Pavilion Master Shao Qiu of Fan Domain's Dark Pavilion Arrives to Report

Fan City. Today was the opening day of the First Fan Domain Auction. Numerous factions had arrived, and many among them knew one another. With few opportunities to meet under ordinary circumstances, their gathering naturally gave rise to a great deal of conversation. More notably, many of the delegations were led in person by family patriarchs, sect masters, and other leaders. Their presence made the occasion's importance plain to see. "Patriarch Qi?" A middle-aged man standing by the gates of Fan City glanced around. Only after confirming that no members of Fan Domain were nearby did he lean in cautiously toward another middle-aged man beside him. "Didn't I hear that when Fan Domain executed the Dan Sect's young master, they activated hundreds of cannon towers all at once?" "This city doesn't look like it has anywhere near that many cannon towers." "And the walls are only Tier 1." "Could the rumors outside be false?" "They aren't false." Patriarch Qi sighed in resignation. "I've told you before to get out more often, instead of staying cooped up at home like an unmarried maiden who never steps past the threshold. This isn't Fan Domain's headquarters. Their base is inside that Nameless Mountain over there. This place is merely a marketplace they built." "All they did was throw up a perimeter wall around the marketplace." "Let me warn you, don't go stirring up trouble in Fan Domain. You've heard what they're capable of, haven't you?" "I've heard." The middle-aged man sighed wistfully. "I saw the shadow-recording stone of Fan Domain annihilating the Dan Sect. That Nine-Five Dragon Carriage flying through the sky was truly terrifying—I can't imagine any way to counter it. Still... I'd imagine the price of deploying something like that must be exorbitant, right?" Patriarch Qi looked around once more before lowering his voice. "You need to update your intelligence. Fan Domain is divided into several divisions: the Commerce Pavilion handling trade, the War Pavilion handling combat, and... the Dark Pavilion handling assassinations." "Have you heard of Wind and Rain Tower?" "Of course. An established assassin organization of long renown. They've assassinated the leaders of several major factions. Word has it that so long as you offer enough ghost stones, there is no one they cannot kill." "Indeed," Patriarch Qi said with a touch of awe. "A few days ago, Wind and Rain Tower dispatched dozens of core members, using a diversion to lure Chen Fan into a kill zone of their choosing to carry out an assassination." "Did it fail?" "Naturally it failed—otherwise, what point would there be in holding this auction? Everyone knows Domain Lord Chen is an architect with practically no personal combat strength, yet no one knows how he withstood the assassination. He reappeared shortly afterward completely unharmed. Not a single strand of hair was out of place, and there wasn't a speck of dust or blood on him." "He didn't look the least bit disheveled." "Starting the very next day, Wind and Rain Tower's branches in other cities were rooted out one by one. Whenever clients came to commission a task, all they found was a pile of corpses lying in pools of blood." "Drawn on the ground in blood was the symbol of the Dark Pavilion, along with a Fan Domain Dark Pavilion hunting order..." "That was Fan Domain's retaliation." "Fan Domain didn't deploy the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage. Instead, they sent out the Dark Pavilion—an eye for an eye." "Think about it: those shops were staffed by full members of Wind and Rain Tower. To be slaughtered so easily without mounting the slightest resistance—could the Dark Pavilion's strength be anything less than formidable?" The middle-aged man froze, stunned for a long while. A chill crept down his spine as he looked around. "You mean Fan Domain's assassination methods are just as potent? But back then, the Dan Sect also prided itself on an assassination force. Why didn't Fan Domain use this against them?" "As for that..." Patriarch Qi pondered for a moment. "I suspect there are two possibilities. First, Fan Domain couldn't locate Wind and Rain Tower's true headquarters—no one has been able to find it for years." "Without a target, the Nine-Five Dragon Carriage couldn't be deployed." "So they could only dispatch the Dark Pavilion to pull out the nails Wind and Rain Tower had driven into other cities." "The other possibility is flexing their muscles..." "Using this opportunity to prove something to the outside world." "In the open, Fan Domain has the dragon carriage." "In the shadows, Fan Domain has the Dark Pavilion." "Whether you want to play in the light or in the dark, have it your way—Fan Domain will see you through to the end." "Did Wind and Rain Tower really just let the Dark Pavilion wipe out their branches without any retaliation?" the middle-aged man asked, puzzled. "Not so far." "Forget core members—not even an ordinary member of Fan Domain has been reported dead. Perhaps they're gathering their strength for a massive strike, wagering their full foundation to assassinate Chen Fan directly. If that's the case, tonight's auction will draw a