"No... don't..." Jia Yunxin never imagined such a fate awaited her. In this peril, she was suddenly overwhelmed by the memory of how blissful her life had been under the care of her three elder brothers. In that instant, all she truly wished for was to go home, to return to Desolate Bone City. "Big Brother... Third Brother... Ye..."

The Ghoul Mother of Infants grinned, pressing the fishbone stiletto against Yunxin's fair cheek. The slightest movement of the blade sent a flash of cold light reflecting in her eyes. "What's wrong? Missing home now? It seems you haven't fully seen the darkness in people's hearts. Didn't you willingly enter the Murkwater River yourself? If there wasn't hatred in your heart, how would you ever encounter me?"

"No, I want to go back, I want to go back..." Jia Yunxin trembled with fear. She glanced sideways at the stiletto; it wasn't clean, still bearing traces of kelp and leaves. "Let me go back, please, let me go back..."

The Ghoul Mother of Infants, expressionless, yanked hard on Jia Yunxin's long hair and roared viciously, "It seems you aren't desperate enough yet. How about a wager? Let's see what those so-called relatives of yours are willing to do for you?"

Jia Yunxin shook her head, tears welling but refusing to fall. Now that she was in the clutches of this mysterious, monstrous woman, there was nothing she could do. She hadn't completely given up hope in her clan; she certainly believed in her family. Although Big Brother Jia Ye was dead, there were still Second Brother and Third Brother, and they would surely love and protect her.

...

In Desolate Bone City after the ravages of war, the poisonous fog was gradually dissipating. The Second Sect Master, Jia Nan, returned to the Celestial Ladder Pavilion with the majority of the remaining forces. He surveyed everything beneath the towering structure: starvation, bloodstains, and clansmen disfigured by the toxic mist. "Issue a decree: search for the bones of our people. I believe there are survivors within the city."

"Yes." Since Jia Ye had ceded authority, Jia Nan controlled nearly all the military power in Desolate Bone City, with his confidantes spread throughout. "But the First Sect Master is missing. We have already sent people out to search."

"Search, hmm..." Jia Nan's gaze was vacant, but his heart churned violently. The so-called First Sect Master had found his rest in the world, gravely wounded by his own Heaven Bone Sword Art, his very bones shattered beyond recovery. "We must remember this generation's hatred. The Ferocious Beast Sect cannot be forgiven, but the most venomous are those from the Demon Insect Sect. Blood debt will be paid; one day I will cleanse the Demon Insect Sect with blood."

The surrounding Bone Sect warriors took this to heart, clenching their fists. Seeing their comrades and family killed unjustly, their grief was immeasurable, yet with the First Sect Master missing, where did their hope lie? Were they to place it all upon Second Sect Master Jia Nan?

"Report..." At that moment, a soldier clad in red tumbled before Jia Nan, covered in blood, tears streaming from his eyes. "Reporting to the Second Sect Master, the First Sect Master, the First Sect Master he..."

Jia Nan's heart tightened. Certain that Jia Ye had died by his own sword, the only possibility was that these men had found Jia Ye's corpse. "Speak slowly. My elder brother... what about him?"

"In the Burial Forest outside the city, we found... we found the body of the First Sect Master!" As the soldier spoke, he immediately prostrated himself. Those around him, hearing the devastating news, also bowed their heads. Their Sect Master, who governed with virtue, had perished in this conflict.

Left Prime Minister Hou, who had accompanied Jia Ye for many years, could not maintain his composure upon hearing this news. He grabbed the soldier's collar and roared, "Bastard, did you confirm this? If you spread false reports, I can have you executed at any moment."

"It is absolutely true, Lord Prime Minister Hou." The soldier's eyes were wet with tears; he dared not speak falsely. Beneath the Burial Forest outside the city truly lay Jia Ye's remains—there was no mistake. "Second Sect Master!"

"Big Brother!" Jia Nan clenched his fist and slammed it fiercely onto the railing of the Celestial Ladder Pavilion. He forced down the elation surging within him and darkened his expression. "Damn the Corpse Demon Forest people! Issue an order: find Yan Shangcheng!"

