Tianhan descended from the mountain like a beast waking from a long, ruthless slumber.He did not hurry—yet every step he took carried a strange heaviness… the weight of four years of pain, silence, and rebirth.
His crimson hair swayed with the wind, and his calm, ember-like eyes observed the world he had left behind.
The sun was low, bleeding faint light across the horizon as he walked down toward the vast plains.The tall trees that once forgot his name now rustled as if recognizing him anew.Even the earth beneath his feet seemed cautious, sensing that the being walking upon it was no longer a simple boy from the countryside.
He soon reached a wide dirt road that stretched between the mountain and faraway villages.He stopped, looked left and right, then continued.He did not know where he was going…
But something in the world itself seemed ready to guide him.
Hours later, a sharp neigh cut through the air—followed by screams.
Tianhan halted.
He turned his head toward the sound and saw a wooden cart overturned at the roadside.A wounded horse attempted to stand while three men in leather armor surrounded the cart, dragging someone out by force.
He normally wouldn't care.He had learned that this world was cruel, and that those too weak to protect themselves would simply be swept away.
But the scream…It was a girl's scream.
Tianhan's brows tightened.
"A test already…" he whispered.
And walked forward.
The three men were bandits—tattoos on their arms, rusty short swords, and a vile smirk on each face.They yanked a young girl—no older than fifteen—out of the cart.She struggled, crying out, but her strength was nothing compared to theirs.
One of them laughed harshly."This little one's our prize today! The boss will pay good money for something this pretty."
Another licked his lips."Who said we're handing her over before having some fun?"
The girl raised her hand, pleading,"Please—don't! I'm not even a cultivator yet! Please—"
A slap cracked across her face, sending her collapsing to the ground.
Tianhan did not accelerate.He did not rush.
He simply walked.
Yet the air around him grew colder.
The men didn't notice him until he was only a few steps away.
"Huh? Who are you?" one asked.
Tianhan didn't answer.
His eyes were fixed on the girl's trembling form.
The second man swung his sword threateningly."This isn't your—"
The voice vanished.The man vanished.
The remaining two only heard a faint thump as their companion's headless body fell behind them.
No one saw the strike.There was no sound—no movement.
Tianhan stood where he was, calm as death.
Fear twisted the faces of the remaining bandits.
"A—A cultivator? This is our—our territory! Leave or—"
Another step.
A quiet step.
But it obliterated their courage completely.
Tianhan leaned slightly and appeared behind the third man without touching the ground.His right hand rested behind the man's back—three fingers lightly touching his spine.
"What are you—"
A flash of red.A muffled scream.
Silence.
Only one bandit remained.Pale. Shaking. Barely able to hold his sword.
Tianhan approached.
"Why do you do this?" he asked quietly.
The man's voice broke."We—We serve the Lord of the district! He orders us! If we don't—"
"Lord?"
"Yes! He buys the offerings! We don't choose—he—he forces—"
Tianhan's gaze sharpened.
"I can tell you everything!" the bandit begged. "Just… don't kill me!"
"I don't need everything," Tianhan replied softly.
A faint red tail flickered behind him.
And the man was gone.
Tianhan walked to the girl.She stared at him with wide, frightened eyes.
"Th… thank you, sir," she whispered.
He ignored the gratitude.
"Are you from a village?" he asked.
She nodded weakly."I was heading to Ling City… to work. We're poor. I wanted to help. But they… took me."
Her eyes drifted to the corpses.
"You were like… a ghost."
Tianhan didn't comment.
"The road is safe now. Leave," he said."I will go to the city."
But when she turned, something on her neck caught his eye—a strange mark, like a branded seal.
He stepped closer; she flinched.
"Relax," he said quietly. "I just need to see."
The mark was the insignia of the Black Tribe—a small clan known for human trafficking, operating in Ling City.
"They'll come for me," she whispered. "They mark their victims."
"Not anymore," Tianhan said.
He pressed his finger to the seal.A faint ripple—And the dark light shattered.
The girl gasped.
