Ao Yifan's rise had been swift, and the taste of power was intoxicating. The bodies he had left in his wake, drained of their life essence, had become mere stepping stones—each one a reminder of his unyielding ambition. But now, as his senses sharpened and his strength grew, Ao Yifan understood something more crucial: raw power was not enough. To truly conquer the Luo Yang Empire, to carve his name into the blood-soaked pages of history, he needed more than just cultivation. He needed resources, influence, and—most importantly—alliances.
His gaze turned to the Blood Serpent Sect. A ruthless, bloodthirsty faction that had terrorized the surrounding regions for years, it was a sect whose very name sent shivers down the spines of those unlucky enough to cross its path. Known for their brutal blood magic and merciless tactics, the sect was led by a man named Viper Fang, a former disciple of the Heaven's Radiance Sect who had defected to the demonic side. The sect's power was not only in its strength but in its network of spies, informants, and resources.
Ao Yifan had no interest in joining them; he would dominate them. He would use their strength to fuel his own ambitions, and in doing so, he would make his mark on the world.
The night was thick with darkness, the air heavy with the scent of impending bloodshed. Ao Yifan had spent the past few weeks studying the Blood Serpent Sect, observing their movements and learning their weaknesses. He had taken to lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. And now, the time had come.
The Blood Serpent Sect's headquarters were located in a secluded mountain pass, a stronghold hidden deep within the treacherous cliffs. It was a place of death and suffering, where prisoners were tortured for information, and enemies were sacrificed to the bloodthirsty gods of the sect. It was here that Ao Yifan would make his move.
Disguised in the tattered rags of a beggar, his aura masked by the dark energy he had cultivated, Ao Yifan entered the territory of the Blood Serpent Sect. His heart pounded with anticipation, but his expression remained cold and indifferent. This was not a battle of strength; it was a game of manipulation, a chessboard where every move mattered.
The first obstacle was a group of sentinels patrolling the outer perimeter. The sect's guards, though trained and deadly, were no match for Ao Yifan's cunning. He lingered in the shadows, watching their movements carefully, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
When the sentinels were positioned just right, Ao Yifan struck. With a speed that was almost imperceptible, he lunged from the darkness, his hand crackling with the energy of the Soul-Devouring Claw. One guard's scream was cut short as his life force was ripped from him. The others turned just in time to see their comrade fall, but it was too late. Ao Yifan moved like a phantom, his claw slashing through their defenses with ease, draining their vitality until they were nothing more than husks.
With the sentinels dispatched, Ao Yifan made his way deeper into the sect's stronghold. His movements were deliberate, his senses alert to every sound, every shift in the air. The Blood Serpent Sect was vast, but its leaders were arrogant and overconfident. They thought they were untouchable. And that arrogance would be their undoing.
The sect's inner sanctum was a place of grotesque rituals and twisted ceremonies. It was where the sect's most powerful members convened, where blood was spilled, and where the strongest of the disciples honed their blood magic. Ao Yifan could feel the oppressive aura of darkness radiating from the walls as he entered the heart of the stronghold.
He had been following a trail of bloodshed and whispered rumors, and now he stood before the chamber of the sect's leader, Viper Fang. The door was guarded by two towering disciples, their eyes red with the fervor of their demonic practices. The moment Ao Yifan stepped into their line of sight, their eyes narrowed, and they prepared to attack.
"Who dares approach the leader of the Blood Serpent Sect?" one of the guards demanded, his voice low and menacing.
Ao Yifan didn't answer with words. He answered with action. In an instant, his clawed hand shot forward, the Soul-Devouring Claw tearing through the air. The first guard was struck down before he could even react. The second guard's eyes widened in shock, but Ao Yifan was already upon him, draining his life force with a mere touch. The guard's body crumpled to the ground, and Ao Yifan stepped over him, entering the chamber unchallenged.
Inside, the room was illuminated by flickering candles and crimson light. The air was thick with the stench of blood and incense, and at the far end of the room stood Viper Fang—a tall, imposing figure cloaked in black robes adorned with serpent motifs. His cold, calculating eyes met Ao Yifan's, and a sinister smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Ah, the newcomer," Viper Fang said, his voice smooth and serpentine. "I've heard whispers of a devil lurking in the shadows. So, you've come to challenge me?"
Ao Yifan's crimson eyes glinted with malice. "Not to challenge you," he said, his voice low and filled with venom. "I've come to take what's mine."
Viper Fang's smile widened, and he raised his hand, summoning a wave of blood magic that twisted the air around him. The room seemed to darken as the very walls pulsed with a malevolent energy. Ao Yifan could feel the pressure of the magic, but he was undeterred. He had faced far worse in his past life.
"Foolish," Viper Fang hissed. "You think you can just waltz in here and take my sect from me? You are nothing but a parasite."
Ao Yifan's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I'm no parasite," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I'm the one who will devour you."
With that, Ao Yifan raised his hand, channeling the full force of the Nine Hells Demonic Codex. The air around him crackled with dark energy as he unleashed a wave of power that clashed with Viper Fang's blood magic. The two forces collided in an explosion of energy, the entire chamber shaking with the force of their battle.
Viper Fang's eyes narrowed in disbelief as he realized the sheer magnitude of Ao Yifan's power. The Blood Serpent Sect's leader had underestimated the newcomer—he had thought himself invincible, a master of blood magic and cruelty. But Ao Yifan was a different beast entirely. His mastery of demonic cultivation was far beyond what Viper Fang could imagine.
Ao Yifan's hand shot forward, and with a brutal strike, he tore through the Blood Serpent Sect leader's defenses. Viper Fang let out a strangled scream as Ao Yifan's claw pierced his chest, draining the life force from his body.
"You were weak," Ao Yifan whispered, his voice cold and final. "And now you are nothing."
Viper Fang's body crumpled to the floor, his once proud form now a lifeless husk. Ao Yifan stood over him, his crimson eyes gleaming with triumph. The Blood Serpent Sect had fallen, and Ao Yifan's rise had taken another crucial step forward.
But this was just the beginning. The power vacuum left in the wake of Viper Fang's death would create new opportunities, new challenges, and new enemies. And Ao Yifan was ready for them all. He would carve his name into the annals of history with the blood of those who dared stand in his way.
With the death of Viper Fang, the Blood Serpent Sect was left in disarray. Ao Yifan had made his move, and now the path to domination was wide open. But as the echoes of his victory resonated throughout the empire, one thing was clear: the world was about to witness the rise of a new, terrifying force—one that would shatter the heavens themselves.
This chapter delves deeper into Ao Yifan's rise to power as he takes on and defeats Viper Fang, the leader of the Blood Serpent Sect. The chapter emphasizes his ruthlessness, his mastery of the Nine Hells Demonic Codex, and his cold, calculating nature as he outmaneuvers and destroys the sect to further his ambitions.