Chapter 31: Flames of Betrayal

The sky burned crimson as flames engulfed the once-proud halls of the Iron Lotus Sect. Screams of dying cultivators echoed in the night, mixing with the clashing of swords and the crackling of shattered formations. The cult had struck.

Jiang Cheng stood atop a ruined pagoda, his robes fluttering in the heat waves. His sharp gaze swept over the battlefield, locking onto the masked figures slaughtering disciples without mercy. The air reeked of blood and burnt wood. The sect that had once welcomed him as a guest was now in ruins.

A figure in dark robes descended from the sky, landing gracefully amidst the destruction. His presence warped the very space around him, exuding a chilling aura of malevolence. His mask bore the insignia of the cult—a twisting, blackened serpent coiling around a blood-red sun.

"You must be Jiang Cheng," the man mused, his voice calm despite the carnage around them. "We've heard much about you."

Jiang Cheng's grip on his sword tightened. "And who are you supposed to be?"

The man chuckled, shaking his head. "Names are meaningless. But if you must call me something, you may refer to me as Elder Wu."

Jiang Cheng's eyes narrowed. "An elder of the cult? You've finally stopped hiding in the shadows."

Elder Wu smirked. "Hiding? No. Preparing." He gestured to the destruction around them. "The Iron Lotus Sect dared to oppose our master's will. This is their fate."

Jiang Cheng took a step forward, his aura surging. The oppressive energy of Elder Wu clashed against him like a tidal wave, but he stood firm.

"I don't care what your 'master' wants," Jiang Cheng said coldly. "I only know that you'll pay for this."

Without another word, he vanished—Heaven Blitzing Step propelling him forward with terrifying speed. His sword cut through the air, a streak of light aimed directly at Elder Wu's throat.

But the cult elder was prepared. With a flick of his wrist, a dark barrier formed, intercepting Jiang Cheng's strike. The force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, leveling the remaining structures around them.

Jiang Cheng twisted in midair, using Cloudstep to propel himself backward before landing lightly on his feet. His eyes flickered with battle intent.

"You're fast," Elder Wu admitted, shaking his hand as if to shake off the force of the clash. "But speed alone won't save you."

With a snap of his fingers, black flames erupted from his body, coiling around him like serpents. The flames screeched, their unnatural heat distorting the very fabric of reality.

Jiang Cheng's expression darkened. He could sense it—the power of the cult's dark arts. This was no ordinary fire. It devoured everything it touched.

Elder Wu raised his hands. "Let's see if your techniques are as refined as they say."

Jiang Cheng exhaled sharply, channeling his inner strength. His body shimmered with golden light as he activated Vajra Diamond Body, reinforcing himself against the oncoming flames.

The battle began in earnest.

Jiang Cheng danced through the inferno, dodging waves of black fire while launching counterattacks. He weaved between Elder Wu's strikes, his Speed of the Wind God allowing him to stay a step ahead. Every exchange shook the battlefield, sending debris flying.

But Elder Wu wasn't just stalling—he was waiting for something.

As Jiang Cheng unleashed a devastating Heavenly Sword Slash, Elder Wu's lips curled into a smirk.

"You should be more careful, Jiang Cheng."

Too late, Jiang Cheng sensed it—an eerie presence beneath him. A formation had been activated!

The ground erupted with chains of dark energy, latching onto his limbs. The moment they made contact, they sapped his spiritual energy, sending a numbing sensation through his body.

Elder Wu's smirk widened. "Got you."

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth. He had been too focused on Elder Wu's attacks to notice the hidden formation.

Elder Wu raised a hand, summoning a spear of black flames. "Time to end this."

But just as he thrust the spear forward—

BOOM!

A shockwave tore through the battlefield.

Jiang Cheng's aura surged violently. His eyes glowed with an intense light, and the golden energy surrounding him flared like a sun breaking through darkness.

The chains binding him cracked.

Elder Wu's expression changed. "What—?!"

Jiang Cheng's voice was ice-cold.

"Did you really think this was enough to stop me?"

With a burst of power, the chains shattered. He stepped forward, his energy condensing into a blinding sword strike—one that tore through Elder Wu's defenses in an instant.

The cult elder barely had time to react before his left arm was severed.

A scream of agony filled the air.

Jiang Cheng didn't stop. He followed up with a devastating palm strike, infused with Impenetrable Fortress, sending Elder Wu crashing through the burning ruins.

Elder Wu coughed up blood, his body twitching. He stared at Jiang Cheng in disbelief. "This… isn't over."

Before Jiang Cheng could finish him off, Elder Wu's body flickered, vanishing into a swirl of black flames. He had escaped.

Jiang Cheng stood amidst the destruction, his heart still pounding. The battle had taken more out of him than he expected. But more importantly—

He had seen something.

During the fight, Elder Wu had spoken of a "master" and an ancient will. And before escaping, he had dropped something—a charred, half-burned scroll.

Jiang Cheng picked it up, his brows furrowing as he scanned the cryptic symbols. He didn't understand the full message, but one phrase stood out:

The Ruins of the Lost Empire.

His grip tightened.

If the cult was searching for something there, then he had to get there first.

This battle was just the beginning.