A Complete Mess

Without even having time to think about why they had been exposed, the intelligence team leader immediately organized all the agents to pack up their belongings.

As one of the information processing centers where Human Race spies gather intelligence on the Demon Race, there are too many shady things happening here.

The leakage of any of these core secrets would be a loss for the entire Human Race.

Therefore, nothing within the stronghold must be revealed; they must dispose of all traces of the stronghold's existence before leaving.

While the Human Race spies were busy with the cleanup work of their evacuation, the same thing was happening in another place.

Passing through thick stone slabs and over a complex network of sewer pipes, many creatures lurk even deeper in the soil.

"Hurry up! Everyone hurry up!! Those racist lunatics from Red Crane Orchid are coming!"

This is a hidden spy planted by the Beastfolk within Qiongfang City, and also one of their important intelligence relay stations.

At this moment, many cave-dwelling Beastfolk are busily moving about in the underground transfer station.

They were in a hurry because this hidden stronghold had been exposed to the Red Crane Orchid Organization, which advocated the supremacy of the Demon Race.

A bamboo rat, carrying a stack of documents, began to complain as it walked.

"So why do we still get exposed even underground?! It's so annoying!"

Are you even going to leave any way for wage earners to survive?!

He carried the documents in his hand to the incineration room to burn them, and then took the rest of the items to the nearby disposal area for destruction.

After completing the entire process, he didn't have time to rest for a moment and turned around to run towards the next room.

There are many other low-level Beastfolk as busy as bamboo rats, but mid- to high-level Beastfolk are nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, everyone wanted to finish everything quickly so they could evacuate before the enemy arrived.

"Bang!"

The attack came earlier than expected, and a single blow that shattered the ground and soil buried dozens of passing Beastfolk.

The newcomer wore a simple, deep purple mask, and his white hair shone brightly in the falling sunlight.

Behind him, two pairs of wings whipped up a fierce wind, keeping dust and dirt at bay.

With a flap of its wings, the sharp feathers instantly pierced through the soil and rocks.

"Caw! It's Demon Race! Everyone, retreat!"

Shisui ignored the weak, low-level Beastfolk and charged straight towards the archives room with Radiant Feathers.

Wherever it passed, it left behind only splashes of crimson, as well as huge cracks and ravines.

Shisui only uses the Ukaku to move, thus pretending to be a demon with flying Beastfolk blood.

The traces left behind can be used to gather intelligence while simultaneously framing the Demon Race.

The Beastfolk and Demon Race have a long-standing feud. The Beastfolk despise the Demon Race for their betrayal, Demon Race hate the Beastfolk for their past enslavement and oppression.

Whenever a serious incident occurs, the first thing they think of is the other side.

Add to that his "appearance"—those two pairs of wings—and anyone who comes along will think he's Demon Race.

In short, after looting the Beastfolk stronghold, Shisui swaggered away.

Before leaving, he left behind the "Red Crane Orchid" badge, as was his custom.

When the Human Race and Beastfolk reinforcements arrived at the ruins of their respective strongholds, they both found the badge lying openly in the middle of the road.

Now, the blame has been pinned on the Demon Race clan's force Red Crane Orchid.

Even knowing that this behavior of leaving badges is most likely being deliberately misled.

But the two tribes, having nowhere to vent their anger, didn't care about such things.

Red Crane Orchid is neither an official organization nor a powerful force.

So what if I use you as a punching bag!

Thus, the human and beast races, along with Red Crane Orchid, simultaneously targeted the Demon Race's high-ranking members while also engaging in mutual combat.

No, it's not really an internal conflict. After all, all three parties are essentially acting in their own self-interest. At most, they are fellow travelers, and they can't even be called allies.

This is common knowledge, but that's not the point. The point is that the Demon Race's higher-ups are not passively taking hits.

Then, unsurprisingly, the chaos escalated.

When all the strongholds of the various factions became popular tourist attractions, the residents of the city really started to feel a bit like they were living in Bengbu.

Dude, can you guys stop fighting?

Now look what's happened! Everyone's indifferent to the lives of ordinary people, and in the end, the civilians are the ones who suffer the most casualties.

As a result, the city's residents also went mad.

More frequent explosions began, and even ordinary people took to the streets to loot and vandalize, personally participating in the unrest.

The entire city was in complete chaos.

Shisui leaped between rooftops, Ukaku maintained optical cloaking and spatial folding, allowing him to swagger through the sunlight.

He looked down at the Mountain Qiongfang engulfed in flames with satisfaction, and then, following the mountain's contours upwards, he saw the nobles' residences.

The exquisite wooden box embedded in the mountain remains quiet and aloof, as if isolated from the world.

There's no need to add more firewood to the civilian area; letting the fire spread upwards from below is too slow.

Shisui thought to himself, licked the corner of his mouth, revealing a few gleaming white teeth.

Unfortunately, I've never been one to savor appetizers.

He looked up at the sky, judged the time, and after a moment, put on his hood, landed lightly, and prepared to finish work early for the day.

But while passing through a secluded alley, he encountered a robber from the Demon Race.

That's right, he, a mere early- Ninth Realm Yellow Realm cultivator, encountered a robber so weak that he couldn't even sense his own level.

"You see everything when you live long enough."

With lightning speed, Bikaku pierced through the head of the middle-aged Demon Race in front of him, splashing bright red water stains on the road.

"Come out!"

He withdrew his hand, turned around and looked at the corner not far behind him, his aura suddenly becoming fierce.

A moment later, a young Human Race stepped forward. He appeared calm and collected, but his slightly trembling hands betrayed his unease.

Shisui frowned. The newcomer was a member of the Human Race Delegation, which meant that he couldn't kill him for the time being.

The delegation represents the face of the Human Race and is required to participate. Killing another member in a short period of time could easily enrage the Human Race high command.

At this stage, he only wants to stir up trouble. If he angers the Human Race high command, they will send Heaven Realm experts directly, and he will surely die.

"Sir, I am Lin Shunan, Human Race Delegation. I mean no harm."

Lin Shunan forced a smile. The other man's dark hood resembled the entrance to a bottomless hell, and just standing there gave Lin Shunan goosebumps.

Not to mention its seemingly leisurely swaying slender tail, which appears a deep dark red in the light, like a blood-soaked vine, twisted and eerie.

He recognized the person by the tail behind them.

Eight-Tailed Owl - The most wanted person on the Human Race's most wanted list.

Strangely, he felt more excitement than fear at that moment.

The aura that sent shivers down his spine awakened his talent, causing his blood to heat up and begin to circulate rapidly.

This means that if the other person's talent is rated higher than his, it could potentially help him advance his talent level.

The malice permeating the air scraped against his skin, causing a phantom pain. Lin Shunan mustered his courage and took the initiative to start a conversation.

"You must be the Eight-Tailed Owl. I won't reveal your identity and would like to make a deal with you."

He was gambling that the other side wouldn't kill the delegation members a second time in a short period of time.

After all, their team's reporter from the Third Realms had escaped unscathed, so there was no reason why he, a more high-profile contestant, was destined to die.

"Oh? A trade? What are you going to give up for your life?"

Lin Shunan breathed a sigh of relief.

Great, at least there's something to talk about, this is a lifesaver!

"I know a nice teahouse with a great atmosphere. What do you think?"

"Lead the way."

"Yes, please come this way."

The stinging sensation suddenly dissipated, and Lin Shunan almost collapsed to the ground because his legs were too weak.

He barely managed to support his limp body and respectfully led the bigwig toward the tea room.