Chapter 658

After the excitement subsided, the Night Thieves calmed down and immediately asked Elder Rat what the mission was.

After all, if the mission was too difficult, they wouldn't be able to complete it—effectively locking the threshold shut.

But when Elder Rat slowly revealed the mission's details, everyone was taken aback.

"What? We just have to capture the Senior Guest of Dayang Fu alive? That's it?"

"I remember the Dayang Caravan—it's just a low-tier caravan in the Heavenly Merchants' Alliance, right? What kind of strength could their Senior Guest possibly have?"

Everyone was filled with confusion.

Elder Rat didn't hide anything: "Don't underestimate him. Though I don't know why he's hiding as a lowly Guest in the Dayang Caravan instead of venturing out to make a name for himself, his skills are genuinely formidable—I estimate he's at the lower end of the Human Level!"

Human Level?!

The Night Thieves' expressions shifted slightly.

At the Human Level, one becomes a hero among men, extraordinary and rare—one in ten thousand!

Despite all the rumors—Rain Level appearing, Cloud Level passing by—in reality, across the entire Daqing Guo, Human Level experts are the backbone, the very foundation of the nation!

A nation's strength isn't measured only by its top-tier experts, but by the number of its backbone!

Human Level is the standard backbone.

Above it, Cloud Level is unreachable; Rain Level is like legend, a divine dragon whose tail you never see.

Below it, Xiantian Realm is vastly inferior; Postheaven Level is like ants—utterly incapable of forming a nation's foundation.

Human Level cannot rise higher, cannot sink lower, yet it's the most stable and most numerous.

In nearly every sect, every method of cultivation, most have ways to obtain Human Level techniques.

Even if one takes an unorthodox path, walks the dark and heretical road, there's still a chance to reach Human Level.

But techniques above Human Level are impossibly hard to find, nearly extinct.

Many experts stuck at Human Level are there simply because they can't find Cloud Level techniques.

With no other options, some join sects, some join the Government, some serve other nobles—each in their own way.

This is how top-tier power flows into major factions; encountering a lone, unaffiliated cultivator with a true lineage is as unlikely as winning the grand prize—practically impossible.

Thus, in 【Chunuan City】, where even Cloud Level doesn't exist, Human Level is the peak of strength.

Lower-end Human Level? That's an extremely dangerous presence.

"How could such a tiny Dayang Caravan afford a strength like this?"

"What else? Probably used the beauty trap—I recall the Dayang Caravan's eldest daughter has quite the beauty…"

"Hmph! Once they grow tired of her, they'll just throw her away. Will a Human Level expert stop for a woman?"

Everyone felt a pang of resentment—Human Level was a realm most of them could only dream of.

Unconsciously, their gazes shifted to the ten figures at the top.

The top ten of the 【Thief Rank】 are all Human Level!

"Looks like the five slots will be decided among Brother One and the top ten."

"Congratulations in advance to the ten elder brothers."

Everyone offered polite congratulations on the surface, but what they truly thought? That's known only to their hearts.

The ten accepted the flattery without becoming arrogant.

Because they knew these five slots determined the happiness of their entire lives!

The stakes were too high to be overcautious.

Besides, others still had a chance—if they fought the Senior Guest to the death but someone else snatched him up, they'd lose face completely.

"Elder Rat, where is the Senior Guest of Dayang Fu now? If he's still in 【Chunuan City】's Dayang Fu, we'll storm in tonight!"

To avoid prolonged nights and complications, the No. 1 【Night Thief】 leader acted decisively—he planned to strike under cover of darkness, seize the man, and deliver him immediately!

He had full confidence in his strength: as a mid-level Human Level expert, crushing a lower-end Human Level Senior Guest posed no real problem.

"His whereabouts?"

Elder Rat smiled slyly.

"That Ye Niu Niu, for acting too recklessly, killed a member of the 【Qing Si】's 【Lan Shan】, and is now wanted citywide. He escaped 【Chunuan City】. According to the latest intelligence from the 【Phoenix Organization】, his direction was unmistakably toward 【Dongliu Mountain】—he's coming to join you!"

Everyone froze, then burst into laughter.

"We thought Elder Rat's mission would be hard, but turns out the target's a complete fool."

"Hahaha! Join us? Of course—he's wanted by the Government. Where else in the world could he go?"

"Truly, we searched high and low and found him without effort. Elder Rat, you've been so kind giving us such an easy mission."

"Don't worry, Elder Rat. When he arrives, we'll treat him well—dose him with enough sleeping potion, tie him up tight, and deliver him to you. Handling fools like this? I'm the best."

At first, everyone thought they'd have to face a Human Level expert directly—naturally, only the top ten of the 【Thief Rank】 had any real chance at the five slots.

But now, things were different.

The target was a naive fool who'd just angered the 【Chunuan City】 Government, fallen into ruin, and was now coming to beg for their protection. This made things far easier.

As long as you use enough poison, even a Human Level expert can't resist.

Especially someone like Ye Niu Niu—reckless, overconfident, and easy to deceive.

Eyes narrowed, many minds began to plot.

Scanning the crowd, those who had just been drinking and laughing together were now potential rivals—each fearing the others might draw a blade in secret.

In the eerie silence, Elder Rat cleared his throat.

"Compete among yourselves, but don't forget—the mission comes first. This is only the first batch of slots I've secured for you. If you perform well, I'll fight to get you ten more next time! Long-term, I guarantee every member who enters the top hundred of the Thief Rank will get a chance to go straight again!"

At these words, everyone's eyes lit up.

"Say no more, Elder Rat—you're a true friend!"

"Elder Rat, even if we set aside our identities, I'm calling you my friend!"

"Lord Rat, should you encounter any trouble in the future, do not hesitate to seek me out—I will die ten thousand deaths for you!"

The Night Thieves shouted their slogans loudly, but each of them knew clearly in their hearts that most of these people were merely speaking empty words.

Who would die for you without profit to drive them?

Beneath his mask, Lord Rat smiled coldly.

Discharge your armor and return to the fields? Rejoin society? Once you've lost your usefulness, do you still have reason to exist?

Perfect—the Night Thieves' assets have grown; it's time to fleece the Night Thieves.

Small fish eat shrimp, big fish eat small fish—that is an eternal truth.

The Night Thieves fleece the Chunuan City merchant caravans, while the Phoenix Organization fleeces the Night Thieves; in the end, the Night Thieves are merely high-level hired thieves, not worth a second glance from the Phoenix Organization.

"Report!!"

At that moment, a servant rushed in frantically from outside.

"Report! Someone has launched a night raid on Dongliu Mountain!!"

"What?! How many came from the other side?"

The crowd was stunned, rising one after another.

But the servant, sweat pouring down his forehead, trembled as he said: "One... one person!"

One person?!

Everyone froze in unison.

One person dares to storm our Night Thieves stronghold, Dongliu Mountain?

As the crowd remained bewildered, Lord Rat had already regained his composure and smiled mysteriously.

"It seems the person we've been looking for didn't come to join us—he came to destroy us."

I recommend a book.

Title: The Painting Demon Master, author: Xiao Ge Ge.

Classical xianxia—the protagonist can seal demons and monsters with paintings (similar to shikigami); everyone who's read it says it's great, highly recommended.

(End of Chapter)