# Chapter 404: Ghost Shadow Holy Hand
"Uncle Xia... at the Black Moon Headquarters? Right here?" Yun Che was astonished in his heart. Half a year ago, after returning to Flowcloud City, he first went to the Xia Clan and learned that Xia Hongyi had long since left home to search for the missing Xia Yuanba, who had vanished without a trace. The young servant left at the Xia residence told him that when Xia Hongyi was packing his belongings, he had taken out a black crescent-shaped object... At that time, Yun Che had suspected it might be something related to the Black Moon Merchant Guild, and guessed that he might be trying to find Xia Yuanba through the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
He never expected that he had actually stayed here at the Black Moon Merchant Guild.
And this place was not one of the Black Moon branches scattered across Tian Xuan... but the legendary Black Moon Headquarters!
Those who could stay here were by no means ordinary people. Clearly, Xia Hongyi's connection with the Black Moon Merchant Guild was far from simple.
"If you wish to see him, this old man can personally take you to him right now. I imagine he will be extremely delighted to see you." Zi Ji said with a genial smile.
Yun Che's expression became incredibly complicated. After a long silence, he slowly sat down and asked, "Has Uncle Xia been doing well here?"
"Whether it's good or not, only he knows. But here, at least he has stability and won't be bullied by anyone," Zi Ji said.
Yun Che nodded, half-muttering to himself, "That's good. Knowing that Uncle Xia is safe and sound puts my mind at ease... Yuanba was taken to the Cangfeng Mystic Palace by me, and I also took him to the Tian Jian Villa. If he had stayed in New Moon City, none of what happened later would have occurred. Until I find Yuanba, I have no face to see him... Senior Zi, please tell me about Yuanba. I know his abilities all too well. How could they have alarmed half of Shenhuang City?"
"Two years ago, a foreign youth arrived in Shenhuang City. From his very first day there, and every day thereafter, he went to challenge the city's renowned sects."
"He... challenged sects?"
"Correct. Unfortunately, his profound strength was far too low, and his opponents easily beat him into severe injury. But the next day, he would come again with his wounds to issue a challenge, and of course, his injuries would only worsen. On the third day, he still went to challenge them, and his opponent, impatient, beat him to the brink of death... Though his profound strength was weak, his physique was extremely unusual. Even wounds that should have been fatal would allow him to stand up again the next day and go challenge them once more. On one occasion, his opponent even tore two massive bloody holes in his body, yet he still did not die. At first, people thought he was a madman. But as days turned into months, no one regarded him as a madman anymore. Those who pursue power stubbornly are not uncommon, but someone this persistent—even this old man had never seen the like in his entire life."
Yun Che: "............"
"He stayed in Shenhuang City for three months. Every single day, he carried severe injuries, with hardly a single spot on his body left unmarred. Yet he always dragged his wounded body to seek out opponents he could never possibly defeat. Among those he challenged, there were certainly some who were impatient or malicious enough to want him dead. But no matter how grievous his injuries, he never died. Over those three months, people's views of him shifted from ridicule to shock. Until one day, three months later, he suddenly vanished from Shenhuang City without a trace. By now, he should have been forgotten. However, this old man can be certain that he was not secretly killed by someone—otherwise, it would never escape the Black Moon's eyes."
Yun Che's heart grew complicated. Xia Yuanba, with his extraordinarily tall stature and imposing presence, was actually mild-tempered and pure-hearted, shaped by Xia Hongyi's influence, and never willing to contend with others. But the Xia Yuanba described by Zi Ji was an outright madman. Yun Che understood perfectly well what had caused such a drastic change in him...
"...Senior Zi, thank you for telling me this. I'll leave everything to you," Yun Che said as he stood up.
Zi Ji also rose and said with a smile, "No need to be polite. Serving distinguished guests is the Black Moon's honor."
Yun Che knew why Zi Ji was so courteous to him. The Black Moon Merchant Guild had reached its current state through mature survival tactics. For those with extraordinary talent who might one day stand at the pinnacle of Tian Xuan, the Black Moon naturally treated them differently—not only offering the most exceptional service but also eagerly hoping to make them owe a favor.
"By the way," Yun Che suddenly remembered something else, "Senior Zi, have you ever heard of the 'Netherworld Brahma Flower'?"
The Netherworld Brahma Flower was one of three things Mo Li needed him to obtain within thirty years: one Netherworld Brahma Flower, three Overlord Beast profound pills, and seventy jin of Purple Vein Divine Crystal.
"Netherworld Brahma Flower?" Zi Ji's face showed a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he slowly said, "This old man does know of this flower. It is an extremely yin, extremely evil, and extremely malevolent thing. It only grows in places of extreme ferocity and malice, blooming once every twenty-four years, and withering within three days. The flower is so terrifying that even approaching it—let alone touching it—will cause nether qi to invade the body and damage the soul. In mild cases, one falls into a prolonged coma; in severe cases, one becomes a living corpse or even dies instantly. Beyond that, I have never heard of it having any positive value. Why are you seeking this flower?"
"This junior naturally has a special use for it. If Senior knows where it can be found, please do tell."
Zi Ji thought for a while and then shook his head: "The last recorded Netherworld Brahma Flower was thirteen hundred years ago. Since then, there have been no further records or legends of it. The human population of Tian Xuan Continent has steadily increased, and now it is fully four times what it was a thousand years ago. As a result, the yang qi of the entire continent far outweighs the yin qi. Perhaps the Netherworld Brahma Flower has become permanently extinct on Tian Xuan Continent."
