Thousands of craftsmen and laborers toiled amidst the ruins.

Some pointed at construction blueprints, while others hauled dirt and stone to clear the rubble.

The weather had already turned cold, yet few of them were fully clothed. Most were bare-chested, revealing crisscrossing scars.

"CRACK!"

A guard from the Situ Family’s Nursing Home cracked his long whip, felling a man, and roared abusively.

"Work faster!"

"Fall behind schedule, and it’ll cost you your lives!"

"All of you, pick up the pace! If I catch anyone slacking, I’ll beat you to death, no questions asked."

"CRACK!"

The whip rang out sharply.

These craftsmen and laborers were mostly men from the General’s Mansion, or slaves kept by certain Magicians.

Now, having been forcibly conscripted by the City Lord’s Mansion, their lives were in others’ hands. They didn’t dare to not give their all.

A moment of laxity would earn them a vicious beating at best, and death at worst.

Observatory Pavilion.

Supported by his daughter, Situ Kongli, Situ Sheng reached the top floor and squinted at the bustling figures below.

"This is the price of failure!"

"The main branch of the family completely wiped out, their descendants enslaved, everything they once possessed turned to smoke and dust."

"The Situ Family..."

"We must never come to this!"

"Father," Situ Kongli said.

"Wan Zhengyang has been executed. Only a few remnants of the General’s Mansion have fled into the mountains. They are no longer a threat."

"You don’t need to worry."

"The great disaster has passed, but the calamity is not over," Situ Sheng said, shaking his head.

"Though I killed Wan Zhengyang, I was also gravely injured. My life is short. From now on, the Situ Family will depend on you."

"There has never been a female Patriarch in the Situ Family. You are the first. You must not disappoint your father."

"Father!" Situ Kongli knelt on both knees, her heart filled with both sorrow and gratitude.

"Nothing will happen to you."

"Silly child, why deceive yourself?" Situ Sheng gave a bitter smile.

"I have taken a Life-Locking Pill. Nothing will happen for one year."

Nothing will happen for one year.

After one year.

Death is certain!

This was the effect of the Life-Locking Pill.

Situ Kongli looked up, her expression complex. She paused for a moment before speaking.

"Father, will Second Uncle agree?"

"He has already agreed," Situ Sheng said.

"Although your second uncle’s strength is not weak, his personality is too reckless. He is not suited to be the Patriarch. He knows this himself. The younger generation is mostly incompetent, so you are the most suitable candidate."

"However..."

"You must remember, the future Patriarch can only be named Situ!"

"Yes." Situ Kongli nodded emphatically.

"I will take a husband who marries into our family."

"It is good that you understand." A smile appeared on Situ Sheng’s face.

"In the future, you will be the Patriarch, with your second uncle assisting you. In this coming year, I will choose a suitable husband for you."

"The Situ Family..."

"...will be counting on you all!"

*

*

*

「A few days later.」

City Lord’s Mansion.

After the great battle, most of the buildings in the City Lord’s Mansion had been destroyed.

Even with emergency repairs by craftsmen and maintenance Magic cast by Magicians, it was still a long way from being fully restored.

However, it was more than enough to host guests.

Today, to celebrate the suppression of the General’s Mansion’s rebellion, a grand banquet was held, with guests gathered from all around.

The City Lord’s Mansion was decorated with fine silks and colorful lanterns. The Stewards and Nursing Home guards had also changed into festive attire to welcome the guests.

More than twenty tables were arranged in a long row, laden with exquisite pastries, a few Spirit Fruits, and various teas.

Zhu Ju was seated near the front, surrounded by acquaintances.

Ye Baici.

Xie Changge.

Both were at the same table.

City Lord Situ Sheng, his face glowing, moved between the tables with a wine cup in hand, frequently toasting the crowd.

"Who is that?"

"Why is he seated so far forward?"

Some people were puzzled. They glanced at Zhu Ju, muttering quietly and asking those in the know beside them.

"His name is Zhu Ju," one person replied.

"They say he’s from the Capital City. He originally came here to visit relatives, then settled down in Yidu. He’s a famous, wealthy man in the city, and also a Mage."

"A rich Mage?" A person at the same table frowned.

"Everyone sitting at the front today shed blood and put in effort during the campaign to crush the General’s Mansion."

"What right does he have?"

"Exactly!"

"Since the General’s Mansion’s rebellion began, this Young Master Zhu has been missing. Now that victory is won, he shows up."

"Shhh..." someone whispered as a reminder.

