The Yin Granny's dark, sunken eyes darted around, a smile that sent shivers down one's spine spreading across her face.
Su Luo regarded her, asking calmly, "So you are the Yin Granny? I've heard much about you. Your Yin souls are so powerful, did you perhaps subdue them in the ancient mining areas? Truly impressive!"
Seeing the cute and spirited young girl, the Yin Granny plastered a smile on her face, but her heart remained tense.
She vividly remembered Su Luo's killing methods from earlier.
None of her subordinates had lasted more than five moves!
"You actually recognize this old woman? Little girl, you have discerning eyes, knowing my Yin souls are formidable. However, the ancient mining areas are too dangerous, and I was too lazy to risk it. Isn't it easier to slaughter a few villages and destroy a few cities?"
She cackled, her voice like a crow's, as her scrutinizing gaze swept back and forth over Su Luo, as if trying to discern her origins.
Indeed, another ruthless old hag who treated human lives like grass!
Su Luo activated her Divine Eye Mirror, clearly seeing through the Yin Granny's secrets, confirming her methods, cultivation, and weaknesses.
The number of people who had met their end at this old hag's hands amounted to tens of thousands. In her youth, she had used her beauty to seduce men and climb her way up, but unfortunately, her talent was mediocre, only reaching the Celestial Venerable cultivation in her forties. It wasn't until she stumbled upon a sinister cultivation technique that she began her unbridled reign of terror and destruction.
The Yin Granny was notoriously greedy for wealth, and wherever she went, mysterious deaths would occur.
She had refined over a hundred powerful Yin souls, collecting them in the Soul Caldron Gourd, a Grade Two Sacred Artifact she had acquired at a high price. Currently, the old hag had reached the first stage of Spirit King cultivation. Coupled with the powerful Yin souls within her Soul Caldron Gourd, people everywhere gave her a wide berth.
Many cultivators from the righteous path had hunted her, but they were either killed by her or managed to escape.
The Yin Granny looked at Su Luo with satisfaction, then at Chu Tianshu, Lu Jixing, Shangxie Shaoqing, and Wen Daier. The more she looked, the wider her smile became, as if she considered them all prey.
Shangxie Shaoqing felt a chill down his spine under her gaze and couldn't help but curse, "Old hag, never seen a handsome man before? Keep your eyes to yourself! Stare again, and I'll pluck them out and feed them to the dogs!"
The Yin Granny's expression shifted. Just as she was about to lash out, she let out a sinister chuckle, "Young man, you have such a fiery temper. Would you like this old woman to brew you a bowl of herbal tea to cool you down?"
Shangxie Shaoqing said coldly, "Your presence disgusts me. If you utter another word, I won't hold back!"
With that, a ball of intensely white, scorching fire ignited at his fingertip.
The Yin Granny was about to teach Shangxie Shaoqing a lesson, but upon seeing his flame, she forcefully restrained herself.
Although his cultivation was lower than hers, this flame precisely countered her Yin souls.
She dared not act rashly!
She couldn't back down easily, and as the tension escalated, people from the City Lord's Mansion arrived.
"The competition has concluded. Congratulations to the six of you for winning and securing the positions of the City Lord's personal bodyguards. I will now escort you to meet the City Lord. Please follow me." The speaker was a butler-like middle-aged man with a smiling face.
Su Luo and the others then stood up, ignored the Yin Granny, and followed him towards the City Lord's Mansion.
At this moment, the area around the competition stage remained a bustling spectacle, with countless people unwilling to leave, discussing the events with great enthusiasm.
As they walked, Su Luo casually glanced towards the crowd below. Li Tianjue and the others were watching them, as if to remind them to be cautious. Su Luo met their gaze with an understanding nod before gradually moving away with the group.
Upon arriving at the City Lord's Mansion, Su Luo and the others followed the middle-aged man into a courtyard.
The place was decorated with exquisite elegance, featuring numerous rock gardens, peculiar stones, and spiritual flowers and exotic plants. However, it was heavily guarded. Along the way, they encountered five waves of patrolling guards, as well as hidden mechanisms and formation patterns, making the defenses impregnable.
They arrived at a building, and the middle-aged man went inside to report. After a moment, Su Luo and the other five heard a stern and imposing male voice from within: "Enter."
Shangxie Shaoqing glanced at the others before leading the way inside. They saw a middle-aged man dressed in dark robes and luxurious attire, with a long beard, seated in the hall. His eyes gleamed with sharp light, and his expression was solemn, exuding considerable authority without a hint of a smile.
"City Lord, these six are the masters who emerged victorious from the recent competition. Each of them has won five consecutive matches."
Sima Kun surveyed the six individuals and slowly nodded.
"Since you have all won the competition, this City Lord will explain the details to you."
"Although it is publicly announced that you six are the City Lord's newly hired personal bodyguards, in reality, I have an important task that requires several skilled individuals to undertake, which is why this competition was held. Now that you have been successfully selected, if you are willing to accept this mission, this City Lord will reward you handsomely. You may choose any cultivation techniques and spirit stones you desire."
As expected, things were not simple.
Previously, Su Luo and the others had genuinely believed they were here to serve as the City Lord's personal bodyguards. Now, it seemed that Black Wind City Lord Sima Kun was engaged in some secret plan.
The Yin Granny chuckled, "May I ask what important task the City Lord has?"
A hint of deep meaning flickered in Sima Kun's eyes as he said, "To know this matter, you must be loyal to this City Lord and not divulge any secrets. If you can do so, this City Lord will immediately pay twenty million spirit coins as a deposit. However, if you are unwilling, you may leave now, and this City Lord will not hold it against you."
His trusted subordinate behind him immediately brought forward a tray.
On the tray were six small white dishes, each containing a black pill.
"By consuming this pill, you signify your willing allegiance to this City Lord. Those who are unwilling may leave now," Sima Kun stated indifferently, his face devoid of expression. The atmosphere suddenly became heavy.
Needless to say, the pill was definitely poisonous.
Once consumed, one would lose control of themselves, compelled to obey Sima Kun's commands, with death being the only alternative.
However, Sima Kun had already revealed half the truth. Su Luo understood that even if he hadn't finished speaking, choosing to leave now would certainly displease him, and they would undoubtedly be assassinated by Sima Kun.
At this moment, the Yin Granny smiled, picked up a black pill, and examined it, "If this old woman consumes this pill, will the City Lord immediately present twenty million spirit coins?"
Sima Kun smiled, "Of course, this City Lord never goes back on his word."
"Then very well, this old woman is willing to lend the City Lord a hand." With that, the Yin Granny swallowed the black pill in one gulp.
This old hag is indeed greedy for money!
Su Luo and Shangxie Shaoqing and the others stared at her intently. The Yin Granny seemed to be experiencing the effects of the pill and remained silent. After a moment, she suddenly trembled all over but quickly returned to her normal state.
"City Lord, this old woman has taken it. Now, you should fulfill your promise, right?" she said with a chuckle.
"Bring it!" Sima Kun smiled.
Immediately, a servant brought a storage bag and walked up to the Yin Granny.
She took the storage bag and probed it with her divine sense. Satisfied, she smiled, "Good, the City Lord is indeed straightforward. From now on, this old woman guarantees to keep secrets, and no matter what task the City Lord has, this old woman will complete it perfectly."
Sima Kun was very pleased and laughed heartily, his gaze then shifting to Su Luo and the others.
"What about the five of you? Are you willing to pledge your loyalty to this City Lord and take this pill, or will you leave immediately?" he asked calmly, even with a slight smile, as if allowing Su Luo and the others to choose.