“Our thanks for the commander’s mercy!” The old man kowtowed with gratitude.0

It was a common outcome for an entire clan to be exterminated when their struggle for power ended in failure. With only Hu Xiao and his son dead, as well as a few others that’d made mistakes to be exploited dying as well, this was much better than the anticipated downfall of the entire family.0

“Men, take them away!”0

Demon Hunters quickly swarmed the rear residence and escorted the Hu men away. The Hu patriarch was the last to leave; he hesitated when he passed by Li Hao before saying, “Commander, there is a passage in the rear garden that leads to the family ruins. All of the families overseeing the nine ministries have such a ruin. My brother and his son maintained exclusive access to the ruins, the others were not permitted entry. I don’t know if there is a key or anything like that. My brother is dead and no one else in the family may enter…”1

Li Hao inclined his head without further word.0

The various families of the nine ministries all owned crucial ruins. Some controlled more than one, but the others they grasped might not be nearby. There was an entrance to a ruin inside each of the nine...0