At the same time, the two were also very curious. The Qu family had clearly hired them to kill the boy, but their questions had nothing to do with the boy’s life or death. Instead, they focused on his strength and whether any hidden masters were protecting him.

In all their years as assassins, they had never encountered a client like this.

After a moment, all the questions had been answered. Weei Da narrowed his eyes and said, "We’ve answered everything. Shouldn’t you be paying the rest of what you promised?"

The Qu family had only paid them a fraction of the reward upfront. They had yet to receive the larger remaining portion.

"Don’t worry. You’ll get the reward we promised you. But you’ll have to collect it in hell."

Qu Aoyun glanced at Crazy Battle, a sinister smile suddenly spreading across his face.

WHOOSH!

He thrust his palm toward Weei Da. Fierce Profound Power transformed into a hurricane, enveloping him completely.

"Patriarch Qu, are you really trying to go back on our deal? Believe me, if word of this gets out in the Imperial Capital, your Qu family will be wiped from existence."

Weei Da had lived a dangerous life on the edge for years and was naturally vigilant. He reacted the instant Qu Aoyun attacked, his palms glowing fiery red as he met the blow head-on, roaring in anger.

BOOM!

The two forces collided. Weei Da, who had blocked in a hurry, felt his chest constrict as he was thrown backward in an instant.

"Second Brother, run! That old bastard Qu Aoyun is trying to silence us! We’ll meet up later!" Weei Da roared as he retreated, and he and Weei Er shot off in opposite directions.

"You’re not getting away."

Qu Aoyun sneered and gave chase, instantly clashing with Weei Da. After they exchanged several blows, it was clear they were evenly matched.

Meanwhile, Weei Er seized the opportunity and vanished into the dense forest.

’Can’t even handle something this simple. Useless,’ Crazy Battle thought, his brow twitching.

SWOOSH!

The next moment, Crazy Battle moved. He flipped his hand, forming a claw, and brought it down on Weei Da’s head.

’Where did this expert come from? He’s so fast!’

Weei Da had been keeping an eye on Crazy Battle even as he fought Qu Aoyun. When he saw Crazy Battle make a move, he was startled. He frantically circulated his Profound Power, parrying Qu Aoyun’s attack with one palm before turning to block Crazy Battle’s hand.

But to his horror, he found he couldn’t move. The circulation of his Profound Power slowed to a crawl, and he felt as if he were trapped in a deep mire.

"You’re... a Tier Seven..."

Weei Da’s eyes widened in terror as he gasped in shock. Before he could finish his sentence, there was a sickening POP. His head exploded, scattering a fine mist of blood into the air.

THUD!

A headless corpse crashed heavily to the ground.

"Supreme Elder, the other one got away."

Seeing Weei Da, a man nearly his equal in strength, beheaded in the blink of an eye, Qu Aoyun stood aside, his heart pounding in terror as he spoke.

"Escape? You think he can get away?"

Crazy Battle gave a cold smile, and in the next instant, he vanished.

In the dense forest, Weei Er ran for his life, his expression grim.

’The Qu family... they actually dared to go back on their word! Damn them, damn them all! Once I get out of here, I’ll make sure the Qu family is utterly disgraced and ruined!’

As Weei Er fled, he worried for his older brother’s safety.

’Since the Qu family dared to attack, they must have been confident in their success.’

Suddenly, a chilling premonition washed over Weei Er. For reasons he couldn’t explain, he looked up.

A figure hovered in the air, gazing down at him. A faint, mocking sneer played on his lips, the look of a cat toying with a mouse—full of contempt and indifference.

Weei Er’s eyes widened in terror. "Hovering... You’re a Tier Seven Martial King! How is that possible? How could the Qu family have a Martial King... No, wait. You’re from the Profound Mystery Sect..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw the man casually raise a hand. An overwhelming force, like a tsunami, crashed down upon him.

Weei Er only had time to muster his Profound Power before a terrifying wave of Profound Power slammed into his body, shredding his internal organs.

With a wet squelch, he sprayed a mouthful of blood. His vision went black, and he knew no more.

Taking Weei Er’s Storage Ring, Crazy Battle sneered. "Did you really think you could take payment from my Profound Mystery Sect and just walk away?"

With that, he vanished into the forest.

Back in the Imperial Capital, the stir caused by the attack on Ye Xuan was still growing.

The major powers of the Imperial Capital could all sense a brewing undercurrent.

There was only one reason: within half an hour of the attack on the young man known as Xuan Ye, Master Lu Li of the Artifact Refining Workshop had personally rushed to the Luo family estate.

The news sent the entire city into an uproar.

Who was Master Lu Li? He was a Tier Seven, Lord Level Artifact Refiner, the head of the Artifact Refining Workshop, and the number one Artifact Refining Master in the empire.

He was known to be reclusive and had rarely made public appearances in recent years. Many powerful experts who wished for him to forge a Profound Soldier had tried every method imaginable to contact him, all to no avail.

