Hours Later
The four figures moved through the sky toward Qinghe Village. Elder Han Yue hurried to keep pace, his voice low and submissive as he explained his failure—how the village shield had stood firm while his own Qi ran dry.
The figure with the Serpent Halo rested his cheek against his hand, his eyes unreadable beneath his hood. "Mm... so that is how it is. A Core Formation expert bested by a village fence."
Han Yue swallowed hard, his face flushed with shame. "Senior... may I ask for your name? And, if you don't mind... which Sect do you hail from?"
The air instantly turned to ice. A crushing pressure slammed into Han Yue, forcing him to bend in mid-air. The Senior's gaze turned lethal.
"A mere Middle Core Formation cultivator dares to ask for my name? You are not worthy to speak it."
"Forgive me, Senior! I was merely curious!" Han Yue gasped, his lungs burning under the weight of the pressure.
The Senior retracted his aura, though the cold remained. "I will grant you the name of my Sect. You should be honored to hear it." He paused, letting the silence stretch. "I come from the Heaven Devouring Demon Sect."
H-h-heaven Devouring Demon Sect.
Han Yue's breath hitched, sounding like a blade drawn over cold stone. The Heaven Devouring Demon Sect... His mind raced through the bloody history of the West Lands. They were the monsters who had burned their ancient enemy, the Eternal Flame Sect, to ash in a single day. And not a single soul had survived.
Han Yue lowered his head so far his chin touched his chest.
I can see the gap now. Not just in power, but in status. This man is likely just an Elder... and yet he carries the weight of a sect master. He thought, Our sect must not anger them.
"Now you know," the Senior said. "Lead on."
In Qinghe Village, the air was thick with the scent of wine and roasting meat. The people were laughing, emboldened by their "victory" over Han Yue.
At the village center, Doctor Lu Cheng sat cross-legged by the formation artifact.
This is a true treasure, he thought, his fingers moving in a rapid seal. To withstand a Core Formation master without a single crack... it is a miracle.
He began transferring his energy into the device, reinforcing the golden dome.
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
Purple lightning began to rampage across the clouds, turning the heavens into a bruised, violent landscape. Doctor Lu Cheng's fingers froze mid-seal. Sweat broke out on his forehead.
This pressure... it's different. It's heavy.
On the nearby mountain, Old Lady Shen bolted upright. Her eyes snapped open.
"A dark cultivator," she whispered, her voice trembling. "His cultivation is higher than mine. This is no ordinary enemy. This is a disaster."
Back in the streets, the laughter vanished. Cups of wine slipped from trembling hands and shattered on the stones. A suffocating weight descended like an invisible mountain, pressing on the villagers' chests until it was hard to draw breath.
BOOM.
Elder Han Yue descended, hovering three meters above the golden barrier. The villagers, fueled by their earlier bravado, began to jeer.
"You again? You came back for more humiliation?"
"I thought it was a powerful master, but it's just this loser again! Did you find an artifact to help you create this custom, you trash?"
"Hours ago, you ran away with your tail between your legs!"
Han Yue's face twisted with rage. "You... you will pay!"
But before he could strike, a Voice Transmission from the Serpent Halo Senior froze him in place.
Three figures descended slowly behind Han Yue. The air grew ten times heavier.
"Who are those?" a villager whispered.
They saw that their robes were dark.
Huh, some people in the village whispered. They don't look like people from Nine Heaven Sword Sect.
One whispered: "Did he go home to call his daddy?"
The Senior ignored the insults. His voice echoed like a thunderclap that shook the very foundation of the houses.
"Who is the leader here?"
Doctor Lu Cheng flew up, stopping a few meters behind the barrier. He cupped his fists, forcing his heart to stop pounding. "Senior, I am the one in charge of this village."
The Serpent Halo figure's gaze fell on him. His gaze is heavy as a mountain, Doctor Lu Cheng thought.
"You?"
The Senior raised a single, slender finger toward the golden dome.
"Let me see... what gives you people so much misplaced confidence."