The suffocating silence of Li Xuan's chamber reflected the stillness of his mind. He had completed his conquest of the lower realms—his web of control was woven tightly, and the karma of the lower worlds now lay in his hands like a delicate string waiting to snap under the slightest pressure. But in this moment, with power at his fingertips, Li Xuan found himself standing at a precipice, staring into the void of what lay beyond. The Upper Realms awaited him, but he could not simply walk into them with the same ease as he had conquered the lower realms. The forces there were stronger, more ancient, and far more dangerous. Yet, in the deep recesses of his mind, Li Xuan could feel the call of the unknown, the yearning for further power that whispered to him with a voice only the Voidheart Sutra could understand.
For the first time since acquiring the Sutra, he felt a sensation that he could not quite define: uncertainty. But that uncertainty, that fleeting moment of hesitation, quickly faded into the cold, calculated resolve that had defined him since his ascent. The Sutra's teachings, the endless cycles of pain and enlightenment, had transformed him into something more than human. Power had become his obsession. Now, it was not enough to merely control the lower realms; he needed the Upper Realms, and beyond them, the God Realms.
The cost of ascending to the Upper Realms was steep—every step higher would demand a sacrifice of those he had once considered allies. The karma of the lower realms, which he had meticulously manipulated, would no longer be sufficient to protect him from the higher powers. The Sutra's promise was clear: the further one ascended, the more their essence would be tested, and the greater the cost to their soul.
But Li Xuan had no choice. He had already crossed a threshold that could never be undone. He had sacrificed too much to turn back now.
A Dark Decision
His thoughts were interrupted by the presence of his trusted emissary, the silent figure that had accompanied him through his rise. The emissary, a mere shadow of a person in comparison to Li Xuan's growing power, knelt before him without a word. There was no need for pleasantries; the emissary understood that Li Xuan's attention was not to be wasted on trivialities.
"Master," the emissary's voice, calm and steady, broke the silence. "The Upper Realms have sent their representatives. They know of your rise, and they are not pleased."
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed. The Upper Realms were not to be underestimated, but neither were they infallible. The emissary continued, "They have made their intentions clear. They are not interested in negotiating or allying with you, but in testing your strength. There are many who would see you fall before you reach their level."
Li Xuan remained still, absorbing the information. "What is it that they fear?" he asked, his tone cold.
"The unknown, Master. Your rise has been so swift, so unpredictable, that they can no longer assess whether you are a potential ally or a threat to their dominance. They have underestimated you, but now, they are beginning to recognize the scope of your power. They want to test your resolve... and your strength."
Li Xuan's gaze turned inward, his mind briefly drifting to the teachings of the Voidheart Sutra. He understood now. The higher realms did not merely test strength—they tested will. The ability to remain unyielding, to endure pain and suffering beyond comprehension, to be willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of ascension. The Sutra had already given him the tools to ascend, but it had also shown him the dangers of complacency. Every challenge would be more intense, the pain would escalate, but in that pain, there would be power.
"I will not be tested," Li Xuan said, his voice low but filled with an undeniable edge of finality. "They will be the ones who fall."
With those words, the emissary silently retreated, understanding that Li Xuan had already made his decision. There was no room for negotiation or compromise. The only path forward was one of domination.
The Upper Realms Beckon
Li Xuan's journey to the Upper Realms began under the cover of night. The energy around him pulsed with an almost otherworldly force as he ascended, stepping into a realm far beyond the reach of mortal beings. His body began to shift, adapting to the overwhelming energy of the higher worlds. It was no longer simply the manipulation of karma; it was the very essence of reality that he was trying to control.
The upper realms were far more complex than the lower realms. Here, the forces of nature were not as easily swayed, and every being that inhabited these worlds carried a strength that far surpassed anything Li Xuan had encountered before. But as he ascended, his mind stretched to unimaginable limits, his understanding of the Voidheart Sutra expanding with each passing second. The Sutra's teachings guided him, showing him the interconnectedness of all things, but also the limitations of his own power.
Li Xuan's resolve hardened as he entered the Upper Realms. The inhabitants here would not see him as a mere challenger—they would see him as a potential destroyer, a force that threatened to upend the carefully constructed balance of power.
He had no allies here, no safe haven. Only enemies. And that was all he needed. For a moment, he allowed himself to feel the stirrings of a dark satisfaction. Power was within his grasp, but he would not stop until he had shattered the very foundations of these realms.
The First Confrontation
The first realm he encountered upon his ascension was a vast land, ancient and untamed. The sky shimmered with strange, ethereal energies, and the air was thick with a palpable sense of authority. The realm was ruled by a faction known as the Eclipsed Sovereigns, a group of immortals who had long held dominion over this land. Their power was rooted in the manipulation of space and time—abilities that, at first glance, seemed impenetrable.
But Li Xuan had already seen through the threads of their existence. He could feel the cracks in their foundation, the weak points where their power was concentrated. With the Voidheart Sutra, he could manipulate their karma, unraveling their carefully constructed systems of control.
A confrontation was inevitable. The Eclipsed Sovereigns, sensing the intrusion of an unknown force, sought to test the invader who dared challenge their dominion. They sent their most powerful representatives to face Li Xuan—a group of five ancient immortals, each of whom wielded incredible power over time and space.
Li Xuan stood alone against them, his figure calm, his expression as cold as the abyss itself. His mind was sharp, his control over karma absolute. The immortals attacked, their powers bending reality itself as they sought to overwhelm him with their combined might.
But Li Xuan was not swayed. He allowed them to attack, to unleash their powers, and then he struck—his hands weaving the threads of their fate. Each immortal was caught in the web of their own karma, unable to escape the consequences of their actions. In an instant, they were reduced to nothingness, their bodies and spirits shattered by the force of Li Xuan's will.
The battle was over before it had even truly begun.
The Price of Power
As the last of the Eclipsed Sovereigns crumbled into dust, Li Xuan stood among the ruins, his expression unchanging. He had succeeded—he had proven his strength. But the victory felt hollow, as if he were merely scratching the surface of something far deeper, far more dangerous. The Sutra had shown him that every act of destruction, every victory, carried with it a price.
He could feel the weight of that price pressing down on him. The Sutra had already begun to demand more from him—his body, his mind, his soul—each step higher was more painful than the last. But the Sutra had also given him the ability to endure, to reshape the very fabric of existence. The price was high, but the reward was greater still.
Li Xuan gazed out across the vast expanse of the Upper Realms, feeling the pull of the God Realms calling to him. There was no turning back now. He would ascend, but with each victory, he knew he would lose more of himself.
The question remained: how much of his soul would he sacrifice before reaching the pinnacle of power?
End of Chapter 14