Chapter 330: Tiger Lord Hall

Chapter 330: Tiger Sovereign Hall

The wedding between Li Xuechun and Wan Yilan was originally set to take place the next day.

By this time, most martial artists within Wusheng Hall's territory who planned to come had already arrived.

Even those too proud to arrive early were already on their way.

But no one expected that the wedding, which had been arranged so suddenly, would be canceled even more abruptly.

However, the martial artists currently at Wusheng Hall were aware that major upheavals had occurred within the sect over the past two nights.

Unfortunately, they were not Su Mo, and thus the treatment they received was naturally different.

As a result, they were clueless about what really happened within Wusheng Hall—neither the details nor why.

All they knew was that they excitedly came for the wedding banquet, only for the wedding to fall through before it started.

Their chance to suck up to Wusheng Hall was dashed, and their opportunity to gain its goodwill vanished.

But no big deal.

Those in the martial world always chased drama wherever it could be found.

Where there’s drama, there’s opportunity.

The Hidden Name Sage had once invited martial arts masters from the southwest to a tea gathering at Profound Theory Valley.

Su Mo had made his name through that very event.

The huge event of the Heavenly Path Sword Debate further propelled Su Mo to become the First of Donghuang.

It showed how drama and opportunity often went hand in hand.

Who knew if, by luck, the next person to make a name for themselves in the martial world might be oneself?

Even if one lacked Su Mo’s unbeatable skills, an opportunity to befriend renowned masters was too good to pass up.

After all, in the martial world, more friends meant more options.

Thus, the buzz growing in Sunset City was naturally something worth joining.

The date for the alliance’s grand assembly was set for the twenty-fifth of this month.

Today was only the seventh.

With eighteen days remaining, pushing hard would still allow them to arrive in time for the event.

That’s how the martial world rolled.

One show’s over, another starts—there was never a shortage of excitement to witness.

Su Mo didn’t linger on this for long before finding an excuse to visit Yang Yizhi.

Yang Yizhi still had some matters to attend to.

Su Mo had retrieved a large bundle, and everything inside needed to be thoroughly examined.

Once they confirmed nothing was missing, they could give Jun Luo a quick—or slow—death.

In addition, how to deal with two others needs to be decided.

One is Cao Ming, and the other is Bei Zhangzhi.

Dealing with Cao Ming is simple—just kill him.

Although he was Jun Luo's puppet, always saying he had no choice, he actually enjoyed it.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have played mind games with Madam Wan.

He could tell Madam Wan hated Jun Luo.

As Jun Luo’s puppet, he knew a lot.

If he really resented Jun Luo, he could’ve made a deal with Madam Wan to take down Jun Luo—at the very least, there would’ve been a chance.

Yet he did nothing.

This man knew far more than Bei Zhangzhi and had personally participated in many events.

Letting someone like him go would be asking for trouble.

So it was better to just kill him.

But the real problem was Bei Zhangzhi.

Looking at Bei Zhangzhi’s situation, he was actually kind of innocent.

First, he didn’t know the truth about Jun Luo and didn’t even know what was up with Cao Ming.

He genuinely believed the hall master trusted him and thus stayed completely loyal.

Even when he learned the Divine Light Splitting Hand and the Yixuan Divine Art, he thought they were secret manuals obtained from the ruins of Da Xuan.

The whole time, he had no clue, not even knowing about the hidden chamber.

After witnessing himself and the "hall master" fall into Su Mo’s hands, he spilled everything he knew, hoping Su Mo would go easy on the "hall master."

Under such circumstances, killing him wasn’t right.

But letting him go meant he might spill the secrets of Yang Yizhi and the others’ actions.

This was top-secret stuff and involved the lives of many.

It absolutely couldn’t be leaked.

Thus, figuring out what to do with him was tricky.

In the end, it was decided to take him along for now.

Killing him seemed wrong, and letting him go wasn’t smart, so they just took him along.

The final matter was the letter Wan Yutang wrote to Su Mo.

