On the broad streets of Qinghe County Town, a seemingly ordinary carriage was slowly moving forward.
Inside the carriage.
Cui Jinpeng, wrapped in a black robe, had a cold expression, with a fierce light in his eyes.
"The Blood Blade Tavern, with such a big reputation, actually does things so unethically!" Cui Jinpeng gritted his teeth, "It's one thing that the mission wasn't completed, but to kill Dongbo Qing Shi, they actually want me to place another bounty?"
He had gone to the Blood Blade Tavern early in the morning to wait for the mission results.
The Blood Blade Tavern replied:
"Dongbo Xueying's strength far exceeds our previous expectations. The assassins we sent suffered heavy losses, and this mission is hereby terminated."
"Terminated? What about the bounty?"
"No refund!"
"I..." Cui Jinpeng was furious at the time.
He didn't know that the Blood Blade Tavern was also very dissatisfied. This mission was too much of a loss. It was one thing that three Silver Moon-level assassins died, but Fengmo also died! Xiang Pangyun also died! Xiang Pangyun, who had infiltrated humans as a magical beast, was dead, but the most important thing was that Dongbo Xueying was so outstanding at the age of twenty-two.
Such a talent almost had a sure chance of becoming a Transcendent in the future! For such a prodigy, the Blood Blade Tavern wouldn't even ask for gold coins; they would demand even more precious Transcendent items!
This mission was too much of a loss!
"How much would it cost to place another bounty on Dongbo Qing Shi?" Cui Jinpeng asked.
The Blood Blade Tavern replied: "Now, Snowstone Castle will attract the attention of Transcendent beings. Within a month, assassinating Dongbo Qing Shi will cost one million gold coins. After a month, it will cost five hundred thousand gold coins."
Cui Jinpeng turned and left!
...
"Assassinating Dongbo Qing Shi after a month would cost five hundred thousand gold coins?" Cui Jinpeng, inside the carriage, was almost driven mad with anger, "The Blood Blade Tavern is just after money, only cares about money."
He didn't have much money left; the previous bounty had almost drained his savings.
"It's just a weak mage. Since that's the case, I'll have to lead some assassins myself." Cui Jinpeng gritted his teeth. As the leader of the underground world in the county town, he naturally had some assassins and loyalists. He had initially hired the Blood Blade Tavern for a 100% success rate, but he never expected such a result... In fact, he didn't know that he had already made a huge profit.
Because of his mere one million gold coins, Fengmo died, even Xiang Pangyun died, and Dongbo Xueying fell into the Blackwind Abyss, shocking even Transcendent beings!
"Clatter, clatter, clatter~"
The carriage suddenly stopped, making Cui Jinpeng's face change. He shouted, "Why did it stop?"
"Cui Wild Dog." A hoarse voice came from outside, "Get out."
Cui Jinpeng's face changed, and he immediately opened the carriage door. He saw three black-clad figures in front of the carriage. The leading black-clad old man had gray hair, a gold tooth, and a cold gaze.
"Oh, Manager Liu." Cui Jinpeng immediately flattered and got out of the carriage.
The gray-haired old man scanned him with a cold gaze. "Arrest him and take him away."
"Manager Liu, what's going on?" Cui Jinpeng was somewhat bewildered and didn't dare to resist, allowing the two black-clad men to lock his arms with shackles. He knew very well that this Manager Liu... was the personal butler of the Si family's ancestor, Si Lianghong, who held a very high position. The reason Cui Jinpeng could become the leader of the entire county town's underground world was because of Si Lianghong's approval.
"Master wants to see you." Manager Liu said, without adding more.
"Ancestor?" Cui Jinpeng's face turned pale.
A moment later.
In a garden, Cui Jinpeng saw the Si family's ancestor.
"Ancestor." Cui Jinpeng knelt down in fear.
Si Lianghong, though she had lived for many years, still had a beautiful appearance, like a seductive beauty. She wore a blood-red robe, her hair was blood-red, and her skin was fair. Seeing her would naturally arouse desire, as she was a 'Blood Demon Body' and naturally had a seductive aura.
"Because of you?" Si Lianghong looked at Cui Jinpeng, "Because of you, a mere scoundrel, Xiang Pangyun, who was sent by the Witch God Temple, died, and the prodigy genius Dongbo Xueying, who was almost certain to become a Transcendent, fell into the Blackwind Abyss and died?"
"Life is unpredictable. A mere scoundrel caused the deaths of two powerful figures."
Si Lianghong was very reflective.
The Si family was the absolute ruler of Qinghe County, with a hand in everything, including the dirty underground world. Cui Jinpeng was known as the Si family's loyal dog! The Si family had planted spies in his residence, and he didn't dare to oppose them in the slightest. Therefore, they quickly knew about the death of his son, Cui Hu, and even that Cui Jinpeng had visited the Blood Blade Tavern!
"Many heroes and great figures sometimes fall because of a small person." Si Lianghong sighed, "Alright, Old Liu, I've seen him. Take him away and deal with him properly."
"Yes." Manager Liu respectfully said.
