Into The Abyssal Ruins

With that, he stepped into the vortex—and into the unknown.

The moment Li Wei stepped through the Spirit Gate, an overwhelming pressure crushed down on him.

The Abyssal Ruins were vast—a crumbling city of black stone and eerie blue mist.

The air was thick with spiritual energy, but it was tainted, as if something ancient lurked within.

All around him, disciples scattered in different directions.

Some formed groups immediately, while others dashed ahead, eager to claim the Celestial Jade before anyone else.

"Stay together!" someone shouted. "The ruins are full of hidden dangers!"

Li Wei ignored them. He had no intention of relying on others.

But before he could move—

BOOM!

A massive stone pillar collapsed nearby, revealing a monstrous Shadow Serpent coiled around it.

Its obsidian scales shimmered with dark energy, and its venomous fangs dripped with black liquid.

Screams erupted as weaker disciples scattered in terror.

"That's a Tier 4 Spirit Beast!"

"It shouldn't be appearing this soon!"

The serpent's crimson eyes locked onto Li Wei.

Without hesitation, it struck.

SWOOSH!

Li Wei dodged just in time, but the sheer force of the attack sent cracks through the ancient stone beneath him.

A normal disciple would have died instantly.

But Li Wei was not normal.

He clenched his fists, golden energy surging through his veins. The Celestial Seal pulsed, its divine power responding to the threat.

"Come," he muttered, his eyes gleaming. "Let's see if you can kill me."

The Shadow Serpent lunged, its fangs gleaming with deadly venom.

SWOOSH!

Li Wei barely dodged as the serpent's tail smashed into the ground, shattering the ancient stone beneath him.

Dust and debris flew everywhere, obscuring his vision.

The disciples who had stayed behind watched in horror.

"He's crazy! Fighting a Tier 4 Spirit Beast alone?"

"Even a Core Formation disciple would struggle against that!"

Guo Ling, who had just entered the ruins, smirked. "Let him fight. The beast will tear him apart."

But Li Wei was calm.

This wasn't fear.

This was excitement.

He had felt his Celestial Seal stir earlier—but now, under pressure, its power surged.

Golden energy erupted around him, forming an ethereal aura. His veins glowed faintly, as if divine light was running through them.

BOOM!

The serpent lunged again, but this time—

Li Wei didn't dodge.

Instead, he stepped forward, his palm glowing with golden energy.

"Celestial Palm—First Form!"

CRACK!

His strike landed directly on the serpent's scaled head.

The air exploded with energy, sending out a shockwave that forced nearby disciples to shield their faces.

The massive beast howled in pain, its body slamming into a ruined wall.

Silence.

The watching disciples gaped in disbelief.

"He… he just sent a Tier 4 Spirit Beast flying!"

Guo Ling's smirk disappeared, replaced by an ugly scowl.

But before anyone could recover—

The ruins trembled.

From the darkness, multiple crimson eyes flickered to life.

The serpent was not alone.

Li Wei exhaled slowly. "More prey?"

His golden aura flared.

"Good."

The air in the Abyssal Ruins grew heavier.

From the crumbling shadows, more creatures stirred.

Glowing red eyes flickered to life. Low growls rumbled as at least five more Shadow Serpents slithered into view.

their black scales gleaming like obsidian in the dim light.

The disciples watching from afar paled.

"Six Tier 4 Spirit Beasts at once?! That's impossible!"

"Even an elite Inner Court Disciple would run away!"

"Li Wei is doomed!"

Guo Ling sneered. "It's over. No one can fight that many at once."

But then—

Li Wei smiled.

His golden aura surged, wrapping around him like a celestial flame.

The Celestial Seal on his chest pulsed—not with fear, but with hunger.

He stepped forward.

BOOM!

The first serpent struck, its fangs aiming straight for his head.

But Li Wei moved with unnatural speed—sidestepping at the last moment.

SWOOSH!

His palm shot out, infused with the power of the Celestial Palm—Second Form!

CRACK!

The impact shattered the serpent's skull, sending its body crashing to the ground.

The watching disciples were in shock.

"One strike… he killed it in one strike?!"

The remaining five serpents hissed in fury, their bodies coiling as they prepared to attack together.

Li Wei exhaled.

"Five at once? Perfect."

For the first time, his Celestial Seal flared to its full potential—and in that moment, the ruins themselves trembled.

The disciples watching from afar felt their knees weaken.

This power… this presence…

Guo Ling took an involuntary step back.

"What… what kind of monster is he?!"

The five remaining Shadow Serpents coiled around Li Wei, their forked tongues flickering as they synchronized their attack.

SWOOSH!

All at once, they struck from different angles—a flawless formation, meant to overwhelm any prey.

The watching disciples gasped.

"Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would struggle against that!"

But Li Wei—

He closed his eyes.

In that instant, time slowed.

He could sense everything—the way the air shifted, the vibration in the ground, the faint crackle of corrupted spirit energy in their fangs.

Then—

His eyes snapped open, glowing with golden light.

BOOM!

His Celestial Seal flared, a radiant pillar of divine energy erupting from his body.

The ruins trembled.

The serpents hesitated for a fraction of a second—but it was enough.

Li Wei moved.

WHOOSH!

He disappeared.

Before anyone could react, he reappeared above one of the serpents—his hand glowing with concentrated celestial energy.

"Celestial Palm—Third Form!"

CRACK!

His palm smashed down, sending a shockwave through the beast's entire body. The serpent didn't just fall—it exploded into dust.

The remaining four didn't hesitate—and Li Wei did not stop.

WHOOSH!

He flickered again, appearing behind another serpent.

With a flick of his fingers, golden energy formed a blade of light—

SHINK!

A clean slash. The serpent's head rolled to the ground.

The disciples watching froze in horror.

"H-he's not fighting… he's hunting them like prey!"

Guo Ling clenched his fists, his face pale.

"What… what kind of monster is he?!"

But Li Wei's celestial aura only grew stronger.

The remaining serpents… turned to flee.

And Li Wei smiled.

"No use running."

He vanished again—

Then—

Death followed.