After 6 months since the beginning of Seong Hun and Ji Soo's closed cultivation, their strength increased significantly. Mao Seong Hun reached the late stage of True Immortality (stage 8), and Mao Ji Soo reached the middle stage of Complete Immortality (stage 8). This was due to several reasons: first, they cultivated for a very long time, exceeding 100 years; second, the refining resources within the ring were extremely rare, some extinct or legendary, and completely pure (100%) without any impurities. Thus, they could refine without worrying about impurities in their bodies upon consumption.
During these past months, they had gained an overwhelming presence, and their physical bodies became excellent, unlike their previous weak and emaciated state due to poor nutrition and the accumulation of impurities within their bodies. This did not mean they were healthy; they appeared strong outwardly, but inwardly, they were in a pitiful state.
Seong Hun and Ji Soo slowly opened their eyes. Their eyes glowed with a dazzling golden light, and ethereal energy began to envelop their bodies, forming a matrix around them for a few seconds before disappearing as golden dust. Seong Hun looked at his sister, Ji Soo, with some astonishment. She had reached the middle stage of Complete Immortality (stage 8). He showed signs of surprise. "How did we not experience any heavenly tribulations? Yet I am in the late stage of True Immortality (stage 8), and she is in the middle stage of Complete Immortality (stage 8)." His voice was full of confusion. However, he felt that something different had happened to them, but he didn't know what. It was something different in their very souls. He felt he had an understanding of all kinds of laws, or concepts like space, time, chaos, etc. He felt he could manipulate them easily, even though he was only at stage 8. The others felt their souls were devouring those laws and concepts to increase the speed of their strength. However, the refining resources within the ring were extremely rare, some extinct or legendary, and completely pure (100%) without any impurities. Thus, they could refine without worrying about impurities in their bodies upon consumption. He felt the remnants of Dao in his soul were not fully consumed. Nevertheless, he felt more at ease than worried, as he was now at the peak of the late stage of True Immortality (stage 8).
"Come on, Mao Ji Soo, let's leave. The 6 months have passed, and the refining resources within the ring are gone," Seong Hun's tone was calm as he looked at Ji Soo with a warm smile. A faint smile appeared on Ji Soo's face upon seeing that Seong Hun had regained his former composure. "Yes, let's go. Our time here is over." Her tone was calm and beautiful.
They both walked towards the door, which began to form gradually. Their steps were firm, with a slight tension due to the possibility of any unexpected turn, considering Feng Li Wu followed the demonic path and was number one on the blacklist, making him completely untrustworthy. Demons betray by nature, especially Feng Li Wu, who annihilated his clan and killed anyone he considered an obstacle in his way or to carry out his plans. Feng Li Wu believed the ends justified the means, making him the most terrifying entity in the world.
As soon as they crossed the door, they felt a great heaviness, as if their bodies had completely lost coordination, with no organ capable of working harmoniously. Time inside that world was slow, and by staying for 6 months, their bodies had gotten used to the time inside the world. Also, they did not wear any clothes or consume any potions that prevented the world's effects on their bodies for two reasons. First, they were expensive, their price equivalent to a fortune, with even major sects possessing only 10 pairs. Second, the potions were priceless and monopolized by the great sects. Third, Feng Li Wu did not want to grant them, so they would rely on themselves and realize that he would not meet all their demands, and they had to depend on themselves. Warm blood began to flow profusely from the pores on their faces. Their bodies burned as if hundreds of swords heated to the melting point were brutally piercing them. Their faces began to turn dangerously black, with the veins on their faces bulging as if their heads were about to explode.
After several minutes, Seong Hun and Ji Soo fell to the ground, coughing up blood. "Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough." It was a dry cough; they couldn't even cough naturally. "Hahaha, fine, let's end this cheap drama," Feng Li Wu's tone was cold and devoid of emotion as he looked at Seong Hun and Ji Soo, who were on the verge of death because their bodies had suffered severe temporal shock, and their bodies were too weak to withstand this shock. The reason was their poor nutrition over the past years.
