Chapter 560: Pavilion Master

Dongbo Xueying listened intently.

The Blood Blade Divine Emperor looked at him: “You should know that my subordinates can be divided into two parts—one is the Blood Blade Divine Court’s territory, and the other is the Blood Blade Tavern.”

Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Indeed.

The Blood Blade Divine Court’s territory occupied nearly one-third of the Divine Realm, divided into nineteen prefectures, with numerous legions stationed throughout. These legions were the Blood Blade Divine Emperor’s means of governing this vast domain. Their ranks were divided into fifteen tiers, from lowest to highest. Previously, Dongbo Xueying had merely been the Inspector of the ‘Eastern Region’ in Anhai Prefecture, one of the nineteen prefectures, holding the third-tier rank.

The Blood Blade Tavern, on the other hand, was an assassin organization spread across the Divine Realm, the Abyss, and the Material World! The status of its assassins was determined solely by their strength, ultimately assigning them a precise rank, also divided into fifteen tiers.

The lowest-ranking assassins were called ‘Attendants,’ with ranks below the ninth tier, typically peak-level deities.

The main hierarchy consisted of ‘Managers,’ further divided into three major levels—’Black Blade Managers,’ ‘Shadow Blade Managers,’ and ‘Blood Blade Managers’—with ranks generally ranging from the ninth to the second tier.

And above them—

Were the first-tier ranks—the Blood Blade Tavern Masters!

Each Blood Blade Tavern Master commanded a region, overseeing countless assassins. To be ranked as first-tier, their strength had to be at least that of a Paragon!

Above them stood the Grand Master of the Blood Blade Tavern—the strongest assassin in both the Divine Realm and the Abyss—the Blood Blade Divine Emperor himself!

“My forces are few in number, and even fewer Paragons are willing to become assassins. Yet my Blood Blade Tavern spans the Divine Realm and the Abyss. I am severely lacking in manpower, so I want you to take on the role of a Blood Blade Tavern Master and oversee a region,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor said, gazing at Dongbo Xueying. “As the highest authority in your assigned territory, how you manage and arrange things is entirely up to you. The specifics will be handled by those I assign to assist you.”

“A Blood Blade Tavern Master?” Dongbo Xueying inwardly marveled.

In the Divine Realm and the Abyss, they were synonymous with terror—super assassins! And above them stood only the supreme leader of the Blood Blade Tavern—the Blood Blade Divine Emperor.

“Unwilling?” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor asked.

“Assassin missions—does that mean I’ll be forced to kill someone?” Dongbo Xueying inquired, his heart resisting the idea.

“Hahaha.” The Blood Blade Divine Emperor laughed heartily. “You fool, there are only so many Blood Blade Tavern Masters across the entire Divine Realm and Abyss. Each governs their own territory, and I have no interest in micromanaging you. So, manage as you see fit! Even if you let most of your assassins die, I won’t interfere.”

“Even if you refuse to carry out missions, I won’t care.”

“Whether you bring endless slaughter, chaos, or peace—I don’t care. I only care about the final result,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor declared.

“Result?” Dongbo Xueying was puzzled. What result?

“You’ll understand once you take the position,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor said. “Will you accept this role?”

“If I’m not forced into missions, and I trust my master wouldn’t deceive me—then I accept,” Dongbo Xueying replied without hesitation.

The Blood Blade Divine Emperor smiled faintly. “You’re still somewhat inexperienced, so I’ll first assign you to oversee all Blood Blade Taverns in the three prefectures of Anhai, Donghe, and Jiujiang. Since these are within my territory, management will be relatively easier. Once you become a Four Heavens Realm God and your strength improves, I’ll expand your jurisdiction.”

“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying replied respectfully.

Three prefectures might seem vast.

But the Blood Blade Tavern spanned the Divine Realm, the Abyss, and the Material World. The Material World required no Paragon-level oversight, but the Divine Realm and Abyss demanded superhuman management. Few Paragons were willing to become assassins, leaving the Blood Blade Divine Emperor severely understaffed. Managing three prefectures was already a light burden.

“Here is your token and robe.” The Blood Blade Divine Emperor waved his hand, and a set of crimson robes floated into view, atop which rested a token exuding a terrifying aura, faintly bearing the Blood Blade Divine Emperor’s presence—impossible to counterfeit.

