The night sky burned crimson above the ancient valley. Spiritual winds howled through the jagged stones as Xiao Wang stood alone atop the bone-crusted altar, his eyes gleaming with devouring light.
The Celestial Devourer System pulsed within his veins like molten gold. Threads of divine energy wove through his meridians, forming new channels that hissed with latent fury. Every heartbeat echoed with a faint metallic hum — the sound of a blade sharpening itself within his soul.
[System Notice: Devourer Trial Initiated.]
[Objective: Devour one hundred living beings to ascend to the Spirit-Sovereign Tier.][Reward: Partial unlocking of the Celestial Bloodline and Domain of Ten Thousand Swords.]
Xiao Wang's lips curved into a half-smile. "A hundred souls, is it? Heh… seems Heaven wants me to paint the ground red tonight."
From the shadows, countless pairs of eyes glimmered — spirit beasts, drawn to the residual Qi of battle. The air was thick with killing intent.
He took a single step forward. The earth cracked. His sword — now thrumming with the merged will of the system and the ancient blade — sang in response.
And then, they came.
Dozens of armored wolves lunged from the darkness, their fangs dripping venom and Qi waves distorting the air. Xiao Wang swung once.
The night itself split open.
Boom!
A storm of devouring force erupted, swallowing the beasts whole. Blood and essence spiraled into the air like threads of crimson silk, vanishing into his sword.
[Essence Absorbed: Lunar Wolf.]
[Trait Unlocked: "Moonstep — Phase Movement acquired."]
His body shimmered faintly as he blurred, reappearing ten meters away. "Now this… this is real power."
Suddenly, laughter echoed across the valley. Cold, mocking, filled with arrogance.
From the far ridge, a group of young cultivators descended — their robes marked with azure sigils. At their head stood a tall youth with jade-green eyes and a fan of white feathers in his hand.
"The rumors were true," the youth said lazily. "The so-called devourer dares to hunt in the Blood Valley during the Azure Sky Sect's trials. You must have a death wish."
Xiao Wang's gaze sharpened. "And who might you be?"
"Yun Tian of the Azure Sky Sect," he said, smirking. "Ranked twelfth on the Spirit Heaven Roll. You're trespassing on my sect's hunting grounds. Leave your sword — and your life — and I might consider leaving your corpse intact."
The sword within Xiao Wang trembled — a low growl rippled in his mind.
"Do you hear him, my host? The insect believes himself divine."
Xiao Wang chuckled coldly. "An insect, indeed."
Yun Tian's eyes narrowed. "Kill him."
Dozens of disciples rushed forward. Qi techniques illuminated the valley like falling stars. But before their attacks could land, Xiao Wang vanished — his Moonstep activating in a ripple of silver.
He reappeared behind them.
One strike.
Shrrk!
Heads rolled. Essence flowed.
[Essence Absorbed: Human Cultivator x5]
[Sword Energy: +28%]
[Devour Progress: 23/100]
"Too weak."
Yun Tian's fan flared open, releasing a torrent of azure flame. "Azure Sky Art — Eighth Form: Feathered Inferno!"
The sky ignited.
Xiao Wang's sword flared black, the devouring energy roaring in defiance. Flame met darkness — and darkness ate the flame whole.
Yun Tian staggered back. "Impossible! Azure Sky fire cannot be—"
Xiao Wang's voice cut through him like thunder. "Your flame burns heaven. Mine consumes it."
He slashed downward.
The shockwave blasted the valley into ruin, scattering the remaining disciples like leaves in a storm. Yun Tian fell to one knee, coughing blood.
But before Xiao Wang could strike again — something inside him shifted.
The system's light flickered violently. His sword pulsed, almost warning him.
[Warning: Host's emotional stability decreasing.]
[Secondary Consciousness awakening.]
Xiao Wang's pupils dilated — one eye turned gold, the other crimson. A crooked smile spread across his lips.
"Ohhh… so this is what you've been hiding, little Xiao Wang," a new voice echoed, dripping with mischief.
The devouring aura around him twisted, turning chaotic yet thrilling. His posture relaxed — confident, almost playful.
"Ah, look at all this carnage," the voice said through him, chuckling darkly. "So serious all the time, aren't we? Let's make this fun."
He snapped his fingers.
In a blur, he appeared beside Yun Tian, crouched low with a smirk. "Hey, pretty boy. Nice fan. Want me to sign it for you… in blood?"
Before Yun Tian could react — slash! — his fan shattered into glittering shards, and Xiao Wang flicked a drop of blood from his blade.
"Oops."
Yun Tian screamed, unleashing his core energy in desperation. But the mischievous half of Xiao Wang only laughed, dodging lazily and whispering mockingly, "Oh come now, you can do better. You're the twelfth-ranked genius, right?"
His sword flashed once more.
Yun Tian's aura collapsed.
[Essence Absorbed: Azure Flame Core]
[Trait Evolved: Devouring Flame — Absorption Efficiency +10%]
[Devour Progress: 49/100]
The second personality yawned, glancing up at the bloody moon. "Fifty down, fifty to go. This might actually be fun."
The system's voice chimed sharply:
[Warning: Host synchronization unstable.]
[Primary consciousness required to prevent overload.]
The golden eye flickered. The calm, original Xiao Wang's voice emerged faintly. "Enough… I said… ENOUGH!"
A thunderclap burst through the valley. The devouring aura retracted, and the chaotic energy dissolved into silence.
Xiao Wang fell to one knee, panting, his body steaming with residual energy.
The sword spirit whispered gently in his mind.
"So… you've finally met him."
Xiao Wang clenched his fist. "What… what is that thing inside me?"
"Not a thing… but a shadow. A fragment of what you once were — sealed within the blade to protect your mortal mind. It awakens when death draws near."
His gaze hardened. "Then I'll master it… both the sword, and the shadow."
He stood, the moonlight cutting across his face, half dark, half glowing — like two souls trapped in one flesh.
From the ridge beyond, distant flutes echoed — the heralds of another sect approaching. The air trembled with killing intent once again.
Xiao Wang raised his blade, voice cold and resolute.
"Fifty souls left. Come, then."
The valley erupted once more in flames, light, and death.
[Devour Progress: 51/100]
[Hidden Quest Triggered: The Feast of the Hundred Souls — Part II begins.]