Chapter 279

Chapter 279: Come One, Die One

Ancestor Xuan Wei took a deep breath. For this operation, she could not make any noise. She had to be extra careful. She was about to figure out how to track Li Shuang.

Suddenly, a mass of black mist drifted into the air before her.

Ancestor Xuan Wei’s heart jolted, and her face changed at once. This was…

From within the mist, a strange head took shape. The head looked her up and down, then grinned and spoke in a friendly tone: “Ancestor Xuan Wei, nice to meet you.”

Ancestor Xuan Wei’s body went stiff. Anything that could slip past so many eyes and appear before her like this was not simple. It was likely something from the Heaven Severing Lands.

The head said lightly: “Do not be nervous. I mean you no harm. I only want to ask you a few things.” Ancestor Xuan Wei stayed wary and replied coldly: “I have nothing to say to people from the Heaven Severing Lands.”

The head smiled: “Why be so tense? The Heaven Severing Lands are hated by Heaven. We want to leave them and find a place to live. The Human Race and the Heaven Severing Lands do not have to fight to the death.” Ancestor Xuan Wei’s heart thumped. The black mist admitted it was from the Heaven Severing Lands. Either it was so strong it feared nothing, or it was sure she would not attack.

The head kept coaxing her: “At least you and I do not need to be enemies. If you can reach Ascension, what do the quarrels between the Heaven Severing Lands and the Human Race matter to you?” Ancestor Xuan Wei’s eyes tightened as she asked, “What do you want?”

The head bared its teeth in a grin: “I only want to ask one question. I heard a peerless genius has appeared in the Human Race. And you seem to know a small secret about her, right? Tell me her little secret, and the Heaven Severing Lands will pay well.”

Ancestor Xuan Wei’s expression kept shifting. The head watched her calmly and added: “You and Li already clashed in Gluttony Hell, did you not? She cannot do anything to you yet. But if she grows stronger, do you think she will come for revenge?”

Ancestor Xuan Wei’s face changed completely. The greater Li’s talent, the greater the threat to her. If Li truly grew into the Strongest, then Xuan Wei’s road would end in death.

The head fell silent and waited.

Ancestor Xuan Wei drew a deep breath and spoke slowly: “I can tell you Li’s secret. I do not want any other reward. I only want you to take me along when you kill her.”

The head seemed amused: “Oh? Are you not afraid the City Lord will notice?”

A ruthless light flashed in Ancestor Xuan Wei’s eyes as she answered, “You must take risks to gain anything. But I do not trust you. I want a contract first. I will tell you Li’s secret, and you will help me achieve what I want. Also, the Heaven Severing Lands must guarantee your people will not harm me.”

She was very cautious. After all, those with the Devil Seed from the Heaven Severing Lands were not kind. The head chuckled and said, “Add one thing. Your request must be within our power.”

Ancestor Xuan Wei nodded: “Of course.”

They made a soul contract. Ancestor Xuan Wei sensed it and, once sure it had taken effect, let out a breath. Then she said directly: “Li is a Supreme Ice Spiritual Root. Her Ice Spiritual Root was born only two years ago and has not fully fused with her soul. With certain methods, I can still strip it out. But once the root is stripped, it must be planted into my body right away, so I must be on site. You kill her, and the root must go to me. Spiritual roots do nothing for people with Devil Seed, so this request should not be too much.”

The head’s gaze flickered again and again. A Supreme Ice Spiritual Root. A Supreme Spiritual Root. She had cleared seven levels of the Golden Soul Altar and had a Supreme Spiritual Root. This Li must die. If she grew up, she would become a grave threat to the Heaven Severing Lands. The head gave a small nod and said, “Devil Seed cultivation does not depend on spiritual roots. I can agree to this.”

Greed shone in Ancestor Xuan Wei’s eyes as she said softly: “Then I will wait for your good news.”

The head smiled: “When we decide to act, we will inform you.”

With that, the black mist vanished from the chamber.

Ancestor Xuan Wei’s thoughts twisted and turned. By making this deal, she had stepped onto a road with no return. After taking the root, she could no longer live among the Human Race. She would have only one choice left, to join the Heaven Severing Lands. That was also why the head had agreed so quickly. No matter what, once she took the root, she would be theirs anyway.

But for long life, for Ascension, she did not regret today’s choice.

At first, she had planned to secretly check on Li’s movements. Now that the Heaven Severing Lands would act, she decided to hold her troops and avoid drawing fire to herself. Once she took the Supreme Spiritual Root, she would defect at once.

Back then, the City Lord had forced her way into the Heaven Severing Lands. Now it might not be possible. The range of the Heaven Severing Lands kept expanding. The Human Race was weak. Maybe that was fate. People like the City Lord who went against the will of Heaven might simply be wrong. Thinking this way, Ancestor Xuan Wei felt calmer and more determined. Next, she announced she was entering seclusion and would not leave her chamber until it was time to act.

In the City Lord’s Manor, all the rewards had been handed out. The City Lord turned to Li Shuang with a gentle smile and said: “Your Wanfa Eye has gained some new materials. Study them on your own.”

Li Shuang bowed at once and said: “Thank you, City Lord.”

The City Lord studied her and asked: “Are you truly not planning to come to the Central Continent? With your talent, staying on a resource-poor Nanlan Continent is a pity.”

Compared to the Central Continent, the Nanlan Continent really was poor in resources. The Central Continent had sects as countless as the sea. On the Nanlan Continent, only the Six Great Sects could barely stand at the top. The other sects could only pick up scraps. And those Six Great Sects, if placed on the Central Continent, would not even count as Mid-tier Sect. The gap could not be measured.

Li Shuang answered seriously: “I have no plans for now.” The grand sect tournament was close. Her short-term goal was to win it. As for the future, she planned to save Merit Points and set up a Transcontinental Teleportation Grand Array. That way, not only she but all the disciples of her sect could move there. For the array diagram, she needed five hundred thousand Merit Points. To gather the materials and set it up, she needed another five hundred thousand. She needed to prepare one million Merit Points in total.

She had thought one million was still far away. But now she already had 770,000. The target did not seem so far. With her strength rising fast, if she ventured back into the Soul Prison, she could hunt more powerful Soul Beasts. With her frightening speed at earning Merit Points, perhaps in only a few years she could build the Formation.

The City Lord could see Li Shuang’s plan, so she smiled and said: “Very well. Go.”

She waved, and Li Shuang left the City Lord Hall.

After Li Shuang departed, a few figures appeared in the grand hall. Ye Hong Yao looked uneasy as she asked: “City Lord Yu, Li is vital to the future of the Human Race. Are you truly not going to give her extra protection?”

Ember smiled, a chill flashing in her eyes as she said, “Without bait that is tempting enough, how can we draw out the worms hiding in the shadows? Besides, I am confident I can protect Li. If anyone dares lay a hand on her, come one, die one.”