Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 999 Negotiation
Inside the main hall, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows of the four people onto the cold, smooth obsidian floor, swaying slightly as if reflecting their sinister thoughts lurking in the shadows.

The wisps of smoke rising from the incense burner, carrying the calming scent of sandalwood, did nothing to quell the turbulent emotions within those present.

Fang Yu lowered his head slightly, his posture respectful, and his voice steady: "Please give your instructions, Lord Jing."

His gaze was lowered, concealing the thoughts that flashed rapidly across the depths of his eyes.

Although Lord Jing always appears with a smile and the demeanor of a kind old man, his methods and schemes are far from simple.

Lord Jing, with his usual gentle smile, slowly opened his mouth, but his words carried immense weight: "You need not be too nervous about the assassination of the Tianji Pavilion Master. This operation is merely a pretense, a grand show for the world to see. Diao Deyi, I do not really need you to take his life, but only to 'kill' him once in full view of everyone."

Upon hearing this, Lulu, Elder Yan Jin, and Fang Yu below were all stunned at the same time, their faces showing astonishment and confusion.

Lulu, whose temperament was somewhat impatient, was the first to lose her composure. Her beautiful willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed tightly, and her clear voice carried obvious confusion: "Lord Jing, what do you mean by this? The Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion holds a prestigious position and his strength is unfathomable. Assassinating him is already no small matter. How has it become... has it become just 'killing' him in public once? Is there some hidden meaning behind this word 'kill'?" Doubts arose in her heart. The plan in the capital had suffered repeated setbacks, and now every step of the operation was crucial, allowing no ambiguity or frivolity.

Elder Yan Jin, standing to the side, stroked his white beard, his cloudy old eyes gleaming with shrewdness, and pondered, "Lord Jing, I am foolish. If the assassination of the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion was merely a staged killing, what would be the point?" He tried to interpret it from the perspective of political maneuvering, but he still felt that it was difficult to fully make sense.

Fang Yu remained silent for a moment, then looked up at Lord Jing, his gaze sharp: "A staged assassination? Lord Jing, let's not even talk about how difficult it would be to carry out a public assassination under the heavy guard of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Even if we succeeded in 'killing,' would the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion let it go? They would definitely do everything in their power to track down the real culprit. How would we escape then? This move is extremely risky, yet... the benefits seem unclear." He quickly calculated all the possibilities in his mind. From any angle, this seemed like a trap that would backfire.

Seeing the clear confusion and various guesses on the faces of the three people below, Lord Jing was slightly taken aback at first, then, as if he had heard something extremely amusing, he couldn't help but clap his hands and burst into laughter. He laughed so hard that he was doubled over, his white beard trembling with his laughter. It took him a while to catch his breath, and while wiping away the tears of laughter from the corners of his eyes, he pointed at the three of them.

"Hahaha... You all think far too complicatedly, and you underestimate me and His Highness the Crown Prince's plans!" He shook his head, his face full of mockery and composure as if he had everything under control. "Who told you that the 'Head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion' you want to kill is definitely me?"

"What?" Lulu asked in surprise.

Fang Yu's pupils also contracted slightly.

Lord Jing's smile faded slightly, but his eyes and brows still held that air of shrewdness. He lowered his voice, but it carried even more weight: "The true master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion will naturally be dealt with by our people. We guarantee a clean and efficient resolution, leaving no loose ends. And the one who will appear in public and be 'killed' by you, the masked man, will be nothing more than a carefully arranged, disguised double."

He glanced at the three of them and said slowly, “What you need to do is to lend your strength at the opportune moment we’ve set, to help us make this play convincing and perfect, so that everyone in the world will be convinced that the arrogant Lord of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion died at the hands of you, the masked man. In this way, we can achieve certain goals while keeping the real killing plot hidden behind the scenes. And you, although you may seem to be at the center of the vortex, are actually under control. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Fang Yu was shocked upon hearing this. He had long anticipated that Lord Jing and the Crown Prince behind him were plotting something big, but he never expected their scheme to be so ambitious! Not only did they intend to assassinate a giant like the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, but they also planned to substitute one person for another, manipulate public opinion, and play the entire world at their fingertips.

