Chapter 5: The Number One Assassin Organization of the Grand Xia

Atop a great mountain peak stood an ancient tower.

A figure in gray robes transformed into a streak of light, rapidly approaching.

At the entrance of the tower stood two guards in black armor, both extending their arms to block the way. One of the guards said in a low voice, "This is a forbidden area. No entry."

"I come on the orders of the clan leader, with important intelligence to report to the Ancestor." The gray-robed figure respectfully handed over a beast-hide scroll.

"Mm." One of the guards took the beast-hide scroll and entered the tower directly.

The gray-robed figure then respectfully and quietly withdrew.

On the first floor of the tower, a tall, thin old man with narrow eyes sat cross-legged in silence. He was none other than the Celestial Immortal 'Xuanji Ancestor' of the Shaoyan clan.

"Ancestor." The black-armored guard entered, bowed respectfully, and presented the beast-hide scroll with both hands.

Xuanji Ancestor opened his eyes, beckoned with a hand, and the beast-hide scroll flew into his palm. He coldly commanded, "Withdraw."

"Yes." The black-armored guard quickly withdrew and continued to stand silently at the tower entrance. He had stood guard at this tower entrance for over a hundred million years; ever since he was created, most of his existence had been spent guarding this tower.

Swish.

Xuanji Ancestor unrolled the beast-hide scroll and calmly read the intelligence within.

"Hmm?" Xuanji Ancestor frowned. "That kid Ji Ning is back? Not only he himself, but even his two spirit beasts have reached the early stage of Returning to Void."

No one doubted that Ji Ning had the strength to step into Returning to Void.

After all, back before the Immortal Fortune Convention, Ji Ning's second soul had already slain a Loose Immortal while at 'Yuan Shen Perfection'. Over thirty years later, it was very normal for Ji Ning to become an Earth Immortal. But that both his spirit beasts had also stepped into the Returning to Void Earth Immortal stage was highly abnormal.

Because human comprehension was far higher than that of demons. For the two spirit beasts to become Returning to Void Earth Immortals, they must have surpassed the threshold of Returning to Void Earth Immortals in their Dao insights! Even though the Whitewater Hound and the Azure Skysnake were divine beasts, theoretically their cultivation speed should not be this fast! Demons were naturally much slower in cultivation. To be this fast... they must have had some special encounters!

"It seems that after disappearing for over thirty years, Ji Ning has had some encounters." A cold gleam flashed in Xuanji Ancestor's narrow eyes.

"Everyone." Xuanji Ancestor suddenly called out.

His voice pierced through the void, reaching another space.

"Everyone!"

"Everyone!"

"Everyone!"

His voice echoed in that other space.

Whoosh!

A black mist gate appeared not far from Xuanji Ancestor, and from it emerged four figures in succession: a handsome youth, a weathered old man, a burly man holding a bell in one hand, and an old man with closed eyes, white hair, and a withered appearance.

After arriving, the four sat down cross-legged.

"Xuanji, what matter do you have for us?" the handsome youth asked indifferently.

"What major event has happened that requires the four of us to come out?" the burly man holding the golden bell said in a low voice.

The other two remained silent.

They were all Celestial Immortal Ancestors, the true pillars of the Shaoyan clan! Because the entire Grand Xia world was currently seething with undercurrents and fraught with danger, these Celestial Immortal Ancestors dared not be careless. Including Xuanji Ancestor, a total of five Celestial Immortal Ancestors were stationed here guarding this divine tower.

"Everyone, take a look." Xuanji Ancestor waved his hand, and the beast-hide scroll unfurled, floating in midair.

The four Celestial Immortal Ancestors all read it; the old ancestor with closed eyes and withered form also swept it with his divine sense.

"Ji Ning?"

"That Ji Ning is back?"

One by one, the Celestial Immortal Ancestors frowned.

Of course they knew the name Ji Ning. When the Immortal Fortune Convention was held, they were unaware of the special nature of that convention. But after it ended, the Grand Xia world became turbulent, and even the entire Three Realms felt a storm brewing... They understood that a great upheaval in the Three Realms was about to begin.

In their view, during such a great upheaval, True Gods and Dao Ancestors might easily survive, but they, the Celestial Immortals, would be in danger. Which great upheaval had not seen large numbers of Celestial Immortals die?

"Now that the Three Realms are in turmoil, the participants of that Immortal Fortune Convention may become future powerhouses of the Three Realms. Two from that convention were taken as disciples by Dao Ancestors." Xuanji Ancestor said in a low voice. "And this Ji Ning was the number one of that convention. He mysteriously disappeared for over thirty years and did not take any Immortal or Demon of the Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage as his master. Coupled with the fact that his two spirit beasts have become Returning to Void Earth Immortals, there is no doubt... Ji Ning must have had a great encounter during these thirty years!"

"Mm."

"Right."

"He has probably been taken under the wing of some major power in the Three Realms."

The other four Ancestors all agreed.

"He is a remnant of the Yuchi clan, which was completely annihilated by our Shaoyan clan. His mother was 'Yuchi Xue', and all of Yuchi Xue's relatives died at the hands of our Shaoyan clan. How could Ji Ning not hate our Shaoyan clan?" Xuanji Ancestor said. "Moreover, our Shaoyan clan has sent Loose Immortal assassins to kill him. This hatred is probably hard to resolve!"

"We thought he would take a True Immortal or Heavenly God under the Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage as his master, but he didn't take any." Xuanji Ancestor said excitedly. "If he had taken the Evergreen Sword Immortal as his master, out of respect for the Evergreen Sword Immortal, it would have been inconvenient for us to act. But now we have no such concerns. Even if he has taken some powerful figure of the Three Realms as his master, that figure is not of the Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage! They have no jurisdiction over us!"