Seong Hun and Ji Soo felt a slight annoyance at Feng Li Wu's cold, contemptuous words, as if their torment was just a cheap play. However, they dared not or could not say anything because they were still incredibly weak, and second, they were unable to say anything substantial. Feng Li Wu knelt to be at their level and placed his hand on their backs, quickly removing the temporal imbalance and shock from their bodies. After a few seconds, Seong Hun and Ji Soo returned to normal, only to collapse unconscious from the pain they experienced. Yong Yu Jong sighed deeply as he looked at Seong Hun and Ji Soo lying on the ground in a pitiable state. He then left the room, leaving them sleeping on the floor, soaked in their light silver blood.
..............
After three full days, Seong Hun and Ji Soo began to wake up from their three-day and three-night slumber. Seong Hun and Ji Soo stretched their limbs due to the long sleep. Their facial features turned to surprise at finding themselves inside a transport cart. However, they did not notice Feng Li Wu anywhere inside the cart. Seong Hun decided to go and look at the driver who was driving the cart wonderfully and perfectly. As soon as he lifted the partition separating him from the driver, he found Feng Li Wu driving it. Feng Li Wu was indifferent to Seong Hun's surprised glances as to how he got the cart and its perfect driving.
"Mr. Feng Li Wu, where did you get this wonderful cart? It looks luxurious and expensive," Seong Hun's tone was full of confusion and surprise, yet his facial features did not change in the slightest. "I took it after killing its owners. That's how I got it. Are you satisfied now?" Feng Li Wu did not look at Seong Hun at all; his gaze was directed forward only. Seong Hun remained silent, unable to respond due to Feng Li Wu's cold and indifferent statement, as if people's lives were just tools that could be used and discarded at any time. In a world ruled by power, the strong eat the weak, it was a matter of course. There is a vast difference between ignorance and the world, poverty and wealth, the strong and the weak. In this world or any world, you either eat or are eaten, or you are exploited, or you are just a puppet working for others, or you rule, or you submit. Only the strong and intelligent rule, eat, and exploit power without reason, like a blacksmith with his hammer and a warrior without a weapon.
"Listen, we are close to the Mao Sect, about a day away. So it's best to rest and use the remaining laws within your souls to advance to higher ranks. Come on, do something useful," Feng Li Wu's tone was as cold as frost as he looked at Seong Hun out of the corner of his eye. Seong Hun entered the cart without saying anything. He didn't dare to say anything; to Feng Li Wu, he was just an insect he could easily crush. He had learned about the incident at Mount Qi Bao, where he completely annihilated Mount Qi Bao, leaving a surface resembling a mirror, like a giant mirror reflecting the sky over thousands of kilometers, and easily killed several level 8 immortal lords as if they were worthless insects. Thus, he decided not to do anything. A fool might end his life and his younger sister's life.
As soon as he returned inside the cart, he found Ji Soo holding a golden dragon turning into silver. Seong Hun's facial features were full of surprise as to where this dragon came from, but he ignored it completely, as Ji Soo's facial features showed some confusion, as if the dragon had appeared out of nowhere. "Ji Soo, we will reach the Mao Sect within a day, so it's best to utilize this time for training," Seong Hun's tone was calm as he sat down in a meditative posture and began cultivating the roots of his Dantian. Ji Soo sighed with slight annoyance, but she began cultivating the roots of her Dantian. As soon as they started cultivating, a white-gold radiance appeared from their bodies. A golden dragon mark glowed from Seong Hun's and Ji Soo's foreheads, and the dragon began to glow with a dazzling golden light, transforming into golden ethereal energy that entered Seong Hun's and Ji Soo's foreheads equally. Outside the cart, a mysterious smile appeared on Feng Li Wu's face as he drove the cart towards the Mao Sect. Feng Li Wu looked towards the location of the Mao Sect, which was built on the peak of Mount Mao Tang, one of the most ancient mountains in the world of immortals.
