It was evening again, deep within the Blood Valley. A staggering figure sprinted across the desolate plain of the valley, heading toward the Corpse Demon Mountain.

Clad in a black silk robe, utterly stained with blood, the face was entirely obscured by a swirling mass of black mist. Even in motion, the figure was ethereally quick.

Suddenly, the movement ceased. The cloaked figure abruptly turned its gaze toward the distance. About a hundred zhang away, a bracelet lay quietly nestled in the grass.

Faintly, one could actually hear sounds of howling and weeping emanating from within the circlet.

The eyes within the black mist registered a moment of sharp surprise and uncertainty. After a brief hesitation, the figure surged forward with renewed haste, snatching the bracelet into hand.

The object immediately began to shake and struggle, as if trying to break free of the grip. The black-robed figure merely let out a cold laugh, allowing a single drop of blood to fall onto the bracelet. Then, it resumed its sprint, its form swiftly vanishing into the massive mountain ahead.

Moments after the figure departed, a speck of golden light also shot in from afar. It hovered suspended in the void high above the spot.

It was revealed to be a magnificent and extraordinary flying sword, blazing with golden light. The entire body was crafted from gold, further inlaid with countless gems, dazzling to the extreme.

The figure upon the sword appeared slightly stout. Clad in a golden robe woven from fine strands of gold thread, the man possessed large, pendulous ears adorned with a total of six glittering, gem-encrusted earrings. A pure white jade belt cinched his waist, and his ten fingers were laden with ten jeweled rings.

Like the sword beneath him, everything about him shimmered with gold, radiating an overwhelming sense of opulence.

Gazing toward the direction of the Corpse Demon Mountain, the stout man in gold first displayed reluctance and unwillingness, before finally letting out a cold sneer.

“Lucky for you, escaping into the Corpse Demon Mountain. To slip away from Jin Buhui truly takes some skill. I only hope we never cross paths again—”

With a majestic snort, Jin Buhui was about to command his sword to depart. Suddenly, his senses stirred, and he looked hundreds of miles away.

“Such potent Yin energy there, with clouds and mist converging and refusing to disperse—it suggests an ominous entity. Strange, the beings within the Corpse Demon Mountain should not yet be emerging.”

Almost without hesitation, he transformed into a streak of golden light and sped toward where the black mist churned. In an instant, he traversed ten miles. In barely the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he arrived atop a mountain peak.

Then, standing upon the golden sword, Jin Buhui immediately sucked in a sharp breath.

“Nine Yin Ultimate Veins—how is this possible? Nine Yin veins converging near the Corpse Demon Mountain? No wonder the Yin force here is so immense. Resentment is rising—could a vengeful spirit or malevolent corpse be here? Why is the situation so bizarre—”

He quickly surveyed the surroundings, and within moments, he located the source of the strange phenomena.

“The tomb of Senior Sister Gong Xinran. Blood markings appearing on the stele, and such heavy resentment—she must have endured an unspeakably tragic fate before death. Wait, something seems amiss here too. And the talisman array outside is also very peculiar!”

After scrutinizing for a moment, Jin Buhui’s lips twisted violently before he could no longer restrain himself and burst into a curse.

“Which bastard did this? The resentment was clearly dispersed, yet they insisted on burying her in this Nine Yin Death Ground! This makes the woman’s resentment seem both present and absent. And this talisman array—from which Spirit Master’s lineage did this come? A perfectly good Bright Light Evil Dispelling Array has been drawn like this. Dispelling evil has been turned into gathering evil, Bright Light switched to Nether Moon—do you truly wish to drive out evil, or refine a Nine Yin Spirit Corpse? How on earth did your master teach you—you are truly one bizarre anomaly! Hmph, I can even discern several Yin veins beneath. But if you hadn't drawn this array, none of this would have happened, right? No! Nether Moon gathering evil, combined with these Nine Yin Ultimate Veins, and a body whose death wishes are fulfilled but whose resentment lingers—this clearly forms a Heavenly Corpse configuration, specifically the rebirth of a Nine Yin Nether Maiden. Damnation, I’ve never even heard of such a thing—”

Murmuring under his breath, Jin Buhui’s face became covered in dense, cold sweat, his complexion shifting to a mottled blue-white.

