A Smile

Lucifer attempted to communicate with the system multiple times, but it did not respond. After a while, he started to believe that the system had truly lost its intelligence.

Although Lucifer felt a bit sad about losing the ability to ask for information whenever he wanted, he didn't dwell on it too much.

Together with the wooden piece with strange markings, he set off on his journey towards Phoenix Feather City.

As he expected, finding the city wasn't too difficult, as it was close to White Lotus City. He followed a random martial artist and arrived there.

Phoenix Feather City was quite different from White Lotus City. If White Lotus City was like a rock, then Phoenix Feather City was like a mountain, quite literally. The main city was located at the base of the mountain, and if Lucifer had to estimate, it had more than 50,000 residents.

When he looked up towards the top of the mountain, he couldn't see it due to some unrealistic-looking clouds.

Since Lucifer was in a hurry to find out about Emily's situation, he decided to explore the city later and started searching for Wrath and Victor right away.

He had sent them ahead in such a rush that he forgot to inform them about where to meet once he arrived in the city.

After searching for nearly an hour, he found Wrath and Victor in a restaurant. Victor was sitting there, not paying attention to the people around him, while Wrath was gathering information about the Phoenix Feather Sect from the locals.

Since most of the people in the restaurant were ordinary mortals, the reliability of the information Wrath was obtaining was questionable. However, Lucifer was still surprised by how skillfully Wrath was conversing with them and discreetly asking sensitive questions.

Lucifer quietly signaled them to meet outside.

"Greetings, Lord Lucifer," Wrath promptly knelt upon sighting Lucifer, while Victor reluctantly and slowly followed suit.

"Well, well, no need for all these formalities. Did you find the information I asked for?" Lucifer swiftly inquired.

Wrath nodded and began sharing all the information he had gathered since their arrival in the city.

Due to their current Qi condensation Realm status, their journey took a considerable amount of time, resulting in a limited amount of information. However, the crucial details Lucifer sought were present in the gathered information.

The Phoenix Feather Sect, categorized as a 4th grade sect, stood out even among other sects of the same grade. This was primarily due to the presence of a single Core Formation Realm Cultivator within their ranks. Additionally, the sect boasted a notable number of Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, ranging from 20 to 25, along with many other Qi Condensation cultivators and martial artists.

Lucifer's plan to find out about Emily's situation was relatively straightforward. He intended to utilize the "Ghost Transformation" skill to infiltrate the sect and discreetly check on her.

However, two main problems presented themselves. Firstly, Lucifer was uncertain whether the arrays surrounding the sect would detect his presence during the infiltration. Secondly, in his current Ghostly form, Foundation Establishment Cultivators could detect him using their spirit sense.

To address the first problem, Lucifer decided to employ his "Devil's Vision" skill to assess the arrays and determine if they posed a threat.

As for the second problem, he made a decision to upgrade his "Ghost Transformation skill" to 'C' level. This upgrade required a total of 10,000 soul points, depleting his entire reserve. However, as soul points were no longer tied to his lifespan, he saw no hesitation in utilizing them to enhance his abilities.

[Ghost Transformation {C}]

[Description: Ghost Transformation is a unique ability that enables the user to transform into a ghost-like entity, granting intangibility and invulnerability to physical attacks. Notably, cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm and below are unable to perceive the user, even when utilizing their Spirit Sense. This skill level enables the transformation of any individual body part independently.]

"Well, now the only problem left is that Core Formation Realm Cultivator. Honestly, I have no clue about how far their spirit sense can reach. But hey, I do have this Mirror Connection skill, which might come in handy if I happen to have the worst luck and actually run into them," Lucifer pondered aloud as he flew towards the top of the mountain where the Phoenix Feather Sect was located.

As Lucifer approached the array, he activated his Devil's Vision skill to gain a better understanding of its functions.

After observing it for some time, he discerned two primary purposes of the array. Firstly, it created artificial clouds that hindered normal eyesight and confused the spirit sense of cultivators.

Secondly, it served as a protective barrier when activated. There might have been additional functions, but "Devil's Vision" was unable to reveal them.

Lucifer pondered for a moment, contemplating the risks involved. However, because of his concern for Emily's well-being, he decided to proceed through the array without further hesitation.