"Yan Shangcheng killed the First Sect Master!" Left Prime Minister Hou thought carefully. That man was indeed the assassin who had targeted Jia Ye; only he could have done such a thing. "But Second Sect Master, the Third Sect Master's whereabouts are unknown, as is Princess Yunxin. Should we organize forces to search for them?"

"Can the matters of the state be delayed for the sake of siblings?" Jia Nan’s mind was preoccupied with the Raging Meridian Heavenly Pivot within Yan Shangcheng, who had vanished without a trace during the chaos. He quickly reconsidered: neither Jialuoluo nor Yunxin was the focus of his plans. "Big Brother is dead. Everything in Desolate Bone City follows my command. The urgent task is to reorganize the military, find the murderer Yan Shangcheng, and I will lead the Bone Sect army to raze the Corpse Demon Forest!"

"This..." Left Prime Minister Hou hesitated. However, since Jia Ye was dead, his true superior naturally became Jia Nan. He looked at the shared look of righteous anger among the surrounding soldiers and could only firmly state, "Yes, Sect Master!"

By the shores of Renzi Lake, Jialuoluo was hidden with a small contingent of troops. Occasionally, a scout would report that the Second Sect Master Jia Nan had returned to Desolate Bone City, causing ripples in Jialuoluo's heart. "Second Brother returned to the city with the main force. What news is there of Big Brother?"

Jiu Liansheng, responsible for reorganizing the military affairs, had already heard all the reports. He soothed Jialuoluo with a grim tone, "I heard the First Sect Master is dead."

"What? Big Brother he..." Jialuoluo was deeply shaken, but he was also a steady person. He turned and glared at Jiu Liansheng, demanding, "Who did it? Who could possibly kill Big Brother?"

"News from the city has arrived; it seems to be that Yan Shangcheng!" Jiu Liansheng sounded confused. Logically, Jialuoluo should have been agitated by such news. "Third Sect Master, should we return to Desolate Bone City and rendezvous with Second Sect Master?"

"Rendezvous?" Jialuoluo suddenly conceived a plan, abandoning his usual humble demeanor. He became overbearing. "Since Big Brother is dead, Second Brother has naturally assumed control of the entire Bone Sect in Desolate Bone City. What would we do if we went back? Bring the handful of men we have to him?"

Jiu Liansheng understood Jialuoluo's thoughts, but this small force alone could not achieve anything great. "The soldiers cannot keep hiding in the mountains forever. Not only are there the wounded and sick, but we haven't even solved the food problem!"

"Leave the food problem to us, wahahaha!" Suddenly, a group of beasts leaped high from the valley. They had been lying in ambush, waiting for Jialuoluo's men to run out of provisions before launching their attack. "If you all die, you won't need to eat, wahahaha!"

"Aiyaa..." The Bone Sect soldiers were running for their lives, caught in another ambush, naturally suffering heavy casualties. They utilized their Bone Control abilities to desperately resist, but the Ferocious Beast Sect members were well-prepared and held a significant advantage in sheer physique. After back and forth, the entire contingent only had the option to flee.

"Not good, Third Sect Master, we must go!" Jiu Liansheng shielded Jialuoluo, his white bone sword slicing out, catching the attacking Ferocious Beast Sect members off guard. "How many men does the Ferocious Beast Sect have? Many were killed by the Demon Insect Sect in the previous battle for Desolate Bone City, yet they still possess such fighting power?"

Jialuoluo was furious. Seeing a fierce tiger approaching, he drew his personal accessory and slashed out. Under the light that illuminated the surroundings, every beast in a straight line was instantly decapitated. "Damn things! Does the Beast Elder want to wipe me out completely?"

"Yaa, yaa..." The Bone Sect members, seeing their Third Sect Master's strength, seemed to have found a savior. They scrambled out of their forest hideout and gathered behind Jialuoluo. "Third Sect Master, we should flee. The strength of the Ferocious Beasts is too great."

Jialuoluo gripped his long sword tightly, knowing this was a perfect opportunity to win the loyalty of his men. He spoke into the wind, "Soldiers, this is our last hope. The Ferocious Beast Sect men killed our elders and kin, and now they seek to slaughter us. We cannot flee! I will fight back, and they must pay a terrible price!"

