Chapter 897: Three Incense Sticks, Golden Bounty

In the Zhong Yu region, in Jingdu.

Just as the trials in Jingdu were unfolding with great intensity, deep within Jingdu's largest black market, in a rarely visited underground palace, a large group of people dressed in bizarre outfits suddenly flooded in.

These individuals were all hooded and masked, as if they couldn't bear to be seen, but without exception, each one exuded a thick aura of Sha Qi. Sha Qi only forms after one has stained their hands with excessive bloodshed and taken countless lives. Normally, if one cultivates for a period, it would dissipate on its own. Yet, for this group, their Sha Qi lingered and solidified, almost taking physical form, and there was only one reason for that—constant, uninterrupted killing over the years!

The underground palace was quite low-key, with no lavish decorations. The only striking feature was the blood-black emblem above the entrance. It depicted an incense burner with three sticks of incense standing upright, quietly burning. San Zhu Xiang, the three sticks of incense!

Inside the main hall, a task board hung with numerous bounties. The bounties posted at the Zhong Yu headquarters of San Zhu Xiang were at least at the level of a dead apostle. In San Zhu Xiang, the three highest-level wanted categories—dead apostle, wicked one, and decayed corpse—corresponded to the assassin ranks of red card warrant, purple card warrant, and gold card warrant, respectively. Generally, only assassins of the corresponding rank could accept bounties of that level, and upon completion, they would receive substantial rewards. But there were exceptions.

Like right now... At the top and most prominent spot on the task board, a new bounty glowed with a black-gold luster, drawing immediate attention. The bounty contained no details. Yet, all assassins with red card warrants and above understood that this was the highest-level "mobilization order," a rare occurrence seen only every few years.

"When did this 'mobilization order' get posted? I don't think I saw it when I came by this morning?" a man asked, walking into the hall with a wine flask in hand as he eyed the black-gold bounty.

"Tian Gou, have you had one too many? Even I got the message for my red card warrant, so your purple card warrant should have been notified too, right?" someone nearby chuckled sinisterly.

"Purple card warrant?" The assassin called Tian Gou laughed and shook his head. "Mine pings nonstop every day—someone always wants me to take a job but can't offer the right pay, so I blocked it ages ago... Shi Shen, fill me in?"

In San Zhu Xiang, anyone who earned a red card warrant had at least successfully assassinated a Wang Zuo figure. Advancing from red to purple was tough. To go from red to purple, one needed to successfully assassinate a hundred Wang Zuo individuals and ten Dao Jing experts. From purple to gold, it required assassinating a hundred Dao Jing experts and one Tai Xu. For most assassins, the gold card warrant was the pinnacle, as assassinating a Tai Xu proved their strength and skill.

But for the unusual ones... The gold card warrant could still lead to higher levels! Above that was San Zhu Xiang's ultimate "three-color warrant," which demanded assassinating ten Tai Xu and one Ban Sheng. These upgrade conditions were absurd! Yet, in San Zhu Xiang's history, a total of sixteen assassins had achieved the three-color warrant. These were the kings among assassins, theoretically famous in the assassin world. In reality, no one truly knew the identities of those sixteen assassin kings. There were only vague guesses.

Among the six departments of the Sheng Shen Hall, the two chiefs who came from San Zhu Xiang were believed to have earned the three-color warrant. One was Yi. The other was Ye Xiao. Everyone knew that even the six department chiefs hadn't reached the Ban Sheng realm in strength. However, even a Ban Sheng had moments of weakness, let alone those at lower realms. The path of assassination emphasized stealth over raw power; timing, location, and the target's state were crucial. Wang Zuo had three realms: Dao Jing, Zhan Dao, and Tai Xu. But essentially, all three were under the Wang Zuo umbrella. Theoretically, any assassin with a red card warrant and Wang Zuo-level cultivation could assassinate a Tai Xu.

That was why colleagues in the trade avoided provoking each other whenever possible. In any world, "old sixths" were deeply despised. Even assassins with gold card warrants feared that after a mission, in a state of weakness, they might be taken out by a red card assassin they had previously dismissed or offended.

