Yu Xuan weaved through the factory. The blazing forge made even the air scorchingly hot. Layers of cold mist rose from his skin and formed ice armor, and only then did his expression ease.
He reached a secret room at the very back. After a long wait, Zhou Xian arrived, his right sleeve still hanging empty, his expression calm. "He agreed?"
"Mm." Yu Xuan nodded, looking rather pleased with himself. "At the end of the day, he's just a refugee. He had no power to refuse."
Zhou Xian's face darkened. "Are you saying I couldn't deal with him because I'm incompetent?"
Yu Xuan shrugged. With Zhou Xian fallen from power, he felt little need to defer to him. "That's not what I meant."
Anger flared in Zhou Xian's chest, but he forced it down. "Once you have the Spatial Crystal and the extracted power of the Black Pagoda, kill Su Chen outright."
Yu Xuan was startled. "Don't we still need his help to corrupt Yuan Chenyang?"
"I lied to him." Zhou Xian sneered. "I had to promise him a next step to get him to do the first part."
Old fox, Yu Xuan cursed inwardly. Then he asked hesitantly, "Is that the priest's order?"
"Of course. He profaned your god, so he must die." Zhou Xian nodded.
"That makes sense." Yu Xuan showed no particular zeal, only concern. "He's already a Tier 2 Professional, and probably a [Storm Hunter]. Even with an ambush, killing him won't be easy."
Zhou Xian tossed something at him. "Catch!"
It came fast and hard. Yu Xuan's expression shifted, and he thrust out his right hand in haste.
Bang!
He staggered back several steps, pain shooting through his palm. Gritting his teeth, Yu Xuan looked down. A black diamond-shaped crystal lay amid the blood in