First battle

It was a quiet day in Lin Huang's new home. After days of searching for treasures and the birth of Xiao Tian, ​​he had already decided to abandon the mission of locating the demonic cultivator.

The idea of ​​fulfilling the sect's mission seemed unnecessary, especially now that he was focused on strengthening Yanluo and building his own sect. Mortal life, as simple as it was, offered a momentary refuge to organize his plans, and he preferred to spend time searching for treasures. 

As he was adjusting some items in his system space, an unexpected sound echoed through the house: knock, knock, knock. Someone was knocking on the door. Lin Huang frowned. He hadn't expected visitors, after all, no one in the city knew him. Yanluo was on the second floor, still refining his spiritual energy, so he went to answer it himself.

When he opened the door, he found a suspicious-looking man. He was dressed in simple clothes, but his eyes were as sharp as blades, and his posture exuded an aura that would make any ordinary mortal instinctively retreat. The man looked at Lin Huang with a neutral expression at first, but soon his eyes widened slightly. He took a step back, as if he had sensed something unusual.

"Are you the owner of this house?" the man asked, trying to hide his discomfort.

Lin Huang remained calm, but he felt something strange about the visitor's presence. His aura was peculiar, almost oppressive, but at the same time unstable.

"System, is there anyone above the Nascent Soul stage near me?"

[Ding, no]

Hearing the system and feeling reassured, he calmly replied, expressing his clear dissatisfaction.

"You knock on someone's door, don't introduce yourself, and then ask if I'm the owner? Are you rude? But yes, I am the owner.

The man hesitated for a moment. He felt dissatisfied with the way he was answered, but noticing Lin Huang's aura, he let it go and then asked, "I'm looking for information about the previous resident of this house. He left something important behind. We had a friendship." 

Lin Huang narrowed his eyes. There was nothing in the house records that mentioned anything or anyone special before. But his intuition told him there was more to the story. 

As they were talking, Lin Huang silently activated the system in his mind: System, is there a demonic cultivator nearby?

The answer came almost instantly: Ding! Yes, there is a demonic cultivator within 3 meters of the host. 

Lin Huang's heart raced for a moment. He looked at the man in front of him more closely. The visitor seemed to be trying to hide his true intention, but his initial reaction when he opened the door revealed that he had sensed something in Lin Huang's ethereal aura and felt that they were both cultivators.

Deciding not to act impulsively, Lin Huang hid his suspicions and kept the conversation casual.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any information about the previous resident," he replied with a faint smile.

"Maybe you can try asking the neighbors."

The man nodded slowly, still suspicious. He seemed eager to get out of here as soon as possible.

"I see… Thank you for your time," he said before turning around and hurriedly walking down the street.

Lin Huang watched the man disappear around the corner before closing the door. He knew he couldn't ignore this coincidence. If this was really the demonic cultivator from the abandoned mission, since the opportunity had arisen, he might as well deal with this target. After all, there was no way he could breach the defenses after the impenetrable talent. With a quick decision, he activated his tracking ability and started following the man in secret.

Lin Huang moved silently through the streets, keeping a safe distance as he followed the suspicious man. His tracking ability, combined with the enhanced perception from the system, allowed him to walk unnoticed, even when the man occasionally glanced over his shoulder suspiciously. The demonic cultivator seemed to be on alert, but he couldn't detect Lin Huang.

After a few minutes of walking, the man entered a narrow alley that led to a more secluded area of ​​the city. Lin Huang stopped at the entrance of the alley and watched from a distance. The man opened an inconspicuous door in an abandoned building and disappeared inside. Lin Huang waited for a few moments before cautiously approaching.

"System, are there any other demonic cultivators inside the building?" he asked in his mind.

[Ding! No other demonic cultivators detected nearby.]

With this confirmation, Lin Huang scanned the place. He decided not to go in immediately. It would be risky to confront the man without understanding the environment or possible traps. Instead, he mentally marked the location and retreated to plan his approach.

Back at his home, Lin Huang began to prepare for the confrontation. He knew that the demonic cultivator was dangerous, but he trusted in his skills and the absolute defense provided by the impenetrable talent. Furthermore, he had the Earth-grade sword, a powerful item that could decide the battle.

He wanted to use Xiao Tian, ​​but unfortunately, it seemed that the Taoist physique was too heavy and even now, even at 3x speed, the bird was still absorbing.

