Layers upon layers of flames surged along the walls and ceiling, casting the red moon An in the light of an ancient fire god—majestic, imposing, and commanding. At forty-something, he wore a well-groomed, neat haircut, with a slightly tanned complexion, broad nose, and broad face, his facial muscles taut, giving him the appearance of a bold, resilient man. Fine fish-eye wrinkles around his eyes added a touch of mature charm. As An entered the hall through a fire-style technique, his sharp gaze swept over the chaotic scene. Upon seeing the bodies of the three spiritual realm practitioners, his pupils narrowed, and his expression grew increasingly cold. "Three useless ones!" he scoffed, his demeanor improving slightly when he spotted the unconscious Wu Grandmaster. This man had served as his financial instrument—controlling several influential elites in Songhai—and his authority in the Sha Kou district stemmed not only from his own Saint Realm strength but also from the solid body of evidence he held. Raising a capable financial instrument was far more challenging than cultivating a spiritual realm practitioner. As long as Master Wu lives, this base at Dongque Tower will remain secure. "Chimei An!" Kou Beiyue's eyes instantly filled with tears, bloodshot and vibrant, her handsome face contorted like that of a furious lion. Chimei An turned to look at her, calmly saying: "I checked the files yesterday, and only then realized it was you—the little one—who had vanished since escaping the morgue of the Security Bureau. For nearly two years, no news, no trace. I thought you'd already perished in the Spirit Realm." Pausing, Chimei An gently licked her lips and smiled: "Your sister is quite remarkable. Since she arrived at Dongque Tower, I've been staying here every night. She's brought me back a sense of joy I hadn't felt in a long time. I enjoy playing with her, teasing her, even tormenting her. Unfortunately, she's not very cooperative—she's stubborn. So sometimes, I invite other guests along to join in..." "Shut up!!" Kou Beiyue collapsed. Fresh grievances and old grudges surged within him. The image of his sister's final moments flashed through his mind, and he lost his composure, roaring toward Chi Yue An. Chi Yue An smiled coldly, his expression revealing the success of his strategy. He moved with calm deliberation, summoning from his inventory a thin red glove. Unfortunate—losing one's composure before a Saint is no different from certain death. Zhang Yuanqing immediately summoned his explosive pistol and fired for cover. "Bang! Bang!" The bullets reached their targets faster than Kou Beiyue, yet Chi Yue An merely extended his hand and gently pressed it in front of him, causing a flame-formed barrier to materialize instantly. The steel-core explosive rounds hovered in midair, spinning rapidly, yet failed to advance even a single centimeter. Before they could detonate, they were melted into molten black iron by the intense heat. Chiyu An didn’t look at the enemy who had fired. With her right hand wearing a thin red glove, she exhaled sharply, spewing forth a surge of blazing flame that solidified into a long blade—internally golden yellow, externally vivid red. Unlike the weapons forged by other fire masters, which clearly appeared to be condensed flame, Chiyu An’s blade looked at first glance like a genuine, tangible sword. Taking a single step forward, she raised the red blade and swept it upward in a powerful counter-lunge. A gust of intense heat rushed against her, and in the midst of her fury, Kou Beiyue regained some composure, crossing her military sword across her chest. Sizzling… The blades clashed, and Kou Beiyue’s sword instantly turned as red as a hot iron. With a soft yet resonant "thud," the sword snapped. Before she could even lament the damage to her weapon, Kou Beiyue demonstrated the agile, close-range prowess befitting a captivating spirit, arching her body sharply, allowing the searing edge of the blade to skim across her chest and abdomen. Chiyu An then took another step, drawing her flaming blade back, briefly gathering strength before executing a sweeping horizontal strike "Tapping, tapping, tapping..." A sharp, crisp sound of footsteps surged forward, and the red ballet slippers launched into a rapid, powerful sequence of leg attacks aimed squarely at the opponent's waist and abdomen. Even with the robust physique of Akari Aki, she was sent staggering, her blade deflecting the blows. Akari stepped back, then casually shortened her long blade into a shorter edge, striking the strange red slippers. Whoosh! The blade sliced through the air, yet despite clearly hitting the slippers, the effect was indistinguishable from a strike made in mid-air. "Hmm?" Akari