BOOOOOM!!
The crimson explosion illuminated the entire mountain.
The demonic camp was engulfed in crimson fire in an instant, and the impact sent cultivators and pieces of wood flying through the air. Black wagons toppled violently as screams echoed through the night.
But Han Feng didn't stop.
The moment he descended upon the camp, his figure had already vanished again into the shadows of the fire.
Quick.
Precise.
Deadly.
One demonic cultivator barely managed to turn his face before a blade of fire pierced his throat.
SHHHK!
Blood spurted.
Another tried to activate a defensive Gu, but Han Feng appeared behind him like a ghost.
CRACK!
His neck was instantly broken.
The eyepatch leader roared furiously:
— ENEMY!
Rank 4's aura exploded violently.
The ground beneath him cracked as black primordial essence began swirling around his body like poisonous smoke. The other demonic cultivators quickly reorganized. It was obvious that this group wasn't made up of common criminals.
They were veterans.
Accustomed to killing.
Han Feng coldly observed from atop a destroyed cart.
His black cloak swayed along with the red flames that danced around his arms. His purple eyes reflected the fire like two cold blades.
The demonic leader narrowed his only remaining eye.
"So it was you."
Han Feng didn't answer.
In the Gu World, words rarely held value during an ambush.
The man spat on the ground.
"Brat… you have courage."
Then he smiled slowly.
"But courage without strength only means death."
BOOOOM!
The man charged forward like a beast.
His speed completely surpassed that of the fallen subordinates. His fist, shrouded in black smoke, ripped through the air directly toward Han Feng's chest.
Han Feng dodged by inches.
The rock behind him instantly exploded.
Poison.
The black smoke corroded everything it touched.
The demon leader gave him no quarter.
Another blow came immediately.
Then another.
And another.
Continuous attacks, brutal and fast enough to crush ordinary Rank 3 cultivators in seconds.
But Han Feng didn't panic.
His body moved like dark water between attacks.
Calm.
Cold.
Calculating.
He observed the man's movement patterns as he purposefully retreated toward the fire spreading across the camp.
The leader noticed.
But smiled.
— Do you want to use the flames against me?
Black smoke exploded around his body.
The nearby red flames were violently pushed back.
Han Feng narrowed his eyes.
Interesting.
The man's technique seemed focused on spiritual corruption and suppression. It wasn't powerful just because of cultivation, but because of the poisonous nature of the Gu he used.
Then—
the Celestial Diagram vibrated.
A deep vibration.
Han Feng felt the golden lines within the diagram glow again.
And for the first time…
he had a strange feeling.
Instinct.
As if the diagram itself was trying to guide him.
Han Feng slowly raised his right hand.
The red flame appeared.
But this time…
golden particles appeared within it.
The demon leader frowned immediately.
Danger.
His instinct screamed.
But too late.
Han Feng moved his fingers.
The flame exploded.
Not outwards.
Inwards.
BOOOOM!!
The crimson fire violently condensed into a single point before shooting out like a golden-red spear.
The demon leader's eyes widened.
The black smoke tried to block it.
But at the instant of impact—
it was pierced through.
Like burning paper.
PUCHII!!
The spear pierced the man's shoulder.
He screamed.
Not just from pain.
But from shock.
The energy within the flame was directly destroying his primordial essence.
—WHAT… IS THIS?!
Han Feng was also slightly surprised.
This was different.
Very different.
The destructive power had increased absurdly.
More importantly…
the golden energy seemed naturally superior to the common techniques of the Gu World.
As if it came from a different Dao.
The demon leader recoiled desperately, clutching his burned shoulder. The flesh around the wound was rapidly rotting.
Fear finally appeared on his face.
"You… you're not normal…"
Han Feng lunged forward.
Without answering.
The man roared and activated several Gu simultaneously.
Black beasts made of smoke emerged around him.
Five.
Ten.
Twenty.
The creatures advanced like a dark wave.
