Volume One: A Millennium of Streams Chapter 34: The Phantom in the Night

The defeat of Ma Yuhong was a bolt from the blue, striking terror into the hearts of every member of the Ma clan. His reputation as invincible among his peers had become a laughingstock, and he locked himself in his room, refusing to see anyone.

Ma Guanzheng did not fly into his usual violent rages. Instead, he was eerily calm, yet every member of the Ma clan knew that he had truly developed a murderous intent.

That evening, Sun Zikai was singled out for a mission—a task that should never have been assigned to him. Stamped with the sect master’s seal, it was forced upon him, bypassing the usual hierarchy.

The task was meant for the strongest disciple of the new generation, Ma Yuhong. He was to travel seven hundred miles to Lake Dor, meet with the strongest disciples of the same generation from the Heavenly Medicine Sect, Chixi Sect, Dongchen Sect, and Wu-Chen Sect, and join forces to slay the demonic beast, the Ghost-Horned Rhino, lurking in the Xia-Ke Mountains by the lake.

With the combined strength of the five sects, the task was not difficult. Moreover, a senior elder from the Chixi Sect would lead and protect them, making it a trial and an opportunity for the disciples of each sect to forge alliances.

Ma Dairan and Ma Guanzheng approached Cui Qingrui, arguing that since Sun Zikai had defeated Ma Yuhong, the latter was no longer qualified for the mission. They pushed hard for Sun Zikai to represent the sect.

Under pressure from the Ma clan, Cui Qingrui agreed. Fu Zhe pleaded with Cui Qingrui all night, as everyone understood that once Sun Zikai left the sect, anything could happen during the seven-hundred-mile journey. Even if he arrived at Lake Dor unscathed, having missed the previous meetings between the sects, he would likely be isolated, which would be disadvantageous for the coming battle.

That night, Sun Zikai was summoned before Cui Qingrui and Fu Zhe. Contrary to their concerns, Sun Zikai appeared excited. Compared to the Ma clan, he was more desperate for an opportunity to be alone with them or to slaughter them. Ignoring the escape plans suggested by Fu Zhe and Cui Qingrui, he firmly accepted the mission.

The meeting was set for ten days later. Since Sun Zikai lacked the vast resources of the Ma clan and could only afford one horse, he had to set off as soon as possible, traveling steadily to reach his destination within the deadline.

That night, Fu Zhe, Wu Lanmu, and Cui Qingrui gathered to discuss countermeasures, but Sun Zikai did not say a word to anyone. He only met with Jiang Yujin once, then slipped away under the cover of darkness. Once clear of the sect, he followed the map and took to the road on horseback.

The Ma clan, however, had cast a dense surveillance net over him. Even his secret departure under the cover of night was entirely within their control.

After riding for thirty miles, Sun Zikai felt he was being followed closely. He stopped, tied his horse to a tree, dissipated his spiritual energy, and vanished into the darkness.

Soon, two figures appeared. One touched the horse’s back and said, "Why did his aura suddenly vanish?"

The other replied, "The brat is full of tricks; he’s no easy mark. Third Master ordered that we could kill him once he was thirty miles out. Search for him—kill him quickly to avoid future trouble."

A flash of cold light erupted, and a head flew into the air, landing perfectly in the other’s hand.

Only then did blood spray from the severed neck. The hot, steaming blood splashed onto the man, gradually awakening his senses from their long stupor.

"Who’s there!" the man shouted into the darkness.

He immediately gathered his spiritual energy to create light, but the light was swallowed and extinguished the moment it flickered into existence. He tried again and again, yet the darkness drew closer and closer to him.

Having refined his body three times with solar essence, Sun Zikai had finally grasped its properties: he could reverse the gathering of light and heat, plunging his surroundings into darkness and cold. It was a power tailor-made for him—a demon in the shadows, leaving no traces behind as the aura of fear silently spread.

The Ma clansman felt his terror intensify. The darkness before him was absolute, a chilling omen of his fate.

"Who are you! Who are you!" The man panicked, his heart hammering in his chest. He could not believe this was the work of a mere first-stage Qi-refining brat. "Are you trying to protect that kid? That can be arranged! I’ll leave, just please show some respect to the Ma clan of the Yanming Sect!"

