"This compass?"
Lin Yuan's expression showed a hint of surprise.
In a two-dimensional world, any extraordinary power would be suppressed, leaving only the purest physical body.
However, this bronze compass gave Lin Yuan a sense of a mysterious aura.
This faint sense that it surpassed the suppression of the two-dimensional world made Lin Yuan slightly cautious.
It's important to note that, up until now, no life form or treasure, regardless of its level, has been able to resist the dimensional suppression.
Except for—
The Ultimate Existence.
"How is it used?"
Lin Yuan keenly noticed the residual blood on the bronze compass.
"Is it activated with blood?"
Lin Yuan speculated inwardly.
"I'll study it slowly after I return."
Lin Yuan put away the bronze compass, then carefully searched the bodies of the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan several times to ensure nothing was missed. Afterward, he took the crucial parts of their bodies and left.
To claim the bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan, he had to prove that he indeed killed them.
The proof here generally required crucial body parts of the target.
Although Lin Yuan had gained much from the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan, he didn't forget about the bounty crystals on them.
This was a free gift, and he certainly wouldn't waste it.
Dongyuan City.
Blood Rain Tavern.
An elderly hunchbacked man was dozing off. As a Witch Emperor-level powerhouse from the capital of the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom, he had taken up the role of the tavern owner in Dongyuan City to avoid the enticement of various forces.
Although Dongyuan City was a large city, it was far from the capital and the gathering places of powerful forces.
There weren't many troubles here, and the hunchbacked old man had planned to retire in this place.
He was already very old, with his vitality declining, and wasn't fit to compete with those Witch Emperors in their prime.
"Due to the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan fleeing to the surrounding area, many powerhouses from the ancient kingdom have already started gathering here."
The hunchbacked old man slightly shook his head, feeling somewhat helpless.
The bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan alone had reached sixty million Witch Crystals.
In addition to their original belongings and the wealth accumulated over the years, it was highly tempting, even to peak Witch Emperor-level powerhouses.
However, peak Witch Emperor-level powerhouses were few in number. Most of those coming to hunt down the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan were teams composed of various powerhouses.
"Hmm?"
"That young man has come again?"
The hunchbacked old man turned his gaze and saw Lin Yuan entering the tavern again.
The hunchbacked old man had a deep impression of Lin Yuan.
First, Lin Yuan had the audacity to take on the bounty for the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan alone.
Second, Lin Yuan was not someone the hunchbacked old man recognized among the strong individuals he knew.
Third, the time between Lin Yuan's departure and his return was too short, less than a day.
In a private booth within the tavern.
Lin Yuan sat opposite the hunchbacked old man.
"So, have you decided to give up the bounty task?" The hunchbacked old man didn't show any mocking tone.
The Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan were powerful, with countless trump cards. Even in his peak, he wasn't confident in taking them down, let alone someone as young as Lin Yuan.
The hunchbacked old man speculated that Lin Yuan might be a scion of a prominent family, out for some experience.
On a whim, he took on the bounty for the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan but, after a day of effort, realized he couldn't even find their traces.
So he returned to the tavern, likely intending to give up the task.
"No, I'm here to claim the bounty."
Lin Yuan said.
"Claim the bounty?"
The hunchbacked old man looked at Lin Yuan, momentarily not processing the words.
Claim the bounty for the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan?
"These are their skulls."
Lin Yuan opened the bundle he carried, and eighteen skulls rolled out.
To prove the killing of the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan, ordinary body parts were insufficient.
Only lethal body parts like skulls could be accepted as proof by the Blood Rain Tavern.
Before taking on the bounty, Lin Yuan had thoroughly understood all the requirements, ensuring no disputes would arise at this stage.
As for verifying that these skulls belonged to the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan, the Blood Rain Tavern had specific methods for confirmation.
"Skulls?"
The hunchbacked old man's expression grew solemn.
Although he wasn't sure at that moment whether these skulls belonged to the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan, his experienced eye immediately judged that these skulls came from individuals close to the Witch Emperor level.
