Inside the mountain cave, in the Black Cloud Cave.
Within the pitch-black, lusterless crystal, the cave master's voice, like the sound of iron rubbing against iron, rang out once more.
"Huh?"
One of the assassins standing before the crystal turned around and bowed deeply.
"My lord, what are your orders?"
The Black Cloud Cave Master said, " Ye Youqi's life force has disappeared."
"It seems that the Jade Spring Sect outer disciple named Chen Shuangbai is no pushover."
The assassin was somewhat shocked.
Ye Youqi is considered one of the top assassins in Black Cloud Cave.
The number "seven" in his name does not mean that there are six people more capable than him before him.
Being an assassin is an extremely dangerous profession.
Over the years, the Black Cloud Cave Master has only trained about ten disciples, and most of them have already perished.
These Ye Youqi are now considered among the most famous in Black Cloud Cave.
The fact that he was defeated there shows that Chen Shuangbai's actual combat strength is likely different from the information provided by the employer.
The assassin paused for a moment, then respectfully asked, "Master, should we send more assassins?"
A silence fell over the crystal.
After a long while.
The hoarse voice of the Black Cloud Cave Master rang out again.
"Report this message back to the employer. If they are willing to add another 100,000 Lower-Grade Spirit Stone, then send another one."
The Wind Howling Ford, Azure Flood Dragon Society.
The burly man knocked on Bai Xiuyuan's door, and then heard a woman's sweet voice and a man's laughing and cursing from inside.
The burly man waited respectfully at the door for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
The door then opened.
Several women dressed in brightly colored clothes slowly walked out, bringing with them the scent of feminine perfume and an indescribable stickiness. Then, Bai Xiuyuan's voice came from inside.
"What's up?"
Bai Xiuyuan straightened his robes and casually asked again, "Has Chen Shuangbai been dealt with?"
The burly man knelt down and explained the message from Black Cloud Cave.
boom!
A cold, sticky Law Power suddenly erupted, destroying the furniture in the room, and then rushed out of the room, swirling up the debris and shooting it in all directions like a torrential rain!
The servants who passed by screamed in alarm at the sight, but they were quickly intimidated by the chilling anger emanating from within and knelt down, not daring to utter a word.
The burly man kneeling on the ground was in a much worse state.
He was only at the Second Layer of Qi Refining, and being so close, he was completely unprepared and caught off guard by Bai Xiuyuan's furious rage, who was at the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining.
He slammed heavily against the wall, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.
"Second Master, please... calm down."
Bai Xiuyuan appeared at the doorway. His eyes, which had been wide open, gradually began to narrow, and the green light became more pronounced. His once handsome face was now twisted and ferocious, with veins bulging on his forehead, exuding madness and killing intent.
He stared intently at the burly man slumped on the ground, coughing up blood, and said, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth, "Say that again? I offered 80,000 Lower-Grade Spirit Stone, and I actually... failed?!"
The burly man, enduring excruciating pain and fear, struggled to his feet, knelt again, and pleaded in a trembling voice, "Second Master... please calm down... the First Master is still inside..."
These words seemed to pull Bai Xiuyuan back from his anger.
Bai Xiuyuan forced himself to calm down. After taking a few deep breaths, the strange sensations on his body gradually disappeared, but his eyes... became even more sinister.
Bai Zhixing was still recovering from his serious injuries and was now planning to use Secret Method to forcibly suppress his injuries and restore his peak strength. He intended to forcefully go into the water to retrieve that treasure.
But Bai Xiuyuan knew that such Secret Method always came at a great cost.
Moreover, the underwater world is fraught with dangers; proceeding slowly and cautiously is the right approach, rather than rashly venturing into the water.
"It's all because of Chen Shuangbai!!!"
Bai Xiuyuan repeated it in a low voice, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
Bai Xiuyuan, the second-in-command of the Azure Flood Dragon Society, has always been perceived by the outside world as a spoiled, good-for-nothing second-generation rich kid who only relies on his elder brother Bai Zhixing.
But this was something Bai Xiuyuan deliberately put on.
His anger gradually subsided, but a murderous intent surged within him.
Bai Xiuyuan then looked at the injured burly man and tossed him a bottle of pills. "Go down and heal your wounds. Anyone who dares to utter a single word about what happened today will be thrown into the snake pit to feed the snakes."
The burly man hurriedly patted his chest and assured him that he would definitely manage his servants well.
After everyone had left, Bai Xiuyuan stood in the messy room, already having another plan in mind.
We can't wait any longer.
He summoned his servants, who quickly cleaned up the messy room. He then took out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and personally wrote an extremely respectful and earnest invitation. Finally, he affixed Bai Zhixing's seal and handed it to another trusted steward.
"Go to the Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy in person and present this letter to Garrison Commander Chen in my brother's name. Remember, be extremely respectful and state that this is from the Azure Flood Dragon Society willing to submit to you. We hope that Garrison Commander will grant you the honor."
The steward carefully accepted the invitation, took his orders, and left.
Bai Xiuyuan stood by the window, watching the steward's departing figure, his eyes filled with barely suppressed killing intent.
"Brother, I must make sure you are safe and sound."
Spring-Venerating Daoist Academy.
Chen Shuangbai took the invitation from Zhuang Wen, raised an eyebrow slightly at the respectful and sincere tone inside, and then tossed it to Zhuang Wen, who also frowned after reading it.
"Uncle-Master... Bai Xiuyuan's past behavior was that of a dissolute and extravagant young man; this act is completely unlike his usual style."
Chen Shuangbai picked up the teacup, gently blew on it, and took a sip of tea.
"A person who is arrogant at first but then obsequious must have ulterior motives."
Upon Azure Flood Dragon Society, Chen Shuangbai immediately connected it with the assassin from the previous night.
If we were to name one of the forces in Wind Howling Ford that is at odds with him right now, the one he needs to eliminate immediately would undoubtedly be the Azure Flood Dragon Society.
Zhuang Wen said with some concern.
"Uncle-Master, should I go and refuse the Azure Flood Dragon Society's leader?"
Chen Shuangbai waved his hand and said, "No need. Just tell him I will definitely be there on time tomorrow. Please ask this Second Master Bai to prepare some good wine and food."
Zhuang Wen was somewhat puzzled.
The Bai Household brothers were quite ruthless and possessed some Secret Method; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to occupy such a large ferry crossing for so long.
After Zhuang Wen left.
Chen Shuangbai slowly walked to the window, looking at the lush greenery and hearing the rustling of bamboo, and was already pondering in his heart.
"That assassination attempt was most likely carried out by the Azure Flood Dragon Society."
"This invitation was written by Bai Zhixing... I doubt it."
Chen Shuangbai had only Bai Zhixing once, but she roughly figured out that he was a scheming person, but also had his own arrogance.
Last time, he tested each other with the Foundation Establishment token, and there was no room for maneuver between them.
Chen Shuangbai pondered for a moment, then suddenly relaxed her brows.
"Thinking so much is useless... In short, we'll deal with whatever comes our way."
"One more day is enough."
As soon as the thought arose, a surge of spiritual energy welled up within me, like a tidal wave, like mist and clouds. And within it, I saw the bright moon rising, illuminating the entire room with its clear light, a scene of pure radiance.