King of Assassins-Chapter 695 - 519: The Curtain Rises

The blood-red wine in the crystal glass rippled slightly as Liu Yun respectfully raised his glass to toast Gao Xuan.

Following the ancient traditional etiquette, the two sides at a Chinese banquet did not clink glasses but simply raised them from a distance as a gesture.

Gao Xuan also raised his glass in response, and they both drank. The difference was that Gao Xuan took a casual sip while Liu Yun drained his glass.

This was also etiquette, a rule. The superior sips, while the subordinate drinks it all.

The exchange clearly demonstrated the hierarchy and roles of the two through various rules of etiquette.

After the toast, Liu Yun exchanged a few pleasantries before bowing and withdrawing.

Throughout the interaction, Liu Yun remained respectful and courteous, with a particularly gentle and mild demeanor.

Liu Feng, watching from the side, couldn't help but admire Liu Yun's deep intentions. Despite planning to kill Gao Xuan, he could behave so politely and naturally, without seeming overly ingratiating.

Liu Feng was uneasy because Liu Ye had been in the room with the Investiture of the Gods and hadn't come out, leaving Liu Feng uncertain of this big shot's intentions.

On the other hand, he had to force a smile when facing Gao Xuan. Since becoming the clan leader, he had never found it so difficult.

Liu Feng was uncomfortable, but most of the banquet attendees were quite happy.

Gao Xuan had gone through a ruthless conquest, causing massive destruction. The two major Golden Families' middle and upper echelons were purged.

Upon hearing Gao Xuan's impending arrival, the Liu family's leaders were terrified. Now, seeing him mingle amicably at their banquet reassured them.

No matter the cost, as long as they could please Gao Xuan, it was worth it.

By this stage, most of the Liu family leaders had lost the courage to risk everything.

No matter how much profit was lost, it could be squeezed from the lower ranks. Risking their lives posed the real danger of dying, and once dead, money was useless.

The people calculated this aspect quite clearly.

Therefore, the Liu leaders were extremely obsequious and humble towards Gao Xuan. Liu Feng, standing by Gao Xuan's side, could see his family's servile demeanor clearly, finding it a bit disgusting.

Despite their unpleasantness, these people were quite clever. Each brought their prettiest daughters, granddaughters, and some even their beautiful wives to curry favor.

Liu Jin, standing behind Gao Xuan, particularly disliked these women dressed up and sparkling. Seducing a man shouldn't be so shameless—they looked like harlots.

On the other hand, Liu Jin also felt a crisis with so many charming beauties around—would Gao Xuan be tempted?

Fortunately, Gao Xuan was warm and affable to all the beauties but didn't show any particular interest in any one of them.

By the end of the banquet, Liu Jin had barely spoken a few words with Gao Xuan. As she escorted him back to the Qi Observation Pavilion, she felt quite disappointed.

When Liu Jin brought Gao Xuan and Yun Qingshang into the room and was about to leave, she heard Gao Xuan say, "It's a bit cold, can you warm the bed for me?"

Liu Jin was momentarily stunned, then instinctively nodded, casting a worried glance at Yun Qingshang.

Yun Qingshang didn't even look at Liu Jin and proceeded straight into the room, seeming completely uninterested in Gao Xuan's affairs.

Gao Xuan took Liu Jin's hand, smiled softly, and said, "Thanks for the trouble."

"No trouble at all...," Liu Jin responded clumsily.

Though she had longed to share a bed, she felt nervous and somewhat excited when Gao Xuan held her hand. She felt embarrassed yet uncontrollably thrilled inside...

Liu Jin never knew joy could be so intense, so intense that it felt as if her soul was ablaze. Despite being utterly exhausted, her spirit was unusually elated.

The afterglow of this intense joy lingered on her spirit and body, refusing to dissipate.

Liu Jin gazed at Gao Xuan in a daze, feeling she might be in love. No other reason; she was merely captivated by his looks and such intense joy.

Her tense state of mind completely relaxed as if an invisible barrier had shattered, leaving her feeling extraordinarily transparent.

However, Liu Jin's state didn't last long before she fell asleep from exhaustion. When she woke up, it was already daylight.

Gao Xuan wasn't on the bed, giving Liu Jin a fright. She quickly donned a piece of clothing and got out of bed to look for him.

In the end, she discovered Gao Xuan sitting on the balcony.

The sun had just risen over the horizon, casting brilliant golden light on the lake, and Gao Xuan watched the sunrise quietly, his thoughts unknown.

Under the brilliant morning sunlight, Gao Xuan seemed to glow all over, like a perfect deity. Only his eyes were deep and unfathomable, untouched by the sunlight.

Despite the previous night's joy leading her to feel intimately connected with Gao Xuan, Liu Jin suddenly realized she might never understand him.

This man was so mysterious, so elusive. It was precisely because of this that Gao Xuan was irresistibly charming.

Noticing Liu Jin, Gao Xuan smiled at her, "Awake?"

With that, he naturally extended his arm to draw Liu Jin into his lap. The smooth and tender tactile sensation was endlessly enticing.

The gentle caress made Liu Jin feel affectionate, wrapping her arms around Gao Xuan's neck.

No matter what happens in the future, this moment of tenderness was genuine, full of joy.

Compared to intense joy, such an embrace seemed more passionate, more memorable.

"Thank you," Liu Jin couldn't help herself and whispered in Gao Xuan's ear, "Having this moment makes my life worth it."

"Haha..."

Gao Xuan was delighted; Liu Jin was more mature and adept with words. After a moment of thought, he said, "I also want to thank you for helping me a great deal."

Liu Jin was slightly puzzled, as she hadn't done anything. She wondered why Gao Xuan said that.

Surely, spending the night wouldn't count as helping, right?

