The Heir of the Celestial Diagram

Chapter 37: Shadows in Motion

The underground hall of the Dark Mist Sect was immersed in profound silence, interrupted only by the gentle breeze whispering between the ancient stone columns. Han Feng, still hidden among the shadows, felt his breath calm as his eyes shone with renewed intensity. The Dark Chaos Refinement method was already taking effect. Although he was still at Rank 2, he felt that his foundation was strengthening at a surprising speed.

But he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

The Trail of Qi and the Investigation of the Elders

As he prepared to leave the underground chamber, Han Feng noticed something alarming. Small ripples of dark Qi were still in the air, a faint trace but perceptible to any experienced cultivator. His eyes narrowed. He had taken all the precautions, but the very method he was using could end up revealing his presence.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed in the stone corridor. Han Feng moved quickly, pressing himself against the wall and activating the Celestial Veil Art, suppressing his presence to the maximum. A group of elders emerged from the main passage, their sharp gazes sweeping the area.

"Did you feel that disturbance?" murmured one of the elders, frowning.

— Yes. There are no doubts. Someone was here and tried to absorb the energy from the altar, — replied another, their hands forming seals as they cast a detection spell.

Han Feng held his breath. The spell spread like an invisible web, covering every inch of the room. But he had already prepared a precautionary measure even before he began his cultivation. Using a technique derived from the Celestial Veil, he had left residual traces of Qi that imitated the energetic signature of the altar itself.

The spell dissipated into the air and the elders hesitated.

— It seems it was just a remnant of the altar activated by accident... — one of them said, but his voice carried doubt.

— Even so, we will increase surveillance. Something is wrong.

Han Feng waited patiently until the group left the chamber. Only when he felt the danger had passed did he silently slip out, leaving no trace.

Preparation for Advancement

Back in his mountain hideout, Han Feng reflected on his situation. The Refinement of Dark Chaos was working, but it was a dangerous method. If he stayed there, the chances of being discovered would grow exponentially. He needed a catalyst to stabilize his advancement to Rank 3 without leaving any traces.

Searching through his memory, he recalled something he had read in the ancient records: a material known as Dark Moonstone, a rare substance that could balance the energy of the method. But finding it would not be simple. There was only one known place where this material could be obtained — the Ruins of the Eternal Night, a cursed territory where even powerful cultivators feared to tread.

Han Feng clenched his fists. The danger was worth the risk.

Towards the Ruins of the Eternal Night

The journey to the ruins would not be easy. They were almost half a month's journey away, and they were filled with demonic beasts and wandering cultivators in search of treasures. Han Feng decided to leave immediately. Disguised as an ordinary cultivator, he hid his true strength and took a less traveled route through the mountains.

The days passed without serious incidents, until the third night, when, while resting in a remote cave, he felt an unusual movement in the forest below.

His gaze narrowed. Someone was following him.

Activating his spiritual sense, he detected three hidden presences among the trees. By the fluidity with which they moved, they were not mere highway robbers. Cultivators. Possibly hired assassins.

Han Feng smiled coldly.

— Do they want to ambush me? — he murmured, closing his eyes for a moment before disappearing like a shadow.

The Fight in the Shadows

The three men were approaching, their auras suppressed to the maximum. The leader of the group, a tall and slender man with scars on his face, made a hand gesture, indicating that they should attack simultaneously.

But the moment they took the first step, a figure emerged from the shadows like a ghost.

Han Feng didn't give any time for reactions. With a single palm strike, he hit the first enemy directly in the chest. The man widened his eyes as his dantian exploded internally, collapsing without a chance of recovery.

The other two fell back, but Han Feng was already upon them. Spinning in the air, he delivered a Qi-infused kick that sent one of the attackers flying against a tree, his body collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.

The latter tried to escape, but Han Feng extended his hand and pulled him back with a thread of Qi, suffocating him before he could scream.

— Who sent them? — Han Feng asked in a cold tone.

The man was trembling. His eyes were filled with panic, but even so, he gritted his teeth and activated a self-destruction talisman. Han Feng frowned and, without hesitation, struck the man's head, knocking him out before the explosion occurred.

He inspected the bodies and found a family emblem. His gaze darkened.

Sect of the Dark Mist.

They were keeping an eye on him. Someone within the cult had noticed his movements and sent these assassins to ensure he wouldn't come back alive.

Han Feng took a deep breath. This only made his determination even stronger.

The Arrival at the Ruins

The next morning, Han Feng finally reached the edge of the Ruins of Eternal Night. The place was covered in black mists and the ground was cracked, as if the very land were cursed.

The real challenge was just beginning.

But Han Feng was prepared. His purple gaze shone with determination as he took the first step into the unknown.