Chapter 53 Peach
"This won't work."
"I'm not working hard enough." Mu Qingtong withdrew her gaze from the sky and looked down at the amethyst in her hand. She hadn't paid much attention to the experiment for over a year, which had slowed progress.
"It seems we have to speed things up."
Her eyes flickered as she stored the crystal away and swiftly returned to the street, knife in hand.
The streets were filled with frenzied cannibals. Now was the time to collect more heads while the Holy Department was too preoccupied to stop her.
Without hesitation, she dissolved into a ghostly streak of light and plunged into the battlefield.
Like an assassin mopping up the wounded, she flickered in and out of sight, felling them one by one.
"That winding path—devouring heaven and earth, utterly terrifying." Old Chen, clad in his Taoist robes, stood atop a rooftop, muttering in awe.
"Don't just focus on her. Look over there." Freya's voice was hushed.
Following her gaze, Old Chen spotted a mysterious man wearing a red heart mask darting through the streets. Wherever he passed, blood sprayed and heads rolled.
"Red Heart?" Old Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
The masked man seemed to sense their attention. After claiming his final head, his figure vanished into the chaos.
Click— The sound of a phone camera shutter broke the air. Freya studied the photo. "Red Heart Mask… I think Li Sheng mentioned him before."
"The Bureau Chief and the others are here."
The two looked up to see a group of white-robed figures rushing toward them in the distance.
As the last remnants of the evil mist were devoured, the sky brightened.
A crimson glow rose in the east, and golden sunlight spilled over the land.
The people in the streets, who had been bracing for the end, stared blankly at the sudden clarity above, stunned.
A mother clutched her child, weeping with relief.
Couples embraced. Strangers hugged. Some, overwhelmed by survival, shared jubilant kisses.
The scene was beautiful.
Many near Bloodnight Street also noticed the black-robed man at the storm's center, his palm raised, and turned their attention toward him.
Xia Feng was thoroughly satisfied. The Infinite Stone had grown to 496 grams.
He focused, absorbing the last orb of evil spirit liquid.
Ding, ding— 500g. Perfect.
Including the 3g he already had, that made 503g—enough to enter the Evil Dragon Space daily for two years without worry.
As for lifespan: 5 × 7 = 35, meaning at least 3,500 days—roughly 9.6 years added.
Call it ten years. Ten years was plenty to gather more Infinite Stones—say, 5,000g?
Either way, lifespan was no longer a concern!
Best of all, he'd finally solved his "dragon-sucking addiction." He genuinely felt off if he skipped a day.
The thought made him miss the slumbering Evil Dragon Lady.
"This time, the Divine Evil Society admits defeat." The man in the mink coat and red-heart sunglasses scowled but suppressed his fury. "But, Venerable One… might we know your name?"
Xia Feng opened his eyes. Behind the spade mask, his voice was icy. "Who do you think you are? You aren't even worthy of knowing my name."
"…!!" Jiu Ye choked, his face darkening further. Yet he dared not retaliate. The gap between a Venerable and ordinary beings was insurmountable—this one could erase him with a flick.
Fortunately, the Venerable didn't seem aligned with the Empire. According to the Clown, the Spade Man hailed from the Burning Heaven Temple, a den of madmen. That likely explained his disinterest in them.
Jiu Ye risked no further provocation. With a wave, he signaled his men.
"Retreat."
The blood-robed followers tensed, scrambling into the glowing portal behind them—terrified the Spade Man might change his mind and decide to… discuss life with them.
Whoosh—
The light gate snapped shut abruptly.
Xia Feng exhaled inwardly. Thankfully, my acting skills are MAX-tier. Nailing the demeanor and tone of an overpowered expert was enough to scare off these small fries.
But just then—a sharp whoosh cut through the air.
Another arrival?
Xia Feng's gaze shifted. A squad of white-robed agents was advancing rapidly. Among them: Lord Wangjue and the legendary Bureau Chief, Xuanwu.
Trouble never ends.
"Time to go."
His spade mask tilted slightly as he cast one last glance at the approaching figures. Then, with deliberate slowness, he floated toward the rooftop of Pingshan Hospital.
There, an elliptical black vortex hovered—the entrance to Minos, the bar within the Disaster Realm.
The vortex seemed to sense his approach. Instantly, it shuddered, its edges contracting as if to flee.
"You dare run?" Xia Feng's voice was frost.
The vortex froze mid-shrink. Then, almost meekly, its maw widened—an unspoken invitation.
By the time the white-robed agents arrived, both the spade-masked man and the vortex had vanished.
Truthfully, Xuanwu could've intercepted him. But the Spade Man had clearly wished to leave without conflict.
No point provoking unnecessary strife.
"Not from the Empire," murmured Lord Wangjue, hands clasped behind his back as he stared at the now-empty rooftop. "And given his methods, he's unlikely tied to the Imaginary Royal Court. That leaves… the Burning Heaven Temple."
"Impossible." Xuanwu's voice was a blade of ice. "Since when do those fanatics—who preach annihilation—lift a finger to save cities?"
"Chief, we captured this earlier on Bloodnight Street." Freya offered her phone.
On-screen: the Red Heart Mask.
Li Sheng's eyes narrowed. "Now I remember why the Spade Mask felt familiar. These two appeared together at a bun shop on Bloodnight Street weeks ago."
"So they are connected," Freya mused. Then, frowning: "Li Sheng, wasn't the spiritual criminal you mentioned before this Red Heart?"
"Yes. Red Heart emerged half a year ago—ruthless, efficient. Rarely used spiritual attire, preferring clean kills with a blade. Vanished after a month."
The middle-aged man's voice deepened. "Recently, he resurfaced. To date: 31 cursed individuals slain, 198 advanced-stage cursed patients, 4 low-tier spiritual masters, 3 black-market cursed spirit dealers… and one Holy Department agent."
"His rampage was so extreme, the Holy Department formed a dedicated task force. But the moment they mobilized, he disappeared."
"His final victim? Agent Baizhe—the infamous 'bribery and suicide' case."
A sigh. "I tracked him for months, assuming he worked alone. Never imagined he had allies… let alone a Venerable."
Xuanwu nodded. "Current evidence suggests Red Heart and Black Spade belong to the same faction—likely a new organization."
"Li Sheng, file this as S-class priority. Provisional designation: [Peach]."
(End of Chapter)