I was chased at the beginning, and I got the first quick sword

Chapter 567 The Underworld Assembly!

When they were at the river bend, Chu Qing made a strategic move.

The five people Li Juechen sent to assassinate Song Chengdao were, to some extent, turned by him.

They provided a useful clue: there would be a gathering at the Mirror of Retribution on the fifth day of the tenth lunar month.

At that time, the list of those who will exterminate evil, the Book of Life and Death, the Judge's Pen, the Six Paths of Reincarnation Platform, and even the current person in charge of the Mirror of Karma Platform will all come to participate.

The feud between Chu Qing and Nie Jingtai has a long history.

Looking back, he was just a lowly assassin at the Mirror of Retribution, codenamed Sword Demon.

It is the most insignificant little ant.

But it was precisely this identity that forced him to be extremely cautious, walking carefully all the way, for fear of being discovered and bringing about his death.

Later on, he was no longer worried about being killed. If the Mirror of Retribution didn't come, fine; if it did, it would only be a death sentence.

However, he was still worried about his family's situation, fearing that these people would use them against him, so he dared not easily reveal his identity.

It wasn't until he became the leader of the Southern Martial Arts Alliance and led his group to accomplish many things, including the battle between the Ten Deadly Caves and the Ghost Emperor, where he faced the most powerful master in the martial arts world, that his identity as the Night Emperor was revealed.

Anyone with ulterior motives who wants to use this as a springboard can easily discover that the Night Emperor is Chu Qing.

So he never hid it after that and directly presented himself as Chu Qing.

This caused some discussion at the time...

After all, given his status at the time, neither Tianwu City nor the Chu family, nor even his mother Liu Zhaohua, the eldest daughter of Tianyin Mansion, were significant in comparison to him.

In a mere Tianwu City, with an insignificant little Chu family, it's possible to produce a character like Chu Qing.

To put it bluntly, it's like a golden phoenix being born in a chicken coop.

Therefore, it's inevitable that there will be much discussion.

However, these discussions quickly subsided... Who would dare to keep discussing the private affairs of the martial arts alliance leader?
In fact, if we look at it from another angle, if he hadn't achieved such success, would Chu Qing have dared to easily reveal his identity?
It was precisely because he had already reached the pinnacle of the martial arts world and was confident in protecting his family and friends that he could disregard the Mirror of Retribution.

But... treating it as nothing is merely a strategic contempt; Chu Qing never intended to let the Mirror of Misfortune go easily.

Not to mention he also has a quest chain that leads to the Mirror of Retribution.

[The mission: No name on the list! (Exterminate all those on the evil list!)]

[Current Stage: End.]

[Current progress: Zero.]

[Quest Reward: Three Crimson Treasure Chests.]

To be honest, Chu Qing had no idea why this small Mirror of Retribution could give him three blood-red treasure chests.

After all, this is the price of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

But whatever the reason, he won't let these three blood-red treasure chests go.

So he had been waiting for this crucial date, the fifth day of the tenth lunar month, for a long time.

What we're mainly waiting for are the five lives that were saved back in the small river bend!

Their arrival was within Chu Qing's expectations, but the fact that there were more than five people was unexpected.

Only two people came, taking advantage of the darkness.

Originally, he wanted to sneak in, but now Chu Qing was in the Western Regions Mountain and Sea City.

Qi Liantian, the city lord of Shanhai City, is one of the five top experts from the Western Regions who have submitted to Chu Qing. This place is his home ground. Chu Qing felt that this place was good, located in the center of the Western Regions. No matter which direction he was heading, he could arrive there as quickly as possible, so he decided to stay here for the time being.

The city of Shanhai is heavily guarded, and the city lord's mansion is of paramount importance.

So their infiltration failed halfway through... and they were almost taken down by the highly skilled Shan Hai City.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, they shouted that they wanted to see the leader of the alliance.

This created room for maneuver...

Even though they were in the study, the two of them were still shaken.

Chu Qing glanced at them:
"Long time no see... Do you remember me?"

The two exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. Looking at Chu Qing again, they felt that the other party was even more unfathomable.

After they parted ways that day, they completely forgot what had happened in the cave...

After that, they turned back, and life there was still fraught with crises.

Then, not long ago, they received a notice of the Niejingtai gathering, and suddenly remembered what Chu Qing had told them that night.

That's why I'm here today.

