Chapter 23: Diao Rongqi

Diao Rongqi sat there dazed, tears streaming down her face.

“Little Qi, what’s wrong?” Mo Lüfeiyun, seeing her friend cry, instantly snapped awake and hurriedly asked, “What happened?”

“My father is dead,” Diao Rongqi said dully.

While her father was alive, she was a noble daughter of a great clan, associating only with the scions of powerful families in Huyang City. Even masters like the Eternal True Gods were beneath her notice—she had wanted to become a disciple of Huyang City’s openly strongest leader, “Mo Li Xiao, the Commander,” and failing that, she had aimed for Jiang He, the Divine Lord who overshadowed the dark factions.

Diao Rongqi had been reluctant to choose a father who was merely an ordinary Eternal True God skilled in alchemy.

But when her father died, and she discovered he had left her a hidden path before his death, she could no longer bear it.

“Father!” Diao Rongqi knew clearly—he was the one who loved her most in this world, the closest kin who would give everything for her.

“Master Yan died?” Mo Lüfeiyun couldn’t believe it. “How is that possible? Master Yan was an Eternal True God—who killed him?”

“He was indeed killed.”

A sigh echoed—coming from Mo Li Meng, the current leader of the Mo Li clan; Mo Li Xiao had no energy to manage clan affairs.

“Father,” Mo Lüfeiyun looked at her own father.

“Just now, all life within the main branch’s cave dwelling of the Diao clan was slaughtered—not a single soul left alive,” Mo Li Meng said. “Now, only scattered branches of the Diao clan remain.”

Cave dwellings have limited space; large clans must spread out, especially peripheral branches forced to live in ordinary caves. This time, it was the core of the Diao clan that was wiped out.

“Father, who is the killer?” Mo Lüfeiyun asked.

Diao Rongqi also turned to look at Mo Li Meng.

Mo Li Meng replied: “Before his death, Diao Yan used a karmic transmission talisman to contact many friends, naming the killer as Mu Yang, the leader of the Blood Serpent Guild.”

“My father also sent me a message, saying the killer was the Blood Serpent Guild leader,” Diao Rongqi said hoarsely. “Ten thousand lives in the entire cave dwelling—Eternal True Gods down to the youngest children—all dead. With my father’s own verified message as proof, shouldn’t the City Lord’s mansion take action?”

Mo Li Meng shook his head. “The Blood Serpent Guild leader isn’t an ordinary Eternal True God—he commands a faction. Killing him isn’t easy and requires deliberation among the Five Great Clans. Moreover, your father’s final message doesn’t count as conclusive evidence. The killer could easily have impersonated the Blood Serpent Guild leader.”

“Impersonated?” Diao Rongqi cried out anxiously. “Even my father’s final message can’t be trusted?”

“Some secret arts can deceive even Eternal True Gods,” Mo Li Meng said. “In short, confirming the killer’s identity and forcing the City Lord’s mansion to act… is extremely difficult.”

Diao Rongqi fell silent.

“After your father’s death, his many assets—alchemy caves, shops, and more—you, as a Void True God, cannot possibly control them,” Mo Li Meng said. “My Mo Li clan can help take them over.”

“Father!” Mo Lüfeiyun cried out anxiously.

“Don’t worry—I’m not so low as to seize such petty gains. These assets are valued at twenty thousand Cosmic Sands and will be held under your name in the Yanfeng Guildhall,” Mo Li Meng said. “You shouldn’t carry so many Cosmic Sands on your person.”

“Thank you, Uncle Meng,” Diao Rongqi said gratefully; she knew full well this price was far from low.

“In all of Huyang City, only a handful have the ability to kill the Blood Serpent Guild leader,” Mo Li Meng said. “To kill him, you must have patience and wait for the right opportunity.”

Diao Rongqi asked: “Can Commander Mo Li act? I’ll give up all twenty thousand Cosmic Sands.”

“It’s not as simple as you think,” Mo Li Meng turned and walked away.

“Little Qi, stay here with me—no one can threaten you,” Mo Lüfeiyun said.

