Chapter 176 - 156: The Killing Intent Behind_1

The malicious intent flashing in Zhao Po’s eyes intensified as he continued to look at Lu Yan, fuelling his rage.

In the internal competition for quotas within the Zhao Clan, he ranked only sixteenth, just shy of securing a place on the trip to Kunwu Mountain.

Initially, the Zhao Clan had eighteen places. It was because they had given away three that he had missed out.

To him, it was Lu Yan who had robbed him of his place.

Of the three extra places, two were taken by two other master-level feudal lords, whom he dared not cross, leaving his animosity directed at Lu Yan.

"I can give you one hundred thousand taels of silver to buy your place. Don’t be too greedy. One hundred thousand taels of silver is not small. You should understand the risks of possessing precious goods," Zhao Po said with a stern face.

"Didn’t you hear me when I told you to leave? What, does the Zhao Clan want to take back the places they’ve given out? I have to discuss this with Zhao Clan’s grandmaster," retorted Lu Yan.

Zhao Po’s face darkened. He glared fiercely at Lu Yan and said, "Greed only leads one to the abyss. You should consider whether it’s worth it to offend me for a place that brings you more harm than good. I’ll give you three days to think about it. If you come to your senses, find me at Liu Feng Residence."

After speaking, Zhao Po turned and left.

"Such nonsense."

Lu Yan, unbothered by him, shut the door and continued to improve his martial arts.

Threaten him?

With him?

With his cultivation level advancing to the Martial Marquis Level Four, Lu Yan’s confidence had significantly boosted.

He was arrogant, and with any Grandmasters excluded, he believed there were few who could rival him.

How many Grandmasters were there, anyway?

Moreover, he was not foolish enough to provoke a Grandmaster, and as for those below a Grandmaster who wanted to provoke him, he would let them know what it meant to be hit hard.

In the blink of an eye, three days passed.

Liu Feng Residence.

"Lu Ren, you’re good, very good," said Zhao Po, his gaze frosty.

He had the urge to raid Lu Ren’s inn in the middle of the night, kill him, and snatch his token.

But he eventually restrained himself.

He had inquired secretly that apart from the master-level Demon Evils Crystal that Lu Ren obtained, he also got many other kinds of Demon Evils Crystals. Lu Ren was suspected to have an innate martial body, so he was challenging to deal with.

He was not sure he could do it.

If he failed to kill Lu Yan and the matter was exposed, Zhao Clan would heavily penalize him to save their own face.

"I heard that Lu Ren also redeemed the Phoenix Scent, and some experts in the clan are quite upset about it. Perhaps I can exploit this. Lu Ren, even if you enter Kunwu Mountain, I won’t let you get off easy," Zhao Po muttered to himself before pushing the door and leaving for the Blood Land Vein.

In a separate courtyard within the Blood Land Vein, a man around forty years old, stripped to the waist, was trading blows with two old men.

The clashing of fists generated powerful energy, forcing the two Martial Marquis Level Five old men to retreat under the man’s mighty blows.

Crash! Crash!

Several moves later, the two old men retreated hastily. Their faces were flushed, their Qi-blood boiling, and they were drenched in sweat, shrouded by white mist.

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

Zhao Po applauded and said, "Cousin’s strength is increasingly profound, and his Mountain Suppressing Fist is more exquisite. I predict that your position on the Martial Marquis List will rise again. Congratulations, cousin."

The man gave Zhao Po a cursory glance and said, "Zhao Po, stop with the flattery. What do you want?"

"Nothing much. I heard that cousin wants to redeem the Phoenix Scent. Did you succeed?" Zhao Po asked.

The man’s face darkened, "The other two guys redeemed it. What, are you here to laugh at me?"

Zhao Po hastily waved his hand, "Where would I dare to do that? Cousin, you misunderstood."

After a pause, Zhao Po added, "Actually, not being able to redeem the Phoenix Scent might be a blessing in disguise. After all, redeeming the Phoenix Scent requires a lot of contribution points from the clan. But I have a plan, even without the Phoenix Scent, we can still obtain the Phoenix Blood worm."

The man was Zhao Yongan, his face was still, and he said: "Oh? Such a good thing, let’s hear it."

"Does cousin know Lu Ren?" Zhao Po asked.

"Of course, I know. He scored a master-level Demon Evils Crystal in the Battle of Demon Evils, earning him a seat to enter Kunwu Mountain. I heard he has arrived at Lingwang City and will join us from the Zhao Clan on the journey to Kunwu Mountain," Zhao Yongan nodded.

"Then, cousin should also know that Lu Ren also redeemed a Phoenix Scent, right? At that time, once you enter Kunwu Mountain, if you secretly follow Lu Ren, there surely won’t be a shortage of Phoenix Blood worms?" Zhao Po suggested.

Zhao Yongan cracked a cold smile, "You went to Lu Ren in the hope of purchasing his place, but he rejected you, right? So you’re hoping to borrow a knife to kill, using me to deal with Lu Ren."

At this, Zhao Yongan’s eyes turned cold, "Zhao Po, you have the nerve to use me. How brazen of you!"

Zhao Po turned white with fright, "Cousin, you misunderstood. Sincerely, I’m considering for you, I have no ulterior motives."

"Really? I hope so, because I have other matters. You may leave," Zhao Yongan said coldly.

Just then, a middle-aged guard rushed over.

"Two sirs, the clan elder has sent a message saying that there are some changes to the rules for this trip to Kunwu Mountain. Please take a look," the guard handed a letter to Zhao Yongan.

Zhao Yongan opened the envelope and began to read the letter.

"You have another letter in your hand. Who is it for?" Zhao Po asked the guard.

"This one is for Lu Ren. The clan elder asked me to notify him as well," the guard replied.

"Let me see it first," Zhao Po said.

The guard hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded and handed the envelope to Zhao Po.

Zhao Po opened it and began to read.

The letter was simple. The beast king inside Kunwu Mountain had sent a notice to every major feudal lords that the rules remained the same, but everyone was now prohibited from entering the inner part of the Crimson Jade Flower Sea.