As night fell, Lin Huang quietly left his house and returned to the abandoned building. The city was quiet, and the deserted streets made it easy for him to move stealthily. He stopped in front of the door where the man had entered earlier and activated his spiritual perception to check for possible traps or barriers. Not detecting anything out of the ordinary, he slowly pushed the door open and entered.

The inside of the building was dark and damp, with a strong musty smell mixed with something metallic and dried blood. Lin Huang followed the signs of weak spiritual energy to a room in the back. Inside, he found the man sitting in a meditation position in the center of a circle formed by demonic runes engraved on the floor. He seemed to be refining spiritual energy of obscure origin.

The sound of Lin Huang's footsteps echoed through the room as he entered. The demonic cultivator opened his eyes abruptly, his initially confused expression quickly turning into something darker. He slowly stood up, adjusting the sleeves of his simple clothes, but the sinister glint in his eyes betrayed his true nature.

"You followed me?" the man asked, his voice filled with coldness. "It seems I underestimated you."

Lin Huang remained calm, but inwardly he was on alert. He had not expected the demonic cultivator to be so direct in noticing his presence. Still, he replied in a casual tone, "Just a coincidence of fate. I figured someone so curious about this house might have… peculiar intentions."

The man let out a dry laugh and took a step forward, his eyes scanning Lin Huang as if trying to gauge his strength.

"Quirks are relative, young man. But you made a mistake by following me here."

Before Lin Huang could respond, the man raised his hand and five black flags appeared around him, fluttering in the air like leaves in the wind. Each of them exuded an ominous and cold aura, which caused the temperature of the surroundings to drop instantly. Lin Huang felt a chill run down his spine when he noticed the Yin energy emanating from the flags.

"Yin ghosts…" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

The flags began to glow with demonic runes as spectral figures emerged from them. They were women with pale and distorted appearances, their expressions filled with pain and hatred. Lin Huang immediately understood: those were the refined souls of the demonic cultivator's victims.

''You used human souls to create these flags?'' Lin Huang asked, his voice filled with contempt. The man smirked. 

''They were weak and useless in life. Now, they serve a greater purpose. But don't worry… you'll soon join them.''

Lin Huang felt a twinge of worry. The main reason he had come was because he was confident in the physical toughness and impenetrable defense provided by his talent, but Yin ghosts were ethereal and could ignore conventional physical defenses. He hadn't considered facing something like this.

The spectral figures quickly advanced towards him, their ghostly screams echoing throughout the surroundings.

Lin Huang gritted his teeth. He had the Earth-grade sword, but it did not possess any specific Yang properties. Still, he knew he could not hesitate. Gripping his sword tightly, he assumed a defensive stance as the spectral figures rapidly approached. 

Lin Huang advanced through the room, Earth-grade sword in hand, as the spectral figures continued to block his path. Every time he tried to get close to the demonic cultivator, one of the Yin phantoms would appear to block his path. The air around him was thick with Yin energy, and the temperature seemed to drop even further with each passing moment.

The demonic cultivator laughed as he manipulated the black flags. He seemed completely at ease, controlling the phantoms as if they were extensions of his own body.

"You're fast, but you can't touch me!" the man sneered, waving one of the flags in an arc in the air. "These Yin phantoms are immune to physical attacks. Even with your Earth-grade sword, you won't be able to harm them.''

Lin Huang remained calm, but inside he felt the pressure of the situation. He relied on his speed provided by his wind affinity, but the ghosts were ethereal and could pass through walls and physical objects without difficulty. Every time he tried to approach directly, a ghost would appear to block his blade or force him to retreat.

He took a few steps back and activated the system mentally: System, is there any weakness in these Yin ghosts?

[Ding! Yin ghosts are vulnerable to attacks based on Yang energy or spiritual fire.]

Lin Huang gritted his teeth. He didn't have any Yang techniques or spiritual fire skills. His sword was powerful against physical enemies, but useless against these ethereal entities. He needed to find another approach. 

The demonic cultivator noticed his hesitation and smirked.

''See? You don't stand a chance against me!'' he shouted, waving the flags again. The ghosts charged forward in unison, surrounding Lin Huang from all sides.

Lin Huang took a deep breath and activated his wind affinity. His body became a blur as he moved swiftly around the room, dodging the ghosts' attacks with impressive precision. Although he couldn't directly harm them, his speed kept him out of reach of their ethereal claws. 

