Chapter 35 - Adventurer's Guild (2)

"Ah, initial Element Adept. Another man who assumes I am at the Spirit Forming Stage because of my age. Do you not have spirit sensitivity? Can you not sense the depths of my cultivation? Do you really have no eyes?" Yang mocked as he grabbed the man by the throat and lifted him into the air. "I am fourteen years old and a late-stage Element Adept. You look around thirty. You should be ashamed."

"Henry!" the man on the far left of the desk cried, glaring at Yang with fury. Yang recognized that look and smirked as the man lunged at him. However, the man did not see Red Death extend to its full size, an eighty-foot-long and seven-foot-thick snake. The man was bitten in the center of his chest.

"Oh, he's not food. Put the Spirit Forming man down. I'll find you lunch later," Yang ordered, the snake spitting him at the previously poisoned man, whom Yang healed soon after. "You attacked me; my snake and I retaliated. You can only blame yourself for your humiliation."

"You won't challenge me?" the final man asked.

"Unlike them, I have eyes. You are at the late Meteor Vessel Stage. You are probably the top practitioner here. I'm no idiot; I did not do anything wrong. All I asked was for a challenge, and he attacked me without addressing me," Yang grinned.

"He's acting evil again," Shen Hua sighed.

"Not evil, but devious," Mei said. "He means to use their defeats to reach C rank. He wanted to prove that he had the necessary strength to be at that rank, avoiding the trouble of doing missions to get the rank altogether. Not only that, people will find out he did this, and those of C rank will challenge him. He will either beat them up or kill them, taking their items as a reward. This is my youngest brother. This is how he operates."

"Yang has always been devious. He never really showed it until that day in the cafeteria," Guo Lin nodded. "His power and skill are not his most dangerous aspect. Not even his poison is the true danger. The true danger is his intelligence. He is beyond cunning. He has the people around him wrapped around his fingers, even if they don't know it."

"That's our future," Shen Dong, Shen Hua, and Sima Qing (Shen Qing) thought in unison as they glanced at one another.

"You have proven yourself at C rank, maybe even B rank. However, that is just based on your cultivation. I will give you a D rank, not an F or E rank," the man said, giving Yang a gold card with his name, cultivation, rank, and other information on it. "It seems your performance two and a half months ago was no fluke."

"I suppose it will do. I can always do a C rank promotion mission, is that right?" Yang asked.

"Indeed. The ranks, from lowest to highest, are F, E, D, C, B, A, and S. There are many different kinds of missions. Not all people at C rank are necessarily at the Element Adept Stage or mage equivalent. Now, I and Guan Hai will discuss the matter of the bandit hideouts and recent raid locations on the way to the capital. You may all leave now."

"This little card does so much?" Yang sighed as the eight of them left to buy some armor and weapons while Guan Hai was at the Adventurer's Guild. Everyone went in different directions, save for Sun Yi.

"Did you get what I asked?" Yang asked.

"Of course. Naturally, no one knows of my connection to you," Sun Yi grinned as he adjusted his glasses. "No one ever sees the man in the background."

"So this is the book you spoke of?" Yang asked as he skimmed through it. "Hmph. So this is the book on the history of the creation of the Song Dynasty. A clue to the location of some Fragments of the Elemental Sovereign of Lightning should be in here. You did well."

"Of course. It is with your assistance that I even became an initial Spirit Forming stage practitioner before the tournament. You recognized my intellect from the day we met, and we planned from the shadows," Sun Yi smirked.

"Strength does conquer all, but blind strength fails in the end. Not even my sister knows of our affiliation. Did you find out where the Blue Heart String Phoenix of our old teacher is kept?" Yang asked.

"Of course. Here is its magical core," Sun Yi said. "I thank you for giving my clan poisons. So far, the Book Keepers have been getting good business. Who would expect librarians to be assassins? We have gained many treasures from our targets and many spirit coins from our clients. Here is the crystal card. Within it is this month's cut."

"Ah, it's good to be rich. I suppose this is one thing magical beasts and humans have. Are you certain one of the bandit hideouts has the snake magical beast I am searching for?" Yang said as he pocketed a five-inch magical core and a diamond card into his storage ring.

"Yes. I also inquired about Lu Jing's personality, as you requested. I'm positive my acting fooled everyone," Sun Yi nodded.

"Good. I was once the sovereign of this world. I was once at the peak and looked down at my enemies and laughed. I was the World Serpent, but I was not ready to embrace immortality in the Mortal Realm. I was afraid of the unknown. I was too attached to this world," Yang began as he stared at the sky while they walked through the street. "This time, I am not. This time, I will make the world kneel before me as I once did a thousand years ago. Until then, collect new poisons for my cultivation and more snake magical beasts."

"Is the war going to begin?" Sun Yi asked.

"Not yet. Only the search. The eldest of dragons and magical beasts should know what the two words, World Serpent, truly mean. Humans who excel in research should also know. They will come with their personnel to the Pangu Continent. Some already have. My numbers are too few. Now, the prince finally believes himself to be successful with my help. With him on the throne, I will have more forces under my control," Yang laughed.

"Yes. I hope you will not remember the last term of our agreement?" Sun Yi asked.

"Of course not. I will leave the crown prince for you to kill. As you said many weeks ago, he is a pervert. He must have raped many maids with his lust. Your words about the second prince were also correct. That man has pocketed cultivation resources that were supposed to be given to the army. Both are plagues in this world, and you will have their heads. In this matter, what I do won't arouse the suspicions of Shen Dong. It is Shen Wukong, the emperor, who is the problem. Your spies are within the palace, no?"

"They are. The roots of the Book Keepers go deep. The Sun Clan was once one of the many imperial clans that used to rule a kingdom in the Pangu Continent. The Shen Clan destroyed many kingdoms, like my own clan's, and united the continent under one ruler. We also want our vengeance," Sun Yi said, his knuckles turning white as he clenched them tightly.

"Our first mission is to pull the fourth prince forward and make him noticed by those two idiot princes. Shen Dong will slowly rise, and no one will care what happens to the two eldest princes when they fall from grace. I trust all their information will be available when we arrive in the capital?" Yang asked.

"Of course. You should also visit some of the palace maids. Only the most beautiful are chosen and are also ready to attend your bedside, if they are told of your power and influence," Sun Yi nodded.

"Nothing wrong with mating for pleasure. During our visit to the capital, we must ensure to break the influence of many of their supporters as possible. You also got accepted to the Royal Academy. I also got accepted but have not given my answer. It is probably yes, as the academy is near the palace. No one will notice me helping Shen Dong from the shadows. When our arrangements are being made, ensure that we are roommates and have a secret passage made to connect us to the palace and another entrance within to connect to Shen Dong's room. Only the latter passage should be known to him. Go now and tell your father," Yang ordered.

"Yes, My Lord," Sun Yi said and left. They were currently in front of an alley in the area, and three people had heard their conversation, paling as Yang grinned at them.

"Red Death, I do believe I found you your lunch I promised," Yang said, and screams soon sounded deep within the alley. So far, he would only have to worry about contingencies to the plan and eliminate those incompetents in his way. He smiled as Red Death was swallowing the men in its body and storing the other two corpses to feed to the snake later.

"They are a little weak, master," Red Death said as a huge bulge appeared in its body. "Not enough spirit energy in their flesh. It won't take long to digest."

"Don't worry, Red Death. We will be hunting bandits outside the city soon. My only worry is that you will get fat," Yang said, laughing maniacally as he headed to the west gate, people staring at them with horrified expressions as they could only imagine the bulge in Red Death.