Chapter 4320: Luring and Killing

Two thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside a private room at Jin Xiao Tower.

Jin Hao and over a dozen Golden Immortal cultivators sat around a green tea table, sipping tea and chatting.

"By the way, why isn't Fairy Wang here yet?" a graceful young woman in a purple dress asked curiously.

"She's busy with something; she'll be here later," a pot-bellied man in a red shirt explained.

Not long after, a knock came from outside the door. The red-shirted man opened the door, and Wang Mengli walked in.

"I'm truly sorry, I was held up by something," Wang Mengli said with an apologetic expression.

Following Wang Changsheng's orders, she had infiltrated Jin Hao's social circle. However, she didn't interact much with Jin Hao, primarily associating with a Golden Immortal cultivator named Du Xue.

"Fairy Wang, we've all been waiting for you. What kept you so busy?" the purple-skirted young woman asked with a smile.

Du Xue, a rogue cultivator, had met Wang Mengli by chance.

"I was attending a gathering to exchange cultivation resources! Someone brought out a Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass that was over thirty million years old, but it was unfortunately exchanged away," Wang Mengli said with a tone of regret.

Immortal medicines and fruits that strengthen the divine soul were always highly sought after. A Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass over thirty million years old would even tempt a Taiyi Golden Immortal.

"Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass?" Jin Hao's interest was piqued. He asked, "Fairy Wang, who was lucky enough to acquire the Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass?"

"A demonic cultivator named Su Tianya. He is backed by Venerable Bailian," Wang Mengli stated.

Venerable Bailian was Wang Changsheng's identity in Jin Xiao City; outsiders did not know his true identity.

"Venerable Bailian! I've heard of this senior. I heard he's highly skilled in artifact refining and can forge high-grade immortal artifacts," Du Xue said.

"Indeed! Fellow Daoist Su will probably hand that Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass over to Venerable Bailian," Wang Mengli said.

"Tsk, tsk, a Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass over thirty million years old has a considerable effect even on Taiyi Golden Immortals," Du Xue's face was filled with envy.

The speaker spoke casually, but the listener took note. Jin Hao secretly made a mental note of this. After chatting for over half an hour, the cultivators exchanged materials, then returned to their respective homes.

After leaving Jin Xiao City, Jin Hao immediately returned to Green Moon Tower to report to Daoist Moyun.

"Venerable Bailian! What is this person's background?" Daoist Moyun asked.

"I inquired with several fellow Daoists. This person appeared in Jin Xiao City over forty thousand years ago and is highly skilled in artifact refining, but his fees are very high," Jin Hao reported.

Daoist Moyun's brows furrowed. Given the other party's artifact refining skill, they surely wouldn't lack common items. It was clearly impossible to buy the Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass from them. Yet, having finally encountered it, he was unwilling to give it up.

Over a thousand years ago, at an underground auction, someone presented a Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass over twenty million years old, but Jin Hao failed to bid on it, having already missed one opportunity.

"Keep an eye on Venerable Bailian's movements and investigate his background," Daoist Moyun instructed.

Jin Hao agreed and departed to carry out the order.

At Green Fence Pavilion, Wang Changsheng sat in the main seat, holding a Golden Prism Mirror. Wang Tunian and Wang Chan stood respectfully to the side.

"Excellent, he finally took the bait," Wang Tunian said excitedly.

Wang Changsheng had previously set a trap. Learning that Jin Hao was preparing to attend an underground auction, he sent Wang Tunian to participate. Wang Tunian brought out a Nine-Leaf Golden Soul Grass over twenty million years old and feigned having insufficient spirit stones to sell it. As a result, a Taiyi Golden Immortal purchased it at a high price, and Jin Hao failed to acquire it. This was the second trap. If Daoist Moyun didn't take the bait this time, it would be difficult.

"When the time comes, you two will coordinate with Mengli to deal with Jin Hao, finishing quickly, while we confront Daoist Moyun," Wang Changsheng instructed.

He wasn't sure if Jin Hao would also leave Jin Xiao City, so he tasked Wang Mengli with handling Jin Hao within the city. According to the plan, Wang Mengli would find Jin Hao and, under the pretense of exchanging cultivation resources, make contact with him at his residence. Then, Wang Ruyan would act to subdue Jin Hao and absorb him into a treasure. This carried significant risks, but to protect the secret of their Daoist techniques and for the sake of the *Heavenly Soul Treasure Tome*, they had to take this gamble.

"Yes, Master," Wang Tunian and Wang Chan agreed.

For the next half year, Wang Changsheng wandered around Jin Xiao City, either attending gatherings of Taiyi Golden Immortals or purchasing artifact refining materials. Simultaneously, he spread rumors that he was willing to pay high prices for high-grade divine soul immortal medicines, as he could help upgrade the quality of immortal artifacts. This news did not attract widespread attention. Many Taiyi Golden Immortals already purchased divine soul immortal medicines at high prices, so Wang Changsheng was not an exception and drew little notice.

At Green Moon Tower, in a secret chamber. Daoist Moyun sat cross-legged on a futon, his eyes slightly closed, his body enveloped in a shroud of black light. After a moment, the black light around his body dissipated, and he opened his eyes. He took out a spell disk shimmering with green light, cast a spell, and frowned, "He left Jin Xiao City!"

"I already missed it once last time. I can't let this opportunity slip away. With that treasure and that secret talisman, there shouldn't be any major issues," Daoist Moyun muttered to himself, patted the green jade pendant on his chest, which glowed with a dazzling green light. His features blurred, and his face changed before he walked out.

Over forty thousand years had passed; fewer people should be looking for him now. As long as he was careful, there wouldn't be any major problems. He had previously fallen out with his companions over an uneven distribution of spoils, and with his divine soul abilities, he had broken through encirclement against superior numbers. If it was just dealing with Venerable Bailian, there shouldn't be any issues.

Leaving Green Moon Tower, he strode towards the city gate. Upon reaching it, he saw Jin Hao.

"You stay in the city and wait for my news," Daoist Moyun instructed. Jin Hao wouldn't be much help against a Taiyi Golden Immortal, so he simply ordered him to stay in Jin Xiao City.

Jin Hao nodded, transmitted a few words, and then turned and left.

After leaving Jin Xiao City, Daoist Moyun transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the air as he flew southeast.

Thousands of miles away, Wang Changsheng stood comfortably on a green light-shimmering flying boat. Three days later, Wang Changsheng appeared above a continuous mountain range. He frowned slightly, wondering why Daoist Moyun hadn't caught up yet. Had he lost track of him?

Just then, Wang Changsheng's brows furrowed. Two streaks of light were rapidly catching up from behind.

"Why are there two people? Accomplices?" Wang Changsheng wondered.

Before he could figure it out, a pot-bellied old man in golden robes and a beautiful young woman in a purple dress caught up to him. He wasn't sure if it was Daoist Moyun, but he was certain it wasn't Jin Hao.

"Fellow Daoists, how may I help you?" Wang Changsheng asked.

"No instructions, but we'd like to borrow something from Fellow Daoist Wang," the old man in golden robes spoke, a smile on his face.

"What might that be?" Wang Changsheng asked, puzzled.

"Your head!" The purple-skirted young woman's expression turned cold. With a hand seal, a vast expanse of crimson flames erupted in the void, transforming an area of a million miles into a sea of red fire. The intense heat even tore the fabric of space.

This was a scheme to kill and seize treasures! They had also been watching Wang Changsheng, following him all along.