Silver City was a hive of scum and villainy, but even scum had a hierarchy.
In the basement of a nondescript silk merchant's shop—the new headquarters of the Shadow Court—Ghost One paced nervously.
The room was illuminated by dim spirit lamps. Across from him sat a man who smelled of copper and rot. He wore robes the color of dried blood, and his skin was covered in festering sores that seemed to move on their own.
This was Gu Sha, an Emissary of the Blood Devil Sect.
"You have courage, boy," Gu Sha rasped, running a long, sharp fingernail across the wooden table. "Calling us here. Admitting your master used our name."
"My Master wishes to speak with you," Ghost One said, keeping his voice steady despite the Foundation Establishment pressure crushing his chest. "He has a proposition."
"A proposition?" Gu Sha laughed, a sound like wet gravel. "We don't make deals with imposters. We skin them. You framed us for the Zhao caravan. Do you know how much heat that brought down on our hidden branches? The Azure Cloud Sect is hunting us like dogs!"
Gu Sha stood up. The sores on his arms burst, releasing crimson mist that formed into floating daggers.
"I will peel your face off first. Then I will wait for this 'Master' of yours and peel him too."
Ghost One didn't flinch. He looked at the shadows in the corner.
"You are making a mistake," Ghost One said.
"The only mistake," Gu Sha sneered, "was thinking a mortal rat like you could talk to a Devil."
He flicked his finger. A blood dagger shot toward Ghost One's throat.
HUM.
The air in the room suddenly became heavier than mercury.
The blood dagger didn't hit Ghost One. It stopped mid-air, vibrated, and then disintegrated into harmless red dust.
From the shadows, a footstep echoed.
Step.
Gu Sha's heart skipped a beat. The pressure wasn't just spiritual; it was primal. It felt like a predator walking into a cage of rabbits.
Step.
Mo Tian emerged. He wore the black robes of the Shadow Court and the featureless white mask. His new Foundation Establishment aura was fully unleashed, but it wasn't the chaotic, wild energy of a normal cultivator. It was a cold, absolute void.
[Skill Active: Aura of the Tyrant] [Effect: Suppresses the will of anyone with lower Mental Strength by 40%.]
"You..." Gu Sha took a step back, his instincts screaming. "Who are you?"
Mo Tian ignored him. He walked to the table and sat down in the chair Ghost One had vacated. He crossed his legs and looked at the Emissary.
"Sit," Mo Tian commanded.
The word hit Gu Sha like a physical hammer. His knees buckled, forcing him back into his chair.
"You have good instincts," Mo Tian said, his distorted voice filling the room. "You recognized the Blood Monarch's Aura on me, didn't you?"
Gu Sha's eyes widened. He could feel it now. Underlying this masked man's void-like pressure was a scent of blood so pure, so high-ranking, it terrified him. It was the aura of a ruler in the blood arts.
"Are you... are you an Elder from the main branch?" Gu Sha stammered. "But the main branch was destroyed centuries ago!"
"The branch dies," Mo Tian said smoothly. "The root remains."
He raised a hand. The red dust from the disintegrated dagger floated back up, swirling around his finger.
"You are angry that I used your name," Mo Tian stated. "You think I brought trouble to your door."
"The Azure Cloud Sect..." Gu Sha began.
"Is a fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered," Mo Tian interrupted. "You hide in the sewers, afraid of the light. You scavenge for scraps. You call yourselves 'Devils,' but you live like rats."
Mo Tian leaned forward. The white mask loomed closer.
"I gave you credit for a kill you didn't make. I made you feared again. You should be thanking me."
Gu Sha gritted his teeth. His pride as a Devil Cultivator flared. "You talk big. But you are just one man! I am a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Blood Devil Sect! I will not be insulted!"
"Blood Art: Crimson Explosion!"
Gu Sha roared, channeling all his Qi. The blood in his veins boiled, erupting outward to turn the room into a kill zone.
Mo Tian didn't move. He didn't even raise a shield.
He simply inhaled.
[Heaven-Devouring Art.]
The explosion of blood Qi didn't expand. It was sucked toward Mo Tian like water down a drain. The mist, the force, the killing intent—it all vanished into the masked figure's chest.
Gu Sha stood frozen, his hands empty, his Qi drained.
"Is that it?" Mo Tian asked, sounding bored. "My appetizer had more kick than that."
He stood up.
"Now. Kneel."
He released the [Soul Puppet Thread].
Invisible threads of Qi shot out, wrapping around Gu Sha's limbs and drilling into his spine.
"ARGH!" Gu Sha screamed as his body betrayed him. His legs snapped straight, and he crashed to his knees. His head was forced down until his forehead touched the dirty floor.
"You are weak," Mo Tian looked down at him. "But you are useful. I am building a new world, Gu Sha. A world where the strong take what they want. You can be a part of it. Or you can be lunch."
Mo Tian placed a hand on Gu Sha's trembling head.
"Submit. Or be devoured."
Gu Sha felt the vortex in Mo Tian's palm. He knew, with absolute certainty, that this man ate people. This wasn't a metaphor. This was a monster that fed on cultivation.