''You're fast… But how long can you keep running away?'' the demonic cultivator taunted.

The fight had reached a stalemate. Lin Huang was agile enough to avoid being touched by the ghosts, but unable to deal any real damage to the enemy. Meanwhile, the demonic cultivator seemed to be biding his time to further strengthen his flags and the ghosts he controlled. 

Lin Huang retreated, maintaining his speed and dodging the Yin phantoms that tried to surround him. He knew he needed a solution to break the deadlock. Every time he got close to the demonic cultivator, the phantoms blocked his path.

While dodging the attacks, he asked the system in his mind: System, is there anything present at the scene that can weaken or deal with these Yin phantoms?

[Ding! Yes. The host is the key. The complete Taoist physique does not allow impurities in its essence, making it capable of refining Yin demon souls. The host can attack indiscriminately without being affected.]

Lin Huang's eyes lit up upon hearing the answer. He had not considered that his own body could be a weapon against those dark entities. With this new information, he stopped retreating and steadied his stance.

"It seems I underestimated myself," he muttered with a confident smile.

The demonic cultivator noticed the change in Lin Huang's posture and frowned.

"What are you planning?" he asked, moving the flags to reinforce the ghosts around him.

Lin Huang did not reply. Instead, he charged straight at the Yin ghosts. When the first one tried to attack him, he did not swing his sword and let it penetrate its body. To the demonic cultivator's surprise, the ghost entered his body and instead of the usual pained expression, he could see that he had lost contact with one of the ghosts and then Han's aura slowly increased.

"What?! How is this possible?!" the man shouted, clearly shaken.

Lin Huang wasted no time. He continued to advance, absorbing the souls, eliminating them completely. The demonic cultivator desperately tried to control the flags to summon more ghosts, but Lin Huang was already close enough to stop his movements.

"Did you think Yin ghosts would be enough to stop me?" Lin Huang said coldly as his ethereal aura glowed brightly.

The demonic cultivator took a few steps back, clearly frightened. He finally realized that he had underestimated Lin Huang and his unusual physique.

"Who are you?! You can't just be a Foundation Establishment!" he shouted in despair.

Lin Huang ignored the man's words and charged forward with a straight punch towards the demonic cultivator. 

Lin Huang charged forward without hesitation, ignoring the Yin phantoms that were still trying to block him. Now that he knew that his complete Taoist physique made him immune to ethereal impurities, he no longer needed to worry about the refined souls' attacks. Every step he took seemed to dissipate the Yin energy around him, as if his very presence was purifying the surroundings.

The demonic cultivator was stunned. He had never met anyone who was capable of completely ignoring his Yin phantoms. His expression of confidence turned into pure despair when he saw Lin Huang rapidly approaching.

''This… This is impossible!'' he shouted, frantically moving the flags in an attempt to create a final barrier.

But it was too late.

Lin Huang raised his Earth-grade sword, which shone with a sharp and deadly light as it slashed straight at the demonic cultivator's chest. The strike was swift and precise, rupturing the enemy's flesh and bones in a single move. Dark blood gushed out from the wound as the man staggered back, clutching his chest with trembling hands.

"You… aren't just a Foundation Establishment…" he muttered, spitting out blood.

Lin Huang did not respond. His expression was cold and determined. He knew he could not give the demonic cultivator any chance to counterattack or escape. With one fluid motion, he swung his sword and delivered a second strike, this time aiming for the enemy's neck.

The blade sliced ​​through the flesh with ease, decapitating the demonic cultivator in an instant. The head rolled across the ground as the lifeless body collapsed into the circle of demonic runes, which began to lose their sinister glow.

Lin Huang stood there for a few moments, watching the fallen body warily. He knew that demonic cultivators often had tricks or techniques to survive even after death. Then, he activated the system again:

System, confirm: has the demonic cultivator been completely eliminated?

Before the system could respond, a laugh echoed in the surroundings. The cultivator's decapitated head was still smiling, its eyes glowing with a purple glow. From the lifeless body, an ethereal figure emerged, an intact soul, filled with malice and consciousness.

"Did you really think it would be that easy, kid?" The demonic cultivator's voice echoed straight into Lin Huang's mind as the dark soul shot like a dart towards his chest.

