Martial Saint with Passives

Before the words had even faded, the cloaked figure’s form drifted backward like a ghost, silently melting into the deep shadows as if they had never been there.

Only when that suffocating presence completely vanished did Xie Songnian abruptly relax.

He was already at the Fifth Layer of the True Master Realm, considered a significant figure in all of Cangzhou Prefecture.

Yet before that person, he was utterly helpless!

"Sixth Layer of the True Master Realm..." he muttered to himself.

That cloaked figure’s strength... was greater than his!

One could probably count on one hand the number of such experts in all of Cangzhou Prefecture!

’The Shadow Prison Sect... the Sinful Desire Sect... the Supreme Secret Treasure... The waters here run far too deep...’

A sense of panic suddenly arose in Xie Songnian’s heart—a feeling that events were spiraling out of control.

But he was already in too deep; there was no turning back now!

He sighed softly, and with a flash, his figure vanished in an instant.

...

That day, Jiang Che finished practicing the Nine Heavens Azure Cloud Technique in his Cultivation Room. It was already evening when he concluded his session.

He walked back along a small, green-stoned path and encountered a few Low Tier fellow disciples hurrying along, speaking in low voices.

"Did you hear? The Li Family Martial Arts Hall in the west of the city was wiped out the night before last!"

"That’s not all! I just got back from down the mountain. I heard a small family in nearby Luling County, the Tan Family, more than a hundred people, all gone in a single night! They say the scene was just horrible..."

"The Demon Sect again?"

"Who else could it be? Those damn bastards have gone completely crazy lately! Utterly lawless!"

"Sigh, the times we live in... I’ve heard that young women have been disappearing in many places, vanishing without a trace, dead or alive..."

When the group saw Jiang Che approaching, they immediately fell silent, respectfully called out "Senior Brother Jiang," and then hurried away.

Although it was rumored he had performed the Dissipating Skill and been stripped of his position, with many mocking him behind his back.

Nevertheless, Force Integration Level disciples still had to bow to him with respect.

Jiang Che frowned slightly. The Demon Sect’s recent rampant activity gave him a vague sense of unease.

After all, he himself had fought the Demon Sect on many occasions and knew well how relentless and ruthless they were.

Back at his residence, the latest issue of the Cangzhou Wind and Cloud Chronicles had already been slipped under his door.

Jiang Che picked up the paper, lit an oil lamp, and sat at his table to read it carefully.

After only a few glances, his brow furrowed deeply.

The front page was dominated by a shocking headline in large print:

"Demon Flame Rages! Assets of the Three Sects Suffer Heavy Losses!"

The article below detailed that a mine belonging to the Taiyuan Sect outside the city had been attacked. The guards suffered heavy casualties, and all the ore was plundered.

The Profound Sound Sect’s largest restaurants and businesses were either smashed or burned down, resulting in enormous losses!

Even the Cangyun Sect had two of its medicinal fields destroyed, with the disciples guarding them vanishing into thin air!

And this was only what was happening to the Three Great Sects.

The news on another page was even more terrifying.

"Tan Family of Luling County Annihilated, Suspected Demon Sect Retaliation!"

"Seventh Case in Half a Month! Daughter of Landlord Zhang from Upper City Vanishes in the Night, Traces of the Demon Sect Left at the Scene!"

The article described in detail the horrific state of several small sects and families that had been massacred, the words carrying a chilling tone.

To say that not even a chicken or dog was spared would be an understatement. Some bodies were even found shriveled, as if their very life essence had been drained.

Others were found at scenes of utter debauchery, clearly having suffered inhuman violation before their deaths.

Following that was a column analyzing the structure of the Demon Sect.

It stated that the Demon Sect was not a monolith, but was primarily divided into three branches:

The "Shadow Prison Sect," which acts in secret and specializes in assassination and infiltration.

The "Blood Spirit Sect," which cultivates cruel and bloodthirsty Blood Path Evil Techniques.

And the "Sinful Desire Sect," which is proficient in the Seduction and Rejuvenation Technique.

The columnist analyzed that, based on the methods used in the recent crimes—the frequent abduction of beautiful women, the occasional lingering scent of aphrodisiac incense at the scenes, and the flamboyant, perverse style—it strongly suggested that the long-dormant "Sinful Desire Sect" had returned to the Jianghu!

However, the article’s tone then shifted, proposing an even more shocking theory:

"However, another secret source claims that among the three great Noble Families of Cangzhou Prefecture, the You Family—a Martial Arts Family known for its firm and righteous reputation—seems to have some ambiguous connection to the Sinful Desire Sect... Is this merely a groundless rumor, or is there a hidden truth? It is certainly something to ponder."

Jiang Che put down the paper, a glint in his eyes.

The Sinful Desire Sect... the You Family...

Connecting the dots between the Vice Sect Leader’s recent collusion with the Demon Sect and the series of actions taken by the Demon Sect itself...

He had a feeling that a great net was slowly closing in.

Cangzhou Prefecture was likely on the verge of a massive storm!

Jiang Che couldn’t help but sigh.

He had fled from Lin Yuan City to Cangzhou Prefecture just so he and his sister could live a few peaceful days.

But now, it seemed chaos was about to erupt all over again.

’It’s not enough... I have to get stronger!’

His desire to advance his Realm grew even more urgent.

...

Meanwhile, at the You Family estate in the western part of Cangzhou Prefecture City.

The study was brightly lit by candlelight.

A tall, middle-aged man with a resolute face and bulging temples stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

His brow was tightly furrowed, his face shrouded in an impenetrable gloom.

This was none other than the Patriarch of the You Family, You Longji.

His eldest son, You Honglang, a spirited young man in his early twenties, wore a look of indignation and injustice.

"Father! The Shadow Prison Sect is being so obvious with this smear campaign! They’re clearly the ones who committed those crimes, imitating the Sinful Desire Sect’s methods just to frame us! We left the Demon Sect nearly sixty years ago, and we’ve kept to ourselves all these years. Why won’t they just leave us alone?"

You Longji turned around, a trace of weariness in his eyes. "I’m afraid it’s not just about causing trouble. For them to go to such lengths, it’s most likely for the ’Rebirth Bell’."