Excruciating pain.
It wasn't a tide, but molten iron, flowing slowly along every fractured meridian (Meridians - energy channels in the body, crucial for cultivation). Each heartbeat was like pulling a broken bellows, fiercely blowing that searing agony through his entire body.
Lin Yuan's vision was blurred by blood, a murky, dark red. The air, thick with the pungent smell of blood mixed with the stench of scorched flesh, invaded his nostrils, making him retch. Beneath his feet, the earth was sticky and warm. The "Three Fiends of Blood Demon"(Three Fiends of Blood Demon - a notorious and powerful group of demonic cultivators) who once terrorized the Eastern Desolates, were now nothing more than charred remains, indistinguishable from the soil and shattered Dharma Artifacts (Dharma Artifacts / Spiritual Weapons - magical tools or weapons imbued with spiritual power, used by cultivators for combat, defense, or other purposes).
He had won.
This thought surfaced, yet brought no joy, only a profound emptiness, as if he had been utterly hollowed out. The Wind-Rending Spear (Wind-Rending Spear - a specific, named spiritual weapon) in his hand let out a mournful cry. Cracks spread across its shaft like a spiderweb. It had once been his pride, his Weapon Spirit (Weapon Spirit / Artifact Soul - the spiritual essence or consciousness residing within a powerful weapon or artifact, often capable of independent thought or enhancing the weapon's power), but now it resembled a dying mortal object.
He propped himself up with the spear tip, kneeling on one knee, trying to regulate his breathing. But each inhale tugged at the penetrating wound in his chest, bringing forth a string of bloody foam.
In this deathly silence, a steady, familiar sound of footsteps approached from afar, treading on the congealed blood-mud with soft "plop, plop" sounds. The sound, to him, was nothing short of heavenly music.
Lin Yuan struggled to lift his head. Through his blurry vision, that figure, exuding an immortal-like demeanor (Immortal-like Demeanor - describes someone possessing an otherworldly, dignified, and ethereal aura, often associated with powerful cultivators or immortals), gradually became clear. A azure Daoist robe remained spotless amidst the smoke-filled battlefield.
It was his Revered Master (Revered Master - a highly respectful title for a master or teacher, often implying a deep bond or high status).
"Revered Master..."
His voice was hoarse, like a broken bellows. The nerve that had been stretched taut, almost to its breaking point, finally relaxed the moment he saw this figure. It was like a traveler who had trekked for days through a blizzard, finally, as night fell, spotting a flickering, warm light from a solitary village in the distance.
He tried to stand and salute, but his body swayed violently, almost toppling over.
A warm and powerful hand steadied him.
"Yuan'er, don't move."
Revered Master Cang Xuan's gentle voice sounded above his head, carrying a hint of relieved approval."This Master arrived late. You did very well, slaying the Three Fiends of Blood Demon all by yourself... My Azure Cloud Sect (Azure Cloud Sect - the name of a cultivation sect or school) has a successor."
In his eyes, which were always as deep as the starry sky, tears of gratification seemed to shimmer. This brought a warm current to Lin Yuan's chest, temporarily suppressing the bone-deep agony.
"Disciple... did not fail his mission."
It was then that he clearly saw the two figures behind his Revered Master.
His Senior Brother (Senior Brother - a respectful address for a male disciple who joined the sect or started cultivation earlier than oneself) Lu Yunfei quickly stepped forward, looking at his wounds with "concern," clicking his tongue."Junior Brother, you this time... you really pushed yourself too hard. Look at these injuries, alas, your cultivation foundation might even be damaged." His words were full of regret, but in his daze, Lin Yuan seemed to catch a glimpse of an irrepressible smirk at the corner of Lu Yunfei's mouth.
Was it an illusion? He was probably losing too much blood, his eyes playing tricks on him.
His gaze swept past Lu Yunfei, towards the figure behind him.
His Junior Sister (Junior Sister - a respectful address for a female disciple who joined the sect or started cultivation later than oneself) Su Mei'er. Today, she wore the pink brocade dress he liked to see most, with delicate twin lotuses embroidered on the hem. But she merely stood far away, head bowed, nervously fiddling with the corner of her dress, refusing to meet his gaze.
Lin Yuan's heart sank inexplicably. It felt as if an invisible hand had gently squeezed it.
"Come, Yuan'er." Revered Master Cang Xuan interrupted his thoughts, bringing a medicinal pill (Medicinal Pills / Elixirs - specially refined pills or elixirs, often possessing potent healing, cultivation-enhancing, or other magical properties) exuding a clear, elegant herbal fragrance to his lips. He was very familiar with that scent; it was his Revered Master's unique secret healing panacea."This is the Nine Revolutions Heaven-Returning Pill (Nine Revolutions Heaven-Returning Pill - a specific, highly potent healing elixir, often implying rare ingredients and profound effects). This Master used several of the most precious Spiritual Herbs (Spiritual Herbs - herbs imbued with spiritual energy, often rarer and more potent than ordinary medicinal herbs, used in high-grade elixirs). Quickly, take it. Stabilizing your injuries is paramount."
The familiar medicinal fragrance, the familiar words, and the gentle, benevolent smile on his Revered Master's face completely dispelled the faint unease that had just risen in Lin Yuan's heart.
Yes, he had fought to the death, protecting the sect. His Revered Master, Senior Brother, and Junior Sister—they were all here to welcome a hero. He must have been overthinking things.