Han Feng didn't slow down.
His primordial essence circulated violently.
The red flame exploded around his body like a bloody sun.
Then the golden lines of the Celestial Diagram vibrated again.
And for the first time…
Han Feng saw.
Within the flames, golden symbols appeared for brief moments.
Runes.
Unknown.
Ancient.
Like fragments of laws.
BOOOOOM!!
The smoke beasts were instantly destroyed.
The fire advanced like a storm.
The remaining demonic cultivators began to scream in panic.
Some tried to flee.
Others attacked desperately.
But everything turned to chaos.
The entire camp transformed into a red inferno.
Han Feng traversed the fire like a specter.
Cold.
Relentless.
A blade pierced a heart.
An explosion burned three men alive.
Another had half his body destroyed by a flaming blast.
The smell of blood and burnt flesh covered the mountain.
The demonic leader watched in horror.
Because he realized.
Han Feng wasn't fighting like an ordinary cultivator.
He was growing stronger during the battle.
The Celestial Diagram absorbed strange fragments of energy scattered across the area, slowly refining something within him.
Then—
the golden seal pulsed violently.
Han Feng froze for an instant.
A pain shot through his chest.
The world seemed to slow down.
And at that moment…
he heard a voice.
Distant.
Ancient.
Like an echo coming from countless worlds.
"The convergence has begun…"
Han Feng's eyes widened slightly.
But the sensation vanished immediately.
The demonic leader seized the moment.
BOOOOM!!
A dark technique struck Han Feng directly on the left side of his body.
The explosion hurled him against a rock.
Stones shattered.
Blood dripped from Han Feng's mouth.
The demonic man roared furiously:
— DIE!!
He lunged to finish him off.
But when he got close—
he stopped.
Because Han Feng was smiling.
Not an arrogant smile.
A cold smile.
Dangerous.
The leader felt a deadly chill.
Then he realized.
Behind him.
The flames scattered throughout the entire camp had shifted.
They were all connected.
Like red threads forming a huge diagram.
The man's eyes widened.
— You…
Han Feng slowly raised his hand.
And closed his fingers.
FOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The entire camp exploded.
The red fire rose to the heavens like a hellish storm.
The mountain trembled violently.
The demon leader was completely engulfed by the explosion.
His scream lasted only an instant.
Then it disappeared.
Silence.
Only fire remained.
Han Feng stood still amidst the flames, breathing heavily.
His body was wounded.
His primordial essence had been largely consumed.
But his eyes…
were deeper.
Colder.
More dangerous.
The golden lines within the Celestial Diagram were now more stable.
As if they had absorbed something from that battle.
Han Feng slowly looked around.
Corpses.
Ashes.
Blood.
This was the Gu World.
Cruel.
Violent.
No room for hesitation.
Then—
a low sound came from one of the destroyed carts.
Han Feng walked to it and slowly opened the broken door.
Inside were people.
Prisoners.
Men.
Women.
Even children.
All thin, wounded, and terrified.
An old man looked at Han Feng, trembling.
—S-sir…
Han Feng remained silent.
Their gazes were full of hope.
But he knew.
In the Gu World, hope could kill.
He calmly broke their chains.
Then he spoke only one sentence:
—Run before dawn.
Without waiting for thanks, he turned and began to leave.
A young woman behind him asked in a weak voice:
—Who…who are you? Han Feng paused for a brief moment.
The wind blew through the flames.
Then he replied without looking back:
"Just someone trying to survive."
And he disappeared into the darkness of the mountain.
Behind him, the red inferno continued to burn.
Meanwhile…
far away…
in a forbidden region of the Central Region…
an old man in golden robes slowly opened his eyes inside a dark hall.
His gaze was as deep as an abyss.
In front of him, a spiritual compass had cracked.
The old man remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he murmured:
"Another variable has appeared…"
And for the first time in hundreds of years…
the old man's expression turned serious.
Because the sky…
was beginning to spiral out of control.