133: A bounty has been offered at the prefecture level; is the target me?

He picked up one of the books titled "Bloody Slaughter Saber Technique" and casually flipped through it, the smile on his face growing even wider.

"A Profound Rank Low Grade Martial Skill, well-preserved. Its market value is at least three hundred Spirit Stones."

He then picked up a vial of Medicinal Pills, opened it, and took a sniff.

"Body Tempering Pills. Although only first-tier, their quality is superior. This vial alone is worth about fifty Spirit Stones."

He examined each item one by one, calling out their prices aloud, but inwardly, he was secretly shocked.

Just what background did this young man before him have?

To be able to casually produce so many valuable items, and judging by their nature, they all seemed to be acquired through 'murder and plunder.'

He didn't dare ask too many questions and quickly estimated the price for all the items.

"Esteemed guest, for all these goods combined, our humble shop can offer you a round figure: one thousand two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones."

The Fat Manager quoted a price.

This price was already quite fair, even slightly above the usual black-market rate.

Clearly, this token holder was a very important guest.

One thousand two hundred Spirit Stones?

Li Qing nodded.

This was more than he had anticipated.

Another one hundred twenty thousand experience points acquired!

This meant his Clone's evolution wasn't far off!

It seemed that murder and arson truly were the fastest paths to wealth.

"Acceptable."

He replied succinctly.

"Excellent!"

Seeing him so straightforward, the Fat Manager was inwardly delighted.

He clapped his hands, and a maid immediately entered from outside, carrying a tray with one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones emitting a soft glow.

"Esteemed guest, please count them."

Li Qing didn't bother counting. He could sense the energy contained within these Spirit Stones; they couldn't be fake.

He stored the Spirit Stones in his robe, stood up, and prepared to leave.

"Wait, esteemed guest."

The Fat Manager suddenly called out to stop him.

"Is there something else?" Li Qing turned back.

"Heh heh, our humble shop recently received a piece of information that might... interest you, esteemed guest."

The Fat Manager smiled like a fox.

"What information?"

"A bounty." The Fat Manager lowered his voice.

"An Earth-Grade bounty... from 'Shadow Kill'!"

Li Qing's movements abruptly halted.

"An Earth-Grade bounty?"

Li Qing's eyebrows raised slightly, while inwardly, a ripple of shock surged.

He looked at the Fat Manager before him, who was smiling like the Maitreya Buddha, and his gaze turned somewhat playful.

This guy was interesting.

He had just come in with a Shadow Kill token to sell some items, and now the manager was bringing up a Shadow Kill bounty.

Was this a test?

Or simply an attempt to sell information and make extra profit?

"Oh?" Li Qing asked, his expression unchanged.

"Whose head is so valuable that it warrants Shadow Kill issuing an Earth-Grade bounty?"

He clearly understood what the term 'Earth-Grade' represented.

That was a mission Rank specifically used to deal with Spirit Transformation Realm experts.

Had some important figure in the royal capital offended Shadow Kill?

Could he also get a piece of the action?

After all, he had the Shadow Kill token!

This was another channel to acquire resources.

"Heh heh, esteemed guest, you may not know."

The smile on the Fat Manager's face turned mysterious.

"This target is no important figure."

"You might not believe it, but he is merely a youth from Jinling City."

Boom!

These words exploded like a sudden clap of thunder in Li Qing's heart!

Jinling City!

Youth!

Putting these two terms together, the target's identity was self-evident!

Li Qing's face remained as impassive as still water, but countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Hiring someone to kill myself??

Has my identity been exposed?

Impossible!

Although the incident on Vermilion Bird Avenue caused a big stir, I cleaned up the scene. Even if the City Guard investigated, they would never trace it back to me.

They might have suspicions, but only suspicions. They definitely wouldn't leak the information.

Then how did the Shadow Kill organization confirm that the target was me?

Could it be that foolish woman, the Grand Princess?

Did she directly point the finger at me??

Very likely!

"A mere youth, yet worthy of an Earth-Grade bounty from Shadow Kill?"

Li Qing pretended to look very interested.

"That is indeed curious. Tell me more."

"Hehe." The Fat Manager rubbed his hands together, revealing his merchant nature.

"Esteemed guest, you know the rules of our trade. This information..."

"Name your price." Li Qing said indifferently.

He now had plenty of Spirit Stones on him and didn't care about such a small sum.

He had to find out exactly how much information Shadow Kill had on him and how far their assassination plan had progressed.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

"How straightforward!"

The Fat Manager gave Li Qing a thumbs-up.

"Considering this is your first visit and you came with a Shadow Kill token, I can tell you this information."

He paused, lowered his voice, and spoke word by word.

"The target is Li Qing!"

"The information Shadow Kill provided states that this person is a Body Refining cultivator who specializes in the Physical Body, a Spirit Transformation Realm expert with unfathomable combat prowess!"

"Just a few days ago, on Vermilion Bird Avenue, he stomped and shattered the 'Seven Star Soul Locking Array,' killing three Silver-Medal Assassins, including 'Blood Blade'!"

A Body Refining Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator?

Hearing this assessment, Li Qing almost laughed out loud inwardly.

So that's it.

The people at Shadow Kill hadn't uncovered his true identity.

Instead, based on the terrifying strength he displayed, which far exceeded normal reasoning, they had concocted the identity of a 'Body Refining Spirit Transformation Realm expert.'

This guess, though far-fetched, was in some ways incredibly close to the truth.

Only this reasoning could explain why he could stomp and shatter a Formation capable of trapping and killing Spirit Transformation Realm experts.

"Interesting." Li Qing sneered inwardly.

Using incorrect information to formulate an assassination plan.

This Shadow Kill organization wasn't far from destruction.

"And the bounty?"

Li Qing continued asking.

"The bounty is even more shockingly high!"

A greedy glint flashed in the Fat Manager's eyes.

"Two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, two spirit breaking pills, plus a Profound Rank High Grade Treasure Artifact—the Soul-Chasing Crossbow!"

"Moreover, Shadow Kill's Royal Capital Director, 'Golden Mask,' has declared that whoever completes the mission will become the next Silver-Masked Director!"

The Fat Manager revealed all the information he knew, holding nothing back.

As he spoke, he secretly observed Li Qing's expression.

However, to his disappointment, Li Qing was wearing a mask!

After listening to the Fat Manager, Li Qing already had a clear understanding.

Shadow Kill was going all out, determined to fight him to the end.

An Earth-Grade mission, Gold-Medal Assassins, Middle Stage Spirit Transformation Realm... he almost wanted to take on this mission himself!

It seemed that a group of more powerful 'deliverymen' would soon be actively coming to his doorstep.