Chapter 347: Perhaps, in the Eyes of the Nine Nether Ice Flame, I Am a Scoundrel Trying to Stand on Three Boats

After the woman left, Bai Tianyuan carefully picked up the long jade box.

He gently caressed the spot where the woman had touched.

Then, he lowered his head and took a deep breath.

“So fragrant… so very fragrant.”

“She is truly beautiful.”

Bai Tianyuan seemed to be intoxicated by the lingering scent that was gradually fading away.

Then, he looked out the window, gazing toward the entrance of the tavern.

The black-clothed woman was swaying her hips as she walked gracefully. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared into the crowd—

Like a drop of water merging into the vast sea.

“Xue Ziyi, you are mine. You will definitely be mine.”

Bai Tianyuan clenched his fist, as if he had already regarded the woman as his possession.

…

Two long streets away—

A seemingly unremarkable three-story building stood in place.

Its doors were tightly shut, with no guards in sight.

The width of this street was no different from the one outside the Tianhe Merchant Guild, yet the foot traffic here was noticeably sparse.

Even those who passed by quickened their pace, as if they were afraid of this building.

Most of the people living in the capital knew—this building housed a branch of the Shadow Pavilion.

And the Shadow Pavilion was the strongest sect in Longzhou.

The Shadow Pavilion was known for killing without a trace.

Experts in stealth, assassination, and poisoning.

Rather than calling it a sect, it was more like an assassin organization.

It had the fewest members among all the major sects—

But was widely recognized as the most mysterious.

The Shadow Pavilion had always upheld one principle: as long as the price was right, there was no one they couldn’t kill.

There were even rumors that the Burning Heaven Hall, the assassin organization that once terrorized Jing Country two thousand years ago, was the predecessor of the Shadow Pavilion.

But this was only a rumor, never confirmed.

Swoosh.

Like a phantom, the black-clothed woman suddenly appeared at the entrance of the building.

She did nothing, yet the doors creaked open on their own.

A respectful voice came from within.

“Welcome, Young Master.”

The black-clothed woman strode into the building.

The doors immediately shut behind her.

Two other women, also clad in black with graceful figures, approached her, awaiting orders.

Xue Ziyi spoke calmly, “Activate our informants within the Tianhe Merchant Guild immediately. Investigate the background of their new guild master, Zhou Mingyi.”

“And the cultivator he calls ‘Daoist Shen’—look into him as well.”

“Understood.” The two women nodded. Without revealing any discernible movement technique, they vanished from sight in an instant.

Once they had left, an elderly woman, leaning on a cane, approached Xue Ziyi. “This old one greets the Young Master.”

Xue Ziyi gave a slight nod. “Elder Nine, any leads on the other volumes of the Heaven-Severing Sword Manual?”

The old woman lowered her voice. “According to my knowledge, the Sever, Weed, Eradicate, and Root volumes are likely in the hands of Shen Mo, the young sect master of the Jade Cauldron Sect.”

“The Burning Heaven Sword Manual is currently kept by the former sect master of Qianyuan Sect. They plan to present it as a birthday tribute to the Sword Sovereign at his upcoming banquet.”

“As for the Scorching Earth Sword Manual, Young Master should already be aware—it is currently stored in the Tianhe Merchant Guild’s warehouse, meant to be the grand prize for the alchemy competition.”

Xue Ziyi waved her hand. “The intelligence has changed. The Scorching Earth Sword Manual has already been given away by the Tianhe Merchant Guild—to a cultivator named Daoist Shen.”

“Right now, this Daoist Shen is staying at the Tianhe Merchant Guild’s guest manor.”

The old woman furrowed her brows. “The Scorching Earth Sword Manual is, after all, a top-tier Earth-grade spiritual artifact. Why would the Tianhe Merchant Guild simply give it away?”

“That’s precisely why it needs investigation.” Xue Ziyi remained calm. “The Heaven-Severing Sword Manual rightfully belongs to the Shadow Pavilion. It should not fall into the hands of others.”

The old woman nodded. “And what about the Qianyuan Sect?”

“Intercept them midway. Make it look like an attack by the Mad Blade Alliance.” Xue Ziyi spoke indifferently. “Those two factions already have deep enmity.”

“Understood.”

