Within the Celestial Flame Sect, silence weighed heavily upon the main hall.
The atmosphere was thick, oppressive, and not a single disciple dared to breathe loudly.
Just moments ago, Xu Chen, the disciple they once took pride in, had shattered his token, signed away his ties, and been cast out. The sect's shining star had fallen… no, he had been broken, his dantian destroyed, his body thrown off the mountain.
The entire sect trembled with unease.
But no one dared to speak.
Among them, the one most shaken was none other than Lu Yan.
Inside, his heart roared in panic. What the hell just happened? How did this go so wrong? How am I supposed to plunder his luck now?
His face paled as cold sweat rolled down his back. No… no, if Xu Chen dies, how will I obtain his fate? How will I rise above mediocrity? Without his luck to devour, I'll be nothing more than a talentless fool!
Unable to hold back, Lu Yan suddenly knelt down before Shao Xiu.
"Master!" His voice trembled with urgency. "Please reconsider! Senior Brother Xu Chen was merely blinded by anger. There is no need to expel him completely!"
The disciples all turned to look at him.
But Shao Xiu only gazed down coldly, her lips curling with disdain.
"Lu Yan… you are far too kind-hearted. Trash like him deserves nothing but expulsion."
She raised her voice, letting her words echo through the hall and beyond, carried by spiritual force to the entire city below.
"From this day forward—Xu Chen is no longer a disciple of the Celestial Flame Sect!"
Her eyes glinted with cruel amusement. "For years, he offended countless people because of his talent. Now, with his dantian destroyed, he is nothing but waste. Let's see how long he survives in the outside world."
Her laughter was like poisoned daggers.
The elders in the hall stiffened.
What is she doing?
Their hearts trembled.
This was not just expulsion. This was a death sentence. By publicly declaring his fall, she had delivered Xu Chen to the hands of enemies waiting to tear him apart.
Lu Yan's face turned white. His palms trembled. This crazy woman! She's ruined everything! If Xu Chen dies… my plundering ability will be worthless!
Beside him, Wen Yun's eyes flickered with confusion.
What is going on? Why isn't Xu Chen begging for forgiveness? He should be kneeling, crying, groveling like before. Why is he smiling? Why is he so calm?
Her chest tightened, her expression complicated. For the first time, doubt crept into her heart.
Just then, an elder stepped forward.
Elder Wu, his beard gray, his face solemn, bowed slightly. "Sect Leader, this matter… is far too grave. Xu Chen may have erred, but let us not forget—he fought alone for five years against the demonic tide in Dragon Cloud City. He bore heavy wounds, sacrificed much. Surely, that alone earns him at least one chance at redemption."
His voice was calm, but in his heart, he sighed deeply. Though… without his dantian, he is nothing now. A waste…
Shao Xiu's brows furrowed. Her cold gaze cut into Elder Wu.
"Fought against demonic beasts? Hmph! And what came of it? He lingered in Golden Core Early Stage for years without advancing! What kind of so-called talent is that?"
Her lips curled into scorn as she turned to another disciple. "Look at Lan Yu. In mere months, he has already stepped into Qi Refining! That is what true talent looks like!"
The hall fell silent.
The elders exchanged glances, barely holding back laughter. Comparing Golden Core to Qi Refining? This was beyond absurd. Was the Sect Leader blind?
Even Lan Yu himself lowered his head in embarrassment. His fists clenched tightly, shame filling his heart. He was no match for Xu Chen. He knew it. Everyone knew it. Yet here was their sect leader, comparing him to a demon-like genius.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest, a mere kilometer from the sect—
Inside a hidden cave, Xu Chen sat cross-legged in silence. His breathing was calm, his eyes closed, his body already beginning to absorb spiritual energy.
And then—
Whoooosh!
The air trembled around him. The flow of spiritual energy surged violently, rushing into his body at a speed so fast it defied common sense.
"Ten times… ten times faster than normal cultivation."
His eyes flickered open, glowing faintly. His lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"This… this speed is outrageous."
Hours passed like fleeting moments.
After a single day of meditation—
Boom!
A thunderous sound rang inside his body. His blood boiled, his muscles surged with power. His skin faintly glowed as spiritual energy coursed through every vein.
"From mortal… to Body Tempering Early Stage… in just one day."
Xu Chen opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp, his smile twisted.
"If I were an ordinary cultivator, it would take at least ten days to reach this level. But me? One day is enough."
His voice turned cold, his eyes burning with hatred.
"You destroyed my dantian. You kicked me out. You forced me into this path. In my past life, I was kind. I tolerated everything. But this time… no more. This time, you will suffer."
His mind drifted to his memories of Dragon Cloud City.
Five years. Five years of endless battle against demonic poison. Five years of blood, sweat, and despair.
At that time, the demonic poison spread uncontrollably. People trembled, powerless. But by chance, he discovered something. His blood… could suppress the poison.
And so, he sealed the poison with his very life force. His cultivation weakened, his body crippled, but the city was safe.
For a short while, they praised him. But gratitude never lasts. Soon, whispers spread. "It's not a big deal. He just exaggerated it." "Anyone could've done it."
Ungrateful. Shameless. Despicable.
In the end, they spat on his sacrifice.
Xu Chen clenched his fists. "This time, I will make every ungrateful worm pay. Even if I cannot kill the Son of Destiny… I will make his life worse than death."
He drew in a deep breath. His eyes darkened, his expression twisted with a cruel smile.
He gathered his qi, focusing it toward the blood seal within his body.
"Break."
Far away, in Dragon Cloud City.
The earth trembled.
The demonic cave—the place sealed by Xu Chen's blood years ago—shook violently.
BOOM!
The sound was deafening. The guards stationed there screamed as their bodies exploded into blood mist.
"What's happening?!"
The city shook. The skies turned black. A poisonous miasma spread across the air. The people trembled in fear.
An old man raised his head, his face turning pale.
"This… this scene… It's the same as back then…" He clenched his fists. "The demonic cave's seal is breaking!"
But someone in the crowd scoffed.
"Hmph. Even if it breaks, what's the worst that could happen? We'll just reseal it. That Xu Chen was a fraud. He exaggerated everything to earn fame."
A group of cultivators quickly rushed toward the cave. Most were at Qi Refining Realm, their faces full of confidence.
"The cave is huge…" one muttered.
Another pointed. "Look! The guards are dead!"
Without hesitation, they began chanting and weaving sealing arts. Bright lights covered the cave as spiritual energy gathered.
Slowly, the cave seemed to still. The miasma thinned. The people outside cheered.
"See? Xu Chen was nothing but a liar. Look at us—we sealed it so easily. Hahaha!"
Their laughter filled the air.
But then—
BOOM!
A violent shockwave erupted from within the cave. The cultivators sealing it screamed as their bodies were suddenly dragged inward by a powerful suction force.
"What is this?!"
They struggled, but an invisible barrier held them, trapping them inside.
Inside the cave, their eyes widened in terror.
Crunch!
A black shadow lunged forward. With a single bite, a massive demonic creature ripped one man's head clean off.
Blood sprayed across the stone walls.
"No! No! What is that thing?!"
One by one, the cultivators screamed as the monster tore through them. Flesh ripped, bones cracked, their cries echoing in the darkness.
The creature, its eyes glowing scarlet, turned toward the barrier. Its fangs dripped with blood as it slammed against the invisible wall, trying to force its way out.
Outside, the people watching trembled violently.
"Run! Run away!"
Panic swept through the city as the crowd scattered like ants.
The demonic cave had awakened.
And the nightmare had only just begun.