Bang! Three arms interwove and collided, and a mist of crimson blood instantly diffused in all directions! The explosive sounds of fractured bones and the roaring crush of exploding muscle—a string of rapid detonations left one breathless.

The raw Qian Jin transformed into a blacksmith's hammer of a fist, lashing out like a wild, runaway steed, like a river bursting its banks, driving directly into Lucifer Zhifeng's chest. A massive section of his sternum collapsed inward, and the bones of his back shattered entirely. His black wings tore free from his spine and flew away. Blood plasma erupted from his seven orifices. The Eighteen Ascending Hammers under the violent Soul Domain, mixed with an unyielding will to advance and never retreat, forged the most iron-blooded torrent—a torrent that even Lucifer Zhifeng’s most dazzling demonic life force could not halt.

Bang! Qian Jin took another step forward, driving his arm further ahead. Lucifer Zhifeng’s body completely exploded, scattering into countless chunks of flesh that splattered everywhere, adhering to tree trunks and dyeing several massive trees crimson.

Lucifer Zhifeng, a peak Battle Soul cultivator, a dual-bloodline Demonic Warrior! The young Demonic Warrior with an infinite future, struck down by a single punch from Qian Jin! One strike! He was annihilated!

Qian Jin himself could hardly believe the result. Having only partially integrated the combat experience of his Lucifer ancestors, without it becoming completely ingrained, a single punch had detonated a powerhouse at the peak of the Battle Soul realm!

With this level of strength, he might still be unable to defeat a Half-Saint, but among those below the peak Battle Soul realm, perhaps only the few warriors beside him could contend with him?

"Decisive!" Duan Feng Burui exclaimed repeatedly, "Next time there’s an opportunity like that, let me have a go, alright?"

Qian Jin nodded slightly. Duan Feng Burui’s strength was ascending rapidly; he completely understood the desire to test his own limits. With the Instantaneous Movement Soul Domain, this young Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warrior possessed the strength to contend even against warriors stronger than himself.

"A dazzling strike!" In the quiet woods, a not-too-familiar voice reached the ears of the group. Mo Ying slowly emerged from behind a large tree.

"Eight Desolations Sword Hero."

The group immediately focused their vigilance on the newly arrived demon, ready for a death match. This was the bloodline Demonic Warrior ranked third on the Saint Ascension List.

Lucifer Serreg, ranked outside the top ten on the Saint Ascension List, was already in a Half-Saint state! Qian Jin suspected that this bloodline Demonic Warrior, ranked third on the Saint Ascension List, might have even achieved Saint Ascension! However, because he had never displayed his Saint Ascension status to any faction, he remained listed among those preparing to ascend.

Concealing one’s true strength was a common practice among many warriors and Demonic Warriors; it was a special method of self-preservation. Before battles or arena duels, the data of every warrior or demon would fall into the hands of others, subject to repeated study and calculation. This was especially true when strengths were comparable, as it made falling into a disadvantage easier. Concealing strength thus became a habit for many Demonic Warriors and warriors.

Qian Jin had not forgotten the words spoken by Lucifer Serreg when he departed. He could step into the Saint Ascension stage at any time, but he wanted to use the Heart of Lucifer to vault to an unimaginable level, which was why he had been suppressing himself.

If this situation could occur with Lucifer Serreg, it was not impossible that it could also apply to the Eight Desolations Sword Hero.

"Why so tense?" The Eight Desolations Sword Hero took a slight step back, putting a little more distance between his body and the stoic Zhen Ce. He frowned, "Your mental magic is too strange. I don't wish for a death match. Did Ba Huang Wusheng send you?"

Qian Jin couldn't sense any fighting intent from the Eight Desolations Sword Hero, but he didn't relax his vigilance. Denying anything at a moment like this would seem hollow. Though he still wore a demonic exterior, denying it wouldn't necessarily fool his opponent.

The Eight Desolations Sword Hero waved his hand, tossing out a scroll that drifted down into Qian Jin’s grasp—a map he had seen many times before and remembered vividly.

"The treasure you seek... is me." The Eight Desolations Sword Hero pointed his thumb at his own chest. "Ba Huang Wusheng sent you here just to find me. When I greeted you last time, I was testing whether you would agree to join my Eight Desolations Family."

Qian Jin looked at the Eight Desolations Sword Hero in confusion; this matter was becoming increasingly opaque.

"The old man once told me that if he ever found a demonic successor or inheritor of will, he would dispatch a demon to conduct an assessment. The final examiner would be me."

The Eight Desolations Sword Hero gently patted his chest and smiled faintly, "Originally, when you arrived at the Eight Desolations Family and entered the room to seek treasure, I should have ambushed you to see if you were qualified to be the heir. If you weren't qualified, I would have killed you, and I would have become the heir."

To be ambushed by such a demon? Qian Jin felt a strange surge of excitement, mixed with a faint sense of disappointment that the ambush hadn't occurred, yet without the slightest fear of being attacked by such a powerful opponent.

The Eight Desolations Sword Hero observed Qian Jin's expression and nodded again. "Not bad. Hearing about being ambushed by me, you aren't scared, but rather excited."

"However... you don't get the chance to be ambushed by me now." The Eight Desolations Sword Hero looked at the scattered remains of Lucifer Zhifeng nearby. "That punch you just threw has already proven you have some qualifications to be the old man's successor. However, there are issues with your future Saint Ascension. I genuinely worry the old man might run back to the Eight Desolations Family to steal a Saint Artifact to help you ascend..."

