144: A group of guards

Bai Xiaofeng, full of high spirits, led Jiang Donghua out of the mansion, followed by a group of guards, each with a powerful aura, clearly all elites.

"Master Jiang, today we're going to Myriad Medicine City; we must have a good look around!"

Bai Xiaofeng grinned and clapped his hands.

"Someone, prepare the carriage!"

Before he finished speaking, a low neigh came from afar, and the ground trembled slightly, as if some colossal creature was approaching.

Jiang Donghua raised his eyebrows and looked up, only to see a giant steed, completely black with a mane like burning ink flames, striding towards them. As its four hooves struck the ground, there were faint traces of intertwined lightning and fire.

Its eyes were blood-red, and a faint black-gold fiendish aura lingered around its body. With every step, the surrounding air subtly distorted.

"Black Fiend Steed!"

Jiang Donghua was slightly startled. This was no ordinary magical beast mount, but a peak third-tier fierce beast, whose strength was comparable to a Peak Great Dou Shi, and could even briefly contend with a low-tier Dou Ling Expert!

Bai Xiaofeng patted the horse's back proudly and chuckled.

"How about it, Master Jiang? I spent a fortune to get this from an auction in the Black-Corner Region. Ordinary people would be burned by its fiendish aura just by getting close!"

Jiang Donghua's eyes flickered slightly, and he sneered inwardly.

"This Ninth Young Master is really willing to spend a lot of money. It seems he truly sees me as a cash cow."

The Black Fiend Steed snorted two streams of black-gold flames from its nostrils, its gaze fierce as it scanned its surroundings. But under Bai Xiaofeng's command, it still lowered its head, allowing Jiang Donghua to mount it.

"Go!"

Bai Xiaofeng flipped onto the horse, waved his hand, and more than a dozen guards behind him followed in unison.

Jiang Donghua looked at the group of menacing Dou Ling Experts around him, frowning slightly. He turned to Bai Xiaofeng, his tone tinged with doubt.

"Ninth Young Master, we're just going to Myriad Medicine City, do we need to bring so many people?"

Bai Xiaofeng laughed heartily, patted Jiang Donghua's shoulder, and said proudly.

"Master Jiang, you are my distinguished guest. If some ignorant person were to offend you on the way, that would be unacceptable!"

After speaking, he scanned the surrounding Dou Ling Experts, his voice suddenly rising.

"Everyone! The fire spirit pill you desire was personally refined by this Master Jiang! As long as you perform well, such pills are merely child's play for Master Jiang!"

As soon as these words were uttered, the originally solemn atmosphere instantly became fervent.

"Swish—"

More than a dozen fervent gazes locked onto Jiang Donghua in unison, like hungry wolves eyeing a succulent piece of fresh meat!

"Master Jiang! I've long admired your name!"

"Please take care of me in the future!"

"If given the chance, I am willing to serve Master Jiang!"

These Dou Ling Experts, usually so arrogant, now all wore fawning smiles, their eyes full of longing.

Jiang Donghua felt uncomfortable under their stares, especially the burly man named Xiong Ming, whose gaze was so intense it seemed he wanted to devour him whole.

"Ahem, you are too kind, everyone."

He forced a smile, then quickly turned and slipped into the carriage.

"Whew!"

As soon as he entered the carriage, Jiang Donghua let out a long breath and shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Tsk tsk tsk~"

A lazy and teasing voice sounded.

Red Silk leaned languidly against the soft cushion, her red lips slightly curled, her beautiful eyes full of playfulness. A wisp of silver-white Lightning Light coiled around her fingertip, as she looked at Jiang Donghua with a half-smile.

"Junior Brother, it seems you're quite the popular one now~"

Jiang Donghua glanced at her helplessly.

"Senior Sister, please don't tease me."

Red Silk chuckled softly, deliberately leaning closer, her breath like orchids.

"What? Scared by being stared at by a group of Dou Ling Experts?"

Jiang Donghua's mouth twitched, and he whispered.

"Not exactly scared, but those people's eyes, they look like they want to strip me bare."

Hearing this, Red Silk laughed, shaking like a flower in the wind, and gently tapped his chest with her finger.

"Isn't that right? You are Master Jiang, who can refine fire spirit pills~"

Jiang Donghua shook his head helplessly, but a profound glint flashed in his eyes.

