Chapter 56: Unknown Enemy

"You should return to the cave and continue your cultivation. It would be ideal if you could reach the late stage of spirit severing before we venture into the devil realm," Liang Yifei advised.

But," Yang Wu hesitated, his voice barely above a whisper, "I have only just attained the middle stage. While I don't doubt my own potential, reaching the late stage in such a short time...It seem impossible."

Liang Yifei turned slowly, the dim light reflecting in his piercing eyes. The weight of his stare bore down on Yang Wu, threatening to engulf him in doubt. "If you cannot accomplish even this," he paused, his voice laced with disappointment, "then you are of no use to me."

The words struck Yang Wu like a physical blow.

His face twisted with a mix of resentment and defiance. After all this, How dare Liang Yifei question his worth? How dare he demand the impossible? And yet, a flicker of determination ignited within him. He refused to back down, even in the face of such formidable odds. "Do you think I have any desire to accompany you?" he retorted, his voice laced with a bitterness that mirrored the stagnant cave air. "It's not like I have a choice, do I?"

Liang Yifei's lips curled into a cold, disdainful smile. "No, you do not have a choice. But that does not mean you cannot prove yourself. If you truly believe in your potential, then you will find a way to reach the late stage of spirit severing. It is not impossible, just difficult."

Yang Wu clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. He would not let Liang Yifei belittle him any longer. "I will show you," he declared, his voice trembling with determination. "I will surpass your expectations and reach the late stage. And when we venture into the devil realm, I will not only be of use to you but surpass you as well."

Liang Yifei's eyes narrowed, his amusement fading. He could see the fire burning within Yang Wu, the flicker of his potential transforming into a roaring flame. He knew he had struck a nerve, ignited the spark of ambition that would drive Yang Wu forward. "Very well," he replied coolly. " Remember, Yang Wu, the path to greatness is not an easy one. But if you have the will, the strength, and the perseverance, you can achieve anything."

With that, Yang Wu turned and walked back towards the cave, his mind filled with a newfound determination. He knew the path ahead would not be easy, but he was ready to face the challenges, to push himself beyond his limits. He would not let Liang Yifei's doubts define him.

As Yang Wu's figure vanished from sight, a subtle grin played on his lips. "That ought to fortify his dao heart," he murmured, his voice tinged with satisfaction. After a brief pause, he added, "Few can remain untouched after witnessing such formidable beings ."

"Now I am ready to try out my new techniques," Liang Yifei murmured to himself. "And while I'm at it, I might as well settle some scores."

After a while, Liang Yifei materialized in the heart of Phoenix's Wing City, one of the big cities around the heavenly vein, his presence shrouded in an eerie aura. The city bustled with activity, oblivious to the impending doom that awaited its prominent sect - Azure Flame sect. One of the cities that took the lead after the invasion, Due to having a spirit severing realm cultivator.

His ethereal form seamlessly merged with the darkness of the night, rendering him practically invisible to the naked eye.

Quietly and effortlessly, Liang Yifei infiltrated the sect's defensive arrays, his steps soundless as he moved through the shadow-filled corridors. His mastery of the Shadow Symphony allowed him to pass unnoticed, bypassing any security measures put in place by the Azure Flame Sect, as for the reason for his cautious, it's simple he doesn't want anyone to escape.

As he entered the Azure Flame Sect, Liang Yifei employed his Mirage Symphony with deadly precision. Illusions weaved around him, distorting reality and fooling even the most perceptive cultivators. One by one, he eliminated them, striking swiftly and silently, leaving no trace of his presence behind.

The collective strength of the Azure Flame Sect's cultivators posed no challenge to Liang Yifei. With every life he snuffed out, he felt a sense of satisfaction and exhilaration.

Throughout the massacre, Liang Yifei's Echo Symphony wreaked havoc on their once-controlled environment. The deafening echoes disoriented the remaining cultivators, making it impossible for them to coordinate or strategize. Whispers of fear echoed through their minds, sapping their strength and leaving them vulnerable to his every move.

Each member he encountered met their demise without warning or time to react.

He moved through the halls, his ethereal form leaving no trace behind. The sect's cultivators, skilled though they were, stood no chance against his newfound techniques. Liang Yifei's mastery over the Shadow Symphony allowed him to move undetected, striking from the darkness and disappearing into thin air.

Amidst the chaos and betrayal that unfolded within the Azure Flame Sect, a hushed silence fell upon its members, their lives extinguished one by one.

As the last member of the Azure Flame Sect gasped for his final breath, Liang Yifei emerged from the shadows, his form solidifying once more. His eyes gleamed with a mix of satisfaction and indifference, That was just the first of many who participated in destroying the Free Heart Pavillion.

With a heavy heart, he turned away from the ruins of the Azure Flame sect and stepped back into the darkness that greeted him, swallowing him whole, as he vanished from the city like a wisp of smoke disappearing into the night. It was as if he had never been there at all, his presence erased in the blink of an eye. And yet, his actions left a trail of destruction in their wake.

Like a tempest unleashed through one city after another, leaving destruction in its wake, a grim pattern of chaos emerged. Sect after sect, faction after faction, met the same tragic end - total annihilation.

The once venerated sects and factions were reduced to mere rubble, their greatness now tarnished. The swift obliteration of these pillars of power sent shockwaves through the cultivation world, igniting primal fear in the hearts of even the most seasoned cultivators.

Whispers, like tendrils of darkness, began to echo throughout the Heavenly Vein cities. The faint murmurs grew louder with each passing day, spreading like wildfire. Fear twisted the hearts of every cultivator. The once peaceful havens of cultivation transformed into breeding grounds of paranoia and uncertainty.