The moon above the Heavenly Tournament Grounds split into silver shards as two figures clashed midair — one blazing like a fallen star, the other cloaked in an abyss of shadow.
Boom!
A shockwave rippled across the arena. Barriers shattered like glass. Spectators covered their faces as sand and debris swept over them.
"L–Li Cheng… he's holding back the Divine Envoy?!"
"Impossible! The envoy ranks at least Gold-tier—he's just a student!"
Every cultivator in the arena stared wide-eyed. A boy once branded as trash now fought toe-to-toe with the Celestial Sect's chosen envoy — his sword burning with blood-red light, every swing a roar of defiance.
Li Cheng's boots skidded across the fractured tiles. His uniform was torn, his arm streaked with blood, but his eyes burned brighter than the stars above.
System… status!
[Devouring Core: 89% capacity]
[Warning: Energy instability detected]
[Battle Efficiency: 112% - Rising rapidly]
The voice inside his mind hummed with mechanical calm, but Li Cheng's pulse thundered. Each breath carried shards of pain and power.
Before him floated his opponent — Yan Luo, the Divine Envoy, eyes gleaming with divine gold. His aura pulsed like a sun.
"You've grown strong for a mortal," Yan Luo sneered, his voice echoing like a hymn. "But you dare defy the heavens? You'll learn what it means to provoke a god's envoy."
Golden halos erupted around him — six rings of sanctified energy.
"Heaven's Descent—Radiant Collapse!"
The rings fell like comets.
Li Cheng gritted his teeth. "Devouring Sword Art—Third Form: Crimson Eclipse!"
His blade screamed. Black and scarlet energy twisted together, colliding with divine light.
Boom!
Half the stage vanished in a sea of radiance.
The crowd gasped. Even the elders leaned forward.
When the dust cleared, Li Cheng knelt — panting, bleeding — but alive.
On the far end, a girl with violet hair stood amidst chaos, clutching her chest. Her robes were torn, her spiritual shield flickering.
"Yue…" Li Cheng's eyes widened. She shouldn't be here!
A divine spear of light arced toward her — silent, deadly, unstoppable.
Time slowed.
Without thinking, Li Cheng threw his sword.
"NO!"
He flashed forward, his body breaking the sound barrier. The spear tore through his shoulder — blood sprayed like petals — but he caught her in his arms, spinning midair as the explosion bloomed behind them.
They hit the ground hard. Yue's breath trembled against his chest. Her fingers clung to his torn uniform.
"Why… did you—" she began.
"Because you… smiled at me once," Li Cheng muttered, forcing a grin through the pain. "And I don't owe Heaven that smile."
Her eyes widened, soft light reflecting in them.
But before the moment could deepen, the ground trembled again.
Yan Luo descended from above, fury burning like divine wrath. "Mortal filth! You dare wound me and touch what is sacred!?"
He raised his spear, divine sigils flaring around him.
[Warning: Host's vitals unstable. Core synchronization dropping.]
[System Suggestion: Release full Devouring Core resonance.]
[Consequence: Unknown.]
Li Cheng smirked. "Unknown, huh? Let's find out."
He placed Yue down gently. "Stay back."
Then he stood — and roared.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Black mist erupted from his veins. His sword hummed in midair, pulled by invisible gravity. The Devouring Core pulsed like a heartbeat gone mad, sucking in ambient qi, spirit fragments, even the divine aura radiating from Yan Luo.
[Devouring Sequence: Activated.]
[New Evolution Detected.]
[Skill Unlocked — "Devour Spirit Essence."]
"What—!?" Yan Luo's divine halo began to dim, the holy light feeding into Li Cheng's aura instead.
His body trembled, eyes glowing with eerie crimson.
"Devour… Spirit Essence!"
A black vortex burst open behind him, screaming with countless souls. The divine spear wavered. Yan Luo tried to resist, but his energy was being pulled — devoured — by the impossible force that defied the heavens themselves.
"No! This can't—be!"
Li Cheng stepped forward. His sword materialized in his grip, now a living flame of devouring will.
"You call yourself a god's envoy?" he spat, voice shaking the air. "Then let the heavens watch as I devour their messenger!"
He swung.
One strike.
A shockwave split the arena, tearing through air and stone alike.
Yan Luo's divine armor shattered. Blood mist bloomed like a crimson flower.
"Impossible…" the envoy gasped, falling to his knees. "How can… a mortal…"
Li Cheng's gaze was cold. "I'm no mortal."
The final strike silenced the heavens. Yan Luo's body dissolved into radiant motes, consumed entirely by the Devouring Core's hunger.
Silence fell.
Then — murmurs.
"He defeated a Divine Envoy…"
"That technique… that aura… what is he?"
Li Cheng stood at the center of the ruins, breathing heavily. The air around him distorted, alive with devouring energy. He clenched his fist, feeling the Core settle within.
[Energy Absorption Complete.]
[Host has absorbed 23% Divine Spirit Essence.]
[Temporary Buff: "Celestial Rage" — +150% Strength, +100% Speed for 3 minutes.][Caution: Core evolution unstable. Containment advised.]
"Three minutes, huh?" he whispered. "Guess I'll have to end this fast."
He turned back toward Yue — but froze.
Her eyes glowed faintly with divine light. "Li Cheng… you… devoured a god's envoy. Do you realize what that means?"
He blinked. "That I finally hit back?"
She shook her head. "No. It means Heaven will send another. And next time… it won't be just one."
Thunder rolled across the sky as if to confirm her words.
Li Cheng's hand tightened on his sword. For a brief moment, doubt flickered in his gaze.
But then the system's voice echoed again, low and mechanical:
[New Quest Unlocked — "Heaven's Retaliation."]
[Objective: Survive the Descent of the Divine Executors.]
[Time Limit: 14 days.]
He exhaled slowly. "Figures."
Then he looked at Yue, who was still trembling, eyes full of worry.
"Don't look at me like that," he said, smiling faintly. "If Heaven wants a war… I'll give them one."
The sky tore open with lightning, painting his silhouette in gold and crimson.
Somewhere above, ancient eyes stirred — divine, wrathful, curious.
And deep within Li Cheng's chest, the Devouring Core pulsed again — but this time, a second heartbeat answered it from within the void.
Something was awakening.