King of Creation
Chapter 281 - 278: Hai Luoshuang’s Plot

Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Hai Luoshuang’s Plot

"Two guests, are you here to dine or stay? If it’s for dining, our chef hasn’t started work yet..."

Dawn had just broken, and the sleepy waiter had just opened the doors of the tavern when a pair of customers, one old and one young with somewhat greenish complexions, stepped into the tavern.

"To stay!"

The butler leading the two, Steward Hu, said with a cold tone.

"Alright, do you wish to stay in a private courtyard or a standard room...."

"Private courtyard, the best one!"

"Sir, I’m sorry, but our best private courtyard was already booked out a few days ago." The waiter, often dealing with martial artists, still spoke quite well.

"It doesn’t matter if it’s booked, take us to see it." Young Master Hu, who had been in the cold wind all night, said impatiently.

"Sir, that’s against the rules..."

Before the waiter could finish, a ten-tael gold ingot was thrown into his arms, and together with the glaring, bloodshot eyes of Young Master Hu, the waiter said no more and turned to lead the way.

Earning ten taels of gold just for showing someone around was an excellent deal; he wished for more such opportunities.

Soon, the waiter brought Young Master Hu and his servant to the private courtyard where Ye Zhen and the others were staying. Coincidentally, at the moment they arrived, the courtyard’s small door opened, and Luluo was just about to pour out a basin of wash water.

"Hmm?"

With just one glance, Luluo recognized Young Master Hu, whom she had seen the night before, his eyes bulging like a rabbit’s as he looked into the courtyard.

"Big cousin!"

Uncertain, Luluo called out; they had learned about the assassin that morning.

As Ye Zhen stepped out of the room, he saw Young Master Hu’s rabbit-like eyes and immediately a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Seeing Ye Zhen unharmed, Young Master Hu’s eyes widened in shock.

"How is this possible?"

As Hu Shuai was feeling immense surprise, Ye Zhen, who had just broken through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, released his cultivation without any reservation. The moment the astonishing aura surged out, Ye Zhen’s lips parted, revealing a row of ghastly white teeth, which appeared particularly sinister under the rays of the rising sun.

"Spirit... Transformation!"

The aura of the Spirit Transformation Realm from Ye Zhen made Hu Shuai’s eyes instantly bulge to their limits, his heart convulsing violently, turning his face deathly pale.

All was said without words.

Hu Shuai understood that Ye Zhen’s direct display of his cultivation level meant that Ye Zhen already knew everything, even that he had dealt with the assassin and had taken the Spirit Storage Pill to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm.

At the same time, it also meant that Hu Shuai’s last shred of hope had been completely dashed.

"Young Master!"

Seeing Hu Shuai sway, Steward Hu quickly supported the stumbling man. After casting a glance at Ye Zhen who seemed ready to kill, Steward Hu hurriedly helped Young Master Hu to leave the tavern.

"Hey, the two guests, didn’t you say you wanted to stay?" The waiter was also puzzled.

"Hmph, that assassin, he must have been sent by that Hu fellow. Big cousin, how could you let him off so easily? If it weren’t for... you might have been done for last night!"

Watching the Hu family master and servant flee as if escaping, Luluo was visibly disgruntled.

"I didn’t want to let him off so easily either, but this is the Divine Capital’s Inner City, do you think it’s possible to take action here?" Ye Zhen rolled his eyes helplessly at Luluo.

"However, Luluo, don’t you think that Hu Shuai, having lost his last chance to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm, will find his situation rather dire?"

"That’s true. The people of the Iron City Hu Family are like cruel wolves."

...

In the afternoon, Ye Zhen received another invitation. The sender was—Hai Luoshuang.

Receiving Hai Luoshuang’s invitation, Ye Zhen naturally knew what it was about.

Having accepted such a significant favor, it was time to fulfill his promise.

However, when he took the invitation to the Fragrant Pill King auction from Hai Luoshuang, Ye Zhen had already planned to join Stars Tower.

Ye Zhen wasn’t the type to simply pay lip service to acknowledging and repaying kindness; he preferred to take action.

Hai Luoshuang’s repeated favors without expecting anything in return had already put Ye Zhen in great debt to her. It didn’t matter whether Liao Feibai was one of the Three Great Guardian Stars of the Stars Tower or not; after concluding his business, Ye Zhen would join Stars Tower anyway.

Yet, there was one thing Ye Zhen was very curious about.

Why was Hai Luoshuang investing so much in him and bringing him into Stars Tower? What exactly was her aim?

Although Wen Tianyu had said that it was impossible for an invitation from the Fragrant Pill King to appear in the black market, that was true.

But on the black market of the Divine Capital, aside from the main guest, an invitation could bring two additional people. The lowest bidding price for one accompanying seat was one million taels of gold, and it was the kind with a price but no market.

However, Hai Luoshuang directly gave Ye Zhen an invitation, the value of which was simply immeasurable.

Moreover, with this invitation, Ye Zhen successfully bid for the Spirit Storage Pill and the Shattered Jade Scripture.

Not to mention anything else, just the fact that the Spirit Storage Pill had enabled Ye Zhen to break through to the Spirit Transformation Realm was of immense value.

By now, having owed Hai Luoshuang too many favors, Ye Zhen could only honestly join Stars Tower, even if Hai Luoshuang wanted to sell Ye Zhen, he would have to let her do so.

According to the invitation, a ceremony to welcome Ye Zhen into Stars Tower was to be held tonight, so Ye Zhen arrived early at the Stars Tower’s stronghold within the Divine Capital Inner City—the Picking Star Inn.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Picking Star Inn, Ye Zhen was greatly surprised.

