At the auction scene in the Holy Temple, the screen displayed a drop of golden blood.
In an instant, the entire hall fell deathly silent.
Only the sound of urgent, heavy breathing echoed, resembling soone who had been single for decades laying eyes on a naked peerless beauty, or a traveler in the desert stumbling upon an oasis.
This was redemption, and also hope.
"Everyone, get ready. There's no need to spend a fortune to outbid for the Ancient God's Blood, nor to fight them in the Octagonal Cage. Just target the final buyer and strike directly."
An elderly man on the brink of death sat in a secluded corner, wearing a mask. His pale hair draped down as his voice resonated in everyone's mind: "Our subordinates don't have any candidates who can compete. Even if they did, they wouldn't be as strong as that person under Third Master just now. There's no hope."
If this old man's identity were revealed, it would undoubtedly cause a massive uproar.
Li Qingsong.
One of the Judgent Court's nine great saints.
"Who exactly is this person?"
Instructor Zhu sat beside him with arms crossed, asking in a deep voice, "Why does it feel like he's stronger than our Oga?"
Instructor Wan, with eyes like bronze bells, stared: "No idea, he looks unfamiliar."
"There's no record of this person in Taixu's archives."
Li Qingsong rasped, "I never expected such talent to exist within the You Ying Group. If possible, try to approach him and see if he's willing to defect. If he isn't, then kill him early."
He paused: "In our Oga Sequence, the number of individuals capable of one-vs-five combat is not many."
Instructor Wan and Instructor Zhu exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity in the other's eyes.
"Once we're back, we need to intensify the enhancent of our Ogas, including increasing the allocation of resources."
That young man nad Gu Ting had already made them feel imnse pressure.
No one associated him with their chair killer.
The reasons were many.
Gu Jianlin had preemptively taken dication to interfere and alter his Life Rhythm, along with performing disguise and camouflage.
He also refrained from exposing his Spiritual Body during fights.
The only notable feature was the black Ghost Fire on his forehead, which looked sowhat familiar.
But many Divines have thods to change the color of their Ghost Fire, so it didn't an much.
Moreover, they had confird that the chair killer was training in a base apartnt, providing him with an alibi.
Additionally, they didn't believe the chair killer had such strength.
Lastly, as a disciple of the King of Qing, he would have to be insane to co to the You Ying Group.
"Shouheng, are the combat deploynts ready?"
Li Qingsong asked in a deep voice.
"Combat deploynts are complete. According to Taixu's calculations, our chance of obtaining the Ancient God's Blood exceeds sixty-five percent. I will patrol the venue before the auction ends to ensure no mishaps." Councilman Zhang, a trusted confidant grood by the Saint and a core mber of the Judgent Court, replied.
He sat in the audience wearing a white suit and a lifelike human skin mask.
He appeared every bit the aristocratic youth of high society.
As usual, today's operation was led by the Judgent Court.
The Oga Sequence served as auxiliary support.
Outside the Forbidden Zone near the Bren Hill, they had already deployed a large number of Oga Sequence forces.
The Oga Sequence remained reluctant, unwilling to cooperate with the Judgent Court.
But they had no choice.
Headquarters' orders were absolute.
The Ancient God's Blood was far too important.
Even the investigation into Director Li's assassination had been temporarily shelved.
Li Qingsong nodded in approval: "Go on, you're in charge of controlling the scene tonight."
"Understood, Saint."
Councilman Zhang stood, turned, and disappeared into the shadows.
·
·
Footsteps grew closer in the corridor outside the tal door.
The lights within the altar had already gone out.
In the darkness, it was silent as death, as if even heartbeats and breaths had faded away.
Gu Jianlin hid behind the door, adjusting his breathing to enter combat readiness.
"Nervous?"
Tang Ling stood opposite him, gripping the Extre Thunder Great Sword wrapped in bandages with both hands. Though she used this Mythical Weapon, as long as she didn't summon Thunder, it could serve as an ordinary heavy sword.
Despite their intentions to hold off the opposition, both felt uncertain.
Who knew what rank this Order of the Hidden mber belonged to?
Moreover, there was also the mysterious Penglai Ascension Array enhancing them.
These two reckless souls felt uneasy.
So, the two of them hashed out a plan and prepared in advance.
What kind of preparation?
A small contraption was rigged to the top of the tal doorfra, holding a Pill Furnace.
If soone pushed the door open, the furnace would drop and smash their head, with ashes saring their face.
But that wasn't all.
Tang Ling also dismantled her phone and built a small device, which she placed on the floor.
If stepped on, it would electrocute the perpetrator.
Ridiculous as it sounded, this was the only trick they could co up with.
After all, both were known for being brash and had never resorted to such underhanded tactics.
Their pride typically prevented them from using sneaky thods.
But against the Order of the Hidden, no tricks were off the table.
"Not scared, really."
