Su Yu Takes Charge

Boom! A dull rumble echoed as yuan qi violently convulsed. Inside the cultivation room, yuan qi surged and churned. Su Yu had completed his fifty-ninth body forging. With fifty-nine forgings completed, his physical strength had officially reached approximately five hundred thousand acupoints of force—the hallmark of a top genius among the major races in the Sun Moon Realm. Only upon meeting this benchmark could one unabashedly claim to be a genius of a major race. At this moment, Su Yu formally stepped into this domain. The domain of the truly powerful! A Sun Moon, particularly one belonging to a major race, was universally recognized as a genius and an expert wherever they went. Su Yu’s physical frame vibrated, his blood and qi surging like roaring tidal waves. Such overwhelming physical might filled him with confidence. Now, he could thoroughly beat Yuan Qingdong to death. That fellow’s physical body had been far too frail, and his divine characters had shown no exceptional strength either—a total disgrace to his status as the descendant of an Invincible. Rising to his feet, Su Yu reined in his aura, tucking away the golden radiance deep within. Not only that, but within him, all 144 acupoints resonated as his yuan qi showed signs of an impending transformation. It was the harbinger of the Lingyun Realm's first change. He had initiated this first change several months ago, but had never paid it much mind, primarily because so few yuan acupoints had undergone the change back then, making it negligible. Now, once he completed this first change, his strength would undoubtedly take another leap forward. "I'm even stronger now!" Su Yu chuckled and donned his white mask. A moment later, he checked the messages left by Bai Yi. Over the past two days, experts and geniuses from various races had been crossing the borders one after another. Bai Yi, leading several White Masks, was currently rushing toward the Nanyuan area and asked Xuan Jiu where they should assemble. Su Yu was to decide the meeting location! This was a testament to their regard and trust in him. Over the past few days, the Great Xia Prefecture had been in utter turmoil. The city gates were sealed shut, and a ceaseless slaughter unfolded. Countless members of the All-Races Cult were unluckily ferreted out and slain, along with scouts from other factions and defiant experts among the various races. The Xia family seemed possessed, scouring every inch of ground. Over a dozen Sun Moons swept across the land. Even one unlucky White Mask hiding in the Great Xia Prefecture had been swiftly run down and decapitated. Yet, not a whisper of news regarding Xuan Jiu had surfaced. He seemed to have vanished entirely! By now, the entire region was in an uproar. With a population exceeding ten million, the prefectural capital could not remain on lockdown forever. Today, the Great Xia Prefecture was finally reopening its gates! The lockdown was over! "Gather at Starfall Mountain near Nanyuan. That's a good spot!" Su Yu sent his reply. Bai Yi, who had been closely monitoring the communication talisman, quickly responded, "Starfall Mountain? King Daming from the Great Ming Prefecture might not have left yet. Starfall Mountain might not be safe." "It’s on the border, so it doesn't matter! Enforcer, please trust my intuition. This is an instinct honed through surviving countless brushes with death!" Bai Yi was left speechless. Meanwhile, Su Yu quickly sent a transmission to Zhu Tiandao: "We’re gathering at Starfall Mountain. Manor Lord, whatever you do, don't come sweeping through the area!" What did he have to fear? They were on the same side! If he told them not to sweep the area, they wouldn't. Not just the Great Ming Prefecture, but the Great Xia Prefecture as well. With him around, what was there to worry about? Zhu Tiandao suddenly asked, "Where did we first meet?" "..." Su Yu was at a loss for words. What was this about? "The Xia Clan Restaurant!" "Recite the contents of the Longevity Art for me!" "..." Su Yu was speechless. What was wrong with Old Zhu? *Damn it!* *Are you testing me too?* He somewhat understood what was going on, so he said plainly, "What happened at the ancient city was thanks to my Big Brother Statue. Manor Lord, don't overthink it." "Cut the crap. Recite it!" Su Yu felt sullen. *Fuck!* With no other choice, he hastily scribbled out the text of the Longevity Art. *Damn it, who did Old Zhu learn this from? Does everyone like to converse like this now? Did everyone pick up the method I used during that public exchange in the Heaven Hunting Pavilion? How exhausting!