Chapter 40 The Demon Appeared Again 

The survivors from Yin Family recounted their harrowing experience:

"It was terrifying; I can hardly bear to think about it again. It happened in the middle of the night. We were awakened by the chaos outside—it felt like the end of the world. When we emerged from our rooms, we saw a blazing inferno. The flames were intense and scorching; even from a distance, we could feel their searing heat to our very bones. What shocked us even more was seeing four figures engulfed in flames charging towards the masked man. But the masked man moved so swiftly that none could get close before the four figures turned to ash. They were our ancestors. It's heartbreaking to think they were still alive and secretly protecting us, only to perish at the hands of this demon in a single night. After killing our ancestors, the demon didn't stop. He targeted our elders who tried to intervene. We don't know what method he used, but our elders couldn't defend themselves or escape. It was chaos, and we were too terrified to stay, so we fled."

Tie Mu listened intently, absorbing this crucial information.

"It seems that his technique is difficult to extinguish once it makes contact. The fact that none of them could escape is the best proof. What are your thoughts?" Tie Mu initiated the discussion with the other four members of his team.

"This goes beyond a level 2 technique. What he used must be a level 3 technique. Level 3 techniques integrate core essence, making them difficult to defend against or counter. In a fight, we must be vigilant against this technique of his," remarked Old Tie, an experienced false Core Formation Cultivator.

"Old Tie is correct. Judging from its effects, this technique likely doesn't consume much core essence, or else he wouldn't be able to employ it so frequently in combat," added Chong Mu, another false Core Formation Cultivator.

"The intense heat it generates shouldn't be underestimated either. It's no wonder the fights ended so swiftly," chimed in Chong Man, also a false Core Formation Cultivator.

"Everyone, let's not overlook the mysterious activation method of this technique. That seems to be its most dangerous aspect," cautioned Bai Xiu, a young woman among them.

"What Bai Xiu said aligns with my thoughts. The most concerning aspect of this technique is indeed its enigmatic activation method. Fang Zheng, what do you make of this?" Tie Mu turned to Fang Zheng for his opinion.

"This is all very peculiar. I need more information to understand it fully," Fang Zheng replied, shaking his head.

"I see. Let's move on to the next family. I suspect the clues will end similarly to the previous ones. We shouldn't linger here," Tie Mu suggested.

Agreeing nods followed his suggestion as they prepared to depart for the Jin Family's estate.

"I need to know everything you can tell me," Tie Mu requested from the remaining members of the Jin Family.

One by one, they provided the information they had, recounting their experiences and observations. Some new and useful details emerged, such as the attacker's preference for avoiding close-range combat, and the necessity of his two underlings to buy time before he engaged fully. However, much of the information mirrored what was learned from the Yin Family.

"It appears this technique has its range and limitations," Tie Mu began, opening up the discussion.

Nods of agreement followed, and everyone began offering their insights. Even Fang Zheng contributed significantly, shaping the strategy with his team.

Watching from the side, Tie Tu nodded in satisfaction. 

The 20 patriarchs watched from the side and praised, The City Lord Manor truly lived up to its reputation, boasting no shortage of talented individuals.

The discussions continued for half an hour before they moved on to the Zhu Family.

Upon arrival, everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. More than half of the area lay in ruins.

Even the typically composed Tie Tu couldn't maintain his calm.

"What destructive power! What kind of technique is this?" Chomg Mu exclaimed.

"Could this be akin to the attack of a level 3 Core Formation Cultivator?"

…

Meanwhile, having finished replenishing his core essence, Shangguan Yi began his next move. His targets this time were the exact opposite of the five mid-grade families that Tie Tu's group was investigating.

Unaware that Tie Tu had begun investigating him, Shangguan Yi knew that once his actions attracted the attention of high-grade families, the first places to be investigated would be where he first struck.

Using his concealment array, Shangguan Yi smoothly arrived at a mid-grade family. Without hesitation, he swept his Divine Sense and located the false Core Formation Cultivators.

