As the system notification sounded, a bronze-colored light screen suddenly unfolded in the center of the hall, and the light faded away.
A tall, straight figure appeared before everyone.
The man wore ancient, simple battle armor. His features were resolute, his eyes sharp as blades, and a fierce aura forged through years on the battlefield radiated from his entire body.
His cultivation had astonishingly reached the Late Void Glimpse, and compared with Yao Li and the others, he was in no way inferior.
Yuan Tiangang and the others narrowed their eyes. Appearing out of thin air in the Eternal Night Space, he was clearly a powerhouse newly summoned by the Lord.
Ye Junlin looked at the man before him, and the system panel immediately appeared:
[Name: Cao Mo] [Cultivation: Late Void Glimpse] [Physique: Shadow Concealment Kill Body] [Technique: Shadowy Art] [Martial Skills: 1. Instant Shadow Dagger Kill Technique (One move with three transformations. The dagger strikes like a shadow, targeting vital points such as the throat and dantian. Every move is fatal and difficult to guard against.) 2. Desperate Battle (secret technique, burns one's blood essence for a short time, increasing combat power by thirty percent, followed by a period of weakness)] [Background: A famous assassin from the Spring and Autumn Period and the State of Lu. He once held Duke Huan of Qi hostage with a dagger, forcing him to return Lu's lost territory. He became renowned throughout the world for his courage and strength.] [Loyalty: 100 (Absolutely devoted and willing to give his life)]
"Cao Mo pays his respects to the Lord!"
Cao Mo dropped to one knee. His voice rang out like a bell as he clasped his fists in salute, his eyes filled with utter sincerity.
Though he had only just been summoned, he already clearly understood his mission. His awe and loyalty toward Ye Junlin came from the depths of his heart.
"Rise." Ye Junlin raised a hand in a gesture of support, his tone calm.
"Since you have joined my Eternal Night, you are one of our own. From now on, you must work together with everyone to strive for our great undertaking."
"You, Nie Zheng, Zhuan Zhu, Yu Rang, Jing Ke, and Yao Li are all among the Eight Guards of my Eternal Night Heaven. Your statuses are equal."
"This subordinate obeys! From now on, so long as the Lord gives the order, I will face even mountains of blades or seas of fire without hesitation."
Cao Mo rose at once, his figure tall and straight as he stood to the side.
Hearing that he had been placed on equal footing with Nie Zheng and the others upon arriving in this world, Cao Mo felt even greater awe toward Ye Junlin.
Then his gaze swept over Nie Zheng, Zhuan Zhu, Yu Rang, and the others. There was a sense of mutual appreciation between fellow assassins, along with the covert competitiveness shared by powerful experts.
Nie Zheng stepped forward and laughed heartily.
"Brother Cao, what spirit! With you joining us, we are like tigers with wings. In Qingzhou City, we will have even less to fear from any petty villains!"
Cao Mo gave a slight nod and said in a deep voice, "Brother Nie, you flatter me."
Watching the two interact, Ye Junlin was filled with satisfaction.
Ye Junlin then said inwardly, "System, use one special item."
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained one Bounty Master Stele and five Bounty Sub-Steles.] [Bounty Master Stele] [Nine zhang tall, cast from Black Iron mixed with Youming Stone, with the outer layer covered by the system's specially crafted "Immortal Crystal Membrane."] [No attack below the Land Immortal Realm can damage it. Forced impacts will only trigger a countershock, causing the attacker's Spiritual Energy to rebound into their own body.] [The stele's surface is divided into three sections:] [The left section displays bounties transmitted from the sub-steles (marked with name/characteristics, cultivation, and bounty in Spirit Stones).] [The center section lists accepted missions (with the acceptor's codename attached).] [The right section records Spirit Stones awaiting withdrawal.] [Functions:] [1. When accepting a mission, carve the words "Accepted" beside the corresponding bounty using Spiritual Energy. The master stele will automatically synchronize the acceptance information to the corresponding sub-stele, which will light up to notify the client;] [2. If the reward requires negotiation, a new amount can be carved into the master stele. The sub-stele will display the same amount. Once the client agrees, they can confirm with Spiritual Energy, and the Spirit Stones will instantly transfer from the sub-stele to the right section of the master stele. The acceptor can withdraw them by sensing them with Spiritual Energy;] [3. After completing a mission, the acceptor carves the word "Complete" into the master stele. The sub-stele will automatically synchronize it and display "Complete." The client can see through the sub-stele that the mission has been completed.] [Bounty Sub-Stele] [Five zhang tall, made of the same material, with the outer layer covered by an "Immortal Crystal Membrane." It shares the master stele's defensive properties. No attack can destroy it, and it can only be retrieved by high-ranking members of Eternal Night Heaven using their exclusive Spiritual Energy.] [Functions:] [1. The publisher carves the target's information (name/characteristics and cultivation) and the bounty in Spirit Stones using Spiritual Energy, then places the corresponding Spirit Stone sample inside. The sub-stele lights up with green light to confirm the entry;] [2. After the master stele accepts the mission, the sub-stele displays "Accepted" and the acceptor's codename. If the reward is negotiated, it displays the new amount. Once the publisher confirms with Spiritual Energy, the transaction is completed and the Spirit Stones automatically transfer to the master stele;] [3. When the mission is completed, the sub-stele displays "Complete" and simultaneously erases all traces of the publisher. If anyone attempts to decipher it or interfere by force, the sub-stele releases disruptive spiritual light, blocking their detection and simultaneously sending a warning to the master stele.] [Linkage Mechanism:] [When the master stele accepts or completes a high-value mission (exceeding ten million Low-grade Spirit Stones), raindrop-shaped spiritual light condenses atop the stele and resonates with Misty Rain Tower's concealed formation, making the aura of the entire tower even harder to detect.] [Because the master and sub-steles are connected by the "Immortal Crystal Membrane," when one side is struck, the other will simultaneously issue a warning, forming a joint defense.]
Ye Junlin looked at the introduction on the system panel. A dazzling light that was difficult to conceal burst from his eyes, and he could not suppress the smile at the corners of his mouth.
He raised a hand and waved. A mighty surge of Spiritual Energy poured from his palm and shot straight toward the depths of the Eternal Night Space.
The next moment, a low hum rang out, and a nine-zhang-tall, black profound-colored giant stele appeared out of thin air in the center of the hall.
Faint frigid Youming energy swirled around the stele. Under the illumination of the lamps, the Immortal Crystal Membrane on its surface shimmered with an indistinct radiance. One glance was enough to tell that it was indestructible.
There was nothing on the stele's left section, while the center and right sections were equally pristine. Only the complicated patterns engraved across the stele faintly revealed a mysterious power.
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