Ironbloom Valley's cliffs cast jagged shadows under a crimson dawn, the Void Realm's fractured stars fading like dying embers. The air reeked of ash and iron, ley-line energy prickling the skin. Xun Wei, sixteen, stood in the Hall of Shattered Oaths, his black robes pristine despite the wyrm's blood still staining his boots. His serene face, boyish yet hardened, masked a god-level soul, its divine power suppressed to protect his meridians, now at Immortal Shaping Stage Late, edging toward Celestial Ascension Early. His Void Dantian pulsed, a vortex of crimson and golden qi, at Heavenstage Early, Harmony Stage Middle, quadrupling his power. His arsenal—Light of Serenity, Crimson Fang, Blood Thorn, Soulfang Bind, Mindveil Clarity, Soulreap Grasp, Memory Extraction, Abyssal Leech, Celestial Harmony, Harmonic Leech Pulse, Ironfang Slash, and Abyssal Fang Strike—was cloaked by his second foundation, a righteous qi reservoir deceiving the Celestial Mandate and Ironbloom's elders.
The Dual Path's stages—Initiation, Fusion, Harmony, Transcendence—drove his ascent. At Harmony Middle, his soul arts sharpened, his Immortal Shaping Late body held 25% of his god-level soul's might, aiming for Celestial Ascension Middle to unleash its full power, soloing Sky Immortals. His god-level soul negated qi deviation, absorbing qi effortlessly, unlike Hua Ling and Kai Ren, whose mortal souls and single-path methods lagged far behind. The sect's discord deepened, Elder Cang's authority crumbling under Xun Wei's forged talisman, the First Elder's grief-fueled trust binding him closer. Wei Tao's rivalry burned, his Ironfist Technique a spark Xun Wei would extinguish. The vision of Zhao Lin, silver-robed and Mandate-bound, fueled his revenge against the Mandate's tyranny, her shadow a challenge to crush.
In the Hall of Shattered Oaths, the air was thick with tension, the obsidian pillars cracked, runes pulsing red. Elder Cang stood before the Inner Disciples, his Starflow Technique dim, his sunken eyes burning with suspicion. "The Abyssal Wyrm's core proves Yan's taint lingers," he rasped, glaring at Xun Wei. "Yet a demonic talisman was found in my quarters, reeking of Yan's qi. Speak, Xun Wei."
Xun Wei bowed, his Light of Serenity radiant, his voice flat. "The talisman is a relic of Yan's treachery, Elder. His allies hide among us. I purged the wyrm to protect the sect." His serene mask hid the lie, his forged talisman framing Cang as a traitor.
The First Elder, Heavenstage Middle, his Skyclad Vigil Technique a storm of silver qi, rumbled from the pavilion. "Cang, your negligence breeds demons. Xun Wei, your loyalty shines. The Starshatter Palm is yours—master it, and expose the rot."
Cang's qi flared, a starry tempest. "You weave lies, boy," he snarled. "I'll rip your mask off."
Xun Wei's smile was ice. "Truth cuts deeper than lies, Elder. The world buries the careless." The crowd murmured, Hua Ling's Jade Blossom trembling, Kai Ren's Thundercoil crackling with unease. Wei Tao, Foundation Late, his Ironfist glowing silver, stepped forward. "I found the talisman," he said, eyes sharp. "Xun Wei's too clean—too perfect."
Xun Wei's gaze met Wei Tao's, Soulfang Bind pulsing subtly, sowing doubt. "Careful, Wei Tao," he said, voice cold. "Accusations are blades—wield them wisely."
The First Elder's voice boomed. "Enough! Xun Wei, lead a purge of the Abyssal Hollow's remnants. Find Yan's hidden cache—rumors speak of a Bloodveil Cache, demonic artifacts buried deep. Succeed, or face demotion."
Xun Wei bowed, his mind calculating. Yan's memories (Chapter 7) hinted at a Bloodveil Cache beneath the Hollow, filled with demonic relics. Its seizure would yield new skills, strengthen his body, and frame Cang further. Wei Tao's accusation was a spark to exploit, his rivalry a lever to pull. "I obey," Xun Wei said, eyes glinting with predatory intent.
At midnight, the Abyssal Hollow's depths were a tomb of shadows, crimson runes pulsing like festering sores. The air choked with sulfur, demonic qi gnawing at the soul. Xun Wei descended alone, Phantom Wisp Technique cloaking him, crimson tendrils masking his qi. Wei Tao had insisted on joining, but Xun Wei slipped away, leaving him to guard the chasm's edge. The Bloodveil Cache, per Yan's memories, lay beneath a shattered altar, its runes glowing with forbidden power.
