"Master! Has Second Apprentice-Brother been down there too long?"


    Li Yingling glanced at Chu Xingchen, concern etched on her face. "We haven''t heard anything since he gave the signal."


    "Let''s give it a little more time." Chu Xingchen frowned. "With that teleportation charm, Li Xingtian should be able to get out of there, even if he''s outmatched." He paused. "He might have already teleported out if things got too hot."


    Li Yingling sighed, resigned to waiting as her master suggested.


    But then, ten minutes later, the earth rocked. A violent explosion ripped through the mine, followed by a torrent of raw, malevolent energy.


    No words needed this time.


    Li Xingtian had anticipated the Golden Core elder guarding the spirit stone vault to be a man in his middle age, and now the figure was emerging, proving his prediction correct. Whatever was happening to Li Xingtian inside, Chu Xingchen had to intercept him.


    Chu Xingchen swiftly grabbed a spiritual sword from his spatial ring. Before going, he pressed a teleportation charm into Li Yingling''s hand. "If things go south, use this, find cover, and stay put. I''ll find you."


    "What is this thing?" Li Yingling examined the charm, its surface alive with golden patterns.


    "Random teleport. Inject spiritual energy, and boom, you''re gone. Don''t use it just to see what happens." Chu Xingchen pulled a mask over his face. "Stay calm. Your safety is priority one."


    "So what do I do?"


    "Same as Li Xingtian''s plan: try to support him, but only if you can do it safely. Anyone you can''t handle, run. Li Xingtian has one of these charms too. Don''t worry about him."


    With that, Chu Xingchen vanished, a streak of light in the sky.


    Chu Xingchen didn''t waste time with small fry. He went for his most powerful technique first: the supernatural ability Li Yingling had learned when she joined the sect.


    Three Thousand Weak Waters Sword.


    Wisps of sword energy became water dragons, wrapping the blade.


    Chu Xingchen aimed, ready to strike the elder who was rushing back towards the mine entrance.


    A beginner''s supernatural ability was still a supernatural ability. Combined with Chu Xingchen''s mastery of evasion and a surprise attack, it was a deadly combo.


    The elder was in a panic. The plan had reached a critical stage, and the Qingfeng Sect''s survival depended on it. He had to prevent this from going sideways. He''d already crushed a jade slip, sending an urgent message. With a bit of stalling, other elders would arrive to assist. But the ritual and formations deep in the mine had to be protected. He was freaking out.


    Facing Chu Xingchen''s sudden, deadly attack, he barely had time to react.


    The elder desperately pushed spiritual energy into his Golden Core, erecting a hasty shield.


    But it was useless. The sword cut through space itself. Death arrived in the blink of an eye, carried on the edge of boundless sword intent.


    The elder saw his attacker: ragged clothes, a demon mask, and eyes that were chillingly blank.


    He couldn''t dodge. He could only twist his head, barely avoiding a decapitating blow.


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    But he couldn''t avoid the sword as it pierced his heart. Immense spiritual power, infused with a torrent of blade energy, destroyed everything in its path.


    One strike, and half his body, including his heart, exploded into bloody mist.


    But the elder used the force of the blow to throw himself out of range, retreating rapidly.


    Chu Xingchen didn''t pursue. He stopped, watching the elder. Golden Core cultivators weren''t Nascent Souls. A destroyed heart should have killed him.


    But the elder seemed... fine. Something was seriously wrong. He would check his stats.


    【Mo Chen】


    【Cultivation: Mid-Stage Golden Core】


    【Blue Trait: Acquired Demonic Body】


    【White Trait: Tough Hide】


    【White Trait: Cunning】


    【Black Trait: Demonic Intrusion】


    "Acquired Demonic Body?"


    Chu Xingchen frowned. There was definitely more to the Qingfeng Sect than he realized.


    The elder stabilized himself, a hint of relief showing on his face. Black and red spiritual power erupted from him, devouring the unprepared Qi Refining Stage 2 and 3 miners nearby.