Diao Rongqi whispered: “Feiyun, I need to be alone.”

“Alright, I won’t disturb you,” Mo Lüfeiyun rose and left.

Diao Rongqi sat alone, staring blankly at the night sky, at the countless glittering stars. Just now, the star belonging to her father had surely dimmed forever.

“Father…” At this moment, Diao Rongqi missed him desperately—and then her eyes turned wild.

Diao Rongqi used her transmission talisman to remotely contact the secret hall of the Yanfeng Guildhall.

“Diao Rongqi, your father Diao Yan has died. He left you thirty thousand Cosmic Sands in the secret hall. Mo Li Meng has also deposited twenty thousand under your name. You now possess fifty thousand Cosmic Sands,” the secret hall replied.

“I want to put forty thousand Cosmic Sands into a bounty on the Blood Serpent Guild leader, Mu Yang,” Diao Rongqi sent back, trusting her father’s final judgment of the killer’s identity.

“Agreed. The bounty on the Blood Serpent Guild leader has risen to one hundred sixty thousand Cosmic Sands! You now have ten thousand Cosmic Sands remaining,” the secret hall replied.

After raising the bounty, Diao Rongqi could only wait silently, hoping a powerful figure would accept the reward and kill the Blood Serpent Guild leader!

…

Headquarters of the Blood Serpent Guild.

“Mo Li Meng, what brings you here?” The Blood Serpent Guild leader smiled at Mo Li Meng.

Mo Li Meng’s face was grim. “Are you mad? Diao Yan devoted himself to alchemy and served all of Huyang City—he never meddled in your dark faction’s struggles. Why did you target him? Your recklessness will only cause panic among Huyang City’s families! If the Five Great Clans believe you threaten the city’s stability, you’re finished!”

“I didn’t kill him—the killer impersonated me!” the Blood Serpent Guild leader exclaimed urgently. “The leader of the Shiguo faction, ‘Xue Yun,’ is exceptionally skilled at disguise—I suspect it was him impersonating me.”

“Diao Yan identified you as the killer before he died,” Mo Li Meng sneered. “If you can’t even kill someone without them recognizing your identity, you’re utterly incompetent.”

“It really wasn’t me,” the Blood Serpent Guild leader said.

“Everyone in Huyang City must follow the rules!” Mo Li Meng glanced at him, then turned and walked away. “Break the rules, and the consequences may be more than you can bear.”

With that, Mo Li Meng vanished.

Mu Yang, the Blood Serpent Guild leader, watched him go, his expression growing calm.

“So what if I break the rules? Hmph. In this world, strength is the only law,” Mu Yang sneered. “Even if I kill one more, what can the dozens of families in Huyang City do? If they dare move against me, they’d better be ready to die! Too bad Diao Yan was such a waste—killing him and ransacking his entire cave dwelling yielded only twenty-two thousand Cosmic Sands.” He shook his head. “Among Huyang City’s top three alchemists, I judged him to be rich enough. Yet he yielded so little.”

“If all else fails, I’ll have to use my armor treasure as collateral,” Mu Yang thought darkly. “I must acquire the lower volume of the ‘Hun Tie Xue Sha Fa’ as soon as possible—delay any longer, and I’ll be fully entangled by Shiguo. Then I won’t even save my life.”

He knew well how dangerous the conflict between the Five Great Clans and Shiguo was. He had been dragged into it for the sake of his legacy, and all he wanted was to obtain the legacy and flee far away.

The longer he delayed, the more dangerous it became!

“I must gather one million Cosmic Sands as soon as possible!” Mu Yang’s eyes turned icy.

Time passed slowly on the Origin Continent. Night ended, and day arrived.

All major factions in Huyang City had learned of “Diao Yan’s death,” and all had heard the killer might be Mu Yang, the Blood Serpent Guild leader—the bounty on Mu Yang in the Yanfeng Guildhall’s secret hall had already risen to one hundred sixty thousand Cosmic Sands!

“My father had some friends, but now that he’s dead, none of them will help raise a bounty,” Diao Rongqi, within the Mo Li clan, kept checking the bounty board—the reward remained unchanged, and no one had completed the task.