Within Heavenly Serpent City, the procession slowly advanced, the streets on both sides already crowded with various forces who had heard the news.

"Ninth Young Master! Ninth Young Master, please stop!"

A plump middle-aged man in a brocade robe, his face wreathed in smiles, rushed to block the front of the procession with a few attendants, cupping his hands and saying,

"I am Zhao Decai, steward of the Li Family in Heavenly Serpent City. I've long heard of Master Jiang's unparalleled pill refining skills. I've specially prepared a small gift and wish to invite Master Jiang to honor us with his presence!"

Bai Xiaofeng, riding on the Black Fiend Steed, glanced down at him from above, a mocking curve playing on his lips.

"Steward Zhao, Master Jiang is very busy and has no time for idle people. Please go back."

Zhao Decai's face stiffened, but he quickly forced a smile, pulled out an exquisite jade box from his bosom, and said fawningly.

"Ninth Young Master, this is Spirit Medicine Soul Marrow, which is very beneficial for Soul Power."

"Heh."

Bai Xiaofeng sneered, not even looking at the jade box. He simply waved his hand, and the Black Fiend Steed snorted two streams of black-gold flames from its nostrils, scaring Zhao Decai into retreating repeatedly.

"A mere low-grade spirit medicine, and you dare to offer it? The pills Master Jiang refines casually are a hundred times more precious than this!"

Bai Xiaofeng scoffed.

"Get out of the way, don't block the path!"

Zhao Decai's face flushed red, but he dared not act out, only retreating to the side dejectedly.

The procession had only gone a few steps when another group of people surrounded them.

"Young Master Bai Jiu! I am Liu Zhen, patriarch of the Liu Family in Heavenly Serpent City, and I am willing to offer six hundred thousand gold coins for one of Master Jiang's fire spirit pills!"

A burly man cupped his fists and shouted loudly.

Bai Xiaofeng frowned impatiently.

"Patriarch Liu, how can Master Jiang's pills be measured by gold coins? Besides, how precious are fire spirit pills? You want to buy one for a mere six hundred thousand gold coins? Are you dreaming?"

Liu Zhen's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth.

"Then seven hundred thousand gold coins! Plus a fourth-grade elixir formula from my Liu Family's collection!"

If this old fellow truly had such a thing, he would have brought it out long ago.

Why wait until today?

Bai Xiaofeng scoffed, not even bothering to reply. He simply squeezed the horse's belly, and the Black Fiend Steed let out a low growl, its fiendish aura surging around it, scaring Liu Zhen and his group into hastily retreating.

The procession continued to move forward, but more and more people came to attach themselves.

"Young Master Bai Jiu! My Li Family in Heavenly Serpent City is willing to offer a small medicinal field as a gift, humbly requesting Master Jiang to accept my clan's disciples!"

"Ninth Young Master..."

Bai Xiaofeng was annoyed by the clamor. He suddenly raised his hand, and the dozen or so Dou Ling guards behind him instantly erupted with Dou Qi, their oppressive aura sweeping through the street, scaring everyone into silence.

"Listen up, all of you!"

Bai Xiaofeng scanned the crowd with cold eyes, his tone chilling.

"Master Jiang is an honored guest of my Bai Family, not someone just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can meet! If you dare to pester him again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Everyone's faces were ugly, but no one dared to refute. They could only watch helplessly as the procession rode away.

Inside the carriage, Jiang Donghua watched the farce outside through the gap in the window, shaking his head and chuckling.

"This Bai Xiaofeng really plays the fox borrowing the tiger's might to its fullest."

In Heavenly Serpent City, deep within the Bai Family mansion, in a secluded courtyard.

Bai Wuchen, dressed in white, held a jade cup, gently swirling the amber spirit wine within, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"Fifth Younger Sister, Old Nine is really making a big show this time. More than a dozen Dou Ling Experts, three Dou Wangs, tsk tsk, afraid that others won't know he has a Master Jiang by his side who can refine fire spirit pills."

Bai Qingshuang, in a purple dress, leaned languidly on a soft couch, her fingertips gently tapping the table, her red lips slightly parted.

"Third Brother, you say Old Nine is so ostentatious, will someone be unable to resist making a move?"

