Chapter 112: Li Xianzong

Chapter 112 Li Xianzong

Tian Lingling stroked his bald head, pulled out five bills, and handed them back, saying:

"My intel ain't worth this much. Heh, I sell information, and what I deal in is fairness."

He lifted his cup and took a sip, smacking his lips a few times, then said: "Last night, Hei Wuchang was taken out by the Songhai Branch people. The one leading the charge was Fu Qingyang. You know this."

Aunt Xiao Yuan's voice was cold and crisp:

"So it really was Fu Qingyang who killed him? Who else participated? Where was the fight?"

Tian Lingling lit a cigarette, slowly exhaling a mouthful of dense white smoke, and said:

"Location's unknown. Haven't dug it out yet. Songhai's huge, after all. Can't give you the detailed process either. The intel I got says the Holy Grail and the Register are both in the Songhai Branch's hands. They've already organized manpower to arrest the Fallen on the Register.

"Also, half an hour ago, the Wuxing League's official forum updated an announcement. Songhai Branch, Kangyang District Squad Two member Yuan Shi Tianzun merited distinction in the Holy Grail incident. Awarded A-Class Merit..."

Whatever he said after that, Xiao Yuan didn't hear. She seemed to have lost her soul, unmoving for a long while.

She suddenly realized a possibility: Hei Wuchang wasn't killed by Fu Qingyang, but by that rookie called Yuan Shi Tianzun.

If he hadn't played a decisive role, merely participating wouldn't have earned him an A-Class Merit. That's one of the Wuxing League's highest honors.

Just that alone wouldn't have stunned Xiao Yuan. She merely suddenly recalled what that kid said this morning.

——In this incident, I am the one with the primary merit.

He is Yuan Shi Tianzun?

Xiao Yuan had always thought that kid was just an ordinary official Walker. A young man who, though a bit lecherous, had a fundamentally good nature.

Never imagined he was actually the rising star of the Wuxing League lately, the new name topping the bounty boards.

So it's him. He really has been investigating Hei Wuchang all along. A participant in the Holy Grail incident. In that case, that soul-corrupting artifact of his... came from Hei Wuchang... Aunt Xiao Yuan pieced together the details, growing more certain of her guess.

Find a chance to probe him later!

She said coolly: "Your intel satisfies me. Keep an eye on Li Xianzong for me. I'll be back regularly."

At this moment, in a booth in some corner, a shirtless man carrying a wine bottle walked over and sat down beside Aunt Xiao Yuan. His gaze swept greedily over her sensual curves.

He licked his lips, chuckling: "Hey beauty, wanna go have some fun?"

Aunt Xiao Yuan turned her head. Following the shirtless man's gesture, she looked toward the corner booth. A broad, muscular back faced the bar. Two thick thighs draped over his shoulders, swaying unsteadily.

For evil professionals, indulgence is the norm. Bloodlust, destructive urges, and carnal desire...

Xiao Yuan withdrew her gaze and said flatly: "Scram!"

"Tsk. In a bit you'll know just how good this grandpa is." The shirtless man reached for Aunt Xiao Yuan's fragrant shoulder. Suddenly, his breath hitched. Then he coughed violently.

Coughing until his face flushed red. Coughing until black beads of blood seeped from his pores.

Tian Lingling took a sip of wine and reminded him: "My turf. No killing."

Aunt Xiao Yuan snorted coldly, rose, and left the bar. Her trench coat billowing, she vanished at the stairwell.

Minutes later, the shirtless man stopped coughing. His whole body was coated in a layer of black blood. He gasped for air in great heaving breaths.

Tian Lingling sneered, "That woman is a real handful; I wouldn't dare provoke her lightly."

The man gritted his teeth, "If I get the chance to nab her, I'll play with her however I want."

Tian Lingling laughed loudly, "Remember to call me when the time comes."

"Absolutely, I'd never forget you, Brother Tian. We'll play together."

"What I meant was, call me over to collect your corpse."

Just as they spoke, footsteps echoed from the stairwell; a young man clad in a black tank top and camouflage cargo pants appeared in the underground bar.

He was remarkably handsome, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, a tall and straight figure; his robust physique stretched the tank top tight, and he toyed with a silver butterfly knife in his hand.

"Long time no see, Uncle Tian."

The young man flipped the butterfly knife and took a seat at the bar.

Tian Lingling glanced at the young man with his arrogant bearing and said, "Just now, a Saint-stage Gu Master came probing for your whereabouts. It's still unclear if they harbor hostile intent, so watch yourself."

Tian Lingling was a Beguiling Demon, and like Li Xianzong, a member of the Church of the War Lord; however, the former's identity was classified, and he posed to the outside world as a Wild Walker.

After Li Xianzong decided to come to Songhai for the Trial, the two had already made contact in advance.

Li Xianzong let out an indifferent "Hmm": "How did the intelligence gathering I entrusted to you go?"

Tian Lingling snapped his fingers, and the bartender wiping glasses by the liquor cabinet bent down, pulled a stack of documents from the cabinet, and placed them on the bar.

Li Xianzong eagerly took them, flipped them open, and read carefully.

On the first page of the documents, the words "Yuanshi Tianzun" were written prominently.

Tian Lingling pinched a wine glass between two fingers, swirling it gently, and said:

"Compared to the top four on the Bounty List, Yuanshi Tianzun's rank should be the lowest, not even Level 3. He rose too fast, his foundation is unstable; hunting him offers the best return on investment. I agree with your decision, however..."

"This person is very strange; there is little information on him, unlike the top four, whose combat styles we have already figured out thoroughly. You must be careful dealing with him."

