One cannot suffer another to sleep soundly in one’s own bed.
A large number of Celestial Slaughter Hall assassins were hiding in the Eighteen Kingdoms, posing a threat not only to the Xiao Family but to everyone in the Eighteen Kingdoms.
Therefore, everyone unanimously agreed to eradicate them.
It would be best if they could all strike at the same time.
Su Mo instructed, "Daoist Xuanqing, you are in charge of gathering intelligence on all the Celestial Slaughter Hall branches in the Eighteen Kingdoms. Remember, do it quietly. No firing any shots."
"Firing shots? What shots?"
Daoist Xuanqing was utterly bewildered.
He understood the first part, but he racked his brains and still couldn’t figure out what "no firing any shots" meant.
Aren’t spears for stabbing people?
Can you "fire" them too?
Su Mo didn’t explain. He just patted Daoist Xuanqing’s shoulder and said, "It means you gather intelligence covertly. Don’t alert them."
"I see."
Daoist Xuanqing said with sudden realization, "Elder Su, you truly speak with such profound wisdom."
Su Mo gave an awkward smile.
’I can’t believe a casual quip from my past life, a line from those movies cursing the enemy, would be seen as profound wisdom in this world.’
’How ironic.’
After dealing with the Celestial Slaughter Hall matter, Su Mo looked at the Black Demon Wolf and the Striped Demon Tiger in confusion. "What are you two doing here at my home?"
"We followed you here secretly."
The Black Demon Wolf said sheepishly, then dropped to its knees with a THUD. It pleaded pitifully, "Elder Su, please let us stay! We can guard your gate. Just give us some leftovers to eat every day."
"Leftovers..."
Hearing this, everyone around was left speechless.
Dignified Tier Four Demon Beasts, beings comparable to the Half-Step Martial Monarch Level, could do anything they wanted, yet here they were, begging for food at someone’s door.
It was truly baffling.
Su Mo was speechless too.
’If word of this got out, people would think I was unreasonable, using my strength to bully the weak, picking on Demon Beasts.’
"We don’t have any leftovers in our family," Su Mo said.
Hearing this, the faces of both the Striped Demon Tiger and the Black Demon Wolf fell. They thought Su Mo had made up his mind to drive them away.
"Elder, if you don’t let us stay, we’ll just smash our heads and die right here."
"That’s right! We offered to guard your gate, and you still don’t want us. If word gets out, we’ll be the laughingstock of all Demon Beasts. We might as well be dead."
The two Demon Beasts said, their voices choked with tears.
Su Mo was dumbfounded. "What the hell are you crying for? When did I say I was kicking you out?"
"Then, Elder, you mean..."
The two Demon Beasts stared intently at Su Mo as they asked.
Su Mo sighed. "Since you two followed me all the way here, you can stay with the Xiao Family. But we really don’t have any leftovers. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with some meat or something."
"Meat?"
At these words, the two Demon Beasts were instantly overjoyed.
’So Su Mo wanted to improve their living conditions.’
’That scared us to death.’
The Black Demon Wolf said, "Elder, I’ve already discussed it with Young Master Dong. From now on, I will be his esteemed Demon Pet. Please grant me your permission."
Su Mo waved his hand. "As long as you’re happy. Little Queque, from now on, when these two are at home, they’re under your management."
"Yes!"
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow flew before the two beasts and said haughtily, "From now on, I’m the Big Brother, and you’re my Second Brother and Third Brother. You must listen to my commands, or I’ll have Elder Su kick you out."
"Big Brother, don’t!"
The Black Demon Wolf and the Striped Demon Tiger said fawningly, "Big Brother, don’t worry. We’ll listen to everything you say from now on. We promise to behave."
"Haha, you are teachable!" the Cyan Cloud Sparrow said happily.
The Striped Demon Tiger asked curiously, "Brother Que, have you always been by Elder Su’s side?"
"That’s right!"
