Chapter 577: Black Cloud Spear

Zhou You scanned his surroundings and discovered that those invited were all renowned experts from Fucheng, with the lowest-ranked being Intermediate Martial Masters.

Those high-level Martial Masters were all in the prime of their lives, in a state of peak strength.

There were even one or two who shared a history of study with him, talented individuals who had once listened to lectures by the Fucheng Monarch together.

As for high-level Martial Masters in retirement like 'Tiger Elder', they were not included in this list; not a single one had been invited.

A youth in flamboyant attire caught his attention; this person was fair-skinned and handsome, looking like a young girl, and the key point was that he was wearing eyeshadow.

A man wearing eyeshadow—one look and you knew he was not to be trifled with!

This youth had a long sword strapped to his waist, but by the looks of it, it was not the style of the Jueguang Sect.

Just as Zhou You was curious about the other party's identity, a report suddenly came from outside, "Master Cao from Weinan Cheng has arrived."

Cao Wudang had come; he was the aggrieved party in this incident and had finally arrived at the Thousand Faces Hall to demand an explanation.

Zhou You gripped the armrest tightly with his palm; could today be the day Cao Wudang and the Thousand Faces Hall would face each other to demand accountability?

This was too much of a coincidence.

As soon as Cao Wudang appeared, many people showed signs of restraint, sensing a faint, looming aura of a Strong Martial Artist from him.

Sure enough, when he had interrupted his closed-door cultivation, he had already touched the threshold of a Strong Martial Artist, yet he had been forced to abandon a great opportunity within his grasp by the Thousand Faces Hall's act of losing face to the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop.

His clanswoman had been abducted, bringing shame to his family; that would have been one thing, but he had been forced to fall short of success when he could have broken through to become a Strong Martial Artist.

It could truly be called a hatred as deep as the sea, an irreconcilable enmity.

"Venerable One, Cao has come today to seek counsel: how does your side intend to deal with the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop?"

Cao Wudang made his entrance and did not waste words, going straight to the point.

Previously, the Thousand Faces Hall had taken the initiative to attack and had already lost one round, suffering the loss of a Strong Martial Artist; if not for this, things would not be as they were now, with Poison Martial Arts running rampant and their arrogant aura reaching the heavens.

When it came down to it, today's disaster was still caused by the Thousand Faces Hall's active provocation.

Seeing him be so forceful toward a Strong Martial Artist, the surrounding Martial Masters couldn't help but break into a cold sweat.

Chirili Qianli was not angry; he nodded, "You have come at the right time. This old man has invited these talented elites to accomplish one thing: kill Wu Kui and bring back the Cao clanswoman."

Cao Wudang refused directly, "No need. I will rescue the women of my family myself."

"The Venerable One has great matters to attend to; you should set your sights on Du Taiyue."

He was blunt, pointing out the essence of the matter: everything originated from Du Taiyue, and it was only because this Strong Martial Artist, Lao Duwu, was backing them that those Poison Martial Arts disciples dared to be so arrogant.

One only needed to kill Du Taiyue, and the group of Poison Martial Arts practitioners would become like water without a source, easily wiped out.

Zhou You spread his palms and stroked them gently; it seemed Cao Wudang's purpose in coming to hold them accountable was not pure! It was possible he did not just represent his own family, but that behind him stood various parties whose interests had been damaged, forcing the Thousand Faces Hall to provide an explanation.

In the protracted war between the Thousand Faces Hall and the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop, the third parties suffered the most, so no one wanted to see them remain in a stalemate; they were desperate for a quick resolution.

Du Taiyue directed his disciples to cause destruction everywhere; did the Thousand Faces Hall think they could hide and avoid the challenge? Not a chance.

The matter of Cao Xuan'er was just a catalyst; if one were to think in terms of conspiracy theories, why would a daughter of a wealthy clan like Cao Xuan'er end up alone, giving Wu Kui an opportunity to strike?

Chirili Qianli chuckled twice, "What you say is correct. One must pull out poison early; this malignant tumor, Du Taiyue, cannot be left for long!"

