THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS
Chapter Thirty-Five — One Man Holding the Gate

BOOM!

The courtyard gates exploded inward under a heavy kick.

Yang Ming stormed inside alongside the bandits of Black Wind Mountain, their killing intent rolling forward like a wave.

“Take the Returning Dragon Palm manual,” Yang Ming ordered coldly. “Leave no one from the Luo family alive.”

“Yes, Young Master!”

The bandits roared in response and surged forward immediately.

Then—

A soft gust of wind swept through the courtyard.

Zhuo Fan descended slowly from the rooftop and landed directly in front of them.

“You should turn back,” he said calmly. “This road ends in death.”

The bandits froze instinctively.

Yang Ming stepped forward slowly, staring at Zhuo Fan with cold amusement.

“You’re from the Luo family?”

Zhuo Fan nodded lightly.

“Luo family steward,” he replied. “Zhuo Fan.”

Yang Ming blinked once.

Then his lips slowly curled upward.

“So you’re Zhuo Fan?” His smile became increasingly vicious. “Interesting. I was planning to look for you later.”

“You saved me the trouble.”

He waved a hand lazily.

“Kill him. Whoever brings me his head will be heavily rewarded.”

“Yes!”

The moment the order fell, one bandit charged forward immediately.

He kicked off the ground like a cannonball and rushed directly toward Zhuo Fan.

Zhuo Fan barely even looked at him.

Qi Gathering Second Layer.

Yet he still dared rush ahead first?

Foolish.

Whoosh!

Before the bandit even reached him, Zhuo Fan’s hand flashed forward and seized his throat instantly.

Then—

He activated the Heaven-Demon Great Transformation Art.

Black mist erupted outward.

The surrounding bandits watched in horror as the man dissolved completely within moments.

Not flesh.

Not blood.

Nothing remained.

Only drifting ash.

Even the corpse vanished.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Yang Ming’s heart trembled violently.

He had spent years among demonic cultivators inside Nether Valley, yet even there, he had never witnessed such horrifying methods.

As for the bandits—

Many were already retreating unconsciously.

Zhuo Fan had only killed one insignificant person.

But the sheer brutality of the method shattered their courage instantly.

“That’s…”

Yang Ming’s pupils contracted.

“A supreme demonic art.”

His expression finally turned serious.

“Who exactly are you?” he demanded coldly. “The Luo family could never produce someone like you.”

Zhuo Fan chuckled faintly.

Then, pretending to stroke a nonexistent beard, he suddenly shifted into an aged voice.

“Young man…”

“I’m only an old wandering swindler.”

“Don’t you remember?”

Yang Ming froze.

Then realization struck him immediately.

“It’s you!”

The second-grade alchemist Lei Yuting had brought back.

But if this old man was here—

Then that meant…

Killing intent flashed through Yang Ming’s eyes.

“Where are the other two?”

Zhuo Fan naturally knew who he meant.

He smiled lazily.

“Use your brain.” His eyes narrowed mockingly. “If I’m standing here, then naturally I brought them with me.”

Yang Ming’s heart tightened instantly.

If the old mountain chief and Lei Yuting appeared now—

Then the Black Wind Mountain bandits behind him would lose control immediately.

“Big mistake…” Yang Ming muttered darkly. “I should’ve killed those two sooner.”

His aura exploded outward violently.

Bone Tempering Stage.

The force alone pushed the nearby bandits back several meters.

Yet Zhuo Fan remained perfectly calm.

“You won’t attack recklessly,” he said lightly. “Because you still haven’t seen Xiao Cui.”

Yang Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“You hid in Black Wind Mountain for years,” Zhuo Fan continued calmly. “That means you’re cautious by nature. Someone like you would never leave loose ends behind.”

His smile deepened.

“You haven’t confirmed where Xiao Cui is yet.”

“So how could you possibly kill her master?”

“As for me…”

“I naturally wouldn’t mind keeping her alive either.”

Yang Ming’s heart shook violently.

They had never met before.

Yet Zhuo Fan understood his personality terrifyingly well.

It felt as though the other man could see directly through his thoughts.

Even Nether Valley’s elders had never made him feel this uncomfortable.

A person like this—

Could not be allowed to live.