This scheming, this audacity, is truly chilling.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the pounding in his heart, and raised another practical concern: "Lord Jing's planning is far-sighted, and I admire it. However... the Seventh Prince was just assassinated, and the capital is in a state of high alert and under tight security. At this critical juncture, would it be too risky for us to take action against the Tianji Pavilion? I'm afraid it will provoke the most severe backlash and investigation from all sides."

Upon hearing this, the relaxed smile on Lord Jing's face faded slightly, replaced by an undeniable air of authority and coldness. He gave a soft hum, his tone calm yet carrying absolute authority: "You need not worry about this. The timing and risk control are all within His Highness the Crown Prince's calculations. The more murky the waters of the capital, the more convenient certain actions become. You only need to remember that all actions must be carried out according to His Highness's instructions. Where His Highness's orders lead, even through mountains of knives and seas of fire, we must proceed. Understand?"

The coldness and decisiveness in their words made them realize that this was not a discussion, but an order.

Fang Yu lowered his gaze, concealing the fleeting glint of surprise in his eyes, and respectfully replied, "Yes, I understand. I will obey His Highness the Crown Prince's orders." He knew that at this moment, any questioning was superfluous.

"Hmm." Lord Jing seemed quite satisfied with his attitude, nodding slightly, and then said, "Now that you understand, go and complete a small task, which can also be considered a test of your abilities."

"Please give me your orders."

Lord Jing pondered for a moment, as if recalling something, and then said, "The Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion has an adopted son named Jin Xiao, who ranks ninth among the adopted sons. I want you to investigate one of his trusted generals, named Gao Meng. I want you to thoroughly investigate his whereabouts, habits, strength, and the true relationship between him and Jin Xiao."

"Gao Meng?" Fang Yu was completely unfamiliar with this person and couldn't help but wonder, "What's so special about this person that makes Lord Jing pay special attention to him?" The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is full of experts, and a general under an adopted son doesn't seem to warrant such a big fuss.

Lord Jing's lips curled into a meaningful smile, and he lowered his voice even further, as if afraid of being overheard by some being: "Special? Of course it's special. Because according to the top-secret intelligence we have, this Gao Meng is not human at all... she is a demon."

"Demons?!" Fang Yu was taken aback. This was exactly what he was studying! But... he looked up at Lord Jing. "The confidant and beloved general of the Tianji Pavilion's adopted son is actually a demon?"

"You find it unbelievable?" Lord Jing was not surprised by Fang Yu's reaction at all. He calmly said, "The court is not as glamorous as you think. There are some things you should know as little as possible."

He paused, then said meaningfully, "Perhaps... even the inner palace, the deepest forbidden gardens, are not as clean as they appear on the surface."

Fang Yu thought of the Illusionary Fox Demon, but he really couldn't say it out loud.

As for why Lord Jing would be so kind as to reveal this information to him, it is both a sign of trust and an invisible form of intimidation and control.

"I... know what to do." Fang Yu's voice regained its usual calmness. "I will investigate Gao Meng's background thoroughly."

The task has been assigned and cannot be refused.

Lord Jing nodded, then, as if remembering something, added, "By the way, regarding the reward for this mission, just ask Lulu for whatever you need. The imperial court can provide you with those rare resources that she might not have been able to give you before."

Fang Yu's heart stirred. The reason he was willing to cooperate with Lulu was for those many invaluable materials that were hard to find on the market; he and Ding Hui alone could not possibly gather them all.

With the imperial court as a powerful backer promising to provide resources, this is undoubtedly fantastic news.

"Yes, thank you, Lord Jing, thank you, Lord Jing." Fang Yu's thanks this time were more sincere.

"Go ahead and begin the investigation as soon as possible." Lord Jing waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Fang Yu said no more, bowed, and turned to leave the room. Elder Yan Jin followed closely behind, leaving in silence.

For a moment, only Master Jing and Lulu remained in the room.

The candle flame crackled and burst open into a tiny flame.

Seeing that the outsiders had left, Lulu's face immediately showed anxiety. She stepped forward and asked urgently, "Lord Jing, when will His Highness the First Prince finally begin his real operation? Everyone in our Juemen clan is eagerly hoping to conquer the Demon Capital and restore our homeland as soon as possible, instead of wasting time scheming against these powerful figures here!"

