Chapter 118: Schemes

Two more black shadows rushed into the mansion, and Zhao Tianhe narrowed his eyes, clearly recognizing their identities.

"Indeed, the Spirit Hall people have arrived."

Tie Li saw the Soul Rings floating beneath them.

Three yellow, two purple, one black!

One white, two yellow, two purple!

One Six‑ring Soul Emperor, one Five Ring Soul King—this is clearly beyond the strength of the lowest‑grade martial soul subhall in White Tooth City; they are likely from a higher‑grade martial soul branch hall.

"Boom—"

A deafening blast echoed through the mansion, the Soul Power Collision generating extremely violent ripples.

The blast also served as a signal, and the silhouettes hidden in the shadows all surged into the mansion.

"I'm moving straight into the mansion; you handle things outside as the situation changes— the Cheng family won't simply surrender," Zhao Tianhe said.

"Fine."

Tie Li nodded; he shared the same thought.

The commotion inside the mansion grew more intense, and Hu Yanbao, who had thought he controlled everything, was now in a sorry state.

If Zhao Tianhe hadn't had to divert his attention to deal with the Spirit Hall's Soul Emperor, Hu Yanbao would have been killed long ago.

"Wait, something's off."

Tie Li had intended to scout outside the mansion to see if the Cheng family had secret passages to quietly evacuate their clan members from White Tooth City.

But three outer‑disciple members of the Ivory Sect flashed in his mind, and when he entered White Tooth City, he sensed someone watching him.

Tie Li's sensitivity to such perceptions is extremely acute; he could not be mistaken.

"We should go back and take a look."

In the inn, the three Ivory Sect disciples who had been knocked unconscious awoke.

"Fortunately, we were prepared; otherwise we'd have actually fainted to death for days."

"Enough talk, hurry and get the young master out."

The three hurried out of the inn and arrived near a small courtyard on South Street of White Tooth City.

The "young master" they spoke of was not a legitimate heir of the Cheng family head, but an illegitimate son who had never entered the Cheng household, and no one knew of his existence.

Precisely because of this, when the Cheng family was targeted by various forces, the only way to preserve the Cheng bloodline rested on this illegitimate son.

Who could have imagined that a casual act would become the final lifeline.

As for why the Cheng family head wouldn't hand over the treasure to survive, he knew that even if he surrendered the treasure, the Cheng family would still vanish.

The three leapt over the wall into the courtyard, where a boy of about eight or nine had already packed his belongings, looking timidly at them.

"Young master, let's leave quickly."

"But…" The boy's gaze remained fixed on the shadow beneath the wall.

Sensing something wrong, the three turned back and saw Tie Li wrapped in a black robe.

"Who… who are you? How did you end up here?" the leader shouted, his mind racing to figure out how to deal with this unexpected appearance.

"You talk too much."

Watching Tie Li draw nearer, the leader suddenly stepped back to the boy's side and clasped his right hand around the boy's neck.

"Leave immediately, or I'll kill him, and then you won't get the treasure."

"The family head hid the treasure, and only the young master knows where it is!"

But his threat had no effect on Tie Li.

"You grabbed him; what gives you the right to order me aside? Since you want to play, let's test whose blade is quicker!"

"What did you say?"

Three chains filled with purple Lightning Light sprang forth like three Poison Snakes, piercing their chests, then flailed violently, scattering their life force along with them.

Tie Li retracted the chains, and the three corpses fell to the ground, leaving only the terrified boy.

"Where is the treasure?" Tie Li's cold voice fell into the boy's ear, startling him.

"It's… here."

The boy, not daring to delay, immediately pulled a jade box from his chest; the Cheng family head had always kept the jade box on this illegitimate son.

The earlier excuse was the Cheng family head's ploy to coax the three, merely to get them to take the boy out of White Tooth City.

The Cheng family head dared not cause any disturbance inside the city; he could only leave a few trusted subordinates outside, waiting for the boy to leave White Tooth City so they could escort him far away.

If the jade box can be opened, perhaps twenty or thirty years later a stronger Cheng family will emerge in the Soul Master World.

The jade box is only palm‑sized, sealed shut, impossible to force open.

"Hmm?"

Tie Li's face changed slightly; the electric arc lingering on his fingertips, upon touching the jade box, displayed a faint irregularity.

He immediately stored the jade box into his storage ring.

Tie Li suddenly felt a cold draft behind him and stepped aside.

A maid clenched a dagger in both hands, attempting to stab Tie Li, but as Tie Li shifted, the dagger struck the boy.

"Sizzle—"

"Young master," the maid shrieked, as the dagger pierced the young master's heart.

She was just an ordinary person; trying to ambush Tie Li and save the boy, she ended up killing the boy by mistake.

"Bang—"

With one palm strike, Tie Li shattered her internal organs and turned away from the courtyard.

The battle at the Cheng family mansion was nearing its end; Hu Yanbao sustained serious injuries, and only three Elders of the Ivory Sect remained alive, the rest having been slain.

"Boom—"

Zhao Tianhe's fourth Soul Ring lit up, a black beam shot from his mouth, nearly piercing the abdomen of the Spirit Hall's Soul Emperor.

His martial soul leaned toward defense, a shell of armor covered his body, shielding most of the attacks, but he was still drenched in cold sweat from Zhao Tianhe's sudden soul skill.

Zhao Tianhe's sudden strike landed on his shoulder, the jade box in his hand fell off and was seized by Zhao Tianhe.

"Thanks." Zhao Tianhe said in a pretended hoarse voice.

This jade box bore a mark unique to the Fenglei Sect, which Zhao Tianhe could never mistake.

Having taken the jade box, he left the mansion directly; none of the Soul Masters present dared to intervene.

A fully intact Six-ring Soul Emperor, whose Soul Power Level was the highest among everyone, who would dare to strike?

"Bastard." Hu Yanbao muttered under his breath.

Two Soul Emperors appeared in succession, which exceeded his expectations; he had thought victory was assured, but it turned into a joke, with the loss of most Soul Masters and not even getting a touch on the jade box.

Hu Yanbao's gaze lingered on the other Soul Emperor for a moment, then he led the remaining men to charge into the Cheng family mansion.

Zhao Tianhe happened to see Tie Li outside the mansion.

"Let's go, we have the goods."

"Alright."

Tie Li replied, and followed Zhao Tianhe out of there.

They had expected to return to the inn, but Zhao Tianhe brought Tie Li to the Cheng Zhu Fu of White Fang City.

The city lord of White Fang City was a middle‑aged man, his attire somewhat luxurious; although he was the city lord, his standing in the city was not high.

Wherever one goes, power speaks for itself; he was only a Level‑32 Soul Elder, and in White Fang City alone there were more than a handful of Soul Masters stronger than him.

Upon entering White Fang City, Zhao Tianhe learned that the Cheng family was the one he had been told about.

(End of chapter)