Chapter 147: In My Heart, There Is Still One Person

The storm in Yuzhou came to an end, spreading mainly among the upper echelons of society. For the people at the bottom, it had little impact; in their eyes, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation remained the most important matters of daily life.

Coupled with the fact that the incident occurred in the dead of night when most people were already asleep, not many were aware of the full extent of what had happened.

Still, rumors circulated within Yuzhou city. Some whispered that immortals had engaged in a decisive battle atop Mount Yandang, unleashing magic that filled the skies and shattered the earth, destroying even the majestic and towering peak of Mount Yandang by more than half.

Many scoffed at this, thinking it was just a scene from some fantasy martial arts movie. In this day and age, where could true immortals possibly exist?

The Yuzhou municipal government also issued a public notice stating that the events of that night were merely the effects of a military drill, which had now concluded successfully. Large numbers of young recruits were being orderly evacuated from Yuzhou city, and sincere apologies were offered for any inconvenience caused to the citizens.

On the fifth day, an engineering team moved into Mount Yandang to begin reconstruction. The workers who arrived at the summit were left utterly pale-faced as they gazed upon the scarred and devastated landscape before them.

Hidden Gate Headquarters.

Qin Huishi wore a grave expression. Dressed in a professional office suit that accentuated her alluring and curvaceous figure, with long hair draped loosely over her fragrant shoulders, she looked the very picture of enchantment.

"The bounty placed on Shadow Kill on the dark web has risen from five hundred million US dollars a few days ago to eight hundred million today. The Rothschild family has also been added to the bounty list, though no one has taken the contract yet."

Closing the file, she bent slightly at the waist, supporting herself with both hands on the desk, instantly revealing a perfect, hourglass curve.

Elder Ma spoke up, "This is the first time I've ever seen a private faction dare to place a bounty on both the Shadow Kill organization and the Rothschild family simultaneously on the dark web. Eight hundred million dollars translates to nearly six billion Huaxia currency."

The Shadow Kill organization originated during the Republic of China era. Its original purpose was to assassinate wealthy warlords and tycoons, representing the earliest form of decapitation strikes. After a century of development, it had evolved into an organized and disciplined syndicate of assassins.

Countless dignitaries and nobles across the world paled at the mere mention of Shadow Kill. Rumors even suggested that certain small African nations were controlled by them. As the most notorious assassin organization globally, Shadow Kill was the target of seventeen international warrants, making it deeply hated by many.

As a private killer network, Shadow Kill possessed the largest number of secular martial artists in the world. With the recent elimination of the vanquished Venerable Poyan, they had almost achieved the status of having two supreme masters under one banner.

As for the Rothschild family, no introduction was necessary.

Hailed as the world's premier family, they controlled thirty percent of the global economic lifeline. Within the family resided a Great Brightness God Earthly Immortal who claimed to walk alongside God.

And now, someone had actually issued an international bounty against these two behemoths simultaneously. The Hidden Gate could not help but wonder: in the present world, while someone might dare to issue such a bounty, would anyone actually dare to accept it?

Qin Huishi massaged her temples and said, "Given Jiang Yu's protective nature toward his own, the matter has only just begun. His disciple had both arms severed and was hung from Mount Yandang to be humiliated, and Ma Tianzong was driven to jump off a cliff as well. No one knows what he plans to do next."

Elder Ma smiled bitterly. "Number one on the Martial Gods Ranking, overshadowing Xu Daozhi—the potential of this man is terrifyingly vast. Whatever he decides to do, as long as it isn't too excessive, the Hidden Gate can turn a blind eye."

Qin Huishi fell silent. At this moment, Jiang Yu's cultivation was even more unfathomable than it had been half a year ago. She had witnessed the celestial phenomena atop Mount Yandang with her own eyes that night—as if the sun and moon shone in the sky together, capturing the souls of all who beheld it.

...

For the past few days, Jiang Yu had spent almost all his time at the hospital accompanying Gu Feifei.

Looking at that haggard face, a deep sense of guilt welled up in his heart. He had been too overconfident, believing that once his name shook Jiangbei, no one would dare lay a hand on his friends and family.

Through this ordeal, he learned a harsh lesson: while his strength was sufficient, his terrifying prestige was not yet enough. Unless he made the people of the world feel such chilling fear—just as he had done in Yuzhou—only then would those individuals pause to consider the consequences before making any decisions.

In the room, Xiahou Sheng stood by the window and said, "We have raised the bounty on the dark web to eight hundred million US dollars, but still no one dares to take the contract. On one side is Shadow Kill, and on the other is the Rothschild family. They represent the absolute pinnacle of power in this world."

"The dark web?"

Jiang Yu frowned slightly. This was his first time hearing of it.

Xiahou Sheng explained, "The dark web is an international network jointly established by seven world-class hackers. All registration data is kept by the clients themselves. It can be said that the dark web is the safest network in the global underground, serving as a specialized trading platform for the criminal underworld."

