Deep in the ocean, Di Jian, Di Qing and Di Luan, all robed in red, are rushing side by side through the water. They cause great turbulence and surges wherever they go.
ā7th brother, 8th brotherās death is very strange. The Blood-red Cave is at the northernmost part of our territory and next to the Qian Long continent of mortals. The Blue Water Mansion and the Azure Dragon Palace are even farther from it than us. Given such great distances, the killer shouldnāt be from the Azure Dragon Palace or the Blue Water Mansion.ā Di Qing ponders for a long time then opens his mouth and says.
What he just said is reasonable. After all, Di Tong leaving for the Blood-red Cave was a secret and not even all of his 8 brothers in the Nine Demons Hall knew about this. How could outsiders possibly have known?
Even if in the end the Blue Water Mansionās and the Azure Dragon Palaceās subordinates were able to discover that Di Tong had gone to the Blood-red Cave, perhaps they would still not have enough time to chase and kill him.
Among the 9 brothers, Di Luan is fairly good at stratagems. After thinking for a while, he says with a nod: ā2nd brother, do you still remember that we sent Cha Hong a message but he unexpectedly hasnāt replied?ā When Di Luan set off, he messaged Cha Hong to ask.
However, the message was like a clay ox entering the sea and went unanswered.
āThere are only 2 possibilities. First, Cha Hong is already dead. And second, he used some unknown wicked method to kill 8th brother then went into hiding, in which case, he certainly doesnāt dare to reply to our message.ā Di Qing continues.
But, for the moment, Di Qing and the other 2 also have no way to find out if Cha Hong is dead or alive.
In fact, the Nine Demons Hall has basically never thought that the 8 caves under it are important. These 8 caves are merely the managers of its 8 large areas. The Nine Demons Hall has been using them only to govern its 90 million li radius territory and has never collected the soul jade slips of the 8 cavesā masters.
āWeāll know after an interrogation. Whatās the point of making wild guesses here?ā
The grim 6th brother Di Jian says.
Di Luanās eyes brighten as he hears his 6th brotherās words. He says: ā2nd brother, Iāve got a method. Not only will it find out if Cha Hong is dead, itāll also be a big help to us in finding 8th brotherās killer.ā After saying, he takes out a transmitter.
Both Di Jian and Di Qing feel happy at once and look at Di Luan.
āFirst, letās message the Great Shell Cave, which is the one nearest the Blood-red Cave. The Great Shell Caveās master must know some matters related to the Blood-red Cave. Thereās another step that can be taken after questioning the Great Shell Caveās master.ā Di Luan says smilingly.
He then sends a message to the Great Shell Cave. In just a while, the Great Shell Caveās master replies.
As soon as Di Luan takes a look at it, a faint smile appears on his face: āJust as I expected indeed, the Great Shell Caveās master said that the original master of the Blood-red Cave, Cha Hong, is already dead! This news has spread throughout the entire territory of the Blood-red Cave so the Great Shell Cave has also heard it.ā
āCha Hong is dead?!ā Hearing this, Di Qing makes a deduction in his mind. āWhoās the new cave master?ā
He knows very well that it is probable the new cave master killed Cha Hong to seize his position. As they can kill Cha Hong, they can also kill Di Tong.
āWait for a while, 2nd brother. Iām questioning him.ā Di Luan is waiting for the Great Shell Caveās master to reply. After a while, he says frowningly: ā2nd brother, 6th brother, according to the message of the Great Shell Caveās master, the new cave master is a former guardian called Liu Xing. But he doesnāt know anything about how Cha Hong died.ā
āGuardian Liu Xing?ā says Di Qing to himself.
Di Jian, Di Qing and Di Luan are all pondering.
ā2nd brother, 6th brother, do you remember that old turtle Qing Xuan of the Blood-red Cave? Do you still remember that fight several hundred years ago?ā Di Luan suddenly says smilingly to Di Jian and Di Qing. He has already come up with an idea.
Di Jian is startled: āOld turtle Qing Xuan? Iāve never heard of him.ā
ā6th brother, you never pay attention to what happens outside so itās normal that you know nothing about him. How about you, 2nd brother?ā Di Luan looks at his 2nd brother Di Qing.
Di Luan says with a nod: āIāve heard of that old turtle Qing Xuan. In the past, when we were choosing a manager for the territory of the Blood-red Cave, both he and Cha Hong strived for this position. In the end they fought each other. Cha Hong won a narrow victory, but the defense of that old turtle Qing Xuan was so astonishing that Cha Hong couldnāt kill him.ā
Di Luan says smilingly with a nod: āExactly. That old turtle Qing Xuanās defense is outstanding. Now he is also a Dongxu stage expert. Most of the 8 caves under our Nine Demons Hall have been unable to completely control their territories, and the Blood-red Cave is one of those.ā
There are many experts in the territory of a cave, how can all of them possibly submit to the cave?
