Chapter 30: To Claim Strength, One Must Consume Chaos (Part 1)

The sun hung low in the blood-streaked sky as Zhang Yan stood at the edge of the sect's borders. The weight of the Ashura Demonic Fist scroll rested heavily in his satchel, its dark energy pulsing with anticipation. His journey had begun, and the path ahead would be one of blood, fury, and survival.

To truly master the Ashura's Demonic Fist, Zhang Yan needed more than just discipline and endless repetition. The technique demanded the essence of demonic beasts; their flesh to fortify his body and their demon cores to strengthen his Demonic Essence .

Without this crucial essence, the full potential of the devastating martial art would remain locked away, beyond his grasp.

His travels were short as the Southern Demonic Grove's dense forests stretched before him, a labyrinth of twisted roots and towering trees. Somewhere deep within this wilderness lurked the demonic beasts; predators born of darkness and chaos, each embodying raw, primal savagery.

Zhang Yan's fists clenched as he gazed into the shadowed expanse.

He knew the battles ahead would test him not just physically but mentally, pushing him to the edge of survival.

With a final glance towards his dagger on his waist, Zhang Yan stepped into the shadows of the forest. The world around him dimmed as the last light of day slipped away, and the hunt began.

The air grew heavier the deeper he ventured. The scent of damp earth mingled with the metallic tang of distant blood, and faint growls echoed through the underbrush. His senses, heightened by the Infernal Sanguine Heart Skill, sharpened further with each step. Every rustling leaf and shifting shadow became a potential threat, his shadow flickering at his feet; restless, alive, and alert.

It didn't take long for the first beast to find him.

From the darkness burst a mid-tier 1 horned panther the size of a small carriage, its black fur glistening like oiled silk. Its crimson eyes burned with savage hunger, and its claws gouged deep furrows into the earth as it charged with terrifying speed.

Zhang Yan's breath slowed. This would be his first test.

The panther lunged, its fangs aimed for his throat. Zhang Yan twisted his body with lightning-like reflexes, narrowly avoiding the deadly bite. He felt the rush of air as its jaws snapped shut where his neck had been only a heartbeat ago. Without hesitation, he countered; his fist igniting with the energy of the Ashura's Infusion. A fiery red glow erupted along his forearm, his blood simmering with demonic qi...