Chapter 271 - 168: Insta-Killed Eye-Gouging Monk

Chapter 271: Chapter 168: Insta-Killed Eye-Gouging Monk

The man in black was so sure Tao En couldn’t fight back that his only thought during the mission was how to stage the scene to look more like a suicide.

After the Eye-Gouging Monk died, the viscous, bloody domain it had spread out completely vanished.

Tao En had his Blood-Seeking Sword-Hoof Deer pat down the man’s body with its sword-like hooves, and it found the man’s Storage Pouch.

Inside the man’s Storage Pouch was a Brocade Box.

The Brocade Box contained four bottles of Fourth Level Potions and one bottle of a Fifth Level Potion.

Opening the Fifth Level Potion and examining it closely, Tao En was certain that Cao Xing’an had personally concocted it.

Every Creator uses their Soul Power to fuse various materials, allowing the medicinal properties of the ingredients to blend together perfectly.

This Fifth Level Potion still contained a trace of Cao Xing’an’s soul signature, a clear sign that he had concocted it very recently.

Had the Hidden Guard sent to assassinate him bought this Potion on the open market, it would have been sealed. Whenever a Fifth Level Creator creates a Potion for a client or for sale, they seal the Medicine Bottle and engrave their unique mark upon it.

To a Five-finger Creator, every single Fifth Level Potion is a testament to their glory!

This Fifth Level Potion was not only unsealed, but the Medicine Bottle didn’t even have a name engraved on it.

’Clearly, someone as vain as Cao Xing’an would only be this careless when concocting a Potion for one of his own subordinates.’

After obtaining the Potion, Tao En had no intention of making the matter public.

A single Potion proved nothing. Besides, with Cao Xing’an’s status as a Five-finger Peak Creator, no one would be able to stand up for him.

Tao En had now joined Zhong Yi’s side and didn’t want to cause him any trouble.

’The day I truly become a Six-finger Creator, I won’t show Cao Xing’an any mercy, no matter who pleads on his behalf.’

Other than the Potions in the Brocade Box, there weren’t many other resources in the man’s Storage Pouch.

’This Hidden Guard must have invested all of his resources into improving his own strength.’

But every little bit helped, and Tao En was currently dirt poor.

Tao En didn’t want to have to ask Zhong Yi for money every time he needed to buy materials in the future.

Tao En tried his best to preserve the integrity of the Immortal Tier Flesh and Blood Element Bizarre’s body.

The corpse of an Immortal Tier Flesh and Blood Element Bizarre was still worth a fair bit of money.

After stowing the Eye-Gouging Monk’s corpse in his Storage Pouch, Tao En spoke to Tao Niannian, whose eyes were shut tight.

"Niannian, you can open your eyes now!"

"Grandpa will give you ten minutes to pack your things. Then I’ll take you to find Brother Zhong Yi."

He walked to the shop’s entrance and gazed at the cold, crescent moon hanging high in the sky, his thoughts turning to the promises his old friends, including Red Dragon, had made to him.

The last shred of belonging Tao En felt for Longya City vanished completely.

’Back when I became a Five-finger Peak Creator, the only reason I never truly dealt with Cao Xing’an was because these "friends" mediated on his behalf.’

Yet now, as Cao Xing’an was trying to have him killed, those same people had silently condoned it.

People come and go, all in pursuit of personal gain.

’Now that I can no longer create profit for them, all my previous contributions have become nothing but smoke and mirrors.’

Tao En was well aware that Zhong Yi had also come all the way from Starlight City to Longya City for him because he saw value in him.

But Zhong Yi was his savior. He hadn’t just saved his life; he had also given him and Niannian a way to live with dignity.

This was fundamentally different from his unconditional sacrifices for the Celestial Destiny Seekers of Longya City, which had ultimately left him without even a safe place to call home.

It wouldn’t be long before Cao Xing’an learned of this Hidden Guard’s death.

Tao En was very confident in his own strength.

But he wasn’t foolish enough to wait around for Cao Xing’an to send someone even stronger after him.

Tao En had the perfect refuge in mind: the Celestial Destiny Society.

As long as he could stay at the Celestial Destiny Society, he would be safe in Longya City.

