Celestial Demon Sect Earth Realm.

The Stone Demon Sect, Stone Demon Mountain.

This was the headquarters of the Stone Demon Sect.

Within a mountain cave thick with Demon Qi, the four highest-ranking members of the Stone Demon Sect were currently seated.

They were the Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect and its three Vice Sect Leaders.

Within the Stone Demon Sect, an Evil Sect of the Foundation Establishment level, those at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer were Elders. Above the Elders were only the Sect Leader and Vice Sect Leaders.

Both held the rank of Foundation Establishment Stage, and among them, the Sect Leader’s strength was always the greatest.

According to the rules established since the founding of the Stone Demon Sect, only the strongest person in the sect could become the Sect Leader.

"Where is Shi Tianpo?" the Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect asked.

"He is in seclusion."

"Seclusion? At a time like this? Is he planning to challenge me for the position of Sect Leader after he comes out?"

The Sect Leader of the Stone Demon Sect was greatly displeased; the stone table beside him cracked under the force of his hand.

Among the four Vice Sect Leaders of the Stone Demon Sect, Shi Tianpo had the greatest overall strength and was the one most likely to challenge him for the position of Sect Leader.

The three Vice Sect Leaders said nothing. Whoever was strongest became the Sect Leader of their Stone Demon Sect. That was the rule.

"How goes the offensive against the Shen Family?"

When the matter of the Shen Family was raised, the three Vice Sect Leaders finally had something to say.

"It’s going very smoothly. Our casualties are lower than theirs."

"We haven’t seen any disciples from the Celestial Cloud Sect yet. They probably won’t provide support so brazenly."

"Mm." With the change of subject, the mood of the Stone Demon Sect’s Sect Leader improved significantly. "If we can take down the Shen Family by ourselves, the reward from the Celestial Demon Sect will surely be substantial."

"Sect Leader, taking down the Shen Family will be difficult. When it’s really time for us to make our move, the Celestial Cloud Sect won’t just stand by and watch," said the Vice Sect Leader who had transplanted the bloodline of a fox Demon Beast.

"After Shi Tianpo ends his seclusion, have him go test the Shen Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators."

When the conversation turned to Vice Sect Leader Shi Tianpo, the other Vice Sect Leaders fell silent again.

Perhaps after Shi Tianpo emerged from seclusion, the Stone Demon Sect would truly be getting a new Sect Leader.

...

Celestial Cloud Sect Earth Realm.

On the grounds of the Shen Family, a Foundation Establishment Clan.

Fang Yun, following Yang Yingjie, had already arrived.

The two of them had accepted the mission for the same reward.

Yang Yingjie felt that Fang Yun was getting a rather bad deal, as Fang Yun was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, just like him.

For the mission to support the Shen Family, the monthly reward was calculated based on the Realm of the disciple who accepted it. During the support mission, killing Demons from the Stone Demon Sect would earn an additional reward.

This additional reward was higher than the usual reward for killing Demons.

But Yang Yingjie felt none of this could make up for how disadvantaged Fang Yun was.

Fang Yun, however, felt it was fine. After all, the main reason he accepted this mission wasn’t for the reward.

"Junior Brother Fang, why did you suddenly stop?"

Yang Yingjie, who was in the lead, sensed Fang Yun had stopped walking. He turned and asked curiously.

’There shouldn’t be any problems around here. I haven’t sensed anything at all.’

Fang Yun answered Yang Yingjie’s question with action. A pale yellow Long Sword flew out of his Storage Pouch, shooting with extreme speed toward a low-lying thicket in the distance to the left.

Just a moment ago, he had entered a combat state.

The Upper Grade Magical Artifact he wore, the Light Silk Boots, operated on an extremely low amount of Spiritual Power. As a result, the moment someone saw him with malicious intent, it would put him into a combat state.

Fang Yun hadn’t felt any fluctuation of power, so he immediately guessed this was the source of the malice. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"A Demon!" Yang Yingjie cried out instinctively.

He had felt a fluctuation of Demon Power.

By the time he reacted, a lurking Demon at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer already lay dead beneath Fang Yun’s Long Sword.

When he was discovered, the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Demon was in utter disbelief.

’There’s no way I should have been discovered!’

This was his final thought before he died. His transplanted Demon Beast bloodline made him exceptionally skilled at concealment, and he had clearly not made a single sound just now.

As the pale yellow Long Sword returned, it carried the corpse of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Demon with it.

"Junior Brother, amazing!" Yang Yingjie gave Fang Yun a thumbs-up. Other than "amazing," the only praise he could think of for Fang Yun right now was, "Truly amazing!"

He was sensitive to Demon Power. Relying on this, he had avoided many dangers while carrying out missions in the Celestial Demon Sect’s Earth Realm.

He didn’t know how Fang Yun had discovered the Qi Refining Sixth Layer Demon, but it proved one thing: Fang Yun’s ability to perceive anomalies was far greater than his own.

This wasn’t just applicable in the Celestial Demon Sect Earth Realm; it should be just as effective in the Black Ghost Cave Earth Realm as well.

"It was nothing, Senior Brother Yang. I was just lucky to have found him."

"Luck is a part of strength," Yang Yingjie replied with the classic line.

"This must be a Demon from the Stone Demon Sect." Fang Yun examined the corpse on the ground without a change in expression and offered his analysis. "He was likely hiding here to see if any disciples from our Celestial Cloud Sect had arrived to support the Shen Family."

This was Fang Yun’s first time killing an enemy, and his first time killing a person.

No.

’A Demon probably doesn’t count as a person.’

Fang Yun felt abnormally calm. Perhaps it was because he killed the enemy with the help of his Combat Talent, or perhaps it was because he had never considered the Cultivators from Evil Sects to be his own kind in the first place.

Regardless, Fang Yun felt no psychological burden.

’This was a good thing.’

Before heading to the Shen Family’s territory, Fang Yun, fearing this exact problem, had already mentally prepared himself many times.

"Junior Brother, I agree with your assessment." Yang Yingjie nodded, feeling the same way.

"Let’s hurry to the Shen Family."

"Alright."