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"Longevity Sect."
Zhao Beiming carefully observed the person in front of him, only to realize that this person was not human but a member of the Ghost Clan.
And not just any ordinary blood ghost, but a special type of Ghost Clan.
A special Ghost Clan member with the strength of a Great Martial Sect master was rare to see. Such a powerful being should be well-known throughout the Cangyuan Realm, given that there weren't many Great Martial Sect masters.
Yet, he had never heard of this woman named Yuyuan before him.
One had to marvel at how well the Longevity Sect had hidden themselves. Perhaps, apart from the Cangyuan Pavilion, no one in the world could uncover the secrets of the Longevity Sect.
"Bringing me here, it seems you intend to finish me off." Zhao Beiming's gaze grew more serious, as he had heard before that he was on the Longevity Sect's must-kill list.
Previously, no one from the Longevity Sect had come for him, making Zhao Beiming think it was just a rumor. But today, it seemed the inevitable had arrived.
"General Zhao, don't misunderstand. We don't intend to kill you; we just want to borrow your soul. After all, your soul is a key to opening a door."
Yuyuan said with a mischievous smile.
"Can I ask? Why is my soul a key?" Zhao Beiming was even more curious now because he knew that the people referred to as keys had no connections with each other.
"Since you want to know, I don't mind telling you." Yuyuan sat down on a nearby green stone, crossing her legs. Her fiery red dress fell, revealing a long, slender, and well-proportioned leg.
It was something no man could easily resist.
"There isn't just one key. Those who can become keys all possess an absolute heart." Yuyuan said lightly, "Previously, Li Hengsheng, a disciple of the Dao Mountain Ancient Land, possessed a heart of enlightenment. He could easily comprehend powerful techniques from any painting, succeeding with just one insight. His heart of enlightenment was a key."
"Qianxue Sword Sovereign, Xue Qianbai, possessed an unparalleled sword heart. Even though he was only at the Grandmaster level, his swordsmanship was incredibly strong. He perfected the 'domain' in swordsmanship while still a Grandmaster. His sword heart is something ordinary people can't possess. Moreover, Qianxue Sword Sovereign Xue Qianbai is only in his thirties and has achieved such feats. His sword heart is a key."
"I see." Zhao Beiming finally understood how the keys were chosen.
"As for you, General Zhao," Yuyuan lazily propped her chin, looking at Zhao Beiming, "you have an absolute heart of defense, making you a suitable candidate for a key."
"If one day you advance to the Grandmaster realm, no one in this world could easily kill you. So we decided to deal with you quickly."
Yuyuan smiled, "Moreover, in North Cold Country, you are not our only target. Yin Changli, the son of Yin Fengqi, is also our target."
"He possesses a Wood Spirit Body, an unparalleled heart of nature, which we also need."
"The Eleventh Prince…" Hearing Yuyuan mention this, Zhao Beiming's face changed. If it were just him, it wouldn't matter, but thinking about Yin Changli in North Cold Country made him worry.
The Eleventh Prince was in danger.
Zhao Beiming had no patience to listen to her anymore and turned to leave!
But as soon as he turned, Yuyuan raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
The sound was particularly loud in the quiet night.
From all directions, the void seemed to crack, and from the shattered space, streams of crimson lava burst forth, transforming into countless weapons that charged at Zhao Beiming.
Zhao Beiming felt as if he were trapped in an endless inferno.
The scorching heat almost roasted him alive.
Zhao Beiming's Nine Truths Spear instantly began to dance. He had to take this seriously because Yuyuan was not an ordinary person but a protector of the Longevity Sect.
A true Great Martial Sect master!
One wrong move, and he could easily lose his life here.
***
Meanwhile.
At Changqing Mansion.
"Why is it so noisy tonight?"
Yin Changli walked out of the study, sensing the commotion on the streets.
Recently, Yin Changli had been learning swordsmanship from Xue Qianbai and had been staying at Li Changqing's mansion. Since his mother was promoted, many people had been secretly visiting him, which annoyed Yin Changli.
