A mountain cave?
Seeing the cave, Elder Zhong's eyes lit up. Clutching a small dagger, he swiftly leaped toward its entrance.
The cave's opening stood as tall as a person, with walls seemingly polished smooth, forming a stone chamber. Though outwardly unremarkable, Elder Zhong noticed an unusual detail—no trace of the surrounding miasma dared approach the cave.
Miasma repelled? It felt as though a hidden force was holding the deadly fog at bay.
Elder Zhong's heart sank. Should he enter?
Inside, treasures might await. Yet, so too might disaster. If it were a beast's lair, entering would mean certain death. On the other hand, an empty cave might hide unimaginable riches. However, the echoing thud from within betrayed the presence of something alive.
As a cultivator in the early Innate stage—and the weakest at that—his odds of survival were slim. He resolved to wait until he had the strength to protect himself before returning.
Having decided, Elder Zhong turned to leave.
"Fiend! What are you doing?"
The shout came suddenly from within the cave, freezing him mid-step. Tightening his grip on the dagger, he activated his Breath Concealment Technique and strained to listen.
"What am I doing?" a savage voice responded. "Sunlight Sword, sealing the Nether Spring. Only one can claim it today. Among the five of us, four must die."
"Without us, you'll never retrieve it! Only by combining our power can we draw it out. If anyone falters, they'll be devoured by the Nether Spring's Yin Qi, reduced to ashes, doomed for eternity. Do you wish to die with us?" the first voice roared.
"Die? Hah! Do you know why they call me the Fiend? Your deaths will only amplify my strength fivefold! Though I'll be weakened for a time, the Sunlight Sword shall be mine—all mine!" The Fiend laughed maniacally.
"No—!"
Three anguished cries echoed from within.
"Outsider! Help me, and I'll give you everything!" one of the voices pleaded desperately.
"Humph," the Fiend snorted. The plea was abruptly silenced.
Elder Zhong's heart pounded. Had he been discovered? Cold sweat dripped down his back. If one of the four could sense his presence, then surely the Fiend could too. Fleeing now would invite endless pursuit.
But to help? With his pitiful cultivation, how could he intervene? And why hadn't the Fiend come out himself?
Weighing his options, Elder Zhong quickly realized that fleeing wasn't viable. The Fiend, clearly a formidable figure, would catch him long before he reached the sect. The only explanation for the delay was that something was holding the Fiend back.
Taking a deep breath, Elder Zhong made his decision. Clutching his dagger tightly, he stepped into the cave.
The interior opened into a hall-like space. In one corner, a glowing pearl the size of a fist illuminated the chamber.
The other four were nowhere to be seen. Only a black-robed figure stood there, arms outstretched like a statue, emanating faint wisps of black Qi as though in the midst of some arcane ritual.
The Nether Spring? The Sunlight Sword? Elder Zhong saw no sign of them. The ground was flat and featureless. Where had the others gone? Was this a trap to lure him in?
Alarmed, Elder Zhong gripped his dagger tighter.
"Boy, leave now, and I'll spare your life. Begone."
The voice was cold and commanding. This was the Fiend.
A less seasoned individual might have bolted in terror. But Elder Zhong was no ordinary man. The Fiend's comrades were undoubtedly dead. And judging by his immobile stance, the Fiend was in the midst of something critical, unable to move.
"Leave?" Elder Zhong sneered inwardly. If he fled now, he was doomed. Once the Fiend overcame his current challenge, Elder Zhong's death would be inevitable.
Kill or be killed.
Pouring his meager True Qi into the dagger, Elder Zhong hurled it with all his strength at the Fiend's throat.
Boom!
The dagger struck true—but left only a faint red mark before bouncing off.
Elder Zhong caught the dagger, swallowing hard. A red mark? Even with all his power, it hadn't pierced the skin? Was the Fiend made of iron? No, even iron wouldn't be this resilient.
The Fiend's eyes flared with rage and disdain but remained frozen in place.
This confirmed Elder Zhong's suspicion—the Fiend couldn't move. Seizing his chance, Elder Zhong approached from behind and stabbed at the Fiend with all his might.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each strike was useless, not even breaking the skin. The Fiend's fury grew, blood vessels bursting in his eyes as cold sweat formed on his brow, but still, he remained motionless.
Desperation turned to resolve. If he couldn't pierce the Fiend's body, there had to be another way. A weak spot—a fatal vulnerability.
After a moment's hesitation, Elder Zhong made a choice. Though undignified, survival was paramount.
With all his strength, he drove the dagger toward the center of the Fiend's... rear.
Shlick!
A muffled sound. The Fiend's eyes bulged, cold sweat poured down his face, and his lips twitched in pain and humiliation. His concentration broke.
Boom!
Black Qi surged toward the Fiend, engulfing him completely.
"No—!"
The Fiend's scream was cut short as the black Qi tore into him. In an instant, his body disintegrated into fragments, dissolving into smoke.
Pressed against the wall, Elder Zhong watched in horror. The Fiend was gone—reduced to nothing, just as the others must have been. Even the dagger disintegrated, leaving behind only a tattered black robe.
The cave was now eerily empty.
A mighty Fiend, undone by his own hubris.
Sweating profusely, Elder Zhong's gaze fell on the black robe. The Yin Qi was gone, but the material had withstood its corrosive force. What was this treasure?
Cautiously, he tested it with branches before daring to pick it up. To his amazement, golden characters densely covered its surface.
The Demonic Body-Tempering Art.