Chapter 447: The Tipping Point

The entire area suddenly fell silent.

As Yinglong pulled out the Renmane to prove himself, he completely overlooked the fact that six eyes were intently fixed on the corpse at that very moment.

Perfect! This is it!

1000 points! I’m about to complete the Master’s task!?

That bastard actually managed to fool Yinglong!

Three stifled shouts echoed in each of their hearts. Meanwhile, Yenir, forty kilometers away, let out a long breath as a flash of wild joy crossed his face.

Everything went even more smoothly than he had imagined!

He had planned for Li Dafu to take some risks and blurt out his scheme for the Renmane, but he never expected Yinglong to come up with the idea on his own and pull it out!

This move almost completely eliminated the risk!

“Li Dafu! Hand it over!”

“Just tell him you need to verify this material! Confirm that he’s ‘qualified’ to join you in killing the Otherworldly Ghost, and in the end, his reward will be the Legendary Suit!”

The words spilled out at a rapid pace.

Yenir once again reminded Li Dafu to force himself to stay calm.

Before securing the item, every step must be taken with extreme caution!

It’s rare for an NPC to ask an Awakener for items, and Yinglong wouldn’t have let it go easily! Moreover, Li Dafu couldn’t even issue a task properly!

Now he had no choice but to gamble that the NPCs he arranged earlier had gotten Yinglong so used to not receiving any task prompts—and had tasted the sweetness that made him unwilling to give up the ‘reward’!

…………..

“Renmane? This little thing is surprisingly fast.”

“Bring it over here so I can take a look. I seem to be missing this little treasure in my collection.”

He spoke as if feigning a hint of surprise.

Under the ostentatious show-off robe he had spent a full ten prestige points to acquire, Li Dafu awkwardly extended his hand, peering down at Yinglong through his flaring nostrils.

At a time like this, you can’t show any weakness!

Although he hadn’t witnessed a major spectacle before, Li Dafu wasn’t short on deceits. He forced himself to act tough!

Fortunately, Yinglong had already dissipated his innate Blood Shadow, making him appear much less intimidating. Otherwise, Li Dafu was sure his hand would have been trembling like a sieve.

Watching Yinglong reluctantly hand over the Renmane, Li Dafu felt as though he were about to burst out in triumph.

Got it! Got it!

The task assigned by his Master was complete!

For some reason, the moment Li Dafu thought about the promised reward from Yenir upon their return—right when his fingers brushed against the corpse of the Renmane—he was overcome by uncontrollable tremors.

Huh!?

That slight movement was instantly picked up by Yinglong.

He instinctively raised his head and stared into Li Dafu’s eyes.

In that moment, Li Dafu’s face went pale as if he suddenly realized he shouldn’t have been trembling. His hand, outstretched like a bird’s claw, looked just like that of an ordinary person.

Already exceptionally cautious, Yinglong’s mind was flooded with suspicions as he reluctantly handed over the Renmane.

Why… would this mysteriously powerful individual be trembling?

Could it be… excitement!?

A powerhouse who boasts about being nothing more than an insect gets excited just by holding this corpse!?

The outstretched hand froze instantly.

Yinglong abruptly spoke up:

“Sir, you… seem very excited?”

The atmosphere instantly turned tense.

Realizing he had given himself away, Li Dafu felt as if he were being stared down by a fearsome beast. Already timid by nature, his legs nearly buckled, and he almost collapsed.

It’s over! He’s been found out!

Thinking quickly—perhaps knowing that saying too much would lead to trouble—Li Dafu mustered every bit of courage he had and responded hastily:

“Excited… no, no, no…I’m just curious about this little thing.”

“Not bad at all. If you can catch something this small, you’re qualified to join me on this mission.”

Fearing that one more word might bring disaster, Li Dafu swiftly reached out and grabbed the Renmane’s wing.

Yet, faced with his explanation, the suspicion in Yinglong’s eyes deepened.

Something’s not right…

There’s a problem…

He knew I was capable of killing a Renmane, so why would I need to take it away? A collector’s item? Though unique, the Renmane was merely a Third-Stage mid-level mutant. In the presence of such a powerful figure, what’s there to collect?

Even he had only preserved it because the Renmane held a special meaning to him.

Especially…

He sensed something off about the strength Li Dafu used to seize the Renmane!

A suspected Fourth Stage powerhouse struggling so much to take it!?

Without hesitation!

Though he couldn’t pinpoint the issue, the meticulous Yinglong abruptly dropped the facade of reverence and fixed his gaze intently on Li Dafu.

He still couldn’t sense any true aura!

Either the man is far stronger than he appears, or this NPC is a fraud! If he’s deceiving him, then the prize must be the Renmane!?

Why on earth would an NPC want a Renmane? Who would?

In a flash of rapid calculation, Yinglong’s mind raced, and within a second he nearly deduced the true answer!

“Sir!”

“Since you recognize me, might I have the honor of joining you?”

With utmost caution, Yinglong made his final probing attempt.

Logic dictates that if this NPC truly had a task for him, then after asking this question, he’d eventually offer it!

Especially since he distinctly remembered Blood Nightingale mentioning that there was a task waiting!

If nothing were triggered… then it meant…

Cold sweat trickled down his body.

If Li Dafu didn’t realize that even the slightest change in his expression would cost him his life, he would have run away already.

A task!? He doesn’t have any task!

Judging by the current situation, even if Li Dafu claimed later that there was a Legendary Suit reward as promised by the Master, Yinglong would only probe him further!

However, given his status and power, he wouldn’t just probe—one could rip open his robe to reveal that he’s literally flying with a system tool attached!

It’s all over… this is really the end!

At the same time, Yenir, forty kilometers away, wore an expression of instant dread.

Damn it!

If Li Dafu gets exposed, he’ll be in grave danger too!

Not only will he fail to secure the materials in the short term, but knowing Yinglong’s nature, he’d surely realize Blood Nightingale had betrayed him!

Once that happens, Blood Nightingale will perish, and if Li Dafu dares to stick around, he’ll be finished as well!

Moreover, Far Frontier would become uninhabitable — Yinglong recalled that the Military had once asked him for a Renmane, which could only mean someone was plotting against him!

In a chain reaction, everything would spiral into utter chaos!

What am I supposed to do now!?

Unable to fault Li Dafu for his missteps, Yenir clenched his fists tightly, frantically contemplating a solution.

Just as anxiety peaked, Blood Nightingale, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up:

“Commander Yinglong! I’ve received a special task!”

“The issuer is… the Hell’s Gate Guardian!”

“Task requirement: with the Guardian’s help, eliminate the Otherworldly Ghost Emperor!”

His words tumbled out rapidly, as though he were utterly astonished. After speaking, Blood Nightingale looked at Yinglong with genuine delight, his expression unmistakably sincere.