134: Let's collect some interest first!

"Thank you for the information."

Li Qing stood up, took out ten Spirit Stones from his robes, and tossed them onto the table.

"This is your payment."

The Fat Manager stared at those Spirit Stones emitting pure energy, his eyes going wide.

Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones!

Just for a piece of information casually spoken, he received ten Spirit Stones!

Which family's Young Master was this person before him?

Incredibly generous!

"Thank you, honored guest! Thank you, honored guest!"

The Fat Manager hurriedly gathered up the Spirit Stones, a huge grin splitting his face.

"If you have any needs in the future, honored guest, please feel free to come to Duobao Pavilion. This humble one will definitely take care of everything for you!"

Li Qing paid him no further mind, turned, and walked out of the private room.

Right now, he needed to find a place to properly digest the information he had obtained tonight.

At the same time, he should also make some preparations for the upcoming 'surprise.'

Exiting Duobao Pavilion, the outside Ghost Market was still bustling.

Li Qing's figure quickly melted into the crowded flow of people.

Returning to his room in Tiantian Garden, Li Qing immediately set up a simple warning Formation, then sat cross-legged on the bed.

He mentally reorganized all the information he had obtained tonight.

The Grand Princess's bounty, the Earth-Grade mission from 'Shadow Kill,' the mistaken judgment of a Body Refining Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator... all the clues pointed to one thing.

That was, an even more violent storm was about to arrive.

"A Gold-Medal Assassin at the Middle Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm?"

The corner of Li Qing's mouth lifted into a cold curve.

"Good."

"Just right, my five million-plus evolution value is still quite a bit short."

"The resources of a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator should be much richer than those of a Meridian Opening Realm one!"

His eyes held not a trace of fear, only the excitement and anticipation of a hunter spotting prey.

He sank his consciousness into the river's depths, connecting with that massive Deep Sea Dragon Turtle.

Deep within the Great River of Jinling City, inside a dark cave.

That colossal beast, over ten meters long, with dragon horns on its head and clad in Xuanming Divine Armor, suddenly opened its pair of golden vertical pupils.

A terrifying, extreme pressure erupted with a boom!

Around the cave, the ten Vicious Beast generals it had subdued instantly prostrated themselves on the ground, trembling uncontrollably upon sensing this pressure.

Li Qing could feel the terrifying, surging power of five hundred thousand jin within his Clone's body.

This was his greatest confidence!

Middle Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm?

Come one, I'll kill one!

Come two, I'll kill a pair!

However, before the enemies came looking for him, he still needed to make some preparations.

His gaze fell on the map obtained from 'Chen's Dye Workshop,' which marked other 'Shadow Kill' strongholds.

"Since you all enjoy playing hide-and-seek so much,"

"Then I'll just pull out a few of your claws first, collect some interest."

A flash of killing intent passed through Li Qing's eyes.

The night grew deeper.

On Xuanwu Gate Street in the Royal Capital, an inn named 'Tongfu' had a few dim lanterns lit in the silent night.

This was one of the Royal Capital's famous inns, frequented mostly by merchants and Jianghu figures traveling north and south.

Inside the Heaven-grade room on the inn's third floor.

A middle-aged man with a wiry build and two whisker-like mustaches was sitting cross-legged on the bed.

His name was 'Ghost Rat,' a Gold-Medal Assassin of the 'Shadow Kill' organization, with Early Stage Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation.

What he excelled at was not frontal combat, but stealth, tracking, and intelligence gathering.

Several of 'Shadow Kill's' contact points in the Royal Capital were under his responsibility for message and supply delivery.

Just moments ago, he had received the latest order personally issued by Director 'Golden Mask.'

An Earth-Grade mission!

Target: Li Qing!

Bounty: Two thousand Spirit Stones, two spirit breaking pills, one Profound Rank High Grade Treasure Artifact!

The moment he saw this mission, Ghost Rat's heart uncontrollably began to race wildly.

Although he was a Gold-Medal Assassin, his cultivation was only at the Early Stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, and his frontal combat strength wasn't particularly strong. He simply didn't meet the conditions to undertake this mission.

However, the absurdly rich bounty still made his eyes turn red with greed.

Especially that 'Silver-Masked Director' position made him drool with envy.

"Li Qing, a Body Refining Spirit Transformation Realm expert..."

Ghost Rat paced back and forth in the room, his eyes flickering, his brain working at high speed.

"A head-on fight is definitely out of the question. But my strengths lie in gathering intelligence and using poison..."

"If I can find his weakness, or use my specially made 'Spirit Transformation Powder' for a sneak attack..."

"Perhaps there really is a chance!"

A bold idea began to grow wildly in his heart.

Wealth is found in danger!

If he could succeed, he, Ghost Rat, could ascend to the heavens in a single step, becoming a true high-ranking member of the 'Shadow Kill' Royal Capital branch!

Just as he was immersed in his beautiful dream.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

A rhythmic knocking sound abruptly sounded at the door.

Ghost Rat was startled, all the hairs on his body instantly standing on end!

Who?!

Who could be looking for him so late at night?

As a 'Shadow Kill' liaison, his identity was extremely secret. Apart from a few core members, no one knew he lived here!

"Who is it?" he asked in a low, wary voice.

From outside the door came a young and indifferent voice.

"Delivery."

Delivery?

Ghost Rat's brow instantly furrowed into a knot.

What did that mean??

Nonsense!

Someone coming in the dead of night meant no good!

He didn't speak again, but silently pulled out a dagger coated with potent poison from his robes.

His whole body moved like a civet cat, pressing against the wall as he shifted to a position behind the door.

Simultaneously, the Yuan Power within his body was pushed to its limit, ready to launch a thunderous strike at any moment!

However, the instant he was just prepared.

*BANG—!*

A loud crash!

The door, made of sturdy ironwood strong enough to withstand a full-force attack from a Condensing Essence Realm Martial Artist, exploded inwards without any warning!

Countless splinters of wood shot into the room like hidden weapons!

Ghost Rat's pupils contracted sharply. He had no time to react before an irresistible, terrifying force slammed violently into his chest!

*Pfft!*

He vomited a mouthful of blood, his entire body flying backward like a kite with its string cut. He smashed into the room's wall, then tumbled to the floor.

He felt as if his internal organs had been shattered by an invisible heavy hammer!

What... what kind of power was this?!

He struggled to lift his head and look towards the doorway.

Amidst the swirling dust, a slender figure slowly walked in.

The newcomer was dressed in black, his face calm. It was precisely the assassination target he had just been scheming against—Li Qing!

"You... how did you find this place?!"

Ghost Rat's eyes were filled with boundless fear and disbelief.

Tongfu Inn was one of the contact points under his responsibility.

This stronghold was marked on the map.

Li Qing looked at him as if looking at a lamb to be slaughtered.

"Not only do I know you're here,"

"I also know you're called Ghost Rat, Early Stage Spirit Transformation Realm, a Gold-Medal Assassin of 'Shadow Kill.'"

"Right?"