THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

Chapter Seventy-Five — Reborn in Diamond Bone

Qingming City. The Xue Clan estate.

Xue Dingtian dropped from the sky outside the main gates and immediately felt something wrong.

Too quiet.

The guards who normally watched the entrance were gone.

No servants crossed the courtyard.

No voices came from inside.

His heart sank.

He hurried through the estate and reached the main hall within moments.

There, seated calmly in the central seat as though he owned the place, was Ghost Seven.

The Nether Valley elder held a teacup in one hand, savoring the fragrance with leisurely indifference.

Xue Dingtian forced himself to remain composed. He stepped forward and cupped his fists.

“Elder Seven. Forgive this old man for failing to welcome you properly.”

Ghost Seven did not even look at him.

He took one slow sip.

Then slammed the cup onto the table.

Thud.

The sound struck Xue Dingtian’s heart like a hammer.

Only then did Ghost Seven glance sideways at him, a cold smile slowly forming.

“Xue Dingtian. Your Xue Clan has sheltered beneath Nether Valley for over a century. We never treated you poorly, did we?”

“Of course not,” Xue Dingtian said quickly. “Without Nether Valley’s support, the Xue Clan would never have today’s standing.”

Ghost Seven nodded lightly.

“Good. At least you remember.”

He rose and walked toward Xue Dingtian, gently patting his shoulder like an affectionate elder.

Then his fingers tightened.

His smile vanished.

“So why did your family collude with outsiders and steal Nether Valley’s Diamond Quicksand?”

Xue Dingtian’s knees weakened.

He dropped to the floor at once.

“Elder Seven, this must be a misunderstanding. The Xue Clan has always been loyal. We would never dare do such a thing.”

“You wouldn’t dare?” Ghost Seven laughed softly. “I might have believed that once.”

He turned and smashed the table with one palm.

Wood exploded into powder.

“Where is your granddaughter, Xue Ningxiang?”

Xue Dingtian’s mouth went dry.

He could not answer.

Ghost Seven smiled.

“I’ll answer for you.”

His voice turned colder.

“She and two little bastards stole my Diamond Quicksand. Then they died inside the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range.”

For a moment, regret flickered across Ghost Seven’s face.

The girl had been useful.

A suitable furnace.

Now both the Diamond Quicksand and the furnace were gone.

And so his anger naturally fell upon the Xue Clan.

“Bring them in.”

Three Bone Tempering cultivators entered, dragging heavy chains behind them.

At the end of those chains were three ruined men.

Xue Wanlong.

Xue Gang.

Xue Lin.

Iron hooks had pierced through their collarbones, locking their cultivation. Their bodies were covered in wounds. Blood stained their clothes. All three were barely conscious.

Xue Dingtian’s eyes reddened instantly.

“Elder Seven!”

His voice shook with rage.

“My Xue Clan served Nether Valley for a hundred years. We guarded Qingming City faithfully. Even if we earned no merit, we endured hardship. Is this how Nether Valley treats its affiliated clans?”

Ghost Seven chuckled.

“Affiliated clans?”

He looked at Xue Dingtian as though hearing something amusing.

“To Nether Valley, your Xue Clan was never an affiliated clan.”

His smile sharpened.

“You were useful dogs.”

Xue Dingtian trembled.

Ghost Seven continued calmly, “When a dog behaves, we toss it a bone. When it bites the hand that feeds it…”

His eyes turned murderous.

“We replace it.”

The old man’s aura erupted.

For the first time in his life, Xue Dingtian called him by name.

“Ghost Seven!”

He lifted his head, eyes burning.

“Tell me the truth. Ning’er’s marriage alliance… was it only a cover to make her your cultivation furnace?”

Ghost Seven blinked.

Then laughed.

“So you found out.”

That answer destroyed the last trace of restraint in Xue Dingtian’s heart.

“You bastard!”

He charged.

But rage was not strength.

