Amidst the ruined city, steeped in blood and fire, Wen Shan's figure darted through the wreckage like a silent phantom.
Behind him, a dozen ragged mortals trembled as they followed, their eyes filled with unspeakable terror.Part of it was fear of the desolate devastation—corpses littering the streets, blood soaking every stone.But even more, it was fear of the "immortal" leading them.
To them, Wen Shan was no savior.The blood aura and ghostly qi that radiated from his body were too real—more authentic than that of any demonic cultivator.If this man was not a demon… then who else could be?
They were convinced he was marching them toward some unspeakable doom.Yet before such a figure, resistance was impossible. They could only follow like lambs to the slaughter.
Wen Shan, of course, had thought of telling them the truth.But he had no choice.
If he wanted to save a hundred people—a number not too small, not too large—he had to keep up this masquerade.In a city already overrun by demonic cultivators, his only hope of survival, and theirs, was to appear more demonic than the demons themselves.
One slip, one exposed flaw, and his disguise would collapse.Then every surrounding demon cultivator would turn on him, and he'd be doomed—along with those he hoped to save.
But even now, trouble was mounting.The dozen survivors behind him had been found only through sheer luck, dragged out of hidden corners of the ruins.
Since then, Wen Shan had searched tirelessly, but found no more.Not even corpses were common now.
Perhaps the demonic sects needed the mortals alive for some purpose and had rounded them up.Or perhaps the earliest students to depart had already rescued those within reach.
Whatever the reason, Wen Shan had no choice but to push deeper into the city.
Before long, a deafening explosion shook the ground, dazzling light from colliding spiritual power flooding the sky.
Wen Shan's expression hardened. After a brief hesitation, he changed course, sprinting toward the sound.
There—battle.
And one of the fighters, Wen Shan recognized.It was the very same fellow student who had been first to leave the academy's hall.
Now, however, his situation was dire.
Golden armor of manifested poetry gleamed upon him, radiant in the firelight, making him look like a god descended.The lines—"Armor shines in sunlight, golden scales unfurl"—circled his body, every strike of his fist breaking bones and scattering demonic foes.
He was fearless, unstoppable…But he was only one man.
And the enemy was dozens of demonic cultivators.
Realizing they could not overpower him directly, the demons changed tactics—slipping past him to target the mortals he guarded.
One by one, the helpless were slaughtered or dragged into the darkness.The student's eyes reddened, his voice hoarse with fury, but he could not protect them all.
Wen Shan watched in silence.
He knew better than to interfere.
Perhaps he could frighten off a lone demon with the name of the Grand Dao Heavenly Demon Sect.But against a dozen?One question, one doubt raised against his identity, and everything would unravel.
Then his efforts—and the lives of his rescued mortals—would end in ruin.
Coldly, Wen Shan turned away, leading his charges further into the city.Those under the other student's protection… could only be called unlucky.
To fight the demonic sect head-on was never a wise path.
The sight only steeled Wen Shan's resolve.He pressed onward, searching farther into the ruined city.
Gradually, he began to gather more survivors, until his group exceeded thirty.
But this too brought problems.
So many people slowed him down.The wounded, even stabilized, could not keep pace.And each delay meant more potential survivors elsewhere dying before he could reach them.
Finally, Wen Shan stopped before a relatively intact estate.Unfurling his soul banner, he draped it over the compound.
Several wandering spirits—collected along the way—emerged, manifesting as silent guardians at the gates.
It was a trick, he knew, similar to what Feng Wuya must have once used—overlaying a location with the soul banner, binding mortals within while granting them a measure of protection.
The house became both prison and shield.Any who saw would think: This is the territory of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Those with sense would not trespass.
Leaving his charges behind, Wen Shan set off once more into the distance, hunting for more survivors.
After an unknown stretch of time, his eyes lit up.Ahead—a large group, at least forty or fifty mortals!
If he could save them, his task might soon be complete.
But they were gathered inside a single estate.
A pale-blue barrier shielded the compound, pulsing faintly under constant assault.
Outside, a lone demonic cultivator hammered at the shield again and again.For now, it held… but it could not last.
When it shattered, every soul within would be doomed.