Incense fire crystals were a magical treasure formed by extracting the wish power from all beings and concentrating it with the power of incense.

When used for cultivation, it was like navigating a boat in calm waters, as opposed to the arduous journey it once was. How far one could sail depended on the quantity and quality of incense fire crystals.

However, even the most renowned land mountain gods of the Daqian Divine Dynasty did not have the ability to form incense fire crystals.

The incense power they received from worship could only fuel their own cultivation.

The White Sun Holy Mother was the only one in the world capable of forming incense fire crystals.

But the restrictions were still significant. Only those within the White Sun Evil Cult who practiced the White Sun Holy Scripture could use incense fire crystals.

Liu Xin was willing to curry favor with the White Sun Holy Mother, largely because of this reason.

He had no better means to advance further along the arduous path of cultivation. Other opportunities were not within his reach, and he lacked the courage to forgo everything and risk his life for a chance.

Even when his identity was revealed, Liu Xin did not panic. He was merely curious about why No.2 wanted incense fire crystals.

Without having practiced the White Sun Holy Scripture, known as the Evil Scripture by outsiders,

it was impossible to use incense fire crystals.

If outsiders could use it, why would the White Sun Holy Mother go through such hardships?

Liu Xin's thoughts turned quickly, and he immediately spoke.

"Incense fire crystals can be given to you. Do you want the White Sun Holy Scripture?"

If the other party were willing to practice the White Sun Holy Scripture, he wouldn't hesitate to provide them with more incense fire crystals.

He even started contemplating who in the Shadow Department was making slow progress in their cultivation, getting stuck and needing to switch to the White Sun Holy Scripture, using incense fire crystals to advance.

No.2 was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"If there is the White Sun Holy Scripture, that would naturally be best."

"I can give you the White Sun Holy Scripture, personally transcribed by the White Sun Holy Mother, with the richest divine resonance contained within.

Plus, thirty standard-sized incense fire crystals.

But just for that, giving me one piece of information won't suffice."

"What else do you want?"

"I would like you to capture that person I asked you to find and send him into the territory of Dazhen, where someone will meet him."

"Thirty pieces are not enough." No.3 decisively shook his head.

"Why?"

"Information, three pieces."

"Alright, go ahead."

"The person you are looking for is from the forbidden grounds of Jinlan Mountain. If something were to happen to him, both the Eastern Palace and Emperor Li will pursue the matter to the end.

We don't know what the reaction from Jinlan Mountain will be, even if that person may never wake again.

But as long as there are living people, no high-level individual dares to gamble, because no one can bear the price of losing the gamble."

"Is there more? Add two more pieces, you'd better say everything at once." Liu Xin calmly continued to raise the stakes.

"Also, he has a close relationship with a Seventh Tier devil cultivator who had once gone into devilishness, who recently visited there.

If he is taken away, who will stop that devil cultivator?

An already devilized, yet undying devil cultivator who also practices the Blade Dao.

It would take an adept Eighth Tier great cultivator to possibly stop him, otherwise, anyone below the Eighth Tier would merely become a sacrifice to his blade.

I believe he wouldn't care about going into devilishness again."

Hearing these words, Liu Xin fell silent.

Cultivators going into devilishness was a classic example of a tenfold increase in power when turning to darkness.

Such characters skilled in combat, with devil cultivation, Blade Dao, and devilishness combined, would mean death for peers, even for body cultivators who had awakened divine skills, about eighty percent of the time.

He truly couldn't discreetly find an Eighth Tier great cultivator to abduct Qing Ziyu.

Thankfully, he never intended to take action himself.

Upon hearing No.2's desire for incense fire crystals, he was already prepared to pay the price and let No.2 handle the matter.

Now that No.2 was willing to say so much, Liu Xin understood that No.2 was merely negotiating rather than entirely refusing.

Upon learning that Qing Ziyu came from the forbidden grounds of Jinlan Mountain, many of Liu Xin's doubts were cleared.

Thus, he even more desired to have this Qing Ziyu.

Because, in the outside world, he couldn't find a living person practicing the Hungry Ghost Dao, nor could he find the slightest trace of the cultivation technique.

As for the forbidden grounds at Jinlan Mountain, even if they did not know its details, they dared not venture there. Those of lesser strength faced certain death amid countless hungry ghosts.

Those at the Eighth or Ninth Tier simply dared not go, fearing they might cause trouble and be killed by others once they emerged.

Liu Xin also knew that No.2 wouldn't care about whatever consequences would arise.

If he was afraid, he wouldn't want incense fire crystals.

If anyone discovered this matter, he would still face death.

As for that formidable devil cultivator, it was more fiction than fact; for the Shadow Department, luring someone away with a small trick was a trifling matter.

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Xin said,

"Fifty pieces, plus the complete White Sun Holy Scripture."

"That's all there is. If you want more, there isn't any. Just say whether you'll do it."

