The journey back was uneventful, with only one small incident: the Air Traffic Authority of the Eight Rings mobilized all aerial security forces, along with a significant portion of the police, to be on high alert.

The reason was simple: the "Madam" was in the hovering vehicle.

Even personnel from the Secret Investigation Department had arrived, creating a tense atmosphere, led by a deputy director from the Secret Investigation Department!

However, nothing happened in the end; everything was safe and sound, and the hovering vehicle landed steadily on the land of the Eight Rings.

"Something feels strange..."

Inside the vehicle, the Madam frowned slightly:

"My danger level should have been raised, yet the deputy director came just to take a look and then immediately ordered a withdrawal? Why..."

She was confused; the deputy director was on her intellectual level, but she appeared frightened?

Guan Xue patted her chest, still shaken:

"Probably afraid of you?"

"How could that be?"

The Madam shook her head slightly:

"The second deputy director, Wu Mengling, is a rank above me. While she might be wary of some of my tactics, she wouldn't be intimidated."

After a pause, the Madam was even more perplexed:

"But the problem is, she did seem scared... In any case, today's situation feels bizarre."

Chen Xiang remained silent and observant.

"Alright, now that I've safely delivered you to the Eight Rings, I'll head back to avoid alarming some people here."

The Madam smiled and turned to Chen Xiang:

"Little Chen, here's my number. Next time you come to the Nine Rings, let me know in advance, and I'll come pick you up."

"Aunt Li, you're my elder; it's not right for you to pick me up," Chen Xiang said politely, following the others out of the hovering vehicle.

Watching the Madam depart, he finally turned to the others:

"The lecture is at the academy, starting at three o'clock. We'll meet at the academy gate at two-thirty, and I'll take you in with the pass Professor Su gave me."

"Got it, Teacher Chen!" Yuan Jiashuang and Pang were grinning; they had gotten familiar with Chen Xiang during this time, so they were more relaxed. As for Guan Xue, Zhong Sizhe, and Man Mu, they remained reserved, nodding respectfully in agreement.

Chen Xiang didn't linger in conversation, exchanging a few casual words before walking side by side with Wei Qingqiu.

After walking a short distance to a quiet fork in the road, Wei Qingqiu frowned:

"Old Chen, be careful. The 'madman' that the Madam mentioned is in the Eight Rings. You killed his lover; he might be after you."

After a pause, she added:

"I tapped into my own intelligence network to check him out, and he's definitely a complete madman; he even graduated from the Giant Academy... Just be cautious."

Chen Xiang nodded steadily:

"Don't worry; I'll be careful. Speaking of which, you have your own intelligence network?"

"Yeah."

Wei Qingqiu didn't elaborate much:

"Actually, it's not mine; it's from my family... um, it's complicated."

Seeing her reluctance to explain, Chen Xiang didn't press further but thought thoughtfully:

"If possible, could you help me check the madman's whereabouts?"

"What are you planning to do?" Wei Qingqiu became alert.

"I prefer stability; I don't like danger, especially hidden dangers..." Chen Xiang said, lowering his gaze slightly.

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Wei Qingqiu furrowed her brow:

"Don't. He's a favored one of the Outer Gods; his methods are strange..."

"So am I."

Wei Qingqiu was taken aback, pausing for a moment before nodding:

"Fine, you have the favor of the Voidwalker. If there's real danger, you should be able to escape... I'll check it out and send you the information. Call me before you go, just for safety."

"Alright." Chen Xiang readily agreed, then asked with curiosity: "I still don't know what level you are... Are you really just a first-step transcendent in the Secret Path?"

"Guess!" Wei Qingqiu playfully blinked, her hands behind her back, bouncing away.

Chen Xiang shook his head with a smile; it seemed she had her own little secrets...

Not dwelling on it, he flagged down a taxi and arrived at his destination in about half an hour.

As soon as he got out of the car, Chen Xiang noticed a young man standing not far from the villa. The young man was dressed in formal attire, with somewhat disheveled hair, and his pale face seemed twisted with shock...

Chen Xiang furrowed his brow.

Having absorbed hundreds of soul essences, his own sensitivity had gradually developed, giving him a sense of "the cicadas sensing the autumn wind before it stirs."

At this moment...

His sensitivity was issuing a warning.

"May I ask who you are?"

Chen Xiang, touching the crack tattoo on his wrist, asked cautiously.

The pale-faced young man in formal wear swallowed hard, staring intently at the villa:

"How terrifying!"

Chen Xiang was taken aback; before he could ask anything, the strange young man spoke excitedly:

"If I take another step forward, I'll die, right? Yes, I will die, I definitely will die..."

