The smoke from the demonic camp still rose to the heavens when Han Feng left the mountains behind.
The wind carried the scent of burnt blood for miles, but he didn't look back even once. In the Gu World, massacres were not rare occurrences. Tomorrow other bandits would appear. Another caravan would be destroyed. Another city would disappear overnight.
That's how that world worked.
Cruelty was not the exception.
It was the rule.
Han Feng walked alone along a narrow path between dry plains, keeping his aura completely hidden. The previous battle had left marks on his body. The demonic leader's blow still burned on his left side, and some of the poison remained hidden in deep meridians.
But that wasn't the most worrying thing.
It was the Celestial Diagram.
Since the battle, the golden lines within it had stabilized even more. Before, they only appeared for moments; Now they remained visible, slowly circulating among the diagram's patterns like rivers of golden light.
And the more stable they became…
the more Han Feng felt something within him changing.
His perception of qi had increased.
His control over the flames was more refined.
Even his senses were different. Sometimes he could perceive small distortions in space before they even happened.
It was as if the world itself was becoming "more visible."
But this also made him uneasy.
Because such profound changes never came without a price.
The golden seal had remained silent since the battle, but Han Feng no longer relaxed near it. Now there was constant distrust in his mind. That thing seemed too alive to be just a gift.
On the third day of his journey, Han Feng finally sighted a city.
Or rather…
what remained of one.
High walls surrounded a vast urban area built among dark mountains. Black flags fluttered above the watchtowers, and countless crows circled the sky, cawing incessantly.
Black Crow City.
Han Feng recognized the name immediately.
It was a famous city on the border between the Western Region and the outer routes leading to the Central Region. Officially, it belonged to a small, neutral clan.
In practice…
it was a den of criminals.
Illegal merchants.
Demonic cultivators.
Slave traders.
Assassins.
Anyone could enter, as long as they had enough primal stones.
Han Feng narrowed his eyes.
He would normally avoid this kind of place.
But he needed information.
Furthermore, he needed resources to continue advancing. The recent battles had consumed much of his Gu and a large portion of his primal essence.
The city was crowded.
Armed cultivators walked the streets without hiding their murderous intentions. Dried blood could be seen in alleyways. Some shops sold refined human arms made of cultivation materials as if they were simple commodities.
Han Feng calmly walked past a black market.
A woman smiled as she showed several eyeballs stored in glass containers.
—Master Gu Rank 2 Eyes! Excellent material for investigative Gu!
Further ahead, two men were beating a chained slave in the middle of the street while dozens watched indifferently.
Han Feng continued walking without altering his expression.
This was the true Gu World.
There was no justice.
Only force.
As he advanced through the dark streets, Han Feng noticed something important:
The city was nervous.
Even veteran criminals seemed tense.
Whispered conversations arose from every corner.
— Another fissure opened near the Dead Lake…
— I heard an entire sect disappeared.
— They didn't disappear. They were consumed.
— Consumed by what?
Silence.
Fear.
Han Feng entered a small, dilapidated tavern.
The place smelled of cheap alcohol and old blood. Dangerous cultivators occupied several tables, some sleeping on recently deceased corpses without anyone caring.
Han Feng sat down in a dark corner.
A few minutes later, a thin woman approached.
"What do you want?"
"Information."
She smiled slightly.
"Information is expensive."
Han Feng placed some primitive stones on the table.
The woman immediately took them.
"What do you want to know?"
"Safer routes to the Central Region."
The woman let out a low laugh.
"Safe?"
She leaned forward.
"There are no safe routes anymore."
Han Feng remained silent.
The woman continued:
"Demonic sects are taking over roads. Fissures appear without warning. Mad beasts are attacking entire cities. And they say even Gu Immortals have begun to disappear near the spatial borders."
Her eyes became more serious.
"The world is changing, boy."
Han Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.
— And the least suicidal route?
She thought for a few seconds.
— Gray Ghost Valley. It's still usable… for now.
Han Feng knew the name.
An extremely dangerous region.
But fast.
The woman then lowered her voice even more.
— But beware of the Bone Refining Sect.
Han Feng looked directly at her.
— Demonic sect?
The woman nodded slowly.
— They're capturing cultivators near the Central Region routes. They refine living people into bone Gu.
The atmosphere in the tavern seemed colder.
— They say their leader went mad after coming into contact with a rift. Now he believes he can create a "perfect body" using energy from both worlds.
Han Feng remained motionless.
So even demonic sects were trying to use the power of rifts.
That was bad. Very bad.
Because desperate people conducted dangerous experiments.
And dangerous experiments often ended in catastrophes.
Han Feng stood up slowly.
But before he could leave—
the Celestial Diagram vibrated.
Strong.
His gaze changed instantly.
Someone was watching.
Han Feng turned his head slightly.
On the second floor of the tavern…
a man was staring at him.
White robes.
Long black hair.
Calm expression.
But his eyes…
were too deep.
For a moment, Han Feng felt a violent chill run through his soul.
Because that gaze seemed to see right through him.
Through the hidden aura.
Through the golden seal.
Through the Celestial Diagram.
The man simply took a sip of wine calmly.
Then looked away.
As if nothing had happened.
Han Feng stood motionless for a full breath.
Danger.
Extreme danger.
But strangely…
there was no murderous intent.
The man seemed only… curious.
Han Feng left the tavern immediately.
Outside, the sky was darkening.
Black crows circled above the city as the wind grew colder.
Han Feng walked quickly through the streets.
But the feeling of being watched remained.
His Celestial Diagram vibrated irregularly.
Then—
the golden seal pulsed.
And, for a fraction of a second…
Han Feng heard that distant voice again.
"The other side has begun to awaken…"
Pain shot through his head instantly.
Visions appeared.
A red sky.
Broken mountains.
Blood.
And two gazes separated by entire universes.
One cold and silent as eternal karma.
The other calm and deep as a bottomless abyss.
That being on the other side of the crack and
Fang Yuan.
Even without meeting.
Even without crossing over.
The two were already beginning to clearly perceive each other's existence. And that…
was affecting the heavens.
Han Feng opened his eyes abruptly.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
His heart pounded.
Because he finally understood something terrifying:
The collision was no longer accelerating on its own.
It was responding to their existence.
As if the universes themselves were trying to bring together two incompatible wills.
The sky roared softly.
Han Feng slowly raised his eyes.
The clouds above Black Crow City were swirling.
Slowly.
Like a huge invisible whirlwind.
Cultivators in the streets began to notice.
—The sky…
—What's happening?
Then—
for an instant—
the firmament cracked.
A golden line streaked across the skies above the city.
Everyone froze.
And within that crack…
a gigantic eye seemed to open for less than a breath.
Ancient.
Indifferent. Observing everything.
The Celestial Diagram within Han Feng exploded in vibrations.
The red flame raged violently.
And the golden seal burned like fire within his chest.
Then the crack disappeared.
The sky returned to normal.
But the silence of the city…
had completely changed.
Because everyone felt it.
The world…
was no longer the same.