Demonic Cult Disciples (4)

Wi Soyeon's aura surged rapidly, growing stronger with every passing moment. The air around her seemed to vibrate with power, and the ground beneath her feet trembled.

"Stop her!" Luo Fan shouted desperately to the other disciples, but it was too late. The Five-Pointed Demonic Star Formation erupted in a blinding burst of purple light, engulfing Luo Fan and the rest of the Demonic Cult disciples. The energy swirled violently, as if the formation itself was being torn apart.

When the light finally faded, Wi Soyeon hovered in the air, her golden hair glowing like the sun. Her presence was overwhelming, her cultivation now at the Mid-Stage Fusion Realm. The transformation was breath-taking, and even Ma Jeong couldn't help but be impressed.

"Impressive," he muttered, his tone genuine as he watched her. 

Though Wi Soyeon had lost her cultivation, her knowledge and insights remained intact. Still, Ma Jeong hadn't expected her to use the formation's energy to boost her own cultivation.

To do something like that required deep understanding of formations, mastery of divine techniques, and incredible control over spiritual energy. It was no small feat.

In a flash, Wi Soyeon vanished and reappeared right in front of the Crown Prince. He stood frozen, his face first blank with shock, then twisted in fear.

His legs trembled, and for a moment, it looked like he might collapse or even wet himself. The once-confident Crown Prince was now a terrified mess, staring into the cold, golden eyes of a woman who had just ascended to a level of power he couldn't even comprehend.

"Fairy, have mercy!" the Crown Prince begged, his voice trembling with fear.

Wi Soyeon's lips curled into a sneer. Without a word, she raised her hand, and a beam of fiery energy shot into the Crown Prince's body.

"AHHHH!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the air. His skin turned a scorching crimson, as if it had been branded with a red-hot iron.

He collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony, his cries filled with unbearable pain. It was a torment worse than any of the top ten tortures known in the Baihu Kingdom.

Wi Soyeon watched coldly, her expression unyielding. The Crown Prince's suffering was a stark reminder of the consequences of betrayal.

Wi Soyeon's gaze shifted to Luo Fan and the other disciples, her golden eyes was sharp and piercing.

Luo Fan's expression darkened as he felt the weight of her power, but he quickly steadied himself. "Don't panic," he said, trying to sound confident. "She's only one person. Even if she's a Fusion Realm cultivator like us, we have the advantage in numbers."

"Hmph," Wi Soyeon snorted, her voice dripping with disdain. She looked at the five Demonic Cult disciples, her expression cold and unimpressed. "You weaklings think you can deal with me?" she said impatiently. "Know your place."

Without waiting for a response, Wi Soyeon raised her hand, palm open. Crimson flames began to gather, swirling and condensing into the shape of a glowing lotus.

The air around it shimmered with intense heat, and the ground beneath her feet seemed to tremble.

"Blazing Demonic Flame Lotus," she muttered, her voice calm but filled with power. With a flick of her wrist, she sent the lotus hurtling toward Luo Fan and the others.

The intense heat from the crimson lotus made the air itself feel like it was on fire. Luo Fan shouted to the others, "Everyone, gather your strength!"

The disciples quickly activated their divine techniques, each one pouring their energy into creating barriers or attacks to stop the incoming lotus.

But there was a glaring difference in power. Wi Soyeon had been the successor of the Demonic Cult, and her access to stronger, more advanced divine techniques was unmatched.

When two fighters are at the same cultivation level, it's the quality of their techniques that decides the outcome.

The disciples' techniques crumbled like paper under the overwhelming force of the Blazing Demonic Flame Lotus. The lotus continued its path unimpeded, and when it reached them, it exploded in a burst of searing flames.

"AHHHH!" Luo Fan and the others screamed as the flames engulfed them, burning their bodies and leaving them writhing in agony.

Ma Jeong watched from the sidelines, shaking his head. "How pathetic," he muttered, his tone almost bored. 

"Esteemed Immortals!"

A loud voice broke through the chaos as a large troop of Imperial Guards arrived, led by the Baihu Emperor himself, riding a majestic white steed.

The battle between cultivators was nothing short of a calamity in the eyes of ordinary mortals, and it was no surprise that the emperor had rushed to the scene.

