Chapter 68: Heaven’s Kill Pavilion

【Mission Issued: After entering the academy as the top-ranked student, numerous beauties seek your guidance, leading to frequent private interactions. This causes jealousy among the male students, one of whom spends a fortune hiring an assassin from Heaven’s Kill Pavilion to eliminate you. Evade the assassination attempt.】
【This mission cannot be declined.】
【Mission Reward: Unlock Special Mission “Finding the Stairway to Immortality Fragments.”】

Now, this was interesting.

Aside from the first beginner’s mission, which was also mandatory, this was the first time Jiang Li encountered a task that could not be refused.

In other words, from the system’s perspective, this mission—more precisely, its reward—was of paramount importance.

“Heaven’s Kill Pavilion…”

Jiang Li had, of course, heard of this organization—it was one of the Nine Provinces’ top assassin guilds and a direct competitor of Tianji Tower.

Heaven’s Kill Pavilion specialized in assassinating high-level cultivators, while Tianji Tower made money from high-level cultivators. Their longstanding rivalry had led to deep-seated enmity between them.

According to the system’s perception, Jiang Li had already spent over a month at the academy and was at the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage. Meanwhile, the lowest-ranking assassins of Heaven’s Kill Pavilion were all at the Golden Core Stage. From the system’s perspective, this mission was extremely dangerous.

Even for Jiang Li, this mission would not be easy.

Among the human dynasties, the Tianyuan Dynasty was the most devoted to martial strength, and Heaven’s Kill Pavilion was located right in its imperial capital. The pavilion operated openly, with a grand signboard proudly displayed, enjoying widespread support from the people of Tianyuan. Business was booming.

Unlike Tianji Tower, which thrived in orderly environments, Heaven’s Kill Pavilion flourished in chaos.

In the Tianyuan Dynasty, everyone had enemies. Everyone wanted someone dead—but often lacked the strength to kill them themselves. This was where Heaven’s Kill Pavilion came in.

Had the pavilion been established in the Great Zhou Dynasty, it would have been shut down the very next day as an illegal organization.

Heaven’s Kill Pavilion ranked its assassins into three tiers: Alpha, Beta, and Gamma.

Alpha-tier assassins were responsible for killing Soul Formation Stage cultivators.
Beta-tier assassins targeted Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.
Gamma-tier assassins were tasked with eliminating Golden Core Stage cultivators.
Beyond these, the Pavilion Master and Vice Pavilion Master were both at the Late and Peak Soul Formation Stages, respectively, specializing in assassinating Soul Formation cultivators.

At this moment, the Alpha-tier assassins and the two Pavilion Masters had gathered for an important discussion.

“Our ranking system—Alpha, Beta, Gamma—sounds a bit uninspired. I’m considering renaming the tiers. Any suggestions?” the Pavilion Master asked slowly, prompting the assassins to think.

Indeed, “Alpha, Beta, Gamma” didn’t sound imposing enough. A more impressive and intimidating ranking system would be preferable.

“How about Gold-tier, Silver-tier, and Bronze-tier assassins?” the Vice Pavilion Master suggested.

“No, no, no. We are cultivators. Gold, silver, and bronze are mortal concerns. How can we use mundane materials to define our ranks?” an Alpha-tier assassin objected.

“If metals are unsuitable, then what about spirit stones? We could have Low-grade, Mid-grade, and High-grade assassins, with the two Pavilion Masters being Top-grade assassins.” Another Alpha-tier assassin followed this train of thought.

The Pavilion Master clicked his tongue. “Top-grade assassin? That sounds like an insult. And calling Golden Core assassins ‘Low-grade’ might offend them. Not a good idea.”

“What about Heaven-tier, Earth-tier, and Human-tier assassins? This follows the ‘Three Realms’ concept and makes us sound more cultured.” A well-read Alpha-tier assassin proposed.

