The air in the valley was still, an unnatural silence hanging over the land like a heavy shroud. Shao Xian stood atop a jagged peak, his piercing gaze sweeping over the expanse below. The corpses of his enemies littered the battlefield, their blood soaking into the earth, feeding the insatiable hunger of the soil. The crimson sky above mirrored the carnage beneath, as if the heavens themselves acknowledged his wrath.
Yet, he felt nothing. No satisfaction, no triumph—only the ceaseless pull of destiny, urging him forward.
A low hum reverberated through the air. His divine sense stretched out, capturing the faint fluctuations of space. Something was coming.
He turned his gaze skyward, his expression unreadable. "So, they've finally noticed," he murmured.
In the distance, storm clouds gathered, swirling in an ominous dance. Lightning crackled, illuminating the heavens with brief flashes of silver and violet. The energy within the storm was not natural—it carried the distinct signature of something ancient, something powerful.
A figure emerged from the void, stepping onto the battlefield with a grace that defied mortal comprehension. Draped in flowing robes embroidered with celestial patterns, the man exuded authority. His presence was a statement, a declaration that the forces beyond the mortal realm had taken interest in Shao Xian.
"You've disrupted the balance, Shao Xian," the man said, his voice calm but edged with warning.
Shao Xian tilted his head slightly, his expression indifferent. "Balance is a lie told by those too weak to claim what is theirs."
The celestial envoy's eyes darkened. "You tread a dangerous path. Do you truly believe you can defy fate itself?"
A smirk ghosted across Shao Xian's lips. "Fate? I shattered fate in my past life. I will do so again."
The air grew heavier, a silent battle of wills unfolding between them. The envoy radiated divine pressure, the weight of countless stars pressing against the realm. Lesser cultivators would have fallen to their knees, their souls crushed beneath the sheer force.
But Shao Xian did not flinch.
With a flick of his sleeve, a counterforce erupted from his being, dispersing the envoy's pressure like mist before a hurricane. The very fabric of reality trembled at his defiance.
"You are not the first to stand in my way," Shao Xian said, his voice as steady as the mountains. "You will not be the last."
The envoy studied him for a long moment before exhaling softly. "Then let it be known—the higher realms will not remain silent. Continue on this path, and you will face opposition beyond your comprehension."
Shao Xian merely turned away. "Let them come."
As the envoy vanished into the void, the storm above dissipated, as if the heavens themselves were reluctant to witness what would come next.
Alone once more, Shao Xian gazed upon the battlefield. This was only the beginning.
The true war had yet to start.