Not by the two massive House Guardian Pixius at the entrance of Picking Star Inn, but by the cultivation of the two guards stationed at the entrance.

Spirit Summoning Realm!

The cultivation of the guards at the entrance of the Picking Star Inn had actually reached the Spirit Summoning Realm. Although they were over thirty years of age, the mere fact that Martial Artists of the Spirit Summoning Realm were used as gatekeepers was indicative of Stars Tower’s extraordinary nature.

In response to this, Ye Zhen grew even more curious. With such formidable strength, why was Stars Tower so eager to recruit him?

"Hehe, Young Hero Zheng truly is a man of his word!"

It wasn’t long after Ye Zhen’s invitation was passed in that the elegant Hai Luoshuang emerged, accompanied by more than a dozen Martial Artists, extending to Ye Zhen the greatest courtesy in welcome.

Hai Luoshuang walked in the forefront, followed by a middle-aged Martial Artist with a long saber and prominent cheekbones, who was just half a step behind her, and behind them were the dozen plus Martial Artists, old, middle-aged, and young.

Ye Zhen already knew that Hai Luoshuang was a strong contender in the Soul Sea Realm, but to his surprise, the middle-aged Martial Artist with the long saber who was following her also faintly exuded the aura of the Soul Sea Realm.

That aura made Ye Zhen’s Divine Soul Power quite uncomfortable.

Ye Zhen understood that this was characteristic suppression by a strong contender in the Soul Sea Realm.

However, that wasn’t the important part. The important thing was the cold and bleak look from the middle-aged Martial Artist with the long saber as he gazed at Ye Zhen, devoid of any kindness, completely unrelated to this so-called welcoming ceremony.

As for the others behind them, most had cultivations hovering around the Spirit Transformation Realm, and there were also two with ordinary Soul Sea Realm strength, each with a different expression.

"Let me introduce to you all, this person here is Young Hero Zheng Fuyun, who will join our ranks tonight. Young Hero Zheng, before you stands one of the Three Great Guardian Stars of our Stars Tower, the Thunder Blade Yan Kunshan, who is also the Deputy Tower Master of our Black Dragon Domain’s Stars Tower."

"I pay my respects to Senior Yan!"

As Ye Zhen greeted him, Yan Kunshan responded with a cold hum through his nostrils, slightly nodding as a passive acknowledgment.

After making some casual introductions, everyone welcomed Ye Zhen into the Picking Star Inn.

"Deputy Tower Master Yan, please prepare for the initiation ceremony. There are some things I need to discuss alone with Young Hero Zheng first."

Yan Kunshan gave Ye Zhen a glance, lightly responded with an acknowledgment, and then left with a group of people. Hai Luoshuang, however, took Ye Zhen alone to the rear courtyard of the Picking Star Inn.

Upon entering the courtyard, Ye Zhen realized that the Picking Star Inn was surprisingly large, covering an area of more than ten square miles. Owning such a large plot in the precious Divine Capital Inner City was yet another testament to the extraordinariness of Stars Tower.

"Young Hero Ye...."

As soon as Hai Luoshuang began to speak, Ye Zhen’s expression slightly changed, and his gaze shifted to the surroundings, as he was quite concerned about revealing his identity in and around the Divine Capital.

Within the Divine Capital, there were many Soul Sea Realm elders from the Phantom Divine Sect.

"Young Hero Ye, rest assured, this small building is a secret place within Stars Tower, guarded by formations all around. Even a Soul Sea Realm powerhouse wouldn’t be able to eavesdrop without us knowing."

Ye Zhen nodded slightly, somewhat reassured. Hai Luoshuang was very reliable in her actions; at least she had not revealed his real name in front of others earlier.

"Young Hero Ye, what do you think of the strength of Stars Tower that you’ve seen today?"

"Strength? I couldn’t quite grasp Deputy Tower Master Yan’s aura, but his cultivation must be extremely powerful. There were also two or three strong contenders in the Soul Sea Realm who came out, and the rest were all Martial Artists of the Spirit Transformation Realm, mostly above the Third Stage. The strength of Stars Tower is indeed formidable!"

"What would you think or doubt if I told you that the people who appeared before you today represent less than a third of the Stars Tower’s strength in the Black Dragon Domain, Young Hero Ye?"

"What would I think or doubt?"

"Don’t you wonder, Young Hero Ye, why I, possessing such formidable strength in Stars Tower, would invite you to join us so insistently?"

"You might not know, Young Hero Ye, but I was almost beside myself with joy when I learned your true identity," said Hai Luoshuang, somewhat uncharacteristically.

Ye Zhen was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected that the question he couldn’t figure out would be so directly addressed by Hai Luoshuang upon their meeting.

"To tell the truth, on my way here, I have been pondering over this issue, but I just couldn’t understand it."

"Actually, I have my own designs concerning Young Hero Ye."

"Designs?" Ye Zhen’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Hehe, well, it’s not really a scheme but rather due to a rule within Stars Tower."

At this, Ye Zhen’s eyes moved slightly, "A rule within Stars Tower? Didn’t Tower Master Hai say earlier that Stars Tower is an entirely free organization, with no rules to bind anyone?"

"That, I can assure you! However, this rule within Stars Tower is mutually beneficial and advantageous for everyone. It’s also the fundamental reason why I have gone to great lengths to invite Young Master Ye to join," explained Hai Luoshuang slowly.

"I am all ears!" (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for a recommendation ticket, monthly ticket at Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)