Chapter 396

Chapter 396: Assassin Tower

Agreeing to help Long Yunshuang meant opposing those secretly targeting her.

Since the previous ruins expedition, he understood that Long Yunshuang came from the Ninth Prince’s residence in Jinyun Continent.

Beyond the Emperor’s direct lineage, the Huoyun Country royal family had thirteen princes.

This Ninth Prince and Seventh Prince resided in Jinyun Continent.

Long Yunshuang was merely one of Ninth Prince’s many children.

Long Yu, whom she had shouted for that day, was also her elder brother.

Years ago, during a major battle against an enemy nation, the Ninth Prince had suffered a hidden injury. Later, he had always been recuperating in Jinyun Continent.

In recent years, his injuries had worsened severely. Despite his profound cultivation realm, he did not have much time left before reaching his lifespan limit.

Therefore, under such circumstances, the Ninth Prince’s other children naturally all desired to inherit the title and become the new Ninth Prince.

Because the Ninth Prince had never formally named an heir.

In his words, only the most outstanding individual, regardless of gender, was qualified to inherit his position.

Among his many children presently, three were still considered the most promising.

The foremost was naturally his eldest son, who now served as an Inner Sect Elder within the Immortal Sect in Jinyun Continent.

Though, if he could become the Ninth Prince, he wouldn’t mind leaving the sect.

Due to his Immortal Sect background, he also enjoyed the highest popularity among all the siblings.

The second was his third son, Long Yunting, Long Yunshuang’s own full elder brother.

Long Yunting had not joined a sect. However, he had his own power base within Tian Xia Restaurant, serving in the role of Elder there.

The reason Long Yunshuang was able to come to Qinyuan City holding an Elder’s token was precisely because of him.

Now, since he aimed to inherit the title of Ninth Prince, he intended to hand over his Tian Xia Restaurant Elder position to his own younger sister.

As for the third, it was Long Yu, whom Long Yunshuang had mentioned.

Compared to the two older brothers above, his power base was the weakest, and he had usually remained within the prince’s residence.

Yet, precisely because of this, he had essentially gained control over all the guards inside the prince’s residence, truly achieving the act of controlling the ruler to command the nobles.

However, the Ninth Prince had not yet reached his end; his lamp wasn’t entirely without oil. Therefore, to increase his own chances of succession, Long Yu had no choice but to try to weaken the power of his two elder brothers.

Long Yunshuang naturally found herself on his list of targets.

As long as he could kill Long Yunshuang, if Long Yunting still wanted to inherit the prince’s title, he would have to be prepared to abandon Tian Xia Restaurant.

By that time, even if Long Yu himself failed in the struggle for the throne, he could smoothly become the new Elder of Tian Xia Restaurant.

He had arranged all this in advance, which was why he had sent Assassin Tower assassins to kill Long Yunshuang.

This information was specifically purchased by Zhou Luo from a certain information broker.

Therefore, if he helped Long Yunshuang, it meant making an enemy of a royal family disciple with hopes of inheriting a princedom.

If the other party then targeted him, he would genuinely struggle to cope.

But if he didn’t help her, he would then have to helplessly watch Fang Li gradually erode his profits.

One was an immediate concern, the other a long-term worry.

After much hesitation, Zhou Luo decided to tackle the matter at hand first.

So he nodded and said, "I’ll go find that person."

Only then did Long Yunshuang give a satisfied nod.

Since the assassination attempt at the ruins last time, she had realized spies planted by Long Yu surrounded her.

To strike back, she needed an outsider’s help.

And Zhou Luo was the perfect candidate.

As for seeking aid from her brother—given Long Yunshuang’s pride—she couldn’t bring herself to it.

"I’ll have someone assist you."

After speaking these words, Long Yunshuang turned her attention back to the jade slips in her hand.

Zhou Luo tactfully took his leave.

Once outside, he entrusted the task to Wang Lang.

Wielding Long Yunshuang’s authority, he believed Wang Lang would deliver satisfactory results.

After giving instructions, Zhou Luo changed into new attire, concealed his tracks, and followed the clues on the jade slip to locate the person recorded there.

Assassin Tower was a formidable organization in Huoyun Country with a long history.

Its influence ran deeper than even Yao Chi Pavilion and Tian Xia Restaurant.

No one knew who founded it.

Some whispered it was a God Transformation realm master, while others suspected involvement from the Void Refining realm.

Even assassins within Assassin Tower had never glimpsed its creator.

Inside, assassins were ranked by gold, silver, and bronze tokens, each corresponding to different targets.

Legend held that if you paid enough, Assassin Tower would even target Huoyun Country’s supreme emperor.

Though in truth, no one across the cultivation realm could afford such a price.

Still, this spoke volumes of Assassin Tower’s audacity within this immortal land.

It was said one emperor once spent vast resources trying to eradicate them, yet not only failed—multiple concubines suffered vicious reprisals, plunging the royal court into chaos.

Since then, Huoyun royalty had tacitly tolerated their existence.

Take payment, fulfill contracts, never disclose employer information.

This was the ironclad code of Assassin Tower’s assassins.

Violating this code meant betrayal—an offense punishable by the full might of the Tower.

So far, no target marked by Assassin Tower had escaped death.

Rumors claimed even Golden Core masters couldn’t withstand their assaults.

Branches of Assassin Tower spanned every corner of Huoyun Country.

Following directions, Zhou Luo entered a narrow alley in the inner city. After winding through turns, he reached his destination and knocked.

Creak—

An ordinary-looking elderly servant opened the door.

"Who are you?" the man asked, puzzled.

"The sun shines upon the western mountains," Zhou Luo uttered the passphrase.

The man’s eyes flickered. "And the next line?"

"At dawn it rises in the east."

Hearing these words, the man swung the door wide, scanned outside, then led Zhou Luo into the inner courtyard.

A Second Level formation shrouded the yard, impervious even to Foundation Establishment mental strength.

Zhou Luo followed patiently to the rear hall where a middle-aged man with a goatee sat sipping tea.

Seeing Zhou Luo enter, the man drawled, "Who is your target?"

Without speaking, Zhou Luo silently handed him a slip of paper.

Glancing at it, the man immediately quoted: "Three thousand medium-quality spiritual stones."

Zhou Luo’s eyebrows rose.

The price was steep.

And Assassin Tower never refunded payments—if a hit failed, the employer absorbed the loss, a ruthlessly domineering policy.

"Understood. If I proceed, I’ll return to you directly," Zhou Luo replied.

He rose to leave.

Just then, the Man with the Goatee spoke:

"Pill Master Zhou… aren’t you curious how much your own bid would be?"