Bai Wuchen sneered.

"Those desperadoes in the Black-Corner Region don't care about the Bai Family or not. As long as the profit is enough, they even dare to assassinate Dou Huang experts!"

A glint flashed in Bai Qingshuang's eyes, and she whispered.

"Then should we...?"

She didn't finish her sentence, but Bai Wuchen already understood her meaning. The two exchanged glances, both revealing a meaningful smile.

"Fifth Younger Sister, we cannot personally get involved in such matters."

Bai Wuchen slowly put down his wine cup, his tone chilling.

"Otherwise, once father finds any clues, we'll be in trouble."

Bai Qingshuang chuckled softly.

"Third Brother, don't worry, I'm not that foolish."

She flicked her fingertip, and a pitch-black jade slip appeared in her palm. A blood-red skull mark was carved on the jade slip, faintly emitting a chilling killing intent.

"Black-Corner Region, Shadow Kill Tower's communication jade slip. Fifth Younger Sister is well-prepared."

Bai Wuchen narrowed his eyes.

Bai Qingshuang's red lips curved slightly.

"Didn't Third Brother also contact Blood Blade's people long ago?"

Bai Wuchen laughed heartily, not denying it, only saying indifferently.

"Since that's the case, let them fight for it. We just need to reap the benefits."

Bai Qingshuang gently tapped the jade slip, and a cold divine sense entered it.

"Target: Jiang Donghua, Fourth-Grade Alchemist, with numerous guards, three Dou Wangs protecting him."

"Reward: three million gold coins."

The jade slip flashed with blood-red light, then turned to ashes and dissipated.

Seeing this, Bai Wuchen also took out a blood-red token and whispered.

"Blood Blade, the target has left the city. Proceed as planned."

The token vibrated slightly, then fell silent.

In the courtyard, the two raised their cups again, clinking them gently.

"Wishing Old Nine a smooth journey."

Bai Wuchen's smile was sinister.

"Heh heh, I hope that Master Jiang doesn't die too quickly."

Bai Qingshuang's red lips were lightly pursed, a cold glint in her eyes.

At the same time, several hundred miles outside Heavenly Serpent City, in a dense forest.

Several dark figures quietly emerged, their aura chilling, their killing intent palpable.

"Shadow Kill Tower has accepted the order."

"Blood Blade's people are here too."

"Tsk tsk, this target is really a fat piece of meat!"

Black-Corner Region, deep within the dense forest.

Several dark figures were hidden among the trees, their aura as still as dead objects. Only their cold eyes stared fixedly at the procession slowly moving in the distance.

"Three Dou Wangs: Tie Shan, Mo Tianhen, Yin Jiuxiao!"

A Shadow Kill Tower assassin muttered in a low voice, a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"This Bai Family Ninth Young Master is really willing to spend a lot of money."

Another assassin sneered.

"Spend a lot of money? Heh, if it were you, with an Alchemist by your side who could refine dozens of fire spirit pills in half a month, you'd probably even invite Dou Huang experts to be your guards!"

"With Eight-star Dou Wang Yin Jiuxiao guarding them, even if all of us charge, it would be suicide."

The black-clad leader of Shadow Kill Tower shook his head, a hint of unwillingness flashing in his eyes.

"We can't take this job."

"So we're just giving up?"

Someone asked in a low voice.

"Give up? Shadow Kill Tower never does business at a loss. If the hard way doesn't work, then we'll try the soft way."

The black-clad man sneered.

"You mean?"

"Wait. The Black-Corner Region is so big, there will always be someone crazier than us who will make a move."

The black-clad man narrowed his eyes.

On the other side, Blood Blade's assassins were also hidden in the dark, observing the procession's movements from afar.

"Boss, with that old monster Yin Jiuxiao there, we have no chance at all."

A Blood Blade assassin gritted his teeth.

The Blood Blade leader was silent for a moment, then suddenly revealed a sinister smile.

"Who said we have to act now?"

"Let them go first. Once they enter Myriad Medicine City, we'll slowly set up our plan."

The Blood Blade leader whispered.

"Myriad Medicine City? That's the Yao Family's territory?"

