Swallowed Star 2: Origin Continent

Chapter 23: Diao Rongqi’s Choice

Diao Rongqi sat there in a daze, tears streaming down her face.

“Xiao Qi, what’s wrong?” Magili Feiyun saw her friend crying and immediately became fully alert, hurriedly asking, “What happened?”

“My father is dead,” Diao Rongqi said blankly.

When her father was alive, she was a noble lady of a great family, associating with the offspring of prominent clans in Huyang City. She even looked down on ordinary Eternal True Gods as potential mentors, aiming to apprentice under ‘Commander Magili Xiao,’ the strongest on the surface in Huyang City. If not him, she sought to apprentice under ‘Lord Luo He,’ who suppressed the dark forces.

Her father, an ordinary Eternal True God skilled in alchemy, was not her preferred choice. But when he died and left her a way out in his final message, she couldn’t handle it.

“Father!” Diao Rongqi knew very well that her father was the one who loved her most in this world, willing to give everything for her.

“Yan Bo is dead?” Magili Feiyun couldn’t believe it. “How is that possible? Yan Bo was an Eternal True God. Who killed him?”

“He was indeed killed.”

A sigh echoed; it was Magili Meng, the current ruler of the Magili Clan, as Magili Xiao had no time to manage family affairs.

“Just now, all living beings in the main branch of the Diao Rong family were slaughtered in their cave mansion, not a single one left,” Magili Meng said. “Now, only a few branches of the Diao Rong family remain.”

Due to limited space in cave mansions, large clans had to spread out, especially the peripheral branches, which lived in ordinary caves. This time, it was the core of the Diao Rong family that was wiped out.

“Father, who is the culprit?” Magili Feiyun asked.

Diao Rongqi also looked at Magili Meng.

Magili Meng said, “Before his death, Diao Rong Yan communicated through karmic transmission, contacting many friends, saying the killer was Mu Yang, the President of the Blood Python Society.”

“My father also sent me a message, also saying the killer was the President of the Blood Python Society,” Diao Rongqi said hoarsely. “The entire cave mansion, including my father, over ten thousand beings, from Eternal True Gods to the youngest children, none were spared. My father’s personal transmission is solid evidence. Shouldn’t the City Lord’s Mansion take action?”

Magili Meng shook his head. “The President of the Blood Python Society is not an ordinary Eternal True God. He commands a faction, and killing him is no easy task. It requires discussion among the Five Great Families. Also, your father’s transmission does not count as conclusive evidence. The culprit could easily have disguised himself as the President of the Blood Python Society.”

“Disguised?” Diao Rongqi was anxious. “Can’t my father’s last transmission be trusted?”

“Some secret disguises are hard for even Eternal True Gods to see through,” Magili Meng said. “In any case, it will be difficult to confirm the culprit’s identity and prompt the City Lord’s Mansion to act.”

Diao Rongqi fell silent.

“After your father’s death, the many industries under his name, including the alchemy caves and shops, will be hard for you, a Void True God, to manage,” Magili Meng shook his head. “Our Magili Clan can help take over.”

“Father!” Magili Feiyun anxiously spoke up.

“Don’t worry, I won’t take advantage of this. These assets are valued at 20,000 Cosmos Sand and will be deposited under your name at Yan Feng Pavilion,” Magili Meng said. “You shouldn’t carry too much Cosmos Sand on you.”

“Thank you, Uncle Meng,” Diao Rongqi said gratefully, knowing that this price was more than fair.

“In the entire Huyang City, those who can confidently kill the President of the Blood Python Society are few,” Magili Meng said. “So, to kill him, you need enough patience to wait for the right opportunity.”

Diao Rongqi asked, “Can Commander Magili make a move? I’ll give up all the 20,000 Cosmos Sand.”

“It’s not that simple.” Magili Meng turned and left.

“Xiao Qi, stay at my place. No one can threaten you here,” Magili Feiyun said.

