The Aftermath of the Spirit Abyss: A New Path and Provocations
Hu Feng returned to the Rosy Clouds Sect carrying the Spirit Abyss Mirror. Along the way, fond memories of time spent with his parents flashed endlessly in his mind, and their parting words seemed to still echo in his ears.
Yet the moment he recalled that his parents were gone, a heavy blow struck his chest. His profound grief instantly morphed into a towering rage, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the Spirit Abyss Mirror, and he swore a silent oath: "Blood Demon Palace remnants, and all those evils lurking in the shadows—not a single one of you will escape!"
At the gates of the Rosy Clouds Sect, the Sect Master and the elders had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Hu Feng return, the Sect Master strode forward, his anxious gaze sweeping rapidly over Hu Feng's battered, bloodstained frame. Frowning with deep distress and concern, the Sect Master asked, "Feng'er, you have suffered greatly on this journey!"
Hu Feng dropped to one knee and presented the Spirit Abyss Mirror. With reddened eyes and a voice that was hoarse yet resolute, he replied, "Sect Master, I have fulfilled my mission. I have seized the Spirit Abyss Mirror, rooted out the mastermind behind the Blood Demon Palace—the Black-Robed Demon Venerable—and executed him."
The Sect Master took the Spirit Abyss Mirror and examined it closely, his eyes filled with shock and relief. "Good child! What you have done today is a supreme service to both our sect and all living souls! Rise quickly, and go heal your wounds and rest."
As Hu Feng attempted to stand, he swayed, a surge of stagnant blood rising to his throat. He forced it down, his face deathly pale.
Seeing this, his fellow disciples hurried forward to support him and escorted him back to his quarters.
Once settled, Hu Feng closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, channeling his spiritual energy to mend his injuries. Yet his mind remained a chaotic whirl; the gruesome deaths of his parents, the ruins of Daoxiang Village, and his fierce battle with the Black-Robed Demon Venerable constantly intertwined.
As soon as his injuries had slightly stabilized, Hu Feng headed straight for the grand assembly hall.
The atmosphere inside the hall was solemn. The Sect Master and elders sat in a circle, casting concerned looks his way as he entered.
Taking the lead with a stern expression, the Sect Master asked, "Feng'er, now that the Spirit Abyss Mirror is in our hands, tell us what you plan to do next."
Hu Feng cupped his fists in a salute and said in a deep voice, "Sect Master, my investigation with the Spirit Abyss Mirror revealed that although the Blood Demon Palace has lost its palace master and the Demon Venerable, its remnants have scattered, lurking in various hidden corners and secretly conspiring with other evil factions in a vain attempt to make a comeback. This disciple begs permission to lead our fellow disciples to wipe them out completely. We must never allow them to rise from the ashes!"
An elder stroked his beard in contemplation and said, "Feng'er, your filial piety is commendable, and I understand your eagerness for revenge. But the road ahead is perilous, and you have just been through successive fierce battles. Can your body hold out?"
With a piercing, resolute gaze, Hu Feng declared, "Elder, rest assured. With the aid of the Nine Transformations Soul-Returning Pill and my new comprehension of the Ethereal Sword Formula, even if my wounds are not fully healed, I will personally eradicate the Blood Demon remnants and restore peace to the world!"
The Sect Master nodded slightly and, after weighing the matter for a moment, said, "Very well. Your request is granted. Select some elite disciples to accompany you, but do not act recklessly when faced with trouble."
Three days later, Hu Feng led a group of fellow disciples on their expedition, every one of them looking spirited and high-spirited. When they reached a stretch of mountain forest, the dense foliage blotted out the sky, and an eerie silence hung in the air.
Hu Feng raised a hand to signal a halt, gripped the Red Sun Sword vigilantly, and lowered his voice. "The energy here is wrong. Keep your guard up."
Just as he spoke, the surrounding bushes rustled, and a group of masked men in black darted out like ghosts, exuding a reeking aura of blood—they were the remnants of the Blood Demon Palace.