Meanwhile, the surrounding bandits were already beginning to look suspicious.

Yang Ming understood immediately.

This conversation could not continue.

Otherwise, his identity would be exposed completely.

Without another word—

He attacked.

Boom!

Yang Ming shot forward instantly toward Zhuo Fan.

Yes, Zhuo Fan’s demonic cultivation techniques were terrifying.

But Yang Ming had already seen through his cultivation.

Qi Gathering Fourth Layer.

Nothing more.

Against a Bone Tempering expert—

One strike would be enough.

Seeing him charge directly forward, Zhuo Fan pretended to panic and retreated hurriedly.

“You’re a Bone Tempering cultivator!” he shouted indignantly. “And you’re using full strength immediately? Have some shame!”

Yang Ming only sneered.

“You think I’m like that useless trash You Quan?”

His finger thrust forward.

Thunder exploded.

“Spirit Rank Low-Tier Martial Skill — Thunderclap Finger!”

Yang Ming clearly intended to kill Zhuo Fan instantly.

But right as the attack reached him—

Zhuo Fan suddenly stopped retreating.

Then he spread his arms casually.

A strange smile appeared on his face.

Yang Ming’s instincts screamed instantly.

Something was wrong.

But by then, it was already too late.

BZZZZT—

Golden light erupted around Zhuo Fan instantly.

A barrier formed around him completely.

The moment Yang Ming touched it—

BOOM!

He was blasted backward violently, blood spraying from his mouth.

“What the hell—?!”

Yang Ming stared in disbelief at the golden barrier.

He had seen clearly.

Zhuo Fan had blocked him using only a single finger.

How was this possible?

Wasn’t this bastard only Qi Gathering Stage?

Didn’t You Quan nearly kill him before?

Then how had he suddenly become this monstrous?

Zhuo Fan smiled faintly.

His hand seals slowly began forming.

“You’re slightly stronger than You Quan,” he said calmly. “But trash is still trash.”

His eyes suddenly filled with killing intent.

“And trash…”

“…dies.”

The word crashed down like a blade.

At the same instant—

His hand seals completed.

ROAR!

A golden dragon burst upward from beneath the earth itself and soared into the sky before diving directly toward Yang Ming and the others.

Terrifying pressure crashed downward instantly.

The surrounding bandits dropped to their knees one after another, unable to stand.

Yang Ming stared upward in horror.

Then he almost cursed aloud.

The clan had completely screwed him over.

Wasn’t Zhuo Fan supposed to rely only on sneak attacks?

Then what was this?

Once that dragon descended—

Everyone here would be reduced to paste.

This was power that only Profound Heaven experts should possess.

The Black Wind Mountain bandits nearly cried from despair.

Hadn’t Nether Valley promised all the experts had already been lured away?

Then where the hell did this monster come from?

The Seven Noble Houses truly couldn’t be trusted.

“Stop!”

Suddenly, a young girl’s voice rang out sharply.

The bandits immediately felt hope rise in their hearts.

Miss Lei!

But Zhuo Fan merely snorted coldly.

The dragon continued descending without slowing at all.

Then suddenly—

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Dozens of black chains exploded from the dark clouds above.

Like a giant hand, they wrapped around the golden dragon instantly.

The chains tightened violently.

And the dragon shattered apart.

Zhuo Fan’s pupils contracted slightly.

He looked upward immediately.

Those dark clouds—

Were exactly where Nether Valley’s three elders had disappeared earlier.

So one of them had remained behind.

“Kekeke…”

A strange laugh echoed from the clouds.

Then a black-robed figure descended slowly before landing directly in front of Yang Ming.

At the same time, Lei Yuting rushed over and stopped beside Zhuo Fan.

“I told you to stop earlier!”

Zhuo Fan did not even glance at her.

“Anyone standing against me is an enemy.” His tone remained indifferent. “Why should I listen to you?”

Lei Yuting bit her lip angrily.

Meanwhile, the black-robed man sighed lightly.

“Jian Fan insisted I stay behind and watch Black Wind Mountain.” He chuckled strangely. “I thought it would be an easy task.”

His gaze locked onto Zhuo Fan.

“Turns out there really was a reason.”

“Nether,” he ordered casually, “step back.”

“No.”

