Chapter 600: The Death of Joseph

"Little Xuan, you've returned?"

When Hao Xuan returned to his residence, he saw the person he had previously called Fifth Uncle sitting in a chair in the middle of the hall with a stern expression.

"Fifth Uncle?" Upon seeing this person, Hao Xuan's heart couldn't help but jolt. "I'm sorry, Fifth Uncle, I lost."

"I have watched that battle of yours. From that battle, I can see that you are still very immature. Even though the opponent possessed a secret technique like Angel Descent, our Hao Family is not lacking in such secret techniques to boost combat power in a short time. Why didn't you use one?" Haojue asked in a cold voice.

"Fifth Uncle, I..."

"No need to say more. I can see it; your biggest problem right now is still your lack of personal experience. Don't return to the family for this period of time. Go out and gain some proper experience. Only when you are mature enough should you return to the family!" Haojue interrupted Hao Xuan.

Hearing these words from Haojue, Hao Xuan's breath hitched. Haojue's words sounded nice, but the actual meaning was already very clear. Gaining experience in the outside world sounded fine, but how could it compare to training within the Hidden Realm where the family was located? Moreover, how long this so-called experience would last was still an unknown!

Competition within the Hao Family had always been cruel; as long as one was left behind even a little, there would be countless people stepping on one's shoulders to climb upward. Even as the Third Young Master of the Hao Family, there would be no exceptions. Thinking of this, Hao Xuan couldn't help but feel a bit more resentment toward Joseph.

"Also, that Bell is of great importance. I must escort it back to the family first. After the Exchange Conference ends, you can return to the country on your own!" Haojue said, then turned and left the hall.

"I understand, Fifth Uncle." Hao Xuan clenched his fists tightly and lowered his head slightly.

Haojue walked out of the hall and happened to see Ahao walking toward him.

"Ahao, pack your things. We are preparing to set off!" Haojue ordered.

"Set off?" Ahao was momentarily confused.

"This Bell is of great importance; we must escort it back to the family first. There is no telling how many people have their eyes fixed on this Bell right now. Our actions must be discreet," Haojue said.

"But, what about the Third Young Master..." Ahao's tone was somewhat worried.

"As for Little Xuan, I have my own arrangements!" Haojue's voice carried an air that brooked no refusal. "We depart in twenty minutes. Go and prepare immediately!"

"His own arrangements? He's arranging for him to go to his death!" Ahao muttered in his heart.

Ever since Hao Xuan left the family, he had been by his side, and he had gained a certain understanding of him. Since leaving the family, his young master's personality had become increasingly dark, and his desire for revenge had become particularly heavy. If he were by his side, he could still offer some dissuasion, but if he left, heaven knows what he might do.

However, he was helpless in such matters. After all, he was merely a thug raised by the Hao Family; he had no decision-making power regarding the family's affairs and could only obediently carry out the orders of his superiors.

"Yes, I understand!" Ahao nodded forcefully, then watched as Haojue left the area.

"Third Young Master, you'll have to pray for your own good fortune!" Ahao silently recited in his heart before walking toward his own room.

Twenty minutes later, Haojue led a group of people and quietly left the residence. Their destination was the Exchange Center on the small island. Upon entering the Exchange Center, they instantly broke up and dispersed throughout the entire center.

Those watching them in the dark saw this scene and immediately reported the situation. Their primary target was a Half-step Nascent Soul powerhouse of the Hao Family. After all, this Bell was most likely kept on his person, as that method was the safest.

However, they did not expect that the Hao Family had sent not just one Half-step Nascent Soul powerhouse this time, but two. One was the person they were currently watching, and the other was Haojue, whom Hao Xuan called Fifth Uncle; and right now, the Bell was with Haojue. To successfully transfer the Bell, Haojue had brought a Magic Treasure from their Hao Family capable of isolating all auras, and he placed the Bell inside it.

"It seems Haoling has successfully attracted their attention. Now is the perfect time to leave." Haojue noticed that the people watching him in the dark had decreased, so he calmly walked toward the seaside.

In this operation, he was playing the role of a decoy. Under the cover of a special secret technique, his strength appeared to be only Xiantian Peak. Given his current age and Xiantian Peak strength, few people would pay him any attention.

"Lingyun, it seems someone is approaching the Space Array I set up!" Nangong Nayue held a cup of black tea, took an elegant sip, and said to Lingyun.

"Someone wants to leave this island?" Lingyun raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?"

"Judging by their attire, it seems to be people from the Hao Family." Nangong Nayue waved her hand, and an image appeared in mid-air.

"Hmm? This person, something is not right!" Lingyun looked at Haojue in the image and couldn't help but frown.

"Indeed, it is a bit off. According to the intelligence I received, this person's registered cultivation is Xiantian Peak, but he is the one causing the greatest fluctuation in my array!" Nangong Nayue said.

"It seems there are smart people in the Hao Family too! Luring the tiger away from the mountain, deceiving the heavens to cross the sea—they are truly skilled at this game." Lingyun looked at the man in front of him, a faint, inexplicable smile on his face.

"Do you want me to intercept them?" Nangong Nayue asked.

"No need. If he can truly bring this Bell back to their family, then it means this Bell has a predestined connection with their family. If the Bell is snatched away halfway, it won't be too late for us to act then."

"Alright, I understand." Nangong Nayue nodded.

"Lingyun, how do you know whether the Bell is in their hands or not?" Chen Jing asked curiously.

"I have already placed a restriction on the Bell, so I can track its location," Lingyun said indifferently.

"Oh."

Haojue's plan was very successful. Although some had detected his plan and ambushed the Hao Family members quietly leaving the island, they did not take a Haojue who only had "Xiantian Peak" strength too seriously, and the people sent to ambush him were not strong. Haojue successfully fought his way out of the encirclement, joined up with the support personnel on the perimeter, and sent the Bell back to the Hao Family.

Just as others were besieging the Hao Family members, a major event occurred on the small island: the Holy See's Saint Son—Joseph—had actually died, and he died in his own residence.

Theoretically, people dying on this island was nothing strange, but the important thing was that the person who died this time was not simple, and the state of his death was extremely miserable. Most importantly, the deaths of others were mostly on the arena, or they died after leaving the arena due to severe injuries. But Joseph was not in either of these situations; he had been assassinated!

This act was tantamount to a provocation against the Holy See. When George saw Joseph bleeding from his seven orifices, looking like a fierce ghost, he almost went berserk. For a time, the atmosphere on the island became extremely heavy.