Ghost Seven moved aside with effortless precision and struck him in the chest.

Bang.

Xue Dingtian spat blood and flew backward.

Before he could land, Ghost Seven was already in front of him.

Two more palms struck his chest.

Blood erupted from Xue Dingtian’s mouth.

Ghost Seven laughed.

“You really thought you could fight me? We may both be Heaven Profound cultivators, but you barely stepped into the realm. I am third-layer Heaven Profound.”

He raised his palm toward Xue Dingtian’s head.

“The difference between us is heaven and earth.”

Xue Dingtian closed his eyes.

At least Ning’er escaped.

That thought was his only comfort.

“Stop!”

A clear female voice cut through the hall.

Ghost Seven’s hand froze.

Everyone turned.

Xue Ningxiang stood at the entrance with a dagger pressed against her throat.

“You’re alive?”

Ghost Seven’s eyes lit up.

Surprise.

Then joy.

If she was alive, the furnace still existed.

Xue Ningxiang saw her father, her brothers, her grandfather.

All of them broken.

All of them chained.

Tears streamed down her face.

Then she looked at Ghost Seven, and grief hardened into hatred.

“You want me as your furnace, don’t you?”

She pressed the dagger deeper.

“Let my family go. Otherwise, I die here.”

Ghost Seven sneered.

“Little girl, don’t overestimate yourself. You are valuable, but not irreplaceable.”

Xue Ningxiang’s fingers trembled.

Then she remembered Zhuo Fan’s words.

She lifted her chin.

“You’re lying.”

Ghost Seven’s smile faded slightly.

“You don’t have enough furnaces. That’s why I’m valuable.”

She moved the blade again.

Blood ran down her throat.

“If you don’t care, then I’ll die with my family.”

“Ning’er, no!”

“Stop!”

Xue Dingtian and Ghost Seven shouted at the same time.

Xue Ningxiang laughed coldly through her tears.

“So Elder Seven does care.”

Ghost Seven’s eyes narrowed.

“That boy is alive too, isn’t he?”

Xue Ningxiang froze.

Then immediately said, “He died in the mountain range. If you want him, go search for his bones—if the spirit beasts left any.”

“Hmph. Don’t lie to me.”

Ghost Seven’s voice dropped.

“The only real loss I have suffered in years came from that brat. You are not clever enough to guess my weakness alone. He taught you.”

Xue Ningxiang said nothing.

After a long moment, Ghost Seven sighed.

“Fine. This time, I admit defeat. You caught my weakness.”

He looked at the chained Xue family members.

“I will not kill them.”

Xue Ningxiang’s eyes brightened.

“Truly?”

She had just taken one step forward when Ghost Seven’s hand flashed.

A heavy iron hook appeared in his grip and slammed downward.

“Aaah!”

Xue Dingtian screamed as the hook pierced through his collarbone.

His cultivation was sealed instantly.

“You promised!”

“I promised not to kill them,” Ghost Seven said calmly. “Your grandfather is still Heaven Profound. I can’t leave him free.”

His smile returned.

“Once you reach Nether Valley, I’ll release them.”

Xue Ningxiang stared at him, trembling with hatred.

“You’d better keep your word.”

“You are far too important for me to lie about something so small.”

Ghost Seven clapped.

“Take Miss Ning’er to rest. We leave for Nether Valley tomorrow morning.”

A refined young man walked in with two servants.

You Ming.

The same man who had once hidden under the name Yangming on Blackwind Mountain.

He glanced at Xue Ningxiang and smiled.

“So this is the furnace prepared for Senior Brother. Pretty enough.”

Xue Ningxiang ignored him.

She looked once more at her family, then followed the servants away.

As she passed, You Ming turned to Ghost Seven.

“Master, have you decided how to handle the Luo Clan? Their steward, Zhuo Fan, may become a serious problem.”

Xue Ningxiang’s steps slowed.

Ghost Seven’s eyes sharpened at the name.