You Ming stared directly at Zhuo Fan.

“I said I would personally take his head for Junior Brother You Quan.”

SLAP!

Without warning, the black-robed elder backhanded him across the face.

You Ming flew more than ten meters instantly.

“You?”

The elder looked at him with naked contempt.

“You think you’re qualified?”

You Ming froze completely.

The elder’s gaze toward him held no warmth whatsoever.

Only cold disdain.

Even inside Nether Valley, You Ming had always been treated as a top disciple.

No elder had ever looked at him this way before.

“Why…?” he asked hoarsely.

The black-robed elder snorted.

“Before today, I thought your talent and scheming ability made you worthwhile.” He glanced toward Zhuo Fan. “But after seeing this boy…”

His lips curled slightly.

“You don’t even compare to an ant.”

Then he turned fully toward Zhuo Fan.

“Young man,” he said calmly, “I’ll give you a chance.”

“Join Nether Valley.”

“And every grudge between us disappears.”

His sleeve flicked backward casually.

Black chains exploded outward instantly, wrapping around dozens of fleeing bandits.

Crunch.

The chains tightened.

Bodies exploded apart like crushed insects.

Blood rained across the courtyard.

“Otherwise…”

The elder smiled darkly.

“…you end up like them.”

The remaining bandits screamed and fled immediately.

Lei Yuting stared furiously at the black-robed elder.

Zhuo Fan, however, only touched his chin thoughtfully.

“If Nether Valley needs Black Wind Mountain as cover,” he asked casually, “why kill them?”

The elder laughed hoarsely.

“You’re smart enough to understand already.”

His voice became colder.

“Now that the operation is exposed, it’s better for suspicion to fall on us…”

“…than leave behind living witnesses with evidence.”

“Us?” Zhuo Fan narrowed his eyes slightly. “Who exactly is ‘us’?”

The elder shook his head slowly.

“Join Nether Valley.”

“And you’ll know.”

Zhuo Fan burst into laughter.

“Nether Valley?”

He pointed lazily toward You Ming.

“In my eyes, Nether Valley is no different from what he is in yours.”

“Worthless.”

You Ming’s expression twisted instantly.

The elder’s face darkened as well.

“You’re not afraid of death?”

Zhuo Fan grinned faintly.

“Do you actually have the ability to kill me?”

The elder exploded instantly.

“You arrogant little bastard!”

His palm smashed downward violently.

Golden light erupted around Zhuo Fan again, blocking the attack directly.

Nearby, You Ming stared at everything with burning hatred.

Earlier, he had been Nether Valley’s chosen genius sent to Black Wind Mountain for this mission.

But now—

The moment Zhuo Fan appeared—

Everything changed.

Even the elder had discarded him completely.

“Zhuo Fan…”

You Ming wiped the blood from his mouth slowly.

“Just wait.”

Then he turned and left.

Lei Yuting immediately chased after him.

Soon, both disappeared into the darkness.

Zhuo Fan watched silently while continuing to battle the black-robed elder through the formation.

Then he sighed softly.

“Stupid girl…”

At the same time—

He quietly sent the Blood Infant after them.

[End of Chapter Thirty-Five]

Chapter Thirty-Six — Battle Against Profound Heaven

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The black-robed elder struck three times in succession.

Each palm came down with enough force to crush stone into powder, and each time Zhuo Fan’s hands moved faster than thought, forming seals that raised a layer of golden light before him.

The blows slammed against the barrier one after another.

The courtyard shook.

After more than twenty exchanges, the black-robed elder finally stopped in midair and looked down with a cold smile.

“For someone so young, you control the Coiling Dragon Formation well. Very well.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Unfortunately, you met me.”

He vanished downward.

Zhuo Fan formed another seal.

Golden light gathered instantly into a shield.

But this time, the elder had already seen through the rhythm. His palm struck harder than before.

BOOM!

The barrier shattered.

The black-robed elder charged straight through without slowing.

“The power of a Profound Heaven expert,” he said coldly, “is not something a Qi Gathering brat can imagine.”

Zhuo Fan’s lips curved.

“And the power of a fifth-grade formation,” he murmured, “is not something a half-trained array reader like you can understand.”

His hand seal changed.

“First Heaven.”

ROAR!

