The mountain wind was like a blade, howling through the cliffs.

It lifted fine sand and gravel, lashing against the exposed rock surfaces.

Jagged cliffs rose steeply, almost vertically from the ground.

The surface of the gray-brown rocks was covered with the marks of wind erosion, like countless scars engraved by time.

The madman's eyes flashed like lightning, a sinister smile tugging at the corner of his mouth: "Here they come."

Hongxuan turned at the sound, her crimson garments fluttering, meeting Qin An's gaze: "Just one of them?"

The madman's thin fingers lightly caressed the edge of a copper cauldron: "There's a tail following behind, but the one coming to die first, indeed, there's only this one."

Qin An's five fingers clenched, the black saber ringing as it struck the ground: "I should call you Valley Master, shouldn't I?"

The madman's eyes were clear: "Liu Er is dead?"

Qin An's thumb rubbed the hilt of the saber, contemplating: "Should be dead."

The disciples of Casting Valley were as if facing a great enemy, their weapons trembling and emitting a bloodthirsty hum.

The madman sighed long, his withered hair dancing wildly in the wind: "I never intended to be an enemy of the Evil Extermination Bureau, but alas... it's truly a pity for one so young as you to be buried here."

Qin An stepped forward, his boots crushing the yellow leaves beneath them.

Since the key player is here, there's no need for more words.

Taking a head, seizing the merit, that's the true path.

The madman's wide sleeves rolled like clouds obscuring the sun: "Kill him."

In an instant, the Star Formation arose, myriad fallen leaves transforming into lethal flying blades.

The yellow leaves spun, exuding a chilling killing intent, shot towards Qin An.

The Star Array, anything in the world can serve as a weapon.

Even the fragile leaves, at this moment, turned into fearsome blades.

Qin An circulated his True Qi, deploying the Heavenly Gang Dharma Body.

A foot-long Gang Shield covered his body like glazed armor, the leaves shattering upon contact, breaking into web-like cracks.

The madman squinted his old yellow eyes: "You, as a patroller, indeed have some real skill."

Qin An spoke no word, leaping forward with the Shocking Dragon Wind and Cloud Step, the black blade enveloped in Wind and Thunder Power, slashing towards a disciple.

The disciple of Casting Valley lifted his head, void of fear, only a hint of madness in his eyes.

"Clang!"

The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the valley.

Countless weapons flew from the disciples' hands, spinning into a blade dragon, clashing fiercely with the black saber.

Qin An swung the black saber continuously, knocking down the weapons one by one, retreating several feet.

The weapons, once fallen, flew back into the hands of the Casting Valley disciples.

"Interesting."

Qin An narrowed his eyes, observing the people in front of him.

As he retreated several feet, the attacks also ceased accordingly.

"It seems like an offensive technique, but actually it's a defensive one. As long as I don't step into the range, you can't attack."

Qin An revealed with one sentence.

The madman, despite having his tactics exposed, said slowly: "And what if you do see through it? All I need is defense."

He turned, gazing fervently at the copper cauldron ahead.

"Once the Pseudo-God is forged successfully, nourished by my blood, I can steal its longevity, then I surely can continue living."

"When I break through to Gui Cang, my life span will extend, using the Pseudo-God as the source, my cultivation will advance rapidly."

"Casting Valley will thrive because of me."

As his words fell, the madman turned his gaze back to Qin An, shouting sharply: "What are you still waiting for?"

"Either leave or die!"

Qin An raised his gaze, his eyes piercing through the darkness: "Waiting for someone."

The madman's brow furrowed: "Waiting for whom?"

Qin An turned his gaze behind him: "They've arrived."

The mountain wind grew intense, footsteps boomed like muffled thunder in the darkness, approaching nearer.

Huang Man led over ten patrolling copper officers through the fog, their robes flapping loudly.

The madman showed a look of realization: "So that's it, but it still makes no difference."

Even if these people come, what difference would it make?

"Once the Star Array is condensed, its power is equivalent to Gui Cang."

"You all, merely at Jade Bone Realm Perfection, how can you break through?"

He was full of confidence, his gaze towards the copper cauldron growing more fervent.

Huang Man asked: "What's the situation?"

They had just arrived, not knowing the situation yet.