mixed crowd from every faction." "Tonight would be their best chance at an assassination." "Watch yourself today." "Don't get caught in the crossfire." "You too." After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two parted ways. Elsewhere in Fan City, representatives from other familiar factions were also quietly discussing the recent actions of Fan Domain's Dark Pavilion. After all, their achievements, methods, and conduct offered ample material for conversation. This was the first time they had learned that Fan Domain possessed such a terrifying group of assassins. Why had the Dan Sect been powerful in the past? For three reasons. First, their supply of medicinal pills; second, their large reserves of Cultivation Pills that sustained many death warriors, granting them formidable assassination capabilities; and third, their sturdy walls, which kept their headquarters secure. The current Fan Domain was essentially an upgraded Dan Sect. Likewise, for three reasons. First, their supply of Skeleton Horses; second, the Dark Pavilion; and third, a headquarters far stronger than the Dan Sect's. It was an overwhelming advantage across the board. Whatever the Dan Sect had, Fan Domain not only possessed, but possessed in superior form; and what the Dan Sect lacked, Fan Domain had as well. The only thing missing was... Fan Domain had no alchemists. This was common knowledge. Fan Domain had already posted notices publicly, clearly stating their intent to recruit alchemists, but had yet to find any. Alchemists were rarely rogue cultivators; nearly all were affiliated with some faction, and every alchemist across these regions already belonged to a master. Unless one betrayed their original faction to join Fan Domain. Yet the repercussions were complicated. Leaving aside the fact that betraying one's faction meant creating an enemy, and whether Fan Domain could protect them, there was no guarantee they would truly earn Fan Domain's trust. Once Fan Domain found alchemists with clean backgrounds later on, wouldn't these turncoats be pushed to the sidelines or even cast out? *** Meanwhile, inside a building in Fan City. Chen Fan looked at Qi Yue with a deep frown. "What did you mean by what you just said? I've always known the final step of your revenge was to kill yourself, but I assumed you meant that conceptually. I thought you wanted to slay the weak self of your past and sever ties with your miserable history." "To begin a new life thereafter." "Now you're telling me you intend to literally kill yourself?" "Suicide?" "Yes." Standing where he was, Qi Yue looked out the window and whispered, "The reason my cultivation progressed so rapidly stems partly from stepping onto the path of a demonic cultivator, but there is another reason. I learned a unique cultivation method—one that uses all of my negative emotions to accelerate my cultivation speed." "Before, my mind was consumed by vengeance." "Naturally, my cultivation progressed at an astonishing pace." "Yet there is a flaw." "Once enough negative emotions accumulate, they will condense into another me, possessing all of my strength. Only one of us can survive. If I win, this method will never have a flaw again." "If I lose, Qi Yue will cease to exist in this world, leaving only Old Demon Jiangbei." "Now, my negative emotions have gathered to a critical point." "Twenty days from now." "That is the appointed date." "I will travel to the west of Jiangbei to kill those I must kill, and then fight to the death against that other me. I don't know if I can win, which is why I must entrust my affairs to you once more. Domain Lord, if I die, I hope you will... look after the Gongyang clan." "Gongyang Yue has lived a sheltered life and can be rather foolish. I cannot leave her without worry." Chen Fan's brow remained tightly furrowed. After a long silence, he said softly, "You needn't worry about that; I will certainly agree to it. The question is, how can we ensure you win? What if I give you additional exotic treasures, or provide pills that temporarily boost your combat strength?" "Useless. Whatever I have, he will have as well." "What about the cannon towers?" "Fight him under my cannon towers. If he dares to show himself, I'll blast him with artillery." "That won't work either. During that time, he will be immune to all external attacks. It can only be one-on-one." "Then summon him while you're heavily wounded, and the moment he appears, leap into the altar to rapidly heal your injuries." "He would be healed as well." Chen Fan felt completely exasperated; there seemed to be no way around it. "So your chances of survival are only fifty percent?" "No." Qi Yue shook his head and said quietly, "Zero percent." "Though our strength is identical and external factors are matched." "He is, after all, an inner demon formed from negative emotions. He does not fear death, but I do. I have attachments I cannot let go of—I care about Gongyang Yue, and I care about my unavenged grudges." "Therefore—" "I must resolve every emotion." "Only after killing everyone who must die and settling Gongyang Yue can I cast aside all reservations and face him with an absolute resolve to die, just as he has. Only then will I have a fifty percent