194: Awakening from Silence
Night deepened, and the lights of the Great Wall flickered in the cold wind, like pairs of eyes watching the darkness, silent and stubborn.
Han Fei sat alone in a corner of the Great Wall, his gaze fixed on the distant night, profound as a bottomless abyss.
The surrounding Cultivators and warriors chatted in small groups, sharing their experiences from battle; some leaned against the wall, exhausted, to rest their eyes, while others sat cross-legged, recovering their magical power and physical strength.
Yet, Han Fei's presence seemed isolated from them; he remained silent and still, standing alone on the edge of darkness.
He felt his spiritual power slowly circulating within his body, every subtle pulsation clear and distinct, carrying a powerful yet restrained force.
This was the refinement he had just gained from a bloody battle.
The lonely battle in the dark night made him even more composed; his spiritual power seemed to have been reborn through this tempering, emitting a faint yet clear light.
Han Fei knew in his heart that although this battle had greatly increased his strength, it was merely a new beginning.
The enemies before him were just the tip of the iceberg; he could sense a deeper malice hidden in the depths of darkness, a heavy and oppressive force that seemed to want to devour all hope of living beings.
"Still not strong enough..." he muttered softly, a hint of coldness in his eyes.
Deep within him, a sense of unease always lingered—it was his vigilance against unknown enemies, and a profound sense of crisis for the future.
He knew he had to become stronger, strong enough to face all unknowns, strong enough to protect this land alone.
Just then, an elderly Cultivator slowly walked over, his steps steady, carrying a heavy sense of authority.
Han Fei did not look up, still quietly gazing into the distance.
The elderly Cultivator stopped beside him, bowing his head slightly, observing this cold and taciturn young man.
"Han Fei, right?" The old man's voice was deep and hoarse, bearing the marks of time.
Han Fei still did not look up, merely giving a faint "Hmm" as a response.
The old man smiled slightly and continued, "You've been performing very well recently; your several battles have been outstanding."
Han Fei was noncommittal, his heart undisturbed.
He did not need anyone's praise; that was merely the natural outcome of his solitary path.
Seeing his lack of response, the old man was not annoyed, but simply said meaningfully, "Young man, the path of walking alone is very lonely and very dangerous. You may not need me to remind you, but I hope you understand that sometimes, some forces cannot be resisted by a single person."
Han Fei's eyes flickered slightly, but he remained silent.
He knew the old man's good intentions, but he had already chosen this path.
He was a lone wolf, with no retreat and no reliance.
He had to rely on himself, facing everything alone.
Seeing Han Fei unmoved, the old man said no more, shook his head, and slowly departed.
Han Fei quietly watched the old man's retreating figure, his heart calm.
He knew the old man was right; the enemies in the darkness were not something he could easily contend with alone, perhaps even far beyond his imagination.
But he did not care.
Even so, he would continue on.
Even if he faced countless enemies alone, he would unhesitatingly step into the darkness, using his own power to tear open this desperate night sky.
Just then, a slight tremor came from below the Great Wall, as if something was stirring.
Han Fei instantly became alert, stood up, and stared sharply in the direction of the tremor.
He felt a faint aura rising from underground, an aura with a decaying smell, as if dead things were reawakening, bringing an ominous premonition.
The surrounding Cultivators also noticed this abnormal fluctuation, and all stood up, faces alert.
Below the Great Wall, a low rumble sounded, as if the earth was groaning.
Han Fei's gaze darkened, a cold light flashing in his eyes.
He knew the enemy had arrived.
The next moment, a withered, skeletal hand broke through the earth from underground, followed by a decaying corpse slowly climbing onto the Great Wall, bringing with it a strange aura.
These were not ordinary undead, but vengeful spirits corroded by the power of darkness; their eyes glowed with a faint blue light, revealing endless malevolence.
Han Fei coldly watched the appearance of these vengeful spirits, his Battle Intent boiling in his heart.
His spiritual power surged within his body, filled with an unparalleled sense of strength; he knew he was no longer the same as before.
Without another word, Han Fei moved, like an afterimage, rushing towards the nearest vengeful spirit, his fist smashing down with fierce spiritual power.
The vengeful spirit's body was torn apart by the spiritual power, turning into a wisp of black smoke that dissipated into the air.
However, Han Fei did not stop.
His figure moved swiftly among the vengeful spirits, each strike carrying ruthless killing intent, precise and swift, shattering the reanimated vengeful spirits one by one.
These enemies were no longer a threat to him; his spiritual power was already far superior to what it once was, and even the vengeful spirits' curses could not erode him in the slightest.
The Cultivators not far away watched in shock, having been ready to act, but were stunned by Han Fei's fierce offensive.
"This... his strength..." someone murmured in a low voice, with undisguised surprise in their eyes.
Han Fei's movements were incredibly swift; every punch and every palm contained pure spiritual power fluctuations, as if he were an Asura born for this battle, cold and powerful.
Soon, the last vengeful spirit turned to ash under his spiritual power impact, completely disappearing into the night wind.
The battle ended, and silence fell over the surroundings.
Han Fei coldly scanned the area, confirming that no more vengeful spirits had revived, then slowly withdrew his spiritual power, took a deep breath, and stood calmly in place.
He ignored the gazes of the surrounding Cultivators, as if their existence had nothing to do with him.
He merely lowered his head indifferently, checking his condition, confirming that his spiritual power had not been overly consumed, and the battle had not caused any substantial drain on him.
This made him even more resolute, that he was not far from the path of a true powerhouse.
"One day, I will be so strong that no one can oppose me," he said to himself in his heart, a firm light flickering in his eyes.
Just then, he noticed the Cultivators in the distance walking towards him, their faces showing expressions of admiration and confusion, seemingly wanting to ask questions.
Han Fei's gaze slightly chilled; without waiting for them to approach, he turned and disappeared into the darkness without looking back.
He did not need others' praise, nor did he want to be disturbed.
His path was a lonely one, a Dao that he walked alone in the dark night.
He needed no teammates, no companions; he only needed to constantly grow stronger, to constantly temper himself, until he became a true powerhouse.
The night was like water, boundless darkness.
Han Fei's figure gradually receded into the night, lonely yet resolute.
He did not know what kind of enemies he would encounter ahead, nor did he care where the end of this path would lead.
He only knew that no matter what the future held, he would, by his own strength, clear the way through thorns and brambles in the darkness, using his power to tear apart all obstacles.
He was the lone wanderer in the night.
He was the unknown warrior.
And he would continue forward, until the dawn arrived.