Blue-Clad Probing, Invitation from the Heavenly Net Leader

In the mountain forests surrounding the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, Qin Yu pondered for a long time. Ultimately, he decided against meeting the leader of the Heavenly Net for the time being, choosing instead to continue his training while lurking under the identity of Meteor. He tucked away the fragments of the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts and, with a flicker of movement, vanished into the depths of the forest, heading toward another branch of the Heavenly Net located within the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region. He intended to take on a few more missions; this would not only hone his combat skills but also provide a cover for gathering intelligence on the Chu Dynasty, all while avoiding those sent by the Heavenly Net to contact him.

The Heavenly Net branch was hidden within an abandoned ancient temple. Compared to the branch in Luoxia Town, this location was far more secluded, and the assassins frequenting it were mostly Gold-Rank and Silver-Rank killers executing high-difficulty missions. When Qin Yu arrived at the temple, several assassins were in the courtyard handing over missions. Seeing him approach, they stepped aside one after another, their eyes filled with awe. By now, the name Meteor had resounded across the three dynasties, and he was recognized within the Heavenly Net as a top-tier Gold-Rank Assassin. Even the branch master would need to show him a measure of respect.

Qin Yu walked straight toward the mission desk. Just as he was about to ask about recent high-difficulty tasks, a cold, clear voice suddenly drifted from the main hall of the temple. Accompanied by a surge of overwhelming spiritual pressure, it slowly enveloped the entire temple: "Mr. Meteor, please stay a moment."

Qin Yu's heart tightened. He instantly suppressed his aura and turned to look toward the main hall. An old man in blue silk robes emerged slowly. The elder had white hair and a beard, a refined face, and eyes that shone with piercing light. A dense ripple of spiritual power emanated from him, clearly indicating a cultivation level at the peak of the late Xiantian realm. Such cultivation was far beyond that of an ordinary branch master within the Heavenly Net.

The other assassins in the courtyard bowed respectfully upon seeing him: "Greetings, Blue-Clad Elder!"

Blue-Clad Elder? Qin Yu's heart stirred. Although he had joined the Heavenly Net for over three months, he had never met this elder. He knew that within the Heavenly Net, aside from the Grand Master, the four elders were the most prestigious. They wore robes of cyan, blue, purple, and black, respectively, all possessed cultivation levels above the late Xiantian realm, and managed the various affairs of the organization. They rarely appeared in public, yet today this elder was waiting specifically for him, which clearly meant something important was afoot.

Qin Yu cupped his hands slightly, his tone indifferent: "May I ask why the Elder has summoned me?" He maintained his Meteor persona, his voice deliberately lowered and tinged with coldness. At the same time, he secretly circulated his spiritual power, preparing for any sudden developments. Even with his High-Grade Spirit Artifact, he had to be cautious when dealing with a master at the peak of the late Xiantian realm.

The Blue-Clad Elder's gaze fell upon Qin Yu, a flash of approval crossing his eyes, followed by a hint of scrutiny: "I have long heard of the great name of the assassin Meteor—a late Xiantian cultivator wielding two powerful weapons, who slew Zhen Xu and defeated two early Xiantian cultivators in succession. You truly live up to your reputation." He paused, then said slowly, "I have come today for two reasons: first, to see for myself the strength of the young assassin who has made the Heavenly Net so famous; and second, entrusted by the Grand Master, to personally invite you to the Heavenly Net Headquarters. The Grand Master has important matters to discuss with you."

Qin Yu's vigilance deepened. The Heavenly Net Headquarters was extremely secretive; since joining, he had never known its location. Now that the Blue-Clad Elder had come to invite him personally, he could not tell if it was a blessing or a curse. He spoke calmly: "If the Elder wishes to test my strength, just say so; there is no need to beat around the bush. As for the Grand Master, I do not know what important business he has with me. If it is not made clear, I may not go."

Upon hearing this, the Blue-Clad Elder was not annoyed; instead, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth: "What a calm and decisive young man. Since you put it that way, I will not mince words. The Grand Master intends to promote you to the position of Enforcement Elder, giving you command over the deployment of Heavenly Net assassins. In the future, as you travel the three dynasties, you will be able to mobilize the forces of all Heavenly Net branches. However, before that, I must personally confirm your strength to see if you are qualified for such a heavy responsibility."