As Celestial Destiny Seekers, Zhong Yi and Wen Tao had the right to invite guests to stay within the Celestial Destiny Society.

Zhong Yi was still awake when he received Tao En’s call, busy grooming Lan Po and Ice Glaze.

Hearing that Tao En had been targeted in an assassination attempt by an Immortal Tier Bizarre, Zhong Yi immediately informed Wen Tao, Cui Heng, and Sun Yushi.

The four of them went to the entrance of the Celestial Destiny Society to wait for Tao En’s arrival.

Wen Tao glanced at the time and said to Cui Heng,

"Elder Cui, please go and meet Master Tao En."

"I’ll go inform Star Night of the situation and ask her to come as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Cui Heng summoned his Lifebound Guardian Beast and melted into the night with it.

"Xiaoyi, our trip to Longya City will most likely have to end early."

"It wouldn’t be wise for us to attend the upcoming trade fair at Waking Dragon Creek Valley."

"A cornered dog will lash out. We’d best not get bitten by a mad one."

Wen Tao knew very well that the Celestial Destiny Seekers were not a monolithic group, especially those belonging to different Heroic Cities.

In fact, in some Heroic Cities, even Celestial Destiny Seekers from the same city fought amongst themselves.

Where there are people, there is a world of strife, and that world is never free of fighting.

His own strength was only at the Mythical Tier, and Zhong Yi’s was only at the Mortal Beast Tier. As long as they didn’t provoke a powerful enemy, Cui Heng was more than enough to handle any crisis.

But having angered a Five-finger Peak Creator, if that Creator decided to target Zhong Yi recklessly, it would be difficult for Cui Heng to protect him!

Zhong Yi nodded at his words. Just then, He Meisi, a Steward of the Longya City Celestial Destiny Society, walked out from inside.

"My lords, are you waiting for someone? Shall I arrange a few more rooms?"

Wen Tao said to He Meisi,

"Please arrange another suite for me. A friend of ours will be staying at the Celestial Destiny Society temporarily."

"During their stay, I don’t wish for them to be disturbed by anyone."

Hearing this, He Meisi smiled, her expression unchanged, and said to Wen Tao,

"Lord Jing Shui, is the guest you’re referring to the Tao En who visited earlier?"

"Rest assured, the Celestial Destiny Society is only responsible to Celestial Destiny Seekers. I will do my utmost to fulfill any request from a Seeker."

"As your invited guest, I will not allow anyone to disturb him."

"You can let him stay at the Celestial Destiny Society with peace of mind."

"Besides arranging for Tao En, do you have any other instructions?"

"I heard Lord Zhong Yi’s Dragon Carp won first place in the Dragon Soaring Association event. If you need, I can help you collect the prize tomorrow morning."

"In this Dragon Soaring event, besides Lord Zhong Yi’s Dragon Carp, only one other Dragon Carp made it past the ninth Dragon Gate. The other three all failed."

"I will inform you of how many Federation Coins you need to pay the other contestant when I bring the prize."

With that, He Meisi bowed to Wen Tao and Zhong Yi before heading back inside the Celestial Destiny Society to arrange the rooms.

The Celestial Destiny Society, an organization that served only Celestial Destiny Seekers, truly only ever had to answer to them.

The Society was not affiliated with any of the Heroic Cities, but was instead under the jurisdiction of the Celestial Destiny Society Headquarters in the Royal Capital.

A Five-finger Peak Creator like Cao Xing’an, despite his status in Longya City, held less sway within the Celestial Destiny Society than any Celestial Destiny Seeker.

The journey back was uneventful. After Cui Heng rendezvoused with Tao En, the three of them—Cui Heng, Tao En, and Tao Niannian—arrived safely at the Celestial Destiny Society.

"Master Tao En, everything has been arranged."

"You and Niannian can stay here for the next few days with peace of mind."

Normally, when a Hidden Guard is on a mission, another Hidden Guard is assigned to provide support.

That way, if something goes wrong, the news can be relayed immediately.

But Cao Xing’an had grown accustomed to having Tao En under his thumb over the years, so he had dispatched only a single Hidden Guard to finish him off.

As a result, the first piece of news Cao Xing’an received wasn’t that his Hidden Guard was dead, but that Tao En had moved into the Celestial Destiny Society.