The jade slip listed items of immense value, far beyond Wang Qiupo’s imagination.
As a spy who had left home at a young age, some of these items were things he had never even heard of.
In that moment, Wang Qiupo found himself believing Xu Bai’s words a little more.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he gestured for Xu Bai to wait.
Then, he quietly lay back onto the rattan chair behind him, closing his eyes as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
From Xu Bai’s perspective, Wang Qiupo’s vitality was dissipating at an astonishing rate.
In just a brief moment, it seemed as though he had died of old age, becoming indistinguishable from a corpse.
“No wonder he managed to remain hidden as a spy for eight hundred years without being exposed. He certainly has some remarkable tricks,” Xu Bai thought to himself as he observed Wang Qiupo for a long time.
Even the thatched hut where Wang Qiupo resided seemed to possess some mysterious qualities. His life force had disappeared, yet the people outside remained unaware. They were still lined up outside, waiting patiently.
Then, like a withered tree experiencing spring’s revival, Wang Qiupo’s vitality returned.
However, Xu Bai keenly noticed that this elder, who had lived for eight centuries, was now one step closer to death.
With a light cough, Wang Qiupo stood up again and approached Xu Bai.
“I have already confirmed with the organization, young man. Your words are not false,” he said.
“Our previous transactions also prove that your Heaven-Suppressing Society has credibility. However…”
Wang Qiupo’s aged eyes locked onto Xu Bai.
“How do you prove that you are truly a member of the Heaven-Suppressing Society?”
“And not someone from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance who has uncovered my true identity and is trying to use this to launch a counterattack?”
“What were the contents of our last two transactions?”
Faced with Wang Qiupo’s barrage of questions, Xu Bai remained unfazed. He smiled faintly and gave his answer.
“The first was the Immortal Alliance’s entrance examination questions. The second was the true identity of an ancient cultivator the Immortal Alliance was searching for.”
Hearing these two statements, Wang Qiupo’s tense body immediately slumped.
After a moment of silence, he spoke in a deep voice.
“The organization has indeed detected traces of the laws of the world reversing. However, we have yet to pinpoint the true identity of this Heavenly Sovereign…”
“This deal is accepted.”
“However, since it involves the Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign, signing a contract might alert him. So, this transaction can only be a verbal agreement, relying on mutual trust.”
Xu Bai’s eyes flickered slightly before he shook his head with a smile.
“No problem. There will be many opportunities for us to collaborate in the future. I trust that you won’t go back on your word.”
“Since that’s settled, I’ll share the information with you now.”
Xu Bai’s expression grew serious as he whispered,
“The law this Heavenly Sovereign is reversing is that of life and death.”
“Recently, we discovered some beings in the Devouring Essence White Mist—neither truly alive nor truly dead. They resemble living corpses.”
“Coupling this with our observations of the world’s laws being reversed, our investigations have confirmed this theory.”
“As for this Heavenly Sovereign’s true identity, we are still uncertain.”
“However, we do have some suspicious targets.”
After speaking, Xu Bai lifted his hand and, as if writing in the air, inscribed two names—”Lan Yu (Blue Feather)” and “Tian Yi (Heavenly Doctor).”
Wang Qiupo narrowed his eyes and firmly memorized the names.
Just as he was about to recline back into his rattan chair, Xu Bai suddenly asked,
“Old sir, do you wish to return home?”
“If you use the information I provided to negotiate with the Five Elders Association…”
“I believe they would agree to your return.”
A flicker of hope appeared in Wang Qiupo’s eyes, only to be quickly extinguished.
He finally shook his head and said softly,
“The fate of spies like me is to have both our bodies and souls rot away in foreign lands.”
“As for my homeland…”
“I have long forgotten what it looks like.”
His voice was low as he lay back in the rattan chair. Once again, his life force gradually faded.
“The items on the list will be delivered to you as promised.”
“Now, leave. This time, I will not wake up again.”
Before his vitality completely dissipated, he uttered these final words.
Xu Bai nodded.
“In that case, why don’t I borrow your death for a moment?”
Wang Qiupo was momentarily stunned before understanding dawned on him.
With his last ounce of strength, he slowly nodded.
Before his life force completely vanished, Xu Bai struck out with a palm.
Wang Qiupo was instantly reduced to ashes.
At the same time, Xu Bai bellowed,
“So, you were a lackey of the Five Elders Association? Courting death!”
With Wang Qiupo’s death, the restrictions placed upon the hut vanished. Xu Bai’s voice spread beyond its walls.
Coupled with the celestial phenomenon of a meteor falling from the sky, the cultivators outside immediately realized what had happened.
The handsome young man before them had actually killed Wang Qiupo, a well-known figure in Tianliang Prefecture!
The crowd erupted into an uproar.
Rage, shock, disbelief…
Countless emotions surged in their hearts.
“Seize him!”
The cultivators, full of righteous indignation, surrounded Xu Bai as he calmly stepped out of the hut.
However, Xu Bai remained utterly composed. Facing the enraged cultivators, he coldly rebuked,
“Are you all planning to become accomplices of a spy from the Five Elders Association?”
Hearing this, the cultivators stiffened.
Though they had vaguely overheard mention of the Five Elders Association earlier, they hadn’t linked it to Wang Qiupo.
After all, the old man’s reputation was far too renowned—practically a household name in Tianliang Prefecture.
Yet, the young man before them didn’t seem like someone who would make baseless accusations.
“What exactly is going on?”
