Chapter 3466: Revealing The Suspects To Others
Chapter 3466: Revealing The Suspects To Others
The Bounty had been issued years ago, shortly after Lin Mu left the Rust Sky World. At the time, it had seemed insignificant, just another ripple in the dark undercurrents of the Immortal Realm. But it had not remained small.
The bounty had spread.
It had crossed worlds.
It had crossed Immortal Courts.
It was not limited to a single assassin organization. The Dead Needle Abyss was only one of many dark factions that had taken notice. Shadow sects. Silent clans. Rogue assassins. Even some unorthodox cultivators unaffiliated with any group.
All had seen the same reward.
And that reward made Lin Mu’s breath slow.
The bounty did not offer Immortal Stones.
It did not offer treasures.
It did not offer sect positions or bloodline techniques.
The reward was a secret.
The secret to becoming a Celestial.
Lin Mu’s fingers slowly curled.
"So that’s it," he murmured.
Only now did everything make sense.
Why they dared to move during such a dangerous occasion.
Why they were willing to offend not just Lin Mu, but the Martial Fist King Sect, multiple Sect representatives, and countless powerful factions gathered at the banquet.
Why they were willing to throw away their lives without hesitation.
Why even failure did not deter them.
Such a reward was enough to drive anyone mad.
The memories showed fragments of discussion among the assassins. Doubts. Fear. Rationalization. All overridden by that single promise.
A path beyond the Immortal Realm.
A chance to touch the Celestial.
"No wonder," Lin Mu said quietly.
Xukong did not respond immediately.
When he did, his voice was heavy. "You have stepped onto a road that cannot be walked quietly anymore."
Lin Mu nodded.
He could see it now. This bounty was not placed by a single individual. It was layered. Fractured. Intentionally vague. Designed to spread like a contagion. Whoever was behind it either had immense power, or immense patience.
Or both.
"And now they know," Lin Mu said. "They know I am not easy prey."
"Yes," Xukong agreed. "But they will not stop. The reward is too great."
Lin Mu closed his eyes for a brief moment, steadying his heart.
When he opened them again, there was no hesitation left.
"Then I will make them understand," he said calmly, "that some bounties cost more than they are worth."
Above him, the night sky remained calm.
But far beyond this world, ripples were already spreading.
Lin Mu stood atop the plateau for a long moment after the Saintess vanished, the faint trace of Wind and Cloud Dao already dispersing into nothingness. The mountain that once stood beneath his feet was gone, crushed into a broad, silent expanse. Yet his thoughts were far louder than the destruction he had left behind.
This was no longer a matter that could be handled quietly.
He had always known that walking the path he did would invite enemies. He had never shied away from that. But this was different. This was organized. Coordinated. And worse, it was indiscriminate.
They had dared to act during a great gathering. They had dared to target Meng Bai. And they had dared to place a bounty that promised ascension beyond the Immortal Realm.
That alone meant this could not be ignored.
Lin Mu exhaled slowly and turned toward the direction of Great Fist City.
"I can deal with assassins," he murmured. "But this time, I will not do it alone."
A few hours later, Lin Mu appeared within the city, his arrival causing ripples of Immortal Essence to stir the defensive formations instinctively before recognizing him and settling down. He did not head to the banquet hall or his residence. Instead, he went directly to one of the most secure official bases of the Martial Fist King Sect.
The moment he arrived, word spread.
By the time Lin Mu entered the main council chamber, nearly every seat was occupied.
At the head sat Patriarch Xiong Tian, his massive frame radiating suppressed fury. Around him were the elders of the Martial Fist King Sect, including several other Transcendent level experts whose mere presence warped the air.
Beyond them sat representatives from various worlds and powers. Sect patriarchs. Clan ancestors. Wandering Transcendents. Immortal Court envoys.
These were not people who gathered lightly.
Lin Mu stepped forward and clasped his fists. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."
Xiong Tian nodded once. "Speak. We are listening."
Lin Mu did not waste time.
He began with the assassination attempt itself. The poisoned tea. The disguised assassins. The involvement of the girl known as Xiao Ling. He spoke clearly, methodically, recounting events without exaggeration.
When he mentioned the Dead Needle Abyss, murmurs rippled through the hall.
"So it was them," a scar faced Transcendent from another world said coldly. "Those vermin never learn."
Another elder snorted. "They have always been bold when shadows are thick, but to act during a grand tournament is madness."
Lin Mu raised a hand slightly. "It goes deeper than that."
The hall quieted.
He then relayed what he had learned from the memories. Their methods. Their presence across the world. Their hidden bases. Their protocols. Many present began to frown as details overlapped with rumors they had heard in the past.
Finally, Lin Mu delivered the core revelation.
"There is an open bounty on my head," he said calmly. "It has been active for several years. It is not limited to one Immortal Court. And the reward offered is the secret to becoming a Celestial."
Silence slammed into the hall.
For several breaths, no one spoke.
THUD
Then a Transcendent expert clad in azure robes slammed his hand onto the table. The sound echoed like thunder.
"Absurd!" he roared. "Do they think Celestials are cabbages that can be harvested?"
Another elder’s expression darkened. "That explains their desperation."
Xiong Tian’s eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening. "Such a bounty cannot be issued lightly. Whoever placed it is either a fool or a monster."
Lin Mu inclined his head. "I do not know who placed it. Only that it spread rapidly after I left the Rust Sky World."