The night, blackish as it could get set a gloomy shade on the world, as if hiding a malicious and grotesque monster in it's own shadows.
Cheng Xiao moved under the embrace of the dark, he felt as if he belonged to it. He was a part of it, the darkness was his other half, his missing partner.
It was strange, and he loved it.
His speed and sight, amplified by his rise in cultivation allowed him to easily maneuver his way stealthily through the thick vegetation.
After a period of time, his tracking finally bore result as he found the last two of his targets traces.
"They aren't even trying to hid their traces"Cheng said in distain.as he instantly disappeared from his place leaving a gust of wind.
Soon, he spotted two figures moving with moderate speed throught the forest heading towards his abode.
He followed them closely and carefully calculated his chances.
"One is a middle aged man, and the other is. a youth" He commented"The first one have a very strong aura and air around, I should head for the young one, right now I need less than a second to completely cut off all the veins in his hands."
Cheng was immensely grateful for his techniques. The seemingly innocuous tentacles he produced acted as extensions of his body, remarkably sharp and swift, capable of cutting through anything in their path. They proved to be his most formidable weapon. Even against cultivators of higher rank, he could exploit their carelessness, severing their veins to induce massive bleeding. This confusion and dizziness were all he needed to deliver a fatal blow.
Like an arrow waiting to be released, he activated his martial arts skill. His hands lost their color, and his nails transformed into razor-sharp daggers. Blue veins and an aura of darkness enveloped his hands as he thought, "This time, my hands will surely penetrate his body."
Earlier, he refrained from transforming his hands due to his opponent's seemingly tempered body, which appeared impervious to harm. However, his current technique was the most suitable choice. After cultivating a deadly poison, he could channel it through his nails. Even the slightest scratch would render his foe temporarily incapacitated.
Moments later, the two figures abruptly halted in their tracks. "Now!" Cheng gathered strength in his legs and pounced toward his opponents with astonishing speed, his hand aiming for the youth's head.
"CAREFUL!" Liu Yan shouted at Lin Hao.
In an instant, Lin Hao turned his head, his eyes flickering with astonishment as he barely perceived a figure behind him. Alas, he was too slow.
Liu Yan instinctively jumped and pushed Lin away. Blood gushed like a fountain as Liu fell lifelessly to the ground.
"Noooooo... WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Lin Hao screamed hysterically, consumed by rage.
Liu Yan's neck was gruesomely torn apart, leaving only bone hanging in the air—a truly terrifying sight. However, neither Cheng nor Lin paid it any mind as both went berserk.
The fight didn't last long; Lin Hao was too weak, and combat was not his forte. He lay on the ground, blood flowing from his chest, gazing at Cheng.
"Hah, you want to know who sent us. Of course, cough cough, I'll tell you, but on one condition," Lin Hao said.
"What is it that you desire?" Cheng replied patiently.
Lin Hao hesitated for a moment.
"Believe me I truly didn't want any of this, I will try to at least fullfil you're last wish" Cheng with a righteous look on his face.
Lin's face softened briefly, and he took a necklace from around his neck. "If you give this to my sister her name is Lin Ning , I will tell you everything and be eternally grateful."
"Very well," Cheng agreed.
"It was Young Master Wang, the son of Elder Wu. Trust me, he didn't tell us why he wanted to kill you. We did this because he promised to give us the Nirvana pill," Lin Hao confessed.
"Him again," Cheng thought, frustration mounting within him. "Why is he so determined to eliminate this body? He was the one who poisoned the original owner, and now he wants to kill me once more."
The man's background was formidable, with only twelve elders in the sect, and his father being one of them.
"This is a disaster," Cheng muttered to himself. "I need strength. It's the only thing that can save me."
With a resolute determination, Cheng proceeded to consume the bodies lying before him. Tremors of relief and satisfaction coursed through his body as he absorbed their essence. The surge in strength was addicting. His body now possessed tremendous power, surpassing even the mighty Zheng Lei. He had broken through the Qi Condensation realm and entered the early stages of the Foundation Establishment realm.
Examining the necklace in his hands, Cheng scoffed. "Does he truly expect me to give this to his sister? Naive." He tucked the necklace into his pocket and buried the bodies, leaving no traces behind.
The night continued its somber watch over the land as Cheng Xiao, now empowered by newfound strength, set his sights on his next challenge. The pursuit of power had become his sole purpose, a relentless drive that pushed him further into the depths of darkness.
Little did he know that his journey was far from over. Greater trials and adversaries awaited him, and the choices he made would shape his destiny.
As the night unfolded, Cheng Xiao disappeared into the depths of the darkness, leaving behind a world filled with uncertainty and intrigue.