was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a result. At that moment, black mist enveloped his face, his eyes blazing crimson—fury and wildness replaced calm and composure. His rationality rapidly unraveled, his thoughts becoming chaotic. Within just a few seconds, he transformed into a primal beast, driven by instinct and emotion. As his mind faltered, a gleaming blade appeared silently at his neck, slicing toward his carotid artery. Zhang Yuanqing, the attacker, materialized behind Akari. Among Zhang Yuanqing's array of props, the explosive pistol and the brawler's gloves—both fire specialist items—were the first to be eliminated, as they certainly couldn't stand a chance against fellow fire specialists at the Saint Realm level. The Tian Chan incense burner had too long a setup time to be useful in this setting. The cat king speaker's suona is no longer usable; the drumbeats instead affect Kou Beiyue, putting him at risk of being instantly eliminated by Chi Yue An, effectively aiding the enemy in a behind-the-back attack on a teammate. The Observer's Eye and the disguise ring, being auxiliary items, were simply overlooked, while the Vengeance Staff's function proved unsuitable for this scenario. The only props capable of posing a real threat to Chi Yue An are the Blood-Soaked Blade, the Red Dance Shoes, the Red Veil, and the Straw Man. Among these four, the Straw Man—originating from Hei Wuxiang—is the most effective, acting swiftly to directly challenge a 4th-level Saint. Although Chi Yue An is a 4th-level Saint, stronger than the three previous spiritual realm practitioners, he is a fire specialist, and Zhang Yuanqing believes he can successfully launch a surprise "Crack—" Chu Yue An slipped on her feet, leaning back to evade the attack aimed at her carotid artery. Zhang Yuanqing remained calm, turning the blade downward to strike. Plunged! The blood-thirsty blade pierced Chu Yue An's shoulder. Night Wanderer... the intense pain sharpened Chu Yue An's mind. With a spring from her back, she rose upright, bearing the deepening wound without looking back, summoning a ball of fire in her palm and striking the attacker behind her. Zhang Yuanqing, wearing the Eyes of Insight, had anticipated her move and sidestepped gracefully, neither hurried nor rushed. Chu Yue An's strike missed. With a sudden grip of her fingers, the fire ball in her palm exploded with a thunderous roar—like a high-explosive hand grenade detonating. This signature move of the street fighter, a feat easily accomplished by a 4th-level Fire Master, now delivered with even greater force and intensity. Zhang Yuanqing's body shattered into countless splashes of water, dispersing across the ground. Facing a 4th-level Saint, how could he have failed to don his Yin-Yang Robe beforehand? This item granted him control over water and fire, thereby indirectly mastering the skills of water spirits and fire masters. "Water spirits?" Akiyama Akira was astonished. This person's capabilities were so extensive that they left him speechless—possessing the night-wanderer's ability to roam at night, the witch-doctor's curse, and now, command over the passive abilities of water spirits as well. Akiyama extended his arms, palm facing the ground, directly at the enemy now transformed into water droplets. To defeat a water spirit was straightforward—simply apply high heat to evaporate the moisture and kill it. As the process unfolded, gentle, radiant halos surged from within Akiyama, healing the wounds on his shoulders and suppressing the descending black energy. The Ganlin Neijia, a tool originating from a musician, proved effective. "Hmph!" Two streams of blazing fire serpents erupted from his palms, licking the water droplets on the ground. Splash! At a critical moment, Kou Beiyue leapt upward, delivering a powerful high-kick that struck Akiyama's arms, sending the flames rocketing toward the ceiling. Two sharp thuds, the red dance shoes complementing the "Plash... plash..." The fire sprinklers in the ceiling detected the heat of the flames and released a strong, steady stream of water, soaking the floor. Zhang Yuanqing's consciousness finally returned, slowly coalescing into form, regaining his human shape through the gentle, rain-like water. As soon as he had resumed his human form and regained his sight, he saw the red moon on Gao Yue An's body burst open with a thunderous sound, his breath rising steadily and building an overwhelming pressure. A Rage of the Saintly Flame Master—his core skill from Level 4 to Level 6 throughout the Saintly Stage. Throughout this phase, a Flame Master possesses only one skill: Rage of the Saintly. This skill significantly enhances the Flame Master's strength, ranging from one to three times his