Chapter 235: Clash

“Ah!!”

A scream of agony erupted as the shadow that had just materialized was struck squarely in the face by Wang Mingren’s fist. The force of the blow sent the figure flying back, only for a second punch to land squarely on the neck. A sickening crack echoed through the air as the screaming figure plummeted to the ground, legs twitching twice before going still.

Is it over?

“No, this one’s a demon seed.”

Shangren Yinwind was the first to react. He swept his sleeve, unleashing a toxic sandstorm that whipped through the air. The surrounding pine trees rapidly withered under the assault.

But before the sand could fully take effect, his face paled.

A translucent hand emerged from behind, piercing through his flesh to grasp his heart.

A curse!

Shangren Yinwind’s face twisted in horror. He immediately bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood. His spiritual energy surged to its limit as he tried to expel the cursed energy, but his strength proved no match for the Demonseed Sect Leader - even in his weakened state, the cultivator’s power crushed him completely.

There was no elaborate trickery or hidden technique - just raw, overwhelming power.

“It’s hair.”

Wang Mingde’s voice, which had been hidden in the shadows without making a move, finally spoke. Only then did everyone notice that during their earlier confrontation, a concealed presence had snatched one of Shangren Yinwind’s hairs. The medium for this attack was none other than the hair that had been thrown out earlier.

The Demonseed Sect Leader proved even more cunning than they’d anticipated, completely unaffected by emotions. His first target was Shangren Yinwind, the weakest among the six.

The timing of his strike was masterfully calculated, seizing the brief moment when the demonic seeds had been discovered and everyone’s energy was momentarily concentrated.

With a dull thud, Shangren Yinwind finally blocked this attack. He paid a heavy price to disperse the translucent hand, but the blow left him severely injured. He plummeted from the sky, crashing into a tree like a dead dog, unable to even maintain flight.

His internal energy was now in chaos, curses and spiritual energy entangled within him.

This left Shangren Yinwind utterly frustrated. Just a few years ago, he’d suffered a similar humiliation. He never thought that after regrouping and returning, he’d end up in the same sorry state. Being gravely wounded without even seeing his attacker was completely unacceptable. He’d prepared so much for this revenge, including numerous trump cards, but now everything had become a joke.

“Hee hee.”

A cascade of laughter filled the air as hazy female figures materialized around the righteous brothers and Chen Luo.

The women’s faces shifted continuously until they morphed into the most familiar people, clinging to them with pitiful expressions.

“Shixiong, I’m carrying your child.”

Chen Luo saw Shimei Huang Ying. This junior sister had been his first connection in the sect. During his most arduous early years, she had helped him survive. Later, she developed feelings for him, but their relationship was doomed by practical considerations.

‘Huang Ying’ gazed at Chen Luo with tender eyes, her hand resting on her swollen abdomen.

“Let’s name the child…”

Crack!

A hand clamped around ‘Huang Ying’s neck, snapping it without hesitation.

The illusory figure dissolved into a wisp of black smoke with a final scream.

You think this petty trick can affect me after I’ve endured the Demonic Heart Tribulation? Chen Luo thought. Yet something about the Demonseed Sect Leader’s methods felt familiar, as if there was an unknown connection between these techniques and the Demonic Heart Art.

The four brothers—Benevolence, Righteousness, Morality, and Ethics—also faced similar attacks. Among them, the second brother Wang Mingyi overcame his trial most swiftly. A white-haired woman had barely opened her mouth when he struck her down with a single sword blow before she could utter a word. The eldest brother Wang Mingren also emerged quickly, though his method was somewhat grotesque. He embraced the illusory woman, tightened his arms, and literally squeezed her into a cloud of black mist. The third brother Wang Mingdao and fourth brother Wang Mingde fared less well, both cursed and unable to act against their illusions.

“Second Brother, help them,” Wang Mingren called out.

Wang Mingyi had already rested briefly and regained some strength. Seeing his still-entranced third and fourth brothers, he swung his sword twice in quick succession.

Two sword glares pierced the air, landing precisely beside the two brothers. With two muffled thuds, the curse was broken.

“Demonseed, you dare!” A furious roar erupted from below. The group turned to see a hand protruding through Shangren Yinwind’s chest, clutching his heart. This time, there was no explosion. The translucent hand gripped his heart vein and crushed it.

A scream tore through the air as Shangren Yinwind fell from the tree like a dead dog, landing in a thicket where he vanished without a sound. It was impossible to tell if he was truly dead.

This was the true nature of an Old Demon.

He didn’t bother with fair combat; he struck first to eliminate one opponent at a time.

Chen Luo’s figure flickered as he prepared to ‘rescue’ his comrades. But the moment he moved, he saw an arm sprout from his left shoulder - three segments long, as withered as a tree branch. Sharp claws unfurled, clamping onto his jaw in an attempt to snap his neck.