The letter was brief, with most of its content expressing gratitude toward Su Mo.

However, at the end of the letter, the words "South Sea Tempered Heart Shrine" popped up.

Those five words stuck out like a sore thumb, disconnected from the rest of the content.

Clearly, it was highly suspicious.

But with the South Sea mixed in, it wasn’t something that could be pursued immediately.

As Wan Zangxin had instructed, Su Mo skimmed the letter and torched it right after. Then he hashed out a plan with Yang Yizhi and the crew.

They’d split into two groups—one moving openly, the other undercover—and return to Sunset City in batches.

Then, they’d pick a lucky day for Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun’s grand event.

With that settled, Su Mo departed first, leading Yang Xiaoyun and the others back to Sunset City.

They pushed hard on the road.

The Fallen Phoenix Alliance’s big meeting was scheduled for the 25th of this month. If they hustled, they’d still get there in time.

Of course, Su Mo wasn’t too worried.

Aside from wondering what happened to Ren Xiongfei, everything else was likely already settled under the schemes of the old fox Wei Ruhan.

Now, it was just about flushing the snake out and finishing it in one move.

So, if they made it to the big event, they’d join in the excitement.

If not, no big deal.

After Wei Ruhan’s years of careful scheming, there shouldn’t be any further mishaps.

……

……

The night was windy and overcast, the stars blotted out by gloom.

White Tiger City was quiet, nothing like the noise of the sacrifice night, peaceful as a mountain tiger at rest.

Three figures in black materialized on the city walls.

Scanning the horizon, the first thing that caught their eyes was the Tiger Lord’s Hall.

The Tiger Lord’s Hall stood at the very edge of White Tiger City, leaning against Tiger Lord Mountain, isolated from the surrounding buildings.

It felt aloof, like it stood apart from the world.

Apart from that, the wreckage of the old Chief Attendant’s place was the most striking sight.

That night, when Su Mo wreaked havoc in White Tiger City, he damn near flattened the Chief Attendant’s place.

Even now, after so much time had passed, it remained unrepaired—a barren patch that stuck out like a sore thumb when viewed from above.

One of the black-clad figures stared at that spot, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"...Happy with your masterpiece?"

Another figure in black, catching the look, murmured.

That crisp voice was Yang Xiaoyun's.

"Cough... no way?"

Su Mo quickly shook his head. "I was just missing that giant pillar... swinging it felt amazing."

"..."

Yang Xiaoyun had no comeback.

She also recalled the scene of Su Mo wielding the stone pillar, plowing through everything in his path.

Whether it was the Canglong Bahuang Dianyun Spear or any group combat techniques, they didn't even come close.

The reason they were here was naturally due to what the Grand Priestess had said that night.

Among the four great martial arts masters of Da Xuan, one might be from the Purple Sun Sect.

Later, from Jun Luo's words, they learned that the Imperial Office was built around these four top fighters.

Moreover, the Grand Priestess had mentioned that her people still had records on this matter... which naturally caught Su Mo's attention.

Not only that, but when Su Mo and his group passed through White Tiger City, they'd been marked for the Star Sea Legacy Sand Iron.

The Chief Attendant of the Imperial Court had openly pulled some amateur moves right in front of him.

Later, the Grand Priestess secretly intervened, putting Su Mo on edge and prompting him to leave early to smoke out whoever was lurking.

Yet, who would have thought that the Grand Priestess herself had her own agenda?

Though she offered the Emperor’s Heart Sutra as an apology, the technique had some nasty surprises baked in.

With all these events combined, Su Mo's visit this time was precisely to square things with them.

For now, however, Su Mo intended to first investigate the remnants' records.

Thus, during the day, they changed their appearances and passed through White Tiger City, telling Zhen Xiaoxiao to stay put at the inn.

Under night's cover, Su Mo brought Yang Xiaoyun and Xu Lu back to White Tiger City.

Considering tonight's main job was burglary, bringing Xu Lu along was a no-brainer.

