The clearing held its breath, still as a painting. No insect chirped, no leaf rustled—a moment of perfect silence before chaos erupted.
In the next heartbeat, the world transformed into an inferno. A massive explosion tore through the clearing, unleashing devastation comparable to a collapsed nuclear reactor. The shockwave ripped trees from their roots, hurling them through the air like matchsticks. Flames devoured everything, leaving nothing untouched as they climbed skyward in a terrible pillar of destruction.
When the firestorm finally subsided, what remained was unrecognizable—a vast, smoldering crater carved deep into the earth where the clearing had once been. At its center lay the Core Formation expert, his body unrecognizable. Half his face had been burned beyond recognition, his left limbs entirely missing, and he was barely conscious.
"What happened? Where am I?" the man's thoughts swam sluggishly through his pain-clouded mind.
A silhouette appeared above him, blurred by his failing vision. He strained to focus, raising his remaining hand in a feeble gesture.
"Save—" The word died on his lips as a sharp, piercing pain bloomed in his chest. His vision cleared just enough to recognize his executioner—Xiang Yu, driving a sword directly through his heart.
Memory finally flooded back. Before he could escape, the hidden talismans had somehow detonated simultaneously, catching him in their combined fury. "So this is death, huh!" The thought drifted through his fading consciousness. His raised arm fell limply to his side as a strange, peaceful smile crossed what remained of his face. "It doesn't feel all that bad..." And then darkness claimed him completely.
Xiang Yu collapsed beside the corpse, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He'd made an incredibly dangerous gamble, using his earth qi to trigger all the buried talismans simultaneously. The resulting explosion had been far more devastating than he'd anticipated. Though he'd managed to use the Abyssal Void Flame to absorb the fire itself, he'd forgotten a crucial detail—though the flame could absorb the fire, it didn't absorb the force of the blast.
His internal organs felt like they'd been put through a meat grinder. Pain radiated through every fiber of his being, but survival instinct overrode his body's desperate pleas for rest. His eyes snapped open with sudden urgency.
No, he couldn't afford to rest yet. An explosion of this magnitude would draw attention from miles around. He needed to disappear before investigators arrived at the scene.
"But first..." A pained smile crossed his face despite his agony. "I have to get my money's worth."
With trembling fingers, Xiang Yu removed the spatial ring from the dead cultivator's remaining hand. At least the ring had survived the blast intact—unlike when he'd eliminated the Foundation Establishment subordinates earlier, who'd been reduced to less than ash. What a waste that had been.
A Core Formation expert's spatial ring would undoubtedly contain valuable treasures, but exploration would have to wait. Pushing through his pain, Xiang Yu sluggishly dragged himself toward the spirit spring.
Upon reaching the small cave entrance, he carefully arranged the bushes to conceal the opening before slipping inside. Once through, he methodically replaced the foliage, erasing all traces of his passage. Only after repositioning the massive rock that sealed the inner chamber did he finally allow himself to relax marginally.
The Transcendent Dao Physique truly lived up to its status. Already, he could feel his grievous internal injuries healing—not completely, but enough that his life was no longer in immediate danger. The remaining damage would heal naturally over time, but Xiang Yu couldn't afford to wait. Investigators would surely arrive soon to examine the site of the explosion.
He approached the spirit spring, noting with satisfaction that it had partially replenished itself. Not fully restored to its previous glory, but sufficient for his needs. Without hesitation, he removed his tattered clothing and immersed himself in the spirit spring.
As he began circulating his energy to accelerate the healing process, Xiang Yu realized that dawn had not yet broken. According to his established routine, this was still the time for mind cultivation. With that thought, he closed his eyes and plunged into the vast expanse of his spiritual sea.
...
Li Yao's eyes narrowed with suspicion, her grip on her sword unwavering. "Then why are you stopping me from leaving when the sect is under attack?"
"Will you listen to my story first?" the voice replied.
Li Yao remained motionless, her defensive stance unchanged, muscles tensed and ready to react to any threat.
"Don't worry, your senior brother is still safe," the voice continued.
The mention of Xiang Yu sent a visible jolt through Li Yao's body. Her expression hardened further, jaw clenching as she demanded, "How do you know about that?"
"It's just some divination, nothing much," the voice answered dismissively.
Li Yao's eyes flicked to the side momentarily, "Is what he's saying true?"
[It is indeed divination, though I wouldn't trust it much,] the Empress responded within her mind.
"What do you mean by that?" Li Yao pressed, concern creeping into her voice.
[Your senior brother's destiny is quite complicated,] the Empress replied with an audible sigh.
"What do you mean by that?" Li Yao's anxiety was evident now, her previous composure cracking slightly.
