Chapter 774: The Aura of Darkness

Ye Jingtian gripped his Purple and Azure Twin Swords and entered the dark building with great caution; under normal circumstances, he would have simply slashed the building in half to see what lay inside.

But this was a Survival Base, and he had no conclusive evidence proving Zhang Tianxing was a traitor, so he dared not act rashly—he had to uncover the truth first.

Yet the moment he stepped inside, he felt something was terribly wrong.

The place was pitch-black, deep, and eerily empty, like entering an unknown dimension, giving off an unreal sensation, and thick with a strange odor.

Blood? Or corpse stench?

Unclear—but the environment was sealed off, isolated from the outside world.

Even though Ye Jingtian's eyes glowed with night vision, he still could not see clearly; the darkness here was not mere absence of light, but a strange force that obscured vision—even a cultivator of his caliber was affected.

No choice.

Ye Jingtian raised his hand and slashed with his Azure Sword, unleashing a blade of light that instantly tore open a corner of the darkness, revealing the true scene within.

And with just one glance, Ye Jingtian's face turned pale.

The walls of the building were covered in swollen, crimson flesh like tumors, pulsing faintly as if alive; from the darkness, grotesque tentacles grew forth, hanging like vines.

Perhaps Ye Jingtian's strike had disturbed the building, for the tentacles now began slithering toward him, each tip bearing a pair of jet-black eyes.

The eyes turned, fixing on Ye Jingtian, radiating monstrous malice.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed such a horrifying thing could exist within a Survival Base—yet despite sixth-generation AI surveillance, it had gone undetected for so long.

"What has Zhang Tianxing become now? He's probably not even human anymore." Ye Jingtian realized: Zhang Tianxing was likely not a spy, but controlled by some strange force, powerless to resist.

Or perhaps he had been parasitized by some evil entity.

But there was no time to ponder it now.

This grotesque abomination had to be eradicated today—if left unchecked, the entire base would be doomed.

Fortunately, Li Yi's case had drawn his attention and led him here; otherwise, no one might have suspected Zhang Tianxing for years—his record was too flawless.

He had joined the Golden Academy early, fought in cross-dimensional battles, and even recently joined forces to slay a great demon.

Such a man looked like a loyal citizen of Earth—with no conceivable motive for betrayal.

Ye Jingtian now channeled the cosmic energy within him; his Purple and Azure Twin Swords erupted in twin brilliant blades of light, soaring upward, tearing through the darkness and illuminating the entire building.

The blade-light did not fade—it grew even larger, as if determined to consume the whole structure.

Beneath the light, the grotesque tentacles were instantly shredded into dust, not a trace remaining; all that remained was to unleash the blades at their peak and erase everything here.

"Ye Jingtian, why are you destroying my home? Do you intend to kill me?" A cold voice echoed from deep within the building, thick with hostility.

It was Zhang Tianxing's voice.

"Zhang Tianxing, look at what you've done—are you still human? Show yourself. I'll tear off your mask and see what you truly are." Ye Jingtian roared.

A blade of light veered sharply toward the source of the voice.

"Die." Zhang Tianxing, hidden in the darkness, roared back and unleashed a devastating strike, aiming to shatter the Purple and Azure blade-light.

BOOM!

The clash between two S-rank authorized experts unleashed astonishing shockwaves.

Instantly, the dark building was ripped open in multiple places.

Thick blood seeped from the tumor-like walls, and the commotion spread rapidly throughout the Survival Base.

Instantly.

Alarms blared again, jolting everyone in the base awake.

Yet many did not panic.

This was not the first time—last time, a great demon had invaded near the base, and they had barely survived. The people of the Survival Base had developed some resilience to disasters.

With the disturbance now underway,

the base's top experts all mobilized at once.

"Fighting inside the city? Did Li Yi clash with someone again? No—that power is Ye Jingtian's Purple and Azure Twin Swords, and there's Zhang Tianxing's aura too—they're fighting each other."

Li Yugang, just rushing out of his quarters, was stunned.

He had assumed it was Li Yi—after all, Li Yi had done this before—but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't.

"Ye Jingtian and Zhang Tianxing—the two least likely to fight—are clashing? What's happened?" Other experts were equally bewildered, but since the fight was happening inside the base, everyone had to unite and stop it.

If these two continued unchecked, the Survival Base would be destroyed.

The power of experts was too great—no place could withstand such destruction.

"Li Yi, Ye Jingtian found the traitor—come quickly." At the same time, Su Mu sent Li Yi a message upon seeing the scene, though he wondered if it was already too late.

After all, the fight had erupted so suddenly.

Normally, Ye Jingtian would investigate thoroughly before organizing a siege, ensuring absolute certainty.

Meanwhile, in Li Yi's quarters, radiant light blazed and colorful aura swirled; a Primordial Spirit manifestation sat upon a lotus throne, forming a divine seal, solemn and majestic—but as the commotion reached him,

the Primordial Spirit manifestation slowly opened its eyes, gazing toward the battle.

Li Yi was cultivating, not dead—he naturally sensed the massive disturbance.

But unlike others, he caught a familiar scent.

Evil. Strange. Dark.

"The aura of a demon god from the Dark World."

Upon sensing this, Li Yi's Primordial Spirit manifestation dissolved instantly; he stepped upon auspicious clouds, clad in Crimson-Gold and Purple Feather Armor, wielding the Shattered Star Spear, and shot out without hesitation.

Whoever the enemy was—if they were a demon god of the Dark World, they must be eradicated.

That thing was too strange—he had suffered greatly before; had it not been for Xuan Yuezi's aid, he would have died in that Dark World.

"Those with insufficient strength—stand back! Don't come near and die! This is the aura of a demon god from the Dark World—stronger than a great demon!" He did not hesitate, roaring like Long Hu, shaking the entire Survival Base.

Li Yi intended to take decisive control of the battlefield and eliminate the threat.

Others, sensing Li Yi's terrifying aura, paled and immediately cleared space.

Not a single one dared underestimate him merely because he was an A-rank authorized cultivator.

The spear in his hand—just a single tremor—seemed ready to rend the heavens; anyone with eyes could see: Li Yi was not to be trifled with.

(End of Chapter)