The degree of physical body tempering from a Witch King, Witch Emperor, or even a Witch Sovereign greatly affects the hardness and texture of bones.
This is something easily discernible to those with experience.
"Please wait a moment."
The hunchbacked old man's tone immediately changed.
He quickly summoned his subordinates to take the eighteen skulls away.
A short while later.
The hunchbacked old man briskly returned to the booth, his tone slightly more respectful. "Sir, the skulls have been confirmed to belong to the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan."
"Good." Lin Yuan nodded.
This Blood Rain Tavern indeed had a good reputation.
Lin Yuan chose to claim the bounty at the Blood Rain Tavern precisely because of their "flexibility."
Anyone could publish or take on bounty tasks at the Blood Rain Tavern without needing to reveal their identity.
Although the Blood Rain Tavern originated from the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom, over countless years, it had become an independent entity, serving Witch-level and higher powerhouses from all twelve ancient kingdoms.
"This is Blood Rain Tea, a privilege enjoyed only by members of the royal family of the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom." The hunchbacked old man waved his hand, and someone immediately served a cup of tea.
The tea was blood-red in color. Lin Yuan initially didn't intend to drink it but, with a casual glance, he noticed a faint mysterious aura flowing within the tea.
"This tea?"
Lin Yuan's brow twitched.
The mysterious fluctuations in the tea were almost similar to what he sensed from the bronze compass, although far less intense and mysterious.
If he hadn't just encountered the bronze compass, Lin Yuan might have only thought the tea was somewhat special, without considering the possibility that it could resist the suppression of the two-dimensional world.
"I'll take it home to drink."
Lin Yuan collected the tea along with the teacup and placed it in his bag.
The hunchbacked old man paused slightly at this but dared not say more.
Lin Yuan had managed to kill the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan with such ease. Even if he wasn't a Witch Sovereign-level powerhouse, he was likely not far from it. Even in the capital, full of strong individuals, he could be a force to be reckoned with.
"Blood Rain Tea comes from the Blood Rain Tea Tree, a heritage of the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom that has existed since its founding."
"Drinking Blood Rain Tea over time can slowly improve one's physique, with long-term benefits for cultivation as well."
The hunchbacked old man, thinking Lin Yuan was interested in the tea, immediately began to introduce it.
"Blood Rain Tea Tree?"
Lin Yuan noted the name. Since even the "tea leaves" contained a mysterious aura, the Blood Rain Tea Tree itself was likely a unique item, much like the bronze compass, capable of resisting the suppression of the two-dimensional world.
"Here are the sixty million Witch Crystals for the bounty."
The hunchbacked old man immediately handed over a Witch Crystal note, issued by the Twelve Kingdoms Bank, which was universally accepted.
"That settles it." Lin Yuan nodded, putting away the note.
"Would you be interested in joining our Blood Rain Tavern? With your strength, you would become a first-class member, enjoying priority in taking on bounty tasks, as well as receiving higher commissions."
The hunchbacked old man quickly suggested.
The Blood Rain Tavern allowed anyone to post or accept bounty tasks, and they took a commission to maintain the tavern's operations.
For example, the bounty for the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan was sixty million, but the Blood Rain Tavern had taken at least twenty million Witch Crystals as a commission.
This meant that if Lin Yuan joined the tavern, he would receive an eighty million Witch Crystal bounty.
"I'll consider it." Lin Yuan had no intention of joining the tavern but didn't outright refuse.
The hunchbacked old man rose to see Lin Yuan out.
After Lin Yuan's figure disappeared, he returned and sat down again.
At that moment.
A gray-haired man appeared beside the hunchbacked old man.
"Tavern Master," the gray-haired man said in amazement, "The bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan has been claimed?"
"Yes." The hunchbacked old man nodded.
"Who on earth killed them?"
The gray-haired man was curious.
The Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan were notoriously cautious and cunning. Even when Witch Sovereign-level powerhouses had taken action before, the bandits often escaped before the powerhouses could even arrive.