Feng Li Wu sighed, a sigh full of boredom, and decided to increase the speed of the carriage to disappear for a few seconds before reappearing near the Mao sect.
Feng Li Wu landed the carriage five kilometers away from the Mao sect.
"Mao Xiong Xiong and Mao Ji Su, we have arrived. The rest period is over, it's time to work, come on!" Feng Li Wu's tone was cold, causing both Xiong Xiong and Ji Su to move immediately without looking back for a second.
Xiong Xiong's expression turned to surprise. They were supposed to arrive in a day, not seconds, yet he didn't say anything because Feng Li Wu wouldn't answer him anyway; he would just ignore him if he was in a good mood.
"Mao Xiong Xiong, you will head to the secret tunnels of the sect. You will find two things: a storage ring and a skull of an elk with a black aura emanating from its face. Place them, you and your sister, in the middle of the Mao sect, then leave the place and head to the furthest possible point, but you must be able to see the sect clearly, and don't do anything stupid because I won't be merciful, understood?" Feng Li Wu's tone was cold, full of absolute power and authority, and a faint killing intent.
"Okay, we will do that. Let's go, sister Ji Su. We have no time to waste. Some people will come to check on the unknown carriage that entered the sect's territory," Xiong Xiong's tone was calm as he looked at his sister.
"Okay, let's go."
Xiong Xiong and Ji Su immediately shot towards one of the sect's secret tunnels.
After a while, they stopped at a statue of Buddha made of pure gold.
Nearby was an incense burner and some dried incense sticks, covered with a layer of Qi to prevent them from being damaged by the seasonal rains. This was because the environment of Mount Mao Tang receives rain twice a week annually, making it one of the richest regions in terms of various herbs, including rare ones.
Both Xiong Xiong and Ji Su sat in a meditative position before Xiong Xiong lit an incense stick and began his prayer.
"Great Buddha, enlighten our path with your illumination and divine wisdom."
This was Xiong Xiong's tone.
After a few seconds, special runes began to activate in the Buddha statue before a door behind it opened, making a grinding sound of rocks against each other.
Xiong Xiong and Ji Su immediately entered the gate.
"Brother Xiong Xiong, they won't find us, right?" Ji Su's tone had some anxiety.
Hearing Ji Su's anxiety, Xiong Xiong stopped.
He looked towards the gate with a sarcastic smile.
The gate was closing rapidly. After two minutes, the gate was closed.
"Don't worry, this gate only recognizes true heirs and sect leaders. And since I am the legitimate heir, I know things that even the elders of the Mao sect themselves don't know," Xiong Xiong's tone had some cold sarcasm about the world.
In this world, or any world, there were always things monopolized by those in high positions, or rather, at the top of any system, regardless of its type. Information was always monopolized 100% to give an advantage, not out of greed or recklessness, but out of intelligence. Monopolizing such matters brought high gains and simple to moderate benefits to the rest, while the highest positions, like sect elders, were for gaining loyalty or making them feel threatened. Nothing is free; ignorance has a price, and knowledge has a price.
Ji Yao sighed with relief after hearing Xiong Xiong's words.
They continued their path rapidly, bypassing all traps and obstacles, as Xiong Xiong knew the Mao sect's plan from his late father, Mao Min Seok. It was one of the things future sect leaders had to know from a young age, and Xiong Xiong was no exception.
After two hours, Xiong Xiong and Ji Su had reached the center of the tunnels, which was considered the sect's center and main treasure vault, where the Mao sect hid its greatest treasures from the rest of the sect.
"Ji Su, search for what we need from that side. I will search from this side, and be careful of the traps; they are all deadly. Even a cultivator at level 9 would suffer serious injuries from them. Is that clear?" Xiong Xiong's tone was sharp, revealing the seriousness of the situation. While the Mao sect's treasure base was one of the greatest treasure halls in this world, it was also one of the most dangerous places at the same time.