After all, in terms of professional expertise in this field, though Xu Lu wasn't the best in the business, he was undoubtedly far more skilled than Su Mo and the others.

And Xu Lu, hearing he had a chance to return to his old trade, was pumped.

After exchanging a few casual words with Yang Xiaoyun, Su Mo sprang up, using his qinggong to head toward the Tiger Lord Temple.

Xu Lu followed closely behind.

The trio moved fast, arriving in the dark alley opposite the Tiger Lord Temple in mere moments.

The temple was heavily guarded, and its isolation from other buildings was precisely for easier defense.

From a high vantage point, any intruder could be spotted at a glance.

So upon reaching this place, the three paused briefly. Xu Lu, as the top thief, was the first to speak:

"Master, Madam, the security of the Tiger Lord Temple is even tighter than expected."

"The best course of action now is to feint a distraction."

"Lure their eyes away, then slip through the gaps."

"Alternatively, we could map out all their positions and see if we can dart inside using lightness techniques while avoiding their line of sight..."

As he spoke, he casually picked up a wooden stick and began drawing on the ground.

"The Tiger Lord Temple is backed by Tiger Lord Mountain, and its interior remains a mystery."

"I've passed through White Tiger City a few times and heard from some that even looking at the Tiger Lord is punishable."

"That only made me more curious..."

"I once considered sneaking in to see what’s so special about this Tiger Lord."

"But the first time I came recklessly, I almost got caught by hidden guards. Plus, I had other pressing business, so I didn’t dare return."

"Still, that visit helped me identify the positions of a few guards..."

As he spoke, a crude map of the Tiger Lord Temple formed on the ground.

He then pointed to several spots on the diagram, marking the guards' locations.

After marking a few, he shook his head. "I’d need to scout the rest."

Su Mo listened quietly before nodding slightly.

"You’ve got the soul of a thief."

Xu Lu waffled—was that praise or scorn?

Should he thank Su Mo for the compliment?

Or grovel for forgiveness?

While he was still pondering, Su Mo suddenly seized his shoulder.

Startled, Xu Lu said, "I’ve gone straight, Master! Surely you don’t need to punish me for it?"

"Your two plans are good, but I have a better one."

"Huh?"

Before Xu Lu could react, the ground seemed to vanish under Su Mo. The next moment, Xu Lu felt like a leaf on the wind.

Guided by Su Mo, they burst into the Tiger Lord Temple in a blink.

Xu Lu gaped around in bewilderment, then peered outside—their old spot was already a speck in the distance.

"This..."

He turned to Su Mo. "When do I get to learn *that*?"

Su Mo snorted. "You haven’t even mastered the Qiankun Acupoint Technique (the one you’ve butchered)—you couldn’t hold Jun Luo in place, and already you’re greedy for more?"

Su Mo, with Yang Xiaoyun in tow, scanned the temple’s shadowed corners. The hall loomed around them, silent as a tomb.

At first glance, the entire hall, though not small, was pretty empty.

Apart from a central statue of the Tiger King, there was nothing particularly unusual.

And this Tiger King was just a tiger lying on a pedestal.

"What’s the big deal about this?"

Yang Xiaoyun looked at Su Mo, a little lost.

Su Mo shook his head slightly and carefully examined the statue of the Tiger King. His eyebrows rose:

"Check out the tiger’s nose..."

Xu Lu had originally wanted to say why he couldn’t pin Jun Luo down—wasn’t it because of Jun Luo's Great Transformation Transcendence Sutra?

His own inner force was inferior to Jun Luo's, so after striking the acupoint, his energy was directly overpowered by the other’s, making it impossible to hold him in place...

But upon hearing Su Mo's words, he swallowed his response and looked up instead. He noticed that the Tiger King’s nose was weirdly shiny.

He frowned:

"There’s something odd about this nose..."

The entire statue was made of metal.

Though the rest of it was kept clean, only the nose... clearly bore signs of frequent touching and rubbing.