original power, earning him the reputation of a near-undefeated force. During this stage, even the most persuasive spirits of the beasts must yield to his might. Kou Beiyue, who was pressing close and attacking fiercely, momentarily froze. The red ballet shoes remained unharmed, yet her attacks could no longer penetrate the Flame Master in a state of Rage. Achū An settled his knees, tightly gripping his right fist as if it were a transmission rod, and drove it forward. "Crack!" The ribcage of Kuo Beiyue snapped instantly, launching him like a sandbag that shattered against the game console behind, cracking it upon impact. He slowly collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing, unable to rise. Drip... drip... drip... Achū An moved swiftly and decisively, cutting off any chance for Kuo Beiyue to recover. With the palms of his thin-gloved hands, he unleashed blazing flames that coalesced into a long, sharp blade and severed it with a sudden, decisive stroke. "Shh-shh-shh..." Zhang Yuancheng, who had not yet donned the red shawl, collapsed again, his body dissolving into clear, transparent water, swirling with the water droplets falling from the ceiling, forming a flowing cascade. The cascade surged forward, enveloping the magnificent blade. "Hissshh... hissshh..." The clear, transparent water instantly turned murky, bubbling with abundant bubbles and white mist, boiling as if in a state of agitation. The water droplets from the "Die! I'll reduce you to ashes!" A flash of fire in Akuraya's eyes caused his magnificent long sword to heat up rapidly, releasing thick steam. Water droplets clinging to the blade burst with sharp "pops," evaporating swiftly and leaving only half of the moisture intact—there was no time to replenish. "Boom!" A heavy, resonant gunshot echoed from outside the hall. Akuraya's head snapped back sharply, his body slightly staggering forward. More enemies? He quickly steadied himself, enduring the sharp pain in his neck, and turned to face the entrance. Three figures entered. Leading them was a young man dressed in loose underpants, a relaxed short-sleeved shirt, and canvas slippers. He smiled warmly, his eyes half-closed, exuding an innate, effortless elegance. To his left stood a man in a black jacket and white shirt, polished shoes gleaming, his neatly trimmed mustache adding to his polished grace—no matter whether he was traveling at night or during the day. On the right stands a beautiful mixed-race woman dressed in a white shirt and black skirt, graceful and radiant, her long, smooth legs wrapped in black stockings, both hands raised in a majestic, ornate rifle adorned with golden patterns. Finally—it arrived. Zhang Yuanqing regained his human form and collapsed beside Kou Beiyue. At the same time, he deactivated the pursuit function of the red ballet shoes and activated his second form, now wearing them on his feet. This move served both to prevent Chiji An from making an unceremonious surprise attack and to avoid the red ballet shoes finding him awkwardly dancing. Zhang Yuanqing hadn't anticipated Chiji An's arrival to be so swift, though he had taken preventive measures—before taking action, he had informed Guan Ya of the situation. With Guan Ya's experience and wisdom, once she realized the matter involved the Saint, she would surely notify Fu Qingyang and not come alone. Indeed, she had done so, but Zhang Yuanqing hadn't expected to see Fu Qingyang himself—instead, it was Ling Jun. How reliable is this person? He's the one Fu Qingyang personally designated as a "junk"! Zhang Yuanqing gasped, breathing heavily. Guan Ya's gaze lingered on Zhang Yuanqing for a few seconds before shifting away, settling on Chi Yue An, and gritted her teeth, saying, "I'm going to shoot you right through the head." Li Dongze drew out his small pistol and raised his walking cane. Ling Jun quickly raised his hand, gently gesturing in front of the two, with a lazy smile, "Let's talk it over. Harmony brings prosperity. Harmony brings prosperity." Chi Yue An studied the three of them carefully, speaking calmly, "Who are you?" As she spoke, a soft, holy glow rippled outward, healing the gunshot wound on her back. The region of Songhai is vast—most spiritual travelers from different districts rarely interact, and as a steward, Chi Yue An would hardly know ordinary travelers from other districts. She had restrained her temper and killing intent precisely because the young man who seemed so easygoing and amiable had given her a sense of threat. Li Dongze said solemnly, "I'm a squad leader from the Kangyang team of the Wu-Xing Alliance's Songhai branch. Recently, I received reports alleging that there's a gathering of people here who are holding gambling sessions and engaging