"Okay, Brother Xiong Xiong, I will be careful." Ji Su's tone carried some tension, confidence, and determination to complete the task.
To get away from the capricious Feng Li Wu.
They then set off to search for the elk skull and the ring. Xiong Xiong headed north, which was the most dangerous and full of deadly traps, while Ji Su went south, which was safer and less dangerous.
After two hours of intensive searching, using all their enhanced senses, they managed to find the elk skull, which was a skeleton with several cracks, and a blood-red pentagram engraved on its forehead. The ring looked ordinary, like any normal storage ring.
"Ji Su, place the ring here. This is the center of the sect," Xiong Xiong's tone was calm, with some relief that their part was over. Ji Su nodded in agreement and placed the storage ring where Xiong Xiong pointed.
As soon as the storage ring and the elk skull were placed, they left at maximum speed, not looking back.
Several kilometers away, Xiong Xiong and Ji Su stopped running.
They turned their gaze towards the Mao sect.
Xiong Xiong's and Ji Su's faces turned black; they couldn't speak.
The situation in the Mao sect was a massacre of the highest caliber. It was red with blood, and black smoke was rising from it.
Five hours earlier.
After Xiong Xiong and Ji Su left, Feng Li Wu destroyed the carriage they had come in to the Mao sect, with a cold smile on his face.
As soon as the carriage was completely gone, Feng Li Wu turned his gaze towards the Mao sect for a few seconds before a white sword appeared completely, with prominent marks resembling a closed eye. The sharp blade of the sword glowed with a milky white color.
Feng Li Wu disappeared from the place and reappeared in the middle of the Mao sect, with the same cold smile still on his face.
The expressions of the people around him turned to terror, but Feng Li Wu completely ignored them. He snapped his fingers, and a dome appeared, completely covering the Mao sect mountain, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.
"Inhabitants of the Mao sect, you are the group that most monopolizes benefits for yourselves. You have made your sect exclusive to the members of the Mao clan, but this greed will be my means to achieve my goals. Hahahahahaha!" Feng Li Wu's tone was cold as he looked at the terrified faces of the clan members and the Mao sect inhabitants.
Two thousand years ago, the Mao sect was just a clan. But after discovering Mount Mao Tang, it developed and prospered, becoming one of the most powerful sects on the Western Continent.
The reason for its development was the sect's monopoly on its teachings, exclusively for the clan members, who were all of one blood and one ancestor.
All eyes were on Feng Li Wu before he disappeared from their sight.
The expressions of everyone turned to shock and pure terror.
Before they could say anything, they had turned into pieces.
Their faces were filled with pure terror and fear in their last moments.
After an hour, the Mao sect was filled with the corpses of its inhabitants, including children, the elderly, and women. Feng Li Wu didn't differentiate between old or young, male or female, fighter or helpless; they were all equal. There was no difference between the death of a human and that of an insect. One dies not because the world is unjust, but because they are weak and unable to protect themselves.
Feng Li Wu, whose body was covered in blood, and his sword, which began to transform from milky white to charcoal black, then to bloody red, rising from the tip to the end, stopped because the elders and elites of the Mao sect had surrounded him. They were all between level 8 and 7.
"Feng..." Before one of the sect elders could finish his words, he had already turned into small cubes the size of an infant's finger. All the sect elders and rising elites were no match for him. Besides, Feng Li Wu was not in the mood to listen to their hypocrisy.
After four hours, the Mao sect had literally turned into a slaughterhouse. Only torn corpses remained, and Mao Xiong Xiong, Mao Ji Su, their uncle Mao Ki Chan, and their cousin Mao Yu Shako were in the middle of the massacre, with some of their limbs cut off or disfigured, yet they remained alive.
About eight kilometers away, Xiong Xiong and Ji Su looked at what had happened to the Mao sect with expressions of absolute shock.
At an altitude of several feet, in the middle of the Mao sect, Feng Li Wu was hovering in the sky, blood covering his body from head to toe. The milky white sword had turned deep red, and the closed eye opened, revealing demonic eyes shedding black blood tears.
The sword let out a faint, mournful sound, audible, which were the souls of the Mao sect inhabitants trapped within it.
After several minutes, Feng Li Wu raised his sword to the sky, towards the sun, and demonic energy shot out from the treasure room where Xiong Xiong and Ji Su were.
Black blood flowed from the eyes and mouth of the elk skull, transforming into a demonic matrix from which a demonic eye appeared, causing the demonic energy to erupt.
At Feng Li Wu's location, the blue sky began to change, turning blood red, and the sun became a demonic eye looking towards the Mao sect, making Xiong Xiong, Ji Su, their uncle Mao Ki Chan, and their cousin Mao Yu Shako unable to think of anything but war, not from this place, but from the entire world. They didn't even dare to lift their eyes to that eye.
After several minutes, a demonic roar echoed within Mount Mao Tang.
"A sacrifice for Lord Feng Li Wu." The tone was cold and terrifying, as if an ancient demon who hadn't spoken for billions of years decided to waste a few seconds on a bunch of trash.
A deep red glow began to emanate from the treasure room, rising until it reached Feng Li Wu, where the storage ring appeared.
It had a symbol of the Netherworld on it. It was not an ordinary ring; it was connected to his soul, meaning it would become part of his soul and would be transferred with all the resources inside during each reincarnation, in addition to its infinite size and indestructibility. However, it required the sacrifice of more than a thousand people of the same blood, and there must be four witnesses of the same blood whose level is above stage 6. Xiong Xiong, Ji Su, their uncle Mao Ki Chan, and their cousin Mao Yu Shako met the criteria.
After a while, the sky and the sun gradually returned to their normal state.
Several hours later, Mao Xiong Xiong and Mao Ji Su stood before their uncle Mao Ki Chan and cousin Mao Yu Shako, the people who were the main cause of their suffering.
"Xiong Xiong and Ji Su, don't you have any desire for revenge against your uncle and his son?" Feng Li Wu's tone had some cold sarcasm as he looked at them.
Mao Ki Chan's and his cousin Mao Yu Shako's expressions turned to terror as they looked at Xiong Xiong and Ji Su.
Whose expressions were as cold as frost, showing no emotion.
"You were the cause of our suffering and the main reason for the death of our son and mother."
"We did nothing to you, but you were the cause of our pain," Xiong Xiong's tone was cold, while Ji Su remained silent, just looking. The grief of losing her mother and father and the suffering she and her brother Xiong Xiong endured returned to her mind. However, she was holding the sword that Feng Li Wu had given her. She turned with an expressionless face towards her uncle, who was in a pitiable state, and beheaded him before he could say a word.
Mao Ki Chan's face was filled with disbelief and denial that the one who killed him was the gentlest girl in the sect, Ji Su.
Mao Xiaokua's expression turned to terror and despair. He was bleeding while looking at his father's corpse. However, before he realized it, his head had been severed from his body by Xiong Xiong, who had beheaded him.
Feng Li Wu left the place with steady steps.
"Our alliance is over. We are now enemies," Feng Li Wu's tone was cold, and he disappeared from the place as if he had never been there.
Ji Su and Xiong Xiong both collapsed onto their backs.
Their faces were distorted and difficult to read.
They had taken revenge on the main cause of their suffering, and the wealth of the Mao sect was entirely in their hands. Yet, they lived with an emptiness in their hearts that they didn't understand.
"Ji Su, I think we should leave. We have nothing here anymore. As for the treasures, I have already taken them. They are inside several storage rings; there are four of them," Xiong Xiong's tone was cold.
Ji Su didn't say anything. She just stood up and brushed the dust off her clothes.
Then they left Mount Mao Tang, where life had become impossible due to the demonic energy that had occupied it.