Gu Jianlin replied calmly: "My teacher said he wouldn't intervene against Fourth Rank and below combat strength. But if I were to face soone above Fourth Rank, he wouldn't watch
die."
Tang Ling looked astonished: "You believe in your teacher that much?"
Gu Jianlin responded with a quiet "Mm."
Suddenly, the footsteps stopped at the tal door.
Beep. Beep.
It was the sound of a keycard being swiped.
The infrared scanners ceased operation, the talisman on the tal door remained inactive, and the lock clicked open.
Soone began to push the door. The Pill Furnace above the fra imdiately plumted down!
In that instant, that person reacted—but instead of retreating, they charged straight into the dark altar with such blinding speed it felt like a violent gust of wind.
Divine Speed Force!
This person followed the Ghost Slayer Path!
Within Gu Jianlin's profile, only a bloodied back towering like a giant ca into view. The figure was imnse, seeming capable of piercing the heavens!
At least Fifth Rank!
Without hesitation, Tang Ling lunged, her sword slicing through the air with a wailing cry like weeping ghosts, striking down fiercely!
A sharp crack rang out.
The ridiculous trap actually worked.
The mysterious figure was electrocuted, their entire body paralyzed montarily.
Boom!
A jet-black bell floated midair, emanating dark ripples and a ceaseless hum!
Gu Jianlin raised his hand, his expression cold as he uttered, "Die!"
Splurt!
Blood stread from the mysterious figure's seven orifices as the curse took effect remotely!
They were consistently immobilized!
Tang Ling seized the opportunity, slashing downward with her sword—its Sword Qi howling with the chill of winter winds!
For a fleeting mont, the mysterious figure broke free from the bell's reverberations, dragging their slightly numbed body to leap aside, unable to complete their Virtualization in such a short span!
Bang!
Sword Qi erupted, shattering the mysterious figure's mask, and along with it, the human skin mask they wore. Blood streaked their face, spraying droplets everywhere.
At the sa ti, they completed their Virtualization, darting into the darkness.
With a booming crash, pale Divine Sacrificial Fire ignited on the ground, illuminating the dark hall.
The mysterious man's face was fully exposed in the light.
"Who are you to dare set foot here?"
He wiped the blood trickling down his face, his gaze shadowed, as he coldly intoned, "Does the Ether Association realize the price they must pay for assaulting a Councilman?"
Tang Ling reversed her grip, driving the Extre Thunder Great Sword into the ground. Her vermillion eyes contracted sharply, like those of a cat caught in bright light, reflecting the bloodied, chiseled countenance before her.
Gu Jianlin observed that face, sinking into silence.
In that mont, he suddenly understood many things.
Back during the Black Cloud City Forbidden Zone incident, the Judgent Court's Saint had issued a sweeping purge order, yet sohow the Yan family had enough sway with the upper echelons to capture Uncle Mu alive.
Clearly, soone had nodded in approval.
In the West Port Forbidden Zone incident, it was again the Judgent Court abruptly taking command of the battleground.
Their intent? Likely to eliminate specific individuals.
Even Gu Jianlin himself had co under sniper attack during that ti.
In the Returning Burial Forest, why had the top ten Ogas suddenly been ambushed?
Where had those traitors co from?
Strangest of all, the Judgent Court, who had been targeting Gu Jianlin extensively, suddenly fell silent after his return from the forest. Even after he physically assaulted a superior, no accountability was demanded.
It all made sense now.
The man before him was part of the Judgent Court.
Councilman Zhang.
·
·
The moonlight was like water, illuminating the shimring sea's surface.
Huai Yin sat in a wheelchair, holding a fishing rod like a serene old fisherman, his gaze calm.
"Teacher, Junior Brother seems to have found so clues."
Standing behind him, Jing Ci spoke faintly.
"Mm, your master handed him the clues. With his skills, catching the tail of the Order of the Hidden shouldn't be difficult."
Huai Yin suddenly remarked, "To be honest, I had hesitated at first and didn't want him stepping into the Dark World."
Jing Ci arched a brow: "Because of the Red King?"
"Not entirely. It's mainly because of his personality; he always shoulders everything himself."
Huai Yin murmured softly, "But sotis, fate cannot be avoided."
Jing Ci asked earnestly, "Do you know who the true master of the Order of the Hidden is?"
After a long pause.
Huai Yin sighed heavily: "If I knew, it wouldn't have ended this way two hundred years ago. There's no point in investigating further—once friends turning into foes one by one, there aren't many old acquaintances left. Finding out another would only hurt more."
"But still, I can't help feeling indignant sotis."
He chuckled faintly, "Sotis I even think, perhaps I should have destroyed the Ether Association back then."
Jing Ci shook his head: "If you had done that, wouldn't you and the President have beco mortal enemies?"
"Perhaps."
Huai Yin lifted his gaze toward the pitch-black sky.
The moon shined brightly, scattering stars rarely seen.
Yet, within the infinite abyss of darkness, one could almost make out cold, murderous starlight glimring faintly.
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