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said proudly, "Elder Su takes me wherever he goes. I’m his exclusive mount now. I’ve been through hell and high water with Elder Su. I even witnessed him undergo a Celestial Tribulation and curse the heavens, calling it the ’damned old heavens.’"
"What? Elder Su dares to curse even the heavens?"
The Striped Demon Tiger and the Black Demon Wolf were astonished.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said disdainfully, "That’s nothing. When Elder Su was facing his Celestial Tribulation, he punched a hole straight through the sky and scared the piss out of the damned old heavens."
HISS...
The two Demon Beasts sucked in a sharp, cold breath, so shocked their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
’They knew Su Mo was strong, but they never imagined he was *this* strong.’
’To be able to scare the piss out of the damned old heavens.’
’Just how terrifying was his strength?’
The Striped Demon Tiger asked in a low voice, "Brother Que, do you know Elder Su’s actual level of strength?"
"I do. It’s unfathomable."
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said with an air of profound confidence.
The Striped Demon Tiger continued asking, "What kind of level is ’unfathomable’? Is it stronger than a Martial King? I heard those Martial Kings are incredibly tough."
"A Martial King is jack shit!"
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said with contempt, "Even if you brought a Martial Emperor here, Elder Su could crush him with one stomp, just like squashing an ant."
Now, the two Demon Beasts were even more shocked, utterly speechless.
’A Martial Emperor was the most powerful existence they knew of, yet Su Mo could supposedly crush one with a single stomp.’
’That’s too terrifying.’
The Black Demon Wolf asked doubtfully, "Brother Que, are you sure you’re not just bragging to fool us?"
"No, I’m not bragging."
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said without batting an eye, "Let me tell you, I once saw Elder Su stomp a Martial Emperor to death with my own eyes."
"Well... if Brother Que saw it with his own eyes, then it must be true."
The two Demon Beasts were now completely convinced.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
’Close. Those two blockheads almost saw through me.’
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow thought to itself, ’Bragging? Hmph. The boasts I make today will one day become reality. Just you wait and see.’
Just then, a vast and mighty power suddenly erupted from the Cyan Cloud Sparrow’s body.
"Brother Que, you..."
The two Demon Beasts stared at the Cyan Cloud Sparrow in astonishment.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said in pleasant surprise, "My two worthy brothers, I think I’m about to break through to a Tier Five Demon Beast!"
"Tier Five..."
The two Demon Beasts were completely stunned. That was a powerful Great Demon, comparable to a human at the Martial Monarch Level!
The Black Demon Wolf said, "Brother Que, wait here! I’ll go report to Elder Su right away."
"Don’t go!"
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow stopped it. "I want to break through quietly. No firing any shots. Then I’ll secretly amaze Elder Su."
With that said, the Cyan Cloud Sparrow left Qingyang City without a backward glance, seeking a place to make its breakthrough.
In the Xiao Family’s main hall, Su Mo assigned all the tasks. Besides gathering intelligence on the Celestial Slaughter Hall’s branches in the Eighteen Kingdoms, he also planned to expand the city and lay down a new Array.
Huang Xu was personally in charge of this matter.
As the president of the Desolate Empire’s branch of the Array Master Guild, Huang Xu was highly skilled in city construction and Array deployment, renowned throughout the Eighteen Kingdoms. Entrusting this to him was the most suitable choice.
In addition, Su Mo often appeared on the martial arts training grounds to guide the Xiao Family disciples in their Cultivation, and he even imparted the second layer of his Cultivation Technique.
An abridged version, of course.
Even so, it was more than enough for the members of the Xiao Family to cultivate and study for a lifetime.
「Meanwhile.」
「Imperial City...」
Huang Yunan hurried into the Imperial Palace Hall and said, "Grandfather, news has come from the Heaven-Suppressing Royal Mansion. The Heaven-Suppressing King is expected to come out of seclusion in the next two days."