The world of ruins that Rin Xie wandered through was one of perpetual twilight, a realm where shadows clung to the remains of a once-proud sect. The bitter scent of decay and death was heavy in the air, and Rin could feel it in his lungs, poisoning him with every breath. Yet, to him, it was no more than a whisper in the background of his thoughts. His focus was singular now—the Death Refinement Core pulsing within him, urging him forward on a path he couldn't yet fully understand.
His footsteps were slow, deliberate, the remnants of his earlier battles still fresh on his body. The black aura that surrounded him, the dark energy that had become his second skin, seemed to vibrate with an almost sickening hunger. It was as though the core had tasted blood and demanded more—more life, more death, more power.
Rin's mind, however, remained sharp. The world, the power that thrummed in his veins, and the murmur of the dagger in his hand were all that he could focus on. Yet even amidst this focus, something stirred deep within him—a need, a voice, a desire for connection. It was the last lingering trace of humanity within him, the same humanity that had been betrayed by his very existence.
And as if the world had read his thoughts, a figure appeared in the distance.
A man, dressed in simple yet sturdy robes, stood leaning against a broken pillar, his face obscured by the shadows of a torn hood. He looked to be no older than Rin himself, though the aura he emitted seemed to suggest a far greater experience. The stranger's presence was one of quiet power, a subtle yet undeniable force that seemed to command the air around him. He regarded Rin with an expression that could only be described as calculating, his eyes sharp and unblinking.
"You survived," the man's voice was low, gravelly, yet calm—almost soothing. "I thought for sure the rumors of the cursed sect's destruction had exaggerated the death toll."
Rin's hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of the Death Refinement Dagger. The dagger pulsed against his skin, almost as if it could sense the man's presence too. Rin didn't speak at first, instead allowing the silence between them to stretch.
Finally, he spoke, his voice cold, like the air of a grave. "Who are you?"
The man chuckled, a soft, almost mocking sound. "Ah, the survivors always ask that, don't they? A curious nature, or perhaps the remnants of something still human inside of you. You would be right to question my intentions."
He stepped forward, his movements smooth and practiced, like a predator assessing its prey. "I am not here to harm you, not directly. I've seen what the Death Refinement Dao can do. I offer my assistance, if you would have it."
Rin didn't respond immediately, instead taking a step back, keeping a wary eye on the stranger. The man didn't seem to be wielding any overt weapons, but there was something unsettling about him—a predatory calm that set Rin's instincts on edge.
"You offer help?" Rin finally said, his voice laced with disbelief. "And why would I accept help from a stranger? There is nothing free in this world. Not after everything."
The man smiled, but there was no warmth in it, only the sharp glint of calculation. "Ah, you are wiser than I had imagined. You are correct—there is always a price. I do not offer charity. But the path you walk, boy, is dangerous. The power of the Death Refinement Dao is immense, but it is also... consuming. I can help you control it, guide you through the refinement process, show you the true potential of the power inside you."
Rin narrowed his eyes. "And in return?"
"In return," the man said, voice soft but firm, "I ask only for one thing. Your soul."
Rin's expression remained unchanged, though his heart skipped a beat. "My soul?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "What would you do with it?"
"Nothing, really," the man answered nonchalantly, as if discussing the weather. "I simply seek the essence of death within you. The soul is the gateway to true power, boy. Your death energy, your very soul, is what will allow me to ascend to the next level. This is the price, and I will ensure that it does not harm you. After all, you will be just a tool, a vessel. You will still live, you will still gain the power you seek. Only, I will be able to—how shall I say it?—feed off of your strength as you cultivate."
The words hung in the air between them, thick with the weight of implication. Rin felt a flash of fury inside of him, a deep, visceral loathing for the audacity of the stranger's offer. He had already been used by those who were supposed to protect him, his very life twisted and manipulated by others. The thought of selling even a part of himself—his soul, no less—was repugnant. But beneath the anger, there was something else—something that gnawed at him.
Rin understood this man's logic, his calculation. He knew that the stranger spoke truth. The Death Refinement Dao was powerful, yes, but it was also dangerous. The energy inside him was violent and untamable, and Rin had only begun to scratch the surface of its true potential. The idea of accepting help, of learning to control this power, was tempting. It was the opportunity he had long sought—to wield this dark power with complete mastery.
But he had learned, through the bitter lessons of his past, that trust was a fragile thing. No one was ever truly an ally, and anyone who offered help always had an agenda. His heart hardened.
"No," Rin said quietly, his grip on the dagger tightening. "I will not trade my soul."
The man's smile faltered, just for a moment, before it returned. His eyes narrowed, the calculating gleam in them hardening into something darker, more predatory.
"I see," the man said, his voice growing colder. "So be it. But know this: the path you walk is not one you can tread alone. You will fail. And when you do, there will be no one left to save you."
Rin could feel the air shift around him, the tension thickening. The man's aura seemed to flare, a surge of power that rippled through the broken landscape. Rin's instincts screamed at him to act, but before he could move, the man's hand darted toward him, swift as a striking snake.
The world seemed to slow.
The man's fingers curled toward Rin's chest, a burst of dark energy crackling around them. Rin's eyes flashed with understanding—this was no mere offer of help. It had all been a ruse, a ploy to get close enough to steal what he had. The man's true goal was never to teach him; it was to possess him, to take the very essence of his being for his own.
Fury roared inside Rin's chest, louder than the Death Refinement Core ever had. The darkness within him answered the call, flooding his veins, filling his limbs with a power that was both terrible and absolute. With a roar of primal rage, Rin swung the Death Refinement Dagger toward the man's outstretched arm, the blade slicing through the air with a force that was almost too fast to follow.
The man's expression shifted—surprise, followed by disbelief—before the blade sank deep into his side. The rogue cultivator staggered back, his mouth opening in a soundless scream. Blood, black and swirling with death energy, poured from the wound, darkening the earth beneath them. His eyes widened, and Rin could see the realization in them—too late.
Rin didn't hesitate. The man's body convulsed as the Death Refinement energy surged through him, eating at his flesh, consuming him from the inside out. Rin watched, detached, as the man fell to the ground, a heap of twitching, lifeless flesh. His last breath was a choked rasp, a sound that would never escape from his lungs again.
Rin stood over the body, his breath coming in ragged gasps, the dagger still smoking from the energy it had discharged. His heart hammered in his chest, the adrenaline of the fight coursing through him. But beneath it all, something else lingered—something darker, something raw.
This was the first life Rin had taken since his awakening.
The first human life.
And as the man's body dissolved into ash and shadow, something shifted deep within Rin. The emotional trauma—the rage, the betrayal—had fueled something new within him, something terrible.
The breakthrough had come.
The Death Refinement Core pulsed once more, and for the first time, Rin felt the full weight of his power.
To be continued…