Reaping the Spoils

Under the moonlight, two black-clothed men grappled with each other, desperately striking at each other's vital points.

One of the black-clothed men held a dagger, attempting to plunge it into the other's face.

The other black-clothed man desperately gripped his arm, preventing the dagger from descending.

Xu Lu hid behind a tree, his eyes wide as he watched.

"Dragon Scale?"

The two black-clothed men were wrapped tightly from head to toe like zongzi, making it impossible for Xu Lu to recognize them. But the dagger in the hand of that black-clothed man was instantly recognized by Xu Lu.

That was his item!

The Dragon Scale dagger, obtained from Master Feng Huzi, had been borrowed by the Jiangdu City Lord, Situ Daosheng!

Without a doubt, the one holding the Dragon Scale dagger was definitely an insider arranged by Situ Daosheng!

"Wasn't Situ Daosheng in charge of capturing Bai Zhantang? Why did the insider he arranged end up here?"

As Xu Lu thought of this, he felt an urge to retreat.

The conflict between the government's insider and the rebel Mystic Cultivators was none of his business, and he did not wish to wade into these muddy waters.

"Puchi—"

Just as he took a step, the sound of a blade piercing flesh reached Xu Lu's ears.

Turning his head to look, the black-clothed man who had been pinned down had somehow flipped over and stood up, actually seizing the dagger and launching a counter-kill.

"Come out, I have already discovered you!" the black-clothed man who had seized the dagger barked in a low voice.

Xu Lu sneered in his heart. This kind of petty trick was something he had long played out. Did they want to trick him?

Xu Lu remained hidden behind the tree, making no movement whatsoever.

The black-clothed man panted heavily, looking around vigilantly. After a long while, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, sat down on his buttocks, and quickly bandaged his wounds.

During the struggle just now, his body had been slashed in several places, and several wounds were still bleeding continuously.

To avoid being discovered, Xu Lu chose to remain hidden.

After the black-clothed man finished bandaging his wounds, he struggled to his feet, walked to the side of the black-clothed man who had died first, and reached into his robes to search.

Quickly, he pulled out an object and let out a soft sigh of relief, even causing his face veil to flutter.

"A mystic treasure?!"

Behind the tree, Xu Lu's pupils suddenly contracted.

Hesitating for only a second, Xu Lu immediately made a decisive move.

Mystic art, Light-Splitting Shadow-Transformation!

...

"Boom—"

Luo Jingqi and Xiang Shenglong landed on the ground one after the other, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Luo Jingqi waved his hand, and a cool breeze blocked the dust half a foot away from his body.

"Dammit, we let him escape again!" Xiang Shenglong clenched his fists until they creaked, speaking fiercely.

"A Ninth-grade Mystic Cultivator is not so easily captured," Luo Jingqi said indifferently. After a great battle, the golden Daoist robe on his body remained unstained by dust.

"The ninth-generation mystic treasure was snatched by them. Will nothing go wrong?" Xiang Shenglong said, as if venting, smashing a large boulder nearly half his height beside him with a single punch.

"Our people are still there; they cannot carry the mystic treasure away," Luo Jingqi said calmly. "We still have a chance. As long as we receive the signal he sends out, we will act immediately. This time, we might truly be able to keep a Ninth-grade Mystic Cultivator!"

Speaking of this, a trace of excitement, imperceptible to others, flashed in Luo Jingqi's eyes.

Ordinary people only said that the Ninth-grade was the limit of a Heavenly Official, but they did not know that above the Ninth-grade Heavenly Official lay true Gods. That was the existence of true longevity. Otherwise, even for a Ninth-grade, their lifespan was merely a thousand years. When the great tribulation arrived, they would ultimately return to a handful of yellow sand.

If he could capture a Ninth-grade Mystic Cultivator, he, Luo Jingqi, might have a sliver of hope to behold the true Divine Realm.

"My hands have long been itching!" Xiang Shenglong rubbed his hands.

Right at this moment, a Heavenly Official rushed over.

"My Lord, something has happened." He walked before Luo Jingqi and Xiang Shenglong, speaking respectfully, "Our man, along with two Mystic Cultivators, died in the mountain forest. The mystic treasure is missing."

"What?"

The always calm yellow-robed Heavenly Official, Luo Jingqi, experienced a sudden change in expression.

...

"Hu, hu—"

Xu Lu closed the door of his room, leaning his entire body against it, his heart pounding wildly.

His entire body felt a sense of exhaustion, which was the aftereffect of excitement and tension stretched to the limit.

"A mystic treasure, and not an imitation, but a genuine one!"

Xu Lu carefully took out an object from his robes, feeling as if the blood in his entire body was about to boil.

