After Chen Tian dealt with Wang Yuan, only Tian Wuzi and another guard remained. He decided to take care of the other guard first, leaving Tian Wuzi for later. The sky began to darken, as Chen Tian had planned. Daytime was over, and at night, he would condense his Starlight Body, making it easy to kill Tian Wuzi. Everything was proceeding according to Chen Tian's calculations.
Although Chen Tian had lost his calculation abilities, his thinking capacity remained. He precisely timed the arrival of night, then left the alley. The vine-covered wall at the alley's exit closed behind him, and Chen Tian vanished into the maze. Meanwhile, Tian Wuzi sensed the presence of the wall, but no matter how hard he tried, his full power was unable to break it.
It seemed as if the vine wall was indestructible; even his trump cards had no effect. Tian Wuzi began to feel a sense of fear. As darkness fell, a peculiar sensation spread deep within him, but it was fleeting, and he dismissed it, thinking he was just cold.
Continuing through the maze, Chen Tian followed the information conveyed by the vine's aura. The remaining person was just ahead. The vine walls not only served to isolate them but also allowed Chen Tian to read information by touching them. The entire vine forest maze had been grown by Chen Tian using wood element catalysis. As the absolute lord of this domain, he had access to all information. The movements of his target were as clear to him as if they had a tracker.
Chen Tian approached a vine wall, and before it stood a youth. Indeed, the last guard was a young boy. However, Chen Tian sensed something different about him compared to the other guards. He looked at the youth, who felt a presence behind him and turned around, spotting Chen Tian. A smile played on his lips as he said, "Kid, it's you! I didn't expect you to walk right into my trap. I won't be polite."
His eyes held a strange gaze directed at Chen Tian. Chen Tian sensed something was amiss; this youth was no ordinary guard. Chen Tian observed the youth, who, named Lin Yun, showed no fear. His aura erupted, matching Tian Wuzi's in intensity.
Chen Tian hadn't anticipated that the deepest hidden threat would be one of Tian Wuzi's guards. Black energy billowed from Lin Yun's body towards the sky. Chen Tian's expression turned cold as he demanded, "Where did you come into contact with the evil spirit aura? Speak!"
Chen Tian's instincts were correct; that black aura was from the Evil Spirit race. This meant the youth had been assimilated by the evil spirit energy, though not severely. Yet, Chen Tian couldn't recall any seals or the presence of the Evil Spirit race in the North Yuan Continent. Where had this evil spirit aura originated?
Chen Tian knew he had to find out, or the North Yuan Continent would become a desolate world. From the memories he had acquired, he knew the terror of the Evil Spirit race. They were merely expelled primordial energies, initially formless, and only gained form by assimilating all things.
The Evil Spirit race could manifest as plants, animals, humans, or demonic beasts. As long as they were assimilated by the primordial evil spirit energy, eventually, they would be completely devoured and become true Evil Spirits. The youth before him hadn't been entirely consumed yet.
However, with the slight darkness in the youth's eyes, Chen Tian shook his head, "There are still Evil Spirits here. It seems the Evil Spirits are not as easy to deal with as I thought!"
Chen Tian took a step forward, leaving countless footprints. He approached Lin Yun and struck out with his palm. Lin Yun responded by forming his hands into claws and colliding with Chen Tian's palm. Both were forced back. Assimilated by the Evil Spirit race, Lin Yun's strength was comparable to Chen Tian's, his physical resilience matching Chen Tian's. They were evenly matched.
This was the terrifying power of the evil spirit aura; it enhanced all-around strength while assimilating. In their collision, Chen Tian's arm felt slightly numb. Although the clash appeared even, Chen Tian was actually at a slight disadvantage. Had he not managed to dissipate Lin Yun's force at the last moment, his arm would have been crippled.
Lin Yun still seemed to possess some reason, chuckling coldly, "Let me devour you, devour you, and I can become stronger!"
Lin Yun's strength entirely stemmed from the Evil Spirit race's assimilation and devouring power. Upon witnessing Chen Tian's strength, he had harbored the desire to devour him. If he could devour Chen Tian, his strength would undoubtedly surge, potentially surpassing Tian Wuzi. Then, he could conveniently carry out his plans as a disciple of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion's master.
Dreams were beautiful, but reality was cruel.
Lin Yun's fate was now sealed. Chen Tian would not allow him to leave this vine maze alive. Such a person was a menace outside, and he could not be spared. Chen Tian unleashed his full power, his Starlight Body covering him. At night, under the starlight, the Starlight Body was at its most potent.
Chen Tian unleashed his fists, and starlight flowed like a river. His fists were like a galaxy, as if striking out a river of stars. Lin Yun's eyes narrowed, and he swung his claws in succession, tearing through the starlit river with black claw marks.
Chen Tian's figure suddenly appeared before Lin Yun. He raised his left leg for a knee strike. With a thud, Lin Yun's body shot upwards. Chen Tian unfurled his Starlight Wings behind him, his speed surpassing that of the airborne Lin Yun. He positioned himself above Lin Yun and rained down his fists.
Lin Yun's body plummeted towards the ground. The earth trembled. Because the battle had erupted in the sky, Tian Wuzi spotted Chen Tian's silhouette and was advancing towards his location. Tian Wuzi had underestimated the maze's difficulty and was still trying to navigate it.
On the ground, as the dust settled, Lin Yun, blood streaming from his mouth, looked at Chen Tian in shock. "You, how can you, cough, be so strong!"
"Tell me, where did you encounter the black aura? Speak!"
Chen Tian approached Lin Yun, looking down upon him as a divine king, ready to pass judgment.
Fear consumed Lin Yun. "I'll tell you, I'll tell you! I found it in the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion's secret realm. I obtained a bone, and when that black bone shattered, that aura entered my body. That's all I know. Spare me, spare me."
Chen Tian ignored Lin Yun's pleas. Such a person could not be spared. A traitor to humanity, even if not yet allied with the Evil Spirits, those who came into contact with their aura eventually became traitors, aiding the Evil Spirits in killing their own kind.
Chen Tian's hand, now wreathed in starlight, slashed down like a blade, instantly severing Lin Yun's head. He flicked his blood-stained hand, and the blood evaporated.
Chen Tian strode away, leaving only Tian Wuzi behind.
Tian Wuzi was still wandering the maze. Chen Tian's earlier display had given him a direction, preventing him from blindly stumbling. He had been heading north, changing course whenever he encountered a vine wall, and then reorienting himself northwards.
Chen Tian's voice suddenly echoed, "Are you looking for me?"
"It's you, kid! What did you do to my guards?"
Tian Wuzi knew Chen Tian's intention but still asked, just in case, perhaps someone had survived.