Xun Wei knelt, carving a crimson sigil into the stone, his Blood Thorn Technique amplifying its pulse. The ground split, revealing a jade chest pulsing with demonic qi. Inside lay the Bloodveil Fang, a black dagger radiating hunger, its blade etched with soul-draining runes. Xun Wei grasped it, its qi surging into his Void Dantian, amplifying his Crimson Fang Technique. His meridians screamed, blood seeping from his pores, but his Immortal Shaping Late body endured, Light of Serenity stabilizing the influx. He wove the dagger's power into his Dual Path, forging Bloodveil Slash, a crimson arc that cut through stone, draining qi on contact. His cultivation surged to Heavenstage Early Peak, Harmony Stage Middle Peak, his body inching toward Celestial Ascension Early, resilience hardening like jade.
A roar echoed—three Bloodfang Wolves, Foundation Peak, their crimson eyes locked on him, Yan's runes on their hides. Xun Wei's Starfang Crush unleashed green-gold claws, shattering one wolf's skull. Harmonic Leech Pulse drained the others' qi, their bodies withering. Memory Extraction seized Bloodfang Howl, a sonic blast amplifying his Void Pulse Technique. His meridians warmed, a shallow claw mark bleeding on his thigh, but his god-level soul negated pain, his body unyielding.
Wei Tao's silver qi flared above, his voice sharp. "You ditched me again!" He leapt down, Ironfist smashing a stray wolf, blood spraying. "What's that dagger?"
Xun Wei's serene mask held, Soulfang Bind tightening its leash. "A relic of Yan's folly," he lied, voice flat. "It's cleansed now. Guard the chest—more wolves come." Wei Tao hesitated, doubt flickering, then nodded, unaware of the bind.
Xun Wei planted a second forged talisman in the chest, its qi mimicking Cang's Starflow, a trap to seal his doom. He sealed the chest, leaving it for Wei Tao to "discover" later, framing Cang as Yan's ally.
At dawn, Xun Wei presented the Bloodveil Fang to the First Elder in the Pavilion of Iron Will, its demonic qi cloaked by Light of Serenity. "Yan's cache, as promised," he said, voice flat. "Cang's talisman was found within—his betrayal runs deep."
The First Elder's qi roared, his eyes dark with rage. "Cang will answer," he growled, granting Xun Wei access to the Ironbloom Codex's forbidden vault. "Choose one tome—prove your worth."
Wei Tao burst in, dragging the jade chest, his Ironfist glowing. "This chest holds Cang's talisman!" he shouted, eyes blazing. "Xun Wei found it too easily—he's hiding something."
Xun Wei's smile was a blade, his voice ice. "The truth hunts its own, Wei Tao. Cang's taint is clear." Soulfang Bind pulsed, Wei Tao's resolve wavering, his accusation dulled.
Elder Cang was summoned, his Starflow dimming under scrutiny. "Lies!" he roared, but the First Elder's qi crushed him, silver chains binding his wrists. "To the Chamber of Silent Fangs," the First Elder commanded. "You'll face trial."
The crowd buzzed, Hua Ling whispering, "Xun Wei's unstoppable…" Kai Ren sneered, "He's a snake." Mei Lian, Foundation Early, her Moonpetal Technique dim, watched Xun Wei, eyes wet with unrequited love. Xun Wei ignored her, his mind on the vault's tomes, plotting a new righteous technique to mask his growing demonic power.
In his dorm, Xun Wei meditated, merging Bloodveil Slash with Starshatter Palm, forging Starveil Fang, a crimson-gold slash that shattered qi barriers and drained vitality. His Void Dantian roared, meridians straining but holding, his body at Celestial Ascension Early, resilience surging. A vision struck—Zhao Lin, silver-robed, Mandate sigils glowing, her qi a storm. Her face was a stranger's, not his sister's, yet her power was a threat. His fist clenched, resolve hardening to crush her and the Mandate.
In the Void Realm's temple, divine waters churned, a crimson ouroboros coiling tight. A golden-robed being hissed, "The heretic weaves deceit… unnatural."
An ancient voice, cold as iron, replied, "His kin stirs, a blade to his heart. The hosts prepare."
"Let them come," the being intoned. "His blood will break the laws."