Chapter 226: The Third Shadow

Translator: yikaii Editor: yikaii

The Mo family patriarch had already investigated the origins of the purchased Phoenix Blood Stone. It was somewhat tricky, as the buyer was a Foundation Building Stage disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect, presumably a nouveau riche, accompanied by two companions, also from the Dao Seeking Sect.

A Foundation Building Stage cultivator meant nothing to him, but the addition of “Dao Seeking Sect” changed everything.

The higher one’s cultivation, the more one understood hidden truths and the more terrifying the Dao Seeking Sect seemed.

Thus, he had to personally handle this matter.

He couldn’t believe that as a Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator, he couldn’t steal from three Foundation Building Stage disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect without them noticing.

However, he wasn’t the only thief tonight.

Thief, the thing I’ve set my sights on isn’t something you can touch.

“Leave immediately!” The governor and the Mo family patriarch simultaneously unleashed their directed pressure. A common thief would be paralyzed with fear upon encountering such pressure.

The governor smirked, guessing that the Mo family, having failed the previous night, was still unwilling to give up and had sent someone again tonight.

What’s the use? Running into me is just bad luck!

Their pressures clashed silently, causing both to frown.

“Hmm?”

Both realized that the other’s pressure was unusual, indicating they weren’t ordinary people.

“Old Freak Mo!”

“Old Ghost Shi!”

They recognized each other, followed by a long silence.

Luofeng County only had two Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators, making them easy to identify.

They both considered themselves too dignified to engage in petty theft, making this encounter particularly awkward.

They couldn’t very well claim to be out for a moonlit stroll.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

“Yes, what a coincidence.”

This was followed by another lengthy silence.

The governor seized the initiative, projecting his voice with divine sense, his tone solemn and righteous: “I anticipated a thief would come tonight and have been waiting here. And indeed, I caught you, Old Mo! Surrender now!”

The governor pulled out an iron chain and swung it towards the Mo family patriarch.

“Bah! You think I’m blind? Dressed like that, you still have the nerve to claim you were waiting for a thief?”

The Mo family patriarch didn’t buy it. This guy was dressed in black just like him, fooling no one.

He drew his weapon to fight.

Both feared exposure and tacitly agreed not to use spells, making their fight silent.

Having fought each other for decades, they were well-versed in each other’s methods and knew they couldn’t best each other easily. After dozens of exchanges, they both stopped.

“This won’t get us anywhere. You’re here for the Phoenix Blood Stone, right? Let’s agree that whoever steals it first keeps it,” the governor proposed.

“Agreed,” the Mo family patriarch replied readily.

The governor sneered internally. Even if the other guy got the stone, he’d find a way to take it back. His future depended on it—no way he’d honor the agreement.

Coincidentally, the Mo family patriarch had the same thought.

In the shadows, Lu Yang recorded everything with a recording sphere.

Both had already detected the Phoenix Blood Stone’s location and were about to head to Meng Jingzhou’s room when another shadow climbed over the wall.

“Another one?” The governor and Mo family patriarch were puzzled, as were Lu Yang, Su Yiren, and Li Haoran observing from the dark.

“Is your house that attractive?” Lu Yang asked Li Haoran.

Li Haoran rolled his eyes, not wanting to speak. It wasn’t his house; it was Meng’s Phoenix Blood Stone that was attracting everyone.

Lu Yang recalled the shadow he had glimpsed while tracking the two golden core cultivators the previous night.

Could it be the same person as tonight’s third shadow?

“The third shadow is also at the Spirit Transformation Stage,” Su Yiren warned, making Lu Yang wary.

Who was the third shadow? What was their purpose?

“What, not only the governor but also the Mo family patriarch and a third Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator tonight?” Meng Jingzhou, unable to see, felt itchy hearing the conversation.

He really wanted to see what was happening outside.

…

The third shadow, seeing the governor and Mo family patriarch, wasn’t surprised. He nodded, “Good, you’re early by fifteen minutes. Let’s go.”

The governor and Mo family patriarch exchanged glances, realizing they couldn’t discern the shadow’s cultivation level.

Spirit Transformation Stage? Where did a third Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator come from in Luofeng County?

It seemed the shadow mistook them for someone else. They decided to play along and followed the third shadow.

“Sir, I heard there are Dao Seeking Sect disciples living here. Is it safe for us to act?” the governor asked as he followed.

The third shadow was unconcerned. “They’re just Foundation Building Stage disciples. What’s the problem? Everything is ready, except for a top-grade Phoenix Blood Stone.”

“The best quality Phoenix Blood Stone is in the hands of this Dao Seeking Sect Foundation Building Stage disciple.”

“Once this is done, we’ll all be promoted. We’re so close to success, why are you two hesitating? Hurry up!”

The third shadow was also after Meng Jingzhou’s Phoenix Blood Stone.

“What on earth is that Phoenix Blood Stone, attracting all these Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators?” Lu Yang muttered. This is what you get for flaunting wealth—now everyone knows you have a top-grade Phoenix Blood Stone.

“Who knows? If I had known it would cause so much trouble, I’d have thrown it in the trash,” Meng Jingzhou grumbled.

The three Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators arrived at Meng Jingzhou’s room.

“Phoenix Blood Stone!” The governor’s eyes gleamed seeing the stone beside Meng Jingzhou.

As expected, it was the Phoenix Blood Stone that mustn’t enter the market.

The Mo family patriarch, seeing the governor’s reaction, knew his guess was right.

The third shadow’s eyes also shone. Although he hadn’t seen a top-grade Phoenix Blood Stone, its quality was unmistakable. Even if it wasn’t top-grade, it was close enough.

“By the way, sir, what do we need the Phoenix Blood Stone for?” the governor asked nonchalantly.

Perhaps because the target was within reach, the third shadow let his guard down and replied, “To refine the phoenix beneath our feet into a corpse puppet, overthrow Luofeng County, and strengthen our Nine Nether Sect. The plan is almost complete; we just need the top-grade Phoenix Blood Stone as the core.”

“You’re from the Nine Nether Sect?!” the Mo family patriarch exclaimed.

“Of course, we’re not from the Undying Sect… wait, who are you?” The third shadow realized that these two weren’t his subordinates.

All three intruders became wary, ready to fight at any moment.

“Now that you’ve been discovered, you must die!” The third shadow attacked, revealing his peak Spirit Transformation Stage cultivation, aiming to kill the other two.

The governor and Mo family patriarch weren’t pushovers. As fellow Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators, they wouldn’t be easily killed. In fact, they were confident they could turn the tables.

At that moment, space froze. None of the three could move, as if time had stopped.

Rule alteration, a power of the Unity Stage.

Su Yiren had made her move.

(End of the chapter)