The Blood-red Cave rules an 8 million li radius area in name, but in fact it only has complete control over the Blood-red Ridge and cannot completely control some distant valleys and ravines.
āEven now, Qing Xuanās turf, the Qing Xuan Ridge, is not under the Blood-red Caveās control. Itās weaker than the Blood-red Ridge but Cha Hong is already dead so Qing Xuan definitely wonāt accept the new cave masterās authority. We can ā¦ā Di Luan bursts out laughing in a sinister manner.
Di Qingās eyes brighten: āHa-ha, youāre really smart, 7th brother. Thatās right. Nobody knows that new cave master Liu Xing very well. It wonāt be bad to let that old turtle Qing Xuan have a go at him. If that guardian Liu Xing can kill Qing Xuan then ā¦ heāll be a major suspect!ā
Di Luan also nods his head.
Cha Hong is dead so naturally the new cave master will be suspected. If that mysterious new cave master killed Cha Hong then he can have killed Di Tong too.
āThereās some friendship and contact between the Great Shell Caveās master and Qing Xuan.ā Di Luan says smilingly. āWhy donāt we directly back this old turtle Qing Xuan, 2nd brother, 6th brother? Weāll tell him that the Nine Demons Hall has decided to let him become the new ruler of the Blood-red Caveās 8 million li radius territory.ā
Hearing this, Di Qing cannot help pointing at Di Luan and scolding laughingly: ā7th brother, youāre really wicked!ā
In the past, Qing Xuan fought Cha Hong for this position but eventually lost. He has always considered this defeat a disgrace to his life. If he knows that Cha Hong is dead and that the Nine Demons Hall has appointed him as the new ruler of the Blood-red Caveās territory, will he possibly be able to sit tight?
āAh, 7th brother, that Liu Xing fella is just a suspect. If, after we say that weāve appointed Qing Xuan as the new manager of the Blood-red Cave, he beats Qing Xuan, it wonāt be good for our investigation. After all, we will have appointed Qing Xuan as the new manager.ā Di Qing says with a frown.
Di Luan, however, says smilingly: āWill we? Weāll only let the Great Shell Caveās master tell this to Qing Xuan. If he succeeds, we wonāt have to do anything. But if he fails, we certainly can shift the responsibility onto the Great Shell Caveās master. I think he wonāt dare to say a word even if heās wrongfully blamed.ā
Thatās right. If the Nine Demons Hallās majesties cause him to be wrongfully blamed, will he dare to speak out?
āClever! Clever! 7th brother, quickly tell the Great Shell Caveās master to message Qing Xuan, making him rebel and fight for that cave master position. That Liu Xing, Iāve never heard of him before. Now I want to see how powerful this mysterious fella is!ā Di Qingās eyes flash with coldness.
If this Liu Xing can kill Qing Xuan, Di Jian and the other 2 will have to consider him their no. 1 suspect.
The purpose of this maneuver is to estimate Liu Xingās true power. If he is not strong enough and gets killed, of course Di Jian, Di Qing and Di Luan will not pay attention to him anymore.
In the Blood-red Caveās territory, there is a particular mountain range that is several times smaller than the Blood-red Ridge. There are nearly 10,000 Xiuyaoists here. This Qing Xuan Ridge can be said to be a country within a country. In name, it is under the Blood-red Caveās control, but in fact, it does not take orders from the Blood-red Cave.
In the mansion of the old turtle Qing Xuan in the Qing Xuan Ridge,
Old Founder Qing Xuan is sitting in an armchair. There is a lady-in-waiting gently fanning him with a fan on either side of him. He is all smiles at the moment. His nearly 1 m long bluish flaming hair is slowly flowing. His blue eyebrows are also flowing.
āMay I ask why you are so happy, Old Founder?ā A white-clad handsome man comes in then says respectfully on one side.
Qing Xuan does not answer but his expression changes irregularly, sometimes looking frighteningly ferocious, sometimes looking excitedly murderous: āHa-ha, Bai Yan, have you heard of the Nine Demons Hall?ā
āOf course I have. The Nine Demons Hall is the real ruler of a 90 million li radius area and one of the 3 underwater superpowers. How could I not know about it? But why did you mention it, Old Founder?ā Bai Yan says doubtfully.
Holding his eyebrow between his forefinger and middle finger, Qing Xuan slowly arranges his thoughts then says: āYou know, the Nine Demons Hall has told the Great Shell Caveās master to message me that Cha Hong is already dead and Iāve become the new cave master. Ha-ha, Heaven has helped me. Heaven has helped me! That guardian Liu Xing or something, a brat from some small mountain range, has unexpectedly made an absurd attempt to become cave master without checking if heās eligible.ā
āNow Iāve been appointed by the Nine Demons Hall, Iām legitimate.ā Qing Xuan suddenly stands up.
The white-clad man bows and waits for his orders.
