Shua!
Upon hearing the voice from the earpiece, Jiang Wuming's expression changed. He then tried his best to control his emotions and said, "Temple Master of the Underworld Hall?"
"It's me."
On the other end of the phone, Hades, from the headquarters of the Underworld Hall, readily admitted his identity.
Hearing this, Jiang Wuming's heart sank.
Previously, Jiang Wuming had encountered a genius from the Mu family from beyond the domain in the ancient city of Su City. This genius was a mental power cultivator who attempted to control Dongfang Xiao Yao as his puppet. He then used various secret techniques on Jiang Wuming, but was eventually killed by him.
On that day, Jiang Wuming suspected that the Temple Master of the Underworld Hall was problematic.
This was because, in the historical records of the global martial arts world, there were almost no mentions of mental power cultivation techniques and secret arts. However, the Temple Master of the Underworld Hall, through Caroline, exchanged mental power cultivation techniques with him for the mental power secret techniques awarded in the genius group competition of the Global Martial Arts Tournament.
A while ago, after Jiang Wuming obtained extraterrestrial mental power cultivation techniques and secret arts from Xiu Si, a disciple of Anthony @ Roman, his suspicions about the identity of the Temple Master of the Underworld Hall grew. He tried to contact his senior brother Shen Zui but failed. In the end, he only sent a reminder message to his senior brother.
Now, the Temple Master of the Underworld Hall calling Jiang Wuming using Shen Zui's phone completely confirmed Jiang Wuming's judgment!
"Master Hades, my senior brother Shen Zui has joined the Underworld Hall and is working for you, being one of the prominent figures of the Underworld Hall. Who in this world would dare to disrespect you and the Underworld Hall and lay a hand on my senior brother?"
Although Jiang Wuming had already sensed something was amiss, he did not reveal it. Instead, he tried to elicit information from Hades indirectly.
"Jiang Wuming, you are a smart person. I don't like beating around the bush with smart people. If you want Shen Zui to live, come to the headquarters of the Underworld Hall to see me. Tell me your decision, and I will tell you how to reach the headquarters of the Underworld Hall."
Hades spoke directly. After speaking, without waiting for Jiang Wuming's reply, he hung up the phone.
"Beep... beep..."
Listening to the sounds from the earpiece, Jiang Wuming felt a heavy heart.
He put down the phone, pondered for a moment, and then made a call.
The Saintess of the Underworld Hall, Caroline!
"Dear Wuming, I never expected you to call me proactively!"
Caroline was excited and thrilled when she received Jiang Wuming's call.
"Caroline, has my senior brother Shen Zui had an accident?" Jiang Wuming asked in a deep voice.
"Yes, I heard that Lord Shen Zui made a mistake and was imprisoned."
Although Caroline knew that Jiang Wuming's call was definitely not for her, she still felt a bit disappointed when she heard his words.
"What mistake did he make?" Jiang Wuming asked.
"I don't know."
Caroline said, realizing something was wrong, and asked with some surprise, "How do you know Lord Shen Zui had an accident?"
"Your grandfather called me. He said that if I want my senior brother to live, I should go to the headquarters of the Underworld Hall to see him!"
Jiang Wuming told her the truth, wanting to judge Hades' intention by Caroline's reaction.
"Ah—"
Caroline exclaimed upon hearing this, "Something like this happened?"
Jiang Wuming remained silent. Through Caroline's reaction, he could basically confirm that Caroline knew nothing about this.
"Wuming, my grandfather must want you to join the Underworld Hall. He has admired you for a long time and has invited you more than once. I think if you agree to join the Underworld Hall, my grandfather will definitely forgive Lord Shen Zui!" Caroline thought for a moment.
"Join the Underworld Hall?"
Jiang Wuming narrowed his eyes, believing that Caroline's analysis was likely incorrect.
An invitation would never be extended in such a manner!
"Of course, this is just my guess. You'll have to talk to my grandfather about the specifics."
Caroline paused here, then hesitated, bit her lip, and said, "Dear Wuming, don't worry, no matter what the outcome of your conversation with my grandfather is, I will beg him to spare Lord Shen Zui, and I will definitely not let him harm you!"
"Thank you."
Jiang Wuming thanked her and then hung up.
He could feel Caroline's sincerity, but if things were as dire as he imagined, then let alone Caroline, no one in the entire Underworld Hall, or even the world, could stop the Temple Master of the Underworld Hall!
After ending the call, Jiang Wuming immediately put away his phone and re-entered the room.
"Something happened?"
Li Rui saw that Jiang Wuming was not himself and asked.
