Ruan Yuan's heart sank.
She instinctively stepped back half a pace. Before her heel could touch the ground, a bone-chilling cold seeped out from deep within her bones without warning—as though something lurking in a corner beyond her sight had fixed its gaze upon her.
The feeling was unbearable, like a snake slithering up her spine, tightening inch by inch.
Before she even had time to turn around, she caught sight of a black figure from the corner of her eye.
The demonic cultivator had somehow appeared at her side. He was close enough for Ruan Yuan to see every savage demonic marking on his face, winding from the corners of his eyes to his jaw and writhing faintly with each breath. He smelled of rotten earth mixed with blood and scorched flesh, enough to churn her stomach.
Ruan Yuan's pupils abruptly contracted. Her body moved faster than her mind, darting sideways on instinct as she raised a hand and condensed a thin spiritual-energy barrier before herself—a flicker of pale pink light, like fragile ice that could shatter at any moment.
Too slow.
The demonic cultivator did not even make an extra move. With a casual wave of his hand, a lash of pitch-black demonic energy struck out, smashing her barrier to pieces with a sharp crack.
The aftermath swept mercilessly across her shoulder. Burning pain exploded through her as her robe tore open, and the exposed skin immediately blackened. Fine wisps of black qi rose from the edges as the flesh curled and split bit by bit.
Then it was swiftly absorbed and purified by the Demon-Subduing Bell hanging at her neck.
Ruan Yuan let out a muffled groan and staggered back several steps. Her foot slipped on loose gravel, and she nearly fell. The pain in her shoulder