The earth split with a violent tremor.

A golden dragon burst from beneath the courtyard and shot straight toward the black-robed elder.

The elder sneered.

He had seen this trick already.

With a flick of his sleeve, dozens of black chains shot out and wrapped around the dragon. The chains tightened.

The dragon shattered.

But before the fragments had faded, Zhuo Fan’s seal changed again.

“Second Heaven.”

ROAR! ROAR!

Two golden dragons erupted from the ground and lunged at him from opposite sides.

The elder’s expression shifted.

This was not the Coiling Dragon Formation he knew.

Still, he raised both sleeves. Black chains lashed outward, whipping the two dragons apart.

Zhuo Fan did not stop.

“Third Heaven.”

Three dragons rose.

“Fourth Heaven.”

Four dragons tore into the air.

“Fifth Heaven.”

“Sixth Heaven.”

The roars came one after another, each heavier than the last.

By the time Zhuo Fan spoke the final command—

“Ninth Heaven.”

Nine golden dragons circled above the courtyard.

Their massive bodies coiled through the night sky, roaring over Windforest City like ancient beasts awakened beneath the earth.

Every major clan in the city shut their doors and hid in silence.

No one dared look too long.

No one dared breathe too loudly.

The black-robed elder stared at the nine dragons, his face finally turning grave.

“This is not the Coiling Dragon Formation.”

Zhuo Fan exhaled slowly.

“This is the fifth-grade formation,” he said. “Nine Heavens Coiling Dragon Formation.”

His eyes lifted.

“If you have the courage, break it.”

The elder stared at him.

Then he laughed.

A mad, greedy laugh.

“Interesting. Very interesting.” His gaze burned. “A boy your age can control a fifth-grade formation. Zhuo Fan, you surprise me more and more.”

He leaned forward slightly.

“I’ll ask one last time. Join Nether Valley.”

Zhuo Fan’s answer was immediate.

“That broken little hole?”

He sneered.

“I don’t like it.”

The elder’s laughter stopped.

“Then you cannot live.”

He shot downward like a falling star.

This time, he no longer held back.

Zhuo Fan understood that look.

The man had stopped trying to recruit him.

Now he wanted to erase him.

His hands moved.

The nine golden dragons dove at once, arriving before Zhuo Fan even faster than the elder.

Their tails swept out together.

The air screamed.

The black-robed elder’s face changed. He threw both sleeves forward, black chains surging like a storm.

BOOM!

Chains and dragon tails collided.

The sky trembled.

The elder was blasted backward more than thirty yards before he stabilized himself, blood spilling from his mouth.

Zhuo Fan looked up at him with cold contempt.

“That’s all?”

His voice was quiet.

“And Nether Valley made you an elder?”

The elder’s face twisted.

For a Profound Heaven expert to be forced back by a Qi Gathering junior — if this spread, he would become a joke across the empire.

“You little bastard…”

His eyes turned red.

“Even if you kneel and beg now, I’ll still kill you.”

A dark flash appeared in his hand.

A circular golden wheel emerged, roughly the width of a man’s arm. Its edge was lined with vicious teeth, and a sinister aura rolled from it in waves.

Zhuo Fan’s pupils narrowed.

“A demonic treasure.”

The elder smiled.

“That’s right.”

Zhuo Fan gave a mocking laugh.

“A Nether Valley elder needs a demonic treasure to deal with a Qi Gathering junior? If this gets out, the Seven Houses will laugh themselves sick.”

The elder’s grin widened.

“No living witnesses.”

“Then nothing gets out.”

Zhuo Fan’s expression sank.

He had tried to provoke him.

But this man was still a Demon Path cultivator.

Shameless. Practical. Ruthless.

Exactly the sort of opponent Zhuo Fan hated dealing with most — because it was like fighting a worse version of himself.

“Hehehe…”

The elder rushed forward.

“Die.”

Zhuo Fan formed seals again. The nine dragons swept their tails down.

But the golden wheel released a burst of silver light.

The elder’s speed exploded.

Like a crescent blade cutting through the night, he slipped between the nine dragon tails in an instant.

SHHK!

All nine golden dragons were severed at once.

“So fast.”

Zhuo Fan’s heart tightened.

The demonic treasure was increasing his speed.

