The City of Black Crows didn't sleep that night.
After the crack in the sky, no one dared to act normally. Even the most brutal demonic cultivators kept their eyes downcast, like animals that sensed the approach of something far above them in the food chain.
Han Feng left the city before dawn.
He didn't want to stay in that place any longer. Especially after realizing that there were people capable of sensing small abnormalities in his aura.
The man in white clothes at the tavern…
that still bothered his mind.
That gaze didn't seem human.
Not in the physical sense.
But in the sense of depth.
As if the man saw the world from above.
Han Feng didn't like that kind of feeling.
As he advanced along the dark roads to the north, the wind grew colder and colder. The vegetation gradually diminished, replaced by gray stones and dry trees that looked like corpses pointing to the sky. The Gray Ghost Valley was nearby.
The region had been known for hundreds of years as a cursed land. Many cultivators disappeared there without a trace. It was said that the valley was filled with spiritual mist capable of slowly corroding the mind.
But now…
the place was even worse.
Han Feng felt this even before entering.
His Celestial Diagram vibrated at constant intervals, as if reacting to a huge amount of unstable energy spread throughout the area.
And the strangest thing…
was that some of that energy seemed to come from the other side.
The sky was completely cloudy when Han Feng finally arrived at the valley entrance.
Silence.
No birds.
No insects.
Not even wind.
The gray mist covered everything as far as the eye could see, hiding rocks, trees, and trails like a phantom sea.
Han Feng narrowed his eyes.
Then he entered.
The instant he stepped through the mist—
the world seemed to change.
The temperature dropped abruptly.
The air grew heavy.
And strange sounds began to echo in the distance, like whispers from impossible places.
Han Feng remained calm.
His primordial essence circulated slowly as he advanced step by step.
The deeper he went…
the more corpses appeared.
Some were ancient, reduced to bones.
Others seemed recent.
Fultivators.
Merchants.
Even Gu beasts.
All dead in strange ways.
Without apparent injuries.
As if something had simply extinguished their souls.
Han Feng crouched near a partially decayed body.
Rank 3.
He still held a destroyed defensive Gu.
The corpse's eyes were completely black.
Han Feng narrowed his gaze.
"Spiritual illusion?"
"No."
"It was something deeper."
His Celestial Diagram vibrated slightly.
"As if rejecting the surrounding energy."
Han Feng immediately realized.
"The valley mist wasn't natural."
"It was contaminated."
"Contaminated by foreign energy."
"And then—"
a scream echoed in the distance."
Han Feng instantly raised his head.
"Another scream came."
"Then silence."
He hesitated for only an instant before quickly advancing through the mist.
"A few minutes later…"
"he found it."
"Three cultivators surrounded a young woman lying on the ground."
"Their clothes had symbols made of stitched bones."
"Bone Refining Sect."
The same one mentioned in the City of Black Crows.
The young woman was injured, breathing with difficulty while one of the men held her hair.
"Stop resisting," he said coldly. "Your body is still useful."
Another man laughed.
"The master will be pleased. This spiritual lineage is rare."
Han Feng observed silently through the mist.
The three were Rank 3.
Dangerous.
Experienced.
But what truly caught his attention…
was the energy surrounding them.
The bones attached to their clothes vibrated faintly with a strange aura, as if fueled by something emanating from the fissures.
Han Feng narrowed his eyes.
So even demonic techniques were changing.
The man holding the girl slowly raised a bone blade.
"Don't worry. You'll still be alive when we begin the refinement."
The girl's eyes widened in terror.
And then—
the red fire appeared.
FOOOOM!
The cultivator didn't even have time to react.
His body instantly burst into flames.
The other two were horrified.
—ENEMY!
Han Feng emerged from the mist like a dark shadow.
His gaze was cold.
Without hesitation.
Without mercy.
One of the cultivators immediately activated dozens of bone needles.
SHHHHK!
The needles shot through the air.
Han Feng gently dodged as the red flame swirled around his hand.
Then—
the golden lines of the Celestial Diagram shone.
The flame shifted.
Golden particles emerged within the crimson fire.
The demonic cultivator felt his scalp crawl.
Mortal danger.
But too late.
Han Feng moved his hand.
The flame pierced the mist like lightning.
BOOOOM!!
The man was completely consumed.
Not even his bones remained.
The last cultivator desperately tried to flee.
Han Feng appeared behind him instantly.
CRACK.
His neck was broken.
Silence.
The mist once again enveloped the valley.
The girl lying on the ground looked at Han Feng, trembling.
She looked young, perhaps sixteen or seventeen years old. Her face was smeared with blood and dust, but her eyes still held alertness.
In the Gu World, saviors were almost nonexistent.
She knew this.
Han Feng observed calmly.
"How long have they been chasing you?"
The girl hesitated.
"Two days…"
Han Feng realized immediately.
She didn't trust him.
Clever.
The girl clenched her fists slowly.
— You… want to capture me too?
Han Feng remained silent for a moment.
Then he replied:
— If I wanted to, I would have already done it.
She stood motionless.
Han Feng turned to continue walking.
But before taking the third step—
his Celestial Diagram exploded in vibrations.
Much stronger than before.
Han Feng froze.
The surrounding mist began to swirl slowly.
The sky above the valley trembled.
Then—
the whispers grew louder.
Hundreds of them.
Thousands.
Like voices speaking in an impossible language.
The girl turned pale.
—N-no…
Han Feng slowly raised her eyes.
And saw.
In the overcast sky of the valley…
a gigantic crack began to appear.
Much larger than any other before.
Spiritual pressure descended upon the world like a mountain.
The mist went mad.
Stones began to float.
The corpses scattered across the valley began to tremble.
Han Feng felt her blood run cold.
Because from that crack…
something was watching.
Not Fang Yuan.
Not that being on the other side.
Something else.
Something older.
More chaotic.
The mere presence made the space groan.
The girl fell to her knees, trembling.
"What… is this…?"
Han Feng didn't answer.
His Celestial Diagram vibrated so strongly it felt like it was about to tear his chest apart.
The golden lines glowed wildly.
The golden seal burned.
And then—
for a fraction of a second—
Han Feng saw a silhouette inside the crack.
Gigantic.
Covered in darkness.
With countless red eyes slowly opening.
The entire valley trembled.
And a voice echoed.
Deep.
Distant.
As if from a dead universe.
"The passage… is opening…"
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The crack exploded in light.
And the Gray Ghost Valley plunged into chaos.