The survivor who had led them down collapsed to his knees, groveling at the Void Refinent Elder's feet.
"E-Elder... they forced ! I had no choice!"
He sobbed, forehead slamming against the stone floor hard enough to split the skin. Blood trickled, yet he dared not stop.
"Please... forgive-"
A shadow moved.
The elder's sleeve flicked.
The survivor's body stiffened; his scream was cut short as a crimson mark flared at his throat.
The next mont, his head rolled to the floor, eyes still wide in terror, while his body slumped lifelessly.
The elder's cold gaze returned to Bai Zihan.
"Young one," he said softly, "answer when I am nice-otherwise you will not have an easy death."
Bai Ren smirked.
"Threatening our Clan's heir before ? How dare you!"
A single yell brought most of them to their knees and even shook the Void Refinent Elder's confidence.
The Elder couldn't sense Bai Ren's cultivation realm at all.
(Is he in the Great Ascension Realm? No... Immortal Ascension!)
He wasn't sure, but he had dealt with Great Ascension cultivators before and their qi didn't feel as oppressive as the man before him.
"It can't be!"
He muttered. He had thought the strongest in the Falling Star Empire were only in the Great Ascension realm.
There are rumors that there are hidden Great Elders who have managed to reach the Immortal Ascension Realm but he shouldn't be so unlucky to run into one, right?
"Don't be scared. This must be so kind of technique. There are only two of them. Kill them!"
The Elder commanded.
"Heh! Look at that ignorant fool. It would only take a second."
Bai Ren spoke with a tone far more excited and cheerful than his actual words suggested.
"Grand Elder, don't kill him."
Bai Zihan said.
That Elder must be the one with the most information here, and if the Grand Elder killed him by chance then all their effort up to now might be wasted.
"Haha... I will try my best."
"Please do!"
By then, the group of assassins seed to have recovered their spirit and were ready to attack Bai Ren and Bai Zihan.
Most of them were in the Nascent Soul realm, so in Soul Formation, and only four in the Spirit Severing realm.
Bai Zihan only had to handle those in Nascent Soul and Soul Formation; the others appeared intent on working with the elder to take care of Bai Ren, whom they believed to be in Great Ascension.
The battle was intense or so one would think but it ended in a matter of seconds.
"P-Please, I will tell you everything. Just spare !"
The once proud elder begged at Bai Zihan's feet.
Against Grand Elder Bai Ren, with their level, even standing might have been difficult if he went all-out.
Yet Bai Ren did not go full strength-he rely toyed with them and waited for Bai Zihan to take care of the others.
Bai Zihan likewise didn't need to expend much strength to deal with these trash who mostly relied on sneak attacks.
"That would be great, but don't you dare try to deceive ," Bai Zihan said with murderous intent.
Gulp!
While the elder was in the Void Refinent Realm and the boy before him in the Spirit Severing Realm, the elder knew Bai Zihan was not to be underestimated.
It took Bai Zihan less than a minute to deal with the elites he had trained for so many years.
Even he hadn't been confident he could accomplish that.
And there was Bai Ren-the old monster whose strength was unfathomable.
"First of all, let introduce myself. I'm Bai Zihan. You should have heard my na."
The elder's eyes widened as he stared at Bai Zihan; indeed, his appearance is that of Bai Clan.
He had heard reports that the Bai Clan was trying to gain permission to enter the Falling Star Empire, but he hadn't expected them to be here for them.
(It must be Zou Shiji!)
He connected the dots and realized it must be Zou Shiji, whom he had thought was late to complete the mission to Desolate Heaven Empire.
(But why is the Young Master of the Bai Clan after us?)
No matter what, he didn't think they or even Zou Shiji would have dared to offend the heir of the Bai Clan.
"Hahaha... It was Young Master Bai. No wonder you are so strong despite being so young. Forgive for not recognizing you."
The elder imdiately went into submissive acting.
Why?
He had heard Bai Zihan call the man who defeated him, Grand Elder.
