"How are you so certain it was Liana?" Ethan Lin asked curiously.
Xena Xiao recounted the email sent by the Blood Hand Syndicate and detailed its contents.
"In that case, leave this to me," Ethan declared resolutely. As Xena's Guardian Spirit, her safety was his priority. Having a poisonous threat like Liana lurking nearby was intolerable; if she managed to harm Xena in the future, Ethan's return to the Galactic Era would be forever out of reach. For Xena's sake, as well as his own, he wouldn't show any mercy.
…
Meanwhile, Liana Xiao nervously confided in her mother, Yara Li.
"Mom, the mission failed. I saw it myself—Xena killed all six Purification Stage assassins!" Her voice shook with fear, her face pale at the thought that she, too, could end up as one of Xena's victims.
Yara comforted her, patting her back gently. "Don't worry. Xena doesn't know you were behind the attempt. Even if she suspects, there's no evidence," she reassured her daughter.
Liana nodded slightly, but a dark resolve took root in her heart. Xena had become a mental obstacle for her, a roadblock she knew she had to eliminate if she ever hoped to move forward with her own goals. "I failed this time, but next time I'll make sure she doesn't survive!" she silently vowed. But for now, with Xena's unexpected strength, she didn't dare make another attempt without a foolproof plan.
Three days passed swiftly.
Despite the Xiao family's efforts to investigate, they found no definitive proof of who had hired the Blood Hand Syndicate's assassins to target Xena. However, the assassination attempt stirred widespread interest, and Xena's hidden strength became a hot topic among the family members.
"Did you hear? Six Purification Stage assassins tried to kill Miss Xena, but she killed them all. Incredible!"
"Ninth-level Flesh Refinement killing Purification Stage warriors? That's crossing levels to defeat an enemy! I don't think anyone in the Xiao family has done that before."
"Honestly, we always thought Miss Xena lacked talent, but if she's this gifted, our Xiao family might become the top family in Feilan City. Who knows? Maybe we'll go even further."
While the family marveled at her abilities, Xena was in the family's secluded training chamber, preparing to break through to the tenth level of Flesh Refinement.
"Xena, I've told you the key points for breaking through to the tenth level. Are you confident?" Ethan inquired.
"Absolutely!" Xena responded, brimming with confidence. Even without Ethan's guidance, she would have had a solid chance of success. But after witnessing his breakthrough to the tenth level firsthand and with his additional insights, her chances had soared to a full ten out of ten.
"I'm starting!"
She sat cross-legged, channeling the Unyielding Titan Body technique to push through to the tenth level. True to her expectations, she successfully advanced, raising her potential and abilities to an entirely new level.
With her Flesh Refinement at its peak, Xena's next goal was to break into the Purification Stage. But she knew she needed to stabilize her current power fully before taking that leap.
Suddenly, she asked, "Ethan, have you thought of a plan to deal with Liana? You can't just confront her openly, or I'll be branded a family traitor."
"Don't worry, I've got a flawless plan," Ethan replied with a mischievous smile.
…
In Feilan City, there was a place known as the Black Market.
Each city had its own version of a black market. In Feilan City, it was situated 300 meters underground in a sprawling subterranean mall, accessible only to awakeners. Ordinary citizens were barred entry.
Transactions were conducted in secrecy, and most people masked their identities, making it impossible to know who they were dealing with.
On this day, a figure cloaked in a slim black robe entered the underground bazaar.
"Ethan, is your plan really to sell the Essence Purification Elixir?" Xena asked, puzzled.
"Exactly. If you sell the Essence Purification Elixir through official channels, it could easily be traced back to you. But on the black market, no one will be able to track it. The Essence Purification Elixir is useful for average Purification Stage awakeners, but for those of us with the Tendon Transformation Sutra, it's actually a hindrance, as it would lower the quality of our meridians. Better to sell it. With the proceeds, we'll hire the Blood Hand Syndicate to take out Liana. It's the perfect plan. And her family will probably think it's the Syndicate's revenge, not a targeted assassination."
"Will the Blood Hand Syndicate accept the job?" Xena asked, uncertain.
"They will. After the last incident, they're likely still holding a grudge against Liana. If we offer a decent reward, they'll take it for sure," Ethan replied confidently.
"Alright then, I'll follow your lead." Xena nodded. Although she was a bit nervous about her first time on the black market, her oversized black cloak concealed her expressions well.
As a highly coveted item, the Essence Purification Elixir was valuable. Smaller shops would have trouble purchasing it outright, and they likely wouldn't offer a fair price. Ethan directed Xena to one of the larger, reputable black market stores.
"This is it: Abyss House."
Looking at the ancient-style pavilion, Xena took a deep breath and stepped inside.
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