“I want some quiet,” Diao Rongqi said softly.

“Okay, I won’t disturb you.” Magili Feiyun got up and left.

Diao Rongqi sat alone, staring blankly at the night sky, looking at the countless twinkling stars. The star that belonged to her father had also completely dimmed, hadn’t it?

“Father…” At this moment, Diao Rongqi missed her father immensely, then her eyes turned frenzied.

Diao Rongqi used her communication token to contact the Dark Hall of Yan Feng Pavilion from afar.

“Diao Rongqi, your father Diao Rong Yan left you 30,000 Cosmos Sand in the Dark Hall after his death. Magili Meng also deposited 20,000 Cosmos Sand for you. You now have 50,000 Cosmos Sand under your name,” the Dark Hall responded.

“I want to use 40,000 Cosmos Sand to place a bounty on Mu Yang, the President of the Blood Python Society,” Diao Rongqi transmitted back, trusting her father’s judgment of the culprit before his death.

“Very well. The bounty on the President of the Blood Python Society has now increased to 160,000 Cosmos Sand! You still have 10,000 Cosmos Sand under your name,” the Dark Hall responded.

After raising the bounty, Diao Rongqi could only wait silently, hoping a strong person would take the bounty and kill the President of the Blood Python Society!

—

At the headquarters of the Blood Python Society.

“Magili Meng, what brings you here?” the President of the Blood Python Society smiled at Magili Meng.

Magili Meng’s face was grim. “Have you gone mad? Diao Rong Yan focused on alchemy, contributing to the entire Huyang City and not involving himself in your dark forces’ struggles. Why did you target him? Your reckless actions will only cause panic among the families in Huyang City! If the Five Great Families deem you a threat to the city’s stability, you are finished!”

“It wasn’t me who killed him; the culprit was disguised as me!” the President of the Blood Python Society urgently said. “The leader of the Shiguo forces, ‘Blood Cloud,’ is very adept at disguises. I suspect it was him.”

“Diao Rong Yan identified you as the culprit before he died.” Magili Meng sneered. “If you let your identity be recognized while doing such things, you are indeed incompetent.”

“It really wasn’t me,” the President of the Blood Python Society said.

“In Huyang City, everyone must follow the rules!” Magili Meng gave him a look and turned to leave. “If you don’t follow the rules, the consequences may be more than you can bear.”

With that, Magili Meng disappeared.

The President of the Blood Python Society, Mu Yang, watched this scene, his expression calming down.

“What if I don’t follow the rules? Hmph, in this world, strength is ultimately what matters.” Mu Yang sneered, “Even if I kill one, what can the many families in Huyang City do? Those who dare to challenge me must be prepared to die!”

“Unfortunately, Diao Rong Yan was too useless. Killing him and looting his entire cave mansion only yielded 220,000 Cosmos Sand.” The President of the Blood Python Society shook his head. “Among the top three alchemists in Huyang City, I expected more. Such a pity.”

“If necessary, I can only use my armor treasure to make up for it.” Mu Yang thought. “I must quickly purchase the second part of the ‘Muddy Iron Blood Sand Technique.’ Otherwise, the longer I delay, the more I will be entangled by Shiguo, and then I won’t even be able to save my life.”

He was well aware of the dangers of the conflict between the Five Great Families and the forces of Shiguo. He was drawn into it for the inheritance and only wanted to get it quickly and then flee far away.

The longer the delay, the more dangerous it became!

“I must quickly gather 1 million Cosmos Sand!” Mu Yang’s eyes turned icy cold.

—

Time on the Origin Continent flowed slowly. Night passed, and day came.

All the major forces in Huyang City had learned of ‘Diao Rong Yan’s death’ and heard that the killer might be Mu Yang, the President of the Blood Python Society. The bounty on him at the Dark Hall of Yan Feng Pavilion had already risen to 160,000 Cosmos Sand!

