Chapter 849: Bad News Keeps Coming

Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Ye Chen waved his hand casually and, carrying Xue Lin on his shoulder, strode out of the tavern.

A few seconds later, he returned, looking completely serious as he addressed the people in the tavern, "I appreciate it if you fellow Daoists could pass a message to Shi Xue Dian: tell them to prepare the money, and I'll come to collect it when I have time."

With that, he flicked his robe and vanished in a dashing manner.

It wasn't until four or five seconds after he left that the people in the tavern began exchanging glances.

"An old man like me can tell with a quick calculation that this must be a kidnapping," said a sleazy elder from the previous generation, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

As soon as he spoke, everyone's eyes in the tavern turned to the old fellow, each with a meaningful expression: You're spot on, all right.

Soon, the news spread like it had grown wings, covering all of Bei Chu.

In an instant, the entire land was in an uproar.

It had been many years since anyone dared to kidnap a disciple of Shi Xue Dian, and to do it so boldly at that.

But thinking back to yesterday's events, they quickly made sense of it. If someone could kill a Shi Xue Dian elder in broad daylight, then kidnapping someone was like child's play in comparison.

At that moment, in the grand hall of Shi Xue Dian, figures were bustling about, with over a hundred people present, each exuding a powerful aura and possessing cultivations at the Quasi-Tian Realm.

These individuals were no ordinary people; they were the absolute high-level leaders of various forces in Bei Chu, gathered here to unite for a southward military campaign.

"This southward expedition aims to annihilate Nan Chu Tian Ting, and I hope all you fellow Daoists will cooperate sincerely," Shi Xue Yan Luo said from his high seat, his voice echoing limitlessly through the hall, filled with supreme authority.

"Dian Zhu, it's not that I'm trying to dampen our spirits," an ancestor from a reclusive family said, gently stroking his beard, "but Nan Chu today is not what it used to be. If we form this alliance hastily, our strength will surely be compromised. To wipe out Nan Chu Tian Ting, we need to plan more carefully."

"Frankly speaking, even if we unite, our forces would only be on par with Tian Ting's. To completely destroy them, it's best to rally more factions to join the fight. We need absolute superiority," another family ancestor added thoughtfully.

"What you two say isn't without reason," Shi Xue Yan Luo replied calmly, "but don't forget, Ye Chen is dead, leaving Nan Chu Tian Ting leaderless and their forces weakened. A surprise attack will have an unexpected effect."

At this point, Shi Xue Yan Luo smiled again, his lips curling with a mocking grin, "As the art of war teaches, open attacks are easy to defend against, but hidden ones are hard to guard. Even if we can't defeat them outright, we can disrupt their wall-building efforts. In this war, we hold the absolute initiative—when to attack and where is up to us. I don't believe they can seal off every inch of their over three million li border."

"I get what you mean, Dian Zhu—it's about causing chaos for them!" a gaunt old man bared his two rows of stark white teeth.

"You're spot on, Blood Ling fellow Daoist. In this war, we..." Shi Xue Yan Luo's words were cut off by a black-clad figure bursting into the hall.

"What is it?" Shi Xue Yan Luo demanded sternly.

"Reporting to the Dian Zhu, Xue Lin has been kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Shi Xue Yan Luo's voice turned icy cold, making the black-clad figure shiver all over.

"In Jiu Tian City, by... by a mysterious person," the black-clad figure stammered, not daring to breathe, "Before leaving, he said to tell Shi Xue Dian to prepare the money."

"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" Shi Xue Yan Luo laughed in fury.

"Report!" Before he could say more, a second black-clad figure rushed in panic-stricken. "Dian Zhu, our spirit stone mine in Cang Yue Ancient Land has been completely looted. The losses are severe."

"What's Blood Cang doing?" Fresh off the news about Xue Lin, this new bad news made Shi Xue Yan Luo erupt in rage.

"It happened so suddenly; Elder Blood Cang and the others were caught off guard," the black-clad figure hurriedly explained.

"Do you know which force is behind this?" Shi Xue Yan Luo asked coldly.

"N-no idea."

"Then find out for me!" Shi Xue Yan Luo thundered like lightning. "I want to see who has a death wish. Once you find them, no need to report—just wipe them out on the spot, no matter who they are."

"Report!" No sooner had he finished than a third black-clad figure burst in.

"Speak."

"Our outpost in Bei Shang Ancient Land has been destroyed," the black-clad figure said hastily. "Elder Blood Shang was killed on the spot, and Bei Shang Ancient City is now a pile of ruins."

"Dammit!" In a fit of rage, Shi Xue Yan Luo smashed the jade table beside him to pieces.

"Report!" As soon as he spoke, a fourth black-clad figure ran in, his tone urgent. "Dian Zhu, our branch hall in Yun Zang Ancient Land has been wiped out. The Shi Xue Ling Long Tree was dug up by the roots."

"What?" Shi Xue Yan Luo shot to his feet, his face twisting into a grotesque expression, clearly valuing the stolen Shi Xue Ling Long Tree greatly.

"Report!" Shi Xue Yan Luo shouldn't have spoken; as soon as he did, a fifth black-clad figure charged in.

"What now?" Shi Xue Yan Luo glared at the newcomer with a ferocious face.

"The Shi Xue Pool in Ling Gan Ancient Land... has been drained dry."

"Dammit!" Shi Xue Yan Luo completely lost it, roaring like a maddened lion, his voice thundering and shaking the entire hall. "Investigate! Investigate every detail for me!"

Seeing Shi Xue Yan Luo bellowing like a rabid dog, the other reclusive family leaders in the hall exchanged uneasy glances.

"From what I can see, some mysterious force has set their sights on Shi Xue Dian," one of them murmured.

"I'm curious about which force could pull off such a series of major moves," another said.

"Most likely it's people from Nan Chu Tian Ting," an old-timer said, stroking his beard lightly. "In all of Da Chu, they're the only ones bold enough to trouble Shi Xue Dian. With Ye Chen just having died in Bei Chu, they have every reason to seek revenge."

"Besides Nan Chu Tian Ting, the Eight Kings could be a possibility, but it's unlikely—they're held back by the imperial descendants."

As the group whispered among themselves, Shi Xue Yan Luo's roars faded.

At that, the ancestor from the Blood Ling family stepped forward slightly, eyeing Shi Xue Yan Luo tentatively, "Dian Zhu, should we postpone our joint operation?"

"Postpone?" Shi Xue Yan Luo snorted coldly and stormed out of the hall, his face as twisted as a demon's.

"Well, what a waste of time," the leaders in the hall muttered, shrugging before reluctantly filing out.

However, as soon as they exited Shi Xue Dian, members of their respective families swarmed them. "Old Ancestor, something's happened!"

"Don't be so rude and disorderly," the elders snapped in unison. "What's got you so panicked?"

"Our spirit stone mine... has been robbed."

"What?" A chorus of angry shouts rang out as the elders shot into the sky, scattering faster than rabbits.