āBai Yan, spread the news that I have become the new cave master for me, saying that this is an appointment made by the Nine Demons Hall itself and that Liu Xing is illegitimate.ā Qing Xuanās lustrous green eyes radiate viciousness. āDisturbance, disturbance, cause a disturbance for me, those rebellious fellas. I want to plunge the Blood-red Ridge into absolute chaos and blood splattered everywhere. When the time is right, Iāll reappear and put everything back in order at one stroke.ā
Bai Yan immediately bows: āOld Founder is really brilliant.ā
āHa-ha, Xiao Hei, you rushed to here from the ravine but didnāt even tell me about this. I really got a pleasant surprise ā¦ā Qin Yu laughs out loud. At the moment, the 3 brothers, Qin Yu, Hou Fei and Hei Yu, are drinking wine in a building in the northern part.
Hei Yu stretches his wing and sweeps a cup up with his energy. He then drinks all the wine in it.
āHa-ha, Fei Fei, I heard that youāre 2nd master. How is this possible? When we were in the ravine, we didnāt decide who ranked higher and who lower. How about this? Iāll be 2nd master and youāll be 3rd master.ā Hei Yu says to Hou Fei through his holy sense.
Hou Fei, who is happily drinking wine, immediately gives a glare when he hears this: āDamn you. What did you just say? I always listen to Masterās words. At that time he told me to call Qin Yu big brother so I accepted this. Now you hairy bird also want to be one up on me? Dream on!ā
He has never dared to disobey Uncle Lanās orders.
āYou hairy bird, Master never told me to call you 2nd brother.ā Hou Fei says haughtily.
Hei Yu is furious: āStep aside, you monkey. What are you being aggressive for? Uncle Lan didnāt say who the second is or who the third is but he didnāt say you can get one up on me either.ā Hei Yu is very proud. He is simply unwilling to yield.
Qin Yu immediately has a headache.
Hei Yu and Hou Fei already fought each other before when they were staying in the ravine. Both of them wanted to be one up on each other.
Because Hou Fei is stubborn and Hei Yu is proud, they do not easily admire someone. Hei Yu has been following Qin Yu since he was little so naturally he listens to Qin Yu. As for Hou Fei, he calls Qin Yu big brother due to Uncle Lanās order. But only now, when Qin Yu has made quick improvements in power, does he approve of Qin Yu.
āAll right, donāt quarrel. Neither of you is higher-ranked or lower-ranked than the other. You are equal, okay? As for the 2nd master and 3rd master positions, they are just titles. Xiao Hei, you werenāt here in the beginning so you should accept your position. All right, donāt argue over this matter anymore.ā
Qin Yu has no choice but to say so.
āHumph,ā Hei Yu utters a cold humph.
Hou Fei also gives Hei Yu a fierce stare.
Even though these two bicker over their positions, they do not fight over the other matters. The 3 brothers then drink wine and chat excitedly to each other again. They chat nonstop about many things, for example their experiences and their respective fantastic techniques. This drinking session lasts for 3 whole days and is very enjoyable.
The life of a Xiuzhenist is almost endless so a 3 day long drinking session does not mean anything.
Qin Yu now looks around. There are 6 beautiful ladies-in-waiting standing respectfully behind him. He says with a wave of his hand: āAll of you can leave. Donāt let anyone come in.ā
āYes, cave master.ā These girls bow and say then leave deferentially.
When the 6 ladies-in-waiting have left, Qin Yu waves his hands, setting up a restrictive spell around the 3 of them, then says mysteriously to Xiao Hei: āXiao Hei, that lowlife Cha Hong had reached the peak of the early Dongxu stage and was also a blood-red aquatic python so his yuanying has a lot of energy, enough for you to reach the middle Yuanying stage. For the moment, because of your soul, you should stop absorbing at the middle Yuanying stage. Donāt absorb more than that before your soul has made another breakthrough.ā
He waves his hand and a purple yuanying floats out. It is none other than Cha Hongās yuanying.
Xiao Hei does not decline and receives it immediately.
Hei Yu has been Qin Yuās companion since he was very young so they seem to share everything. It does not matter how valuable a treasure is, to them, whatās yours is mine and whatās mine is yours. Hei Yu also knows that Qin Yu has reached the late Meteor stage.
āCave masters, something bad happened.ā Zhuang Zhongās voice rises outside.
Qin Yu knows that Zhuang Zhong will only behave like this in a serious situation. He immediately removes the restrictive spell with a wave of his hand. Zhuang Zhong hurriedly rushes in from outside and says respectfully: āMy 3 cave masters, word has spread through the Blood-red Ridge that 1st masterās position is illegitimate and that the Nine Demons Hall has appointed the old turtle Qing Xuan as the new cave master directly. These rumors have made everyone in the Blood-red Ridge anxious and severely dented our Blood-red Caveās reputation. Quite a few formidable Xiuyaoists donāt even listen to our orders anymore.ā
The faces of Qin Yu, Hou Fei and Hei Yu change color at once.
However, Qin Yu does not know that this is a test that Di Jian and his 2 brothers have given him.