In the hall, Shi Shen only held a red card warrant, but he dared to tease Tian Gou, who had a purple one, and Tian Gou didn't mind, engaging in casual conversation. This was because everyone knew that once you entered the Zhong Yu headquarters of San Zhu Xiang, the color of your warrant didn't matter much—except for gold card—everyone's abilities were roughly on par. The only difference was the number of vengeful souls on their hands.

Shi Shen pointed to the task board, pulled Tian Gou over to sit down with a seat between them, and said, "This mobilization order's issuer is unknown, but it has only one directive: assemble at the Dong Yu Sword God Heaven. Anyone with red card or above can get the info; those below aren't eligible."

"Dong Yu? That far?" Tian Gou was surprised. A mobilization order aimed to gather the world's strongest assassins to a specific location. Once issued, it gave assassins time to prepare. The mission details weren't out yet, but with a clear target, anyone could claim the bounty. Whoever completed it first got the reward.

What surprised Tian Gou was that the mobilization order from San Zhu Xiang headquarters was calling them to Dong Yu. Thinking about it, the other five regional branches must have received it too. The assassins in Dong Yu were probably already sharpening their blades.

"It's pretty far, sure, but the payout has to be worth it, right?" Shi Shen twirled his dagger and licked his lips. "Getting killers from all five regions to head to Dong Yu—something big must be going down there!"

"Who died?" Tian Gou asked.

"No idea." Shi Shen shook his head. The others in the hall did the same, no one knowing. As assassins, they habitually gathered intel at all times. Whenever anyone talked, the rest would fall silent and focus on the conversation. So, everyone was listening to Tian Gou and Shi Shen's exchange, but no one had an answer to that final question.

"A big shot from the Sheng Shen Hall has died!"

Suddenly, a hoarse voice came from the door. Everyone looked up, then stood in shock.

"Shuang Dai?"

"The Dazed God!"

"Holy crap, it's the Dazed God! How many years since we've seen him? This has to be his second appearance since getting the gold card warrant, right?"

Even the usually silent assassins couldn't hold back at the sight. Shuang Dai, the gold card warrant assassin who rose in Zhong Yu seventeen years ago. If anyone thought this code name was silly, they were the real fools! Because earning a gold card warrant meant at least a hundred Zhan Dao heads and one Tai Xu life under your belt. Just considering the Zhan Dao count, successfully assassinating a hundred Zhan Dao experts wasn't something an ordinary person could do. Even a Tai Xu would need time, effort, and focus to kill a Zhan Dao, and they might still escape.

Shuang Dai had accomplished this feat seventeen years ago and claimed the gold card warrant. In the years since, no one believed he had retired; they figured he was lying low, or perhaps... Cultivating, breaking through, or honing his assassination techniques! And sure enough, with a major bounty now, he was back in the game.

"Dazed God, what do you mean by that? A big shot from the Sheng Shen Hall died?" someone in the hall asked curiously.

Shuang Dai didn't glance sideways, heading straight for the task board. He scanned the mobilization order with his spiritual sense, grasped the details, and sneered, "Dong Yu has seen a lot of big events lately, but none bigger than the emergence of Sky City, with major forces like Sheng Nu, Xu Yue Gray Palace, and Yan Wang all showing their faces. That's all I'll say."

"What do you mean?" Everyone was baffled, not quite following.

Just then, a graceful figure stepped through the door, covering her mouth with a light laugh. "Oh, you bunch of dullards—can't you get what the Dazed God is implying? If Sheng Nu and other dark forces had losses, would they dare post a bounty on San Zhu Xiang? They're too cowardly to even show themselves properly. But now, with a mobilization order sending people to Dong Yu, who else could have posted it?"

At that, everyone caught on. Sheng Nu and the dark forces wouldn't dare post bounties. So, this had to be from the Sheng Shen Hall, right? But was that possible...? The Sheng Shen Hall had its own dark department; if they needed dirty work done, why go through San Zhu Xiang? Most people looked puzzled. Only a few had a massive shock.

