The Blood Valley reeked of iron and incense.
Crimson clouds hung low over the sky, and the air trembled with killing intent.
A thousand disciples gathered in a vast arena carved from black stone, each one cloaked in blood-red robes embroidered with gold.
Above them, the Sect's Grand Pavilion floated — a colossal pagoda suspended in air by glowing spirit arrays, where elders and nobles watched from thrones of jade.
Today was the day of the Feast of Ten Thousand Souls, a sacred trial where Blood Sect disciples offered beast souls and fought for ascension in rank.
But this time, an uninvited guest had appeared.
Xiao Wang.
He stood at the arena's edge, robes fluttering, the Devouring Sword strapped across his back. His gaze was calm, but his aura pulsed with quiet fury.
Murmurs swept through the crowd.
"Who is he?"
"He's not wearing sect robes."
"A rogue cultivator? He dares walk into the Feast uninvited?"
On the high pavilion, an elder leaned forward — his eyes sharp, voice echoing like thunder.
"Name yourself, boy! This is the sacred ground of the Blood Sect. Trespassers die."
Xiao Wang bowed slightly, his tone polite but cold.
"Xiao Wang. Wandering cultivator. I came in response to your… invitation."
Laughter erupted among the disciples.
"Invitation? Did someone send a letter to a beggar?"
"He must be suicidal."
The elder frowned. "Invitation? What nonsense—"
But before he could finish, a clear, melodic voice rang out — firm yet alluring.
"He speaks the truth."
The crowd fell silent.
From the upper pavilion, the golden-eyed woman descended. She landed gracefully, her aura pressing against the earth like a tidal wave. The wind obeyed her; the mist bent around her.
Xiao Wang's eyes narrowed.
"So, the golden eyes have a name after all."
She smiled faintly. "Lady Yue Feiyan, Blood Valley's Inner Saintess."
Her gaze swept over him, measuring, testing.
"I sent the invitation."
Gasps rippled through the disciples.
"The Saintess invited him?"
"Impossible!"
"She hasn't acknowledged anyone in years!"
Yue Feiyan ignored them. Her attention was fixed solely on Xiao Wang.
"I saw what you did in the Moon-Scar Ravine," she said softly.
"You devoured a Fallen Beast. Alone. No ordinary cultivator could do that."
Xiao Wang smirked. "I was hungry."
A few disciples snorted. Yue Feiyan tilted her head, amused.
"Hungry, were you? Then perhaps you'd enjoy our Feast."
She gestured to the arena.
"The Feast of Ten Thousand Souls — the Blood Sect's way of testing power. Win here, and you may earn entry into our ranks… or die trying."
He unsheathed his sword slowly, its crimson aura flaring to life.
"Sounds fair. I've been craving a little exercise."
The Feast Begins
Gongs thundered across the valley.
[System Notification: Quest Triggered — "The Blood Sect's Feast."]
[Objective: Survive. Devour. Ascend.]
The first opponent appeared — a burly disciple with red tattoos glowing across his arms, wielding twin axes wreathed in fire.
"Outsider!" he roared. "I'll offer your soul to the Sect!"
He charged, axes spinning. The air screamed with each swing.
Xiao Wang raised his sword calmly — then vanished.
A flash of crimson light.
CLANG—SHHK!
A single strike.
The man froze mid-charge, eyes wide. His axes split in two.
A heartbeat later, so did he.
[Essence Absorbed: Blood Sect Disciple (Rank: Human).]
[Reward: Minor Qi Increase +2%.]
The crowd erupted.
"What—what speed was that?!"
"Did he just kill him in one move?"
"That sword… it's alive!"
Yue Feiyan's golden eyes shimmered faintly with interest.
"So it's true… his sword feeds."
The next opponent stepped forward — a woman with silver hair and a cold smile, her whip crackling with lightning.
"You're not bad, stranger," she said. "But let's see how you fare against me."
The whip lashed through the air, slicing across the arena with blinding speed.
Xiao Wang blocked once — twice — sparks flying.
Then the whip wrapped around his arm, the lightning searing his flesh.
He grimaced, then smirked.
"Nice trick. Now here's mine."
He pulled — hard.
The woman gasped as she stumbled forward, and before she could recover, Xiao Wang's knee drove into her abdomen, knocking the air from her lungs.
He whispered softly against her ear:
"Don't worry. I'll be gentle."
She blushed furiously — right before the flat of his sword knocked her unconscious.
[Opponent subdued.]
[Devour Option available: Refuse or Accept?]
He sheathed his sword. "Refuse."
