A month passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.
Now, I stood in a vast ceremonial ground carved into the mountainside. Murals depicting the Dao of Darkness, runes inscribed in pillars, and even scenes of battles were spread across the walls. The place pulsed with a solemn majesty and was brimming with latent power.
This was the threshold of the Obsidium Sanctum.
Beside me stood nine other disciples, arrayed in a line. All of them emanated the steady aura of Foundation Establishment cultivators. In contrast, I alone remained in the seventh stage of Qi Condensation.
All those disciples wore robes trimmed with midnight accents, which marked them as core disciples. The same tier that Yin Yue holds. Strangely, she was not among the nine students.
Among the group of those nine, however, stood two individuals set apart even further. Their robes bore accents of radiant azure, not the dark blue of the inner sect like mine, but a vivid, crystalline hue that shimmered. These two were not simply core disciples.
These were true disciples, personal disciples of the sect leader himself.
The rest of the disciples regarded me with a mixture of disdain and veiled skepticism. Their expressions ranged from dismissive to curious, clearly questioning why someone in Qi Condensation would stand among them.
But not the two true disciples.
Zhang Feng's gaze was calm and analytical. Liang Ruxue's expression was unreadable, like a still lake reflecting nothing. Neither contemptuous nor surprised.
They didn't measure me simply based on cultivation, but something else.
Anyway, before us, gathered in dignified silence, were more than a dozen elders, many of whom I didn't recognize. Yet there were still familiar faces among them: the calm gaze of Elder Lu, the sharp presence of Elder Mu Hong, the cold poise of Elder Zhou Zhiqiu, and, of course, Elder Sun Min, who stood with his hands folded behind his back, a subtle smile playing at the edge of his lips.
But even they stood a step behind the man at the center.
A tall figure, deceptively young in appearance, he seemed barely past thirty. But his presence was unlike anything I had ever encountered, if one were to exclude the Crimson Sage, who was still in another league. He wasn't radiating power, and yet the sheer weight of his being pressed down like an ocean upon the soul.
The sect leader of the Nightshade Monastery.
He didn't need to gesture. He didn't need to raise his voice. The moment he spoke, the world seemed to hush of its own accord.
"Disciples," he began, his voice deep and unwavering, "you were chosen not by chance, but by your strength, your accomplishments, and your potential. And now, you stand at the precipice of a rare opportunity."
He paused for a moment, then continued.
"The Obsidium Sanctum is not like the world you know. Time flows differently within. A full cycle inside the Sanctum lasts thirty hours. But more importantly, one day inside equals only ten hours out here. This means you will be afforded more time to comprehend and cultivate."
"But understand this: while opportunity lies within, so too does danger. The Sanctum is a realm of trials. Enlightenment, not brute strength, is the key to thriving. You will not be told what awaits you, only that each of you will walk your own path."
His gaze swept over us, pausing momentarily on me before moving on.
"Because you represent the future of the Nightshade Monastery, I will make this clear... you are forbidden from killing each other. If any of you violate this rule, the punishment is death, immediate, and without appeal."
Even the Foundation disciples at my side flinched at those words.
He lifted his sleeve lightly, and with a ripple of spiritual energy, ten medallions materialized in mid-air before us. They hovered in place, each carved from dark obsidian, laced with pulsing runes, and exuding a chilling, smoky aura.
"These medallions are your lifeline," the sect leader said. "If you find yourself on the brink, insert a strand of Qi into the medallion and will it to activate. You will be transported out and returned to this exact place. But use it wisely—for once you leave, your chance ends."
A final moment passed in silence.
"Your goal within is to comprehend. Seek enlightenment. Those who emerge changed will be those who truly benefit."
With that, he raised a hand and vanished.
No flash. No wind.
He simply disappeared.
And before us, reality distorted.
A formless portal appeared, swirling, black mist coalescing into a void that shimmered with oppressive energy.
One by one, the disciples began to step forward and vanish into the darkness. Some with grim resolve, others with trembling hesitation, and again others with anticipation.
When my turn came, I paused.
Our eyes met. Mine and Elder Sun Min's.
He nodded calmly.
I stepped forward.
And without another thought—
—I entered the void.
The moment I stepped through the void, my senses vanished.
It was eerily familiar, like back on that day in ANHS when I 'died'.
Only this time, the sensation was lacking severely compared to what I experienced in that void. I couldn't feel my body, nor exactly time, but unlike that day, this moment passed quickly.
If I had to guess, only a handful of minutes slipped by before my awareness stirred again.
