Shadows in the Moonlight
The forest was drowned in silence.
Mist coiled like serpents beneath the moonlight, the faint scent of scorched soil still lingering around the crater.
Lin Xian stood at its edge, his pale features calm, silver eyes reflecting the dim light. The golden kitten perched on his shoulder tilted its head, tail twitching — faint static rippling across its fur.
> "Six presences," Lin Xian murmured. "Fast… trained… middle-stage Mortal Vein Realm."
His eyes narrowed slightly, sensing a heavier aura beyond the others.
> "And one more… peak Mortal Vein. Almost stepping into the Spirit Realm."
He rested a hand lightly on his sword hilt, but his stance was relaxed — predator calm, heart steady.
---
The Zhao Clan Appears
Figures emerged from the fog — six men in gray armor traced with silver flame insignias. Their leader, a broad man with a scar across his jaw, radiated dense fire qi that scorched the damp air around him.
> "Lin Clan?" he asked coldly.
"Lin Xian," Lin Xian replied simply.
> "This land is claimed by the Zhao Clan," the man said. "Whatever fell from the heavens belongs to us now. Leave while you can."
Lin Xian smiled faintly.
> "Ah… The heavens must be generous to grant you authority they never gave."
The man's eyes narrowed to slits.
> "Kill him."
---
The Assassin Awakens
The instant the command left his mouth, Lin Xian's aura vanished.
Not suppressed — erased.
The Zhao scouts blinked. The white-haired youth standing before them had simply ceased to exist in their perception.
> "Where—"
A whisper brushed the leader's ear.
> "Rule one of the kill — never speak before striking."
Swish!
A streak of silver light cut through the mist — blood sprayed across the leader's cheek.
The man nearest him clutched his throat, gurgling, before collapsing soundlessly.
> "Eyes sharp! Defensive circle!" Zhao Rui roared.
Too late.
Lin Xian flowed through the fog like a wraith. A flash of silver, and a second gurgling cry was cut short as another assassin crumpled, his throat laid open.
"Two down."
Then, a sudden crack of thunder split the air.
Golden lightning exploded behind the Zhao formation — the kitten, fur bristling, eyes glowing fierce amber.
---
The Golden Lightning Beast Awakens
> "Tian Lei…?" Lin Xian whispered, startled.
The kitten leapt, vanishing midair — only a golden blur remained.
It reappeared behind two Zhao soldiers, tiny claws charged with lightning.
> "Divine Beast Art — Lightning Pounce: Thunder's Descent!"
Boom!
Electric arcs erupted outward in a spiral, golden-white and blinding. The two men screamed as the current shattered their qi shields, hurling them backward. Their bodies hit the ground smoking, limbs twitching before going still.
The kitten landed gracefully, tail crackling with residual energy. It looked proud of itself and meowed — almost smug.
Lin Xian chuckled quietly, even amid the chaos.
> "Little monster…"
---
The remaining three Zhao cultivators attacked in rage. Spears thrust like a storm, flames blazing through the fog.
Lin Xian's eyes shimmered gold — the Nirvana God's Eye of Insight flared to life.
To him, their movements slowed, fragmented into threads of light.
He twisted between the thrusts — each step precise, silent.
Clang!
A spear shattered.
Step, pivot, thrust — another Zhao scout fell, blood blooming like a red flower across his armor.
> "Nirvana Art — Shadow Step, Third Movement: Ash and Silence."
He vanished, reappearing behind another opponent. Elbow, palm, rib strike — three hits, and the man fell before he realized he'd been attacked.
The last of Zhao Rui's men fell with a dull thud, leaving only their leader standing.
The peak Mortal Vein cultivator's qi flared like a wildfire, twisting the mist into a vortex of heat.
Zhao Rui's eyes burned crimson, his voice rumbling like thunder.
> "You dare kill my men, Lin dog!?"
Lin Xian tightened his grip on his sword. His breath came slower now — calm, steady, deliberate.
> "Dare?" He smiled faintly. "No. I simply do not care."
Zhao Rui's roar shook the trees.
> "Arrogant brat!"
His greatsword surged with crimson flame as he charged, aura boiling like magma. Each step cracked the earth. Lin Xian's weakened body trembled under the pressure — blood trickled from his lips, his meridians screaming in pain.
So strong… this body can't handle prolonged qi reinforcement yet.
But Lin Xian's eyes remained cold, steady — filled with the indifference of someone who had seen countless battles.
The greatsword swung down. Lin Xian parried, the impact blasting him back several meters. His boots dug into the soil, carving twin trenches.
Zhao Rui pressed forward, relentless. Another strike — then another — each heavier than the last. Lin Xian deflected, redirected, dodged — but the third blow clipped his shoulder. Flesh tore; blood splattered across his white robe.
The kitten hissed, lightning crackling, ready to jump — but Lin Xian raised a hand slightly.
> "Stay."
His breathing steadied, even as his arm trembled.
