First, Ye Yu’s first destination was naturally Wuzhong Mountain.
After all, he still had several corpses of Evil Gods on hand—hard currency in Wuzhong Mountain, enough to exchange for any resources he desired!
Besides, he hadn’t visited Zangtian Pavilion for a long time and wondered if any new divine techniques had been added. Hopefully this trip would be fruitful.
When he arrived on Wuzhong Mountain, the place had already changed drastically: white banners fluttered across the slopes, giving a mournful atmosphere. Ye Yu wasn’t too surprised. Before he left last time, Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn, Lord of the Divine Alliance, had led several Golden God–realm experts to besiege and kill Shen Kangren. They must have fallen to the Flesh-Blood Evil God’s power.
After all, even Yinghuo and Yu Buxia couldn’t resist him, let alone those others. In such circumstances, with all the high-ranked members dead, the proper ceremonies still had to be performed.
Ye Yu, familiar with the routine, went to the Exchange Hall. He tossed out a few Evil God corpses and received two thousand Contribution Points. It sounded like a lot, but it vanished at once—just a few bottles of divine pills and it was all gone! If he wanted to break through quickly, these resources weren’t enough.
After pondering for a moment, Ye Yu produced the storage ring of the Flesh-Blood Evil God and handed it to Elder Tián Jìngzhé at the Exchange Hall. “The Flesh-Blood Evil God Shen Kangren is dead. I wonder how many points this can fetch?”
Tián Jìngzhé froze. “You mean the Fifteenth-Ranked Evil God on the Blacklist is dead? You killed him?”
Ye Yu forced a nod. “Something like that. Half a month ago, I passed through Zanggu Dao and stumbled upon a gravely wounded Shen Kangren. Then, using the Reincarnation Longbow given by the Alliance Lord, I finished him off. A lucky catch!”
Tián Jìngzhé was shocked. “I can’t decide this alone. I must consult the Alliance Lord. You know, the Flesh-Blood Evil God was our mortal enemy on Wuzhong Mountain. You’ve avenged many predecessors!” Saying so, he transformed into a streak of light and vanished.
Ye Yu found it odd. The Alliance Lord? The new Lord of Wuzhong Mountain’s Divine Alliance?
Moments later the space around him rippled violently. In the next instant, he was transported into the main hall, where he saw Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn again. But now the man’s appearance was transformed—his left profile was grotesquely disfigured, truly terrifying. Ye Yu was stunned that he was still alive, and wondered how he had escaped Shen Kangren’s onslaught.
Seeing Ye Yu’s reaction, Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn offered a wry smile and pointed to his scarred side. “This is the wound Shen Kangren left me. They offered to restore it, but I refused. I want to see it every day, to remember the six heroes who died by his hand!” His voice bristled with endless sorrow.
Elder Tián Jìngzhé, standing to one side, whispered telepathically to Ye Yu: “When the Alliance Lord led six experts to kill Shen Kangren, only he returned. He’s carried this guilt ever since, so don’t mention it again—just hand over the storage ring.”
At this, Ye Yu opened his right hand and revealed Shen Kangren’s storage ring. Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn examined it, his eyes shining. “Yes, this is Shen Kangren’s ring—I’ve seen it before. There’s still a trace of his aura on it. But why is it empty?”
Ye Yu wanted to retort, Isn’t that obvious? I took the contents—am I supposed to give them to you? But seeing the distorted side of the man’s face, he held back and said softly, “The Flesh-Blood Evil God’s ring never held much—just some divine pills, which I’ve already removed.”
Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn nodded. “Of course. I spoke out of turn. Elder Tián, killing a ranked Evil God merits fifteen thousand points, but given Shen Kangren’s special circumstances, # Nоvеlight # I’ll grant an extra fifteen thousand, making thirty thousand points for Dao-friend Ye Yu.” He then ordered the news of Shen Kangren’s death be broadcast to the entire Alliance.
Thirty thousand points was no small sum; Ye Yu was suitably pleased. But he still had one important omission to address. As he thanked the Lord, he winked. Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn, not a fool, understood instantly. He patted Ye Yu’s shoulder. “Rest assured—the rules of Wuzhong Mountain stand. Anyone who slays a ranked Evil God receives an Artifact as well. Shen Kangren’s fifteenth rank is significant; I will choose an Artifact for you. Return here tomorrow, and it will be yours.”
Ye Yu waved his hands in protest, though he could no longer hide his smile. “Thanks, Lord, but I didn’t mean to impose. Since you’ve said it, I’ll wait patiently!”
He then left the main hall and headed back to the Exchange Hall to spend his points. After he departed, Elder Tián Jìngzhé sighed, “That kid’s got unbelievable luck. He must have dealt Shen Kangren a mortal blow himself—only then could he have bagged such a windfall!”
“Nonsense!” Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn’s expression turned ice-cold. Clenching the storage ring in his right hand, he intoned, “In the battle with Shen Kangren, we stood no chance. If not for the Evil-Subduing Bell, I too would have died by his hand! A lucky kill? Impossible! Shen Kangren’s regeneration is unrivaled in the Divine Realm. He could not be slain so easily. Something is amiss!”
Elder Tián Jìngzhé’s eyes widened. “You think it’s fake? Then why grant him so many points?”
Tà Shǐ Xiáxīn stared at the ring and said coldly, “No—the ring is real, undoubtedly Shen Kangren’s. That’s why I suspect foul play. His aura still lingers on me. Tell me, what should we do?”
