Ironbloom Valley's cliffs loomed like jagged scars under a crimson twilight, the Void Realm's fractured stars pulsing like festering wounds. The air reeked of ash and decay, ley-line energy clawing at the soul. Xun Wei, sixteen, stood in the shadows of the Hall of Eternal Roots, his black robes pristine, the Bloodveil Fang's cold weight tucked against his chest. His boyish face, serene as a frozen grave, masked a god-level soul, its divine power—stolen in a past life 300 years hence—suppressed to spare his meridians, hardened at Immortal Shaping Stage Late, nearing Celestial Ascension Early Peak. His Void Dantian churned, a vortex of crimson and golden qi, at Heavenstage Early Peak, Harmony Stage Middle Peak, 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, Abyssal Fang Strike, and Starveil Fang—was cloaked by his second foundation, a righteous qi reservoir deceiving the Celestial Mandate and Ironbloom's elders.
The Dual Path, forged as a talentless D-grade cultivator, blended righteous and demonic qi, its stages—Initiation, Fusion, Harmony, Transcendence—driving his ascent. At Harmony Middle Peak, his soul arts honed, 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 crawled behind. Visions of Zhao Lin, silver-robed and Mandate-bound, plagued him, her qi a storm, her voice hissing, "The laws will crush you." Each vision fueled his plan: slaughter Ironbloom Valley, drain every cultivator's qi with Bloodveil Slash and Abyssal Leech, and ascend to Earth Immortal, defying the Mandate's tyranny.
The sect was a powder keg, Elder Yan's demonic taint and Zhao Fen's death shattering trust. Xun Wei's forged talisman had framed Elder Cang, his Starflow Technique dimming under suspicion, while the First Elder's grief-fueled trust made him a puppet. Wei Tao's accusations burned, his Ironfist Technique a spark Xun Wei would snuff out. Mei Lian's tearful love, her Moonpetal Technique weak, was his first target—her qi a spark to ignite his massacre.
In the Hall of Eternal Roots, torchlight flickered, casting shadows like clawing spirits. The First Elder, Heavenstage Middle, his Skyclad Vigil Technique a silver storm, stood before the assembled disciples and elders, his voice thunder. "Elder Cang stands accused of demonic treachery," he rumbled, gesturing to Cang, bound in silver chains, his Starflow flickering. "A talisman, reeking of Yan's taint, was found in his quarters. Speak, Cang."
Cang's eyes blazed, qi surging against the chains. "Lies!" he snarled, glaring at Xun Wei. "The boy weaves deceit, planting talismans to frame me. His heart is a void!"
Xun Wei bowed, Light of Serenity radiant, voice flat. "I found the Bloodveil Cache, Elder, as commanded. The talisman bore your qi—Yan's rot runs deep." His serene mask hid the lie, his forged talisman sealing Cang's fate.
Wei Tao, Foundation Late, stepped forward, Ironfist glowing silver. "I found the chest," he growled, eyes sharp. "Xun Wei's too clean—how does he always find the evidence?"
Xun Wei's gaze met Wei Tao's, Soulfang Bind pulsing, sowing doubt. "The guilty point fingers, Wei Tao," he said, voice ice. "Truth cuts its own path." Wei Tao's resolve wavered, his eyes glazing briefly, unaware of the leash.
Hua Ling, Foundation Middle, her Jade Blossom trembling, whispered to Kai Ren, Foundation Middle, his Thundercoil crackling. "Xun Wei's unstoppable…" Kai Ren sneered, "He's a demon in disguise."
The First Elder's qi roared, silencing the hall. "Cang, you face trial in the Chamber of Silent Fangs at dawn. Xun Wei, your loyalty earns you the Ironbloom Codex's forbidden vault. Choose a tome, and continue purging Yan's taint."
Xun Wei bowed, his mind a cold abyss. The vault held righteous techniques to bolster his facade, while Cang's trial was a distraction to begin his slaughter. Wei Tao's doubt was a spark to fan, framing him as Cang's ally. "I obey," he said, eyes glinting with predatory intent.
That night, the Abyssal Hollow's shadows cloaked Xun Wei's movements, his Phantom Wisp Technique masking his qi. He trailed Mei Lian to a secluded grove, her Moonpetal Technique casting a soft glow as she meditated, unaware of the predator. Her tearful confession echoed in his mind—not as guilt, but as weakness to exploit. "Love is a chain," he murmured, Bloodveil Fang in hand.