“This robe was personally forged by me, with many unique effects. You’ll understand once you refine and wear it. After all, an assassin needs suitable attire,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor explained. “With this token, you can prove your identity and status at any Blood Blade Tavern branch.”

“Understood.” Dongbo Xueying immediately stored the token and the special robe reserved for Blood Blade Tavern Masters.

“Master,” Dongbo Xueying said respectfully, “now that I’m a Blood Blade Tavern Master, may I enter the Dark Abyss?”

The Blood Blade Divine Emperor frowned. “You wish to enter the Dark Abyss?”

“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying nodded. “In my homeland, I have a sworn brother who suffers endless torment in the Dark Abyss. Before, my strength was insufficient, so I could only endure. Now, I feel I’m strong enough, and with my new status, perhaps I can venture into the Dark Abyss.”

“Do you understand the peculiarities of the Dark Abyss?” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor asked sternly.

“Your disciple understands!” Dongbo Xueying replied.

The rules of the Material World nurtured and protected its inhabitants.

The rules of the Dark Abyss, however, embodied darkness, destruction, and slaughter—a convergence of all chaos and malevolence. The will of the Dark Abyss drove its denizens to wage war and slaughter beyond its borders. The more they killed, the greater the rewards bestowed by the Dark Abyss’s will, favoring those who excelled in carnage.

For an outsider to enter the Dark Abyss was like a drop of blood in a frenzy of sharks—it would incite madness!

Killing an outsider granted immense rewards from the Dark Abyss’s will—purifying their divine hearts, aligning them closer to darkness, strengthening their demonic bodies, and easing their transcendence!

Thus—

Even Paragons who befriended Dark Abyss Paragons typically met in the Divine Realm. Rarely did they venture into the Dark Abyss.

Because once inside, the Dark Abyss’s will would mark them as ‘prey,’ inciting countless Dark Abyss powerhouses to hunt them down!

“If I conceal all traces of my identity, preventing the Dark Abyss’s will from detecting me, it should be manageable,” Dongbo Xueying said. “Moreover, I’ll rely solely on my physical strength in battle, avoiding the use of Realm God power, so I won’t be exposed.”

Just as Red Rock Mountain shielded itself from detection, the Material World’s rules could only probe within if permitted.

Otherwise, intrusion was impossible.

The same principle applied.

As long as he didn’t reveal ‘Realm God power’ or his identity, the Dark Abyss’s rules couldn’t confirm his origins. Without confirmation, he wouldn’t be marked as ‘prey.’

“But if your identity is exposed, you’ll be in grave danger,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor warned. “Fortunately, the robe I’ve given you excels in concealing traces. The Material World’s rules… heh, they aren’t truly sentient, merely a simple will. With caution, you can evade its detection. But if exposed, you’ll be on your own.”

“Your disciple understands,” Dongbo Xueying replied respectfully.

He grasped the Divine Emperor’s meaning—the decision was his, and so were the consequences.

“You can accept a mission from a Blood Blade Tavern in the Dark Abyss as your pretext for entry,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor suggested.

“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying acknowledged.

“When do you plan to go?” the Divine Emperor asked.

“As soon as possible,” Dongbo Xueying answered.

“Then I’ll arrange for someone to brief you on your responsibilities,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor said with a faint smile. “The Dark Abyss is a land where every corner holds enemies. Even the members of my Taverns there are denizens of the Dark Abyss. You must remain vigilant at all times, never revealing your identity. Consider this a trial—don’t die there.”

“Be careful. The Dark Abyss is nothing like the Divine Realm. It’s a place of pure evil and terror. Its denizens are raised in slaughter from birth—their very bones are steeped in madness,” the Black Bird chimed in.

“Enough. No need to frighten him further. Go now, spend time with your wife,” the Blood Blade Divine Emperor instructed.

“Your disciple takes his leave.” Dongbo Xueying bowed respectfully.

Elder Brother Changfeng had suffered far too long.

Now that his strength had grown, he could wait no longer. Tens of thousands of years had passed since Changfeng was taken into the Dark Abyss. Waiting until he became a Four Heavens Realm God? That could take another hundred thousand years—far too long. He feared Changfeng might not endure.

“Dark Abyss…” A sharp glint flashed in Dongbo Xueying’s eyes. Having mastered the *Annihilation Extreme Body*, he now possessed formidable self-preservation—his confidence for venturing into the Dark Abyss.

(End of Chapter)