Before the words had even faded, the Blue-Clad Elder moved. His peak late Xiantian spiritual power erupted instantly, a faint blue light shimmering around him. His right hand formed a palm, carrying immense spiritual force as he struck toward Qin Yu. The palm wind was sharp and unstoppable, causing ripples of spiritual energy to distort the air—he was clearly using a unique palm technique of the Heavenly Net, and its power was immense.

Qin Yu's expression remained unchanged. His footwork was agile, his body dodging the elder's strike like a ghost. Simultaneously, his Crimson Short Sword flashed from its sheath, a streak of crimson light darting toward the elder's wrist. He did not use his full strength, opting for a probing counterattack; he wanted to demonstrate his capability without becoming a mortal enemy of a Heavenly Net elder.

"Well done!" A flash of amazement crossed the Blue-Clad Elder's eyes. He flipped his wrist to avoid the short sword while his left hand formed a fist, surging with dense spiritual power, and smashed toward Qin Yu's chest. The two were instantly locked in combat. Blue light and crimson spiritual light intertwined and collided; the sounds of weapons clashing against fists and palms rang out incessantly. The ground of the ancient temple trembled slightly, and the other assassins in the courtyard retreated, watching from afar with shock.

Although the Blue-Clad Elder's cultivation was at the peak of the late Xiantian realm—half a step higher than Qin Yu's—and his palm techniques were exquisite and his combat experience rich, Qin Yu's physical body was far stronger than that of an ordinary cultivator. With the aid of his High-Grade Spirit Artifacts and combat skills polished to perfection through his training in the Heavenly Net, he held his own. Qin Yu did not clash head-on with the elder's spiritual power; instead, he relied on agile footwork and precise sword techniques to circle and counterattack. Every strike was accurate and ruthless, targeting the elder's vitals.

After dozens of rounds, the Blue-Clad Elder gradually fell into a disadvantage. He was increasingly astonished; Qin Yu was so young, yet his cultivation was so solid, and his control over spiritual power and application of techniques far exceeded that of his peers. Even if he went all out, he found it difficult to suppress Qin Yu. Suddenly, Qin Yu's figure flashed, dodging a palm strike, and his Crimson Long Sword slid from its sheath. Wielding both crimson spirit artifacts, the crimson light surged, and a massive fire-attribute spiritual energy expanded, instantly suppressing the elder's blue light.

"Clang—" Qin Yu's short sword precisely parried the elder's palm, while the long sword rested against the Blue-Clad Elder's neck. The crimson light flickered, but it did not harm him in the slightest. "Elder, I concede the win." Qin Yu's voice was cold, but he slowly withdrew his long sword, and the spiritual power around him dissipated.

The Blue-Clad Elder slowly retracted his power, his face filled with admiration and respect. He bowed deeply to Qin Yu: "Assassin Meteor's strength is peerless; I am not your match. It is no wonder you were able to slay Zhen Xu. With your strength, you are more than qualified to hold the position of Enforcement Elder." He was now completely convinced; Qin Yu's strength far exceeded his expectations, and even among the many elders of the Heavenly Net, he could be considered top-tier.

Qin Yu nodded slightly, his tone indifferent: "The Elder is too kind. May I ask if the Grand Master has any other business with me besides the promotion?" He still did not lower his guard; the invitation to the Heavenly Net Headquarters was too sudden, and he had to uncover the reasons behind it.

"This matter is of great importance, and it is not convenient for me to speak of it here. Please, Assassin Meteor, accompany me to the Heavenly Net Headquarters, and the Grand Master will explain it to you personally." The Blue-Clad Elder's tone was gentle, his attitude increasingly respectful. "Please rest assured, the Grand Master bears no ill will; he truly wishes to entrust you with important tasks and discuss major affairs with you."

Qin Yu pondered for a moment, calculating in his mind. The Heavenly Net Headquarters was extremely secretive, and he had never known its location or explored the identity of the person behind the organization. If he refused, it would inevitably arouse suspicion and prevent him from learning the Grand Master's true intentions. If he went, even if the Grand Master had ulterior motives, he was confident in his ability to escape. Furthermore, he wanted to take this opportunity to see what the headquarters looked like and what the Grand Master wanted with him.