Upon passing through, he didn't notice any alarms or indications of his intrusion. Nonetheless, maintaining a vigilant stance, he resolved to swiftly accomplish his objective before leaving the sect.

Inside the sect, there were distinct sections. The outer court disciples had their designated area, as did the inner court disciples. At the central part, situated at the tip of the mountain, lay the core region where the core disciples and other significant figures resided. Each section possessed its own libraries, training areas, and other relevant facilities.

With Emily being his primary focus, Lucifer disregarded the outer court area, recognizing that her importance outweighed that of the mere outer court disciples. He diligently searched every corner of the inner court but came up empty-handed. Moving cautiously to avoid triggering any hidden arrays, the search was time-consuming, and Lucifer's fear of getting caught grew with each passing moment.

Upon entering the core region, Lucifer heightened his alertness, proceeding with utmost caution. He continued his search, utilizing the "Devil's Vision" skill whenever he entered a new area.

However, his concerns intensified as he noticed his 'Skill Energy' depleting, nearing its end. This realization caused his heart to skip a beat since, if his skill energy reached zero, his "Ghost Transformation" skill would be canceled, exposing him to everyone's sight. Swiftly, he made the decision to cease using the "Devil's Vision" skill to conserve his energy.

The search persisted, further increasing the risk of his discovery. Just as he was on the verge of giving up, he noticed an underground room in a random cave where nobody was currently cultivating.

Intrigued, he cautiously entered the underground area and witnessed three individuals standing in front of two beds. Among them was a female figure, a male figure, and Leonard, catching Lucifer's attention.

He slowly looked towards the bed and saw that on one bed lay a small girl, her body a mere shell of its former self. Her once vibrant complexion now ashen and sickly, adorned with morbid hues of bruised purples and sickly yellows. Her fragile frame trembled with each shallow breath, her frail limbs twisted in anguish. Patches of decaying flesh clung desperately to her emaciated form, revealing glimpses of the raw, bloody sinew beneath.

[Madness has increased to 90]

Across from her, on the second bed, a boy eagerly awaited the gruesome transfusion. His eyes gleamed with a twisted mixture of anticipation and perverse pleasure, his very presence oozing with an unsettling hunger.

[Madness has increased to 95]

A ghastly mist enveloped the girl, its tendrils reaching out hungrily, like skeletal fingers seeking sustenance. It slithered over her wasted body, its touch searing her skin with an icy fire. The mist writhed and wriggled, seemingly delighting in the girl's suffering, savoring the taste of her essence.

[Madness has increased to 100]

With each touch, the girl's torment escalated. Agonized moans escaped her cracked lips, punctuating the air with a haunting melody of pain. Her eyes, once filled with innocence, now vacant and hollow, mirrored the depth of her anguish. Tears of crimson trickled down her sunken cheeks, mingling with the crimson rivulets that seeped from her wounds.

[Madness has reached 150]

The mist coiled and tightened its grip, insidiously infiltrating every fiber of her being. It whispered cruel promises of release and oblivion, further entangling the girl in its grasp. Her body convulsed violently, a symphony of suffering played out in her trembling limbs. Bones cracked and splintered, jutting through the tattered remnants of her decaying flesh.

[Madness has reached 200]

Her flesh, like parchment soaked in blood, disintegrated beneath the relentless assault. The mist tore through her weakened defenses, devouring her essence with insatiable hunger. Each breath became a struggle, a rasping gasp echoing the fading echoes of her existence.

[Madness has reached 500]

Skin peeled away in tattered strips, revealing the sinewy network of her tortured frame. Festering wounds wept, oozing a foul concoction of putrid decay. The room was drenched in the nauseating stench of her suffering, a scent that clung to the air like a vengeful spirit.

[Madness has reached 1000]

In the final moments of the transfer, the girl's body disintegrated into a swirling mist, disappearing like whispers carried away by the wind. Only fragments of her fractured form remained, suspended in the air for a haunting moment, before dissipating into nothingness.

[Madness has reduced to 0]

As Lucifer witnessed this, a slight smile crept onto his face.

[The host's mentality has transcended the capabilities of the system to calculate it.]

[The indicator of Madness will no longer appear on the status screen.]