Death

Diaorong Qi sat there in a daze, tears streaming down her face.

"Xiao Qi, what's wrong?" Mo Li Feiyun, seeing her friend crying, immediately sobered up and hurriedly asked, "What happened?"

"My father is dead," Diaorong Qi said blankly.

While her father was alive, she was a noble daughter of a prestigious family, associating with the scions of the great clans of Hoyang City. She didn't even consider becoming the disciple of an average Eternal True God. She aimed to become the disciple of the openly recognized strongest figure in Hoyang City, Commander Mo Li Xiao. As a second choice, she wanted to be the disciple of Luo He, the God King who had overpowered the dark forces.

She wasn't particularly inclined to choose her father, who was an ordinary Eternal True God skilled in alchemy.

But now that her father was dead, and had left her a way out in his last message, she found it hard to bear.

"Father!" Diaorong Qi realized that her father was the one person in the world who loved her the most, who was willing to sacrifice everything for her.

"Uncle Yan is dead?" Mo Li Feiyun couldn't believe it. "How is that possible? Uncle Yan was an Eternal True God. Who killed him?"

"He was indeed killed."

A sigh echoed in the room, coming from Mo Li Meng, the current head of the Mo Li family. Mo Li Xiao was too busy to handle family matters.

"Father," Mo Li Feiyun looked at her father.

"Just now, the main branch of the Diaorong family was completely slaughtered in their mansion. No one was spared," Mo Li Meng said. "Now, only some peripheral branches of the Diaorong family remain."

The mansion was limited in size, so some large clans had to spread out, with some peripheral branches living in ordinary mansions. This time, it was the core of the Diaorong family that was wiped out.

"Father, who was the culprit?" Mo Li Feiyun asked.

Diaorong Qi also looked at Mo Li Meng.

Mo Li Meng replied, "Before his death, Diaorong Yan likely contacted several friends through a causality communication token, saying the culprit was Blood Python Society Leader Mu Yang."

"My father also sent me a message, saying the culprit was the Blood Python Leader," Diaorong Qi said hoarsely. "The entire mansion, including my father, over ten thousand lives, from Eternal True Gods to young children of the clan, no one was left. With my father's message as evidence, shouldn't the City Lord's Mansion take action?"

Mo Li Meng shook his head. "The Blood Python Leader is not an ordinary Eternal True God. He commands a significant force. Killing him isn't easy and would require deliberation among the Five Great Families. Moreover, your father's message doesn't count as conclusive evidence. The real culprit could very well have disguised themselves as the Blood Python Leader."

"Disguised?" Diaorong Qi asked anxiously, "You don't believe my father's last message?"

"Some disguises through special techniques are difficult for even Eternal True Gods to see through," Mo Li Meng explained. "In any case, confirming the true identity of the killer and getting the City Lord's Mansion to act... it's going to be difficult."

Diaorong Qi fell silent.

"After your father's death, it will be difficult for you, as a Void True God, to manage the many industries and alchemy mansions and shops he left behind," Mo Li Meng shook his head. "The Mo Li family can help you take care of them."

"Father!" Mo Li Feiyun spoke up anxiously.

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in taking advantage of this situation. These assets are worth around 20,000 universe sands, and they will be deposited in the Yan Feng Pavilion under your name," Mo Li Meng said. "You shouldn't carry too many universe sands with you."

"Thank you, Uncle Meng," Diaorong Qi said gratefully. She knew this was a very generous amount.

"In Hoyang City, there are very few who can kill the Blood Python Leader," Mo Li Meng said. "So if you want to take revenge, you'll need to be patient and wait for the right opportunity."

Diaorong Qi asked, "Can Commander Mo Li take action? I don't need those 20,000 universe sands."

"It's not that simple," Mo Li Meng replied as he turned to leave.

"Xiao Qi, you should stay here with me. No one will be able to threaten you," Mo Li Feiyun said.

