Chapter 69
Chapter 69
“I’ll pass!” Qianying said with an exasperated look. “If I win, you’ll focus on developing safely and stop acting so recklessly.”
Some of Zhouyou Shijie’s actions truly exceeded the limits of her comprehension.
He always managed to turn danger into safety through methods no ordinary person could imagine. But he was constantly walking a tightrope, and the smallest mistake could make everything collapse.
“All right!”
Zhou Ming nodded firmly. “I promise!”
As he spoke, he left the teleportation array and headed to a general store in Zixuan City to buy maps and medicine.
As a long-established secondary city, Zixuan possessed no shortage of excellent medicine.
[Heart-Saving Pill] (B-Rank Medicine)
Description: Even if your body isn’t weak, eight pills three times a day will nourish and strengthen it.
Medicine Effect: Restores 1,000 HP over 10 seconds.
Cooldown: 1 minute
Price: 2 silver coins
…
Zhou Ming bought fifty Heart-Saving Pills in one go, preparing for any emergency. Then he asked, “Ying’er, do you know where the Sword Saint is?”
The Sword Saint!
Without question, anyone who held that title had to be one of the Light Faction’s supreme experts.
“You truly intend to help Cangxuan find the Sword Saint?” Qianying asked, confused.
Zhou Ming explained, “If one of the top three Demon Gods might be defending Juyan City, how can I break the situation without making contact with them?”
A cloak wasn’t some treasure he absolutely had to obtain.
His main objective was to make contact with the Second Demon God, Abyssal Sword Demon · Cangxuan.
“I understand.” Qianying stopped trying to dissuade him. “The Sword Saint’s movements are unpredictable. He wasn’t among the gods who came after me before, either. If you want to find him, your only point of entry is the imperial court!”
“The imperial court?”
“The Sword Saint is said to keep a low profile and handle certain dirty work for the Eastern Region’s emperor,” Qianying explained concisely. “Someone in a high position may know where he is.”
Someone in a high position…
Zhou Ming fell into thought.
God-tier experts naturally possessed supreme status and power, but that didn’t necessarily mean they held political authority or close connections to the imperial court.
Who could lead him to the Sword Saint?
Zhou Ming considered the question for a long time.
At a certain moment, inspiration flashed through his mind and his eyes brightened. “I’ve got it!”
…
Meanwhile, in Qingshui City.
Lord Liu Qingyang stood before Hero of Water · Shui Zhanqiu with utmost respect, not daring to overstep in the slightest. “My lord, I have completed my task!”
“Very good!” Shui Zhanqiu nodded in satisfaction. “You may leave.”
“This humble official takes his leave!”
After Liu Qingyang departed, Lin Tao, the disciple standing behind Shui Zhanqiu, spoke. “With a Demon God defending it, Zhouyou Shijie can never capture Juyan City.”
“We cannot be careless!” Shui Zhanqiu shook his head. His gaze was dark, like a venomous snake waiting to strike. “Take my letter and meet the Undead Archmage. Make certain he appears. Ideally, he will join forces with the Second Demon God, or even the First!”
“This disciple obeys!”
Lin Tao’s heart shook.
He hadn’t expected his master to possess connections vast enough to contact the Third Demon God, Undead Archmage · Eric.
Carrying the letter, he left in a hurry, delight at his approaching revenge shining in his eyes.
The Divine Ember Queen’s strength might rival one of the top three Demon Gods, but with two more of them assisting, her defeat would be inevitable.
“Zhouyou Shijie, who can possibly save you this time?!”
…
[You have entered the map Baiyun City (Secondary City)!]
With his plan changed, Zhou Ming immediately traveled to another secondary city.
Unlike his trip to Zixuan City, he asked Qianying to conceal his aura this time, ensuring no one learned his whereabouts.
He crossed the bustling streets and reached the area near Baiyun City’s lord’s residence.
“Chirp?”
Xuanniao landed on Zhou Ming’s shoulder, confused by his actions.
Why had they come here?