Their leader let out a harsh, weird laugh, tore off his mask to reveal a scarred and ferocious face, and snarled viciously, "Hu Feng, pay with your life! You killed our palace master and ruined our grand enterprise; today is your day of death!"
Hu Feng glared with wide eyes, forcing the words through his clenched teeth: "Just by relying on scum like you? In your dreams!"
With that, he took the lead and charged forward with his sword. Wreathed in roaring flames, his "Star-Splintering Illusory Formula" burst forth, his sword flashes striking like lightning straight toward the scarred man's throat.
The scarred man sidestepped and summoned a demonic banner. The banner snapped violently in the wind, rolling out thick black clouds that morphed into a dozen clawing, hissing demonic serpents.
Hu Feng moved with fluid agility. Wielding the Ethereal Sword Formula with effortless grace, his blade followed his body's turns, precisely slicing off the heads of the demonic serpents.
Seeing this, his fellow disciples unleashed their sword formations in unison, brilliant light flashing as they clashed with the Blood Demon remnants.
For a time, spiritual energy and demonic power collided, the roaring impacts echoing through the mountain forest, sending leaves fluttering and birds scattering in terror.
In the thick of the fierce battle, Hu Feng caught sight of a junior brother out of the corner of his eye being struck by a demonic arts attack and collapsing in a torrent of blood. Burning with anxiety, Hu Feng roared, "Protect our junior brother!"
He broke away and dashed over, casting the "Nine Yang True Formula" multiple times along the way to force back the surrounding enemies with searing heat. Raising his junior brother to his feet, Hu Feng fed him a medicinal pill, his face full of self-reproach. "It's all my fault for not protecting you."
The junior brother offered a weak smile and replied, "Senior Brother, it's not your fault. These demon pups are simply too cunning."
Gathering their spirit once more, the group pressed a fierce counter-attack.
Locking onto the scarred man, Hu Feng poured his entire reservoir of spiritual energy into the endeavor as the Spirit Abyss Mirror hovered above his head, blazing with brilliant light to shatter the demonic illusions.
He seized the momentum and lunged forward, driving the Red Sun Sword straight into the scarred man's chest. The scarred man's eyes bulged with unresignation before he crashed heavily to the ground.
Seeing their leader slain, the remaining remnants lost all will to fight and scattered in all directions.
Unwilling to let them go, Hu Feng raised his sword to give chase, but his fellow disciples stopped him. "Senior Brother, do not pursue a desperate foe. Beware of traps."
He lowered his sword with bitter resentment, gritting his teeth. "I'll let you off for now, but next time I will wipe every last one of you out!"
After a brief rest to recover their strength, the group pressed onward. Several days later, they arrived at a small town intending to purchase supplies.
The town was bustling, with the cries of roadside vendors rising and falling in endless succession.
Hu Feng and his companions found an inn to settle in. The moment they stepped through the doors, an inn waiter greeted them warmly, "Honored guests, are you staying for meals or lodging?"
Hu Feng pulled out some silver coins and said, "A few upper rooms, and prepare some good wine and food." As he spoke, the conversation of a group of martial artists at a neighboring table drifted into his ears.
"Have you heard? Lately, those Blood Demon Palace remnants have been running amok, bringing disaster to numerous villages and leaving the common folk in absolute misery!"
"Indeed. Who knows when a great hero will arrive to wipe out these fiends once and for all."
Hearing this, Hu Feng furrowed his brow, exchanged a glance with his fellow disciples, and secretly resolved to accelerate their campaign.
After finishing their meal, the group returned to their rooms to rest. Hu Feng, however, felt no sleepiness; he sat alone by the window, polishing the Red Sun Sword and murmuring to himself, "Father, Mother, your son will purge this evil as quickly as possible so that no more tragedies can repeat themselves."
Early the next morning, just as they were preparing to set off, a disheveled beggar appeared outside the inn and blocked Hu Feng's path. The beggar's eyes darted evasively, yet they betrayed a trace of urgency. "Great Hero, please save our village! Last night, fiends from the Blood Demon Palace raided us and carried off many of our villagers, saying they would use them as sacrifices to awaken some evil entity."