* Only after Su Yu finished transcribing it did Zhu Tiandao say, "Fine, I'll trust you this once! What are you going to Starfall Mountain for?" "Taking some people to get some work done." Zhu Tiandao had a rough idea of what was happening and quickly replied, "Just don't bring them into my Great Ming Prefecture. Cause as much havoc as you want in the Great Xia Prefecture. Also, we captured three White Masks over here. Do you need them?" "No need. Just kill them off. It'll avoid them turning on me and becoming a liability!" He didn't need them! Who knew if those people would defect? Of course, a moment later, Su Yu added, "Or you could release them back. If something goes wrong later, I'll have someone to take the blame. With my unmatched wisdom and courage, I can 'discover' the traitors. Hey, actually, Manor Lord, why don't you release them? Seeing right through the traitors with my keen insight will boost my standing quite a bit!" Zhu Tiandao was left thoroughly speechless. This kid was truly something else. Yet, Su Yu’s reasoning was sound. In a pinch, they could serve as scapegoats, and having Su Yu 'expose' them would earn him extra merit. "Fine, I'll arrange it and let them go. Watch your back. Don't reveal your identity to them. If things go south, sell them out. Traitors who sell out their masters for personal gain aren't welcomed anywhere!" Hearing Zhu Tiandao's words, Su Yu felt as though the man were dropping a subtle hint at him. He promptly replied, "Rest assured, Manor Lord. Once I leave the Great Xia Prefecture, I promise I won't leave the Great Ming Prefecture. Even though I have Boss Statue now, I still look up to you as a grandfather!" "..." Zhu Tiandao cursed under his breath. *Get lost!* *I can't afford to be your grandfather.* This kid was insidious to the bone. If he went before those stone statues one day, addressed Zhu Tiandao as grandfather and then turned around to call the stone statue big brother, Zhu Tiandao had serious suspicions that the brat was trying to set him up for a gruesome death. The boy was truly inhuman. Too lazy to exchange further banter, Zhu Tiandao quickly said, "One more thing to remind you: quite a few experts from the multiple divine character faction have arrived this time." "Oh?" "The kind secretly nurtured by certain major prefectures!" "Oh." "Such a calm reaction?" Zhu Tiandao was surprised. Su Yu chuckled and replied, "It has nothing to do with them. I'm not going to vent my anger on them. They cultivate their own way. Manor Lord, you're underestimating me. To put it bluntly... we don't walk the same path, and we don't even know each other. If the various major prefectures are willing to spend the money to groom them, then let them. I couldn't care less. The only thing I care about is that they shouldn't use us as target practice. Other than that, it has nothing to do with me." He truly didn't care about these things; it was his honest thought. Whether these hidden geniuses were strong or weak was their own business. What did it have to do with him? They hadn't eaten a single cent of his food! As long as they didn't provoke him, he couldn't be bothered to look for trouble with them. He wasn't insane; in the time it took to do that, he could forge his body once more. Zhu Tiandao was somewhat taken aback by his attitude. Su Yu had previously given him the impression of harboring resentment toward the entire world. Yet upon returning this time, despite having unleashed boundless slaughter, his mindset seemed significantly broader and lighter than before. This kid had changed somewhat, perhaps without even realizing it himself. If this had been brought up before Su Yu left, he might have blown his lid. This time, however, he truly carried an air of indifference. "It’s good that you think that way. Those people are also part of the human race, and some of them work hard for mankind's sake. Of course, if they don't provoke you, let it be. If they do, handle it as you see fit... In any case, none of them are from my Great Ming Prefecture." "..." Those words were blunt to a fault! So blunt that Su Yu was speechless. So the man had been egging him on to beat them up all along? Talk about having too much time on his hands! "Fine, I got it. Manor Lord, let's wrap this up. I have a lot on my plate, off to work!" "Bah!" Back in the Great Ming Prefecture, Zhu Tiandao spat. *Who are you trying to fool? No matter how busy you are, could you possibly be busier than a manor lord like me?* *A brat who puts on airs the moment he gains a little backing.* *I can't stand people like you the most!* *Don't bother coming back to the Great Ming Prefecture if you've got the guts. Even if you do, I won't give you the time of day. You only know how to work for the Xia family—why don't you do some work for the Zhu family?* Old Zhu was practically dripping with jealousy! Xuan Jiu killing Xia Xinyi was clearly doing dirty work for the Xia family. Had this brat forgotten how detestable the Xia family was? *I was the one who brought you back from the Great Xia Prefecture and raised you with so much care!* *Sigh!* Old Zhu let out a sigh. *Forget it, forget it. I should figure out how to attain the Dao first... No, figure out how to reach the peak of the Sun Moon Realm first. As someone who just entered the ninth layer of the Sun Moon Realm, I shouldn't bite off more than I can chew!