Chapter 39: Emergence of the Demonic Shadow and the Budding of Affection
I. Senior Brother Lu’s Arrogance: The War Banner’s Might
"Heh, I was wondering who it was. So, it's Junior Brother Wen," Senior Brother Lu sneered upon seeing Wen Buhuo. A flash of panic crossed his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by disdain. "How can a waste with a 'pseudo-spiritual root' reach the Foundation Establishment stage? Pure luck, I presume. But so what if you’re at the mid-stage? Before a true genius, you are still nothing but a dog struggling for breath!"
With a cruel laugh, he flicked his hand and sacrificed a blood-red War Banner. It unfurled in the wind, its surface shimmering with flowing runes and potent spiritual fluctuations. "Today, I shall show you my true power! Go!"
The banner shook, and three pitch-black puppets armed with sharp blades lunged from the fabric, surrounding Wen Buhuo in a lethal formation. The banner itself transformed into a streak of bloody light, whistling through the air directly toward Wen Buhuo’s face.
Wen Buhuo’s gaze sharpened. Though Senior Brother Lu was a man of vile character, this magic treasure was indeed formidable—capable of both offense and defense while summoning puppets. This would be a thorny fight.
II. A Bloody Battle: The Demonic Sword Reveals Its Edge
Wen Buhuo dared not be careless. His Gold-Cicada Sub-Mother Blades unsheathed instantly, turning into golden streaks to intercept the banner. Moving with extreme agility, he executed the Mist-Cloud Steps to its limit, dodging the puppets' onslaught while searching for a weakness in the banner’s defense.
However, relying on his treasure, Senior Brother Lu’s defense was impenetrable. The puppets fought without fear of death, constantly disrupting Wen Buhuo’s rhythm. During the clash, the Gold-Cicada blades took a direct hit from the banner; a sharp hum vibrated through the air as a tiny crack appeared on the blade.
"Dammit!" Wen Buhuo’s heart sank.
Seeing the situation turn dire, he steeled his resolve. Reaching into his storage bag, he pulled out the broken Demonic Sword obtained from the Demonized Emperor.
The moment he grasped it, an icy, bloodthirsty demonic aura surged into his body. Roars of evil thoughts echoed in his mind, and his eyes flushed red as he struggled to suppress the exploding power within. "Die!"
Enduring the agonizing corruption, Wen Buhuo activated the sword. The demonic runes ignited, and a blood-red arc of sword qi—carrying a terrifying demonic pressure—rent the night sky like a bolt of crimson lightning, striking Senior Brother Lu.
"A... A Demonic Treasure?!" Lu gasped in horror. Before he could command his banner to defend, the sword qi shattered his protective artifacts. He screamed as the demonic energy eroded his body, melting him into a pool of black blood.
Wen Buhuo immediately withdrew the sword, barely managing to suppress the aura. He noticed a faint, dark demonic mark had appeared on his arm. "The power is immense, but the backlash is horrifying. I must not use this lightly again," he thought warily.
III. Silencing the Witness and the Accidental Kiss
After dealing with Senior Brother Lu, Wen Buhuo swiftly claimed the storage bag and the War Banner. To leave no trace, he cast a Fireball Technique, incinerating Lu’s remains into ash.
Just then, Chen Qiaoqian let out a soft moan as she slowly drifted awake. The effects of the miasma had not fully faded; her eyes were misty, her face flushed with heat. She leaned her soft body instinctively toward the nearest person—Wen Buhuo.
"Buhuo... is that you?" she whispered, her voice filled with vulnerability and longing.
Before he could react, she dizzily pulled him close. Her soft, sweet lips pressed directly against his.
Wen Buhuo froze, his mind going blank. Completely caught off guard, he was stunned by the sudden, fragrant kiss. After a few moments, he regained his senses and gently pushed her back. "Senior Sister, you..." He felt an uncharacteristic blush creep onto his face.
He quickly retrieved a Heart-Clearing Pill and carefully fed it to her. As the medicine took effect, the daze in her eyes vanished, and she drifted back into a peaceful sleep. Wen Buhuo sat at a distance, silently guarding her until dawn. Once he was sure she was safe, he vanished into the morning mist without leaving a trace.
IV. Demonic Infiltration: The Art of Puppetry
Back at his cave dwelling, Wen Buhuo eagerly inspected Lu’s storage bag. Aside from spirit stones and common artifacts, he found a hidden letter. Its contents turned his face grim: it was a secret code from one of the Six Demonic Sects, proving that Senior Brother Lu was a mole planted within their own sect!
"The demonic forces have penetrated this deeply..." Wen Buhuo felt a chill. The situation in the State of Yue was far more perilous than he had imagined.
Alongside the letter was a manual titled Introductory Puppetry. Flipping through, he found records on how to refine and control simple Qi-Refinement level puppets. "This could be a useful tool to bolster my strength in combat."
Tucking the manual away, he decided that alongside his primary cultivation, he would devote time to mastering puppetry. In this turbulent world of cultivation, one more means of survival meant one more glimmer of hope.
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