Hu Feng's expression changed drastically as he steadied the beggar. "Lead the way, we are going right now!"
Following the beggar, the group dashed all the way to the village. What met their eyes was nothing but broken walls and charred ruins, wisps of black smoke curling upward alongside wretched cries of grief.
An icy, murderous intent emanated from Hu Feng as he gritted his teeth and growled, "Utterly lawless! Not a single one of them will get away!"
Tracking the trail all the way to the cave behind the village, they were immediately met with a thick stench of blood and demonic energy the moment they drew near. Hu Feng summoned the Spirit Abyss Mirror, its radiance piercing the darkness as he led the group charging inside.
Inside the cave, demonic figures flickered. Blood Demon remnants swarmed around a bizarre ritual array, within which villagers groaned in pain as threads of demonic power wrapped tightly around them.
Hu Feng roared, "Stop right there!"
He lunged into the array like a fierce tiger, and the remnants swarmed forward to block him.
Without a shred of fear, Hu Feng struck out with his sword like a dragon, the light of the Spirit Abyss Mirror flashing to sever the threads of demonic power. His fellow disciples followed closely behind, their fierce sword formations cutting down enemies to rescue the villagers.
A Blood Demon cultist attempted a sneak attack on Hu Feng's back. A sharp-eyed junior sister spotted it and cried out, "Senior Brother, look out!" She threw herself forward, using her body as a shield to block the blow for Hu Feng. The sharp blade pierced clean through her heart, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood before slowly sinking to the ground.
Hu Feng caught her as she fell, his eyes splitting with anguish as he roared, "Why were you so foolish!"
With her breath failing, the junior sister managed to squeeze out a faint smile. "Senior Brother... don't worry about me... kill all the demon pups..."
With those words, she closed her eyes and passed away.
Overwhelmed by crushing grief, Hu Feng gently laid his junior sister down. When he rose to his feet, he looked like a possessed demon god; monstrous waves of spiritual energy surged around him, and the Red Sun Sword hummed violently.
He darted through the enemy ranks like a ghost, every strike lethal as Blood Demon cultists fell in swathes.
Seized with terror, the remaining cultists fled in all directions, only to be intercepted and cut down one by one by Hu Feng's fellow disciples.
After handling the aftermath of the tragedy, Hu Feng stood rooted to the spot for a long time, filled with agonizing self-reproach.
The Sect Master's voice echoed directly in his mind: "Feng'er, do not let grief crush you. The dead are gone, and only by eradicating the Blood Demon remnants can you truly comfort their spirits."
Hu Feng took a deep breath, suppressing his sorrow and reigniting his fighting spirit. "Rest assured, Sect Master, this disciple understands!"
After enduring a few more fierce battles, the Blood Demon Palace remnants suffered heavy casualties, their influence severely diminished.
On this day, Hu Feng led his team across a desolate wilderness where flying sand and stones obscured their vision.
Suddenly, a group of mysterious black-robed figures burst out from the sandstorm ahead. Their cultivation methods and techniques differed entirely from those of the Blood Demon Palace, radiating a bone-chilling, icy malevolence.
The leader of the black-robed figures spoke in a harsh, low voice: "Hu Feng, hand over the Spirit Abyss Mirror and we will spare your life! This mirror concerns our grand enterprise; do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
Hu Feng sneered, "In your dreams! A bunch of nameless rats, and you dare covet the Spirit Abyss Mirror? State your names first!"
The black-robed man smiled sinisterly. "I am a deacon of the Youying stage, sent on orders to retrieve the mirror. Obey obediently, and you will be spared physical torment."
Hu Feng pointed his sword at the black-robed man. "Not a chance! If you have the ability, come and take it!" With that, he took the initiative, sending the Red Sun Sword howling forward with the power of the stars.
The black-robed man formed hand seals, his dark robes whipping wildly as a black barrier rose before him, easily deflecting the strike.