* ... When some people were ruthless, they even fooled themselves. Su Yu was one of them. At this moment, he was bidding farewell to the acquaintances from last time, putting on a look of deep reluctance. "I have to leave the Great Xia Prefecture. It's too chaotic here. My brother has things to attend to and can't look after me, so I must return to the Great Ming Prefecture!" "Brother Bai, once we part, who knows when we'll meet again!" "Indeed, Brother Bai. It's just unfortunate we ran into such upheavals this time; otherwise, we'd definitely have had a few drinks together!" "..." Several young men and women expressed their reluctance to see him go. One young woman in particular looked utterly heartbroken, which sent a shiver down Su Yu's spine. *What are you doing? I barely know you, why look as if we're parting forever?* After exchanging farewells, Su Yu glanced back toward Xiuxin Pavilion. Soon, his gaze shifted toward another location: the Forging College. During this return, he hadn't gone to see Zhao Li. Bai Junsheng would have had a valid reason to visit Zhao Li, but... never mind. The incident involving Cui Lang last time had already drawn considerable scrutiny to Zhao Li. Everyone now knew that Cui Lang was Su Yu, so they had naturally deduced the circumstances behind those earlier events. It was only natural for Zhao Li to bring Su Yu along when forging armaments. If he went to see Zhao Li again now, he wouldn't be able to use that identity without attracting unwanted attention. In any case, he wasn't planning on traveling far this time, so there would be plenty of opportunities to meet in the future. ... Leaving the capital of the Great Xia Prefecture, Su Yu was not traveling alone this time. A squad of the Xia family's Dragon Martial Guards happened to be heading toward Nanyuan and gave Su Yu a ride. Once they reached Nanyuan, it wouldn't be far from the Great Ming Prefecture, and he could figure out a way back from there. With the Heaven Hunting Pavilion quiet of late, the journey wasn't terribly dangerous. The Dragon Martial Guards! Traveling alongside the Dragon Martial Guards, Su Yu felt a twinge of sentimentality. Back in the day, he had thought the Dragon Martial Guards were omnipotent, an army teeming with powerful experts. Looking at them now, they seemed quite ordinary. A bunch of Tengkong Realm cultivators weren't of much use in times like these. Of course, as troops of the Xia family, their battle formations were formidable. He wondered if they knew any combined-attack battle formations. They probably knew a bit, which was sufficient against lesser figures. Along the way, the squad barely spoke, and Su Yu kept silent as well. No one paid him any attention anyway; they were merely giving him a lift along their route. With the recent disaster in the Xia family and the Dragon Martial Guards failing to capture the culprit, morale was terrible. Who had the mood to chat with an outsider? Traveling at full tilt, they set off in the morning and arrived at Nanyuan before dawn the next day. Above Nanyuan, intense fluctuations of yuan qi rippled through the sky. Nanyuan's natural yuan qi was thin. When experts cultivated and breathed in this place, even if they used Yuan Qi Liquid, it easily triggered massive yuan qi disturbances. Many experts had arrived this time. Without even actively probing, Su Yu could tell from a simple glance that at least seven or eight Sun Moons were present in the modest Nanyuan City. The thick pillars of yuan qi demonstrated that these fellows had no intention of concealing their presence. They certainly were bold. And those were just the ones visible; there were likely even more hidden from view. "We've arrived at Nanyuan!" The myriarch leading the squad glanced at Su Yu and said indifferently, "You're from the Bai family. Do you have an escort waiting here to take you back? If not, stay in Nanyuan for a few days to avoid unnecessary trouble." "No need!" Su Yu replied nonchalantly, "I don't need one. I can head back on my own. Someone from the Great Ming Prefecture is coming to pick me up—a friend of mine!" "Suit yourself, then!" The Dragon Martial Guard offered no further advice. Since that was the case, he could return on his own. The guard had plenty of duties and had no inclination to fuss over Su Yu. ... Meanwhile. A golden carriage drawn by a golden dragon flew toward Starfall Mountain. This was Zhu Tiandao's personal mount! Of course, the person sitting inside the carriage right now was not Zhu Tiandao, but Anying. Beside him sat another person: Bai Junsheng. Bai Junsheng looked utterly baffled! "My Lord, where are we going?" "Nowhere in particular. Just taking a spin outside to let you get some fresh air. We're heading back right after!" "My Lord..." Bai Junsheng cried with a bitter expression, "Please let me go! What did I even do? I've been locked up for so many days! Who did I provoke? Did that bastard Zhu Hongliang complain about me? I didn't hit him!" Anying ignored him. *Say whatever you want. My mission is to take you for a spin here, and then... take you back to the Great Ming Prefecture. The rest is none of my business.