1. The Attack on Tian Ba

"PROTECT THE SECT! TIAN BA HAS BEEN ATTACKED!"

"No, Master. We are brave disciples, not cowards! We will fight alongside all of you!" one junior disciple shouted boldly, followed by a chorus of agreement from other disciples who began clamoring. Meanwhile, some senior disciples, already trained, joined the battle at the front lines alongside the masters and Elders of the sect.

The tense situation made it difficult for Hao Ran, one of the Masters, to manage his disciples. He kept shouting, trying to calm them down and prevent chaos. "You must listen to me. You are the future of the Tian Ba Sect, and you must not endanger yourselves. Moreover, I am your Master. It is your duty to heed my words."

"But—"

"Promise me to protect the sect. Most importantly, you must promise to stay safe and protect each other," Hao Ran said sharply, cutting them off before they could argue further. His piercing gaze ensured no one dared rebel again.

Just as the disciples seemed calmer, a young man with a sword in hand suddenly made a move. Initially standing at the back of the crowd, he began running forward, ignoring Hao Ran's shouts from behind. "Hey, Jian Hong! Come back! You can't go there! It's too dangerous!" the master yelled.

"That boy is so stubborn," Hao Ran muttered. Jian Hong was indeed a senior among the disciples, but even compared to the juniors, his skills might still be insufficient.

However, Jian Hong quickened his pace. "Don't worry, Master. I know my limits!"

His actions reignited the chaos among the disciples.

"Master, if Senior Hong is going, I want to go too!"

"Master, let us help! We promise not to be a burden!"

"QUIET!" Hao Ran roared, silencing the disciples. Without waiting for approval, he moved his hands in intricate motions, summoning a blue light that expanded into a barrier separating him from the disciples.

"This silk barrier will keep you here. Don't worry. As long as you stay behind it, you will all be safe."

With that, Hao Ran quickly marched to join the Elders already engaged in battle. The disciples, however, rebelled even more fiercely, but their hands burned painfully when they tried to touch the barrier.

"Ah! It seems Master really intends to trap us here."

"Don't worry. Our Tian Ba Sect will surely prevail. If I'm wrong, you can stop calling me the Prince of Sheng Shi," a young man said confidently, standing casually on a rooftop but with his eyes focused on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Jian Hong had reached the gate, witnessing the sect members lying dead with his own eyes. The scene outside was horrific—blood everywhere and the clashing of swords deafening. "Demons... attacking Tian Ba?"

The Tian Ba Sect, situated between Heaven and Earth, was usually shrouded by clouds and rarely visited by enemies. But now, its defenses had been breached by creatures of darkness. Jian Hong shook his head. "What are they looking for in Tian Ba? We've never even left the mountain."

The towering floating gate, separating Tian Ba from the outside world, was now partially collapsed. Demons of various forms brutally attacked the sect members.

Jian Hong clenched his fists, a blue light emanating from his hands, while a golden symbol on his forehead began to glow. "Life or death, only cowards retreat from battle."

The young man, his long hair tied loosely except for small side braids gathered at the back, leaped into the fray. His sword pierced the heart of a demon upon landing.

"According to the books I read, these creatures' weakness lies in their hearts. Although they're not human, many demons still rely on their hearts to survive. So, I must aim for their chests."

Fortunately, Jian Hong had always loved books, as he had no one to guide him as a child. He sought knowledge from ancient texts about cultivation and survival.

Jian Hong moved nimbly, his sword slashing through the air. However, when one demon attacked with internal energy, he dodged, but the force grazed his arm.

"This demon is stronger than the ones I faced before. It's using internal energy—I must avoid its attacks. I can't let my meridians suffer further damage."

When the demon approached, Jian Hong leaped upward and drove his sword into the demon's back, piercing its heart. Blood gushed as he pulled his sword free, and the demon's body dissolved into smoke.

A skull-headed demon, enraged by the death of its companion, abandoned its nearly defeated opponent and charged at Jian Hong.

"A weak human like you dares kill my comrade?"

"If humans are born weak, what does that make your kind? Isn't it enough for you to remain at the borders without invading the Kingdom?" Jian Hong retorted sharply.

The demon, its body made of stone with molten lava flowing through its cracks, had two horns and a skull-like face. "This is war. The loser must obey the victor's rules."

"But you haven't won. The cultivators still guard the borders, and you've broken the rules of war!"

"We are demons, not humans. We have no rules and bow to none. We will do whatever it takes to conquer the human world."

