「Black Market.」

「Cloud End Tavern.」

Lin Yangze sipped his wine. "A person with six fingers?"

"Yes."

"What do you want with him?"

"Do you know him?"

"I don't know him personally, but I do know of the person you speak of. His name is Xie An. He's an Elder of the Life Alliance and a Sixth-stage Expert. He has been cultivating for several decades and should still be with the Life Alliance."

Jiang Chen thought to himself. Xie An, huh!

People with six fingers were rare, considered anomalies. If such a person was an expert, they would definitely be remembered. Lin Yangze knew that the Life Alliance had a six-fingered person, and coincidentally, the extra finger was on the left hand.

Lin Yangze asked, "A grudge?"

"You could say that!"

Lin Yangze nodded silently. It was the way of cultivators; he didn't ask further.

Jiang Chen asked, "Do you know where he is?"

"I'm not sure, but the Heavenly Earth Association should know. Now that you're a member, you could ask Jin Yunxi; she would likely tell you. However, by doing this, you'll completely make an enemy of the Life Alliance."

Scared, my ass, Jiang Chen thought. The Life Alliance had once sent someone to kill him; there was already bad blood. This feud was set.

Jiang Chen had originally considered asking Jin Yunxi.

But then he thought better of it. It was a personal matter, one he would resolve himself.

He decided to go to the Etheric Trade Association to see what he could find out.

Perhaps he could find a breakthrough there.

Having made up his mind, Jiang Chen entered the Etheric Trade Association. In modern terms, it was an intelligence agency, a place that trafficked in information and goods.

With enough money, one could obtain any needed information.

An attendant, seeing Jiang Chen arrive, inquired, "Are you looking to buy or sell goods? Or to look up information? Perhaps post a task?"

"I'm looking for someone."

"May I know who?"

"Xie An, from the Life Alliance."

"Please wait..."

After a brief search of her records, the attendant said, "Please wait a moment. There's no record of the person you're inquiring about. If you need this information, we can provide you with an answer in half a month."

"So, come back in half a month?"

"Correct. Please pay five hundred million, and we will give you the information you seek."

"You'll even know where he lives?"

"Yes."

Jiang Chen paid without hesitation. Waiting half a month was acceptable. After settling things, he returned to the Cloud End Tavern, bid farewell to Lin Yangze, and prepared to head back to the Xileruo World.

Just as he stepped out of the Cloud End Tavern, he saw Jin Yunxi standing at the entrance.

"Leaving?"

Jiang Chen turned back with a smile. "Is the lady boss going to miss me?"

Jin Yunxi responded coldly, "Don't try those Continent of All-Gods antics on me. I'm not falling for it."

This woman has no sense of humor at all, Jiang Chen thought. I wonder if her husband's death was her fault.

Jin Yunxi spoke again, "We're preparing to withdraw from the Black Market. Now that you're with the Heavenly Earth Association, be careful."

"Withdraw?"

"Yes."

"Isn't business good? Why withdraw?"

"Something has happened."

"What kind of thing would require you to withdraw?"

It turned out that two days ago, a Wanderer had entered the Bach Family's territory and carried out a bloody attack, killing many important members of the Bach Family, including several Sons of God.

The perpetrator claimed to be from the Heavenly Earth Association.

In the Black Market, death was just death; no one would investigate. But for The Fallen to brazenly take action in lands governed by the Continent of All-Gods, that was a different matter entirely.

It was akin to assassinating an imperial court official.

The Continent of All-Gods was furious.

They were preparing to send troops to annihilate the Heavenly Earth Association.

The Heavenly Earth Association also received news of this. Facing the overwhelming forces of the Continent of All-Gods, they had no choice but to evacuate and leave the Black Market. It was very likely that Heavenly Earth Association branches in other worlds would also suffer a bloodbath.

Jin Yunxi had remained here specifically to wait for Jiang Chen. After all, he was important to the Heavenly Earth Association. Additionally, she had another task: gathering intelligence on the Continent of All-Gods.