Heris's voice echoed faintly in his mind, calm but curious.
"You could have absorbed her Qi."
"Not my type of meal."
"Strange mercy, for a devourer."
"Call it taste."
The other voice — his darker self — snickered.
"Or hormones."
"Shut up."
"What? I'm just saying, she was cute. You could've—"
"I said shut up."
"Tch. Spoilsport."
The Third Opponent — Blood Beast Summoner
The arena trembled as the third opponent arrived — a tall, lean man with eyes like molten gold and markings that pulsed like veins of magma.
"You've humiliated my sect brothers and my sister," he hissed. "I'll make you pay."
He slammed his palm to the ground.
Blood-red symbols spread outward, summoning a towering beast — a crimson lion with twin tails and flaming eyes.
The crowd roared as the beast lunged forward.
Xiao Wang exhaled slowly, tightening his grip.
"Heris."
"Ready."
The sword pulsed — and the Devourer's mark flared across his chest.
He thrust his blade downward — not at the beast, but at the arena floor.
The ground split open, darkness surging upward like liquid fire.
[Devour Mode: Stage Two.]
The beast's roar turned into a scream as the darkness swallowed it whole, shredding it into motes of light.
The summoner froze, trembling.
"Wh-what did you—"
"Returned it to the void."
A red arc flashed.
The man fell, lifeless.
[Essence Absorbed: Blood Summoner — Tier 2.]
[Trait Gained: "Spectral Manifestation."]
Xiao Wang twirled the sword once and rested it on his shoulder.
"Anyone else?"
The entire arena went silent.
Even the elders on the pavilion leaned forward, whispering.
"That aura… it's not human."
"He's not using ordinary Qi."
"Could it be…"
Yue Feiyan smiled faintly and stepped down into the arena.
The crowd gasped again.
"The Saintess?!"
"She's entering the ring herself?!"
She walked toward Xiao Wang with calm poise, her golden eyes glowing faintly.
"You've impressed me, Xiao Wang."
"Thanks. Do I get a prize?"
"You get me."
The words froze him for a heartbeat. The entire sect went silent.
Then she smirked.
"If you can land a hit."
The crowd exploded into noise.
Xiao Wang chuckled. "Now that's motivation."
"Careful," Heris murmured in his mind, her tone sharp.
"Her aura… it carries divine blood."
He grinned. "Guess I'll find out."
Saintess Duel — Xiao Wang vs. Yue Feiyan
She moved first.
A blur of gold and crimson, her palm glowing with celestial fire.
Xiao Wang blocked, but the impact sent him skidding backward — the ground cracking beneath his feet.
He laughed. "Not bad."
"Focus, idiot," his other self hissed.
He vanished, reappearing behind her, sword sweeping in a deadly arc.
She twisted elegantly, catching the blade between two fingers — golden energy flaring.
The sword screamed in protest.
"Your weapon resists," she said softly. "As if it knows me."
"Maybe it's shy."
She smiled, releasing the blade — only to drive a palm strike into his chest.
He coughed blood but laughed again.
"Okay, that one hurt."
"Heris, how about some help?"
"Already adapting."
The sword flared crimson, runes spreading along its length.
Xiao Wang slashed — a single arc of red lightning that split the air.
Yue Feiyan dodged, but a strand of her hair fluttered to the ground.
Her eyes widened slightly — the faintest hint of surprise.
Then, she smiled.
"You've proven your worth."
She lifted her hand — and the arena's barrier shattered.
The entire sect trembled as ancient inscriptions lit up across the walls.
"From this day forth," she declared, her voice echoing through the valley,
"Xiao Wang of no sect shall be granted provisional entry to the Blood Valley Sect — as a Guest Disciple."
The disciples erupted in chaos.
"What?!"
"A rogue?!"
"The Saintess herself acknowledged him?!"
But Yue Feiyan ignored them. She turned, her golden eyes lingering on him for just a moment longer.
"Welcome to the Feast, Xiao Wang. Let's see how much of Heaven you can devour."
[System Notification: "Guest Disciple Status Acquired."]
[Hidden Quest Unlocked — "Feast of Ten Thousand Souls, Part II."]
[Reward: 1x Celestial Soul Fragment.]
Heris's voice murmured quietly in his mind.
"You've stepped into the heart of the storm, Xiao Wang."
He smiled faintly.
"Good. Storms are where swords are forged."
The darker voice laughed.
"And where beauties fall in love."
"Shut up."
"What? You saw the way she looked at you."
"I'll look at your reflection in a grave if you keep talking."
Heris sighed softly.
"Children."