Chapter 8-The secret

The wind howled low through the hidden valley as Yuan Xuelan's voice echoed off stone and forest.

"…Who's there?"

From the misted trees above, a shape dropped—silent, like death given form.

Lucifer landed on the earth with a soft thud. Shadows curled around his figure like clinging smoke. His blood-red eyes stared directly into the young master's startled face.

Yuan Xuelan instinctively stepped back, hiding the vial of blood behind him.

"Who are you?" he demanded. "You… You dare spy on me? On the Bone Clan?!"

Lucifer's voice was calm, even amused. "Demon blood. Suicide scripture. Sacrifice. You're filth hiding behind a noble name."

Yuan Xuelan's composure cracked. The smile vanished.

"You're no better," he spat, eyes narrowing. "I can feel it… You have demon qi too."

Lucifer gave no answer. Instead, he stepped forward slowly, eyes never leaving Yuan's face.

The young master sneered. "You think I'll go down quietly? Don't underestimate me!"

He slammed the vial into his chest—shhhhk—piercing his skin. Demon qi exploded from his body, swirling around him like a furious storm. His flesh bubbled. Bone protrusions formed over his knuckles like armor. His teeth elongated into jagged fangs.

But Lucifer saw the cracks.

This was not the elegant demonic might of true demon lineage. This was corrupted, frayed power, borrowed and force-fed into a human frame.

Impure demon qi. Weak. Twisted. Poisoned.

Lucifer moved.

Yuan raised a clawed hand to block, but Lucifer was already past it—his fist slammed into the young master's gut with enough force to crater the altar beneath them.

Yuan coughed blood and reeled back, growling. "You bastard!"

He retaliated with a barrage of strikes, wild but fast, trying to keep distance. Lucifer danced through them, letting some scrape his robe but never his flesh. He was testing him—measuring the weight of his strength and fear.

And fear was heavy in this one.

Yuan's rage boiled over. "I won't die! Not here! Not now! I still haven't surpassed my brother—I haven't taken over the clan!"

Lucifer's eyes narrowed. "Then die with your dreams."

He thrust forward. Fingers like blades pierced Yuan's chest. The young master screamed as Lucifer's qi surged, devouring the demon blood inside him like a beast tearing through rot.

Yuan collapsed, eyes wide, voice breaking. "No… no, please—I can give you information—anything—!"

Lucifer didn't speak. He closed his eyes… and devoured.

A tide of memories rushed into him, dark and vile.

The Bone Clan's truth unfolded.

They were once noble. A righteous force of bone-forging martial might. But greed had hollowed them.

It began generations ago. A secret ritual. A single drop of demon blood—taken from a dying Void Demon Lord. They learned it could elevate their strength… but only by feeding it.

Human blood. Human qi. Sacrifices.

They became addicts to their own power. Unable to cultivate without the demon blood. So they built a system. Raised loyal servants, trained them in false techniques, and once they reached a certain realm… they were sacrificed. Like cattle fattened for the slaughter.

They didn't stop there.

Every alliance. Every trade. Every shared pill or "gift" exchanged with others—was laced with demon qi. Planted like seeds in flesh.

The Azure Clan was their grandest target.

They had already spread the corruption—covertly, cleverly. Even some elders had unknowingly absorbed tainted materials. Without demonic cultivation techniques to mask it, that demon qi would flare up with the right trigger.

And then the Bone Clan would strike.

They would claim the Azure Clan were hidden demon cultivators. Righteous fury would follow. The other clans would not dare interfere—for fear of being seen as sympathizers.

And the arranged marriage?

A noose disguised as an embrace.

Marry the young mistress, taint the bloodline, then annihilate the rest with righteous fire.

Lucifer's eyes snapped open.

He stood alone in the valley, the husk of Yuan Xuelan smoking behind him. The altar had cracked in two. The demon blood he'd absorbed boiled in his veins, screaming to consume.

He resisted it. Barely.

But his thoughts were clear.

So that's your game, Bone Clan…

He chuckled, low and sharp. His smile twisted into something dark.

"I have a great idea."

His form shimmered—and vanished into the forest, moving like a whisper.