Chapter 116: The Gathering of Dark Forces

“After gathering some information and checking their official website, it appears to be a club focused on leisure and health cultivation, with an added function as a high-end social venue.”

“Inside, there are many ancient health preservation practices—breathing exercises, therapeutic massage, nutritional and herbal therapies. Essentially, it uses various traditional health methods to unlock the body’s innate potential, awaken the life code, maintain bodily balance, thereby preventing illness, strengthening physique, nurturing life, and enhancing beauty.”

“Yes, that’s what the website claims. I also asked around locally, and it’s roughly accurate. These ancient health philosophies, combined with the proximity to the majestic Kunlun Snow Mountains, make it quite convincing. After all, Kunlun has long been shrouded in an aura of immortality.”

“Previously, investigators looked into this place and concluded it was just a standard high-end traditional health club, so they didn’t dig deeper. But now, with your abilities guiding us, from the perspective of the Ascension Society, the suspicion grows stronger; many things just don’t add up.”

“That’s all the information we have for now. We can’t casually enter for investigation since it’s a members-only club. Our superiors are working on finding a way in; we expect more precise intel by this afternoon or tomorrow…”

In a hotel opposite the “Longevity Pavilion,” Zhou Shu and his group gazed at the imposing building. This structure, seemingly plucked from a world of fantasy cultivation, looked remarkably impressive in reality.

After Zhou Shu brought them here, their “tour group” mission concluded, and the guide let them roam freely to mingle with the locals.

After chatting, they happened to be staying at this hotel, where they compiled the gathered information.

The summary looked like this, though it still needed further verification.

Meanwhile, the base was preparing a second plan—a strike against the Ascension Society’s headquarters situated in a densely populated area.

Elsewhere, the Ascension Society’s traitor Bai Huayue had also arrived. Unlike the Ascension Society, which was still in the dark, Bai Huayue, as a mastermind, had already detected some movements from the Demon Suppression Division of the Great Qin Kingdom.

To prove her loyalty, she sacrificed the Ascension Society, handing over Zhou Shu’s information and data to the Evolution Organization, and personally came here to participate in the battle.

Moreover, compared to her own plans, the Evolution Organization had much greater ambitions. They not only wanted Zhou Shu dead—or at least to tempt him to join them—but also aimed to severely weaken the Demon Suppression Division.

Their true objective was to use this encounter to realistically assess the strength of both the Great Qin Kingdom’s Demon Suppression Division and the Ascension Society.

Considering this was a key battlefield, attracting the elite of the Demon Suppression Division, the Evolution Organization transferred a seasoned Silver-level commander from District 11.

Her name was Jiu Li Xiangzi, an exceptionally powerful A-rank great demon with a dexterity attribute of 3.86, nearly reaching 4.

She was sent specifically to deal with Zhou Shu.

Based on intelligence from Bai Huayue and their own gathered data, Zhou Shu, as a newly risen psychic sniper, excelled in shooting accuracy—the very skill that killed Faster.

They knew how deadly human sniper rifles were: a typical 12.7mm heavy sniper rifle could inflict fatal wounds. Not to mention humans possessed monstrous 25mm-caliber super sniper rifles, perhaps better described as “shoulder-mounted cannons.”

Though humans had 30mm or 40mm “sniper grenade launchers,” those were grenade launchers, not sniper rifles, and their accuracy diminished significantly at long range.

The 25mm-caliber super sniper rifle was lethal enough to kill even an S-rank Golden-level commander if hit.

Of course, that was only if the shot landed.

The good news was, due to human physiological limits, anyone with dexterity above 2 was very difficult to hit— even by master-level sniper marksmen.

A psychic sniper like Zhou Shu would have an even higher ceiling. If he wielded that “sniper cannon,” even the most heavily defended commander would be in grave danger.

Once targeted, the outlook was bleak.

Their countermeasure was to deploy individuals with high dexterity—those who could evade bullets with ease.

Following this criterion, they scoured the Silver-level commanders around the Great Qin Kingdom and eventually found Jiu Li Xiangzi.

It was worth noting that the Evolution Organization had no Silver-level commanders within the Great Qin Kingdom—only a few Bronze-level ones—due to the overwhelming strength of the Demon Suppression Division.

Previously unaware of the situation, the Evolution Organization lost two Silver-level commanders to the Demon Suppression Division. These incidents exposed their presence to the Demon Suppression Division and revealed the internal situation of the Great Qin Kingdom to them.

Initially, they aimed to cultivate influence within the Great Qin Kingdom, seeking cooperation with the largest local cult, the Ascension Society. But the Ascension Society outright refused and secretly reported them.

That was why Bai Huayue’s betrayal of the Ascension Society was also considered a token of allegiance; the Evolution Organization eagerly awaited the Ascension Society’s destruction.

Their plan was to let the Demon Suppression Division and Ascension Society exhaust each other in fierce combat. After the Demon Suppression Division eliminated the Ascension Society—surely at some cost—they would then wipe out the remaining elite exorcists to thoroughly gauge their strength.

To this end, they risked sending Silver-level commanders into the Great Qin Kingdom amidst the chaos and recalled some Bronze-level commanders from nearby regions.

They also enticed several small domestic factions to join the operation, further draining the elite forces.

The Evolution Organization’s bold international appearance made many small groups believe that an era of chaos had arrived—their time to rise.

This was also the Evolution Organization’s second attempt to invade the Great Qin Kingdom; since the Ascension Society refused to cooperate, they would destroy it and support new factions.

As for Bai Huayue...

Heh, she was just a tool.

She could even betray her original organization just because she couldn’t become the leader—what group would trust her?

But the mission was not yet complete; Jiu Li Xiangzi could not show any such emotions.

“They’re here. I just saw Zhou Shu. The group with him must be the Demon Suppression Division’s scouts,” Bai Huayue said, turning her head at the window.

From here, the Longevity Pavilion and the hotel where Zhou Shu stayed were fully visible.

“Excellent. It seems the plan is proceeding smoothly,” Jiu Li Xiangzi said calmly, sipping tea as she sat on the sofa.

Beside her sat several men and women of various ages—collaborators involved in this mission.

They were leaders of small groups; perhaps their abilities didn’t match Jiu Li Xiangzi’s, but the Evolution Organization had given them due respect, avoiding any arrogant airs.

At least, for now.

The Bronze-level commanders had no seats and were sent out to gather intelligence.

“Heh heh,” an old man sitting opposite Jiu Li Xiangzi quickly glanced at her delicate figure with a lecherous smile. “Should I slip them some slow-acting poison so more of them die when the fight breaks out?”

Jiu Li Xiangzi paid no mind to his gaze and calmly replied, “Lord Wu Xinghe, no need to rush; their true combat strength is a critical parameter.”

“After they finish fighting, there will be an opportunity for you to shine.”

“Heh heh, well said, well said. I’m already eyeing the largest share of the Evolution Serum.”

Seeing his attitude, the other leaders present looked displeased but dared not say anything.

Wu Xinghe feared neither Jiu Li Xiangzi nor anyone else here because among them, he was the only one capable of matching her in combat—and possessed exceedingly vile abilities.

As the leader of the second-largest heretical faction in the Great Qin Kingdom, he had that confidence.

If not for the fact that he couldn’t defeat that ancient demon of the Ascension Society, his Ten Directions Sect would have already swallowed the Ascension Society, and none of these troubles would exist.

But now the opportunity had arrived. Heh heh, once that ancient demon was taken down by the Demon Suppression Division’s Celestial Master, and he gained access to the Evolution Organization’s cultivation resources, he would sooner or later become the strongest man in the Great Qin Kingdom.

Or even a “Demon God”!