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A breath of cold mist was inhaled into Sun Sheng’s lungs.

Immediately, his face turned deathly pale. His body staggered backward six feet as he hunched over, icy white vapor streaming from his mouth and nose.

Frost formed on his hair and eyebrows, and he couldn’t stop shivering.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

Every breath he took felt like knives slicing through his lungs.

Sun Sheng quickly drew in a deep breath, forced himself to endure the pain, and held his breath.

The gray-clothed man, seeing his move had succeeded, let out a raspy laugh.

“A disciple of the South Sea Sect… Didn’t expect to run into one here.”

Qiong Aohai saw that Sun Sheng had been hit, and his internal energy surged violently. He launched his Crashing Wave Palm, putting everything on the line.

Wan Qing’s heart tensed. He took a step back, not daring to meet the blow head-on.

Qiong Aohai forced Wan Qing to retreat, then swept forward and grabbed Sun Sheng’s arm. Without hesitation, he crashed through the window with him.

The gray-clothed man made to pursue, but Wan Qing stopped him. “No need to chase.”

The gray-clothed man halted, his expression strange, and let out another raspy laugh.

The noise from the study drew the attention of the guards.

Soon, a clamor of shouts rang out in the courtyard.

Wan Qing glanced at Administrator Zhang and said, “Governor Zheng was killed by Qiong Aohai.”

“You know what to say, right?”

Governor Zhang nodded respectfully.

Satisfied, Wan Qing smiled and turned to the gray-clothed man. “Take a team. Wipe out the entire family of the Jingzhou prefect.”

“After the bloodbath, leave a message. Make up any excuse. Just say it was Zhang Shun, the White Stripe in the Waves.”

“He’s Nan Yiyun’s direct disciple. He’s trained in the Thousand Layers, Hundred Waves Technique. Send someone to ask Tianji Pavilion.”

“Find out who he really is. Get everything you can.”

The gray-clothed man nodded in understanding. With a couple of hoarse chuckles, he leapt out the window and vanished.

Wan Qing didn’t linger either. His figure flickered, and he disappeared from the study.

The guards from the Zhang residence rushed in, only to see the body of Governor Zheng lying on the ground and shattered fragments strewn across the room.

Seeing Governor Zhang unharmed, they all let out a sigh of relief.

Putting on a frightened facade, Governor Zhang said to the guards: “A bandit just broke in and killed Governor Zheng!”

“He escaped through the window. Go after him!”

The guards immediately charged toward the window.

As if suddenly remembering something, Governor Zhang shouted, “Before he died, Governor Zheng said the killer’s name was Qiong Aohai. Do any of you know him?”

The guards who had just reached the window all stumbled to a halt.

They looked at one another, stunned.

Qiong Aohai, the Peerless Divine Palm?

Hiss…

That’s a peak second-rank master!

The guards were no fools. Exchanging glances, they slowed their pace considerably but still shouted thunderously:

“Qiong Aohai! How dare you kill the Governor of Jingzhou!”

“Scoundrel! Where do you think you’re going!”

“Qiong Aohai, surrender now!”

Shouting loudly, the guards gave chase.

Governor Zhang slumped back into his chair, exhaling in relief.

He glanced at Zheng Hanwen’s lifeless body, those eyes still wide in death, and murmured: “Don’t blame me.”

“If you must, blame yourself… for knowing too much.”

Zheng Hanwen’s body lay twisted on the ground, his wide eyes fixed on Governor Zhang in deathly accusation.

---

Night had fallen deep and silent over Western Zhou.

Qiong Aohai carried Sun Sheng as he darted across rooftops.

He didn’t dare pause for a moment, flying at full speed with Sun Sheng in tow.

After some time, a ruined temple appeared ahead. Qiong Aohai slipped inside with him.

By now, Sun Sheng was almost frozen stiff, his gaze dull and lifeless.

He was hanging on by sheer will.

Qiong Aohai hurriedly set him down, sat cross-legged, and grabbed one of his hands, channeling internal energy into his body.

After about a quarter of an hour—

The frost clinging to Sun Sheng’s hair and brows melted into icy water.

“Phew…”

Sun Sheng exhaled deeply, finally coming to his senses.

Qiong Aohai pressed his palms together, regulating his breath and calming his energy.

A look of shock crossed Sun Sheng’s face.

“Second Brother, what technique was that just now?”

“It was terrifying.”

Qiong Aohai looked at him in surprise.

“Master never told you?”

“That was Mystic Ice Demonic Arts, a grandmaster-level cultivation technique once used by the Deputy Leader of the Demonic Sect.”

“This technique is brutal to train in, but its cold-based internal energy is second to none.”

“Master himself once suffered from a cold-inflicted injury.”

Realization dawned on Sun Sheng’s face.

So Nan Yiyun had crossed paths with this before too?

Sitting cross-legged, Qiong Aohai’s expression turned grave.

He spoke slowly, “Only high-ranking members of the Demonic Sect have access to the Mystic Ice Demonic Arts.”

“I’d say that gray-clothed man was at least late second-rank. The brocade invitation was no lie.”

“The Demonic Sect is rising again. No doubt they intend to deceive the masses and plunge the world into chaos!”

Sun Sheng leaned back, resting on his arms, and asked, “The Demonic Sect? What’s their deal?”

Having joined the Jianghu only recently, he had stayed around Lake Tai and didn’t know much about the older mysteries of Jianghu.

Qiong Aohai explained: “The Demonic Sect is also known as the Heartless Sect. All its members serve the Lady Heartless.”

“They believe that after suffering in life, if one prays sincerely to Lady Heartless, they will be taken to her divine kingdom after death…”

“No more reincarnation, just eternal bliss.”

“I don’t know the exact doctrine, just something my father once mentioned in passing.”

Qiong Aohai shook his head, deep in thought. “But why is Wan Qing working with the Demonic Sect?”

His brow furrowed, clearly puzzled.

Just then—

Rustle

—a soft noise came from outside the temple.

“Who’s there?!”

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai shouted in unison.

Both sprang to their feet and rushed out.

At the temple entrance stood a ragged little beggar clutching something in his hand, looking timidly at the two.

He placed the item on the ground and said in a small voice,

“Sirs… just now, someone gave me five copper coins to bring this here…”

The beggar looked about seven or eight years old, thin and frail, sallow and gaunt, fear written all over his face.

Sun Sheng and Qiong Aohai looked down at the item.

It was a brocade invitation.

Qiong Aohai’s heart sank. He stepped forward, picked it up, and swiftly scanned the contents.

His expression turned dark.

Sun Sheng leaned in to read over his shoulder.

“Disaster relief silver stolen. Demonic Sect frames the Haijing Gang. Beware of Golden Ring Blade – Lei Zhengyang.”

Sun Sheng’s heart dropped.

Disaster relief silver?

The Demonic Sect’s framing the Haijing Gang?

Golden Ring Blade, Lei Zhengyang…

Could it be one of the Three Great Catchers of the Six Doors, Golden Ring Blade Lei Zhengyang?

A first-rank master, on par with Murong Longyuan!

Sun Sheng stared at the invitation, his expression growing steely.

Qiong Aohai closed the invitation and grabbed the beggar’s arm. His expression was fierce and his eyes terrifying.

“What did the man look like?!”

The beggar whimpered in pain, tears streaming down his face. “I—I don’t know… He was wearing an eye patch…”

“That’s all I know…”