The title Grand Elder of the Bai Clan is given only to those above the Immortal Ascension realm.
Given the power he had seen, it was certain. There was no escaping this; his only hope was to satisfy Bai Zihan and be spared.
"Can you tell how we have offended you? I will definitely make ands."
The elder said. He seed to be desperate to do anything to please Bai Zihan. "No need. I just need to know where your headquarters are and I can spare your life!"
Bai Zihan demanded.
The elder beca cautious the mont he heard that.
(Looks like Zou Shiji spilled everything.)
He could only bla Zou Shiji, though it was not even his fault. However, he didn't know that.
"Young Master Bai, why are you looking for our headquarters?"
"Just answer what I asked!"
Bai Zihan said sternly.
The elder scratched the back of his head and replied awkwardly, "Young Master
Bai, it is not that I don't want to answer, but I don't know."
"Don't know?"
Bai Zihan asked angrily.
"I-It's true! Only a few people even get invited to headquarters. I am rely looking after this place, the elder quickly explained.
Bai Zihan looked at him and it seed like he was telling the truth. Bai Ren would have also said sothing if he had detected lies from him.
(Looks like that organization is being really secretive.)
"You are really useless!"
Bai Zihan said angrily, almost as if he wanted to end the elder's life.
"B-But I know soone who might know."
The Elder imdiately said, trying to make himself be useful so as to be spared by Bai Zihan.
"Speak!"
The elder trembled, eyes darting left and right, until finally he forced the words out.
"Elder Shuhai..."
He began.
"He is one of the Three Elders of this branch. Among us, he has the deepest ties to headquarters. Everything-reports, missions, orders-passes through his hands. If the headquarters speaks, it is Elder Shuhai who listens, and delivers their will to us."
"He definitely knows the location of the headquarter!"
The elder said firmly.
Bai Zihan's eyes narrowed.
"Where is he?"
The elder hesitated, lips trembling as if to hold back the words. But one glance from Bai Ren-cold, suffocating, impossible to resist-drove the answer from his throat.
"A-At the Royal Palace!"
Bai Zihan's brows lifted.
"The Royal Palace? What is he doing there?"
The elder's throat worked; every instinct scread to stay silent, but in front of
Bai Ren he had no choice. His head would roll before he could even blink.
"To...to help the Second Prince seize the throne!"
A flicker of intrigue crossed Bai Zihan's face.
Why would this shadowy branch plant itself in the Falling Star Empire? What purpose did it serve? The answer, at last, had co.
Bai Zihan leaned forward, voice sharp.
"Why is your branch here at all? What is your objective in the Falling Star Empire?"
The elder bit his lip. Under that oppressive killing intent, the truth spilled out like a flood.
"Our purpose...is to control the empire from the shadows. And what better way than to place an emperor of our choosing on the throne?"
The elder hadn't thought much about it when he spoke. After all, Bai Zihan wasn't from the Falling Star Empire and wouldn't care who beca emperor of the Falling Star Emperor.
He was right-Bai Zihan didn't care. Not until he heard the plan.
After all, he considered the Organization an enemy for daring to try to kill him.
There was no way he would let their sche succeed.
Even if they controlled the Falling Star Empire, the power they would gain wouldn't trouble him-but he wouldn't allow them to operate unchecked, not when he knew their plan.
"Hehe... I just have an interesting plan."
Bai Zihan couldn't help but let out an evil laugh that sent shivers down the elder's spine.
"Grand Elder, tie him up and seal his cultivation. We might still need him. Who knows whether he told us the truth or not."
Bai Zihan said.
The elder was caught completely off guard.
"Young Master Bai, we had an agreent! As long as I answered your questions, you would spare !"
He couldn't help but cry out in injustice.
Even though he had committed countless cris, he still thought a young master from a prestigious clan would keep his word-or perhaps it was only a false hope he still clung to.
"I know. But I must first verify what you've said. Who knows if you've tried to feed lies?"
"Naturally, I will let you off if what you said were true!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers