Chapter 21: Encountering Danger

With a sudden stomp, Yin Tianfang shot forward like a bolt of lightning, aiming straight for another outer sect disciple. At that moment, the disciple was locked in combat with Lin Fan. Seeing Yin Tianfang charging at him, terror washed over his face. He tried to turn and flee, but Lin Fan entangled him, leaving no room for escape.

Bang!

A fist struck fiercely, and the disciple's head burst like a ripe melon, scattering fragments of red and white. The brutality of the scene was so shocking that even Lin Fan, hardened by years in the Azure Cloud Sect and accustomed to witnessing executions, found it hard to stomach. He had seen many deaths, but never one so gruesome. Nausea welled up within him; he retreated quickly, covering his mouth and turning away.

On the other side, the outer sect disciple who was fighting Zhang Fan was struck with terror. Desperate, he broke free from Zhang Ping’s grip, risking injury, and fled without hesitation. Witnessing his companion’s brains splattered and seeing the perpetrator remain unmoved, he dared not linger for a moment longer.

With the outer disciple gone, the remaining servants were gripped by fear, turning and running as fast as they could.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!” Yin Tianfang’s eyes blazed red, a mad and chilling murderous intent flashing within. His mouth issued a deep, guttural roar. He extended his hand, spiritual power surged violently, and several servants felt as if an invisible giant hand had seized them, squeezing tighter and tighter.

They screamed in agony, blood trickling from their mouths, and at last, the invisible force crushed them into pieces.

A powerful aura radiated from Yin Tianfang, comparable to the second stage of Qi Condensation, but far more wild and violent. With a thought, three fireballs materialized around him. He pointed forward, and the fireballs streaked through the air towards the fleeing servants.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions echoed through the mountains, fire blazed, and screams filled the air. In the flickering flames, bodies were torn apart, flesh mangled. In a heartbeat, the forest became a hell on earth, the stench of blood thick in the air, countless limbs and corpses strewn about. Some servants, their arms and legs blown off, writhed helplessly on the ground, faces twisted in terror.

Amidst it all, the instigator stood drenched in blood, gazing at the carnage with nothing but madness in his eyes, as if possessed.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!” Yin Tianfang muttered the word over and over, lost in a demonic trance.

“Hehehe… Well killed, splendidly killed! That’s it, kill them all, leave nothing alive. From now on, no one will dare shout at you. Kill!” The seductive voice echoed in his mind, stirring the red light in his eyes; his insanity deepened.

Just as Yin Tianfang was about to lose himself completely, a cold snort resounded in his mind.

“How dare you disturb my son’s mind? You court death!”

Inside his dantian, the surface of the water surged into towering waves. Beneath the waves, a gigantic face appeared faintly. A figure suddenly emerged on the water, gazing coldly at the enormous visage below. With a stomp, the waves subsided, restoring calm. A green lotus swayed gently atop the water.

Yin Tianfang clutched his head, a look of struggle growing in his eyes. Pain tore at his skull, and he cried out in agony.

“Hmph. Dao Chenzi, you can protect him for a time, but not forever. His heart is steeped in demonic influence; one day, he will become a demon…” As calm returned to the dantian sea, the giant face faded away.

Upon the green lotus floating on the water, its veins were clearly visible, but now faintly glowed with black and red light.

“All is destined. Blood and chaos will descend, and you cannot stop it!” The evil voice sounded once more, then dissipated.

Dao Chenzi stood solemnly upon the water, gazing at the lotus tinged with black. After a long sigh, his figure dissolved and vanished.

“Ah!” In the forest, Yin Tianfang threw his head back and howled in pain. The red glow in his eyes faded, his whole body collapsed in weakness, and he fell unconscious.

Zhang Ping and Lin Fan rushed to his side, hoisted him onto their backs, and fled desperately into the night.

Not long after their departure, streaks of light sped in from afar and landed, revealing several figures—youths, inner sect disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, each emanating fierce auras. Among them were Qingfeng and Qingyue.

After landing, they surveyed the surroundings, their expressions shifting. Flames soared skyward, cries of agony echoed, limbs littered the ground, and the heavy scent of blood hung in the air. It was as if hell itself had descended.

“What a ruthless little brat. He cannot be spared! Pursue him!” a youth commanded coldly, and with a flash, he shot off in pursuit; the others followed immediately.

Qingfeng and Qingyue remained, not immediately joining the chase. Standing amidst the infernal scene, they were visibly shaken.

Previously, most had never heard of Yin Tianfang and knew little of his character. But as his senior brothers, Qingfeng and Qingyue had met him several times. In their eyes, such a heinous act was out of character for Yin Tianfang.

After the death of their master, the Daoist Wuchen, the elders concluded he was ambushed by a Qi Condensation Stage One cultivator, the fatal blow struck to the head. Upon learning of Yin Tianfang’s existence, they immediately accused him of the crime.

Yet Qingfeng and Qingyue harbored doubts. They could not fathom why Yin Tianfang would attack their master, who had shown him more affection than even themselves.

“Senior brother, could it really have been him?” Qingyue asked gravely.

“Ah, whatever the truth, we must find him first. After all, he is our junior brother. To be honest, we have been at fault—resentful because our master favored him, and so we took it out on him,” Qingfeng sighed softly.

From the beginning, their animosity towards Yin Tianfang stemmed from jealousy over their master's partiality, leading them to torment him. Now, with their master gone, they realized how unfair they had been.

“We must hurry, or else if the others catch up, our junior brother will surely perish,” Qingfeng said. With a swift movement, he and Qingyue transformed into streams of light and raced after the others.

The mountain path twisted and turned, perilous and steep. Zhang Ping and Lin Fan, carrying Yin Tianfang, hurried anxiously down towards the valley. To their left yawned a thousand-foot cliff; a misstep would send them plummeting into the abyss.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Several streaks of light rushed in, followed by a shout. A flying sword, brimming with powerful spiritual energy, shot straight for Yin Tianfang and his companions.

Boom!

Seeing the threat, Zhang Ping and Lin Fan mustered all their strength and dashed forward, barely dodging the sword. It struck the mountain path, detonating with a thunderous roar. Shattered rocks exploded through the air, and countless stones tumbled from the cliff. The violent shockwave hurled all three into the void...