Chao Yangzi took his leave after arranging with the Qu family to explore the Mo Tu River's source. This time, he brought only ten guards from the Dark Guard Hall. An Shi had already located the Killer's Hall. He intended to deal with them personally.
At midnight, the night was cool.
At the Killer's Hall's secret stronghold, the masked man was suddenly awakened. He had never slept without his mask since becoming an assassin, nor had he ever slept soundly. It was his years of living by the blade that honed his vigilance. The moment he sensed a faint killing intent, he leaped out through the window. Immediately behind him, the room was split open by a powerful sword qi, and with a thunderous boom, the house exploded! Screams erupted, sending shivers down one's spine in the pitch-black night!
So strong! If he had hesitated for a second longer, he would have met the same fate as the room! Looking around, he saw only a few brothers had escaped. However, he still didn't know who the enemy was. The masked man gripped his sword, warily scanning his surroundings. An eerie silence prevailed, and the surrounding residents seemed to have fallen silent. He had deliberately chosen a secluded house in a bustling area, hiding amongst the common folk, seeking quiet within the chaos. He reasoned that anyone seeking revenge would hesitate to harm ordinary citizens, fearing karmic retribution. Who knew someone could find him here?
"Boss, the opponent has set up a formation to trap us!" a Killer's Hall assassin exclaimed beside him.
"Stop the nonsense! How many brothers are left? Who was on guard tonight? We were trapped by a formation, and you didn't even know it? They've already killed their way to us! Useless!" The masked man, suppressing his fear, rebuked them furiously.
"Boss, there's no one left. Only these few brothers remain." The assassin showed no resentment at his boss's scolding, knowing that the guards on duty were long dead, their throats silently slit. With only seven brothers left, they knew they were doomed tonight!
The masked man glanced at those beside him, wondering who possessed such strength to kill over a dozen brothers with a single sword strike, and who had also set up a formation.
"May I ask which esteemed阁下 (ge xia) you are? Are you perhaps a coward who hides his face? I implore you to reveal yourself and let me die with understanding!" The masked man, while setting up a formation, taunted the opponent.
A cold laugh echoed through the night sky before fading away. The voice seemed to be right by his ear, yet it also felt as if it came from a distant place…
Suddenly, the masked man's heart lurched violently, as if the surrounding air had been sucked away. The intense pressure made them feel as if their breath was being stolen.
"Activate the formation!"
The masked man adjusted his spiritual energy, using the sound of the Thunder Howl to awaken the other seven Killer's Hall assassins. They activated their sword formation, converging into a giant golden sword. He unleashed an incomparably sharp sword strike, attempting to block the approaching cyan light and shadow!
A cold, cyan sword light clashed with the golden sword qi wielded by the Killer's Hall. The resulting shockwave leveled the surroundings. The power of the Killer's Hall's sword formation depended on the cultivation of its members; the higher the cultivation, the greater the formation's might. The seven assassins were flung away by the violent impact, severely wounded and dying. The masked man lay prostrate on the ground, barely clinging to life.
"I'll spare your dog life. Go back and tell your Killer's Hall Grandmaster that if you dare trouble Miss Ye again, I won't hesitate to annihilate your entire headquarters!" A clear, cold voice left a warning in the darkness and then vanished.
The next day, the City Lord's mansion received news that a courtyard in a western alley had been leveled overnight. Yet, the surrounding neighbors remained completely unharmed. The City Lord, upon receiving the report, was quite vexed. When did such a powerful figure arrive in the city? What enmity existed between them? The perpetrator clearly specialized in formations, otherwise, such intense fighting would not have gone unnoticed by the city guards and the Daoist elders. Was this an ally or an enemy?
"Father, are you troubled by the events in the western part of the city?" Tu Yue asked as he entered the study, seeing his father with a worried expression.
"Yue'er, why are you here? Do you know what happened?" The City Lord looked up and inquired.
"Yes, a while ago, Young Master Chao said he had something to discuss with the Killer's Hall. It seems the talks didn't go well, and they were wiped out!" Tu Yue said nonchalantly.
"Oh? Is that so? Then, in that case, our Mo Tu City will not interfere. We will post a notice tomorrow to appease the citizens!" The City Lord immediately felt relieved. As long as the quarrel between immortals did not harm the innocent, it was fine. The Killer's Hall was no good bunch; for years, they had taken so much money from his niece, and they even disregarded him, the City Lord. He couldn't be bothered to intervene!
"Father, I'm leaving. I need to prepare to go to Du Shan. I came today to bid farewell. This journey is sure to unravel the mystery of the Du Shan Secret Realm." Tu Yue wasted no time and prepared to depart.
"Hey, Yue'er, be careful! Be cautious! Sigh, this child, why is he in such a hurry? He didn't even chat with his father for a while…" The City Lord hurried to the doorway, only to see his son already at the corner of the corridor. Their Tu family had known about the secret realm in Du Shan for a thousand years, believing it could lead to an immortal destiny. However, after centuries of searching, they had found nothing. Now that there was news, how could he stop Yue'er from pursuing his immortal fate? A father worries when his child travels thousands of miles away…
Qu Biyao had already sent Qu Ce to the City Lord's mansion, entrusting him to her uncle's family for care. Her second uncle had a history of self-sabotage, so she couldn't leave Ce'er alone at the Qu residence.
Each of them, accompanied by ten guards, headed straight for Du Shan. They were to rendezvous with Young Master Chao and his group at the foot of the mountain!
When they arrived, they saw that Young Master Chao and his group had also arrived. This time, there were ten additional guards.
"Young Master Chao, my apologies, my cousin and I are late." Tu Yue cupped his fists in greeting. He hadn't expected Young Master Chao to arrive so early, still two quarters of an hour before the agreed-upon Chen Shi (辰时 - 7-9 AM).
"No matter, we arrived early. Let us depart!" Chao Yangzi waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind.
Chao Xiangzi, wearing a mask, waved his hand, and a flying ship appeared. Over thirty people boarded the ship, and it didn't feel crowded at all. After boarding, Qu Biyao marveled at the ship's exquisite craftsmanship and the intricately carved formations that could attack or defend. It was a treasure that even spirit stones couldn't buy. Truly worthy of a major cultivation sect, their heritage was evident, something a mere nouveau riche like herself couldn't compare to.
Within two breaths, they reached the source of the Mo Tu River in Du Shan. This was precisely the stream cave where Ju Xun and others had entered Du Shan.
"Young Master Chao, this is the source of the Mo Tu River. The cave is filled with countless underground rivers. My knowledge is only superficial; almost no one sent inside has ever returned alive! Family records state that Du Shan is named Du Shan because it contains a small world, but no one has ever found the entrance. An ancestor of mine was fortunate enough to enter, but it was by chance, and they didn't understand the pattern of the entrance's appearance. However, they roughly knew that a whirlpool had appeared in this location, and entering through the whirlpool offered a chance to enter the secret realm." Tu Yue explained, producing a yellowed map of underground waterways.
"Is this all the underground waterways?" Chao Yangzi asked, looking at the map.
"No, this is only a portion of it. It was painstakingly mapped out by gradual exploration. It is not complete!" Tu Yue replied.
"Young Master Chao, I suggest we don't need so many people to enter. My cousin and I will go in. How many are you planning to bring?" Qu Biyao interjected. The waterways were complex and winding; if more people entered, rescue would be difficult if an accident occurred, and it was easier to get lost.
"Indeed, Miss Qu, rest assured, I will also be accompanied by two people."