The Abyssal Empire

Chapter 23: Blood on the Void Winds

After the realm fell into my hands and my disciples roared with renewed purpose, I stood proudly over the sky, overseeing my growing empire.

"All disciples, begin your cultivation. Break through to the next realm," I commanded.

The air buzzed with excitement.

"Kimi Ni," I said, pulling a spatial ring from my finger and tossing it to him. "If anyone needs resources, give it to them from this ring. You're in charge while I'm gone."

Kimi Ni caught it respectfully. "Yes, Demon King!"

Turning to my wives, I softened my tone. "Luna, Shu Yan, you two should cultivate as well."

They hesitated. "What about you?" Shu Yan asked, eyes full of concern.

"Don't worry about me. I have my own path to walk."

Reluctantly, they nodded and departed, heading into the inner sanctums of the realm to train in peace.

Once alone, I asked aloud, "System, you still haven't told me—how do I break through to the next level?"

---

Ding!

Host, there are two methods to break through:

1. Cultivate naturally through comprehension and time.

2. Kill powerful beings and use Soul Stealer to absorb their essence.

---

A grin tugged at my lips. "So I can grow by killing? Heh… then let the slaughter begin."

I took one deep breath of the potent spiritual energy and soared out of my newly claimed Demonic Realm.

As I hovered in the vast skies of the Deity Realm, a sudden crack tore through space. A void rupture opened, and a grand spiritual ship emerged, sailing smoothly on the void currents.

"Interesting…"

With a blink, I teleported directly in front of the ship, blocking its path. The hull shimmered with divine runes, and the sails bore the insignia of a rising sun.

A cultivator stepped out, his robes embroidered in golden scripture. "We are from the Heavenly Sutra Sect," he said with pride. "May I ask why you block our path?"

"Where are you headed?" I asked coolly.

"To our main sect hall in the East Deity Domain. Why?"

"I just need someone to kill," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Let's see how strong I've become."

He chuckled nervously. "Brother, don't joke. We're busy. Move aside, please. There are three cultivators aboard, all at Three Mystic Divine Origin."

I smiled darkly. "Then I'll enjoy this."

Without waiting, I unleashed Death Slash, shattering the formation shield around their ship like glass.

A pulse of alarm spread through their ranks.

Three figures burst out of the ship—each radiating overwhelming power. The lead cultivator stepped forward, his aura roaring like thunder. "You bastard! We offered peace, and you dare provoke the Heavenly Sutra Sect?! You'll die here!"

He unleashed a Sound Domain Technique, his voice imbued with destructive force.

I casually raised a hand to my ear. "Lower your voice, idiot. I'm not deaf."

They seethed in rage. The one on the left attacked first, summoning a devastating Thunder Palm that cracked the sky as it surged toward me.

I raised my hand lazily and countered with Death Palm—a dark, skeletal force that swallowed the thunder whole and slammed into the attacker.

The cultivator coughed blood and was hurled back into his ship, wreckage flying everywhere.

He looked at me, eyes wide in horror. "Impossible… I'm at Three Mystic Divine Origin… How could someone at Two Mystic stop me?!"

"You're just an ant," I said coldly, stepping forward, Death Ray glowing in my palm. "Let me show you the gap between us."

The remaining two cultivators glared at me, the air around them crackling with divine pressure. One conjured a massive scroll of golden sutras that floated above his head, while the other formed countless spirit seals with both hands.

The one holding the scroll shouted, "You dare kill someone from our Heavenly Sutra Sect? You will suffer eternal damnation!"

I laughed. "Eternal damnation? You fools stepped into my path. Now die like the rest."

The scroll above him burst open, releasing chains of scripture that lashed toward me. At the same time, the second cultivator launched a barrage of divine spirit talismans glowing with sealing force.

I raised my hand. "Death Ward."

A dome of black energy formed around me, negating the spiritual chains and absorbing the talismans like ink into darkness.

Their expressions twisted in disbelief. "What kind of cultivation technique is that?!"

"Mine," I replied, and thrust out both hands. "Death Ray!"

Two beams of concentrated death energy surged from my palms, tearing across the sky. One beam pierced straight through the scroll cultivator's chest, incinerating his spiritual weapon along with his soul.

The second beam carved through the talisman user, reducing his body to ash before he could even scream.

Ding!

Two powerful souls absorbed.

