: So Many Shadowy Demonic Cultivators

The explosive sounds from the fierce battle between the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator and Yang Chanyu, thunderous in their intensity, jolted the entire Fire Persimmon Immortal City awake.

Against everyone's expectations, the battle erupted abruptly, turning the entire city into a battlefield.

Tonight was destined to be a night of violent upheaval.

The incident was sudden, and Fei Si was still at his desk handling official duties.

Upon hearing the news, he immediately grabbed the seal on his desk, channeled his spiritual power, and activated part of the city's defensive formation to observe the situation.

He even replayed the earlier moments of the fight.

Fei Si narrowed his eyes, a flicker of sharp light within them. From Yang Chanyu's sudden appearance to her subsequent actions, he sensed a strong whiff of conspiracy.

Reacting quickly, he immediately ordered the activation of the entire City Lord's Manor's defensive formation, pushing it to its maximum capacity.

Following that, he sent someone to report to Meng Kui, informing him of the urgent battle situation.

Finally, he issued orders to contact the city guard, gathering the manor's personnel and instructing them not to act rashly.

With the current situation unclear, he needed to assess things carefully before making a move.

Yang Chanyu had suddenly appeared near the City Lord's Manor, carrying the Demonic Sect's True Scripture.

This scripture was clearly the key treasure that had been the subject of intense discussion throughout the city in recent days.

Yang Chanyu was being chased and attacked by the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, who deliberately revealed that she possessed the scripture. It gave the impression that Yang Chanyu had just stolen it from the City Lord's Manor, only to be intercepted midway by the demonic cultivator.

"This is clearly a frame-up!" Fei Si remained calm on the surface.

He cautioned himself internally: "The enemy is hidden, we are exposed. The enemy has devised various schemes; they must have anticipated our reactions."

"Therefore, we cannot easily intervene, lest we fall into their trap."

No sooner had Fei Si settled on his strategy than he heard a roar he knew all too well.

"Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, you've finally shown yourself! This time, let's see where you can run!"

A middle-aged man, short in stature, blind in one eye, and with bulging muscles like a stone pillar, shot into the sky and charged fiercely toward the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator.

The newcomer was none other than Chi Dun, Meng Kui's right-hand man.

Fei Si's vision darkened, and he gritted his teeth in frustration. "That reckless fool!"

Chi Dun approached with overwhelming momentum.

He had no interest in the Demonic Sect's True Scripture, focusing all his attacks solely on the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator.

The Shadowy Demonic Cultivator was none other than Sun Lingtong in disguise.

Seeing Chi Dun, a Golden Core cultivator, chasing her madly, as if he wanted to tear her apart, even Sun Lingtong felt a chill and experienced immense psychological pressure.

"What's going on?"

Meanwhile, at Ning Zhuo's residence.

Zheng Shuang Gou and Zhou Nongying, hidden from sight, communicated via sound transmission.

It was their turn to be on duty, guarding Ning Zhuo together tonight.

Neither of them rushed to act.

After discussing, they were also worried this might be an enemy trick to lure them out and create a vulnerability in Ning Zhuo's defenses.

*Boom!*

Just as Chi Dun was about to catch up to her, Sun Lingtong, playing the part of the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, hurriedly took out a bottle of pills and smashed it on the ground.

Instantly, dark medicinal powder transformed into a thick black smoke that rapidly spread, obscuring everyone's vision.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chi Dun charged into the heavy smoke like a wild bull.

Near Ning Zhuo's residence.

"Is that the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator?" Zhou Nongying asked.

Zheng Shuang Gou frowned tightly, using a detection spell to investigate the rapidly spreading black smoke. "It's hard to say for sure. This smoke seems similar, yet different."

As he spoke, he took out his signature weapons—the Sun and Moon Hook Swords—gripping one in each hand.

Seeing his companion eager to join the fray, Zhou Nongying quickly stopped him. "Stay calm. We must wait for Lord Zhu Xuanji and the other Golden Core cultivators to arrive before we engage."

"If you're not certain, then this Shadowy Demonic Cultivator might not be the real one. It could very well be a scheme by Fei Si!"

Previously, Yang Chanyu had suddenly attacked Ning Zhuo.

After that incident, Zhu Xuanji and others had discussed the possibility that Yang Chanyu and the City Lord's Manor were colluding, with the former being hired by Fei Si.

If that were the case, then the current battle between Yang Chanyu and the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator was a play orchestrated by the City Lord's Manor to counter the third layer of rumors spread by Zhu Xuanji's side.

The intention was likely this—since the public suspects that our City Lord's Manor possesses the Demonic Sect's True Scripture, we'll stage a show where the scripture is ultimately taken by someone else, proving definitively that we no longer have it.

*Boom! Boom! Boom!*

A series of terrifying explosions echoed from within the thick black smoke.

Clearly, inside the smoke, Yang Chanyu and the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator had engaged in an even fiercer confrontation.

Yang Chanyu snorted coldly, seemingly heavily injured, and shouted, "Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, I'll remember you! Since you want this scripture so badly, go ahead and fight for it."

With that, everyone saw a pink light shoot out from the billowing black fog.

Encased within the pink light was a stone slab.

Shortly after, the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator suddenly burst out of the black smoke, flying at full speed to chase the Demonic Sect's True Scripture.

In that instant, the many Golden Core cultivators witnessing this scene felt their hearts tighten.

Who wouldn't want to obtain the Demonic Sect's True Scripture?

