“Brother Han Ling!!!” Chen Liang ran up to Han Ling, his face beaming to see Han Ling alright. “Han Ling dodged Chen Liang’s hug, causing to land on his face but he still grinned as if he expected it. “How are the others?” Han Ling scanned the city with his All-Seeing Void and exhaled in relief as he found no more demonic cultivators around.

“The city is mostly shaken but casualties are in a minimum and the White Tiger Sect is patching things up, the elders managed to kill most of the assailants and I managed to beat an Immortal Supreme as well hehehe!” Han Ling promptly ignored him after knowing all he wanted and he made his way to the Healer Section of the city.

“Why are we going to the healer section? Are you hurt anywhere?” Chen Liang spoke with a tone of worry, scanning Han Ling’s body for any injuries, but frowning when he found none. “No, I’m looking for a person you may recognize.” Then he stopped, smiling slightly when a young woman stood in front of him with her arms crossed.

And Chen Liang did recognize the young lady. “Guh! P-P-Prin—” Han Ling slapped the back of his head, causing him to rub it in agonizing pain. The princess widened her eyes slightly at this, but of course knew Chen Liang as well. After all, his father was a very powerful Sage Lord. “Daoist Chen Liang? It’s good to see you again.”

Chen Liang bowed, still rubbing the back of his head, “It’s good to see you too princess.” They had met in the previous when his father attended a banquet at the Imperial Palace. “What brings you here princess?” Hua Rong opened her mouth to speak but then closed it, glancing around at the people around.

“Don’t worry, nobody will hear a thing.” Han Ling suddenly spoke, snapping his finger loudly to a woman nearby and the woman didn’t react at all. Hua Rong blinked in surprise, “How did you do it?” “That’s not important. The important thing is why is the princess of the Royal Family running around without a guard?” Han Ling’s sharp gaze caused Hua Rong to gulp, lowering her head and muttering something about ‘boredom’

Han Ling sighed out loud, “You really shouldn’t be out, if I wasn’t there Demon Seven would be torturing you right now.” Blunt and honest, Han Ling never liked beating around the bush. Hua Rong flinched at his bluntness, opening her mouth to retort, only to close it with a glare.

But then her expression changed to curiosity, “But it’s strange, you seem to know the demons, why is that?” Han Ling didn’t answer, instead he walked away without a word and the sudden sounds of bustling people reached her ears. “How did he even do that?” Hua Rong shook her head and followed Han Ling, along with Chen Liang catching up to him.

“You aren’t going to answer the question?” Han Ling only shrugged, as if the question was boring or stupid. “When will you be returning to the Imperial Palace, princess?” Hua Rong frowned slightly, “I won’t have to return.”

“Hmm? Ah, I see.”

“You see?”

Han Ling then pointed, and Hua Rong stared at the direction, gaping in an instant.

In the distance was a fleet of flying beasts, eagles, falcons, cranes, all types of birds flew towards Guan An city, and on top of them, cultivators in gold amour, gold cloaks and robes embroidered in white dragons. And right in front of the group was someone Han Ling was not expecting to meet.

A 6th stage Sage… his first time meeting a cultivator of that level…

“One of the Nine Heavenly Generals, Guan Tian.” A man with grey hair and beard sat on top of a majestic eagle, staring straight at Hua Rong. “Uncle Guan Tian…” Her face was slightly pale, guilt written all over her face.

Hua Rong could only helplessly sigh, waiting for Guan Tian to arrive. Soon enough, the eagle landed and Guan Tian stepped down, silently walking towards Hua Rong. Hua Rong flinched slightly as the man closed in, his face impassive like a stone buddha, but the aura he emitted caused even Han Ling to feel scared.

“Haa, I won’t ask why you sneaked out, but if you do that again, I’ll lock you up in your room.” He spoke, voice a deep baritone, his eyes strict but warm. He patted Hua Rong’s head, “I’m glad you’re safe.” He smiled, to which Hua Rong smiled sheepishly, relieved she wasn’t going to be punished.

Then he turned towards Chen Liang and Han Ling, and he recognized Chen Liang, “Oh! Chen Liang, it has been a while.” Chen Liang bowed respectfully, “Yes sir, it has been a while.” Then he turned to Han Ling, eyes slightly widened, “A 6th step Immortal Supreme? But you’re very young!”

Han Ling cupped his fist, bowing slightly, “My name is Han Ling, a rogue cultivator.” The man’s eyebrows rose, “A rogue cultivator? As a 6th step Immortal Supreme?” It was incredulous!

Hua Rong then spoke, “He’s the one who saved me from the Demonic Cultivators uncle.” “Oh?” He then cupped his fists and bowed slightly to Han Ling, “I thank you on behalf of the royal family for saving the princess, you will be rewarded greatly for your help.”

Han Ling returned the action, “I only require information and a favour”

“Information and a favour?”

Han Ling’s eyes turned serious, “The location of an Emperor’s Chance of Fate.”

Guan Tian blinked, a frown on his face, “This will be difficult…”

Han Ling sighed, “Is that too difficult?” But to his surprise, Guan Tian shook his head, “No no, its because there are currently no Emperor’s Chance of Fate that we know of, but of course, when we find one we’ll contact you. It’s a small task really.”

