Shadow Assassination Hall Main Altar.

In the Council Hall, the current Hall Master, Lan Cangye, sat high on his throne, frowning as he scrutinized the jade slip in his hand. His eyes were filled with a chilling intent that made the surrounding atmosphere turn cold and deadly.

“What exactly is Su Zhengji doing?”

Lan Cangye spoke with an indifferent tone: “The mystical realm has only been open for a few days, and already we’ve suffered such heavy losses. Even several promising new generation elites have perished. Is he becoming more muddled with age? All those years of cultivation… down the dog’s stomach…”

The elders seated on both sides exchanged glances, none daring to speak. Su Zhengji had indeed botched the job, to the point that even those who wanted to plead for him found it difficult to speak up.

Regardless, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace was not considered an overly dangerous or tricky opponent. Compared to some of the major tasks Shadow Assassination Hall had undertaken in the past, this declining female cultivator sect was at most a medium-difficulty target. With an advantage in both numbers and average cultivation level, there was no reason for such a disastrous defeat.

Now, whatever the reason, Su Zhengji was to blame. The severe punishment he would face upon his return was uncertain.

Subtle glances began to pass between the elders. With Su Zhengji’s downfall imminent, wouldn’t his position as a core elder become vacant? Could someone from their own faction take his place? How much would they have to offer in exchange to secure that position?

Those seated in this grand hall were all seasoned veterans, shrewd enough to squeeze oil from a stone. Given the chance, they would certainly crush their opponents ruthlessly.

“What do you think should be done about this matter?”

After a long while, Lan Cangye finally finished his tirade and asked coldly.

“Hall Master, Elder Su’s failure is one thing, but for now, we must send additional forces to ensure this task is completed smoothly and uphold the sect’s reputation,” a core elder suggested.

Lan Cangye nodded slightly, agreeing. Shadow Assassination Hall had risen to prominence on such tasks, and having accepted the benefits, they must find a way to fulfill the commission, as per the industry rules.

“Lan Qiyao, how about you take on this task?”

After pondering for a moment, Lan Cangye finally spoke.

Near the platform, a masked young woman silently stood up and saluted. Her figure was agile and strong, and her tight black leather armor outlined her explosive and enchanting curves. Her long, beautiful legs were enough to make one’s mouth water, and her obsidian eyes shone brightly.

Seeing his most satisfying disciple, whom he was preparing to groom as a successor, Lan Cangye’s eyes softened with a hint of a smile, and his tone became gentler:

“You haven’t undertaken many important missions, but you’ve performed quite well in each one. Therefore, I’ve decided to entrust this task to you as well. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

“Disciple obeys,” Lan Qiyao replied succinctly, her voice as pleasant as a babbling brook.

…

Inside the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm.

In a fragrant boudoir, on an absurdly large embroidered bed, a slightly weary Qing Muling released the milky-white Daxuezi from his grasp. The innate Harmony Spirit Seed within him emitted a bright glow, and a surge of spiritual essence flowed into his body, quickly restoring him to peak condition.

Breaking free from the entanglement of jade arms and long legs, Qing Muling said, “It’s about time we set off. If the map is correct, the opportunity near the Star Peng Plains should be emerging soon. It’s as precious as the Yunji Inquiry Tower, and we can’t let others snatch it away.”

“Alright, let’s go,” Qi Yalan replied with half-closed starry eyes, lazily propping up her stunningly beautiful body, still yearning for more as she hugged Qing Muling and began to help him dress.

“However, I think we should first gather all our fellow sect sisters before heading out together,” Luo Huan suggested softly, adjusting the delicate straps of her transparent midriff cover.

“That makes sense, let’s go together,” Luo Wanqing said, reluctantly starting to get dressed after fondling her Junior Brother a few more times. Yu Binghua, Xuebing Xuan, and Cheng Yulan also began to rise.

“After this grand gathering of immortals, you should all be able to advance directly to the middle or even high stages of True Immortal, right?” Qing Muling asked.

“Most likely, and much of it is thanks to you, Junior Brother,” Luo Wanqing replied, turning back to hug Qing Muling and nibble on him, her eyes filled with fervent adoration.

They had all used the Dao Rhyme from the Yunji Inquiry Tower to wash their marrow and refine their bodies and Divine Souls, reaching the pinnacle of their current realms. Except for Yu Binghua, who was slightly behind, there was no doubt that the five women, including Xuebing Xuan, could step into the middle stage of True Immortal, with a fair chance at the high stage.

The higher the cultivation of his senior sisters, the sweeter Qing Muling’s life of ease. He was determined to cling to their coattails and never let go.

Of course, his master Mu Yinghua’s coattails were even more enticing. If he could catch up with his senior sisters’ cultivation in the future, and even his master’s, there was much to look forward to in these comfortable and pleasant days.

Moments later, the neatly dressed senior sisters and Qing Muling boarded the starship and departed.

