Chapter 697 - 184: Seeking Only Defeat, Demonic Transformation

Chapter 697: Chapter 184: Seeking Only Defeat, Demonic Transformation

The simulation results gave Chu Fan a clearer understanding of his current shortcomings...

Namely—speed.

His explosive power was immense, and his short-distance movements were practically phantom-like. But when it came to long-distance sprints or high-speed pursuits, he was still a step too slow compared to the true top-tier experts—those who had reached the Fifth Heaven of the Bright Heart Realm and could skillfully command the Power of Heaven and Earth Wind Spirit.

It reminded him of the battle in Wind-Rising Valley a few days ago...

Back then, when the woman from the Moon Worship Sect with the bizarre mask saw the tide had turned against her, she turned and fled.

He had almost failed to catch her.

In the end, it was only thanks to Xiao Ziye’s staff, which descended from the heavens like a great jade pillar, that the woman was forcefully smashed out of the sky.

Otherwise, he could only have sighed at the heavens in helpless frustration.

The Profound Origin Secret Realm was set to officially open seven days after the competition’s conclusion.

[Technique: Running Technique (Fifth Breaking Limit 6969/22000) (Traits: ...Fleeting Shadows; Stepping on Gang and Treading on the Dipper)]

With only seven days left, it would be extremely difficult to achieve another Breaking Limit for his Running Technique in such a short period.

’To increase my speed in seven days and close the gap with Sword Traceless and the others, the best way is to use that Wind Spirit Stone to elevate my Nine Heavens Wind Mastery Scripture to a higher level!’

’As long as our speeds are comparable, it won’t matter if I’m facing the deeply scheming Zhang Tianyu, Sword Traceless with his unrestrained Sword Qi, or the Emotional Silk Sect’s Hong Mei’Er, who excels at charm and hit-and-run tactics...’

’Once I get close and they step within the thirty-foot ’Absolute Forbidden Area’ around me, there’s no escape!’

Chu Fan had absolute confidence in his current offensive and defensive capabilities.

The third layer of his Vajra Undying Body made him like a living Divine Weapon.

’Your martial arts can reach the heavens, but my strength shatters all techniques!’

’Unless an enemy is wielding a terrifyingly powerful Ancient Treasure, I won’t even need to dodge. I can just hammer those so-called ’prodigies’ to death one by one!’

The key to victory was getting in close.

Speed was the absolute priority!

With his seven-day training plan set, Chu Fan felt his mind settle.

As his thoughts drifted, the miserable figure of Zhang Tianhao—wreathed in black energy and dragged away in chains—surfaced in his mind.

That look in his eyes...

Chu Fan’s brow furrowed.

’It was obvious. Zhang Tianhao let himself become a Fallen Demon on purpose, deliberately getting himself captured by the Demon Suppression Bureau.’

’When ordinary people become Fallen Demons, they lose all reason and know only slaughter.’

’But after Zhang Tianhao transformed, despite his frenzied appearance, the Divine Thought he sent me in that instant was incredibly clear, calm, and even carried a trace of... relief?’

"Lord Chu, be careful of the Zhang Family. The people of the Zhang Family have all gone mad... The Profound Origin Secret Realm... be careful of the Zhang Family Ancestor..."

The words echoed in his mind like a nightmare.

’What in the world did Zhang Tianhao discover?’

’All his previous provocations, his taunts, even that seemingly arrogant phrase, ’Hero of the Wilderness’... looking back, it was as if he was actively seeking defeat.’

’He deliberately provoked me, forcing my hand, pushing me to beat him to the brink of death until his defenses collapsed.’

’Then, as a natural consequence, he triggered some latent issue within his body to become a ’Fallen Demon,’ and was subsequently arrested and imprisoned by the Demon Suppression Bureau as expected.’

’For a disciple of the Zhang Family, being captured by the Demon Suppression Bureau should be the ultimate humiliation, practically a death sentence.’

’But at this critical juncture, compared to the so-called ’land of opportunity’ that is the Profound Origin Secret Realm, the Demon Suppression Bureau’s prison has somehow become a safe haven in his eyes?’

’With his strength, securing one of the twenty spots for the Profound Origin Secret Realm should have been as easy as reaching into his pocket and taking it.’

’What does that mean?’

’It means that, in his eyes, entering the Profound Origin Secret Realm is even more terrifying than becoming a prisoner?!’

’He didn’t want to enter the Profound Origin Secret Realm... The people of the Zhang Family have all gone mad...’

’Zhang Tianhao, you’re not even afraid of Demonic Transformation. What in the world are you so afraid of?’

Chu Fan’s expression shifted.

’When I get back to Qing Province, I’ll report this to Lord Leng. Then we can interrogate Zhang Tianhao thoroughly.’

’His Demonic Transformation, the secret message he sent me... everything he did felt like a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble to save himself...’