So he decided to move out.
He wondered what was happening on the streets.
Yin Changli intended to go out and see.
But after taking a few steps, he had a bad premonition. His heart started to race as if something terrible was about to happen to him.
At that moment, he heard a faint sound and instinctively dodged.
A thread of silk passed by him.
The thread was incredibly sharp, capable of slicing through anything in seconds.
Yin Changli was shocked; someone was trying to assassinate him.
When he turned around, he saw a black-clothed figure standing in the courtyard, holding the thread and looking at him in surprise.
As a Peak Innate Realm expert, the black-clothed figure was astonished that he couldn't kill Yin Changli, who was at the Great Perfection of the Postnatal stage, with a sneak attack.
"Indeed, a key has some skills." The black-clothed figure sneered, "But unfortunately, today you are destined to die."
But just as Yin Changli was on guard, the black-clothed figure's neck suddenly spurted blood, and his head fell off.
Yin Changli's face changed drastically.
A Peak Innate Realm expert died so silently?
What was going on?
At that moment, a shadow appeared behind the Peak Innate Realm expert, slowly forming into a human shape.
It was Zhang Fuguang, whom Yin Changli often saw sweeping and serving tea.
Wasn't this guy just a servant?
He silently dealt with a Peak Innate Realm expert?
Yin Changli was dumbfounded.
"Go back to sleep." Zhang Fuguang said calmly, as if he didn't care at all, not taking the Peak Innate Realm expert seriously.
"Uh, okay."
Yin Changli nodded woodenly and quickly went back to sleep.
But from the mention of the key, Yin Changli knew that the person who came to kill him must be from the Longevity Sect.
The Longevity Sect was making moves again.
But it made sense. With most of the world's experts heading to Mount Wan Jie, it was the perfect time for the Longevity Sect to act. With many experts absent, they could act recklessly.
"Fortunately, General Zhao is still in North Cold City."
Thinking of Zhao Beiming, Yin Changli felt much more at ease and quickly fell asleep.
However, until noon the next day, the soldiers in the city did not see Zhao Beiming return. Since Zhao Beiming went out to chase a giant toad last night, he had not come back.
The next day, Yin Fengqi also learned about what happened last night and received intelligence that Zhanhe Residence had been wiped out. Yin Fengqi felt that time was of the essence and quickly sent people to search and strengthen the guards.
Yin Fengqi was furious.
The Longevity Sect was too arrogant!
They dared to cause trouble in North Cold Country. Were they planning to stir up trouble in the Cangyuan Realm again?
What made Yin Fengqi even angrier was that his daughter, who was cultivating in Zhanhe Residence, was also killed by the Longevity Sect.
Yin Shuyu was dead.
Upon hearing this news, Yin Changli clenched his fists in anger, filled with killing intent!
He remembered their time together during the Ghost Devil trial. Although they had different mothers, they shared the same father, and Yin Shuyu had taught him many things.
He didn't expect his sister to die at the hands of the Longevity Sect.
"Longevity Sect!" Yin Changli gritted his teeth in hatred, drawing his sword and pointing it at the sky, "I swear by this sword, I will eradicate you Longevity Sect scum!"
The next news plunged the entire North Cold Country into silence.
Yin Fengqi couldn't believe it.
Because the soldiers brought back Zhao Beiming.
Yes, Zhao Beiming's corpse.
Zhao Beiming was dead.
When he was found, he had no life left in him, and his body was charred. The Nine Truths Spear lay not far away.
Yin Fengqi couldn't believe that such a strong person as Zhao Beiming was dead.
Who from the Longevity Sect had come?
Who had such great ability?
Was it a Great Martial Sect master?
For a moment, Yin Fengqi felt despondent. With Zhang Muzhi and Li Changqing absent, how could they defend against the Longevity Sect if they came again?