[Don't ask. Heavenly secrets shouldn't be pried upon. Anyway, you'll figure it out eventually,] the Empress answered cryptically. After a moment's pause, she added, [Why don't you hear him out first? I can tell that he indeed doesn't have any bad will toward you.]
Upon hearing this assessment from the Empress, Li Yao allowed her shoulders to relax slightly. The grip on her sword loosened, though she remained vigilant.
"Come closer," the voice beckoned.
In the next heartbeat, the sealed entrance to the hundredth floor began to open. A wave of demonic aura immediately flooded the chamber, so intense and oppressive that Li Yao nearly buckled under its weight. Only through sheer force of will did she remain standing, her knees trembling with the effort.
Cold sweat beaded on her forehead as a terrible realization dawned on her—this aura transcended any power she had ever encountered. Whatever entity resided beyond that door existed in a realm of cultivation so far beyond her own that she couldn't even comprehend the gap between them.
Was this a trap after all? The thought flashed through her mind as she struggled against the crushing pressure.
Just as suddenly as it had appeared, a single sword flew out from the darkened entrance. The massive doors immediately began to close, sealing away the terrifying aura once more. As the last sliver of the opening disappeared, the oppressive force vanished completely.
Li Yao collapsed to one knee, drawing in deep, desperate breaths as though she'd been underwater for too long. Her wide eyes fixed on the sword that now hovered in the air before her.
...
Inside Li Yao's spiritual sea, a magnificent golden castle stood proudly, its towers reaching toward an endless sky. Within the central chamber, upon an ornate throne crafted from what appeared to be solidified light, sat the Empress. Her form shimmered slightly as she tapped a delicate finger against her chin, contemplation evident in her eyes.
"To think that I'd meet someone good at divination in this small mortal world," she mused, a smile playing across her lips. "The heavenly dao sure is full of mysteries."
She stretched languidly, feeling the subtle increase in her power. Though still a mere fraction of her former glory, it was progress nonetheless. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"Now that I've recovered a little strength, should I also give it a shot?" she wondered aloud, her voice echoing through the empty halls of her spiritual domain. "Hmm, who should I try it on?"
Her thoughts drifted to the persistent enigma that had been nagging at her curiosity. "I've always been curious about this so-called senior brother," she admitted with a mischievous smile forming on her face. "Let's see what you're hiding, senior brother," she spoke cheekily, almost as though he could hear her teasing.
The Empress closed her eyes, her consciousness expanding outward as she initiated the divination technique. Reality shifted around her, the golden castle dissolving into mist.
In the next second, she found herself standing before an impossible staircase that spiraled upward without end, each step seemingly crafted from pure starlight. The Empress stared in bewilderment, trying to comprehend what this vision represented.
Her gaze traveled upward along the infinite path, finally settling on a figure seated at the highest visible point. There, in a perfect meditative posture, sat Xiang Yu—though he appeared somewhat older, his features more defined, his presence somehow more substantial.
Before she could process this unusual sight, Xiang Yu's eyes snapped open. The Empress felt an overwhelming force wash over her, an incomprehensible power that transcended anything she had encountered in her long existence.
Instantly, she found herself violently thrust back into Li Yao's spiritual sea, the golden castle materializing around her once more. She slumped against her throne, all color drained from her face, her expression frozen in absolute shock.
"How is that possible?" she whispered, her voice trembling in a way it hadn't for countless millennia. "That's..."
...
Elder Guo stared at the transformed Mei, his eyes widening in recognition. "This is... bloodline power," he realized.
In the cultivation world, three main factors determined one's potential: spiritual roots, martial physiques, and bloodlines. Elder Huang possessed the phoenix bloodline, which granted her natural affinity with fire. But Elder Mei's transformation was something far more sinister—he was becoming a demon before their very eyes.
"You actually became a demon?" Elder Guo's voice carried deep disappointment.
Even unorthodox cultivators in this world remained human despite their questionable methods, which was why they were merely labeled "demonic cultivators." But those who crossed the forbidden threshold and transformed into demons were universally reviled. After all, demons and humans had been mortal enemies since time immemorial.
"A demon? Me?" Elder Mei's lips curved into a twisted smile before he erupted in maniacal laughter.
"Has he finally lost it?" Elder Guo thought, watching the disturbing display.
"Well, there's no way someone from a low-level sect like you could truly comprehend what you're witnessing," Mei sneered, his voice resonating with power.
He rose into the air, looking down upon them with contempt. "Watch this..."
His crimson eyes gleamed with malice. "This is the power of the Demon God."
In the next instant, a small drop of blood-red energy materialized in his palm. Energy swirled around it like a miniature galaxy, condensing and intensifying until it pulsed with terrifying power. When it released, circular waves of oppressive force expanded outward, instantly silencing the chaotic courtyard.
