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The Arrival at Lingxu Sect
Liao Tingyan, an ordinary girl suddenly thrown into the cultivation world, found herself stepping into Lingxu Sect—a place brimming with ambitious disciples and ruthless trials. She hadn't asked for this life, but destiny had dragged her here.
Rumors swirled in hushed voices around her: the Demon Lord, Sima Jiao, the last of his clan, resided within these walls. His power was unmatched, his cruelty legendary.
Tingyan tried to stay unnoticed, but her very presence seemed to draw attention she didn't want.
The First Encounter
The sect disciples gathered for a ceremony. At its center stood a man in dark robes, tall and striking, his aura so heavy it pressed against their chests.
Sima Jiao.
When his eyes swept across the crowd, it felt like being pierced through. Disciples bowed their heads in fear, but Tingyan made the mistake of meeting his gaze. For a heartbeat, his lips curved into a faint, chilling smile—directed at her.
She froze. Why her?
The Demon's Demonstration
To remind the sect who ruled them, Sima Jiao casually raised his hand. Spirit Fire—flames that burned not just flesh but the very soul—roared into existence.
The ground trembled as the fire consumed a stone statue before their eyes, reducing it to dust.
"Remember this," he said, his voice calm, almost gentle, yet carrying death in every syllable. "Power decides who lives and dies. Without it, you are nothing."
The disciples bowed lower, their bodies shaking in terror.
The Warning
Later, Tingyan found herself cornered by fellow disciples. Some mocked her, whispering that she had caught the Demon Lord's eye. Others warned her to stay far away from him, unless she wanted to share the fate of those who displeased him.
Her heart pounded. She wanted nothing to do with Sima Jiao. And yet—why had he looked at her that way?
The Demon's Choice
That night, under the glow of spirit lanterns, Sima Jiao appeared once more, his presence filling the hall like a storm. His gaze fell directly on Tingyan again.
"From today," he said, voice smooth as silk, "you will stay by my side."
Gasps rippled through the disciples. To be chosen by him could mean favor—or death.
Tingyan's knees nearly buckled. She hadn't sought him, hadn't wanted this fate. But as his eyes burned into hers, she realized there was no escaping him.
✨ End of Episode 1 — The Demon Lord Awakens