And when I did, I felt a thick and heavy aura. Far denser than anything in the outer world. It clung to my skin, pressed into my lungs, and sank into my meridians. It wasn't quite the same as the concentrated spiritual pool I'd absorbed within the Crimson Sage's cave, but it wasn't that much off. Based on sensation alone, my cultivation here would progress at five times the normal rate, and perhaps even more.
The darkness surrounding me shifted.
A heavy fog began to take form, and then it just parted.
My feet found solid ground.
With a soft thud, I landed, knees bending instinctively to absorb the shock.
I raised my head to take in the scene. The world around me was bathed in gray.
Ash-colored skies loomed overhead. Shattered ruins stretched as far as the eye could see: broken monoliths scrawled with ancient glyphs, jagged tower stumps, and dead metal trees reaching like claws toward the heavens. Wind howled constantly, carrying flecks of dust and rust. I had to circulate Qi to shield myself.
But what stood out the most wasn't the wind or the ruins.
It was the light. A cold, metallic shimmer that painted everything in shades of pale silver and lifeless gray. It wasn't sunlight nor moonlight, more like an ambient sheen exuded by the very air. The entire atmosphere pulsed faintly with metal elemental energy.
This realm's affinity leaned heavily toward metal, and my affinity with darkness was being actively suppressed. Not nullified, but restricted. Everything here, from the wind to the aura flow, was tuned against me.
So this is how it begins.
Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath my feet, and a low, guttural rumble rolled through the desolate plain.
Then came a loud howl that was filled with bloodlust.
A breath later, killing intent was focused on me.
The wind shifted.
I didn't hesitate.
With a twist of my body and a pulse of Qi to my legs, I launched myself to the right just as a gleaming blur tore past where I'd stood.
The metallic tree behind me was split cleanly in half.
Had I hesitated for even a breath, I would've shared the same fate.
I rolled and came up on one knee, immediately focusing my gaze on the source of the attack.
It was a massive wolf, its body formed of dark silver fur. Metallic spines ran down its back, forming a jagged mane. Its eyes glowed faintly blue. What stood out most were its fangs and claws, which were literal blades. Two longer fangs jutted out from its mouth.
It crouched low, staring directly at me, tail twitching, before it vanished in a burst of speed.
Fast.
I barely had time to throw up a burst of dark Qi to shield myself, forming a crude arc of shadow energy in front of me.
The wolf slammed into it, and the shield buckled instantly, splintering like glass. The impact launched me fifty meters back, and I hit the ground hard, skidding across the rough surface.
Blood welled in my throat, but I swallowed it down.
As the beast lunged again, I flipped backward, barely avoiding a swipe of its claws that left deep gouges in the earth.
Metal suppressed darkness here. I was severely weakened here, but not completely suppressed.
I don't really want to resort to this technique, but I fear I will need to use it again...
I dragged my palm across the cold stone beneath me, letting dark Qi pour into the shadow of a nearby fallen monolith.
The wolf lunged again, a blur of killing intent reaching.
This time, I didn't move to dodge.
I activated Shimmerstep.
Dark Qi surged into the flickering shadows. This environment wasn't suited for Shimmerstep, but I forced the connection. A shimmer of black light swallowed me, and I vanished just as the wolf's fangs snapped where I had stood.
Using the moment, I reappeared behind the beast. My fingers were poised in a clawed strike, black Qi condensed at the tips.
Silent Fang.
I drove it straight into the beast.
The strike wasn't meant to kill. My dark Qi seeped into its meridians, slicing through its Qi flow.
Sparks flew on impact. The beast's back leg buckled behind it.
It growled, stumbling forward, blood misting from the wound. Its breathing grew heavier, but the damage was far from the desired effect.
It turned to face me, eyes now lit not with rage but with wariness.
It understood.
The wolf had underestimated me once. It wouldn't make the same mistake again.
Even my strongest technique had barely slowed the creature. In a normal battle, Silent Fang could cripple an enemy outright, but here the beast's natural affinity with this realm was amplifying its power. Metal resonated with its body, reinforcing its defenses. Meanwhile, my power was being bled away by the very air I breathed.
And still, the beast wasn't brainless.
My only advantage was range. So I created space.
Dark Qi began swirling along my arm. With no weapon, I shaped the edge with my hand alone, transforming it into a jagged, curved blade of pure shadow.
Gloomfang Edge.
I lashed out. Once. Twice. Thrice.
Each sweep released a sharp arc of darkness that flew through the air, screaming toward the wolf.
The further they flew, the weaker they became. Metal Qi was corroding my techniques mid-flight, but they still hit.