Zhou Ming tapped its head with one finger and explained with a smile, “Fengyuan Town, Zisha Town, and Yunfeng Town all belong to Baiyun City.”
As everyone knew, the different levels of cities and towns were never independent from one another.
Tertiary towns naturally fell under the jurisdiction of secondary cities.
“You want to find Lei Qianjue?” Qianying asked thoughtfully.
After Zhouyou Shijie stole one million gold coins from the Light Faction, the god-tier expert who confronted him had been Thunder Venerable · Lei Qianjue.
Without direct evidence, however, Lei Qianjue had been argued into speechlessness and forced to leave in frustration.
“Exactly!”
Zhou Ming nodded. “A million gold coins went missing while the other god-tier experts watched without concern. He alone cared that much, so he must be a high-ranking imperial hound within the Light Faction. There’s a very good chance all three robbed towns fall under his jurisdiction.”
“…”
Xuanniao blinked.
He had met the man only once, yet he had considered so much?
Its master was incredibly thorough!
“Even so, he may not be in Baiyun City,” Qianying pointed out.
“Of course I’ve considered that.” Zhou Ming smiled. “Why would a god-tier expert willingly lower himself to remain in a secondary city? That’s why I need to lure him here!”
“Lure him here?”
Qianying thought for a moment, then suddenly understood.
…
BOOM!!
Several minutes later, a violent explosion erupted inside Baiyun City.
“Someone is attempting to rob the treasury! Notify Lord Lei Qianjue at once!” Baiyun City’s security was exceptionally strict, as though they had prepared in advance. Even Qianying failed to break through.
The mastermind stood among the crowd and silently watched.
Whoosh!
Before long, Qianying returned without a sound.
“Thank you for the hard work,” Zhou Ming said.
Qianying’s identity was unusual. She belonged to no faction, so even committing destruction inside the city wouldn’t trigger a war between powers.
Whoosh!
Moments later, a rough-faced, towering man arrived through the teleportation array and hurried to provide support.
[Thunder Venerable · Lei Qianjue] (God-Tier Boss)
“Little bastard, you’ve gone too far!” Lei Qianjue cursed. He wanted nothing more than to tear Zhouyou Shijie’s tendons out and skin him alive.
Once bitten by a snake, a man feared ropes for ten years!
If another similar incident occurred within his jurisdiction, the emperor would certainly punish him.
He’s here!
Zhou Ming had concealed his aura. The moment he saw a streak of purple lightning cross the sky, he knew the plan had succeeded.
Xuanniao’s heart raced with excitement.
For some reason, taking part in a crime and getting away with it gave the bird an intoxicating thrill. It felt deeply involved and was intensely curious about what its master would do next.
After all, its master had no ability to threaten Lei Qianjue, especially inside someone else’s territory.
[Your pet Celestial Spirit Beast · Xiaoyou states that even if Lei Qianjue knows the Sword Saint’s location, the hardest part is making him willingly take you there!]
“Xiaoyou is still too innocent!” Zhou Ming laughed. “Why would I ever tell him what I want? There are always more solutions than problems!”
…
Inside Baiyun City’s lord’s residence.
“How is it?” Lei Qianjue asked urgently.
His subordinate hurriedly reported, “Just as the city lord predicted, someone attempted to steal from the treasury. Fortunately, our defenses were strict enough to stop that vile act.”
“Excellent!”
Lei Qianjue breathed a sigh of relief, then ground his teeth. “Zhouyou Shijie, just you wait. I’ll make you pay sooner or later!”
After confirming the treasury remained intact, he mobilized more personnel from elsewhere and established an even tighter defense.
Hiss!
About an hour later, Lei Qianjue finally finished his arrangements and prepared to leave. An arrow suddenly flew in from the distance and embedded itself in the pillar beside him.
“!!”
His heart lurched. He immediately rushed out of the residence but couldn’t find the attacker among the crowd.
When he returned and pulled out the arrow, he discovered a line of writing attached to it.
Come meet me at eight tonight!
Sword Saint
…