Old gods betrayal

Eldest Senior Brother noticed Liu Ping's momentary shock and seized the opportunity. "My condition is this: I will grant you the sect's divine sword, Parting Sorrow. I know you've always admired this sword" he said with a knowing smile.

Liu Ping was about to reply, but his vision suddenly sharpened, locking onto the space above the Eldest Senior Brother's head.

A line of scarlet characters appeared, blazing in the void:

[Title: Spirit Hunter, Strength: Divine Transformation Realm.]

[Explanation: ????????]

Liu Ping's eyes narrowed.

The term "Spirit Hunter" was unheard of in the vast Cultivation World.

In other words—

This man was likely not from the Cultivation World.

And if he wasn't part of their sect or even this world, why was he so close to Li Zhangxue? What was his true purpose?

Was it to kill her? To heal her? Or to gain something else?

An uneasy tension surged through Liu Ping's heart, an inexplicable sense of urgency pressing down on him. A faint tremor ran through his body, the sensation foreign yet eerily familiar.

He felt as though the dense fog that had surrounded his understanding since his awakening was beginning to part, revealing a hidden truth just beyond his reach.

It was the same feeling he'd had when he killed someone for the first time. The same dread he felt during his first siege. The same awe and terror of witnessing the first Skyfall from the upper realms.

Liu Ping exhaled slowly, steadying himself. The faint tremor in his body eased, and his expression returned to its usual calm.

"Eldest Senior Brother, I have something to give you" Liu Ping said with a faint smile.

"Oh?" For the first time, Eldest Senior Brother's expression revealed surprise. Then, almost immediately, he composed himself and asked, "What is it that you want to give me?"

Liu Ping glanced toward the thick mist and dust swirling behind them.

In the void, a line of blazing small text appeared:

[Ten seconds until the Nightmare Era Ancient God is summoned once more from the depths.]

Liu Ping's heart tightened. He had faced this monster before. He knew its capabilities.

But now, his skill, The One Who Debuts, was ready again. It could still have an effect.

Without another word, Liu Ping reached into his storage bag and began pouring out spirit stones.

"What are you doing? Could it be that you're giving me... these spirit stones?" Eldest Senior Brother asked, his curiosity piqued.

Liu Ping shook his head, his expression unchanging. The spirit stones cascaded from his storage bag, clinking and scattering as they hit the ground.

Before long, the stones had formed a growing pile, submerging the ground up to Liu Ping's ankles, then his knees.

The pile grew higher and higher.

"Faster!" Liu Ping muttered under his breath, his movements deliberate.

A small hill of spirit stones now lay between the two of them, radiating faint spiritual energy as they reflected the dim light of the falling sky.

Liu Ping calmly stowed his storage bag, his gaze unwavering as he spoke:

"Two choices. Pick one."

Eldest Senior Brother's expression darkened, but curiosity got the better of him. "Two choices?"

"Indeed." Liu Ping nodded.

"What are they?" Eldest Senior Brother asked, his tone tinged with unease.

"First," Liu Ping began, his voice steady, "I grant you death. Second, you tell me what Spirit Hunter truly means."

As Liu Ping spoke, his eyes flicked toward the roiling mist and dust. Among the chaos, fiery lines of texts blazed into view:

[Title 1: Judge.]

[Evernight Title: Acts as the hand of the divine, carrying out the will of the oracle to resolve worldly matters.]

[Title 2: Lord of Creeping Nightmare. Strength: ?????]

[Explanation: The one bearing this title is the Lord of All Flames. Its magic and physical attacks deal unparalleled damage, and it consumes all creation with its devouring powers.]

[The laws of fire and destruction bow beneath its feet—it is the Old God of the Nightmare Age.]

The air grew heavier as the realization struck.

The terrifying monster had returned.

Eldest Senior Brother's body stiffened as a chill ran down his spine. He staggered back, his voice trembling as he cried, "This is impossible! How could you know—"

He began to move, his instincts screaming at him to act, but a sudden, oppressive sensation rooted him in place.

From the swirling mists behind Liu Ping, a massive figure emerged. Shrouded in dark, clinging vapors, its form was both otherworldly and suffocating, radiating an aura of dread and destruction.

Liu Ping didn't flinch. His gaze remained fixed on Eldest Senior Brother as he added softly, "Your time is running out. Choose."

At this distance, the outlines of the figure in the mist became unmistakably clear, even through the dense fog.

The creature had a humanoid form, its entire body cloaked in ashen-gray skin that appeared lifeless and coarse. Two curved horns jutted from its head, and its eyes were grotesquely stitched shut with gray threads, giving it an unnatural and menacing appearance. It possessed four elongated arms that dangled unnervingly to the level of its ankles, moving with a grotesque fluidity as it walked on all of them, its hands doubling as feet.

An oppressive aura radiated from the monster, saturating the air with an eerie stillness. The entire area seemed subdued by its presence, the silence almost tangible.

The creature's head hung low, as if considering its surroundings, then tilted slightly as the stitches across its eyes tightened unnaturally. The seams began to split apart, revealing a fiery glow beneath—eyes brimming with molten lava and exuding an aura of pure destruction.

The monster's gaze locked onto Eldest Senior Brother, its focus searing and unrelenting.

Liu Ping spoke, her tone calm and deliberate. "Eldest Senior Brother, have you made your decision? Which option will it be?"

Eldest Senior Brother's composure crumbled under the weight of the creature's aura. His eyes darted nervously between Liu Ping and the monstrosity behind her, his voice trembling.

"This can't be happening... Why is it listening to you? Who are you?"

Liu Ping remained composed, her expression cold and resolute. "I gave you a choice. It seems you've already decided."

She stepped aside, clearing the path between the monster and Eldest Senior Brother.