Host has reached the peak of Two Mystic Divine Origin.

Breakthrough possible with one more divine soul.

I grinned, floating amidst the void wreckage. Only the injured thunder cultivator remained, trembling, trying to crawl back into the shattered remains of the ship.

He begged, "Spare me… I'll serve you! I swear my loyalty, please…"

I walked toward him. "You had your chance to serve when you mocked me. Now your soul belongs to me."

He screamed as I cast Soul Stealer, draining his essence into my core.

Ding!

Host has broken through to: Three Mystic Divine Origin.

Congratulations. Host's body, soul, and energy capacity have evolved.

An explosion of dark energy pulsed from my body, shaking the very fabric of the void. My muscles pulsed, my senses expanded, and my presence grew even heavier.

I opened my palm and summoned a portal back to the Demonic Realm.

---

Inside the Demonic Realm…

My disciples immediately knelt as I stepped through the sky portal, my aura now far more terrifying than before.

"All hail the Demon King!"

"Our Lord has ascended once more!"

Kimi Ni rushed forward. "My King! You've broken through again?!"

I nodded. "Three Mystic Divine Origin… and this is just the beginning."

Shu Yan and Luna appeared beside me, joy lighting their faces.

"Husband, you're growing stronger faster than anyone I've seen," Shu Yan said, eyes wide with admiration.

"Of course," I said with a smirk. "Now it's time to begin our true conquest of the Deity Realm."

I turned to my people, my voice echoing across the skies.

"From this moment, we will devour realms, seize territories, and rise above gods. I am the Ruthless Demonic King—and I will become the Eternal Sovereign of this entire realm."

The skies of the newly claimed realm darkened as my demonic aura spread, staining the heavens with a blood-red hue. Beneath my feet stood over 100,000 elite demonic cultivators, each one bowing with reverence, their killing intent radiating like a storm ready to be unleashed.

Floating high above them, I raised my hand and declared,

> "From this moment, this realm shall be known as The Abyssal Dominion.

It is no longer a mere cultivation plane—it is the heart of my empire. My will shall be law, and all who oppose it… shall be ashes."

Cheers thundered across the land. Mountains trembled under the sound of unified cries:

> "Hail the Demon King!"

"All hail the Abyssal Dominion!"

"Death to the Heavenly Sects!"

I summoned Kimi Ni, my trusted companion. He dropped to one knee, eyes glowing with renewed ambition.

"Kimi Ni, you are now General of the East. Expand our influence to nearby lesser realms. Offer submission—or annihilation.**"

He slammed his fist to his chest. "Yes, Demon King. I will bring you realms soaked in the blood of your enemies."

Then I turned to Luna and Shu Yan, who stood behind me, cloaked in elegant black robes inscribed with demonic sigils.

"Luna, Shu Yan—raise a palace here, the Demonic Sky Pavilion. It will serve as our command center. Inside it, form the Council of Shadows—where our top strategists and cultivators will gather to plan the downfall of the deity sects."

They both bowed, their voices in harmony: "As you command, husband."

With a thought, I summoned the Small World within my body and shaped a great fortress at its center, forging it from black celestial ore, soul-iron, and death essence. The fortress pulsed with life—my life—and it would serve as the unbreakable heart of the empire.

I raised a command to my disciples.

> "You will now receive the Demonic Cultivation Seal. It will bind you to this empire—but also give you power. You are no longer scattered shadows… you are the Abyssal Legion!"

One by one, a demonic brand etched itself into their souls, unlocking new potential as my power flowed into them like a divine tide.

---

Elsewhere… in the Heavenly Realms

Atop a floating jade citadel, an elder's eyes snapped open.

"Someone… has established a demonic kingdom in the Deity Realm?" he muttered.

Another elder, robed in white, appeared beside him. "It seems… the Demon King has returned. He now rules the Abyssal Dominion But The Other Sect has been planning to kill the new demon kill before he get stronger."

The skies trembled. Bells tolled across the heavenly sects.

War was inevitable.

---

Back in the Abyssal Dominion…

I sat atop my obsidian throne in the newly raised pavilion. A blood moon rose in the sky—my symbol now painted across the stars.

> "Let the Deity Realm prepare itself," I whispered to the wind, my eyes burning like hellfire.

"Because the Abyssal Empire has risen… and I will paint the heavens in black."