"Unraveling the Mystery: Tragedy Strikes Azure Hawk Gang"

Not long after, Huang Xiaolong and his companions arrived at the headquarters of Azure Hawk Gang.

The Azure Hawk Gang headquarters was located in the southern corner of the Royal City. Although it was slightly inclined, the area was several times larger than Huang Xiaolong's Tianxuan Mansion. Two majestic eagle stone carvings, with azure feathers covering their entire bodies, stood in front of the entrance.

To Huang Xiaolong's surprise, when they arrived, there were no disciples guarding the front door of the Azure Hawk Gang headquarters. It was unusually quiet.

"Be cautious, everyone," Huang Xiaolong reminded them.

"Yes, Young Master," they nodded in agreement. Fei Hou and the others also noticed that something was amiss.

As they entered the Azure Hawk Gang headquarters, a faint scent of blood reached Huang Xiaolong's nostrils. Though subtle, he was certain it was the smell of blood. As they went deeper, they noticed small patches of bloodstains on the stone bricks on the ground.

In addition, there was an eerie stillness, with no sign of any Azure Hawk Gang disciples.

Frowning, Huang Xiaolong sensed that something was not right.

After a while, they reached the main hall. To their surprise, the hall was empty, but there, lying on the golden eagle throne, was a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows, wearing an eagle robe.

The group exchanged glances.

"That's Azure Hawk Gang Gang Master Jiang Wei!" one of the guards from Marshal Mansion, Wang Ning, exclaimed with a grim expression.

Huang Xiaolong and his companions approached the throne and found Jiang Wei lying there, his eyes closed, and he had stopped breathing. However, there were no signs of bloodstains or wounds on his body.

Huang Xiaolong's curiosity was piqued. He raised his hand and gently patted Jiang Wei's chest, causing his clothes to disintegrate into powder. The group noticed a bright green palm print on Jiang Wei's bare chest. The surrounding muscles were decaying, and a pale green gas was spreading from the palm print.

"What a potent poisonous palm!" they exclaimed.

"It should be the Earth-grade low-level battle skill, Poisonous Blood Palm," Fei Hou remarked.

Poisonous Blood Palm!

Wang Ning and the others swallowed nervously.

"Thirty years ago, more than a thousand guards, including the County King and his entire County Palace, were killed by this Poisonous Blood Palm in our Luo Tong Kingdom. It hasn't been seen since then, but now it's reappeared!" another guard from Marshal Mansion, Chen Yu, added.

County King was equivalent to the governor of a province in the past, and the complete annihilation of more than a thousand guards had caused a major uproar at the time.

Huang Xiaolong's expression turned pensive. The situation seemed more complicated than he had initially thought. He hadn't expected Jiang Wei to be killed by the Poisonous Blood Palm.

The person who killed Jiang Wei claimed that he had ordered the Azure Hawk Gang disciples to cause trouble at the Li Family silk shop. Could it be the two individuals with poisonous snake Martial Spirits who had attended Li Mu's birthday banquet?

"Young Master, what should we do with him?" Fei Hou pointed to the man responsible for causing trouble at the silk shop.

"Please, spare my life! Please!" the middle-aged man from Azure Hawk Gang pleaded in a panic, his face filled with fear.

Huang Xiaolong hesitated before saying, "Release him."

The group was startled.

Without hesitation, the two Rank 9 guards from Marshal Mansion respectfully complied and released him.

"Thank you! Thank you!" the middle-aged man expressed immense gratitude and quickly ran out of the palace.

However, as soon as he reached the outside, his pitiful cries were heard.

Alarmed, everyone rushed out of the main hall to find the middle-aged man lying dead in the distance. Huang Xiaolong approached and lifted his shirt, revealing another Poisonous Blood Palm print on his chest.

Fei Hou, Wang Ning, Chen Yu, and the others scanned the area with vigilance.

"Fei Hou, take a look around," Huang Xiaolong ordered sternly.

"Yes, Young Master!" Fei Hou responded respectfully. He sprang up to the rooftop, swiftly disappearing from sight. After a while, he returned and shook his head, reporting, "Young Master, the culprit used a movement battle skill, moving too quickly for me to pursue. Based on my estimation, he should be a Rank 10 Late Stage Peak powerhouse!"

Rank 10 Late Stage Peak!

Huang Xiaolong furrowed his brow. He hesitated before saying, "Let's return for now."

Soon after Huang Xiaolong and his group left the Azure Hawk Gang headquarters, news of Azure Hawk Gang Gang Master Jiang Wei's death spread throughout the Royal City, causing a significant commotion. The unexpected death of a Rank 10 powerhouse, along with the entire Azure Hawk Gang being wiped out, became the talk of the town.

As night fell, Huang Xiaolong found himself in the hall of Tianxuan Mansion. He sat there, briefing Marshal Haotian about the events at the Azure Hawk Gang headquarters. Marshal Haotian's face turned serious upon hearing the news.

"Haotian, assign a few people to protect Li Lu and Li Cheng," Huang Xiaolong instructed.

"Yes, Sect Master. You can rest assured," Marshal Haotian replied respectfully. "I will do my best to find out who is behind this!" After a moment of hesitation, he added, "Sect Master, it is unsafe for you to practice in Silvermoon Forest alone. Considering the recent events, I suggest that Fei Hou and Wang Ning accompany you."

Huang Xiaolong shook his head. "No need." Even if Innate Powerhouses were to come, their safety wouldn't be guaranteed even with Fei Hou and the others by his side. Furthermore, having Fei Hou and the others around would be inconvenient during his practice.

"Inform the school of your departure," Huang Xiaolong continued. "Let Sun Zhang know that I will be leaving the school to practice in Silvermoon Forest for five months."

Marshal Haotian respectfully acknowledged the orders.

After a while, Fei Hou and Marshal Haotian left the hall.

Huang Xiaolong entered his room and sat cross-legged on the cold jade bed, attempting to summon his Twin Dragons Martial Spirit on his own.

Time passed, and two days went by. During these two days, Fei Hou made preparations for the items Huang Xiaolong would need during his five-month practice. Li Cheng personally delivered several custom-made clothes from the Li Family silk shop.

Two days later, although Huang Xiaolong still couldn't summon his Twin Dragons Martial Spirit on his own, he had made progress and learned some techniques. He believed that with persistence, he would soon achieve the ability to summon his Twin Dragons Martial Spirit alone.

During these two days, Li Lu had also visited Tianxuan Mansion, accompanying Li Cheng. Knowing that Huang Xiaolong would be practicing in Silvermoon Forest for five months, Li Lu felt melancholic. When she left Tianxuan Mansion, she solemnly and determinedly said, "Xiaolong, I will also work hard to become a worthy wife for you!" She then swiftly kissed Huang Xiaolong on the left cheek.

Leaving the room, Huang Xiaolong pondered Li Lu's words from the previous day and lightly touched his left cheek where she had kissed him, smiling wryly. That little girl!

After an hour, Huang Xiaolong gathered all the necessary items and stored them in his Asura Ring. He then left Tianxuan Mansion and headed towards Silvermoon Forest. Although Fei Hou and the others didn't accompany him this time, Huang Xiaolong brought along the Spirit Devouring Purple Monkey. With the monkey's presence, the next five months of arduous practice wouldn't be as dull.