Lin Huang retreated, but it was too late. The soul penetrated his body, and suddenly, he felt an icy presence spreading through his veins. Distorted visions invaded his mind, memories of the demonic cultivator, scenes of torture, sacrifices, and an ancient hatred that burned like black fire.

"Your body… is special. It will be MINE now!"* The invader's voice boomed, trying to crush Lin Huang's consciousness. He had noticed that the resistance to the other ghosts was due to their physicality.

For an instant, Lin Huang lost control. His right hand trembled, raising the Earth-grade sword to his own neck. The demonic cultivator laughed, certain of victory… until a deafening *scream* filled the air.

"You may have a powerful defense, but so what? In the end, the souls of humans are weak compared to us demonic cultivators."

But at this moment, a deafening sound rang out

**"Kreeeeeee!"**

Xiao Tian, ​​still in a state of hibernation, briefly awakened. His primordial scream tore through the air, waves of metallic energy vibrating like a heavenly hammer. The demonic cultivator's soul froze, paralyzed by the frequency emitted from the hawk's call. It was pure level suppression.

Lin Huang regained control and seized the moment. He sat on the ground in a meditation position, closing his eyes tightly. His complete Taoist physique glowed.

"No! What are you—" The invader's voice became a panicked roar. He realized that if he continued, his fate would be the same as the other souls.

Lin Huang did not respond. He focused on the corrupt energy within him, using his body. The cultivator's soul was gradually transformed into spiritual energy, compressed and refined, not Yin energy, but pure knowledge. Techniques, demonic secrets… everything was absorbed like a forced feast.

When he opened his eyes, the aura around him had become denser. His eyes flickered with a purple glow for a moment before returning to normal.

Xiao Tian, ​​who was still in the system space, closed his eyes and went back to hibernation.

"System, is he dead this time?"

[Ding, yes. The body no longer has any vitality and the soul has been refined. A complete death with no chance of reincarnation]

"It almost caught me by surprise…" he whispered as he let out a sigh of relief, casting a cold gaze at the enemy's remains.

He lowered his sword and began to inspect the enemy's belongings. The black flags had lost their energy and fell to the ground like ordinary pieces of cloth. However, among the demonic cultivator's items, Lin Huang found something that caught his attention.

Among the fallen black flags, he found an ancient scroll with an ominous aura. Upon opening it, he realized that it was a detailed technique for creating Yin phantoms. The text explained how to capture human souls, refine them, and bind them to spiritual artifacts like flags or amulets. Lin Huang frowned as he read.

"This is despicable…" he muttered. Despite his aversion to the technique, he knew it could be useful to study it, if only to understand how to better deal with enemies who used similar methods in the future.

Apart from the scroll, he found a small storage pouch. Inside it were several demonic resources: rare herbs infused with Yin energy, low-quality spiritual stones, and a small black pill that gave off a metallic smell. Lin Huang activated the system to analyze the items.

System, identify the resources found.

[Ding! Resources identified:

1. Dark Yin Herbs – used to strengthen Yin energy-based techniques.

2. Inferior Spiritual Stones – suitable for basic cultivation.

3. Yin Demonic Pill – temporarily increases the strength of demonic cultivators at the cost of permanent damage to the soul.]

Lin Huang put away the useful items and mentally discarded the idea of ​​using the demonic pill. He knew that such resources were dangerous and incompatible with his cultivation path.

Finally, he looked at the demonic cultivator's decapitated body and the black flags now lying inert on the ground. Although they were ominous items, they were still opportunities. He kept the items so that he could later give them to Yanluo to see what the outcome would be.

"If it weren't for my physique and Xiao Tian, ​​I could…" he said to himself, feeling dissatisfied and somewhat afraid despite eliminating such a dangerous threat.

Before leaving the place, Lin Huang used his newly acquired affinity with wind to erase any traces of his presence. He knew he couldn't leave any clues about his identity or location, especially now that he was determined to build his own sect.

With the resources gathered and the sinister technique in hand, he returned to his home.

Lin Huang's brows were furrowed the entire way home. Even a simple demonic cultivator had plenty of means of survival. Without the Taoist physique he would have died to the ghosts and even with the Taoist physique he was almost possessed by needing to rely on Xiao Tian.

He realized that he was too confident. He needed to strengthen himself and only show his face when he was sure he could dominate the enemy.

Today he won, but he felt that it was no different from a defeat.