Li Xianzong chuckled darkly: "That's what makes it interesting, Uncle Tian. I heard the old elders in the sect say that in your youth, you feared neither heaven nor earth; now that you're old, you've become so timid and hesitant?"

"If I were twenty years younger, I'd have taken your head right now." Tian Lingling scoffed.

"Come on then, want a fight?" Li Xianzong provoked a Saint-realm senior with reckless abandon.

Tian Lingling ignored him.

This guy, Li Xianzong, had been a Beguiling Demon for less than a year, yet was already a Level 3 peak Walker. He was belligerent by nature, yet possessed brains; at Level 1, he could reverse-kill a Level 2 Walker of the same class.

By Level 2, he had few equals in his tier, and was taken under the wing of one of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Demon Eye King, who cultivated him heavily.

He did not disappoint the organization; after reaching Level 3 peak, he single-handedly assassinated a Level 4 Saint of the Psychic Association's South Branch.

Just as that Yuanshi Tianzun of the Songhai Branch was dazzling in the official sphere, Li Xianzong was equally dazzling within the Church of the War Lord.

Once he became a Saint, he would be qualified to go to Headquarters and pay respects to "Shura".

Li Xianzong flipped through the documents and asked: "Any other intel? I recall the Psychic Association's East Branch is also in Songhai. What's their movement?"

Tian Lingling lowered his voice: "After the Ghost Eye Judge died, the East Branch's strength was greatly damaged; they might not participate in this year's Trial. In Songhai, no one will compete with you."

Li Xianzong let out an "hmph," and said:

"Uncle Tian, I've secretly summoned a few servants of the Ghost-Eye Judges, looking to make a big splash, to probe the Songhai Branch's reaction. This Primordial Heavenly Venerate is in Kangyang District, right? You're the local snake here, help me pick a spot."

Tian Lingling grinned, saying: "If you want to make a big scene, pick a mall, a hospital, or a school—guaranteed to shake the heavens and move the earth."

Li Xianzong stroked his chin: "Too many people at the mall, not enough men on my end, can't control the crowd. As for a school, my dad admired intellectuals most, so I won't trouble them. Hmph, my dad died in a hospital, and the place drained the family dry before he went. Let's go with a hospital."

Tian Lingling mused for a moment: "The better hospital in Kangyang District... Pingtai Hospital, I suppose."

Li Xianzong slapped the bar counter: "That's the one."

…

On the official forum, due to the announcement not long ago, a frenzy erupted.

#Primordial Heavenly Venerate Seizes Holy Grail in Hunt for Black Impermanence, Awarded A-Class Merit#

The announcement was concise, just a few sentences, yet this very brevity left official Walkers scattered across the land dumbstruck.

[Li Dongze: Oh my god, oh my god, I haven't slept all night, no kidding, don't doubt it, it's excitement keeping me up.]

[Queen: Who is this guy, talking all weird.]

[White Dragon: @Queen, Primordial Heavenly Venerate was picked up by this guy, pure dumb luck.]

[Queen: Ah, the ancestral grave is smoking green, I'm dying of envy.]

[Future Days: Primordial... isn't he dead??]

[Green Vine: That was to deceive Black Impermanence, deliberately leaked fake news.]

[Future Days: Oh oh, I see, Sister Green Vine, did the Venerate really kill Black Impermanence?]

[Green Vine: Mhm, saw it with my own eyes.]

[Call Me Queen: That brat, ah no, the Venerate is defying the heavens, clearly a rookie just a while ago, in a blink he's a big shot with A-Class Merit, even I, a squad leader, have to treat him with utmost respect.]

[Little Pig George: How many years since a bottom-rung member got A-Class? Sigh, we're witnessing a genius's rise. Speaking of, Primordial Heavenly Venerate must be top of the bounty list for Evil Classes, right?]

[Gone Days Bitter: Yes, wonder if he'll be hunted by Evil Class powerhouses, but at the Venerate's level, few in the Transcendent stage can beat him.]

[Little Pig George: Not necessarily, go check our Five Elements Alliance, Transcendent stage bounty board, the top five are all freaks.]

The comment section quickly accumulated thousands of messages, the vast majority in shock at Primordial Heavenly Venerate's achievements, discussing heatedly.

The Five Elements Alliance produces another monster-level rookie; those official Walkers who often surf the net saw this coming, after all, Primordial Heavenly Venerate cleared two S-Rank Spirit Realms.

Now Headquarters awards A-Class Merit, also a signal—a signal of a future high-riser ascending.

Merit secured; in the future, once he reaches the corresponding rank, he can be granted a position.

"Pretty damn satisfying, keep the praise coming, I like watching..."

Amidst the bustling crowds and dazzling lights of the mall, Zhang Yuanqing accompanied his aunt on a stroll while scrolling his phone.

"Stop playing with your phone!" His aunt puffed her cheeks into a steamed bun, glaring as she complained.

Zhang Yuanqing obediently slipped his phone back into his pocket.

“How about a movie later? Haven't caught one all month,” his aunt suggested.

Many years past, roaming the mall, watching films, eating well—that was their weekend ritual.

When the weekend ended, nephew and aunt parted ways: one to the misery of exams, the other to the drudgery of a corporate drone.

“Sounds good!” Zhang Yuanqing replied. “Check if there are any tickets for *Sex and Zen*.”

“Scram! Scram! Scram!”

“Hah, you've seen it too, haven't you.”

…

The next day, Zhang Yuanqing arrived at the office, backpack on, masked and capped.

“Yuan Shi, Squad Leader Li is back,” the receptionist girl smiled. “He's waiting upstairs.”

Squad Leader Li? My squad leader is clearly Teng Yuan… Zhang Yuanqing smiled back. “Thanks.”

…