At the Primordial Nexus, the absolute center from which all realities bloom and fade, time and space were meaningless concepts. Here, upon the Throne of Infinity, sat the twin rulers of all existence: The Eternal Emperor, Ao Tian, and the Demonic Empress, Mo Lisha.
Their true bodies managed the endless cycle of creation and destruction, but their consciousnesses were elsewhere. They were on vacation.
Their destination was the inner world of their son, Ao Xian.
Within Ao Xian's sea of consciousness, a universe unto itself, floated a city of impossible extravagance. Built from solidified nebulae and paved with condensed starlight, it was a playground for the multiverse's most powerful beings. Clones of Ao Tian and Mo Lisha were currently playing a game of cosmic chess, using galaxies as pieces. Nearby, Long Ba, a Dragon King whose true form could swallow entire realms with a single breath, was tending to a garden where nine Chaos Lotuses bloomed, each one a treasure so rare that his parents only possessed one each. They were just part of the decor here.
Ao Xian, whose true cultivation level was a mystery even to his parents, was lounging on a bed outside the city, observing the lesser realms through his innate technique, the Eyes of Karmic Judgment. One of its many abilities was to perceive the karmic value of any being. Good deeds manifested as a gentle golden number, while sins and evil intentions appeared as a pulsing, blood-red negative number.
"Father, Mother," Ao Xian projected his voice into the city. "I'm bored. The upper realms are so clean they squeak. Everyone has a positive karma score."
Ao Tian's clone, without looking up from the board, chuckled. "That is the point, my son. We've spent eons balancing the karmic scales."
Mo Lisha's clone smiled, her beauty capable of ending wars. "Perhaps you should stretch your legs. The lower realms are always teeming with petty evil. It's like a garden that constantly needs weeding. Find some truly deserving filth with a nice, deep negative value and have some fun."
Ao Xian's eyes lit up. "An excellent idea. Uncle Long, Hu Mei'er, prepare the carriage. We're going for a stroll."
From within the city, the Dragon King and a Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox bowed and their own powerful clones manifested outside, ready to serve. For them, this was a fun excursion, a chance to watch their Young Lord play.
The city of Azure Radiance, a prominent cultivation hub in the Azure Cloud Lower Realm, was bustling. A luxurious carriage, pulled by nine majestic primordial dragons, descended from the sky, its pressure forcing all cultivators to their knees.
Ao Xian stepped out, his Eyes of Karmic Judgment already scanning. Most people had low positive or single-digit negative numbers, utterly uninteresting. He was about to declare the trip a bust when a commotion broke out. A young man in opulent green robes, Wei Peng, was shoving people aside.
A blood-red number pulsed above his head: -8,740.
Ao Xian's interest was finally piqued. Inside his inner world, Mo Lisha's clone raised an eyebrow. "Oh, that's a nasty little weed. Have fun, dear."
Wei Peng's gaze landed on the stunning Hu Mei'er, and his eyes filled with a disgusting lust. He swaggered over, completely oblivious.
"Well, well," Wei Peng sneered. "My lady, I am Wei Peng of the Jade Cauldron Sect. Ditch these two nobodies and accompany me."
Hu Mei'er's expression turned glacial.
Ao Xian held up a hand, a slow, cold smile on his face. "Tell me," he said, his voice calm, "how does one accumulate a karmic value of negative eight thousand, seven hundred and forty in such a short life?"
Wei Peng was taken aback. "What nonsense are you spouting? A pretty boy with no cultivation dares to speak to me? Scram before I have my guards break your legs!"
Ao Xian ignored the threat, scanning the approaching guards. Their karmic values were all below -300. Accomplices. "The entire sect is rotten," he murmured.
"You're courting death!" Wei Peng shrieked, drawing his sword. "Guards! Kill him! Cripple him and bring that woman to my chambers!"
The guards charged. Ao Xian didn't even look at them. He simply spoke a single word, a whisper imbued with an authority that was his alone.
"Judge."
In that instant, the guards froze. The crimson negative numbers above their heads ignited like bombs of karmic fire. They screamed as their own sins turned against them, their souls scoured by the weight of their misdeeds. They fell to the ground as mindless husks, their cultivation shattered.
Wei Peng stared in abject horror. "What... what did you do?" he stammered.
"I merely balanced the accounts," Ao Xian said, taking a step forward.
"Stay away! My father is Wei Tian! The Sect Master of the Jade Cauldron Sect! He's a peak Nascent Soul expert! He'll kill you!"
Ao Xian laughed, a sound devoid of warmth. "A peak Nascent Soul? I have horses stronger than that." He glanced at his carriage for emphasis. "But your father's power is irrelevant."
He looked at Long Ba. "Uncle Long, relay a message. Perform a full karmic audit on the Jade Cauldron Sect of the Azure Cloud Lower Realm. Erase anyone with a karmic value below -100. My parents dislike leaving trash in their creation."
Long Ba nodded grimly. He didn't need a talisman. He simply projected a thought, and in the highest heavens, the celestial bureaucracy moved with terrifying efficiency.
Ao Xian turned his attention back to the trembling Wei Peng. "As for you... -8,740. You don't deserve a quick end."
He flicked his finger. A sliver of primordial energy entered Wei Peng's body, binding him to his karma. For the rest of his life, every person he had ever wronged would haunt his dreams. Every scream, every tear, every drop of blood he had ever spilled would replay in his mind, an endless, inescapable torment.
Wei Peng clutched his head and began to scream, a sound of pure, soul-deep terror.
Ao Xian had already lost interest. He yawned and walked towards the auction house, the crowd parting before him like the sea before a god.
"That was a decent appetizer," he commented to Hu Mei'er. "Now, let's see if this auction has anything truly valuable."