Chapter 561: Preparation

After bidding farewell, Dongbo Xueying headed straight to the Yin Stone Courtyard.

“Senior Brother.”

“Senior Brother Dongbo.”

The inner disciples and nominal disciples of the Divine Emperor within the Yin Stone Courtyard all bowed respectfully upon seeing Dongbo Xueying’s arrival. In this era, among those below the level of a Great Power, Dongbo Xueying was the Divine Emperor’s sole personal disciple—their eldest senior brother. Moreover, news of his strength reaching the Four Heavens Realm God level had long spread, leaving them all utterly convinced.

What they didn’t know was that Dongbo Xueying, after his experiences at the Heart of the Lake Island, had mastered both the *Annihilation Extreme Profound Body* and the fourth revolution of *Taihao*. Combined, these granted him strength comparable to a Great Power.

Just as he turned a corridor corner, a black metallic figure approached. At a glance, Dongbo Xueying recognized it as no ordinary lifeform but a combat puppet, its faintly exuding aura suggesting battle prowess at the Four Heavens Realm God level.

“Your Highness Dongbo,” the black metallic figure said respectfully, “by His Majesty’s command, I have come to transfer certain matters to you.”

“So soon?” Dongbo Xueying glanced at the puppet in surprise.

“This is the communication artifact.” The puppet handed over a blood-red ring.

Dongbo Xueying took it, and with a single thought, his Realm God power permeated and refined the ring. Instantly, he sensed its numerous functions. Through this ring, he could command and manage all Bloodblade Taverns within his three territories—issuing missions, transmitting orders, deploying personnel—all via this single communication artifact.

“Should Your Highness lose the ring, you may directly contact me, and I will relay your instructions,” the black metallic figure said deferentially.

“Understood.” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Just as the Temporal Temple relied on artifact spirits for trivial matters, the Bloodblade Tavern also employed non-living entities like these—utterly loyal and inexhaustible.

“My master has said he cares not for how I manage things, only the results,” Dongbo Xueying remarked.

“Indeed, the results,” the puppet replied. “His Majesty’s concerns are twofold. First, any client who pays sufficient price to issue a mission must see it fulfilled by the Bloodblade Tavern at all costs. If the task exceeds Your Highness’s capabilities, it may be escalated to His Majesty. Second, every hundred million years, the ‘contribution points’ granted under Your Highness’s jurisdiction must total at least three hundred million.”

“Oh?” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

The first condition was straightforward—if the price was paid, the mission must be completed. If weaker assassins failed, stronger ones could be dispatched.

But the second condition, ensuring at least three hundred million contribution points, was trickier.

The Bloodblade Tavern had its own rigorous evaluation system for mission difficulty, with fixed ranges for contribution rewards. One couldn’t simply inflate numbers!

“The first is simple,” the puppet said. “The second isn’t difficult either. If missions within your jurisdiction fall short over a hundred million years, Your Highness may issue tasks yourself. However, be cautious—issuing missions also entangles karma.”

“I understand.” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Karma?

Assassins themselves bore no karma; it formed between the task issuer and the target.

If Dongbo Xueying issued missions himself, he’d need to ensure thoroughness—eliminating enemies cleanly to minimize karmic backlash. As a Great Power, minor karma mattered little; after all, conflict and slaughter were inevitable in the mortal realm. Only widespread acts like mass worship, binding countless lives to one’s karma, posed true peril.

For cultivators, two principles guided action: minimize karma and act with a clear conscience.

Cultivating the heart was paramount. Doubt and hesitation barred transcendence.

“Why did Master set these conditions?” Dongbo Xueying wondered silently.

“At the pinnacle of the Divine Realm and Abyss, why establish an assassin organization that must fulfill any sufficiently paid request?” he mused. “And the second condition is even stranger—why must the Bloodblade Tavern handle so many missions?”

It seemed his master desired as many missions as possible.

But what benefit did that bring him?