Hearing this, Jiang Chen was astonished.

Indeed, villains never get a good ending, he thought.

Jiang Chen said, "Look, I know you have a grudge with the Bach Family, but there was no need to rush into territory governed by the Continent of All-Gods and kill them outright!"

Jin Yunxi asked, "You think we were the ones who took action?"

"Weren't you?"

"Of course not. We haven't been foolish enough to enter the Continent of All-Gods and attack the Bach Family. Besides, we don't have that kind of strength."

Jiang Chen's mind raced. "You mean," he asked, "you've been framed?"

Jin Yunxi nodded. "Yes, and it all started because of you. When you impersonated a member of the Heavenly Earth Association and clashed with the Bach Family, a hidden hand was already working to dismantle the Heavenly Earth Association."

Jiang Chen offered an awkward smile.

When Jinhua and Li Chanji had initially followed him, Jiang Chen had shifted the blame to the Heavenly Earth Association. Many people knew about it, and the Bach Family would have figured it out with a little investigation.

Then, a traitor appeared within the Heavenly Earth Association, an affair in which the Bach Family was also involved.

And now this.

Someone claiming to be from the Heavenly Earth Association had brazenly assassinated members of the Bach Family on the Continent of All-Gods. The nature of this act was entirely different.

The original conflict between Jiang Chen and the Bach Family had escalated into a conflict between the Heavenly Earth Association and the Bach Family.

But now, it was a conflict between the Heavenly Earth Association and the Continent of All-Gods.

The Heavenly Earth Association was but an ant, while the Continent of All-Gods was an elephant.

Forget the Heavenly Earth Association; even all the Wanderers combined would be no match for the Continent of All-Gods.

If the Heavenly Earth Association didn't do it, then someone must be framing them, Jiang Chen thought. But who could it be?

His first suspects were members of other associations—perhaps enemies of the Heavenly Earth Association, impersonating them to use the Continent of All-Gods to eradicate their rivals.

Of course, it could also be a trap set by the Bach Family. After all, a single family couldn't possibly confront the Heavenly Earth Association alone. So, they might use assassination to escalate the feud and bring it into the open.

This way, the Bach Family would have a chance to completely eradicate the Heavenly Earth Association.

Jiang Chen asked, "How many members of the Bach Family died?"

"It's said three hundred people died, including five Sons of God and two Goddesses."

So many dead? Then it obviously wasn't the Bach Family's plot. If it were them, they wouldn't let an enemy kill so many of their own people. So who could it be?

Jiang Chen asked, "Do you have any suspects?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"You."

Jiang Chen was momentarily speechless. Do they even have a conscience? Suspecting me?

Jin Yunxi continued, "Don't forget, you have a grudge against the Bach Family. However, we eventually ruled you out. It was the work of The Fallen; you, as a Hero, would not make such a move."

"So you do have some conscience after all."

"I'm reminding you this time because the grudge is now out in the open. We need you, in your undercover capacity, to learn their detailed plans. If anything happens, please contact the Young Master."

"From what you're saying, the Continent of All-Gods is preparing to deploy troops against you?"

Jin Yunxi nodded.

Jiang Chen's head felt like it was about to explode. How the hell am I supposed to deal with this?

Just then, Jiang Chen received a message from Arlene.

Arlene: Return to the Legion immediately. Urgent! Urgent! Urgent!

Jiang Chen looked at the message. "Don't worry," he told Jin Yunxi, "I'll contact Li Chanji."

Jiang Chen turned and left, returning to the Xileruo World.

He immediately headed back to the Legion.

When Jiang Chen appeared in the Legion, Arlene and Arno were there. Even their father, Roy, was present, along with other unfamiliar faces.

Something feels wrong here, he thought.

Roy made the introductions. "This is Prosecutor Samantha from the Continent of All-Gods. She wishes to ask you some questions."

Jiang Chen looked at Samantha. "Madam, please ask whatever you need to."

Samantha looked at Jiang Chen. "Hello. Please show me your Badge."

Jiang Chen displayed his Badge.

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