147: Old Ninth, you've been hiding it really well.

Bai Xiaofeng's heart was churning, his eyes flickering as he stared intently at Qin Wuye's receding figure. The black robe flapped loudly in the wind, like a shadow tearing the heavens and earth apart.

Does the Ninth Elder need a pill?

And it looked like a suppressive pill?

This thought exploded in his mind, making him almost unable to sit still.

In his impression, Qin Wuye had always been synonymous with coldness, power, and arrogance. When had he ever needed external objects to maintain his condition?

He couldn't help but turn his head, lowering his voice, and anxiously looking at Jiang Donghua beside him.

"Master Jiang, did you see clearly just now? Is there something wrong with the Ninth Elder's body?"

Jiang Donghua frowned slightly, his gaze profound as he looked in the direction Qin Wuye had left, his fingertips gently rubbing his cuff, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, he slowly shook his head, a wry smile appearing on his lips, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and self-mockery.

"Ninth Young Master, you think too highly of me."

He said softly.

"That is a Dou Huang expert, a person who can attract the attention of other experts with every move. And me? I am just a minor Great Dou Master, I haven't even touched the threshold of a Dou Ling Expert. How could I possibly see through his internal condition?"

Bai Xiaofeng was unconvinced and pressed further.

"But you are an Alchemist after all, your eyesight should be better than ordinary people, right? Do you recognize the pill he just consumed?"

Jiang Donghua sighed and shook his head.

"Ninth Young Master, you must understand that the bodies of Dou Huang experts have long transcended the mundane. Their Dou Qi, meridians, flesh, and even their souls are far beyond what we can speculate about."

"I couldn't even fully capture the aura of the pill he just took, let alone identify it."

"I can only roughly sense that it absolutely could not be lower than a fourth-grade pill."

He paused, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes, and continued.

"Furthermore, whatever requires a Dou Huang expert to suppress it with a pill—whether it’s a severe injury that hasn't healed, backlash from cultivation, or perhaps the cost of some forbidden secret technique—none of these can be solved by ordinary pills."

Bai Xiaofeng felt a tremor in his heart upon hearing this and couldn't help but ask.

"If you were to refine it, would you have a solution?"

Jiang Donghua's wry smile deepened, and he shook his head.

"Ninth Young Master, you overestimate me. Injuries or backlash that leave a Dou Huang expert helpless would require at least a fifth-grade pill or higher to have any effect."

"I am currently only a Fourth-Grade Alchemist, and I haven't even attempted a fifth-grade pill yet. How could I possibly refine a spiritual pill of that level?"

He paused, his tone slightly helpless.

"Unless Elder Qin is willing to personally state his condition and provide the Pill Formula and materials, even if I tried my best, I probably wouldn't be able to help."

After hearing this, Bai Xiaofeng's expression fluctuated, his mind filled with turbulent thoughts.

Qin Wuye is the Ninth Elder of Heavenly Serpent City, and his strength is unfathomable. If there is something wrong with his body, it would likely cause a significant upheaval for the entire Heavenly Serpent City.

Moreover, his ruthless actions just now clearly showed he didn't want anyone to know his situation. If he rashly inquired, would he bring trouble upon himself?

Thinking of this, Bai Xiaofeng couldn't help but shiver, quickly composing himself, and said softly.

"Master Jiang, please keep this matter confidential for now."

Jiang Donghua smiled slightly and nodded.

"Ninth Young Master, rest assured, I am not a talkative person."

Bai Xiaofeng forced a smile, but the unease in his heart grew stronger.

The convoy continued forward, the sound of wheels grinding over gravel echoing in the silent valley, like an ominous premonition.

In the distance, Qin Wuye's figure had already vanished from sight, leaving behind only a faint wisp of chilliness lingering in everyone's hearts.

Seeing this scene, Tieshan opened his mouth, a trace of hesitation flashing across his rugged face, seemingly wanting to call out to Qin Wuye to ask something.

Just as he raised his hand, before he could speak, Mo Tianhen suddenly yanked his arm and lowered his voice.

"Are you crazy? Elder Qin wants to go wherever he pleases; is that something you can stop?"

Tieshan was stunned, then reacted, awkwardly lowering his hand, scratching his head, and muttering softly.

"I just wanted to ask what the arrangements are next, didn't I?"

Mo Tianhen rolled his eyes and said irritably.

"Arrangements? The fact that Elder Qin didn't just slap those assassins dead is already showing respect. You expect him to consult with you?"

Tieshan shrank his neck, not daring to say anything more.

Although he was a Dou Wang Expert, in front of a Dou Huang expert like Qin Wuye, he didn't even dare to breathe heavily.

In that scene just now, Blood Blade and Shadow King, two peak Dou Wang assassins, couldn't even last two moves against Qin Wuye; they were killed instantly, leaving nothing behind.

This gap in strength prevented him from even entertaining the thought of resistance.

He secretly glanced in Bai Xiaofeng's direction, a complex look flashing in his eyes, and muttered softly.

