Chapter 3: Ocean of Knowledge: Obtain three or more types of high-level knowledge stored within the Arcane Eternal Star's Void Grand Library through non-theft means.
Task Reward: Ancient Scholar·Title (★★★★★★).
……
None of the three tasks were combat-oriented, which was normal. Tasks triggered by the "Realm Passage Qualification" were like this; to be precise, they leaned more toward travel tasks.
Su Xiao chose [Law Destroyer's Visit] and [Ocean of Knowledge]. Whether he completed them or not didn't matter, as there was no task penalty. If he did complete them, he'd profit.
Su Xiao didn't immediately activate the teleportation authority corresponding to the "Realm Passage Qualification." He still had to meet someone.
Just then, an email suddenly appeared. Opening it, he saw it was from Divine Emperor. The content of the email wasn't the main point; the key was the attached 7500 Soul Coins.
The [Nether Shadow] Su Xiao had obtained earlier was somewhat hard to find a buyer. Those who could afford this thing were at least Eighth Rank Contractors. The problem was, among Eighth Rank Contractors, few hadn't obtained a class inheritance, and even if they hadn't, they all had their own independent systems.
This meant that those who needed [Nether Shadow] absolutely couldn't afford it, while those who could afford it didn't need it.
The Divine Emperor Adventure Group was an exception. They couldn't afford it in one go but desperately needed this item.
Therefore, Su Xiao arranged a loan for them with [Nether Shadow]. Although there was no interest, the total price of [Nether Shadow] was as high as 70,000 Soul Coins. The benefit was that they could pay in installments, many, many installments.
Facts proved that shearing a sheep down to the bone in one go caused great psychological harm to the sheep. That was the case before; every time he sheared the Divine Emperor Adventure Group down to the bone, they would howl in agony and take a long time to recover.
This time, he wasn't shearing them to the bone; he was doing it gradually. The effect was immediately apparent; they paid back 7500 Soul Coins in one go.
Su Xiao checked his remaining Soul Coins, totaling 10,208. He didn't plan to use them, reserving them to supplement the wearing time of the Holy Flame title. Although the existing 240 hours, or ten days, was more than enough for this trip to Arcane Eternal Star, it was always right to be safe and keep some surplus.
Su Xiao activated the standard Void teleportation authority and selected "Ataha Star" from over 7,000 teleportation points within the Void.
He didn't bring Beini along this time, but instead brought Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha. This matter had to be done without any disguise.
Spatial fluctuations appeared around him, and Su Xiao felt a weight at the back of his head. Compared to the sledgehammer-level sensation when teleporting to Primordial Worlds, going to the Void was a slightly better club-level sensation.
……
Void · Ataha Star.
The sky was overcast, with substances like paper ash flying everywhere. The land was desolate and severely desertified. Sand-like metal fragments could be seen on the ground, indicating severe mechanical pollution in the area.
A half-decayed corpse was half-buried in the wind and sand. Several semi-mechanical vultures were feasting on it. One pecked out an eyeball, tilted its head back, and swallowed it into its belly. Even though this heavily metallic eyeball bulged its throat and neck, it continued to swallow greedily and wildly.
This vulture, severely contaminated by machinery, was like a microcosm of the entire Ataha Star: greedy, wild, hungry, and without bottom line. To fill its hungry belly, life itself was a bargaining chip.
This was Ataha Star, the most famous lawless land in the Void. Major races like the Demon Race, Feather Race, and Arcane Eternal Star couldn't govern it. Only underground emperors like White Bull could make these mad dogs restrain themselves a bit, but if these mad dogs were pushed too far, they wouldn't hesitate to fight to the death with White Bull's men.
Even so, the mad dogs here all had genuine respect for White Bull from the bottom of their hearts.
This was a mountain cave, a rare shelter from the wind. The howling wind outside not only had a rusty smell but also increased the degree of mechanical pollution if exposed for too long.
The fluctuation of spatial teleportation appeared and disappeared on a high platform. In this dimly lit cave, many hungry 'mad dogs' hidden in the shadows of the corners were attracted by the spatial fluctuation. Wearing tattered clothes, with more than half of their skin showing a metallic texture, they looked at the arriving guest, assessing whether this was prey.
Soon, these starving 'mad dogs' receded back into the shadows. The one who came this time was a Blood Beast, neither a comrade nor prey.
"This is Ataha Star? The mechanical pollution is really severe."
Baha, perched on Amu's shoulder, spoke. Bubu Wang beside him sneezed.
Su Xiao checked the time. He had arrived a bit early. He walked down from the high platform where the teleportation array was located, sat on a rock at the edge of the cave, lit a cigarette, and waited.