The Youying stage subordinates closed in in a fan formation, their assault coming like a tide. Bizarre techniques emerged one after another, the dark demonic energy threatening to swallow them whole.
Fighting defensively, Hu Feng retreated while summoning the Spirit Abyss Mirror, its light spilling downward to fend off the crushing dark energy.
Yet the enemy's assault was too fierce; his fellow disciples gradually lost the upper hand, and several were injured and fell to the ground.
Burning with anxiety, Hu Feng's mind raced as he searched for a way to break the deadlock.
Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he transmitted a message via mind-voice to his companions: "Feign defeat and retreat! Lure them into the valley ahead and use the terrain to launch a counter-attack!"
Understanding his intent, the group feigned panicked flight. Believing victory was theirs, the black-robed men pursued them relentlessly.
Once inside the valley, Hu Feng roared, "Attack!"
The group scattered and concealed themselves behind massive boulders on both sides of the valley, unleashing their sword formations simultaneously. Streams of spiritual energy converged into a net, trapping the Youying stage members within.
Wielding the Spirit Abyss Mirror and the Red Sun Sword, Hu Feng plummeted from above. The mirror burst with intense light while his sword slashed in all directions. In an instant, shrieks echoed endlessly as the black-robed men fell into complete disarray.
Losing his temper at the sight, the Youying stage deacon poured his entire demonic power into his attack. His black robes transformed into pair of dark wings as he soared into the air, summoning his magical artifact—the Shadow Soul-Reaping Scythe. Its blade flashed with a cold light, descending upon Hu Feng with boundless dark power.
Unable to dodge in time, Hu Feng was grazed on the shoulder by the scythe blade. Blood sprayed outward, yet he seemed completely insensible to the pain. He lunged forward, gritting his teeth as he growled, "Today, I will shatter your magical artifact!"
Pushing the Ethereal Sword Formula to its absolute limit, his sword images became dreamlike, wrapping in layers around the demonic scythe. At the precise moment, the Spirit Abyss Mirror shot out a pillar of light that struck the deacon squarely in the chest.
The deacon shrieked in agony as the magical artifact was blasted from his grasp and his demonic power fell into chaos. Seizing the opening, Hu Feng drove his sword with all his might into the deacon's heart. The deacon's eyes bulged wide before his form dissolved, turning into a wisp of black smoke.
Seeing their deacon slain, the remaining enemies lost all fighting spirit and surrendered one after another.
Hu Feng withdrew his sword. His face was deathly pale, and blood was still gushing from his wound.
His fellow disciples crowded around to bandage him, urging, "Senior Brother, rest for now."
He shook his head. "It's nothing. Let's keep moving; there are still remnants left unpunished."
Unable to sway him, the group had no choice but to support him as they continued onward.
Several days later, the party arrived at a steep mountain fortress. The stronghold was heavily guarded, and the common folk kept their doors tightly shut. Upon inquiry, they learned that the place had been seized by a mysterious faction that frequently extorted heavy taxes and plundered the locals.
Convinced this was inextricably linked to the Blood Demon Palace remnants, Hu Feng decided to scout the fortress by night.
As night fell, the mountain fortress plunged into a dead silence. Hu Feng led his disciples to scale the wall and sneak inside, carefully avoiding the patrolling guards.
When they reached the City Lord's Mansion, the sound of conversation drifted out from a room just as they drew near: "That Hu Feng is terribly troublesome. He has ruined our plans one after another, and the Spirit Abyss Mirror is still in his hands. What are we to do?"
"Hmph, what is there to fear! Tomorrow we will set an ambush and lure him into a trap. There is no way he'll grow wings and escape!"
Hu Feng's gaze chilled. Whispering a few instructions to his companions, he quietly laid spiritual energy traps around the courtyard, left a mark, and retreated without a sound, pretending to be none the wiser.
Early the next morning, the group pretended to fall into the trap, swaggering toward the City Lord's Mansion.