The choice was simple.
"I submit!" Gu Sha shrieked. "I submit to the Blood Monarch!"
The vortex stopped.
Mo Tian withdrew his hand.
[System Notification] [Subjugation Successful.] [Target: Gu Sha (Foundation Establishment - Early)] [New Faction Unlocked: Blood Devil Sect (Remnants)]
"Good," Mo Tian said. He tossed a vial to the groveling man. It contained refined Villain Qi.
"Drink this. It will heal your sores and stabilize your foundation. But it also binds your life to mine. If I die, you die. If you betray me, you rot from the inside out."
Gu Sha drank it without hesitation. The power flowed through him, purer than anything he had ever cultivated. He looked up at Mo Tian with fanaticism replacing fear.
"Master," Gu Sha kowtowed. "What is your command?"
"Go back to your sect," Mo Tian ordered. "Tell the other remnants that the 'True Ancestor' has returned. Gather them. I want every Blood Cultivator in the region ready for mobilization in three months."
"Three months?" Gu Sha asked. "What happens in three months?"
Mo Tian turned to the map of the Nine Provinces hanging on the wall. He pointed to the location of the Azure Cloud Sect.
"In three months," Mo Tian said, "the Sect opens the Ancient Trial Grounds. All the Elders will be distracted."
He turned back, the white mask gleaming.
"We are going to rob the Heavens."
The Next Morning - Azure Cloud Sect
"Han Fei" was sweeping the steps of the Library Pavilion when a shadow fell over him.
He looked up to see a group of Inner Disciples surrounding him. They wore the crest of the Law Enforcement Hall.
"Han Fei?" the leader asked coldly.
"Yes, Senior Brother?" Mo Tian bowed, looking terrified.
"You are to come with us. Elder Zhang of the Pill Hall wishes to speak with you."
Mo Tian's eyes narrowed slightly, invisible behind his lowered head. Elder Zhang? The master of alchemy? Why me?
"May I ask why?"
"Don't ask questions," the enforcer shoved him. "Move."
Mo Tian stumbled, clutching his broom. Inside, he was calculating.
Did I leave a trace? No. Yan Luo is silent. The Blood Devil cover is solid. So why?
As they marched him up the mountain, he saw Yan Luo in the distance, training in the plaza. She saw him being arrested. Her eyes widened. She took a step forward, but stopped.
Mo Tian made brief eye contact. Stay back, he willed her. Let me handle this.
He was led into the Pill Hall. The smell of medicinal herbs was overpowering.
In the center of the room stood Elder Zhang—a short, fat man with greedy eyes. Next to him stood a young man Mo Tian recognized.
It was Zhao Feng's cousin, Zhao Hu.
"That's him," Zhao Hu pointed at Mo Tian. "That's the trash who found my cousin's sword."
Elder Zhang sneered. "Han Fei. A lowly Inner Disciple from Ghost Hollow. I hear you possess a certain... luck."
"I... I don't understand," Mo Tian stammered.
"The Seven-Petal Soul Lotus," Elder Zhang hissed. "Saintess Yan Luo was seen refining one yesterday. She said a 'friend' gave it to her. A friend from Ghost Hollow."
Mo Tian cursed internally. Yan Luo. You are loyal, but you are bad at lying about resources.
"I found it," Mo Tian said quickly. "In the forest. I gave it to her because she is the Saintess."
"You found a Heavenly Treasure and gave it away?" Elder Zhang laughed. "You are either a saint or a liar. But it doesn't matter. The Zhao Clan believes that Lotus belonged to Zhao Wuji. Which means... you stole it."
"I didn't!"
"Silence!" Elder Zhang slammed his hand on the table. "You are under suspicion of theft and harboring secrets. You will be detained in the Fire Prison until you confess where you hid the rest of the 'stolen' goods."
Fire Prison, Mo Tian thought. An underground lava chamber used to torture fire-attribute beasts.
Elder Zhang leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Or... you can pledge your loyalty to me. Become my test subject for a few new pills... and I might let you live."
Mo Tian looked at the greedy Elder. He looked at the arrogant Zhao Hu.
He realized this wasn't about justice. It was just another predator trying to eat a weaker animal.
Mo Tian's trembling stopped. He looked up, his face blank.
"The Fire Prison," Mo Tian said softly. "Is the Qi there thick?"
"What?" Elder Zhang blinked. "It is scorching death! It will boil your blood!"
"Good," Mo Tian nodded. "I have been feeling a bit cold lately."
He held out his hands for the shackles.
"Take me."
Elder Zhang scowled. "Arrogant fool. Take him away! Let him rot in the magma for a week. We'll see if he's still making jokes then."
As the enforcers dragged him away, Mo Tian smiled.
The Heaven-Devouring Foundation required extreme environments to temper. He had used Death (Corpse Pit). He had used Lightning (Tribulation).
Fire was the next ingredient.
Thank you for the upgrade, Elder Zhang, Mo Tian thought. When I come out, I'll be sure to return the favor.