Chapter 27: The Black Tiger Presents a Treasure!

The assassin’s voice came, hoarse and suppressed, laden with unbearable agony. He did not fear death, but he could not endure this endless torment. His only hope now was for it to be quick, even quicker—ideally, to die instantly.

“Y-yes… the Han family! I am assassin number 13 from the Assassin Hall…” Assassin No. 13 stammered, trembling as he spoke, “Please… give me… a swift end!”

“So it really is the Han family,” came a calm voice.

“Assassin Hall, huh? That’s somewhat interesting.”

Duan Lingxiao was well aware of the Assassin Hall’s existence—it was one of the top ten assassin organizations in the Dragon Kingdom. Its influence spanned the entire nation, with a branch stationed in Jiangnan City of the Southeastern Province.

“Since the Assassin Hall has shown up, then this organization no longer has any reason to exist.”

Duan Lingxiao placed his hand on the head of Assassin No. 13 and gave it a gentle twist. Immediately, the man’s head lolled to the side.

“Come with me.”

After soothing Xiao Mengxue to rest, Duan Lingxiao called Zhao Heihu. Zhao Heihu was a familiar figure in the underworld, adept at the grim task of disposing of bodies. He arrived promptly, carrying a suitcase.

Upon entering, he saw Duan Lingxiao seated on the sofa beside a cold corpse.

“This is assassin number 13 from the Assassin Hall. Take him and dispose of him thoroughly.”

Duan Lingxiao said casually.

“Yes, sir!”

Zhao Heihu’s eyes flickered with unease. The name Assassin Hall was infamous; many noble families hired them with hefty sums to eliminate rivals. But the mention of Number 13 made his whole body tremble violently.

It was known that the Assassin Hall ranked its killers—number one being the strongest. Assassin No. 13 was considered an elite, with a typical success rate exceeding 98%.

Yet judging from the scene, Duan Lingxiao was utterly unscathed, clearly having crushed his opponent with overwhelming force.

Though Duan Lingxiao’s earlier display of hurling chopsticks to strike Zhou Tianhao was vivid in memory, that was a direct confrontation. The Assassin Hall’s killers excelled in stealth and swift kills.

And even so, they were overwhelmed.

This revealed the staggering extent of Duan Lingxiao’s strength.

With this realization, Zhao Heihu’s gaze toward Duan Lingxiao grew ever more reverent, and deep inside, he felt a profound sense of relief and certainty that his decision to surrender and pledge allegiance today was the wisest he’d ever made.

“By the way, I’m Ling Tian.”

Duan Lingxiao chose not to reveal his true name for now. Five years ago, enemies both overt and covert were countless. Though he feared none, revealing his identity would complicate his search for the truth.

“Ling Tian? What a commanding name!”

Zhao Heihu nodded eagerly.

“Also, I found out that the Sanjiang Gang, Longhu Gang, and Sakura Society have been seizing much of the Xiao family’s assets over the years. I intend to make them cough it all up, principal and interest.”

There was a murderous intent veiled beneath Duan Lingxiao’s calm tone.

“Yes, sir! The Black Tiger Hall will obey your orders without question!”

Zhao Heihu looked up, astonished by Duan Lingxiao’s words. His mind raced, but soon a look of ecstatic joy spread across his face.

Principal and interest?

This meant the destruction of the three major gangs!

Though the Black Tiger Hall was a leading underground force in Jiangnan City, it was no match for these three gangs. With Duan Lingxiao’s aid, swallowing them whole was no longer a pipe dream.

This would catapult the Black Tiger Hall to become the largest gang in Jiangnan City.

Zhao Heihu immediately cleaned the scene thoroughly, wiping the floor spotless.

“Sir, this villa has long been neglected and is somewhat dilapidated. Perhaps you and Miss Xiao should move elsewhere? I have a vacant villa in the coastal villa district, if you wish.”

Zhao Heihu asked cautiously.

“No need. Staying here is fine. Just have someone clean it thoroughly by tomorrow morning.”

Duan Lingxiao replied.

This was Xiao Longhu’s home. He had feelings for this place, and Xiao Mengxue was even more reluctant to part with it. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have risked her life to protect this villa.

So he would not leave.

“Yes, sir!”

Zhao Heihu nodded but did not leave immediately. Instead, he opened his suitcase and took out a small wooden box.

