Chapter 1 – His humiliation and shattered dantian
Chapter 2 – Awakening of the Void and first devo
The forest was silent.
Long Tian stood beneath the fading moonlight, staring at the corpse of the spirit beast.
Its body was shriveled, drained completely of spiritual essence.
His hands trembled—not from fear, but from realization.
The vortex inside his dantian spun slowly, like a sleeping abyss.
He could feel it.
A faint stream of energy circulating through his meridians.
Not spiritual qi.
Something colder.
He clenched his fist.
A faint ripple distorted the air around his knuckles.
"I'm no longer empty…"
For sixteen years, he had felt hollow—mocked as trash, pitied as useless.
Now that emptiness had become something else.
A hunger.
He lowered his gaze.
"If I can devour beasts… can I devour cultivators?"
The thought frightened him.
But it also thrilled him.
He turned toward the distant silhouette of the Long Clan compound.
Lanterns glowed atop stone walls.
That place had never been home.
Only humiliation.
But tonight—
He would walk back through those gates.
Not as prey.
As something unknown.
---
The Clan Testing Grounds
Morning.
The outer disciples gathered around the stone platform where clan elders oversaw training.
Long Wei stood at the center.
The genius of the younger generation.
Fifth Stage Qi Refinement at only seventeen.
Golden robes. Confident smile.
"Trash like Long Tian shouldn't even carry the Long surname," he laughed loudly.
The disciples echoed him.
But then—
The crowd parted.
Long Tian walked in.
Silence spread instantly.
"Isn't that the cripple?"
"He survived?"
"He should be dead after last night…"
Long Wei's smirk faded slightly.
"You're still alive?"
Long Tian stopped five meters away.
His eyes were calm.
Too calm.
"I came back."
Something about his voice made several disciples uncomfortable.
It lacked desperation.
It lacked fear.
Elder Han, overseeing the training ground, frowned.
"You were expelled from the inner courtyard. Why are you here?"
Long Tian bowed slightly.
"I request to re-enter the clan trials."
The entire ground erupted in laughter.
"Trials?"
"You don't even have spiritual roots!"
Long Wei stepped forward.
"You want to compete?"
He released his cultivation aura.
Fifth Stage Qi pressure swept outward.
Several disciples stepped back.
Normally, Long Tian would struggle to breathe.
Today—
The vortex inside him stirred.
The oppressive qi that touched his body was quietly absorbed.
Swallowed.
Long Tian blinked.
No one noticed.
But Long Wei's expression changed slightly.
Why did his aura feel weaker near him?
"I'll give you one chance," Long Wei said coldly. "If you can block one strike, I'll let you kneel and beg for forgiveness."
Long Tian tilted his head.
"One strike?"
"Yes."
The disciples moved back.
A duel between a genius and trash was entertainment.
Long Wei gathered qi into his palm.
Golden light flared.
"Mountain Crushing Palm!"
He stepped forward and struck.
The air trembled.
But as the palm approached—
The vortex inside Long Tian spun violently.
He didn't dodge.
He raised his hand.
Their palms collided.
BOOM.
Dust exploded outward.
Several disciples screamed in shock.
Long Wei stumbled back two steps.
Long Tian remained still.
Unmoved.
The golden qi around Long Wei's arm flickered wildly—then dimmed.
Long Wei stared at his own palm.
Where did his qi go?
He felt it.
A portion of his spiritual energy had vanished.
Not dispersed.
Vanished.
Long Tian lowered his arm slowly.
Inside him—
The vortex pulsed with satisfaction.
Warmth spread through his meridians.
He had devoured part of Long Wei's attack.
The crowd fell silent.
Elder Han's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Impossible…"
Long Wei's face twisted.
"You used a hidden artifact!"
Long Tian said nothing.
Long Wei roared and attacked again.
This time with full force.
Fists rained down.
Golden qi surged like waves.
Each strike that touched Long Tian's body was absorbed partially.
The more Long Wei attacked—
The weaker he became.
The stronger Long Tian felt.
Gasps spread across the training ground.
"What is happening?"
Long Wei's breathing grew heavy.
His complexion paled.
Finally—
Long Tian moved.
He stepped forward.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just simple.
He grabbed Long Wei's wrist.
The vortex erupted.
Long Wei screamed.
His spiritual qi poured uncontrollably into Long Tian.
Elder Han shot forward instantly.
"Stop!"
He struck Long Tian's shoulder with immense force.
Long Tian released Long Wei and was thrown back several meters.
Blood spilled from his lips.
But his eyes—
Glowed faintly purple.
Long Wei collapsed to the ground, trembling.
Half his qi was gone.
The disciples stared in horror.
Elder Han's voice was ice-cold.
"What technique did you use?"
Long Tian wiped the blood from his mouth.
"Technique?"
He smiled faintly.
"I don't have one."
The vortex inside him stabilized.
He had reached—
First Stage Qi Refinement.
In a single fight.
The crowd could not sense it clearly.
But Elder Han could.
His heart trembled.
This boy…
Had no spiritual roots yesterday.
Now he possessed cultivation.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
---
### The Whisper of the Heavens
Far above the Nine Heavens Continent—
In a realm of white clouds and golden pillars—
An ancient figure opened its eyes.
"A devouring fluctuation…"
Another voice echoed.
"It has appeared again."
"The Void."
Silence fell across the celestial hall.
"The last time it appeared, three realms were destroyed."
A decree was formed.
"Observe the mortal named Long Tian."
"And if necessary…"
"Erase him."
---
### Back to the Clan
Long Tian stood slowly.
Elder Han's gaze pierced him.
"You are forbidden from participating in the inner trials."
Long Tian met his eyes calmly.
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
The message was clear.
They were afraid.
Long Tian bowed slightly.
"I understand."
But inside—
His thoughts were cold.
They would suppress him.
They would isolate him.
Just like before.
But now—
He did not need their approval.
He turned and walked away.
Behind him, Long Wei lay unconscious.
The disciples whispered fearfully.
"He drained his qi…"
"Is he a demon?"
Long Tian heard everything.
But he did not react.
As he stepped out of the training grounds—
A soft voice echoed behind him.
"You are interesting."
He stopped.
On the stone wall above—
A young woman stood gracefully.
White robes.
Long silver hair.
Eyes like frozen lakes.
She had been watching everything.
"Who are you?" Long Tian asked calmly.
She smiled faintly.
"Someone who knows what you truly are."
The wind blew between them.
"The heavens will not allow your existence."
Long Tian's eyes darkened.
"Let them try."
Her smile deepened slightly.
"Good."
She disappeared like mist.
Long Tian stood alone.
But he knew.
From this day onward—
He was no longer just fighting a clan.
He was fighting the heavens.
And the Void inside him—
Was only beginning to awaken.