“You never told anyone he killed two Nether Valley elders, correct?”

“No,” You Ming said. “No one would believe it anyway.”

“At first, neither did I.”

Ghost Seven smiled faintly.

“A Qi Gathering brat killing Heaven Profound elders sounded absurd. But a few months ago, I met another monster like that. He cost me dearly.”

His eyes turned cold.

“First, I’ll deal with this boy. Then I’ll find a way to deal with Zhuo Fan.”

Xue Ningxiang quickened her pace.

They still did not know.

The boy from the mountain range and Zhuo Fan of the Luo Clan were the same person.

But now Ghost Seven was targeting him from both sides.

That frightened her more than her own fate.

The night passed slowly.

Xue Ningxiang did not sleep.

At dawn, pale sunlight fell across the quiet Xue Clan courtyard.

Servants knocked on her door, urging her to wash and prepare for the journey.

Far away, in the first region of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, a hidden formation finally flickered.

A dark cave appeared from empty air.

A naked man staggered out.

Sunlight fell across his body.

Every line of muscle shimmered faintly with golden light.

Each step he took crushed the stone beneath his feet into powder.

He seemed exhausted.

Unsteady.

Almost drunk from pain and transformation.

He reached out to support himself against the cave wall.

Crack.

The entire cave wall shattered beneath his palm.

A moment later, the whole cave collapsed.

Stone rained down on him.

Then the man stood.

The boulders covering him broke apart like dry clay.

Zhuo Fan emerged from the rubble.

His face looked sharper than before, as if carved by blade and storm. His body radiated a metallic pressure, dense and terrifying.

When he opened his eyes, lightning flashed through them.

He looked down at himself.

Then smiled.

He tapped his own chest lightly.

Clang.

The sound was metal striking metal.

His new body had been forged with Diamond Quicksand.

Its toughness was no weaker than a fifth-grade spirit weapon.

Then he touched his forehead.

A wisp of azure flame appeared.

The mysterious flame had fused with his soul. It was no longer an outside power hiding inside him.

It was his.

His soul flame.

His protection.

His weapon.

Zhuo Fan’s smile deepened.

This refinement had nearly killed him.

But the reward exceeded even his expectations.

He had shed his old body.

His bones had been reforged.

His flesh had been reborn.

Even Heaven Profound cultivators could no longer injure him so easily.

Then his back trembled.

A pair of wings burst open behind him.

Each stretched nearly three meters long.

Blue lightning crackled across the feathers.

Thundercloud Sparrow wings.

He had refined them directly into his body.

Speed had always been the greatest gap between him and Heaven Profound experts.

Not anymore.

At this moment, Zhuo Fan was no longer merely a cultivator.

He was a monster with wings.

A true monster.

A flash of light passed through his ring.

A fresh black robe appeared over his body.

Then he bent his knees slightly.

Boom.

The ground shattered beneath him.

Zhuo Fan shot toward Qingming City as a streak of lightning.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the sky.

[End of Chapter Seventy-Five]

Chapter Seventy-Six — Round Two

“The bride departs!”

The shrill cry echoed outside the Xue Clan estate as the gates slowly opened.

Xue Ningxiang stepped out between two maids.

Every influential figure in Qingming City had gathered outside to watch.

Ghost Seven stood near the front with You Ming at his side, both wearing calm smiles while surveying the crowd like nobles inspecting loyal subjects.

Everyone present understood what this ceremony truly meant.

This was not merely a marriage alliance.

It was a declaration of loyalty toward Nether Valley.

And so every clan leader wore exaggerated smiles, offering congratulations as though witnessing some glorious blessing.

Some even looked emotional.

As if the Xue Clan had ascended into greatness overnight.

Pathetic.

Xue Ningxiang almost wanted to laugh.

None of them knew.

None of them understood.

They looked at her like a phoenix flying into the heavens.

But the place she was heading toward was hell.

Today she wore a simple bridal robe.

No heavy makeup.

