Strife

The following afternoon.

Bai Jing traveled from Nanqiu City to another great city with an Immortal Boat route.

Everything went smoothly. Not long after he paid the fare, the Immortal Boat turned into a streak of light and sped straight toward the outpost.

"How did everyone's assessments go? Smoothly?"

"Not bad. I should be able to get a Grade A Rating."

There were quite a few disciples aboard the boat. They gathered together and chatted casually.

Bai Jing sat among them, responding now and then.

He did not enjoy liveliness by nature, but neither did he wish to isolate himself from them.

Chen Ping was there as well. Compared to before, he had become much quieter.

From time to time, he would sneak glances at Bai Jing. There was no longer the slightest trace of disdain in his eyes; instead, whenever Bai Jing looked his way, his body would tense.

Time slowly passed.

By the time the Immortal Boat reached its destination, it was already the next morning.

"We're finally here. Too bad the assessment isn't finished yet—we still have to keep going." Looking at the familiar, reassuring outpost, one disciple sighed.

Chen Ping looked at Bai Jing, who had not spoken a single word to him from beginning to end. His heart stirred, and he wanted to say something, but ultimately gave up.

I only need to tell the whole truth. Whatever Zhang Yunhai does afterward has nothing to do with me.

Elsewhere.

After getting off the Immortal Boat, Bai Jing headed straight for the inner district to hand in his mission.

"Immortal Master, if the owner of a Bounty Notice dies, will it affect the rating?"

Inside the Ascension Tower, he handed the window attendant the bloodstained plea for help and those letters, then casually asked.

The attendant collected the items and took out fifty Ascension Coins. "The Golden Ranking will provide the result," he said coldly.

"I understand." Bai Jing nodded and said no more.

He then headed toward the Mission Hall.

Whether his first mission earned a Grade A or not, this was not the time to rest. Completing three Grade A missions was what mattered.

About the time it took to burn an incense stick later, Bai Jing finally emerged from the Ascension Tower with a brand-new plea for help in hand.

"For now, there's no rush to repay the debt." He touched the Ascension Coins at his waist and murmured to himself.

Afterward, Bai Jing did not hurry out of the inner district. Instead, he went to the Pill Pavilion and bought several bottles of pills.

After leaving the Pill Pavilion, he went to the Array Hall. When he came out again, he carried several Array Flags and a transparent jade bottle filled with Beast Blood.

Before long, Bai Jing finally returned to his thatched hut.

"The Immortal Boat heading toward Lingzhou doesn't leave until tonight." He calculated the time, then sat cross-legged on his bed and began cultivating.

At that moment, Bai Jing recalled the scripture for improving the Azure Cauldron and circulated his power according to its method.

His current methods for carrying out missions were already sufficient. The Azure Cauldron, which had remained unchanged for so long, could now be gradually improved.

Buzz!

Within his body, the Azure Cauldron shone with dazzling brilliance. Mysterious runes flickered and began shifting positions.

The lingering light of the sunset gradually faded. When Bai Jing opened his eyes, bright stars had already appeared in the sky.

"It's time to set off!" After tidying up slightly, he prepared to leave and continue completing his mission assessment.

Before departing, however, Bai Jing took out the Array Flags and bottle of Beast Blood he had purchased that morning.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

He came before his thatched hut and planted all the Array Flags around it. Then, dipping a brush in Beast Blood, he began inscribing array patterns.

"He's setting up an array around his shabby hut? And it's even a Stellar Foundation Formation?"

Above the clouds, Lin Changsheng watched the youth's actions and voiced his surprise.

"It's only a temporary residence, and there isn't even anything valuable inside. Why would he do this?" He was somewhat puzzled.

"Wait!"

Lin Changsheng saw that after setting up the grand formation, the youth knocked on his neighbor's door.

Buzz!

Spiritual power rippled within his body, and the conversation below reached his ears with perfect clarity.

Then Lin Changsheng saw Bai Jing take a letter and head toward where his friend lived.

"He set up an array and informed the nearby neighbors. He's even going to leave Xu Shan a letter—most likely to tell him about the array as well."

He murmured softly, "But isn't this superfluous? He only needs to post a notice at the door. Anyone who comes looking for him would leave once they saw it. Why go to such trouble?"

Then Lin Changsheng recalled something, and his expression changed slightly. He muttered, "He's... planning to kill someone!"

As for who he wanted to kill, that was already obvious.

Bai Jing had always kept a low profile. The only person he was highly likely to have formed a grudge against was the Violet Cauldron Genius, Zhang Yunhai!

"Good lad. His schemes are truly meticulous—and ruthless enough!" Lin Changsheng sighed.

"Chen Ping will certainly reveal that Bai Jing killed his childhood friend. What happens next depends on Zhang Yunhai's attitude."

"If Zhang Yunhai does nothing, then all will remain peaceful. But if he comes to confront Bai Jing, he will most likely come to this thatched hut."

"If Zhang Yunhai knocks and does not enter, it means there is still room to smooth things over, and they will not have to fight to the death."

"But if that Violet Cauldron Genius flies into a rage and intends to make a big show of force, he definitely won't come to this hut with a good attitude."

"If he wants to flaunt the dominance and might of a Violet Cauldron Genius and kicks down this door right away, it will be the day he dies!!"

Lin Changsheng seemed to have guessed all of Bai Jing's intentions, and a chill rose within him.

"Bai Jing has been out doing missions all this time. At the outpost, the two would find it difficult to run into each other. If Zhang Yunhai truly comes to wait for him at his thatched hut, things will certainly develop in this direction."

"Moreover, even if Zhang Yunhai is wiped out by the array, no blame will fall on Bai Jing."

"This kid is ruthless. The two have not even met, yet he has already plotted this far ahead. Still..."

A faint smile touched his lips as he continued, "Cultivation is struggle in the first place—struggling against heaven, struggling against oneself, struggling against others."

"Now it depends on whether Zhang Yunhai wants to struggle. If he truly intends to avenge his childhood friend, then with Bai Jing's decisive nature, it will certainly be a fight to the death. Who wins and who loses is still hard to say."

A trace of anticipation appeared in Lin Changsheng's eyes.

Three days later.

Before a pavilion in District Five, Chen Ping finally waited for the Violet Cauldron Genius, Zhang Yunhai, to return from his mission.

He had originally wanted to leave a letter, but this matter was somewhat serious. Given the other man's strength and talent, he could only wait for him to return and tell him in person.

"Brother Chen, when did you arrive?"

In the distance, a young man in a robe embroidered with pythons approached.

He was tall and straight, with handsome features and an extraordinary bearing.

Perhaps because he was gradually shedding his mortal shell, he carried a touch of otherworldly air.

"Brother Yunhai!" Upon seeing him, Chen Ping hurriedly rose from his crouch.

"Did your mission go smoothly?" Zhang Yunhai asked as he opened the pavilion door and entered first, with Chen Ping following behind.

"Not bad. I should be able to get a Grade A." Chen Ping nodded.

"By the way, did you see my childhood friend?" Only after entering the room did Zhang Yunhai turn around and ask with a smile.

At those words, Chen Ping's expression instantly became unnatural. He swallowed and said directly,

"Zhao Yi is dead!"

He then recounted the entire matter exactly as it had happened.

"You mean..." After learning the news, Zhang Yunhai narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "You told him about Zhao Yi's relationship with me, yet he still chose to strike him dead, showing not the slightest mercy."