"I didn't expect it! This Ninth Young Master usually looks like a dissolute playboy, spending all day eating, drinking, and having fun, or flirting around with women in the manor, yet he actually hid such a skill!"

Mo Tianhen couldn't help but nod as well, saying softly.

"Yes, who would have thought? It seems we all underestimated him."

Tieshan clicked his tongue and sighed.

"No wonder he dared to come out so brazenly. It turns out he had nothing to fear!"

Mo Tianhen sneered and said.

"Heh, thinking about it now, perhaps all those so-called playboy behaviors were just an act. This kid is extremely cunning!"

Tieshan nodded in deep agreement, then said with a hint of lingering fear.

"Luckily I didn't offend him before!"

He didn't dare to continue speaking, but the implication was clear.

The two exchanged glances, both seeing a trace of apprehension in the other's eyes.

Meanwhile, Bai Xiaofeng was unaware that his image in the minds of these two Dou Wangs had changed from a useless young master obsessed with women to a formidable character who kept his abilities hidden.

He was currently sitting in the carriage, frowning deeply, his mind constantly replaying Qin Wuye's strange behavior just now.

"What exactly is wrong with the Ninth Elder?"

The more he thought about it, the stranger it felt, but he didn't dare to ask rashly.

After all, Qin Wuye's personality was gloomy and ruthless. If he angered him, even his status as the Ninth Young Master might not be enough protection.

"Forget it, I'll wait and see how things develop."

As for these Dou Wang Experts, they had other things to do. Besides the Dou Wang Experts who were killed, the assassins from the two forces that rushed over earlier...

...many Dou Ling Experts were captured alive, and naturally, they needed to be interrogated severely for the Ninth Young Master to observe.

A few minutes later, Tieshan had a mouthful of bloody phlegm spat onto his face, instantly flying into a rage. His rugged face immediately flushed crimson, and the veins on his forehead bulged like twisted earthworms.

"Good! Very good!"

He laughed out of extreme anger, his voice so deep it sounded like it was being squeezed from his throat.

"This old man is going to see today whether your mouth is harder, or my fist is harder!"

Before he finished speaking, his large, fan-like hand suddenly clenched, his five fingers clamping down on the Dou Ling Expert's head like iron pincers, pressing it fiercely downward.

"Bang!"

The man's face smashed directly into the ground, gravel scattered, and blood instantly stained the dirt red.

Tieshan grinned savagely, pressed his knee into the man's back, grabbed his arm with the other hand, and twisted violently.

"Crack!"

The sound of breaking bones was crisp and jarring. The Dou Ling Expert let out a blood-curdling scream; his entire arm was forcibly twisted into a spiral, and pale bone fragments pierced through his flesh, dripping with blood.

"Are you going to talk or not?!"

Tieshan asked with a savage voice, his eyes flashing with fierce light.

The Dou Ling Expert convulsed in pain, yet he still gritted his teeth and roared.

"You dog! If you have the guts, kill me!"

Tieshan grinned, revealing his stark white teeth.

"Want to die? It's not that easy!"

He grabbed the man's hair, lifted him up, clenched his other hand into a fist, condensed his Dou Qi, and with a layer of earthy yellow light appearing on his knuckles, he violently slammed his fist into the man's abdomen.

"Pfft!"

The Dou Ling Expert spat out a large mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. He curled up like a shrimp, his face ashen, his aura instantly weakening.

Tieshan let go, leaving him sprawled on the ground, twitching like a dead dog.

He shook the blood off his hand, turned to look at the other captured assassins, and grinned.

"What about you guys? Want to try it too?"

The faces of those Dou Ling Experts were pale, their eyes filled with terror, but they still clenched their jaws, refusing to speak.

Tieshan snorted coldly, about to continue his attack, but Mo Tianhen suddenly reached out and stopped him, saying flatly.

"Don't waste time. These people are all fanatics; we won't get anything out of them."

Tieshan frowned, feeling somewhat unwilling.

"Then what should we do? Just let them go?"

Mo Tianhen glanced at him, smiling ambiguously.

"Let them go? Of course not."

He slowly walked up to one of the Dou Ling Experts, squatted down, and a trace of deep blue light emerged on his fingertip, which he gently pressed onto the man's glabella.

"Since you refuse to talk, then let me make you feel pain."

The Dou Ling Expert's pupils contracted sharply. He seemed to realize something and struggled in terror.

"W-what are you trying to do?!"

Mo Tianhen smiled faintly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes.

"Brain Devouring Technique!"

"Ah—!"

A bloodcurdling scream instantly echoed through the mountain forest. The Dou Ling Expert convulsed violently, blood flowing from his seven orifices, his eyes bulging, as if he were enduring unimaginable suffering.

"I truly don't know!"

Moments later, Mo Tianhen withdrew his hand. The Dou Ling Expert was already dead, his face still bearing an expression of extreme terror.

Mo Tianhen stood up, clapped his hands, and said lightly.

