Thanks to Katy for the kofis. enjoy the bonus chapters!!

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“Demon, cease your arrogance!” The man who crushed the scroll suddenly turned. “Everyone, begin!”

They all tore their talismans to reveal their forms, then sat cross-legged.

Hearing their words, Wen Jue felt no urgency.

He wanted to see what tricks these people could pull.

All ten within the formation simultaneously pressed their palms together, hands overlapping left and right, sinking their focus to the dantian at their lower abdomen.

Golden light spread, signaling their intent to break through.

With just one glance, Wen Jue understood their plan. “All ten of you are mid-nascent stage? You want to force a breakthrough to summon heavenly thunder against me? No wonder you trapped this seat in this tiny space.”

“You really underestimate this seat. If you want to strike me with heavenly thunder, at least find some higher stage cultivators. “ Wen Jue mocked, his tone suddenly turning grave. ”With just these few useless fools, you think you can strike me dead?”

The righteous cultivators’ expressions darkened.

They hadn’t failed to invite Huatian-stage elders. But those venerables were advanced in age, unwilling to involve themselves in the affairs of this secret realm, much less the disputes between righteous and demonic paths.

“To kill you, ten Nascent Soul-stage tribulations would suffice!” the leader retorted stubbornly. “Wen Jue, having cultivated to this level, your hands are stained with countless lives. Burdened by karmic retribution, the Way of Heaven will never spare you! Today is your day of death, and this secret realm shall be your grave!”

Wen Jue: “How tiresome.”

Wen Jue raised his hand, unleashing a burst of spiritual light.

Clang! It struck the massive cage binding him.

A shadow passed over Wen Jue’s eyes.

This thing was harder than he’d imagined.

“I’m truly curious—where did you even get this thing?”

“It holds you. That’s all you need to know.” Seeing that Wen Jue couldn’t break free, the opponent felt reassured.

“Village Chief, is that formation really trapping Brother?” Xiao Baiyi couldn’t help asking. If it were true, she would fight her way out.

Qin Zhou remained composed. “It won’t hold him.”

Based on his calculations and Wen Jue’s consumption of elixirs, Wen Jue’s strength should be around the Great Perfection stage. Elixirs above the sixth tier still affected him, indicating his cultivation hadn’t transcended the ‘sixth tier’ range.

Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Transformation of the Spirit, Merging of Essence, Great Perfection, Tribulation Crossing—converting the six tiers to cultivation stages, Great Perfection should be roughly equivalent.

If this Demon-Slaying Array was the one he knew, even ten more like it couldn’t possibly restrain Wen Jue.

Especially since Wen Jue wielded an eighth-tier artifact—

The Galaxy that could shatter all things.

Qin Zhou felt no worry.

Yet, inexplicably, he found himself unable to look away. The white-robed youth standing at the array’s center seemed like a different person from the one he knew. It felt as though, only now, he truly witnessed the side Wen Jue had diligently concealed since his return.

A touch of madness, yet dazzlingly brilliant.

“Village Chief, given Brother Wen’s temper right now, he might just slaughter them all,” Xiao Baiyi whispered as a gentle reminder.

“Mhm.” Qin Zhou offered no response.

He himself disliked killing, for he came from that harmonious world. People should learn to adapt, so he refused to judge others’ acts of killing as sinful based solely on his own perspective.

Besides, it was those people who wanted to kill Lu Yi.

So, kill them if they must.

Lu Yi’s life versus others’ lives—this was not a choice that required deliberation.

And…

Qin Zhou thought that the arrogant Lu Yi standing atop the high platform only made the itch in his heart grow stronger.

He wanted to pull him down from that platform, pin him beneath him, and feast his eyes on that beautiful sight.

The flower he’d cultivated had taken on a hint of wickedness, but… it was still beautiful.

It was just a pity he still couldn’t see that face.

Qin Zhou scrutinized Wen Jue with unabashed, even lewd eyes.

Xiao Baiyi looked at the Village Chief, only to find him utterly transfixed. She sighed inwardly—

How could she have worried for even a moment that the Village Chief might stop liking Big Brother now that he’d suddenly realized he’d become a demonic overlord?

Baiyi, oh Baiyi.

He was the most biased village chief, after all, and the most favored eldest son among the Lu family’s hundred outstanding siblings.

Just as the Righteous Alliance members were secretly breathing sighs of relief, another group arrived.

Seeing that the newcomer was Lu Qi, their expressions darkened once more.