After much thought, Qin Yu nodded: "Very well, I will accompany you to the headquarters. But I have one condition: if the Grand Master's request is not to my liking, I have the right to leave at any time, and the Heavenly Net must not obstruct me."

"Naturally!" The Blue-Clad Elder was overjoyed and quickly agreed: "Mr. Meteor, please follow me!"

Afterward, the Blue-Clad Elder took Qin Yu away from the abandoned temple, boarding a secret, luxurious carriage of the Heavenly Net to head toward the headquarters. The carriage moved at high speed, concealing its tracks along the way to avoid passing cultivators and merchants. In just half a day, they arrived at the Heavenly Net Headquarters—an ancient courtyard hidden deep within the mountains. The courtyard was heavily guarded, with black-clad Heavenly Net assassins visible everywhere. Their auras were sharp and cold, far more imposing than any branch.

The Blue-Clad Elder led Qin Yu through layers of checkpoints until they finally reached the main hall of the courtyard. Inside, a figure in black silk robes sat on the main seat. His face was imposing, his gaze sharp, and a dense ripple of spiritual power emanated from him. Qin Yu was stunned. Upon closer inspection, he recognized this person as the Prince of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion—Qin De! He never expected the Grand Master of the Heavenly Net to be his own father. A storm of shock surged in his heart, but he suppressed it, maintaining the persona of Meteor.

He suppressed his shock and confusion, keeping his Meteor facade, and cupped his hands slightly, his voice cold: "Meteor, greets the Grand Master." He wore a black mask, revealing only a pair of cold, clear eyes, deliberately hiding his physique and aura. He did not want Qin De to recognize him, yet he was filled with questions—why was his father the Grand Master of the Heavenly Net? Was the Heavenly Net actually his father's organization?

Qin De sat on the main seat, his gaze fixed on Qin Yu. A complex expression flashed in his eyes—joy, relief, and a hint of imperceptible tenderness. He did not speak immediately, instead observing Qin Yu closely. The physique, the aura, the crimson spirit artifacts in his hands, and the calm inadvertently revealed in his tone were exactly the same as his son, Qin Yu.

The Blue-Clad Elder stood to the side. Seeing Qin De remain silent for so long, he quickly spoke: "Grand Master, Assassin Meteor has been brought here. I have already tested his strength; it is indeed peerless, and he is qualified to serve as an Enforcement Elder."

Qin De slowly raised his hand, signaling the Blue-Clad Elder to withdraw. The elder was puzzled but bowed: "Yes, Grand Master." He then turned and left the main hall, closing the doors and leaving the space to Qin De and Qin Yu.

The hall fell into a brief silence. Qin De's gaze remained fixed on Qin Yu, and a gentle smile gradually tugged at the corners of his mouth. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible trembling: "Yu'er, stop pretending. Father recognizes you."

Qin Yu's heart tightened, and his hand gripping the crimson spirit artifact clenched slightly. A flash of shock and panic crossed his eyes—he had thought his disguise was perfect, wearing a mask and deliberately altering his voice, yet he had not expected Qin De to recognize him at a glance. He remained silent for a moment, knowing there was no point in continuing the charade. He slowly raised his hand and removed the black mask, revealing his young, calm face.

"Father..." Qin Yu's voice was no longer cold, tinged with guilt and relief. "Child did not intend to hide it from you. I only wanted to train in the Chu Dynasty under the identity of Meteor, to secretly gather intelligence for the Qin Family and clear obstacles. I did not want to expose my identity and affect my training."

Qin De looked at his son, his eyes filled with pride. He stood up, walked quickly to Qin Yu, and patted his shoulder, his tone full of pride: "Good child, good child! Father does not blame you; on the contrary, I am proud of you!" He looked Qin Yu up and down. "You have grown so much during these years of training. Not only is your cultivation stabilized at the late Xiantian realm, but you have also managed to slay Zhen Xu and intimidate the three dynasties using your own strength as a Heavenly Net assassin. Your master truly did not waste his time letting you descend the mountain to train."

"It is all thanks to Master's guidance, and the training in the Heavenly Net has also helped me gain much practical experience," Qin Yu said, bowing with humility.