"I need some time alone, Feiyun," Diaorong Qi replied softly.

"Alright, I won't disturb you," Mo Li Feiyun said, standing up and leaving.

Diaorong Qi sat alone, staring blankly at the night sky, at the countless twinkling stars. She imagined that the star belonging to her father had dimmed entirely.

"Father..." Diaorong Qi missed her father terribly at that moment, and then her gaze turned wild.

Diaorong Qi used her communication token to contact the Yan Feng Pavilion's dark hall from afar.

"Diaorong Qi, your father, Diaorong Yan, left you 30,000 universe sands in the dark hall before his death. Mo Li Meng has also deposited 20,000 universe sands for you. You now have 50,000 universe sands under your name," the dark hall responded.

"I want to use 40,000 universe sands to place a bounty on Blood Python Society Leader Mu Yang," Diaorong Qi sent the message. She trusted her father's judgment of the killer's identity before his death.

"Alright, the bounty on the Blood Python Leader has been raised to 160,000 universe sands! You still have 10,000 universe sands left," the dark hall responded.

After increasing the bounty, Diaorong Qi could only wait silently, hoping that a powerful warrior would take up the bounty and kill the Blood Python Leader!

…

At the Blood Python Society Headquarters.

"Mo Li Meng, what brings you here?" the Blood Python Leader smiled as he looked at Mo Li Meng.

Mo Li Meng's face was grim. "Are you out of your mind? Diaorong Yan was devoted to alchemy and contributed to all of Hoyang City. He never got involved in your dark power struggles. Why did you target him? Acting so recklessly will only cause fear among many families in Hoyang City! If the Five Great Families believe you're destabilizing Hoyang City, you're finished!"

"I didn't kill him. The culprit was disguised as me!" the Blood Python Leader said urgently. "The leader of the Shi Kingdom's forces, 'Xue Yun,' is very skilled at disguise. I suspect he impersonated me."

"Diaorong Yan identified you as the killer before he died," Mo Li Meng sneered. "If you let the other party recognize your identity, you're pretty incompetent."

"It really wasn't me," the Blood Python Leader insisted.

"In Hoyang City, we all have to follow the rules!" Mo Li Meng said, giving him a stern look before turning to leave. "If you break the rules, the consequences may be more than you can bear."

With that, Mo Li Meng disappeared.

The Blood Python Leader, Mu Yang, watched this and gradually calmed down.

"So what if I break the rules? Hmph, in this world, strength is what truly matters," the Blood Python Leader, Mu Yang, sneered. "I killed one, so what? What can the numerous families in Hoyang City do? If anyone dares to come after me, they better be ready to die!"

"Unfortunately, Diaorong Yan was so useless. Even after killing him and looting his entire mansion, I only got 220,000 universe sands," the Blood Python Leader shook his head. "He was ranked among the top three alchemists in Hoyang City, yet this was all he had."

"If it comes to it, I can only use my armor treasure as collateral," the Blood Python Leader thought. "I must buy the lower part of the Iron Blood Sand Method as soon as possible. If I delay too long, I'll be completely dragged into the Shi Kingdom's conflict, and my life will be at risk."

He was well aware of how dangerous the conflict between the Five Great Families and the Shi Kingdom's forces was. He was being dragged into it for the sake of a legacy, and he only wanted to obtain the legacy and then flee far away.

The longer he delayed, the more dangerous it would become!

"I must gather 1 million universe sands quickly!" The Blood Python Leader's eyes turned cold.

…

Time passed slowly on the Origin Continent, with night giving way to day.

All the major forces in Hoyang City had learned of Diaorong Yan's death and heard that the culprit might be the Blood Python Leader, Mu Yang. The bounty on Mu Yang in the Yan Feng Pavilion's dark hall had already risen to 160,000 universe sands!

