Assassin! One Kill, Hellfire Free!

As dusk settled and the sun dipped below the horizon.

A group of five, riding tall horses, galloped down the wide official road.

The dim, hazy sunlight, like a sheer veil, fell upon them, casting long shadows on the ground.

Gu Cheng gripped the reins tightly, his thoughts surging like a tide.

This operation had kept them on Black Wind Mountain for a full eight days. He wondered how Miss Xu was doing all alone at home.

Had she finished copying the Mortal Breaking Realm secret manual she promised?

Before heading to Black Wind Mountain, Gu Cheng had also informed Shopkeeper Song in advance.

He asked him to deliver those precious medicinal ingredients directly to Xiao Yun's residence.

After so many days, that frail young girl should have finished refining the 'Boiling Blood Powder' by now, right?

The thought of having enough pills, and his Blood Demon Physique about to be cultivated in reverse to the Grand Perfection realm, filled Gu Cheng with a surge of excitement. He was eager to return, wishing he could abandon his horse and run back himself.

With the Flowing Cloud Riding Wind Art, which had reached Ultimate Intent, his own speed far surpassed traveling by horse.

Just as Gu Cheng's mind was lost in these thoughts.

A faint, almost imperceptible sense of being watched in the sky alerted him.

That gaze, filled with malice, was extremely well-hidden, but under Gu Cheng's Mortal Breaking Realm divine sense perception, it was as conspicuous as a candle flame in the dead of night.

"Interesting..."

A cold smile played on Gu Cheng's lips as he turned to the alluring older woman beside him.

"Lord Lin, please take the others and head back first."

"I suddenly remembered I have an important matter to attend to, so I won't be returning to the city with you."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyan looked at Gu Cheng with suspicion.

Seeing his rather serious expression, she seemed to guess something and quietly asked:

"Do you need help?"

"No, I'm sufficient on my own."

"..."

Lin Qingyan nodded silently, saying no more.

Xiao Yun and the other two were completely bewildered, having no idea what these two adults were talking about in riddles.

However, they didn't pry and obediently followed Lord Lin as they rode away.

Thus, the two parties parted ways.

Gu Cheng watched the backs of the four gradually disappear from view.

He then dismounted and walked towards a patch of wasteland near the official road.

This was a desolate area, with no human habitation for ten miles around. The terrain was also extremely open, clearly an ideal spot for murder and disposing of bodies.

Gu Cheng stood firm in this barren land.

The bleak autumn wind lifted the hem of his silver-white official uniform, making a rustling sound, as if sounding the horn for the impending slaughter.

A moment later.

With a loud eagle's cry.

A massive dark shadow descended from the sky, landing opposite the young man.

Gu Cheng peered closely and saw that the arrival was actually a giant eagle demon, carrying a middle-aged Taoist priest on its back.

Strangely, the eagle demon's form was somewhat blurred.

Its eyes, which should have been incredibly sharp, appeared lifeless, just like the flesh puppets he encountered yesterday, devoid of any vitality.

Combined with the knowledge previously shared by Miss Lin, the identity of this peculiar eagle demon was self-evident—

"Demon Servant..."

Gu Cheng mused inwardly.

He looked at the horse-faced Taoist priest who leaped down, his expression turning peculiar.

Ever since the 'Pure Heart Manual' had been forcefully pushed to the Extreme Intent Realm through his '氪' (kè - likely a game-like system for spending resources), Gu Cheng had been lacking methods for subsequent Spirit Refinement.

He had originally planned to continue "fleecing" Miss Xu, or make plans after being transferred to the main headquarters of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

But now, it seemed he had another way to obtain them...

"You're Gu Cheng, aren't you? Heh, you look quite respectable!"

"It's just a shame you've offended someone you shouldn't have..."

Feng Sanshi waved his hand, dismissing the giant eagle demon servant.

He sized up the handsome young man before him, cupped his fists with a smile that didn't reach his eyes:

"I am Feng Sanshi from the Evil King Pavilion. When you reach the underworld, don't forget who sent you on your way!"

"Evil King Pavilion?"

Gu Cheng frowned slightly, he had never heard of this organization.

But just by hearing the name, he knew that people in this organization were definitely not good sorts.

"Someone wants to hire an assassin to kill me? Who sent you?"

"Heh, after I break all your limbs and capture you and your lover alive, you'll naturally find out!"

Feng Sanshi's horse-like face was full of arrogance, as if he had already secured victory.

He took out a bamboo flute from his waist and placed it to his lips, gently playing it. A string of pleasant notes immediately sounded.

The next moment.

Four dark figures slowly appeared beside the horse-faced Taoist.

They were burly, over three meters tall, holding large ring-pommeled sabers, and clad in pitch-black heavy armor, like four majestic generals.

However, where their heads should have been, they had huge dog heads, baring their teeth, their faces ferocious and terrifying.

As the horse-faced Taoist's flute playing grew more urgent.

A trace of red light flashed in the eyes of these four dog-headed Demon Servants.

Like fierce generals spurred by war drums, their aura suddenly surged, and they leaped towards the handsome young man opposite them, swinging their sabers to strike!

The sharp blade cut through the air, emitting a piercing shriek, as if it were tearing apart all enemies before it.

In an instant, Gu Cheng's body was cut into several pieces!

But his broken body did not bleed a single drop of blood. Instead, like a reflection in a mirror or the moon in water, it dissipated into thin air.

"An illusion?"

Feng Sanshi was startled.

The next moment, four dull thuds echoed continuously from the battlefield ahead.

The heavy armor on the four dog-headed generals was like paper, directly smashed by a single blow!

Their massive bodies flew backward like tattered sacks, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Then, they turned into specks of light and completely dissipated into the air.

"That's it?"

Gu Cheng pouted, looking at Feng Sanshi with disdain.

It was the first time he had seen someone control Demon Servants. On a whim, he hadn't summoned his 본명 blood weapon and chose to fight bare-handed.

Who knew these four pieces of trash were so vulnerable, dying instantly from a single punch.

This made the young man, who was initially quite interested in Demon Servants, deeply disappointed.

"..."

The melodious flute music abruptly stopped.

Feng Sanshi stared at his target for this mission, his eyes gradually becoming solemn.

Four Demon Servants, comparable to warriors in the Mortal Breaking Realm, were so easily defeated by this brat?

Damn it!

Those bastards must have lied about the military situation!

The horse-faced Taoist harbored great resentment and decided that once he returned, he would definitely make the Zheng family pay more!

"Heh, I didn't expect this rural place to have a hidden master like you..."

Feng Sanshi stared intently at Gu Cheng, his eyes shining brightly, like two bronze mirrors reflecting candlelight.

"I've changed my mind now.

A strong individual like you is already worth me using my 'trump card'!"

With that said, Feng Sanshi began to play the flute again.

The flute's melody drifted, filled with a chilling killing intent!

The next moment.

The temperature in the air suddenly rose.

A ball of crimson flame ignited out of nowhere in the air.

In the blink of an eye, it expanded into a giant fiery ape!

This ape demon was at least seven meters tall.

Its dark and powerful body was covered in bulging muscles, like finely forged steel.

Crimson flames burned fiercely on its body, emitting a scorching aura, like a demon descending upon the world!

With this appearance, if it were also given a staff in its hand.

It would look very much like a popular hero skin in a certain mobile game