Who the Hell Told You to Come Out

Worry-Free Mountain was the most mysterious and notorious faction in the middle reaches of the Star River. Unlike other sects that nurtured disciples, this place trained only assassins.

It was said that if the corpses of those killed by Worry-Free Mountain were lined up, they could encircle the entire Star River.

On this day, deep within Worry-Free Mountain, a blood-red vortex spanning ten thousand zhang hovered in the void.

At the center of the vortex stood an ancient cauldron, enshrined ominously.

The terrifying vortex seemed endless, continuously funneling into the cauldron, filling it with crimson blood. The air was thick with a nauseating stench of gore.

Most eerie of all, seated inside the cauldron was a delicate, jade-like infant.

The baby was plump and fair-skinned, resembling an innocent, cherubic doll—adorable enough to melt anyone’s heart.

Of course, that was if one could ignore the revolting stench of blood and the endless sea of scarlet surrounding it.

The juxtaposition of the infant and this macabre scene created an indescribable sense of dissonance. The air seemed to thrum with an unsettling yet sacred aura.

The baby’s tiny hands, plump as lotus roots, were crossed over its abdomen, forming an arcane seal. Wisps of bloody light rose from the cauldron like mist, seeping into its nostrils and mouth.

Surrounding the cauldron stood several figures clad in blood-red robes, each holding a pristine white jade vial. Their expressions were a mix of fanaticism and reverence.

The vials contained immortal blood—the essence of celestial beings.

Whenever the blood in the cauldron diminished, they would pour more from the vials.

"Lord Worry-Free, your consumption of immortal blood has increased drastically. The accumulated reserves of Worry-Free Mountain over countless millennia are nearly depleted. If this continues, we may have to take on assassination contracts to replenish our stock," a red-robed elder addressed the infant with deference.

Suddenly, the baby’s eyes snapped open.

In an instant, its entire demeanor shifted. Where it had once radiated innocence, its gaze now exuded indifference, cruelty, and a chilling crimson glow—enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

Even the elder, a hardened killer, felt his scalp prickle under that gaze.

"No need for now. This venerable one’s divine technique is nearing completion. The remaining blood should suffice," the infant spoke in a voice that was ancient and hoarse, starkly at odds with its cherubic appearance—as if an old soul resided within the tiny body.

The elder’s face lit up with ecstasy.

"Lord Worry-Free, does this mean the Demon Infant Body is almost complete?"

The infant smirked coldly. "After countless millennia of planning, success is finally within reach."

"Legends say the Demon Infant Body possesses limitless potential, with the makings of an Immortal King. Is this true?"

"Indeed. The Demon Infant Art is a supreme technique that reverses aging, returns one to their primordial state, and sheds the impurities of the mortal form to forge an innate physique. Once perfected, its foundation will be unimaginably profound. The path to Immortal Kinghood is assured!"

As the infant spoke, its rosy cheeks flushed with fervor. "One day, I, Ye Wuyou, shall ascend as the supreme Immortal King! Hahaha—"

"Kekeke... Do you truly believe you can become an Immortal King?"

"Of course. The Demon Infant’s potential is boundless. As long as it doesn’t perish prematurely, the future—"

Ye Wuyou abruptly fell silent. He glanced at the elder. "Was that you laughing just now?"

"N-no, my lord. I did not laugh."

The two exchanged a glance, then stiffened in alarm. The elder roared, "Who dares skulk in the shadows? Show yourself!"

The rest of Worry-Free Mountain’s disciples immediately set down their vials, forming a protective circle around the infant.

"Minor Void Escape Technique? Hmph! To flaunt such petty tricks before this venerable one? Let me show you what true mastery looks like!" Ye Wuyou’s icy gaze swept the void.

With a flick of his tiny arm, the blood in the cauldron surged, morphing into a hundred-zhang-long crimson sword. The blade pulsed with ghastly wails, as though an entire hellscape resided within.

Boom!

The blood sword slashed through the void, tearing space apart and forcing Gu Qingfeng into visibility.

Ye Wuyou had forced Gu Qingfeng out not because he was stronger, but because his technique surpassed the Minor Void Escape Technique.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass into Worry-Free Mountain? And where did you learn the Minor Void Escape Technique?" the elder demanded.

Ignoring him, Gu Qingfeng stared intently at Ye Wuyou. "If you refine yourself into a Demon Infant, can you really become an Immortal King?"

Ye Wuyou’s face darkened. "Kill him!"

The secret of the Demon Infant must never leak. Exposure would invite fatal consequences—even enslavement.

