The courtyard was of moderate size, with the main building being a six-story structure exuding an ancient charm. The constant flow of people at the entrance indicated that business was thriving.
“Excuse me, gentlemen!” As soon as they stepped into the hall, a man in a gray robe approached them from the staircase, bowing slightly. “If you don’t mind, please proceed to the sixth floor. Our manager wishes to see you.”
“Your manager wants to see us?” Billy was slightly taken aback but then said, “Lead the way!”
Although curious about the manager’s intentions, Billy wasn’t too surprised. Since Boundless Tavern dealt in information, they likely had his portrait already. The incident at the teahouse might have spread, so it wasn’t surprising that they knew his whereabouts.
“Please!” The gray-robed man led them to the staircase.
Soon, they arrived at a room on the sixth floor. The gray-robed man knocked on the door and then ushered them inside. Billy saw an elderly man in a black robe sitting on a wooden sofa, with a tea set on the table before him.
Billy quickly assessed the old man’s cultivation level; he was quite strong, almost at the Extinguishing God Realm. During his time in Hong City, Billy had heard from the vice leader of Heaven Alliance that the top ten in Boundless Ruin were all at the Extinguishing God Realm. He had thought it was an exaggeration, but now it seemed plausible.
“Mr. Roy, the guests have arrived,” the gray-robed man said, bowing to the elder.
“Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat!” Mr. Roy stood up with a smile.
“Thank you!” Billy smiled and sat down on the sofa with White Feather.
“I apologize for any inconvenience,” Mr. Roy continued.
“You’re welcome,” Billy replied with a faint smile. “Why did you want to see us?”
“Let me introduce someone first,” Mr. Roy responded.
As he spoke, a door on the left opened, and a woman walked out. She appeared to be in her late twenties, with a beautiful face, graceful figure, and noble demeanor-clearly not an ordinary person.
Billy assessed her cultivation level but sensed no fluctuations. If she wasn’t deliberately hiding her power, she was at least at the first-rank Extinguishing God Realm. Billy believed it was more likely the latter.
“Miss,” Mr. Roy bowed to the woman.
“No need for formalities,” she smiled and looked at Billy. “May I address you as Mr. Billy?”
“Yes,” Billy smiled back.
He didn’t deny it. Since she was looking for him, she likely already knew his background.
“Mr. Billy, you’re straightforward!” she laughed. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Melina Choi, the lady of Cloud Court, the daughter of the current Hall Lord.”
She glanced at White Feather with a smile and a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She couldn’t detect any martial aura or even human presence from White Feather, easily guessing that White Feather was a transformed beast. Though not rare in the ninth-tier star domain, such beasts were never ordinary.
“So you’re the lady of Cloud Court. My apologies for not recognizing you,” Billy responded.
He hadn’t expected her to be associated with Cloud Court, indicating that Boundless Tavern was likely one of his enterprises.
“Mr. Billy, you’re welcome!” Melina Choi continued.
“If Cloud Court is looking for me, he must have a reason,” Billy said. “Does he want the Nine Dragons Cauldron or the Heaven Book? Or both?”
“Mr. Billy, you’re joking!” Melina Choi laughed. “Cloud Court knows its limits; neither the Nine Dragons Cauldron nor the Heaven Book is within its reach.”
“Then why did you call me here?” Billy asked.
“To make friends with Mr. Billy and also to ask for a favor,” Melina Choi replied.
“What favor?” Billy inquired.
“You came to Boundless Ruin for the seventh volume of the Heaven Book, right?” Melina Choi asked.
“More or less,” Billy nodded.
“I can tell you its whereabouts,” Melina Choi said. “But I need to borrow something from you.”
“What is it?” Billy asked.
“If I’m not mistaken, you have the fifth-ranked Sacred Object, the Yin-yang Infinite Furnace,” Melina Choi stated.
“Your information is quite accurate!” Billy was surprised. “I’m curious how you know it’s with me.”
He was genuinely curious since even in the eighth-tier star domain, few knew about it, let alone here in the ninth-tier star domain. He had only used it once publicly to refine some treasures from Myriad Treasures Pavilion and had never mentioned it otherwise.
“A master informed me,” Melina Choi paused before adding. “I don’t know who exactly; they appeared only once.”
“Alright,” Billy nodded slightly. “Why do you need the Yin-yang Infinite Furnace? For alchemy or forging? Or something else?”
“Sorry, Mr. Billy, I can’t disclose that yet,” Melina Choi replied.
“I understand,” Billy nodded.
“Miss, Shadow Embrace Sect’s people are arriving soon,” Mr. Roy said after listening to a message on his sound transmission stone.
“They’re quick!” Melina Choi remarked before turning to Billy. “Mr. Billy, please wait while I handle this…”
“No need to trouble Miss Choi; I’ll handle it myself,” Billy said as he stood up, with White Feather following suit.
“Mr. Billy, don’t underestimate Shadow Embrace Sect; they…” Melina Choi began.
“Thanks for the warning!” Billy interrupted with a smile. “We’ll talk later!”
He then headed towards the door with White Feather.
Soon, they were floating above the tavern. In the distance, nearly a hundred figures were flying towards them-clearly members of Shadow Embrace Sect.
As they approached, an eerie aura filled the air, causing those below to shiver involuntarily.
“Didn’t expect to see us again so soon, did you?” one of the men from the teahouse sneered at Billy.
“You think hiding in Boundless Tavern will save you? You’re naive!”
He then turned to an elder leading them. “Elder Adrian, these two killed our people!”
“A seventh-rank Entering God Realm dares to kill my sect members?” Elder Adrian glared at Billy.
He glanced at White Feather and noticed she wasn’t human either.
“You only brought this many people?” Billy asked the man from before calmly.
“This time, you won’t be going back!”