166: Spreading rumors

“According to the current trend, I believe the master’s soul weapon will successfully reach the second stage in at most seven days!”

“Such an opportunity is rare. If it weren't for all the powerhouses in Tian Dou Province currently searching for the Hall Master of Tianji Hall, I think the master would hardly have this kind of opportunity to occupy a city to upgrade his soul weapon.”

“As long as the soul weapon can be upgraded to the second stage, then the master’s strength will definitely advance another level!”

The conversations of these Blood Martial Realm martial artists echoed in Xiao Shi’s mind directly through the Blood Seal.

This allowed Xiao Shi to clearly hear their dialogue.

Xiao Shi particularly noted their address… master!

This made him realize… these Blood Martial Realm martial artists were not, as he had thought, subordinates of the powerhouse who occupied Bi Xin City.

Instead, they were his servants!

The meaning behind subordinates and servants is completely different.

These powerhouses occupying various cities in Tian Dou Province all had subordinates, but those with servants, especially Blood Martial Realm Servants, were exceedingly rare.

After all, no martial artist would willingly become someone else’s servant.

Especially a Blood Martial Realm Servant!

Typically, those who could possess such servants must have some special and powerful means themselves.

Just like Xiao Shi’s Taiyin Seal.

However, such means are inherently extremely rare.

Especially within the Orthodox Faction.

Not many people know these kinds of enslavement methods.

Often, more people from Demonic Path forces master these kinds of methods.

This led Xiao Shi to speculate about the identity of the person behind it.

“Could it be that the one occupying this city… is someone from the Demonic Path forces!?”

Xiao Shi knew.

With the current reappearance of Tianji Hall,

Not only many powerhouses from the Orthodox Faction of Star Luo Territory came to Tian Dou Province, but also many powerhouses from Demonic Path forces gathered in Tian Dou Province.

At the same time, the local Demonic Path forces in Tian Dou Province also began to become active within Tian Dou Province.

If it were during normal times,

These Demonic Path forces daring to show their heads would definitely be suppressed by numerous Orthodox Faction forces.

But now, with everyone searching for the Hall Master of Tianji Hall and the entire Tian Dou Province in chaos,

This gave these Demonic Path forces an opportunity.

They gradually became active in Tian Dou Province.

Of course.

Xiao Shi was only speculating at this point.

He couldn't be certain.

Besides the other party's identity, Xiao Shi also learned the purpose of the person behind it from their conversation.

Upgrading the soul weapon!

Although Xiao Shi didn't know much about soul weapons,

He knew that soul weapons were powerful divine weapons that only Martial Soul Realm practitioners could use!

The powerhouse currently occupying Bi Xin City clearly wanted to use the formation set up in Bi Xin City to upgrade his soul weapon.

Xiao Shi didn't know if doing this would cause the death of the people in the city.

But he understood that this matter must be forbidden in Tian Dou Province.

Otherwise, the other party wouldn't be doing it secretly.

Xiao Shi mused that even if the people in Bi Xin City didn't die, there would definitely be a huge price.

In any case,

He had to find a way to stop it.

After all, this concerned the entire Red Tiger Sect.

Of course, he also knew that with his current strength and cultivation, if he acted rashly, it would definitely be like throwing an egg against a rock.

He could only proceed in secret.

Without being noticed by anyone.

Immediately,

He continued to hide in the dark, gathering more information through the Blood Seal.

Two days later.

Xiao Shi consecutively left Blood Seals on five Blood Martial Realm martial artists.

Although he never saw the powerful being who occupied Bi Xin City from beginning to end,

However, through these five Blood Martial Realm martial artists, he had a general understanding of the strength of this powerful being.

He knew that the other party was a Martial Soul Realm practitioner.

Although these five Blood Martial Realm martial artists were all martial artists of the Orthodox Faction,

The Martial Soul Realm practitioner behind them was very likely a cultivator from the Demonic Path forces.

“It's a pity that the Blood Seal cannot control the bodies of these Blood Martial Realm martial artists, otherwise, I could use these few Blood Martial Realm practitioners to destroy the formation in the city.”

Xiao Shi deeply regretted this.

He began to ponder how to destroy the formation within the city.

His first thought was to contact Wu Muzhen through Tianji Hall, using the method he used to escape from Zhongjiu City to have Wu Muzhen come and resolve everything.