He had once possessed a mystic treasure, but at that time, he did not understand its precious value, so he did not know how to cherish it. Unexpectedly, heaven had actually granted him another opportunity to obtain one!

The current Xu Lu was no longer the ignorant youth of the past. He knew very well that the value of a genuine mystic treasure was absolutely incomparable to an imitation.

Even though he knew that Mystic Cultivators could at most replicate eighth-generation mystic treasures, whereas the mystic treasure before his eyes was clearly a ninth-generation one!

A ninth-generation mystic treasure was only the size of a brick. Not only was its volume half that of an eighth-generation mystic treasure, but its efficiency in purifying spiritual Qi was also nearly ten percent higher!

Compared to that replicated eighth-generation mystic treasure, its efficiency in purifying spiritual Qi was even ten times greater!

Most importantly, replicated mystic treasures could still be purchased, whereas this genuine product was completely unobtainable.

"That Mystic Cultivator riding the flying dragon in the sky must have come for this mystic treasure. Unexpectedly, it ended up benefiting me."

Xu Lu caressed the mystic treasure, which was filled with technological beauty, with great affection, recalling the events of just now. "This time, I have actually offended both the Mystic Cultivators and the Heavenly Palace. If anyone finds out it is in my hands, neither side will let me off. However, my action in killing that Mystic Cultivator was very swift; I shouldn't have left any clues."

Xu Lu carefully recalled the entire experience, confirming he had left no traces.

"Although I am certain I left no traces, those who appeared near that area last night will probably all become suspects," Xu Lu pondered. "This mystic treasure cannot be hidden at home! And those manuscripts of mystic calculations cannot be kept either."

Caution ensures safety.

The experience of last night made Xu Lu even more aware of the fragility of human life and the power of mystic arts.

...

Jiangdu City, Heavenly Palace.

Luo Jingqi's expression was grave, and the air pressure in the room was so low that it made people feel suffocated.

"Very well. Has the Heavenly Palace of Jiangdu City been toyed with by that special envoy of Yujing Mountain in the palm of his hand?" Luo Jingqi said coldly.

He Qing lowered his head and did not speak, his back already drenched in cold sweat.

"Damn it, wasn't Bai Zhantang in the city? Why did he run outside the city? How does the City Lord's Manor do things? Are they all useless?" Xiang Shenglong cursed.

"Bai Zhantang might have already known the identity of the insider, which is why he did not fall for the trap," He Qing said, gritting his teeth. "His encounter with the two escapees over there must have been a coincidence."

"Whether it was a coincidence or not does not matter," Luo Jingqi narrowed his eyes and said. "He Qing, investigate every single person who appeared within a hundred miles of the source last night. Those with reputation in Jiangdu City whose whereabouts were unaccounted for last night must also be investigated! If we cannot find the mystic treasure, you need not stay in Jiangdu City anymore. Return to the He Clan."

He Qing's entire body trembled, and he knelt on one knee. "Understood! Even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will definitely find Bai Zhantang!"

"Right now, it is no longer a matter of Bai Zhantang. If the ninth-generation mystic treasure is brought back to Yujing Mountain, the consequences are not something we can bear. At that time, having our status stripped would be considered a light punishment," Luo Jingqi said coldly.

"Old Luo, could Bai Zhantang have already left Jiangdu with the item?" Thinking of the consequences Luo Jingqi mentioned, even Xiang Shenglong felt his scalp go numb.

"The mystic treasure is still in Jiangdu," Luo Jingqi closed his eyes and said gravely. "Every single mystic treasure carries the imprint of the Heavenly Palace. Although I cannot sense its exact location when it is not in an activated state, I can confirm that it is still within the scope of Jiangdu. He Qing, I will have the government officials fully cooperate with you. The Orange-clothed Heavenly Officials and Lishi under your command can also be deployed. Do not disappoint me again!"

"Rest assured, My Lord. This time, I will definitely handle the matter properly!" He Qing said gravely.

Once He Qing withdrew, Xiang Shenglong looked toward Luo Jingqi and asked, "Old Luo, the mystic treasure is of grave importance. Should you and I personally search for it?"

Losing a mere mystic treasure was one thing, but a ninth-generation mystic treasure falling into the hands of a Yujing Mountain Mystic Cultivator was a massive issue.

"Of course," Luo Jingqi said gravely. "I had He Qing investigate merely as a precaution. To find the ninth-generation mystic treasure, in the end, we must rely on the Ninth-grade Mystic Cultivator from last night. I perhaps already know who he is."

A cold light flashed in Luo Jingqi's eyes, and his face gradually turned grim.

"You know who he is? Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Xiang Shenglong leaped up.

"No rush," Luo Jingqi said gravely. "If it is truly him, then things are a bit troublesome. Too many things are entangled with him. I must make thorough arrangements before we can strike."