As a result, it was noticeably shinier.

No way to hide that. Anyone who looked up would immediately notice the anomaly.

The three looked at each other, and with a slight nod from Su Mo, Xu Lu sprang into motion.

With a light step on the pedestal, he landed on the tiger’s head.

Crouching down, he ran his fingers over the tiger’s nose, finding it smooth and feeling nice.

A moment later, he experimented—pressing, twisting, and finally giving it a gentle tug.

A soft click of gears turning could be heard.

Immediately afterward, the whole statue of the Tiger King began to shake.

Startled, Xu Lu jumped back, landing behind Su Mo just as the statue abruptly slid backward.

Silently, an entrance was revealed.

Xu Lu grimaced at the sight:

"Boss... another hidden door..."

Just recently, he had emerged from the Endless Prison of Wusheng Hall.

The time he had spent trapped inside, dealing with all those traps, had been pure torture.

Now, seeing such an entrance again made his skin crawl.

Su Mo smiled, seized Xu Lu and tossed him inside, then pulled Yang Xiaoyun in with him.

The moment they descended, the tiger statue above them snapped shut.

The entrance below was not shrouded in darkness.

On either side were walls showing signs of age, with braziers mounted on them.

No one knew what fuel burned inside or how many years it had been alight, but it illuminated the entire underground passage.

Yang Xiaoyun glanced around and said to Su Mo:

"This place is rather strange—it doesn’t seem like a hidden location. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to build such a wide secret passage."

The passage was the widest Su Mo's group had ever seen.

In terms of width alone, it could accommodate two carriages side by side.

Below was a set of stone steps, the large stones worn smooth by centuries of use and weather, with some steps even collapsed inward.

The three followed the steps downward, and before long, the slope gradually flattened.

Not far ahead, loomed a massive stone gate.

The gate was enormous, filling the passage from wall to wall.

Carved upon it was an image—a tiger, head raised high, roaring over mountain and forest.

After examining the carved tiger briefly, Xu Lu naturally stepped forward and started feeling every inch of the gate.

After a moment, apparently having found something, he suddenly reached out and tapped it lightly.

The stone door abruptly swung open on both sides.

Before them lay a vast space.

A stone staircase ascended, connecting to a massive platform.

An incense burner stood at the center, surrounded by rows of bookshelves lining the mountain walls.

Dozens of meditation cushions were arranged around the incense burner.

It seemed that on certain days, people would gather around these burners to sit and pore over texts.

Further ahead, another staircase rose.

The steps were wide, just as wide as the hidden passage before.

Yet, there was no telling where this path might end after winding its way forward.

Xu Lu spoke up at this point:

"Master, from how far we've come, we must have already entered the heart of Tiger Lord Mountain.

"The White Tiger remnants seem to have carved out spaces within the mountain to house their clan's secrets."

Su Mo nodded slightly. "Let’s look around first and see if there's anything worth noting."

Leaving empty-handed was out of the question since they were here as thieves.

The three of them immediately went their separate ways and began searching through the bookshelves.

The books here were mostly just standard fare—your typical Four Books and Five Classics, along with some novels, miscellaneous anecdotes, and unofficial histories.

There were a few martial arts manuals as well, but apart from the introductory "Lin Shen Jing" of the Emperor’s Heart Sutra, nothing else stood out—just some commonplace stuff.

Just as Su Mo was beginning to think they wouldn’t find anything of value, Xu Lu called out:

"Master, there’s a hidden chamber here."

"Huh?"

Both Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun blinked in surprise and turned to look at Xu Lu. They saw that, after a moment of tinkering, a hidden door suddenly opened along the wall.

Behind the door wasn’t a hidden chamber as Xu Lu had suggested, but a concealed bookshelf.

Xu Lu was also stunned for a moment. After a brief pause, he went to another section and, shortly after, opened yet another hidden shelf...

Turned out, there were a total of eight such concealed bookshelves.