No elaborate ornaments.

Only light traces of powder along her brows.

Yet somehow, that simplicity made her even more beautiful.

Pure.

Fragile.

Untouchable.

Like a white orchid blooming at the edge of a graveyard.

For a moment, the entire crowd fell silent staring at her.

Even Ghost Seven narrowed his eyes faintly.

This furnace truly was exceptional.

Xue Ningxiang slowly turned toward him.

“Elder Seven is coming personally too?”

“Of course.”

Ghost Seven smiled gently.

“You’re marrying into Nether Valley. Naturally, this old man must personally escort you safely back.”

The surrounding crowd immediately erupted into admiration again.

A Nether Valley elder personally escorting a bride?

What honor.

What importance.

Only Xue Ningxiang understood the truth.

Escort?

No.

This was surveillance.

Ghost Seven was terrified she might escape.

Still…

A tiny sense of relief appeared in her heart.

At least while Ghost Seven remained away from Qingming City, Zhuo Fan and Xie Tianyang would have a better chance of escaping safely.

But then—

Ghost Seven suddenly smiled sideways.

As though reading her thoughts directly.

“Oh, right.”

His voice turned almost playful.

“Before leaving Qingming City, I already sealed every exit route around the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range.”

“Even your hidden passage.”

“Until this old man returns…”

“…those two little rats won’t escape.”

Xue Ningxiang’s face turned pale instantly.

That hidden route was known only to her family.

Which meant—

Ghost Seven had extracted the information from her father or brothers.

Her hands trembled.

Now Zhuo Fan truly had nowhere left to run.

“Elder Seven…”

She bit her lip hard.

“I still have one condition—”

“You have nothing left to bargain with.”

Ghost Seven interrupted her coldly.

“Your life already bought your family’s survival.”

“It cannot buy anyone else.”

He waved toward a massive bridal sedan nearby.

“Please, Miss Ning’er.”

The carriage stood surrounded by over fifty Bone Tempering experts.

Absolute security.

Absolute control.

Xue Ningxiang stared at the carriage silently.

One step.

That was all it would take.

One step and her life would end.

Then suddenly—

Crackle.

The Lightning Spirit Ring on her finger burst with bright azure electricity.

Her eyes widened violently.

No.

Impossible.

Her heart nearly stopped.

“Don’t come out!”

She shouted toward empty air instinctively.

The surrounding crowd froze in confusion.

Only Ghost Seven’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He looked less surprised than excited.

Like a predator sensing prey approaching willingly.

“Ning’er!”

A furious roar exploded through the square.

“I’m here to save you!”

Boom!

A figure descended from the rooftops with sword light blazing around him.

Xie Tianyang.

The Brightstar Sword erupted with terrifying sword intent as he slashed directly toward Ghost Seven.

The pressure alone forced the nearby crowd backward in panic.

Ghost Seven merely sneered.

“So you survived too.”

His expression remained completely calm.

“But a mere Bone Tempering brat daring to challenge this old man?”

“You really are tired of living.”

He raised one hand casually.

Violent black wind erupted outward instantly.

The terrifying palm pressure distorted the air itself.

Xie Tianyang’s sword trembled violently beneath the impact.

His original unstoppable momentum shattered almost immediately.

But instead of retreating—

He twisted the sword midair and brought it down with both hands.

A golden sword arc exploded outward.

“Ruptured Void!”

The strike tore directly through Ghost Seven’s palm pressure.

Ghost Seven’s pupils contracted slightly.

Sword Marquis Manor’s Empty Spirit Nine Forms.

Without hesitation, he vanished sideways instantly.

Boom!

The massive bridal sedan behind him exploded into splinters beneath the sword strike.

Ghost Seven reappeared behind Xie Tianyang with narrowed eyes.

“You’re from Sword Marquis Manor?”

“At your age…”

“…to inherit the Empty Spirit Nine Forms…”

“…you must be one of their direct descendants.”