* *As for why we're doing this... not my concern either.* *The Manor Lord ordered it, so I execute it.* *Getting to ride in the Manor Lord's personal carriage is already giving you plenty of face.* *Just enjoy the ride!* After flying a bit longer, they crossed past Starfall Mountain. Right at that moment, Anying received a message: "You can come back now!" Without another word, Anying hauled Bai Junsheng outside the carriage and called out, "Golden Dragon, head back!" "Got it!" The golden dragon replied in a thick Great Ming dialect and flew back without questioning why. Bai Junsheng was strapped firmly outside the carriage frame by Anying, unable to utter a single word, pitifully buffeted by the biting astral winds. He wanted to curse someone's mother! *What the hell did I do?* *What do you people want from me?* *I was minding my own business and got locked up for days, and now they bring me out only to tether me outside the carriage?* *Is this supposed to be parading me before an execution?!* ... Meanwhile. Hidden in the shadows of Starfall Mountain, a group of people whispered among themselves. One remarked in a low voice, "The Great Ming Prefecture is certainly ostentatious. Just to welcome back a single Bai Junsheng, they deployed two Sun Moons? Since when did the Bai family command such prestige?" "It's merely out of respect for Bai Feng. Bai Junsheng is a troublemaker too; he got tangled up with the Heaven Hunting Pavilion last time, so naturally they wanted to ensure his safe return..." Someone glanced over and paid it little mind. It wasn't the first time the Great Ming Prefecture had acted so flamboyantly. Their Manor Lord lacked the dignity of a manor lord, and their Invincible lacked the poise of an Invincible. Just two days ago, King Daming had held a beauty pageant on the top floor of the City Lord Mansion—could you believe that? He might have left by now, or he might not have. As long as one didn't provoke the Great Ming Prefecture, everything was fine. Those lazy sloths wouldn't bother with anyone unless provoked. As the group chatted, one asked, "The boss told us to keep watch here, but what are we watching for?" "Watching the Heaven Hunting Pavilion. The boss said that the Heaven Hunting Pavilion will join forces with us soon for a high-level summit... Of course, who knows if that's true? It might just be a smokescreen. Let's keep watch first. If they do meet, it'll likely be around here." "Oh, I see!" "..." The group chatted casually without paying too much attention. They were mere minor figures, not guaranteed accurate intel; this could very well just be a diversion. ... At that very moment, within a secluded valley in Starfall Mountain. Su Yu’s figure flickered into view! A moment later, several silhouettes emerged across from him. "Xuan Jiu!" Standing opposite him, Bai Yi glanced at Su Yu, then looked off into the distance. "I thought you weren't coming. People from the Great Ming Prefecture passed by just now—two Sun Moons. I thought they were coming to sweep the mountain!" Su Yu replied dismissively, "The Great Ming Prefecture? I know that prefecture well. As long as you don't stir up trouble on their turf, they won't meddle with us." "True enough!" Bai Yi sighed and said, "Our Heaven Hunting Pavilion has lost several White Masks in the Great Ming Prefecture. Some are dead, and some might have been captured. We haven't been able to contact them, and we don't know their current status." Su Yu remarked coldly, "No matter. Once the Heaven Hunting Pavilion expands its influence in the Human Realm, we can naturally pressure the Great Ming Prefecture." Bai Yi smiled. "You performed meritorious service this time. We'll be relying on you moving forward." "The Enforcer overpraises me!" Radiating a surge of killing intent, Su Yu said, "I'd much rather see Huang Jiu's corpse lying before me! He probably hasn't left the Great Xia Prefecture. I will definitely find him. Enforcer Cai Yi trusted me deeply and entrusted this mission to me. In all my years as Xuan Jiu, I have never slipped up; every mission was completed flawlessly. Only this time... did we suffer such casualties!" Hearing this, the White Masks standing behind Bai Yi also sighed with emotion. They had indeed suffered a terrible defeat last time! Two Sun Moon enforcers had perished, both in the mid-stage of the Sun Moon Realm. In the aftermath, an elder had been killed, another had been slain by Xia Longwu, and several White Masks had been slaughtered by the Xia family. All of this had been pinned on Huang Jiu. If he hadn't betrayed everyone, shifting the blame onto Xuan Jiu in an attempt to divert trouble, how could things have escalated so far? Bai Yi didn't