"A terrible price!" The Beast Elder descended from the sky, holding an iron staff. He swung the staff, controlling the wind and sand to sweep across the land. The raging sand whipped against the faces of the Bone Sect men, leaving wounds. "Third Sect Master, do you still insist on futile resistance?"

Jialuoluo activated his Heaven Bone Sword Art and flew towards the Beast Elder. His cultivation was high, and his movements swift; no matter how fierce the sandstorm, it could not harm a single hair on his head. "I didn't expect an Elder from the Ferocious Beast Sect to personally come to exterminate me. Jialuoluo is truly honored."

"Why doesn't the Third Sect Master end things himself!" The Beast Elder brought his iron staff crashing down, attempting to smash Jialuoluo into the earth. Who knew that Jialuoluo's power was astonishing? That seemingly light bone sword actually absorbed the force of his formidable staff. "What..."

Jialuoluo swept his sword upwards, pushing the Beast Elder back. He channeled his Heaven Bone Sword Art, unleashing killing intent in all directions, sweeping the charging Ferocious Beast men to the ground. "I told you, the Ferocious Beast Sect will pay a terrible price."

"Heaven Bone Sword Art..." The Beast Elder had only heard rumors that the Bone Sect's Third Sect Master was untalented and unscholarly. Who could have imagined this man's strength was in no way inferior to Jia Nan's? He sucked in a sharp breath and retreated to the ground. "Third Sect Master conceals his strength well. It seems your Second Brother Jia Nan was correct; sooner or later, you will be his obstacle. Therefore, you must die now!"

"What did you say!" Jialuoluo's nerves tightened; he understood the implication of the Beast Elder's words immediately. "Are you saying my Second Brother is connected to you?"

"Ferocious Beast Formation!" The Beast Elder waved his hands, and instantly all the ferocious beasts crawled out of the woods, charging forward with savage looks in their eyes, bones of Bone Sect members dangling from their mouths. "Jia Nan ordered me to take your life. So, you cannot blame us for any of this; you can only blame having a Second Brother who is too cold-blooded. Attack!"

"Swish, swish, swish..." The Ferocious Beast Sect men obeyed the Beast Elder's command, moving with incredible speed, slashing back and forth within the Bone Sect ranks. After several entanglements, the Bone Sect members, already frightened like startled birds, suffered countless casualties, and the entire group's fighting strength plummeted once more.

Jiu Liansheng, his bone sword vibrating around him, tried to rush to the aid of the other soldiers, but there were too many Ferocious Beast Sect members. As soon as he moved, he was trapped by dozens of wild beasts. Although his sharp sword gave him an advantage, he could not break free, struggling like a trapped animal. "Third Sect Master, be careful!"

Jialuoluo only knew his Second Brother was resolute and upright; how could he have known he would collude with the Ferocious Beast Sect? Thinking of this, he suspected Big Brother’s life had likely been plotted by Second Brother Jia Nan. Burning with rage, he charged his sword straight at the Beast Elder. "Is everything you said true?"

"You can confront Jia Nan face to face." The Beast Elder defended against Jialuoluo's fierce assault. He knew he was no match for Jialuoluo and didn't press the attack; psychological warfare was paramount now. "Third Sect Master, rather than fighting endlessly with me here, why not look at the army under your command? Aren't those men worth saving?"

Jialuoluo unleashed the ultimate move of the Heaven Bone Sword Art, driving the Beast Elder to have nowhere to hide. However, behind him, apart from Jiu Liansheng and a few soldiers who could protect themselves, everyone else was being devoured by the ferocious beasts. In a fit of rage, he charged back into the crowd, intending to save them. "Everyone, run! Leave this to me!"

Jiu Liansheng saw Jialuoluo plunge into the enemy formation and tried desperately to protect him, but the Ferocious Beast Sect men showed no fear of death. Their style of attack prevented him from finding space to escape either. He shouted loudly, "Find a chance and run! Everyone, don't get bogged down in the fight."