Chapter 347: The Death of Song Shi

"Big brother, I've delivered everything."

Ning Zhongtian nodded.

"Good. Did Master Song say anything?"

Li Rui nodded and asked.

Ning Zhongtian pulled out a slip of paper similar to the previous one, sighing: "He wants more medicine again."

He added: "And he won't pay."

"Big brother, tell me—these guys are rich folks from the capital, why so stingy?"

Li Rui didn't care: "Keep buying for him."

"Alright."

Ning Zhongtian nodded.

After all, the Heaven and Earth Alliance was thriving now; this money meant nothing to them.

Even he, the Fourth Alliance Leader, had a fat purse.

When going out to drink, he never let others pay.

Officials having private wealth is normal.

Ning Zhongtian suddenly asked: "By the way, big brother, are you really planning to hand over the Heaven and Earth Alliance to Xiao He and Xiao Liu?"

Over the years.

Though he was still an original shareholder, he had practically stopped participating in Alliance affairs.

One reason was obviously that an official career offered greater prospects.

First there was Mentor Lei Yong, now even Big Brother Li Rui had become Assistant Regional Commander—his position would likely rise further.

Being an official offered far greater prospects than being an Alliance Leader.

The other reason was the result of Li Rui's explicit instruction.

Otherwise, as the Alliance's greatest founder and second only to Li Rui in martial skill, how could he so casually relinquish power?

Li Rui nodded: "We're getting old. It's time to let the young ones step forward. We can't cling to our positions forever."

Ning Zhongtian rolled his eyes:

"Big brother, don't drag me in—I'm barely over forty, still in my prime."

Then he chuckled: "Though becoming an Honorary Elder doesn't sound bad."

He had long known Li Rui's plan.

He had persuaded Huang Chui and Fei Laosan without much effort.

After all, the Heaven and Earth Alliance was now Li Rui's personal domain.

No choice.

In terms of the Qianshi 's saying, the Alliance was still in its startup phase—no room for debate, only one person's word mattered.

"The young are formidable indeed."

Ning Zhongtian sighed.

He never imagined that this phrase, once spoken to him by others throughout his life, had now become his own to say.

Because he was too young, he had never planned to take disciples.

Besides, Liang He and Liu Tong looked decent to him, and they were sharp and capable.

Entrusting the Heaven and Earth Alliance to them.

He felt at ease.

Li Rui: "Alright, don't slack off on your training. If you need money, take it from the Alliance's treasury. The Alliance can't rely on just me."

Ning Zhongtian grinned: "Big brother, I'm fully committed to martial training."

Inside, he was overjoyed.

He no longer had to scramble for cultivation resources—just focus on hard practice.

How worry-free.

Far more comfortable than the days when he risked his life on the martial world for a meal.

Li Rui waved his hand: "Go."

Ning Zhongtian had excellent martial roots—he would undoubtedly become a strong ally.

Besides, he was already at the Primordial stage.

His cultivation needs were over ten times greater than those of an Ocean-Viewing cultivator; giving him some wouldn't affect Li Rui at all.

But when Ning Zhongtian broke through,

the benefits to Li Rui would be even greater.

This investment was worthwhile—even apart from the calculations, Ning Zhongtian's bond with him justified these spirit pills and herbs.

"Keep your eyes sharp!"

A burly man, chest exposed, growled.

"Yes."

Several black-robed figures nodded in unison.

"If you fail the Ancestor's orders, you'll regret it when you return."

Outside Qinghe City, in the mountains.

Seven or eight black-robed figures gathered together.

They were all powerful members of the Purple Gold Palace, belonging to the Ghost Ming lineage—the former Ghost Ming Sect.

All were under Blood Shadow Ancestor's command.

They had come here to investigate Song Shi's intelligence.

As the burly man spoke,

a black-robed man ran over from a distance and bowed respectfully: "Elder Chai, Song Shi has left the city."

The black-robed man's eyes lit up, grinning:

"Good, good, good! Go back and report. I'll go check it out—let's see what tricks he's up to."

Saying this,

the burly man vanished in a flash.

Disappearing into the mountain forest.

Don't be fooled by his bulky frame—his speed was truly swift.

On the official road,

a figure sped forward, no slower than top-tier demonic horses.

Song Shi had yellow talismans stuck to both boots.

His speed was astonishing.

In mere moments, he had traveled a hundred li.

Only because it was deep night, no one noticed.

These talismans were famous in the martial world—called Divine Traveler. Their sole effect: increased speed.

A single Divine Traveler talisman was extremely valuable.

Only because Song Shi himself was a talisman master could he afford it.