“Hmph.”

Xie Tianyang swung backward instantly.

“Mind your own business.”

This sword strike carried no violent momentum.

Instead—

Everything around them suddenly felt sluggish.

Still.

Frozen.

Only the sword itself continued moving forward.

Silent.

Absolute.

“Still Void.”

Ghost Seven’s expression darkened slightly.

This strike was far more dangerous.

Unfortunately—

Dangerous did not mean enough.

The gap between Bone Tempering and Heaven Profound was simply too massive.

Ghost Seven vanished again.

Then reappeared directly before Xie Tianyang.

Too fast.

Xie Tianyang’s eyes widened.

Boom!

One palm struck his chest.

Blood exploded from Xie Tianyang’s mouth as he flew backward violently.

Before he could stand—

Five Bone Tempering experts rushed forward simultaneously and pinned him to the ground.

Every one of them matched his cultivation.

Ghost Seven slowly approached him.

“If not for Sword Marquis Manor…”

“…you’d already be dead.”

Xie Tianyang spat blood directly onto Ghost Seven’s robes.

“Then kill me.”

His eyes burned fiercely.

“But once Sword Marquis Manor learns what happened…”

“…Nether Valley won’t stay peaceful either.”

Ghost Seven slowly wiped away the blood.

His expression darkened.

“You really think I fear Sword Marquis Manor?”

His killing intent surged.

“You invaded my territory first.”

“Even if I kill you…”

“…Sword Marquis Manor won’t have grounds to complain.”

He raised one hand toward Xie Tianyang’s head.

“N—NO!”

Xue Ningxiang screamed desperately.

But Ghost Seven’s palm continued descending.

Then—

“STOP!”

A thunderous roar echoed across the square.

Golden sword light split downward from the sky.

Ghost Seven’s expression changed instantly.

He retreated several meters without hesitation.

Boom!

The earth exploded apart where he previously stood.

A deep sword scar cut through the street itself.

Then an old man slowly descended beside Xie Tianyang.

White hair.

Missing fingers.

Sharp sword aura.

Sword Marquis Manor’s Eighth Sword Elder—

Jian Suifeng.

“Eighth Elder!”

Xie Tianyang shouted in relief.

Ghost Seven narrowed his eyes.

“Jian Suifeng.”

“Fifty years.”

“You’re still alive.”

Jian Suifeng snorted coldly.

“I was doing fine until I saw your face again.”

The hatred in his eyes felt almost tangible.

Ghost Seven smiled mockingly.

Meanwhile, Xie Tianyang grabbed Jian Suifeng urgently.

“Eighth Elder!”

“Save Ning’er!”

The old man glanced toward Xue Ningxiang briefly.

Then shook his head.

“This is Nether Valley’s internal matter.”

“We don’t interfere.”

“What?!”

Xie Tianyang froze.

Ghost Seven laughed softly.

“Yes.”

“Wise words.”

Then he looked toward Jian Suifeng with amusement.

“You should teach your young master properly.”

“Interfering in other people’s affairs…”

“…comes with consequences.”

His eyes flickered briefly toward Jian Suifeng’s missing fingers.

Everyone present understood instantly.

Fifty years ago—

Jian Suifeng lost three fingers to Ghost Seven.

Jian Suifeng’s face darkened immediately.

“If not for your schemes back then…”

Ghost Seven interrupted him with a grin.

“Young people are always reckless.”

Before the old man could answer, You Ming stepped forward smiling.

“I heard the story too.”

“You lost those fingers over a woman from one of our affiliated clans, correct?”

“A pity.”

“The manor lord traded three cities just to buy you back.”

Jian Suifeng’s aura erupted instantly.

“Enough!”

Ghost Seven smirked.

“What?”

“You want another fight?”

His voice became colder.

“Fifty years ago you weren’t my opponent.”

“You certainly aren’t now.”

“Second-layer Heaven Profound against third-layer Heaven Profound…”

“…the difference only grew larger.”