"My father had some friends, but after he died, none of them are willing to help with the bounty," Diaorong Qi, who was staying with the Mo Li family, kept checking the bounty, which hadn't changed, and no one had completed the task.

"The fourth-highest bounty, also on a dark power leader, is 'Chun Yu Yi,' with a bounty of 180,000 universe sands. He's lived for countless ages. The Blood Python Leader's bounty is now at 160,000 universe sands, ranking fifth. Who would dare to kill him?" Diaorong Qi kept looking at the bounty list, hoping for some change.

But after the long night, there was no change.

Diaorong Qi felt powerless. After her father's death, there was nothing she could do.

"Miss, Lord Luo He has arrived at the Fire Realm Restaurant," reported Suo Yun, who had been stationed there.

"Luo He?" Diaorong Qi's heart stirred. "Lord Luo He didn't even regard the Blood Python Society when he first arrived in Hoyang City. He definitely wouldn't fear the Blood Python Leader."

The Blood Python Leader was notorious, feared by many forces. But it was clear that Lord Luo He was not concerned, which was why Diaorong Qi had immediately wanted to become his disciple.

She quickly stood up.

"Xiao Qi," Mo Li Feiyun, who had been worried about her friend, spoke.

"I have to go out right now," Diaorong Qi said.

"It's not safe for you to go out now," Mo Li Feiyun said, concerned.

"It's daytime, with True Gods everywhere, so it's quite safe. Besides, I have to go!" Diaorong Qi insisted.

Mo Li Feiyun thought for a moment. "I'll arrange a guard team to escort you. You can take the Mo Li family's flying boat."

"Thank you," Diaorong Qi said gratefully, not wasting any time, and hurriedly headed out.

…

At the Fire Realm Restaurant.

"Lord Luo He, my lady has instructed that all your expenses at the Fire Realm Restaurant be covered by her," Suo Yun said very respectfully.

Luo Feng arrived with Mo Luo Sa and Mo Yu Qing Yan.

"Have you been waiting here since I left the Fire Realm Restaurant last time?" Luo Feng asked Suo Yun.

"Yes, as per my lady's instructions," the guard Suo Yun replied.

"Thank your lady for me," Luo Feng said as he walked inside. The restaurant's owner, the Black Butcher, warmly greeted him.

Inside the small building.

Luo Feng and Mo Luo Sa enjoyed food and wine together, while the servant Mo Yu Qing Yan stood guard outside the building, diligently performing his duty.

"That young lady from the Diaorong family seems eager to become your disciple," Morosa remarked.

"Her father died last night," Luo Feng said.

"Died?" Morosa was surprised.

"I heard it from a friend," Luo Feng said. Several forces had visited him, and he had made some friends. Several Eternal True Gods, including Shang Tianyan, had informed him of this news.

Luo Feng suddenly said, "The leader of the Food Kingdom's forces in Hoyang City is called Xue Yun, and his bounty is a whopping 1 million universe sands."

"Let's take him down!" Morosa's eyes lit up.

"But we can't find him," Luo Feng mused. "Do you have any way to locate him?" Mo Luo Sa had a natural mastery of the Path of Destruction. Without relying on the soul secret technique Lie Yuan Technique, Luo Feng knew he might not be able to beat Morosa.

If he couldn't find Xue Yun, perhaps Morosa could.

"I've never seen him," Mo Luo Sa frowned. "If I had seen him once, I might have some ways to track him down."

"What a pity," Luo Feng sighed.

If they could kill Xue Yun, the spoils from his body and the enormous bounty would be worth more than taking down a group of dark power leaders, probably enough to cover the resources needed for his three rounds of body refinement.

But unfortunately, they couldn't find him!

"Master," Mo Yu Qing Yan's voice came from outside, "Diaorong Qi requests an audience."

"She's here?" Luo Feng looked at the banquet before him. "Let her in."

Mo Yu Qing Yan, who had been standing guard outside, finally moved aside and said, "The master will see you now."