A cold wind swept through the mountains as night slowly retreated. The sun had not yet risen, but inside a small, shabby room of the Falling Shadow Sect, a pair of eyes snapped open.
They were sharp, deep, and utterly calm—like blades forged from steel.
Polyfalls Yen lay still on the rough wooden bed, staring at the cracked ceiling. His breathing was steady. His mind, however, was a storm of cold determination.
He slowly sat up, taking in his surroundings. The room was pathetic—damp walls, a broken table, and a thin straw mat for bedding. The spiritual energy in the area was weak, almost nonexistent.
"This body…" he murmured softly. His voice was calm, but his gaze was terrifyingly focused.
He walked to a cracked bronze mirror resting on the table. In its faint reflection, his handsome features were still there—sharp brows, noble jawline, and clear eyes—but the warmth they once held had completely vanished.
Now, those same eyes radiated a ruthless, unshakable will.
> "A second life…" he whispered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "This time, I will not hesitate."
---
The Trouble Arrives
The creaky door burst open with a loud BANG.
A tall, broad-shouldered young man strutted in, his expression twisted in arrogance. His name was Huo Lin, a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator known for bullying weaker disciples.
"Well, well," Huo Lin sneered. "The useless trash is awake."
Polyfalls turned slowly. His steel-like eyes met Huo Lin's, and for the briefest moment, the bully flinched. There was something different in that gaze. Something… dangerous.
Huo Lin quickly puffed his chest out, masking his discomfort with mockery.
"This sect is poor enough as it is. Why don't you save us the trouble and leave? Or better yet—hand over your spirit stones. You won't need them anyway."
Polyfalls didn't answer. He simply stared.
That stare—cold, unwavering, and sharp—made the air in the room feel heavier. Huo Lin's smirk faltered.
"What's with that look, trash?" he barked, stepping closer. "You think you can scare me?"
A faint killing intent leaked from Polyfalls, invisible yet suffocating. The air seemed to grow colder. Huo Lin's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but his pride blinded him.
---
The Battle
Huo Lin struck first, lunging forward with a palm strike infused with spiritual energy.
"Low-tier Cloud Palm!" he shouted.
Polyfalls shifted his weight smoothly, sidestepping with ease. His movements were clean, efficient—like a seasoned fighter, not some low-ranked disciple.
Huo Lin attacked again, this time faster. Polyfalls blocked the strike with a sharp twist of his forearm, redirecting the force and countering with a precise elbow to the ribs.
Crack!
Huo Lin staggered back, coughing. His eyes widened.
"How… how are you this fast?"
Polyfalls said nothing. His killing intent surged like a cold tide, filling the room. For the first time, Huo Lin felt true fear.
He roared, trying to mask it, and gathered all his Qi into one desperate attack. A burst of energy flew toward Polyfalls like a crashing wave.
Polyfalls stepped forward. His movements were decisive and merciless. He slipped past the attack, grabbed Huo Lin's wrist mid-strike, and twisted sharply.
Snap!
Huo Lin screamed. Before he could react, Polyfalls struck his throat with brutal precision. The bully gasped for air, eyes bulging in disbelief.
"W–Wait, stop—"
Polyfalls' face remained expressionless, cold as steel. His eyes showed no hesitation. Only killing intent.
With a final, swift motion, he snapped Huo Lin's neck. The sound echoed through the silent room.
The body fell limp.
---
No Trace
Polyfalls exhaled slowly, calm and composed. Not a trace of panic flickered in his eyes.
He dragged the corpse into the corner. As he did, a faint black mist swirled from his palm—a manifestation of the demonic force that had answered his vow. The mist wrapped around Huo Lin's corpse, dissolving flesh and bone into nothingness.
Within moments, not a single drop of blood remained.
The room was clean. Silent. As if nothing had ever happened.
Polyfalls stood in the center of the room, his handsome face expressionless, eyes sharp like blades. A thin layer of killing intent lingered in the air, enough to make even beasts shiver.
"The path to godhood," he murmured softly, "begins with blood."