The Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, an isolated, dilapidated old mansion.
The walls stood high and the doors and windows were tightly shut. Not a soul could be seen nearby. Only a few fierce auras lying in wait outside the gate hinted that this was no ordinary place.
In the center of the courtyard, two groups faced each other from a distance.
One side was made up of men belonging to Zhu San, the wealthiest man on the Hidden Dragon Continent. At their head stood a round, portly old man with fair skin and tiny eyes narrowed to slits. He looked shrewd and slick. Behind him, four burly men were working together to carry a massive, snow-white beast corpse five meters long.
The corpse had a tiger's head and sharp claws, with bone spurs growing along its back. Its aura was terrifying—it was none other than a Xiantian demon beast, a Saber-Toothed Tiger.
The tiger's corpse was intact, its flesh and skin unspoiled, and a faint fragrance wafted from it. The portly old man glanced at the corpse and smiled smugly. "Commander Yi Yan, rest assured. Master Zhu San had Langan Powder sprinkled over the corpse long ago. The Saber-Toothed Tiger will stay fresh for a year or even longer without the slightest trace of decay. All sixteen back spurs are intact, and so are the claws. Not a single piece is missing."
Yi Yan wore dark iron armor, his expression stern. Several Tyrant Dragon Army death warriors stood behind him, their auras heavy and restrained. He scanned the Saber-Toothed Tiger and, after confirming it was as described, slowly took out a palm-sized Jade Box wreathed in seven-colored light.
Inside was one of the Three Heaven-Reaching Charts entrusted to him by Xiang Guang.
"Mr. Zhu San certainly keeps his word." Yi Yan's voice was low as he handed over the Jade Box. "This is the Heaven-Reaching Chart treasured by His Majesty. Inspect it carefully."
The portly old man's eyes lit up. He hurriedly accepted the Jade Box with both hands and cautiously opened it a crack. Inside was an ancient, imposing chart, its patterns profound and its spiritual light contained. It was indeed the legendary Heaven-Reaching Chart. He was instantly overjoyed. "That's it! This is the one! The deal is—"
Boom!
A deafening blast suddenly rang out!
Thick white smoke surged in from all around the mansion, instantly filling the entire courtyard and blocking everyone's view!
"Who?!"
"We're ambushed!"
Yi Yan's expression changed drastically, and the Tyrant Dragon Army instantly formed a defensive formation. The portly old man on Zhu San's side hunched in fright and hurriedly clutched the Jade Box tightly to his chest.
Three figures emerged from the smoke at a leisurely pace.
At their head was Lian Yan of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion.
On either side of him stood a white-haired old man. Their auras were withered and silent, yet unfathomably deep. They were clearly veteran experts who had lived in seclusion for many years.
Lian Yan held a long saber, its tip angled toward the ground. His laughter rang through the smoke. "Yi Yan, does Xiang Guang's Tyrant Dragon Army really dare throw its weight around in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region?"
"Lian Yan! You're Qin De's man!" Yi Yan's pupils contracted. "You actually dare ambush His Majesty's deal!"
"Deal?" Lian Yan sneered. "The Saber-Toothed Tiger materials or the Heaven-Reaching Chart—it doesn't matter. Anything that could harm the Qin Family stays here today!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the two old men stepped forward together. The spiritual power of their late-Xiantian cultivation erupted, making everyone in the courtyard catch their breath.
The portly old man was scared out of his wits. Clutching the Jade Box, he tried to retreat. "Y-you dare lay a hand on Master Zhu San's men!"
"Zhu San?" Lian Yan's gaze turned cold. "He doesn't get to throw his weight around in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region!"
The battle was about to begin.
Knowing there was no way to settle this peacefully, Yi Yan barked, "Tyrant Dragon Army, protect the tiger corpse and the Heaven-Reaching Chart! Fight your way out! And send word—tell my father, Yi Qingyu, to come here at once!"
He knew perfectly well that he alone could not hold off Lian Yan and the two old men.
Only if his father, Yi Qingyu, a peak-Xiantian expert, arrived would they have even a sliver of hope.
Meanwhile, outside the mansion, a dark figure concealed in the treetops silently watched the battle raging within.
A black mask. A pair of swords in hand.
It was Qin Yu.
He had just enjoyed a pleasant conversation with his father, Qin De, when he received a secret report from the Heavenly Net. There was a top-secret deal in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region involving a Heaven-Reaching Chart and a Xiantian demon beast. Qin De immediately ordered him to investigate discreetly under the identity of Meteor.
Qin Yu watched the chaos in the courtyard, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
The Saber-Toothed Tiger, the Heaven-Reaching Chart, the Tyrant Dragon Army, Zhu San, Grandpa Lian...
This deal was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
"Xiang Guang, Father, Zhu San... they've all been dragged into this."
He tightened his grip on his spiritual weapon and silently waited for the perfect moment to strike.
This time, he was still the assassin who shook the three dynasties—Meteor.
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