In a certain underground room in Zhonghai City, the light was dim and the shadows deep.
At this moment, a group of mysterious figures in uniform black attire stood behind Second Master Xu.
Second Master Xu had received news that Liu Sanjian and his assassins had failed their mission once again, and in an inexplicable way no less.
Second Master Xu was so furious that his entire complexion turned sour.
When he learned that it was Ning Fan who had thwarted him again, his face turned an ashen blue, his mouth twitching with anger.
Because of Ning Fan, his plans had been repeatedly sabotaged, preventing many of his schemes from succeeding.
What was more crucial was that Ning Fan had almost cost him his son's life.
On considering this, Second Master Xu gritted his teeth and said, "Ning Fan, time and time again you disrupt my plans, I will not rest until we've settled our scores!"
The mysterious figures in black standing behind Second Master Xu remained motionless upon hearing his words.
They were Second Master Xu's trusted aides.
Second Master Xu knew that to deal with the Xu family's young miss, he now had to enlist the help of these people from Dragon Gate.
Dragon Gate was a major power in Su City, possessing an extremely formidable influence in Jianghu with numerous formidable warriors!
Such a powerful force, showing support for Xu Mingqiu, certainly had its own designs.
The reason for backing Xu Mingqiu was to help him gain control over the vast enterprise of the Xu family, thereby acquiring a major share of its benefits.
Unlike supporting other powers, the significance of the Xu Corporation was greater than other enterprises, with internal interests that would make anyone salivate.
And this was a secret known only to a select few at the top...
Xu Mingqiu had wanted to dispatch Xu Ruolan without anyone being the wiser.
But damn it, Ning Fan had repeatedly disrupted the perfectly laid plans.
At first, Xu Mingqiu didn't take Ning Fan seriously, as there was no need for him to bother about someone so insignificant.
But Ning Fan's continuous sabotage of his plans had now angered Xu Mingqiu, who wished he could dispose of Ning Fan immediately!
Before that, Xu Mingqiu needed to confirm just who exactly Ning Fan was and why he wielded such power.
Even Jianghu powerhouses like Liu Sanjian and Hong Yaoyao had been bested by him, indicating that this person was not as simple as he seemed.
Just then, a figure in black entered the underground room.
The figure in black approached Xu Mingqiu and whispered, "We've found out."
Xu Mingqiu responded with excitement, "Speak, let's see who our opponent is."
The man in black frowned slightly, seemingly finding it difficult even to utter the identity of this person, let alone wanting to oppose someone of that rank.
Eventually, the man in black divulged the information, "The renowned Ninth Master in the Jianghu circles of Zhonghai City!"
Xu Mingqiu jumped in shock and looked at the man in black, who nodded with certainty.
The Ninth Master held a great position in Jianghu, and of course, Xu Mingqiu was aware of it, but he couldn't imagine that Ning Fan, this petty individual, would be the Ninth Master!
Xu Mingqiu had previously thought that Ning Fan was at most a disciple of Guiguzi with some medical technique.
Who would have imagined Ning Fan, this young man, to actually be the Ninth Master?
No wonder his efforts had failed time and again, with the Ninth Master as a protector, eliminating Xu Ruolan would be extremely difficult.
And no wonder the Family Head of the Xu family valued Ning Fan so highly - he must have known Ning Fan's true identity early on yet kept it hidden from him.
Xu Mingqiu snorted coldly, even though he had no intention of provoking the Ninth Master, but since this "Ninth Master" insisted on opposing him and hindering his plans,
then the Ninth Master had to pay a heavy price!
Xu Mingqiu's eyes were gloomy as he glared fiercely at the moth before him.
"Be it Eighth Master or Ninth Master, if anyone dares to obstruct my Xu Mingqiu's quest for dominance, I will make them pay with their blood!"
After Ning Fan and Xu Ruolan returned home, they quickly entered their own room, locked the door, and soon made a video call with the current manager of the Phantom Guild, Ajiu.
The moment Ning Fan saw Ajiu on the video, he couldn't help but feel a nosebleed coming on…
Ajiu was dressed in a loose, comfortable, bright red garment, her hair gently pinned up, revealing a pair of clear, slender jade legs, her dainty, flawless feet bare.
Her golden hair and blue eyes shimmered with allure, and the spark in her eyes as she blinked was enough to make one's whole body tingle.
In a delicate voice, Ajiu said, "It's been so long, I've missed you to death."
As she spoke, she put on a show of faux petulance, giving Ning Fan a killer glare.
Ning Fan frowned, overwhelmed by Ajiu's amorous assault, retreating repeatedly just to withstand it.
Fortunately, Ning Fan had grown accustomed to Ajiu's sensual and enchanting figure and was quickly becoming immune to her seductions.
"Ajiu, you've become even more bewitching, I feel like you're right beside me here…"
Ajiu looked angrily at Ning Fan, "Then how can you bear to leave me behind?"
Ning Fan looked at Ajiu helplessly and, not wanting to dwell on this issue, changed the subject, "Any progress on Xu Ruolan's matter?"
Ajiu said, "The bounty on the Black Market Red Blossom List has increased again!"
Ning Fan furrowed his brow.
It was baffling for someone like Xu Ruolan to appear on the Black Market Red Blossom List with an ever-increasing bounty.
This was unscientific!
Even if Xu Mingqiu wanted Xu Ruolan dead, he wouldn't likely use the Black Market, an inherently secret entity.
The situation probably wasn't that simple.
If the bounty wasn't issued by Xu Mingqiu on the Black Market Red Blossom List, it meant not only did Xu Mingqiu want Xu Ruolan dead, but there was also a more powerful force behind the scenes pulling the strings.
But there was another inconsistency here.
If Xu Ruolan, merely the beautiful CEO of Xu Corporation, could draw the attention of so many behind-the-scenes players of the Black Market, she must have some extraordinary secret.
Could there be some hidden facet about Xu Ruolan that would make people desperate to eliminate her and take her place?
Ning Fan threw out his question, "Ajiu, help me investigate Xu Ruolan, see if there's anything unusual about her?"
With a seductive smile, Ajiu replied, "I had already thought of that before you did."
"This Xu Ruolan is not simple. According to the latest intelligence from our Phantom Guild, she has been secretly collaborating with the military to develop a new type of genetic potion."
"Genetic potion?" Ning Fan was curious, "What is that?"
Ajiu's expression turned serious, "This genetic potion, officially called the Biochemical Genetic Capsule, upon consumption by humans, can endlessly excavate the body's potential, significantly stimulating and improving the central nervous system in the brain. It unlocks the brain's latent abilities."
Ning Fan was stunned; such a capsule could actually be developed?
He looked at Ajiu with an odd expression.
Ajiu continued, "That is to say, once this potion is ingested by ordinary warriors, their potential will be infinitely excavated, eventually transforming them into beings as powerful as mutants."
Ning Fan's eyes widened in disbelief, but seeing the earnestness in Ajiu's explanation, he knew it was likely not false.
"The effects of this potion are terrifying."