    He drained their blood and flesh, converting it into energy to replace the half of his body that had been destroyed.


    That strike had torn through his Golden Core defenses. And that naturally flowing swordsmanship... It was definitely a supernatural ability!


    A cultivator with supernatural abilities against one without was a completely unfair fight.


    Especially since this guy was stronger than him. Right now, all he could do was stall for time, waiting for reinforcements.


    Mo Chen said quickly, "Daoist friend! There must be a misunderstanding! This is the Qingfeng Sect''s mine."


    Chu Xingchen''s voice was cold and level. "A demonic cult''s mine. It''s my duty to act on behalf of Heaven."


    Hearing this, Mo Chen relaxed slightly. A few words to buy time was all he needed. This idiot, so what if he was late-stage Golden Core, so what if he had a supernatural ability.


    The sect''s Nascent Soul Patriarch would be here any minute.


    Mo Chen clasped his hands, feigning sincerity. "The Qingfeng Sect is a righteous cultivation sect, certified by the Southern Danzhou Immortal Alliance Pavilion. How can you possibly call us a demonic cult?"


    Seeing Mo Chen lower his guard, Chu Xingchen felt a surge of excitement. "Yes, the villain monologue begins!" What sort of idiot would think he''d waste time talking?


    If striking the body wasn''t effective, he would try the head.


    "But you see..."


    Chu Xingchen opened his mouth to speak, but his hands moved even faster. He lunged forward, arriving before Mo Chen in an instant. The sword energy in his hand now flowed like liquid water, encasing the blade.


    He swung, aiming straight for Mo Chen''s head.


    But the sword met only air.


    Mo Chen detonated a dark red blood mist, covering the area.


    The aura that Chu Xingchen''s sword had locked onto vanished, replaced by a single, all-encompassing cloud of blood.


    Chu Xingchen frantically erected a spiritual energy barrier, cutting himself off from the mist. He didn''t know what it was capable of.


    He couldn''t worry about wasting spiritual energy. The spiritual sword in his hand pulsed with light, pouring strands of flowing energy into the mist. Sharp threads of power tore apart every connection, every tendril.


    "You''re the demonic cultivator! Launching a sneak attack?!"


    Mo Chen''s voice, distorted with fury, echoed from within the mist. If he hadn''t been prepared, that strike would have taken his head.


    "My conscience is clear, what more needs to be said?"


    Chu Xingchen replied simply, unleashing a flood of silken energy, consuming the mist.


    Mo Chen knew he couldn''t stay in the mist, or he would die. He forced his body to re-coalesce.


    Now, Mo Chen''s eyes burned crimson as he glared at Chu Xingchen. The brat was taking advantage of the fact that he didn''t know any supernatural abilities.


    Chu Xingchen was calm. A flawless, late-stage Golden Core cultivator with a supernatural ability should crush a mid-stage. Anything less would be pathetic.


    His sword shimmered, the water spirit energy coalescing on the blade. He would finish this in two moves.


    But suddenly, everything changed. Behind him, from within the mine...


    Several bloody figures flew out, smashing through buildings and into the stone walls.


    Concern flooded Chu Xingchen''s mind. He had to look.


    After the bloody figures hurtled past, he saw him.


    Li Xingtian, wreathed in demonic flames, his body glowing with dark crimson spiritual energy. His crimson eyes were wild, consumed with murderous intent.


    Some kind of sinister blood, carrying an eerie aura, swirled around him, seemingly under his control.


    Had he been possessed?


    Why did he look so evil?


    Li Xingtian staggered out of the mine, and saw his master, his tone a mix of madness and reverence:


    "Master!"


    Mo Chen stared, mouth agape.


    He had never seen this man before. If he was calling someone "Master", it definitely wasn''t him.


    So that meant he was calling the guy who had claimed, "My conscience is clear" master.


    Seriously, the most evil-looking person here is your apprentice and you''re claiming your conscience is clear?


    Mo Chen pointed at Li Xingtian, his voice filled with bitterness.


    "You guys are the damn demonic cultivators, aren''t you?!"