Chu Qing glanced at the task prompt again.

[Triggered Commission: Kill Order! (Exterminate Two Guards and One King)]

[Accept?]

"It doesn’t seem to explicitly mention the name Zang Hansheng...

"Since the old beggar wasn’t lying, he must be targeting the Two Guards and One King within Tianji Valley.

"At least it’s the Two Guards and One King as he understands it.

"As for whether it’s truly Zang Hansheng, perhaps we can be a bit lenient on that?"

Chu Qing rubbed his chin, feeling indecisive for a moment.

This system is really difficult to figure out.

Earlier, he thought he had grasped a pattern, only to be proven wrong.

Now with this idea, it seems even more subjective. Who knows if the system will recognize it...

"But it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t recognize it. The Celestial Evil Cult is ambitious, and there will eventually be a battle with them.

"Even if I can’t kill Zang Hansheng today, one day we’ll stand against each other.

"When the time comes, killing them will still accomplish the task, anyway... there’s no deadline for the task."

With this thought, Chu Qing let go of his concerns and opted to accept the task.

[Commission: Kill Order!]

[Current Progress: Zero.]

[Task Reward One: Choose one from the available Martial Arts Treasure Chests.]

[Task Reward Two: One opportunity to upgrade a Treasure Chest.]

[Currently available Treasure Chests: None.]

At first glance, it seemed no different from last time.

But upon closer inspection, Chu Qing immediately noticed the difference.

"Two rewards?

"Treasure Chest upgrade... does that mean I can use this opportunity to enhance the level of martial arts I acquire?

"Although it’s still random, is it that all randomly chosen items are good?"

Chu Qing felt his breathing become a bit rapid.

This system of his is usually rudimentary, with some areas being excessively simplistic.

However, when it comes to task triggers, it’s surprisingly intricate.

The previous Kill Order only allowed for the selection of one Martial Arts Treasure Chest.

This time there’s an additional reward.

It’s just uncertain whether killing the ’Two Guards and One King’ in Tianji Valley will complete this task.

If not, he might have to go through more trouble.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Wen Fusheng ask:

"Where have you all taken the items inside Tianji Valley?"

This question was general; Chu Qing knew Wen Fusheng mainly wanted to know where the Earth Scroll of the Unchanging Celestial Book was.

He needed it to save Gentle’s life.

Sang Qing gave Wen Fusheng a peculiar look:

"I didn’t expect the Manor Master of Luochun Manor to also covet the treasures of Celestial Secret Scholar...

"I don’t know where those things are right now.

"However, after taking them out at that time, we arranged for them to be sent to Xiao Han Valley."

"Xiao Han Valley?"

Wen Fusheng furrowed his brows:

"Lingbei’s Xiao Han Valley?"

The entire Southern Domain is divided into northern and southern parts by Heaven-Reaching Ridge.

The area north of Heaven-Reaching Ridge is called Lingbei.

And the area south of Heaven-Reaching Ridge is called Nanling.

As for why it’s not called Nanling and Beiling, Chu Qing doesn’t know... it’s always been called that since ancient times.

Heaven-Reaching Ridge is mysterious and deep, a branch of the Celestial Profound Mountain.

The Celestial Sect, one of the Five Sects, is located at the base of Heaven-Reaching Ridge.

It seems to guard the gateway to Heaven-Reaching Ridge.

Heaven-Reaching Ridge isn’t inaccessible, and connectivity between north and south hasn’t been severed, but few have crossed it over the years.

There are many tales about that region.

The biggest legend is that the Ghost Emperor Palace of Ghost Emperor Modo is deep within Heaven-Reaching Ridge.

However, though many know of this place, few venture to it.

No one dares to rashly head to Ghost Emperor Palace and confront Ghost Emperor Modo...

However, Chu Qing’s trip is destined to take him to Lingbei’s Celestial Sound Mansion, making a visit to Heaven-Reaching Ridge unavoidable.

Wen Fusheng’s face turned dark.

Noticing his expression, Chu Qing asked:

"What’s wrong?"

Wen Fusheng shook his head without answering, then grabbed some writing tools and said to Sang Qing:

"Explain the layout inside Tianji Valley clearly; you speak, I’ll draw."

