Chapter 184 - 167: Hire Me to Kill Myself?

The aura around him continued to plummet. As if struck by heavenly retribution, he instantly shriveled into a bag of bones, looking for all the world like a living skeleton!

This terrifying sight

made the many disciples of Yellow Crane Mountain in the grand hall turn pale.

"A Heavenly Backlash!"

Huang He Master’s expression was grave.

He had never seen a backlash this severe.

He was only trying to divine the identity of a murderer. Why would something like this happen?

’Could that person be a Divination Master as well?’

After quite some time,

the gray-robed elder managed to recover slightly.

Fear was written all over his face. He shook his head repeatedly, not daring to attempt another divination. Dipping his finger into his own blood, he painstakingly wrote six words on the ground.

"Cannot be said! Cannot be said!"

After writing this,

he ignored Huang He Master’s pleas for him to stay. As if terrified beyond measure, he fled Yellow Crane Immortal City at top speed.

Huang He Master stood outside the grand hall, hands clasped behind his back. He watched the man’s retreating figure, his expression slowly turning grim.

...

After that day,

Li Chang’an’s Divinations consistently showed "calm," and no other incidents occurred.

His cultivation life grew much more peaceful.

Before he knew it,

more than half a year had flown by.

’So much time has passed. The matter should have blown over by now.’

Li Chang’an mused.

He had quite a few Treasures that he had taken from the Huangliang Storage Pouch.

However,

because he was worried about an investigation from the Yellow Crane Mountain Lineage, he had yet to sell them at the Black Market.

’I’ll go to the Black Market tomorrow and sell the Treasures, but first, I should check tonight’s Divination.’

Li Chang’an was extremely cautious. After all, this involved Huang He Master; he couldn’t afford to be careless.

At Midnight, the Divination appeared as usual.

It showed "calm," just as expected.

Li Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief.

...

「The next day.」

He went to the Black Market, changing his identity over a dozen times as he sold off the Treasures he had no use for.

The Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object attracted bids from multiple parties at a small auction and ultimately sold for the high price of eight thousand Spirit Stones!

’My Storage Pouch is finally a bit heavier.’

Li Chang’an looked at the Spirit Stones he had acquired, feeling quite satisfied.

In the days that followed,

he continued his cultivation and Body Refinement as usual, occasionally browsing the trading districts and the Black Market.

Following the hints from his Divinations, he would occasionally find an overlooked treasure.

This peaceful cultivation continued for another half-year.

Until one day,

as he was browsing the Black Market for overlooked Treasures as usual,

Luo Baitong suddenly found him. "Daoist Li," he said, "someone wants to hire you to kill two people."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an wasn’t particularly concerned.

The reputation of his alias, Li Fan, was considerable. Many had heard of him, both among the ranks of Tribulation Cultivators and those of the Righteous Dao.

As a result,

people often sought him out to eliminate their rivals.

If the targets were wicked and deserved to die, he wouldn’t refuse. After all, he could earn a reward and take his target’s Storage Pouch. Why wouldn’t he?

Li Chang’an asked casually, "Daoist Luo, who is the target this time?"

Luo Baitong answered, "Two Cultivators from Yellow Crane Immortal City. One is named Li Chang’an, the other Xu Fugui."

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an froze.

’Someone wants to hire me to kill... myself?’

He had never encountered anything so bizarre.

During his time in Yellow Crane Immortal City, he and Xu Fugui had never offended the same person. Logically, a situation like this should never have occurred.

But...

an image of a person quickly flashed through Li Chang’an’s mind.

Xu Fugui’s second senior brother, Mo Chen!

At this thought,

he immediately asked, "Daoist Luo, where is the client? I’d like to speak with him alone."

"Follow me, Daoist Li. The client is in a private room."

Luo Baitong immediately led the way for Li Chang’an.

Before long,

the two arrived at a dimly lit room.

Inside the room was a Cultivator dressed in a black robe and wearing a black mask.

Although he had concealed his aura,

Li Chang’an, with his Pupil of Truth, saw through the disguise almost instantly.

’It really is him!’

The man was none other than Mo Chen!

Li Chang’an’s thoughts churned, but he calmly sat down across from Mo Chen.

"How should I address you, fellow Daoist?"

"My surname is Ye."

"So, Daoist Ye, you want my help eliminating two Cultivators from Yellow Crane Immortal City?"

"That’s right!"

Mo Chen nodded gravely and slowly pushed a Spirit Contract across the table toward Li Chang’an.

The terms on the Spirit Contract were written clearly.

He was willing to pay a reward of one thousand Spirit Stones for killing Xu Fugui.

If Li Chang’an was also killed, he would add another five hundred.

After reading the Spirit Contract,

Li Chang’an grumbled to himself.

’Seriously? I’m worth less than Fugui? Is that all my life is worth?’

It was clear that

Mo Chen desperately wanted Xu Fugui dead.

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but think of Xu Fugui’s third senior brother, Gu Shanxing. His death had been highly suspicious.

Thinking about it now, it was probably related to Mo Chen as well.

"Daoist Ye, give me three days. I need to investigate the backgrounds of these two individuals."

"There’s no need to investigate!"

Mo Chen seemed a bit impatient.

He explained directly,

"Xu Fugui is the disciple of the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator Wang Fu’an, while Li Chang’an is just an ordinary Loose Cultivator. With your abilities as Li Fan, killing them won’t be difficult!"

"Heh, why the rush, Daoist Ye? One must plan before making a move."

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and pushed the Spirit Contract back.

Mo Chen took a deep breath, seeming to realize he had been too eager.

"Very well, Daoist Li. I will give you three days. You can give me your answer then."

"No problem."

And so, the two came to an agreement.

Luo Baitong, standing to one side, was slightly confused.

He knew very well that

Li Chang’an only ever killed those who were steeped in sin.

Yet Xu Fugui and Li Chang’an didn’t seem to be heinous villains, but merely two honest and dutiful Cultivators of the Righteous Dao.

Just then,

Li Chang’an’s Sound Transmission echoed in Luo Baitong’s mind.

"Daoist Luo, Senior Wang Fu’an once did me a great favor. I cannot possibly kill his disciple. Please keep this matter confidential."

Hearing this, Luo Baitong was taken aback.

He quickly recovered and immediately sent a Sound Transmission in reply.

"Rest assured, Daoist Li. No one else will ever know of this!"

With that said, he glanced at Mo Chen.

He knew in his heart

that although Mo Chen was still alive, he was already a dead man.