"Are we at Celestial Demon City already?"
Su Mo looked up. Sure enough, an ancient, rust-streaked city stood before them—it was Celestial Demon City.
This was the meeting point he had arranged with Long Chuan and Qingyunzi.
The two were already waiting for them outside the city walls.
Seeing Su Mo’s party approach, Long Chuan and Qingyunzi immediately went to greet them. "Elder Su, we didn’t expect you to arrive so soon."
They had originally thought Su Mo would take seven or eight days and were worried they would miss the opening of the burial ground.
But as it turned out, Su Mo had arrived in just three days.
Su Mo said calmly, "Little Queque advanced to a Tier Six Great Demon, so its speed increased considerably. That’s why we’re early."
"What? A Tier Six Great Demon?"
The two looked toward the Cyan Cloud Sparrow and saw that it was indeed radiating the terrifying aura of a Tier Six Great Demon.
Long Chuan asked respectfully, "Cyan Cloud Sparrow, you’re not an ordinary Tier Six Great Demon, are you?"
"That’s right. I possess the Divine Beast Roc Bloodline."
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow stated proudly.
It had first fused with several Celestial Horses, then consumed the Golden Giant Eagle that contained the Roc bloodline, making its speed many times faster than before.
"Just as we thought. You truly are a Divine Beast."
A shiver went through Long Chuan and Qingyunzi.
They had actually sensed it but hadn’t dared to be certain. After all, a Divine Beast Bloodline was incredibly rare.
"Get on. Let’s head into the city."
Su Mo gestured for Long Chuan and Qingyunzi to get on the Cyan Cloud Sparrow’s back.
"This..."
The two looked fearfully at the Cyan Cloud Sparrow.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow said coolly, "Since Elder Su told you to get on, then get on. I’ll fly you into the city."
"Then please forgive the intrusion!"
Long Chuan and Qingyunzi cupped their fists, then cautiously stepped onto the Cyan Cloud Sparrow’s back.
WHOOSH!
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow spread its wings and flew toward Celestial Demon City.
THUD!
Just as they were nearing Celestial Demon City, the Cyan Cloud Sparrow beneath their feet suddenly listed to one side and plunged straight down.
"Holy shit, Little Queque! What the hell are you doing?"
Su Mo exclaimed.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow, struggling to control its plummeting body, explained in a panic, "Elder Su, I suddenly feel dizzy. It feels like my bloodline is being suppressed."
"What?"
Su Mo cried out in surprise and immediately released a current of energy to envelop the Cyan Cloud Sparrow.
Only then did the Cyan Cloud Sparrow manage a stable landing.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow gasped for air.
Long Chuan asked with concern, "Cyan Cloud Sparrow, did you say you were dizzy and that your bloodline was being suppressed?"
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow nodded.
The closer it got to Celestial Demon City, the more intensely its bloodline felt suppressed.
Seeing this, Long Chuan and the others were all astonished.
Although the Cyan Cloud Sparrow wasn’t a pure-blooded Divine Beast, its internal Divine Beast Roc Bloodline was incredibly potent. ’What could possibly suppress it?’
"Are you sure you’re being suppressed and not just sick?"
Su Mo asked.
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow nodded. "A very sinister power is suppressing me, but I can’t sense its source."
WHOOSH!
Su Mo immediately spread his Divine Sense to probe the area, but then his brow furrowed.
’There’s no sinister power here.’
Long Chuan ventured a guess, "Could this sinister power be coming from the Demon Venerable Burial Ground?"
"The Demon Venerable Burial Ground?"
Su Mo looked at Long Chuan, puzzled.
Long Chuan quickly explained with deference, "Elder Su, the place we are going to is called the Demon Venerable Burial Ground."
"Legend has it that deep within the Demon Venerable Burial Ground lies a buried Outer Realm Evil Demon of immense power, capable of bewitching the hearts of men," Qingyunzi added from the side.
Su Mo nodded.
