The sky above the Nine Heavens Empire was stained an eerie crimson, as if the clouds themselves trembled at what was to come. At the summit of Ling Xiao Peak, Lin Chen sat in a meditative posture, surrounded by an aura of black lightning that seemed to tear the very fabric of space.
He had finally reached the pinnacle of the Seventh Level: Soul King. In this world, where cultivation is divided into eight terrifying realms, only one step separated him from godhood.
A Dagger in the Dark
"Elder Brother, I have brought you the Sacred Soul Incense to stabilize your energy flow before the final breakthrough."
The voice was soft, calm, and filled with affection. It was Lin Tian, the younger brother whom Lin Chen had raised from the gutter, forging him into a master feared by many.
Lin Chen did not open his eyes. He spoke in a voice as cold as frost: "Place it there, Tian. You are the only one I trust to guard my back while I cross the gate to the Eighth Level."
But instead of the incense, Lin Chen felt a sudden chill pierce his spine. It wasn't just a blade; it was the "Soul-Shackling Nail," a forbidden tool that completely halts energy flow and devours the soul.
The Betrayal
Lin Chen coughed up black blood. He opened his eyes—there was no anger in them, only a terrifying stillness that made Lin Tian recoil a step.
"Why?" Lin Chen asked simply.
Lin Tian laughed hysterically. "Why? Because you are a shadow that chokes me! The world isn't big enough for two kings. As long as you exist, I will always be 'Lin Chen's younger brother.' With your death today, I will take the Dragon Heart in your chest and reach the Eighth Level myself!"
In that moment, hundreds of warriors emerged from behind the rocks, surrounding the peak. It was a perfect trap, years in the making.
Philosophy of a Demon
Lin Chen looked at his wound, then at his brother, and let out a soft chuckle that shook the foundations of the mountain.
"Tian... I taught you everything, but I forgot to teach you one lesson: A predator never closes his eyes, even before his cub."
There was no regret on Lin Chen's face for his misplaced trust; instead, there was a cold evaluation of the situation. To him, emotions were merely tools, and it seemed his tool—his brother—had malfunctioned and rebelled.
"You think the Soul-Shackling Nail can hold me?" Lin Chen asked, standing slowly despite the blood pouring from his mouth. "In this world, power lies not just in cultivation levels, but in a will that knows no extinction."
The End is the Beginning
Before Lin Tian could deliver the killing blow, a terrifying energy erupted from Lin Chen's body. It wasn't the energy of a breakthrough; it was the energy of self-destruction.
"If I must depart, I shall take this era with me," Lin Chen said with haunting calm as his body began to crack, emitting a brilliant purple light.
"No! Stop! You'll die and destroy your soul forever!" Lin Tian screamed in terror, attempting to flee.
But Lin Chen closed his eyes, thinking of only one thing: 'If fate grants me another chance, I will not let a shred of emotion block my path to the summit... I will be the Demon that Hell itself fears.'
BOOM!
The mountain peak exploded, erasing every trace of life within a hundred-mile radius.
In a distant place, inside a dilapidated room of a small, abandoned clan...
A slender youth suddenly snapped his eyes open. His gaze was ancient, deep, and filled with darkness. He looked at his small hands and whispered:
"Level One... Fine. Let the game begin again."