Chapter 261: The Sacred Cloud Sect

“If you all plan to keep hiding like this, don’t blame me for being impolite!”

Chen Fei stood amidst the ruins of the ancient city, arms crossed, his voice cold and disdainful.

As soon as his words dropped, several figures slowly emerged from the broken rubble.

“You’re not a familiar face,” said the man leading the group, eyeing Chen Fei up and down.

Chen Fei glanced at him. “What, have you met everyone who entered the secret realm?”

Caught off guard, the man chuckled awkwardly. “No offense! I’m Chu Zhihe, a disciple of the Sacred Cloud Sect. A pleasure to meet you.”

The name Sacred Cloud Sect might’ve sounded upright and righteous, but in reality, it was a notorious sect of demonic cultivators. They rarely appeared in public, but whenever they did, entire cities often ended up consumed by mass suicides and chaos.

They’d kept a low profile for years, but it seemed this time, they couldn’t resist the lure of Tiandang Mountain’s secret realm.

“Sacred Cloud Sect?”

Chen Fei sneered and raised an eyebrow. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get lost. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“You little—how arrogant!”

“Big words for someone standing alone! Don’t bite your tongue!”

Before Chu Zhihe could respond, the cultivators behind him erupted in anger and stepped forward, ready to act.

Without another word, Chen Fei activated his Evil Mark, a thick aura of demonic energy gathering around his fingertip. He struck directly at the loudest ones.

The Finger of the Evil God condensed.

Though not the full power of the real Evil God’s Finger, it was still far beyond what these mid-stage cultivators could handle!

Chu Zhihe’s expression changed as he watched Chen Fei attack without hesitation.

Still, he wasn’t shocked—heretics were often impulsive and violent, so this was within his expectations.

But what he hadn’t expected… was just how powerful Chen Fei’s strike would be.

“AHHH—!”

“What is this technique?! My energy—it’s leaking—!”

The two heretics who had rushed forward were overwhelmed. The moment their spiritual power touched Chen Fei’s technique, it was as if a dam had burst—their Qi violently drained from their dantians, instantly absorbed into the Finger of the Evil God.

Before their eyes, their bodies dissolved into black mist with a soft pop, vanishing like bubbles in front of everyone.

“Back! Move back!” Chu Zhihe paled in horror, flinging out a defensive talisman and retreating without a shred of dignity.

Even Chen Fei was taken aback by the effect of the attack.

This was his first time attempting to mimic the Evil God’s Finger. He hadn’t dared to use his massive sword—it would draw too much attention, and someone might guess his identity.

Chu Zhihe’s expression twisted in panic. Then he quickly raised his head and forced a calm voice:

“Friend, please wait!”

Chen Fei turned his head, his face cold, his eyes ruthless. His demonic aura surged around him, making Chu Zhihe and the others tense up instantly.

In the world of heretics, strength spoke loudest. And now, seeing Chen Fei’s overwhelming power, they immediately adjusted their attitudes.

Chu Zhihe cupped his fists respectfully.

“I was blind earlier. Please don’t take offense, senior.”

Chen Fei stared at him in silence, his aura oppressive.

Chu Zhihe broke into a cold sweat, but he forced a smile and said,

“Senior, do you know where we are right now?”

That line almost made Chen Fei laugh.

So this guy saw one powerful attack and is already calling me ‘senior’?

But in the demonic world, such things were routine.

“You do?” Chen Fei asked flatly.

Chu Zhihe’s tense posture relaxed a bit—Chen Fei was at least willing to talk.

“Yes, I do!” he said eagerly, “This place is none other than the famed Tower of Spirit Communication—one of the most famous sites within the Tiandang Mountain Secret Realm!”

He quickly explained further:

“It’s said that this was once the personal altar of the ancient immortal Tongling Zhenren. After he fell in a great war, this tower was left behind, waiting for someone destined to inherit it.”

“Waiting for a fated one?” Chen Fei raised an eyebrow.

“Yes! It’s said that whoever ascends the tower and reaches its summit can communicate directly with its spirit and become its new master!” Chu Zhihe’s eyes gleamed with greed.

But Chen Fei wasn’t buying it.

A rule this clear, this specific, smelled fishy. Either Chu Zhihe was trying to trick him, or there was something very wrong with this tower.

Suddenly, Chu Zhihe gritted his teeth and pulled out a weathered, ancient-looking ring.

“Senior, this is the Spirit-Connecting Ring. I obtained it by chance from an ancient ruin. According to the records, it’s the key to the tower!”

He respectfully offered it to Chen Fei.

Chen Fei was slightly surprised. After a moment’s hesitation, he accepted the ring, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Chu Zhihe with a smirk.

“You’re being awfully generous.”

“In a world where the strong rule, strength is everything! With your power, you might truly become the tower’s master!” Chu Zhihe said with flattery and a servile smile.

Chen Fei played with the ring.

“Alright, what do you want in return?”

At those words, Chu Zhihe’s eyes lit up.

“If you succeed, I only ask that you help me retrieve something: the Whispering Imprint.”

“It’s a special type of mark that can only be found in ancient ruins. Based on our research, there should be several inside the tower. But if there aren’t, I won’t hold it against you,” Chu Zhihe added quickly.

Chen Fei silently scoffed.

This guy’s really laying it on thick.

Earlier, he was suspicious of the tower’s importance. But now, Chu Zhihe was even giving up the key? That confirmed it—this place was definitely hiding something significant.

Still, Chen Fei was curious—what exactly was Chu Zhihe after? Or maybe… he wasn’t even human anymore?

“Fine,” Chen Fei nodded.

Joy lit up Chu Zhihe’s face. He quickly stepped forward, pointing at the ring.

“Senior, it’s easy to use. Just infuse it with spiritual energy and let yourself feel the tower’s call. You’ll be able to enter.”

Chen Fei was bold by nature. Though his instincts told him this was shady, he didn’t hesitate. He poured his spiritual power into the Spirit-Connecting Ring.

The ring looked plain at first, but the moment his Qi flowed in, golden inscriptions began to glow on its surface. A pull—a gravitational force—immediately surged from the direction of the Tower of Spirit Communication, responding to the ring’s activation.