dwell on the topic, quickly stating, "This time, counting myself, eight White Masks have arrived: three Sun Moons and five Shanhai Realm cultivators. Xuan Jiu, the Eighth Elder's instructions are for everyone to follow your command!" Su Yu focused his gaze. "Does that include Enforcer Bai Yi?" "Yes!" "You are at the sixth layer of the Sun Moon Realm, while I have only recently entered the Sun Moon Realm. Isn't the Eighth Elder overestimating me? If Enforcer Bai Yi refuses my commands, how could I order you around?" Bai Yi replied earnestly, "Rest assured. We aren't skilled in other matters, but you have cheated death time and time again. Everyone trusts you. Since the Eighth Elder has spoken, all of us, including myself, will obey your orders without question!" Three Sun Moons and five high-stage Shanhai—this was by no means a weak force. Bai Yi was even at the sixth layer of the Sun Moon Realm! Yet this time, the Eighth Elder had decreed that everyone answer to Su Yu; Su Yu was to be the overseer of the Great Xia Prefecture. Of course, the arrangement didn't rule out the possibility of keeping an eye on Su Yu. Su Yu didn't mind this. In the short term, he had no intention of impersonating anyone else anyway. As for Bai Junsheng... what did that have to do with him? Hadn't Bai Junsheng safely returned to the Great Ming Prefecture? Once back in the Great Ming Prefecture, Zhu Tiandao would either alter his memories or throw him back in jail. There was nothing to worry about. Brushing the thought aside, Su Yu looked at Bai Yi. "Did you bring the items I requested?" Bai Yi handed over a storage ring containing a massive quantity of Heaven Yuan Qi, along with ten drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid. *Stingy bastards!* Su Yu grumbled inwardly. Only ten drops? He had given away five hundred drops just a few days ago without even breaking even yet. Tucking the items away, Su Yu asked, "What did the All-Races Cult say?" "We rendezvous first, then discuss the details in person!" Bai Yi explained swiftly, "This time, the All-Races Cult is sending a Sun Moon to negotiate. The All-Races Cult has been rooted in the Human Realm for centuries and understands it far better than we do. However, their internal structure is chaotic. At present, they have formed a loose coalition spearheaded by two high-stage Sun Moons: the Primal Cult Master and the Origin Demon Cult Master. Bolstered by several experts from the various races who infiltrated the realm, they've established a new organizational apparatus!" "Which Sun Moon is negotiating with us?" "One of the cult masters from the Six-Winged Divine Cult." Su Yu scoffed. "I know that cult. Two Sun Moon cult masters, but their strength is mediocre at best. Do they look down on our Heaven Hunting Pavilion?" "Not necessarily. After all, we only represent the Human Realm branch..." Su Yu cut him off. "Enforcer Bai Yi, there's no need to care about their attitude. I know what the All-Races Cult is like—servile dogs! Give them an inch and they'll take a yard. In their eyes, our myriad races are inherently superior to them. There's no need to accommodate them!" Bai Yi was speechless. *Are you serious?* *Xuan Jiu is talking awfully big these days!* *Well, whatever. The Eighth Elder put you in charge, so you call the shots.* "Are we still meeting them, then?" "We meet!" Su Yu promptly said, "Enforcer Bai Yi, please notify them: tonight at sunset, we gather at the heart of Starfall Mountain—the very spot where Su Yu once slaughtered several experts from the single divine character faction!" "Isn't that... a bit too conspicuous?" "The darkest place is under the candle. It'll be fine!" Su Yu remained brazen. The White Masks said nothing more. *Fine, we'll listen to Xuan Jiu.* ... Night fell swiftly. At the location where Su Yu had previously slain Zhou Pingsheng—near the treasury of the Heavenly Archer Cult—eight figures materialized in an instant. Bai Yi was not among them. In Su Yu's words, keeping someone outside on lookout would prevent them from being ambushed in a trap. The All-Races Cult was hardly trustworthy either. The eight figures stood like specters, robed in white and cloaked in white masks, standing silently within the valley. A moment later, the sound of rushing wind echoed through the air. Before the newcomers even landed, a complaint drifted over: "Why choose this place for a meeting? It's bad luck!" It truly was an unlucky place! A fifth-layer Sun Moon cult master from the Blood Fire Divine Cult had died right here. Utterly cursed! Moments later, seven or eight figures touched down: only one Sun Moon, while the rest were in the Shanhai Realm. Su Yu did not recognize the leading Sun Moon. However, had Chen Yong been here, he would have recognized him immediately: Cult Master Silver Wing of the Six-Winged Divine Cult, the very man who had relentlessly pursued him for so long. Right now, the man had not concealed his appearance. Revealing