Although suspicious in her heart, Ye Lingyue still exhibited a face full of apology on the surface, offering her apologies.

"No harm done. The little beast under Ye's control is truly rare indeed," General Zhang said, his eyes flashing with greed.

Ye Lingyue took note of the changes in his expression.

After the banquet, using the excuse of being overwhelmed by alcohol, Ye Lingyue left her seat early.

Deep into the night, within the alchemist's mansion, in Ye Lingyue's room.

Outside the room, the night wind carried a hint of chill, and a figure quietly entered the room.

On the bed, the bedding bulged, outlining the shape of a person.

"That ignorant wretch dares to lay hands on someone from my Jin Wu Sect." The person was clearly General Zhang, but at this moment, his entire face radiated a strange red glow.

He sneered menacingly and lifted his palm, channeling the primordial power within his body and striking the bed.

But suddenly, General Zhang's expression changed slightly, his sharp senses detecting a sense of danger behind him.

His palm had already landed on the bedding when suddenly, a burst of cold light flashed, and numerous razor-sharp daggers shot out from within the bedding.

Two of them struck General Zhang in both eyes, and a thick black blood sprayed out.

The remaining Star Saliva Daggers severed General Zhang's hands and feet; even with such grave injuries, General Zhang still did not fall.

Blood continuously splattered from his limbs, and the holes where his eyes had been bled incessantly—a horrifying sight.

Yet, even so, his body remained suspended in midair, emitting a harsh, cackling laugh from his throat.

"What kind of demon dares to break into the alchemist's mansion at night!"

Just then, the room door was kicked open with a bang, and a majestic spiritual beast leaped in, with Ye Lingyue, who should have been on the bed, riding on its back.

Upon seeing Ye Lingyue, General Zhang realized that he had been tricked, that his identity had long been seen through by this cunning female alchemist.

A ball of flame burst forth from General Zhang's mouth, and after the flame emerged, General Zhang's corpse loudly fell to the ground, turning into a maggot-infested rotting corpse, appearing to have been dead for some time.

It seemed that this General Zhang had been killed by the demon fire shortly after receiving his official orders from the court, on his way to assume his post.

After killing him, the demon fire had controlled his corpse, assuming the identity of "General Zhang" and infiltrated into Dan City.

That demon fire thought its disguise was flawless, only to be uncovered by Ye Lingyue.

From within the flames, a sinister voice emerged.

"Heh heh, no wonder you managed to capture that useless Jin Wu Wanderer alive, little girl, you do have some capabilities. Tell me, when did you spot this old monster?" That ball of flame was none other than the transformation of the Lifebound Pill Fire of the Sect Master of the Jin Wu Sect and master of the Jin Wu Wanderer, the Old Monster Huo Yan.

Upon learning that his disciple had been captured by the master alchemist of Daxia and was to be executed that very day, Old Monster Huo Yan, anxious and agitated, hurried to the Xixia Plain.

This wily old fiend, though a high-ranking practitioner of the Reincarnation Second Realm and cunning to a fault, was cautious.

He did not rashly charge into Dan City alone to demand his disciple but instead disguised himself as General Zhang.

Little Zhiyo let out a roar of anger after seeing that demon fire.

"So, it's this old monster who was discovered," marveled the Jin Wu Old Monster. "No wonder, it's an Ancient Desolate Beast, a rare sight on the mainland."

Ancient Desolate Beasts have innate divine skills and can detect foreign entities.

The Jin Wu Old Monster prides himself on his unparalleled demon fire that he has taken into his body, but even it could not deceive Little Zhiyo's nose.

Earlier, the Jin Wu Old Monster had felt that Little Zhiyo looked different from ordinary Spiritual Beasts, and after it transformed, its majestic appearance shone even brighter in his eyes.

"What a pity, what a pity, such a rare Desert Beast has already formed a Spirit Contract with someone," he lamented after seeing Little Zhiyo's close relationship with Ye Lingyue.

But then, he smiled eerily. What did forming a Spirit Contract matter? As long as he killed Ye Lingyue, the little creature would still be his for the taking.

"Assassins!"

After hearing the commotion, a flurry of footsteps echoed inside the Alchemist Mansion.

"Hehe, seems like this old monster won't gain any advantage today. Ye little brat, don't be smug, I will return. For injuring a member of the Jin Wu Sect, I, the Jin Wu Old Monster, will not let this go easily."

Laughing arrogantly, the demon fire blasted through the wall and soared into the sky, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Ye Lingyue gazed at the fireball, remembering the Elder Huo Yan she encountered in the Taiyi Secret Realm. This Jin Wu Old Monster's cultivation did not seem much different from Elder Huo Yan's; he was a formidable enemy.

Hearing the commotion, Lan Cai'er and the other alchemists rushed in.

"Ling Yue, what happened? General Zhang?"

Lan Cai'er, noticing the highly decayed corpse on the ground, was also greatly shocked, as were the other alchemists, exchanging glances with one another.

After the Jin Wu Old Monster left, Lan Cai'er remained visibly worried, not expecting the remnant of the Jin Wu Sect to be so formidable.

Initially, Su Mu of the Reincarnation First Path was very strong, and now they have encountered this Jin Wu Old Monster.

"Ling Yue, why don't we ask Second Brother He from the He Family for help again?" Lan Cai'er thought of Second Brother He's skills; both of the He Family elders were masters at the Reincarnation Realm level. If they could help, they might be able to eliminate the Jin Wu Old Monster.

"Last time, we already troubled the two of them; we can't keep bothering them every time," Ye Lingyue shook her head.

She intended to cooperate with the three brothers of the He Family, but they had just started working together, and racking up too many favors wouldn't be good.

"Or should we ask the court to send another City Guardian General here?" Lan Cai'er was afraid of any changes during the execution in three days. This time, the Jin Wu Sect would undoubtedly emerge in full force.

"We only have three days left; even if the court sends someone, it would be too late. At most, we can ask for help from Qi City. But do you think people like Hong Fang and Xia Houhong would be so kind as to help me?"

Ye Lingyue narrowed her eyes slightly. Hong Fang and Xia Houhong were currently preoccupied with the beast turmoil, and she had just managed to take control of Dan City. She wouldn't allow anyone to share a piece of her territory.

"If this won't work and that won't work, are we just to sit idle and wait for death?" Lan Cai'er lamented her lack of power. If only she possessed the cultivation of Hong Mingyue, even if a Jin Wu Old Monster came, she would be able to fight head-on and deal with him.

"I'll think of something. After all, Dan City is our territory, and the Jin Wu Old Monster shouldn't think he can rescue someone so easily. If he dares to come, I will ensure that he can't return," Ye Lingyue stated with conviction, leading Lan Cai'er to believe she had already devised a clever plan.

Once Lan Cai left, the relaxed expression that Ye Lingyue had put on quickly collapsed.