"This Young Master Zhu also took action on the day Wan Zhengyang died. I heard he killed a Great Mage."

Hmm?

Killed a Great Mage?

Hearing this, the faces of the others at the table turned pale. They all fell silent and lowered their heads, focusing their attention on the pastries and fruits.

’Anyone who can kill a Great Mage must be a Great Mage himself.’

’If such an expert harbored any ill will toward them, they probably wouldn’t even know how they died.’

"Meng Zuo and Meng Tianyi of Celestial Star City have arrived!"

Outside the mansion gate.

The Guest Receptionist’s loud, enthusiastic voice rang out.

"Meng Zuo is the younger brother of Celestial Star City’s City Lord, and also a Great Mage," Ye Baici explained, knowing Zhu Ju wasn’t very familiar with the local Cultivation Realm.

"As for that Meng Tianyi, he’s the son of Celestial Star City’s City Lord. He’s already a Mage at such a young age."

"Heh..."

"I’m afraid Celestial Star City’s plans won’t come to fruition."

"Plans?" Zhu Ju asked.

"What plans?"

"To marry Situ Kongli, of course," Xie Changge chimed in with a smile.

"A marriage alliance between the two families would be mutually beneficial."

"However, City Lord Situ already plans for Situ Kongli to succeed him as City Lord, so it’s impossible for her to marry Meng Tianyi."

"Mmm..."

"The Situ Family will only accept a husband who marries into the family. And they would never accept someone from a major family like the Mengs, for fear of letting a wolf in the house."

Zhu Ju understood.

"Young Master Zhu," Ye Baici said in a low voice, her beautiful eyes darting.

"You, on the other hand, have a good chance."

"Indeed," Xie Changge nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Zhu is handsome and of a suitable age. Crucially, he doesn’t have a Noble Family background."

"If you can accept your future children taking the Situ surname, I believe the Situ Family would be delighted."

"..." Zhu Ju shook his head.

"Forget it."

’I can only stay in this Otherworld for a month at most. It’s impossible for me to get married and have children here.’

He changed the subject.

"Will that True Man from Celestial Star City make an appearance today?"

"Probably not," Xie Changge said.

"A True Man needs to suppress the alien aura within his body, so he’ll avoid making public appearances if he can. This is especially true after a fight, when he needs a period of quiet recuperation."

"An alien aura?" Zhu Ju asked.

"What’s the reason for that?"

"Young Master Zhu, do you know why the Demon Catcher organizations have thrived for thousands of years?" Xie Changge suddenly asked.

"And where do the Demons come from?"

Hmm?

Zhu Ju’s expression gradually grew solemn.

"True Men?"

"Not just True Men." Xie Changge’s expression was complicated.

"The Visualization Technique points directly at ’Demons’. Nearly all Cultivators have the potential to transform into a Demon."

"That’s why people like us Demon Catchers are needed."

He sighed and continued.

"A True Man’s Physical Body is reshaped; their Divine Soul and physical shell are transformed from the inside out. They are perpetually on the brink of madness, which is why they must expend immense energy suppressing the alien aura on their bodies."

"Otherwise..."

"...a True Man will become a Demon!"

In fact, many of the Demons causing trouble today were originally True Men.

It’s just that Demons have no reason. They mostly remain active in a specific area, so preparing an ambush to kill them isn’t difficult.

Killing True Men who have turned into Demons is one of the fundamental reasons for the Demon Catcher organizations’ existence.

’So that’s how it is?’

A strange feeling rose in Zhu Ju. His stomach churned violently, his face turned deathly pale, and he asked with a tremor of apprehension in his voice:

"So, you’re saying... the Demon Beast Flesh sold by Demon Catchers is actually human flesh?"

"It’s not that extreme," Xie Changge said, shaking his head.

"Humans transforming into Demons are a minority, after all. And there are signs beforehand, so they are eliminated early on."

"The Demon Beast Flesh sold in the market comes from actual Demon Beasts."

Phew...

Zhu Ju let out a long sigh of relief.

’That’s a relief!’

’Otherwise, if I thought all that Demon Beast Flesh I’ve eaten was actually human flesh, I’d probably throw it all up right here on the spot.’

"Zhu Yanshu and Zhu Hu of Silk Ridge have arrived!"

The Guest Receptionist’s loud, enthusiastic voice rang out again.

"Hmm?"

Xie Changge frowned.

"The people from Silk Ridge are here too?"

"They’re a faction based in the mountain forests between Yidu and Celestial Star. Their ancestor is a Spider True Man."