his true face, he had a somewhat sinister demeanor—lean, slightly frail, with the appearance of a middle-aged man. He cast a gloomy gaze over Su Yu and his companions, saying coolly, "I am Silver Wing. Where is Bai Yi?" "Enforcer Bai Yi is not present!" Su Yu replied in an equally cold tone, "Here, I call the shots!" "You?" Silver Wing let out a faint laugh. "I was communicating with Bai Yi. Who might you be?" "Xuan Jiu!" Silver Wing's expression shifted slightly. "The Xuan Jiu from the Great Xia Prefecture?" "Indeed. Am I qualified enough to speak with you?" As Su Yu finished speaking, his gaze swept across the group: one Sun Moon and seven Shanhais. Among the Shanhais, one looked vaguely familiar, yet not entirely recognizable. Strange. Never mind, someone he didn't know; no need to care. "Xuan Jiu..." Silver Wing smiled faintly. "Qualified enough, I suppose. However... are you certain you can represent the Heaven Hunting Pavilion?" Su Yu replied coldly, "That is the question I should be asking you! Neither the Primal Cult Master nor the Origin Demon Cult Master came, nor is there a single late-stage Sun Moon among you. Can you represent them?" "Of course!" Silver Wing smiled thinly. "They didn't come in person, but representatives at the Shanhai Realm from each cult are here. That is enough to relay messages, and they will communicate promptly." Su Yu nodded inwardly; they were certainly keeping things secretive. Silver Wing wasted no more time on pleasantries, speaking swiftly: "Enough nonsense. Gathering here isn't safe for any of us! Neither the Great Xia Prefecture nor the Great Ming Prefecture holds any fondness for the All-Races Cult or your Heaven Hunting Pavilion. Tell us what the Heaven Hunting Pavilion wants to discuss and how you propose we cooperate!" "Simple. We need a batch of cannon fodder, along with access to some of your intelligence networks. The Heaven Hunting Pavilion has only just established roots in the Human Realm, and our intelligence apparatus isn't well-developed here. We need the All-Races Cult to hand over all of your intelligence networks, scouts, and undercover agents within the Great Xia Prefecture..." "Out of the question!" Silver Wing's face darkened. "Are you joking?" Su Yu said coldly, "I'm not joking. They're just a bunch of minor figures! The Heaven Hunting Pavilion lacks many things, but we don't lack money! Our pavilion simply lacks the time; if we had the time, we could establish such networks very quickly! Ten drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid to buy all of it—is that enough?" "What kind of joke are you trying to play!" Silver Wing fumed, "It took us hundreds of years to painstakingly lay down a foundation in the Great Xia Prefecture. We already suffered heavy losses earlier because of you, and now you want to swallow everything whole? Keep dreaming! Ten drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid? Do you truly believe the All-Races Cult is so destitute?" "You people are just useless. Are you trying to blame that on me?" "What did you say?!" Silver Wing flew into a rage, but Su Yu cut him down coldly: "Cooperating with us brings only benefits and no downsides! On the surface alone, my Heaven Hunting Pavilion possesses eight Invincibles, and our intelligence is peerless across the myriad realms. The All-Races Cult... you call yourselves the All-Races Cult, but you're nothing more than running dogs! Does it matter whose bidding you do? If you work for my Heaven Hunting Pavilion, you won't lack rewards!" "Insolence!" Silver Wing roared. Su Yu replied in a chilling tone, "I speak plainly, so don't take offense. When it comes to being a dog, you are one, and so am I. We're the same! I risk my life for the Heaven Hunting Pavilion, and you risk yours for the All-Races Cult. Both of us are dogs! However, while serving as a dog here, Heaven Yuan Qi and Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid are readily available to me and easy to obtain. What about you? Cult Master Silver Wing, just how much benefit does the Six-Winged God Race actually grant you?" Silver Wing's face was frosty. "If you maintain this condescending attitude, there is nothing to discuss!" Su Yu chuckled faintly. "Condescending? No, this is a sense of superiority, because behind me stands the Heaven Hunting Pavilion! What about you? If you die, will an Invincible of the Six-Winged God Race lift a finger for you? It's as simple as that! If I kill you here today, the Six-Winged God Race won't even dare to fart. But if you kill me here, you will face swift retaliation! That is the distinction, that is the disparity. Cult Master, do you believe me?" Silver Wing sneered, "Big words!" "Big indeed. Feel free to test it. If you want to talk, then talk. If you don't, there are plenty in the All-Races Cult who will. We don't lack your participation!" Silver Wing burned with suppressed fury! Arrogant! Brazen! Behind Su Yu, the White Masks carried