Another demonic master from the Demon Sect had arrived!

This was bad. The heavenly thunder hadn’t been summoned yet, yet the demonic masters had arrived first.

Lu Qi arrived just in time to witness this scene. Standing at the edge of the quicksand, he stared at Wen Jue, caged on the stone platform. After a moment of blankness, he asked, “Without the Sword Sect, you pulled this stunt?”

“Not to mention… Sword Sect should count itself lucky to be isolated by you fools.” Lu Qi shook his head. “You want to kill Wen Jue, yet you won’t let those old fossils from your sect come out. You just picked a few Nascent Soul cultivators and dared to show yourselves.”

“New officials taking office do tend to be bold.”

“I’ve no desire to be struck by lightning.” Wen Jue glanced up at the gathering thunderclouds overhead. “Getting struck by lightning for days on end isn’t pleasant. I’d rather not show up to Qin Zhou with injuries.”

With that, Wen Jue eyed the grim-faced members of the Righteous Alliance, weighed the hammer in his hand, and asked, “Your scroll seems quite powerful. Care to guess what this thing in my hand is used for?“

”You demonic fiend…“

Wen Jue chuckled. ”By the way, do you know why this sovereign ended up in the Immortal Restraint Prison?“

”It’s precisely because this sovereign used this hammer to smash a corner of the heavens. The Heavenly Dao grew furious and imprisoned me.“ Wen Jue narrowed his eyes. ”I wonder if this cage your scroll formation conjured can withstand a couple of whacks from this hammer.”

With that, disregarding everyone’s expressions, Wen Jue raised his hammer and slammed it hard against the cage!

The hammer collided violently with the massive cage.

A sharp crack echoed through the air.

Instantly, spiderweb-like cracks spread across the cage, resembling shattered tempered glass. Crack, crack, crack—in an instant, the entire structure was covered in fissures.

Finally, with a loud snap, it shattered completely, light scattering in all directions, just like the crushed scroll before.

Wen Jue stared at the scene, stunned. “Galaxy… you…”

Was he this powerful today?!

Clearly, even Wen Jue was astonished by this force.

No wonder he’d sensed the barrier nearly shatter earlier—Galaxy was truly powerful today.

The hammer’s body glowed.

Inside the barrier, it had overheard its master calling it useless.

Waaah! He wanted to tell his master he wasn’t a coward!

Unfortunately, Wen Jue couldn’t understand the hammer’s thoughts. He stroked it briefly before tucking it back into the Cosmos Bag.

After completing these actions, Wen Jue lowered his head and chuckled softly. Only then did he slowly raise his gaze to meet the terrified stares of the crowd.

“Now, it’s time to deal with you.”

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Qin Zhou covered Xiao Baiyi’s eyes.

He didn’t release her until blood flowed like a river.

Xiao Baiyi pushed Qin Zhou’s hand away.

Truthfully, she wasn’t some little girl anymore. When traveling, outsiders addressed her respectfully as “Immortal Fairy.” Only the village chief still thought she was young and couldn’t bear the sight of blood.

Xiao Baiyue’s nose stung, but she dared not cry. She still had to go apologize to her two brothers later. After all, she was the one who brought them trouble.

“Xiao Baiyi, if you’ve seen enough of the show, come help out.” Lu Yi’s voice carried a hint of hoarseness. “You brought your brothers so much trouble. Think you can just slip away like this?”

Xuan Yiling: !

She’d been discovered.

Qin Zhou gently nudged her shoulder, then shook his head. The implication was clear: don’t expose him.

Xuan Yiling looked utterly bewildered, but unable to ignore the calls from the other side, she stepped out of hiding. Dragging her long sorceress robes, she hurried over to Wen Jue and Lu Qi.

“Big Brother.”

“Seventh Brother.”

Lu Qi picked at his ear: “Hearing Xuanji Immortal call me Seventh Brother made me think I was hallucinating.”

“Sounds sweet enough,” Wen Jue nodded, blood still smeared across his hands.

“I was wrong,” Xuan Yiling admitted. Then, as if remembering something, she grudgingly added, “The money we made off these guys—split it fifty-fifty.”

“At least you’re being considerate, you little money-grubbing brat.”

Wen Jue looked up and saw the slight redness in Xuan Yiling’s eyes. His expression darkened. “Why are your eyes red?”

Lu Qi was even more alarmed. “I don’t want your money! Don’t cry!”

Xuan Yiling: !

