack of honor, a stream of messages delivered by Flying Swords flooded in.

When they checked them, all turned out to be orders demanding the Four Seas Alliance withdraw their shops.

Fang Lie’s threat had clearly taken effect—no one dared provoke such a lethal force.

Fang Lie’s feats grew increasingly fearsome: first slaughtering a thousand men, then ravaging Han Xuan Island, even killing the formidable Wind Tribulation Immortal Han Xuan himself!

Coupled with his undying nature, crossing him meant inviting endless trouble.

Who would dare oppose such a terrifying figure?

Expelling Four Seas Alliance shops meant minor spirit stone losses at worst. Major island lords with vast resources could bear such trifles.

But allowing Fang Lie to rampage through their territories risked complete destruction of market towns built over decades.

Any halfway intelligent island lord knew the obvious choice.

Hence the Four Seas Alliance kept receiving eviction notices.

The ceaseless incoming sword beams shattered the four men’s composure, plunging them into panic.

"Big Brother, what do we do?" Immortal North Sea fretted. "Losing all shops means our ruin!"

"Exactly! Our entire business hinges on those shops!" Immortal South Sea added urgently. "Closed shops mean the Alliance collapses!"

"That’s not the true danger," Immortal West Sea said fearfully. "If we wreck the Alliance, our backers won’t spare us! Our very lives are at stake!"

Though publicly known as the Alliance’s founders, these four were mere puppets for hidden masters.

They kept merely ten percent of profits—ninety percent went to their shadowy patrons.

These patrons enabled their lawless operations, even shielding them from Thunder Tribulation Immortals.

But failure meant fatal consequences. Destroying the Alliance would incur their masters’ wrath.

After prolonged silence, Immortal East Sea frowned. "Two options remain. First, request our patrons to eliminate Fang Lie."

"Big Brother, you jest!" Immortal North Sea grimaced. "Disturbing a Thunder Tribulation Immortal to kill a Qi Sea cultivator? He’d execute us first for such insolence!"

"Then only surrender remains," Immortal East Sea said bitterly.

"Surrender? Our mighty Alliance yielding to some Qi Sea brat?" Immortal North Sea protested. "Is this necessary?"

"It’s utterly humiliating," Immortal West Sea agreed.

"Alternatively, we kill Fang Lie," Immortal East Sea growled. "But who can achieve what even Han Xuan failed? You volunteers?"

"Perhaps…" Immortal North Sea hesitated. "Demonic Path cultivators could extract his three souls and six spirits? Without them, even he couldn’t survive."

"That might work!" Immortal South Sea exclaimed.

"Foolishness!" Immortal East Sea snapped. "Han Xuan’s soul confusion magic could shatter minds, yet she died! What makes you think demonic tricks would fare better?"

"Maybe she never used it?" Immortal North Sea ventured weakly.

"Even if feasible, hiring assassins would take ten days minimum," Immortal East Sea countered. "By then, our shops would be expelled. Rebuilding trust takes years! How many would abscond with funds? The losses would cripple us!"

"True," Immortal West Sea conceded. "The Alliance might collapse before completion. And success isn’t guaranteed."

"Gambling our entire organization is too risky," Immortal South Sea said. "Big Brother, must we submit?"

"Only path left." Immortal East Sea’s eyes turned murderous. "But we need sacrificial offering. Fang Lie demands blood for his slain followers. Old Fang issued those orders—he dies."

"Big Brother! Old Fang served us faithfully for decades!" Immortal North Sea protested. "How can you discard him?"

"His life or ours," Immortal East Sea hissed. "When death looms, would you cling to weak sentiment?"

"I’ll summon him," Immortal South Sea said viciously. "We’ll compensate his family richly."

A Flying Sword message flashed from his hand.