themselves with haughty poise. Xuan Jiu was right; there was no need to show any courtesy to these fellows. The Heaven Hunting Pavilion was simply beyond their league. Even though this approach carried the risk of derailing the talks, Xuan Jiu's words were... immensely satisfying to hear. That was enough! If the talks fell apart, so be it. Silver Wing inhaled deeply, forcing down the rage in his chest, and said in a low voice, "Those terms are unacceptable. Aside from the intelligence network, what else do you want?" "Lay it all out, and we can discuss it together!" Su Yu smiled faintly. "Very well. I need some cannon fodder to spearhead charges, strength unrestricted! Additionally, I need a group of elites to coordinate operations with me, specifically at the Shanhai and Sun Moon levels. Those who are too weak are useless and have no right to participate!" Silver Wing furrowed his brows. "And the objective? The targets?" Su Yu said with a light laugh, "To hunt down certain people: some geniuses, some experts, and some descendants of Invincibles! And to seize the Nanyuan ruins!" "Hmph, fine words, but entirely unrealistic!" Silver Wing was irritated. *Nonsense, we want to do that too. If you're not afraid of dying, feel free to try.* *Did you truly think the Xia family and the human race were soft persimmons?* *For you to slaughter at will?* Su Yu remarked calmly, "If you trust me, there won't be an issue. If you don't, there's nothing more to say! Sowing chaos is something the Heaven Hunting Pavilion excels at, and your All-Races Cult is adept at it as well. Now that the geniuses and powerhouses of the various races have arrived, only by pulling chestnuts from the fire and fishing in troubled waters can one emerge as a victor! Otherwise, how do you expect to compete against the myriad races and mankind?" "As for the Heaven Hunting Pavilion, everything is driven by profit. Once fighting erupts and major warfare breaks out, our intelligence and supplies will become hot commodities. Even if everyone resents us, they will still pay a heavy price to purchase them, won't they?" "..." Silver Wing frowned, watching him closely. Soon, someone on his side chuckled and asked, "Lord Xuan Jiu, might I ask a question? When you speak of slaying experts, geniuses, and descendants of Invincibles, are you referring only to the human race, or does that include the myriad races as well?" Su Yu said smoothly, "Whomever. As long as someone places a bounty, there's no need to worry! Anyone can be killed!" "And what if an Invincible is drawn out?" The plump man asking the question chuckled. "King Daming hasn't left yet!" Su Yu smiled. "He will leave soon enough!" As he spoke, he glanced at the plump man. He still felt the fellow looked familiar. He asked indifferently, "And which cult do you belong to?" The plump man smiled. "The Origin Demon Holy Cult!" Su Yu nodded slightly. "Can you represent Lan Tian?" "More or less." Su Yu chuckled. "You don't believe my words?" "I wouldn't dare. I'm merely uncertain. If Lord Xuan Jiu doesn't mind, could you elaborate on how you intend to make King Daming leave?" Not only him, but even the White Masks were curious. How could King Daming be driven away? Was that truly possible? It seemed exceedingly difficult. King Daming had been stubbornly loitering in the Human Realm lately, which posed quite a problem. As for threatening mankind at the borders, King Daming still refused to leave. Unless an all-out war erupted, how else could they force him away? Su Yu replied calmly, "It's nothing complicated, quite simple really. The Great Ming Prefecture fiercely protects its own, and the Zhu family's direct lineage isn't very large. Right now, the eldest great-grandson of the Great Ming Prefecture's fourth generation, Zhu Hongwen, is inspecting the garrisons on the All-Heavens Battlefield. If Zhu Hongwen is gravely injured, King Daming's temperament will inevitably drive him to seek vengeance!" "Huh?" Silver Wing was shaken. "You... what audacity! Who would dare venture into human territory to gravely injure Zhu Hongwen?" Su Yu smiled. "Gravely injured, not killed. In a fit of fury, King Daming will rush out to retaliate, and when he finds no culprit, he will naturally let the matter drop. If I'm not even afraid of the Xia family's wrath, would I fear the Zhu family? As for the operatives... the Heaven Hunting Pavilion will take action!" With that, Su Yu added in a chilling tone, "I've shared this intelligence with you. If this information leaks, it means it came from your side. Consider it my way of helping you screen for moles. I might not actually go through with it, but if Zhu Hongwen ends up surrounded by experts... that means you have a traitor in your ranks. Cult Master Silver Wing, take note of these people present; if word gets out, investigate them thoroughly!" Silver Wing cursed inwardly. *Who needs you to teach me how to do my job?!