"Sure enough, they were only acting on orders and didn't know the true mastermind behind the scenes."

"Otherwise, it would be impossible for them to remain silent while their brains were being decomposed inch by inch."

Tieshan curled his lip.

"Doesn't that mean all our efforts were for nothing?"

Mo Tianhen shook his head.

"No. At least we know that more than one faction was involved in this assassination attempt."

He looked up into the distance, a trace of gravity flashing in his eyes.

"The road ahead will likely be even more turbulent."

Upon hearing this, Tieshan also fell silent, the fierce look on his face gradually fading, replaced by solemnity.

Just then, Bai Xiaofeng's voice suddenly came from inside the carriage.

"Since you can't get anything out of them, just kill them all."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a cold killing intent.

Tieshan and Mo Tianhen exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.

In the next moment, screams rang out one after another, and blood stained the ground red.

The convoy set off again, leaving behind only a few cold corpses, silently recounting the brutality of the slaughter.

Bai Wuchen suddenly crushed the teacup in his hand, oblivious to the scalding tea splashing onto his robe.

Cold light flickered in his narrow eyes, and his voice sounded like it was squeezed out from between his teeth.

"That old fellow Qin Wuye actually escorted him personally?!"

The black-clad scout kneeling on the ground trembled all over, his forehead pressed against the floor, and he said tremblingly.

"Third Young Master, it is absolutely true. The Ninth Elder wiped out Blood Blade and Shadow King in two moves. Our men didn't even have a chance to escape!"

"Trash!"

Bai Wuchen kicked the scout over, his face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

He turned to look at Bai Qingshuang beside him and sneered.

"Fifth Younger Sister, it seems our Ninth Brother is more valued than we thought."

Bai Qingshuang, dressed in white, gently rubbed the jade pendant at her waist, her beautiful face devoid of any smile.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice soft but carrying bone-chilling coldness.

"Third Brother, do you think Father knew about this all along?"

Bai Wuchen's pupils contracted.

Yes, if Father tacitly allowed Qin Wuye to secretly protect Bai Xiaofeng, wouldn't all their actions these past few days have been right under Father's nose?

Thinking of this, a layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

"Retreat! Have everyone pull back. Don't touch Jiang Donghua again!"

Bai Wuchen suddenly said through gritted teeth.

Bai Qingshuang sighed softly, waved her sleeve, and spoke to the kneeling subordinate.

"Didn't you hear Third Brother? Get out and clean up your tracks."

After the subordinate scrambled away, Bai Qingshuang spoke quietly.

"Third Brother, I'm afraid we've alerted the enemy this time."

Bai Wuchen sneered.

"What is there to fear? How long can an old fellow who relies on pills to sustain his life protect that trash?"

He narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice.

"It's our Ninth Brother who is hiding so deeply. Perhaps even the playboy act was just for Father and for us siblings to see."

Bai Qingshuang's fingertips paused.

If that were true, their Ninth Brother would probably be more dangerous than Qin Wuye.

Bai Xiaofeng irritably scratched his hair, slumped dejectedly onto the carriage cushion, and muttered.

"Damn it, that old fellow usually acts so high and mighty, but pulling a stunt like this today makes my hair stand on end!"

Jiang Donghua's eyelid twitched. He thought, this young master was just looking so worried a moment ago, how did he instantly revert to that vulgar playboy?

He considered for a moment and said softly.

"Ninth Young Master, Elder Qin's situation is indeed strange, but with my eyesight, I truly cannot see any clues."

Bai Xiaofeng rolled his eyes and waved his hand impatiently.

"Alright, alright, asking you is useless! Fourth-Grade Alchemist, sounds impressive, but you can't even diagnose an illness!"

Jiang Donghua smiled bitterly, wondering if this young master genuinely didn't understand or was pretending not to.

The physical condition of a Dou Huang expert was not something any random Alchemist could pry into, but he didn't dare to refute, only going along with the conversation.

"The Ninth Young Master is right to chastise me; my skills are insufficient."

Bai Xiaofeng curled his lip, then suddenly lowered his voice and leaned in furtively.

"Old Jiang, do you think that old fellow might have suffered Qi deviation during cultivation or fallen for some trick?"

Jiang Donghua's eyelid twitched, and he quickly shook his head.

"Ninth Young Master, mind your words! Elder Qin's cultivation is heaven-reaching; how could he easily suffer Qi deviation? As for the possibility of poisoning, Dou Huang experts are not immune to all poisons, unless it was caused by some powerful, highly venomous magical beast."

Jiang Donghua hesitated for a moment, but ultimately shook his head.

"Ninth Young Master, these are only guesses and should not be taken seriously. Moreover, if Elder Qin truly has some hidden illness that he doesn't want others to know about, should we rashly speculate?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication was clear: it was courting death!

Bai Xiaofeng scoffed, leaned back, crossed his legs and swayed them, humming a tune, looking utterly carefree.