The Dead Needle Abyss was a web.
Cells spread across worlds, each one barely knowing the others. Orders came through layers of messengers, encrypted jade slips, spirit seals that burned after use.
He remembered arriving in the Martial Fist King World one month ago, guided by a man with a scar across his face.
Their mission had been clear.
Find Lin Mu.
Find Meng Bai.
Observe.
Wait for the right moment.
Why, he did not know.
But the bounty was enormous.
Another memory followed.
This one belonged to a woman who had posed as a wandering healer.
She remembered receiving a sealed order marked with a black needle symbol.
"Primary target: Daoist Lin Mu."
"Secondary target: His disciple, Meng Bai."
"Method: Prefer assassination. If impossible, create chaos."
She remembered asking why.
The messenger had only said, "Because he should not exist."
No further explanation.