Even the imperial family, if they wished to see Master Lu Li, would not dare to visit unannounced. Instead, they would send a formal request to schedule an appointment.

Yet, after this young man called Xuan Ye was injured, Master Lu Li had arrived at the Luo family estate within half an hour. This was deeply shocking to all the major powers.

Every one of them realized that this young man, Xuan Ye, held an immeasurably high position in Master Lu Li’s eyes.

In an instant, all the major powers in the Imperial Capital became intensely curious about Ye Xuan’s true identity.

「Inside the Luo family estate.」

"That careless little bastard. I told him to stay at my Artifact Refining Workshop, but would he listen? No! And look what happened! He got himself ambushed. Serves him right for not listening..."

Master Lu Li grumbled and cursed under his breath as he hurried toward Ye Xuan’s room after arriving at the Luo estate.

"Who are you calling a bastard, old man?" Pushing the door open, Lu Li found Ye Xuan lounging casually with his legs crossed, a look of annoyance on his face.

"You..." Lu Li’s eyes went wide when he saw Ye Xuan’s condition.

"Your Profound Power is stable, and your vitality is abundant... Kid, you don’t look injured at all!" Lu Li said in surprise after a quick scan with his Profound Sense.

The news he’d heard before coming was that while Ye Xuan’s life wasn’t in danger, his injuries were quite severe and required a long recovery.

"Sounds like you were hoping I was in bad shape," Ye Xuan said with a faint smile.

"Of course not! If you died, who would teach me the Hundred-Turn Tempering Skill? If you’re going to get yourself killed, at least wait until after you’ve taught me everything," Master Lu Li grumbled, though the deep worry in his eyes finally began to fade.

Ye Xuan smiled softly. ’He could tell that despite Master Lu Li’s harsh words, the old man was actually very concerned about him.’

"Speaking of which, this assassination attempt... you didn’t orchestrate it yourself, did you?" Master Lu Li asked, raising an eyebrow.

After hearing about Ye Xuan’s injuries from Xuli, he had rushed over without a second thought. He’d been told Ye Xuan was seriously hurt, but now, seeing not a single scratch on him, he grew suspicious.

’Could Master Xuan Ye have arranged his own assassination? Was it just a plot to deal with the Qin family?’

’If so, Master Xuan Ye had made a terrible move. Causing such a disturbance in the market district would undoubtedly anger the Celestial Dragon Guard and the imperial family.’

’Once the Celestial Dragon Guard found the culprits and investigated the truth, it would be difficult for even the Artifact Refining Workshop to protect him.’

As if sensing Master Lu Li’s worries, Ye Xuan smiled. "Master Lu Li, the assassination attempt was real. I didn’t stage it. The only reason I wasn’t hurt is that the two assassins were complete trash. However, please don’t let this get out."

"Do I look like a blabbermouth to you?"

Lu Li retorted, pursing his lips. At the same time, he was secretly shocked. ’He’d heard the assassins were two Tier Six Martial Venerables. While such figures were nothing in his eyes, it was astonishing that they couldn’t even manage to scratch Master Xuan Ye.’

"By the way, were the assassins really from the Qin family?" Lu Li frowned. "If they were, I can put in a word for you. I’m sure that no matter how powerful the Qin family is, the empire wouldn’t let them get away with something so audacious."

"I don’t think so." Ye Xuan shook his head.

Hearing the certainty in Ye Xuan’s voice, Lu Li raised an eyebrow. "Don’t tell me you know who was behind it, Master Xuan Ye?"

"I have my suspicions, but it’s not convenient to discuss the details," Ye Xuan said, shaking his head. He had no intention of revealing his conflict with the Qu family and the Profound Mystery Sect.

Ye Xuan’s gaze hardened. "However, I’m definitely not letting the Qin family off the hook."

’Qin Yu had caused trouble for him time and time again. Ye Xuan had no intention of just taking it.’

"If the assassins weren’t from the Qin family, then dealing with them will be difficult."

Master Lu Li explained, "As one of the empire’s great houses, the Qin family’s foundation is extraordinary. You have to understand, the major families of the Imperial Capital all have connections to the imperial family. The Qin family, I believe, is connected to the Third Prince’s faction."

"I heard your conflict with the Qin family isn’t that serious. If possible, there’s no need to blow it out of proportion. Of course, that’s just my advice. What you ultimately decide to do is up to you."

At this, Lu Li’s expression turned sly and cunning. He let out a wheezing chuckle. "Of course, if you need the Artifact Refining Workshop’s help, just ask. We dare to stir up trouble with a mere family like the Qins. And between us, there’s no need to talk about payment. Just casually teach me, say, eight or ten Artifact Refining Hand Skills. I’m a very easygoing person."

Seeing Lu Li’s sleazy expression, Ye Xuan was left speechless. ’He doubted anyone in the Imperial Capital knew that the supreme, number one Artifact Refiner they all revered had such a shameless side to him.’