"Including the information fee before, fifty-five pieces." No.2 immediately agreed.

"Fine, once the task is done, contact me anytime."

With the transaction concluded, the two left the Seventh Floor separately.

...

Yu Ziqing closed his eyes, the Yin God formed a seal, gathering a rune, pressing it onto the Yin God, before slowly opening his eyes.

Since arriving at Almsgiving Town, there wasn't much business, nor did he have to keep busy; his time each day had increased. Aside from occasionally visiting the Seventh Floor to check for messages or information on the forum wall, most of his time was spent on cultivation.

Monotonous and tasteless, yet he delighted in it. With each advancement, he felt more secure; he couldn't stop the increment of his armor.

Stepping out of the room, he stood on the railing of the second floor, gazing at the starless, moonless sky, sniffing the cool breeze in the air.

"The weather isn't looking good..."

At the same time, in the Gu Family.

A shadowy figure slipped into the room of the Gu Family Master but was discovered by the vigilant Gu Family Master, prompting the shadow to flee immediately.

One by one, lights kindled throughout the Gu Family, some pursuing the intruder. Uncle Fu did not rush to chase but instead first appeared in midair, a long blade materializing in his hand.

At the moment he swung the blade, another shadowy figure carried away the unconscious Gu Tianxin from her room.

Just when the shadow was about to leave the Gu Family mansion through the back courtyard, he suddenly accelerated to flee.

In the next moment, a long blade was thrust into the spot he had just vacated, buzzing and trembling.

Uncle Fu frowned, pursuing relentlessly, yet he dared not use overly powerful moves, afraid of harming Gu Tianxin.

Despite his speed, he pursued for dozens of breaths but couldn't catch up with the other person.

A wisp of demonic energy appeared on the edge of his blade, and the long blade vanished instantly.

Uncle Fu's foot moved, his figure seemingly teleporting, instantly closing the gap. The shadow didn't anticipate this move and sped up in response, only to find a blade melded with the night ahead, silently waiting.

The blade pierced the shadow's forehead, killing him on the spot.

Uncle Fu caught the falling Gu Tianxin, frowning at the corpse on the ground.

A stranger, Sixth Tier cultivator.

He removed the corpse, brought Gu Tianxin back to the Gu Family.

After discarding the corpse on the ground, he looked at the Gu Family Master.

"Sixth Tier cultivator, a stranger. This kind of individual could not silently infiltrate here and abduct the young miss.

Master, there's undoubtedly an inner family traitor."

The Gu Family Master's face remained grim as he nodded.

The Gu Family was traditionally low-key. Though not among the top tier of families, they were not to be trifled with.

The family's formation defenses were thorough, with guards loose outside yet tight inside, especially in the female quarters of the rear courtyard.

How could a mere Sixth Tier cultivator infiltrate so easily, have the time to knock out Gu Tianxin, and take her away?

It was improbable without an inner family traitor—there was no other possibility.

Amid the internal upheaval in the Gu Family, fifty miles outside Almsgiving Town,

a Shadow Department spy suddenly emerged from underground.

"My lord, I've been watching; Qing Ziyu has been cultivating in the rear courtyard all along while his two retinues are busy hosting guests in the front."

"Well done."

Suddenly, the spy's pupils gradually dilated, eyes filled with shock and puzzlement.

The Black Robed Man gently lowered his hand, drawing out nine dark red iron nails, driving them into the spy's Nine Orifices.

He did not kill this spy, merely sealed his Nine Orifices, leaving him with a breath. As long as he wasn't dead, the Shadow Department would not suspect that this person was dead.

When operating within Dali, Shadow Department agents enjoyed significant convenience, appearing anywhere without arousing suspicion.

He trusted no one else and had to use a low-level spy, ensuring absolute secrecy. Nobody would trace back during investigations because they'd immediately recognize him as a Shadow Department spy.

Ironically, he knew best that these minor spies' deaths did not concern anyone, not even the Shadow Department most of the time.

He took out a jade scroll, crushed it, sending out a signal, and then turned to leave.

He couldn't appear here now.

He had tasks tonight a hundred miles away from here where he would make an appearance.

As for any action taken, it has nothing to do with him.

Half an hour later, a shadow appeared behind the health club.

The shadow extended a hand, slowly making contact with the formation defense of the house. Wisps of ebony light seeped out, silently disintegrating the formation's defense, revealing a large hole.

He landed without sound, moving like a ghost, not even disturbing the wind.

He eerily approached Yu Ziqing's room, placing a hand on the door, disintegrating both the door and the defenses within the ebony light.

Inside the room, Yu Ziqing sat cross-legged, still layering his armor.

At the very instant the shadow saw him, Yu Ziqing immediately sensed him and opened his eyes.

In a flash, the shadow extended a palm that seemed to span several yards, pressing it onto Yu Ziqing's shoulder out of thin air.

The powerful pressure finally released at this moment.