(Heading out today, releasing this noon update early—) (Seriously, no recommendations or bookmarks at all...? Brothers, cast your votes!)

“Senior Brother Miao, how does it feel?”

Watching Miao Yuchun writhe in agony on the ground, Feng Zikang felt not a shred of pity. He slowly walked to his side, crouched down, and asked softly. “Junior Brother Feng! Save me! Save me!”

Miao Yuchun felt as if his body was tearing apart; the searing pain of the demonic fire consuming his soul was unbearable to anyone. He clutched Feng Zikang’s sleeve, weeping and begging for mercy.

“You brought this upon yourself. I cannot save you—however, if you honestly confess the truth of how you harmed me back then, I might ease some of your suffering!” “Junior Brother Feng, it wasn't me who harmed you back then! This was all ordered by Eldest Senior Brother. He wanted his own younger brother to inherit the direct lineage of the Little Bamboo Grove, but unexpectedly, Martial Uncle Ye chose you. That’s why he sent me to harm you. Please spare me!” Miao Yuchun screamed in agony. Feng Zikang didn’t even need to press him; the confessions tumbled out of him like beans from a bamboo tube. “Eldest Senior Brother?”

A mysterious, enigmatic smile bloomed on Feng Zikang’s face. The so-called Eldest Senior Brother was Liang Sian, the foremost disciple of General Lu of Sunset Peak, the main lineage of Longhu Mountain’s Elder Branch. Among the third-generation disciples, he was the oldest and possessed the highest cultivation, having recently achieved Foundation Establishment.

He was heralded as the rising star of the Military School at Longhu Mountain. During the inner disciple selection six years ago, the successor of the Little Bamboo Grove was the final position reserved for a direct lineage disciple. Yet, Ye Tiansheng was notoriously lazy and would only accept one apprentice. Liang Sian’s younger brother had finally managed to transfer from the outer sect to the inner sect. Naturally, his elder brother aimed for him to secure that direct lineage spot in the Little Bamboo Grove. To achieve this, he spared no effort, even asking General Lu to intercede.

Who knew that Ye Tiansheng arrived only briefly on the day of the sect’s disciple selection, quickly picked the then-simpleton, and just as quickly departed? General Lu, the head of a peak, was busy with other matters and never even had a chance to speak. When the simpleton first entered the Longhu Mountain inner sect, he was withdrawn and spoke to no one, only recalling being picked up by some envoy as a small beggar—having zero background and no connections.

Eldest Senior Brother Liang Sian, hearing that Ye Tiansheng was entering seclusion, conceived the murderous intent. Miao Yuchun had received his direct disciple status with Liang Sian’s help;

he was part of their faction, and by nature, not benevolent. When the Eldest Senior Brother gave the order, he executed it without a second thought. However, at the time, he was only a child in his early teens and lacked sophisticated means.

All he could do was push the simpleton into the pond, intending to drown him.

Unexpectedly, the boy was lucky and was rescued by a passing sect elder. Later, he developed a fever that damaged his brain.

When Ye Tiansheng emerged from seclusion, he felt immensely guilty, becoming inseparable from this apprentice, thus eliminating any further chance to strike. Since the boy was now simpleminded, Ye Tiansheng would inevitably select another successor for the Little Bamboo Grove during the sect's ten-year major selection. Liang Sian had let the matter drop.

Who could have predicted that Feng Zikang would recover? Although Liang Sian was still in seclusion and unaware of this development, Miao Yuchun, who had been involved from the start, found his mind stirring with possibilities.

“So that’s how it was.” Feng Zikang scoffed dismissively. Even so-called righteous sects harbored such despicable secrets. How were they any better than the demonic path? Recalling the moment the sharp sword pierced his flesh, he found the self-righteous pronouncements of those monks and Daoists laughable. “Senior Brother Miao explained it clearly, so I won’t impose the pain of this demonic fire upon you any longer…”

He lightly placed his hand on Miao Yuchun’s forehead. “Thank you, Junior Brother. From now on, this life of mine belongs to you. Whatever you ask me to do, I dare not—Ah!” Miao Yuchun, with tears and snot streaming down his face, was in the midst of profusely thanking him when he suddenly emitted another piercing shriek—this was the last sound he would ever make in this world. The body under Feng Zikang’s touch withered rapidly. The young man’s features morphed, revealing wrinkles as dense as a spiderweb.

