Chapter 782: Assassin

Author: SannjyouinykuWord Count: 1231

"No wonder..."

Chen Ling ate king crab, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the two crowded round tables. "With their pillar rebelling, the Esoteric Sect had no choice but to send out their most beloved Young Sect Master... It seems all five major realms are serious this time."

"Five major realms, and six official divine organizations—Puppetry, Calligraphy, Medicine, Craftsmanship, Go, and Strength... So many people vying for seven Heavenly Star positions, it's going to turn the entire Tianshu Realm upside down, isn't it?" Jian Changsheng clicked his tongue.

"The official divine organizations are one thing... What's truly terrifying are the unofficial divine paths, those who haven't joined any official organization," Spade 9 said calmly. "It's truly said that 'masters are found among the people'... The most important purpose of the five major realms establishing the Heavenly Star positions is to gather powerful individuals hidden from public view and give them a chance to rise to prominence.

"Some niche divine paths might only have one or two practitioners; others, like the divine paths of Geomancy, Divination, Theater, or Prostitution, are gradually declining. There are even four ancient divine paths that have long vanished into the river of time... Humanity now needs these people; they are the true protagonists of this trial."

"Burp—"

Meanwhile, across the street at the steamed bun shop, Sun Buming swallowed his seventh bun, patting his stomach with a loud burp. He stared intently at the last bun on the table, seemingly debating whether to eat it in one bite or pack it to save for dinner.

"So, you're saying the Tianshu Realm is a chaotic mix of all sorts of characters right now?"

"Exactly... So, you two need to keep a low profile and try to avoid conflict with others. After all, our identities are quite sensitive," Spade 9 said earnestly.

Chen Ling lowered his head, looking at the perfectly clean crab shells on his plate, pretending not to hear. He wanted to keep a low profile... but his Emperor's Fate and the 'audience' within him might not agree.

"Did you hear that? The senior is talking to you," Chen Ling conveniently shifted the responsibility to Jian Changsheng.

"?" Jian Changsheng, who was engrossed in his meal, paused, thinking Spade 9 was displeased by the ostentatious display of twelve king crabs. He nodded vaguely, "Got it, got it..."

Watching these two younger ones devour their food, Spade 9, for some reason, had an ominous premonition.

"Oh, I almost forgot to give you this," Spade 9 said, pulling a letter from his pocket and placing it on the table in front of Chen Ling.

"What's this?"

"It's a letter from our higher-ups, specifically for you," Spade 9 shrugged. "I've been a member for years, but I've never seen a letter signed by four Kings..."

Chen Ling took the envelope in surprise, noticing the signature was indeed four playing cards, along with a jester's mask. On the front, five large characters read:

—"To Junior Disciple Brother."

A letter from his senior siblings of the Ancient Repository of Theater Arts... The images of his senior brothers and sisters flashed in Chen Ling's mind, warming his heart. His master had mentioned before that his siblings always thought of him. This must be a letter they sent in advance after their master returned and told them Chen Ling would soon arrive in the Tianshu Realm.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Jian Changsheng's eyes were full of envy. "What a grand gesture, Junior Disciple Brother."

Chen Ling rolled his eyes, ignoring him completely. He was about to open the envelope to see what was inside...

The next moment, a chilling gleam suddenly illuminated the entire restaurant! A profound killing intent, like water without a source, surged from nothingness. Behind the two round tables nearby, a dark figure materialized out of thin air. With lightning speed, his five fingers clamped onto the Young Sect Master's head, who was still slowly eating, and slammed him violently into the round table!

Bang—!!!

It all happened too fast. The assailant seemed to strike from a temporal rift, their fingertips tearing through time itself. Neither Chen Ling and his companions nor the other figures around the Young Sect Master could react in time. A blade of extreme cold, clutched in the assailant's hand, sliced through the air and was forcefully plunged into the Young Sect Master's nape amidst the shattered table!

Blood splattered everywhere!

"Young Sect Master?!!!!" The surrounding black-clad figures cried out in alarm, swarming towards the assailant!

But the assailant's movements were incredibly agile. Releasing the longsword embedded in the Young Sect Master's nape, they drifted lightly backward, moving through the encirclement of black-clad men like a ghost.

"...The Esoteric Sect of the Xuanyu Realm is nothing special," he sneered.

This sudden turn of events stunned all the customers in the restaurant. Only when the Young Sect Master's blood stained the floor beneath their feet did they snap back to reality and frantically scramble downstairs! In an instant, the entire second floor was practically empty, save for a table piled high with king crab, and three individuals sitting there, utterly bewildered.

"...No, what just happened?" Jian Changsheng's eyes widened. "I know the Tianshu Realm is chaotic right now... but has it gotten this bad??"

"The Prostitute Divine Path, the Assassin's Path, then..."

Spade 9, being an experienced senior, immediately recognized the assailant's origin, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Most who walk this path are ruthless individuals... It's said that the leader of the Assassin's Path back then nearly assassinated the Silver King, who was on the verge of reaching the ninth rank."

"Assassinated the Silver King??" Jian Changsheng exclaimed in surprise. "That formidable?"

"That climactic battle between the thief and the assassin reportedly lasted for three years, with the Silver King being hunted by the assassin leader from the southernmost South Sea Realm all the way to the northernmost Aurora Realm... Then, somehow, the Silver King suddenly ascended to a demigod state, and the tide turned," Spade 9 slowly recounted. "After that, the Silver King retaliated by relentlessly hunting down all practitioners of the Assassin's Path, nearly wiping out the entire path... I didn't expect new assassins to appear after so many years."

Chen Ling nodded thoughtfully. "A generational feud..."

"They're fighting now, should we run?"

"What about this king crab? We've only eaten half."

"Or... should we ask a waiter to pack it for us?"

As the three chatted, a thundering roar erupted from the side again!

Boom—!!

A sharp wave of energy spread in all directions, directly sending the three largest black-clad men flying. The assassin's figure burst forth from the swirling debris, only to be surrounded by other black-clad men who had rushed to the scene!

"Who are you? How dare you assassinate our Young Sect Master?!!" One of the black-clad men's roars thundered like lightning.

"So what?" the assassin said indifferently. "Before him, I've already killed several people today... But honestly, he was the weakest, completely unguarded. I killed him with just one sword... With such a low standard, how dare he try to seize a Heavenly Star position?"