"You… you must be a Spirit Gathering cultivator!"
He didn't answer.
"Go home. Do not enter the city."
"But… my family needs—"
"They need you alive."
She hesitated, tears gathering—then bowed deeply.
"I won't forget this day."
She stepped away… then turned suddenly.
"Sir… if you go to Ling City… be careful. The Lord of the city… he isn't fully human."
Tianhan lifted an eyebrow.
"Not human?"
"They say he has demonic blood… and he buys people for rituals."
She ran.
Tianhan stood alone, wind brushing against his crimson hair.
"Demonic blood?" he murmured.
Two words were enough to stir something ancient in him.
Could there be others?Other beings whose blood echoed the same ancient mark that awakened inside him?
"Ling City, then," he whispered.
He moved.
Half a day later, the city emerged in the distance—tall walls, wooden towers, smoke rising from the bustling markets.
But it wasn't the sight…It was the smell.
Blood.Fresh blood.Human blood—not of war…but of ritual.
Tianhan's fingers curled slightly.
"This world truly is filthy."
He entered through the western gate.The guards were distracted, inspecting merchant carts—none paid mind to a lone youth in simple clothes.
Yet every time someone looked at him…They turned away immediately.
His presence was too heavy.Even beasts felt his danger—humans even more so.
He walked into the market.Vendors shouting, smells mixing, crowds moving…But beneath the noise was a quiet terror.
"What's happening here?" Tianhan asked an elderly vendor."Everyone looks afraid."
The old man recoiled, then leaned closer, whispering shakily:
"You're new here, aren't you? Listen… the City Lord has changed. He takes girls… and children. Says it's for 'protection rituals.' But people are disappearing… and they don't return."
"Where does he live?" Tianhan asked.
"No—don't go! No one returns! He's half-demon! Banished from his demon clan twenty years ago! His blood is black! If he sees you—"
"Where?"
The old man swallowed hard.
"The Stone Palace… in the center of the city."
Tianhan nodded and left.
The Stone Palace was immense—surrounded by soldiers clad in black armor.Their eyes were empty, as if serving out of fear rather than loyalty.
Tianhan approached.
The gate was sealed.
He didn't shout.Didn't threaten.
"I wish to speak to the City Lord," he said.
A guard snorted."And who do you think you—"
His voice stopped.
His entire leg vanished—cut cleanly at the knee.
He didn't even see the attack.
All spears pointed at Tianhan.
He ignored them.
"I don't repeat myself," he said calmly.
At that moment, a deep, chilling voice emerged from within the palace:
"Let him in."
The doors opened.
Tianhan stepped into a darkness deeper than night itself.
The grand hall was cold, filled with stone pillars carved with black veins like living shadows.
And on a throne of obsidian…
A huge man sat.Black hair.Dark crimson eyes.A predator's aura that filled the entire room.
He stared at Tianhan.
Then smiled.
"…Interesting."
A strange sensation washed over Tianhan.
Something in the air…
Something like demonic blood.
"You carry the scent," the City Lord said."A smell I haven't encountered in decades—blood not of humans."
Tianhan's eyes narrowed.
"And you… are not human either."
The man laughed.
"I did not expect to meet someone like myself. But you… are different. Your blood is older… purer… stronger."
He rose from his throne.The ground cracked beneath him.
"Yes… I will enjoy tasting you."
His smile twisted into a beastly snarl.
Tianhan lifted his chin slightly.
"You are the one buying humans?"
The man roared with laughter."Yes! Humans are cheap resources. Their spirits are weak, but useful for rituals. Rituals that—"
"Give you power," Tianhan finished.
"Exactly."
A cloud of black energy swirled in the man's palm.
"But your blood… your blood is power itself."
Tianhan nodded slowly.
"Good. I only needed confirmation."
"Confirmation?" the man growled.
"That this world…" Tianhan said quietly,"…is full of filth that needs cleansing."
Behind him, eight blood-red fox tails flared to life.
Silence fell.
And the battle—finally began.