Seeing the black-robed elder’s panicked state, the shadow was rendered speechless.
’You just said you’d remain calm even if the sky were falling. How are *you* the one who’s shocked now?’
’How disgraceful!’
Of course, he could only have these thoughts and didn’t dare say them out loud.
The black-robed elder composed himself and asked, "Is the information accurate?"
The shadow replied, "It is. News just came back from the Canglan Empire. Someone personally witnessed Su Mo kill nine Martial Monarchs and over a dozen Grand Martial Artists with a single palm strike. They also saw the Cyan Emperor and Du Feng kneeling to Su Mo."
"This..."
The black-robed elder’s heart trembled violently. "Could it be," he said, "that Su Mo is a Martial King Powerhouse?"
The shadow suggested, "Hall Master, you should recall Blood Cry and Ghost Skull at once, lest they get in over their heads and die by Su Mo’s hand."
"Sigh... It’s most likely too late."
The black-robed elder sighed.
Since Su Mo had appeared in the Canglan Empire, it meant Blood Cry and Ghost Skull’s mission had failed, and they had already been killed.
He took out their Soul Lamps to check.
As expected, both of their Soul Lamps had long been extinguished.
The black-robed elder blamed himself, saying, "It’s all my fault. I was careless and failed to properly investigate Su Mo’s background, leading to such a huge loss."
The shadow said, "Hall Master, now is not the time to assign blame. You should be considering your next move."
"Move my ass," the black-robed elder grumbled.
Against a Martial King Level expert, sending any number of assassins would just be sending them to their deaths.
Unless... they dispatched a Martial King assassin.
The shadow frowned. "So, are we just going to let this go?"
The black-robed elder said coldly, "Of course we can’t just let this go. Otherwise, how could our Celestial Slaughter Hall maintain its footing in the Northern Profound Domain? Go investigate Su Mo’s movements immediately. I will find a way to have him killed."
"Yes!"
The shadow retreated silently.
The black-robed elder pondered for a long time, then took a piece of talisman paper from his robes and lit it. It transformed into two phantom figures, one black and one white.
The white phantom asked, "Why have you summoned me?"
The black-robed elder said, "I invite you two lords to the Northern Profound Domain to kill someone. The payment is one hundred million Spirit Stones."
"Done!"
The black and white phantoms vanished.
The black-robed elder said viciously, "Hmph, so, Su Mo, this time I’ve hired the Black and White Impermanence Lords to kill you. Let’s see if you can escape death now."
「Two days later.」
Su Mo looked at the endless mountain range before him and asked with some confusion, "Little Queque, did you fly in the wrong direction?"
"No, I’m following the map Master Mo gave me," the Cyan Cloud Sparrow replied.
Su Mo took the map and looked at it, discovering that the Cyan Cloud Sparrow had indeed not flown in the wrong direction.
But this place was too remote, with mountains stretching on endlessly.
It wasn’t just a hundred thousand mountains; there were a million, even ten million mountains. It was practically a sea of mountains.
Suddenly, the Cyan Cloud Sparrow called out, "Senior, look! There’s a city over there."
"A city?"
Su Mo looked up and, sure enough, saw a massive city not far ahead. People were continuously rushing toward it from all directions and pouring inside.
Su Mo said with pleasant surprise, "It seems this is the so-called Holy Spirit Manor. It’s really well hidden."
The Holy Spirit Manor was actually an ancient city hidden among a million mountains.
Without a map, it would be very difficult to find.
It was precisely because the Holy Spirit Manor was so well-hidden and avoided conflict with outsiders that it was able to quietly accumulate power and gradually develop into a top-tier force in the Northern Profound Domain.
In the past, the Holy Spirit Manor was not open to the public.
This was the second time.
While still a long way from the city gates, Su Mo jumped off the Cyan Cloud Sparrow and proceeded into the city on foot.