“The fourth-highest bounty is held by another dark faction leader, ‘Chun Yu Yi,’ at one hundred eighty thousand Cosmic Sands—he’s lived safely for eons. The Blood Serpent Guild leader’s bounty is now one hundred sixty thousand, ranked fifth—who would dare kill him?” Diao Rongqi scanned the bounty list again and again, hoping for some change.

But the long night had brought no change.

Diao Rongqi felt only helplessness—after her father’s death, there was nothing she could do.

!.

“Young Lady, Lord Luo He has arrived at Huojie Eatery,” Su Yun, who had been guarding Huojie Eatery, sent a message.

“Luo He?” Diao Rongqi’s heart stirred. “Lord Luo He just arrived in Huyang City and has shown no fear of the Blood Serpent Guild—he would never be afraid of the Blood Serpent Guild leader.”

The Blood Serpent Guild leader was feared by many factions, but clearly Lord Luo Shenjun was not among them—this was precisely why Diao Rongqi had immediately wanted to become his disciple.

Huh.

Diao Rongqi rose instantly.

“Little Qi,” Mo Lüfeiyun had been worried about her friend.

“I must leave immediately,” Diao Rongqi said.

“It’s not safe for you to go out now,” Mo Lüfeiyun worried.

“It’s daytime—True Gods are everywhere. It’s still safe. And I must go out!” Diao Rongqi said.

Mo Lüfeiyun thought for a moment: “I’ll arrange a guard unit to escort you. You’ll ride my Mo Li clan’s airship.”

“Thank you,” Diao Rongqi said, grateful but too urgent to linger, and rushed outside.

…

Huojie Eatery.

“My Lady has instructed me, Lord,” Su Yun said with utmost reverence. “All your expenses here at Huojie Eatery will be covered by my Lady.”

Luo Feng arrived with Mo Luo Sa and Mo Yu Qingyan.

“Since I left Huojie Eatery last time, you’ve been guarding it ever since?” Luo Feng looked at Su Yun.

“Yes, my Lady ordered me to,” the guard Su Yun replied.

“Thank your Lady for me,” Luo Feng walked straight inside; the eatery’s owner, “Black Butcher,” immediately came forward warmly to greet him.

Inside the small pavilion.

Luo Feng and Mo Luo Sa enjoyed food and wine together, while the servant Mo Yu Qingyan remained outside, standing guard with intense focus.

“That Diao clan’s young lady clearly wants to become your disciple,” Mo Luo Sa said.

“Her father died last night,” Luo Feng said.

“Died?” Mo Luo Sa was startled.

“I heard it from friends,” Luo Feng said—he’d received visits from many factions and had made a few acquaintances; several Eternal True Gods, including Shen Tianyan, had informed him of the news.

Luo Feng suddenly said: “The leader of Shiguo’s hidden forces in Huyang City is called Xue Yun. His bounty is one million Cosmic Sands.”

“Kill him!” Mo Luo Sa’s eyes lit up.

“But I can’t find him,” Luo Feng thought. “Do you have any way to locate him?” Mo Luo Sa naturally mastered the Dao of Destruction; without the will-art “Lie Yuan Shu,” Luo Feng doubted he could even defeat Mo Luo Sa.

If he couldn’t find Xue Yun, perhaps Mo Luo Sa could.

“I’ve never seen him,” Mo Luo Sa frowned. “If I’d seen him once, I might have some way to track him.”

“Too bad,” Luo Feng shook his head.

If he could kill Xue Yun, the spoils and the massive bounty alone would equal the combined wealth of dozens of dark faction leaders—enough to cover the resources needed for his three body refinements.

Too bad—he couldn’t find him!

“Master,” Mo Yu Qingyan’s voice came from outside. “Diao Rongqi is here to visit.”

“She’s come?” Luo Feng looked at the Huojie banquet before him. “Let her in.”

Mo Yu Qingyan, who had been standing guard outside, stepped aside and said: “The Master invites you in.”

(End of Chapter)