The two figures ahead never once shifted their gaze. They were clearly targeting him. Romu dismounted from his spirit horse, which cleverly stepped aside. Sensing the strength of the two blocking his path, he quickly assessed them as being at the 9th Layer of the True Aperture Realm, similar to the previous disciple from the Blade Sect. However, Romu found it puzzling. He didn't recall offending anyone recently. If there were enemies, they'd have come after him on the spot—just like earlier. The thought of a delayed revenge seemed unlikely.
One of the figures spoke, identifying him as Romu, an Outer Academy disciple of Chang Le Academy, with a remarkable talent for martial will. The mention of "martial will" sparked Romu's curiosity. These people had clearly been waiting for him and knew his identity.
Romu, placing his hand on his sword's hilt, remained cautious. "Who are you?"
The stranger responded cryptically, "If you want to know, just keep walking forward. Our elder has been waiting for you."
"What if I don't?" Romu's gaze sharpened.
The stranger smiled beneath his mask, "Life offers many choices. Some, if seized, can benefit you for life. We come with sincerity. Why not trust us once?"
The atmosphere in the forest grew eerily quiet, broken only by the faint sound of Romu's spirit horse nibbling on grass. A gust of wind suddenly swept through, scattering leaves across the path. Romu took a deep breath and muttered, "Boring."
In the next instant, Romu's long sword was drawn with a flash. A terrifying sword light immediately engulfed the entire path, slashing through the air. With a swift motion, the sword returned to its sheath as if it had never moved.
The two figures had no time to react before they were shattered into pieces, their bodies crumbling to the ground.
"I gave you a chance, but you didn't cherish it." Romu's expression remained cold, his patience already spent. These two had blocked his path for no clear reason, spouting cryptic words. He had no time to entertain such nonsense. The familiar demonic aura they gave off was all he needed to decide that it was better to strike first than risk a trap.
"Bold!" A powerful aura surged from the front, sending a shockwave through the air. The spirit horse buckled and collapsed in fear.
Romu stood firm, but his long black hair was blown back by the force. From the shadows, a figure emerged, cloaked in a dense black mist. The mist, wherever it touched, corroded the ground and trees, creating a gruesome sight.
"Another demon path practitioner," Romu's eyes narrowed. The figure was at the Spirit Sea Realm, and the magical aura surrounding him confirmed Romu's suspicion. He hadn't expected to encounter a demon Cultivator at this level.
Was this related to the base incident? It seemed unlikely. Romu had wiped out all the demon path followers there. If they had followed him from the base, they wouldn't have known about his actions at the Zhanwang Gorge.
The figure spoke, his voice cold and filled with malice, "You dare draw your blade after we came with goodwill?"
Romu's gaze hardened as he recognized the man. "The Crimson Moon Cult!" He knew of the three major demonic sects in the empire, and the Crimson Moon was one of them. This man had a distinct red moon tattoo on his face—no ordinary member, but one of their true disciples.
The demon sect leader's voice turned icy as he confronted Romu, "I'll give you two choices: join our sect and accept the demon seed, and this matter will be forgotten. We will be allies from now on. Or..." His eyes gleamed with deadly intent, "You die."
Romu smirked. He immediately understood. The demon sect was targeting him not because of the base, but because of his performance in Xunyang City. His reputation had drawn them here. They had been following him, waiting for the right moment.
However, Romu wasn't concerned. He was confident that even a Cultivator at the Spirit Sea Realm 4th Layer wouldn't stand a chance against him—especially with his Blade Intent and the powerful Xuan Yang Overlord Body Technique.
"You know, I was raised in the light, not in the darkness." Romu shrugged, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
The demon leader's face darkened. "Stubborn fool. Then prepare to die!"
The demon leader unleashed a surge of magical energy, like a black cloud descending, but Romu was already prepared. He shifted his stance, taking a half-step back with his left leg and leaning forward in a draw stance, preparing to meet the attack.
Boom!
A terrifying sword intent, at least 80% of Romu's full power, erupted with a crushing force, sweeping across the forest for hundreds of meters. The trees cracked and splintered under the pressure, and the ground was marked with deep gouges from the force.
The demon leader froze. The overwhelming sword intent forced him to halt, as if he had stepped into a quagmire.
"What... is this?" The demon leader's eyes widened in disbelief. He had known Romu had mastered sword intent, but according to their intel, it was only at 10%. He had thought Romu could only rival a beginner Spirit Sea Realm Cultivator, but now, it was clear this was not the case.
Romu's sword intent was no mere 10%—it was at least 80%, and it was enough to make even the mighty Spirit Sea 4th Layer Cultivator hesitate.
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