Treasure-hunting: Into the Unknown

"Oh, I see," Zachary said with a smile. "Is that what brings you here? You came to warn me not to mess with Anthony?"

"I didn't come to see you," Tracy pouted. "I'm just passing through; that's all."

"Well, have a good day, then." Saying this, Zachary shrugged and strode past her into the weapon refining room.

Tracy watched as he disappeared through the doorway, absorbed in thought. 'He really is troublesome. More than that, though, he's powerful enough to defeat Luke, whom our college has attached great importance to. He really must be an extraordinary weapon refiner. It's no wonder our dean wants him to join us. But he's as cunning as a fox. He won't be led by the nose so easily.' With that, the woman left.

Meanwhile, things were not quiet in the grand hall of the Xiao Clan's mansion in Zenith City.

Anthony pounded the table before him with a fury that matched the thunder in his voice. "Damn it! I didn't expect Zachary to defeat Luke! He's made me lose face in front of so many people!"

"It was a disaster for us, young master," Edward replied, quieter but no less malicious. "I say we should have him killed, and put an end to his meddling once and for all."

"We cannot let this go unanswered," Anthony fumed, though his anger was now tainted with impotence. "But he is a disciple of the Celestial College. If anything happens to him, they're sure to investigate it."

"Not if we cover our tracks properly," replied the other man. "As long as no one learns of our involvement, there will be no need to worry about Celestial College."

Anthony thought this over for a moment, and his temper receded somewhat. "Perhaps not," he said at last. "Do you have a plan in mind?"

Edward most certainly did. "This Harley is a warrior at the primary stage of the King Level. That means someone at the premium stage of the same level can kill him easily enough. All we have to do is hire such a man. And after Harley is dead, we simply kill the killer. Then no one will know that we are behind this."

After hearing his words, Anthony nodded in agreement. "Then we need to make sure we find someone reliable," he pointed out.

Edward remained confident. "Have no worries, young master. I will take care of this matter."

Anthony studied him shrewdly f

on number one: go to the Dragon Peak tonight at midnight."

"The Dragon Peak?" Zachary murmured to himself. With narrowed eyes, he left the Living-dead Tomb and went to the weapon refining room, where he continued to refine the bone.

When midnight came, all of Shura College was quiet.

A trained eye might have glimpsed a lone figure running across and leaping among the walls and ramparts of the college. It was Zachary, swiftly making his way to the south side of the campus, where the Dragon Peak was located.

As soon as he made it, he found that he was not alone. There were many other figures scattered about the peak, stealthily lying in wait, and still more coming from afar. They all seemed to be warriors of Imperial Level or higher.

"What are they doing here?" Zachary asked himself, more than a little unnerved.

Just then, his attention was drawn to a towering hill that stood beside the Dragon Peak, where two more figures appeared, standing opposed to one another. A fierce, sharp wind whipped its way over the darkened landscape, and the atmosphere was pregnant with the promise of violence.

Most disconcerting was the fact that those two newcomers appeared to be warriors above the Sage Level. Meanwhile, the Imperial Level ones who still lurked around the Dragon Peak started to move. There was sure to be a fight, but Zachary couldn't guess who was on what side.

Without warning, one of them gave off a strong, undisguised killing intent, strong enough to strike fear into anyone nearby.