It was as if the bandits had an almost terrifying intuition, often choosing the best escape route before danger could descend.
"I don't know." The hunchbacked old man shook his head.
"You don't know?" The gray-haired man was even more astonished.
Such a powerful figure, yet even the well-informed hunchbacked old man had no clue about their identity?
"The world is vast; is it so surprising that I don't know?" The hunchbacked old man glanced at the gray-haired man. After a moment of thought, he continued, "I suspect they are a powerhouse from outside the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom."
The hunchbacked old man prided himself on his knowledge of the strong individuals within the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom. Since he knew nothing about Lin Yuan, the only possibility was that he came from outside the kingdom.
The bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan was open not only to the strong from the Blood Rain Ancient Kingdom but also to those from other ancient kingdoms, making the scope quite broad.
"Alright."
"Let this matter rest here."
"Don't mention that powerhouse again." The hunchbacked old man stood up and said, "Also, remove the bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan."
"Yes."
The gray-haired man was startled and immediately responded respectfully.
Several days later.
Deep within a primeval forest.
In the valley where the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan once took refuge.
Over a dozen figures appeared.
"According to the information, the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan should have stayed here briefly." One of the men, with a sharp gaze, said in a low voice.
They were bounty hunters who roamed the Twelve Ancient Kingdoms, specializing in hunting high-value targets.
Recently, they had set their sights on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan. After all, a sixty million bounty, along with the treasure hoarded by these bandits after plundering the Northern Prince's treasury, was enough to drive their pursuit.
"There was a battle here."
At that moment, a chubby man beside them carefully observed for a moment before speaking.
"A battle?"
The others were slightly surprised.
Could someone have beaten them to it?
"Not a battle."
The chubby man corrected himself. "A massacre."
This statement shocked everyone.
There was a world of difference between a battle and a massacre.
And also—
Who massacred whom?
"The Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan should be mostly dead."
The chubby man continued to observe the minute traces on the scene and finally concluded, "One of the bandits fled in this direction, while the other seventeen were killed."
"The attack came from a single person."
The chubby man spoke calmly, but the ferocity and terror conveyed were palpable.
Everyone's minds conjured up terrifying scenes where a certain powerhouse suddenly appeared at the edge of the valley, and the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan were slain one by one. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't escape death.
In the end, one of the bandits managed to flee in this direction while the mysterious powerhouse was killing the other seventeen.
The chubby man glanced in that direction and immediately followed.
Before long.
He stopped in front of an ancient tree.
"The one who escaped is dead too." The chubby man said gravely.
The others felt a surge of coldness in their hearts.
Even though they intended to make the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan their target, they had never thought of wiping them out entirely.
That would be unrealistic.
The Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan weren't fools. Upon realizing they were outmatched, they would certainly scatter and flee.
How could one possibly wipe out all eighteen of them? Moreover, based on the information they had, the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan had a remarkable intuition. Powerhouses who could crush them often found that the bandits had escaped before they could arrive.
"Are they really dead?"
At that moment, the leading man spoke.
This man had black skin, standing there like a mountain, with eyes that were cold and calm.
"Judging by the traces left behind, the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan should all be dead." The chubby man replied.
"Can you discern the identity of the person who made the move?" the leader asked again.
"No."
"The Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan died quickly, without even managing to struggle."
The chubby man said.
If there had been a struggle, the traces of the fight might have provided some clue about the attacker's identity.
But without any struggle, with the bandits being slaughtered one by one, how could one possibly figure out who did it?
At that moment.
A small figure swiftly approached.
"The Blood Rain Tavern has withdrawn the bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan," the small figure reported.
The Blood Rain Tavern had removed the bounty several days earlier, but due to delays in the spread of information, this group was only learning of it now.
"It seems the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan are truly dead."
The leader nodded.
The Blood Rain Tavern would only remove a bounty if they were absolutely certain that the targets were all dead.
"What a pity."