Before he could form another seal, silver light flashed before him.

The black-robed elder appeared at arm’s length, his smile savage.

“No more running.”

The wheel spun toward Zhuo Fan’s neck, its serrated edge bright and cold.

“Third-grade demonic treasure?” Zhuo Fan said.

“Good eye.” The elder laughed. “You’ll be the first Qi Gathering cultivator to die beneath my Evil Moon Wheel.”

“Wait.” Zhuo Fan raised a hand. “If I join Nether Valley now—”

“Too late.”

The Evil Moon Wheel fell.

For the first time since his rebirth, Zhuo Fan felt a trace of real unwillingness.

He had only just returned to life.

Was he going to die again here?

He closed his eyes.

BOOM!

Thunder exploded in front of him.

Zhuo Fan opened his eyes.

A tall old man stood between him and the Evil Moon Wheel.

Blood ran down the old man’s arm.

The black-robed elder frowned.

“Who are you?”

The old man raised his head, lightning crackling around his body.

“Black Wind Mountain.”

His voice was rough, but full of power.

“Lei Yuntian.”

He stepped forward.

“Anyone who attacks the Luo family is my enemy.”

Only then did Zhuo Fan recognize him.

The mountain chief.

The half-dead old man from Black Wind Mountain now stood upright, his aura surging like thunder before a storm.

“You recovered?” Zhuo Fan asked.

Lei Yuntian laughed.

“Thanks to Steward Zhuo, this old man not only recovered.”

His eyes burned.

“I broke into the Profound Heaven Realm.”

Zhuo Fan’s face brightened.

This was exactly what he needed.

The black-robed elder sneered.

“A Qi Gathering brat and an old man who just broke through.” He lifted the Evil Moon Wheel. “You think that changes anything?”

“Maybe not.”

Zhuo Fan smiled.

His hands began forming seals again.

Nine golden dragons rose once more into the sky.

“Old Master Lei,” Zhuo Fan said calmly, “follow my command.”

His eyes sharpened.

“This time, we kill him.”

Lei Yuntian looked at him for one breath.

Then nodded.

“Good.”

The black-robed elder burst into laughter.

“You think this formation can still threaten me? I’ve already broken it once.”

Zhuo Fan’s smile did not move.

“I never calculate people by fixed rules.”

He looked at Lei Yuntian.

“Move.”

Lei Yuntian charged without hesitation.

“Thunderclap Finger!”

Lightning roared from his fingertip.

The black-robed elder flicked his sleeve, sending black chains straight at him. If they landed, Lei Yuntian would be crippled, if not killed.

But the nine golden dragons descended at the same time.

The elder had no choice but to rise.

Silver light flashed.

The Evil Moon Wheel cut through the nine dragons again.

Then the elder shot toward Zhuo Fan.

“Better to kill you first.”

He was too fast.

Zhuo Fan had no time to complete another seal.

But Lei Yuntian appeared in front of him again, his Thunderclap Finger aimed directly at the elder’s throat.

“Seeking death!”

The Evil Moon Wheel turned toward Lei Yuntian’s neck.

Lei Yuntian smiled.

He did not retreat.

Even if Zhuo Fan had used him as bait, he accepted it.

For the Luo family, this death was worth it.

The wheel was about to take his head.

Then Zhuo Fan finished the final seal.

He bit his tongue and spat blood into the air.

“Hmph.”

His voice turned cold.

“Let me show you the true power of the Nine Heavens Coiling Dragon Formation.”

The severed golden dragons suddenly dissolved into countless streams of light.

All of it rushed back toward the center of the formation.

For one instant, the world went silent.

Then an ancient dragon roar tore through the sky.

A colossal golden dragon erupted from the ground — larger than the previous nine combined, its body wrapped in golden fire and old pressure.

The black-robed elder’s pupils shrank.

Too late.

The dragon moved faster than the Evil Moon Wheel.

In one breath, it reached him.

Before he could raise his treasure, the dragon slammed into his body and carried him straight into the clouds.

“How is this possible?”

His roar cracked across the night.

“A Qi Gathering brat—”

BOOOOOOM!

The giant dragon exploded above the clouds in a blinding burst of golden light.

The entire sky shook.

[End of Chapter Thirty-Six]