"It's so fucking boring waiting here," one of the guards grumbled, sharing his frustration with the man beside him.
"Who let us end up as the weakest?" The other man smiled bitterly. It wasn't as if they lacked the capability to hunt down the geniuses that entered this place, but as the lowest-ranked among their group, all they could do was stand guard and watch as others reaped the benefits.
"Fuck. There's no way anyone would willingly walk into this place that practically screams 'main base.' So why the hell are we even guarding it?"
His companion remained silent, simply listening to his complaints. He understood that even though his partner was venting, he wouldn't make a reckless decision like abandoning their post. In the Devil Sect, defying orders came with a fate far worse than death. No matter how frustrated they were, acting on their own accord would lead to a tragic end.
Just as his irritation peaked, their attention was drawn toward the distant forest. A faint sound of footsteps echoed through the air, growing louder with each passing second. Their eyes sharpened, fixating on the source of the disturbance. Soon, a lone figure emerged—a man covered in blood, his face pale with exhaustion. One of his legs and an arm hung limply, broken beyond use, making his movements look twisted and unnatural. He kept glancing back in terror as if fleeing from something.
The two guards exchanged glances, quickly piecing the situation together. As understanding dawned, wicked smiles crept across their faces.
No matter whether one was strong or weak, in the Devil Sect, cruelty was second nature to all.
They saw the moment when the bloodied man's expression froze in shock upon making eye contact with them. Then, as if instinctively realizing the danger, the man turned on his heel and bolted back into the forest.
Without hesitation, the two guards rushed after him, their eyes gleaming with the hunger of starved beasts.
Unbeknownst to them, the moment they crossed into the forest, a shadow silently slipped past them, entering the shrine they had been guarding.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest, the two guards finally caught up to their prey. They positioned themselves strategically, blocking his path from two directions. Their grins widened as they took in his face, their amusement only growing.
"Yo, isn't this the tournament champion?" one of them sneered in a teasing tone, eyeing Chen Fan with a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Chen Fan, however, remained silent, his expression solemn as he stared at them.
"There's no need for idle chatter—just get it over with," the other guard interrupted impatiently. The mere thought of consuming a genius like Chen Fan made his mouth water. Unable to hold back any longer, he lunged forward, aiming to finish Chen Fan off in one swift strike.
Yet, just as he stepped closer, an overwhelming sense of danger crashed over him.
His body reacted instinctively, but it was too late.
Before he could even process what was happening, Chen Fan let out a burst of annihilation qi.
A sudden impact struck his right side.
Thud.
His vision blurred as pain exploded through his body. He barely registered the sight of Chen Fan collapsing into unconsciousness before a sickening realization hit him—his right arm was gone, severed cleanly from his shoulder. A gaping hole had been blasted through his stomach, and the world before him darkened as his right eye lost sight completely.
A surge of fury overtook him. Just as he was about to retaliate, a powerful force crashed into his body, sending him flying through the air. He slammed into a tree with a violent crack.
"You—!" he choked out, glaring at his companion, who had just kicked him away.
The other guard stood tall, looking down at him with a smirk of disdain. "Guard the place," he ordered, his tone condescending.
"What the hell do you mean by that?!" The wounded man's rage flared as he struggled to his feet. He had never expected his usually calm and composed partner to act like this.
The man merely glanced at him with a faint smirk, his gaze lingering on his severed right arm. That simple action was enough to make the injured man forcibly swallow his anger. He understood the unspoken warning in that look. In the Devil Sect, strength dictated authority. If he acted out now, he might very well be next on the menu.
"Alright," he muttered through clenched teeth, cursing both his companion and himself for his reckless mistake.
"Hahaha. Then I'll enjoy myself now," the other man laughed, stepping forward to pick up Chen Fan's limp body. With a pleased expression, he turned and made his way toward the shrine, carrying his newfound prize.
Unbeknownst to him, as Chen Fan's body hung limply in his grasp, a faint, almost imperceptible smile flickered across his lips.
His gamble had paid off.
