Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

The great battle at Qingmo City had ended. The two conflicts had brought a tremendous shock to the martial artists of the Qing and Mo Provinces.

However, the consequences of this battle were also extremely severe.

Su Han had slain Su Tian, deepening the feud with Qin Wushuang and the Heavenly Demon Cult to the point of no return.

But that was not the main issue. The real concern was his relationship with the Seven Stars Sect. This time, by defeating Zi Qiong, he had essentially offended Zi Qiong, Ye Chuanfeng, and the Tian Lou Saint.

Previously, Ye Chuanfeng had been disingenuous with Su Han, but after this, all pretenses would likely be dropped. With Su Han’s current strength, he was temporarily unable to confront Ye Chuanfeng directly. This also meant that his situation in the Seven Stars Sect would become extremely dangerous.

Rather than returning to the Seven Stars Sect, Lei Ming had brought Su Han to a remote, seldom-visited forest.

”Su Han, you can’t go back to the Seven Stars Sect,” Lei Ming said urgently. ”Ye Chuanfeng will certainly try to harm you. You must leave Qingzhou at once. The farther you go, the better.”

Lei Ming reached out and pulled three Supreme Thunder Pearls from his Storage Ring. He had created them with painstaking effort, and each was equivalent to one of his full-powered strikes.

Su Han had found the Jade Spirit Holy Ginseng for him, which had allowed his injuries to heal significantly and extended his lifespan by thirty years. This was why he had been able to create these three Supreme Thunder Pearls, which he had prepared as life-saving treasures for Su Han.

”Master, the Seven Stars Sect is now full of Ye Chuanfeng’s loyalists. It’s too dangerous for you to go back. Let’s leave together,” Su Han said.

Su Han was no fool and could analyze the situation as well as anyone. Still, he had no regrets. He would never want the kind of strength and status Ye Chuanfeng had obtained through such groveling.

Now that Lu Yunxian and Ning Feifan had left, the only person Su Han truly cared for in the Seven Stars Sect was Lei Ming.

”Let me tell you a story,” Lei Ming said, smiling as he began.

”There was a boy who was abandoned by his parents and would have frozen to death in the icy wilderness, but someone found him and brought him home.

”The boy survived, but he suffered from an innate illness that left him weak and frequently brought him to death’s door. Yet, he not only pulled through but was even cured of his condition, all because he had a good master.

”This master not only took the boy in but treated him as his own son, protecting and nurturing him. He even risked his life multiple times to obtain a Holy Medicine to cure the boy. In the process, he sustained injuries so grave that his own life was cut short, and he passed away three years later, leaving the boy all alone.”

Lei Ming’s story was short and not particularly spectacular, but Su Han could hear the deep gratitude and profound bond within it.

Su Han didn’t need to guess who the story was about. The boy was clearly Lei Ming, and the master must have been the previous Peak Master of Yaoguang Peak.

”My master’s kindness to me was as immense as a mountain. After he died, I cremated him and scattered his ashes on Yaoguang Peak. To me, the Seven Stars Sect isn’t important, but Yaoguang Peak is my only home.

”So I cannot leave with you. I must go back and protect Yaoguang Peak, forever and always!”

Lei Ming’s temper might be fiery, but his gratitude for that kindness was the most powerful bond in his life.

Even if the Seven Stars Sect was destroyed, even if Yaoguang Peak was ruined, he would not leave. This was his conviction and his resolve.

Hearing Lei Ming’s story, Su Han understood that getting his master to leave with him was impossible, yet he was still worried.

”Don’t worry. After all, I am a Supreme Realm expert and the Peak Master of Yaoguang Peak. No matter how powerful Ye Chuanfeng is, he can’t do much to me,” Lei Ming assured him.

”I’ve taken many disciples in my life, but you are the one I am most proud of. With your innate gifts, your future is limitless. One day, I might even need your help. You are a man. There’s no need to be so indecisive. Go on. Your life is just beginning.”

With that, Lei Ming transformed into a bolt of Thunder Light and swiftly departed, not giving Su Han a chance to speak further.

Watching Lei Ming leave, a warm current flowed through Su Han’s heart.

Wang Tianqing had never shown him any fatherly affection, but it was Lei Ming who had often given him a sense of a father’s love. How could he not respect such a master!

A teacher for a day, a father for a lifetime. Master, I will not let you down! Su Han knelt on both knees and kowtowed three times in the direction Lei Ming had disappeared.

A man does not kneel lightly, but Su Han knelt to Lei Ming with all his heart.

WHOOSH!

Soon after, Su Han’s figure flickered, and he quickly left the dense forest, disappearing without a trace.

***

「Seven Stars Sect.」

After returning, Lei Ming went straight to Yaoguang Peak, indifferent to everything else.

He did not seek anyone out, but Ye Chuanfeng came looking for him.

”Where is Su Han?”

Ye Chuanfeng’s face was grim, his eyes burning as he stared at Lei Ming.

Previously, he had been preoccupied with Zi Qiong’s safety and rushed her back to the Seven Stars Sect, giving no thought to Su Han or Lei Ming. But now that her injuries were stabilized and her life was out of danger, his thoughts turned back to Su Han.

He had originally planned to present Su Han as a gift to the Tian Lou Saint. Now, that plan was in ruins. He might even be implicated in the affair and punished by the Saint. Therefore, he had to find Su Han. It was the only way to atone for this failure and restore his standing with the Tian Lou Saint.

”He’s gone,” Lei Ming said flatly, not bothering to rise.

”Gone?” Ye Chuanfeng’s voice shot up, his eyes widening as he glared at Lei Ming. He knew instantly that this must have been Lei Ming’s doing.

”Then why did you come back?” Ye Chuanfeng’s tone turned icy and indifferent, devoid of any emotion.

”This is my home. Why shouldn’t I come back?” Lei Ming, who already disliked Ye Chuanfeng, was not a man to bow his head.

”Your home? Fine. In that case, you can stay here forever. It doesn’t matter that Su Han is gone. With you here, I’m sure he’ll be back sooner or later.”

A cold light flashed in Ye Chuanfeng’s eyes. With a wave of his hand, the Seven Stars Sword appeared. It descended in a pillar of starlight, slashing down in a single strike.

Ye Chuanfeng was a master of the Supreme Realm Ninth Layer, while Lei Ming was merely at the Third Layer. Against such power, compounded by the Semi-Holy Artifact that was the Seven Stars Sword, Lei Ming stood no chance. His right arm was severed in an instant.

Then Ye Chuanfeng continued his assault, raining down a torrent of Sword Radiance that left Lei Ming grievously wounded and collapsed on the ground.

”By the Big Dipper’s Heavenly Might, Seven Stars Seal! Junior Brother Lei, you can just stay here and get comfortable!”

Ye Chuanfeng activated the Big Dipper Formation, suppressing and sealing Lei Ming just as he had done with the Taiyin Demon Venerable. He then drove the Seven Stars Sword into the ground on Yaoguang Peak, using its power to fortify the seal and ensure Su Han could not break the formation to rescue him.

Su Han, you can’t escape!

Ye Chuanfeng turned and left, burning his bridges completely.

Soon, a message spread from within the Seven Stars Sect:

”Su Han has turned demonic and betrayed the sect. A Demon-Slaying Order is now issued, commanding all within Qingzhou to hunt for Su Han and eradicate the demonic menace!”