224: The Palace of the Underworld's pursuit of compensation

The silence in the valley did not last long.

Xiao Ruobai took a deep breath, suppressing the surging Qi and blood. The Nine Heavens Dragon Soul Halberd struck the ground heavily, letting out a dull thud that broke the silence.

He sharply scanned the ravaged battlefield and said in a deep voice, "Junior Sister, Junior Brother, this place is not safe for long! We must leave immediately!"

Ling Xi nodded slightly, her cold gaze sweeping across the surrounding Void Realm. She could feel the greedy or malicious gazes that had not yet left, still prying.

Fang Hanyu silently sheathed his sword, his face pale, but his eyes remained vigilant.

The three of them, their Qi connected, were about to retreat immediately when Xiao Ruobai suddenly noticed that Wang Xiaopang had not followed.

He whipped his head around, only to see Wang Xiaopang squatting where Yougu and Youhun had last stood. His fingers quickly fumbled through the scorch marks and broken stones on the ground, his expression exceptionally focused.

"Xiao Pang!" Xiao Ruobai called out in a low voice, with a hint of urgency.

"Found it!"

Wang Xiaopang looked up at the sound, his face still bearing the fatigue and paleness from the intense battle, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.

He explained rapidly, "Big Brother! This looks like that Venerable Xuanyin's Storage Ring, and also fragments of the assassin's weapon! The material, just by looking at it, is good stuff!"

His breathing was still unstable as he spoke, clearly indicating that his injuries were not light, but his movements were clean and precise.

Xiao Ruobai instantly understood his intention, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "Alright, with the items in hand, let's go!"

Wang Xiaopang immediately stood up. Although his steps were a bit unsteady, he followed the three without any hesitation.

"Go!"

The four of them instantly took flight, like night owls soaring through a forest, silently disappearing into the deep mountain shadows.

No sooner had they left than a suppressed clamor erupted from around the valley.

"They left... They really withstood the Netherworld Hall's assassination!"

"Four Heavenly Human Realm Cultivators actually forced back four Peak Kings! This Battle Asura and Sword White Robe..."

"More than that! That Qing Luosha is unfathomable, and that Little Fatty's method of drawing talismans in battle is unheard of!"

Suddenly, a voice spoke with hesitation: "Wait... Before that Netherworld Hall assassin died, didn't he shout something like... 'Glazed Holy Land, you tricked me'?"

The clamor abruptly ceased.

Countless Divine Senses subtly intertwined in the air, but no one dared to speak easily again.

Many people had heard that sentence.

It was just too shocking at the time to think deeply. Now that someone had pointed it out, a chilling speculation emerged in everyone's mind.

The Glazed Holy Land... bribed the Netherworld Hall... to kill Zhan Xiuluo and the others?

This thought instantly sent cold sweat down the backs of all the onlookers.

If that were true, the implications would be too vast!

On one side was a top Holy Land of the Eastern Region, on the other, a notorious assassin Dynasty, and those who were assassinated were Prodigies who had just displayed Heaven-Defying potential!

Who would dare to discuss it lightly? Who would dare to bear the consequences of wild speculation?

The Cultivator who had spoken earlier suddenly realized his slip of the tongue and immediately shut his mouth tightly, his Divine Sense fearfully scanning the surroundings, afraid of being targeted by someone... Glazed Holy Land, Core Secret Hall.

The Seventh Elder bowed below, sweat beading on his forehead. The Glass Holy Lord stood with his back to him, hands clasped behind his back, his aura obscure and unclear, but the temperature of the entire hall seemed to drop to freezing point.

"Useless!"

After a long while, the Holy Lord's icy voice rang out, devoid of any emotion.

"Netherworld Hall... they are all a bunch of useless people! More likely to mess things up than to succeed!"

The Grand Elder stepped forward: "Holy Lord, please calm your anger. This matter... was indeed unexpected.

We didn't expect those four juniors to have such combat power, nor did we expect a Quasi-Saint to perish with a Quasi-Saint assassin to protect them. Such loyalty is truly rare."

There was even a hint of sympathy and admiration in his tone.

"Loyalty?" The Glass Holy Lord sneered, a cold light flashing in his eyes, "He was just an old dog seeking his own death, his death is not to be regretted!"

He pondered for a moment: "Seventh Elder, you personally investigate! The focus should be on Venerable Xuanyin! Zhan Xiuluo and the others have mysterious origins and secretive movements.

But since this person was willing to fight to the death for them, he must know the inside story! Follow this lead and uncover their roots!"

"As you command, Holy Lord!" The Seventh Elder solemnly accepted the order, his figure slowly retreating from the main hall.

Just then, a black communication jade talisman in the Grand Elder's hand suddenly lit up, emitting a cold aura.

The Grand Elder's Divine Sense swept over its contents, and his face instantly became extremely grim, even carrying a hint of incredulous anger.

"Holy Lord!" The Grand Elder's voice was dry, filled with suppressed fury, "The Netherworld Hall... sent a message!"

"Oh?" The Glass Holy Lord's eyes narrowed, "They still have the nerve to send a message first? Are they here to explain the mission failure, or to beg for forgiveness?"

The Grand Elder took a deep breath and said with difficulty: "They... they claim that this operation resulted in heavy losses, with a Quasi-Saint Peak Incarnation falling, and four ace assassins severely wounded. They demand that our side... pay three more Holy Weapons as compensation!"

"What?!"

The Glass Holy Lord's aura suddenly erupted, and the temperature of the entire hall plummeted, a layer of frost instantly solidifying on the ground! He abruptly turned around, as if lightning was exploding in his eyes!

"What a Netherworld Hall! What audacity!"

His voice was bone-chillingly cold, filled with monstrous rage, "Mission failure and personnel losses are due to their own incompetence! Now, instead of reflecting on their own mistakes, they even dare to turn the tables and demand compensation from my Holy Land?!"

"That useless Quasi-Saint assassin's crazy words before his death have already smeared my Glazed Holy Land!"

Now all parties in the Eastern Region are speculating that my Holy Land hired assassins! I haven't even settled this messy account with them, and they dare to ask for money first?!"

Feeling the anger that almost froze his Divine Soul, the Grand Elder braced himself and said: "The Netherworld Hall also stated... if our side refuses to pay, the mission will be considered terminated, and the paid remuneration will not be refunded. And..."

He paused, "And they claim that the immense loss of their Quasi-Saint Peak assassin, they will 'have no choice but to' 'compensate' through other channels... Their words carry a strong... threat."

"Compensate themselves? Threaten me?"

The Glass Holy Lord laughed in extreme anger, his laughter filled with murderous intent, "Good! Very good! A bunch of skulking rats, do they even deserve to threaten me?"

He flicked his sleeve abruptly and said coldly: "Tell them! Compensation is a pipe dream! As for how they want to 'compensate themselves'... I, the Glass Holy Lord, welcome them at the Glazed Holy Land, anytime!"

"I want to see if they have the guts to come to my Holy Land to 'compensate themselves'!"

The Grand Elder's heart tightened, knowing that the Holy Lord was utterly enraged. He quickly responded: "Yes! Your subordinate will reply immediately!"

"Wait!"

Just as the Grand Elder was about to turn to sternly refuse, the Glass Holy Lord's icy voice sounded again, carrying a kind of extreme, suppressed calm.

I don't have any drafts saved, finally finished the second chapter. The third chapter will be very late, everyone can check back after 9 PM.