Douluo: A Century-old Legend I Am the Second Uncle Chenxin

Chapter 1656 Underground Secret Meeting
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……

The cold, damp air seeped in along the ancient cracks in the stone, licking the solidified air in the underground chamber.

This is a completely forgotten stone chamber, buried deep within the hub of an ancient drainage system in Tiandou City. Only a few specially made "blood drop stone" soul guide lamps in the corner cast a flickering and viscous eerie light, staining everything with a sickly reddish-brown hue.

Five figures sat around a huge round table that appeared to be cast from molten bones.

Their postures varied, yet without exception, they were all covered by grotesque masks. The voices emanating from beneath the masks, distorted by the soul tools, sounded inhuman, cold, and ghostly.

The first golden-masked ghost spoke first, his voice sharp and urgent, “The commotion has subsided for seven days and nights, and people have already performed the seventh-day memorial service. The Crimson Church’s seemingly vicious ‘decapitation’ only chopped off some broken branches and leaves. The Dust Mansion… didn’t even break the plaque on the door, heh, it only brought a foul stench.”

The second earthen snake-faced creature hissed as if grinding sand: "Broken branches and rotten leaves? As far as I know, Crimson did kill some people, and there's also that old codger from the Chen family, that old guy with 'stone armor,' he can't be fake."

"This is a real pain for those arrogant sword fanatics. As for the price... Yan Wushuang's nephew, that little snake from the Yan family named Qiu Long, didn't he also perish in there?"

The sand grains fell and silently accumulated on the ground.

The third antler mask emitted a faint, dark purple aura as it spoke in a hoarse voice: "It's just a pain and an itch. The Crimson Church has too big an appetite, trying to devour the Chen family in one go? How foolish! Their blood didn't spray at the Chen family's doorstep, but it splattered all over us."

The scarlet mask number four sometimes appeared as smooth as cream, and at other times as sharp as a baby's cry: "Blood splatter? Number three makes it sound too easy; it's a death knell!"

"They've made quite a scene; they've heard the news brought by Number One? The Crimson Mad Dog barked until it bled, and even woke up the dozing hunters!"

"The Bureau of Obscurity and Brightness... that old emperor has sharpened a new knife, specifically to cut out 'hidden tumors' like us."

Number Five, wearing a pale, mute mask, had a ghostly light gleaming in his eye sockets: "Noisy arguments are useless. We've gathered here today not to settle scores about Scarlet's gains and losses."

"The establishment of the Bureau of Obscurity and Brightness is like an iron claw hanging over everyone's heads; the Emperor's gaze has never pierced the shadows so sharply."

"The Crimson Church has drawn the firepower, but it has also tightened the bowstring... How can we, these little mice, communicate with each other before the next shot is fired?"

There was a brief silence.

In the reddish-brown light, the hideous masks reflected each other, their gazes silently colliding behind the eye holes.

The inhuman voices rang out again, carrying a strange and distorted "consensus".

Number Five: "Number One... Is the news true? That Director of the Bureau of Obscurity and Brightness truly in charge of the Three Departments, wielding the 'Clear Shadow Token,' and able to transfer titles?"

Number One: "Absolutely true! The token has been forged and is ready to be handed over. Once it is in hand, it will be able to command the forces of the Black Bird Division, the Inner Guard Division, and a portion of the Imperial Hall of Worship."

"The first strike will surely be aimed at Crimson! But whose neck will the second strike land on? No wonder Number Six ran so fast."

Number Three: "Number Six is ​​different from us; he doesn't usually attend meetings."

"This matter is both a crisis and a rift. No matter how strong the Dark and Bright Observatory is, it is still an organization composed of people, and people... will have desires. The Crimson Church is the best whetstone!"

"Let them test their limits and weaknesses. What we need to do is to 'hide' more deeply and 'listen' more closely."

Number Two: "Not enough concealment! My sands can always hear 'whispers' amidst the noise. We share the affairs of the Obscure and Bright Chamber! Any slight disturbance..."

Number Five's voice rose, a metallic scraping sound emanating from its hollow tone: "The list, of course, is shared! But what about the deeper layers?" Number One (sharply): "Suspicion is a waste of time! Share covert channels and monitor each other's movements. If any overt or covert spy approaches my territory, the signal will immediately reach you all, and vice versa?"

Number Four (Slippery): "That's how it should be. Also, suspend all 'major operations.' We must restrain our desires... at least until the first 'blizzard' sweeps across the Crimson Church's territory."

Number Three (calm): "...Agreed."

Number Two (Gravel): "...Agreed."

Number Five (Hollow): "Good. Although we are not friends, the cat is coming... Before we all run for our lives, howling for our neighbors is already a rare 'kindness'."

……

Number One's voice was flat, like metal scraping against ice: "Number Two, those campfires in the Northwest Oasis are burning too brightly."

"That old Ghost King has come to Heaven Dou City now... Do you really think he'd personally wade into the muddy waters of the capital just for a Ghostly Armor hidden in the sand?"

Number Two scoffed, his mockery undisguised, though the laughter seemed to linger in his throat before finally escaping: "Hmph, otherwise why do you think I'm here?! To admire the scenery?"

Number Four's whisper followed, seemingly carrying the scent of blood, his tone icy and mocking: "How strange, a powerful underworld boss... actually needs to come to the capital to 'show his face' and find the authorities?"

Number One immediately shifted his focus to the other side, but with a hint of pressure: "Number Three, don't laugh at someone who's only slightly better. How do you explain that old fox Xiao Yicai appearing in Tian Dou? In the Eastern Territory, he borrowed our territory and stirred up quite a stir in the surrounding area."

Number Three didn't back down and retorted sharply: "You care? You just took over someone else's nest later, wearing the skin of the Ghost Market. Do you really think this place is your private property?"

After a brief silence, Number Five's voice abruptly broke in, carrying a hint of indescribable irritation: "Something's been off these past few years, too abnormal."

"Those rats from the Crimson Church have always been better hidden than anyone else during those chaotic holy wars... but now they're like mad dogs that have smelled blood, biting everywhere."

Number Two's aura suddenly turned cold: "I have a feeling that things are worse than we think."

Number Three's slightly hoarse voice rang out, revealing a rare hint of retreat: "If things don't work out... let's withdraw from this Heavenly Dou Imperial Capital as soon as possible."

This proposal reflects a determination to forgo huge profits and investments.

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire space fell into a deathly silence.

The air seemed to have stopped flowing, leaving only an invisible heaviness pressing down on everyone's hearts.

The word "retreat" carries far too much weight.

Number One finally broke the suffocating silence, his tone devoid of emotion: "That's enough for today..."

The last syllable dissipated into the damp, cold air of the stone wall.

Without a word of farewell, the five figures blurred and faded simultaneously in the flickering reddish-brown light.

There were no violent fluctuations in soul power, no traces of spatial tearing; they were simply swallowed up by the shadow beneath their feet, completely merging into the cold stone wall and darkness.

(End of this chapter)