No escape from judgment
1063 Words
The moment Yan Hua's body convulsed, Xue Mei knew something had gone terribly wrong.
Dark veins spread beneath his pale skin like cracks across frozen glass. Black mist poured from his body in violent waves, carrying an ancient pressure that made the surrounding trees tremble. The air itself grew heavy, as though an invisible mountain had descended upon the valley.
"No..."
Without hesitation, Xue Mei shot forward. Her white robes fluttered behind her as pure spiritual qi burst from her palms. Gentle silver light wrapped around Yan Hua's trembling body, weaving countless glowing seals across his chest and forehead.
"Stay with me, Yan Hua," she whispered through gritted teeth. "Fight it."
The silver light collided with the black demonic aura.
For a heartbeat, the darkness retreated.
Hope flickered inside everyone's eyes.
Then the black mist suddenly surged back like a raging tide.
A violent shockwave exploded between them.
"Cough!"
Blood sprayed from Xue Mei's lips as she was thrown several steps backward. Her knees buckled, but she forced herself to remain standing, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.
The demonic energy was stronger than before.
Much stronger.
Footsteps echoed across the mountainside.
Dozens of Yan Family elders and disciples rushed into the clearing with drawn swords. Their expressions froze the moment they saw the sea of black qi surrounding Yan Hua.
"He's losing control..."
One disciple unconsciously stepped back.
Xue Mei turned sharply toward them.
"What are you waiting for?" she shouted. "Help me suppress him before it's too late!"
The elders exchanged grim looks before charging forward.
Streams of blue, gold, and emerald spiritual energy erupted into the sky. Formation seals spread beneath Yan Hua's feet as everyone poured their cultivation into the barrier.
For a brief moment...
The demonic aura weakened.
The darkness around Yan Hua shrank little by little.
Several disciples sighed in relief.
"We're succeeding."
But Yan Hua's fingers suddenly twitched.
A deep, unnatural laugh echoed from his throat.
"Heh..."
The sound wasn't his.
His head slowly lifted.
When his eyes opened, the familiar warmth inside them had vanished. Endless crimson replaced them, glowing like fresh blood beneath the moonlight.
His lips curled into a cruel smile.
"You..." the voice that came from his mouth sounded ancient and hollow, as if countless demons were speaking at once. "You dare try to seal me?"
Boom!
The formation shattered.
Every spiritual seal exploded into fragments of light.
The terrifying wave of demonic qi blasted every cultivator backward.
"No!"
Xue Mei's face turned deathly pale.
"It's awakened!"
Fear unlike anything she had ever experienced gripped her heart.
"Everyone run!" she screamed. "His consciousness has been consumed by the demonic blood!"
But it was already too late.
Yan Hua slowly raised one hand.
Black mist gathered above his palm, twisting into a gigantic demonic hand covered in ancient crimson runes.
The air screamed.
The giant palm descended.
"CRACK!"
A disciple didn't even have time to cry out before his head burst apart beneath the enormous hand.
Blood splashed across the shattered earth.
Another disciple tried to escape.
The black hand swept sideways.
Bones snapped.
His body folded unnaturally before crashing lifelessly onto the ground.
Panic exploded throughout the battlefield.
"Run!"
"It's a demon!"
"We can't stop him!"
The remaining disciples scattered in every direction.
But the demonic hand followed them like a predator hunting frightened prey.
One body after another fell.
Screams echoed across the valley.
The scent of blood quickly filled the air.
Xue Mei's hands trembled.
She had never imagined the gentle young man she knew could become such a terrifying existence.
No...
This wasn't Yan Hua anymore.
Something ancient had awakened inside him.
Something that should never have existed in this world.
If this monster escaped into the mortal realm...
Entire kingdoms would vanish overnight.
Villages would become rivers of blood.
Millions would die.
A painful determination filled her eyes.
"If my life is the price..."
She slowly formed a forbidden hand seal.
Brilliant white light burst from her dantian.
Her spiritual core began burning.
The immense power caused cracks to spread beneath her feet.
She intended to sacrifice her cultivation...
And if necessary...
Her life.
Just as she was about to release the sealing technique—
A deep metallic clang echoed across the heavens.
Chains rattled.
The overwhelming demonic pressure froze.
Every survivor instinctively looked toward the sky.
A lone figure descended from the clouds.
He appeared to be around sixty years old, his presence ancient and majestic. Long silver-black hair flowed behind him despite the absence of wind. He wore black armor engraved with crimson demonic runes that pulsed faintly beneath the moonlight.
One of his eyes glowed crimson like burning blood.
The other shone silver, calm and emotionless.
Resting across his shoulder was a massive chained guandao. Its dark blade radiated an oppressive aura, while countless ancient talismans covered the weapon's handle.
The legendary Soul Executioner.
The old man landed silently.
The earth beneath his feet remained perfectly intact, yet the violent demonic storm around Yan Hua instantly quieted.
His mismatched eyes studied Yan Hua without surprise.
"So..." he murmured. "The forbidden bloodline has finally awakened."
He slowly raised one hand.
A crimson and silver seal bloomed beneath the heavens.
"Demon Suppression Seal."
The ancient characters spun through the air before crashing onto Yan Hua's body.
The furious black qi struggled violently.
Countless demonic faces emerged from the darkness, screaming in hatred as if resisting imprisonment.
Then—
Everything collapsed inward.
The endless demonic energy disappeared as though it had never existed.
Silence returned to the mountain.
Yan Hua's crimson eyes faded back to black.
His unconscious body fell from the sky.
"Yan Hua!"
Xue Mei leaped forward, catching him just before he struck the ground. His body felt cold, yet his heartbeat remained steady.
She let out a shaky breath of relief.
He was alive.
But when she looked up and saw the old man's expression, the hope in her heart slowly disappeared.
She recognized that armor.
She recognized the Soul Executioner.
Only one force possessed both.
The Cultivation Judgment Hall.
No matter where one fled...
No matter how powerful one became...
Once marked by the Judgment Hall, there was no escape.
Holding the unconscious Yan Hua tightly in her arms, Xue Mei closed her eyes.
She already knew his fate.
From this moment onward, the Judgment Hall would never stop hunting him.
- Writer
