Breakthrough

Xu Yan stood silently before the blood pool, his gaze fixed on its surface. The faint shimmer of the viscous liquid seemed to reflect more than just light—it held the weight of his past, the choices that had brought him to this moment.

He reached up, gripping the pendant around his neck, its familiar weight grounding him. His voice was low, steady, as if speaking more to himself than to the empty cave. "If the pendant hadn't acted that day, I would have died. Without strength, nothing matters. So what if I was once a genius? Would any of that have mattered if I had died?"

His grip on the pendant tightened, the memory of his betrayal surfacing with searing clarity. "From that day I was betrayed, I decided that Qin Yan of the Azure Sky Sect had died. From now on, I live as Xu Yan—a demonic cultivator. Only with strength can I show the world who the true 'demonic' people are."

He paused, his gaze briefly dropping to the pendant in his hand. "And without strength, I won't uncover the true origins of this pendant either."

He turned, his gaze lingering on the decayed remains of Elder Mo Ying for a moment. Without another word, Xu Yan hardened his resolve. He shrugged off his bloodstained robes, leaving only his trousers, and stepped into the half-empty pool of blood. The viscous liquid clung to his skin, cold and oppressive, as the metallic tang filled his senses. He steadied himself, activating the Devouring Shadows Technique.

The air in the cave grew heavier as the corpses scattered around began to crumble into dust. Wisps of black energy rose from them, swirling through the air before rushing toward Xu Yan. The energy pierced into his body like streams of darkness, filling his meridians with an almost overwhelming force.

Qi Refining, Second Stage! Third Stage!

Xu Yan felt his body tremble under the surge of power. Then, a voice echoed in his mind—his own, but distorted and dark.

"Give in," it whispered, smooth and insidious. "This is only the beginning. With this strength, the world is yours. Take it. Take everything."

Xu Yan's fists clenched as his eyes flickered with resistance. "No," he muttered under his breath, steadying his mind. With deliberate focus, he pushed the voice back, forcing it into silence.

The cave fell still once more, but the energy within him churned violently. Xu Yan exhaled, his gaze calm as he adjusted to the surge of power. It wasn't overwhelming, but it reminded him of what he had lost—and what he had to regain.

Closing his eyes again, Xu Yan concentrated deeper, the pendant around his neck glowing faintly. The remaining blood in the pool bubbled and churned as its essence was drawn toward him, siphoning into his body. A surge of energy hit him like a wave.

Qi Refining, Fourth Stage!

His eyes snapped open, the power stabilizing within him. For a brief moment, he felt the pull of the fifth stage—tempting, within reach. The pool still brimmed with latent energy, calling him to ascend further.

But he stopped. His expression steadied as reason took over. "A faulty foundation won't carry me forward," he said to himself. He knew better than to be reckless, even though he had stood at this stage before. His path now was different, and haste would only lead to ruin.

Xu Yan released a slow breath, allowing the energy within him to settle. The glow of the pendant dimmed as the blood pool stilled, its vitality drained. He stood for a moment longer, assessing the newfound strength flowing through him.