Recalling how she’d just thrown herself into the village chief’s arms and sobbed uncontrollably, he felt a bit embarrassed and said, “The wind and sand got in my eyes!”

Wen Jue didn’t press further. She merely glanced in the direction she’d come from, watching the faint silhouette in the sky, and fell silent for two breaths. “Come help.”

“Okay.”

Qin Zhou watched as the little girl pulled out a handful of talismans, sticking them one by one onto the corpse. Her practiced manner suggested this wasn’t her first time doing this.

He taught the children how to harness their innate talents, how to become stronger cultivators.

And Lu Yi, perhaps, taught them how to survive in this cutthroat cultivation world.

They gathered all the corpses, seemingly intending to carry them away.

Qin Zhou could have slipped away on his wind-devouring steed while his invisibility talisman still held. But after a moment’s thought, he didn’t.

He couldn’t forever pretend to be blind, ignoring everyone’s transformations.

So he changed his mind.

Qin Zhou tore the talisman from his shoulder.

He also dispelled the effects of the Face-Cleansing Pill.

Emerging from invisibility, he approached the three diligently working figures. Leaning down, he calmly asked, “Need some help?”

Lu Qi, Wen Jue: “…”

No one looked up.

Lu Qi’s pupils contracted. Wait—how is the Village Chief here?!

Wen Jue stared at the blood covering his hands, his entire body stiffening.

Only Xiao Baiyi smiled and said, “No need, Village Chief! Rest! We’ll handle it!”

Wen Jue’s brain felt deprived of blood, frozen solid, unable to think.

He knew someone was hiding behind Xiao Baiyi earlier, but he never imagined it was Qin Zhou.

He had just killed someone.

When blood splattered everywhere, what was Qin Zhou thinking when he saw that scene?

Was he wondering how his favorite villager could turn into such a monster? Were his eyes filled with disappointment?

And once he’d had enough of that disappointment?

Would he run away again?

Would he vanish without a word once more?

These thoughts flooded Wen Jue’s mind, as if his blood had frozen. Madness began to rapidly take root in his thoughts.

If he was going to disappear, he might as well die here.

Die here, where he could see his own bones, imprison his soul…

Noticing Wen Jue’s unusual state, Lu Qi and Yi Bai crouched beside him, both startled. But before they could speak, Qin Zhou had already placed his hand on Wen Jue’s head.

“Wen Jue.”

Wen Jue lifted his slightly reddened pupils. “What are you doing…”

“I said, do you need my help?” Qin Zhou asked.

Wen Jue saw those eyes again.

Calm as still water, steady enough to soothe the soul, like the hand resting on his head—gentle yet firm.

If he truly was a demon, then Qin Zhou could surely be his antidote.

The blood red faded from Wen Jue’s eyes as he gave up, snapping, “Help me if you want!”

Qin Zhou: “Alright.”

And so, four people worked together to handle the corpses.

There were so many questions, so many probes. So many, in fact, that no one knew where to begin.

Silence fell instead.

But silence must always be broken by someone.

Lu Xiao had the honor of being that person.

He rode his mount to the scene, first spotting his own father, then his Uncle Wen, and even the surprising presence of Aunt Xuanji. His gaze finally settled on the familiar yet unfamiliar horse, Tunfeng. And lastly, his eyes locked onto Qin Zhou.

Lu Xiao was stunned. He was here too!

Lu Qi saw his son and immediately beckoned him over to introduce them.

“Lu Xiao, come here. Father wants to introduce someone to you.”

Lu Xiao was grabbed by his father and pulled in front of Qin Zhou.

Lu Xiao stared straight at Qin Zhou’s face, his expression awkward. “Father, I know him.”

Lu Qi:?

“My Uncle Wen’s… isn’t that his companion?” Lu Xiao scratched his head. “I’ve met this uncle before.”

Wen Jue: “…”

Lu Qi: “…”

Xiao Baiyi: “…”

Qin Zhou also froze. He couldn’t recall ever meeting Lu Xiao.

Qin Zhou shifted his gaze and introduced himself with a faint smile. “My name is Qin Zhou.”

Lu Xiao nodded obediently. “Uncle Qin.”

Lu Qi slapped his son on the back of the head.

Lu Xiao turned back, looking aggrieved. What’s that for, Dad?

Lu Qi said with a wooden expression, “You can’t call him Uncle. You have to call him Grandfather.” That’s a generation difference.

Lu Xiao:?