Once one entered the Core Area, one could not kill at will.
This was a rule established jointly by the government and the great lineages, so naturally, they had to abide by it together... Although the Yuan Family had the upper hand over the Zhang Family, at the end of the day, they were still a minor lineage. If they truly violated the taboo, neither the great lineages nor the government would let them off!
It was just that Zhang Henglong did not dare confirm this.
Because there were many madmen within the Yuan Family!
For the sake of profit, they could even turn their hands against their own people. What could they possibly be incapable of doing?
Once they learned that a genius with such terrifying talent had appeared in the Zhang Family, they would certainly do everything they could to kill him... even if he was a resident of the Core Area!
That was why Zhang Henglong wanted Zhang Hengde to protect Su Xiaobai.
This showed just how highly Zhang Henglong regarded Su Xiaobai's future!
The Core Area, east district, Yuan Manor.
"The Zhang Family's Eighth Guest Elder?"
"Seventeen years old, a Senior Quasi-Warrior, and proficient in two Microscopic Level Techniques!"
"A genius! An absolute genius!"
"..."
After the people of the Yuan Family received the news, they immediately gathered their higher-ups for a meeting.
After all the higher-ups finished reading the information about Su Xiaobai revealed in the report, their expressions changed dramatically!
How terrifying!
At seventeen, he had already reached the level of a Senior Quasi-Warrior and had even mastered two Microscopic Level Techniques... A genius like this, whether in terms of Cultivation Aptitude or comprehension aptitude, definitely belonged to the very top tier!
Even those Martial God powerhouses might not possess such talent!
"He must be killed!"
The Yuan Family Head, Yuan Feihe, spoke coldly.
The aura of an Advanced Martial Master burst from his body and spread throughout the conference room. Everyone felt a surging wave of heat rush toward their faces...
This was the blazing killing intent of an Advanced Martial Master!
"Family Head, we cannot act rashly in this matter!"
"We have never killed a Guest Elder before—not only because Guest Elders are powerful, but even more because they are all residents of the Core Area... If we assassinate him recklessly, we may violate the iron law, anger the government and the great lineages, and bring endless trouble upon ourselves!"
An Intermediate Martial Master of the Yuan Family spoke up.
The others nodded heavily.
Killing someone was not the main issue.
The main issue was the price that had to be paid afterward!
Core Area residents could not be slaughtered. This was an ironclad rule jointly promulgated by the government and the great lineages.
Its purpose was to prevent elite Warriors from slaughtering one another and thereby weakening humanity's overall combat strength.
Violating this ironclad rule was tantamount to provoking the government and the great lineages... How could anyone hope to come out unscathed?
The Yuan Family was only a minor lineage. Although they had attached themselves to a great lineage and gained some confidence, violating the ironclad law would still be crossing the line far too much... Once they fell out with the government and the great lineages, the consequences could range from being unable to take a single step and having a bleak future, to the entire lineage being wiped out!
No one was willing to take such a huge risk for one person.
"Do you think we still have a choice?"
Yuan Feihe said coldly, "What does it mean for a genius like this to grow up? The Zhang Family and my Yuan Family have long been locked in a life-and-death struggle. Since he has already become the Zhang Family's Guest Elder, it means that sooner or later, he will join forces with the Zhang Family to deal with my Yuan Family!"
Everyone's hearts tightened.
A seventeen-year-old Senior Quasi-Warrior was already terrifying enough on its own.
Add to that his astonishing comprehension and the fact that he had already mastered two Microscopic Level Techniques... If he were allowed to develop freely, it would not take more than a few years before he grew strong enough to sweep through the Yuan Family!
The Yuan Family had no way out!
"If we don't kill him, the Yuan Family will die sooner or later!"
"But if we kill him, the Yuan Family may not die!"
"Who says there are no loopholes outside the ironclad rule?"
"You all should know how those geniuses of the past were assassinated, don't you?"
The crowd recalled those incidents.
Indeed, every ironclad rule had loopholes.
For example, Core Area residents could not be killed at will within the base.
But if the other party forcibly attacked first, and you were merely acting in legitimate self-defense, then if the other party died, you would not be held responsible.
Then there was the matter of the other party not being inside the base, but out in the wilderness... Once they reached the wilderness, there was not even a communications signal. With life and death unknown, what ironclad rules or oversight from the great lineages could there be?
Once someone died out there, they were simply dead. No one could pursue responsibility!
Finally, there were professional assassins.
Professional assassins would take action as long as it fell within the normal scope of assassination and you could afford their exorbitant price!
"He's only a youngster right now. Getting him to take the initiative and attack us isn't realistic."
"It would also be extremely difficult to lure him into the wilderness."
"An assassin is undoubtedly the best choice!"
A cold glint surfaced in Yuan Feihe's eyes. "When it comes to assassination, they are highly experienced. Moreover, whether they succeed or fail, they will not have anything to do with my Yuan Family. This is the safest method!"
"However, there is still one problem... From the intelligence sent back, we only know that this Guest Elder's surname is Su and that he is seventeen years old. Apart from that, we know nothing!"
"Moreover, judging from the interruption in the intelligence, that fellow has already been killed, and the Zhang Family will certainly have sealed off every channel of information at the first opportunity. So the most urgent task now is to find this Eighth Guest Elder in Base No. and then issue an assassination order!"
"Xiuming, this task is yours!"
A senior member of the Yuan Family rose to his feet and nodded solemnly. "Yes, Family Head!"
"To personally cut short the life of such a genius is indeed a pity... But he has only himself to blame for his poor fate. He just had to join the Zhang Family. His death can be called well deserved!"
Killing intent surged in Yuan Feihe's voice.
At the same time, Su Xiaobai returned home.
He had no idea that the moment he left, someone had already set their sights on him.
"Big Brother, you're back!"
When Su Ling'er saw Su Xiaobai, a sincere, delighted smile immediately bloomed across her face.
"Ling'er, come here. Write your name on this card!"
Su Xiaobai handed Su Ling'er the blank Identity Card for the Core Area.
To him, having a Core Area identity or not made no difference.
But for an ordinary person like Su Ling'er, it was different... If she happened to encounter danger while Su Xiaobai was conveniently not by her side, this Core Area Identity Card would be her greatest protection!
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