But after some thought,

He was a bit reluctant to use this method.

He knew very well.

If he frequently ordered Wu Muzhen to do things, it would inevitably lead Wu Muzhen to speculate about his identity.

No matter how he hid it,

Or what reasons he gave Wu Muzhen to do things,

Traces would always be left behind.

If it was just one or two matters, perhaps Wu Muzhen wouldn't connect anything, but once he was asked to do more things, when he connected all these matters, he might discover some clues.

And the identity of the Hall Master of Tianji Hall was something Xiao Shi absolutely could not expose.

Even to a supporter like Wu Muzhen.

If he knew his true identity, it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn't have other thoughts.

In any case,

Xiao Shi had to be cautious regarding the identity of the Hall Master of Tianji Hall.

Unless there was truly no other way.

Otherwise, he didn't want to make Wu Muzhen do things again so soon.

Of course.

Xiao Shi also knew.

To break the situation,

His current strength was clearly insufficient.

This formation set up in Bi Xin City was very advanced, and its level had far exceeded Xiao Shi's current cultivation.

Even if he wanted to destroy it, he wasn't confident he could do it.

This matter required someone with stronger strength and cultivation to get involved.

After some thought,

Xiao Shi gradually formed an idea in his mind.

That day,

He quietly left Bi Xin City.

He went to several other cities near Bi Xin City and began to spread a piece of news in these cities.

“Recently, Bi Xin City has closed its gates, not allowing people inside to leave or people outside to enter. It is said that a heavenly secret box has appeared in Bi Xin City!”

Xiao Shi quickly spread this news.

As soon as this news came out,

It immediately caused a great sensation around Bi Xin City.

The three words “heavenly secret box”!

In today’s Tian Dou Province, it was like a bombshell!

Making countless powerhouses tremble.

In fact, many powerhouses who came to Tian Dou Province, besides wanting to find the Hall Master of Tianji Hall, also held a glimmer of hope for the heavenly secret box.

They knew.

With the reappearance of Tianji Hall today,

The heavenly secret box would also inevitably appear.

If they could get a heavenly secret box… then they would be rich!

Therefore, upon hearing the news of the heavenly secret box,

The many powerhouses around Bi Xin City all could not remain calm.

Baiyang City was a city not far from Bi Xin City.

Its size was comparable to Bi Xin City, except that the force Baiyang City belonged to was not Rapid Shadow Palace, but Sky Trace Pavilion.

However, now under the occupation of those arriving powerhouses,

Neither Rapid Shadow Palace nor Sky Trace Pavilion could influence these cities.

The one occupying Baiyang City was a burly Martial Soul Realm powerhouse with golden long eyebrows.

“heavenly secret box?”

When he heard the news of a heavenly secret box appearing in Bi Xin City,

His brows immediately furrowed tightly.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

After some thought,

Whoosh!

A gray-black skull appeared in his hand.

When he grasped the skull,

He immediately transmitted a message through the skull.

“Recently, everyone outside is saying that a heavenly secret box has appeared in your Bi Xin City. Is it true or false?”

Inside Bi Xin City.

The original City Lord's Mansion in the main city area had now transformed into a black swamp.

This swamp was very strange.

Numerous figures floated and stood above the swamp.

These figures seemed to be in an illusory state.

All of them had their eyes closed.

Standing on the swamp.

If Xiao Shi were here, he would definitely recognize at a glance that among these illusory figures, there were indeed Guo Chengdao and the people of Red Tiger Sect.

In the very center of the swamp, there was a huge black vortex.

Within the vortex,

Was a sinister demonic sword emitting an evil aura!

At the same time, within the swamp, there were also black, long, strip-shaped rocks, rising from the swamp water, uneven in height.

The light from the distant twilight sky reflected on the water, rendering the place yellow.

Also turning yellow,

Was a figure sitting cross-legged on a rock.

This was an old man dressed in tattered sackcloth, with his hair tied into many small braids, and even his beard braided into small braids.

These small braids on his body were like tiny snakes, giving people a chilling sensation.

Powerful Martial Soul Realm fluctuations continuously emanated from his body.

Buzz!

The old man suddenly felt something vibrating in his storage bag.

He immediately flipped his hand and took out a gray-black skull from the storage bag, and a voice came from within the skull.