The wolf howled in pain. Streaks of blood split across its armored hide.
Then it retaliated.
Its maw opened, and it released that same compressed metal wind technique, a near-invisible wave of condensed force.
I leapt sideways just in time.
The trees behind me split like paper.
We exchanged blow after blow.
I kept moving, weaving my dark Qi into each strike, relying on speed and precision while it barreled forward with brute force and momentum. The longer the fight dragged on, the more I felt it.
Fatigue. Soreness. Qi depletion.
Then it closed the distance.
Too fast.
Its claws tore through the air toward me, and I had no time to evade.
I threw up my last defense.
Dark Veil.
The shield formed instantly, a dome of reinforced shadow. All my remaining Qi poured into its integrity.
The wolf's strike crashed into it.
The barrier shattered.
The remaining force slammed into me, flinging me across the ground. I coughed blood, vision swimming, my knees buckling as I barely stayed upright.
I wasn't sure I could keep going much longer.
But the wolf looked even worse than I did.
Its breathing was ragged. Blood dripped from numerous wounds. The barrage of Gloomfang Edges had taken its toll.
Still... not enough.
This beast was too strong. In its natural element, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would need caution.
I'd wiped out entire Qi Condensation squads before, some at the peak of their stage, but that was then. This was different.
A bitter breath escaped me. I looked down at my trembling hands... and raised my left one.
With a quick twist—
Snap.
Agony ripped through me. But with it came a brutal surge of energy.
Blood ignited in my veins.
Crimson Surge.
It exploded outward, a violent aura of blood-red Qi that wrapped around my body like an inferno. The air shimmered around me, rippling from the sheer pressure.
The wolf's instincts screamed.
It froze.
Its glowing eyes met my blood-colored eyes, and for the first time, it whimpered.
A predator, sensing something higher on the food chain.
Killing intent poured off me like a tide.
I vanished.
The wolf couldn't react.
I reappeared directly in front of it, my fist pulled back, wrapped in roiling red Qi that hissed like steam.
Crack.
My fist slammed into its face.
A shockwave detonated out.
Its fangs shattered. Blood sprayed like mist. The creature's massive form was flung through the air hundreds of meters away.
It crashed through multiple rows of steel-like trees before finally embedding into a stone wall.
I stood still, breathing heavily.
The aura of blood still crackling off me, though already fading.
I hadn't expected that.
One hit. Just one had been enough.
The wolf wasn't dead.
But it was done.
I could sense its life force. Still intact. Barely. It had fallen unconscious.
My eyes narrowed.
So the Crimson Qi here wasn't affected by the realm. Where everything else was weakened, its strength wasn't suppressed, making my strength gain not merely fifty percent.
This... was valuable.
I began suppressing the surge. The crimson aura faded, slowly retreating back into my body.
Yet even unconscious, the beast shuddered as I approached.
It felt the remnants of my Qi.
I stepped up to its side.
Without hesitation, with dark Qi reforged into my hand, I struck, this time bypassing its natural armor and sinking into its chest.
With a sickening sound, I withdrew my hand.
Its body twitched once before it finally stilled.
Blood soaked my arm. My breath was ragged.
But I finally slew the beast.
As I stood beside the corpse, catching my breath, the wolf's body began to disintegrate.
It didn't rot, didn't bleed out. It simply dissolved into faint silvery motes, like metal dust caught in a weightless breeze.
A moment later, all that remained were two perfectly round, coin-sized shards—metallic in color, etched with faint runes, and pulsing with metal Qi.
They floated for a second, then gently dropped to the ground with a light clink.
Cautious but curious, I reached out and picked them up.
Cold. Heavier than they looked. And buzzing with power.
They pulsed softly in my palm, like heartbeats made of steel. I tried circulating Qi into one, then both, but nothing happened. They didn't react to my energy. I couldn't absorb them, couldn't refine them. For now, they were inert, but I was certain they held significance. Treasures of some kind, or perhaps currency within the Obsidium Sanctum.
Strangely, they refused to enter my spatial bag. It was as though the laws of space bent around them. But when I willed it, the two shards suddenly shrank, shrinking down to the size of fingernails and nestling against my chest as if magnetized to me.
Convenient. And troubling.
These things didn't follow normal rules.
Shaking off the lingering exhaustion, I resumed walking through the fog-choked ruins, weaving through broken metal trees and fractured monoliths.
"Awooooo!"
Howls.
More than one.
No—many.
I turned, and in the distance, seven pairs of glowing blue eyes pierced the gloom. Identical to the wolf I had just slain.