But from afar, they had seen the light and shadow mingling over here, knowing Qin An had already engaged the enemy.

The patrol copper officer holding a long whip frowned slightly, about to step forward, but was stopped by Qin An's raised hand.

"Why stop me?"

The patrol copper officer's eyes were as sharp as knives.

Now that the main target was right in front of them, if they were late, there might not be enough merit to share.

They weren't allied with Qin An, each one acting alone, gathered here for the same goal.

Qin An gave the patrol copper officer a glance, speaking indifferently: "One life only."

The patrol copper officer was slightly taken aback, then understood, his eyes gaining a hint of seriousness.

Being colleagues, there was naturally no thought of going too far, he realized that Qin An was warning him that the danger ahead was not trivial.

Though they lived alongside danger, it didn't mean they were indifferent to life.

The patrol copper officer asked: "What do you plan to do?"

Since they started communicating, the patrol copper officer had no scruples and asked directly.

The other patrol copper officers all turned their gazes to Qin An, each with different ideas in their minds.

This is the Evil Extermination Bureau's strategy of letting them fend for themselves.

The patrollers, unlike state officers, can undertake the same task.

Whoever can take the madman's head will surely have the greatest merit.

Living and dying alongside blood, merit is their sole pursuit.

Therefore, the ideas are varied.

Qin An did not answer, turning his head to look at the madman, saying: "Just now you said, the power of the array is equivalent to the Gui Cang Realm?"

The madman frowned: "That's right."

Qin An pondered slowly: "Together they are Gui Cang, but what if one less person?"

The madman's frown deepened.

The surrounding patrol copper officers, all seasoned in life and death, immediately understood Qin An's meaning, their eyes slightly brightening.

If they concentrate their efforts, defeating one person, the array would surely be damaged.

The more that die, the weaker the array's power becomes.

Though the array could elevate to Gui Cang's power, it was ultimately an array, not the true Gui Cang.

Qin An raised the black knife, pointing at one of the disciples from a distance: "Break the array."

As soon as he spoke, Qin An used the Shocking Dragon Wind and Cloud Step, transforming into a blur as he pounced toward the disciple.

The madman's pupils shrank suddenly: "Stop them!"

He had great confidence in this array, but facing Qin An's calm demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a sense of panic inside.

Hongxuan frowned, the more she looked at Qin An's black knife, the more familiar it seemed.

At this moment, many disciples hurriedly rallied the power of the great array. Countless weapons swept toward Qin An, aiming to cut him down.

But just then, over a dozen figures suddenly entered the array.

Before these weapons could land on Qin An, more than a dozen mountain patrol officers acted together.

Each mountain patrol officer had profound skills. Though they fought demons alone, their gains were tremendous.

Huang Man brandished a dagger, a trace of red light flaring in her eyes. She deployed a secret technique to deflect several weapons.

The other mountain patrol officers also had secret techniques, and at this moment, none held back, unleashing them one after another.

The weapons that swept toward Qin An were immediately reduced by seventy percent, leaving only thirty percent, landing upon Qin An's Protective Gang Qi.

The Protective Gang Qi showed web-like cracks, seeming on the verge of collapse, but it didn't shatter completely.

Qin An arrived in front of the disciple, the black knife bringing a chilling wind as it swept horizontally at the disciple's head.

At this moment, the disciple shouted loudly.

The fallen leaves on the ground transformed into terrifying blades, coalescing into a barrier in mid-air.

The madman sneered coldly: "Everything in the world can be a weapon. You're overthinking."

Though merely fallen leaves, their power was not insignificant.

Even with help, how could Jade Bone Realm Perfection break through the leaf barrier?

Seeing this, Huang Man once again deflected the surrounding blades, rushing rapidly toward Qin An: "I'll help you!"

The mountain patrol officer wielding a long whip spun it with a fierce whoosh: "I'll join too!"

They all understood Qin An's current situation.

Qin An was only at Jade Bone Realm Perfection, how could he break through such defense?

Qin An's expression remained unchanged, serene as autumn water, yet his voice was as cold as a blade: "I already told you, this is not Gui Cang, it's pseudo-Gui Cang."

Ice Flame Extinction Saber!

The power of three blades united, terrifying ice and fire forces intertwined constantly upon the black knife.