He opened his mouth and swallowed the pill, which carried all his hopes, without hesitation.
The pill slid down his throat, but instead of the imagined warm current, it was... ice.
An extreme, chilling cold, as if from the deepest reaches of the Nine Netherworlds, instantly exploded in his Dantian (Dantian - a vital energy center in the lower abdomen, crucial for storing and cultivating spiritual energy). It wasn't medicinal power, but a brutal, domineering sealing force, like countless icy venomous snakes, frantically drilling into his Soul Meridians (Soul Meridians / Spirit Veins - channels within the body specifically related to the soul or spiritual energy, distinct from regular meridians), instantly freezing and shattering the meager Soul Power (Soul Power / Spirit Energy - the energy of the soul, used for various spiritual techniques, mental attacks, or cultivation) remaining in his body!
"Pfft—!"
A mouthful of black blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs, spurted out, splashing onto Revered Master Cang Xuan's pristine Daoist robe, leaving shocking stains.
Lin Yuan's vision, in that instant, became crystal clear. He stared fixedly at the face before him, the gentleness and benevolence on it peeling away like a mask, revealing a cold, indifferent gaze, as if looking down at an ant.
"Why...?"
Each word drained all the strength from his body.
Revered Master Cang Xuan frowned in disgust at the bloodstains on his Daoist robe, then lightly flicked his sleeve, and the blood vanished without a trace. He then sighed, his tone like someone lamenting a shattered precious porcelain."What a pity. Your talent is something this Master has never seen in his life. If not for that legendary Immortal Dao Foundation (Immortal Dao Foundation / Indestructible Dao Base - a legendary, supreme cultivation foundation that grants immense power and potential for true immortality), this Master... truly wouldn't bear to destroy you."
"Immortal Dao Foundation?" Lin Yuan's mind roared. The pain in his chest was far less than a fraction of the agony in his heart."I fought to the death for the sect... Is this... your reward to me?"
"Hahaha!" Lu Yunfei, who had been on the side, finally dropped his pretense and burst into a long-suppressed, hearty laugh."Lin Yuan, oh Lin Yuan, you naive fool! You truly believed we valued your loyalty? We orchestrated the arrival of the Three Fiends of Blood Demon precisely to make you fight until your oil ran dry, so that Revered Master could personally 'help' you!"
He walked up to Lin Yuan, stepped on his hand, and looked down, his eyes filled with pathological glee."What we value is that broken lamp of your Lin family, which is never shown to others—that Nether Lamp (Nether Lamp / Underworld Lamp - a mysterious and ancient artifact, often with special properties related to the underworld, hidden secrets, or the soul) related to the secret treasure of the Nine Hells (Nine Hells / Nine Netherworlds - a mystical or legendary realm, often associated with secrets, treasures, or a place of great danger)!"
The Nether Lamp!
These two words struck like a thunderbolt, making Lin Yuan's last shred of consciousness tremble. He abruptly turned to the silent girl in the pink dress.
Su Mei'er's delicate body trembled under his gaze, which burned with blood and hatred. She finally spoke, her voice ethereal and cold."Lin Yuan, don't blame me... people always strive for higher places. Senior Brother Lu promised me the position of future Sect Master's wife... What can your broken lamp give me?"
A single sentence, like the sharpest blade, shattered all their past affections.
So that was it.
Everything was a play.
Lin Yuan laughed, a "ho-ho" sound like leaking air escaping his throat, bloody foam continuously bubbling from the corners of his mouth.
He understood.
"It's good that you... understand," Revered Master Cang Xuan said indifferently."Hand over the Nether Lamp, and you'll have a quick end."
"Want it?"
Lin Yuan suddenly raised his head, his eyes, which should have been dim, now burned with a madness that threatened to consume even himself!
"Then... take it with your lives!"
He used his last bit of divine soul to detonate the core of the Weapon Spirit that had accompanied him his entire life!
"Boom—!"
The terrifying soul power storm did not sweep out. Revered Master Cang Xuan merely waved his sleeve, confining all the energy within a small area, silently annihilating it.
As the dust settled, Lin Yuan lay quietly in a pool of blood, his chest completely pierced by the fragments of his own Weapon Spirit.
Life, like a receding tide, slipped away.
In his final moments of consciousness, he saw Lu Yunfei rummaging through his body, pulling out the ancient bronze lamp. He saw Su Mei'er nestled beside Lu Yunfei, her face filled with longing and infatuation. He saw his most respected Revered Master, his eyes burning as he stared at the lamp, as if seeing eternal life.
Darkness completely engulfed him.
Boundless hatred was his only obsession before dissipating.
If there is an afterlife... No! If I cannot become an immortal, then I shall become a demon! I will surely grind you all... to dust!
No one noticed that the gushing heart blood did not spread out but was drawn by an invisible force, slowly seeping into the front of his robes. Finally, silently, it soaked into the ancient bronze lamp held in Lu Yunfei's hand.
The moment Lin Yuan's last trace of unyielding resentment, mixed with his heart blood, touched the lampwick—
That ancient lamp, which had been dormant for thousands of years and dismissed by the Lin family as "worthless scrap metal," suddenly...
—ignited a single, pitch-black flame on its dark lampwick, a flame that seemed capable of devouring all light.