"...Alright."

Sang Qing had given up resisting entirely; whatever Wen Fusheng asked, he told him.

Once everything was laid out, Wen Fusheng handed the finished drawing to Chu Qing:

"When will you go?"

"Immediately."

Chu Qing glanced at the sky outside:

"This matter... cannot be delayed."

Wen Fusheng nodded:

"I’ll prepare a bit, and then we’ll set off immediately... Si Ye!"

Si Ye entered the room.

"Keep a close watch on this person, no room for error."

"Understood." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Si Ye bowed in agreement.

Sang Qing was furious:

"You... you promised me that if I confessed everything, you’d grant me a quick death!"

"Better alive than dead; make do for now. When it’s really your time, I’ll make it quick for you."

Chu Qing gestured for him to calm down.

"..."

Sang Qing was momentarily at a loss whether to be grateful or curse.

Such comfort was worse than none.

Once they exited the courtyard, Wen Fusheng finally stopped:

Chu Qing guessed what he was thinking and said:

"You’re not planning to have me go to Xiao Han Valley for you, are you?"

"..."

Wen Fusheng’s brewing was interrupted by Chu Qing; he cast an unhappy glance:

"You’re infatuated with my daughter, what’s wrong with running an errand to Xiao Han Valley for me?"

"Since when have I been infatuated with her? No, when have I ever had any impure intentions towards her?"

Chu Qing’s face darkened.

"No impure intentions yet being so handsy, this old man saw it himself and you’re still playing dumb?"

Wen Fusheng snorted:

"I’m telling you, if you take advantage of my daughter, don’t think you can just walk away.

"If you’re brave, marry her. Then I’ll respect you as a real man!"

"..."

Chu Qing nearly rolled his eyes to the sky, not wanting to entangle in nonsensical arguments with him:

"Is there a specific difficulty preventing you from going?"

Wen Fusheng exhaled, stayed silent for a moment, then took a token out of his sleeve and handed it to Chu Qing.

Chu Qing only glanced at it and his pupils slightly constricted:

"Ghost Emperor’s Order?"

"Two Gangs, Three Halls, Five Sects, and One Manor, though said to be the largest forces in Nanling.

"But looking over the entire Southern Domain, the highest is still Ghost Emperor Modo.

"Three years ago, someone handed me this token.

"Told me not to leave Nanling within a few years; it was the Ghost Emperor’s prohibition.

"As for when this prohibition would be lifted, that person didn’t say.

Wen Fusheng looked at Chu Qing:

"I fear this token wasn’t only given to me; all major forces like Two Gangs, Three Halls, Five Sects, and One Manor received this prohibition.

"As such, no one from any major force has crossed Heaven-Reaching Ridge in these three years."

Chu Qing stroked his chin:

"Again, three years ago?"

Three years ago... the Celestial Evil Cult started its actions.

Three years ago... Ghost Emperor Modo issued prohibitions to major leaders.

This matter must not be a coincidence.

The struggle between the Celestial Evil Cult and the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns likely began three years ago.

Yet these issues were unknown to common people, not even known to individuals like Wen Fusheng.

Chu Qing suddenly recalled the rumors he heard these past few days...

The Profound Emperor Shang Qiuyu went missing, Ghost Emperor Modo moved south.

The Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, unperturbed for years, seemed to undergo subtle changes.

He then remembered the old beggar.

While suspecting that the old beggar was not Shang Qiuyu, this person must be related to Shang Qiuyu.

Combining that with the words he once said, if the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns moved, it would lead to more deaths in the Martial World...

This made Chu Qing suspect that since three years ago, the Celestial Evil Cult’s existence was already known by the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns.

And from that time, a conflict unknown to anyone had already begun.

At this thought, just as Chu Qing was about to speak, the sound of clothes fluttering rapidly approached.

Both he and Wen Fusheng turned toward the sound, noticing Si Chen in white appear before them with a heavy expression:

"Manor Master, Third Young Master.

"It’s not good... the rumor about the location of Tianji Valley suddenly spread within the manor... those people can’t hold back."

Chu Qing and Wen Fusheng exchanged glances, simultaneously speaking:

"Such a quick reaction!"