He abruptly urged his golden sword forward, only to see countless bolts of lightning exploding and flashing in the clouds. The black mists gradually coalesced, seeming to form a human silhouette within.

And Jin Buhui’s sweat now poured like a waterfall, ceaseless. The golden sword dared not advance even an inch!

This array, this tomb, and this configuration of nine converging Yin energies—he could not, and dared not, breach it!

After a moment of hesitation, the stout man in gold decisively retracted his sword. With a light chuckle, he waved his sleeve, turned, and departed without disturbing a single cloud.

“Forget it! Since the rebirth of this Nine Yin Nether Maiden requires another nine years, and driving out evil is not my specialty, Jin Buhui, why risk my life for it? I’ll wait and invite some tonsured monks or Daoist priests later. However, the one who set up this situation—if I ever get the chance, I truly must meet them—”

The veins in his hands suddenly bulged, and the blood vessels in his neck instantly swelled several times over.

“—I truly want to slaughter him right now!”

※※※※

At the gate of Cloud Saint City, Zong Shou suddenly felt a chill run through his body, as if a powerful killing intent had pierced through the air and struck him.

Raising an eyebrow slightly, he glanced around, then dismissed the feeling entirely. There were simply too many people harboring murderous intentions toward him; it wasn't worth worrying about.

He and Chu Xue had disguised themselves when leaving the city, and they had altered their appearance again upon entering.

However, the Shadow-Lurking Lion could not be brought into the city. Fortunately, the beast excelled at stealth and concealment. Kept a distance from the city, there was no worry of detection.

Moreover, with its Fourth-Tier strength, even a Martial Master of the Innate realm would have difficulty harming it.

Taking advantage of the night, they returned to the lodging arranged by the City Lord of Cloud Saint City. As Zong Shou entered through the back door, he saw Yin Yang standing in a horse stance in the small courtyard. His body was rhythmically twisting, and his bones emitted crisp cracking sounds, like soybeans frying.

Yet, there was a trace of worry and helplessness etched on his face.

Zong Shou’s eyes brightened slightly, conveying hidden approval: “Excellent! Even having reached the Innate realm, you have not forgotten the foundations. Practicing diligently like Uncle Yin, you are certain to reach the Heavenly Rank in the future—”

Yin Yang looked slightly surprised, then his eyes shone with joy as he concluded his stance and walked over. After bowing deeply, he closely examined Zong Shou.

He saw that Zong Shou’s aura was exceedingly restrained, identical to an ordinary person, making it impossible to gauge his true strength. His voice carried curiosity: “Young Master, has the matter in the Blood Valley been concluded? Is the Thunder Luan Egg truly in the Corpse Demon Mountain? I truly shouldn't have agreed to the Young Master’s plan back then; Yin Yang should have followed you!”

“I spent so long researching this matter—how could I be wrong? Besides, if you had left, those people would have most likely guessed I was not here!”

Zong Shou had no intention of keeping secrets. Seeing Yin Yang’s face filled with surprise yet residual disbelief, he couldn't help but smile softly. Just as he was about to speak of his cultivation progress, his brow suddenly twitched, and he looked ahead: “Uncle Yin, is there someone in that living room?”

Yin Yang’s spirit immediately lifted; being able to sense the situation in the living room meant he was at least at the level of a Secret Martial Master.

A moment later, his face was once again etched with difficulty: “Miss Yi Ren has come looking for the Young Master here three times these past two days. I tried every means to put her off, saying the Young Master was at the City Lord’s Mansion, which managed to placate her before. But this time, she refuses to leave under any circumstances, seemingly determined to see the Young Master—”

Zong Shou realized with sudden clarity—the person in the living room was his fiancée.