Mei Lian's eyes snapped open, sensing danger. "Xun Wei?" she gasped, qi flaring weakly. "Why are you—"
Starveil Fang slashed, a crimson-gold arc slicing her chest, shattering her qi barrier. Abyssal Leech pulsed, crimson tendrils burrowing into her dantian, draining her qi. Her scream choked, skin paling, eyes sinking into hollow sockets as her body withered into ash. Xun Wei's Void Dantian roared, qi surging, his meridians warm but unyielding, pushing his cultivation to Heavenstage Middle, Harmony Stage Late. Memory Extraction wove her fading soul, seizing Moonpetal Glow, a soft aura enhancing his Light of Serenity's deception. A shallow cut on his hand bled from her recoil, but his Immortal Shaping Late body endured, pain a fleeting shadow.
"The first spark," he whispered, scattering her ash. "The valley will burn."
Xun Wei planted a forged letter in the grove, written in Wei Tao's hand, implicating him in Mei Lian's disappearance and Cang's treachery. He vanished into the Hollow, his mind plotting: Mei Lian's death would spark panic, Wei Tao's frame-up would isolate him, and Cang's trial would mask his next kills.
At dawn, the Chamber of Silent Fangs reeked of blood and sulfur, its obsidian altar pulsing with sacrificial runes. Cang stood chained, his Starflow dim, as the First Elder presided, his Skyclad Vigil crushing the room. Disciples gathered outside, whispers rippling like venom. Mei Lian's absence was rumored, her meditation grove found charred, a letter in Wei Tao's script accusing Cang of demonic rites.
"Cang, your talisman damns you," the First Elder growled. "What say you?"
Cang's qi surged, chains groaning. "Xun Wei's a heretic!" he roared. "He planted the talisman, and now Mei Lian's gone—check the boy's hands!"
Xun Wei stepped forward, Light of Serenity radiant, Moonpetal Glow subtly enhancing his aura. "I grieve for Mei Lian," he lied, voice flat, showing his cut hand. "I fought a Bloodfang Wolf in the Hollow, seeking Yan's taint. Wei Tao's letter betrays his guilt."
Wei Tao lunged, Ironfist flaring. "Liar!" he snarled, but Soulfang Bind tightened, his qi faltering. The First Elder's silver qi lashed out, pinning Wei Tao. "You'll face questioning," he rumbled.
Cang's eyes widened, realizing the trap. "First Elder, he's manipulating—" A silver chain gagged him, dragging him to the altar for interrogation.
Xun Wei's serene mask held, his mind ice. Cang's trial would occupy the sect, letting him kill covertly. Wei Tao's frame-up would isolate him, ripe for draining. That night, he struck again, luring two Outer Disciples to the Hollow with rumors of a qi vein. Bloodveil Slash cleaved them, Abyssal Leech draining their qi, their husks crumbling. His Void Dantian pulsed, qi surging, his body inching toward Celestial Ascension Early Peak. Memory Extraction seized minor techniques—Stonefist Strike and Windpetal Step—bolstering his arsenal. A vision struck—Zhao Lin, Mandate sigils blazing, her voice a hiss: "Your blood will break the laws." Her qi dwarfed his, a storm he'd crush with Ironbloom's blood.
In the Pavilion of Iron Will, Xun Wei chose a tome from the forbidden vault: Ironbloom Veil, a righteous qi shield cloaking his presence, enhancing Phantom Wisp. He merged it with Bloodfang Howl, forging Veiled Howl, a sonic blast masking his movements, perfect for covert kills. His meridians warmed, body unyielding, his cold eyes gleaming. "The valley's a feast," he murmured, "and I'm the reaper."
Hua Ling approached, Jade Blossom trembling. "Mei Lian's gone… are you safe, Xun Wei?" Kai Ren sneered nearby, Thundercoil crackling. "He's trouble, Hua Ling."
Xun Wei's smile was a blade. "Safety's for the weak," he said, voice ice, marking them for death. Wei Tao, released but watched, glared from afar, his Ironfist dim. Xun Wei's Soulfang Bind pulsed, sowing paranoia, ensuring his silence—for now.
In the Void Realm's temple, divine waters churned, a crimson ouroboros coiling tighter. A golden-robed being hissed, "The heretic spills blood… "
An ancient voice, cold as iron, replied, "The Lord awakens. His army gathers."
"Let them come," the being intoned. "The heretic's soul will shatter."