He suddenly tightened his voice, gathering it into a stream that traveled into Cao Wudang's ear.

With this, the conversation turned into a private channel for the two of them; the people present could not hear a single sound and felt restless with curiosity.

On the surface, Chirili Qianli's explanation seemed to satisfy Cao Wudang greatly.

A moment later, Cao Wudang cupped his hands, "I will convey the Venerable One's words word for word. The situation is urgent, so I shall take my leave now." He had come in a hurry and left in a hurry; he had departed in no more than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

"Everyone, I have invited you here for only one thing: to kill the wicked and save the innocent."

Chirili Qianli clapped his hands, and a line of attendants filed in, holding various containers such as wooden boxes and porcelain bowls.

Each of them stood in front of a guest, bowed slightly, and opened their respective vessel.

In front of Zhou You was a long, narrow wooden box; he guessed it was a scroll or perhaps a long weapon of some sort.

Sure enough, after the wooden box was opened, a long spear lay inside, pitch-black as ink, with a cloud-like spear tassel that was particularly eye-catching—jet-black and dense, as if it were hair growing from a living creature.

The pure gold plaque beneath the wooden box identified the identity of this long spear... the Black Cloud Spear.

It was a standard-issue cold weapon from Black Cloud Mountain; of course, it was not the Black Cloud Divine Spear that had once been on the Weapon Ranking, but it was still a weapon of the Black Cloud Mountain disciples.

Zhou You was slightly surprised; only a few people knew the news that he had obtained the Black Cloud Spear Manual. That the Thousand Faces Hall could uncover this information and procure the long-lost Black Cloud Spear showed they had immense resources.

He subconsciously looked around; every invited Martial Master was staring fixedly at the vessel in front of them, their expressions entranced. Clearly, the items inside were just like the Black Cloud Spear—treasures possessing great temptation.

Besides weapons, there were also precious Secret Medicines, rare martial arts manuals, and the like, all carefully prepared by the Thousand Faces Hall to strike directly at the hearts of the guests.

"My apologies, guest."

The attendant in front of him closed the wooden box and turned to leave.

A sense of loss and disappointment welled up in Zhou You's heart.

This Black Cloud Spear was a finished Cursed Charm Treasure, no less than the Bawang Shu in Yanshan; what was even more difficult was that this weapon was highly compatible with his Black Cloud Spear Manual.

Once he held the spear in his hand, Zhou You could exert twelve percent of his strength.

The sounds of exclamation, regret, and melancholy coming from all around indicated that the other Martial Masters felt much the same as Zhou You.

"Everyone, my Thousand Faces Hall does not engage in empty talk; we only have solid sincerity."

"Wu Kui has returned to the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop and colluded with other disciples; to save the people, one must risk breaking in."

"The 'sincerity' you see is the commission for this trip. Nod your head, and the items are yours."

This sentence was like a basin of ice water poured down, and many people calmed down on the spot.

The items were good, but one had to have their life to take them; this was no commission—it was clearly blood money.

Was the Ten Thousand Poisons Secret Workshop that easy to break into? Even the few Strong Martial Artists like Chirili Qianli couldn't break in and had even lost one person, which showed that Du Taiyue had managed his lair to be impenetrable.

At their level as Martial Masters, they wouldn't even need Du Taiyue to make a move; that gang of disciples and lackeys could easily wipe them out.

But then, thinking about it, if the mission were easy, it wouldn't be worth such a heavy commission, would it?

"Ahem, Venerable One, I will not be going."

Breaking the silence, the first to express his opinion was none other than the master of the Daqian Martial Arts Hall, the Hungry Tiger Zhou You.

He stood up and cupped his hands toward Chi Riqianli, "A gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall; my family is of humble standing and cannot afford to provoke the disciples and followers of Du Taiyue."

Chi Riqianli's brow twitched, "Master Zhou, will you not reconsider? Could it be that you do not want it?"

"I truly like the item, but unfortunately..."

Chi Riqianli furrowed his brows; having lived for so many years, he had never heard anyone make such an outrageous request to his face.

You are unwilling to do the task, yet you still think of taking the benefits for free!

(End of this chapter)