Life Buying

No one knew how long it had been when the boatman stopped rowing, glanced at Ding Chongshan, and said, "Sit tight."

The next instant, a vortex appeared on the previously calm sea. The little boat followed it, spinning as it plunged downward. To the boatman's astonishment, while he still had to cling tightly to the hull, the passenger remained seated as steady as a mountain, his expression unchanged.

By the time the vortex subsided, the boat had emerged on the seabed. A vast city appeared before them. Even Ding Chongshan, a half-step True Immortal who had weathered great storms, was shaken by the sight.

Jade towers and jeweled halls, skyscrapers upon skyscrapers—the entire city was breathtakingly beautiful.

The city walls shone with a crystalline gleam, faint golden light flowing across them. This was the energy rumored to be called source. Unlike the spiritual power relied upon by immortals, it was the essential energy driving all kinds of technology. If used properly, its might was no less than an immortal cultivator's spells and divine abilities.

At the city gate stood two iron puppet guards. In essence, they were much like the puppets of the cultivation world, though each had its own strengths and weaknesses.

"Please."

The boatman gestured ahead, and Ding Chongshan walked up to the two metal guards.

A blue beam swept up and down over both of them.

"Warning, warning. Half-step True Immortal. Threat level, threat level."

The sound emitted by the metal guards nearly scared the boatman into wetting himself. He sprang far away in an instant, staring at Ding Chongshan in terror.

Good heavens, what the hell had he ferried over? A half-step True Immortal? With that level of cultivation, what the hell were you doing in our Black Abyss? Who were you trying to kill?!

Suddenly, a suit of black Divine Armor flew out from atop the city wall. Its polished edges were sharply defined, its design brimming with aggression. Within its densely packed slender tubes flowed liquid formed from condensed energy.

Ding Chongshan's gaze sharpened. Judging from the power emitted by the source within it, this equipment was inferior to him, but it was not to be underestimated.

"Gu You, the Black Abyss's Eighteenth General, is here. May I ask why Your Excellency has come to our Black Abyss?"

"Life Buying!"

Ding Chongshan spoke only those two words.

Upon hearing him, Gu You descended before them and waved at the boatman who had guided Ding Chongshan here.

As though granted a pardon, the boatman staggered away on weak legs, scrambling and crawling as he fled.

"Your Excellency, your strength is too great. To be safe, you will need to wear this bracelet. Rest assured, it will have no effect on you. It can only detect the fluctuations of spiritual power within your body. I hope you can understand."

As he spoke, he took out a metal bracelet and handed it to Ding Chongshan.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ding Chongshan took it and immediately put it on.

"Hahaha, please!"

Surprised by Ding Chongshan's straightforwardness, Gu You laughed heartily and invited him through the city gates.

There were quite a few people in the city, and the various modes of transport dazzled the eye. Gu You removed his Divine Armor, revealing a burly man with muscles exposed all over his body, brimming with wildness.

"Friend, your identity is special. Our Abyss Master will receive you personally. I will lead the way from here."

As he finished speaking, a hovercar stopped before them. After the two boarded, it shot toward the city center at tremendous speed.

Passing through layer after layer of heavily guarded checkpoints, Gu You brought him before a grand door.

"Friend, our Abyss Master is inside. I hope your discussion goes well."

With that, Gu You departed. Ding Chongshan pushed open the door. Inside was a meeting room, and above the table was projected the entire city, every detail large and small visible at a glance.

Across from him sat someone draped in a black robe, their features obscured, appearing exceedingly mysterious. They merely sat there in silence.

Ding Chongshan cupped his fists from afar. Before the Lord of the Black Abyss, he still had to lower his stance.

"Why be so courteous, Patriarch Ding? Just sit."

He was not surprised in the least that the Abyss Master could see through his identity. It had long since been proven that before the most cutting-edge technology, even True Immortal powerhouses found it difficult to gain any advantage.

After Ding Chongshan sat down, he went straight to the point. "I assume the Abyss Master knows why I have come?"

"Of course I know. However, the risk in this matter is indeed too great. You should understand that there is an Immortal King behind that boy. For our Black Abyss, accepting this mission will bring considerable pressure."

Hearing the Abyss Master's words, Ding Chongshan smiled. "Didn't Black Abyss once say that as long as the price is high enough, you would dare kill anyone?"

But the Abyss Master merely shook their head. "No, I think you have misunderstood me. I did not say that boy cannot be killed. It simply depends on how much sincerity Patriarch Ding can offer!"

"Ten million Sky Crystals as a deposit. Once the matter is done, Black Abyss may take one-third of the Ding Family treasury! I have only one request: leave that boy's corpse to me."

To kill Xiang Tian, he had truly paid through the nose. The Ding Family had been passed down for ages, so one could well imagine how abundant the treasures in its vaults were.

To be honest, even the Lord of the Black Abyss was somewhat surprised by this offer. Yet they were more than happy to see it—such a windfall delivered to their doorstep was naturally a pleasure to accept.

"Good. A pleasant cooperation."

Afterward, Ding Chongshan made a few more insignificant requests. Then, after leaving behind ten million Sky Crystals, he departed under Gu You's guidance.

In the meeting room, the Abyss Master sat for a long while, murmuring softly, "What an interesting boy. An Immortal King stands behind you, yet our Black Abyss cannot uncover a shred of your background. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You are making me more and more excited."

For those who took pleasure in hunting cultivators, the more unusual the target, the greater the enjoyment.

With a casual point of their finger, a screen appeared, showing a seductive woman.

"Send word to our mole in Changning Immortal Academy. Find a way to lure Xiang Tian out, then have Gu You lead his people to kill Xiang Tian."

"My lord, according to the information we received, Xiang Tian is only in the Nascent Soul Realm. Wouldn't sending Gu You be too wasteful? We still need Gu You's Divine Armor for the covert struggle with Riyao."

To their surprise, the seductive woman directly voiced her objection.

The Lord of the Black Abyss shook their head. "Xiang Tian is worth Gu You's intervention. Once this matter is completed, Black Abyss's reputation will rise another level. Use a roundabout approach with Riyao for now. Avoid direct conflict as much as possible."

"Fine."

The seductive woman nodded and cut off the connection.

Within Changning Immortal Academy, dusk was drawing near. Xiang Tian sat in his little loft, feeling utterly speechless.

Qiu Changfeng's old face was flushed red. He rubbed his hands together and looked at Xiang Tian as though he wanted to speak but could not, that strange, inexplicable look in his eyes making Xiang Tian's hair stand on end.

Dean, I'm about to go to sleep. What exactly did you come here for? Just say it. The way you are acting is wrong no matter how I look at it. I really am not into this.

At last, unable to bear it any longer, Xiang Tian spoke. "Um, it is so late. Dean, do you need something?"

Qiu Changfeng stammered, "Well... it truly is rather difficult to say."

Xiang Tian's mouth twitched. "Since it is difficult to say, then... then do not say it."