“Moreover, Master, the Temporal Island Lord, the Ten Thousand Gods Palace Master—they all eagerly serve as oath witnesses,” Dongbo Xueying reflected. Most powerhouses disliked oath constraints, yet in critical moments, they swore them. Such oaths were often witnessed by Bloodblade Divine Emperor or the Temporal Island Lord. Violators faced instant annihilation at their whim.

“Given how many oath-breakers they must slay daily…” Dongbo Xueying sensed something deeper. “One acting thus might be personal inclination, but for Master and the others to do so collectively suggests a purpose.”

“And the Bloodblade Tavern’s mandate to complete countless missions, unleashing so much slaughter…”

Dongbo Xueying suspected this concealed profound secrets beyond his current realm. His master and peers were all Dominions, likely pursuing their own inscrutable aims.

—

After pondering in the corridor, Dongbo Xueying returned to his abode.

“Xueying.” Yu Jingqiu and Monarch Snow were sipping tea in the courtyard and rose to greet him.

“Jingqiu, Father-in-law.” Dongbo Xueying acknowledged them.

“Hah! Xueying, thanks to you, I can enjoy tea with my daughter in peace,” Monarch Snow laughed.

“It was my duty.” Dongbo Xueying turned to Yu Jingqiu. “Jingqiu, I plan to journey to the Dark Abyss.”

“The Dark Abyss?” Both Yu Jingqiu and Monarch Snow paled. “So soon? For Elder Brother Changfeng?”

“Yes.” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Yu Jingqiu fretted. “Isn’t this too rushed? Wait until you reach the Four Heavens Realm God level—”

The Dark Abyss was enemy territory through and through.

Dongbo Xueying shook his head. “Any longer, and Elder Brother Changfeng may not endure. Besides, my strength has grown significantly at the Heart of the Lake Island. At worst, I’ll lose a clone.”

“I’ll go with you,” Yu Jingqiu insisted.

“No need,” Dongbo Xueying smiled. “My disguise methods work best alone.”

“Daughter, stay,” Monarch Snow advised. “Your current strength would hinder him. The Dark Abyss brooks no carelessness.”

While spending time with his wife and father-in-law, Dongbo Xueying settled affairs. Yu Jingqiu remained to refine her newly acquired true divine artifact sword, while Monarch Snow nurtured a clone—his true self cultivating here for a final shot at transcendence, the clone reuniting with family.

Before departing, Dongbo Xueying received messages from several Great Powers, primarily allies of the Bloodblade Divine Court or peers of that stature.

“Brother Dongbo, never thought you’d join us as a Bloodblade Hall Master so swiftly! Call on me anytime.”

“Brother Dongbo, a Triple Realm God becoming a Hall Master—impressive! Heard you crossed blades with the Withered Tree Matriarch and left her worse for wear?”

One after another, fellow Hall Masters from the same faction congratulated him via the Bloodblade Tavern’s internal network.

Two figures even reached out via karmic transmission, lacking prior contact marks—Emperor Guzang and the Bamboo Mountain Prefect.

“Junior Brother Dongbo, this opportunity came thanks to you. I owe you one,” Emperor Guzang said tersely.

The Bamboo Mountain Prefect was blunter: “The ancient cave abode of the Heart of the Lake Island’s master—my chance to explore it was due to you. This debt won’t be forgotten. Any request, even at mortal peril, I’ll answer without hesitation.”

Outsiders saw the Bamboo Mountain Prefect as one of the Bloodblade Divine Court’s Three Ancestors, a figure of glory.

Yet within, anxiety gnawed at him—for he had yet to transcend.

The Heart of the Lake Island’s master stood as the strongest across cosmic epochs. Normally, such exploration slots would never fall to him. Without Dongbo Xueying, the Bloodblade faction might have secured none, all claimed by the Primordial Master’s camp. Such chances were rarely traded.

Dongbo Xueying responded humbly to both.

—

On the third day after returning from the Heart of the Lake Island, Dongbo Xueying left the Bloodblade Divine Court alone. He first returned to the Xia Clan’s world in the material realm, then set out for the Dark Abyss.