This Road Cannot Be Taken

More demonic creatures?!

Those four words struck Wei Zhenfang like a dagger, draining the color from his face.

What kind of ruthless madman was this?

After slaughtering a group of Heaven-tier demons, he was actually demanding even more!

This guy must be insane!

He had never imagined that his seemingly flawless plan would crumble in an instant, spiraling completely out of control.

Those were Heaven-tier demons, after all.

Yet they had been dispatched with such ease—like slaughtering chickens.

The expert before him was terrifyingly fierce. How the hell was he supposed to deal with this?!

Eight Heaven-tier demons, wiped out in moments, and now this lunatic wanted more.

Just where did this monster come from?!

The sudden question caught Wei Zhenfang completely off guard. His throat tightened, leaving him speechless as he stood frozen in place.

Watching the bald old man gape in shock, clearly terrified, Yi Feng’s tone grew even friendlier, his smile disarmingly warm.

"Do you know where I can find more demonic creatures?"

The question rang out again.

Wei Zhenfang shuddered, a chill creeping down his spine.

That harmless-looking smile, so close, felt more terrifying than any demon. Despite Yi Feng’s refined human appearance, there was something deeply unsettling about him.

Arrogant and overpowering, the question alone made Wei Zhenfang’s face burn with humiliation.

It was as if Yi Feng was saying, "These demons? Pathetic."

Just Heaven-tier? Nothing special.

What an insufferable show-off!

The sheer audacity!

This man’s arrogance was beyond belief!

The relaxed, almost bored expression on Yi Feng’s face made Wei Zhenfang’s eye twitch uncontrollably. The longer he looked, the angrier and more resentful he became.

With his first scheme foiled, a darker plan took shape in Wei Zhenfang’s mind.

Forcing a respectful smile, he bowed and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Yes, yes, of course!"

"Please remain calm, Senior. If we follow this river valley ahead and descend the waterfall, there are even more demonic creatures further on!"

As he spoke, he discreetly tucked a teleportation talisman into his sleeve.

Pointing ahead, Wei Zhenfang continued through clenched teeth.

"Senior, look."

"If we proceed along the valley, we’ll reach an open woodland—the Frozen Forest. It’s teeming with demons, enough to satisfy your needs!"

The Frozen Forest lay at the heart of the Waterfrost Star. Only the elite of the demon race dared venture there. Even the outskirts were crawling with Heaven-tier, second-grade demons.

Wei Zhenfang had truly been pushed to the brink. Under normal circumstances, he would never dare step foot in that hellish place.

Based on his judgment, Yi Feng’s cultivation was at least Heaven-tier, second-grade.

It made sense that the eight Heaven-tier demons earlier had been no match for him.

But while that level of strength was formidable, it wasn’t invincible. If this brat kept flaunting his power and demanding more, then he had no one to blame for what came next!

You want more demons?

Fine. Ahead lies an army of elite demons. Let’s see how you survive!

Biting back his hatred, Wei Zhenfang watched with a venomous smile as Yi Feng turned his gaze toward the distance.

Following the river valley, the vast expanse of the Frozen Forest stretched into the horizon. A haze of snow veiled its edges, leaving only a faint outline visible.

Given its sheer size, there had to be plenty of demons lurking within.

Drawing on his hunting experience, Yi Feng knew large forests always yielded good prey. Memories of the Hundred Thousand Mountains flashed in his mind, fueling his anticipation.

"Good. Then we’ll follow your lead. Let’s move forward!"

Noticing the eager glint in Yi Feng’s eyes, Wei Zhenfang smirked inwardly.

This fool was walking straight into the trap, utterly oblivious to the danger ahead.

Suppressing his triumph, Wei Zhenfang bowed respectfully, though the corners of his lips curled slightly.

"As you command, Senior. Please follow me!"

This time, you’re dead.

With the perfect trap set, Wei Zhenfang led the way with a shadowed expression. The two leaped down the thousand-zhang frozen waterfall, plunging deeper into the icy wilderness.

…

Half a day passed in a blur.

Several grotesque demon corpses littered the ground, their lingering aura alone enough to send shivers down one’s spine. A sinister energy clung to the air.

Nearby, Wei Zhenfang stood dumbfounded, his worldview crumbling.

This shouldn’t be happening…

These were Heaven-tier, second-grade demons! How had they been slaughtered so effortlessly?

Had he misjudged Yi Feng’s strength?

The eight demons earlier had been first-grade, so their defeat, while shocking, could be explained if Yi Feng was second-grade.

The gap between first and second-grade wasn’t just a minor step—it was a chasm, a difference of a hundredfold or more.

Wei Zhenfang had accounted for that, setting this trap under the assumption Yi Feng was second-grade.

But now, staring at the demon corpses around him, doubt gnawed at him.

If second-grade demons fell this easily… was this man third-grade?!

The thought sent a jolt of dread through him. He refused to believe someone of that caliber would appear on Waterfrost Star!

As his mind reeled, another crisp sound cut through the air ahead.

Crack!

A blade flashed, and another towering demon—its aura suffocating—collapsed with a thunderous crash!

The impact shook the ground, sending tremors through Wei Zhenfang’s legs. The icy wind whipped against his face, leaving him disheveled.

He had underestimated this man.

This youth was undoubtedly a Heaven-tier, third-grade expert.

What now?

Should they press onward?

Staring into the dark depths of the Frozen Forest, hesitation gripped Wei Zhenfang. A foreboding sense of doom grew stronger. His fingers clenched around the teleportation talisman, slick with sweat.

A primal instinct screamed at him—death was near. An overwhelming pressure bore down on him.

"Why are you spacing out? Keep leading the way."

The calm voice jolted Wei Zhenfang like a bolt of lightning.

Snapping back to reality, he met Yi Feng’s composed gaze, his heart pounding wildly.

Forcing a smile, he bowed shakily. "M-my apologies, Senior. My cultivation is too weak… I dare not go any further. As for guiding you…"

His words were half-truth, half-excuse, but the terror in his voice was genuine.

They had already ventured beyond the outskirts of the Frozen Forest. Going deeper meant facing unknown horrors—demons so powerful he might not even have time to activate his teleportation talisman.

Earlier, resentment and fury had simmered in his chest.

Now, only fear remained.

Things had spiraled far beyond his expectations. He couldn’t risk leading the way any longer.

Using others as tools was a sound strategy.

But the "tools" in this forest were far too deadly. He couldn’t wield them—not without getting himself killed in the process.

And as for the man he wanted dead…

This bastard was even more monstrous than he’d thought!

At this rate, it was anyone’s guess who’d die first.

No. He couldn’t take another step.

Faced with such a ruthless expert, schemes were useless. Against overwhelming power, no strategy stood a chance.

Trembling, Wei Zhenfang bowed again, cold sweat beading at his temples.

Seeing his pitiful state, Yi Feng sighed.

"Fine."

The single word made Wei Zhenfang exhale in relief, as if a weight had lifted.

But before he could fully relax, Yi Feng spoke again.

"I understand if you're too scared to lead the way."

"How about this—I'll go first, and you just guide me from behind. That should work, right?"

Huh?

Damn, he still wants to press on? Is he really trying to get us killed!