83: Surprise attack on Shadow Pavilion

Chu Ye stretched lazily. Li Yue and Cold Moon had already risen like the most submissive concubines, silently fetching his clothes and dressing him with meticulous and humble movements.

When Li Yue adjusted his collar, her fingertips trembled almost imperceptibly; Cold Moon knelt down, carefully tying his boot laces.

In just a moment, the three were fully dressed. However, the two masters of the Immortal Palace stood behind Chu Ye, their deference and humility a world apart from their past selves.

In the main hall of the Guanghan Immortal Palace, the ice crystal jade pillars remained, but the cold atmosphere seemed tinged with a different meaning.

Chu Ye naturally sat in the primary seat at the head of the hall, with the Empress seated to his side. Li Yue and Cold Moon, who should have been the masters of this place, stood silently by Chu Ye’s seat like two exquisite yet silent jade statues.

The Empress's gaze swept over the master and disciple, the corners of her lips curling slightly as she spoke with her usual coolness and a hint of teasing: "Your Highness Chu’s speed in taking control of Guanghan has indeed lived up to expectations."

"Naturally."

Chu Ye grinned broadly, making no effort to hide it. "Efficiency is paramount."

The Empress said no more and clapped her hands.

Outside the hall, two stunning women dressed in tight-fitting night-traveling clothes, their appearances nearly identical, were brought in.

They had slender figures and faces as exquisite as paintings. Their eyes held a similar coldness and stubbornness. More strangely, their auras were faintly connected; they were a rare pair of twins.

“The intelligence on the Shadow Pavilion is basically clear now.” The Empress pointed at the two women. “They deserve the credit. They are the current Saintesses of the Shadow Pavilion, Ying Shuang and Ying Xue.”

Chu Ye’s gaze fell upon the two women, and the System quietly scanned them:

【Target: Ying Shuang/Ying Xue (Shadow Pavilion Saintesses, Twin Spirit Bodies)】

【Cultivation: Peak Emperor Realm】

【Traits: Telepathy, Shadow Affinity, Excellent Stealth Talent】

【Status: Subjected to 'Power-Devouring Blood Pact' (Removable)】

【Comprehensive Rating: 95/95】

【Comment: High-quality potential stocks, current situation is dire, conquest difficulty is medium (requires breaking the contract).】

The Empress continued, “According to their account, the Shadow Pavilion is the most mysterious and unscrupulous bounty organization in the Middle Region, claiming 'there is no one who cannot be killed, and no task that cannot be accepted'.”

“Its internal Rank System is strict, with assassins spread everywhere. Its core combat power... seven in the Immortal Realm, over thirty in the Emperor Realm, and countless other elites. Its foundation is indeed profound.”

“As for why they defected...” The Empress paused, her tone turning cold. “The so-called Saintesses are actually 'Blood Servants'. The Shadow Pavilion has a secret method that can devour and convert others' cultivation power for core members to absorb.”

“They were chosen as 'Cauldrons' since childhood. Though titled Saintesses, they are actually being raised as Cultivate tools waiting to be harvested.”

“The rules within the pavilion are cruel. If a mission fails or there is the slightest disobedience, the punishment ranges from severe to the destruction of cultivation and extraction of the soul. There is no freedom, let alone human rights.”

Ying Shuang looked up, her eyes filled with humiliation and determination: “We do not wish to be treated as meat on a chopping block for our entire lives, serving as nourishment for that filthy secret method!”

“We heard that Divine Son Chu... possesses thunderous methods and can change the course of the world. Her Majesty the Empress promised that if we help you eradicate the Shadow Pavilion, we can gain our freedom. We... are willing to act as internal agents and offer all our intelligence!”

Ying Xue also nodded vigorously. The sisters' eyes met, filled with a desperate hope.

Chu Ye tapped the armrest lightly, deep in thought.

The Shadow Pavilion's model was like a Xuanhuan version of a “dark web platform plus sweatshop,” capable of rapidly accumulating wealth and deterrence, but also making countless enemies, relying entirely on mystery and ruthlessness to maintain itself.

“I have received the value of the intelligence.”

Chu Ye spoke, his voice steady. “Once the Shadow Pavilion matter is settled, I will personally remove that ‘Power-Devouring Blood Pact’ from you.”

Hearing this, Ying Shuang and Ying Xue trembled. Their eyes instantly burst with unbelievable ecstasy and gratitude, and they immediately knelt down: “Thank you, Divine Son! We will do our utmost, even if it means death!”