"It seems they’re another faction with their eyes on the Situ Family," Ye Baici said, glancing towards where Situ Kongli was.

"The great disaster has passed, but the calamity is not over!"

「Not long after.」

The people from Celestial Star City and Silk Ridge arrived one after another, presenting their congratulatory gifts to Yidu City’s City Lord Situ Sheng. The Guest Receptionist then arranged for them to be seated at the main tables.

Both parties had brought a Great Mage, and each had a handsome young man beside them.

Situ Kongli was seated opposite the two young men.

......

「After the banquet.」

"Young Master Zhu."

A maidservant led the way.

"This way, please."

"Thank you."

Zhu Ju nodded and followed her to a guest hall. Inside the room, Situ Kongli was busy with something.

"Young Master Zhu, you’ve arrived."

Seeing Zhu Ju, Situ Kongli gave him a radiant smile. She stopped what she was doing and brought over a scroll made of Beast Hide.

"For the battle that day, thank you for your help, Young Master Zhu."

"You’re too kind."

Zhu Ju clasped his hands.

"I just happened to be there at the right time."

"Hee hee..." Having dealt with Wan Zhengyang, that great threat to her family, Situ Kongli seemed to have brightened up. She spoke with a smile.

"Regardless, the Situ Family must thank you, Young Master Zhu."

"You saved my life, Young Master Zhu, and even provided the Iron Evil Stone to help the Situ Family reforge the Evil Soldier Weapon. Your contribution was immense."

"Here is the detailed explanation of the Visualization Image that you wanted, Young Master Zhu."

The detailed explanation of the Visualization Image was what Zhu Ju had requested after witnessing this world’s peak expert, a ’True Man’.

He wanted to know.

’What exactly is the Visualization Technique?’

’Why do Magicians who reach the peak of their Cultivation turn into Demons?’

’If they will inevitably turn into Demons, then the path of a Magician is clearly a dead end and should be abandoned.’

"Speaking of which, this was very hard to find. I searched the entire Library Pavilion to locate it. It has been a very, very long time since anyone has deeply researched the origin of the Visualization Image," Situ Kongli said with a smile, then produced several land deeds.

"In addition, there are a few residences left behind by Wan Zhengyang in the city. Two of them were untouched and remain in perfect condition. Please accept them as a token of our Situ Family’s gratitude."

’Wan Zhengyang’s residences?’

’They must be worth a fortune.’

Zhu Ju accepted them, his eyebrow raising slightly. These weren’t ordinary residences, but street-facing shops in a bustling district.

Whether he rented them out or sold them, they represented a great deal of wealth.

"Miss Situ."

After some thought, Zhu Ju spoke.

"I heard that after the General’s Mansion was destroyed, the Situ Family found many Magic techniques. I was wondering if I might be able to take a look?"

"This..." Situ Kongli looked surprised.

"With your strength, Young Master Zhu, unless it’s a top-tier inheritance, those Magic techniques should be of little use to you."

"I want to acquire a Divine Soul Secret Technique," Zhu Ju said directly.

"The price is negotiable."

"I’m afraid you wouldn’t be interested in an ordinary Divine Soul Secret Technique, Young Master Zhu." Situ Kongli lowered her head in thought.

"The Situ Family does have a Soul Capturing Technique. It is one of our family’s top Secret Techniques, but..."

"...such Methods are not passed on lightly."

Zhu Ju didn’t speak, just looked at her.

’Since she’s already mentioned the Method, there must be a way.’

And indeed there was.

"However, Young Master Zhu is no outsider. It’s not impossible for you to obtain the Method," Situ Kongli said with a smile.

"In a few days, if you accompany me out of the city and we kill a few remnants from the General’s Mansion, we’ll have a pretext and others won’t be able to say anything."

"Very well." Zhu Ju thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.

The two chatted for a few more sentences before Zhu Ju took his leave. As she watched him walk away, the smile on Situ Kongli’s face slowly faded.

"Daughter."

Situ Sheng’s figure had appeared behind her at some point. He asked:

"What do you think of this person?"

"His Cultivation is extraordinary, and his strength is remarkable," Situ Kongli said.

"However, this Young Master Zhu has a mysterious background, and he holds no romantic feelings for me. I fear he would not be a good partner."

"Mm." Situ Sheng nodded slowly.

"The other things don’t matter. The key is that his background is too mysterious; we can’t seem to find anything about him, no matter how we investigate."

"Let’s observe him a while longer."

He still had a year. There was no need to be hasty.