Demon Blood, Maiden Vail

The Demon's Will Awakens**

The night was too quiet.

Lin Yuan stood under the pale silver sky, eyes narrowed. The wind whispered a warning—but it came too late.

**Boom!**

A deafening blast shattered the outer layer of the defense formation. Red-black smoke rolled in like venomous clouds, and **poison-tipped arrows** rained down from all sides.

He reached into his storage pouch and pulled out the gift from Lady Yuexian—**the robe woven from true dragon scales**. As he slipped it on, it shimmered with golden-black light, reflecting moonlight and resisting all elemental qi.Lin Yuan reacted instantly.

His **silver belt flared**, producing a shining shield of energy. Three arrows struck the barrier—then shattered like glass. But each impact sent vibrations through his bones.

*They're not ordinary cultivators… they came prepared.*

More shadows emerged—**masked figures in dark robes**, each one cloaked in stealth talismans. Their weapons dripped with venom, and their killing intent pierced the air like knives.

The **second layer of the formation crumbled** under a synchronized spiritual bombardment.

Then the **final barrier cracked**.

"Protect the others!" Lin Yuan shouted—but everyone else was still trapped in enchanted sleep.

**He was alone.**

Another volley of arrows came—poisonous, cursed.

His **silver belt** shielded him again, glowing and cracking. One arrow hit his arm. Fire spread through his veins.

*Poison… it's devouring my spiritual energy…*

Suddenly, one enemy charged with a blade glowing black.

Lin Yuan raised his hand, and his feather sword—made from golden rock birds feathe.

"Go."

The sword darted forward like a comet, clashing against the masked man's blade with a scream of sparks. It moved like it had a will of its own, weaving through attacks and cutting one enemy across the chest.

But it wasn't enough.

Three more assassins appeared. One held a whip made from soul tendons. Another threw **a cursed net of darkness**. The third pulled back a bow, drawing an arrow made from bone and screaming spirits.

"Time to die"

Lin Yuan gritted his teeth—and activated his **bracelet**.

**Time bent.**

For a single breath, the world slowed. Lin Yuan leapt sideways, narrowly dodging the ghost arrow, then reversed time for two heartbeats, stepping behind his attacker.

Slash!

The flying sword pierced the man's side.

Time snapped back.

But the net still fell on him. It burned like sin itself. His robe protected him—but not completely.

Blood trickled from his shoulder.

"I'm not going to die here…" Lin Yuan whispered.

More figures closed in. His **belt's shield cracked** and fell apart. His robe was scorched in patches. One more arrow struck his leg—paralyzing poison.

He dropped to one knee.

A blade pierced his side.

**Pain.**

It wasn't physical anymore—it was soul-deep. He could feel death breathing against his ear.

"Let go," a voice whispered in the darkness. "You're just a boy. This world isn't yours."

Lin Yuan clenched his fists.

And then—

**The demon blood stirred.**

Like a river of flame through his veins, his **demonic courage**, the will left behind by his infernal lineage, rose within him.

His eyes turned red-gold. His breath grew heavy.

**"If I die here… my siblings will cry. My mothers will burn the world."**

His soul pulsed. **The dragon robe roared**, scales realigning, glowing with divine fury.

He stood—bleeding, poisoned, eyes burning.

"You want to see me dead?"

**"Then come and see what it takes."**

A surge of qi exploded from him. The attackers flinched. One hesitated—too late.

The *feather sword pierced his throat**.

Lin Yuan spun, his bracelet glowing—time halted for an instant as he ripped the whip from his enemy's hand and used it to bind another.

He leapt. He bled. He screamed.

He **fought like a demon**.

His robe cracked with golden lightning. The bracelet warped time around his feet. The belt stitched temporary shields. The sword sang.

One by one, his enemies fell.

The ground was littered with smoking corpses, shattered talismans, and broken weapons.

And in the center of it all, breathing hard, one knee down, eyes burning...

**Lin Yuan stood alive.**

Barely.

---

Lady Mingyan arrived moments later, her robe fluttering.

She looked at the devastation—and then at her son.

"Yuan'er… are you hurt?"

"I saw death," he whispered, barely breathing. "But I bit back."

She smiled softly. "That's how demons live."

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