The night curtain hung low, and the clear brilliance of a full moon washed over the earth, bathing the bluestone paths of the ancient city in a deathly pale light.

Regarding the unspeakable secrets of the Chen Estate, Wen Buhuo had been investigating in the shadows for several days. However, the Chen Estate was like a pool of stagnant, bottomless water; no matter how he tested it, not a single ripple appeared, and not a single useful clue was found.

Late this night, Wen Buhuo was patrolling the streets as usual, feeling a slight irritability in his heart due to the lack of progress. As he walked through a secluded district in the west of the city, his keen spiritual sense suddenly twitched.

In a deep alleyway not far away, an extremely obscure yet violent fluctuation of spiritual energy erupted abruptly, like an undercurrent surging beneath a calm lake.

"Over there!"

Wen Buhuo's gaze sharpened, and his figure instantly transformed into a blur, hurtling toward the direction of the fluctuation.

Passing through two narrow alleys, aided by the moonlight, he spotted the "Demon-Man" he had encountered once before at a glance. However, the Demon-Man at this moment was far more terrifying than the last time.

His frame had expanded by a full circle, and his originally well-fitting clothes were shredded by his bulging muscles. His exposed skin was covered with twisted, greenish-black veins that looked like writhing earthworms. His eyes were as red as blood, and a low, beast-like roar escaped his throat, while the black baleful Qi swirling around him had almost solidified.

The suffocating pressure he emitted was already faintly touching the threshold of a "Fake Foundation Establishment"!

The Demon-Man seemed to sense a living presence and snapped his head around. Upon seeing it was Wen Buhuo, a cruel and hideous smirk appeared on his distorted, mangled face, and hoarse, unpleasant human speech squeezed out of his throat:

"Roar... It's you again, you brat who doesn't know the depth of death! You've ruined my plans time and again. Today... I shall use your flesh and blood as a sacrifice for my Divine Art!"

Wen Buhuo looked coldly at the half-human, half-beast monster before him, understanding the situation clearly. This was no ordinary cultivator; he must have practiced some short-sighted, wicked demonic art. Although it could forcibly raise one's realm in a short time, the price was the erosion of sanity by demonic Qi, turning the practitioner into a beast that only knew slaughter.

"Evil-doers bring destruction upon themselves. Today, I shall act on behalf of Heaven."

Wen Buhuo spoke no more. With a wave of his sleeve, the "Gold-Flicker Mother-and-Son Blades" hidden within instantly unsheathed.

Hum!

With a clear, vibrant hum, the set of nine blades, thin as a cicada's wing, drew several cold golden streaks in the air. Carrying a piercing whistle of breaking air, they flew straight toward the Demon-Man's vital points.

Seeing this, the Demon-Man did not dodge or evade. With a roar, he waved his hands—which had already transformed into sharp claws—to meet the attack.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A series of metallic clashing sounds exploded in the silent night sky, sparks flying in all directions. The Gold-Flicker blades, capable of cutting gold and jade, struck the Demon-Man's rock-hard skin, leaving only several shallow white marks before being knocked away by his overbearing strength.

"Roar!" After blocking the strike, the Demon-Man's ferocity surged. He stomped fiercely on the ground, causing the bluestone slabs to shatter instantly. Using this counterforce, he charged at Wen Buhuo like a black cannonball, bringing with him a nauseating, fishy wind.

Wen Buhuo remained calm. Stepping through the Seven Star Pace, his figure slid several yards to the side like a ghost, narrowly avoiding the brute-force collision.

Rumble!

The Demon-Man slammed into the earthen wall behind, causing the thick structure to collapse like dregs, dust filling the air.

"This beast has thick skin and immense strength. I cannot face him with raw power; I must win through wit."

Wen Buhuo plotted inwardly, his fingers moving rapidly through hand seals. The nine Gold-Flicker blades that had been knocked away seemed to hear a summons, spiraling in the air and splitting into two groups.

The eight smaller "Son Blades" turned into streaks of light, clinging to the Demon-Man's head like maggots on a bone, specifically targeting his eyes, the areas behind his ears, and other weak spots. Irritated and roaring repeatedly, the monster swung his claws wildly to swat them away.

At the very moment the Demon-Man revealed a flaw while distracted by the Son Blades, a sharp light erupted in Wen Buhuo's eyes.

"Go!"

He pointed his fingers like a sword and struck. The largest "Mother Blade" seized the opportunity, transforming into the most dazzling golden rainbow. Carrying ten-tenths of Wen Buhuo’s spiritual power, it pierced precisely into the Demon-Man's Lute Bone (scapula) on the left shoulder!

Psh!

Black demonic blood sprayed out.

"Aaaaagh—!!"

The Demon-Man let out a shrill, agonizing scream. With the Lute Bone locked, more than half the strength in his body instantly dissipated. Under the extreme pain, a sliver of clarity returned to his mind through the shroud of demonic Qi, replaced by deep terror.

He no longer wished to fight. Clutching his wound, he smashed through the nearby courtyard wall and fled frantically toward the outskirts of the city.

"Where do you think you're going!"

How could Wen Buhuo allow the tiger to return to the mountain? He moved his frame and gave chase relentlessly.

The two engaged in a pursuit and soon cleared the city. In his panic, the Demon-Man fled to the edge of a broken cliff. Before him was a bottomless abyss, and behind him was the murderous Wen Buhuo—there was no retreat.

The Demon-Man turned around, his back to the cliff. His blood-red eyes were filled with despair and madness as he hissed, seemingly wanting to make a final stand like a cornered beast.

Wen Buhuo stopped ten yards away, expressionless, and activated a hand seal.

The Mother Blade lodged in the Demon-Man's shoulder suddenly erupted with golden light, spinning and churning violently before bursting through his body, bringing a cloud of blood mist as it flew back into Wen Buhuo’s hand.

The Demon-Man’s massive body swayed, finally unable to support itself. He crashed to the ground like a falling golden mountain or an overturning jade pillar, his life force rapidly severing.

With the Demon-Man's death, the heavy baleful Qi surrounding him began to dissipate slowly. The rock-like muscles began to atrophy, and the greenish-black skin gradually regained a mortal's paleness.

In just a few moments, the hideous and terrifying Demon-Man had transformed into the thin corpse of a human male.

Wen Buhuo stepped forward and, by the moonlight, looked down to see the face of the corpse.

In that instant, even for one as steady as him, his pupils couldn't help but contract slightly.

Though the face was as pale as paper and the eyes were wide open in a death without peace, Wen Buhuo would never mistake it—

This was the very same Young Master Chen who usually appeared refined, cultured, and physically weak!

"So that's how it is..."

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Wen Buhuo's mind. The secrets of the Chen Estate, the midnight Demon-Man—everything was finally connected at this moment. For the dignified Young Master of the Chen family to secretly practice such a heinous demonic art, there must be an even larger plot behind it.

This place was not suitable for a long stay.

Wen Buhuo looked around to confirm no one was watching, then solemnly took a crimson "Raging Fire Talisman" from his robe.

"Dust to dust, earth to earth. Since you walked the demonic path, let yourself dissipate into the heavens and earth."

He whispered softly and channeled spiritual energy into the talisman. The Raging Fire Talisman instantly ignited into a fierce blaze, falling onto Young Master Chen's body.

The flames soared into the sky, reddening the night sky by the cliff. Amidst the crackling of the fire, the sin and the secrets turned into ashes together.

Wen Buhuo stood silently for a moment until the corpse was completely reduced to fly-ash. Then, he turned and vanished into the darkness, heading back toward the city. Tonight's discovery was too shocking; he had to return immediately to plan his next move.