"We crossed six or seven ancient kingdoms, only to return empty-handed?"
The group exchanged glances, unsure whether to feel regretful or relieved.
Although their target had been claimed by another, which was normally a frustrating outcome, seeing the traces left by the mysterious powerhouse who massacred the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan made them feel fortunate.
If not, they might have faced that mysterious powerhouse themselves.
Given how easily the bandits were slaughtered, they had no confidence in defending against such a force.
While the others were caught in mixed feelings, the leader, the black-skinned man, fell into deep thought.
"A powerhouse who can so easily kill the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan is at least a Witch Sovereign."
"But Witch Sovereigns..." The black-skinned man wondered, "Why have Witch Sovereigns become so common in the last twenty years?"
The black-skinned man had traveled through many ancient kingdoms and noticed a strange trend: over the past twenty years, Witch Sovereigns, who had been rare for hundreds or even thousands of years, seemed to be appearing more frequently.
Especially in the capitals of the major ancient kingdoms, one after another, Witch Sovereigns previously unheard of had emerged, as if they were growing in abundance.
If not for the deep foundations left by the ancient Witch Ancestors in each of the Twelve Ancient Kingdoms, the current order might have already been overturned.
Luo Chuan Settlement.
Deep within a cave.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
"This operation should have been perfect."
Lin Yuan began to review everything, from taking the bounty at the Blood Rain Tavern to killing the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan. He hadn't left any traces that could expose his identity.
The bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan was so large that it attracted the attention of most bounty hunters across the Twelve Ancient Kingdoms. By acting now, Lin Yuan would likely be assumed to be a powerhouse from one of the Twelve Ancient Kingdoms.
This was a broad assumption.
The only potential slip-up was that Lin Yuan had previously asked Cha Ran Gu to investigate the whereabouts of the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan.
Not that Cha Ran Gu would betray him.
Lin Yuan had already planted a trace of blood energy in Cha Ran Gu's mind when he subdued him.
With a single thought, it could be detonated. Cha Ran Gu's life and death were entirely in Lin Yuan's hands, so betrayal was out of the question.
But Cha Ran Gu's investigation into the bandits' whereabouts wasn't foolproof.
Lin Yuan thought about it and realized this wasn't truly a hidden danger.
As the overt ruler of Luo Chuan Settlement, it made sense for Cha Ran Gu to investigate the whereabouts of the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan after learning they had moved into the area.
After careful consideration.
Lin Yuan flipped his right hand.
A teacup appeared in front of him.
The cup was made of expensive jade.
Just the teacup alone was worth a Witch Crystal.
But Lin Yuan's attention wasn't on the cup, but on the blood-red tea inside.
"Blood Rain Tea?"
Lin Yuan carefully observed.
When he was at the Blood Rain Tavern, Lin Yuan hadn't dared to drink the tea, fearing it might contain some trick.
Although the likelihood was low, given the Blood Rain Tavern's reputation, if they were to tamper with his drink just because he claimed the bounty on the Eighteen Thieves of Yunshan, how could they have grown to their current scale?
"No signs of poison."
After multiple tests, Lin Yuan took a light sip.
The cold tea flowed down his throat, permeating through his entire body.
During this, Lin Yuan remained highly vigilant. If anything went wrong, he would immediately isolate the tea from his system.
"It does indeed have a slight beneficial effect on the body."
Lin Yuan nodded slightly.
His current physique was likely too strong. For a Witch King-level powerhouse, drinking this cup of Blood Rain Tea would probably result in more than just slight benefits, but a considerable enhancement of their physical strength.
Lin Yuan's thoughts turned, and he finally took out the bronze compass.
"In a two-dimensional world where suppression exists, it still exudes a distinct mysterious aura."
Lin Yuan's thoughts churned, and he vaguely made some conjectures.
No matter how powerful an eleventh-rank life form is, it cannot manifest any extraordinary power in this two-dimensional world.
But this bronze compass did.
This meant—
This bronze compass was very likely an ultimate weapon.
...
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