The demon teleported in an instant, grabbing Jian Hong and slamming him to the ground.

Jian Hong barely cushioned his fall by stabbing his sword into the earth. "This demon's cultivation is one level higher, but its power feels far greater. I must find a way to win without relying on internal energy."

As the skull-headed demon, Kulou Emo, charged again, Jian Hong countered by leaping into the air and kicking its head. However, the impact sent him flying into the remains of the gate, which collapsed onto him.

"Damn it... Its body feels like steel," Jian Hong muttered, brushing off the debris.

Nearby, Wu Hao, one of the Elders, noticed Jian Hong and panicked. "What are you doing here? Get back inside and protect the sect!"

"I'll fight alongside you," Jian Hong replied, clutching his chest but standing firm.

"You fool! After this battle, we might not survive, but the sect must endure. Don't let yourself die in vain!"

"Elder Wu!" Jian Hong shouted as Wu Hao was pushed back, his face slashed by a demon's weapon.

Ignoring his injuries, Jian Hong rushed to block the demon's next attack. His sharp gaze met the demon's. "No one harms the members of the Tian Ba Sect!" After holding the sword for quite some time, Jian Hong finally managed to cast it aside, brutally attacking the demon, leaving it no chance to retaliate. The demon staggered backward under the force.

The demon, with a centipede-like body and a bull's head, growled in fury. As Jian Hong prepared to strike again, a fire demon reappeared. It spewed fire from its mouth, nearly hitting Jian Hong if he hadn't dodged in time.

Seeing this, Wu Hao swiftly stepped in front of Jian Hong, releasing an internal energy of blue light to shield them from the two demons. "This battle is too dangerous for you. As an Elder, I command you to retreat and protect the sect."

"No. Elder, trust me. We will win this. No one will die in this battle," Jian Hong replied firmly.

After saying that, Jian Hong and Wu Hao stood back-to-back, their shoulders touching. They pivoted, scanning the six demons that had surrounded them.

"Jian Hong," Wu Hao spoke, his gaze still fixed on the demons. "If you die, don't expect me to return your body to your family."

"Then let's make a pact—neither of us will die," Jian Hong retorted.

As the six demons charged, Jian Hong and Wu Hao leaped into the air, attacking their enemies from above. However, since Jian Hong couldn't cultivate, he couldn't stay airborne for long. He eventually landed and maneuvered through the gaps between the demons' legs, slashing his sword and wounding them.

Red fluid splattered on Jian Hong's body as he struck the demons. Despite his efforts, the demons wouldn't die. "What's wrong? Before, they died when I pierced their hearts. But now their wounds seem to heal quickly," Jian Hong muttered.

"EVERYONE, UNITE YOUR STRENGTH! FORM THE SPIRIT SEAL ARRAY!"

Upon hearing the command from one of the Elders, the injured sect members gradually rose. They raised their hands, summoning a blue light that formed a triangle filled with intersecting lines.

This blue array, known as the Spirit Seal, could imprison the spirits of all living beings. Its power depended on the number of participants, their cultivation levels, and the strength of the being they aimed to seal.

Jian Hong could only look up at the formation from where he stood. "If I had internal energy, I might have been able to contribute to this array too," he thought.

Since childhood, Jian Hong had been unable to open his meridians, making cultivation impossible despite numerous attempts with various methods. Even books offered no solution to his predicament.

Meanwhile, the demons began dropping their weapons, clutching their heads in agony as their spirits were drawn into the seal. "ARGHHH!!!"

However, the array drained its participants' cultivation bases rapidly. Several disciples, unable to endure it, coughed up blood. Some collapsed unconscious.

"This formation consumes too much cultivation power. If they keep this up, their bodies might collapse," Jian Hong thought, frustration mounting.

He clenched his fist and struck the air, cursing his inability. "If only I could cultivate through the Divine Path, I could have helped them by now."

In that moment of despair, Jian Hong recalled how some demons had perished. His brow furrowed as he pieced together his thoughts. "Some demons died when I pierced their hearts—they turned to smoke and vanished. But stronger demons possess fiery powers and bodies as hard as stone."

"That means destroying their hearts causes them to burn from their own fire until they turn to smoke. However, the stronger ones draw strength from that fire itself. Even when I pierced their hearts, they didn't die. As for the stone-like bodies, it must be a form of protection. If I can remove that stone, their inner fire should consume them entirely."