Within seconds, he navigated through the building and appeared in front of a false Core Formation Cultivator.

"Who are you?" the false Core Formation Cultivator exclaimed in fear.

Shangguan Yi wasted no time and immediately began burning him.

"Argh!" the Cultivator screamed in agony.

Sensing another false Core Formation Cultivator approaching, Shangguan Yi intercepted him midway, blinking and burning him before returning to collect the white flame from the first Cultivator. He then swiftly moved to the second Cultivator, collected the flame, and left the family.

Shangguan Yi moved swiftly, spending no more than a minute at each family. His gains were substantial as he targeted families with a stronger foundation, each having two to four false Core Formation Cultivators.

The distance between the mid-grade families wasn't far. In just an hour, he swept through around 20 families. Of course, none of them could see him, only their dying ancestors.

After doing all of this, Shangguan Yi chose to return to the Xia Family to make a breakthrough.

Although the mid-grade families posed no significant threat to the overall strength of Red Maple City, there were thousands of them present. Shangguan Yi alone had already swept through 40 of these families, undoubtedly causing great commotion among them.

Mid-grade families without false Core Formation Cultivators wouldn't last long before being overrun by their enemies or declining into low-grade status.

The City Lord Manor could tolerate internal conflicts among the families within Red Maple City. However, what they were unwilling to tolerate was allowing the perpetrator of this chaos to live peacefully under their nose, especially if that person was a demonic Cultivator.

…

Zhu Family

"From what we've concluded, this must be the trump card technique of that demonic Cultivator," Tie Mu said with a grim face.

"It's such an evil technique! We must not let this person live. Otherwise, countless innocents will fall into his hands," Bai Xiu added.

"This is the most evil technique I've ever seen. I won't be able to cultivate in peace if this person is still in our city," Old Tie interjected.

"Alright, everyone, let's cooperate and find clues about this person," Tie Tu declared, no longer content to observe from the sidelines as he joined the investigation.

The 20 patriarchs watched with solemn expressions. The realization of how dangerous the person they were hunting had become weighed heavily on them. They lacked confidence in facing such an enemy, fearing he might bring calamity upon their families.

With Tie Tu taking the lead, they swiftly uncovered clues. In just 30 minutes, they traced the trail. However, their hopes were dashed when the trail abruptly ended once again in the treasury vault.

A heavy silence filled the room, each person lost in their thoughts.

"Head! There's an urgent report!" A guard's voice broke the silence from outside.

Tie Tu, his mood already grave, turned to face the newcomer. "What's the matter?"

"That demonic Cultivator has appeared again in the southeast."

"What?" They all exclaimed simultaneously.

No lingering, Tie Tu brought his team to the southeast, following the urgent report of the demonic Cultivator's appearance. Their movements were swift and purposeful, driven by the urgency of stopping the menace. However, by the time they arrived, Shangguan Yi had already left an hour ago.

The scene they encountered was one of eerie calm. The area bore no immediate signs of conflict, only the heavy atmosphere of recent devastation. The ground still radiated faint warmth from Shangguan Yi's flames, but there were no direct clues to follow.

The 20 patriarchs accompanying Tie Tu stood in silence, their expressions a mix of frustration and dismay. They had hoped to catch the demonic Cultivator in the act, but once again, he had slipped through their grasp.

Tie Tu's eyes scanned the surroundings, his frustration barely contained. "He was here," he muttered, "but he's already moved on."

The disappointment was palpable among the group. The patriarchs, despite their power and resources, felt the sting of helplessness against an opponent who seemed always one step ahead.

Meanwhile, Shangguan Yi had already arrived at the Xia Family. His movements were as swift and silent as ever, and he wasted no time in targeting his next victims. He was prepared to break through.

…

Back in the southeast.

Tie Tu addressed his team, his voice firm despite the setback. "We can't let this discourage us.  Searching the clues as much as you can."