.....

At this moment, Wutian's third eye glowed with an eerie crimson hue.

Following his gaze...

There stood a crowd.

Lu Ding couldn't spot any obvious demons among them.

Rather than feeling confused, this realization made him reflect deeply.

These evil spirits could actually disguise themselves as humans so perfectly that even he couldn't detect them!

Impressive.

As for their true nature...

Lu Ding harbored no doubts!

Nor did he wish to question it.

Better to act first and ask questions later.

"Point them out!" he demanded.

Wutian responded immediately: "The hooded figure in the left crowd, and the black coat embroidered with fish!"

Turning his gaze...

Among the left crowd stood two figures.

One wore a hooded sweatshirt, face obscured by the lowered hood.

The other was a middle-aged man in an exquisite black coat adorned with mystical fish patterns, his imposing demeanor marking him as extraordinary.

The instant targets were identified...

Lu Ding glided across the water's surface toward them.

Meanwhile...

Di She was searching the crowd for 'Huang Xun' among the Huang family members.

He wondered...

Why had all the Huangs arrived except Huang Xun?

Unbeknownst to him, only those Huang family members willing to cooperate with the charade and those without major crimes had been permitted to attend.

The stubborn ones implicated by the He and Zeng families had already been detained!

Supernatural creatures inherently possessed sharper instincts than humans.

Even before gaining sentience...

This trait manifested clearly.

Like animals sensing natural disasters before they struck.

Now, Shui Xuan—the being Di She called Uncle Shui—reacted accordingly.

His centuries of existence and extensive human interactions...

Had honed his survival instincts to perfection.

Without hesitation or second thoughts, he grabbed the oblivious Di She and hurled him violently toward the Drowned Corpse Cave.

"GO!"

Witnessing this...

Lu Ding's fury erupted instantly!!!

Were it not for the surrounding crowd...

He would have unleashed his twenty-plus-hour charged Slash Attack, annihilating everything in range.

Why else would he approach personally?

Now this bastard dared shout 'go' without explanation?

"YOU DESERVE DEATH!!!"

"SCREW YOU!!!!"

Lu Ding's aura exploded violently, churning the river and sending bystanders flying in all directions.

Bodies tumbled uncontrollably through the air.

Shui Xuan cupped his hands respectfully, relying on the transformation arts stolen from Drowned Corpse Cave to maintain human form while stalling.

"Esteemed sir......"

But Lu Ding had zero interest in conversation.

The moment two words left Shui Xuan's mouth...

Lu Ding raised his hand without preamble.

Twenty-plus hours of charged power...

Released in one devastating slash!!!

At this instant...

All living things within range sensed impending doom.

An inescapable dread prickled every spine.

Shui Xuan, directly in the attack's path, fared worst.

His eyes hadn't even focused properly when...

Peripheral vision caught Lu Ding's arm moving with world-crushing weight.

The Way of the Jinche's Slash Attack erupted!!!

Lu Ding felt the tremendous recoil anew—something he hadn't experienced since his power surge.

Only his first charged attack against Stone Daredevil compared.

His body jerked backward from the force!!

BOOM!!!!

The shockwave detonated instantly!!!

An invisible blade severed everything in its path!!!

From Lu Ding's position outward...

The world stood still.

Utter silence reigned.

Even the roaring river quieted momentarily.

Only the collapsing cliffs on either bank thundered in the eerie calm.

Massive stone pillars—towering like bamboo shoots—were cleanly bisected.

Mountain peaks lost their summits.

Ten thousand meters of rugged terrain became perfectly level ground.

Shui Xuan felt his spiritual energy pathways sever.

One thought dominated his mind:

Human treachery!!!!

In centuries of human disguise...

He'd always negotiated first!

This method never failed.

His vast network of acquaintances ensured...

Mentioning mutual connections invariably opened dialogue.

Harmony bred prosperity.

But today...

He'd encountered an exception.

No talk. Just slaughter!!!

What vendetta justified this? They'd never met!

This was AMBUSH!!!

Blood gushed from his bisected torso.

His pride—the defenses that once saved him from 749 Bureau's siege...

Shattered completely.

The Way of the Jinche's 'sever-all' property prevented regeneration, spiritual healing, even life preservation.

His time had come.

Upper body sliding slowly across the water's surface...

He spat blood toward Di She's retreating form: "RUN!!! FLEE!!! *cough*!!!"

"UNCLE SHUI!!!!"

Di She's eyes reddened instantly, tears flowing uncontrollably.

Why? Why must everyone around him die?!

What sin had he committed?!

Why this torment?!

Seeing Di She nearly reach Drowned Corpse Cave's entrance...

Lu Ding stepped...

Crushing Shui Xuan's transforming torso beneath his foot.

Increased pressure!

Several bloody coughs ensued.

"My dear third brother... This was your rebellion's foundation? A being not even Heavenly Perception level? Pathetic."

Another stomp emphasized his words:

"Too scared to advance? Fear of tribulation? Or simply incapable?"

"I'LL KILL YOU!!! SWEAR TO GOD I'LL KILL YOU!!!!"

Di She's bloodshot eyes bulged with rage.

Now he understood...

Yesterday's 'Huang Xun' had been this impostor all along.

With final curses, he vanished into Drowned Corpse Cave.

Lu Ding's laughter boomed across the landscape: "HAHAHAHAHA! Come at me, little brother! Walk slowly... Second Brother follows shortly!"

One final stomp pulverized Shui Xuan's remains.

Demonic energy coalesced above, staining the sky blood-red.

A thunderous voice echoed from the dissipating essence:

[THOSE I'VE AIDED—PROTECT DI SHE AS MY LEGACY!!!!]

Even in death...

He honored his promise to Di She's grandfather.

The proclamation crossed mountains and rivers, reaching every being indebted to Shui Xuan.

Though never reaching Heavenly Perception...

Not from inability, but fear. Monster tribulations attracted 749 Bureau's attention.

The risk outweighed the reward.

His plan? Crack Drowned Corpse Cave's coffin secrets first.

Acquire its treasures before secluded advancement.

This obsession stemmed from...

The human transformation technique's incredible value.

Surely greater treasures awaited!

Though lacking strength, his Drowned Corpse Cave artifacts facilitated vast connections.

Centuries of effort and resources...

Initially self-serving...

Now wasted by Lu Ding's instant kill.

His final act?

Gifting this legacy to Di She.

That bellowed command...

Marked his existence's brilliant finale.

Then...

Centuries of cultivation...

Vanished into nothingness.