“This is a blood curse!” Fourth, Wang Mingde, who had just escaped a previous curse, shouted.

“Fourth! Still haven’t found the enemy? The master’s dead!” First, Wang Mingren roared, his golden body exploding like a furnace as he slammed his fist into the ground. A layer of fiery flames erupted around him.

This deal was a total loss. With the master dead, how could they possibly get paid?

Boom!

The valley’s protective array suddenly shook twice, a crack appearing in its previously flawless formation.

“He’s escaping!” Third, Wang Mingdao’s face paled. When he’d been cursed earlier, the array had shown a momentary weakness. The Old Demon had seized that opening - first eliminating Shangren Yinwind to create a diversion, then hiding his true form at the array’s edge. Now he’d struck, destroying one of the formation’s critical flags.

This ancient demon possessed battle experience beyond measure. He knew exactly how to exploit the flaws in a mobile array.

“Follow him!”

The four cultivators took flight simultaneously, pursuing the breach in the formation. Chen Luo, having broken free from the curse on his arm, followed close behind. After prolonged combat, he had finally sensed the true presence of the Demonseed Sect Leader.

Yet the sect leader proved more formidable than expected. As he soared into the air, his form exploded into seven distinct shadows, each streaking across the sky in different directions.

“The third one!” Fourth Brother Wang Mingde, seemingly possessing some special ability, led his three companions in pursuit of the third shadow. Chen Luo hovered mid-air, scanning the seven figures. A sense of unease settled in his chest. He descended back into the valley, searching the spot where Shangren Yinwind had fallen earlier.

The fallen cultivator was nowhere to be seen.

Whether he had fled or perished remained unclear.

“The Demonseed Sect Leader is a peak-stage cultivator who has condensed a Pseudo-Core Seed. In life-or-death situations, he can unleash powers akin to a Core Formation cultivator by activating that seed.” Having formed his own Pseudo-Core Seed, Chen Luo understood better than anyone the terrifying potential of this power.

Chen Luo crouched down, picking up a clump of black soil. Several specialized tracking modules in his external brain immediately sprang to life.

The person is still alive.

Southwest direction. This person is suspicious.

The two clearest thoughts emerged. Chen Luo swiftly changed course, pursuing the seventh shadow’s disappearance.

The enmity between him and the Demonseed Sect Leader was mortal. Even if he didn’t seek the man, the sect leader would come after him once recovered. Better to strike first and eliminate the threat.

Boom!

Not long after taking flight, the clashing sounds of battle erupted from the “Righteousness, Benevolence, Ethics, and Morality” quartet’s direction. They’d clearly caught up with the shadow and engaged in combat. The fact that the clash’s energy could be sensed from such a distance spoke to the tremendous power being unleashed.

The more intense the battle, the more Chen Luo felt something was amiss.

He pressed through the valley’s pine forest, following the trail. After some distance, a sudden scream of pain pierced the air.

He shot forward, nine Magic Swords materializing in his hand.

The seventh shadow had vanished precisely at this location. As Chen Luo alighted, he immediately spotted a body sprawled on the ground. The man wore gray robes, clearly one of the two Qi Refining cultivators who had been tailing them earlier. He recalled Wang Mingren’s words - these two Qi Refining realm cultivators were backed by the Priest of a Thousand Ghosts. They should possess spiritual bodies, so why had they been intercepted and killed here?

Death by curse, ten breaths ago.

The external brain swiftly analyzed the situation.

Chen Luo touched the corpse, finding it cold and devoid of even a lingering soul. He pressed his hand against the back of the skull. In newly deceased individuals, reading the brain could reveal lingering obsessions - with luck, even the final moments before death.

Hm?

Strangely, there was no reaction. He pressed harder.

The skull caved in, collapsing into a gaping hole.

“Nothing left?”

Chen Luo probed deeper, discovering the entire cavity was empty. Not just the brain - all internal organs had vanished. Only a hollow shell remained, resembling a shed skin from a transformed monster.

After laying down the corpse, Chen Luo continued walking forward. Soon, he came across the second body of a Qi Refining cultivator who had been watching the area. The man sat by a tree, wearing a sinister grin as he stared in the direction Chen Luo had come from. A large hole in his chest revealed that his flesh and organs had vanished, leaving only an empty shell - just like the previous corpse.

Chen Luo stopped and pulled out a small, dark green gourd from his Pouch of Holding. He tapped the gourd’s opening with his index finger.

A swarm of black specks scattered outward, covering every angle without missing a spot. These insects were all creatures Chen Luo had collected - some from Shan City women, others from Wang Cangxiao, and even some from treasured collections of calamity cultivators. The combined insect treasures quickly filled the area.

Within moments, Chen Luo sensed movement. A dozen dark red insects danced before him, indicating a specific direction. Beyond a waterfall that appeared normal from this angle, the insects revealed a hidden cave where the missing figures had taken refuge.

Chen Luo produced his Soul Banner.