A ghostly voice drifted from the darkness: "The Ma clan? Heh heh heh... do you want to live?"

In his terror, the man forgot to resist. "Yes! What are your terms?"

"Your life, in exchange for the lives of three Ma clansmen. Tell me, who are the three that deserve to die? Where are they?"

"Huh?" The man was dazed, failing to grasp Sun Zikai’s meaning. But in an instant, he felt a coolness on his right side. Turning to look, he saw only darkness. Reaching out, he discovered his right arm had been severed. He felt his strength draining away, his spiritual energy completely sapped, and his internal organs weakening as their vitality faded. The weight of his age and the frailty of his flesh brought him even greater terror in the face of the darkness and death.

"Brother, spare... spare me," the man pleaded bitterly. "I was only acting on orders. I won't kill the child anymore. Just let me go."

The voice in the darkness sounded raspy. "Three Ma clansmen for your life. This is your last chance. Heh heh heh heh..."

"Fine, fine..." The man hurriedly spat out three names and, under duress, revealed their identities and locations.

Sun Zikai mocked him, "Congratulations, lucky one. You may live."

The darkness gradually receded, and Sun Zikai rode the wind into the sky. The man saw the shadow in the air and cried out in fear, "A Golden Core powerhouse?"

Sun Zikai had no hint of spiritual energy left; he returned to the sect in silence, suppressing his energy to the absolute minimum and slowing his breath dozens of times over. In the dark of night, he was invisible.

One, two... by the time he killed the third Ma clansman, he still offered that person a chance to live. Thus, the man lived, but three more Ma clansmen were sentenced to death.

Fu Zhe had already fallen asleep. He dreamt of the blood-soaked child licking his blade, asking if he could kill just one more. He woke up with a start, got out of bed, and pushed open the window. There should have been a moon tonight, but where was the moonlight? He could only see a sea of darkness—a darkness he could almost touch.

A pair of feet touched the ground softly, and a door was pushed open slowly. Ma Dairan opened his eyes. He glanced at the door; he didn't have the habit of locking it, but in the middle of the night, no one dared to knock on his door.

"Is it the wind?" Ma Dairan felt no aura and saw no shadow. A few breaths later, a breeze indeed brushed against his face, and he lay back down, falling into a deep sleep.

A head was gently placed beside his pillow, then a second, a third... the ninth, the tenth...

"Who's there!" Ma Dairan woke up and sat straight up. He emitted a burst of spiritual light, and the sight on his bed chilled him to the bone. Ten bloody heads lay scattered on his quilts, their eyes wide open.

At the same time, Ma Dairan sensed an overwhelmingly powerful spiritual entity. Its energy far exceeded the Golden Core realm—a level of power that made even Cui Qingrui seem insignificant by comparison.

The moonlight finally broke through, and Ma Dairan saw a "ghost." It was draped in a black robe, its legs invisible, floating and sinking in the room like an evil spirit.

Sun Zikai had gathered all his accumulated energy, converting it at high speed into spiritual energy to create a cycle. It felt like a massive reaction, leading Ma Dairan to mistake him for a powerhouse beyond the Golden Core realm. In reality, he could not maintain this state for long, and if Ma Dairan were to attack, his ruse would immediately be exposed. He could have done as he did with Bai Zhu—devouring energy, consuming vitality, and killing in one strike—but he wanted to leave Ma Dairan and Ma Guanzheng for last, letting them slowly crumble and wither in fear.

Paralyzed by terror, Ma Dairan did not dare to move. Recognizing the heads on the bed as his own kin, he asked in a low voice, "Who are you? Do you have a grudge against my Ma clan?"

Sun Zikai used his energy to alter his voice. "No grudge, but you have provoked my disciple."

"Who?"

"What do you think?" Two more heads floated up beside the ghost and slammed heavily onto the table.

Ma Dairan recognized one of them—it was the man he had sent to kill Sun Zikai.

"Fu Zhe! No, wait..." How could this be that waste Fu Zhe? Ma Dairan finally realized there was a reason why Sun Zikai, at such a young age, could slaughter thousands and defeat Ma Yuhong in a single move. "Sun Zikai is your disciple?"

"He is. Heh heh heh. You seem to have attacked him quite a few times, haven't you?"