Han Ling bowed deeply, “Thank you, elder.” “What about the favour?”

“I wish to you to aid me.”

“Aid you? With what?” Guan Tian frowned in confusion, but Han Ling just smiled, “Please come with me.” He then leaped into the air, zooming towards the forest.

Guan Tian, Chen Liang and Hua Rong followed finding Han Ling standing in front of a battered woman, the demonic cultivator that attacked Hua Rong.

“You’ll never get anything from me!” She spat vehemently, glaring daggers at Han Ling, but then she saw Guan Tian and froze in terrible fear. “Is this…?” Then his expression dawned on understanding, “She’s one of the bastards that attacked the Princess, right?” Han Ling nodded, and his aura squeezed at the woman, “Now tell me, where is Demon Seven?”

“You’ll never know!” She cried out, violently struggling as Han Ling’s aura crushed her arms. “GAH!!!!” She screamed, deafening the others at the sound. But Han Ling was a cold hearted bastard, after all, he had seen much, much worse.

“Very well, since you won’t talk.” Han Ling placed his palm on her stomach, right where her dan tian was. “You’ll regret not speaking.”

“Absorb.”

Screams pierced the forest air, animals covered in fear at such a terrible sound, beasts shuddered as a deep chill ran down their spines.

The scream sounded again and again, like a siren on a carpet bombing. When it stopped, a terrible silence enveloped the forest. Hua Rong and Chen Liang watched with pale, terrified expressions as Han Ling pulled his palm back, the woman’s head lolling forward, lifeless and soulless.

“Hmmm, he’s inside a cave nearby, that’s all she knows.” Han Ling muttered out loud, Guan Tian was the first to snap out of his shock, slightly wary of the cruelty Han Ling had just performed, “What did you do to her?” Han Ling raised an eyebrow then answered like it didn’t matter. “I absorbed all her cultivation.”

“Y-You can do that?!” Guan Tian then narrowed his eyes, his voice turning a tad bit colder, “Could you take even ours?” Han Ling turned to Guan Tian.

“Kuhm!” Guan Tian flinched, for what he saw wasn’t a young man, but a dragon staring at him, looming over the young man like death itself. “It only works on demonic cultivators.” Han Ling then looked in a certain direction his eyes a bright purple.

“I’ll scout ahead first, I will wait 30 minutes before striking, please be ready.” He crouched down, and launched himself into the air, powerful bursts of air propelling him into a direction.

Guan Tian watched the young man disappear in the distance, a complicated expression on his face. “Hua Rong, who exactly was that guy?” “I’m not sure as well, he just saved my life.” Then she turns to Chen Liang, seeing a strange expression on his face, not fear but admiration or respect. “Chen Liang?”

The young man snapped out of his thought, “Sorry, I was just lost in thought.”

“Better prepare yourself, Demon Seven isn’t someone even I can take lightly, but we’ll be taking them by surprise.” Guan Tian spoke sternly, pulling a communication amulet to his mouth, “Contact the Emperor…”

>>>

Around 30 minutes later, Han Ling hid behind the bushes, purple eyes scanning the cave. “Looks like she was right, he was waiting in a cave.” A terrifying surge of qi came from the cave, at least at the Sage level of cultivation. “Demon Seven…” Han Ling had never faced him before but had heard stories of his terrifying mental attacks.

Each of the Seven Demons had a title to their rank of Demon. For Seven, his is the Demon of Sin and Spear. Out of all the Demons, he had the most devastating Mind Attacks, as his title says, he is the Demon of sins, all sins of the human nature will evoke a sense of madness in nearly anyone.

It didn’t matter if it was a Sage, Sage Lord or even an Emperor, they all had sins they committed. But Han Ling was different, as someone who had killed hundreds of thousands, regret was long gone, his soul was harden by decades of war. Which was why Han Ling was confident in beating Demon Seven, as his most powerful ability was ineffective against him.

“But his spear skills are really no joke…” But his second title, spear, wasn’t just hot air. Each Demon had two titles, one of a specialist skill and another of their specialist weapon.

But he wasn’t the only one…

“8 of the 100 Demon Spirits as well, mostly 4th Step Immortal Supremes, but there’s even Hou Feng the 8th Step from before…”

“They will definitely be aware of an attack in that case…”

Sssshh

The bushes behind rustled and Guan Tian crouched next to Han Ling, “It seems they’re expecting us…” His eyes narrowed, locking on the trio of Demon Spirits standing outside the cave.

“Do you have a plan?” Chen Liang came up behind Guan Tian, then Hua Rong. Logically, the princess shouldn’t be a part of this offense, but Han Ling managed to argue that the Demonic Cultivators will look be looking for her and she wouldn’t be able to defend herself, the safest place would definitely be in the battle, the place they least expect.

“Hua Rong and Chen Liang, the moment enemies start attacking, I want you to cause a distraction in the south side of the camp. He drew a little map on the ground, then pointed to the attack spot, “Elder Guan Tian, are your forces ready?” He nodded.

“Good, we’ll leave Demon Seven to Elder Guan Tian, we’ll handle the other Demonic Cultivators.”

10 minutes later, they were all in position.

Ready to strike…