The ruins of Blood Moon City—now known throughout the world as the Cursed Land—carried an ominous reputation that few dared to question.
The truth behind its destruction had long faded into obscurity, buried beneath centuries of rumor and fear. Yet one legend endured above all others.
It spoke of Liang Yifei—the traitor.
According to the tale, he had conspired with devils from the Infernal Realms, opening a path for their invasion and unleashing calamity upon the world.
The Heavenly Dao, the invisible order governing all existence, could not tolerate such defiance. In response, it unleashed divine punishment. Lightning descended across the world, striking countless demons and reducing them to ash.
But their numbers were overwhelming.
Unable to eradicate the invasion entirely, the Heavenly Dao focused its wrath upon the source of the betrayal.
The traitor.
A punishment never seen before was decreed.
Heavenly lightning rained down endlessly upon Blood Moon City until nothing remained. Buildings, cultivators, and even the land itself were annihilated in a storm of divine fury.
What truly transpired that day remained unknown.
No witnesses survived.
Only the ruins remained—a silent testament to the catastrophe of the past.
Even now, it was said that restless spirits lingered within the Cursed Land, their resentment saturating the air and making the region a place feared by all.
---
In a desolate corner of those cursed ruins, Liang Yifei gazed at his serpentine body.
His crimson eyes reflected unmistakable pride.
"Remarkable," he murmured quietly. "Even a newborn True Dragon body would scarcely surpass this level of strength."
His gaze sharpened slightly as his thoughts turned inward.
"Having absorbed the pseudo-immortal spirit stone and the elemental crystals, there should be no significant bottlenecks before reaching the Dao Integration Realm."
A faint smile curved his lips.
"For now, awakening the full power of the Infernal Void Serpent bloodline is my greatest priority."
Memories surfaced within his mind.
One technique in particular.
The Dark Sky Ascension Technique.
He had once paid an enormous price—nearly the entirety of his accumulated wealth—to purchase it from a Spirit Severing Realm demon cultivator. Its purpose was singular and extraordinary: to awaken the dormant bloodline of True Spirit-level beings.
Its origins traced back to the Infernal Realms of the Upper Domain, where it was rumored to have been created by an ancient demon cultivator seeking to elevate their own bloodline to rival that of True Spirits—and perhaps surpass them entirely.
Bloodline awakening was never simple.
Each lineage required a unique method. Yet the foundation remained constant: profound concentration, deep meditation, and the precise guidance of a specialized technique.
One had to immerse their consciousness into the essence of their bloodline—understanding its nature, exploring its latent power, and unlocking the inheritance sealed within it.
For Liang Yifei, his lineage was that of the Infernal Void Serpent—a primordial bloodline steeped in destruction, darkness, and unfathomable potential.
He closed his eyes.
Within his mind, the image of a colossal void serpent slowly took shape, its body vast enough to eclipse stars, its presence capable of devouring entire realms.
He began chanting the incantation of the Dark Sky Ascension Technique.
A crimson glow gradually spread across his body, growing brighter with each passing breath. His scales shimmered as though ignited from within.
Power surged through him—raw, ancient, and terrifying.
His bloodline was awakening.
---
Without warning, the sky darkened.
Winds howled across the ruined land as thick storm clouds gathered overhead. Thunder rolled endlessly, shaking the very air.
Lightning began to fill the horizon.
Then it converged directly above him.
Liang Yifei opened his eyes, calm and composed.
"Heavenly tribulation lightning," he said softly.
There was no surprise in his voice.
Bloodline awakenings of divine beasts and True Spirit-level beings inevitably drew the attention of the Heavenly Dao. Passing the tribulation was the final step toward fully unlocking the bloodline's power.
Failure meant annihilation.
Success meant transcendence.
Liang inhaled deeply and steadied his mind.
The first bolt of lightning descended.
It struck his body with devastating force.
Yet instead of destruction, the mystical runes embedded within his scales ignited with crimson brilliance. The lightning energy flowed through his body like molten rivers, refining every inch of his flesh, bones, and blood.
A faint smile appeared in his eyes.
"It refines rather than destroys… just as expected."
The second bolt fell.
Lightning surged directly into his bloodstream, purifying and condensing his bloodline further. His aura expanded violently, becoming heavier and more oppressive.
Then came the third—and final—bolt.
It descended with overwhelming fury.
Liang Yifei let out a powerful roar as he absorbed it completely. His scales radiated blinding crimson light while vast streams of energy surged into his consciousness.
Information flooded his mind.
Ancient instincts.
Bloodline memories.
Innate abilities.
The Infernal Void Serpent bloodline had fully awakened.
Crimson-black energy erupted around him, forming a massive swirling vortex that devoured everything nearby.
---
Gradually, the vortex weakened and dissipated.
At its center stood a solitary figure.
When the last strands of energy faded, a naked young man was revealed.
He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, his physique perfectly balanced between elegance and strength. His long black hair flowed down his back like a cascade of obsidian.
Crimson runes flickered briefly around his body before vanishing into his skin.
Divine beasts and True Spirit beings possessed extraordinary advantages over ordinary demon beasts. While common demon beasts required cultivation to the Nascent Soul Realm before gaining the ability to assume human form, such exalted bloodlines could transform soon after birth.
Although the Infernal Void Serpent was not officially classified as a divine beast or True Spirit, its lineage stood on equal footing.
---
Liang Yifei looked up at the sky as the storm clouds slowly parted.
Sunlight returned.
He inhaled deeply, savoring the sensation of air filling human lungs once more.
A satisfied smile appeared.
"Indeed… the human body remains the most convenient form."
Closing his eyes, he examined the power flowing through him and the vast inheritance awakened within his bloodline.
Ancient techniques, profound insights, and countless mystical arts surfaced in his consciousness, each a legacy passed down through generations of his lineage.
When he opened his eyes again, calm confidence filled them.
"I wonder whether this world is still as interesting as it once was."
With a casual flick of his fingers, crimson energy condensed around his body, forming a simple Daoist robe. His long hair gathered neatly behind him, and his aura became restrained and scholarly.
He now resembled an ordinary young cultivator.
Liang chuckled lightly.
"Not quite my style… but it will suffice until I find proper attire."
With that, he stepped forward, leaving the Cursed Land behind.