“Sir, I planned to present this to you tomorrow, but there’s no time like the present. I want you to have it tonight.”

Duan Lingxiao took the box and opened it, his expression instantly shifting, even showing a hint of unease.

Inside lay a milky-white pearl, five centimeters in diameter, lustrous and radiant, as if it breathed the essence of sun and moon, concentrating the purest energy of heaven and earth.

“Where did this pearl come from?”

Duan Lingxiao suppressed his shock and asked.

“A gambler in my casino lost millions in a row and couldn’t pay up. So he pawned this pearl. Although small, its density is incredible—it weighs several dozen jin [tens of kilograms]. I had it appraised by experts who said it wasn’t ordinary jade but some special mineral. You’re well-versed; surely you have some connection to this item.”

Zhao Heihu explained earnestly.

“Very well, I’ll take it. But I won’t treat you unfairly. I’ll refine a batch of pills to ensure you break through to the Profound Realm within three days and eventually rise to the Celestial Realm!”

Duan Lingxiao nodded.

“Three days to reach the Profound Realm?”

“And then ascend to the Celestial Realm?”

Zhao Heihu was stunned. As a novice cultivator, becoming a Profound Realm warrior was already a dream come true. Achieving the Celestial Realm was beyond his wildest fantasies.

“Not interested?”

Duan Lingxiao asked coolly.

“N-no! I want that! I want it!”

Zhao Heihu rejoiced and knelt, expressing endless gratitude.

A mysterious pearl in exchange for a significant boost in martial cultivation—this was a blessing beyond his dreams.

Though strange, the pearl had been tested countless times; even experts could not ascertain its exact purpose. Apart from curiosity and collection, it had no other use.

He had given it to Duan Lingxiao on a hope that he might recognize its value.

Unexpectedly, Duan Lingxiao not only recognized it but also did not discard it after use, allowing Zhao Heihu to benefit greatly.

This trade was worth every bit of it.

After Zhao Heihu left in high spirits, Duan Lingxiao’s gaze returned to the pearl.

It was indeed a treasure, but of little use to ordinary people and difficult for martial cultivators to utilize.

Only a spiritual cultivator like himself could make full use of it.

This was a natural Spiritual Source Stone.

For spiritual cultivators, their cultivation techniques depend on the essence of spiritual energy from heaven and earth. The Spiritual Source Stone is a natural mineral rich in spiritual energy.

Its spiritual energy far exceeds what can be drawn naturally from the environment.

Moreover, the one Zhao Heihu brought was nearly transparent, like a precious jade.

This indicated an extremely high concentration and purity of spiritual energy.

For spiritual cultivators, such a treasure was exceedingly rare.

Its value could scarcely be measured in monetary terms—it would be an insult.

Martial cultivation realms are divided into the Heavens and Earth stages: Yellow Realm is the lowest, Celestial Realm the highest. Above the Celestial Realm lie even higher planes.

Five years ago, when Duan Lingxiao became Marquis Champion, he had already reached beyond the Celestial Realm.

But on the night of his award ceremony, he was framed, and his martial foundation destroyed. Since then, he had fallen from the Celestial Realm.

He became a cripple.

In other words, he was no longer a martial cultivator.

He was a spiritual cultivator.

As a spiritual cultivator, Duan Lingxiao’s stages were: Qi Refining, Innate, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Void Return, Dao Union, and Tribulation Crossing.

He was currently in early Innate stage.

“With this Spiritual Source Stone, I can surely advance from early to mid Innate in one go!”

At that moment, Duan Lingxiao activated the “War God Technique” taught by his first evil master. Suddenly, all his meridians surged with energy like a finely tuned machine.

A terrifying suction erupted from his palm, drawing the Spiritual Source Stone, which immediately began pouring forth abundant spiritual power.

In an instant, Duan Lingxiao’s face flushed slightly red.

Deep within Prison Zero, the seven evil masters had brewed potent medicines, hunted fierce beasts for blood soups, and prepared strange ingredients to aid his cultivation.

Thanks to them, he had transformed in five years from a cripple into a terrifying spiritual cultivator, having surpassed thirteen layers of Qi Refining and reached mid Innate.

Now, as the energy of the Spiritual Source Stone poured into him, it was like a sponge absorbing an endless ocean, surging and pressing from all sides…