"On the dark web, as long as you have money, you can accomplish almost anything. You can even buy decommissioned aircraft carriers. It is the darkest corner of the world, where countless transactions beyond your imagination take place every day. Some of those dealings long ago surpassed the bounds of ethics, morality, and human restraint."

Jiang Yu asked curiously, "Even decommissioned aircraft carriers can be bought?"

Xiahou Sheng nodded. "In the 1980s, a certain nation fell into economic crisis and its people struggled to survive; in desperation, they once sold a decommissioned aircraft carrier. This dark web provides a great deal of convenience internationally because, after all, some matters can only be resolved through it. Although superficially illegal, various international governments tacitly allow its existence."

Jiang Yu said indifferently, "Raise the bounty to one billion US dollars. Once I have some free time, I will personally pay a visit to Shadow Kill and the Rothschilds. The bounty is merely meant to create some trouble for them during this period."

Xiahou Sheng listened with a pounding heart. This brother of his was actually planning to go over there and wipe out both Shadow Kill and the Rothschilds.

After advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage, Jiang Yu possessed the power to protect himself. Even if he couldn't defeat an enemy, he could ensure his own survival. Moreover, having now forged a divine body, his physical form was strong enough to withstand concentrated artillery fire.

With the vastness of the world, he could go anywhere.

Jiang Yu stood up and slowly walked over to Xiahou Sheng's side.

Feeling the chill radiating within the hospital room, Xiahou Sheng broke out in a cold sweat. He involuntarily took a step back, his chest nearly suffocating under the pressure emitted by Jiang Yu.

"Why did I only find out about this three days after the incident occurred? The hundreds of wealthy figures across Jiangbei and Moxian provinces have taken quite a few benefits from me over time. Given the development of communications in this era, I should have learned of this at the very first moment."

As expected, Jiang Yu brought up this question.

Xiahou Sheng felt miserable and helplessly replied, "Recently, some people in Jiangbei have not been entirely honest, secretly showing favor to Xu Daozhi of Zhongzhou. But those individuals have eyes and hands reaching everywhere. No matter how powerful the Xia family of Jiangbei is, we are confined to this small patch of territory. Once we step out of Jiangbei, we don't even rank in the top ten."

"Against those people, there was nothing I could do."

Jiang Yu smiled faintly. "It seems it is time to give them a reminder. Starting today, massively slash their shares and withhold all spiritual pills and magical artifacts. You know in your heart how this should be handled. If they are dissatisfied, let them come and find me."

At this, his smile grew several degrees colder.

"I will give them an answer."

Xiahou Sheng turned his head to glance at Gu Feifei lying on the hospital bed, a nameless emotion stirring in his heart.

Jiang Yu was practically risking his life to avenge them.

Conversely, his characteristic flaw of protecting his own no matter what also gave Xiahou Sheng a great deal of peace of mind. With a young supreme master backing him up, what did he have to fear?

Zhongzhou, Xu Daozhi!

Jiang Yu's gaze grew distant. He feared this might be yet another longevity seeker.

Vast as the world was, Jiang Yu would not be surprised if another ancient monster who had survived from antiquity appeared. If he could survive, those supreme beings could also use various methods to stay alive.

According to the longevity arts known to Jiang Yu, there were no fewer than five kinds. One could entrust their primordial spirit to the void, gathering the spiritual essence of heaven and earth to endure in the world for thousands of years. Alternatively, one could continuously seize bodies through reincarnation, performing a body snatching every hundred years, allowing them to live for multiple lifetimes with ease.

However, these were all inferior methods. Although they could grant prolonged existence, the price to be paid was immensely heavy. One's cultivation level would also gradually decline with the passage of time, until eventually, imperceptibly, they were obliterated in the cycle of life and death, unable to even preserve their divine consciousness.

Unless, like Jiang Yu, one stepped into the Nascent Soul stage, where a vast and enduring lifespan could reach seven thousand years. Unfortunately, with the decline of the Age of Dharma Ending, Jiang Yu was the world's last Nascent Soul cultivator.

Others wishing to advance to the Nascent Soul stage faced a process far more difficult than those various longevity arts. With the door to Nascent Soul closed to them, they could only retreat to second-best options, choosing the assorted secret techniques that Jiang Yu scorned in order to seek a prolonged existence.

He could not blame them; even lowly ants cling to life. When their lifespans neared their end, in order to linger on a bit longer, they had no choice but to pay a heavy price and survive in various twisted forms.

As for who Xu Daozhi truly was, only when Jiang Yu met him would a conclusion be drawn.

With this thought, Jiang Yu reined in his straying thoughts. For the present moment, there was still one more thing to do.

To await the reincarnation of Yunshang, he had waited a full three thousand years.

"The regrets in my heart must ultimately be mended."

The pupils of Jiang Yu's eyes gradually overflowed with glimmers of golden light.