Chapter 7 - Forest

The forest was like a natural labyrinth, filled with darkness and faint shadows that seemed to shift between the trees. Dry branches covered the ground, making every step Yuxian took echo clearly in the silence of the night. A thick mist hovered low, enveloping the massive roots sprawling across the earth like giant serpents.

A cold wind whistled through the gaps of towering ancient trees, producing eerie sounds that made the atmosphere even more unsettling. Occasionally, nocturnal birds flitted through the air, their wings flapping rapidly before vanishing into the darkness.

Yuxian staggered forward, his body covered in wounds and dried blood. His breathing was heavy, but his sharp eyes scanned every corner of the forest, searching for shelter. He knew that if he remained exposed in his current state, danger would continue to lurk—whether from wild beasts, assassins, or even remnants of the great family still hunting him.

Tap… Tap…

His footsteps sounded weak as he treaded along a hidden path nestled between thorny bushes. Dry leaves rustled beneath him, adding to the tension of the silent night. Faint moonlight pierced through gaps in the canopy, offering a sliver of illumination over the rocky trail littered with massive roots and creeping vines.

As his eyes swept his surroundings, he finally spotted a dark crevice in the towering rock wall ahead. A cave.

Though faint, the damp aura of the place suggested that no large creatures had inhabited it for some time. Without hesitation, Yuxian forced his weary body toward the cave, each movement sending fresh waves of pain through him.

Reaching the cave entrance, he exhaled heavily. The rough walls were formed of large stones, with patches of green moss clinging to them. Inside, the air was cooler, filled with the soft sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling onto the rocky ground.

He ventured deeper, ensuring no unseen threats lurked within. The cave was not particularly deep, but it was sufficient to provide shelter from any prying eyes that might still be searching for him. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, while the ground was strewn with small stones and faint traces of past inhabitants.

After confirming the area was safe, he slumped against the cave wall, his back pressing into the rough stone. With trembling fingers, he reached for his spatial ring and retrieved a single healing pill he had stored. The bluish-green pill exuded a distinct herbal fragrance. Without hesitation, he placed it in his mouth and swallowed it with a sip of water from a small flask within his ring.

The moment the pill entered his body, a warm energy began to spread through his organs. His wounds gradually felt lighter, though far from fully healed.

Closing his eyes, he attempted to steady his thoughts. Though he had a moment to rest, he knew this was merely the calm before an even greater storm.

Within the cave's darkness, only one thought dominated his mind: Power.

Without power, he would remain a fugitive.

Without power, he could never take his revenge.

And without power… he would not survive.

—

In the damp, cold silence of the cave, Yuxian sat cross-legged on a flat stone, the icy surface pressing against his skin. His breathing had steadied slightly after taking the healing pill, but the pain throughout his body had yet to subside completely. The wounds on his arms were beginning to close, leaving behind the remnants of dried blood.

His sharp eyes stared into the darkness, while his mind was consumed by memories of the deaths he had just witnessed. The faces of his fallen family resurfaced in his thoughts—their expressions, the blood soaking the ground, and the victorious laughter of his enemies.

His fists clenched tightly.

"I swear… I will make them pay," he whispered, his voice laced with restrained hatred.

He knew he was still far too weak to face them. The Nescent Soul realm was far beyond reach for someone who had just stepped into the Foundation stage. But that didn't mean it was impossible.

Yuxian steadied his breathing, focusing on recovery and strengthening himself. He closed his eyes and began meditating, feeling the spiritual energy around him slowly seeping into his body. However, despite his steady absorption of Qi, he quickly realized that the energy in this place was too thin—insufficient for rapid recovery.

His eyes reopened, falling upon the dried blood staining the cave floor. His own blood, left behind after the battle, mingled with older stains from some unknown creature.

And in that moment, something inside him whispered.

A mad idea surfaced in his mind—something he had never dared to consider before.

He retrieved an ancient scroll he had stored within his spatial ring. The Ancient Demon Codex.

The scroll looked worn, its edges torn, with strange symbols etched into its surface. He gripped it tightly before slowly unrolling it. A faint red glow illuminated the ancient writings within, the characters seeming to dance in the air.

Yuxian began reading its contents, and the more he read, the more he felt something stir deep within him.

"A demon is not born from darkness. It is born from burning suffering. Flesh and blood are not limitations for those who seek true power. If the world rejects you, defy it with your own hands!"

His hands trembled slightly as he continued reading.

"To step onto a higher path, absorb the blood and essence of life. Only by sacrificing the existence of living beings can one ascend to greater heights."

Blood.

Yuxian's gaze shifted to the cave floor, stained with dried blood. If what was written in this scroll was true… then he wouldn't have to wait years to become strong. He could accelerate the process right now.

With unwavering resolve, he bit the tip of his finger, drawing a drop of fresh blood, then pressed it against one of the symbols on the scroll.

Suddenly, the entire cave trembled, and a thin red mist began to seep from the scroll.

A chilling energy coursed through his body, making his breath hitch.

In an instant, the blood on the cave floor began to move on its own, gathering into an eerie circle around him. Dark crimson energy emerged from the stains, forming ghostly shadows in the air.

Yuxian's breathing grew ragged, but he did not stop.

"If this is the price I must pay for revenge… then I accept it!"

Suddenly, the gathered blood erupted into a thick mist and surged into his body. A mix of searing heat and numbing cold spread through him, making every vein in his body feel as if it were burning. His muscles tensed, and unbearable pain tore through every inch of him.

Yet, alongside the pain, new power began to awaken.

The Qi within him surged violently, becoming denser and more ferocious. The aura around him grew heavier, as if his very existence had shifted into something entirely different from before.

Without warning, his once jet-black hair began to change. The tips took on an eerie dark crimson hue, and faint, glowing ancient inscriptions surfaced along his arms, as if carving out his destiny.

From within the silent cave, a voice echoed—not from anyone else, but from deep within himself.

"Welcome to the path you can never leave… the path of demons."

And with that, Yuxian opened his eyes.

The sorrow and pain that once filled his gaze had vanished, replaced by a sharp, chilling intensity. A faint smirk formed at the corner of his lips.

He had taken his first step toward true power.

There was no turning back.