Within the capital, Heavenly Star City, the lights were sparse. Ding Chunqiu sat in his secret chamber, holding a communication talisman bearing a message just sent by the Shadow Pavilion's intelligence personnel.
The message stated that the elders of the Ghost King Sect and the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect had, for the first time ever, joined forces, vowing to uncover the truth behind the death of Sun Qi, a true disciple of the Ghost King Sect.
Ding Chunqiu frowned and immediately relayed the news to Luo Tian!
Sun Qi, a renowned genius among Heavenly Star City's younger generation and a true disciple of the Ghost King Sect, had fallen in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range not long ago.
And the mastermind behind it all was Luo Tian, who was currently hiding deep within the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range.
Meanwhile, two experts of the Shadow Pavilion, Han Tang and Lü Baichuan, were spurring their horses onward, leading a group of assassins through obstacle after obstacle toward the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range.
Their journey was not only to assist Luo Tian, but also to display the Shadow Pavilion's strength, enough to make the dynasty wary.
And Luo Tian, the true power behind the Shadow Pavilion and the mastermind of the murder that had shaken Heavenly Star City, was currently deep in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range, improving his strength under the guise of gaining experience.
Upon learning of the movements of the Ghost King Sect and the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, a faint, calm smile curved Luo Tian's lips. He gently swept his sleeve, as though even the air trembled at it.
"Mm, it's time to put the plan into action." His low voice echoed through the empty cave.
"Let's give them something to do!!
"Let them know that beneath the shadows, no one can escape."
Ding! Random mission triggered: kill the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder. Mission reward: 1 Gold-Rank Summoning Card. 2 Yin-Yang Realm Minor Realm Cultivation Advancement Cards [For summoned characters only]. Mission time limit: one week! Mission failure: no penalty! Will the host accept the mission?
System boss, you've brought me work? Of course I'm taking it!
Luo Tian said, "Accept the mission!"
The more missions like this, the better!
Two cultivation advancement cards. Once Han Tang and Lü Baichuan use them, they'll be able to break through to the early Tribulation Transcendence realm!
The Shadow Pavilion's strength will rise another level!
Han Tang and Lü Baichuan should be here soon! The show is about to begin!
Just as the forces of the two sects established their separate camps in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range and secretly vied against each other.
An even more secretive force quietly intervened-the Shadow Pavilion, a mysterious organization that lurked in the dark, controlling countless lives and deaths.
Luo Tian, the master of the Shadow Pavilion, laid out a grand game with his unfathomable cunning, intending to use the two sects to carry out his own plan.
Han Tang and Lü Baichuan were the two earth-grade assassins of the Shadow Pavilion under Luo Tian's command.
Ordered to head to the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range, their task was simple and direct: find Gui Ming, the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder, and use his death to further intensify the conflict between the two sects, making their dispute as uncontrollable as wildfire sweeping across a plain.
Han Tang's sword was like a gale, swift as lightning, every strike aimed to kill.
Lü Baichuan specialized in hidden weapons. In his hands, Seven Star Needles and Shadowless Needles became a dance of death, impossible to guard against.
On a moonless, windy night, Han Tang and Lü Baichuan quietly approached the camp of Gui Ming, the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder.
The two nodded in perfect accord. This was the signal to strike!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Poisoned needles flew out! Sword light appeared at the same time!
Gui Ming's cultivation had already reached the early Tribulation Transcendence realm, making him second only to the sect master within the Ghost King Sect. Yet, facing the combined assault of these two assassins, whose cultivation was also profound, even he felt unprecedented pressure.
"Who are you? You dare attack us! With just your peak Yin-Yang realm cultivation?" Lin Ye roared furiously, spiritual power surging around him as he tried to intimidate the two with his oppressive might.
Han Tang and Lü Baichuan each wore a mask and said calmly, "The people here to kill you, of course! Someone paid for your lives!"
As soon as Han Tang finished speaking, the two attacked. The longsword in Han Tang's hand thrust rapidly, creating an opening for Lü Baichuan to act.
Han Tang shifted lightly, his swift sword sweeping, flicking upward, striking vertically, and cleaving! The moves looked simple, yet their rapid motion produced countless variations!
The Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder bellowed furiously, "Let me show you the gap between the Tribulation Crossing realm and the Yin-Yang realm!"
With that, Gui Ming unleashed his Tribulation Crossing realm presence! He spun the ghost staff in his hand and used Ten Thousand Ghost Shadows. Hundreds of ghostly shadows blocked the sword light and poisoned needles with a series of clangs!
"Nether Communication Technique!" Gui Ming shouted.