In a short while, Miao Yuchun’s entire torso shrank and desiccated, expiring amidst a scream. Concurrently, the somewhat sluggish demonic seed within Feng Zikang began to flicker once more.

“Hmph!” With his foe extinguished, Feng Zikang finally revealed a face colored with fatigue and decay. A thread of blood once again seeped from the corner of his mouth. This was different from the feigned injury when facing the Ghost General earlier.

Although that blow hadn't been minor, the subsequent backlash from the demonic seed this time was far more severe. Although Feng Zikang’s demonic seed was established, luring out the inner demon of the Qi-Induction Layer Four Miao Yuchun was no simple feat. The Formless Heavenly Demon Avatar had to sacrifice and injure itself, exchanging its own annihilation for Miao Yuchun’s demon heart explosion. He suffered a considerable wound, and even after absorbing a significant amount of Miao Yuchun’s vital essence and blood, recovery was minimal.

“It seems that dealing with others in the future will require my own cultivation to be sufficient…” Feng Zikang gave a bitter smile. “Fortunately, as for Eldest Senior Brother Liang, I have already found a suitable candidate to deal with you…” It appeared that confronting the Foundation Establishment cultivator Liang Sian directly would be too much to ask. However, he had prepared a tool, and he was confident that this Senior Brother Liang would receive a surprise soon enough! He let out a few cold laughs, then picked up Miao Yuchun’s storage pouch and the Blazing Sun Axe. Based on the current haul, today’s risky endeavor was certainly worthwhile. A low-grade but powerful weapon like the Blazing Sun Axe was an invaluable treasure for a cultivator in the Qi Induction stage. Before reaching Foundation Establishment, one could not activate a natal weapon or magic treasure; at best, they could only use consumable talismans. A powerful low-grade weapon could boost one’s combat power by two full tiers. Although this item was too conspicuous for Feng Zikang to use openly at Longhu Mountain, fencing it elsewhere would bring considerable profit. Inside Miao Yuchun’s storage pouch was, naturally, the Soul Fire Orb he had just acquired, along with the cultivation method for the Blazing Fire Cleaving divine ability, several bottles of spirit-replenishing and wound-healing elixirs, dozens of spirit stones, and various talismans. Though all were low-grade, they were perfectly suited for when Feng Zikang reached the third layer of Qi Induction. Feng Zikang, making no pretense of modesty, swiftly transferred everything into his own storage pouch.

Miao Yuchun’s corpse could not simply be left lying around. Fortunately, Feng Zikang had prepared in advance. He took out a jade urn from the storage pouch and placed the body of the Qi-Induction Layer Four disciple inside.

Later, he would use secret demonic methods to refine the bones and extract the pure essence. Having tidied up, Feng Zikang then sat cross-legged, carefully wiping away any trace of Miao Yuchun’s existence. Only then did he affix the Amulet of Evil Warding and slowly began regulating his breath. No one would ever suspect he possessed the ability to eliminate a Senior Brother at Qi-Induction Layer Four.

Therefore, Miao Yuchun’s disappearance would certainly have nothing to do with him. The Military School had always been devoid of compassion; the weak were naturally eliminated. For a low-ranking Military School disciple to disappear in the peril-ridden General’s Tomb, even if he were a direct lineage heir, what strangeness was there in that? Feng Zikang closed his eyes and smiled. Although the cost was steep, he was highly satisfied with this operation. “Eh?”

He suddenly opened his eyes. In this desolate wilderness, he heard the faint sound of footsteps again—coming from a distance, heading directly toward the depths of the General’s Tomb. Someone was approaching!