Wandering Swordsman |

When Hua Tianyou and his six followers finally passed through the suffocating passage and stepped into the vast space inside the cave, an indescribable sense of awe washed over them. It was far larger than anyone had imagined, as if they had entered a separate world. All around was silent, save for the soft breathing of the group echoing in the air.

This enormous stone chamber consists of seven walls made of bluestone, each stone covered with densely packed ancient symbols that emit a faint glow, seemingly containing some mysterious power. These symbols are arranged and combined in a peculiar way, forming intricate patterns. Although these seven stones may seem meaningless at first glance, closer inspection reveals a profound and ancient wisdom flowing within them.

In the center of the space stood a huge jade lampstand. The lampstand was uniquely shaped, resembling a phoenix about to take flight. Its material was crystal clear, emitting a soft and warm light that contrasted sharply with the cold bluestone around it.

Most strikingly, seven enormous luminous pearls are embedded in the ceiling of the vast space. These pearls, as dazzling as stars, illuminate the entire stone chamber as if it were daytime. Their light is not glaring, but gentle and serene, adding a touch of tranquility and peace to this mysterious place. However, within this tranquility, an invisible pressure subtly emerges, as if reminding everyone that endless dangers lurk beneath the calm.

Hua Tianyou stood at the entrance, glancing at the six people who had successfully followed him into the space, a hint of appreciation in his eyes. He sighed softly, "Not bad." His voice, though gentle, echoed in the silent stone chamber.

Hua Tianyou gazed at the enormous jade oil lamp in the center, took a deep breath, and slowly reached his hands towards it. With his movement, an invisible wave emanated from him, and the surrounding air seemed to grow heavier. A small wisp of gray demonic energy condensed in his palms, like a nimble little snake, and slowly poured into the jade lamp base.

The instant the demonic energy made contact with the jade lampstand, a black flame suddenly shot out from the wick, rapidly spreading and forming a stable flame. This black flame was no ordinary fire; it exuded a chilling aura, as if it were the power of a demon from the depths of the netherworld.

Tu Yuliang and the other five felt the oppressive force of the black flames almost simultaneously. It was a fear that struck deep into their souls, as if even breathing had been taken away from them. The six of them swayed involuntarily, staggered, and almost lost their footing. Their eyes were filled with horror, cold sweat dripped from their foreheads like raindrops, and their bodies trembled slightly as they tried to resist the powerful force.

"Such powerful strength..." a disciple murmured, a hint of barely concealed panic in his voice. The others also wore expressions of pain, clearly struggling against this power.

However, among the crowd, only Tu Yuliang remained the most composed. He clenched his teeth, closed his eyes, and exuded an aura of unwavering determination. A surge of internal energy flowed within him, like a turbulent sea, attempting to resist the oppressive force.

Despite this, his face remained unusually pale, his fingers clenched into fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into the flesh of his palms. But even so, he remained unshaken, like an unyielding mountain, standing firm against the raging storm.

In contrast, Hua Tianyou, standing before the lampstand, seemed detached, showing no reaction to the oppressive aura of the black flames before him. His gaze was firm and steady, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, as if all of this was within his expectations. Then, without hesitation, he extended his right hand, gathering all the demonic energy within him, and directly touched the black flames, as if awakening something.

When Hua Tianyou's fingers touched the ball of black flame, the air in the cave seemed to freeze, and the entire space trembled. The black flame, as if alive, rapidly snaked upwards along his arm, seemingly attracted by some invisible force, and entered his body without any hindrance.

Everything around seemed to freeze at that moment, except for the black flames that flickered faintly beneath the skin exposed by Hua Tianyou's sleeves, like the shadowy shadows of snakes.

Hua Tianyou's face remained cold and calm, but an indescribable light flickered in his deep eyes. At this moment, he was like a statue standing in the darkness, mysterious and majestic. His expression remained unchanged; he simply stood there quietly, letting that power flow freely within his body.

Inside the cave, the atmosphere was incredibly tense. Tu Yuliang and the other five disciples held their breath, their eyes fixed on Hua Tianyou, afraid to miss a single detail. Their faces were filled with tension and anticipation, their eyes reflecting both curiosity about the unknown power and fear of the impending changes. Tu Yuliang felt his heart pounding in the silent space; he clenched his fists, trying to calm his inner unease.

A moment later, Hua Tianyou slowly opened his eyes. Terrifyingly, his eyes had turned pitch black, the whites and pupils completely black, like two bottomless black holes. Anyone who met his gaze would involuntarily feel a chill run down their spine, their scalp tingle, and an overwhelming sense of dread welling up within them.

The six also sensed something amiss, but they found themselves seemingly suppressed by an invisible force, unable to move. The oppressive feeling almost suffocated them, leaving them helplessly watching what was happening before them. Hua Tianyou slightly raised his hands, his fingers gently clenching and unclenching, as if trying to control a completely new body. Each movement seemed so eerie, as if a strange soul was gradually taking over his body.

"What...what's going on?" a disciple couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his voice filled with fear and confusion. However, no one could answer him; everyone's mind was filled with the same question.

A faint smile flickered in Hua Tianyou's eyes, a smile that appeared particularly eerie against the dark backdrop. He continued to make simple movements, as if testing the flexibility of each part of his new body. Each movement was accompanied by a chilling aura, as if countless unseen eyes were watching everything from the shadows.

At that moment, Tu Yuliang suddenly felt an unprecedented chill rise from the depths of his heart. He suddenly realized that Hua Tianyou might not just be absorbing power, but that something far more terrifying was happening. He wanted to warn the others, but found that his throat felt as if it were blocked by something, and he couldn't make a sound.