* At that moment, Bai Yi's voice came through the public channel within Su Yu's mask: "Xuan Jiu, are you truly planning to do this? Gravely injuring Zhu Hongwen is no simple task; it might not succeed!" "We'll try it first. If it doesn't work, we'll switch to other methods. King Daming must be lured away regardless; otherwise, with him so close, it will be hard for us to fish in troubled waters!" Having said that, he swiftly transmitted back: "At the same time, this will test whether the All-Races Cult has been infiltrated by the humans. If they have, it'll make future cooperation difficult. These rabble are a mixed bag; they can't be trusted blindly!" Bai Yi fell silent. It seemed Xuan Jiu might not necessarily resort to such extreme measures. Silver Wing appeared to hesitate for a moment before saying, "If you manage to lure King Daming away, cooperation can be discussed. As for the intelligence network... your offer is too low. Multiply it tenfold, and we'll grant you access!" "Tenfold? For ten times the price, I could buy all of your heads!" A thunderous snort erupted. With a loud boom, several Shanhais were left dizzy and disoriented. Su Yu threw a punch. Alarmed, Silver Wing raised his arm to block. With a sharp crash, he was sent flying by Su Yu's blow. "You..." Su Yu pulled back his fist, stating coldly, "Killing you would be effortless. And my fee wouldn't be steep—ten drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid would be more than enough. Are you certain that a bunch of small fry are worth trading for a hundred drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid?" Silver Wing stumbled back several paces, while the others retreated as well, glaring at Su Yu with fury. Su Yu, however, let out a faint chuckle. "Don't be angry, it was merely a joke. You people... are so weak! You're only of some use right now. Normally, such feeble Sun Moons wouldn't even be qualified to cooperate with us!" "Insolence!" Silver Wing was incensed. Yet the sharp ache in his arm forced him to realize that he was definitely no match for this Xuan Jiu. *Damn it, he's strong.* *Just what layer of the Sun Moon Realm is this guy at?* Meanwhile, Su Yu scoffed inwardly. *Had the setting not been inappropriate, I would have beaten you to death with a single punch!* Of all the cults, he hated the Six-Winged Divine Cult the most. This fellow had been one of the primary pursuers hunting down Chen Yong back then. Just then, Bai Yi materialized in an instant, offering a smile. "Xuan Jiu, how can you be so impolite? Cult Master Silver Wing, my apologies. Xuan Jiu has a fiery temper, and I apologize on his behalf. We only require the All-Races Cult's intelligence network within the Great Xia Prefecture. Provide it to us, and we will give you fifty drops of Sun Moon Xuanhuang Liquid. This price is certainly generous!" Silver Wing cursed inwardly. *One plays the bad cop while the other plays the good cop—do you think I'm blind?* However, this was not the time to squabble with them. Silver Wing snorted, "I must return and consult the others. I will give you a definitive answer in three days." "One day. We don't have that much time to waste on you!" Su Yu said unceremoniously, "More than enough to botch things, yet incapable of accomplishing anything! Procrastinating over such a minor matter—no wonder you never achieve greatness. Hundreds of years, and you're still rats scurrying across the street!" The All-Races Cult members were infuriated. This Xuan Jiu had an utterly vile and poisonous tongue! Without another word, the group swiftly vanished into the night. Once they were gone, Bai Yi asked hesitantly, "Is it wise to be so aggressive?" "No problem at all. For a bunch of scoundrels who would abandon their race, family, and mentors for profit, does Enforcer Bai Yi truly think they're genuinely angry?" Su Yu chuckled faintly. "Their anger stems from nothing more than the price being too low. Don't worry, those fellows will agree!" *The All-Races Cult...* Su Yu murmured inwardly. *This time, it would be best to wipe them all out in one fell swoop!* *Splendid. The little fur ball has already memorized Silver Wing's scent. That little fur ball 'hound' has a nose sharper than a real dog's. You won't be able to hide. Wherever you are, I'll find you soon enough.* Su Yu murmured in a chilling tone, "If push comes to shove, have the Heaven Hunting Pavilion send more reinforcements. I'll eradicate them root and branch. Once the upper echelon is dead, the subordinates will naturally fall under our control and obey our orders!" "..." The White Masks were speechless. *Are you serious?* *What kind of joke is this!* *Fuck!* *You want to wipe out the All-Races Cult?* *The human race hasn't managed to wipe them out in centuries—are you certain the Heaven Hunting Pavilion can?* Su Yu offered no further explanation. If he could truly locate their headquarters and uproot the All-Races Cult, it would certainly cause a massive stir. It wasn't out of the question.