in "Master Shi of Kangyang District... Master Chi Yue An didn't flinch, calmly stating, 'There's no such thing. I received a report of evil practitioners infiltrating private homes and carrying out mass killings. I've come specifically to handle this matter. I've taken over the case—please return to your posts.' None of the three moved. Chi Yue An narrowed his eyes, his tone suddenly sharp and demanding, questioning, 'How is it that officials from Kangyang District are now meddling in my Shākǒu District's affairs? Don't even think about it—Master Shi, you're just a master of a single division. Even Fu Qingyang wouldn't have the right to intervene in my jurisdiction. If you don't move, I'll have you both killed. Then, I wonder if the elders will stand up for you!' He emphasized that it wasn't just a verbal threat. If these three insisted on intervening, vying for control of the Copper雀 Tower, and launching direct attacks against him, then the situation would become serious. The official envoy from Kangyang District had privately stepped into affairs outside their jurisdiction, violently seizing control and assaulting the local officials—should he kill them, it would be a legitimate act of self-defense. At most, he'd receive some disciplinary action. "Hmm, it seems we've indeed stopped attending to this matter. Perhaps we should simply begin evacuating the personnel now." Ling Jun had come to save people, not to investigate cases. He wasn't even part of the Five Elements Alliance, so he wasn't particularly eager to get involved. Guan Ya and Li Dongze turned to Yuan Shǐ Tian Zun. "Evacuate the personnel?" Chui Yue An grew more assertive, snorting, "That won't do. They're the villains—having killed my team members and brutally harmed ordinary citizens. You claim to be evacuating them? Are you trying to shield the perpetrators?" As he spoke, his expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly turned around, looking at the young man who appeared unremarkable, having just used the Night St Kangyang District—night wanderer of the divine spirit... "Are you Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn?" Chì Yuè Ān's expression shifted slightly. At this moment, Zhang Yuānqīng felt as though his heart—once full of burdens—had cracked open, exclaiming, "Exactly your father!" Having just finished using the Yin-Yang robe, his mood had become impetuous and arrogant. Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn—A-level merit, highly esteemed by the Council of Elders—was now a serious challenge. Chì Yuè Ān immediately sensed the difficulty. Such a figure couldn't be eliminated by him, at least not directly. He swiftly adjusted his strategy, took a deep breath, and turned to the three members of Ling Jun, speaking with firm pressure: "You may take him with you, but the other spirit that has been misleading the others must remain here." His next move would be to eliminate evidence—clearing out the women from Copper Rooster Pavilion. As long as there was no solid proof, leveraging his position as a steward and his behind-the-scenes connections, the matter could be handled quietly. Ling Jun nodded slightly: "Coordination means going through the procedures. To investigate a deacon, you must gain the elders' approval, submit an inspection request, and provide evidence. And the senior elder overseeing Chìyuè Ān? Not even the dog elder—things are even more complicated." Zhang Yuancheng propped himself up and stood, looking at Ling Jun and the other two, breathing heavily. "No, we can't go today. If we leave now, this matter will be completely dead. I've already verified everything. Chìyuè Ān has been supporting criminal factions, kidnapping and imprisoning innocent people, forcing them to earn money, using them to bribe influential figures in Shākǒu District, and acquiring hundreds of shops through forced purchases. Moreover, he's implicated in several murders." He went on, laying out the details he had gathered today. Li Dongze listened in stunned silence. He had only heard a general account from Guan Ya, with no concrete understanding. Guan Ya was no different—what she had heard from Zhang Yuancheng was that the criminal forces in Shākǒu District were targeting women and bribing the powerful. Even so, Guan Ya had already felt physical discomfort and genuine anger. She never expected that these people had gone even further than she had imagined—what they had done to the women in the building could no longer be described simply as "persecution"; they were, in essence, tools for profit and vessels for their animal desires. This didn't even account for the more egregious business rivalries. Ling Jun's relaxed expression grew steadily more serious, and his smile gradually faded.