Seven Mysterious Spaces: My Rise to Power in the Cultivation World

Demonic flames surged to the heavens, and blood-red light blotted out the sun.

Within the sect, buildings collapsed, disciples fled in all directions, and cries and screams intertwined to create a scene of apocalypse.

Zhuang Yu gripped Wang Yao's hand tightly; the warmth of her palm brought him a sense of comfort amidst the chaos.

He gazed at the hellish scene before him, his heart pounding with rage, as if he wanted to burn everything in its filth to ashes.

"Yao'er, step back. Today, let these demons see the backbone of my Tianxuan Sect!" Zhuang Yu's voice was deep and firm, like a declaration from the deepest hell, carrying an undeniable power.

He pushed Wang Yao behind the sect leader and resolutely turned to walk towards the place where the blood light was strongest, which was where the Blood Demon was located.

He took each step with firm and powerful strides, like an unshakeable mountain, gradually approaching the all-consuming darkness.

As the disciples around Zhuang Yu saw his retreating figure, a glimmer of hope gradually ignited in their previously despairing eyes.

In their eyes, Zhuang Yu was no longer just an ordinary disciple, but someone who protected them and was the last line of defense for the sect.

The sect leader watched Zhuang Yu's retreating figure, his eyes filled with worry.

He knew the power of the Blood Demon and understood that Zhuang Yu's actions were tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock, but he was powerless to stop him.

Because he knew that this was Zhuang Yu's choice, and a man's responsibility.

The Blood Demon watched Zhuang Yu slowly approach, a cruel sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"You overconfident brat, how dare you challenge my authority!" With a wave of his hand, Ghost One and Ghost Two beside him rushed towards Zhuang Yu like two black lightning bolts. They exuded a nauseating bloody stench, like evil spirits from hell, ready to tear Zhuang Yu to shreds.

Zhuang Yu felt two powerful pressures coming towards him, but he was not afraid at all.

He took a deep breath, and the spiritual energy in his dantian circulated wildly. Golden light flowed around him, as if he were wearing a layer of golden armor.

"Today, I will show you that my Tianxuan Sect is not a place to be bullied!" Zhuang Yu's voice boomed like thunder, shaking heaven and earth.

The Blood Demon looked at Zhuang Yu, his contempt growing even stronger. "You ignorant fool! I'll show you what true power is!" He sneered, about to give another order.

Suddenly, the ghost moved...

The ghost moved with ghostly speed, black spiritual energy condensing into a giant ghostly claw in its hand, which slashed fiercely at Zhuang Yu with a piercing sound.

Wherever the ghostly claw passed, the air seemed to be torn apart, leaving behind streaks of black.

Zhuang Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. He was already on guard and dodged Gui Yi's attack with a swift movement, as slippery as an eel.

The ghostly claws missed, leaving deep furrows in the ground, and flying pebbles.

Taking advantage of the moment when Gui Yi's old power had not yet dissipated and his new power had not yet been generated, Zhuang Yu struck back with his palm, and golden spiritual power transformed into a sharp sword aura, striking directly at Gui Yi's leg.

"Ah!" Ghost let out a scream, staggered, and almost fell to the ground.

He clutched his wounded leg, his face contorted in rage, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Gui Yi was known among demonic cultivators for his speed and ruthlessness, and never imagined that he would suffer a loss at the hands of a mere late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

The surrounding demonic cultivators also stopped their attacks, watching this scene in astonishment and whispering among themselves.

Wang Yao hid behind the sect leader, anxiously watching the battle. Her small hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, and her eyes were full of worry.

Zhuang Yu noticed Wang Yao's gaze, turned around and glanced at her, a slight smile of reassurance appearing on his lips.

Wang Yao's face flushed slightly, her heart filled with sweetness, as if a warm current was flowing through her entire body.

Zhuang Yu withdrew his gaze and looked at Gui Yi again, his eyes filled with mockery.

"With just this little ability, you dare to act so arrogant in front of me?"

Gui Yi was furious. He had underestimated Zhuang Yu, thinking he could easily defeat him, but he was unexpectedly injured by Zhuang Yu in one move.

His eyes turned fierce, like a wounded beast, staring intently at Zhuang Yu, wishing he could devour him alive.

"You brat, you're asking for death!" Gui Yi said through gritted teeth. He took out a black pill from his storage bag and swallowed it without hesitation.

The pill melted instantly upon entering his mouth, and a powerful force surged throughout his body. The black spiritual energy on his body became even more concentrated, like burning black flames.

Seeing this, Gui Er's eyes flashed with a sinister glint. He secretly gave the other demonic cultivators a wink, and then moved closer to Zhuang Yu without making a sound.

"Watch out!" Wang Yao seemed to sense something and couldn't help but warn her.

Zhuang Yu's heart tightened when he heard Wang Yao's voice. He turned around abruptly, only to see Gui Er and the other demonic cultivators' eerie smiles.

"Heh, too late..." Gui Er said sinisterly.

Gui Er gave a sinister smile, his hands quickly forming hand seals. Black demonic energy surged from his body, intertwining with the demonic energy of other demonic cultivators to form a huge black vortex.

At the center of the vortex, a strange array pattern slowly emerged, emanating a chilling aura.

"Boy, this is the Blood Demon Sect's bewitching array. Once you fall into it, even a Nascent Soul cultivator will find it hard to escape! Today, you'd better obediently accept your death!" Gui Er laughed ferociously, his eyes filled with smugness.

