The three Dao-entry cultivators exchanged glances, their eyes sharp as blades. The leader's voice turned icy.
"How do you know he just left? Could it be that you're working with him — planning to ambush us?"
The air froze. The other two men's gazes hardened, their killing intent tangible.
Ye Fan's heart jolted. His body trembled under their glare, and he hurriedly waved his hands.
"Seniors! Please, misunderstand me not! My injuries — every one of them — were his doing! I wish nothing more than to kill that man myself! How could I ever join forces with him?"
The leader squinted, scanning Ye Fan from head to toe. His complexion was pale, his aura broken and disordered — clearly, a man who had lost his foundation. After a moment's thought, the Dao-entry expert snorted coldly.
"Hmph. Very well. I'll trust you this once. Tell me, why are you so sure the Jiang family's divine son left this place recently?"
Ye Fan bowed slightly and pointed toward the roaring waterfall.
"Seniors, behind this waterfall lies a treasure ground. But everything inside — every spiritual herb, every treasure — has already been taken! If you doubt me, see for yourselves."
One of the men entered the waterfall and returned moments later, his face grim. He nodded to the leader.
"It's true. Empty."
"Get lost," the leader ordered flatly. His tone carried no warmth — only disdain. Normally, he would have killed such a weakling without hesitation, but drawing attention here was unwise.
Ye Fan clenched his fists. He lowered his head, but hatred burned in his eyes. He memorized their faces — each of them.
One day, he swore silently, I will repay this humiliation. Tenfold.
The Dao-entry leader turned to his companions.
"You two — split up and search the area. I'll head in the other direction. The intel says the Jiang family's divine son is only at the Heling Realm — a mortal cultivator. He can't have gone far. If you find him, send the signal immediately!"
The two nodded and began to move — but before they could, the void trembled.
A cold, oppressive power spread across the forest. Space itself rippled as a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
Jiang Wang stood there — tall, calm, wrapped in the faint glow of chaos and darkness. His gaze swept over the three men like a blade through silk.
"Looking for me?"
The three instantly tensed. The leader sneered.
"Well, well. The Jiang family's divine son dares to show himself. You've saved us the trouble of searching!"
"You three think yourselves strong because you've stepped into the Dao Realm?" Jiang Wang's voice was quiet but filled with contempt. "You're nothing but insects. Tell me who sent you — and I might grant you a painless death."
"Hahaha!" one of them barked out a laugh.
"You're arrogant, brat. Hand over the treasures from the secret land. After we kill you, we'll make sure it's quick."
The one who had just scouted the waterfall scowled darkly. He was certain all the rare materials from the treasure ground were now in Jiang Wang's possession.
But Jiang Wang merely raised his hand.
Demonic qi surged like a tide, black and purple waves rolling through the air. Shadows rose behind him — thousands of demonic phantoms, each one treading on chaos, their gazes shining with the light of sun and moon.
The air distorted. The mountains trembled. The sheer force shattered the surrounding space like glass.
"Xuanling Realm!" one of them gasped. "Impossible — they said he was still at the Heling Realm!"
Jiang Wang's cultivation had already crossed into the spiritual stage — his spiritual energy now fused with chaos. The Chaos God-Demon Body pulsed with unstoppable might, his very breath resonating with the laws of heaven and earth.
The leader clenched his teeth.
"Even a lion uses full strength against a rabbit. Brothers — kill him!"
With a furious roar, all three charged together. The air split beneath their combined aura, forming a storm of energy that could level mountains.
But Jiang Wang's expression never changed.
He raised his fist, demonic energy swirling around it in endless layers. The heavens themselves seemed to darken.
He struck.
A colossal shadow-fist descended, tearing through the air and slamming into the three men like the judgment of gods.
The explosion echoed across the valley — a single earth-shaking boom. When the smoke cleared, two bodies lay broken and still. The last one — the strongest among them — trembled violently, blood leaking from his mouth. His eyes were blank with terror.
Jiang Wang lowered his hand, his expression as cold as ice. His body thrummed with power. The Xuanling Realm had fully merged spirit and flesh; even a single punch now carried divine might.
"Now," he said calmly, stepping toward the survivor, "tell me — who sent you?"
The man's lips moved, but no words came. His eyes were empty, his mind fractured. Jiang Wang examined him briefly and frowned.
"His spirit's shattered. The evil qi corroded his soul. He's useless."
He sighed softly and raised his palm. A single strike silenced the man forever.
"Forget it," Jiang Wang murmured, brushing dust from his sleeve. "I'm the Jiang family's heir. Whoever I say sent them — that's who did."
He turned to leave, but something stopped him. The air grew cold. The remaining demonic mist on the ground — the very essence of chaos and corruption — began to freeze.
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"My demonic qi… frozen?"
The demonic energy he wielded was forged from the primal origin of heaven and earth, the purest form of chaos itself. Nothing short of a supreme Dao could suppress it. For someone to freeze that power… the talent must be terrifying — perhaps even greater than his own.
"Since you're here," he said quietly, his tone deep and resonant, "why bother hiding? Come out."
The wind stilled.
Then, a ripple appeared high above, and a figure slowly descended from the heavens.
A woman.
She was tall, slender, and veiled — her bearing like the chill moon reflected on still water. Her every step carried the cadence of the Dao; her every movement stirred the world's origin power. Three thousand strands of black hair cascaded behind her, fluttering like silk in divine wind.
Each step she took made the air hum with the resonance of creation.
When she finally stood before him, Jiang Wang's eyes flickered. Though her face was hidden, he knew that aura — that unshakable grace.
"Luo Qingqiu," he said softly.
"You're finally here."