Her tone betrayed an undisguised anxiety and longing. The setbacks in the capital left her feeling frustrated and powerless, making her even more eager to launch a distant expedition.

Lord Jing looked at the young woman bearing such a heavy burden before him, his voice still steady: "Lulu, please calm down. How could His Highness not know your feelings? But haste makes waste. His Highness is currently at a crucial moment in integrating 'Buddha's Heart,' and cannot afford the slightest disturbance. This matter concerns the grand plan for the future and is of paramount importance. Once His Highness has achieved his goal and everything is ready, he will lead his troops eastward to fulfill his promise to you and set out to conquer the Demon Capital."

His tone was resolute, carrying a convincing power: "A prince's promise is as good as gold. Since His Highness has promised to help you eliminate your family, he will never break his word. Just wait patiently and make all the necessary preparations."

Lulu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing Lord Jing's calm yet unquestionable gaze, she swallowed all her words. She knew that at this moment, she had no choice but to believe and wait. She could only nod silently, forcibly suppressing all her anxiety and anticipation deep inside.

"That's good then. Take care of yourself." After Lord Jing finished speaking, her figure began to slowly fade, like a reflection in water being disturbed, until she finally disappeared completely from the room. The mirror device used for communication also lost its light and lay quietly on the table.

Lulu stood there in silence for a long time before slowly stepping forward and carefully putting away the communication device.

She straightened her slightly wrinkled robes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her expression before walking out of the secret chamber.

As soon as Lulu stepped out of the room after leaving the secret room, she saw that Fang Yu had not left immediately, but was waiting at the door with his hands behind his back, seemingly waiting for her.

Lulu's heart tightened suddenly.

Although Lord Jing had just comforted her, deep down she still harbored a slight doubt about whether Fang Yu was still willing to continue cooperating.

After all, Fang Yu is a man of unpredictable thoughts, and her cooperation with him is more based on the exchange of interests.

Now that he's involved in the Crown Prince's affairs, the risks have increased dramatically. Could he be outwardly agreeing but inwardly already harboring thoughts of backing out?
She walked forward slowly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible tension: "Diao Deyi? Is there anything else?"

Fang Yu turned around. He didn't answer Lulu's question, but looked directly at her and asked a question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.

"Lulu, I'm very curious. How exactly do you, and the Juemen behind you, manage to cooperate with someone as prestigious and powerful as the First Prince? It's not that I, Diao Deyi, look down on you, but with the Juemen's current influence... forgive me for speaking frankly, it doesn't seem enough to make a prince who is expected to inherit the throne so devoted to your assistance."

His words were direct, even carrying a hint of undisguised skepticism.

He had subtly inquired about the current situation of the Juemen from Elder Yan Jin.

The glory of the past has long since faded away. Today, the Absolute Sect is confined to a corner of the world with limited influence. Compared to the mysterious and unpredictable Holy Sect, it is far inferior in strength and reputation, even compared to other major sects.

The eldest prince has far more options when choosing a partner.

Upon hearing this, Lulu was slightly taken aback, then a complex expression appeared on her face. She straightened her back and said with a hint of stubbornness, "Fang Yu, don't underestimate the influence of the Absolute Clan. Our Absolute Clan has been passed down for thousands of years, and its foundation is far beyond your imagination. Even though it is now in decline, it still holds some things that are enough to tempt anyone."

"Oh? Is that so?" Fang Yu chuckled noncommittally, his tone revealing a hint of disdain. "Perhaps. But can those 'things' really make the Crown Prince choose to cooperate with your Juemen? In my opinion, this deal doesn't seem to be fair."

Lulu's face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together.

Fang Yu's words were like a needle, reminding her of some unpleasant things.

If she relied solely on herself and the Juemen clan, she truly wouldn't be qualified to cooperate with the First Prince. However, she possessed Lord Tang's relics, and these were what enabled her to achieve everything in the capital.

But Lulu clearly wasn't going to tell Fang Yu these things.

She took a deep breath and changed the subject: "The details of my cooperation with the First Prince are none of your business. But you, Lady Jing just mentioned the matter of payment. You can state your needs now."

(End of this chapter)