Chapter 285: Eradicate the Root!

“Master Senior, do you have any idea who sent these Wu Jian Lou assassins to kill us?” Lu Qing’s words caused Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou to freeze for a moment, then fall into silence—long and heavy.

Seeing his reaction, Lu Qing smirked. “Looks like the Master Senior already has a suspicion.”

Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou remained silent.

“Lu Qing brother,” Ma Gu finally spoke up, “do you know who’s behind this?”

“It’s obvious,” Lu Qing said, folding his arms. “We haven’t made many enemies. Few have a true life-or-death grudge against us. Now, who would want our heads more than anyone else?”

“Xuan Kong Shan!” Ma Gu replied without hesitation.

He quickly realized the truth and declared with finality: “No mistake. That Xuan Kong Shan claims to be the righteous path, but they’re nothing but hypocrites! By day, they pretend to preach virtue, trying to forcibly convert Chen Laodaifu—more despicable than any true heretical sect! You not only ruined their plan, but killed one of their own. These assassins? They’re definitely sent by Xuan Kong Shan!”

“Precisely,” Wei Zian added. “From what I’ve seen, Wu Jian Lou’s survival through that ancient purge hundreds of years ago might not have been by chance at all. It’s possible Xuan Kong Shan secretly protected them all along.”

His words sent a ripple through the group. Everyone turned to Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou, eyes sharp, waiting for his response.

Even Lin Zhi Rui, who had long kept his gaze on his Master, now looked up.

Under such collective scrutiny, Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou finally exhaled, deeply.

“Centuries ago, when the great sects united to exterminate Wu Jian Lou, there was one strange incident that baffled the masters of the time. When they finally crushed Wu Jian Lou’s forces, nearly annihilating every disciple… the sect’s leader and several Tai Shang Elders, wounded and cornered, fled to their stronghold. Instead of surrendering, they set the entire fortress ablaze—pouring oil and accelerants, burning it to the ground. The fire raged so fiercely that even with the surrounding sects encircling the site, they could only wait until the flames died down before advancing.

When they finally entered… they found only devastation. The compound was reduced to ash and charred remains—bodies half-melted, unrecognizable. No one could tell who lived or died. Whether the leader and elders perished in the fire remained unknown. That mystery has lingered for centuries.

But over the following centuries, Wu Jian Lou never resurfaced. So everyone assumed they were truly wiped out. The sect had burned to dust, erased from history.

And yet… tonight, Wu Jian Lou reappears.”

“No need to speculate,” Ma Gu said firmly. “They didn’t die. And Xuan Kong Shan protected them all along!”

Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said nothing in rebuttal.

In truth, he had read the sealed archives. After the purge, the major sects had remained vigilant for decades, sending out scouts across the realm to hunt down any remnants. For decades, not a single trace of Wu Jian Lou was found. Only then did they conclude the sect was truly extinct.

Given the scale of that purge, if any survivors remained, they would have been discovered long ago.

Yet here they stood—Wu Jian Lou assassins, real and present.

The only explanation: Wu Jian Lou had hidden in the shadows for centuries, lying in wait.

And only a few legendary hidden sanctuaries—places so secretive even Qi Sha Lou, masters of stealth and assassination, had failed to uncover them—could have concealed such a sect for so long.

But without proof, Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou could not speak of it.

The truth was too shocking.

After all, it was Sheng Shan that first proposed the extermination of Wu Jian Lou. The decision was confirmed by the Four Secret Places.

Now, it turned out Wu Jian Lou’s survivors had been sheltered by one of those very sanctuaries.

If the truth came out, the backlash would be catastrophic.

The sects had sacrificed heavily—some even lost their heads. If they learned their bloodshed had been in vain, chaos would erupt.

Right now, Zhong Zhou was already tense. If this secret leaked, peace would shatter instantly.

“Master Senior, don’t burden yourself,” Lu Qing said, sensing his hesitation. “This is just Ma Ye’s guess. It’s not proof. We’ll investigate it ourselves.”

Though he spoke lightly, Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou knew full well—Lu Qing had already made up his mind.

He sighed again.

“Lu Xiao Langjun… Wu Jian Lou’s return is full of mysteries. It’s not as simple as it appears. While Xuan Kong Shan is suspicious, we cannot confirm their guilt. I urge you—think carefully. Don’t fall into someone else’s trap. Don’t let yourself be used as a tool without realizing it.”

“Rest assured, Master Senior,” Lu Qing nodded. “I am not a reckless man.”

“Good,” Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou said. “But Wu Jian Lou’s reappearance after centuries is no small matter. I must report this to Sheng Shan. You’ve all been through a harrowing night. Rest now. I’ll have my people take care of the corpses.”

“Thank you, Senior,” Lu Qing replied, bowing slightly.

Once Tian Ji Lou Zhu Lou vanished into the night, other Tian Ji Lou disciples arrived. After paying respects to Lin Zhi Rui, they began removing the bodies.

Lu Qing and the others did not stop them. They watched silently as the corpses were carried away.

“Zhi Rui Ge Xia,” Lu Qing finally asked, noticing Lin Zhi Rui lost in thought, “what are you thinking?”

After the last body was gone, Lin Zhi Rui turned to him. “If we confirm tonight’s attack came from Xuan Kong Shan… what would you do?”

