Chapter 561: Hua Tang – Long Fu Killed My Friend?!
In the damp, dim cave, the Cockscomb Ration Python Snake's plump python body slithered before Hua Tang's eyes.
The distance between them was extremely close, the snake's scales nearly brushing Hua Tang's face.
Hua Tang held his breath, motionless.
After several seconds, the Cockscomb Ration Python finally slithered past him. Its plump tail appeared even more bloated than its body, clearly brimming with fat.
Hua Tang exhaled a cloud of stale breath.
As a gold level thief, his expertise lay in intelligence gathering and theft, not combat, certainly not confronting a magic beast like the Cockscomb Ration Python head-on.
Currently disguised as an unremarkable silver level transcendent, he had been exploring this cavern for roughly a month.
“Why can't I find the Thief Saint's legacy?”
“Where on earth is it hidden?”
After obtaining crucial intelligence from Teng Dong Lang, Hua Tang had set sail. Following a long journey, he arrived at a deserted island.
From the caves within this barren island, the piercing crow of roosters frequently echoed.
This peculiar phenomenon drew numerous adventurers and treasure hunters, Hua Tang merely one among them.
“The Thief Saint's hoard lies within the Rooster Crow Cave.”
“This is the closest I've come to the Rooster Crow Cave in all my years of searching.”
“But why can't I find the Thief Saint's legacy?”
“Not only can't I find it, but there's not even a single clue?”
Hua Tang watched the python's tail vanish into the shadows ahead, confirming the Cockscomb Ration Python had completely departed. Only then did he exhale a breath of stale air and peel his back off the damp cave wall.
His expression was grim.
Though the Cockscomb Ration Python possessed a saint level power, deceiving such a beast was no great feat for Hua Tang with his skills.
Not a trace of satisfaction graced his face.
He cared more about the Thief Saint's legacy, yet beyond the Cockscomb Ration Python, he held no other leads.
“This cave's terrain is complex, but I'm certain I've explored every inch.”
“Could it be that the true clues only reveal themselves when the cavern floods?” Hua Tang mused inwardly.
For the majority of the day, the cavern remained submerged in seawater. During the midnight high tide, the entire cavern was even completely submerged.
The only part Hua Tang hadn't explored was likely the cavern when it was flooded by seawater.
Just as he prepared to shift his search direction, the sound of fierce combat suddenly erupted from another area.
Hua Tang immediately activated his battle skill to sharpen his hearing.
He heard the agonized screams of transcendents, the whistling of cutting weapons swung at breakneck speed, and the shrieks of the Cockscomb Ration Python.
Hua Tang froze in shock: “There's a gold level transcendent here. Their aura is sharp and overwhelming. Who could it be? Actually holding their own against a Cockscomb Ration Python?"
Hua Tang instantly concluded that any gold level being here was extraordinary.
“But it's none of my business...” Hua Tang prepared to retreat, creating distance between himself and the battle.
Yet at that moment, the sounds of combat rapidly drew nearer instead.
Confused, Hua Tang immediately activated his battle skill, leaving an illusionary double behind.
His true form slipped away, while the illusion retained his previous aura, serving as bait.
A dozen seconds later, the charging gold level arrived.
Spotting the bait Hua Tang had left behind, his eyes flashed with sharpness.
Without hesitation, he chose a direction and charged into a side passage, precisely the route Hua Tang’s true form had taken.
Along the way, he encountered numerous transcendents, each one swiftly dispatched.
“That gold level is chasing me?”
“He's got a killer instinct; he's taken out all the other transcendents!”
“Hmm, wait...”
Hua Tang sensed something, a peculiar expression flickering across his face. Instead of continuing his escape, he halted and remained rooted to the spot.
Before long, the gold level pursued him from behind.
This gold level bore a wide white feather cloak, a bronze beast-face mask over his head, and wielded a scythe with a shaft nearly two meters long. The scythe's blade gleamed like a mirror, flashing a sharp, icy glint.
Hua Tang blurted out, “Feng Lian, it really is you!”
Feng Lian ignored him completely. With a light flick of his scythe, he unleashed a wind blade.
A gold level wind blade possessed formidable power, but its most terrifying aspect was its speed, so fast it was nearly impossible for ordinary people to react.
Hua Tang dodged it effortlessly, simultaneously shedding his disguise.
He wore a white robe adorned with intricate, vibrant floral patterns. His face was concealed by a silver-white fox mask, revealing only his pink pupils.
“Hold your attack, it's me!” Hua Tang shouted at Feng Lian.
Feng Lian had already withdrawn his blade before Hua Tang made a move.
The golden wind blade sliced through empty air.
Feng Lian's hoarse voice echoed: “Hua Tang, I've finally found you.”
“You came looking for me?” Hua Tang paused in surprise.
Feng Lian stated his purpose bluntly: “I need that Eye of Concealment you possess. I need it urgently!"
Hua Tang retrieved a small seal from his robe and tossed it to Feng Lian. “Here.”
Watching Feng Lian catch it, Hua Tang added, “Return it as soon as possible. I still need it to inspect this cavern.”
