The Betrayer Reborn

The trees around them twisted in silence, holding their breath as two ancient souls stood still in young bodies.

Bai Ren's eyes gleamed gold with mocking familiarity.

"Ten thousand lives," he said, tilting his head. "And we always end up like this."

Xu Shen didn't answer.

His grip on the saber tightened as he slowly stepped forward. The silver blade reflected the ambient glow of the Beast Labyrinth's corrupted qi.

Bai Ren laughed.

"Still quiet. Still thinking you're the righteous one."

He raised a hand, and a strange purple mist began to coil around his fingers.

"I wonder… Do you remember how I killed you the first time?"

Xu's voice was cold.

"Do you remember what happened when I found you in life #211?"

The smile vanished from Bai Ren's face.

Xu continued, walking with steady steps.

"You begged. Cried. I tore out your soul fragment and sealed it inside a cursed jar for two hundred years."

"This time, I won't waste the jar."

Bai Ren snarled and attacked.

His footwork was sharp—Silent Viper Style—a mid-tier technique from their 19th life. His chi lashed out in threads of violet mist that tried to choke Xu's lungs.

Xu stepped sideways. Slid low.

Storm Fang Slash.

He struck upward.

But Bai Ren jumped back, twisting midair and launching a blast of purple fire from his palm.

Boom!

Xu blocked with his saber. The flames rolled around him, but his chi shield held—barely.

He could feel it—the power gap.

He's two layers above me… Spirit Core Stage already. I'm still stabilizing Qi Sea.

And yet… Xu grinned.

That just makes it fun.

Bai Ren charged again, blade drawn this time. It shimmered with cursed energy—a soul-bound dagger forged in their 71st life.

Xu recognized the curve, the gleam.

Soul-Thirst Fang.

"You kept it," Xu said softly. "You've been feeding it again."

Bai Ren slashed.

Xu moved—not to dodge, but to trade.

His saber met the dagger with a deafening ring.

And in that moment of contact—

[Devourer Core: Fragment Reactivation Detected]

[Life #71: Cursed Weapon Devouring Technique — Unlocked]

Time froze for a breath.

Xu channeled his chi straight into the saber's spine.

"Eat it."

The Soul-Thirst Fang trembled.

Then it cracked.

A spiritual scream tore through the air as the blade's cursed soul was devoured.

Bai Ren stumbled back in horror. "You—! You unlocked the path already?!"

Xu stepped forward.

His saber now pulsed black. Whispering. Changing.

"I don't need a stage advantage," Xu said quietly. "You gave me what I needed."

"Thank you for the offering."

Bai Ren screamed and unleashed everything.

A wall of flame and soul shards crashed down toward Xu.

Xu inhaled.

Then vanished.

Shadow Flame Step. Ironbone Guard. Bone-Wind Arc Form. All together.

Boom.

A streak of black and silver cut through the flames.

When the smoke cleared, Bai Ren was on his knees.

Bleeding. Breathing raggedly. His soul flickering at the edges of his skin.

"You think this is over?" he coughed. "You can't escape the cycle. The heavens won't let you live long enough to reach the truth."

Xu stood above him.

"No. But I'll live long enough to watch you die in every single life."

He struck.

The saber didn't kill the body—but it sliced clean through Bai Ren's spirit root.

A fate worse than death.

The sky above them cracked.

[Trial One Complete]

[Blood-Mutated Beast Killed]

[Additional Target Neutralized: Soul-Fragmented Reincarnator]

[Evaluation: SSS Grade]

A gate of blue light opened before Xu.

He turned, glancing once at Bai Ren's unconscious body.

Then walked through.

Somewhere far away…

A hooded figure sat in a frozen temple, watching the stars.

"So… the Devourer has begun eating other fragments."

She tapped her fingers against a scroll.

"Let's see how many of us survive him this time."