chance of survival." Qi Yue paused, letting out a self-deprecating chuckle. "Domain Lord." "Gongyang Yue can sense my pain. When the time comes, you must hold her back. If she suddenly rushes over while I am dueling, the briefest lapse in concentration could cost me my life." "Rest assured." Chen Fan agreed calmly. "When the time comes, I'll confine her directly within Fan Domain. I guarantee she won't be able to go anywhere." Qi Yue nodded, breathed a sigh of relief, and looked back out the window. Now, all that remained was to settle every grudge. Then he could begin the fight to the death. However... His negative emotions were nearing their absolute limit. Over these next twenty days, he had to avoid harboring any negative emotions, lest the confrontation erupt prematurely. If that happened before his revenge was complete, his lingering attachments would prevent him from facing the inner demon with a heart prepared for death. The more he feared dying, the sooner he would perish. Chen Fan walked out of the building into the Jiangnan marketplace, smiling and nodding to those greeting him. Inwardly, though, he felt a wave of sentiment. Shao Qiu truly couldn't kill the target Qi Yue needed to kill. Only Qi Yue could do it. To think such a miraculous technique existed in this world. A Martial King with complete body tempering was far stronger than ordinary Martial Kings. In a duel between two Martial Kings who both had complete body tempering, predicting the victor was impossible. Especially when the opponent shared identical strength and combat experience. It would come down to who could remain calmer, who revealed an opening first, or who could achieve an in-battle breakthrough. The difficulty was unimaginably high. While Chen Fan didn't want the Martial King that Fan Domain had just recruited to fall like this, this was Qi Yue's own path; there was no way to stop or assist him. All he could do was watch from afar. The instant Qi Yue won, Chen Fan would step forward to heal him. If he lost... Cannons would roar across the heavens to see Qi Yue off. *** Soon, dusk fell. The leaders of various factions, flanked by their core members, gathered along the streets of the Fan City marketplace. The auction was set to take place right on this thoroughfare. It had originally been scheduled inside a tavern, but with far too many attendees, it had been moved outdoors. The auction, initially planned for the afternoon, had also been pushed back to the evening. The Eternal Night was about to descend. The auction would begin shortly. Right at that moment! A young man clad in white rode in on a Skeleton Horse, leading over a dozen faceless figures cloaked in black who were also mounted on Skeleton Horses, striding swiftly toward the city gates! Both sides of the Skeleton Horses were laden with bundles and sacks, clearly laden with a bountiful harvest. The white-clad youth in the lead dismounted, carrying a blood-soaked parcel in his hand. He strode toward Chen Fan, who stood in the middle of the marketplace street, dropped to one knee, and said in a raspy voice: "Domain Lord." "Pavilion Master Shao Qiu of Fan Domain's Dark Pavilion arrives to report: the target has been eliminated, and seventy-eight core members of Wind and Rain Tower have been slaughtered to the last." "Here are the heads of Wind and Rain Tower's three Tower Masters and their Young Tower Master." "Behold the proof." Shao Qiu loosened his grip on the parcel, and four bloody heads with unclosed eyes tumbled out, drawing a collective gasp from the crowd. With that, Shao Qiu fell silent, keeping one knee on the ground and his head bowed low, exuding a cold, forbidding aura that warned strangers to keep their distance. "Stand down," Chen Fan said softly. "Understood." Shao Qiu answered, and under the watchful gaze of the crowd, his body dissolved into a wisp of black smoke and vanished. The onlookers instinctively glanced around, only to discover that the dozen-odd riders who had been atop the Skeleton Horses had vanished without a trace as well. Only a group of riderless Skeleton Horses remained standing in place. Chen Fan withdrew his gaze impassively, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. The tavern hadn't been huge, but it would have accommodated the faction leaders; after all, there was no need to bring so many people to an auction. Yet via voice transmission talisman, Shao Qiu had pleaded with him—begged him, in fact—to move the auction out onto the streets of the Fan City marketplace. Yes, pleaded. Chen Fan had never seen Shao Qiu plead like that, not even when Qi Yue had pinned him to the ground. At first, he hadn't understood why. Now he did. This fellow... Calling him "Domain Lord." Calling himself "Pavilion Master Shao Qiu of Fan Domain's Dark Pavilion"—he had practically given a full personal introduction, leaving out not a single detail. Still, glancing at the expressions of the surrounding crowd, Chen Fan couldn't help but smile. "The auction is about to begin. Please wait just a moment, everyone." The onlookers' eyes remained glued to the four severed heads on the ground. Utter silence reigned. No one spoke; only ragged breathing and raw terror in their eyes filled the air.