Path of Darkness
Pain. Heat. Darkness.
Jian Mu's senses burned as he floated in the void, the black talisman still clutched in his trembling hand. The figures laughter faded into a chilling silence—but the power remained. It coiled inside him, raw and volatile, clawing to be unleashed.
A cold voice pierced the silence once more.
"Now that you've accepted my gift… it's time you learned the truth of what lies within you."
Before Jian Mu could respond, the void cracked open beneath him.
He fell.
The world shifted—twisting and warping—until his feet struck solid ground. A vast blood-red sky stretched above him, casting an eerie glow over the barren wasteland. In the distance, black monoliths pierced the horizon, pulsing with an ominous crimson light.
And in the center of it all stood the demon.
He was taller now, more defined—his features sharp and cruel, his crimson eyes burning with an otherworldly fire. Black armor clung to his form, etched with symbols that pulsed like a heartbeat.
"Where… am I?" Jian Mu's voice was rough, heavy with exhaustion.
The figure spread his arms wide. "This is your soul—a reflection of the power hidden within you. Dark, unbalanced, and untamed." He tilted his head, a wicked smile curling across his lips. "And if you want to survive what's coming, you'll need to understand what makes you… different."
Jian Mu's fists clenched. "Different?"
A wave of heat rolled off the figure as he took a step closer. "Most martial artists cultivate yin and yang—two forces in perfect harmony. But you?" His smile deepened. "You only possess yin—pure, destructive energy."
A cold shiver ran down Jian Mu's spine. "What does that mean?"
"It means," the figure voice grew sharper, "Your power doesn't come from balance—it comes from pain. From fear. From death."
He raised his hand, and dark flames erupted from his palm, dancing wildly in the air. "This yin qi is born from the chaos within you. Every wound. Every betrayal. Every ounce of hatred. And the more you suffer—or make others suffer—the stronger you'll become."
Jian Mu's heart pounded in his chest. "Then… how do I control it?"
The figure chuckled. "Control?" His voice dripped with mockery. "You don't control power like this—you feed it. You embrace it. But…" He turned, the smile fading. "If you want to unlock the true depths of your dark yin qi… there are steps you must take."
The air grew heavy. Symbols burned into the sky—twisting lines of ancient text that seemed to pulse with dark intent.
"The Path of Yin," the demon intoned, his voice reverberating through the air.
Jian Mu's breath caught as the symbols burned brighter, each one revealing a different requirement.
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Step One: The Death Seal
"Slay around 500 living beings and absorb their death qi. Only through death will your yin energy awaken its first form, the form of a new core or as you may call it, a soul."
Jian Mu's stomach twisted. "You want me to kill… more?"
The figure laughed coldly. "People? No. Anything with life will suffice—man, beast, or creature. But beware—the more fear and despair they feel when they die, the greater the power you will gain."
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Step Two: The Blood Mark
"Engrave your body with the blood of your enemies. Each mark will strengthen your body physically and deepen your connection to yin but do remember the more you have the more those souls will haunt you and will be one with your own soul."
A chill crept through him. "Engrave… my body? Bounding with my soul, this is shit is messed up..."
The demon nodded. "Messed up? You think its messed up yet everything that happened to you was messed up yet you call this messed up. Your a fool now shut up and listen." The figure said in a tone of disapproval.
"Now when you kill someone who feels, dread, fear, despair, you—carve their blood into your skin, the blood will sleep through your skin and enter your soul. Another thing to note my vessel, is that the more souls you gather you'll experience pain as they enter your soul it might even drive you complety insane." The shadowy figure said in a nonchalant tone as if it were normal.
"Each mark is a testament to your dominance. The more marks you bear, the less human you become—but your strength will surpass mortal limits."
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Step Three: The Devouring Gate
"Consume the qi of a worthy opponent. Their energy will feed your own—and with it, you will unlock techniques no ordinary martial artist can wield."
Jian Mu swallowed hard. "You mean… absorb their power?"
"Yes," the figures voice grew softer, darker. "But it cannot be just anyone. Only those strong enough to challenge you will fuel this step. And when you devour them—you will take everything. From their marital arts to there skills but the process of absorbing them is very painful."
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Step Four: Infernal Rebirth
"After you've done step 3 your whole body will undergo a change causing you dreadful feeling you've never felt. It will start with your bones, then your organs, and lastly your soul and senses will all undergo and change."
Jian Mu's heart froze. "Damit this is too much! I'd end it all if there's a step five..."
The figure smiled—an expression that sent ice through his veins."Oh well there is and that is soul absorption meaning in order for you to climb the realms you'll have forcefully absorb the yang qi from any living thing. This step is called corrupted yang." The figure began to laugh like a being made from madness itself.
The figures smile faded into something colder—deadlier. "If you walk this path, nothing will stand in your way."
Jian Mu's breath came in ragged bursts. The memories of his past—the pain, the humiliation, his mother's death—burned through him like wildfire.
He couldn't stay weak. Not anymore.
"I'm ready" Jian Mu says with confidence ready to change his fate.
"Break the talesmans then my vessel." the figure stood close staring at the dark red moon that hovered above them. "We'll meet again my vessel, I'll be watching..."
With that Jian Mu breaks the talesmans causing a shocking feeling of pain but he couldn't scream as everything disappeared then a light.
End of chapter 13