“My father had some friends, but after his death, none would help with the bounty.” At the Magili Clan, Diao Rongqi kept checking the bounty, which remained unchanged, with no one completing the task.

“Ranked fourth in bounties is ‘Chun Yuyi,’ a leader of the dark forces, with a bounty of 180,000 Cosmos Sand. He has lived well for many long years. The President of the Blood Python Society is now ranked fifth, with a bounty of 160,000 Cosmos Sand. Who would dare kill him?” Diao Rongqi looked at the bounty list repeatedly, hoping for any change.

But the long night had passed without any change.

Diao Rongqi felt powerless; there was nothing she could do after her father’s death.

“Miss, Lord Luo He has arrived at the Fire Realm Restaurant.” Suo Yun, who

had been stationed at the Fire Realm Restaurant, transmitted the message.

“Luo He?” Diao Rongqi’s heart stirred. “Lord Luo He just arrived in Huyang City, and he doesn’t regard the Blood Python Society. He certainly won’t fear the President of the Blood Python Society.”

The President of the Blood Python Society had a formidable reputation, making many forces wary. But evidently, Lord Luo He didn’t care, which was why Diao Rongqi immediately wanted to apprentice under him.

Whoosh.

Diao Rongqi immediately got up.

“Xiao Qi.” Magili Feiyun had been worried about her friend.

“I need to go out now,” Diao Rongqi said.

“It’s not safe for you to go out now,” Magili Feiyun was concerned.

“It’s daytime, with True Gods everywhere, it’s quite safe. Besides, I must go!” Diao Rongqi said.

Magili Feiyun thought for a moment. “I’ll arrange a guard team to escort you, and you can take our Magili family’s flying boat.”

“Thank you.” Diao Rongqi, not caring about anything else, hurried outside.

—

At the Fire Realm Restaurant.

“Lord Luo He, my lady instructed that all your expenses at the Fire Realm Restaurant will be covered by her.” Suo Yun was extremely respectful.

Luo Feng had arrived with Morosa and Moyu Qingyan.

“Since I left the Fire Realm Restaurant last time, you’ve been stationed here?” Luo Feng looked at Suo Yun.

“Yes, my lady instructed so,” the guard Suo Yun said.

“Thank your lady for me.” Luo Feng headed inside directly, and the owner of the Fire Realm Restaurant, ‘Black Butcher,’ warmly welcomed him.

Inside the small building.

Luo Feng and Morosa enjoyed food and wine together, while their servant ‘Moyu Qingyan’ had to guard outside the building, remaining very diligent.

“That young lady of the Diao Rong family seems eager to apprentice under you,” Morosa said.

“Her father died last night,” Luo Feng said.

“Died?” Morosa was surprised.

“I heard it from a friend,” Luo Feng said. After all, many forces had come to visit him, and he had made some friends. Several Eternal True Gods, including Entropy Tianyan, had informed him of this news.

Luo Feng suddenly said, “The hidden force of Shiguo in Huyang City is led by Blood Cloud, and his bounty is as high as 1 million Cosmos Sand.”

“Let’s eliminate him!” Morosa’s eyes lit up.

“But we can’t find him.” Luo Feng thought. “Do you have any way to find him?” Morosa naturally mastered the Dao of Destruction. If not for relying on the will secret technique ‘Lieu Yuan Technique,’ Luo Feng doubted he could beat Morosa.

He couldn’t find Blood Cloud, but maybe Morosa could.

“I haven’t seen him before,” Morosa frowned. “If I had seen him once, I might have some way to find him.”

“What a pity,” Luo Feng shook his head.

If they could kill Blood Cloud, the spoils and the huge bounty would be enough to cover the resources for his three body refinements.

But they couldn’t find him!

“Master.” Outside, Moyu Qingyan’s voice came, “Diao Rongqi is here to visit.”

“She came?” Luo Feng looked at the feast before him. “Let her in.”

The ever-vigilant Moyu Qingyan stepped aside and said, “The master will see you now.”