"Gentlemen, I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long?"
A man wrapped in tattered clothes, nearly 1.9 meters tall, walked over. He was tall and thin, and his exposed entire right arm was a semi-corroded mechanical prosthetic. When he walked, there was a clicking sound of mechanical transmission.
"…"
Su Xiao didn't speak, just tossed a Soul Crystal (Medium) over. The tall, thin man opposite immediately became a few degrees warmer and made a gesture of invitation.
Half an hour later, inside the Dead Ash Fortress of Ataha Star.
The interior of the fortress was heavy metal style, dirty and chaotic yet exuding a sense of technology. In an office on the middle floor, which was different from the outside, the office was richly decorated. A potbellied man with a cigar between his fingers sat on a leather chair. His right arm and lower jaw were made of shiny "Platinum Alloy."
This man was named Polelu, the ruler of this exile land, the boss of all scavengers and desperadoes.
"Rare guest, rare guest! The Law Destroyer graces my presence, and I have been remiss."
Polelu patted his big belly. Weighing at least 800 kilograms, he sat there like a mountain of flesh. His pitch-black eye sockets and pale pupils indicated he had been severely contaminated by machinery, but he seemed to have suppressed it by some method.
"The famous Law Destroyer comes to my place, either with a commission or to settle scores. I guess it's a commission."
As Polelu spoke, he flicked the ash from his cigar.
"After the Arcane Festival begins, eliminate the Holy Flame Alchemist."
Su Xiao spoke. Hearing this, Polelu opposite choked on a few puffs of smoke, then smiled wryly and said:
"Law Destroyer, if I understand correctly, you want to commission me to send someone to Arcane Eternal Star to assassinate the Holy Flame Alchemist after the Arcane Festival starts?"
"Yes."
"Hahahaha, you must be joking. You want me to send someone to Arcane Eternal Star to assassinate the Holy Flame Alchemist? Hahaha…"
Polelu laughed heartily, causing everything in the room to vibrate.
A metal box was thrown onto the desk. Polelu's laughter gradually subsided and finally stopped completely. His large hand pressed on the metal box, glanced at Su Xiao, and then tapped the metal box with his finger.
"No matter what price you offer, I won't…"
Polelu's words were cut short as he opened the metal box and saw its contents. Inside was a total of 1 kilogram of Black Maple Tree branches. It wasn't from Su Xiao's Black Maple Tree but obtained from an exchange with Daomo. In other words, it was Black Maple Tree branches produced from the depths of the Black Abyss.
"This is the down payment."
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Polelu, who had been leaning back in his oversized leather chair, instinctively straightened up. He opened a drawer, took out a cigar and a cigar cutter, trimmed and lit it, placed it in a clean ashtray, and politely offered it to Su Xiao.
"Mr. White Night, this… is a bit difficult to handle. This time, Arcane Eternal Star is inviting the Holy Flame Alchemist with the highest level of reception and protection. If I send someone to assassinate him, Arcane Eternal Star will definitely skin me alive afterward."
Polelu took a deep drag on his cigar like inhaling smoke, staring at the 1000 grams of Black Maple Tree branches in the metal box. Greed surged in his heart, but he didn't have the idea of a double-cross. The reason was that the person opposite was a Law Destroyer, one who had been targeted by Arcane Eternal Star for a long time yet still lived well.
"Forget it, then. I'll post the commission at the Hunter's Guild."
Su Xiao made a move to reach for the metal box on the desk. Polelu opposite pressed down on it with one hand, his eyes narrowing. The fat on his drooping face trembled.
"Mr. White Night, this is too cruel. First, you throw such a big, delicious piece of meat to a mad dog, and now you want to take it away. Aren't you afraid the mad dog will bite you?"
Polelu spoke with a full smile on his face.
"Take your time to consider. I have other things to do later."
Su Xiao took out his pocket watch and checked the time. He didn't retaliate or say harsh words; everything was calm and natural.
Seeing this, Polelu's smile faded. He had seen many people's reactions when threatened: some pretended to be calm, some fought back sharply, and some simply attacked directly.
Polelu had ways to deal with these people, but there was one type he didn't want to provoke: those who, when threatened, still replied calmly and naturally, or rather, with composure. The more composed a person was, the more ruthless they were when they acted.
"Mr. White Night, I personally speculate that you never thought we mad dogs could solve the Holy Flame. You're just using us mad dogs to scratch Arcane Eternal Star's face. It won't hurt much, but they'll lose face."