Half an hour later,

he stood again before the majestic city.

Song Shi squinted slightly.

What an impressive formation.

He considered himself well-traveled, having seen many great sects' protective formations—yet this one was no less formidable than those of sects with millennia of history.

It truly startled him.

But the more extraordinary the Purple Gold Palace, the more likely it held a Fallen Immortal. Song Shi licked his lips.

He could already taste the merit.

"It's just this protective formation that's troublesome."

As he thought,

he pulled out the jade tablet exclusive to the Shadow Agents.

Unlike Li Rui's Jade Mountain Seeker tablet, his bore a bold, swirling character: "Ding," while Li Rui's bore "Xun."

As long as he spat his tongue's blood onto the tablet, it counted as a report.

Then a stronger force would come to handle it.

"Report now?"

Song Shi hesitated.

Reporting as a Shadow Agent wasn't trivial—it would alert Commander Gu Changsheng. Though Shadow Agents nominally answered to Yang Bing, the only true authority was Gu Changsheng.

One mistake, one misstep, one wrong word—everything could be ruined!

He still hoped to earn enough merit in the Shadow Agents to become a third-rank Hall Official directly.

If he gave Gu Changsheng the impression he was reckless, it would all be over.

Gu Changsheng was a pillar of the court.

A single word from him carried immense weight in the Emperor's eyes.

Once a bad impression is left, the map is useless.

But if you don't report it.

Song Shi gazed at the palace complex in the distance, a flicker of dread in his eyes.

That day's methods were truly bizarre.

Gu Changsheng's life-saving talisman only works once; once used, it's gone, and this time, no one can save him again.

He's no fool.

Of course he knows: compared to fame and fortune, life is far more important.

"Enough."

"I'll take the gamble!"

Song Shi gritted his teeth.

He raised the jade tablet before him, clamped his upper and lower teeth together, and a metallic tang flooded his mouth and nose.

He exhaled with held breath.

Crimson blood turned to mist and scattered over the Dark Guard jade tablet.

Instantly.

Tiny glowing lights flared to life on the tablet.

Then Yang Bing's voice came through.

"Good."

Soon after, the tablet returned to its ordinary state.

Commander Yang Bing has received the message; the tablet will transmit the location, and then Yang Bing will send someone stronger to handle it.

All he needs to do is wait quietly.

Song Shi glanced nervously at the Purple Gold Palace nearby and sighed softly.

"I wonder if this is fortune or misfortune."

He rose to his feet, preparing to return.

That place was a den of dragons and tigers; he didn't want to enter it again.

But the moment he turned around.

Every hair on his body stood on end.

Behind him, without warning, stood an ancient man in a black robe, gazing at him with cold indifference.

Song Shi's face turned instantly pale.

Almost in an instant.

As he reacted, the old man's voice rang out:

"What a waste."

Blood Shadow Ancestor's withered hand gripped Song Shi's throat the instant before he could reach for the talisman at his waist.

"Ugh."

"Ugh—"

Song Shi's eyes bulged, filling with blood and terror.

He didn't want to die!

He felt his life force being violently drained through those giant hands.

In mere moments.

Only a shapeless, desiccated corpse remained on the ground.

Blood Shadow Ancestor glanced at it indifferently.

Had it not been for the Immortal Sovereign's order, Song Shi should have died days ago; he was kept alive only to deliver this message.

Once done,

he deserved to die.

Having finished this, Blood Shadow Ancestor slowly walked toward the Purple Gold Palace.

Qinghe County.

Night.

Li Rui walked down the empty street, carrying a wooden box.

"Qinghe certainly can't compare to Jingcheng."

In Jingcheng, the streets were still packed at this hour.

A true city that never sleeps.

Soon after.

He arrived before Huacai Residence, ascended the third floor with practiced ease.

He came here, of course, to deliver medicine to Song Shi.

The pills Song Shi had arranged Ning Zhongtian to purchase had been acquired; after completing a task, one must make one's presence known.

Otherwise, what was the point?

But just as he reached the upper floor, about to reach Song Shi's room.

He suddenly froze.

His brow furrowed slightly.

'Blood smell!'

A faint, lingering scent of blood drifted from the adjacent room; only someone with his far-above-average senses could have detected it.

At that moment.

The adjacent room burst open, and a gleaming long blade appeared before his eyes.

Li Rui reacted faster.

He thrust his palm forward.

Before the blade could descend, he struck the man squarely on the chest.

Boom!

A thunderous crash.

The third floor of Huacai Residence was shattered; the man died midair, his corpse falling into the Qinghe River behind the residence.

(End of Chapter)