Rearing Demons
Chapter 130: Veilborn Fiends

Chapter 130: Veilborn Fiends

Luna descended from the Azure Mountain, making her way toward the main gathering area where all the disciples typically congregated. She had given her utmost effort to grasp the various essences, but for now, she chose to set that pursuit aside.

"Senior Luna!" As she reached the main peak—where both outer and inner disciples mingled—several individuals approached her, surrounding her in a welcoming cluster.

Despite being relatively new to the sect, her rapid cultivation was impressive; she had already attained the third realm, a level surpassing most outer core disciples and rivaling that of the newly initiated inner disciples.

Yet, beyond her remarkable strength, the primary reason she attracted so much attention was her connection to the Azure Mountain. This mountain was the most mysterious and secluded of all; it was the domain of the most powerful Lord as well as the most formidable disciple.

Naturally, anyone emerging from such a revered place would garner considerable attention; it was not only normal, but expected.

"How are you all doing?" she greeted warmly, smiling sweetly at the assembled crowd. Ever since joining the sect and cultivating with unwavering dedication, she had never experienced such happiness. Not only was she forming valuable friendships, but she was also absorbing a wealth of knowledge and lending her support to her mother.

"Are you here to sign up for the Central Competition?" one disciple inquired.

"Central Competition?" Luna echoed, looking at them with mild puzzlement, clearly uncertain about the event. The disciples exchanged surprised glances at her unfamiliarity with the term.

"Senior, it’s the largest competition on the Central Continent," one explained. "Every sect across the continent participates."

"I see," she nodded, absorbing the grand scope of the event. "Please, tell me more about it."

"Junior Luna, why don’t I explain it to you?" Suddenly, a formidable presence made itself known. In an instant, everyone fell silent as the air itself seemed to crackle with tension.

"Veilborn Snow," Luna immediately intoned with a respectful bow.

"Luna, you need not be so formal with me," the man replied with a friendly smile. "We have been friends for several years now, haven’t we?"

Snow was one of the few Veilborn Fiends who had been extracted from the Realm of Fiends ever since most of the core disciples perished in Zulmasharr. His strength was comparable to that of Celis’, from the Essence Forge!

His true name remained unknown; all that was recognized was his Fiend name: Snow.

"Celis instructed me to speak respectfully to the Veilborn," Luna explained.

Three years earlier, when they had returned to the sect, dozens of Veilborn Fiends had suddenly arrived, and nobody fully understood why. It was only then that the tragic fate of the core disciples became widely known.

Only Celis and Fyr had survived Zulmasharr among the core disciples, with Fyr even being chosen to enter the Realm of Fiends and transform into a Veilborn Fiend.

At the mention of Celis’ name, the handsome Snow rolled his eyes. "Celis needs to keep quiet," he remarked, casually fixing his thick white hair. "He wasn’t able to join the Fiends, yet he continues to make a fuss."

Although it was common knowledge among the powerful that Celis was the successor to the Azure Lord, few worried about that association.

The Azure Lord, once a denizen of the Realm of Fiends, had even challenged others to confront Celis; inviting them to fight him and beat him down.

Naturally, no one had ever succeeded in doing so, not even the Veilborn Fiends who had dared to challenge him. Snow, one of the formidable Fiends, was not intimidated by Celis; he regarded him as inferior. After all, Snow was one of the few who had slain a Demon Prince, a feat that Celis had notoriously failed to accomplish.

"Veilborn Snow, please don’t speak of Celis in such a manner," Luna admonished with a slight frown. Within the sect, there were few individuals she feared.

She knew that, provided she never crossed a line, Celis would always protect her; his word held weight even with the Sect Leader.

Snow’s expression darkened briefly before he masked his displeasure. "My apologies. But anyway, would you like to learn more about the Central Competition?"

"I’m alright," Luna replied. "Anyone here can share the details; it seems to be public knowledge."

"No one will know as much as I do—" began Snow, only to be cut off by her interjection.

"That’s fine. I’m here to meet Elder Dean. If you’ll excuse me," she said as she passed the handsome man and headed toward one of the larger buildings.

Turning around, Snow watched Luna make her way to the building. "Snow, you seem upset," a voice observed from behind him.

"Celis, what’s with the stalking?" Snow retorted as a young man approached with a smile. He frowned in annoyance at the intrusion.

"It’s not stalking. I was simply watching you get rejected... again. Haha," Celis laughed. "When will you give up? She is not interested."

"She will be soon," Snow countered with a scoff.

The surrounding disciples began to disperse as the two exchanged heated words, sparks practically flying in the charged air.

"I doubt that," Celis shrugged.

"I don’t need your opinion," Snow snapped irritably. "Also, keep your mouth shut about how she speaks to others, you have no right to comment."

Celis merely shrugged at his remark. "I never actually said that to her," he replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You know how girls claim to have a man when someone unattractive approaches, they do that to avoid creeps... I believe that was the case here."

Suddenly, a chilling, cold aura emanated from Snow, freezing the ground beneath their feet in an instant.

"Mad, are we?" Celis mocked fearlessly. "I defeated your little group when I was in the Luminous Heart Realm." His smile faded abruptly as he looked at Snow with wild intensity; his eyes turned a deep blue tinged with red. "Do you really think you all can challenge me now?!"

