Chapter 668: Nine Cauldron Replicas, Grandmasters In Decline

Chapter 668: Chapter 361: Nine Cauldron Replicas, Grandmasters In Decline

Sea Pirates Auction?

Su Mu’s eyes flickered with a touch of curiosity. He hadn’t yet experienced an auction between sea pirates, but the injuries left by inner sea’s ancient ruins on Qiu Mountain’s Great Elder showed the danger within.

Danger and opportunity are always two sides of the same coin. There are many treasures in the inner sea. For instance, without the half-bottle of Half-step Great Demon Level deer demon’s blood obtained from Zong Buhui, the transformation of his tri-colored Glazed Bone and ten-stripped Dragon Tendons would have surely failed.

These pirates entrenched in Penghai surely hold many treasures, which deeply interest Su Mu.

“Third Brother, the news is true. This Blood Jiao Invitation was acquired by our gang today from a destroyed pirate ship… But the auction is located at the sea pirates’ lair.”

Baili Hongtang’s tone was serious. “The auction is set for half a month from now. If you’re not in a hurry, Third Brother, you can wait for Brother to join us, as he likely will have exited his retreat by then.”

“Alright.”

Su Mu nodded lightly; his Second Sister Baili Hongtang had a point. If by then his elder brother Baili Feng successfully reaches the Upper Three Grades and exits retreat, having a Martial Arts Grandmaster accompany them would be ideal.

Nevertheless, Su Mu was prepared to go alone. Though Elder Brother consumed the Little Yellow Court Ancient Pill, receiving Qiu Mountain’s Great Elder’s Small Yellow Court Cultivation, the Grandmaster Realm is still the Upper Three Grades, and if it were easily attainable, the world wouldn’t respect him as a Great Cultivator.

The two exchanged pleasantries, and Second Sister spoke of recent happenings within the gang, where Cyan Fish Gang had replaced two of its seven Hall Masters, specifically in Alchemy Hall and Ink Scale Hall.

The other five hall masters remained unchanged for now, but Second Sister was already working on a top-down reassessment. She chose to promote loyal individuals to replace critical positions in the halls, such as Vice Hall Master and important Stewards, to gradually strip some hall masters of their power, then find a chance to have these hall masters retire.

In the original plan, this would never have gone so smoothly. Power, once tasted, is something those long in high positions will hold onto tightly, never willing to let it slip easily.

But just out of retreat, ‘Baili Hong’ directly acted, blasting off the Half-Step Great Cultivator Gongyang Jue, who had just stepped beyond the Fourth Grade, reducing him to pulp, deeply shaking all high-ranking members of Cyan Fish Gang.

His very emergence restored his dignity, exceeding past levels, and now Baili Hong’s prestige in the gang reached an unprecedented height.

Because of this, the acting Vice Gang Leader, Second Sister Baili Hongtang, faced minimal resistance during the gang’s big cleanup. Those seasoned hall masters accepted all moves and cleanups with clear smiles.

Given Gongyang Jue’s fate as precedent, none wished to meet the same end. Adding Baili Hongtang’s gentle methods, she avoided disrespecting them as elders, giving Cyan Fish Gang’s veterans a graceful retreat, leaving room for maneuvering.

Moreover, Cyan Fish Gang’s higher-ups had long recognized Baili Hongtang’s capabilities, but as Baili Hongtang was ultimately a woman, it was unfortunate she couldn’t inherit the Gang Leader position.

Thus, after Baili Hong’s appointment at that Cyan Fish gathering, even the Law Enforcement Hall’s Vice Hall Master, who wanted to refute then, didn’t seek to argue later.

In recent days, members of the Law Enforcement Hall have cooperated remarkably well with the acting Vice Gang Leader in carrying out the cleanup, effectively acknowledging Baili Hongtang’s position.

“Second Sister, what do you and Elder Brother plan for the future?”

After some pleasantries, Su Mu inquired about Baili Hongtang’s plans, as Su Mu could only impersonate Baili Hong temporarily and couldn’t stay in Cyan Fish Gang long-term.

Second Sister’s joyful expression slightly restrained; indeed, all banquets end eventually, but she had long planned.

“I’ve thought about this. Once Elder Brother exits retreat, our Cyan Fish Gang will have a new Martial Arts Grandmaster presiding, then everything will stabilize. I will announce that Father has entrusted the major responsibilities to brother and has gone traveling.”

“If by then Third Brother you haven’t left, you might need to impersonate Father again to hand over the Gang Leader position to Brother. If you’ve left, it’s fine, for now, I am Vice Gang Leader, and by then Brother will be a Martial Arts Grandmaster; no one can stir up any waves.”

Baili Hongtang expressed her plan, a confident tone evident in the latter half.

Su Mu listened quietly, nodding. Second Sister thought things through thoroughly.

“Third Brother, we must truly thank you this time. I, on behalf of myself and Brother, express gratitude.” With that, Baili Hongtang spoke thankfully and was about to bow with her hands.

A slender, fair hand gently rested on her wrist. In Baili Hongtang’s perception, it felt as if a mountain was born there, unimaginably immovable with her full strength unable to resist.

“Second Sister, please don’t humble me like that. Doing these things is my obligation; let’s not speak of this afterward.”

Su Mu chuckled softly. He has always favored the gentle approach over force, even though the brother and sister had not formally sworn fraternity, their genuine treatment and abundant cultivation resources given him warranted his support.

Moreover, he had a personal vendetta against Gongyang Jue, and Su Mu had long planned to eliminate him.

The two continued to talk for a while, during which Baili Hongtang’s waist ornament, representing the Vice Gang Leader’s position—the eight-striped Cyan Fish Order—occasionally vibrated, prompting Second Sister to bid farewell and leave shortly after.

Su Mu saw her off with a smile, his gaze unintentionally landed on an unremarkable Crabapple tree in Tang Garden.