"This body… is frail. But the wisdom of a thousand battles is not so easily erased."
Zhao Rui's sword came again — a sweeping slash meant to split him in two. Lin Xian stepped aside, the blade grazing his ribs. The pain was sharp, but his expression didn't flicker.
> "You're still standing?" Zhao Rui growled. "Then take this!"
He unleashed his full strength — Flame Vein Ignition. Fire erupted from his core, coating his weapon in molten light. The surrounding mist evaporated instantly, leaving only glowing embers.
Lin Xian squinted, his hair fluttering wildly in the heat.
> "So this is your trump card…"
Crude. Unrefined. Typical of mortals reaching beyond their limit.
Zhao Rui lunged — speed doubled, killing intent spiking. Lin Xian raised his sword but was half a heartbeat too slow. The greatsword slammed against his side, throwing him backward. He crashed into a tree, coughing blood.
The kitten cried out, lightning bursting from its fur. Lin Xian lifted a hand weakly.
> "Stay back… I can handle him."
He wiped the blood from his mouth and exhaled slowly.
Zhao Rui grinned savagely.
> "Done already?"
Lin Xian's silver eyes lifted — now faintly glowing with a golden ring.
> "No. I was just observing your pattern."
The commander hesitated.
> "What—"
Lin Xian vanished.
> "Nirvana Art — Shadow Step: Second Movement."
He appeared behind Zhao Rui, slashing for the heart — but the commander twisted, blocking in time. Sparks flew. The two blades locked, qi clashing violently.
Zhao Rui smirked, pressing down.
> "Too slow!"
Lin Xian smiled faintly.
> "Not quite."
His pupils turned golden — intricate symbols spun within.
⟨⟨Nirvana God's Eye • First Form: Devil's Whisper.⟩⟩
Zhao Rui's smirk froze as Lin Xian's pupils shifted — twin golden rings spiraling outward like eclipsed suns.
The world… wavered.
The commander blinked — suddenly, the mist was gone.
He stood alone in a void of crimson sky and shattered ground.
The air smelled of blood.
From the distance, endless corpses lay half-buried in ash — familiar faces, his own men, staring at him with hollow eyes.
> "What… what is this…"
He turned, and saw Lin Xian walking toward him through the burning fog — every step echoing like a funeral bell.
Each footfall shook the earth.
Each breath made Zhao Rui's heart pound faster, his mind spinning.
> "You can't escape this," Lin Xian's voice whispered — not from his lips, but inside Zhao Rui's skull.
Suddenly, chains erupted from the ground, binding his arms and legs. He tried to struggle — but the harder he fought, the heavier the chains grew. His qi scattered, refusing to obey.
> "No… my qi! Why—"
He looked down.
His body was burning — flesh melting into molten gold.
His screams tore through the illusion, echoing in the endless void.
He saw himself dying.
He saw his soul splintering.
He saw eternity unfold — endless deaths in the space between seconds.
> "Stop— STOP IT!" he roared, his voice raw.
And then — silence.
The crimson sky shattered like glass.
Reality snapped back.
Zhao Rui's eyes widened — the forest returned, the moon still hanging above.
But before he could comprehend what happened — before he could even breathe — cold steel slid through his chest.
> "Wha— when—" he gasped.
Lin Xian stood behind him, sword buried deep, eyes glowing faintly gold.
> "Two seconds," he said softly. "That's all it takes."
Zhao Rui's pupils trembled. To him, it had felt like a nightmare that lasted an eternity — endless terror, endless death. Yet in truth, only two seconds had passed.
As the light faded from his eyes, the faint reflection of Lin Xian's golden gaze was the last thing he saw — the gaze of one who bent time and fear itself to his will.
Aftermath
The forest fell silent again, save for the crackle of fading flames.
Lin Xian exhaled shakily, his body trembling from exhaustion. Blood seeped through his robe, staining the white fabric deep crimson.
He pressed a hand to his ribs, grimacing.
I pushed too far… but victory is still victory.
The kitten trotted to his feet, eyes glowing with worry. Tiny sparks danced along its fur.
Lin Xian smiled faintly, crouching down.
> "Don't pout. I'm not dying yet."
The kitten meowed softly, bumping its head against his hand.
Lin Xian wiped his blade clean, gaze falling on Zhao Rui's corpse.
> "Peak Mortal Vein Realm… almost Spirit Realm."
He scoffed quietly.
> "In my past life, people like you wouldn't even dare breathe near me."
Straightening slowly, he turned toward the misty path ahead.
> "Still… this battle proves it. My strength is returning."
The kitten leapt onto his shoulder, tail flicking like a banner of victory. Lin Xian gave it a sidelong glance.
> "Let's go, little one. We've lingered long enough."
As they vanished into the fading mist, the battlefield shimmered faintly — the glow of golden illusion erasing all traces of blood and death.
Only silence remained — the silence of a killer reborn, and his storm-forged companion.