“What can we do?” Lu Qing said coolly. “They’re powerful. We’re just insignificant. Besides fleeing, what else can we do?”

If you’re insignificant, then no one in the world qualifies as a big man.

Lin Zhi Rui thought bitterly.

Who else could kill a Xuan Kong Shan disciple and walk away unharmed? Who else could, as a Hou Tian cultivator, wound a Xian Tian Great Achievement master of Xuan Kong Shan in one strike?

But Lin Zhi Rui knew—Lu Qing was only playing it safe.

He knew full well that Lu Qing was no coward.

Back when he was still only Jin Gu Jing, he dared to challenge Wu Dao Zong Shi. Even Xuan Kong Shan’s might wouldn’t intimidate him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have killed that disciple in front of so many people earlier today.

Still, Lin Zhi Rui didn’t try to dissuade him.

At their level, character was unyielding. Will was forged in steel. Once a decision was made, no words from others could change it.

The feud between Xuan Kong Shan and Lu Qing was now irreconcilable—something beyond persuasion.

So Lin Zhi Rui said nothing more as he took his leave.

…

Not long after Lin Zhi Rui returned to his small courtyard, on the other side of Sheng Cheng, deep within a secluded mansion, several shadowy figures gathered around a table, staring at shattered Jade Tokens.

Silence hung thick in the air.

Finally, a gravelly voice broke the stillness.

“The soul tokens are broken. They’re all dead.”

“How could it fail so fast? They’d only just entered!”

“That’s impossible,” another voice said, disbelief in his tone. “Four Xian Tian Small Achievement disciples, nearly at Xian Tian Great Achievement—gone. The target was just a few Hou Tian cultivators and one Xian Tian Mastery. Was it the Tian Ji Lou elder who interfered?”

“No chance,” another replied. “Even if that old man was involved, he shouldn’t have detected them.”

“Whatever the reason, one thing’s clear—we’ve been betrayed by Xuan Kong Shan’s monks. Their intel was incomplete.”

“Told you,” a voice hissed coldly. “Those bald-headed hypocrites never do anything out of kindness. They sent us to die.”

“Now what? We failed even with Xian Tian Small Achievement disciples. Should we continue?”

“Of course,” a chilling voice replied. “Do you dare defy Xuan Kong Shan’s orders?”

The words sent a shiver through them.

Though they cursed the monks, they knew—Xuan Kong Shan was a force beyond their comprehension. A power they could never resist.

“Prepare,” the voice ordered. “Wait a little longer. They’ve just survived one assassination. They won’t expect another attack so soon.”

“Is that so?” came a calm voice from outside.

All heads snapped toward the door.

“Then… have you considered whether you will survive the night?”

“Who’s there?!” The shadows recoiled in shock.

They hadn’t sensed anyone approach. No trace of presence. The intruder had slipped past their defenses unnoticed.

The mastery of concealment… was terrifying.

Boom!

Before they could react, the window exploded inward in a storm of splinters. A volley of cold, razor-sharp light slashed through the air—slicing the space with overwhelming force.

“Evade!”

Though the attack came without warning, they were no ordinary men. They scattered instantly.

Pang!

The house shattered. Walls collapsed. One figure barely escaped through the smoke—only to freeze in horror.

Before him, a dazzling blade flashed.

“How…?” His eyes widened in disbelief. He felt nothing—no presence, no trace. Yet there it was—the blade, descending.

The final word died in his throat.

A moment later, his head rolled.

“Old Three!”

“Third Senior Brother!”

“Three Brother!”

The others burst from the smoke, staring at the scene in horror.

Old Three—only recently ascended to Xian Tian Mastery—had been beheaded in a single stroke.

Who was this warrior? A Xian Tian Great Achievement master, detecting their hiding place?

They turned to the figure standing over the corpse.

And froze.

The intruder wore a black robe, hooded and sealed tight. A ghostly mask covered his face—no features visible.

His presence… was utterly indistinct. As if he’d merged with the air itself.

If not for their own eyes, their Spirit Soul Power would have detected nothing.

His concealment… was superior even to their own Wu Jian Xing Zhe technique.

“Who are you?” the gravelly voice demanded. “Why attack us?”

But Lu Qing didn’t answer.

Instead, he sent a silent transmission through Spirit Soul.

“Xiao Li, strike. Finish them fast. No survivors.”

Indeed, the black-robed figure was Lu Qing.

After killing the Wu Jian Lou assassins at the courtyard, he’d used his abilities to probe their identities. And from a stack of letters, he’d uncovered a vital clue: another group of Wu Jian Lou assassins still hid somewhere within Sheng Cheng.

As soon as Lin Zhi Rui left, Lu Qing informed his Master and brought Xiao Li to the remaining assassins’ hiding place.

Knowing Wu Jian Lou’s ruthless tactics, Lu Qing could not allow such monsters to live.

“Hmph.”

From the depths of another realm, Xiao Li—already hidden by his innate ability—responded with a soft hum. Then, he vanished.

In an instant, he lunged at one of the remaining figures.

At the same time, Lu Qing swung his long blade and charged toward the other three.

“Beware!” The remaining assassins sensed the murderous aura. They drew their weapons, ready for battle.

But then—another figure’s eyes widened.

He looked down at his chest.

A massive, bowl-sized hole had appeared—his heart, gone.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end