Qi Yu's heart jolted.
Then, she pretended nothing was amiss, pushed the door open, and entered, offering a bow.
Inside the chamber.
Yu Zhen sat in the Hall Master's seat, legs crossed, holding a blue lily of an unidentifiable species.
She glanced at Qi Yu and Chen Xi standing below, her voice indifferent as she asked, "You two are back. Is the Po Xing formation of the Assassination Pavilion opposite set up?"
Po Xing formation?
Qi Yu's gaze darkened.
When that phantom had come to their Assassination Pavilion, they had spoken of discussing compensation.
Now, it seemed, this so-called discussion of compensation was merely a smokescreen. Their true intention was to tamper with the Assassination Pavilion.
The so-called Po Xing formation was a highly sinister array.
Places afflicted by this formation would transform into nests of malevolent energy.
Everyone living near the formation would be infused with this malevolent energy, turning into immortal and unkillable zombies.
Furthermore, the Po Xing formation would affect three generations.
Those who succumbed to the formation's malevolent energy and became zombies, regardless of gender, would bring about a devastating curse upon all their relatives and friends due to this malevolent energy.
Those destined for wealth might become destitute.
Those destined to be top scholars would fail their exams and never recover.
Other fates, such as early death, lingering resentment, or complete extinction of the family line, were all possible.
More importantly.
The Assassination Pavilion was her creation. Therefore, if the phantom succeeded in setting up the Po Xing formation within the Assassination Pavilion, she would be the most unfortunate.
Without having done anything, she would face the Po Xing demonic tribulation. All the subordinates within the Assassination Pavilion affected by the Po Xing formation would have their karmic debts counted against her.
Such a multitude of karmic debts would directly invite heavenly punishment upon her.
Moreover, the entire South Sea Dragon Clan would be implicated, incurring countless karmic debts. If Shao Feng and An Nuo wished to protect her, they would likely endure several lashes of heavenly punishment.
Perhaps Yan Hua would be unharmed.
But, if he wished to protect the South Sea, even if he escaped injury, he would be severely weakened.
Qi Yu took a deep breath, her fists clenched.
The Blood Demon Fiend would not attack the Assassination Pavilion without reason. Someone must have informed him that the Assassination Pavilion was connected to her, which is why he acted.
However, there were only a few people around her.
An Nuo, Shao Feng.
Yan Hua, Chen Xi, Jin Yan, Yu Yuan.
Chi Shang Ming, Wang Lan Qing.
Yue Zhi Yin, Qi Nian, Sui You, Chi Ming, Qi Yan, and the adorable Xiao Ming Lou.
Besides these, there were only Feng Ming Qi, Feng Yun Zui, and Feng Si Qian.
Among these people, who could possibly have defected to the Blood Demon Fiend?
Therefore, the notion of a spy from the Blood Demon Fiend among her close circle was simply not feasible.
Qi Yu's thoughts became agitated, but she could not show it. She replied in a calm and respectful tone, "Yes, the Po Xing formation has been completely set up. Although there was a minor unexpected incident, it has all been resolved."
Yu Zhen nodded.
Qi Yu's mind stirred, and she continued, "Oh, and we also saw the Pavilion Master of the Assassination Pavilion this time..."
Qi Yu intentionally brought this up.
Then, she subtly raised her eyes to observe Yu Zhen's reaction.
Yu Zhen's face showed shock. Immediately, as if she had heard an earth-shattering secret, she abruptly sat up, rushed down the stairs, and grabbed Qi Yu by the collar, "You saw the Pavilion Master of the Assassination Pavilion? Is that Pavilion Master male or female? Tall or short, fat or thin? Is she a young girl? Is she from the dragon clan?"
"Uh, yes, she's a young girl from the dragon clan, seemingly from the South Sea Dragon Clan," Qi Yu lowered her gaze.
Yu Zhen sat back in her seat, dazed, murmuring, "It really is her... The Pavilion Master of the Assassination Pavilion is indeed Qi Yu... No wonder the Blood Demon Fiend told me to handle the Assassination Pavilion personally..."
