Stone-Gloom City, a grey stain on the Mortal Realm's map, greeted dawn with heavy snores and an ever-thickening stench. The mist clung faithfully, as if loath to reveal the filth it concealed. Yet, to Chen Tian, the fog now felt like a blanket, the dancing shadows his allies. He was no longer a trembling village boy, but a Martial Initiate with two integrated Essence Beads, ready to carve his own path.
The Moon-Eater Howl technique was etched into his soul, a new fang in a savage world.
"Hmph. You still reek of mud, boy. But at least, now you reek of mud with a hint of potential," Hei Xuan growled within Chen Tian's mind, like a contented old lion. "That Moon-Eater Howl technique isn't just for hunting Beasts. It's also for cleansing the trash that roams the streets."
Chen Tian ignored the gibe. He felt his strength. The Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul on his wrist now emanated a more stable aura, its spiraling eyes swirling with ominous clarity. He could sense the flow of Qi in the air with new precision, distinguishing the spiritual auras of every living being around him.
"What do we do now?" Chen Tian whispered, his eyes scanning the narrow alleys of Stone-Gloom City.
"Are you hungry, boy?" Hei Xuan asked, his tone implying a cruel sneer. "There are many plump sheep in this city, boy. Sheep that hoard precious treasures. And you, now, have the fangs to devour them."
Their target was the underground fighting arena Hei Xuan had mentioned earlier. A place where cultivators gambled their fates, showcased their power, and lost their fortunes in a single night. Chen Tian followed the ancient demon's honed intuition, slipping through the crowds, his tattered feet moving nimbly.
Outside the arena, a dilapidated yet imposing building, several armed cultivators stood guard, their Martial Adept auras radiating like torches in the gloom. They were guardians, or more accurately, high-tier thugs ensuring no one escaped without settling their debts.
"Those are guard dogs, boy," Hei Xuan scoffed. "Not terribly strong, but annoying enough. You don't need to fight them. We'll seek prey inside."
Chen Tian slipped through a crack unseen by ordinary eyes, a dark passage only discoverable by those accustomed to living in shadows. Inside, the low din of combat, the roar of spectators, and the clinking of coins filled the air. The scent of fresh blood, sweat, and stale alcohol stung his nostrils.
The arena itself was a circular pit dug underground, with a muddy floor splattered with dried blood. Around it, rickety wooden stands were packed with cultivators of various realms—from Martial Initiate to Martial Core—cheering and betting. In the center, two cultivators fought brutally, their Martial Souls flickering like phantoms.
"Hoh, look at that," Hei Xuan said, his voice filled with gruesome delight. "That's an Earth Bear, an Earth Grade Martial Soul. And its opponent is a Shadow Tiger, also Earth Grade. Both are Martial Adepts. An interesting fight."
Chen Tian observed the battle intently. He could feel the power radiating from every punch, every Martial Soul attack. This was a different world from the street brawls he knew. This was a world where strength and cruelty were shamelessly displayed.
"We're not looking for those in the arena, boy," Hei Xuan reminded him. "We're looking for the overconfident sheep in the stands. See the fat man with the jewel-encrusted necklace? He just won a big bet. His aura is thick with arrogance."
Chen Tian focused his Martial Soul. He saw a Martial Initiate cultivator with a short sword Martial Soul, sitting comfortably, spiritual coins scattered across his table. He exuded a thick aura of arrogance.
"That's him. Your prey," Hei Xuan commanded. "Don't rush. Study him. When is he distracted? When is he too busy counting his money?"
Chen Tian spent several minutes observing. The fat man constantly shifted his attention between the fight and his coins. There was an opening, a small chink in his vigilance.
As the arena battle reached its climax, and the roar of the crowd thundered, Chen Tian moved. Swiftly, subtly, like the mist itself. He slipped behind the fat man. His small hand moved, pilfering the coin pouch at the man's waist.
ZAP!
A burning sensation shot through his hand. A thin protective talisman had activated, scorching his skin. The fat man whirled, his eyes wide. "Thief!"
Chen Tian darted back, feeling the pain in his hand. He had underestimated this cultivator's wariness.
"Fool! I told you not to be careless! He had a talisman!" Hei Xuan growled. "Now, be daring or die! Use your technique! This is a good chance to test it!"
The fat man leaped, his sword Martial Soul flickering, ready to strike. "You'll regret stealing from me, you brat!"
Chen Tian knew he had no choice. He couldn't run. He had to fight. He focused all his Qi into his wrist. The Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul roared in his mind, and its silhouette appeared more clearly beside him.
He raised his left hand, blood dripping from his scorched finger, staining the dirty arena floor. His voice, though soft, was piercing amid the growing silence of the now-attentive crowd:
"O wrathful moon,
You who witness the world's birth and damnation,
Unleash your teeth upon mortal flesh,
And let this putrid soul be my final taste."
