Demonic Cult Disciples (3)

Wi Soyeon looked at him, her expression unreadable. Inside, she couldn't help but sigh. Dealing with Ma Jeong's confidence—or perhaps overconfidence—was proving to be more challenging than she had expected.

According to Wi Soyeon, Ma Jeong was the most unreliable Fusion Realm cultivator she had ever met. What confused her the most was how different he was from other cultivators.

Most cultivators spent their time sitting cross-legged, focused entirely on training and improving their cultivation.

But Ma Jeong? He spent his days eating, relaxing, and enjoying himself, showing no interest in working hard or pushing his limits.

It was a complete mystery to her. How had someone so carefree and lazy managed to reach the Fusion Realm? She couldn't understand it.

While others struggled and sacrificed to grow stronger, Ma Jeong seemed to have achieved his power without any visible effort. It didn't make sense, and it left Wi Soyeon both puzzled and slightly frustrated.

While Wi Soyeon was deep in thought, a nervous voice called out from outside the door. "Esteemed immortals, I bring urgent news about the Demonic Cult disciples!"

"Who are you?" Ma Jeong asked, his Divine Sense reaching out to scan the person behind the door.

"I am the Crown Prince of the Baihu Kingdom," the voice replied. The Crown Prince was dressed in fine robes. He bowed respectfully, his hands clasped in front of him.

"What is it? Speak," Ma Jeong said, his tone calm but commanding.

When the Crown Prince heard Ma Jeong's calm voice from inside the room, he immediately dropped to his knees. His voice trembled with worry as he spoke. "Esteemed Immortals, I've kept this hidden from my father, but I have information about where the Demonic Cult disciples are staying"

He paused, his head bowed low. "I've heard of your great reputation and know you have extraordinary powers. They have taken my younger sister. Please, I beg the esteemed immortal to save my younger sister."

With that, the Crown Prince pressed his forehead to the ground in a deep bow, his sincerity clear in every movement.

"Oh?" Ma Jeong's interest was piqued.

He extended his divine sense, carefully scanning the back mountains of the Imperial Palace. But to his surprise, he found nothing unusual. The area seemed quiet, with no signs of the Demonic Cult or the kidnapped princess.

Ma Jeong's expression grew thoughtful. If the Crown Prince's information was correct, the Demonic Cult was better at hiding than he had expected.

After a moment of silence, the door creaked open. The Crown Prince looked up and saw Ma Jeong stepping forward. The young man's long black hair flowed down to his waist, and his black robes gave him an air of quiet authority.

"Greetings, esteemed Immortal," the Crown Prince said, his voice respectful.

"Take me to that place," Ma Jeong commanded, his tone calm but firm.

"Yes!" the Crown Prince replied quickly, rising to his feet. As he stood, a faint glint of coldness flickered in his eyes, almost too subtle to notice. But it was there, hidden beneath his polite demeanour.

Wi Soyeon followed quietly behind Ma Jeong, her thoughts tangled. Once, she had been the successor of the Demonic Cult, a figure of power and respect within its ranks.

Now, here she was, about to hunt down one of its disciples. The irony wasn't lost on her, and it left her with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite untangle.

As they walked, the Crown Prince's gaze drifted toward Wi Soyeon. No matter how many times he saw her, he couldn't help but feel his mind go blank.

Her golden hair shimmered like sunlight, cascading over her shoulders. Her lips were soft and delicate, like cherry blossom petals, and her figure was flawless—her curves perfectly balanced, her skin smooth and radiant like polished jade. She was breath-taking, and it was hard for him to look away.

"Ahem."

Ma Jeong's sharp cough snapped the Crown Prince out of his daze.

Wi Soyeon's cold gaze fell on the Crown Prince, sending a shiver down his spine. He quickly lowered his head, his voice trembling as he apologized. "I am truly sorry for the disrespect, Lady Wi."

"Hmph," Wi Soyeon snorted, her expression icy. Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving the Crown Prince standing awkwardly.

Regaining his composure, the Crown Prince hurried to catch up, following Ma Jeong and Wi Soyeon as they moved forward.

He kept his eyes fixed ahead this time, careful not to let his gaze wander again. The air around them was tense, and he could feel the weight of Wi Soyeon's displeasure lingering like a frost.

*******

Back in the mountains, the path was rough and wild. Weeds grew tall and unchecked, while jagged rocks jutted out unevenly. The place felt abandoned, as if no one had walked there in years.