“Recently, everyone outside is saying that a heavenly secret box has appeared in your Bi Xin City. Is it true or false?”

The old man's eyes instantly sharpened.

His entire expression immediately turned gloomy.

“When did this start spreading!? Who spread it??”

He asked in a deep voice.

“It started spreading about a day ago. As for who spread it, we haven't found out yet. Could the rumor be true?”

The Martial Soul Realm powerhouse in Baiyang City asked.

“Nonsense! If a heavenly secret box really appeared in Bi Xin City, would I let this news spread? This is clearly someone trying to harm me!!”

The Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City said angrily.

He clearly knew.

Once this news spread, what kind of situation he would face.

With the allure of the heavenly secret box,

It would definitely attract many powerhouses.

He had now reached the most crucial and important moment in the upgrade of his soul weapon.

If many powerhouses were attracted at this time… it would definitely be a waste of all his efforts!

“Damn it!! Who is trying to harm me!!”

The Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City was completely anxious.

He never expected… that such news would spread at such a critical moment.

“Gong Li, quickly help me clarify the rumor and prevent it from spreading further. Also, help me find the person who spread the rumor. I will definitely reward you handsomely afterward!”

The Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City said urgently.

He knew the most urgent task at hand.

It was to first prevent the rumor from spreading. Once the rumor spread wider and wider, even if it was false, it would attract countless powerhouses to Bi Xin City.

And his situation here could not be exposed!

Once these powerhouses were attracted, his identity as a Demonic Path forces member would be exposed first.

Even if the focus of many powerhouses in Tian Dou Province was currently on searching for the Hall Master of Tianji Hall, if they suddenly encountered someone from the Demonic Path forces like him, they wouldn't just stand by.

They would definitely eliminate him casually.

In any case,

He had to prevent this situation from happening.

He immediately offered many benefits to Gong Li, the Martial Soul Realm powerhouse in Baiyang City, for help.

Gong Li's heart stirred at this.

Although he was from the Orthodox Faction, he had always secretly communicated with the Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City.

He clearly knew the true purpose of the other party's blockade of Bi Xin City.

He understood from the start that this rumor was mostly false.

His deliberate contact with the Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City this time was partly to test him, and partly to seize this opportunity to gain benefits from the Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City.

He knew that under these circumstances,

Only he could help him.

The other party would definitely offer many benefits to get his help.

Everything was as he expected.

Just like that,

After Gong Li extorted a sum from the Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City, he also, as promised, began to help the other party resolve the crisis.

He knew very well.

The rumor had already spread, and ordinary methods would definitely not be able to stop its circulation.

To stop the rumor, he had to prove in front of everyone that this rumor was completely false.

For this,

He had already thought of a solution.

That day,

Gong Li publicly announced that the rumor of a heavenly secret box appearing in Bi Xin City was completely false.

He would personally go to Bi Xin City to verify this point in front of everyone.

For a time,

Everyone's attention was completely focused on Gong Li.

They all wanted to know how Gong Li would verify the truth of the heavenly secret box rumor.

At this moment, Gong Li had already entered Bi Xin City.

He had already discussed a countermeasure with the Martial Soul Realm elder in Bi Xin City beforehand.

The other party allowed him to enter Bi Xin City.

Gong Li stepped on a flying shuttle, hovering above Bi Xin City.

Outside Bi Xin City, many people had gathered.

Even powerhouses from surrounding cities and factions had arrived.

All of them watched Gong Li hovering above Bi Xin City.

Under the gaze of all eyes,

Gong Li glanced around at everyone.

He spoke.

“Everyone, I presume you are all aware of the recent rumor about a heavenly secret box appearing in Bi Xin City. Today, I will prove to you that this rumor is utter nonsense!”

As he spoke,

He flipped his hand and took out a mirror in front of everyone.

“This mirror of mine was opened from a heavenly secret box by a powerhouse back then. It is imbued with the aura of the heavenly secret box. If a heavenly secret box exists in Bi Xin City, then it will definitely emit light. If there is nothing, it proves that the rumor of a heavenly secret box existing in Bi Xin City is a joke.”

“Now, please witness with me!”

As soon as his voice fell,

Gong Li raised the mirror in his hand high, in full view of everyone.

Making it clearly visible to everyone.