Saying this, he lifted his foot.

**"Crack!"**

Before the young man's foot could touch the ground, his body shattered like fragile porcelain!

Chen Xiang's expression changed, stepping back as he watched the bizarre young man laugh in terror, retreating:

"How terrifying! How terrifying!"

He shattered something, and fog erupted, causing the young man to vanish into the mist.

Chen Xiang stared in shock, furrowing his brow:

"Transcendent? Why does he seem like a madman... a madman?"

His scalp tingled as he quickly texted Wei Qingqiu.

"Do you have a photo of the madman? I want to see."

Moments later, a photo arrived showing a man in a top hat and formal attire, his pale face resembling the one from before!

Chen Xiang's brows furrowed sharply, a chill running through him.

The madman had come.

Just moments ago.

What if he hadn't returned today? What if the madman had stormed into the villa...?

A wave of cold surged from Chen Xiang's tailbone, sweeping through him, accompanied by confusion.

"He seemed so afraid earlier... What was he scared of?"

"Why did he suddenly crack?"

Chen Xiang's gaze shifted towards the villa.

He stood silently at the doorstep, hesitating to push the door open, thinking about his sister, brother, Silly Girl, and Little Saleng...

Were they related?

More specifically, were they connected to Silly Girl or Little Saleng?

As doubts filled his mind, his heart raced, still shaken by the encounter.

He dared not imagine the consequences if the madman had invaded his home.

"How terrifying..."

………………

In a deserted alley.

A burst of fog erupted, and the elegant young man walked out, his body cracked and still coughing up blood.

"What is happening? Who is it?"

He muttered to himself:

"A powerful existence beyond imagination has warned me, right in that villa. An envoy of heaven? Or... a false god?"

The young man grew excited, pacing back and forth in the alley:

"Interesting, so interesting—a supreme being hidden among the common folk. What does he want? What is he planning? He..."

Suddenly, a calm voice interrupted.

"Is that so?"

The young man turned abruptly to see a hooded figure shrouded in shadows standing at the alley's entrance.

A piece of paper floated down from the sky.

"Who are you?"

The madman tilted his head.

"Guess."

The hooded man stepped closer, a fierce black flame surging behind him, as dark as a mountain, collapsing toward the madman!

"How terrifying!"

The madman exclaimed as another cloud of fog exploded, making him vanish.

In that same instant, fog erupted beside a trash can in the alley, and the madman stepped out, pointing a finger like a gun at the hooded man:

"Bang!"

The hooded man's head exploded.

...

"Interesting, so interesting—a supreme being hidden among the common folk. What does he want? What is he planning? He..."

The madman murmured, suddenly spotting a piece of paper drifting down from above. He stepped closer to examine it, noticing a strange rune drawn on it.

"Mm?"

His sensitivity suddenly warned him, bursting into fog, while another fog appeared near the trash can. The madman stepped out, noticing the spot he had just occupied was engulfed in dark flames!

"How terrifying!" he marveled, but then realized something was off. He abruptly turned to see the mysterious hooded figure standing next to him!

The hooded man struck swiftly, his palm hitting the madman. Unafraid, the madman laughed:

"You think you can match strength with me? You truly are a madman!"

He retaliated, their fists about to collide, unleashing a titanic force!

"Poof!"

The madman's hand passed through the hooded man's body.

"Intangibility?"

The madman was startled, noticing the hooded man's intangible hand penetrate his chest.

In the next instant, the hooded man's hand solidified, gripping the madman's heart, squeezing hard!

"Bang!"

A faint explosion echoed as blood poured from the madman's mouth. He looked bewildered, sorrowful, as if he were dying.

"Next time..."

The madman mournfully said:

"Come for my head."

As he spoke, he grinned, and the hooded man's head cracked open.

………

"Mm?"

The madman sensed a crisis, his sensitivity warning him. He dispersed into fog, stepping out from the swirling mist beside the trash can.

He stared at the burning dark flames in the distance, suddenly realizing something, glancing to see a hand—a phantasmal hand—piercing through his head, and then...

It solidified abruptly.

Before the madman could comprehend, he opened his mouth to speak:

"Bang!"

The hooded man's head burst apart.

...

"Interesting, so interesting—a supreme being hidden among the common folk. What does he want? What is he planning? He..."

Chen Xiang watched from a distance, listening to the madman's ramblings, remnants of the past time loop still echoing in his mind.

"Shadow authority."

"Partially completed."

"Now I see."

Chen Xiang suddenly understood, revealing the shadow hood woven from pure shadows, tossing the paper marked with the time loop rune away.