Few knew that San Zhu Xiang had ties to the Sheng Shen Hall. Even if you dug for clues, you'd only suspect it, with no solid proof. For assassins, though, suspicion was enough to justify action. If the mobilization order was almost certainly from the Sheng Shen Hall, it meant they couldn't use their dark department. And yet, a big shot from the Sheng Shen Hall had died, and they couldn't deploy their dark forces—they needed San Zhu Xiang's help. What did that imply? Unauthorized action!

Shuang Dai turned his gaze to the scantily clad, graceful woman, his emotions unaffected by her alluring figure, and calmly sent a telepathic message: "Was it Yi who died, or Ye Xiao?"

In his view, the only big shots who would think to use San Zhu Xiang's power were those who came from it. And in the Sky City incident in Dong Yu, all six department chiefs had gone, with only two from San Zhu Xiang. The answer was obvious.

"Dazed God, you're so bold with your words—saying things without evidence?" The graceful woman covered her red lips and laughed lightly. She didn't use telepathy; instead, she stepped forward with her exquisite jade feet, swaying her hips as she entered the hall.

Not every assassin could stay as composed as Shuang Dai. Clearly, the new woman's figure was too enticing. Some assassins, fresh from a job and still buzzing with excitement, were resting in the hall. At her words and sight, they couldn't suppress their dark desires and headed off to a private room with her.

But unexpectedly, no one dared to meet the woman's eyes or say another word.

"Jin Zu..." Shuang Dai's gaze turned slightly cold. This woman was also a gold card warrant assassin, code-named Jin Zu. The smart ones had all figured it out. A mobilization order issued by Sheng Shen Hall higher-ups meant the mission was invaluable. Gold card assassins didn't lack money, but at their level, they all wanted to advance further. Without backing or resources, though, relying solely on San Zhu Xiang, who knew how many years it'd take to get a mission that could transform their cultivation?

The Sheng Shen Hall was different. They controlled vast resources that assassins lacked. And if you impressed them during the operation, you might even join the Yi Department or the dark department. Remember, Yi and Ye Xiao had risen from San Zhu Xiang to become six department chiefs.

"Dazed God, why are you staring at me like that? Are you taken with me and want to... get improper?" Jin Zu wore a black, intricately carved eye mask, her face flushing under Shuang Dai's gaze. In front of the entire hall, she shifted her body, her eyes like melting dew, and said coyly, "If it were anyone else, absolutely not, but for you, Dazed God, I might just say yes..."

Even though all the assassins knew Jin Zu was putting on an act, that full display of shy allure still stirred their dark desires—it was like an open invitation; who could resist?

The hall grew quiet for a moment. Shuang Dai's expression remained unchanged, calm as ever. Women were both a rare temptation and a great taboo for assassins. No one knew how many assassins had met their end in a woman's embrace. Shuang Dai, having reached gold card status, wouldn't let himself fall to such a trivial trap.

He said flatly, "What you're after is probably the same as what I'm after. Since it's the same, you should know how dangerous this operation is."

Jin Zu giggled. "No matter how dangerous, it's nothing compared to you, Dazed God. I heard you've been trying for the three-color warrant these past few years?"

As soon as she said that, everyone in the hall was stunned. Three-color warrant? Shuang Dai had already assassinated one Tai Xu; with his skills, the numbers were just a matter of time. Was Jin Zu implying that Shuang Dai was attempting to assassinate a Ban Sheng? That was insane!

Everyone waited eagerly for Shuang Dai's response. He didn't deny it: "Failed."

Even Jin Zu was stunned for a moment. She had only heard a hint and asked probingly, not expecting him to have actually tried. A Ban Sheng, even in a weakened state, wasn't something a Tai Xu could handle. How had he managed to attempt it and escape unscathed?

"No wonder you haven't shown your face in seventeen years—you must have been marked..." Jin Zu laughed so hard she trembled, but she didn't dare say more on the topic, as it involved a Ban Sheng. After a pause, she said suggestively, "This time, does Dazed God plan to take all the glory?"

"What do you mean?" Shuang Dai's expression tightened.