Their relationship was clearly unusual. The Eye of Concealment was an artifact of gold level, yet Hua Tang lent it without hesitation. When Feng Lian asked to borrow it, he showed no courtesy whatsoever, as if it were his right.
Feng Lian was somewhat surprised. “You've been here nearly a month. Haven't you finished exploring yet?”
Hua Tang gave a bitter smile. “You have no idea how complex the terrain here is.”
“The crux is that a saint level sea beast dwells here, severely disrupting my plans.”
“But I've found a new approach. I intend to explore again during high tide.”
Feng Lian grasped much from his words. Shaking his head, he stated bluntly, “You should give up.”
“In a month, you've made no progress, still stuck in the initial stage of searching for clues.”
"The likelihood of this being the Thief Saint's inheritance treasure is slim. Many transcendents arrived here before you, only to lose their lives without finding anything."
Hua Tang also shook his head. “No. Even if there's just a sliver of possibility, I'll strive for it. I won't let any chance slip away easily.”
“Staying here is a waste of your time,” Feng Lian said. “It seems you're unaware of what happened at Snow Bird Harbor.”
Hua Tang froze. “What happened?”
“Teng Dong Lang died.” Feng Lian's tone remained steady.
Hua Tang's voice shot up, nearly shrill: "What did you say?!"
“He died in a heroic duel, witnessed by tens of thousands.”
“The one who killed him was a dragonman named Long Fu. He's the commander of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, an outside force.”
“Long Fu...” Hua Tang repeated the dragonman youngster's pseudonym, his expression blank.
Feng Lian continued, “Most crucially, during this heroic duel, Long Fu only displayed silver level strength.”
“He defeated a gold level opponent while only displaying silver level strength. Teng Dong Lang became the stepping stone for his nationwide fame.”
Hua Tang's expression shifted again.
Feng Lian watched him silently, his confidence unwavering.
He knew the depth of the bond between Hua Tang and Teng Dong Lang. He didn't believe Hua Tang would still have the heart to stay here treasure hunting after hearing such earth-shattering news.
Sure enough, Hua Tang gritted his teeth, his gaze fixed on Feng Lian. “You just used a term, ‘Long Fu only displayed silver level strength.’ What does that mean?”
“Could it be... he's concealing his true cultivation level?”
Feng Lian shrugged. “I believe so.”
“Let me share another shocking revelation.”
“After Teng Dong Lang's death, the remnants of the Bayonet Gang contacted me. I personally intervened, helping them escape Snow Bird Harbor.”
“After that, Long Fu traveled around the Ice Sculpture Kingdom with a group of people, opening shops everywhere and aggressively selling a magic potion called dragon rider.”
“This potion sold like hotcakes. Riding on Long Fu's fame, it practically monopolized the kingdom's market for mount potions.”
“Most crucially, the Axe Gang leader, Jia Bing, and Lin joined forces to ambush Long Fu mid-journey.”
"Yet Long Fu single-handedly defeated all three in swift succession. On-site investigation revealed almost no signs of resistance!"
Hua Tang's expression darkened: “All three were gold level, yet Long Fu ended them with such ease.”
“Long Fu must have concealed most of his strength!”
“What exactly is the background of this Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps?”
Feng Lian shook his head: "On the surface, they're a mercenary group dabbling in potion sales. But most believe they're actually arms smugglers. Their arrival in the Ice Sculpture Kingdom is to sell their weapons."
“Their current operation is using potions as a front to establish distribution channels.”
"Oh, and they've formed a partnership with the Li Jian Clan. They now produce dragon rider potions for the corps."
Hua Tang gritted his teeth in fury: “The Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps... and the Li Jian Clan...”
“I smell conspiracy!”
“I'm heading back. Immediately.”
"Feng Lian, where's your ship? Lend me one!"
Hua Tang's tone contained no politeness.
Feng Lian replied, “Seven nautical miles away.”
“That far?”
Feng Lian sighed, “I can briefly hold my own against the saint level sea beast, but my fleet is too conspicuous a target to withstand them.”
Hua Tang waved impatiently. “Enough. I'm boarding the ship. We must return at once.”
“Such a catastrophe has occurred, claiming so many lives!”
"I'll see for myself what kind of man this Long Fu fellow is. What tricks does he have up his sleeve?"
“Where is he according to the latest intelligence?”
Feng Lian pondered briefly before replying, “Based on their itinerary, they've likely already reached the Ice Sculpture Capital.”
The Ice Sculpture Capital.
After the spatial fluctuations vanished, the Spatial Shuttle dissolved into nothingness, depositing a group of people.
First came all members of the Spatial Shuttle Squad who had deployed battle skills, followed by Zong Ge, Zi Di, and their companions.
“We've finally made it... to the Ice Sculpture Capital,” Zi Di murmured.
Only three companions remained by her side besides Zong Ge.
When they departed Snow Bird Harbor, their numbers were large. Yet as Zi Di deployed personnel across the kingdom and reorganized her businesses, most mercenaries stayed behind in various regions.
Arriving here meant her commercial plan was already more than halfway accomplished!