Chapter 489 - 308: Gong Bo, Three Bestowments! Hu Ben? Private Army!_2

"Do you think that the enlightenment of the Star Golden List being disrupted means it cannot be achieved again?"

"Next year, when the Golden List opens again, this child still has a significant chance to be listed again and enter enlightenment."

"Can he enter enlightenment again?!" Chang Baiba’s eyes immediately sparked with light.

Kong Shang nodded slightly, "These words were spoken by the Pavilion Master."

"Pavilion Master?!" Chang Baiba’s heart trembled.

The Shadow Tower spans across the thirty-three countries of the Cangxuan Western Continent, with each country having a Pavilion Master to govern, a position that cannot be held without reaching the Sea of Qi Realm.

"In fact, this Golden List enlightenment has confirmed one thing," Kong Shang continued, "Based on earlier collected information, this child is merely an illegitimate son of a county merchant, yet there is a mysterious master protecting him."

"Zuo Yuan hired our Shadow Tower to assassinate this child, but the result was that the child remained unscathed while Ying Ren and Charm were all killed, and even the Qin Capital Yongping Medical Hall, which was the meeting place, was destroyed. Hua Zaizhu and Yie Yi lost their lives without any resistance."

"All signs indicate that the realm of this master is not inferior to mine."

"Not inferior to the supervisor?!" Chang Baiba’s heart shook again.

"Yes, I’ve always wondered why such a master would protect an illegitimate son of a merchant. Now I know."

"This child can be a Golden List Topper."

"Since the Great Qin Dynasty obtained the Star Golden List, the number of Golden List Toppers has been less than five fingers, but each one can cultivate to the Sea of Qi Realm..."

"So, Chang Baiba, do you understand now?" After speaking, Kong Shang lowered his eyes and fiddled with the black plaque in his hands.

"I understand." Chang Baiba bowed deeply.

"Good that you understand. I’ll give you a task. Once completed, go into seclusion. If you break through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm within three years, I’ll recommend you for a deputy supervisor position."

Deputy supervisor?!

Chang Baiba was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed in thanks, "I’ll definitely accomplish it!"

Kong Shang gently nodded, looked at the blood-stained head of Zuo Yuan on the ground beside him, and then flicked his finger, sending the black plaque flying into Chang Baiba’s hand.

"Think of a way to deliver these two gifts to Attendant Reader Chu Ming."

"This is... the Dark Blade Order!"

"Yes, the Dark Blade Order. When delivering the gifts, also convey a message. Our Shadow Tower is also a businessperson open for trade. To express regret for the previous misunderstanding, holding this order allows you to kill one person for free."

"Of course, the target can’t be too strong, at most..." Kong Shang paused, "at most, someone in the early stage of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm."

Early stage of Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm!

Chang Baiba’s heart trembled violently.

"Do you think that’s high?" Kong Shang smiled, "The mysterious master behind Attendant Reader Chu is of the same realm as me. Early stage of Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm may not be much of a gift."

"Go handle it."

"Yes."

Chang Baiba left in shock.

Kong Shang gazed sharply outside the hall.

There were some things he hadn’t told Chang Baiba.

The Dark Blade Order was indeed a gift, but also a test.

If Chu Ming arrived holding this order, it would indicate that the mysterious master’s strength was likely around the early to mid-stage of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm.

If not, it would mean they looked down upon it, and he would have to reassess the master’s strength.

...

Qin Capital, Three Elements Mountain, Heavenly Inquiry Tower, secluded courtyard.

An old, white-haired, hunchbacked woman was tending to flowers and plants in the courtyard when someone hurriedly arrived. It was Steward Wan of the Heavenly Inquiry Tower.

"Tower Master." Steward Wan appeared somewhat anxious.

"What is it?" The hunchbacked old woman did not lift her head.

"In the Qin Dynasty, someone was listed on the Golden List," Steward Wan said in a low voice.

The wooden watering can paused in mid-air as the hunchbacked old woman stood still.

After a moment.

The hunchbacked woman put down the watering can, lifted her head, and looked towards the gate.

Steward Wan immediately bowed and continued, "The Golden List Topper is named Chu Ming, originally an illegitimate son of a merchant family from Xirong County, Baiyuan County. He was recommended to the court by the Baiyuan County Magistrate and others because of a painting and has close ties with Shen Yu, Xiao He, and others."

"This child has encountered danger multiple times, even being targeted for assassination by a late-stage Lower Meridian Unlocking Realm expert from the Shadow Tower, but has always escaped unscathed, supposedly protected by a mysterious master."

"This time, he was listed through the poetry Golden Competition, but..." Steward Wan paused here.

"Continue," the old woman waved her hand, brushing off the soil stuck to her bony hand.

"But the child’s Golden List enlightenment was forcibly interrupted by an intruder."

"Oh?" The old woman’s cloudy eyes immediately sparkled, then grew deep again.

After a moment, the old woman lightly flicked her sleeve, sending two items flying to Steward Wan, "Take these."

Steward Wan looked closely and his expression changed dramatically, "Tower Master, why send two Tier Five Treasures to a failed enlightenment illegitimate son?"

The two items were a dark gold inner armor and a bottle of elixirs, the latter containing Longevity Pills that anyone could take.

According to the Heavenly Inquiry Tower’s classification, both were Tier Five Treasures.

Tier Five Treasures, at the level of the Tower Master, would take decades of service to afford just one.

"The Qin Dynasty’s National Treasure is not so weak," the old woman picked up the wooden watering can again, her hunchback shadow watering the flowers, "A Golden List enlightenment is unlikely to truly fail."

"Tower Master..." Steward Wan didn’t understand the meaning behind this.

"Take these two treasures. If the child receives a reward in the coming days, deliver them. If not, don’t bother."

...

...

North Snow Army, North Snow City, Master of North Snow Chang Qin Wenshuo sat in the hall.

"My King." Yien Yang bowed below the hall, "My elder brother sent a message; someone in Qin Capital has been listed on the Golden List."

"Oh?" Chang Qin Wenshuo raised an eyebrow, "Who might that be?"

"An illegitimate son of a merchant, named Chu Ming, not yet seventeen. He is currently a First-Grade Cold Scholar and is very close with the Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince, and the Seventh Prince."

"Chu Ming..." The Master of North Snow muttered softly, having heard this name several times before.

"My King, but the child’s Golden List enlightenment was disrupted by someone." Yien Yang added.