She smiled wryly, her expression more pained than a cry.
Qi Yu observed her expression, her mind largely made up.
It seemed the Blood Demon Fiend had instructed Yu Zhen to be the Hall Master of the Blood Fiend Hall, and the Po Xing formation was also arranged by the Blood Demon Fiend for Yu Zhen to set up.
On the surface, the Assassination Pavilion was just an ordinary assassin organization in the mortal realm, with no connection to the cultivation world.
Yu Zhen was likely also puzzled as to why the Blood Demon Fiend would so overtly target a mortal assassin organization, and had harbored doubts.
Her probing questions had just answered Yu Zhen's doubts.
Why would the Blood Demon Fiend so aggressively target the Assassination Pavilion, an ordinary mortal assassin organization that seemingly had no ties to the cultivation world? Because the power behind this organization was her.
So, the question now was.
Qi Yu thought expressionlessly.
How did the Blood Demon Fiend know she was the Pavilion Master of the Assassination Pavilion?
After all, she had reincarnated and had not visited the Assassination Pavilion for 10,000 years.
Even her own people within the Assassination Pavilion did not know how to contact her, nor whether the current Pavilion Master was still present, and if so, who it was.
Therefore, when the Assassination Pavilion could not contact her, and the people around her were unaware of the Assassination Pavilion's existence, how did the Blood Demon Fiend know all of this?
Could it be that his control over the Heavenly Dao had improved?
It was said that the Heavenly Dao knew all things.
If that were the reason, then things would become rather difficult.
Because it would mean that no matter what they did, the Blood Demon Fiend could see it clearly.
Chen Xi, standing behind, had a stern expression, clearly having anticipated these developments as well.
Yu Zhen sat alone on the Hall Master's seat, oscillating between tears and laughter. After a long while, when she finally calmed down, she beckoned to Qi Yu and, with a weary expression, handed over the blue lily in her hand, "Phantom, take this."
Qi Yu stepped forward and received it with both hands.
"This is a flower from the Morgan Grass," Yu Zhen gently touched a petal. "This flower has the ability to absorb souls. Go back to the Assassination Pavilion when you have time and place this flower, along with this strand of hair, in the very center of the Po Xing formation."
Behind her, Chen Xi's expression instantly turned cold.
Qi Yu looked at Yu Zhen, her eyes icy, her tone laced with probing, "But, Hall Master, if we do this, when the Po Xing formation is activated, the soul of the owner of this hair will be imprisoned in this flower. Moreover... Morgan Grass is harmful to souls. The soul that is imprisoned, even if it reincarnates, can only fall into the animal realm and will never be able to ascend to immortality."
"It's alright, this is enough," Yu Zhen said with a look of heartbroken agony. "The owner of this hair is my daughter. I have already lost her once, and I cannot lose her a second time. This is the only thing I can do to save her."
Qi Yu sneered.
The only thing she could do was to cooperate with the Blood Demon Fiend, knowing he intended to harm her, while claiming it was to save her, and then send her to the animal realm to become a beast?
Just as Qi Yu pursed her lips, preparing to excuse herself and leave, a swirl of crimson mist suddenly billowed in from outside.
The Blood Demon Fiend strode in.
He wore a smile on his face. Yu Zhen looked up, and upon seeing the Blood Demon Fiend, quickly yielded the Hall Master's seat.
The Blood Demon Fiend sat in the Blood Fiend Hall's seat and asked Yu Zhen below,
"How is the situation? Has everything that needed to be arranged been set up?"
"Yes," Yu Zhen replied. "Everything has been arranged and is in order."
The Blood Demon Fiend nodded with satisfaction, then announced loudly, "Our operation this time has been so smooth, and we have one person to thank. If not for her contributions, we would never have known that Qi Yu had this identity as the Pavilion Master of the Assassination Pavilion in the mortal realm. Come, I'll introduce you."
With that, the Blood Demon Fiend called out,
"Come in."