chapter 7: the heavens tremble

The night sky split apart.

Dark clouds swirled overhead, drawn by the sheer power of the two figures standing in the ruined village. Shen Tian's golden aura crackled like divine thunder, while Mo Yingtian's darkness twisted and churned like an abyss.

The villagers could barely breathe.

This was no longer a battle between mortals.

This was a clash between forces that could shake the very heavens.

Mo Yingtian chuckled, his voice carrying a strange resonance.

"You have strength, boy. But strength alone is not enough to defy fate."

Shen Tian smirked.

"Fate? I don't believe in something so fragile."

He took a step forward—

BOOM!

The ground beneath him shattered, sending shockwaves across the battlefield.

Mo Yingtian narrowed his eyes.

"You've cultivated the Celestial Tyrant Body? No… this is beyond that. What manner of monster are you?"

Shen Tian didn't answer.

Instead, he vanished.

A moment later—

CRACK!

Mo Yingtian's body flew backward, crashing through several trees before slamming into a mountain.

The force of the impact split the mountain in half.

The villagers watched in stunned silence.

One punch.

A mere one punch had sent the Grand Elder of the Shadow Sect flying.

Mo Yingtian coughed, wiping blood from his lips.

His eyes burned with a strange excitement.

"…I see. So you truly are something beyond reason."

He reached into his robe—

And pulled out a black talisman.

The very air around it twisted, warping as though reality itself was rejecting its existence.

Elder Yan gasped.

"That's… a Forbidden Summoning Talisman!"

Mo Yingtian sneered.

"You forced my hand, boy. Now, let's see if your arrogance can withstand this."

He crushed the talisman.

RUMBLE!

The sky turned blood-red.

A terrifying presence descended from beyond the void.

A Primordial Demon.

The Summoning of the Void King

The air grew heavier, pressing down on every living being.

Shen Tian's eyes flickered.

From the swirling darkness, a towering figure emerged.

Its body was wreathed in shadows, its form constantly shifting between reality and illusion.

It had six crimson eyes, each one radiating pure killing intent.

The Void King.

A being that even ancient sects feared to mention.

The villagers collapsed to their knees, unable to withstand the suffocating aura. Even Elder Yan, a seasoned cultivator, was drenched in cold sweat.

Shen Tian simply sighed.

"…This again?"

Mo Yingtian laughed maniacally.

"This is no ordinary beast! This is a Void King, a being that devours entire realms! You think you can fight—"

BOOM!

Shen Tian vanished again.

The next moment—

The Void King's head exploded.

Its six crimson eyes dimmed, its massive body frozen mid-motion.

Then—it collapsed.

Lifeless.

The ground quaked under the sheer weight of its corpse.

Silence.

Mo Yingtian's smirk froze.

The villagers could not comprehend what had just happened.

Elder Yan swallowed hard.

"…Impossible."

One strike.

Just one strike.

And the legendary Void King, a creature feared across the cultivation world—was dead.

Shen Tian flexed his fingers.

"Next time, summon something worth my time."

He turned to Mo Yingtian.

The Grand Elder of the Shadow Sect took a step back.

For the first time in centuries—he felt true fear.

"You… you… What kind of monster are you?"

Shen Tian tilted his head.

"I'm just someone on his journey."

His fingers glowed with golden energy.

Mo Yingtian panicked, trying to flee—

But it was too late.

A golden chain of Heavenly Dao energy shot from Shen Tian's palm, wrapping around Mo Yingtian's body.

"W-Wait! I can tell you everything about my sect! Just let me—"

Shen Tian's eyes flashed.

"You already have."

With a flick of his wrist—

Mo Yingtian was erased from existence.

Not just his body—his very soul was shattered into nothingness.

The darkness in the sky faded.

The village was silent.

A New Path Forward

Elder Yan took a deep breath.

"…Young master Shen Tian. You have done what even the greatest sects could not."

Shen Tian shrugged.

"I was just passing by."

But Elder Yan shook his head.

"No. This is fate."

He reached into his robe, pulling out an ancient scroll.

"This is the map to the Forbidden Lands—where the Heart of the Primordial Dragon is sealed."

Shen Tian raised an eyebrow.

"You're just handing this over?"

Elder Yan smiled.

"The Shadow Sect will not stop. But neither will you."

He bowed deeply.

"I believe you are the only one who can protect the Heart."

Shen Tian sighed.

He wasn't one to get involved in these things.

But… a treasure that could transcend the heavens?

That was interesting.

He took the scroll.

"…Fine. I'll take a look."

As he turned to leave, Elder Yan called out.

"Where are you going next, young master?"

Shen Tian smirked.

"Wherever the heavens need me to be."

With that, he vanished into the night.

End of Chapter 7