Gao Xuan didn't explain and turned to say, "You have great potential, just lack a bit of effort."

He said to Liu Jin, "I'll give you a hand."

Gao Xuan stood up as he spoke, reaching out to lightly tap the center of Liu Jin's forehead.

Liu Jin felt a flash of golden light entering her sea of consciousness, suddenly diving into its depths.

Following this, she felt an invisible Source Power barrier being broken. The Sea of Source Power unfurled before her, with endless Source Power Particles silently drifting like an infinite tide.

Liu Jin suddenly realized that she had broken through the Level 15 barrier and stepped into the Golden Realm.

Gao Xuan's voice came from afar, "Concentrate, condense your Spirit Core..."

Under Gao Xuan's guidance, Liu Jin naturally directed her Spirit Core to condense, with a ball of golden light integrating with it.

This ball of golden light also made Liu Jin's Spirit Core extraordinarily powerful, thereby establishing Liu Jin's strong foundation.

Seeing this, Gao Xuan felt a bit envious. The enhancement of the Spirit Core by the Law Metal was immense.

If he had Law Metal when he advanced to gold, things would be entirely different now.

However, the Six-winged Celestial Cicada might not tolerate Law Metal either.

Besides, on this Star River, apart from him, no one else could possibly refine Law Metal. This was like plucking wool from the Evil God.

To be precise, it's more like breaking down the bones and flesh of the Evil God to stew into a broth. Nourishing as it may be, the difficulty is too high.

Gao Xuan was willing to help beautiful women with whom he had deep exchanges.

During deep exchanges, he could ascertain that the other party had no ties with the Evil God and could assess their character and abilities.

For him, the more powerful humans, the better. Since Law Metal couldn't be used by himself, creating a few more powerful humans was also very good.

As for whether these women would remain under his control after becoming powerful, Gao Xuan truly didn't care much.

As long as he was strong, women would naturally submit to him and flock to him.

If he failed, would there be women who would accommodate him because of affection?

Gao Xuan never considered personal feelings so important, more important than the whole world or all interests.

In the end, personal feelings are just a part of an individual. Their importance depends entirely on the person.

Everyone loves you and is willing to give everything for you. Gao Xuan felt such people might exist, but not many.

Among all his women, perhaps only Yun Qingshang could achieve this. As for others, it's best not to say.

Rationally evaluating the emotional value of both parties inherently hurts feelings.

Gao Xuan had no need for this either; he stood high enough with enough capacity and wisdom, never considering such useless questions.

A bit of Law Metal was crucial for Liu Jin, yet trivial for him. From the perspective of exchange principles, Liu Jin actually paid more.

Gao Xuan was not comforting Liu Jin; he indeed obtained crucial information from her.

Although Liu Jin's memory was entirely sealed, or perhaps she never had that memory at all, the information people receive is stored at the soul level.

Through the Soul Chain, Gao Xuan immediately discovered issues with Liu Jin's memory. He still read that vital conversation.

"So it was really Liu Yun..."

Gao Xuan never knew who the alien of Divine Enthronement was; he came to the Liu family to unearth this person.

The Liu family's senior members were highly suspect. Of course, it could also be an outsider. Such matters always have various possibilities and cannot be preconceived.

But Liu Yun produced the Investiture of the Gods, almost surely indicating she was the alien of Divine Enthronement. Even if not, she must have close ties with the alien of Divine Enthronement.

Liu Yun wanting to kill him wasn't significant. Gao Xuan came to the Liu family; regardless of how friendly they appeared, he would maintain the highest vigilance.

This virtual Divine Enthronement alien was the most significant enemy of his rebirth.

Toward this individual, Gao Xuan dared not be careless in any way.

At ten in the morning, a line of luxury cars came to pick up Gao Xuan. Liu Feng personally led the team, giving Gao Xuan the highest courtesy.

Liu Jin was still immersed in the Golden Realm, losing all perception of the outside world.

Gao Xuan did not bring her; he boarded the flying car with Yun Qingshang.

The Glory Headquarters spans hundreds of thousands of acres, forming a closed, independent area. The Headquarter Tower stands three thousand meters high, making it the tallest building in Chang'an.

The Headquarter Tower resembles a rocket soaring into the sky, surrounded by six annex buildings, giving the impression of piercing through the heavens from afar.

Liu Yun had already been waiting at the entrance with a group of senior members. As soon as Gao Xuan alighted, Liu Yun led the group to surround him.

Liu Yun smiled, "Mr. Gao, today, shall we first visit the Headquarter Tower and then go to the underground database? What do you think?"

"There's no need to see the Headquarter Tower, let's go to the underground database."

Gao Xuan gave Liu Yun a meaningful smile, "The database is the core of Glory, let's go straight to the main point; let's not waste precious time..."

Liu Yun smiled and agreed. However, other senior members had complex expressions. Everyone felt that Gao Xuan's words had deep implications but couldn't grasp what he meant.

Liu Feng was sweating profusely on the side. He had a bad premonition and hurriedly said, "The database environment is special, Mr. Gao. How about we check it first to confirm the situation?"

Before Liu Feng could finish, Gao Xuan waved his hand, "No need, what danger could a database pose?"

Liu Yun also added, "Third brother, you're overthinking it. We'll accompany you; nothing will happen."

Gao Xuan followed Liu Yun at the forefront; Liu Feng hesitated at the back, his gaze flickering. He really didn't want to follow them in, yet leaving things unhindered didn't seem right either.

As he hesitated, Liu Ye approached from behind and slapped Liu Feng's back, saying, "What are you dazing about, let's go."

Liu Feng's face changed dramatically, but he dared not resist. With a bitter expression, he followed Liu Ye forward in large strides.