"Ancestor, Ancestor, I am loyal to the Si family." Cui Jinpeng immediately shouted in fear.
Si Lianghong didn't even bother to look at him.
Because she knew that a Transcendent being would come! So, to understand the cause and effect of the incident, the Transcendent being would definitely want to know the details. To prevent Cui Jinpeng from talking randomly, it was better to deal with him properly. And in fact, this matter had nothing to do with the Si family; it was Cui Jinpeng's own idea.
"A prodigy genius who was almost certain to become a Transcendent actually died like this! The Witch God Temple, though they lost a hidden pawn, has already made a huge profit." Si Lianghong was somewhat nervous, "This time, the Transcendent being will surely be enraged! Qinghe County is under the management of the Si family. I hope they don't blame us."
The Si family was a dominant force among mortals.
But in front of Transcendents? They could be destroyed at will.
...
That day, Si Lianghong rushed to the Blackwind Cliff in Qinghe County and waited there personally.
To her surprise, she waited until the third day before the Transcendent being arrived.
"Rip"
In the sky above the Blackwind Cliff, the sun shone, and a crack suddenly appeared in space, with a figure stepping out.
Si Lianghong had been sitting cross-legged on the Blackwind Cliff. She was surrounded by a spell that blocked the wind. Sensing the spatial fluctuation, she looked up and immediately stood up respectfully, "Greetings, Lord Changfeng."
The person who arrived was none other than the most powerful Transcendent being in Anyang Province, the Longfeng Knight, Chi Qiubai!
Si Lianghong was very nervous: "I thought it would be another Transcendent, but I didn't expect it to be the Longfeng Knight! This matter has actually alarmed such a terrifying existence."
"I heard you have already executed Cui Jinpeng?" Chi Qiubai, with a rather handsome appearance, white hair flowing, and a green robe, stood in mid-air.
"Yes." Si Lianghong respectfully said, "The cause of this incident was due to Cui Jinpeng placing a bounty."
"I already know the details." Chi Qiubai took a step and stood above the Blackwind Abyss. The originally rampant black wind was suppressed and temporarily dissipated. He looked down, and deep below, a terrifying energy was surging, obstructing the view, making it impossible to see what was at the bottom of the Blackwind Abyss.
"Alas, a new Transcendent was about to be born in Anyang Province, but was killed by the scum of the Witch God Temple. It's truly not worth it." Chi Qiubai shook his head lightly, "You may step back now."
"Yes." Si Lianghong knew she had passed this test. Clearly, Chi Qiubai wouldn't blame her, so she quickly retreated, leaping down the Blackwind Cliff.
Chi Qiubai stood above the Blackwind Abyss.
An invisible force suppressed the area below.
"Chi Qiubai!" In the surging massive energy below, a vague, large figure suddenly appeared, followed by a black dragon's head emerging. The huge black dragon's head looked up at Chi Qiubai, who was standing in mid-air, "What, still不服气 (unwilling to admit defeat) after losing last time, and want to try again? I've already told you, to conquer here, your strength is not enough, far from enough. Go back and practice more."
"Is there a mortal who fell down there? Is he still alive?" Chi Qiubai asked.
"Oh, there was a young mortal who fell down, maybe he died from the fall." The black dragon's head said, "I am just the first guardian! The deeper areas of the cave and palace have even stronger guardians. I can't control the bottom or the cave and palace."
Chi Qiubai looked down, sighing inwardly.
This matter concerning Dongbo Xueying was immediately reported to the Transcendent beings. However, the 'Blackwind Abyss' was a headache even for Transcendents, so it was ultimately reported to Chi Qiubai, causing a delay of a few days before he personally arrived.
"If he is alive, please help and bring him out." Chi Qiubai said.
"Pretty polite, huh." The black dragon's head laughed, "If I see him, I'll send him out. After all, he's just a mortal. The master's orders are mainly for Transcendent beings."
Chi Qiubai shook his head inwardly.
The Blackwind Abyss was once very mysterious. Over a hundred thousand years ago, a human who had successfully become a deity entered the Blackwind Abyss to explore... The Transcendent beings of the human world then learned that the Blackwind Abyss was the cave and palace left by an extremely powerful being. Only a Transcendent being who could completely defeat all the guardians would be eligible to inherit the treasures left by this predecessor.
Although that deity, including the later Longshan Emperor, had entered, they did not forcibly take the treasures.
Firstly, forcibly taking them might trigger self-destruction. Secondly, they had already become deities and had established unified empires in their respective eras, being invincible in the human world at the time, so they had no greedy desires for the treasures.
"Pity." Chi Qiubai shook his head lightly. He also felt that Dongbo Xueying's chances of survival were slim, "If he is alive, our Anyang Province will have one more Transcendent in the future. Given his talent, he could go far in the world of Transcendents, a once-in-a-century talent. Pity, pity."
"Chi Qiubai, practice more. I have high hopes for you. Perhaps you will have a chance to inherit the treasures left by my master, but you are still far from it now." The black dragon's head laughed.
"Farewell." Chi Qiubai turned and left.
Rip.
A spatial crack appeared, and Chi Qiubai stepped into it, disappearing.