Chapter 1199: Demonic Aura

In the valley, Xiao Ran's injuries fully healed, his aura was mighty, the sword intent of the peak of early Void Refinement condensed into his body, yet appeared even more profound. The joy on his face gradually settled, turning into a complex solemnity.

He looked at Han Wuxian, his gaze bearing honesty and a hint of relief.

"Brother Han," Xiao Ran began, his voice much steadier, "thanks to you and senior brother, I could be reborn. I will forever remember this debt."

Han Wuxian gave a slight nod, "It's my duty. It seems your recent tribulation has hidden circumstances behind it."

Xiao Ran inhaled deeply, nodded, "Indeed. My previous injuries, and being pursued by the Mysterious Gen Dao, truly have nothing to do with Grey Mist Yanluo Yan Buji."

Wang Tie, standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief while growing more curious.

Xiao Ran continued, "This matter originated three years ago, when I explored an ancient ruin called 'Falling Star Hall' in the far western part of the Nan Ting Mountain Region. Deep within that hall, I did not find any sword technique fragments, but inadvertently triggered an ancient sealed altar."

A trace of lingering dread flashed in his eyes, "Beneath that altar lies sealed a strand of exceedingly pure yet filled with dead silence and destructive will—the demonic aura! Its nature is icy and poisonous, far surpassing ordinary demonic energy, and it carries a greed that seems to devour all vitality!"

"The demonic aura invaded my Nascent Soul, nearly turning me into a demon on the spot. Only after exhausting all my strength could I temporarily suppress it and escape the Falling Star Hall. Yet that aura, like maggots in a bone, continuously eroded my foundational cultivation, causing my realm to fall and my injuries to worsen."

"Mysterious Gen Dao…" Xiao Ran snorted coldly, "They are not after any sword technique. The head of the Mysterious Gen Dao somehow learned that I was tainted by the demonic aura and attempted to capture me alive, to study and even draw upon that aura for his twisted 'Mysterious Yin Sha Technique'! That method is already inclined toward yin evil, and it covets this demonic aura greatly!"

Han Wuxian's gaze tightened, "Demonic aura? Where does it originate?" His heart stirred; the description resembled the Silence Extinction power he knew, yet differed, being more violent and chaotic.

Xiao Ran shook his head, "I don't know. The Falling Star Hall is ancient beyond measure, certainly not built by cultivators of this realm. That demonic aura also differs vastly from any energy of this world. I suspect… perhaps it is a remnant of an outer‑realm heavenly demon, or some older, sealed evil existence."

He paused, looked at Han Wuxian, his expression becoming exceedingly solemn, "Brother Han, the reason I mentioned Grey Mist Yanluo and Miss Yan Xirou is not to shift blame, but because of another matter of utmost importance!"

"During the process of being eroded by the demonic aura and struggling to suppress it, my spirit briefly and painfully merged with it, glimpsing fragmented, broken scenes…" Xiao Ran's complexion turned pale, as if recalling something terribly terrifying.

"I saw… endless grey mist… a twisted palace… and atop the palace throne, a figure shrouded in grey mist, its aura terrifying… Though vague, I could feel that it was Grey Mist Yanluo Yan Buji!"

"And within those fragments, I also sensed… Miss Yan Xirou's aura! She seemed to be near that palace; her aura… was peculiar, as if guarded by some force, yet also bearing an indescribable… sadness and sense of restraint?"

"What unsettles me even more is that the strand of demonic aura within me, upon sensing Grey Mist Yanluo's aura, exhibited a strange… 'excitement' and 'longing'? It seemed… as if it had encountered a higher‑tier being of the same origin, wanting to submit yet also to devour!"

Han Wuxian furrowed his brows. The demonic aura reacts to Grey Mist Yanluo? Yan Xirou's aura appears in Grey Mist Yanluo's palace, in a strange state?

The amount of information is massive, and utterly perplexing.

Xiao Ran gave a wry smile, "I know this information is chaotic and hard to verify. Yet I have a strong premonition that the demonic aura on my body likely has some unknown connection with Grey Mist Yanluo! And Miss Yan Xirou's situation may not be as simple as we imagine."

"The reason I hadn't been fully frank before is twofold: first, the demonic aura is of great significance and its source is bizarre, and I feared endangering you; second, the fragments concerning Grey Mist Yanluo and Yan Xirou were too vague, and I feared misleading judgment. But now, Brother Han has returned, his cultivation reaching the heavens, and I am deeply grateful for the life‑saving favor; how could I still conceal anything?"

He looked at Han Wuxian, his eyes clear and sincere, "Brother Han, this is all I know. Going to Zhong Tian Zhi Yu is both to seek the root of the demonic aura within me and find a complete solution, and to uncover the relationship between Grey Mist Yanluo and the demonic aura, and also… to locate Miss Yan Xirou, to ascertain her true situation. Whether she is good or evil, willing or forced, we need an answer."

Han Wuxian remained silent for a moment, carefully digesting Xiao Ran's words. This time, Xiao Ran's account was logically clear and much more candid, making the uncertainty and confusion feel more genuine. Especially the possible link between the demonic aura and Grey Mist Yanluo heightened Han Wuxian's vigilance.

The power of Silence Extinction, the demonic aura, the Way of Desire… Though these forces appear different, might they share a common core? And what role does Grey Mist Yanluo Yan Buji play within it?

Yan Xirou… her situation seems more complicated than imagined.

"I understand," Han Wuxian said slowly.

"Wait, Brother Han," Xiao Ran suddenly spoke, pulling out a very rustic, slightly cracked black metal fragment and handing it to Han Wuxian, "I found this near the altar in the Falling Star Hall; its material is unique and can faintly sense the demonic aura. Perhaps… it will aid in tracing the clues."

Han Wuxian took the fragment; it was ice‑cold to the touch, and his spirit sense swept over it, indeed detecting a faint trace of the same origin aura as Xiao Ran's. He nodded and stored the fragment away.