The entire mountain had been reduced to rubble, its remains engulfed in crimson flames. It was a sight impossible to ignore.

As the Baihu Emperor took in the destruction before him, his face paled, and cold sweat dripped down his forehead.

The sheer power on display was beyond anything a mortal could comprehend. An attack like this could easily obliterate dozens of imperial palaces in an instant. The gap between mortals and cultivators had never felt more vast.

When the emperor's eyes landed on the Crown Prince, his heart sank. His son lay on the ground, his body burned so severely that he was barely recognizable as human. The Baihu Emperor's voice trembled as he rushed forward, shouting, "Son! What happened to you?!"

Ma Jeong's voice cut through the tension, laced with mockery. "Your eldest son is truly something," he said, his tone sharp. "He colluded with the Demonic Cult, putting the entire Baihu Kingdom at risk. How filial of him!"

"What?!" The Baihu Emperor's face turned pale, his voice trembling with disbelief. He turned to his son, his eyes wide with shock and anger. "You ungrateful fool! Why would you collude with the people who kidnapped your own sister? Answer me!"

His voice rose, his eyes red with fury and betrayal. But the Crown Prince, burned and broken, could only let out a weak groan in response. His pain was too great, his voice too feeble to explain or defend himself.

The Baihu Emperor's hands trembled as he stared at his son, torn between anger and heartbreak. The weight of the betrayal was crushing, and the Baihu emperor looked as though he had aged years in mere moments.

Seeing the Crown Prince's agony, Ma Jeong raised his hand and sent a wave of spiritual energy toward him. The energy eased the prince's pain just enough for him to speak, though his voice was weak and strained.

The Crown Prince forced a bitter smile. "Why shouldn't I?" he said, his tone filled with resentment. "You've never thought of passing the throne to me anyway. I might as well ally with them. Once I succeed, I'll be the emperor!"

"Foolish," the Baihu Emperor snapped, his voice trembling with anger. "You already are the Crown Prince!"

"You think I don't know how much you favor Ling'er?" the Crown Prince shot back, his voice rising despite his pain. "I may be the Crown Prince, but there's no guarantee I'll stay that way. So I colluded with the Demonic Cult disciples. They promised they will help me kill Ling'er, and in return I will help them capture Lady Wi. But… but because of you, I never got what I wanted!"

The Baihu Emperor's face fell, his expression a mix of heartbreak and fury. "You… you are beyond saving," he said, his voice heavy with despair. He shook his head, utterly disappointed in the son he had once hoped would lead the kingdom.

Ma Jeong shook his head as he walked over to Wi Soyeon. Among the Demonic Cult disciples, only Luo Fan was still alive, though barely.

Wi Soyeon was interrogating him, her methods were harsh and cruel. If Ma Jeong wanted, he could easily listen in on their conversation, but he chose not to. He respected her privacy and stayed back, giving her space.

It was then, Luo Fan's voice suddenly rang out, defiant even in his weakened state. "I will never betray my master!" he shouted, his voice trembling but firm.

Wi Soyeon's expression turned icy. "Hmph, then die," she said coldly, her voice devoid of any mercy.

The shadow of death loomed over Luo Fan, and sweat poured down his forehead. He had never felt such fear before. Desperate, he pulled out a blood-red marble and shouted with all his strength, "Master, save me!"

The marble shot into the air, glowing ominously before releasing a powerful wave of energy. The force was so strong that it pushed Wi Soyeon back, forcing her to take a few steps to steady herself.

The blood-red marble pulsed with light, then exploded in a flash of crimson energy. When the light faded, an old man stood in its place. His body was thin and frail, but his presence was anything but weak. His eyes glinted with a dangerous sharpness, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier.

Wi Soyeon recognized him immediately—the Blood Demonic Master. He was a lesser sect elder of the Demonic Cult, a Transformation Realm expert known for his sadistic nature.

He took pleasure in torturing his enemies, slowly draining their blood before ending their lives. His reputation was enough to send shivers down the spines of even the bravest cultivators.

Wi Soyeon tensed, her body instinctively preparing for a fight. But Ma Jeong, standing nearby, wore a relaxed smile on his face.

He seemed completely unfazed by the arrival of the Blood Demonic Master, as if he were merely observing an interesting scene rather than facing a deadly threat. 

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