Only after emerging into the light did everyone feel a sense of relief.
As they rushed from the suffocating darkness into the warm sunlight, their eyes squinted against the brightness, unaccustomed to the sudden brilliance. Yet, as the light embraced them, an overwhelming excitement surged through the group.
"Damn, we finally made it out!"
"This has to be the most dangerous thing I've ever done in my life," someone muttered breathlessly.
Ye Chenfeng clapped his hands, his expression calm yet tinged with relief as he observed the team's escape from the brink of death. "Count the numbers," he instructed.
Both teams quickly began tallying their members.
"We're all here!" Liao Mingxuan announced confidently after counting the eight members from his academy.
But Song Xia's face fell as she finished her own count. "We're missing one!" she exclaimed in alarm.
Ye Chenfeng's sharp gaze scanned the area, searching for the missing figure. "Mo Fan," he said dismissively, "he's gone to collect the remaining souls."
Sure enough, less than a minute later, Mo Fan emerged from the cave.
"Mo Fan, I didn't know you had a vessel to collect residual souls," Zhao Manyan remarked, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Wait... how do you know that?" Mo Fan asked, genuinely surprised by the observation.
"Just a guess," Ye Chenfeng replied nonchalantly, though his tone carried a hint of humor.
Mo Fan's sheepish grin betrayed him, and Ye Chenfeng continued, "Listen, Mo Fan, you've got to stop hiding your strength. Pretending to be weaker only invites trouble. Look at me—do you think anyone in this team dares to defy me?"
His sharp gaze swept over the team before landing back on Mo Fan. "You're the second-strongest person here, and you're on the verge of becoming a high-level mage. Yet, you let these weaklings ridicule you?"
With a smirk, Ye Chenfeng added, "If it were me, I'd break their hands first. If they caused trouble again, I'd break their legs. After all, we have a healing mage, don't we?" He shot a grin at Bai Tingting, who scratched his head awkwardly, muttering under his breath that healing magic wasn't meant for such purposes.
Amidst this light banter, Ye Chenfeng's demeanor shifted suddenly. His steps became deliberate as fiery star tracks began to form beneath him.
The group watched in awe as the stars connected, one by one—first, seventh, forty-ninth... until finally, the fiftieth star rose into the sky.
"Wait... is he about to release high-level magic?!" Zhao Manyan's voice broke through the stunned silence, his eyes wide as seven star maps converged to outline a blazing constellation beneath Ye Chenfeng's feet.
Mu Ningxue's face turned pale. "This... this isn't just magic. This is destruction itself," she murmured, feeling the overwhelming energy emanating from the constellation as deep red flames began to surge.
"Heavenly Flame Funeral!" Ye Chenfeng roared, his voice reverberating through the air as the ground erupted in an inferno.
Endless flames shot skyward, forming a crimson cloud that unleashed a fiery rain upon the mountain. Each drop of fire carried the power of mid-level magic, and the relentless assault flattened the towering peak. The once-imposing cave system collapsed in a thunderous roar, sealing the fate of the cave demon slaves inside.
The group outside stood frozen in shock, their ears faintly catching the agonized cries of the demons within.
Mo Fan, however, saw something different. His gaze fixed on the sky, where a storm of residual souls mingled with a few spirits, all spiraling upward toward Ye Chenfeng.
"This... this range... Damn, it's massive!" Mo Fan muttered, dumbfounded.
Ye Chenfeng turned slowly, raising a hand to point at Mo Fan. "You and I are equals, Mo Fan. Demand respect, don't let weaklings ridicule you. If anyone tries to undermine you, show them the difference in power. Strength comes first."
The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the faint rustling of flames.
Mu Ningxue arched a brow. "Does that include me?"
Ye Chenfeng smirked. "Do you even need to ask?"
With his energy depleted but his confidence soaring, Ye Chenfeng shrugged casually. "Well, I'm done here. Let's move. To be honest, this is the first time I've successfully used high-level magic. I wasn't sure it would even work."
He chuckled softly, as if amused by his own success. "Guess I got lucky."
As the group moved on, it became evident that traveling further wasn't wise. Nightfall would bring out the demons' most savage instincts, posing a deadly threat even to seasoned mages. They scouted the area, ensuring it was clear of threats before setting up camp near a water source.
As darkness fell, the men gathered around a campfire, the flickering flames casting shadows on their weary yet exhilarated faces. The air was filled with quiet conversations, their words tinged with a mix of relief and adrenaline.
Suddenly, Zhao Manyan broke the silence, his expression serious. "Are you sure they're bathing by the stream?"
"Absolutely," someone replied. "Both Mu Nujiao and Mu Ningxue."
The mention caused a palpable shift in the atmosphere. Some swallowed nervously, others licked their dry lips, and a few exchanged knowing glances.
"Peng Liang, you're up. With your shadow abilities, they won't even notice," someone suggested, grinning mischievously.
"This isn't right," Peng Liang protested, though his hesitation didn't stop him from activating his shadow magic and vanishing into the night.