One of his peers frowned. “We are merely at the Soul Formation Stage. Do we really have the fate to bear the title of ‘Heaven’? If not for our first Pavilion Master ascending to the Immortal Realm and inheriting the Heaven-Severing Seven Kill Monument, we wouldn’t even dare to call ourselves Heaven’s Kill Pavilion.”

“What about First-tier, Second-tier, and Third-tier assassins?”

“That sounds even worse than Alpha, Beta, Gamma.” The assassins agreed in unison.

Just as they were enthusiastically debating, a Beta-tier assassin pushed the doors open and entered.

“We’re in the middle of a meeting! Do you have no sense of decorum?” the Pavilion Master scolded.

Under the intense gazes of the Pavilion Master, Vice Pavilion Master, and a room full of Alpha-tier assassins, the Beta-tier assassin trembled, his legs nearly giving out. “Pavilion Master, you instructed us to report immediately if we received news of your sister. She just sent a letter.”

The assassin placed a bright red wedding invitation on the nearest table, then fled before he could be scolded further.

Judging by the atmosphere, they must have been discussing something serious.

But upon hearing it was the Pavilion Master’s sister, everyone’s attention shifted to the invitation, and a sense of foreboding rose among them.

The Pavilion Master’s sister was an Alpha-tier assassin as well—the only female among them. She was cold, stunningly beautiful, and her tight black combat outfit accentuated her formidable physique. Most of the Alpha-tier assassins harbored feelings for her, affectionately calling her “Little Junior Sister.”

Thirty years ago, Heaven’s Kill Pavilion had received a high-profile assassination contract targeting a Soul Formation cultivator. Ordinarily, this task would have been assigned to the Pavilion Master or Vice Pavilion Master. However, his sister, eager to prove herself, insisted on taking the mission.

Unable to dissuade her, the Pavilion Master reluctantly allowed it.

Knowing the vast power gap between the Soul Formation and Nascent Soul stages, she didn’t attempt a direct assassination. Instead, she devised a careful plan—she would infiltrate the target’s sect, become his disciple, and eliminate him once he completely trusted her.

To prevent leaks, she remained out of contact throughout the mission. The assassins worried for her but dared not reach out—if the Soul Formation cultivator sensed anything amiss, she would be doomed.

Now, after thirty years, they finally received news of her.

But why was it a wedding invitation?

The Pavilion Master opened the invitation. A small recording stone slipped out. Infusing it with spiritual energy, an image appeared.

The icy, emotionless woman they knew was gone.

In her place was a bashful, radiant version of their Junior Sister, a sight the Pavilion Master had never witnessed before.

“Brother, long time no see.” She smiled sweetly, overflowing with joy. “I’m getting married to my master! You must come!”

She then pulled her master into view—a handsome man.

It was her assassination target.

Pfft—

The Pavilion Master vomited blood on the spot.

The Alpha-tier assassins felt as if their hearts had been shattered.

The Peak Soul Formation Pavilion Master turned pale and hollow-eyed. He handed leadership of the pavilion to the Vice Pavilion Master and half-retired on the spot.

Before leaving, he left them with one sentence.

“We’re all just trying to make a living. Don’t throw your own life away for it.”

The Vice Pavilion Master had no interest in the Pavilion Master’s sister—his goal had always been to seize the Pavilion Master’s position.

He naturally didn’t mention that thirty years ago, he and that Soul Formation cultivator had secretly issued the contract together.

The Soul Formation cultivator, known for his expertise in seduction, had long coveted the Pavilion Master’s sister. Meanwhile, the Vice Pavilion Master had long coveted the Pavilion Master’s position.

Everything—from pushing her to accept the mission to designing the disciple scheme—had traces of the Vice Pavilion Master’s manipulation.

After all, an unmarried man and woman sharing a master-disciple relationship in seclusion for years—how could love not develop?

Just as the Vice Pavilion Master was savoring his success, the same Beta-tier assassin burst back in, flustered.

“Why are you panicking?” The Vice Pavilion Master feigned severity.

But this time, the Beta-tier assassin had no time for fear.

“Someone has issued a contract—to assassinate the Human Sovereign, Jiang Li!”