With a single strike, ghosts and gods were astonished.

The leaf barrier was torn like paper.

The Casting Valley disciple lowered his head, feeling a pain in his neck, losing consciousness forever.

The head fell to the ground, the headless body toppled with a thud, spasming twice before going still.

Qin An wiped the blood off the black knife with his finger, casting his gaze over the remaining disciples: "Those who surrender live, those who don't die."

A breeze brushed Qin An's hair, blood droplets on the black knife fell in a line from the tip.

The mountain wind carried the scent of blood into everyone's nostrils, making the surviving Casting Valley disciples' hands tremble as they gripped their blades.

Huang Man was stunned: "This blade technique…"

She couldn't quite believe it at first, but then remembered the Fire Crow Race's bounty on Qin An, suddenly realizing why he was targeted by demons upon joining the mountain patrol.

With such power, using such secret techniques, not joining the mountain patrol would surely lead to being hunted to death by demons.

The mountain patrol officer with the long whip also halted, his face aghast.

He initially intended to help Qin An, but now it seemed all was in vain.

The madness in the madman's eyes increased, shouting angrily: "Don't listen to him! Think about the blood on your hands, you can't survive, today it's either you or me!"

The Casting Valley disciples, who had been somewhat shaken by Qin An, heard this, and the madness in their eyes began to spread.

Qin An raised his eyes, scanning: "Then all shall die."

With those words, the black knife became like a whirlwind, killing once again among them.

The remaining mountain patrol officers followed closely, claiming their achievements.

With one dead, the array weakened significantly, no longer being able to withstand Gui Cang's power.

The Casting Valley disciples died at a speed visible to the naked eye, the power of the array gradually weakening.

The madman, seeing this situation, frantically ran to the bronze cauldron, raising his hand to open it.

Inside the bronze cauldron, the banquet attendees were still alive.

Then, the madman tipped them all onto the ground.

Hongxuan chased up, shouting sharply: "What are you doing!"

The madman turned his head, madness in his eyes: "Not enough time to forge the pseudo-god yet."

"Since there's no chance of survival, let's go completely crazy."

"My blood is perfect for forging. With my blood, forge a supreme pseudo-god, from now on, I will be the pseudo-god!"

"Life span, cultivation, I can have it all!"

Hongxuan's brow twitched: "Are you truly this mad, forsaking humanity forever?"

The madman's eyes, like a volcanic eruption, filled with madness: "Better than death... Better than death!"

"Give me the Yin Fire!"

Hongxuan raised a finger, a emerald Yin Fire hovered in mid-air.

The madman seized the Yin Fire and then plunged into the bronze cauldron: "Help me stop them for a moment, after I emerge, I'll chop them to pieces!"

The lid of the bronze cauldron slowly closed, a dull sound emanating from inside.

The bronze cauldron began to slowly turn red, as if being scorched by flames.

Hongxuan watched the red bronze cauldron, then looked back at Qin An in the crowd, the familiarity in her eyes growing deeper.

At this moment, the number of Casting Valley disciples dwindled, corpses strewn everywhere.

A few Casting Valley disciples could take it no longer, shouting madly, driven insane by the oppressive atmosphere.

What greeted them was the sharp blade of the mountain patrol officers.

A few breaths later, there were no more Casting Valley disciples, only ruins were left.

Qin An held the black knife, walking toward Hongxuan.

At this moment, Hongxuan finally recalled.

"So it was you, Qin An."

Qin An looked up: "You know me?"

Hongxuan's tone was icy cold, her fair hands transforming into sharp claws, her rosy lips into a pointed beak: "Our demon guild has your bounty, and so does the Fire Crow Race. If I kill you, I can benefit from both."

"Qin An! The demon guild bounty should be claimed today!"

The scorching heat swept over, her red clothes turning into fiery feathers.

Qin An said blandly: "Turns out you're a double-crosser."

Hongxuan didn't understand, frowning: "What do you mean."

The answer she received was a quickly enlarging black knife.

"No meaning."

"Your blood essence is nice, I'll take it."

Behind him, over a dozen mountain patrol officers attacked together, their blades sweeping toward Hongxuan.

But at this moment, Hongxuan took something from her bosom.

In an instant, a terrifying surge of evil qi erupted.

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