Inside the grand hall of the Lu Family Main Branch, an intense, murderous atmosphere filled the air. The entire Lu Family was seething in rage. The head of the Lu Family, a powerful cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm Level 8, clenched his fists as a chilling aura radiated from his body.
"XUON LONG!" he roared, his voice thunderous enough to shake the hall. "You dared to wipe out all my sub-branches, my guards, my clansmen?! You've made a grave mistake!"
He turned to his surviving members, each one elite and loyal. "We will storm that cursed mountain and make him kneel. If he refuses to compensate, we will slaughter everything he holds dear."
The elite members, all in peak Core Formation and Foundation Realm, shouted in unison, "FOR THE LU FAMILY!"
---
The black clouds swirled above the Mountain of Shadows.
Dozens of Lu Family elites marched up the slope under the command of their furious leader. But something was off.
"Why is it so... quiet?" one elder murmured.
The Lu Family head narrowed his eyes. The entire mountain was silent. No aura, no guards, no disciples. Just empty halls and wind.
"Where is he? Where are they?!" he barked.
Suddenly—
*BOOM!*
A Lu family elder's head exploded without warning. Before anyone could react—
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
One after another, the heads of every Lu Family elite burst like overripe melons. Blood painted the sacred ground. Screams never left their mouths.
"W-What is this?! I-Illusion?!" the Lu Family head panicked, his body trembling.
Just then, two figures stepped from the shadows.
Mu Chen and Hei Mo.
Mu Chen smiled coldly, his voice laced with mockery. "You really thought you could walk into the Mountain of Shadows like a king? You didn't even realize... you've been in an illusion from the start."
"Welcome to your tomb," Hei Mo added, his spear dripping with toxic green energy.
"I'll kill you both!" the Lu Family head screamed and charged forward with an enormous spiritual pressure that warped the air.
But Mu Chen's form flickered.
*WHOOSH!*
The Lu Family head missed as Mu Chen appeared behind him, palm already glowing with eerie poison.
"Palm of Rotting Lotus."
*CRACK!*
The palm landed directly on the head's back. His spiritual armor cracked. Poison seeped into his meridians. He screamed, his body turning black within seconds.
"N-No... I am a Nascent Soul cultiv—"
His body collapsed, smoking and twitching.
From a floating obsidian throne atop the highest point of the mountain, Xuan Long watched the entire battle calmly. One leg crossed over the other, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
"Even Nascent Soul Realm... still nothing before poison and illusion."
Mu Chen and Hei Mo bowed slightly toward the throne.
Hei Mo turned to the Lei Yuan, Shui Yue duo nearby and said, "Your illusion array was flawless. Even that fool couldn't escape."
Lei Yuan smiled proudly. "Of course. He walked right into it like a blind chicken."
Shui Yue chuckled. "Maybe next time, let's add some exploding flowers too."
---
With the Lu Family's forces annihilated, the Shadow Army moved swiftly.
All disciples and generals began raiding the Lu Family's main branch estate.
Massive storerooms were uncovered.
Crates of high-grade and mid-grade spiritual stones.
Vaults filled with ancient pills, sacred scrolls, rare herbs, and hundreds of spiritual weapons.
Even forbidden techniques from the old dynasty were found sealed beneath the main altar.
Everything was brought to Xuan Long.
Sitting on his throne, he waved his hand.
*SHINE!*
"Heavenly Mirror Devour — Duplicate: 10x."
All treasures sparkled and multiplied. Crates filled tenfold.
Resources that could cultivate a sect for decades now sat beneath his feet.
Xuan Long chuckled. "With this, even if we train our Shadow Army endlessly for 5 years, we won't run out."
Everyone around him smiled with glee. Their efforts were being rewarded like never before.
Just then—
*DING!*
A crisp system chime rang in his mind.
\[New Skill Unlocked: S**oul Insig**ht - Loyalty Reader]
\[Effect: You can see the loyalty level of anyone.]
* 0 to 10: Stranger
* 10 to 30: Friendly
* 30 to 50: Like Family
* 50 to 80: Most Closest
* 80 to 100: Fully Loyal
* Below 0: Enemy — Intent to harm
Xuan Long's eyes gleamed.
"Interesting. Let's test it."
He looked at Mu Chen.
\[Loyalty: 99 — Fully Loyal]
Then Hei Mo.
\[Loyalty: 99 — Fully Loyal]
Fox and Panther demi-humans.
\[Both 98 — Fully Loyal]
"Tch. As expected. Everyone here has sworn a life oath. But what about others..."
He turned his gaze toward the distant city.
"Zhou Yuechan... what are your thoughts?"
Her face appeared in his mind.
\[Zhou Yuechan — Loyalty: -10 — Wants to kill you. Desires to enslave your sisters.]
A sudden coldness settled over the mountain.
Xuan Long's fingers tightened.
He smirked. "But thanks to this skill, I can now eliminate threats before they ever strike."
A voice came from below.
"My Lord! News is spreading fast — Lu Family has been eradicated!"
"The entire city is in chaos!" another shouted.
People from every sect, family, and merchant group trembled.
The Lu Family — once a powerhouse — destroyed in less than two days.
Their entire legacy vanished.
And atop the shadows, seated like a god of death, was Xuan Long.
A new overlord had risen.
One who smiled as he duplicated treasures.
One who saw through loyalty like glass.
One who devoured clans with no remorse.
And the city whispered...
*"Never provoke the Shadow Lord."*
*"Or your head might explode next."*