"Yes, the Temple Master of the Underworld Hall has imprisoned my senior brother and asked me to see him, otherwise my senior brother will die," Jiang Wuming said with a frown and a grave tone.
"The pigeon wants the wine, not the host. Hades imprisoned your senior brother for you. It will be very dangerous if you go to the Underworld Hall."
Li Rui did not stop Jiang Wuming, but calmly and objectively analyzed the situation.
"I know, but I have to go."
Jiang Wuming's expression was solemn.
Back then, when he led Xing Tian and others to leave the Military Department and flee to the border, they were pursued by the Ghost Rider. If his senior brother had not appeared in time, they would have all died at the hands of the Ghost Rider.
Now that his senior brother was in trouble, he naturally could not stand idly by!
"Alas... it's as I thought, with your personality, you will definitely go."
Li Rui sighed, pondered for a moment, and said, "I won't stop you, but I suggest you discuss this matter with your master and hear what he has to say."
"Okay, Grandpa Li."
Jiang Wuming nodded, then bid farewell to Li Rui and left the siheyuan.
...
Longhu Mountain.
Zhu Yong squatted on a mountaintop, holding a tablet computer and boredly scrolling through short video apps.
Since Tianlong Daoist entered seclusion, Zhu Yong's life had been very simple.
Eating, sleeping, and playing on his tablet.
Of course, when he played on his tablet, he would specifically guard the area near the grand scene of the extraterrestrial enemies' descent, preventing them from descending again.
Therefore, he only played on his tablet to pass the time.
"Buzz... Buzz..."
Suddenly, his phone vibrated. Zhu Yong put down his tablet, took out his phone, and saw it was a satellite call from Jiang Wuming. He quickly answered, "Junior Brother!"
"Junior Brother, has Master finished his seclusion?" Jiang Wuming asked directly.
"Junior Brother, Master has not come out of seclusion yet."
Zhu Yong first responded to Jiang Wuming, then asked doubtfully, "Strange, a few days ago, Senior Brother also called to ask about Master's situation, and today you called again. What's going on with you two? I remember you rarely called each other after you went down the mountain..."
"Second Senior Brother, you said Senior Brother also called to ask about Master's situation?"
Jiang Wuming's expression changed. He thought of a very terrifying possibility.
"Yes..."
Zhu Yong responded subconsciously, then realized something was wrong, "Junior Brother, did something happen to you?"
"Second Senior Brother, Senior Brother was imprisoned by Hades, and Hades contacted me personally. If I want Senior Brother to live, I should go to the Underworld Hall to see him."
Jiang Wuming did not hide anything from Zhu Yong, and he told him the truth.
"Wh... What? Senior Brother joined the Underworld Hall and worked diligently for the Underworld Hall, and that bastard Hades dared to imprison Senior Brother? He..."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yong exploded. He didn't think deeply about it at all.
"Second Senior Brother, how about this, you go to Master's Taoist temple, call him, and see if he can wake up. If he can wake up, I'll talk to him. If not, then forget it."
Jiang Wuming directly interrupted Zhu Yong.
"Ah— Okay, okay, I'll go now!"
Zhu Yong stopped cursing, stood up, and quickly rushed towards the dilapidated Taoist temple.
A moment later, Zhu Yong arrived in front of the Taoist temple. He saw that the temple gate was still locked, and Tianlong Daoist's aura was weak, so he knew that Tianlong Daoist had not come out of seclusion.
"Master, Junior Brother called, Senior Brother is in trouble..."
Zhu Yong shouted loudly. He first stated the situation, and then said, "Junior Brother wants to talk to you!"
There was no response.
The Taoist temple was silent.
"Master, Master, Master..."
Zhu Yong was unwilling and continued to shout for nearly two minutes, but there was still no response.
Helpless, Zhu Yong had to call Jiang Wuming back.
"Junior Brother, I've been shouting for a long time, but Master hasn't responded. Should I just push the door open and wake him up?"
Zhu Yong said, and then worried, "However, Master specifically warned me before entering seclusion last time that no matter what happened, I must not disturb his seclusion."
"Second Senior Brother, do not disturb Master."
Jiang Wuming quickly stopped him.
In the battle of Everest, Tianlong Daoist lost all his martial arts cultivation. This seclusion was to recover his martial arts cultivation. If his seclusion was interrupted, he might fail in his efforts and even risk going mad.
"Then what about Senior Brother?" Zhu Yong asked subconsciously.
"I'm going to see Hades!"
Jiang Wuming gave the answer and then hung up.
Zhu Yong, who was about to say something, found that the call had ended. He was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth in front of the Taoist temple.
In the Taoist temple, the old man opened his eyes.
The astonishing chess game, the penultimate move.
He made his move!