The market town erupted into chaos.
"What was that sound?!"
Shouts rang out from every direction as the earth trembled faintly beneath their feet. Stalls
overturned, merchants abandoned their goods, and civilians scrambled for shelter as a distant,
thunderous echo rolled across the land—deep, violent, and unmistakably unnatural.
Before panic could fully take hold, shadows streaked across the sky.
One after another, figures shot upward from rooftops, streets, and courtyards—cultivators,
their robes fluttering violently as spiritual energy flared beneath their feet. In mere breaths,
dozens of streaks of light surged toward the horizon, all headed in the same direction.
The blast's origin.
The tribe.
High above the town, on the balcony of an opulent pavilion, a young man stood with his
hands clasped behind his back. His robes were embroidered with golden patterns that
shimmered faintly under the night sky. His expression was calm, but the glint in his eyes
betrayed anticipation.
"So…" he murmured, gazing into the distance. "It has finally revealed itself."
A smile curved his lips.
"I've waited months for this."
Before he could say more, a rough, booming voice cut through the air.
"Careful with those words, boy. Treasures have a habit of choosing their owners."
The young man didn't flinch.
Below the balcony, standing firmly upon the stone pavement, was a towering man with a
massive axe resting casually on his shoulder. His frame was thick and battle-hardened, his
presence oppressive. Even standing still, he radiated a ferocious aura that made nearby
cultivators instinctively keep their distance.
The young man glanced downward, eyes narrowing slightly before widening in polite surprise.
"Oh?" he said lightly. "I didn't expect the Beast Monarch Sect to send someone of such stature."
He inclined his head.
"So it's Martial General Xu."
The big man snorted. "And I didn't expect that old monster to send his precious grandson personally."
His sharp gaze locked onto the balcony.
"Yuan Li."
Yuan Li smiled faintly. "It's an honor that General Xu recognizes me."
Xu chuckled, though there was no warmth in it. "You truly are from that family. Even your tongue is as sharp as your reputation."
His eyes hardened.
"But don't misunderstand. I'm not here to exchange pleasantries."
He shifted the axe on his shoulder.
"That treasure—whatever it is—will belong to me. Convey my apologies to your grandfather."
With that, he stepped forward—
And vanished.
The air burst with a sharp crack as Xu's figure blurred into a streak of light, shooting toward the distant glow near the Ruh tribe at astonishing speed.
Yuan Li watched him go, expression unreadable.
"…You're not going to follow?" he asked casually.
Silence answered him.
Then, from the corner of the balcony, shadows rippled unnaturally.
A soft chuckle emerged.
"I was just about to."
From within the darkness, a figure stepped forward—a woman clad in flowing violet robes. Her
features were delicate yet sharp, her eyes calm but calculating. A faint floral fragrance accompanied
her presence, subtle but unmistakable.
Yuan Li turned slightly. "The Violet Lotus Sect couldn't resist either, it seems."
The woman smiled. "Treasures of this level don't come often. How could we let your Azure Yang Sect take it so easily?"
Yuan Li laughed softly. "Then let fate decide."
With a single step, spiritual light surged beneath his feet.
He disappeared into the night sky.
The woman's smile faded as she retreated back into the shadows, her form dissolving like
mist. The darkness slithered across the rooftop before streaking toward the distant glow as
well.
Fire roared.
The old woman staggered to her feet amid the burning ruins of the tribe. Embers drifted
through the air like falling stars, and smoke choked her lungs. Her vision blurred as she gazed
around at the destruction.
Flames consumed everything.
Homes collapsed. Cries faded one by one.
Tears streamed down her weathered face.
"…It's too late," she whispered.
Footsteps rushed toward her.
"Sister Lu!" an elder shouted. "We must leave—now!"
She turned to see several elders and warriors rushing through the flames.
"The others?" she asked hoarsely.
"The warriors have already escorted the remaining people to safety," the elder replied urgently. "We're regrouping."
Sister Lu's hands trembled. "Where… where are we going?"
"To the forest," the elder said without hesitation.
Her eyes widened. "What? That's madness! The deeper we go, the more ferocious the beasts become!"
The elder's gaze hardened, sorrow flickering briefly before resolve took its place.
"We have no other choice."
Behind them, another violent tremor shook the earth.
That decided it.
Without another word, they turned and ran—leaving behind the burning remnants of their home as they fled toward the looming darkness of the Great Forest.
High above the ruined tribe, the sky had become crowded.
Dozens—no, hundreds—of cultivators hovered in midair, their spiritual energies forming a
chaotic tapestry of light. Greed, anticipation, and hostility hung thick in the air as they
waited.
Among them stood several figures whose presence dwarfed the rest.
Yuan Li of the Azure Yang Sect.
Martial General Xu of the Beast Monarch Sect.
Su Mei of the Violet Lotus Sect.
Fang Lei of the Blood Demon Sect.
And Ji Han of the Dao Immortal Sect.
Yuan Li glanced sideways, his lips curling faintly. "It seems rumours truly spread fast. Even
the Blood Demon Sect has arrived."
Fang Lei's eyes glowed with cold malice. "Mind your tongue, little snake."
Xu snorted. "I don't care who you are. Whoever stands in my way will die."
Su Mei's gaze was sharp yet calm. "We'll see who fate favours."
Only Ji Han remained silent, eyes closed, his aura steady and restrained—like a blade sheathed in calm.
Then—
The mountain in the distance erupted.
A deafening roar split the heavens as molten fire burst forth, illuminating the sky in crimson. Lava surged, rocks shattered, and from within the volcanic inferno—
Something emerged.
A scream echoed across the land, ancient and haunting, carrying a primal fury that shook even seasoned cultivators to their core.
Low-level cultivators trembled violently; some lost control and plummeted from the sky, barely managing to recover before crashing.
But the major figures remained firm.
Fang Lei's expression darkened. "An Abyss Spine Beast…?"
Yuan Li narrowed his eyes. "No… something's off, it's not yet... matured but "
Ji Han opened his eyes.
"it's corrupted."
The word struck like thunder.
Corrupted beasts were far stronger than their normal counterparts—unstable, violent, and driven by twisted energies.
A corrupted beast of primitive lineage…
The Abyss Spine Beast was a colossal serpent-like monster, its massive body coiled like a
living mountain, covered in blackened scales and jagged bone spines. Corrupted crimson qi
poured from its flesh, warping the air and crushing all weaker beings beneath its pressure. Its
abyss-dark eyes burned with ancient malice, as if it were a calamity given form.
Xu suddenly laughed, eyes blazing. "Can you feel it?"
They all could.
A strange pulse emanated from the beast's core—familiar, irresistible.
The treasure.
Xu grinned wildly. "It's …"
Around him, the others nodded.
In unison, they spoke:
"Inside him."
High above, the heavens churned.
Below, beasts roared.
And an unseen disaster awaits.
___________________________________________________________________________
Author's Note:Zümrüt
Thank you for reading.
If you enjoyed this chapter, consider leaving a feedback or adding the novel to your library.
The journey has only begun.
This work is an original story by Zümrüt . Unauthorized reposting is prohibited