Chu Qing's gaze swept over them again:
"How come it's just the two of you left?"

"They're dead..."

The red-haired man spoke with difficulty, adding with a hint of unease in his voice:
"Their deaths were very unusual."

"Oh?"

Chu Qing thought of Li Juechen and tapped her finger lightly on the table:
"tell me the story."

The red-haired man wondered why Chu Qing wasn't concerned about where the Niejingtai gathering was, but instead was preoccupied with the cause of death of his three companions.

But he didn't hide anything, though his description was quite confusing.

Because the deaths of those three people were very inexplicable. They were neither killed in a fight nor were they killed after being sent to do something and being defeated.

They simply disappeared without any reason.

In the end, the three men only found one body.

"The body was found in a mass grave..."

"It should have been buried, but the person who buried it wasn't very careful."

"It was dug out by wild dogs."

"By the time we found them, the bodies had been eaten almost halfway."

The red-haired man's eyes reflected a look of reminiscence:

"To be honest, I didn't even dare to recognize him at the time... not because the body was incomplete, but because he seemed to have aged more than twenty years overnight."

"If it weren't for the armor on his body, even if I saw the corpse, I would have had a hard time connecting him with the fourth brother..."

"Looks twenty years older?"

Chu Qing raised her eyes and glanced at the red-haired man.

He nodded:
"Yes, his skin is aged, his arms and legs are noticeably thinner, his face is full of wrinkles, and his hair is gray..."

"It's like, it's like..."

He hesitated before speaking, seemingly unsure how to describe it.

Another person next to him added:
"It's like being drained dry by a fairy."

Whether the metaphor is apt is debatable, but at that moment Chu Qing thought of someone.

Huangfu Changkong.

Then I thought of the [Stealing Heaven Demon Art].

But when Chu Qing thought about this, she felt something was strange.

The "Stealing Heaven Demon Art" should be in the hands of the head manager of Wanbaolou. Why were Li Juechen's subordinates harmed by this art?
Could it be that... Li Juechen and this head manager have joined forces?
The [Stealing Heaven Demon Art] is extraordinary and quite remarkable... It can not only steal the opponent's martial arts skills, but also steal the opponent's combat experience, completely wiping the opponent out of their grasp.

The ability to age an opponent and absorb their essence and spirit is a byproduct of the [Heaven-Stealing Demon Art], and is not worth mentioning.

But it is also a landmark.

The reason Chu Qing didn't suspect the head manager was responsible was because the main reason why the Heavenly Stealer died tragically was due to the incompatibility of the Heavenly Stealing Demon Art.

His incompatibility was even more excessive than the Star Absorbing Technique that Chu Qing knew.

The Star Absorbing Technique is based on a different kind of true energy. If the Heaven Stealing Demon Art can even steal things like martial arts experience, it will put a huge burden on the person who uses this martial art.

It's not just the internal energy and internal strength; the mental pressure alone is enough to drive someone mad.

If the head manager were to do something so reckless, he'd probably kill himself without Chu Qing even needing to intervene. As for Li Juechen…

He created the "Five Ghosts Heavenly Corpse Order," and the "Cold Corpse Record," "Wooden Corpse Technique," "Fire Corpse Chapter," "Remnant Corpse Seal," and "Ghost Corpse Path" cultivated by his subordinates all originated from the same source as him.

Even if he steals it with his [Heaven-Stealing Demonic Art], it won't cause a backlash in terms of true energy.

As for whether he can withstand the mental strain, that's hard to say.

But no matter what, it's much better than the head manager personally taking action.

Therefore, Chu Qing subconsciously suspected that there might be something fishy going on between the two of them.
But then I thought about it again and realized that even if there was something fishy going on, it was all reasonable... If Emperor Xuansong could tolerate evil, then which of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was an ordinary person?
Li Juechen had even more plans in mind.

Perhaps their clandestine affair didn't start recently, but rather they had this scheme in the works long ago.

Of course, all of this is just speculation. Whether the situation is as he thinks is still up to Li Juechen to answer.

These thoughts, though varied, only lingered in my mind for a fleeting moment.

Without keeping the two people in front of him waiting for long, Chu Qing asked directly:

Where is this gathering at the Mirror of Retribution taking place?

Before answering that question... could you promise us one thing?

The red-haired man looked at Chu Qing and asked in a slightly apprehensive tone.

Chu Qing frowned slightly:

"Do you think... you have the right to bargain with me?"

