The air inside the cavern was thick with the stench of blood and despair. Hua Lianxin was dragged forward, his body feigning weakness, but his mind sharp and calculating. As they pushed him closer to the sacrificial altar, his eyes fell on Lin Changsheng. She was confined in a black cage, her body battered and bleeding, her once radiant presence reduced to a fragile shadow of itself. The sight ignited a fire within him—a rage he hadn’t felt since the night his family was torn from him.

  Her half-closed eyes fluttered open as she sensed his presence. "Hua... is that you?" she whispered, her voice faint and trembling. "Why did you come back?"

  Hua Lianxin knelt beside the cage, his voice steady despite the storm raging within him. "I’m sorry for being late, for letting you suffer this much."

  Lin Changsheng’s lips curved into a weak, bittersweet smile. "Fool... you can’t defeat them," she murmured, her words laced with both affection and despair.

  "Don’t worry," Hua Lianxin replied, his tone resolute. "I’ll rescue you, no matter what it takes."

  Her smile deepened, though her tears glistened. "Fool... you’re really a fool," she whispered, her voice fading.

  Before he could respond, a commanding voice echoed through the cavern. "Boy, you are truly brave to return here," Elder Feng Zhaoyang said, stepping forward with an air of authority. His gaze bore into Hua Lianxin, a mixture of amusement and disdain flickering in his eyes.

  Hua Lianxin’s heart sank. He realized immediately that Feng Zhaoyang had seen through his plan. The elder’s smirk widened as he continued, "Did you really think you could fool a Supreme Elder with centuries of experience?"

  Hua Lianxin’s lips curled into a defiant grin. "Ah, yes. Centuries of experience... as a dog for others," he retorted, his words dripping with venom.

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  Feng Zhaoyang’s expression darkened, his pride wounded. "Sacrifice him first," he barked, his voice cold and unyielding.

  The cultists obeyed, dragging Hua Lianxin toward the blood well. He didn’t resist—this was exactly what he had planned. As they pushed him into the crimson pool, the cavern fell silent. The blood rippled, and for a moment, it seemed as though Hua Lianxin had been consumed by the ritual.

  Lin Changsheng’s eyes widened in horror. "Hua!" she screamed, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face. Her anguish was palpable, her body trembling as she clung to the bars of her cage. A single tear fell from her left eye, glistening like a shard of her shattered heart.

  And then, the seal broke.

  The monstrous roar that followed shook the cavern to its core. The demon, once bound by the blood magic circle, was now free. Its massive form towered over the cultists, its eyes burning with unbridled fury. The nearest cult members barely had time to react before the demon tore through them, its claws slicing through flesh and bone with terrifying ease.

  Lin Changsheng, still paralyzed by grief, watched as the demon turned its gaze toward her. Its massive frame lunged forward, its claws poised to strike. She closed her eyes, accepting what she believed to be her end.

  But the blow never came.

  In a blur of motion, Hua Lianxin appeared, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her from the cage. His **10 Thousand Movement Technique** propelled them through the air, his speed unmatched as he carried her out of the cavern. The wind rushed past them, but Lin Changsheng could only stare at him, her mind struggling to comprehend what had just happened.

  "You’re alive," she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief and relief. A small, fragile smile graced her lips as tears welled in her eyes.

  Hua Lianxin didn’t respond. He landed in the cave where he had hidden before, gently placing her down. He rummaged through his belongings, pulling out herbs to treat her wounds. "Stay here," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

  "Wait? Why? Where are you going?" Lin Changsheng asked, her voice laced with both fear and concern.

  Hua Lianxin’s eyes burned with determination. "I’m going to kill them all—the demon, the cult members, their leader, and Feng Zhaoyang."

  Her eyes widened in alarm. "No! You can’t! They’re too powerful. We have a chance to escape—don’t throw it away!"

  But Hua Lianxin shook his head. "They’ve killed thousands of innocents just to gain power. Feng Zhaoyang betrayed the Verdant Wood Sect, and they dared to torture you like this." His voice cracked with emotion as he added, "Look at your condition. You’re more injured than I am."

  Before she could protest further, he vanished, his **10 Thousand Movement Technique** propelling him toward the cavern with lightning speed. The storm of vengeance in his heart was unstoppable.

  And thus, the chapter ends.