Chapter 704 - 430: Super-Prolific, Gutless Rats

Chapter 704: Chapter 430: Super-Prolific, Gutless Rats

Spirit Realm, Dongwu City.

Deep within a magnificent estate, burly guards stood at intervals along a quiet corridor, their bodies emanating waves of Spiritual Energy.

Wrapped in bandages, his face pale and haggard, Wu Xiong hurried toward the end of the hall.

That morning, after leaving the government office, he had found a clinic for a quick treatment before rushing straight home.

Wu Xiong was filled with apprehension. Last night’s plan had been a complete failure, and he was too ashamed to face his master.

In a fragrant, bird-filled garden, Wu Xinggao sat reading in a pavilion when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.

TAP, TAP, TAP...

Wu Xiong came before Wu Xinggao and lowered his head in shame. "Master."

Book in hand, Wu Xinggao looked up at his trusted subordinate.

He placed the book on the stone table before him, then picked up a purple clay teapot and poured himself a cup. After taking a sip, he spoke in a calm voice.

"You’re quite injured."

"..." Wu Xiong was silent for a few seconds before replying, "I’ll be fine. Zhang Di is hurt worse. Even though he’s been treated by a physician, he won’t be able to get out of bed for the next day or two."

"The two of you, plus the assassin from the Blood Killing Sect—three Tier Two Peak Cultivators—and you still weren’t a match for that masked assailant?" Wu Xinggao said.

When he first heard the news last night, he’d thought the servant reporting to him was joking.

He had expected that, at his strongest, the masked assailant would be able to handle two opponents at most.

He never imagined the man could not only take on all three of them but also maintain an absolute advantage. A Cultivator capable of such a feat was a rare find indeed.

"Master, that masked assailant is inhumanly strong," Wu Xiong said, his expression grim as he recalled the previous day’s fight. "After crossing blows with him, I think he might just be the strongest Cultivator at our level..."

’You can only understand how terrifying he is by facing him yourself. His Spiritual Energy is so immense, so far beyond the norm... it’s enough to make you despair.’

Wu Xinggao studied the look on Wu Xiong’s face. ’It seems last night’s battle has left my trusted servant deeply shaken,’ he thought. ’He’s developed a psychological block when it comes to that masked assailant.’

"The strongest among Cultivators at his level? So what? At the end of the day, he’s still just a Tier Two Peak Cultivator."

"..." Wu Xiong nodded. He had a point. With the Wu Family’s power, dealing with a single Tier Two Peak Cultivator would be a simple matter if they truly put their minds to it.

"Master, our incompetence this time has brought you shame," Wu Xiong said, deeply chagrined.

As Wu Xinggao’s confidant, he was privy to much more information than others.

Once Wu Xinggao’s rivals learned of the failed ambush, they would surely use the incident to mock him, laughing that he couldn’t even deal with a single Tier Two Peak fighter.

Wu Xinggao looked at his ashamed subordinate. Had this been the night before, he would have furiously berated him for his incompetence.

But after a night to cool off, most of his anger had subsided. He knew the ambush had failed mainly because the masked assailant was far stronger than anyone had anticipated. The failure was not Wu Xiong’s fault.

"Don’t dwell on this failure. You failed this time, but what matters is that you succeed next time," Wu Xinggao reassured his subordinate.

"Yes, Master." Hearing his master forgive his failure, Wu Xiong looked at him with a moved expression.

"Sit and have some tea." As the Patriarch of the Wu Family, winning people’s loyalty was second nature to him. Seeing Wu Xiong’s touched expression, he smiled and gestured for the man to sit, then personally poured him a cup of tea.

"Thank you, Master." Wu Xiong did not sit. He remained standing as he reached out and carefully accepted the cup from Wu Xinggao.

"Don’t just stand there. Sit and drink," Wu Xinggao insisted.

"Yes." Wu Xiong nodded and sat down at the stone table.

Several small birds chirped from a distant branch, their crisp calls echoing through the garden.

Wu Xinggao found the noise irritating. He turned his head, his gaze falling upon the chirping birds.

A faint, golden Spiritual Light flickered in his eyes. An instant later, the birds on the branch seemed to sense a terrifying predator’s gaze upon them. They shuddered and fell silent, not daring to make another peep.

The Spiritual Light in his eyes faded. Wu Xinggao turned back to his subordinate, who was sitting ramrod straight. After a moment of thought, he asked a question.

"When the ambush failed, how did the masked assailant get away? Did you see clearly?"

Wu Xiong drained the tea his master had poured for him and gently placed the cup back on the stone table. A frustrated look crossed his face as he shook his head. "Master, I didn’t see clearly how the masked assailant left."

Wu Xinggao’s brow furrowed, and Wu Xiong hurriedly explained.

"The masked assailant created a massive Fireball and launched it at us. After the explosion, we went to look for him, but he had already vanished without a trace."