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"Wen Xuan is really too idle. Killing a pack of Nether Hounds, isn't he deliberately giving me more work?"

Fang Mu muttered to himself inside the dungeon, skillfully stripping away anything valuable from the Nether Hounds.

Nether Pearls, refined from the eyes of Nether Hounds, allowed for night vision.

Low-Grade Essence Blood Pills, refined from the essence blood of Nether Hounds, could strengthen the body when consumed.

"Is Wen Xuan catching Nether Hounds to get a pair of Nether Pearls?"

Fang Mu wondered secretly and put a Nether Pearl into a tin box.

After storing three Low-Grade Essence Blood Pills and two Nether Pearls in his mirror space, he walked out of the dungeon.

Familiar with the path, Fang Mu returned to the Demon Slaying Hall and heard many people whispering.

"Did you hear? A Great Demon has been newly imprisoned in the Mortal Prison Seven-Star Dungeon."

"I know! I heard the Great Demon cultivates a technique that can control Demonic Energy."

"Zhao Li seems to have been dispatched there too."

Listening to the hushed discussions and the sidelong glances in the hall, Fang Mu frowned. Hearing that Zhao Li had been sent to kill the Great Demon, a bad feeling surged in his heart.

"Sir! I'm worried about my companion's safety and wish to apply to assist in the mission to kill the Great Demon?"

Fang Mu stepped forward and bowed to Wen Xuan, who had come to inspect the items.

"This time, we need to extract the Great Demon's cultivation manual. It's not just about killing him. Are you sure you want to go?"

Wen Xuan looked at Fang Mu with some surprise and asked.

"I'm sure! Please grant my request, sir!"

"Do you know that those who died did so because they couldn't withstand the Great Demon's Demonic Qi?"

"Are you really sure you want to go?"

"Yes! Please grant my request, sir!"

Seeing Fang Mu's determination, Wen Xuan casually tossed him a Demon Slaying Token and didn't try to dissuade him further.

Fang Mu thanked him and, after leaving the Demon Slaying Hall, headed to the Mortal Prison Seven-Star Dungeon.

This was the lowest level of the Mortal Prison dungeon, where the most dangerous demons were held.

Treading across an iron chain bridge, Fang Mu arrived at dungeon number 375 and skillfully opened the cell door, entering the inner chamber.

After opening the outer door of the inner chamber, Fang Mu smelled a scent of blood and saw over a dozen corpses lying inside.

A disheveled person radiating black energy was bound to a torture rack.

"Is this a Half-Demon? A human with demonic bloodline?"

Looking at the Great Demon, who appeared no different from a human, Fang Mu couldn't help but examine him with curiosity.

"Uncle Zhao!"

Opening the second iron gate and walking in, Fang Mu saw Zhao Li lying beside the more than a dozen corpses.

"Uncle Zhao..."

Fang Mu stepped forward to help up Zhao Li, whose face was purplish-blue, and found that he still had a faint breath.

"Xiao Mu! I'll tell you, you remember!" Zhao Li suddenly opened his eyes, startling Fang Mu as if he had risen from the dead.

Before Fang Mu could react, Zhao Li quickly recited a string of text.

"You... you can remember?"

"Yes!"

"Good! Under the Lightning-Struck Wood in the Mass Grave, there's a Great Demon cultivation manual. You must not learn it. Remember this clearly."

"Uncle Zhao... Uncle Zhao!"

Fang Mu cried out in alarm as Zhao Li, who had just finished speaking, suddenly died.

"I'll kill you!"

Fang Mu suddenly went berserk and charged towards the torture rack, drawing his halberd and stabbing wildly at the Great Demon on it.

With a few screams that abruptly stopped, golden light enveloped the Great Demon, refining him into a pool of blood.

In fragmented memories, scenes flashed by.

The text Zhao Li had recited earlier was actually the Great Demon's cultivation mantra.

And the manual hidden under the Lightning-Struck Wood in the Mass Grave was fake.

"The Great Demon's manual was likely a clue Zhao Li extracted through interrogation."

"But how did he know the manual was fake, and why did he tell me the real one?" Fang Mu was somewhat puzzled.

Demon Cores, refined from the transformed Half-Demons, when combined with cultivation methods, could rapidly increase one's cultivation.