As the last incantation was uttered, the Three-Eyed Moon Wolf howled savagely, its three eyes spinning in unison. From the grimy arena ceiling, not from the grey sky outside, but from the air itself, a thin, purplish-black moonbeam descended, forming a spiral energy disc above the fat man's head.
The surrounding people fell silent. A terrifying aura emanated from the disc, sucking away light and sound. The fat man, initially enraged, now turned deathly pale. His eyes filled with terror. "What... what is that?!"
The disc shot forward. In an instant, it was sucked into the gaping maw of the Three-Eyed Moon Wolf. The fat man screamed in agony, his body shriveling, his skin wrinkling, as if all his life was forcibly drawn out. His blood and spiritual Qi evaporated, sucked into the illusionary wolf's belly.
CRASH!
The fat man's body collapsed, turning into black dust swept away by the wind, and a thick black mist exploded from where he stood, spreading throughout the surrounding area. The mist carried a strange aroma—a blend of blood, evaporated Qi, and something far darker, something that could poison the soul. Spectators nearby coughed, their eyes wide with horror.
Chen Tian felt a massive wave of energy flow into him. The fat man's Qi, a small fraction of his Essence, now filled the Essence Bead within his Martial Soul. It felt intoxicating. He was no longer exhausted.
The arena was silent. The cheers vanished, replaced by whispers of fear. All eyes were on Chen Tian, the ragged boy with blood-red hair, standing amidst the thick black mist that reeked of death. His Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul slowly faded, returning to a tattoo on his wrist, yet the aura he radiated was far more terrifying than before.
"Hah! Not bad, boy! You managed to silence them," Hei Xuan exclaimed, his delight palpable. "That was the Moon-Eater Howl technique. Its side effects are a bit messy, but you've proven you're no longer trash to be trampled upon."
"He... he absorbed him?" a cultivator in the stands whispered, his eyes full of horror.
"What technique is that? This... this is demonic!"
"That boy... I saw him just a few days ago, he was just a beggar!" another stammered.
"We must report him to the Iron Dragon Sect! This is an abomination!"
Despite the chaos erupting, Chen Tian did not flinch. He knew he had attracted unwanted attention. But he also knew he had proven himself. He was no longer a victim. He was a predator.
He felt the Qi in his Qi ocean surge, increasing slightly. The Essence Bead in his Martial Soul felt fuller, more solid. The Moon-Eater Howl technique not only drained, it also replenished him.
Chen Tian bolted out of the arena, leaving chaos in his wake. The black mist he left behind would become a new horror story in Stone-Gloom City. He knew he couldn't stay in the same place for long.
"You've caused a bit of a ruckus, boy," Hei Xuan commented. "Good. This city was too quiet. Now, they'll know there's a new wolf among their sheep."
Chen Tian found a hiding place in an old, abandoned warehouse, far from the commotion. He sat cross-legged, trying to calm his surging Qi. The piercing fatigue after using the Moon-Eater Howl technique began to set in.
"You'll need more Qi, boy," Hei Xuan explained. "That technique consumes a lot of energy. We must find better resources. Perhaps there are some illegal auction houses in this city that sell mid-grade cultivation pills."
"What about the person who was watching me?" Chen Tian asked inwardly, recalling the feeling of being observed since he broke through to Martial Initiate. "Did he see this too?"
"Possibly," Hei Xuan replied casually. "The more eyes on you, the more opportunities to devour them. Unless it's an irritating high-realm cultivator. But don't worry, I'll give you a warning if true danger approaches."
Since the arena incident, Chen Tian's name—or at least "the red-haired boy with the wolf Martial Soul and the draining technique"—began to spread through Stone-Gloom City's underground. People spoke of his audacity, his ruthlessness, and the fear he instilled. Some sought revenge, some wished to recruit him, and some simply wanted to know who this "new demon" was.
Chen Tian ignored the rumors. His focus was cultivation. He knew he had to keep growing stronger. The Moon-Eater Howl technique gave him a brief glimpse of the power he could achieve. However, he also knew how vulnerable he remained against more experienced Martial Adept or Martial Core cultivators.
In the dark warehouse, he began to plan his next move. He needed more Essence Beads. He needed new techniques. And he needed more money for it all.
He would seek his next targets. Perhaps an arrogant cultivator flaunting wealth in the market, or a group of thugs oppressing in a dark alley. Each target was an opportunity to replenish his Essence Beads and enhance his strength.
That night, in the depths of Stone-Gloom City, a small ember had ignited into a burning spark. Chen Tian was no longer forgotten. He was the new predator, the wolf who had found his roar. The city would feel his presence. The grey skies would bear witness. And Chen Tian's name, once reluctant to be uttered by crows, would now be carved in blood and ash upon the rotting walls of Stone-Gloom City.
"Get ready, boy," Hei Xuan said, his voice filled with gruesome delight. "This is just the beginning. We will burn this city to its roots."
And Chen Tian, for the first time, felt a flicker of anticipation. Not just fear, not just hatred, but also a dark exhilaration. He was a demon in the making, and Stone-Gloom City was his canvas.