Chapter 74: Xia Bingling's Message To Sect Master Huang

Elder Wu's hand darted towards his storage pouch, retrieving a jade talisman engraved with intricate symbols.

With a flick of his wrist, he activated it, a shimmering barrier of emerald light enveloping him – the 'Earthward Bulwark,' a defensive technique infused with pure spiritual energy and the power of the earth element.

The chuckle grew louder, morphing into a guttural snarl as a figure pounced at him. Black mist swirled around the figure, obscuring its features, but the malevolent energy it radiated was unmistakable.

This was no ordinary being...it was a creature of pure demonic essence.

Elder Wu's eyes narrowed. "Demon!" he roared, raising his hand, a ball of pure spiritual energy condensing in his palm. He charged forward, his intent clear.

Ye Fan, a cruel smile playing on his lips hidden beneath the demonic veil, countered with a demonic martial technique – the 'Shattering Claw.' His hand, transformed into a wickedly barbed talon, pulsed with dark energy as he met Elder Wu's attack head-on.

The clash of energies reverberated through the canyon, a shockwave throwing up a cloud of dust and debris.

The emerald barrier flickered under the onslaught as cracks appeared across its surface.

Elder Wu, surprised by the sheer power of the attack, stumbled back, his resolve momentarily shaken.

He slammed the glowing jade talisman onto his chest, renewing the Earthward Bulwark as he unleashed a barrage of lightning-fast attacks.

His blows rained down on the demonic figure, each one infused with his Nascent Soul Realm strength.

But Ye Fan was a whirlwind of demonic fury.

His demonic body cultivation technique granted him an almost inhuman resilience, allowing him to absorb the brunt of Elder Wu's attacks without flinching.

With each counter-attack, the Shattering Claw chipped away at the Earthward Bulwark. Finally, with a resounding crack, the barrier shattered, leaving Elder Wu exposed.

Fear contorted Elder Wu's face as Ye Fan descended upon him, the demonic talon aimed for his heart. A desperate cry for help escaped his lips, but the canyon walls swallowed the sound whole.

The talon ripped through flesh and bone, a sickening squelch echoing in the air.

Elder Wu crumpled to the ground, his eyes vacant, his life extinguished.

Sect Leader Huang went on to praise Ye Fan's strength and pledged their collaboration in eradicating the demonic threat.

Newspapers across the various righteous sects devoured the story. In bustling cities and quiet towns, the tale of the demon and the brave Azure Peak Sect disciple became a topic of heated discussion. Even within the walls of prominent cultivation families like the Xia Family, the news found eager eyes.

In the opulent halls of the Xia Family, Wang Li, his brow furrowed in concentration, read the news with a growing sense of unease.

A knot of unease tightened in his stomach as he read. Unlike most, Wang Li knew the truth about Ye Fan's secret cultivation of demonic essence. He couldn't shake the feeling that Ye Fan, not some unknown demon, was behind the attacks.

The possibility gnawed at him. Pacing his chambers, Wang Li weighed the implications. Should he remain silent, or alert the Stone Mountain Sect? Finally, he made a decision. He needed to speak with the Matriarch, Xia Bingling.

He found Xia Bingling amidst a flurry of paperwork, her brow furrowed in concentration. As soon as she saw him, however, a warm smile lit up her face, melting away the seriousness of the day. But the news he carried couldn't wait.

"Bingling," he began, his voice laced with urgency, "there's something I need to tell you about the Stone Mountain Sect."

He recounted the news, watching her expression shift from concern to something deeper, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. When he finished, the silence stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Xia Bingling, ever calm and composed, listened intently. Her sharp mind quickly grasped the situation.

A flicker of surprise crossed Xia Bingling's face, replaced by a thoughtful frown. "Intriguing," she murmured, sipping her tea. "While I can't confirm your suspicions, there is merit in your concern."

With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a jade communication talisman, its surface shimmering with intricate runes. She infused her voice with power, her words clear and concise.

"Greetings, Sect Leader Huang," the talisman spoke in Xia Bingling's voice. "The news of the demonic attacks on your sect has reached us. We at the Xia Family stand ready to offer assistance if needed. However, a word of caution."

Her voice lowered, taking on a more cryptic tone. "If these demonic incidents have occurred after the arrival of a young man named Ye Fan, a disciple of the Azure Peak Sect, I urge you to exercise caution. Keep a watchful eye on him. There may be more to his presence than meets the eye."

She also subtly suggests that Ye Fan's motives remained unclear even to her, but as long as he can observe Ye Fan properly, he might discover the hidden agendas or selfish desires fueling his actions.

With a flick of her wrist, Xia Bingling activated the covert talisman embedded within the communication talisman. This ingenious mechanism ensured that the message could only be played once. As soon as Sect Leader Huang finished listening, the covert talisman would self-destruct, leaving no trace of the message or its sender.

The message ended, and with a flick of Xia Bingling's wrist, it was embedded within the talisman, ready for its covert journey.

"This message will reach Sect Leader Huang directly," Xia Bingling explained. "He will understand the veiled warning, and hopefully, it will prompt him to investigate Ye Fan further."