"I heard that Lord George of Walker City is a dragon n cultivator. Hanson''s disrespect toward Lord Edmund is a clear provocation. Lord Edmund wants to show the Dragon yer Organization that they must follow the rules from now on, or they are courting death."


    Everyone was amazed. No one felt sorry for the Dragon yer members. Although all cultivators envied the power and skill of dragon n cultivators, the Dragon yer Organization had done many infuriating things under the guise of hunting for dragon n cultivators, so their deaths seemed justified to the public.


    At this time, a ck-robed cultivator hiding in the shadows turned and left after hearing the guard''s words. He crossed the street, sneaked through a quiet alley to the back door of Buck Town''s branch of the Dragon yer Organization, and after checking his surroundings, he went inside.


    In the second basement level of the Dragon yer Organization branch, there was a man-made pond filled with a viscous, ck liquid. An old man sat cross- legged, floating above the pond, meditating.


    The ck-robed man quickly walked to the pond, went down on one knee, and said, "Master Botani, they''re all dead."


    The old man floating above the pond slowly opened his eyes and looked at Ardy, the man on his knee, then asked, "Are Hanson''s and Sivan''s heads also hanging on the gate?"


    "No. There are twenty-two heads hanging on the gate. I checked carefully, and neither Hanson''s nor Sivan''s head was among them. They might still be alive."


    "No, Edmund wouldn''t have let Hanson and Sivan go. If I''m not mistaken, they are already dead."


    Ardy lowered his head, unable to speak.


    Botani was the old leader of the Dragon yer Organization''s Buck Town branch. Through his own personal circumstances, he had joined the Dragon yer Organization. Later on, Hanson, a rising star in the organization, appeared, and Botani allowed Hanson to be the leader while he retreated to the basement to continue cultivating his dark energy.


    At this moment, the ck liquid in the pond began to disappear at a visible rate, and Botani''s aura grew stronger. Within seconds, the pond dried up, and Botani floated to the shore,nding lightly.


    "Ardy, you wille with me to see Lord Edmund."


    "What?" Ardy was shocked and looked up at Botani, saying, "Master Botani, Lord Edmund killed twenty-two of our members. Going to see him now is just asking for death."


    "Hmph! Edmund is aware of my existence. When he challenged the eight masters and won, who do you think the ninth master was?"


    To be a City Lord, one must defeat the top nine masters in the city. Every City Lord had to pass this test, and future cultivators could challenge and defeat the City Lord to take their ce. If the City Lord dies unexpectedly, the next City Lord must challenge the top nine masters in the city.


    Ardy''s mouth dropped open in shock. "Could it be... Were you the ninth master, Master Botani?"


    "Yes, I was the ninth master. When Edmund wanted to be City Lord, he knew I had no ambition to be City Lord and didn''t care who took the position. So, the day before thepetition, Edmund came to visit me with a generous gift. During our conversation, Edmund hoped I wouldn''t participate in thepetition. To express his gratitude, he gave me five hundred gold coins."