The Immortal Alliance organized several hunting teams to eliminate scattered fallen demons in various locations, with one unit led by Dan Ya.
Some of these fallen demons were forced into their state by demons, while others were enticed by greed, but regardless of their origin, Dan Ya treated them all the same, sending them all to their rest.
Behind him were the disciples of the Day Yan Sect, who had fought valiantly. Dan Ya, with his sword in hand, looked up at the overcast sky, his hands still stained with blood.
"Sect Master, two fallen demons have escaped!" a disciple reported.
"Go after them!"
"Yes."
All the disciples of the Day Yan Sect turned and pursued the escapees.
After everyone else had left, a dark shadow silently emerged from behind Dan Ya. It was like a mass of swamp mud, thick and viscous, writhing and spreading over his head, casting a disgusting and chilling influence.
"Devour them!"
"Them" referred to the souls of the fallen demons. Fallen demons had no souls, only remnants of their spirits.
"Do you think you can control me?" Dan Ya sneered, as if accustomed to this.
The dark shadow, despite lacking facial features and a body, could move and emit strange, resonant sounds.
"Devour them—"
His head suddenly throbbed, and Dan Ya's face turned pale as if struck by a severe blow. Yet, he stubbornly refused to yield, while the dark shadow above his head began to drip black ink-like spots.
These spots fell onto him, forming lines, then clusters, then masses, wriggling and crawling until his entire body was almost engulfed by the shadow.
"Hungry… so hungry… Devour them… quickly…"
It continuously let out sharp cries, urging Dan Ya to act.
But Dan Ya refused to obey its command. He knew that once this began, the entity would grow stronger, and he would truly have no way out.
He admitted he was never a good person.
But he could be wicked, he could have no principles, he could become a demon, yet he absolutely refused to become a puppet without any self-awareness.
The malice behind him grew in volume and power with every person he killed, finding opportunities to influence him. It had evolved from affecting his bloodlust and desire to kill to now wanting to consume the souls of the deceased as nourishment.
"Shut up, you are a monster born from my wickedness, you should listen to me!" He gritted his teeth, his eyes turning bloodshot from the strain.
"Hungry… if you don't eat… I will devour you—"
The dark shadow was clearly driven mad by "hunger." It began to "swallow" Dan Ya, bit by bit, like wrapping him in cloth. Dan Ya could only watch as it consumed his body, limbs, and finally his face and nose. When only one eye could perceive the outside world, a graceful and alluring red figure appeared before him.
His pupils constricted.
"Dan Ya!"
With a whoosh, the dark shadow on Dan Ya instantly vanished, as if the terrifying engulfing scene had only been an illusion.
But Dan Ya knew it was real, yet only he could see it. Even if others stood there, they wouldn't know what had just happened.
The malevolence was a shadow that followed, not yet fully formed, and its influence was naturally limited to Dan Ya alone.
Dan Ya's expression faltered, "Sect Master? Oh, no, the Day Yan Sect is no longer yours. You are merely a fox demon." He looked at the other person with surprise and amusement. Although his complexion had not returned to normal, his demeanor was as composed as ever, "You lost two tails and used forbidden arts to devolve into your beast form, yet you managed to transform back so quickly? It seems the skills of Qing Qiu are indeed considerable."
"A beast that betrays its master and ruins its ancestors, do you truly think that seven years ago, when you broke my two tails, it was because I couldn't defeat you? If I hadn't been ambushed by that scoundrel Liu Jiang Fu Sheng, you think you could have?" Wei Li shook his wide sleeves and stood coldly to the side.
"Oh, so he made a move on you too, Sect Master? It seems he also recognized that the fox demon on Dragon Island was you, Sect Master." Dan Ya smiled.
Wei Li's beautiful lips curved upwards, his gaze fixed on Dan Ya. He raised a hand, bending his fingers into claws, "And if so? Don't think I don't know, you also lusted after Gu Yi. Back then, out of jealousy for the innate talent of the Heavenly Spirit Root, you deliberately approached Gu Yi. But you certainly wouldn't have expected that the mortal you once fooled and ridiculed would capture your heart."
"So the Sect Master knows about this too." Dan Ya did not deny it, but admitted it directly.
"Dan Ya, you are despicable, shameless, insidious, and cunning. Someone like you is simply unworthy," Wei Li taunted him with sharp, bitter words.
Dan Ya remained very calm, "I know. A defiled person like me should not covet her, and I have not approached her again…" He slowly raised his eyes and smiled, the darkness in his eyes chilling, "But my heart, you, or anyone else, cannot control."
Wei Li was truly impressed by Dan Ya. His heart was like a fortress of bronze and iron, impervious to anything. No matter how much Wei Li provoked, cursed, or struck at his weaknesses, Dan Ya could accept it all. He had initially hoped to see Dan Ya weeping in pain and regret before killing him.
"Putting aside Gu Yi, the account between you and me, after seven years, should be settled completely."
"Sect Master, back then you merely lost two tails, but this time, you might lose your life," Dan Ya said the most venomous words in the gentlest tone.
"Then try me!"
Wei Li unfurled all seven of his tails, his demonic energy burning red, his beastly pupils emanating killing intent that fell upon Dan Ya as if it were tangible.
Looking at his seven tails, not those of a nine-tailed Celestial Fox but a common demon fox, the difference to Dan Ya was far more than just a little.
"How can a seven-tailed demon fox withstand my Cloud Thunder Sword?"
He extended his arm, grasping a long sword that exuded a fierce aura of wind and thunder. The Cloud Thunder covered it, forming a long chain that he swung towards Wei Li.
Wei Li somersaulted, his robes blooming like a flower. Using the "bridge" formed by the sword's energy, he rapidly shifted to Dan Ya's side.
With a sweep of his clawed hand, the force was enough to destroy a mountain.
Dan Ya immediately met the attack with his sword. A powerful green barrier materialized before him. Their equally forceful and cold gazes collided in mid-air, the fierce winds rustling their hair and robes.
"Dan Ya, you are still too green!" Wei Li bared his teeth and smiled, twisting his seven tails into a single whip and lashing out at Dan Ya.
He was struck on the waist and sent flying, skidding for dozens of meters before being stopped by a mountain wall. Blood stained the corner of Dan Ya's mouth as he rose, leaning on his sword.
He made a hand seal, channeling the Cloud Thunder Sword, and immense, astonishing spiritual energy converged around him. Then, layers of white lightning, like chains and serpents, flashed across the sky. With a crackle, they struck towards Wei Li.