“And what of Shen Mo, the Jade Cauldron Sect’s young sect master?” The old woman’s tone grew serious.

“That man is no easy target. Even the First and Fourth Princes of the Ten Thousand Beast Kingdom, both monstrous talents of the demon race, met their demise at his hands.”

Xue Ziyi pondered for a moment. “His strength is indeed formidable. Not easy to deal with.”

“However, we can first follow Emperor Jing’s lead and test him out.”

“If we can’t obtain the Sever, Weed, Eradicate, and Root Sword Manuals for now, we will wait.”

“There will be plenty of opportunities in the future to seize them in secret.”

The old woman nodded respectfully. “Understood.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “By the way, Young Master, Elder Qingmu has sent someone requesting the Shadow Pavilion’s help in sabotaging the Tianhe Merchant Guild’s alchemy competition.”

Xue Ziyi’s expression turned cold. “I don’t want to be entangled with Elder Qingmu any further.”

The old woman spoke hesitantly, “But Elder Qingmu has offered the alchemical formula for the Ten Thousand Blood Spirit Pill…”

Xue Ziyi’s gaze sharpened.

The Ten Thousand Blood Spirit Pill was a unique pill created by Elder Qingmu fifty years ago.

Consuming it could strengthen the body, laying a solid foundation for enhancing one’s physique.

Moreover, the Shadow Pavilion possessed a rare blood-based cultivation technique that required a large quantity of Ten Thousand Blood Spirit Pills as an auxiliary aid for training.

The Shadow Pavilion had long wanted to purchase the pill formula from Elder Qingmu.

Unfortunately, he had never agreed to sell it.

Yet now, he was actually willing to offer it in exchange for sabotaging the alchemy competition—such a valuable treasure.

Xue Ziyi suddenly said, “The formula for the Ten Thousand Blood Spirit Pill is too valuable. Elder Qingmu must have other demands.”

The old woman nodded. “Yes, he also wants us to hand over the two Silver-Crested Demon Kings we captured from Mist Province so he can use them for research on a new type of pill.”

Xue Ziyi finally gave a slight nod. “That is a reasonable trade.”

She fell silent, her thoughts racing.

A moment later, she spoke decisively.

“Tomorrow, have our people spread rumors through the gambling dens, black markets, and other channels that Elder Qingmu is looking for disciples.”

“At the same time, publicize the conflict between Elder Qingmu and the Tianhe Sect. Many alchemists will hesitate to participate in the competition.”

“If some remain undeterred, track them down one by one and pressure them into withdrawing.”

“Make sure the alchemy competition is completely ruined.”

Xue Ziyi’s gaze turned sharp. “We must acquire the formula for the Ten Thousand Blood Spirit Pill as soon as possible.”

“Understood.” The old woman bowed and retreated.

…

Two days later.

At the Tianhe Merchant Guild’s guest manor.

Shen Mo floated above a pond.

Cold energy surged from his body, freezing the entire pond solid.

“You stubborn thing, it was me who gave you the Demon Heart to keep you from completely perishing, yet you still resist me this much?”

Shen Mo opened his eyes and smiled helplessly.

The rejection from the Nine Nether Ice Flame exceeded his expectations.

This ancient flame was entirely different from the Green Lotus Core Flame and the Solar Essence Fire.

The Green Lotus Core Flame had willingly submitted to him because he possessed the Blazing Sun Scorching Flame Physique, which had a powerful attraction to it.

It had entered his body voluntarily, essentially taming itself.

As for the Solar Essence Fire, it had been a mere fledgling flame at the time, with almost no sense of self.

The moment Shen Mo made contact with it, it had instinctively fused with him, also equating to self-taming.

But the Nine Nether Ice Flame was different.

It had spent countless years suppressing demonic beings, its consciousness fully developed.

Even though Shen Mo had gifted it a Demon Heart, it still instinctively resisted his control.

To make matters worse, his body already housed both the Solar Essence Fire and the Green Lotus Core Flame.

The arrogance of unique flames made it even more unwilling to submit.

“Perhaps, in the eyes of the Nine Nether Ice Flame, I must seem like a scoundrel trying to stand on three boats at once.”

Shen Mo smiled helplessly.

It seemed he still hadn’t built up enough favorability with it.

In the future, he would have to find more demonic-related objects for the Nine Nether Ice Flame to refine.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel