Yuan Ming's eyes snapped to the front of the courtyard.
Three figures had appeared on the raised platform there. He hadn't seen them arrive—one mont the platform was empty; the next, they stood there as if they'd always been present.
The three elders are presiding over the selection.
The one in the center was a tall man with gaunt features and hollow eyes that seed to peer into one's soul.
His robes were black with crimson embroidery depicting scenes of slaughter. Dark qi emanated from him in visible waves.
To his left stood a woman with silver hair and a face that might have been beautiful if not for the cruel twist of her lips.
Her fingers were elongated and claw-like, stained with what looked like dried blood.
To the right was a hunched old man who looked ancient beyond asure, his skin like withered leather stretched over bone.
Despite his frail appearance, Yuan Ming's instincts scread danger.
All three were at least at the Golden Core realm. Possibly higher.
Even with his cultivation, Yuan Ming felt like if he fought them, he would be killed eventually.
"I am still so weak." Yuan Ming clenched his teeth and lowered his head. After staying in the Benevolent Guardian Sect, Yuan Ming realized the lack of his talent. "Even though we have the sa cultivation level, I am sure if others were here, they would at least be able to hold their ground against them."
Yuan Ming knew that the only reason he was even barely able to catch up to them was because of the treasured divine artifact he had on him.
The broken Sword.
It was because of this sword that he was able to devour any impure qi of the beasts or humans he killed after it was transford into the purest form of qi.
But just raising his cultivation level was no longer enough for him.
Yuan Ming knew if he wanted to grow stronger, he had to complete his cultivation technique and obtain the legacies of the experts all around the world.
This was also the reason he had co to the demon cult. One of the legacies he needed to grow was here, and to obtain it, he had to infiltrate the cult.
The central elder spoke, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "Welco to the Heavenly Demon Cult."
His words were calm, almost pleasant. But there was sothing underneath them—a coldness that made Yuan Ming's skin crawl.
"We are pleased to see so many aspirants seeking to join our ranks." The elder's hollow eyes swept across the crowd. "But you are not part of the Heavenly Demon Cult just yet."
"You have to follow everything we say for now if you want to co out on top alive."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"Those who are still in the qi condensation and qi gathering realm step forward. We have to prepare specially for you."
Yuan Ming did not know why, but the way the man spoke felt like it had a hint of chill in it. And his worries were proved correct the next mont.
Silence.
No one moved.
The elder smiled—a terrible expression devoid of warmth. "I will not repeat myself."
Now under the pressure of the elder, the participants started to move stiffly as if they were being controlled by invisible threads.
The toothy grin on the elder's face deepened watching their movents. Despite his action, the other two elders only watched the scene unfold in silence as if whatever happened had nothing to do with them.
The female elder finally opened her mouth and spoke once everyone was separated in two groups. "The na Heavenly Demon Cult holds great aning, and we must ensure that only those worthy bear the na of our cult."
Nearly half the crowd stepped forward.
Hundreds of people.
So were in their early thirties, still young by mortal standards. Others were middle-aged, having spent years attempting to cultivate with limited success.
A few were elderly, making one last desperate attempt to change their fate.
They stood there, clustered at the front of the courtyard, facing the three elders.
The female elder's cruel smile widened. "Thank you for your honesty." Even though none of them moved out of their own volition.
Then she raised her hand.
What happened next occurred so fast that many participants didn't even have ti to scream.
The air itself seed to twist. Dark red qi erupted from the three elders, forming a massive formation that covered half of those who had stepped forward.
One second they were standing there, and the next… they exploded!
Boom!
Not even a shred of their bones remained; the whole compound had been enveloped in a blood mist so thick that even Yuan Ming could not see anything ahead of him.
They simply burst apart like overripe fruit, their bodies dissolving into crimson mist in an instant.
Hundreds of lives, extinguished within a second.
Yuan Ming, for the first ti, felt like he was standing in the deepest parts of hell, The Demonic Cult.
The mist began to move, flowing through the air like living streams, converging toward the three elders.
They breathed it in.
Yuan Ming watched in frozen horror as the elders consud the blood mist, their eyes closing in what looked disturbingly like pleasure.
The gaunt elder's hollow cheeks filled out slightly. The female elder's skin took on a healthier glow.
The ancient man straightened a fraction, looking marginally less withered.
They were feeding.
Using the blood and life force of the failed candidates to nourish themselves.
The entire process took perhaps thirty seconds.
When it was done, the front section of the courtyard was empty—no bodies, no blood, no evidence that hundreds of people had just died except for the scattered possessions that had survived the dissolution.
Shoes. Rings. Weapons. Spatial pouches. All lay where their owners had stood monts before.
Silence fell over the courtyard. Only the elders seed ecstatic by what had just happened.
"Now that the trash has been cleaned, shall we start the test?" The female elder chuckled seeing the tense atmosphere and teased the rest with a wink.
User Comments
0 comments from readers