The red-haired man quickly said:

"I have no intention of bargaining, but... I just have a favor to ask."

"tell me the story."

The two exchanged a glance, and then spoke frankly:
"...We want to stay here, so please, Alliance Leader, grant us a meal."

Chu Qing chuckled upon hearing this:
"I remember you once said that Li Juechen could control your lives and deaths with the [Five Ghosts Corpse Token]?"

"Aren't you afraid now?"

"The Alliance Leader's trip to that gathering must be to eradicate all evil spirits from the Mirror Platform."

The man on the red team immediately said:

"We suspect that Li Juechen will also participate in this gathering... so he may die on the fifth day of the tenth month."

“If the two of us go with him now, he might take us with him. Staying here might give us a chance to survive.”

The reason is not just this...

The mysterious deaths of his three companions also instilled a great sense of crisis in both of them.

Even if he survives the disaster on October 5th, he might still die an unexplained death, just like his three companions.

Now, on the other side of the Mirror of Retribution, everyone like myself is living in fear.

Since they both have this opportunity and this possibility, why don't they take a gamble?
Of course, we don't expect Chu Qing to stay here. Even if we let them stay in the Western Regions for the time being, and find a place to hide, as long as they get through the fifth day of the tenth month, their lives might be completely different.

While such a situation may seem free, it is difficult to say that it is guaranteed.

After much thought, I realized that staying by Chu Qing's side and working for him might be the best path forward.

Only then did he dare to bring it up in front of Chu Qing.

Chu Qing pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly:
"That's not impossible, but just in case, I need to leave some restrictions on you."

"Furthermore, before I return from the gathering at the Mirror of Retribution, I must temporarily restrict your martial arts."

"Can you accept this?"

The two men exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

"can!"

Chu Qing didn't say much. With a flick of his hand, the clouds turned into water, and the water droplets froze into ice.

With a flick of his hand, two life-and-death talismans landed on the two of them.

Knowing that they were all protected by new armor, Chu Qing only targeted the exposed acupoints to avoid wasting his efforts.

As the Life and Death Talisman entered his body, an excruciating pain immediately overwhelmed him.

The two people screamed in agony.

Chu Qing then pointed out two more fingers, easing their pain:

"This method is called the Life and Death Talisman. You have all experienced this pain. This pain occurs once a year and requires you to take the pills I have prepared to relieve it."

"Therefore, you must know that if you dare to disobey me, I will make you wish you were dead!"

"My subordinates dare not."

The two people knelt on one knee, clasped their hands in greeting, and spoke at the same time.

Chu Qing nodded:

"Can we talk now?"

The red-haired man quickly said:

"The gathering place of the Mirror of Karma is located in the Eastern Region."

"In the Eastern Regions, at Zhaixia Mountain and the Cliff of Oblivion!"

"I heard that a Forget-Love Manor has been built there... which is the venue for the opening of this 'Underworld Assembly'."

"The Underworld Conference..."

Chu Qing's lips curled into a smile, then she nodded:

"What a grand gathering in the underworld!"
"Alright, you can leave now."

As soon as he finished speaking, he flicked his fingertips and dropped two fingers. The two men trembled slightly and realized that their internal energy was no longer circulating smoothly.

An overwhelming sense of weakness instantly enveloped their bodies, but the two still clasped their hands in a fist salute to Chu Qing:
"Yes, thank you, Alliance Leader."

Chu Qing then called someone over and arranged accommodations for the two of them.

Then he sat in the study and fell into deep thought.

A pair of gentle hands moved from behind to the shoulders, gently kneading them, and Wu Qianhuan's voice came from behind:

"Is the grudge between us and the Mirror of Retribution finally coming to an end?"

"Yes."

Chu Qing nodded:

"It's almost over."

"That's a good thing."

"Um……"

Why do you seem a little unhappy?

"It's not that I'm unhappy..."

Chu Qing grabbed one of her hands and pulled it to her chest:
"I just have a feeling that there might be some unexpected trouble at this Underworld Assembly."

"How to say?"

"I don't know yet, I just have a feeling."

"Then I..."

Wu Qianhuan opened her mouth, but swallowed the rest of her words.

Chu Qing helped her complete the sentence:

Would you like to come with me?

Wu Qianhuan pursed her lips slightly, a smile appearing at the corners of her mouth:
"okay."

(End of this chapter)