Jian Suifeng’s fists tightened violently.

Yet eventually—

He exhaled slowly.

“Xie Tianyang.”

“We leave.”

“What?!”

Xie Tianyang stared at him in disbelief.

“You’re seriously abandoning Ning’er?”

“Shut up.”

Jian Suifeng glared at him.

“He’s provoking us intentionally.”

“This is Nether Valley territory.”

“If we fight here, Sword Marquis Manor loses no matter the outcome.”

Then he lowered his voice sharply.

“Remember this.”

“Ghost Seven is vicious, cunning, and patient.”

“When facing him…”

“…you must think ten steps ahead.”

Xie Tianyang trembled with rage.

But eventually—

He slowly lowered his head.

Then looked toward Xue Ningxiang again.

If he left now…

…he would regret it forever.

Ghost Seven suddenly laughed.

“Well said.”

Then he clapped lightly.

“If young Master Xie loves playing hero so much…”

“…perhaps I should give him a better opportunity.”

Four enormous wooden crosses were pushed into the square.

Bound upon them—

The entire Xue family.

Hooks pierced through their flesh.

Blood soaked their bodies.

“Grandfather!”

“Father!”

“Brothers!”

Xue Ningxiang screamed instantly.

Ghost Seven smiled.

“Now then…”

“…save them.”

He raised one hand.

“Begin.”

Rip.

Rip.

Rip.

The executioners yanked the iron hooks upward through flesh.

Screams exploded across the square.

The hooks tore through ankles.

Legs.

Waists.

Blood poured down the wooden crosses nonstop.

Even Xue Dingtian screamed in agony.

Xue Ningxiang collapsed onto her knees immediately.

“STOP!”

“I’ll go willingly!”

“I’ll obey!”

Ghost Seven looked down at her coldly.

“If you die…”

“…they die too.”

Her entire body trembled violently.

Hopelessness swallowed her completely.

Nearby, You Ming crouched beside her with a mocking smile.

“You really thought you could negotiate with my master?”

“He’s Nether Valley’s greatest strategist.”

“You’re far too naive.”

His voice softened cruelly.

“You found his weakness.”

“But don’t forget…”

“…your weakness was always in his hands too.”

Xue Ningxiang stared blankly ahead.

The despair in her eyes slowly hollowed out.

Everything she tried only made things worse.

She could not save anyone.

Not her family.

Not herself.

Not Zhuo Fan.

Not anyone.

Tears rolled endlessly down her face.

“Someone…”

Her voice sounded broken.

“…please…”

“Someone save us…”

Nearby—

Xie Tianyang dropped heavily to his knees.

For the first time in his life, tears streamed openly down his face.

He finally understood.

Zhuo Fan was right.

Even if he came here—

He could do nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

“I’m the real coward…”

He slammed his fist into the ground.

Blood dripped from his knuckles.

“Zhuo Fan…”

“…where the hell are you?”

Crackle.

Crackle.

Suddenly—

The Lightning Spirit Rings on both Xie Tianyang and Xue Ningxiang erupted simultaneously with blinding light.

Far brighter than before.

The third ring was near.

Xie Tianyang’s eyes widened instantly.

“He’s here.”

Xue Ningxiang trembled violently.

“Big Brother Zhuo…”

Boom.

The clear sky exploded with thunder.

Everyone looked upward instinctively.

A bolt of azure lightning crashed down directly into the center of the execution grounds.

The explosion blasted the executioners backward instantly.

Dust and lightning filled the square.

Then slowly—

A figure emerged from the smoke.

Black robes.

Lightning wings.

A smile colder than death itself.

Zhuo Fan.

He looked directly at Ghost Seven.

Then grinned.

“Ghost Seven.”

“Last round…”

“…I lost.”

Lightning crackled violently around his body.

“But Round Two?”

His eyes sharpened like blades.

“Let’s fight.”

[End of Chapter Seventy-Six]