The black vortex expanded rapidly, enveloping Zhuang Yu within it.

The surrounding scenery began to distort and deform, turning into strange illusions that seemed to devour Zhuang Yu's consciousness.

Zhuang Yu felt a wave of dizziness, but he did not panic. He took a deep breath, circulated his internal energy, and kept his mind clear.

"A mere trick, yet you dare to show off your skills before an expert!" Zhuang Yu sneered, closing his eyes and carefully sensing the energy flow within the formation.

The illusions within the formation constantly shifted, sometimes appearing as mountains of knives and seas of fire, sometimes as a haven of tenderness, and sometimes as mountains of corpses and seas of blood, filled with both temptation and fear.

But Zhuang Yu remained calm throughout, his divine sense illuminating the path ahead like a beacon.

Suddenly, Zhuang Yu opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

He found it!

He discovered the flaw in the formation!

Although this bewildering array looks complex, it actually has a fatal weakness, which is the core of the array!

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhuang Yu mobilized all his spiritual power, condensing it in his palm and transforming it into a golden beam of light that struck the core of the formation.

"boom!"

With a loud bang, the formation shook violently, the black vortex collapsed instantly, and the illusion vanished.

The demonic cultivators watched this scene in shock, their eyes filled with disbelief.

"How is this possible!" Gui Er exclaimed in surprise. He couldn't believe that Zhuang Yu had broken through their bewildering array so easily.

The Blood Demon's expression changed slightly upon seeing this.

He originally thought he could easily defeat Zhuang Yu, but he didn't expect the opponent to be so troublesome.

"Kid, you've got some skills! But do you think you can win like this?" Blood Demon sneered, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

But instead of continuing his attack, he unexpectedly proposed negotiations.

"Boy, let's talk." The Blood Demon's voice was full of temptation.

Zhuang Yu knew this was a conspiracy by the Blood Demon, but he did not refuse.

He calmly walked towards the Blood Demon, his eyes filled with confidence.

The people around watched this scene nervously, wondering what Zhuang Yu was up to.

"What do you want to talk about?" Zhuang Yu asked calmly.

The Blood Demon's lips curled into a sinister smile: "Let's talk about... your surrender."

"Surrender? Are you joking?" Zhuang Yu's lips curled into a mocking smile, his eyes filled with disdain. "My Tianxuan Sect has stood tall in the cultivation world for thousands of years. How could we possibly submit to a heretical sect like yours!"

The Blood Demon's face darkened, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes. "You won't listen to reason, so don't blame me for being impolite!" He waved his hand and shouted sharply, "Kill them all! Leave no one alive!"

Ghost One, Ghost Two, and the other demonic cultivators swarmed forward, surrounding Zhuang Yu.

Various magical treasures and spells attacked Zhuang Yu like a storm. In an instant, shouts of battle shook the heavens, spiritual energy surged, and the scene was extremely chaotic.

Zhuang Yu remained calm in the face of danger, his agile movements allowing him to move freely through the demonic cultivators' attacks.

He sometimes unleashed powerful swordsmanship, and at other times used skillful movement techniques to deflect the demonic cultivator's attacks one by one.

"Blood Demon, your goal isn't just to destroy my Heavenly Profound Sect, is it?" Zhuang Yu said with a sneer while fighting. "Your real target should be our Heavenly Profound Sect's most treasured artifact—the Profound Heaven Mirror!"

Blood Demon's expression changed slightly; he hadn't expected Zhuang Yu to see through his scheme.

He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Nonsense! My goal is to destroy your Heavenly Profound Sect and avenge the brothers of my Blood Demon Sect who died!"

"Is that so?" Zhuang Yu sneered. "Then why haven't you used your strongest move yet? What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for your inside man to open the mountain-protecting formation so you can easily seize the Xuan Tian Mirror?"

Blood Demon's expression changed completely. He hadn't expected that Zhuang Yu would even know that he had also planted an inside agent.

Enraged, he shouted, "Ghost One, Ghost Two, give it your all and kill this brat!"

Upon receiving the order, Ghost One and Ghost Two immediately unleashed their full power, their attacks becoming even more ferocious and deadly.

Zhuang Yu felt the pressure increase. While fending off the attacks of the two, he vigilantly observed the surrounding situation. He was worried that there might really be a demonic cultivator inside the sect who could deliver a fatal blow at any time.

Just then, Zhuang Yu sensed a powerful aura approaching.

He felt a chill run down his spine and looked up sharply, only to see a mysterious figure dressed in black and wearing a bamboo hat flying towards him.

"Not good!" Zhuang Yu thought to himself, sensing a dangerous aura emanating from this mysterious person.

The mysterious figure approached the Blood Demon and whispered, "Things have changed; we must retreat immediately!"

Blood Demon's expression changed. He glanced at Zhuang Yu with some reluctance, but finally gritted his teeth and said, "Retreat!"

The demonic cultivators received their orders and quickly retreated, disappearing into the night.

Zhuang Yu stared in the direction the demonic cultivator had left, his brows furrowed.

He knew that the battle was not over and that the demonic cultivators would return.

He must find the demonic cultivator's inside man as soon as possible in order to completely resolve the sect's crisis.

In the dead of night, Zhuang Yu quietly left the sect... His destination was the camp of the demonic cultivators.

"I'd like to see what tricks you're playing!"