The creature's head tilted further, its nose twitching as though sniffing the air. It briefly glanced at the pile of spirit stones before turning its attention back to its prey, its molten eyes glowing brighter.

Panic overtook Eldest Senior Brother. His voice rose in desperation. "Stop this! You can't do this to me—I'm your Senior Brother!"

Liu Ping's tone was devoid of emotion. "You've lost your chance. Goodbye, Senior Brother."

The monster straightened its form slightly, its long arms swaying ominously. Then, it began to advance. Each deliberate step caused the ground to quake, as though the world itself recoiled from its presence.

Eldest Senior Brother struggled to gather his strength, but under the crushing pressure of the creature's aura, he found himself unable to move.

With a sudden burst of speed, the creature lunged forward, its massive hands outstretched toward its target. The air filled with the sound of crackling energy and Eldest Senior Brother's frantic screams, which were abruptly silenced as the monster's power overwhelmed him.

The monster stood victorious in the aftermath, its towering form motionless amidst the settling dust and quiet despair.

The monster let out an intermittent, guttural roar, its terrifying aura fluctuating with excitement.

The Living.

These were the types of "food" it craved most.

Eldest Senior Brother's pupils constricted sharply as panic took hold. The realization hit him—this situation was far worse than he had anticipated.

"Wait! Hold on!" he shouted, his voice trembling. "Great existence, you cannot devour me! I hold a status entirely distinct from all other beings!"

The monster paused, its massive head tilting slightly as it considered him. Then, in a deep, resonant voice, it rumbled, "...Proof... show me..."

Desperation etched across his face, Eldest Senior Brother extended a hand, grasping at the air as though pulling something from the void. In an instant, a dark green card materialized in his grip. He raised it high above his head, his voice trembling with urgency.

"This card proves my claim! I am a disciple of the Lady Agony, seeking worthy candidates for her divine card deck!"

Liu Ping's attention shifted to the card, 'her' sharp gaze scrutinizing its surface.

Etched upon the card was a sorrowful depiction of a woman, adorned in a flowing, multi-colored gown. Her face bore an expression of profound grief as she gazed into the void. Both her hands were bound by a black wire rope, which coiled tightly up her arms, around her waist, and down her legs, ending in heavy shackles at her ankles.

"This is the 'Lady Agony's Seal,' undeniable proof of my allegiance to her!" Eldest Senior Brother exclaimed with strained confidence. "I am under her protection. You cannot consume me!"

The monster remained silent for several breaths. Then, a low, rumbling laughter reverberated through the air, sending chills down Eldest Senior Brother's spine.

Hū!

Without warning, twin beams of fiery energy shot from the monster's molten eyes, striking the dark green card.

The card disintegrated instantly, turning to ash in Eldest Senior Brother's hands.

His face turned ashen, his voice shaking as he stammered, "You! Could it be... you are...?"

The realization froze him in place as the monster's towering form loomed closer.

"Yes, I betrayed her—because she no longer has the Lord of Torment to shield her. Naturally, I must follow and submit to a deity willing to offer the proper rewards" the monster sneered with mockery.

"Breaking faith and abandoning righteousness... You were once a god. How can you stoop so low?" Eldest Senior Brother retreated step by step, his voice trembling with fear.

"Deception is a noble art far beyond the comprehension of mortals," the monster said, narrowing its fiery eyes. Its voice grew thick with disdain. "Mocking an enemy's stupidity while exploiting their ignorance is the truest form of harm."

Cold sweat drenched Eldest Senior Brother's brow as panic consumed him. In a last, desperate act, he thrust a trembling hand toward Liu Ping.

"There's another person here!" he shrieked hysterically. "Take her first! Why not eat her before me?"

The monster's blazing eyes locked onto Eldest Senior Brother, unwavering and filled with contempt. Its voice thundered with scorn.

"Do not lower your own worth, mortal. Do you truly think that a god like me would consume her?"

Eldest Senior Brother froze, startled. He barely grasped the monster's earlier words, but the latter half left him utterly baffled.

"Out of respect for the Lady of Agony, I'll give you a head start" the monster growled deeply.

With that, Eldest Senior Brother's figure erupted into motion, transforming into a streak of light as he fled frantically toward the sky.

In the next instant, the massive monster displayed a terrifying swiftness, launching itself upward with unthinkable dexterity. Its immense figure ascended rapidly, pursuing the fleeing streak of light.

Behind it, the spirit stones that had been piled on the ground surged into the air, following the monster as it vanished into the void.

The oppressive atmosphere of Dark Mist Town dissipated, leaving behind an eerie, serene silence.

Liu Ping glanced around, but saw no one's figure. The massive mist and dust that had risen from the ruins slowly settled down.

— It's over.

"Ridiculous, did you think it would eat me? You really underestimated me..." Liu Ping sighed and spoke coldly to himself.

In the Void, small lines of text lingered, still visible:

[Title: Lord of Creeping Nightmare, strength: ????? — the monster is preparing to prey.]

[You have activated mystery-type ability: A Man Without a Role.]

[Performance Class ability.]

[When you activate this, you enter a state of extreme concealment, hiding your true strength and biding your time. All laws of the world will avoid you, and you will not attract undue attention from any existence.]

[Warning!]

[Lord of Creeping Nightmare has been drawn to this location.]

[It noticed the pile of spirit stones on the ground.]

[It also noticed you, but dismissed you as insignificant. Therefore, it focused on the pile of spirit stones.]

[It has detected the presence of the other cultivator (camouflaged).]

[It has begun its hunt.]

Liu Ping briefly scanned the message, then refocused his gaze toward the intersection of sky and horizon.

— That Eldest Senior Brother… he's not from the Cultivation World!