Brothers of the Underworld Were Still the Most Reliable

While the city was on edge over this horrific tragedy, a corner of a tall building somewhere remained especially calm and carefree.

It was a vast, open platform facing a stretch of Mount Zhennan in the distance. The mountain view was broad, the white clouds thin and pale.

Two people sat cross-legged opposite each other on the platform. On the left was a small, stoop-shouldered old man, his face wrinkled like gullies, dressed in plain gray-brown clothes.

On the right sat a tall figure draped in a black cloak, wearing a bronze mask with strange patterns—the very divine envoy who had once appeared on Hidden Forest Mountain.

He took an embroidered box from his sleeve and pushed it before the old man.

"I heard the elder of Black Mountain Stronghold has just reached the fifth realm. A small gift, please accept it as a token of my respect." The Demon Race divine envoy spoke with great courtesy.

The old man opened the box and found a slightly withered black lotus inside. Yet the three golden lines on its petals were especially striking, their luster misty and radiant.

"Nether Sea Golden Lotus..." The old man chuckled. "Divine Envoy, you truly went to considerable trouble for this small gift."

"I merely happened to see it and thought it would make a suitable gift, so I brought it back in passing," the divine envoy said lightly.

How many lives his little act of "bringing it back in passing" had claimed seemed not to concern him in the slightest.

"I will bring this gift back to the elder. I believe he will like it as well." The old man nodded. "It is only that because of your actions, Backer City is now sealed up tightly, so I cannot return for the time being. Still, as long as I remain here, no matter how thoroughly the authorities search the city, they will never find me. Divine Envoy, you may rest assured of that."

"It was somewhat unexpected. I had originally arranged a scapegoat, enough to throw the authorities off for a while, but who knew he would not take the bait?" The divine envoy smiled as well. "Still, the city will not remain sealed for long. There are many merchants in Backer City. It will reopen within seven days at most, so it is no great matter."

"To be frank, Divine Envoy, life has become increasingly difficult for us black shamans in the Southern Region. Resources like this, which can help one break through to the fifth realm, are truly hard to come by. Our village has not produced a sixth-realm grand shaman for many years." The old man sighed, then suddenly said, "This time, I have come on behalf of seventeen allied black shaman villages in the Southern Region, seeking a way to survive."

Hearing this, the divine envoy let out a faint sigh. "In the era when the Shaman God reigned supreme, who could have imagined that his people would struggle so bitterly to survive in later generations?"

The old man could only smile bitterly.

The Shaman God had indeed existed in this world, but that was in the legendary ancient era, perhaps ten thousand years ago or even longer. Their shaman clan was human after all, and their lifespans were far shorter than those of the Demon Race.

No one truly remembered the glory of the Shaman God's age anymore.

"We only wish to survive." He shook his head. "Our conflict with the White Shaman villages would be one thing, but Three Absolutes Valley has been growing ever harsher in its extermination of us. If not for that, we might never have considered allying with your Demon Race. Yet even so, many village elders are still worried..."

"Worried about what?" the divine envoy asked.

"They are worried that you are, after all, demons." The old man said, "If your plan succeeds, will you wipe out every last human?"

"Haha." The divine envoy laughed. "During the age when humanity had Saints, was the Demon Race wiped out? Even when the gods return, humanity will still have to exist. At that time, humans will still be ruled by humans."

"Things like the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths will certainly have to be eradicated. As for humanity... they might as well be renamed the shaman clan."

"That is the intention of all seven Demon Kings. Before the gods return, all friends who have aided us will, after the gods return, be granted a new world." The divine envoy spread his arms, as though embracing an illusory new world.

The old man's expression remained calm. Clearly, he did not wholly believe this incitement and was merely listening coolly. He continued, "That is also the second concern of the elders from the various villages..."

"They are worried that your... god is fabricated."

Baleful Intent: "Nether Sea Golden Lotus?"

Fifty-Eight: "Yes. After some investigation by this subordinate, it appears to have been taken by a Demon Race envoy... but no further traces can be found."

Baleful Intent: "If I can obtain this Nether Sea Golden Lotus, I can break through to the third level of the Five Elements Realm immediately! Do not relax the investigation. I will now ask my fellow disciples whether there is anyone near Backer City who can assist you."

Fifty-Eight: "This subordinate will certainly spare no effort."

Fifty-Nine: "What? Nether Sea Golden Lotus! It has only been a few days, yet Senior has already found the Nether Sea demon treasure Lord Baleful Intent needs. Truly impressive!"

Seeing that street loafer Fifty-Nine had popped up again, Chu Liang ignored him.

Instead, he quietly waited for Baleful Intent's reply.

He had given the matter considerable thought before asking within the Soul Domain Space.

Things like the Nether Sea Golden Lotus were mainly used for pill refinement, medicine refinement, or aiding cultivation. They were of little use to demons.

For a Demon Race divine envoy to suddenly commit such a grave crime and rashly seize this item, he certainly had not taken it merely to play with.

Those who needed such an item for cultivation were most likely heterodox cultivators of demonic, shamanic, gu, or poison arts. Thinking of the divine envoy's purpose in leaving the mountains this time... and his previous habits...

It was entirely possible that he had once again done something like borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha, buying people's hearts with another's gift.

Perhaps these Demon Race members beyond civilization were simply accustomed to using stolen goods as presents.

There was nowhere left to investigate his trail, but the people connected to him might very well leave traces to follow. After all, even beneath the shadows, there were networks of relationships.

Before long, Baleful Intent's reply arrived.

Baleful Intent: "I asked my fellow disciples. There is indeed someone near Backer City, but he cannot offer you direct assistance and knows nothing about this incident. However, he provided one piece of information: if you wish to gather intelligence in Backer City, go to Old Second Madam's tavern."

Just as expected.

Brothers of the underworld were still the most reliable.

Though it was merely a channel for gathering information, it was still better than having no clue at all.

Fifty-Eight: "Old Second Madam's tavern? Very well. This subordinate will set out at once and continue the investigation."

Baleful Intent: "You have put so much effort into this matter. If the day comes when I break through, you will certainly be rewarded. Whether this succeeds or fails, I thank you."

Fifty-Eight: "Lord Baleful Intent is too courteous. It is all within this subordinate's duty."

Fifty-Nine: "666."

After putting away the Soul-Seizing Token, Chu Liang immediately went to notify Yun Chaoxian.

"I'm going to find someone and gather some information. Wait here for me. Do not wander off."

The situation at that place was unclear for now, so it would be unwise to bring Yun Chaoxian along. If anything connected to the Nether King Sect were exposed, it would be difficult to explain.

Yun Chaoxian asked curiously, "Gather information? Where?"

"I learned of a certain lead from a friend. It is rather secretive, so I will go alone," Chu Liang said.

"Alright." Yun Chaoxian nodded, then added, "Then you must thank that friend properly."

Chu Liang smiled.

No need.

He had just thanked me.