Essence of Demonic Power
Hu Fei, reckless and unreasonable, suddenly launched an attack, yet Yang Fan felt no surprise at all.
Buzzing and crackling, strands of lightning wove together, forming a net of thunder that momentarily stifled the air. The purple light flickered ominously, flashing before him in the blink of an eye.
Yang Fan remained motionless, like a steadfast boulder. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated his energy, gently raising one hand. In his palm, black patterns unfurled, resembling tangled roots. In that instant, a wave of destructive and violent energy erupted forth, evoking fear even in the bravest souls.
Bang!
With a resounding crash, the thunderous net was effortlessly shattered by a single strike of his palm. The air around him echoed with a series of muffled explosions, stirring a tempest within his veins.
Roar!
Hu Fei let out a howl, his robust physique—comparable to a beast of the same rank—was sent flying like a deflated ball, crashing to the ground as he clutched his hand, howling in agony.
Before his eyes, the dense black patterns spread like tendrils, creeping into his body, consuming him from within.
Buzzing!
With a sudden surge, Hu Fei sprang to his feet. Strands of purple lightning coalesced in his palm, neutralizing the overwhelming force of the demonic power he faced.
Yang Fan stared in astonishment, momentarily dumbfounded, silently pondering, *When did I acquire such formidable strength?*
He scanned his own body, confirming his cultivation still resided at the initial stage of concentration; both his **Xianhong Jue** and demonic arts were unchanged.
Yet, the might of that strike just now was easily over double what he had previously wielded!
Without a doubt, Hu Fei's power had risen significantly; in merely a few months, he had advanced to the mid stage of concentration. Coupled with his formidable lightning techniques, he should logically have dominated his peers.
*Could it be because...*
Yang Fan's thoughts suddenly drifted back to that mysterious experience by the Spirit Spring of Demonic Qi.
At that moment, with the aid of **Xianhong Jue**, he had harnessed the power of countless dark, violent factors from heaven and earth, stepping onto an unimaginable level of demonic cultivation.
Since then, subtle changes had taken root in his body. Now, every gesture could unleash the essence of demonic power, demonstrating an extraordinary might.
Roar!
Hu Fei stood not far away, looking utterly disheveled, his breath quickening as he roared at Yang Fan, baring his teeth as if about to descend into madness once more.
Yang Fan's heart stirred, his eyes darkening, coalescing into a deep point as he fixed his gaze upon Hu Fei.
Simultaneously, a crescent moon mark appeared on his forehead, flickering with an eerie glow.
"Uh…"
As Hu Fei met his gaze, an unusual flicker of fear crossed his face. A shiver coursed through him as if he were laid bare, exposed to Yang Fan's scrutiny.
Puff!
From Yang Fan's palm, a swirling mass of dark demonic flame surged forth, sending a shiver of mysterious energy rippling outward, causing all living beings nearby to tremble in dread.
Hu Fei shuddered, "What… what do you intend to do?"
"Your life is rather resilient; did the people from the Rain Mist Mountain Villa not catch you?" Yang Fan replied, calm and unfazed.
"How… how do you know…?" Hu Fei gasped, astonished that this unfamiliar man knew of his background.
"Do you still possess the spoils in your hands?" Yang Fan slowly approached him, the dark flame in his grasp flickering ominously, radiating an immense sense of pressure.
"Th-that's mine!"
Hu Fei's eyes glinted with malice. He shrank back and, in a flash, propelled himself up a tree, vanishing into the air in the blink of an eye. His speed left Yang Fan momentarily astounded.
Yet Yang Fan chose not to pursue him. Hu Fei's strength was considerable, and he harbored a lurking forbidden power within him. If pushed too hard, he could even contend with a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Whoosh!
A fiery red sword beam shot into the sky, producing a piercing shriek. This time, Hu Fei sped more than a hundred miles before halting, wearing an expression of frustration. "Why… why is it that wherever I go… someone recognizes me?"
*I need to get far away…*
Hu Fei's thoughts became a tumult of confusion as he began to ponder his next destination.
Where should he flee to?
With his limited experience, apart from the Rain Mist Mountain Villa and the Yang Family Fortress, he knew of no other places.
As he contemplated, Hu Fei's eyes suddenly lit up: "I know…"
"I can… I can go to the capital!"
The capital!
Indeed, it was a distant place. Both Yang Family Fortress and Rain Mist Mountain Villa were remote areas in the Yuyang Kingdom, far from the capital, which lay tens of thousands of miles away.
For an ordinary cultivator at the concentration stage, flying there would take no less than a month without stop.
"Haha… I'm going to the capital right now!"
Hu Fei's heart brimmed with excitement as he pulled out a jade slip map from somewhere, eagerly following the route indicated, soaring into the sky on his sword.
Meanwhile, Yang Fan retracted the demonic flame, standing atop a cliff, gazing at the boundless blue sky as he murmured:
"The initial might of the **Youming Demon Flame** beckons; it's time for me to head to the capital. I've heard it is a place filled with hidden talents…"
Moments later, he mounted his sword, shrouded in swirling demonic energy, heading northward. The vast expanse of the Eastern Sheng Continent stretched infinitely.
Though the Yuyang Kingdom was but a small nation, it boasted a landmass spanning eighty thousand miles.
Eighty thousand miles of magnificent landscapes; the sheer population within was almost unimaginable, nearly impossible to tally. Yet, among the billions of humans, cultivators comprised roughly one in a thousand.
The capital was the nerve center of the entire Yuyang Kingdom, renowned for its vibrant splendor throughout the eighty thousand miles.
However, the capital was also a place rife with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, where undercurrents surged and powers interwove, creating an extraordinarily complex situation.
In such an environment, the capital naturally required a ruler—not only to govern the capital but also to command respect from the surrounding regions. Otherwise, chaos would have long since ensued.
Throughout history, the rulers of the Yuyang Kingdom have alternated among the four great families of the capital.
These four great families are the Yuwen Clan, the Chu Clan, the Yang Clan, and the Lin Clan. Currently, the ruling family of the capital and the Yuyang Kingdom is the reigning "Yuwen Royal Family."
However, in the past half year, many mid to high-level cultivators from the four great families have been summoned to an unknown location, shrouded in mystery. Other powers within the cultivation world experienced similar phenomena.
This development sparked numerous conjectures among smaller factions, prompting them to investigate the origins.
Yet, for ordinary citizens and common wandering cultivators, such subtle changes had little impact on their daily lives.
On this particular day, as dawn broke, a distinguished guest descended upon a remote corner of the outskirts of the capital.
This individual appeared to be in his early twenties, garbed in a scholar's robe, exuding an air of exceptional elegance. He resembled a delicate student, radiating a subtle warmth that invited companionship.
"I've finally arrived... After flying for over half a month…"
The delicate scholar sighed, having already sheathed his sword as he gazed upon the majestic silhouette of the capital in the distance.
On the streets, numerous ordinary folk hurried toward the capital, including farmers, doctors, craftsmen, merchants, and scholars. Yet, who could have known that an obscure rising star of the demonic path was mingling within this bustling crowd?
What ripples would his arrival stir within this intricate web of power in the bustling capital?