Saint Ascension wasn't achievable solely through Soul Weapons; Saint Artifacts could also help a peak Battle Soul expert ascend, though the cost of using a Saint Artifact for ascension was its shattering. While the effect of ascending via a Saint Artifact was even superior to that of a Soul Weapon, even the top bloodline families and royal houses would not extravagantly use a Saint Artifact for ascension—these items were truly finite.

Qian Jin’s eyes instinctively flickered towards Lucifer Liushui. The Demon Race's Tenth Princess quickly shielded her chest with both hands, staring warily at Qian Jin: "What are you looking at? Don't you dare lay hands on my Dark Demon Armor!"

"Dark Demon Armor? The lost Saint Artifact of the Lucifer Clan?" The Eight Desolations Sword Hero looked at Lucifer Liushui with renewed interest. "Now I'm actually a little interested in sparring with you. It's a shame you haven't fully melted down your potential yet, but I can wait."

"Alright, your trial is complete." The Eight Desolations Sword Hero waved his hand. "You can now return to the Outer Frontier at top speed."

Qian Jin observed the Eight Desolations Sword Hero, confirming that this demon ranked third on the Saint Ascension List had no intention of attacking. He quickly accelerated his pace with the others along their pre-arranged escape route: "Go get Unala."

The Eight Desolations Sword Hero walked with his hands behind his back, watching Qian Jin's retreating figure and shaking his head repeatedly. "I really want to fight him immediately! That punch had an indescribable flavor, as if everything obstructing him was fragile."

Flee! Flee! Flee!

On the lands of the Demon Race, they galloped swiftly on fast warhorses.

For two full days, Qian Jin found no obstacles, nor any news regarding the Lucifer Royal Family spreading across the Demon lands. The contest for the Heart of Lucifer that night seemed as if it had never truly occurred. If Qian Jin hadn't personally touched the Heart of Lucifer, and if the essence of the Heart of Lucifer weren't still within his body, he truly would have believed it was all just a dream.

After several more days of high-speed travel, the matters concerning the Heart of Lucifer and the infiltration of Nine-Headed Serpent bloodline warriors into the Demon Race still hadn't circulated at all across the Demon territory.

Only one piece of news, which shocked the entire Demon Race, reached Qian Jin’s ears. The Crown Prince of the Demon Race, the promising Seventh Prince Lucifer Zhenshi, and the Eighth Prince Lucifer Xingchen, ranked first on the Saint Ascension List, were missing!

Missing! The Dark Division dispatched numerous demons to search but could find no trace of the three princes. The three princes had vanished as if evaporated into thin air!

Hearing this news, Qian Jin and the others were stunned. How could this be? They had assumed that with the three great princes contending, there would surely be one victor. But now, all three were missing! Qian Jin could never have imagined that casting away one Heart of Lucifer to secure his own escape would result in the disappearance of three powerful princes!

"They probably aren't dead."

Lucifer Liushui, after confirming that the news wasn't false information circulated by the three princes acting together, relaxed the tension that had constantly gripped her nerves. She found a tavern in a modest, not-too-prosperous town, sat before a table laden with hot food, and summarized her theory: "I always have this feeling that none of the three of them have died."

Qian Jin took two sips of hot mutton soup to warm his stomach, which had been neglected these past few days, and nodded lightly, strongly agreeing with Lucifer Liushui's assessment. How could the three great princes all die? If one were missing, it would be normal, but if all three were absent... Qian Jin actually felt that none of these three demonic princes had perished!

"Whatever the outcome is..." Duan Feng Burui lay lazily on the table, stifling a yawn. "Their absence is good news; tomorrow we can leave this Demon territory and return to the relatively safe Outer Frontier."

The safe Outer Frontier? A trace of bitterness entered Qian Jin's smile. The Outer Frontier, where bloodshed and life loss occurred almost daily, now appeared as the 'safe' frontier in their eyes. Their current situation truly wasn't excellent.

"Return to the Outer Frontier..."

Lucifer Liushui, immersed in her analysis, suddenly changed expression. The rice bowl in her hand trembled slightly, and her demeanor instantly grew somber, showing no sign of joy at escaping danger.

The others, focused on their analysis, hadn't noticed Lucifer Liushui’s change in expression. After finishing a comfortable meal, they each retired to the rooms Lucifer Liushui had reserved upon entering the inn. These days of relentless, frantic flight were driven by the fear that the three princes, upon learning the news, might suddenly appear. Unexpectedly, these three most feared demonic princes had collectively vanished, prompting even His Majesty the Great Demon King to personally issue a decree searching for their whereabouts.

The benefits of absorbing the Heart of Lucifer hadn't been truly absorbed during these chaotic days of near-panic escape. Only Chekefulit, due to his unique blood relation to Lucifer, continued to improve even during their flight.

Qian Jin sat by the window, gazing at the newly risen moon. "These days, Chief Che has been constantly improving his strength. I wonder what realm he has reached now, and how far away he still is from Saint Ascension?"

Saint Ascension? Qian Jin had no doubt that Chekefulit would achieve it. Even without Lucifer Liushui's vast accumulation, it wouldn't be a major issue, especially since he now possessed such formidable foundational reserves.

Creak...

The door opened slowly without a knock. Lucifer Liushui stepped into the room without waiting for an invitation from Qian Jin, moving with a deliberate, linear pace, and gently closed the door behind her.

Thump.

The sound of the door striking the frame wasn't loud.

But at that moment, Qian Jin felt he had never heard such a forceful sound. That sound was mixed with a resolute determination—a steadfast resolve that Lucifer Liushui had never possessed before.