Even though they had already formed their Golden Cores and couldn't change their cultivation methods, this scripture was related to the Molten Rock Immortal Palace and the Three Sects' Supreme Techniques, making it incredibly valuable.

Even if they couldn't use it themselves, offering it to another faction or trading it would yield great benefits.

For a moment, the gazes of many were drawn to the Demonic Sect's True Scripture flying through the air.

The scripture traced a long arc across the sky above Fire Persimmon Immortal City, heading straight for a specific spot.

And that spot was near Ning Zhuo's residence.

This couldn't help but make Zhou Nongying and the eager Zheng Shuang Gou feel a jolt of unease, sensing something unusual.

"This is probably the City Lord's Manor's scheme," Zhou Nongying muttered inwardly. "Brother Zheng, quickly retrieve that scripture to prevent it from causing chaos. We can't let the battle reach here and endanger Ning Zhuo's life."

Zheng Shuang Gou, holding his hook swords, shot into the sky, heading straight for the Demonic Sect's True Scripture.

In a nearby house.

The Golden Core true disciple of the Taiqing Palace also felt his heart stir.

He had been lurking near Ning Zhuo's residence.

Lately, he had been investigating the source of the rumors, coveting the Demonic Sect's True Scripture.

The Taiqing Palace true disciple believed that obtaining the scripture would aid him in seizing the Molten Rock Immortal Palace!

Even if he failed to acquire the Immortal Palace in the future, the scripture would still hold value for him.

Whether used to build his own influence or offered to the Taiqing Palace, it would be beneficial.

So, when he saw the Demonic Sect's True Scripture flying toward his location, he felt a strong urge to seize it.

He immediately took out a set of black clothing from his storage bracelet.

"Good thing I prepared in advance."

If Ning Zhuo, Zheng Shuang Gou, and Chi Dun had been present, they would have noticed that this black clothing was extremely similar to what the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator wore.

Originally, due to his identity as a righteous path disciple, the Taiqing Palace true disciple found it inconvenient to act directly in many matters.

After hearing about the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, he had immediately prepared these clothes.

After all, what does the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator's actions have to do with me, a Taiqing Palace true disciple?

Zheng Shuang Gou flew forward, seeing the Demonic Sect's True Scripture almost within reach. He reached out to grab it.

A black figure suddenly crashed into him.

*Boom!*

Zheng Shuang Gou struck out fiercely with one of his hook swords.

He and the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator—the Taiqing Palace true disciple—exchanged a blow, both forced back. The resulting shockwave sent the Demonic Sect's True Scripture flying back into the air.

"How is there another Shadowy Demonic Cultivator?!" Zheng Shuang Gou exclaimed in surprise.

The Taiqing Palace true disciple landed, then immediately leaped back into the air.

With a casual wave, he conjured a large hand of spiritual power to grab the falling scripture.

"Don't even think about it!" This time, it was Zheng Shuang Gou who intercepted the Taiqing Palace true disciple.

He slashed apart the spiritual hand with his hook sword.

The Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, Sun Lingtong, was also rushing toward the scripture, but she was farther away.

Chi Dun followed closely behind,死死地盯着 him. (死死地盯着他 - staring fixedly at him)

Sun Lingtong felt frustrated: "That brute Chi Dun has no brains at all. The Demonic Sect's True Scripture is right there, yet he only focuses on me."

Sun Lingtong glanced toward the battle, also feeling puzzled. Who could this second Shadowy Demonic Cultivator be?

Chi Dun's thinking was very simple: "Regardless of which one is the real Shadowy Demonic Cultivator, I'll just pummel the closest one first."

Sun Lingtong exerted all her effort, fleeing at full speed, using the various buildings of Fire Persimmon Immortal City to hinder Chi Dun's pursuit.

Chi Dun, being part of the City Lord's Manor, had to hold back somewhat, allowing Sun Lingtong to delay for a considerable time.

Zheng Shuang Gou and the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator—the Taiqing Palace true disciple—were locked in a fierce struggle.

Just as Sun Lingtong was about to arrive, Yang Chanyu suddenly flashed into existence, appearing right where the Demonic Sect's True Scripture was.

Yang Chanyu once again held the scripture in her hand, laughing softly, her smile as beautiful as a flower.

She flew away with the scripture, intending to slip through a gap in the city's defensive formation into a hidden passage and escape the battlefield.

A beam of golden light suddenly shone down!

Yang Chanyu, caught in the light, slowed dramatically.

Zhu Xuanji's figure materialized within the golden light, descending from the sky.

Yang Chanyu tried her old trick: "You want the Demonic Sect's True Scripture? Here, take it!"

This time, she threw the scripture directly toward the Shadowy Demonic Cultivator—the Taiqing Palace Golden Core true disciple.

But Zhu Xuanji completely ignored the scripture, continuing to charge straight at Yang Chanyu.

Yang Chanyu, unable to enter the hidden passage in time, could only change direction, fleeing while casting spells to attack Zhu Xuanji.

The Shadowy Demonic Cultivator—the Taiqing Palace true disciple—hadn't expected this "good fortune" to suddenly come his way!

He took a slight step back and caught the Demonic Sect's True Scripture.

The moment he touched it, he felt insights into many cultivation techniques flood his mind.

"Demonic Blood Tendon Technique!" The Taiqing Palace true disciple's eyes widened, his face revealing surprise and joy.

In that moment, he was absolutely certain: this was a genuine Demonic Sect's True Scripture!

(End of )