When they arrived, Ma Jeong let the Crown Prince take the lead. After all, he was the one with the information. Ma Jeong strolled casually, his hands behind his back, as if he were on a leisurely walk. Wi Soyeon, however, frowned as she followed. Something about this place felt wrong, and her instincts were on edge.

"Where are the Demonic Cult disciples?" Ma Jeong asked, his tone relaxed, almost careless, as if he were asking about the weather.

The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment before pointing ahead. "They should be deeper in the mountains, near the old ruins. That's where I last heard they were hiding."

Wi Soyeon's eyes narrowed. She didn't trust the Crown Prince's nervous demeanour, but she stayed silent, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger.

When they reached the ruins, the Crown Prince suddenly stopped and turned around. A strange smile spread across his face, one that sent a chill down Wi Soyeon's spine. Without warning, he pulled out a jade slip and crushed it in his hand.

Swish!

A bright purple light erupted from the ground, forming a five-pointed star-shaped formation. Waves of terrifying energy surged from it, filling the air with an oppressive force. The ground trembled, and the atmosphere grew heavy.

Before anyone could react, a glowing protective sphere surrounded the Crown Prince. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, teleported away to safety.

Ma Jeong and Wi Soyeon were left standing in the middle of the formation, the air crackling with energy.

The Crown Prince steadied himself, a look of triumph on his face. "Great Ones, it's your turn to act," he declared, his voice echoing with confidence.

Whoosh.

The air around them twisted and warped, as if the space itself was bending. Suddenly, five figures cloaked in black robes appeared, each stepping into position around the glowing Five-Point Star Demonic Formation. They moved swiftly, surrounding Ma Jeong and Wi Soyeon completely.

All five figures were young, but their auras were sharp and powerful—each one a Fusion Realm expert. Among them stood Luo Fan and Luo Shen, the very disciples who had kidnapped the young princess.

Their cold eyes locked onto Ma Jeong and Wi Soyeon, their expressions unreadable but filled with menace.

"Ma Jeong, former disciple of the North Star Sect," Luo Fan said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "We've heard a lot about you."

Ma Jeong raised an eyebrow, his expression calm but slightly amused. "Oh? And what do you know about me?"

"We know you're the one who killed the Shadow Ghost Squad Leader," Luo Fan replied, his tone sharp. "Did you think we wouldn't find out?"

"Hoh," Ma Jeong said, his voice casual, almost mocking. "As expected of one of the three strongest forces in the Eastern Continent. Your information-gathering skills are truly unmatched."

The way Ma Jeong spoke—so relaxed, so dismissive—made Luo Fan's eye twitch in anger. It was clear Ma Jeong wasn't taking him seriously, and that only fueled Luo Fan's irritation. The tension between them crackled like a live wire, ready to snap at any moment.

"You're quite arrogant for someone from a lowly place like the Blue Wind Domain," Luo Fan sneered, his voice filled with disdain.

Ma Jeong smirked. "The Shadow Ghost Squad leader said the same thing. And now he's dead."

Luo Fan's expression darkened. "Hmph, you caught them off guard. But we came prepared. This formation is special—it suppresses your power while enhancing ours. You're destined to die here."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a blazing crimson flame shot toward him.

Though the attack carried the aura of a Refinement Realm expert, the intense heat it radiated was enough to make even a Fusion Realm cultivator take notice.

But Luo Fan didn't flinch. He simply raised his hand. The power of the Five-Pointed Demonic Star Formation surged, pressing down on the flames and weakening their force.

With a casual wave, Luo Fan extinguished the fire, leaving nothing but a faint wisp of smoke.

Luo Fan turned his gaze to Wi Soyeon, who had just launched the demonic crimson flame towards him. "Lady Wi," he said, his voice dripping with confidence, "with this formation in place, you stand no chance against us. Not with your Early Stage Refinement Realm cultivation."

"Oh, is that so?" Wi Soyeon replied, a smirk playing on her lips.

Her golden phoenix eyes began to glow, and the air around her crackled with energy. The Five-Pointed Demonic Star Formation trembled, its purple energy swirling wildly.

To Luo Fan's shock, the formation's power started flowing toward Wi Soyeon, as if drawn by an invisible force. Her aura began to rise, growing stronger with every passing second.

"What?!" Luo Fan shouted, his voice filled with panic. He could feel his control over the formation slipping away. His eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the impossible happen—the energy of the formation was being absorbed by Wi Soyeon.

*********

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