Pausing here, Polelu hesitated for a few seconds, then continued:
"I'll take this commission. But the one doing this won't be my men. More precisely, the person doing this will have no connection whatsoever with Dead Ash Fortress. He will be hired by the Law Destroyer, Kukulin Bai Ye. He definitely won't succeed in the assassination, but he will definitely attempt it. Is that enough, Mr. White Night?"
After speaking, Polelu pushed the metal box back, reluctantly lifting his hand from it.
"…"
Su Xiao looked at the man opposite, fat as a mountain of flesh. This guy was more worthy of long-term cooperation than expected. No wonder White Bull had recommended him before.
"Mr. White Night, please don't cut my face."
Polelu sighed.
"…"
Su Xiao drew his long blade. The next moment, the desk in front of him shattered, and blade aura crisscrossed.
A few seconds later.
Boom!
A loud noise came from the middle floor of Dead Ash Fortress. Su Xiao, with crystal layers clinging to parts of his body, flew out along with the building debris.
Inside the office with its walls broken, Polelu, bleeding profusely, clutched his spurting throat with one hand. His desperadoes rushed into the office.
"Kill that Law Destroyer!!"
Polelu's angry shout echoed far and wide. However, Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, Amu, and Baha had already disappeared, having activated their brand authority and returned to Reincarnation Paradise.
The chaos in Dead Ash Fortress lasted a long time. In a dilapidated house, an old man in tattered clothes used an old but stable transmission device to send intelligence to Arcane Eternal Star. The content was: 'Law Destroyer appeared at Ataha Star. Negotiations broke down. Polelu severely injured.'
……
The spatial fluctuations dissipated, and Su Xiao appeared in his Exclusive Room. He sheathed his long blade.
The reason for arranging this play of hiring someone to assassinate himself was to significantly reduce Arcane Eternal Star's suspicion and probing of the Holy Flame Alchemist.
Su Xiao never considered his enemies to be fools, especially a Void overlord like Arcane Eternal Star. Without thinking, after they welcomed the Holy Flame Alchemist, they would definitely harbor suspicions. This Holy Flame Alchemist, who had suddenly risen to fame not long ago, what was his true background?
Rather than passively facing this situation, Su Xiao chose to take the initiative. Imagine this: shortly after the Holy Flame Alchemist arrived at Arcane Eternal Star, he was attacked by an assassin hired by the Law Destroyer, Kukulin Bai Ye. Under such circumstances, could Arcane Eternal Star continue to probe the Holy Flame Alchemist or make insinuations? That would be no different from directly driving him away.
If they wanted to drive him away, there was no need for probing. Therefore, once that situation occurred, Arcane Eternal Star would be on the defensive.
Another point: Su Xiao wasn't going to Arcane Eternal Star this time for a visit; he was going to deliver a 'big gift.'
Arcane Eternal Star had held the Arcane Festival many times before. The guests invited this time had basically participated in several Arcane Festivals.
This would create a situation: nothing happened in previous Arcane Festivals, but trouble occurred as soon as the Holy Flame Alchemist arrived. Arcane Eternal Star didn't need evidence; once they started suspecting, they would take measures simultaneously. Even if the suspect was an Alchemy Master, they wouldn't show the slightest mercy.
But if, at the very beginning of the Arcane Festival, an assassin hired by the Law Destroyer, Kukulin Bai Ye, struck, and subsequent attacks occurred, they would all be attributed to the Law Destroyer, Kukulin Bai Ye.
This was the effect Su Xiao wanted to create. He wanted Arcane Eternal Star to feel that both the Law Destroyer and the Holy Flame Alchemist were at Arcane Eternal Star, doing almost opposite things. As long as Arcane Eternal Star didn't have a wild brainstorm and engage in intelligence-defying reasoning, they wouldn't suspect anything wrong with the Holy Flame Alchemist.
This wasn't a case where the murderer and the investigator were the same person; it was a case where the murderer and the victim were the same person. Arcane Eternal Star's people could rack their brains and never consider this possibility.
Su Xiao equipped the Holy Flame Alchemist title. His aura first changed, giving a lazy, casual feeling. He took out the Holy Flame's attire, dressed neatly, and looked at Beini beside him.
The disguise effect brought by the Holy Flame Alchemist title not only disguised Su Xiao himself but also disguised Beini along with him, because in the disguise's judgment, Beini was the Holy Flame Alchemist's attendant.
At this moment, Beini's fur turned golden-white, slightly longer than before, with pointed fluff at the tips of her ears. She jumped onto the flying carpet she had bought with her own savings, worth 5600 Soul Coins, instantly highlighting her wealthy aura.
Seeing this, Su Xiao activated the teleportation authority of the "Realm Passage Qualification."
[Teleportation initiated. Destination: Arcane Eternal Star.]