"Are you Bai Zhu? No, wait..." Cold sweat drenched Ma Dairan's back. The spiritual energy on this ghost was still rising. What realm was he in?

"Bai Zhu? You mean that useless fool? Heh heh heh heh. Killing him was easier than slaughtering a pig."

"You killed Bai Zhu?" Ma Dairan frantically scanned his mind for Golden Core powerhouses from all the sects, but none matched this aura. He was not from this region; he was an outsider.

Sun Zikai realized that his spiritual energy was already being sensed by Cui Qingrui and the various sect masters and elders. He had to leave.

The ghost slowly approached. Ma Dairan’s spiritual energy burst forth, and he shouted, "What do you want to do!"

Unexpectedly, his spiritual energy slowly dissipated, being visibly absorbed into the ghost’s body. Ma Dairan soon felt a wave of exhaustion. He said in shock, "What kind of technique is this? Who exactly are you!"

"Heh heh heh. Stay away from my disciple. If I find you attacking him again, I will slaughter everyone related to you. Even if that old dog Cui Qingrui tries to stop me, it will be useless; I will kill him along with you. My disciple... he only wants to escape me, but he cannot. I will follow him to the ends of the earth. Heh heh heh heh..."

Darkness once again enshrouded the ghost. The moonlight vanished, and along with it, the ghost’s spiritual energy. In reality, Sun Zikai had reached his limit and seized the opportunity to slip away.

He floated through the air, acting like a phantom, drifting out the door and quickly merging into the night.

Ten breaths later, Cui Qingrui and the other sect masters and elders arrived.

Cui Qingrui was wary of that powerful burst of spiritual energy. He called out twice in a low voice, "Brother Ma, are you asleep?"

After a long silence, Ma Dairan’s voice came from the room: "I am asleep. Sect Master, why are you all gathered outside my door? It is late; everyone go back. We can discuss matters tomorrow morning."

Cui Qingrui was unwilling to leave, but he was curious why that burst of spiritual energy had suddenly vanished. Such a profound concealment technique surpassed his own knowledge. Who was it? Had the Ma clan recruited or trained someone?

Without getting to the bottom of this, Cui Qingrui would not sleep tonight.

Ma Dairan refused to appear, allowing only Ma Guanzheng to enter.

Once Ma Guanzheng was inside, the room became eerily quiet. Cui Qingrui called out a few more times, and after dozens of breaths, he finally called the man out.

Ma Guanzheng emerged with a face as pale as wax, his expression dazed and flickering with terror. "My brother is exhausted. Everyone go back, we’ll talk about it tomorrow."

Cui Qingrui was persistent, insisting on going in to take a look. Ma Dairan said, "Sect Master, it is late at night. Are you trying to force your way into my room?"

Cui Qingrui fell silent for a long time before replying, "Not at all. Rest well, brother. We shall talk tomorrow."

After dismissing everyone, Ma Guanzheng returned to the room. Twelve heads lay scattered by the bed and on the table, a shocking sight.

Learning what had happened, Ma Guanzheng felt a chill run through him. He said nervously, "Brother, what is this person’s background?"

Ma Dairan had figured it out. "He is likely an outsider who has been staying beyond the Ridge Pass. He took that brat Sun Zikai as his disciple, which explains why the boy is so strong and could kill thousands. He probably has a twisted mind, scaring Sun Zikai into fleeing to the Yanming Sect. He followed him here, and he kills anyone who strikes at Sun Zikai. He killed Bai Zhu, too. He is strong—stronger than any of us."

"Then... should we still kill the kid?"

Ma Dairan glared at him irritably. "Call our people back immediately. Don't touch him for now. I need to find out the identity of that person first."

"Yes, yes, yes..." Ma Guanzheng was also terrified and couldn't wait to leave the room filled with heads.

On the way back, Cui Qingrui remained silent. Fu Zhe whispered, "Sect Master, when Ma Guanzheng came out, there were bloodstains on him."

Wu Lanmu added, "There is a lot of blood in that room. Even though he tried to hide it, I can smell it. Could that old man be practicing some evil art?"

Fu Zhe speculated, "Perhaps he was trying to break through a realm, but failed."

Cui Qingrui said nothing and flew toward his own quarters. Fu Zhe and Wu Lanmu had no choice but to disperse. That night, Cui Qingrui did not sleep.