The Hidden Cave Mystical Realm of the Mysterious Dao Sovereign was vast. Even with the terrifying speed of the starship, it would take at least a year and a half to travel back and forth within it. That was just a cursory journey; exploring the relics and collecting resources could easily take a century or more.

However, each opening of the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm lasted only a hundred days, hardly enough time. The benefits cultivators could gain depended entirely on luck, and leaving empty-handed was no one’s fault but their own.

Inside the starship’s cabin, Qing Muling took the white turtle shell and a dozen jade coins from his eldest senior sister. He dropped a drop of his own blood onto the surface of the turtle shell, silently operating the secret technique of divination, and began to deduce the current locations of his fellow sect sisters.

Under the bright pearl light, the crimson blood on the turtle shell’s surface unexpectedly reflected a faint golden luster, with a hint of purple qi rising amidst the rich Dao Rhyme, filling the room with fragrance.

“If Junior Brother’s blood were used directly in medicine or pill refining, its efficacy would probably be no less than that of a heavenly-grade spirit pill,” Yu Binghua whispered.

Xuebing Xuan gave her a sidelong glance: “That’s why we must do everything we can to protect Junior Brother and not let outsiders covet him. He is our fortune and the hope for our sect’s prosperity. We cannot afford to lose him.”

The senior sisters nodded in agreement. Having experienced Qing Muling’s many benefits, they could no longer do without their Junior Brother. As long as they held on to him, their own paths and great undertakings would have the most reliable guarantee.

Before long, the turtle shell showed signs of movement, and a bright starlight slowly emerged, with scattered points of light chaotically distributed across it.

Xuebing Xuan and the other women gathered around to observe. Those points of light represented the locations of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace disciples. Although not 100% accurate, with Qing Muling’s terrifying luck, at least 80-90% accuracy was assured.

The larger points of light indicated the locations with more fellow sect sisters, while the dozens of smaller points often represented those who were alone, some near and some far.

“It’s a bit troublesome, but let’s take it slow,” Cheng Yulan said. Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace didn’t have many new generation disciples entering the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm this time, just over a thousand, plus the elders who had sealed their cultivation to protect the way, totaling less than two thousand. Compared to other Supreme Dao Lineages, it was indeed a bit sparse.

That’s why Xuebing Xuan decided to gather all the disciples together. Otherwise, these senior sisters would inevitably suffer if they encountered cultivators from hostile forces.

The starship slowed down slightly in the high sky, adjusted its direction, and then turned into a streak of light that disappeared into the horizon.

Tens of thousands of miles away, two groups of cultivators stood in silent confrontation.

Qi Shuyu’s expression was grave as she stared at the hundred or so cultivators from Lumming Island opposite her. A pair of dark, willow-leaf-shaped flying swords circled around her, exuding a piercing chill.

Behind her were more than twenty senior sisters, nearly half of whom were injured.

The two sides had already fought one battle. The female cultivators of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace, though generally superior in cultivation and strength, suffered due to their clear numerical disadvantage. The current situation was increasingly unfavorable.

“Our patience is limited,”

On the other side, a bearded strong man spoke ominously: “Hand over what you just took from that rock, and we’ll let you go this time. Otherwise, don’t blame us for being merciless!”

Qi Shuyu sneered coldly: “I wouldn’t trust the promises of Lumming Island. You’re just looking to take both people and goods, aren’t you? Rather than that, we might as well destroy the item so no one can benefit.”

Inside, however, she was anxious. She had a life-saving jade talisman, so she had nothing to worry about, but the senior sisters around her were not so lucky. Without reinforcements, none of them would survive.

The strong man angrily said, “Fairy Qi, don’t be ungrateful! Your Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace didn’t bring many people this time, and you still dare to compete with us for opportunities. Aren’t you afraid of dying here in the mystical realm?”

A handsome young man in white licked his lips and said in a strange tone: “It would be a pity to kill them all. After all, they are a group of rare beauties. Why not capture them and let our brothers enjoy them? After we’ve had our fun, we can sell them off. Wouldn’t that be delightful?”

Qi Shuyu’s beautiful face was as cold as frost: “Enough talk, let’s fight! Even if we all die here today, we’ll take a few of you down with us. Let’s see how capable you Lumming Island scoundrels really are.”

The bearded strong man sighed: “If that’s the case, then there’s nothing we can do!”

His original intention was to deceive Qi Shuyu into handing over the item and then take her by surprise with a stealthy attack, capturing all the stunning female cultivators. Unfortunately, she wasn’t falling for it.

Now, by forcing them into a desperate fight, his side could certainly win, but there would undoubtedly be many casualties among his disciples, which was a painful loss.

“I think it’s time for you scoundrels to die!”

From afar, the starship flew rapidly, arriving in an instant.

In the next breath, thousands of dazzling sword lights descended from the sky, engulfing the figures of the Lumming Island cultivators, and screams filled the air.