Jin Zu's eyes darted around, glancing toward the hall's entrance: "This is dangerous, so I wouldn't dare go alone. I called in some help. Does Dazed God want to be an ally or an enemy?"

From the door, three distinct figures emerged. An elderly man with a limp, full of hardship. A hunched old woman. And a round-headed, big-eyed, innocent-looking boy.

"Xie Lao, Gui Po, Xiao Ren?"

Everyone in the hall froze, their skin crawling with chills.

"The seven great gold card warrant assassins of Zhong Yu—today, five have shown up?"

"What on earth is this mobilization order for, to draw in so many big names?"

"Oh my goodness..."

Everyone realized something massive was afoot. If these five teamed up, even a Ban Sheng might struggle. After all, it was easy to dodge an open attack but hard to guard against hidden ones. A single slip could mean instant death!

Even Shuang Dai was startled, feeling a hint of wariness: "You all came just for the mobilization order? The bounty isn't even posted yet..."

"Cough, cough!" Xie Lao looked frail, coughing heavily like he was on his last legs, weakly waving his hand. "Young man, we value the mobilization order, of course, but this time, there's another target."

"Another target?" Shuang Dai glanced back at the task board, where no gold bounty was displayed.

The round-headed boy, who had been supporting Gui Po, dropped her and bounced over: "Shuang Dai, you're really out of the loop. Along with the mobilization order in Dong Yu, there's a juicy prize—the bounty got upgraded. Don't you want to see?"

"Who?" Shuang Dai turned to look.

Gui Po pulled a bounty slip from her robes and unfurled it: "Lad, take a good look. Interested?"

Everyone in the hall looked over. A gold bounty slip could only be viewed by gold card warrant holders. But once claimed and shown, everyone could see the contents. Shuang Dai was no exception, and as his eyes fell on it, his expression shifted slightly, stirring massive waves in his heart.

Bounty Slip

Name: Xu Xiao Shou.

Age: Nineteen.

Cultivation: Zongshi Tianxiang realm.

Background: Tian Sang Ling Palace, Sheng Nu.

Combat Strength: Wang Zuo Dao Jing, Zhan Dao (unknown).

Bounty Level: Decayed Corpse.

Bounty Amount: 500 billion Ling Jing, five Xu Xu Orders, one Feng Sheng Essence Source.

An uproar erupted in the hall. This was just the basic info. The detailed description required spiritual sense to unlock. No one else had the right to see more. But even this basic info left everyone shocked.

"What the heck?"

"Nineteen years old, Zongshi Tianxiang realm, with combat strength of Wang Zuo and Zhan Dao?"

"A mere Zongshi... and it's a gold bounty? 500 billion Ling Jing?"

"The money isn't the point! It's the five Xu Xu Orders! And even a 'Feng Sheng Essence Source'—that's basically for building a path to sainthood!"

"Killing a nineteen-year-old kid could let you achieve sainthood?"

Everyone was horrified. This strange gold bounty slip had everyone's eyes gleaming and hearts racing. But after calming down, they noticed a key detail...

"Sheng Nu?"

The hall fell silent as if doused with cold water. San Zhu Xiang was a dark force itself, and as for Sheng Nu, the overlord of dark forces—who didn't know about them? Sheng Nu's nine seats were each on par with Tai Xu. The top ones could even dominate Tai Xu and rival Ban Sheng. The Sheng Shen Hall had spent decades hunting Sheng Nu's second seat, Wu Xiu, and only succeeded after massive losses in manpower, resources, and effort.

Someone like Xu Xiao Shou, a young talent of Sheng Nu, would surely have experts protecting him. This gold bounty slip openly targeted Xu Xiao Shou alone. But secretly, assassins might have to deal with one or more of Sheng Nu's nine seats! Who could handle that?

—Shuang Dai could! True assassins ignored the extras and focused on the primary target. Everyone had moments of vulnerability!

Shuang Dai, freshly back in action, hadn't seen this newly posted gold bounty that the elderly group had already claimed. In that moment... he was tempted!

"Let's talk?"