"...Thank you for telling me, Senior. I take my leave."
Unexpectedly learning some news about Xia Yuanba, though it made his mood somewhat heavy, was at least a small comfort... No wonder they could never find any trace of Xia Yuanba within Cang Feng's borders—after leaving Tian Jian Villa, he had actually come to the Shenhuang Empire.
The Shenhuang Empire was, after all, a place with a far higher level of profound strength than Cang Feng. Had he come here to pursue power under extreme grief and self-blame...
Xiao Xiannü, where are you...
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Phoenix God Sect.
As the day of the Seven Nation Ranking Battle drew nearer, Feng Xichen's anxiety grew day by day. The humiliating scenes from that day constantly gnawed at his nerves. After finally telling Feng Ximing about Yun Che yesterday, he became even more restless.
Because what he had described to Feng Ximing was worlds apart from the truth of several months ago. Although he was confident that if Yun Che truly came to Shenhuang City, the Phoenix God Sect would absolutely not let him off, he couldn't help worrying that Yun Che might bring up that day's events during the Ranking Battle. If that day's events were made public in front of everyone, the brand of shame would no longer be etched only on his heart but would from then on be carved onto his face.
The door opened, and a tall figure stepped in, accompanied by a wave of scorching heat. The agitated Feng Xichen swiftly turned around, about to flare up, but the moment he saw the approaching figure, he hurriedly suppressed his burgeoning anger and quickly stepped forward to bow: "Your son pays respects to Imperial Father."
"Rise." Feng Hengkong raised his hand and got straight to the point: "Ximing has already told me in detail about your experience in the Cang Feng Empire a few months ago. Although you concealed it until now, it is understandable. I am not here to blame you."
Feng Xichen quickly said, "Your son thanks Imperial Father for your grace... However, though Imperial Father does not blame me, I am the more ashamed in my heart, and I harbor endless resentment."
"Hmph!" Feng Hengkong's face was full of anger: "I never imagined that a mere emperor of Cang Feng would have such audacity! Rest assured, within three years, I will repay the humiliation you suffered in Cang Feng a million times over. When that time comes, the Cang Feng emperor can be handed over to you to deal with as you see fit. As for that brat named Yun Che... Hmph, didn't he boast that he would come to participate in the Ranking Battle? Very well, I'll wait to see him flounder on the battlefield!"
Feng Xichen felt half joy and half panic in his heart: "Your son thanks Imperial Father for your deep affection... My personal humiliation is a small matter, but the matter of our Phoenix God Sect's bloodline is greater than heaven. Why doesn't Imperial Father have someone deal with Yun Che in secret before the Ranking Battle?"
"No need!" Feng Hengkong waved his hand dismissively, with extreme contempt: "A mere Cang Feng profound practitioner—does he deserve our Phoenix God Sect to specifically target him in secret? That would only lower the status of our Phoenix God Sect! The Seven Nation Ranking Battle has always been the stage for our Phoenix God Sect. Without a bit of amusement and seasoning, it would be rather dull. I actually hope that this Yun Che will perform outstandingly when the time comes and not disappoint me."
"Imperial Father speaks wisely." Feng Xichen bowed his head.
"Xichen," Feng Hengkong's expression turned noticeably darker as he changed the subject, "I asked you to investigate the theft at the Phoenix Jade Hall. What are the results?"
"Your son has investigated and identified the thief..."
Feng Xichen had only spoken half a sentence when Feng Hengkong spun around sharply: "Who was it? How dare they be so brazen as to steal from our Phoenix God Sect!"
The reason for his fury was not only the boldness of this person but also the shock at the thief's terrifying abilities. What kind of place was his Phoenix God Sect? For an outsider, even a flying insect would be detected the moment it entered. Yet this thief had infiltrated the Phoenix Jade Hall, which stored all kinds of treasures, without anyone noticing... If he hadn't accidentally triggered the invisible profound formation while stealing, no one would even have known that the Phoenix Jade Hall had been breached.
Even more shocking was that after triggering the formation and alerting the sect's experts, the thief had managed to escape unharmed from the encirclement of countless Phoenix powerhouses... Even a true Overlord Emperor would find that nearly impossible.
"Imperial Father, calm your anger... In the entire Shenhuang Empire, only one person has the ability to do this..." Feng Xichen raised his head and furrowed his brow: "Hua Minghai."
"Hua Minghai?" Feng Hengkong's face darkened, and then he quickly reacted: "'Ghost Shadow Holy Hand' Hua Minghai!?"
"Correct!" Feng Xichen nodded: "Under heaven, only this man could accomplish such a feat. Hua Minghai's profound strength cultivation is utterly unremarkable, but his body movement and speed are unparalleled in the world. He is extremely skilled in concealment, infiltration, disguise, and voice mimicry. His escape abilities are beyond anyone's reach..."
"Enough." Feng Hengkong raised his hand: "I have heard of that name, of course. Hua Minghai, known as the 'Greatest Thief Under Heaven' and bearing the title 'Ghost Shadow Holy Hand'! It is said that this thief has never failed in stealing anything. Not only has he never been caught, but no one has ever even seen his true face. Hmph... I never expected that this rogue would be so audacious as to provoke our Phoenix God Sect! Does he truly believe there is no one in this world who can deal with him?"
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[1] Hua Minghai: Fireworks Grow Cold.