Chapter 74 The Demonic Sect Reappears

Five Foundation Establishment Realm black-clad men bore the brunt of the attack. Accompanied by terrified screams and roars, they were reduced to nothing but ash in the blink of an eye.

The Qi Refining Realm Cultivators on the periphery, though only struck by the residual shockwaves, were still instantly turned into countless charred corpses by the terrifying power.

After the heavenly lightning's rampage, the earth within a radius of several hundred meters had become scorched soil. Only countless mutilated, charred corpses remained to declare to the world what had transpired!

Looking at the land transformed into scorched earth before him, even Ye Fan himself was a bit stunned.

Before he could even recover from his shock, he felt all the spiritual energy in his body had been drained by the startling thunder seal.

If Murong Wan hadn't supported him in time, he would have likely already made intimate contact with the ground.

"The power of a top-grade magic treasure is indeed terrifying, but this consumption is just too exaggerated."

A single attack had nearly exhausted Ye Fan's spiritual energy. If his cultivation had been one level lower, he probably wouldn't have been able to use the startling thunder seal at all.

Ye Fan hurriedly stuffed several Qi-restoring Medicinal Pills into his mouth, and his pallid complexion improved somewhat.

But before he could even catch his breath, he felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

"Do you have anything you'd like to explain?"

Although Murong Wan's tone was very calm, Ye Fan still felt his scalp prickle.

"Ahem... now is not the time for this... wait..."

Before Ye Fan could finish his sentence, a strange movement came from the scorched earth in the distance.

An instant later, a black shadow burst from the ground, flying towards the horizon at an incredible speed!

"There's still one that slipped through the net?!"

Without time to think, Ye Fan instinctively rode his sword in pursuit.

Murong Wan also rode her sword to follow, but due to the significant consumption from successive battles, her speed was much slower.

"Damn it... he actually has a top-grade magic treasure! Just who is this kid!"

A dignified powerhouse at the Eighth Level of Foundation Establishment Realm, actually being chased by a junior with no escape to the heavens or earth—the black-clad man felt he had suffered a great humiliation, yet he could do nothing about it.

If he hadn't immediately used several of his hidden trump cards for protection, including even a low-grade magic treasure, he would have long been reduced to nothing like those others.

Even so, he ended up severely injured. If he didn't find a place for treatment soon, he wouldn't last much longer either.

Watching Ye Fan relentlessly pursuing behind him, the black-clad man was so angry he nearly vomited blood.

He had the heart to fight Ye Fan to the death, but his body simply couldn't support it, forcing him to grit his teeth and continue fleeing.

Seeing Ye Fan getting closer and closer, the black-clad man grew uncharacteristically flustered and couldn't help but reveal his identity.

"Kid, don't push your luck! Do you truly wish to fight my Blood Demon Sect to the death!"

The moment the words 'Blood Demon Sect' were uttered, Ye Fan's pupils sharply contracted. The truth seemed to have become clear.

"Blood Demon Sect... a Demonic Path Sect?!"

Although he had suspected this possibility, when it was confirmed, Ye Fan still found it somewhat hard to believe.

Demonic Path Sects had vanished without a trace for many years. Ye Fan had only heard of them from various scattered rumors.

Roughly a hundred years ago, the Righteous and Demonic Factions had erupted into a brutal war over control of the Southwest region.

Almost all Sects and Cultivation Families were dragged into it. Both sides suffered countless casualties, and even Golden Core Ancestors perished as a result.

After a bloody slaughter, the current Nine Great Sects emerged victorious, gaining control over the Southwest's resources, while the Demonic Path Sects completely vanished.

For so many years, there had been little news of Demonic Path Sects, and the occasional bits were about insignificant minor players.

But today, people from the Blood Demon Sect had brazenly infiltrated the Trial Grounds. There must be some ulterior motive behind this.

Thinking this, Ye Fan increased his flying speed, attempting to capture the other alive to extract information.

The two, one chasing, one fleeing, resembled a desperate race against time. Seeing Ye Fan closing in, the black-clad man couldn't help but lose his composure.

But before he could say anything more, an alluring figure suddenly blocked his path.

"Little Brother Ye Fan, you've been gone for most of the day. I thought you didn't want your big sister anymore."

You Tan, in her white lotus Incarnation, blocked the black-clad man's escape. Ye Fan was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, and quickly asked her to stop him.

"No problem."

You Tan giggled delicately. Invisible threads had already spread across the heavens and earth like a spider's web, waiting for the prey to fall into the trap.

Before the black-clad man understood what was happening, he was bound tightly into a bundle by the silver threads.

But when he clearly saw You Tan, he couldn't help but be greatly shocked. He wanted to say something, but it was too late.

"It's you..."

"Shh... be quiet."

You Tan made a silencing gesture. With a thought, the invisible silver threads instantly sliced the black-clad man into mincemeat.

"Wait! Keep him alive!"

By the time Ye Fan caught up, it was too late. Looking at the ground littered with minced meat, he couldn't help but frown.

"Keep him alive? Little Brother Ye Fan, it's your fault for saying it too late," You Tan couldn't help but laugh.

Ye Fan looked at You Tan, then at the thoroughly dead black-clad man. His eyes flickered, as if pondering something.

"Why aren't you staying in the cave? What are you doing running out here?" Ye Fan asked somewhat displeased.

You Tan put on a hurt expression and casually tossed the shadow recording stone to him.

"Why so fierce? And here your big sister was thinking of ways to help you. See if this is the right thing."

"The production method is inside too. If it's correct, you can mass-produce it," You Tan said coquettishly.

"It's done?"

Ye Fan hadn't expected You Tan's efficiency to be so high, completing the shadow recording stone in just half a day.

Unfortunately, now wasn't the time to examine it, or he would definitely study it carefully.

"Well? Did you wrongfully accuse your big sister?"

Before Ye Fan could say anything more, You Tan's expression changed slightly, revealing a look of schadenfreude.

"Little Brother Ye Fan, someone's come looking for you."

Sensing the icy aura approaching from behind, Ye Fan didn't need to ask to know Murong Wan had caught up.

"Who is she?"

Seeing You Tan's alluring and seductive attire, Murong Wan's tone had already turned icy to the extreme.

"You Tan of the Glazed Sect. You could say we became acquainted through a fight."

Ye Fan briefly explained the process of how they met but omitted the part about asking You Tan to make the shadow recording stone, to avoid further complications.

You Tan wanted to say something, but as the immortal binding rope tightened slightly, she could only pretend nothing was wrong and keep quiet, a touch of resentment appearing in her alluring, beautiful eyes.

"Someone from the Glazed Sect?"

Murong Wan's willow-leaf eyebrows twitched slightly. She still wanted to ask more but was stopped by Ye Fan's look, so she didn't press further.

Ye Fan relayed the information about the Blood Demon Sect. Murong Wan showed a rare expression of surprise, clearly also not expecting the situation to develop this way.

"For a Demonic Path Sect to be so brazen, they must have some unspeakable conspiracy. We should notify the Sect Head immediately."

Given the circumstances, the Heavenly Pride Assembly had lost its meaning. The two crushed their participant tokens, preparing to leave this place.

But the two, who should have been teleported out, had no reaction at all, making their expressions even grimmer.

Before Ye Fan could say anything more, a cold laugh suddenly echoed throughout the entire Trial Grounds.

"My apologies, everyone. The Heavenly Pride Assembly's trial ends here. From now on, you will all become my prey!"

With these words, the noisy Trial Grounds instantly fell silent.