The wind howled like a dying beast.
Lin Xian stood at the edge of a shattered cliff, overlooking a land ravaged by time and war. Charred remnants of divine structures jutted from the cracked earth—pillars once worshipped by mortals, now reduced to skeletal memories. Black clouds swirled above like vultures waiting for a second death.
His bare feet touched the ashen ground, and a strange warmth pulsed beneath the surface.
> [System Notification: Ancient Ruins Detected.]
[Name: Temple of the First God – Ruined]
[Condition: Extreme Hazard]
[Hidden Opportunity: 1]
A faint smile tugged at Lin Xian's lips. "Even ruins remember what the heavens want forgotten."
He moved forward, each step echoing with ghostly whispers. The collapsed temple ahead had a shattered gate, but an eerie glow leaked from within—a heartbeat in the dark.
He stepped through.
Inside, vines of corrupted qi slithered along the walls. The air was thick with residual divine essence—twisted, toxic, powerful.
Then he saw it.
A stone statue, broken in half, yet still emanating a powerful presence. Its face was eroded, but the weapon it held—a half-cracked sword glowing red from within—called out to him.
> [System Alert: Divine Relic Detected.]
[Name: Embersoul Blade – Dormant]
[Bind? Y/N]
"Yes."
The moment he said it, the blade rose from the statue's hands and flew to his outstretched palm. Fire erupted from the sword, circling his arm like a hungry serpent.
> [Binding complete.]
[Skill unlocked: Hellfire Draw – Rank: C]
[Warning: User body not fully adapted. Overuse may cause internal damage.]
Lin Xian gritted his teeth as flames seared into his flesh. But he didn't scream. Pain was a familiar friend—reminding him he was alive again.
Suddenly—
ROAR!
A beast burst from the shadows. Its body was formed of molten stone, its eyes glowing like dying suns.
> [Monster Detected: Temple Warden – Level 15 – Cursed Form]
[Combat Recommended: No]
[System Suggestion: Escape or delay]
"I didn't crawl back from death to run from stones."
He gripped the Embersoul Blade and pointed it forward. "Come."
The beast lunged.
Lin Xian dodged, sliding under its swipe, and unleashed his new skill—
> [Hellfire Draw – Activated!]
The blade lit up in a burst of crimson fire as he slashed upward. Flames howled like demons as they struck the beast's chest, burning through its rocky armor.
But the Warden didn't fall. It shrieked and slammed him into the wall.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
The System warned again:
> [User body nearing critical limit.]
Lin Xian laughed—half in pain, half in thrill.
"So the gods want me weak. Fine. But I will sharpen my fangs in their ruins."
The fire within him surged.
He roared, lifted the blade, and charged again.
---
When the battle ended, the beast lay crumbled. Smoke rose from its broken core. Lin Xian stood panting, half-conscious, the Embersoul Blade still glowing in his hand.
> [Victory Achieved.]
[+800 EXP]
[Divine Point +20 Earned]
[Title Unlocked: "Ash-Born Warrior"]
[System Level: 1 → 2]
And then came the real surprise.
> [New Quest Unlocked:]
"Awaken the Fallen Realms"
Reignite the broken divine temples and seize the power the gods abandoned.
Lin Xian staggered to his feet.
"Let's see how long they can ignore me... when I start rebuilding what they tried to bury."
He walked out of the temple, flames trailing behind him.