Seeing Lao Tao hesitate, Lu Yin's gaze sharpened. "Speak."
"We have news. The Heavenly Hand replied that they've hidden Bao Qi's location beneath the Nine Step Celestial Master Ladder at the Spirit Treasure Association," Lao Tao said.
Lu Yin was puzzled. "The Nine Step Celestial Master Ladder?"
Lao Tao explained, "The Nine Step Celestial Master Ladder is the Spirit Treasure Association's most prominent event. Anyone who wants to become a Spirit Treasure Celestial Master must ascend it. If the Association has one Spirit Treasure Celestial Master, the ladder has one step; if it has two, it has two steps, and so on."
"Now, the Spirit Treasure Association has nine Spirit Treasure Celestial Masters, so the ladder has nine steps."
"Only by ascending the Nine Step Celestial Master Ladder can someone become a Spirit Treasure Celestial Master of the Association and earn the right to create a step."
"The Heavenly Hand's people hid Bao Qi's location beneath the Nine Step Celestial Master Ladder. The ladder is already deep within the Spirit Treasure Association, so getting close means challenging it. They're forcing the Master to take a stand against the Association."
"Because as far as the Spirit Treasure Association is concerned, approaching the ladder without challenging it—or not even being a Spirit Treasure Master—is provocation. It'll make the entire Association hostile."
Cai Keqing couldn't help saying, "That's vicious."
Lao Tao sighed. "That's how the Heavenly Hand operates. They're notorious in the Spiritualized Universe. Although they created the White Spirit Ranking, what people remember most are their assassinations. The Heavenly Hand has committed countless massacres across the Spiritualized Universe, but because they're powerful, one of the Seven Great Powers, and backed by Beyond Heaven, no one dares provoke them."
"The Heavenly Hand doesn't necessarily kill people personally. Using others to do the job