The Empress waved her hand, signaling for the emotional twins to be taken down and comforted.

She turned to Chu Ye and said seriously: “Our side has mobilized the elites of Great Chu, the experts of the Western Region Witch Tribe, some of the Yao Race from the Northern Region, plus...”

She glanced at Li Yue and Cold Moon, “The newly acquired power of the Guanghan Immortal Palace. The troops are sufficient. When to strike and how to arrange the layout is for you to decide.”

Just then, Cold Moon, who had been standing silently, suddenly took a step forward. She bowed deeply to Chu Ye, her voice cold but firm: “Your Highness, I... I also request to go to battle!”

She looked up, a long-suppressed hatred flashing in her eyes: “I was previously seriously injured, and the source of the strange Gu poison I was infected with has been traced back to the Shadow Pavilion!”

“I wish to avenge this debt personally! Everyone in the Guanghan Immortal Palace is also at your disposal to fully surround and kill these scoundrels!”

Although Li Yue did not speak, her eyes flickered. Clearly, with Cold Moon's hatred, there had long been a grudge between the Guanghan Immortal Palace and the Shadow Pavilion.

Chu Ye looked at Cold Moon, who had volunteered, then at Li Yue, and then thought of the twins' tearful accusations. His ill will toward the Shadow Pavilion and his intent to exterminate them grew even stronger.

He had already intended to pull up this hidden danger by the roots; now, there was even more reason, and morale was high.

“Good.” Chu Ye stood up, an invisible majesty filling the hall. “Cold Moon, I grant your request. The Guanghan Immortal Palace is hereby assigned to this expedition.”

His gaze swept over the Empress, Li Yue, and Cold Moon, finally landing on the Void Realm outside the hall, as if he could already see the malignant tumor hidden in the shadows.

“Pass the order to all parties. According to the Empress's deployment, complete the final assembly and tactical simulation within three days.”

“This time, what I want is not just a defeat, but a complete erasure.”

“The Shadow Pavilion... since they claim no one cannot be killed, let them taste for themselves what it’s like to be covered by ‘saturated firepower’.”

Half a month passed in the hundred phoenix diagram like the snap of a finger.

Chu Ye sat high in the primary seat. Below him, light and color overflowed, resembling a vivid “picture of exquisite immortal beauties.”

The Empress was still dressed in her black dragon-patterned imperial robes, her phoenix eyes carrying authority. Her aura was more condensed and profound than before; clearly, the half-month of quiet meditation had brought further progress, and her commander's presence was in full effect.

Witch Empress Jiuyou was shrouded in a purple-black gauze robe, her fingertips playing with a strand of ever-changing foul Qi, her gaze lazy yet hiding a sharp edge.

Fox Immortal Su Qingyue’s nine-tail phantom flickered behind her, her eyes flowing with natural charm, and her cultivation had stabilized at the Seventh Level of the Immortal Dao.

Madam Hua Yu was in her finery, her True Immortal aura perfectly harmonious. Standing to the side, she naturally exuded dignity.

As for the newly “contracted” Cold Moon, she wore a simple white dress and stood silently a step behind Chu Ye, like the most submissive maidservant.

Only, the coldness on her face no longer held its former arrogance, replaced by calm obedience and a trace of indelible complexity deep within her eyes.

Others, such as Abbess Miaoyin and the core members of the Chu Family, were also full of energy, their Battle Intent faintly visible.

“The half-month period has arrived. Shadow Pavilion.”

Chu Ye’s gaze swept over the luxurious lineup below, his voice calm. “Ni Chang, act according to the plan.”

“By your command.” The Empress stepped forward, holding a Jade Slip sealed with a special forbidden technique. The intelligence within came from an Elder inside the Shadow Pavilion who had long been “persuaded” by Chu Ye through special means, providing the core nodes of their mountain gate's hidden array and the rotation keys.

“Depart.”

The night was as dark as ink. This was the time when forces like the Shadow Pavilion, which walked in the shadows, were most active and also most likely to be lax.

In a remote part of the Middle Region, hidden by layers of spatial folds and illusory arrays, lay a deep valley—the headquarters of the Shadow Pavilion.

This place could be described as truly “untraceable,” ignored even by ordinary Immortal Dao Divine Thoughts.

However, tonight was destined to be different.