The moment they stepped through the front gates, ambushers swarmed from all sides. The allied forces of the Blood Demon Palace and the mysterious faction launched a ferocious, clawing assault.
Hu Feng sneered, "We've been waiting for you!" He triggered the spiritual energy traps. Brilliant light erupted, sending the enemy tumbling in chaos.
Seizing the momentum, the group launched a fierce offensive. Fixing his gaze on the mastermind, Hu Feng closed in with lightning speed, pressing the Red Sun Sword against the leader's throat. "Speak! What other plots do you have?"
Terrified out of his wits, the mastermind turned pale and stammered, "Great Hero, spare my life! I... I'll talk. There's another batch of remnants hiding in a secret valley outside the city, preparing to hook up with outer-realm evil factions to make a comeback."
Hu Feng withdrew his sword, ordered his men to secure the prisoner, and led the troop toward the secret valley.
The secret valley was gloomy and terrifying, teeming with demonic shadows.
Blood Demon remnants and outer-realm fiends had gathered there, performing a dark ritual where churning demonic power threatened to tear the void apart.
Hu Feng's heart sank. He knew this battle would be unimaginably perilous, but without a shred of hesitation, he raised his arms and shouted, "Today is the day right and wrong are settled! For the sake of all living souls—attack!"
The group unleashed their strongest sword formations, the radiance of their spiritual energy illuminating the secret valley.
Wielding the Spirit Abyss Mirror and the Red Sun Sword, Hu Feng charged at the very front. The outer-realm fiends unleashed bizarre, heretical arts—demon eyes flashed and tentacles whipped about wildly, launching an eerie and unpredictable assault.
Using the Spirit Abyss Mirror to shatter the demonic illusions and his sword to cleave through the tentacles, Hu Feng fought alongside his close-knit fellow disciples, yet they still gradually fell into a disadvantage as comrades were continually wounded and fell to the ground.
Amidst the fierce battle, Hu Feng was struck by a heretical technique. It felt as though his internal organs had been displaced, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.
Yet looking at the fallen disciples and the rampant, destructive demonic power, he forced himself back to his feet, burning his vital essence. The spiritual energy surging around him reached an explosive peak, transforming into a towering pillar of light a hundred feet high as he roared, "With the spirits of my father and mother protecting us, we shall purge this evil today!"
The Red Sun Sword blazed with a brilliant, world-shaking momentum as it slashed toward the core of the evil array.
The light of the Spirit Abyss Mirror shone like a rainbow, purifying the demonic malevolence. Under this desperate, final blow, the evil array collapsed with a deafening crash, and the enemies shrieked as they were reduced to flying ash.
The remaining small faction scattered in frantic flight, only to be intercepted and annihilated one by one by the group.
After the battle, Hu Feng collapsed from sheer exhaustion, yet amidst his physical agony, a look of profound relief crossed his face.
His fellow disciples gathered around, cheering through their tears, "Senior Brother, we won!"
Hu Feng offered a weak smile. "It is... everyone's contribution... Moving forward, we must not slacken... The road to protecting the world... is still long..."
With those words, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted into unconsciousness.
When Hu Feng opened his eyes again, he was back within the Rosy Clouds Sect. The Sect Master and his martial brothers stood guard by his bedside with faces full of deep concern.
The Sect Master gently stroked Hu Feng's forehead. "Feng'er, you're awake! For this bitter battle, your contributions are paramount. Recover properly; the sect still has heavy responsibilities to entrust to you."
Hu Feng sat up and bowed. "Sect Master, this disciple will certainly give his all and live up to your expectations.
Although the Blood Demon Palace has suffered a heavy blow, evil factions still walk this world. Once my wounds heal, I shall set out on the expedition once more to protect this clear and bright world!"
The people in the room smiled at one another, their expressions brimming with relief and hope.
Outside the window, sunlight cascaded down, illuminating Hu Feng's resolute face. It seemed to foretell that even though the future path of protection would be fraught with thorns, it could never stop the staunch and fearless heart of an immortal hero. The war between righteousness and evil would never cease...