They exchanged uncertain glances, momentarily stunned by Xu Bai’s words.
“Report this to the authorities immediately!” Someone finally reacted.
“Until the City Lord arrives, you’re not allowed to leave!” They blocked Xu Bai’s path.
Xu Bai remained unfazed.
“No problem. In fact, you should call the Martial Hall and the Defense Bureau as well. Once they investigate, you’ll see that my words are true.”
Seeing how calm he was, the cultivators grew even more uncertain.
“If what he says is true, and Wang Qiupo was really a spy for the Five Elders Association…”
“Then the sky is about to fall.”
Thinking of the countless cultivators he had recommended over the years, the crowd swallowed nervously, a chill rising in their hearts.
They didn’t have to wait long before an orange streak of light flew down from the sky.
It was none other than the Lord of Tianliang City, Xiang Rongxin.
Sweeping his gaze around, he locked eyes on Xu Bai.
Without a word, without even questioning, he raised his hand high, forming a massive palm from above—
He was going to kill Xu Bai on the spot!
“This is a cover-up!”
The cultivators present were all shocked, but no one dared to intervene.
Just as they thought this handsome cultivator was about to meet a tragic end, they saw him calmly pull out a folding fan and, with a crisp swish, unfold it.
Before the massive palm could strike him, an invisible ripple spread out, neutralizing the deadly attack.
“Hm?”
A trace of astonishment appeared on Xiang Rongxin’s face.
Seeing Xu Bai’s gaze carrying a hint of mockery, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.
Just as he was about to unleash his full strength to ensure Xu Bai’s death—
A lazy voice suddenly came from the horizon.
“Hold on, City Lord Xiang!”
“I heard someone reported that a spy from the Five Elders Association was executed. Is this true?”
Before the voice even faded, a black-robed cultivator appeared at the scene.
Xiang Rongxin’s expression immediately darkened.
The newcomer was none other than Nangong Shirong, the Commander of Tianliang Prefecture’s Defense Bureau Office.
With him here, there was no way to suppress the matter.
This was troublesome.
Glancing at the lingering celestial phenomenon above, Xiang Rongxin sighed internally.
“Wang Qiupo… Wang Qiupo… You’ve really put me in a tough spot.”
After receiving reports from his subordinates, Xiang Rongxin quickly made a judgment. Regardless of whether “Wang Qiupo being a spy from the Five Elders Association” was true or not—
He had to turn it into a falsehood.
Otherwise…
Seeing the smile on Nangong Shirong’s face, Xiang Rongxin could already foresee the storm of bloodshed about to engulf Tianliang Prefecture—perhaps even the entire Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
“This young friend, please come with me,” Nangong Shirong said to Xu Bai in a friendly tone.
“I was thinking the same.” Xu Bai cupped his hands in response, his expression fearless.
What followed progressed swiftly.
Xu Bai firmly insisted that, based on subtle clues, he had suspected Wang Qiupo of being a spy.
Acting in the interest of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, he personally approached Wang Qiupo to probe him.
To his shock, Wang Qiupo openly admitted his true identity and even attempted to assassinate him.
Left with no choice, Xu Bai fought back and killed him.
It was a simple matter.
Nangong Shirong seemed uninterested in verifying Xu Bai’s claims and immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate Wang Qiupo.
Even if Wang Qiupo wasn’t a spy, he wouldn’t be able to withstand the meticulous scrutiny of the Defense Bureau Office.
Wherever one walks, traces are left behind.
Moreover, Wang Qiupo truly was a spy from the Five Elders Association.
It didn’t take long before Nangong Shirong held a wealth of irrefutable “evidence” in his hands.
“Hahaha! Young friend, you have done a great service for the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance this time!” Nangong Shirong laughed heartily, patting Xu Bai’s shoulder with great satisfaction.
“Until the dust settles, stay here and avoid going out to prevent retaliation. Rest assured, once everything is clarified, you will receive your rightful rewards!”
Xu Bai replied solemnly, “Eradicating traitors for the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance is our duty.”
Seeing Xu Bai’s strong sense of duty, Nangong Shirong was very pleased.
He patted Xu Bai’s shoulder again in encouragement before hurriedly leaving.
The conclusion of this matter came even faster than Xu Bai had anticipated.
Because the Five Elders Association had also stepped in.
In response to the accusations from the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, the Five Elders Association firmly denied everything. They claimed Wang Qiupo had absolutely no connection with them.
The Five Elders Association maintained its principle of peaceful coexistence and would never intentionally undermine relations between the two sides.
They urged the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance to stop fabricating stories and making baseless accusations.
…
The more they denied it, the deeper the suspicions grew.
Although many clues suggested that this might have been Wang Qiupo’s final attempt to sow discord before his death—
Even so…
Better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let a single one slip away.
In just over ten days, all the cultivators who had been promoted thanks to Wang Qiupo’s recommendations were placed under isolation and investigation.
Even those on missions deep within the White Mist had been forcibly recalled.
The results were predictable.
A small number were indeed found guilty and immediately taken down.
Most, though lacking direct evidence of wrongdoing, were permanently sidelined—relegated to meaningless roles with no future prospects. If nothing unexpected happened, they would spend the rest of their lives in obscurity.
While the entire Immortal Alliance was in turmoil—
A cultivator from the Defense Bureau Office, who had seized an empty position left by the removed officials, approached Li Fan.
“These are the agreed-upon supplies.”
“The organization is very pleased with this transaction.”
“We look forward to working together again.”