Chapter 6: Crimson Fire vs. Hollow Void
The dueling arena was cut into the base of a bone cliff, its floor lined with cracked marrow stone and bloodstained runes. Dozens of outer disciples watched from behind black wards. Several inner disciples had gathered as well—eager to witness a rising star crush a fool beneath his heel.
But no one could take their eyes off the two figures in the center.
On one side:
Ji Yunlan, the Crimson Talon—flame-blooded, third-stage Ashen Marrow cultivator, wielder of Burning Soul Claws.
On the other:
Lin Xuan, robe torn, barefoot, with nothing but silence and shadow surrounding him.
Even the spiritual mirrors shimmered strangely when focused on him, as though the void refused to be observed.
Zhao Wuren's hand fell.
"Begin."
Ji Yunlan moved first.
A crimson afterimage streaked across the arena as he activated Blazing Bone Steps, instantly closing the distance. His right hand burned with red flame, condensing into three claw-like extensions—Flame Talons, known to tear through early foundation stage defenses.
"You should've bowed when you had the chance," he said.
The claws came down.
But they hit nothing.
No resistance. No flesh. No robe.
Just… emptiness.
The sound of flame dissipating echoed sharply.
Ji Yunlan froze.
Lin Xuan stood behind him, unharmed.
Veil of Unbeing – active.
He had stepped through the gap of perception.
Ji Yunlan turned with a roar and unleashed a spiraling gout of fire from both palms, igniting the dueling arena in roaring marrow flame.
But Lin Xuan was already within the blaze.
And then—
Shhhk.
A black spiral thread emerged from Lin Xuan's left palm, coiling in silence.
It pierced Ji Yunlan's left arm like a whisper through paper.
The flames around him flickered… and died.
"W-what—?!"
"What did you do to my marrow?!"
"It's not burning—my flame is gone!?"
Void Technique: Black Spiral Thread
A thread of nullification that drills into a spiritual core or technique pattern.
Not painful. Not fast. But complete.
Lin Xuan didn't answer.
He raised his palm again.
Flicker of Nothingness.
He vanished—
—reappearing beside Ji Yunlan, striking his spine with two fingers.
Hollow Meridian Disruption.
A dull, invisible wave passed through Ji Yunlan's core. His qi channels locked for five seconds.
To a cultivator in battle, that might as well be eternity.
Ji Yunlan fell to one knee, fire gone, breath ragged.
He looked up, eyes bloodshot.
"You think… this is enough?! I was chosen! My clan—!"
Lin Xuan's eyes met his.
Empty. Cold. Quiet.
"You are not chosen," he whispered. "You were allowed to exist. That allowance is now revoked."
Then he raised a single hand—
Void Pulse Compression.
A ripple of darkness slammed into Ji Yunlan's chest—not with force, but absence.
His body hit the wall of the arena.
Not broken.
Not burned.
Just… missing something vital.
He slumped forward.
Unconscious.
Defeated.
Match Result: Lin Xuan – Victory
Silence.
Even Zhao Wuren took a breath before raising his hand.
"Trial complete. Challenger victorious."
Gasps broke out across the outer disciple ranks.
Inner disciples whispered to one another.
From a higher tower, Nie Qing watched with a bone puppet clutched in one pale hand.
"It erased… his flame marrow," she whispered. "Not blocked. Not sealed. Erased."
The puppet in her hands cracked slightly, as if disturbed by what it saw.
☁️ In the Sky…
Far above the clouds, beyond mortal sight, a golden eye opened.
No pupil. No blink. Just eternal watching.
"Anomaly persists.""Heavenly Correction scheduled."
Lightning flickered where no storm had gathered.
That night, Lin Xuan sat alone beneath the shattered moonlight, the void seed pulsing softly in his dantian.
He was not pleased.
He was not proud.
Because he knew—
This was only the beginning.
The heavens had now seen him.
And they would respond.