"Immortal Master Yun Ce certainly deserves credit, but your own efforts are the most crucial factor." Qin De smiled slightly, then asked, "Why did you join the Heavenly Net? Did you know all along that it was an organization I secretly cultivated?"

Qin Yu shook his head and said truthfully: "When I descended the mountain to train, I was accidentally drawn into a skirmish and invited to join by a Silver-Rank assassin. At the time, I did not know the Heavenly Net was your organization, and I never thought it would have any connection to the Qin Family. I simply felt that joining would allow me to hide my identity, hone my combat skills, and use the Heavenly Net's channels to gather intelligence on the Chu Dynasty, so I agreed. It was not until I saw you today that I realized the Heavenly Net was your secret force; I was very shocked."

Qin De laughed heartily upon hearing this: "What a coincidence! Perhaps this is fate. Your joining the Heavenly Net and acting as Meteor was something even I did not anticipate, yet it has proven more effective than anything I could have arranged. Now that you are famous and known throughout the three dynasties, whether it is assassinating key figures of the Chu Dynasty or gathering intelligence, you will achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Just as the father and son were reuniting and talking, a pale purple light drifted from outside the hall and landed in the center. As the light dissipated, the figure of Yun Ce slowly appeared. He was still wearing his plain Taoist robes, his face calm with a faint smile. Looking at Qin Yu and Qin De, he spoke slowly: "Qin De, Yu'er, it seems you two have finally reunited."

Qin De and Qin Yu turned to look at Yun Ce and bowed: "Greetings, Immortal Master Yun Ce."

Yun Ce nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Qin De as he smiled: "The Prince must have many questions—wondering why Yu'er joined the Heavenly Net, and why he has grown so much in just a few months. Today, I shall clear your doubts."

A flash of surprise crossed Qin De's eyes, and he quickly said: "Please enlighten me, Master. I do indeed have many questions, especially regarding Yu'er joining the Heavenly Net; it was too coincidental, and I always felt that perhaps there was your arrangement behind it."

Yun Ce smiled faintly and said slowly: "The Prince is correct. Yu'er joining the Heavenly Net seemed accidental, but it was actually my deliberate guidance. Yu'er descended the mountain to train his character and combat power. The Heavenly Net is a place where dragons and snakes mingle, spread across the three dynasties; it is the most suitable place for his training. Here, he can encounter various battles to hone his skills and use the organization's channels to gain deep insight into the power distribution of the Chu Dynasty, gathering intelligence in preparation for the future war of conquest. I did not tell Yu'er that the Heavenly Net was your organization precisely because I feared he would be overly cautious and unable to train freely."

He paused, then continued: "As for Yu'er hiding his identity, that was also my intention. If he acted as the Third Young Master of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, he would inevitably arouse Xiang Guang's vigilance, making it difficult for him to gain a foothold in the Chu Dynasty, let alone train in peace. By acting as the assassin Meteor, he can hide his true identity, build a reputation through his own strength to intimidate enemies, and secretly contribute to the Qin Family—it serves multiple purposes."

Qin De was enlightened, his doubts vanishing instantly. He bowed deeply to Yun Ce: "So that is how it is. Thank you, Immortal Master, for your painstaking arrangements! You have truly put in so much effort for Yu'er's growth and the Qin Family's plan to conquer Chu!" He finally understood that every step Yun Ce took was for Qin Yu and the Qin Family, and his gratitude toward the master deepened.

Qin Yu also bowed to Yun Ce: "Thank you, Master, for your efforts. I will certainly not let you and Father down. I will continue to train diligently, break through to the peak of External Martial Arts as soon as possible, make great contributions to the Qin Family's conquest, and avenge my mother!"

Yun Ce nodded slightly, his eyes full of expectation: "Good, that is the spirit. Now that you have been honest with your father, you will have more support in your future actions. However, remember: do not lower your guard just because your identity is exposed. Xiang Guang already suspects your father, and the road ahead remains filled with danger. You must act with caution."

Qin De and Qin Yu nodded simultaneously, their expressions grave. They both knew that, as Yun Ce had said, the ancestor of the Xiang Family, Xiang Yang, was a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator with profound strength. If Xiang Guang truly made up his mind and alerted Xiang Yang, the Qin Family would face a massive crisis.