The first rays of dawn painted the mountains in shades of gold and crimson.Mo Tianxue opened his eyes, stretching his limbs after three grueling months of isolation.The chill of the mountain morning did little to disturb him; his body had grown accustomed to the harsh air.
Every muscle, sinew, and nerve had been honed through endless meditation, combat drills, and the absorption of the poisonous plant's essence.The red-black glow of his Abyssal Qi now pulsed steadily within him, no longer flickering or resisting.
"Three months… and finally, the first stage is complete.Abyssal Qi Adept – Beginner."
He rose from the rocky ground, feeling the power flowing freely.The wind caressed his long white hair as if celebrating his achievement.Every step he took resonated with authority, the ground itself seeming to acknowledge the awakening of a true cultivator.
Tianxue moved through the forest, testing his new strength.Small boulders shattered under the force of his strikes.The trees bent slightly, leaves scattering in response to the surge of his Qi.Every motion was fluid, precise, and controlled—proof of three months of relentless discipline.
He paused by a stream, watching the reflection of his pale, determined face in the water.
"No hesitation. No mercy. Every breath must serve the purpose of the Crimson Abyss."
Kneeling, he dipped his fingers into the cold water, sending ripples across the surface.He closed his eyes and extended his consciousness outward, feeling the flow of energy around him—the subtle murmur of distant Qi, the faint presence of animals, and the lifeblood of the land itself.The mountains, once silent witnesses to his struggle, now seemed alive, resonating with his power.
"This is the first step,"he whispered."The next steps… will determine the fate of the clan, and eventually, the world."
Descending the mountain, Tianxue surveyed the valley below.The small village lay nestled among the rolling hills, smoke rising from chimneys in lazy spirals.He had not visited this place in decades, yet it was familiar—the land, the rivers, the pattern of the trees.
"The village… it will be the seed of the new Crimson Abyss."
He moved with purpose, every step measured and deliberate.The forest gradually thinned, giving way to the winding paths that led to the village outskirts.Birds flew overhead, startled by his sudden appearance, but Tianxue paid them no mind.
As he approached, he observed the villagers from a distance.Simple folk, unaware of the forces shaping the world beyond their borders.Yet, they were connected—through land, lineage, and fate—to the legacy of the Crimson Abyss.
"Patience,"he muttered."First, observation. Then, recruitment. Then, the revival."
He settled near the edge of the village, sitting atop a gentle hill that overlooked the entire settlement.For hours, he studied the people, learning their routines, habits, and weaknesses.The pulse of Abyssal Qi within him allowed him to sense the potential in those around him—those who could be molded into disciples.
"Not everyone… only those with spirit, resilience, and loyalty will survive under my guidance."
Night fell, and the village lights flickered like scattered stars.Tianxue meditated under the moonlight, letting his thoughts wander to the days ahead.He planned each move carefully: where to recruit, how to train, and how to establish the Crimson Abyss anew.
"The first disciple must be strong, loyal, and unshakable.The second… more cunning. Each addition will strengthen the foundation."
He rose, stretching once more, feeling the steady pulse of his Abyssal Qi Adept – Beginner flowing like molten fire through his veins.
"This is only the beginning.The mountains gave me power… the village will give me followers…And together, we will reclaim the legacy that was stolen."
Moving through the shadows, he explored the outskirts of the village, noting potential allies and hidden threats.Every abandoned building, hidden path, and quiet glade became a part of his plan.
"The terrain must be understood, the people observed, the dangers anticipated."
Days passed. Tianxue remained in hiding, blending with the forest while subtly testing the villagers' reactions.Small demonstrations of power—crushed rocks, subtle manipulations of energy—revealed the strong-willed and the timid alike.
"Strength and will… these are the pillars of my sect,"he murmured.
Each night, he returned to the hilltop, reviewing his observations and refining his plans.
"Three months of training granted me power.Now, three months of preparation will grant me followers.Only then… can the Crimson Abyss rise."
The Blood Moon appeared once more, bathing the village and mountains in its eerie light.Tianxue stood atop the hill, eyes blazing with ambition, Abyssal Qi flowing like rivers of crimson fire around him.
"Soon… my disciples will gather.Soon… the first step of the revival will begin.And the world will remember the name… Crimson Abyss."
He exhaled slowly, feeling the calm before the storm.
"Tomorrow… the first disciple.In one month… the core of the sect.And in one year… Murim itself will tremble."
The mountains stood silent, yet alive, as if acknowledging his vow.Tianxue's mind sharpened, plotting and anticipating every challenge.
"I have survived betrayal, death, and exile.I have mastered the Abyssal Qi.Nothing… nothing will stop me now."
He descended into the forest, moving like a shadow among the trees, unseen and untouchable.Each step brought him closer to the village, closer to the revival of his lost sect, closer to reclaiming the Crimson Abyss.
"The first disciple… the first ally… the first spark of an empire.And from that spark… the Crimson Abyss will engulf the world."
The moonlight faded, replaced by the first golden rays of dawn.Mo Tianxue's white hair glimmered in the light, his eyes fierce and unyielding.
"Three months of training… complete.Now begins the age of the Crimson Abyss."