You've got to be kidding me...
I'd expended so much energy to just kill one. Now there are seven?
There was no honor in dying like a fool.
Without hesitation, I snapped my other hand, igniting Crimson Surge briefly just to supercharge my movement. Blood Qi flared through my legs, and I blasted forward with reckless speed, feet barely touching the ground. I didn't look back.
Branches cracked, monoliths blurred past, and howls echoed behind me.
Other beasts called in the distance. Their cries shrill, guttural, or haunting. I didn't stop running. I ran until my lungs burned.
Only when I stumbled into a narrow natural cave formed between two interlocked trees did I stop.
Inside, I collapsed, my heart pounding in my ears.
This place was far more dangerous than I'd imagined.
No wonder the others looked at me with such disbelief. A Qi Condensation disciple? Here?
And yet... Elder Lu. Elder Mu Hong. Elder Zhou Zhiqiu. Elder Sun Min. They all supported my entry. Why?
Did they believe I could endure this?
Or was the benefit of entering the Sanctum so profound... that the danger was simply worth it?
The thought was troubling.
But for now, survival came first.
I sat cross-legged in the shadows, circulating what Qi I could recover, even swallowing a bunch of pills to accelerate the process. Crimson Surge's backlash was barely manageable thanks to my improved foundation, but my arms had taken real damage. Thankfully, the medicine helped accelerate the healing, and soon I could move without too much pain.
Several hours passed in silence.
My Qi returned.
My wounds closed.
I rose again and resumed my path.
I wandered deeper into the metallic forest, walking between ancient ruins and twisted trees. The wind was colder here.
Eventually, I arrived before something I hadn't expected.
A wall.
Not just a wall, an impossibly massive structure stretching far into the clouds, supported by pillars as thick as towers, each inscribed with runes I couldn't read. The wall itself was like the outer shell of a temple built by titans.
And at its base, an entrance.
I hesitated.
Then stepped forward.
Inside, the path split. Once, then again. Then again.
A labyrinth.
A complex maze of turns and layers, each path indistinguishable from the last. I tested them all, each fork, each chamber, until the paths dead-ended. Again and again.
There were no enemies nor traps.
Hours bled away.
By my count, fifteen had passed. And I had only mapped a third of it.
This time, I tried another path.
In the first layer: outermost left.
Second layer: third path.
Third layer: third again.
Fourth layer: third.
...Seventh layer: second.
And then—
I stepped into a vast chamber.
And my breath caught.
Thousands of blades filled the chamber. Upright, embedded in the ground, stretching out like a metal forest. Each blade was unique, ancient, curved, jagged, wide, thin. Some shimmered faintly, others lay dormant.
I stepped carefully between them, weaving through a history I could feel but not understand.
And at the far end of the chamber, upon a raised plateau—
A mural.
No, a monument.
The image of a colossal White Tiger had been carved and painted onto the wall. Its form surged with silent power, rippling with latent metallic energy. Even as art, it exuded pressure so intense I could barely breathe.
I was frozen.
Staring at it, my vision blurred.
And I was elsewhere.
A mountain range of steel and stone stretched out around me. The forests were red-leafed, autumnal, painted in fire-like color. The skies were dim and gold-hazed.
At the peak of the tallest mountain—
The White Tiger stood.
Hundreds of meters tall.
Its eyes locked with mine.
And then, it roared.
A sound that shook the sky. The world shattered.
And just like that, I was back in the huge chamber.
Suddenly, waves of metallic energy surged not only into my body, but also into my mind.
It was... intent.
A flood of insight burst through my consciousness like molten ore forced into a mold. Revelations etched themselves into my soul like a forge branding steel.
Metal... Metal is not merely hard. It is not only relatively high in density or atomic numbers. Metal is not simply any element or material that exhibits metallic bonding. It is will.
It does not bend like water, nor burn like fire, nor give birth like wood, nor bury like earth.
Metal endures.
It exists to define. To set boundaries. To separate.
Life from death.
Weak from strong.
Metal is judgment incarnate.
To embody Metal is to understand inevitability.
A river may twist.
Flames may dance.
Roots may grow.
But the blade does not change course.
It falls.
And once it has fallen, the world is changed.
I gasped, eyes wide, sweat dripping down my face, though the air was cold.
My breathing trembled, and my limbs shook. Not in weakness, but in transformation.
The metallic energy that had once resisted me was no longer foreign.
The insight echoed in my core, harmonizing with the silent White Tiger still watching from the mural.
I had taken my first step toward comprehending the Metal Dao.