Chapter 20: The Masked Leader's Secret Power!
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted as the masked leader's black lightning aura intensified, crackling through the air like a storm ready to devour everything.
Leon Xian narrowed his eyes. Now this… this is interesting.
The remaining masked disciples stepped back, their heads lowered in respect.
"Senior Brother Fei… he's using the Nightfall Demon Art!"
"He only uses that when he intends to kill!"
Qin Yue's icy-blue eyes hardened. "Be careful. The Nightfall Demon Art increases power at the cost of corrupting one's Qi. It's a forbidden technique."
Leon smirked. "I like forbidden things."
Qin Yue shot him a sideways glance. Why does nothing ever faze him?
The masked leader—now revealed as Fei Yuan, a top disciple personally trained by the Sect Master—slowly raised his hand.
His voice was calm, almost gentle, but laced with pure killing intent.
"I was told to cripple you," Fei Yuan said. "But after seeing your arrogance, I think I'd rather just kill you."
Leon cracked his knuckles.
"People keep saying that. It never works out for them."
Fei Yuan vanished.
---
The Battle Begins!
CRACK!
The ground shattered as Fei Yuan reappeared mid-air, his palm wreathed in black lightning, aimed directly at Leon's chest!
"Nightfall Shadow Strike!"
Leon tilted his head, dodging by an inch, feeling the raw power of the attack as it shattered the stone tiles behind him!
But—
Fei Yuan was already moving.
Whoosh!
He twisted in mid-air, his leg sweeping toward Leon's ribs, coated in explosive dark Qi!
Leon smirked. Fast.
But not fast enough.
BOOM!
Leon raised his arm, blocking the kick with his forearm, the impact sending a shockwave blasting outward!
Crack!
The ground beneath them split apart, a deep crater forming.
Fei Yuan's eyes flashed in surprise.
"You blocked it?"
Leon grinned. "Your technique's good."
Then, he vanished.
BOOM!
Leon reappeared behind Fei Yuan, his hand already reaching for his shoulder!
Ding!
> [Copy Successful!]
Nightfall Demon Art Acquired!
Shadow Lightning Step Acquired!
CRACK!
A golden shockwave exploded from Leon's body as dark lightning fused into his veins, his power surging to terrifying levels!
The disciples watching from the shadows trembled.
"He… he copied it?"
"That's impossible! The Nightfall Demon Art is a forbidden technique!"
"Leon Xian… what the hell are you?!"
---
Leon's Counterattack
Fei Yuan took a step back, his expression no longer calm.
Leon stretched his fingers, golden sparks of black lightning dancing around his hands.
"You know," he said casually, "for a forbidden technique, this feels really natural to me."
Fei Yuan's face darkened. "You shouldn't be able to use that technique!"
Leon vanished.
BOOM!
He reappeared mid-air, his leg coated in shadow lightning, aimed directly at Fei Yuan's head!
"Nightfall Shadow Strike!"
BAM!
Fei Yuan barely raised his arms in time to block, but the force behind the kick sent him flying, crashing through a stone pillar before landing in a heap of rubble.
The disciples watching from a distance turned pale.
"Senior Brother Fei is losing?!"
"No one has ever matched him in pure speed!"
"Leon Xian is… a monster!"
Leon landed lightly, shaking off the excess lightning.
He grinned.
"Looks like I'm better at using your technique than you are."
Fei Yuan cursed under his breath. He pushed himself up, his body trembling slightly.
"That… was a mistake," Fei Yuan growled.
Then—
His killing intent exploded.
---
Fei Yuan's True Power
The air grew heavy, the temperature dropping as Fei Yuan's aura twisted, his Qi darkening even further.
Leon's grin faded slightly.
Oh? He's got another trick?
CRACK!
Fei Yuan's body expanded slightly, his muscles hardening, his eyes turning pitch black.
His voice echoed unnaturally.
"You shouldn't have copied my technique."
Then—
BOOM!
A black vortex formed around him, devouring the light itself, turning the battlefield into a realm of shadows.
Leon felt it immediately.
This… was different.
This wasn't just Qi enhancement.
This was demonic corruption.
Qin Yue's expression finally changed.
"Leon, don't let him touch you!"
Leon raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is he contagious?"
Qin Yue's voice was serious. "The Nightfall Demon Art has a second stage. If his Qi enters your body, it will start corrupting your dantian."
Leon's grin widened. "Now that's more like it."
Fei Yuan smirked.
"Let's see if you're still laughing after this."
And then, in a blur of pure darkness—
He attacked.