Li Xuanxiao felt uneasy.

Fortunately, Jia Sidao and Zhang Haoran were only showing slight signs, or rather, initial sprouts of trouble.

Compared to Zhang Haoran, Jia Sidao's identity was far more special.

As the Chief Court Officer and National Preceptor of Great Sui,

To avoid detection, his avatar didn't possess Tribulation Transcension cultivation.

Thus, most of the time, he could only rely on his sword spirit to act.

He had almost completely severed the connection between himself and Jia Sidao, retaining only enough awareness to maintain control.

Otherwise, when facing the backlash of fortune, the Great Sui's Imperial Astronomical Observatory would notice.

The fortune wasn't flowing to Jia Sidao but elsewhere, making it easy for flaws to be exposed.

As for Zhang Haoran, after shattering the stone tablet, he was flooded with righteous energy.

Confucian cultivators develop a "Literary Core" or "Literary Heart" through studying classics.

At its peak, this cultivation can manifest the laws of heaven and earth through written words.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Haoran's body already contained the embryonic form of a Literary Heart.

All the righteous energy suppressed by the old emperor surged into Zhang Haoran's body at once.

Li Xuanxiao had to divert more mental energy to prevent Zhang Haoran from exploding.

Although Li Xuanxiao indirectly gained national fortune and the embryonic Literary Core,

He also had to allocate more mental energy to Zhang Haoran and Jia Sidao.

This mental energy couldn't be withdrawn at will.

A single misstep could cause both avatars to malfunction,

Easily ruining everything.

Thus, Li Xuanxiao had no choice but to layer restriction upon restriction.

Even so, he still felt a vague unease.

If he meticulously calculated everything only to have his own plans backfire, what a joke that would be!

While it was still just a budding issue,

Li Xuanxiao decided to take preventive measures...

Before long, Lu Ziyin captured the bold assassin who had hidden at the crime scene.

......

The assassin was a medium-built cultivator.

"What's your name?"

"Wei Yuan."

"You're quite bold, hiding right at the crime scene," Lu Ziyin remarked.

Wei Yuan sighed with resignation.

"We had no choice. To boost our performance metrics, we had to resort to this."

"What do you mean? Isn't killing the target and leaving already completing the mission?" Feng Liuli asked, puzzled.

Wei Yuan shook his head and explained:

"You don't understand. Our industry has become fiercely competitive. Simply killing no longer satisfies clients.

Our pay per job is too low now, so we have to use these real-time image-transmitting stones

To give clients the thrill, then earn bonuses through their appreciation rewards."

Li Xuanxiao: ...........

This works!?

Li Xuanxiao was astonished. Had the assassin industry become this cutthroat?

This was live-streaming with tips?

This was actually a thing?

"Who hired you?" Lu Ziyin asked.

"We have strict confidentiality protocols. We never meet clients directly—only our superiors do."

Lu Ziyin pressed, "Then who's your superior?"

Wei Yuan shook his head again: "Our organization has layered confidentiality. I can't contact superiors directly—only through special channels."

"What special channel?"

"Special channel... carrier pigeons," Wei Yuan said.

"Carrier pigeons? That primitive?" Lu Ziyin raised an eyebrow.

He patted Wei Yuan's shoulder:

"You have no way out now. Cooperate with us, confess, and be honest."

Wei Yuan gulped. Knowing they were Mount Shushan disciples, he realized he was done for.

His only option was cooperation.

Lu Ziyin went to find the carrier pigeon Wei Yuan mentioned.

After searching extensively, he couldn't locate the so-called pigeon.

He returned to confirm the exact location.

Setting out again, he still found nothing.

Because Wei Yuan had directed him to a horse stable—looking for a pigeon in a horse stable?

After three fruitless trips, Lu Ziyin grew furious, thinking Wei Yuan was toying with him.

Upon learning the truth, Lu Ziyin couldn't resist beating Wei Yuan up.

"Your damn 'carrier pigeon' is a horse!?"

Wei Yuan protested indignantly:

"What's wrong with naming my horse that?"

The next day.

Lu Ziyin and the other two followed the horse to find the contact.

Soon, the "carrier pigeon" located the contact person.

The contact was a headless entity.

To communicate, one had to decapitate the carrier pigeon and attach its head to the contact's body.

Thus completing the connection.

Makes perfect sense.

"Who are you?"

After completing the connection, the headless contact saw the unfamiliar trio and paled slightly.

......

Moments later.

The trio had subdued the contact.

Li Xuanxiao said, "Senior Brother Lu, since we're operating in Great Sui territory and this organization spans Great Sui and Daxia, I think we should request their cooperation."

Lu Ziyin nodded, finding Li Xuanxiao's reasoning sound.

Given their limited manpower,

Lu Ziyin immediately sent a sword message to their sect.

Soon, a reply arrived.

Mount Shushan had contacted Great Sui and Daxia.

Great Sui's National Preceptor Jia Sidao pledged full assistance upon receiving the message.

Normally, such matters wouldn't warrant a Tribulation Transcension expert's involvement.

But considering this newly appointed official likely sought to build ties with Mount Shushan,

It made sense.

Daxia's Golden-armored Guards also offered to help eliminate this assassin organization.

"Remember to maintain our Mount Shushan dignity when meeting Great Sui and Daxia's representatives later," Lu Ziyin reminded.

Feng Liuli and Li Xuanxiao nodded.

Lu Ziyin sipped tea and checked the time.

"They're here."

Knocking soon echoed at the door.

A Daoist-robed elder entered—

Great Sui's Court Officer?

Lu Ziyin had heard of him.

Jia Sidao stroked his beard with a smile. "Long have I heard of Peak Master Lu's heroic bearing. Seeing you today, the rumors don't do you justice!"

Lu Ziyin couldn't help but smirk.

Soon, Daxia's representatives arrived too, accompanied by several academy disciples—

Interns, essentially.