"Master"

Xu Yan's steps were steady but cautious as he made his way back toward the Blood Fang Sect. This time, he veered off the usual path, taking a route less traveled—a trail that branched toward the Azure Sky Sect as well. He glanced around him, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of life. Satisfied that he was alone, he moved quickly, arriving at a hidden entrance obscured by overgrowth.

With a firm push, he opened the concealed stone door, revealing a dark passage within. The metallic stench of blood hit him immediately, sharp and cloying. His expression didn't falter as he stepped inside, his footsteps echoing faintly against the jagged stone walls.

The deeper he went, the more grotesque the scene became. Skulls and skeletal remains littered the ground, some crushed, others disturbingly intact. He walked past them without pause, his gaze unwavering until he reached the chamber's center.

There, before him, was the pool of blood. It shimmered faintly, thick and viscous, as if alive with latent energy. To his left lay a rotting corpse, its form draped in tattered robes that once denoted an elder of the Blood Fang Sect.

Xu Yan's lips curled into a faint sneer as he stared at the remains. His voice was low, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of his emotions. "Who would have thought that the one standing here today would be me, and not you… 'Master.'"

The word dripped with contempt, and as he stared at the corpse, memories surged forward, dragging him into the past.

...

Blood dripped from Xu Yan's wounds as he staggered through the forest. His body was battered, his cultivation shattered, and his vision blurred from exhaustion. Every step felt like a monumental task as he stumbled toward the edge of a lake, collapsing by its shore.

The faint rippling of the water was the only sound in the stillness of the night, until a low, chilling laugh broke the silence. Xu Yan's body tensed, but he was too weak to turn.

"Heheheheh…" The voice was raspy and filled with malice. "Just my luck. The final ingredient needed, delivered right to me."

Xu Yan felt a cold hand grip his arm, dragging him backward into the shadows. He tried to resist, but his strength had long since left him. Through his hazy vision, he caught sight of his captor—a pale, gaunt man with sunken eyes and a smile that twisted unnaturally. The robes he wore marked him as an elder of the Blood Fang Sect, but his demeanor was far from what the sect would tolerate.

"Welcome to my humble abode," the man crooned, his voice dripping with mockery. "You should feel honored to be my cultivation ingredient. Kekeke."

Xu Yan was dragged into a dark cave, the stench of blood growing stronger with each step. The elder tossed him carelessly onto the ground near a table covered in strange tools and vials. He loomed over Xu Yan, his grin widening as he spoke.

"Those fools in the Blood Fang Sect know nothing of true cultivation," the man sneered. "A bottom line? Are they even demonic cultivators? Hah! Everything belongs to us—everything is a tool to be used for our cultivation! Truly blind old fools."

The man turned to a bubbling cauldron nearby, his hands moving with practiced ease as he prepared something on the table. "With this blood pool, I can be reborn. And once I've taken over your body, I'll begin my cultivation journey anew, starting with the Devouring Shadows Technique. Hehehe… Oh, the Southern Region won't know what hit it."

He paused, glancing back at Xu Yan with a crazed look in his eye. "You must be curious about this technique, hmm? Of course, I'll tell you. Why not?" He waved a scroll in the air, its edges charred as if it had survived some ancient calamity. "I chanced upon this in a ruin I explored with others. The power emanating from it was unmatched. Naturally, those fools who came with me couldn't be allowed to live after seeing it."

The elder's tone turned wistful as he stared at the scroll. "It was a tough battle, but I emerged victorious. However, the technique requires a clean foundation to cultivate. Fortunately, I've devised a method to ensure my rebirth into a perfect vessel. And you…" He turned, his voice dripping with malice, "You fit the criteria."

He approached Xu Yan, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him effortlessly. Xu Yan's vision dimmed as the elder's cold, bony fingers tightened. "Well," the elder said with a grin, "it was nice knowing you. I'll be sure to use your body well."

As he began chanting, a strange energy surged around him, his intent clear. But before the process could complete, a blinding light erupted from Xu Yan's pendant. The elder screamed, dropping Xu Yan as he clutched his head. "WHAT IS THIS? WHERE IS THIS POWER COMING FROM?" His voice was filled with agony as the light intensified.

Xu Yan could barely move, his body trembling as the elder's screams faded into nothingness. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the elder collapsing into a lifeless heap, his eyes wide in shock.

With what little strength he had left, Xu Yan dragged himself toward the blood pool, his instincts screaming at him to act. He plunged into the viscous liquid, letting its energy envelop him. The pendant glowed faintly once more as his consciousness slipped away.