Everyone—friend and foe alike—collapsed to the ground, pinned by an invisible weight that made breathing itself a struggle.
Elder Mei savored the moment, relishing the absolute control he now commanded. "This is the authority of the Demon God," he thought triumphantly. "And to think it's so powerful after refining just a single drop of blood." His imagination raced with possibilities. "What would happen with another drop? Or ten?" A sinister smile spread across his face. "I would be invincible."
But as he basked in his apparent victory, something unusual caught his attention. Two figures had somehow managed to resist his overwhelming authority—Huang and Guo remained standing, though barely.
Elder Guo's face contorted with strain, sweat pouring down his temples. The pressure bore down on him like a mountain, threatening to shatter his already damaged Golden Core. He could feel it cracking further, the fractures spreading at an alarming rate. Time was running out—he needed to end this battle quickly.
Elder Huang fared little better. Her entire body trembled as she fought to remain upright, feeling as though her flesh might burst under the immense pressure. Only her phoenix bloodline provided modest protection, granting her just enough resistance to avoid being completely immobilized like the others.
With trembling hands, she raised her sword, determined to assist her senior brother despite her condition. But before she could take a single step, Elder Mei materialized directly before her.
"Such speed?" The thought barely had time to form in her mind.
She couldn't track his movement—couldn't begin to react. Horror dawned as she watched his fist approaching her face with unstoppable momentum. All she could do was stare with wide, disbelieving eyes, her body frozen in place.
Death was coming, and she couldn't even blink.
...
Mei's face twisted with fury as he surveyed the two figures still standing. How dare they defy the authority of the Demon God? His rage intensified when he looked at Elder Huang—a mere Core Formation cultivator resisting his divine authority. Even worse, he detected something peculiar emanating from her that further fueled his wrath.
"Unforgivable," he thought, his crimson eyes narrowing. "She must be eliminated immediately."
In a flash, he materialized before her, his demonic fist already in motion, poised to obliterate her completely. The air itself seemed to warp around his knuckles as they accelerated toward her face.
Elder Guo recognized the heightened speed of Mei's movements and rushed to intercept him, desperate to protect his junior sister. He realized that he was the only one capable of movement—even the Sect Master and Grand Elder lay pinned to the ground by Mei's indiscriminate attack. As the strongest cultivator still standing, the responsibility to protect the sect fell on his shoulders.
"At least Mei's stupidity has prevented our disciples from being slaughtered outright," he thought, noting how both friend and foe alike remained immobilized.
Just as Mei's fist was about to connect with Elder Huang's face, a hand materialized between them, catching the demonic blow. The impact generated such force that the dispersed air whipped Elder Huang's hair violently around her face, yet the fist went no further.
Her legs buckled beneath her, and she collapsed to the ground in shock. "Senior Brother..." her voice trembled as she tried to regain her footing. "Thanks."
Elder Guo stood firmly between her and Mei, his back toward her as he maintained his grip on the demon's fist. "Just stay there," he commanded without turning.
In one fluid motion, he delivered a devastating counter-punch that sent Elder Mei flying several meters through the air. "Don't be stubborn," he told Elder Huang before pursuing his opponent with blinding speed.
He caught up to Mei mid-flight, delivering another powerful blow that sent the demon crashing toward the ground. As Mei bounced upon impact, Elder Guo was already waiting. He caught the demon's body and hurled him toward the tower with tremendous force. Mei crashed into the structure, sending debris scattering, though the ancient tower remained standing.
Before Mei could fully extricate himself from the rubble, Elder Guo appeared before him. With one powerful hand, he seized Mei's head and smashed it into the courtyard, driving it deep into the earth. Without pausing, he began to run, dragging Mei's body behind him with his demonic horn plowing a furrow through the ground like a farmer's plow.
Finally, Elder Guo lifted the battered demon, observing the bruised and bloodied face with cold detachment. With a casual toss, he launched Mei skyward, then pressed his palms firmly against the earth. The ground responded to his command, twisting and rising to form a sharp stone spire that impaled Mei through his back, the pointed tip emerging grotesquely from his chest.
Exhaustion suddenly overwhelmed Elder Guo, forcing him to one knee as his breathing grew labored and ragged.
"Did you have fun beating me up?" Elder Mei's voice came from behind him.
Guo spun around with widened eyes, only to be met with a fist to his stomach before he could mount any defense. The impact launched him backward into the stone spire he had created, shattering its upper half and leaving him sprawled across the flattened surface.
Elder Mei approached leisurely, cracking his knuckles and neck with deliberate slowness. A sadistic smile played across his demonic features as he savored his opponent's vulnerability.
"Out of steam already?" he taunted, looming over the fallen elder.
...