West Sea, Demon Domain.
Inside the secret chamber of the Demon Hall.
The space was narrow, pitch-black like ink. Suddenly, a wisp of silver flame leapt up, flickering and swaying within a cold palm.
The man's nose was straight and sharp, his lips slightly curled. The pale silver light cast shifting shadows across his face, tracing out the perfect arc of his jawline.
"Mmm… mmm…"
Across from him, six Huomo—human-headed, beast-bodied monsters—struggled in terror.
"No need to panic. Your turn will come soon enough."
A careless smile tugged at the edges of Li Luoqi's wickedly handsome face.
With a flick of his hand, the bead-sized silver flame drifted into one of the Huomo's bodies. At once, the creature's veins bulged grotesquely along its exposed neck. Its face twisted in agony, as though enduring unbearable torment.
The other five Huomo beside it shrieked in fear, thrashing wildly, but their efforts were utterly futile.
While the first creature writhed, Li Luoqi extended his slender fingers and clamped down on its skull. He poured in a surge of domineering demonic energy.
In moments, its eyes bulged wide. Its body shriveled, drained of vitality, until the last trace of life was extinguished.
A stream of black mist slithered around the withered corpse like a fierce dragon. Li Luoqi's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he tossed it aside with a flick of his wrist.
The faint flame leapt again, skimming across two more blackened corpses.
"No!"
The surviving Huomo howled in despair.
…
At Yiyu Peak.
Yao Ranran followed a snow-covered trail up the mountainside and stepped into a dense bamboo grove.
Even in winter, the bamboo leaves held their deep green color. Frost and snow weighed them down, bending them into crescent shapes like willow branches at the riverbank.
For reasons she could not explain, gazing at the tranquil scenery stirred a sudden urge within Yao Ranran—to destroy it all.
But the impulse passed as quickly as it came.
She chose a comfortable spot, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes in meditation.
Unseen by her, faint wisps of demonic energy seeped from beneath the earth, drawn as if by some unseen summons. Like invisible threads, they wound their way into her body.
Meanwhile, in the Demon Hall of the West Sea.
Three shriveled corpses lay in a heap, their forms coiled about by writhing streams of black mist. From beneath them, fine strands of shadowy qi sank into the ground and vanished without trace.
Li Luoqi noticed nothing.
His gaze was cold and intense, eyes lifting at the corners, his lips curved in a predator's smile.
"Huomo, such a rare tonic indeed. Once I devour all seven of you, I will wield the art of breaking and weaving illusions at will!"
…
A soft wind stirred, knocking the snow from the bamboo leaves and revealing their emerald sheen.
Yao Ranran shivered, opening her eyes with a start.
"Why… why was I unconsciously cultivating Li Luoqi's demonic art just now?"
Her chest tightened. Gooseflesh prickled across her skin.
"No… no, I can't cultivate this. If I continue, he'll be able to control me!"
She shut her eyes once more.
Yet the demonic technique churned on inside her without restraint. It looked as if she was practicing the Thousand Layer Qi Refinement Scripture, but the heart method had already gone astray.
More demonic energy seeped from beneath the snow, coiling upward, black against white, clashing sharply with the tranquil grove.
Rustle… rustle…
Winter's chill wind rattled the bamboo, shaking loose the frost. The leaves clashed together in a ghostly symphony.
Between their shifting shadows, a few small spirit beasts—those not yet hibernating—darted among the bamboo, using the leaves as cover.
High above Yiyu Peak.
A pair of pale blue eyes, rimmed with frost, gazed down at the bamboo forest.
"There is an evil presence here."
Shen Yuefu's lips parted slightly. The icy light in his eyes thickened, like a glacier forming layers of frozen depth.
The scenery blurred into mist around him. Across the white snowfield, his form vanished, his speed too swift for the naked eye to follow.
"So, he has gone. We should leave as well."
Elder Shang stroked his beard, his eyes filled with admiration.
This youth's talent was extraordinary, dazzling. No wonder Pei girl favored him so.
Pei Xianqiao lifted the snow-fox fur hat from her head, her gaze lingering along the path Shen Yuefu had flown down.
Elder Shang shook his head, letting her be.
At last, Pei Xianqiao lowered her head and whispered, "Let's go."
Her steps were light, each one leaving a faint print in the snow. She used spiritual arts to erase the marks as she walked, slowing her departure.
Elder Shang sighed quietly at her lovesick behavior.
"She truly doesn't want to leave."
Within the bamboo grove.
A dark shadow darted past, startling the bamboo into a frenzied rustle. The noise jarred Yao Ranran awake.
"Who's there?"
She lashed out instinctively, palm striking forth.
Blazing waves of power surged, bending bamboo, shaking snow loose. Crescent shapes broke apart, while white powder fell like rain. Twin streams of black mist rose curling from the leaves.
Rustle, rustle. The bamboo shook louder.
Yao Ranran froze at her own display of power, distracted for a moment. That instant was enough—the shadow slipped out of the forest, escaping her best chance to strike.
"Which way did they go?"
Snow fell in silence. Dressed in white, Shen Yuefu descended gracefully with the drifting flakes.
Yao Ranran's pupils shrank. She pointed west. Shen Yuefu was gone again, vanishing with the wind.
She stared at the snow settling on her shoulder. It was as if no one had ever been there at all, the grove returning to quiet peace.
"No… that shadow just now… it could have been the thief who stole from the treasury! I let them slip away!"
Realization struck late. She slapped her forehead in frustration.
"My ten-thousand-year spiritual materials!"
"Are those truly more important than your identity as an inner disciple of Wuxiang Sect?"
Shen Yuefu's voice came from right before her. She blinked in shock. Snow fell softly on both of them, yet neither rejected its chill.
Yao Ranran stared at him and nodded blankly.
Shen Yuefu waited a moment.
She offered no explanation, only silence. That was answer enough.
"I understand. I've already sent word of the thief to Sect Master Han. The sect will soon be sealed. He won't escape."
His words were calm, indifferent.
Relief washed over Yao Ranran. She ground her teeth and hissed, "Good. That thief must not get away!"
"You're showing more expression than before," Shen Yuefu remarked coolly.
Panic flared in Yao Ranran's mind. She scrambled for a way to cover it up, when his next words cut her short.
"Learned it from Pei Xianqiao, didn't you?"
Yao Ranran: "...Bullshit!"
Her heart dropped. "How could a Fairy say something like that?"
Shocked, Yao Ranran clapped both hands over her mouth. Her bright eyes spun nervously, trying to salvage some shred of Fairy dignity.
"Mortals eat grains of the Five Cereals, and so they speak of passing wind. But for us cultivators, we long ago transcended such vulgar matters."
To her surprise, Shen Yuefu wasn't angry at all. He simply explained the matter with serious calm.