The procession continued to move steadily. Bai Xiaofeng, riding on the Black Fiend Steed, looked arrogant, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding dense forest, a disdainful curve on his lips.

"A bunch of useless trash, they don't even have the guts to show their faces."

Jiang Donghua sat inside the carriage, eyes closed in meditation, seemingly unaware of the killing intent outside.

Red Silk leaned to the side, suddenly chuckling softly.

"Junior Brother, it's quite lively out there, isn't it?"

Jiang Donghua said indifferently.

"If Senior Sister is feeling restless, you can go out and stretch your limbs."

Red Silk's red lips curved slightly.

"Forget it. A bunch of sneaking rats aren't worth my effort."

The Lightning Light on her fingertips quietly extinguished, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes.

"However, I am quite curious, once we enter Myriad Medicine City, will these people still be so well-behaved?"

"Boom—!"

Deep within the dense forest, a violent burst of Dou Qi suddenly erupted. A One-Star Dou Wang masked expert led more than a dozen Dou Ling Experts who suddenly charged out, the flash of blades and swords instantly tearing through the air, heading straight for the procession!

"Protect Ninth Young Master! Protect Master Jiang!"

Tie Shan roared, his muscles bulging, earth-yellow Dou Qi erupting with a rumble, the oppressive might of a Three-Star Dou Wang sweeping out!

However, before he could make a move.

"Swish!"

A black shadow swept past like a ghost. Yin Jiuxiao's gaunt figure had already appeared before the masked Dou Wang, his withered palm clutching towards the opponent's throat like an eagle's claw, as he sneered coldly.

"Boy, I'll let you know what it feels like to have your head separated from your body?"

The masked Dou Wang's pupils contracted sharply, and he hastily retreated, while shouting furiously,

"Don't mind the others! Hold them off! Grab Jiang Donghua!"

"Courting death! Leave no one alive!"

Bai Xiaofeng grinned ferociously and waved his hand sharply.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Mo Tianhen and Tie Shan attacked simultaneously, the terrifying Dou Qi of a Five-Star Dou Wang and a Three-Star Dou Wang instantly swept through the battlefield. The dozen or so Dou Ling Experts had not even gotten close to the carriage before they were sent flying, spitting blood from the violent Dou Techniques!

"Pfft!"

Blood splattered as Yin Jiuxiao's palm cut through like a blade. The masked Dou Wang's head flew high, his eyes still retaining an expression of disbelief!

"A mere One-Star Dou Wang, daring to be presumptuous in front of this old man?"

Yin Jiuxiao flicked the blood from his hand, his cold gaze sweeping over the remaining enemies.

"Who else wants to try?"

Seeing this, the remaining Dou Ling Experts were terrified, turning and fleeing!

"Trying to run?"

Mo Tianhen snorted coldly, a flick of his sleeve, and a green wind blade tore through the sky, instantly bisecting several Dou Ling Experts!

Tie Shan was even more ferocious, smashing his fists into the ground, causing earth and stone to crack, and the terrifying shockwave turned all remaining enemies into blood mist!

In just a few breaths, the ambushers were completely wiped out!

Bai Xiaofeng, riding on the Black Fiend Steed, laughed arrogantly.

"Hahahaha! A bunch of fools who don't know their place! Do you really think you can touch my Bai Family's people with this many men?"

Inside the carriage, Jiang Donghua's expression was calm, as if the slaughter outside had nothing to do with him.

Red Silk's fingertips were entwined with a wisp of Lightning Light, a half-smile on her face.

"Junior Brother, your appeal as a popular figure is truly astonishing~"

Jiang Donghua said indifferently.

"If Senior Sister feels bored, you can go out and stretch your muscles and bones."

Red Silk's red lips curved slightly.

"Forget it. Such small fry aren't worth my effort."

Her gaze pierced through the carriage curtain, looking towards the dense forest in the distance, a hint of playfulness flashing in her eyes.

"But I'm quite curious, how many more brave warriors will come to their deaths next?"

Yin Jiuxiao flicked his sleeves, returned to the front of the procession, and said hoarsely.

"Continue forward. This old man wants to see who else is so ignorant as to dare to come!"

The procession set off again, leaving behind only scattered limbs and broken arms, the smell of blood permeating the forest, warning all coveters: those who dare to touch Master Jiang, die!