He swung his ghost staff again, his right hand slamming it against the ground while his left formed a hand seal. His lips moved as though he were chanting some incantation!
Hum! Hum! Two black ghostly shadows suddenly appeared in the air, slowly drifting out as though the gates of hell had opened. Then they opened mouths like black holes and lunged swiftly at Han Tang and Lü Baichuan!
Seeing this, Han Tang rapidly thrust his swift sword into the air, producing dozens of sword shadows as he shouted, "Serial Thrusts!" Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Dozens of streaks of sword light shot straight toward them like a rain of arrows!
Boom, boom, boom! Explosions rang out one after another!
Meanwhile, Lü Baichuan seized the opening, gliding across the ground as he took out his Seven Star Needles. Both hands moved rapidly, leaving afterimages like the Thousand-Armed Guanyin.
The Seven Star Needles moved so quickly that they seemed to merge into space, vanishing without a trace and leaving Gui Ming unable to discern their direction.
Han Tang's swift sword shot toward Gui Ming's vital points like silver lightning, while Lü Baichuan's needles silently pierced the air, closing in on the major acupoints all over Gui Ming's body.
The Seven Star Needles carried deadly poison. Once they pierced an enemy's body, death was certain!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Aah! Pfft! These were the sounds of Gui Ming's final, agonized cry!
Under Han Tang and Lü Baichuan's combined assault, even Gui Ming, with his profound cultivation, could not escape. In the end, he fell into a pool of blood.
With Gui Ming's fall, everyone from the Ghost King Sect in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range was slaughtered by the Shadow Pavilion's people.
Han Tang collected the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder's head and placed it in a box! Taking it back would make it easier to turn in the mission!
"Let's go!" Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The Shadow Pavilion's people vanished like phantoms!
"Reporting to my lord! We have killed the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder and the others!"
Luo Tian received Han Tang's message. After reading its contents, he replied, "Well done. Head back to Fengluo City first. The Ghost King Sect may get serious about dealing with the Shadow Pavilion once they discover the truth!"
"Go back and make preparations! Oh, and remember to bring back the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder's head. Take it to the black market to collect the reward!!"
"Leave the Heavenly Star City base alone for now. After this attack, you'll probably be exposed soon. Return to Fengluo City first!"
"Wait for the Ghost King Sect's people to come knocking!"
"Yes, my lord!" The two left the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range with the assassins!
Ding! Congratulations on completing the mission! Mission reward: 1 Gold-Rank Summoning Card. 2 Yin-Yang Realm Minor Realm Advancement Cards [For summoned characters only]. Rewards have been issued. Please check!!
"System, use the two Yin-Yang Realm Minor Realm Advancement Cards on Han Tang and Lü Baichuan. Both of them are at the peak Yin-Yang realm!"
Understood, host!! Ding! Successfully used!
While Han Tang and Lü Baichuan were on their way back to Fengluo City, a mysterious power burst from their bodies. With a boom, their presences simultaneously broke through to the early Tribulation Transcendence realm.
Both exclaimed excitedly in their hearts, Thank you for bestowing such divine treasures upon us, my lord!
Tribulation Crossing realm experts could already begin to tread through the air in flight. For the two of them, a return journey to Fengluo City that once took two or three days would now take only one!
The atmosphere within the Heavenly Star Dynasty grew increasingly tense, as though a vast net hung over it! The scent of a conspiracy surfaced!
Gui Ming, the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder, had fallen in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range, surrounded and killed by a group of mysterious people! Once the news spread, several major powers were stunned!
What force had the Ghost King Sect offended? Their true disciple Sun Qi had been murdered only days ago, and now their Grand Elder Gui Ming was dead too!
As for the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, this sudden turn of events threw them into complete disarray. On one hand, they had to deal with the Ghost King Sect's fury and retaliation; on the other, they were desperate to clear themselves of suspicion concerning Sun Qi's death.
Now the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder had also fallen in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range! It inevitably made people wonder whether the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect was behind it.
Many believed that the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect had struck from the shadows!
Why was it only the Ghost King Sect's Grand Elder and disciples who died, while your Falling Rosy Clouds Sect's Grand Elder and disciples were all perfectly fucking fine?
How did that make any sense? Everyone speculated about the relationship between the Falling Rosy Clouds Sect and this group of mysterious people.
Between the two sects, an even fiercer struggle seemed about to raise its curtain.
Yet the mastermind behind it all, Luo Tian, master of the Shadow Pavilion, quietly vanished like a wisp of smoke in the Gloomy Shadow Mountain Range.
He left only the two sects behind, locked in endless conflict as they walked step by step into the trap he had long since laid...