Chapter 6: The Shadow Approaches & The Beasts Birth
The Forbidden Valley lay in eerie stillness.
The battle against the Shadow Thunder Wyvern had scarred the land—cracks splintered the earth, charred remnants of lightning scorched the trees, and the lingering aura of battle still hung heavy in the air.
Long Tian stood in the ruins, his chest rising and falling as his body adjusted to his recent breakthrough.
Everything had gone perfectly.
Or so he thought.
Then—
His Fate Eyes activated on their own.
The world around him dimmed, and once again, he saw it—
A crimson fate thread, twisting through the valley.
And at the end of that thread—
A figure was watching him.
A cold, oppressive aura surged in the distance, growing stronger.
Long Tian's expression remained calm.
'So… they've arrived.'
---
A gust of wind stirred the dust in the ruins.
Then, a shadow flickered—one moment distant, the next standing mere meters away.
A man cloaked in black robes emerged from the trees, his face concealed beneath a hood. His presence was like a blade, sharp and suffocating.
Long Tian's eyes narrowed.
'He's at least Foundation Establishment Realm.'
The man's cold gaze swept across the battlefield—the dead wyvern, the shattered ground, and finally, the beast egg and ancient book in Long Tian's hands.
A faint smirk curled at his lips.
"You shouldn't have come here."
His voice was calm, but beneath it lay undeniable killing intent.
Long Tian's grip on the ancient book tightened.
"Funny. I was about to say the same thing to you."
The man tilted his head. "Interesting… You don't seem afraid."
Long Tian remained composed.
"If you came for the wyvern, you're too late," he said casually. "If you came for the book… you'll have to take it from me."
The man chuckled, amused.
"So bold. But strength decides ownership."
A chilling energy erupted from his body.
"I'll just kill you and take everything."
---
Boom!
Before Long Tian could react, the enemy vanished, reappearing instantly at his side.
A sharp black dagger, coated in corrosive Qi, sliced toward his throat.
Clang!
Long Tian barely managed to block with a burst of Azure Dragon Qi, but the force sent him skidding backward.
'Fast!'
The man didn't stop.
Boom!
A wave of dark energy erupted from his palm, twisting through the air like a viper.
Long Tian's Fate Eyes flickered, revealing the attack's trajectory.
With a precise step, he sidestepped the energy blast, barely avoiding it.
SWOOSH!
The dark Qi struck a boulder behind him—melting it instantly.
Long Tian's gaze sharpened.
'That's not normal Qi… that's Demonic Qi.'
His opponent wasn't just any cultivator—he was from a demon sect.
---
Unleashing His Power
"Not bad," the man said. "But it won't be enough."
His black dagger vanished, replaced by two curved blades that pulsed with dark energy.
Long Tian exhaled slowly.
"Then I'll stop holding back."
Boom!
A golden aura exploded around him as he activated Dragon Body Reinforcement.
His skin hardened, faint dragon scales flickering across his arms.
The man's eyes flashed with interest.
"A body-strengthening technique? Impressive, but—"
Long Tian vanished.
BOOM!
Before the man could finish speaking, Long Tian had already closed the distance, striking forward with a palm coated in Azure Dragon Qi.
CRACK!
The enemy barely managed to raise his blades, but the force sent him flying, crashing through the valley floor.
Dust and debris filled the air.
Silence.
Then—
Hahaha…
A low laugh echoed from the rubble.
Slowly, the man rose to his feet, blood dripping from his lips.
Instead of anger, his smirk widened.
"I see… You're not ordinary."
Long Tian remained still, eyes locked onto his opponent.
The man wiped the blood from his mouth and took a step back.
"This was just an introduction."
His body blurred, his presence fading like mist.
"But we will meet again, Long Tian."
Then—he was gone.
---
A Growing Threat
Long Tian didn't move.
Even after his enemy had vanished, he remained tense, on guard.
'He knew my name.'
This wasn't just a random encounter.
Whoever that man was, he had been watching Long Tian for a while.
And next time, he wouldn't come alone.
Long Tian took a slow breath, releasing Dragon Body Reinforcement.
His energy reserves were drained, but he had survived.
And more importantly—he had won.
For now.
---
With the threat gone, Long Tian turned his attention back to the ruins.
He had obtained:
A beast egg, still warm and pulsing with power.
An ancient book, containing the path to the Tenth Realm.
A glimpse of an unknown enemy, who would return stronger.
He had advanced to Qi Condensation Ninth Stage.
He exhaled slowly, looking down at the fate thread in his vision.
It was still there.
Still waiting.
A new path had opened before him.
And Long Tian was ready to walk it.
"Let them come."
---
Long Tian sat cross-legged on a large stone, regaining his energy after the battle. The Forbidden Valley was now silent, the night air thick with lingering tension.
In his lap, the beast egg pulsed faintly, radiating a strange warmth.
Then—
Crack.
A tiny fracture ran across the surface.
Long Tian's eyes snapped open.
Crack… Crack… BOOM!
The egg split apart, releasing a burst of golden light.
From within, a small figure emerged—
Jet-black scales, tinged with streaks of silver lightning.
Sharp, intelligent golden eyes, filled with wisdom beyond its age.
A pair of small, undeveloped wings, hinting at future flight.
A Lightning Shadow Wyvern.
A newborn descendant of the Shadow Thunder Wyvern he had slain.
The small beast blinked, taking its first breath. Then, its gaze locked onto Long Tian.
For a moment, the two stared at each other.
Then—
The beast lowered its head, letting out a soft chirp.
A sign of recognition.
A bond had been formed.
Long Tian smirked.
"Welcome to the world."
---
End of Chapter 6