A Demon Infant had the potential to become an Immortal King, but it was not one yet. An untapped potential was no threat.

Imagine if rival factions or neighboring powers learned of this? Would they not strike preemptively?

Or what if righteous sects, under the guise of vanquishing evil, came to seize this forbidden art?

And let’s not forget—this was the Star Extreme Immortal Dynasty, the domain of the Star Extreme Immortal King. No dynasty tolerates a second king.

"Kill!"

The disciples of Worry-Free Mountain roared, unleashing a barrage of secret arts and treasures. A dozen torrents of power, each carrying the might of an Earth Immortal, converged on Gu Qingfeng from all directions.

All twelve attackers were Earth Immortals—a testament to Worry-Free Mountain’s staggering heritage, far surpassing ordinary middle-reach factions.

Yet, while this strength could dominate the middle reaches, before Gu Qingfeng, it was nothing but child’s play.

Facing the onslaught, Gu Qingfeng took a single step.

Boom!

An invisible force erupted. Waves of demonic light radiated outward, forming a dazzling ripple that expanded like a tsunami.

Where it passed, the world inverted. Yin and Yang reversed. Space shattered. All life was extinguished.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The deafening sound of destruction echoed as every technique and treasure was obliterated like paper. The dozen Earth Immortals were sent flying, blood spraying through the void.

Screams filled the air.

Then, the gates of the Netherworld appeared. Countless ghostly hands dragged these tormented souls inside, freeing them from their suffering.

Witnessing this, Ye Wuyou’s heart sank. His pupils shrank to pinpricks, cold sweat drenching him.

Though he was a Heaven Immortal, he knew he could never achieve such feats. Dealing with a dozen Earth Immortals would have required significant effort.

Yet the person before him hadn't even made a move—merely a single stomp was enough to defeat over a dozen Earth Immortals. How terrifying was that?!

Despair surged like a tide. Faced with an enemy so clearly beyond his own strength, anyone would feel hopeless.

But alongside despair came an overwhelming sense of unwillingness!

Ye Wuyou refused to accept this!

He had been so close to refining his Demonic Infant, so close to attaining the bearing of an Immortal King, with boundless prospects ahead. Yet at this critical moment, someone had to come and ruin everything—how could he possibly accept this?!

Why did it have to be now?!

Ye Wuyou clenched his tiny fists, his eyes brimming with resentment.

Why couldn’t they have come just one day later?! One more day, and he would have achieved perfection!

By then, his power would have surged, his foundation would have solidified—who in the Middle Realms could have stood against him?!

Ye Wuyou knew it was useless to wallow in his frustration. The enemy wouldn’t grant him any more time.

He didn’t know why Gu Qingfeng had come, but it was surely to kill him. As for the reason?

He didn’t need to think about it. As an assassin, he had countless enemies—there was no shortage of people seeking vengeance against him. There was no point asking why.

Suddenly, a flash of resolve crossed Ye Wuyou’s eyes.

He couldn’t just wait for death. Even if acting now would ruin everything, even if it might cost him his life, even if he was filled with resentment—

He would fight back with everything he had!

Splash!

Crimson blood churned violently.

Ye Wuyou rose from the cauldron, countless threads of scarlet blood weaving around him like needles and silk, stitching together into a small, blood-red robe.

Then, he stepped out of the cauldron, a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood rising behind him. An aura of extreme dread radiated from his body, the stench of blood flooding the air in an instant.

His gaze locked onto Gu Qingfeng, hatred burning like an inferno: "This Lord has prepared for countless millennia—just one more day, and I would have succeeded! Just one more day!

Ah! Yet you had to come now, ruining everything at the last moment!!

You’ve destroyed this Lord’s life’s work! I’ll make sure you die!!!"

Ye Wuyou roared in madness, his hatred even fiercer than if Gu Qingfeng had killed his own parents.

Just as he was about to fully step out of the cauldron and engage Gu Qingfeng in a fight to the death—

Thud!

A massive hand pressed down on Ye Wuyou’s small head.

Ye Wuyou’s face paled in shock. He never imagined the gap between them was this vast. Was he about to be killed in a single strike?!

Damn it! This Lord refuses to accept this! Just one more day! One more day!! I would have slaughtered you!

With that fury and unwillingness burning inside him, the expected skull-crushing blow never came. Instead, an overwhelming force sent him tumbling back onto his rear.

It was almost like a father teasing his own son.

"Who the hell told you to come out?! Get your ass back in there and keep cultivating! If you don’t refine that Demonic Infant, this Emperor will personally end you!"