In the grand pill hall of the Hua Sect, sunlight filtered in through carved jade windows, casting warm glows upon neat rows of spiritual herbs. Huan Lian, the sect leader, stood near the central table, scanning ledgers when a panting elder burst through the doors.
"Sect Leader! News from the southern watchtower! The Zhou family is marching toward Shadow Mountain with their full force!"
Huan Lian's expression paled. "The Zhou family... But their patriarch and grand elder are both Soul Sea Realm cultivators. We can't rival that strength."
The elder gritted his teeth. "Should we prepare defenses?"
She clenched her fists. "Xuan Long helped us rise when no one else did. If we abandon him now, we lose more than honor." She turned to the gathered elders. "All hands, mobilize! We ride to Shadow Mountain at once!"
---
Atop Shadow Mountain, morning mist blanketed the land like a velvet shroud. Xuan Long stood calmly at the mountain gate, flanked by Hei Mo, Mu Chen, Lin Qian, and dozens of armored shadow guards.
The horizon darkened with the incoming army. Thousands in black and crimson robes stormed up the ridges, spiritual pressure shaking the leaves from the trees. At the front rode Zhou Tianhao, patriarch of the Zhou family, and beside him, the Grand Elder Zhou Hanlong.
Zhou Yuechan, pale and wounded, stood near them, bound in golden restraints. Her face twisted with hatred. "That's him! Father! Grandfather! He ruined me! Killed my brother! Destroyed our bloodline!"
Zhou Tianhao glared at Xuan Long. "You bastard! You slaughtered my son and cursed my clan! Today, your bones will bleach these mountains!"
Xuan Long stepped forward, eyes sharp as blades. "Your son was a degenerate, your daughter a cruel tyrant, and your clan... a blight upon this land. Their deaths were justice."
Zhou Yuechan shrieked. "Justice? You ripped my spiritual roots out and turned me into a slave!"
Xuan Long's voice was colder than the mountaintop breeze. "And you threatened to enslave my sisters. You're still alive only because I chose not to let you die quickly."
With a guttural cry, Zhou Tianhao lunged forward, summoning a storm of crimson flame, his Soul Sea Realm aura bursting like a volcanic eruption. He hurled a spear of spiritual fire toward Xuan Long.
But Xuan Long didn't move.
The attack struck him — and dispersed.
A wave of tenfold-reflected energy surged backward, amplified and corrupted by Xuan Long's Heavenly Devour skill. The spear turned, burned brighter, and flew back into the ranks of the Zhou army.
Dozens of Zhou cultivators were annihilated.
Zhou Hanlong's eyes bulged. "He absorbed it... and reflected it? With ten times the power?!"
Xuan Long raised his hand. "Since you're here... I'll send you off together."
The shadow guards roared and surged forward. Hei Mo's puppets, now at Nascent Soul strength, tore through elite soldiers like paper. Mu Chen unleashed a wave of deadly poison art, melting the skin off Zhou's core cultivators. Lin Qian, backed by demonic alchemic arrays, incinerated enemies with conjured flame beasts.
Yue Li activated the mountain formation. Giant runes glowed from the earth, binding dozens of Zhou soldiers and exploding with radiant light, erasing them from existence.
Screams echoed. Blood rained. The once-proud army was reduced to scattered corpses.
Zhou Tianhao watched as his family burned before his eyes.
"No... this can't be happening..."
Xuan Long walked slowly to the battlefield, his gaze locked on the last two enemies.
Zhou Hanlong tried to run.
In a blink, Xuan Long appeared before him.
*Thud!*
His palm pierced the elder's chest. With one twist, the Grand Elder fell, lifeless.
Zhou Tianhao stumbled back. "Y-You demon! This is murder!"
Xuan Long's eyes gleamed. "No. This is consequence."
A silver flash, and the Zhou Patriarch's head hit the ground.
Zhou Yuechan, bloodied and trembling, collapsed.
"M-My father... my clan... all gone..."
Xuan Long looked at her without emotion.
A shadow guard placed a heavy boot on her back. "Work."
"P-Please! Don't whip me! I'll clean! I'll cook! Don't hurt me!"
---
Moments later, the sky shimmered as hundreds of Hua Sect disciples arrived, led by Huan Lian.
They halted at the foot of the mountain, stunned by the scene. Bodies of Zhou elites littered the battlefield, blood pooling beneath them.
Huan Lian approached Xuan Long, her voice shaky. "We came to aid you... but it seems... we are late."
Xuan Long smiled faintly. "Better late than never. Welcome."
Hua Sect members bowed deeply.
---
In the aftermath, Hei Mo stood beside the corpses of Zhou Tianhao and Zhou Hanlong. He performed a dark incantation. From their blood, two glowing orbs formed.
Golden Blood Pills.
Hei Mo laughed. "Two thousand elite blood pills. With this... I will ascend."
He vanished into secluded cultivation.
His demonic subordinates followed suit, refining blood pills and raising corpse soldiers. Lin Qian received Nascent-level pill recipes. Mu Chen discovered ancient poison arts. Yue Li unlocked stronger formation runes. The demi-humans acquired high-grade mental skills.
And Xuan Long... discovered a single crimson-gold pill hidden within the Zhou Grand Elder's spatial ring.
*Scarlet Heaven Ascension Pill*
One use. Two realm breakthrough.
Xuan Long stared at the pill, then duplicated it.
Ten appeared.
He whispered, amused, "Even heaven's treasure... is just a number to me now."
The mountain shook not with fear... but with laughter.