With his current Soul Power, he could cover a radius of thousands of miles. He was certain he would be able to sense anyone trying to launch a sneak attack on him.
Since he couldn’t sense anything, it meant this sinister power was thousands of miles away.
It most likely originated from deep within the Demon Venerable Burial Ground.
Su Mo turned to look at Xiao Zhan and the others, asking, "Father-in-law, do you feel anything?"
"Nothing!"
Xiao Zhan and the others shook their heads, indicating they felt nothing at all.
Even the youngest among them, Xiao Dong and Xiao Wan, felt absolutely nothing.
Qingyunzi mused, "It seems this sinister power only affects Demon Beasts. It doesn’t have much of an effect on us humans."
"If there’s no other way, we should have the Cyan Cloud Sparrow wait outside Celestial Demon City."
Long Chuan suggested.
Su Mo agreed. "Alright, you stay outside Celestial Demon City. Just be ready to pick us up when we return."
"I’m sorry, Elder Su. I’m so useless," the Cyan Cloud Sparrow said, looking ashamed.
Su Mo waved his hand dismissively. "No need to apologize. Haven’t you always wanted to be a mountain king? Just think of it as me giving you a vacation. Go find a mountain and rule over it for a few days."
"Yes, sir!"
The Cyan Cloud Sparrow puffed out its chest and promised, "Don’t worry, Elder Su, I won’t just be freeloading! I’ll use this time to recruit some fast-flying subordinates to bring back as mounts for everyone. We’ll expand the power of our Xiao Alliance!"
Although there were many Demon Beasts in Qingyang City, they were all the Ink Flood Dragon’s minions.
It didn’t have a single subordinate of its own.
This was the perfect opportunity to recruit some followers. That way, its Cyan Cloud Sparrow clan would have its own faction within the Xiao Alliance.
"Go on, go on!"
After sending the Cyan Cloud Sparrow on its way, Su Mo led the Xiao Family Members into the city on foot.
In a corner of the city’s gate tower, two figures—one in black, one in white—were staring intently at Su Mo’s group.
These two were none other than the assassins hired by the Celestial Slaughter Hall: Black Impermanence and White Impermanence.
White Impermanence chuckled. "It seems the intel we got from that disciple at the Holy Spirit Competition was correct. The guy really showed up."
"Heh, serves him right for having such a big mouth."
Black Impermanence sneered.
After the Holy Spirit Competition, Su Mo had run his mouth in front of everyone, saying he was going to some burial ground in a few days.
All it took was a little asking around, and they had all the information they needed.
So, they had been waiting for Su Mo in Celestial Demon City.
White Impermanence asked, "Do we move now?"
Black Impermanence shook his head. "No rush. We can wait until he’s inside the Demon Venerable Burial Ground. That place is crawling with danger. His entire family could die, and no one would ever suspect us."
"Then let’s wait. His life is ours for the taking, sooner or later."
White Impermanence’s face was filled with contempt.
As assassins, secrecy was paramount. If word got out that they had appeared in the Northern Profound Domain—let alone committed murder there—someone would surely take the opportunity to move against them.
At that point, the entire Northern Profound Domain would be plunged into chaos.
To avoid being hunted and causing a commotion, the two planned to make their move after Su Mo entered the Demon Venerable Burial Ground. That way, it would be a clean kill.
Hm?
Just then, both of them suddenly felt a bone-piercing chill. Alarmed, they cried out, "Not good! We’ve been spotted."
"Who is it? How did they find us?"
White Impermanence stammered, trembling.
Black Impermanence’s voice trembled. "Forget that for now! A chill this intense... we’re no match for them. Run! It’ll be too late if we wait!"
THUD! THUD!
Utterly terrified, the two leaped straight off the gate tower.
When targeted by such a terrifying presence, concealing their auras was pointless. The only thing that mattered was to escape.
However, just as they landed after jumping from the tower, they saw a young man blocking their path.
The young man was Su Mo.
Su Mo asked with a smile, "Going somewhere, you two?"