All of his actions were carefully calculated to ensure that the enemy entered without noticing anything amiss. The reason Bai Mulan did not act alongside him was simple—first, her lack of strength would increase the chances of unforeseen accidents, and second, her beauty could attract unwanted attention from their enemies, potentially leading to trouble driven by lust. To avoid this risk, he had instructed her to enter at the right moment using a concealing talisman.
As for why he had chosen to injure one of the guards rather than kill him outright, the reasoning was just as deliberate. He needed to establish a hierarchy between the two. He understood the selfish nature of the Devil Sect—If he had killed one of them, the surviving guard would likely choose to consume him on the spot rather than abandon his duty. However, by establishing a clear hierarchy between them, he increased the likelihood of being taken inside instead of being devoured right away.
The guard carried Chen Fan deeper into the stronghold, his mind already planning how to consume him. He needed a closed space to do so—devouring Chen Fan out in the open, where his fellow sect members lurked, carried too great a risk of being backstabbed. The Devil Sect was a den of opportunists; showing weakness could mean death. To avoid any potential threats, he decided to feast in solitude.
As he stepped inside, the dim corridor stretched before him, lined with towering pillars that cast long, eerie shadows. Unbeknownst to him, a silent figure moved between the pillars, shadowing his every step.
After navigating the darkened halls, they reached a passage lined with numerous doors on either side. The guard carefully pushed open one of the doors and stepped inside, preparing to lay Chen Fan on the floor.
Thud.
His head hit the ground before his mind could even comprehend what had happened. In the brief moments before his consciousness faded, confusion flickered in his lifeless eyes. He did not understand how he had died so suddenly.
Chen Fan swiftly sat up and pushed open the door, allowing Bai Mulan to slip inside. Without wasting a moment, he covered the guard's body in annihilation qi, causing it to vanish without a trace. Only after collecting the man's belongings did he finally let out a breath.
"Did you notice anything unusual? Or anyone else around?" Chen Fan asked, his voice low as he popped a healing pill into his mouth. Instantly, his wounds began to close, his body recovering at a visible speed.
Bai Mulan glanced at him, watching the rapid regeneration before giving her report. "The other side looks just like this—corridors and doors, all identical."
She had only agreed to Chen Fan's plan because they carried a life-saving token, providing her with a sliver of reassurance. Now, as she observed him, she remained silent, awaiting his next instructions.
"We'll move as assassins."
With that, Chen Fan pulled out two black robes, looted from their previous foe, and handed one to Bai Mulan.
"Assassins?" She arched a brow, curious about his choice of words.
"We'll move stealthily, eliminating every enemy we come across while gathering intel on this place," he explained with a small smile.
Bai Mulan's expression turned strange at the casual way he spoke of their plan, but after considering their situation, she found it to be the most logical approach. Not only would it allow them to learn more about the stronghold, but reducing the enemy's numbers in the process would also lower the risks if they were eventually discovered.
Before long, they exited the room, now dressed in black robes and donning masks that concealed their identities. Each of them carried a red life-saving token and two concealing talismans, ensuring they were prepared for emergencies.
With careful, silent footsteps, they began to explore.
Each time they encountered an enemy, Chen Fan would act swiftly, using his Annihilation Slash to kill them instantly. Before the bodies could even touch the ground, he would erase them with his qi, leaving no evidence behind. Then, he would immediately replenish his energy by consuming pills, ensuring he remained in peak condition. Thanks to the treasures looted from their previous foe, he had an ample supply of healing and energy-restoring pills, allowing him to sustain his efficiency.
Hours passed as they continued their silent massacre. They encountered and eliminated dozens of enemies—whether Golden Core cultivators or even Nascent Soul experts. Despite their efforts, the seemingly endless corridors and identical halls made it clear that this stronghold was far larger than they had anticipated. Many areas remained unexplored, the sheer scale of the building becoming more evident with each passing moment.
After a long passage of time, they finally arrived at a massive door, towering five meters high and adorned with an eerie design. As they drew closer, faint murmurs from within reached their ears.