Chapter 075: Truly Worthy of the Commander

This is not an exaggeration—demonic energy truly is this domineering!

Nightmares caused by the invasion of demonic energy may wake or startle someone if the amount is scant, but if there is more, it can literally scare a person to death. Just like when one suffers a deviation while training: if only a small amount of demonic energy enters the body, the worst outcome might be coughing up blood or some internal injury. But if the quantity is high, the backlash can send blood surging to the brain, resulting in brain death on the spot.

And to die in such a manner is already considered a fortunate outcome.

The truly terrifying ones are those whose consciousness is wiped out by an overwhelming invasion of demonic energy, yet their bodies remain alive! These soulless shells have a specific name—Demonized Ones.

Because of the excessive demonic energy, their very flesh mutates, and every Demonized One becomes monstrously terrifying. Any single professional martial artist who encounters one is usually left with no choice but to flee. Only martial artists of Master rank or above can face them head-on and annihilate them, dissolving the demonic energy with their own “Qi Armor.”

Yes, though monsters are fearsome and most firearms prove useless against them, a martial artist’s “Qi Armor” is the bane of demonic energy—the two can dissolve each other upon contact.

For this reason, when confronted with demonic energy, a professional martial artist can ward it off with their “Qi Armor,” preventing it from invading their bodies. As for how long they can maintain this defense, it depends on the value of their vital energy and blood. Someone with 300 units of vital energy can certainly endure much longer than someone with only 100.

Including their leader Lin Huafeng, the “Madman” mercenary company had twelve professional martial artists; five of them had come on this expedition. Had they been on guard from the start, activating their “Qi Armor,” none of the five would have succumbed to the demonic energy’s invasion.

The problem was that no one expected that this so-called “safe stronghold” had once been visited by monsters!

Fortunately, the residue of demonic energy left behind was exceedingly thin. Most of the time, demonic energy appears as a black mist visible to the naked eye, but when it’s too sparse, it becomes imperceptible. Moreover, by the time Tang Mubai and his party arrived, night had already fallen. The demonic energy inside the stronghold was hidden from the reach of electric lights, and smokeless candles wouldn’t reveal its presence either. As a result, everyone was affected. Even the two night watchmen were not spared, nearly succumbing to illusions in their drowsiness.

“From now on, no one sleeps, and no more training,” Lin Huafeng said in a grave tone after the shock had subsided.

“No sleep or training is fine,” Tang Mubai replied with a frown, “but what if the demonic energy in the cave continues to invade?”

“It shouldn’t,” Lin Huafeng shook his head. “There wasn’t much demonic energy left here to begin with. It was already sparse, and now that everyone has absorbed a bit, there’s almost none left. Even if there’s another wave, it won’t be enough to affect everyone.”

“Makes sense,” Tang Mubai nodded, and the others had no objections.

“So, from now on, everyone needs to look out for each other. If anyone starts acting strange, shout out immediately!” Lin Huafeng warned.

“Understood!” The group replied, still shaken.

With demonic energy lingering in the cave and night cloaking the world outside, everyone had to steel themselves. Even the five professional martial artists refrained from maintaining their “Qi Armor,” waiting instead for dawn.

True, they could have hidden inside their “Qi Armor” and been safe from invasion, but maintaining the shield consumed vital energy. A reserve of 100 units could keep “Qi Armor” running for about ten minutes. Among them, Lin Huafeng, the highest-ranked, was only at Professional Grade Eight, able to maintain his shield for a little over an hour at most.

Tang Mubai checked the time—barely two in the morning. There were at least three hours to go before sunrise! Whether Lin Huafeng maintained his defense or not, it made little difference.

All they could do was wait.

Fortunately, just as Lin Huafeng had said, the demonic energy was so faint it could be ignored. The group of over twenty kept watch on each other until dawn, and no one else succumbed.

As the first light of morning bathed the forests, the group hastily left the stronghold, driving away at high speed. Not until they had put five miles between themselves and the site did anyone breathe a sigh of relief.

“I’ve been on expeditions so many times, but this is my first encounter with lingering demonic energy.”

“Same here. The region outside Hongye City hasn’t seen monsters in a decade. No monsters, no demonic energy, naturally.”

“Who would have thought—monsters are rare, but every appearance spells disaster.”

“Chief, you figured out it was demonic energy so quickly last night. Don’t tell me you’ve actually seen a monster before?”

Voices buzzed over the intercom, some probing, some jesting, and someone finally turned to Lin Huafeng for an answer. Tang Mubai, hearing this, instinctively listened more closely.

“I have seen one,” Lin Huafeng said softly.

“What, you really have?”

“Chief, you’re amazing—to have survived an encounter with a monster!”

“No wonder you’re the chief, you’re incredible!”

The group erupted in banter, and even Tang Mubai couldn’t help but smile.

“You lot, trying to make a joke at my expense—are you looking for trouble?” Lin Huafeng laughed and cursed. “You fools, if we hadn’t been lucky, we’d have all perished last night!”

“Heh, but we didn’t, Chief. Quick, tell us about the monster you saw back then—what was it like?”

“Yeah, don’t change the subject, Chief. Tell us about the monster!”

Several lively “Madman” mercenaries urged him on.

“Uncle Lin, do share your story with us. Let us broaden our horizons,” Tang Mubai chimed in.

“Very well,” Lin Huafeng sighed, his tone wistful. “About twenty years ago, when I was still young, I, your father Xiao Bai, and five others represented the Canghe Martial School in a tournament in Domain Twenty-Nine. During an expedition hunt, we encountered a monster. If not for a Grandmaster traveling with us, none of us would have survived...”

As Lin Huafeng recounted his tale, the convoy slowly reached its destination—a mountain valley at the entrance of which grew iron peach blossoms.

Standing at the entrance and surveying the valley with binoculars, they found the terrain inside complex, the elevations varying greatly. Lin Huafeng had two people stay behind to watch the vehicles, and led the rest on foot into the valley.

The Martial Association knew of the iron peach blossoms thanks to aerial reconnaissance by military drones. As for what dangers lurked inside the valley, or whether nonhuman creatures resided there, no one could say for sure.

For this reason, as Lin Huafeng led the group into the valley, he reminded everyone to stay alert, keeping their guns ready. Their portable life detectors remained switched on at all times.

According to the scant information available, the iron peach blossoms grew in the northeast of the valley, with the entrance to the southwest. This meant Tang Mubai and the others would have to cross most of the valley to reach their goal, with any number of unknown dangers along the way.

As the leader of the “Miracle” mercenary company, Tang Mubai walked at the front with Lin Huafeng. The initial journey into the valley was uneventful; no sudden attacks befell them.

But as they neared the center of the valley and a vast sea of flowers appeared ahead, Tang Mubai’s face suddenly changed dramatically!