Outer Avatar Pills, formed from the Half-Demon's innate essence, allowed one to split off an outer avatar after consumption.

Fang Mu instantly collected the two additional pills into his Demon Refining Mirror space, but he couldn't hide his excitement.

Indeed, high risk brought high reward; he had actually obtained something good.

Recalling his senses, Fang Mu left carrying Zhao Li's corpse.

He felt a bit suspicious. The Great Demon hadn't used any demonic techniques to attack him even when Fang Mu had stabbed him.

Although demonic techniques wouldn't have worked on Fang Mu anyway, as he had no Demonic Energy on him, the Great Demon's passive acceptance of death was too abnormal. This made Fang Mu think of an Outer Avatar Pill.

After returning to the Demon Slaying Hall with Zhao Li's body and completing the mission, Fang Mu asked Wen Xuan for a favor, wanting to take Zhao Li for burial.

Wen Xuan didn't refuse Fang Mu but made a request, asking him to help with a small matter.

After much deliberation, Fang Mu finally agreed to Wen Xuan's request and left with Zhao Li's body, heading towards the modest house where he lived.

He needed to inform Aunt Zhao, and he wasn't sure if she could accept the reality of the situation.

To Fang Mu's surprise, although Aunt Zhao was saddened by the news of Uncle Zhao's death, she didn't try to take her own life, which made Fang Mu breathe a sigh of relief.

Following Aunt Zhao's arrangements, Fang Mu carried Zhao Li's body, with a teary-eyed Fang Jing, to a small mountain forest within the city.

He found a flat, shaded spot and buried Zhao Li.

Fang Mu solemnly said to Aunt Zhao, "Auntie! Uncle is gone. From now on, I am your family. I will take care of you in Uncle's stead."

Hearing Fang Mu's words, Aunt Zhao, who had been silent, suddenly showed a look of relief, her eyes filled with tears. "Good child, can Auntie ask you for one thing?"

"Please, tell me!"

"Your Uncle and I have a lost daughter. She has a seven-colored bird birthmark on the back of her hand. If you ever meet her in the future, can you help Auntie look after her?"

"Mm!"

Looking at Aunt Zhao's earnest gaze, Fang Mu nodded seriously. He noted down the pattern of the birthmark Aunt Zhao drew on the ground.

"Good! Remember this, child. Just as there are good and evil people, there are also good and bad demons. Don't let slaughter blind your kind heart."

"Aunt Zhao!"

Fang Mu exclaimed, watching as Aunt Zhao suddenly plunged a dagger into her own chest.

"Aunt Zhao...!" Fang Jing cried, tears streaming down her face.

"Silly child! Don't cry. For Auntie, this is the happiest moment. We couldn't live together, but I wish to die together."

"Bury... bury Auntie next to your Uncle. Auntie has no regrets in this life... no regrets!"

"Aunt Zhao...!"

Watching Aunt Zhao pass away with a smile, Fang Mu sadly buried her beside Zhao Li.

Within a single day, Fang Mu had lost two people who had genuinely cared for him. Holding Fang Jing's hand, he suddenly longed for power.

He feared that one day, Fang Jing might also leave him.

"Aunt Zhao, Uncle Zhao, don't worry. I will find your daughter and take good care of her for you."

Fang Mu felt guilty towards Zhao Li. If he had been able to absorb the Demonic Energy from Zhao Li's body earlier, perhaps Zhao Li wouldn't have died.

After paying his respects at the two lonely graves, Fang Mu left carrying a pale-faced Fang Jing.

Fang Mu did not see the two lonely graves emit two wisps of green smoke after he and Fang Jing departed.

The green smoke gradually condensed into the figures of Zhao Li and his wife.

"Are we really going to fake our deaths like this?"

"Otherwise? Should we tell him we're trying to force him to oppose us?"

"I can see this child is different from others. He can distinguish good from evil; he's a good seedling."

"Did you discover something? Otherwise, why set up this death trap?"

"Mm, I unintentionally found a clue, but I'm not sure. I need to return to Myriad Demon Mountain to see the Old Ancestor."

After their voices faded, the two wisps of green smoke dissipated in the breeze.