"So I think... we should eliminate him as soon as possible! While he is still a Returning to Void Earth Immortal, eliminate him early!" Xuanji Ancestor was very resolute.

"Reasonable."

"Mm."

"It's a pity we don't know who his master is."

"Regardless of who his master is, as long as it's not our Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage, what is there to fear?"

The great powers of the Three Realms were like overlords, occupying regions. Conflicts and battles among their disciples were too common... The great powers would not interfere, as long as no other great power acted to 'bully the weak'. The struggles of the younger generation were viewed with equanimity.

Even if a disciple died, it could only be blamed on inferior skill.

In the Three Realms, all kinds of struggles and battles were too common! So for Xuanji Ancestor and the others, if Ji Ning had taken a master from the Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage, it would have been a headache. Because they were all of the same faction, Ji Ning's master could have used some means to deal with them.

But since Ji Ning had not entered the Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage, Xuanji Ancestor and the others naturally felt relieved.

"It's not that we fear, but to be cautious, I think we should find out who his master is! There are some madmen in the Three Realms; some have even attacked the Heavenly Court. Some protective madmen might take revenge on us for their disciple." The handsome youth spoke.

"Mm."

"Jingyu makes sense."

"Back then, someone dared to defy our Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage and took Ji Ning away. It seems Ji Ning's master is truly a bold and daring figure."

Xuanji Ancestor, hearing the others, frowned and said, "What is there to fear? First, among the other forces in the Three Realms, only a few madmen would truly dare to attack our 'Crimsonbright Dao Ancestor's lineage' territory. I don't believe it's that coincidental. Second, even if it is, now is a time of turmoil in the Three Realms. Even if they usually act crazy, who would dare to act recklessly at this time?"

"Xuanji makes sense, but in my opinion, we should hire the Blood Cloud Tower." The old man with closed eyes and withered form spoke.

The surroundings fell silent.

"Hire the Blood Cloud Tower?"

"The price is not small."

"The Blood Cloud Tower's asking price is probably very high."

Xuanji Ancestor nodded. "Kumu is right. Since everyone is worried about Ji Ning's mysterious master, let the Blood Cloud Tower handle it. Those who take missions at the Blood Cloud Tower have sworn by the Heavenly Dao, so they will never leak information. No one will know that we hired the Blood Cloud Tower. Spending some treasures to eliminate a future threat—I think it's worth it."

"Good, I agree."

"Mm, hiring the Blood Cloud Tower is fine. We'll spend a few more treasures to buy Ji Ning's life."

"Let's do it."

"Xuanji, handle this matter."

Xuanji Ancestor nodded lightly. Of course he would not refuse. That very day, he quietly left the tower and headed for the Blood Cloud Tower's location.

...

Deep within mountains stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles.

Holding a token, Xuanji Ancestor arrived at a canyon. Within the canyon, mist swirled, but deep inside stood a tall transmission tower.

"Please."

A Blood Cloud Tower disciple stood to the side, watching Xuanji Ancestor.

Xuanji Ancestor stepped directly into the transmission array. As the tower lit up, whoosh! Xuanji Ancestor disappeared.

...

"Hmm?" Xuanji Ancestor stood on a cloud, upon which also stood a majestic transmission array.

Looking into the distance, Xuanji Ancestor saw, deep within the rolling endless blood-colored clouds, a faint tower.

"Is that the Blood Cloud Tower?" Xuanji Ancestor felt a chill in his heart.

The Blood Cloud Tower...

A very mysterious force that had suddenly appeared thirty years ago. The Blood Cloud Tower had sent tokens to various major powers in the Grand Xia world. Only truly top-tier powers like Anchan Northmont's clan and the Shaoyan clan were qualified to receive some tokens. Lesser powers like the Black-White College were completely unaware of the existence of the 'Blood Cloud Tower'.

With the token, one could go to certain hidden places and then be teleported to another world. The Blood Cloud Tower was located in this mysterious world.

No one knew the true location of the Blood Cloud Tower!

"As long as you are willing to pay the price, in the Grand Xia world, aside from the Xia Emperor, any Immortal or Demon can be killed by our Blood Cloud Tower!" This was the bold claim made by the Blood Cloud Tower, and it indeed possessed terrifying strength. In just thirty years, over ten Celestial Immortal Ancestors had been assassinated by the Blood Cloud Tower!

The Blood Cloud Tower was recognized by these top powers as the 'Number One Assassin Organization of the Grand Xia'.

The Blood Cloud Tower also protected client information, even swearing by the Heavenly Dao never to reveal any client details.

"Swish."

Xuanji Ancestor was soon led to a secluded garden. Although he had arrived, even Xuanji Ancestor did not know the route in: "This Blood Cloud Tower must be a powerful cave-type magic treasure. The internal space is chaotic; I can't even discern the true layout."

In the garden.

A silver-robed girl sat opposite him.

Xuanji Ancestor sat on this side. On the stone table between them lay a scroll, which was the contract.

"Kill Ji Ning?" the silver-robed girl said softly. "He was the number one of the Immortal Fortune Convention, disappeared for over thirty years, and is very likely to have been taken as a disciple by a True Immortal or Heavenly God. There is even a slight possibility he was taken by a Dao Ancestor. Back then, his second soul could defeat a Loose Immortal. His current strength is probably extremely high, possibly even comparable to a Loose Immortal of a million years."

"Will you accept it or not?" Xuanji Ancestor said in a low voice.

"Accept, of course we accept." The silver-robed girl smiled calmly. "As long as you are willing to pay the price."

...