Su Mo even deliberately had the Cyan Cloud Sparrow suppress its Realm.
The main goal was to keep a low profile.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow looked around the city gates in surprise. "This place is so strange. There are no guards, and anyone can just walk in. Aren’t they afraid of people sneaking in to launch a surprise attack?"
"It’s probably because the people here are quite strong and don’t feel the need for defenses."
The moment Su Mo walked into the city, he sensed dozens of powerful auras, all from Martial Monarch Level experts.
Furthermore, there were even more terrifying existences.
It could be said that the Holy Spirit Manor’s strength surpassed the Celestial Moon Sect’s by several times; crushing the Celestial Moon Sect would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Soon, the two arrived before the City Lord’s Mansion.
A guard asked, "Are you two here to participate in the Holy Spirit Assembly?"
"Yes!"
Su Mo took out the letter of recommendation Master Mo had given him and handed it to the guard.
The guard opened the letter, inspected it carefully, and after confirming it was in order, said, "Please follow me. I’ll take you to register."
With that, the guard led the two to a large square.
Many young people were gathered in the square, all there to register for the Holy Spirit Assembly. Among them were plenty of monstrously talented geniuses.
Soon, it was Su Mo’s turn.
The old man in charge of registration took Su Mo’s recommendation letter and said in surprise, "You were recommended by Master Mo?"
"That’s right!"
Su Mo asked, "Is there a problem?"
The old man shook his head. "No major problem. I am acquainted with Master Mo, and I am just a little excited to see the disciple of an old friend."
Su Mo denied it. "Sorry, but I am not Master Mo’s disciple."
"You’re not?"
The old man said, surprised, "If you’re not his disciple, why would Master Mo be willing to part with a recommendation letter for the Holy Spirit Assembly and give it to you?"
You have to understand, the Holy Spirit Assembly was no simple martial arts tournament; it had extremely generous prizes.
And then there was the Holy Spirit Secret Realm.
The Holy Spirit Secret Realm was filled with countless opportunities. As long as your luck wasn’t too terrible, you could gain immense benefits, and your cultivation would advance by leaps and bounds.
Such a heaven-defying opportunity was something you couldn’t even beg for.
How could Master Mo possibly hand over a recommendation letter for the Holy Spirit Assembly to an unrelated person?
The old man asked in a deep voice, "Are you sure you are not Master Mo’s disciple?"
Su Mo nodded. "I’m sure. This recommendation letter was a gift he gave me out of respect."
"What did you say?"
The old man stared at Su Mo, dumbfounded.
’Who do you think you’re fooling?’
’Master Mo, a dignified Tier Four Alchemist, would offer a tribute to a little brat like you?’
’Damn it.’
’You’re talking some serious bullshit.’
The old man scolded angrily, "If you dare spout any more nonsense and disrespect Master Mo, don’t blame me for getting rough with you."
Hearing this, Su Mo was speechless.
’Is it wrong to tell the truth?’
The old man continued to lecture, "It’s not that I’m deliberately making things difficult for you, but you are far too disrespectful to your elders. For Master Mo’s sake, I’ll let you off for now. But when you go back, you must personally apologize to Master Mo."
"Fine, I apologize," Su Mo said helplessly.
Seeing Su Mo give in, the old man finally let the matter drop.
Little did he know, his good intentions were leading to trouble.
Master Mo absolutely could not withstand an apology from Su Mo.
The old man shot Su Mo a glance and said coldly, "You impertinent little thing. Out with it. What’s your name and what’s your Realm?"
"Su Mo, Warrior Great Perfection," Su Mo said nonchalantly.
What?
Warrior Great Perfection...
The old man was stupefied. "You dare to attend the Holy Spirit Assembly with a Realm like that?"
Su Mo retorted, "Can’t I?"
The old man shook his head. "You can, but a trash Realm like yours won’t pass the preliminary rounds. You’ll just end up getting killed at the Holy Spirit Assembly."