The night breeze carried a faint chill, and the moon hung low over lonely branches. Darkness shrouded the earth, wrapping everything in silence. Tonight was, without a doubt, a perfect night for killing.
Ling Xiao stood by the window, gazing up at the cold moon, a faint smile lingering at the corner of his lips.
"So you're saying Ye Fan knows I'm at the Spirit Sea Realm… yet he still acted disdainful?"
"Yes, Young Master. He said he… would make a move against you tonight."
Feng Jiao'er had long discarded her coquettish demeanor; her expression was grave. Ye Fan had given her an extremely dangerous feeling today. Though she had no idea what secrets he was hiding, any method capable of killing a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator must be terrifying beyond measure.
In the past, Feng Jiao'er would have been overcome with fear. But today, she had witnessed Ling Xiao casually crush a Spirit Sea Realm powerhouse to death at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Surely a mere Ye Fan wouldn't be a match for the Young Master… right?
"You've done well with this matter. This is a low-grade divine artifact—the inherited treasure of the Beast Tamer Sect. I've erased the divine consciousness on it; you just need to acknowledge it as your master."
Ling Xiao casually handed a ring-shaped spiritual treasure to Feng Jiao'er.
"Thank you, Young Master!!"
Joy burst across Feng Jiao'er's face. While divine artifacts were trivial to Ling Xiao, they were supreme fortunes for prodigies in the Northern Wilderness.
"Go back first and find Qingchan. No matter what commotion you hear later, don't let her come out."
Ling Xiao waved to dismiss Feng Jiao'er, then let the killing intent in his eyes show unreservedly. "Elder Yin."
"Young Master."
The air rippled, and Elder Yin's figure suddenly appeared in the room.
"Keep an eye on Ye Fan's movements, but don't make a move against him. For him to be confident enough to kill a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator, he must have immense faith in the trump card in his hands."
There was no panic on Ling Xiao's face—only excitement. The more astonishing Ye Fan's secrets were, the more interesting this game became. Otherwise, he could easily kill a mere Child of Destiny with a wave of his hand right now. Only the feeling of plundering destiny aura bit by bit gave him true satisfaction.
The path of a villain was truly addictive once you started down it.
"A wonderful show is about to begin tonight."
Ling Xiao closed the window, then sat back down at the table and poured himself a cup of clear wine. Silence gradually settled over the room; only the occasional chirp of insects from the courtyard kept the night from feeling too desolate.
Meanwhile, after leaving Ling Xiao's room, Feng Jiao'er went straight to Ye Qingchan's quarters.
"Miss Qingchan, the Young Master sent me here."
Feng Jiao'er stood at Ye Qingchan's door. The humble flattery was gone from her face, replaced by a haughty expression. She was originally the Saintess of the Qianmei Sect—one of the Eight Great Sects. By rights, her status in the Northern Wilderness was even higher than Ye Qingchan's. Even her cultivation had long since reached the Awakened Spirit Realm.
Though Ye Qingchan was recognized as the most beautiful woman in the Northern Wilderness, Feng Jiao'er thought little of her. Ye Qingchan had simply been lucky enough to win the Young Master's favor. But as a woman, Feng Jiao'er was certain she understood men better. Over the years, countless Northern Wilderness prodigies had fallen at her feet—most of them throwing themselves at her voluntarily.
Feng Jiao'er believed that as long as she could stay by the Young Master's side, she would eventually replace Ye Qingchan and win his exclusive favor.
"The Young Master sent you?"
Ye Qingchan's delicate brows furrowed. When she saw the arrogance on Feng Jiao'er's face, a dark glint flashed in her eyes.
"What did the Young Master send you for?"
"To keep you company."
Feng Jiao'er didn't explain further. She pushed open the door and walked in.
"W-Where did you go earlier?"
Ye Qingchan frowned, her voice turning cold.
"I was doing something for the Young Master."
Feng Jiao'er shot Ye Qingchan a triumphant glance—and sure enough, she saw a flicker of disappointment in Ye Qingchan's eyes.
"Oh."
"Aren't you curious what the Young Master asked me to do?"
"What was it?"
"The Young Master told me not to say."
"You!!"
Ye Qingchan fumed with anger, but she didn't dare fall out with Feng Jiao'er. After all, Feng Jiao'er would never dare to provoke her in the Young Master's name without reason. She must have truly helped the Young Master accomplish something important and gained his approval.
At the thought, a sudden sense of loss washed over Ye Qingchan. Though Ling Xiao often whispered sweet nothings to her, he had never asked her to do anything for him. Yet Feng Jiao'er, who had only been with the Young Master for a few days, had already earned his trust. If this continued, she feared Feng Jiao'er would eventually push her aside and take her place by the Young Master's side.
At the same time, in Ye Fan's small courtyard:
Faint dark auras emanated from the thatched hut, then vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.
Ye Fan stood in a strange, pitch-black space, his expression twisted into a 狰狞 grin. What was truly terrifying was that his eyes had turned completely black—no whites, no emotion, cold as a demon emerging from the depths of the Underworld.
From the far end of this eerie space, the clink of chains could be heard from time to time, sending chills down one's spine.
"The Eight Desolations Glazed Pagoda suppresses only the most terrifying demons of Shengzhou. Right now, I can only open its first layer… but that should be enough to deal with a mere Spirit Sea Realm cultivator."
Ye Fan took a deep breath, then walked toward the source of the chain sounds.
"Tap, tap, tap."
The darkness seemed endless; everywhere he looked, there was only black. Until…
Two scarlet lights suddenly lit up in the distance. Ye Fan finally stopped in his tracks.
"Demon, we meet again."
"Roar!!"
A furious howl erupted from the direction of the scarlet lights. Immediately after, a massive dark shadow lunged toward him from the distance. A towering stench of blood swept through the entire space, making one's instinct scream to flee.
"I'll give you a chance," Ye Fan said, his face showing no fear—only a smile. "Do this for me, and I'll set you free."
"Clang!"
The clinking of chains suddenly ceased.
In the darkness, the terrifying, ferocious figure gradually revealed itself—it was a giant ape covered in black fur. An ancient demon ape, a born demonic creature that had long vanished from Shengzhou. No one could have imagined there would be one here!
Its hands and feet were bound by enormous chains, each as thick as a man's waist, glowing with flame-like runes that exuded a violent aura. And those two scarlet points were the demon ape's eyes!
"I know you can understand me," Ye Fan looked up at the figure, which towered over him by dozens of feet. A black pagoda in his hand began to glow faintly. "Are you interested in making a deal with me?"
The demon ape seemed to fear Ye Fan—or rather, the black pagoda in his hand. It took an involuntary step back.
"I'll undo two of your seals and let your soul go out to help me kill a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator," Ye Fan sneered, and the black light in his eyes flared suddenly. "Then I'll set you free."