At his words, Snow’s eyes flashed a brilliant white as he glared back at Celis. "Beating the weakest members of a group does not make you strong, Celis," Snow retorted with a smirk. "And didn’t your little expedition end with all of your friends perishing? One of them joined us—what was his name..." He tapped his chin mockingly. "Oh yes, Fyr—"

Before Snow could finish, Celis abruptly vanished from sight. Snow’s eyes widened as he suddenly felt Celis appear behind him.

"Enough, both of you!" Just as Celis reached to grab Snow’s nape, a powerful presence intervened, seizing Celis’ outstretched arm.

"Elder Fir," Celis said, stepping back and immediately adopting a respectful posture, though the fierce blue in his eyes still burned. His gaze shot daggers at Snow, who regarded him with serious shock.

"Both of you are bickering like children in the midst of the sect," the elder admonished sternly. "Celis, do you not have the Azure Lord’s name to uphold? And Snow, what of the prestige of the Fiends?"

"There is no need to uphold master’s name," Celis replied with an eye-roll. "His name is not something to be besmirched." He then turned and strode toward the building. "Snow, watch yourself when you step outside the sect. The Veilborn will undoubtedly lose another man—I promise you that."

"Is that a threat?" Snow asked, his frown deepening.

"It’s a sentence," Celis replied coolly. "Keep one eye open when you sleep." A dangerous smile curved his lips as he looked at Snow with an expression that dripped with bloodlust.

Snow shuddered slightly, his anger mounting in response. "What sentence? Come on, why don’t we settle this right now?" he challenged, beckoning with clenched fists.

Celis regarded him for a long moment before turning his attention to Elder Fir. "Elder, he just challenged me, you know the rules."

The elder’s brow furrowed. "Well, I am breaking those rules," he stated in a grave tone. "Celis, you have a mission to focus on. Snow, stop toying with your life."

"What does that mean?" Snow demanded, his expression darkening as he listened to the elder’s words.

"Exactly what I said," the elder replied bluntly. In the Fiend Devouring Sect, no one sugarcoated their words. "I can attempt to protect you within the sect, but outside, Celis will kill you." The elder’s tone was indifferent to the potential consequences for either disciple. Their potential was acknowledged, but they had yet to reach a stage where they were truly valuable to the sect. Both were still merely fodder.

Having come from the Realm of Fiends, where murder was an everyday occurrence, Snow understood that Celis now had him on his hit list.

"Bastard," Snow muttered, gritting his teeth and frowning deeply.

Although he had boasted much in the past, that was before he fully comprehended Celis’ true power. Now, realizing that Celis could easily end his life, Snow felt a surge of worry. Elder Fir ensured that Celis had departed before leaving without another word.

Left alone, Snow summoned his weapon and turned to walk away, his fists clenched around his weapon tightly.

"Not so fast," a whisper suddenly came from beside him. He felt someone grab his nape, and a wave of fear washed over him.

"Celis, the elder..." he began, but the words were cut short.

"Silence," Celis snarled, his voice laced with murderous intent. "I have always despised you Fiends. How many disciples have you killed? How many innocents have you sacrificed?"

Then, with a crushing squeeze, Celis instantly shattered Snow’s throat, decapitating him in a single, brutal motion. With a swift kick of his raised leg, he sent Snow’s severed body to the side.

Nearby disciples looked on in shocked silence.

"Celis!" someone cried out.

A group of men clad in black appeared, their expressions seething with anger; a few among them were of the seventh rank, possessing the aura of Aetherial Soul.

"You killed a Veilborn Fiend! Are you inviting death upon yourself?" the leader stepped forward, exuding an aura of overwhelming power. "I will kill you!"

"Come now, come now," Celis taunted, lifting his hand as if beckoning them closer, tossing Snow’s head aside with nonchalant brutality. "I think it’s time to put the damned Fiends in their proper place, isn’t it?" As he spoke, a bloody Azure aura erupted from him.

"Celis!" Elder Fir reappeared, frowning at the unfolding scene as he glanced down at Snow’s headless body lying on the ground. Raising his hand, he rubbed his forehead in exasperation. "Didn’t I just tell you to focus on your mission?" he scolded Celis, who turned away sharply.

With a mere wave of his hand, Snow’s dismembered body vanished, leaving the ground unnervingly pristine.

"Everyone, disperse," the elder ordered, his eyes fixed on Celis. "If you make another move, I will kill you—do you understand?"

"Sure," Celis replied curtly, turning and finally departing.

"You Veilborn, understand one thing," Elder Fir addressed the assembled group, his voice cold and commanding. "You can try to band together, but you will all perish."

"I disagree," countered the leader, his seventh-rank aura intensifying. "Alone, I could take him down."

Sighing heavily, the elder strode toward the man and grabbed him by the hair, pulling him down sharply.

"You have just lost a powerful Veilborn, and you think you can kill him? Get a grip. Unless you reach rank eight, forget about standing a chance; the successors are beyond your reach."

The leader clenched his fists and gritted his teeth but said no more.

"Now, all of you, go and fulfill the purpose for which you were brought here! Stop wasting time on petty arguments, you idiots!" Elder Fir bellowed, then casually tossed his hair back before vanishing once again.

Left behind in a haze of anger and gloom, one disciple seethed silently, "That damn Celis!"

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