Meanwhile, the Longevity Sect took this opportunity to wreak havoc throughout the Cangyuan Realm. However, most people were already heading to Mount Wan Jie.
They had no idea what the Longevity Sect was doing behind the scenes.
Mount Wan Jie was named so because it was said that countless lightning tribulations had struck this mountain range, creating numerous lakes, each not very large but widely scattered. It was said that the mountain range was split by these lightning tribulations.
Usually, Mount Wan Jie was a scenic place, and there was a city called Wan Jie City.
Now, Wan Jie City was bustling.
When Li Changqing and Xue Qianbai arrived, Wan Jie City was already boiling like a pot of water.
Although Wan Jie City was not small, it had never anticipated so many experts coming.
So the experts from Tianhai City also came to Wan Jie City to help maintain order.
Lin Qingyi and Yue Qingwu were there.
And two other Great Martial Sect experts responsible for other regions of Tianhai City were also present.
With them around, there were no major issues.
Even Jiang Feng, the steward of Tianhai City, came to Wan Jie City to oversee things, preventing any trouble.
With Jiang Feng, a terrestrial immortal, overseeing things, it made everything much smoother.
As soon as Li Changqing and Xue Qianbai entered the city, they saw a figure riding a fire crane approaching them. It was a young man who landed before them.
He respectfully said, "Qianxue Sword Sovereign and Qinglian Sword Sovereign, welcome to Wan Jie City. The city lord has already arranged accommodations for you."
"Thank you."
Xue Qianbai nodded.
At this time, many people on the streets of Wan Jie City looked enviously at Xue Qianbai and Li Changqing.
"They get a place to stay as soon as they arrive, while we have to find a spot on the streets. It's so unfair!" A scar-faced man complained.
"Hah, they are Qianxue Sword Sovereign and Qinglian Sword Sovereign, two great Sword Sovereigns. Can you compare to them? If you had their strength, the city lord of Wan Jie City would also arrange a place for you."
Someone mocked.
Li Changqing and Xue Qianbai were arranged in a quiet courtyard.
The young man then handed them two black invitations.
"What is this?" Li Changqing asked curiously.
"Blood Mist Invitation." Xue Qianbai looked at the item in his hand and said lightly, "The black market master knows how to do business. They are holding a Blood Mist Trade Fair at this time."
"Yes, if you are interested, you are welcome to attend."
"Not disturbing you two any longer." With that, the young man turned and left.
Li Changqing looked at the invitation and asked, "What is the Blood Mist Invitation?"
"It's an invitation from the black market," Xue Qianbai said. "It's a special trade fair where participants can't see each other. You can only trade items for items, avoiding being targeted by others. It's also convenient for selling stolen goods. If you're interested, you can check it out tonight."
"That sounds interesting."
Li Changqing was indeed interested.
He had some treasures he wanted to trade but was worried about attracting trouble, such as his large spatial ring.
If he could trade it for a treasure, it would be ideal. Moreover, he had many Acceptance of Rings that he didn't dare use, which wasn't practical.
"But there are indeed many people here at Mount Wan Jie." Li Changqing could still hear the noise outside.
He also sensed some powerful presences arriving at Wan Jie City.
"Probably half of the experts from the Three Wildernesses, except for Yunhuang, have come. After all, it's rare to see the Cangyuan Realm Master in action."
Xue Qianbai was also curious.
But he was not curious about Jiang Tianyun.
He was curious about Li Xuanxi.
The Heavenly Maiden Sword Immortal.
To be called a Sword Immortal, her swordsmanship must be extraordinary, which would greatly benefit him.
When night fell.
Li Changqing and Xue Qianbai left for the Blood Mist Trade Fair.
They wanted to see if they could find any good deals.
With the invitation, they entered a mysterious cave in the city.
As soon as they entered the cave, Li Changqing could no longer see Xue Qianbai. The surrounding blood mist isolated everything.
Even divine soul detection was blocked by the blood mist.
Li Changqing found it very mysterious and was curious about the black market master who had such extraordinary means.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas