Outside the Black Wind Cave, the sky had turned a sickly crimson. The purifying flames of the Sun-Veil Sect burned through the ancient trees, consuming the spirit herbs and leaving behind trail of white ash.
At the head of the ascending group stood Cultivator Zhao, an elder in golden-embroidered robes. His eyes burned with righteous fury, a glowing solar sword floating beside his shoulder.
— Heretic Li Chen! — Zhao’s voice boomed across the valley, carried by immense Qi. — Hand over the forbidden alchemy scriptures and kneel for judgment, or we shall purge this entire mountain!
Inside the cavern, Li Chen opened his eyes. The crimson-and-violet light swirling within his pupils flared with terrifying intensity. The Devouring Blood Pill had completely dissolved into his Dantian, its ancient energy surging through his newly opened meridians like a torrent of molten dark iron.
— Master... there are over thirty of them, — Xiao Feng stammered. — Three are at the Foundation Establishment Realm!
— Thirty ant-like existence, — Li Chen said softly, rising into the air as dark Qi gathered around his boots. — Their blood will serve well to stabilize my new core.
With a single step, Li Chen vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a wispy trail of purple-black smoke.
At the cavern’s entrance, three Sun-Veil disciples were instantly blown backward as a wave of devouring shadow erupted from the ground beneath their feet. Before they could scream, their vital essence was drained into thin crimson threads, shooting straight into Li Chen’s outstretched palm.
Elder Zhao stared in horror as the young man he once deemed a cripple stood before him, bathed in the blood-mist of nine harvested souls.
— You... you actually cultivated the Dark Dan! — Zhao shouted, raising his solar sword as light erupted around him. — Die, heretic!
Li Chen sneered, his voice sounding like two grinding stones:
— Your light is nothing but a flickering candle before the abyss.