Chapter 463 - 401: Exposed (4)

Chapter 463: Chapter 401: Exposed (4)

"Speak. What are you doing at Kao Mountain?"

"Treasure... treasure hunting."

The Swordman screamed, no longer daring to lie.

"What treasure?"

"The Seven Kills Association... The treasure hidden... in the Little World behind the Kao Mountain Wall."

His words struck like a bolt from the blue. The expressions of every Celestial Sword Sect disciple, including the three Elders, instantly turned grim.

’The news that a Little World is hidden behind the Kao Mountain Wall... actually leaked?’

’How is that possible!’

The Celestial Sword Sect and the Su Family had been nothing if not discreet.

All core disciples involved in the operation had been strictly ordered to keep their mouths shut.

’How could this information have spread through the Jianghu, attracting all this small fry to hunt for treasure?’

They knew full well that once the news spread completely, attracting the attention of various Jianghu powers and even the Court, everyone would come swarming...

What, then, would be the point of all the effort the Celestial Sword Sect and the Su Family had invested?

At that point, forget about monopolizing the benefits—they would be lucky to escape with their lives!

The smile had vanished from Elder Jian Chen’s face. He grabbed the Swordman by the collar, his voice seeming to squeeze through clenched teeth. "Where did you hear this?! Speak!"

The Swordman spilled everything he knew in a rush. "I heard it from people at the Black Market. Someone paid Mr. Qing Jian one hundred gold coins for the information. Later, the buyer felt it wasn’t worth the price and wanted to back out. He shouted it out on the Netherworld Ship right before he was thrown overboard. Now, many people in the Black Market know and want to try their luck."

Mr. Qing Jian!

The Netherworld Ship!

For the news to have spread from there meant it was almost certainly out of their control.

The three exchanged a look, each seeing the chilling killing intent in the others’ eyes.

’This is even more serious and troublesome than Hua Wuxin’s disappearance!’

Without a hint of hesitation, a cold glint flashed in the three Elders’ eyes as their longswords left their sheaths.

Before the twenty-some captured members of the Jianghu could even cry out, a fine line of blood appeared on their throats. The light faded from their eyes, and they died in an instant.

"Clean this up."

Jian Chen gave the cold order to the disciples behind him without a second glance at the corpses on the ground. He turned to Jian You and Sword Fear, his expression graver than ever before.

"The news has leaked. This is no small matter. We must report to the three Supreme Elders immediately."

Jian You and Sword Fear nodded.

The three instructed their disciples to wait where they were, then transformed into streaks of light and shot toward the entrance in the Kao Mountain Wall.

「Inside the stone cave.」

After hearing the report from Jian You and the other two, even the three Supreme Elders, despite their mastery of Qi Cultivation, couldn’t help but show a slight change in expression.

Sword Five Jiang Buyu’s head snapped up, a sharp glint shooting from his eyes.

Sword Seven Ye Guhong’s Sword Qi flared faintly, cracking a nearby stone stool.

"Explain in detail!"

Lu Hansheng said coldly.

Jian You recounted everything the three of them had seen after descending the mountain, clearly and in full detail.

The stone cave fell deathly silent.

Sword Seven Ye Guhong snorted, his eyes boiling with killing intent. "What nerve! The Netherworld Ship dares to plot against our Celestial Sword Sect!"

Sword Three Lu Hansheng suddenly asked, "Sword Fear, where did you originally get the information about the Seven Kills Association and this Little World?"

Sword Fear replied, "Initially, a few of my subordinates who were secretly investigating the Netherworld Ship accidentally learned from a Black Market broker that Gossip, a former confidant of the Pig Emperor of Hidden Emperor Castle, had supposedly joined the Seven Kills Association and was hiding in the Nanjiang area. I followed that clue and eventually tracked down the Seven Kills Association’s stronghold, pinpointing Kao Mountain..."

His voice trailed off as he, too, realized the problem.

The Netherworld Ship!

It was the Netherworld Ship again!

The cave was once again deathly silent.

After a long while, Lu Hansheng finally spoke. "This feels like a setup."

Jiang Buyu added, his brow deeply furrowed, "It looks to me like the Netherworld Ship is retaliating for us hunting them."

Ye Guhong’s voice was as cold as ice. "Retaliation? Where would they get that kind of courage? Unless..."

"Unless they have someone backing them."

Jiang Buyu picked up the thread, a grim glint in his eyes. "Could it be the remnants of the old Jiangzuo Evil Cult making a comeback? Or... have the ones who previously attacked Sword Madman and the others at the Ruins Market decided to make another move?"

Lu Hansheng’s gaze swept over his two junior brothers. "Speculation is useless. We’ll only know for sure once we confront them."

He pondered for a moment before making a decision. "Junior Brother Jiang, Junior Brother Ye, I’ll have to ask the two of you to personally go and deal with this Netherworld Ship. Find the source of the leak and see who is pulling the strings."

He then turned to Jian Chen. "Jian Chen, you will take some men and guard the perimeter of the Little World. If anyone suspicious approaches, kill them on sight. Jian You, Sword Fear, take some men and investigate things in Thunder Shock County as soon as possible."

"Yes."

Jian You, Sword Fear, and Jian Chen accepted their orders.

Lu Hansheng looked at Jiang Buyu and Ye Guhong, his tone grave. "Junior Brothers, you must be careful on this mission. I will remain here to hold the fort and prevent any mishaps. Report back immediately if you discover anything."

"Rest assured, Brother Lu. We understand."

Jiang Buyu and Ye Guhong nodded in unison. Accompanied by Jian You and Sword Fear, they turned and strode briskly away.

Jian Chen also followed them out of the cave to gather his men.