Chapter 96: Horrors Of Darkness

Jiang Feng's breath slowed as he steadied himself, his mind cold and sharp. The fiery glow of his Skyforge Flame ignited around him, flickering like a living entity as it flowed into his body. His draconic scales materialized, shimmering with an otherworldly light as they encased his body's capabilities. The power coursing through him was overwhelming, his strength magnified to an astonishing degree after his essence lake had expanded to 9,000 meters. His body radiated an aura of pure dominance, his eyes gleaming with lethal intent.

Li Tao moved first, though he was gripped by fear, as a cultivator who had the qualifications to be here, he knew that if they did nothing, they would die. The Mist Ridge cultivator vanishing into the shadows of the nearby rocks with his Rain Drop Step, his figure flickering in and out of existence like a mirage. His blade emerged, aimed directly at Jiang Feng's throat. But Jiang Feng was faster.

He spun on his heel, his Celestial Dagger meeting Li Tao's strike with a clash of steel. The runes on the blade shimmered, and with a burst of infernal energy, Jiang broke through the mist, shattering Li Tao's technique. Before Li Tao could retreat, Jiang Feng surged forward, his dagger slicing cleanly through the man's chest, backed by the earth shattering strength of his dragon scales and bloodline. Li Tao gasped, his body collapsing lifelessly to the ground.

Dead!!

Monster!!

Jiang Feng twisted his body, planting his feet firmly into the ground as the Earth Meridian pulsed. Xu Biao charged forward, his hulking frame a wall of fury. The Mist Ridge cultivator slammed his fists into the ground, triggering his Earthshatter Palm. The ground trembled violently, jagged rocks erupting from the earth and hurtling toward Jiang Feng. He braced himself, his draconic scales absorbing the brunt of the attack, his body felt as if large rock hills were colliding into him from all corners.

"They're strong," Jiang Feng thought, his cold eyes burning with an inner conflict. 'Am I truly angered because of what they said? Or is it that I'm influenced by my emotions for the people because of the dreamscape?' His mind was a storm of thoughts, but his body remained steady, bracing for the next strike.

The force of the earlier blow had sent him skidding backward, but his feet never left the ground. He was like an immovable mountain rooted to the earth. Xu Biao roared and lunged, his massive fists targeting Jiang Feng's chest with terrifying precision. At the last moment, Jiang Feng sidestepped, the fist smashing into the ground with a thunderous impact, shattering the terrain. Rocks exploded into the air, some hurtling toward Jiang Feng like projectiles.

Dodging the incoming debris, Jiang shattered the unavoidable rocks with swift, forceful punches. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he pushed off with all his strength, closing the distance between him and Xu Biao. His Celestial Dagger sliced across the giant's ribs in a fiery arc, the blade gleaming with traces of the Skyforge Flame. Blood poured from the wound, but Xu Biao, though wounded, refused to falter.

"I'll kill you and that Ji clan bitch!" Xu Biao bellowed, his voice filled with unrelenting rage, his eyes bloodshot. His next swing carried monstrous strength, but Jiang Feng met him head-on. The clash of power was deafening. Jiang channeled the Skyforge Flame into his dagger, unleashing a wave of blue fire that engulfed Xu Biao. The flames clung to him like a tidal wave, searing flesh and turning the battlefield into an inferno.

But Xu Biao wasn't done. With quick thinking, he crushed a white pearl in his hand. In an instant, white mist flooded the area, snuffing out the flames. The mist carried a shockwave that blasted Jiang Feng backward, slamming him into a jagged rock face. He gritted his teeth, his draconic scales dimming under the strain, blood leaking from his mouth. "What's that?" he muttered, his voice filled with amazement.

Summoning his strength, Jiang extended his hand, creating three vortexes of blue fire around him. The flames spun with terrifying speed, radiating searing heat that warped the air. One vortex pulled at Xu Biao with a ferocious force, the second unleashed a storm of fire, and the third came crashing down upon his head like the judgment of heaven.

Xu Biao's screams echoed across the battlefield, his charred body crumpling lifeless to the ground. Ji Moran, hidden behind a boulder, watched in stunned silence. Her body trembled, unsure whether to hide or continue witnessing the overwhelming display of power.

Cheng Wu and Han Xiang exchanged a tense glance. Fear was etched in their eyes, though neither dared to admit it. Together, they advanced, their attacks coordinated and deadly. Cheng Wu unleashed his Blade Tempest Slash, sending spiraling waves of cutting wind at Jiang Feng, gale winds dug up the ground and render the sky impossible to cross, while Han Xiang's Thunderbolt Strike crackled with lethal energy, electricity washed the area around them like a field of thunder.

They had realized that fighting Jiang Feng one-on-one was meaningless and would only cause their deaths.

Jiang Feng's body blurred as he moved, weaving between Cheng Wu's wind blades. But even his agility couldn't completely avoid them. Shallow wounds etched across his arms and legs, his draconic scales chipping away under the relentless assault. A thunderous strike from Han Xiang caught his shoulder, sending a shock of pain through his body and numbing his arm momentarily.

"These guys have reached the 9th level of Essence Condensation stage, no wonder they're much tougher to deal with"

"Damn it," Jiang hissed, his breath labored. "My body is burning through spiritual energy too fast. I can't sustain Draconic Resilience for much longer."

Still, he pressed forward. His will was unyielding, his spirit like a spear that wouldn't break. Sparks flew as he deflected Cheng Wu's blade with his dagger, the force of the impact driving him back a few steps. "Drown in fear" Jiang Feng's voice hit rock bottom, like the coldest glacier in the world!

Jiang's eyes darkened, his gaze growing empty, cold, and vast like an endless abyss. In that moment, the battlefield changed. Darkness seemed to envelop Jiang Feng, an eerie void that sent shivers down the spine of anyone who dared to meet his gaze. The world became silent, oppressive, and filled with dread.

Cheng Wu hesitated, but it was already too late. Jiang Feng closed the distance like a phantom, his dagger driving into Cheng Wu's chest with terrifying precision. The Mist Ridge cultivator's eyes widened, a silent scream on his lips. He collapsed, his body crumpling lifelessly to the ground. His face bore the haunting traces of emotions—shock, fear, dread, hate, denial, and an unwillingness to accept his fate.

His body started to be devoured by dark energy, soon there was nothing left. The concept of darkness was so-in death do we part!

'Thunderclap Sword Stance'

Han Xiang, seeing his comrades fall one by one, grew desperate, Xu Biao's desperate struggle and unwillingness in death had set off alarm bells in his mind. He charged at Jiang Feng with wild ferocity, his blade crackling with lightning. Jiang Feng parried the strike, but the force sent him stumbling, blood dripping from the wounds on his arms and torso, face instantly paling. 'So this is what it's like to fight top experts' Feng's blood boiled.

Han Xiang seized his opportunity, grabbing Ji Moran and yanking her to her feet, his blade pressing against her neck.

"Move, and she dies!" he snarled, his voice trembling with both fear and fury, never would he have thought that they would run into a killing machine that stopped at nothing to kill them to kill them.

Jiang Feng paused, his breathing labored but steady. He relaxed the hand holding his dagger, his expression unreadable as he stared at Han Xiang. The air around him seemed to grow colder, darker, as if the light itself was retreating.

"You think you can scare me?" Han Xiang sneered, his grip tightening on Ji Moran. "I'll kill her, I swear it, then you'll have to explain this to your people when you get back. The Ji clan will lose one of their best!" He shouted as he tried to back away.

Jiang Feng didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes, his focus turning inward as he activated the Silent Reaper mantra. The world fell silent, an unnatural stillness descending over the battlefield that was now the grave of four men. Shadows crept across the ground, stretching toward Han Xiang like living entities.

Han Xiang's eyes darted nervously, his instincts screaming that something was wrong. "What are you doing? Stop that!"

Jiang Feng's figure vanished, dissolving into the encroaching darkness. Han Xiang's breath quickened as the shadows closed in around him, his vision obscured by a suffocating blackness. He could no longer see Ji Moran, no longer feel the ground beneath his feet. All that remained was the oppressive void and the faint, ghostly whispers of unseen horrors.

"Where are you?!" Han Xiang shouted, his voice cracking with panic. Shapes flickered in the darkness, grotesque and incomprehensible, their presence clawing at the edges of his sanity. His grip on Ji Moran loosened as his hands began to tremble.

A cold blade pierced his chest, soundless and precise. Han Xiang gasped, his body freezing as Jiang Feng emerged from the shadows, his Celestial Dagger glowing faintly. The light in Han Xiang's eyes dimmed, his vacant stare filled with a terror too profound to describe. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless, as the darkness around him slowly dissipated.

Jiang Feng stood over Han Xiang's body, his breathing heavy but his expression calm. Ji Moran dropped to her knees, clutching her throat and gasping for air. She looked up at Jiang Feng, her eyes wide with awe, gratitude and fear, unable to find the words to express what she felt.

Jiang wiped the blood from his dagger, the glow of the Skyforge Flame fading from his body. His draconic scales flickered and vanished, leaving him looking like an ordinary man once more, though his wounds told a different story. Without a word, he turned and began to walk away, his silhouette stark against the dim light of the setting sun.

"You're safe now" he said, his voice low but steady.

Ji Moran could only nod, her trembling hands clutching the ground as she watched Jiang Feng disappear into the horizon, the battlefield silent save for the faint rustling of the wind, without even thinking, she ran after him with everything she had.