"…it should not have appeared here."
"Whether it should or not, the mark has been set. You know what that means."
The other man gave no reply, only narrowing his eyes. For a moment, silence reigned. Their conversation, though vague, carried an undercurrent of gravity—as if something of great weight was hidden beneath those words.
Just then, both abruptly turned their heads. A shadow had slipped past the mouth of the alley—quick, fleeting, almost unnoticeable. Yet for cultivators like them, even such a minor disturbance could not be ignored.
The two men exchanged a glance, then silently moved forward.
What they found was only a young man in plain clothes. His black hair was unkempt, and his brown eyes weary. He carried nothing more than a small bundle, his steps unsteady as if he had walked far that day.
The mortal blinked at them in confusion. "I… I was only passing by. Forgive me if I intruded—"
He had no chance to finish.
A faint shimmer appeared on one of the men's foreheads. A dark mark emerged, writhing like living veins, branching downward across his eyes and chin. With a flick of his sleeve, an invisible force slammed into the young man.
His breath stopped in an instant. His body struck the damp wall of the alley before crumpling to the ground.
The two men spared him a cold glance, then turned away.
The young man—Gu Jue—lay still. His chest no longer rose. By all reason, he was dead.
His final thought before the darkness claimed him was a bitter one—so this is how it ends…
Just then—
Dong! Dong! Dong!
The sound of the great bells rolled across heaven and earth like muffled thunder, carrying a weight that made even seasoned cultivators pause.
From every corner of the realm, streaks of spiritual light converged toward the skies.
The sky above Yunshan City shimmered with eerie radiance.
It was the 11th of December, the night of the Tri-Star Convergence—when the Three Constellations, the Serpent of Origins, the Twin Crowns, and the Silent Monarch, aligned across heaven.
Once every year, their astral pheromones descended like unseen mist, touching every living being below. For those turning ten that year, it was the Day of Awakening—the moment a Mask either manifested... or didn't.
Those who awakened a Mask were forever changed—stepping onto the path of Immortality.
Those who failed remained mortal, destined to serve and obey.
All across the empire, temples tolled their bells and mortals lifted their eyes to the heavens, watching the pale constellations breathe divine light into the world.
Even cultivators who normally maintained stoic facades looked up with apprehension and curiosity.
In a damp alley, forgotten by all, Gu Jue's body lay motionless. His breathing had long since ceased; the light in his eyes had dimmed entirely.
Every gaze was lifted skyward; no one spared a single glance at the blood-stained alleyway where a nameless youth lay dying.
No one… except for a faint silver light.
It flitted through the air like a wayward comet, darting between portals unseen by anyone. Finally, it halted above Gu Jue's motionless body. For a brief moment, the light trembled, as though considering something. Then—
Chi!
It pierced straight into Gu Jue's forehead.
---
Within Gu Jue's Consciousness Sea
A boundless, murky space greeted the silver light. The soul flame that represented Gu Jue's consciousness was faint, its edges wavering as if it might be extinguished at any moment.
The silver light condensed, forming the figure of an elderly man with long silver hair. His features were thin, his eyes cold and calculating. After a quick glance at his surroundings, he gave a short, dry laugh.
"Hmph. Not ideal, but it will suffice. A half-mortal vessel with a faint bloodline imprint… The system should be able to rebuild my mask through this body."
He raised a hand. A silver, translucent screen appeared before him, covered in flowing characters that resembled some kind of spiritual interface.
"System, consume all remaining Spirit Points. Initiate possession protocol."
> [Command received. Commencing possession.]
A web of silver threads spread out, sinking into the surrounding darkness. Outside, Gu Jue's body began to twitch faintly as the possession ritual took hold.
The old man's gaze turned cold. "Imperial clan… You thought this seat would remain buried forever? Hmph. Once this body is stabilized, I'll return step by step. None of you will escape retribution."
But—
Boom!
A crimson radiance erupted from the depths of Gu Jue's soul, splitting through the swirling silver like a blade of divine wrath.
The old man froze. "What—what is this!?"
The possession process was already in motion; he had burned all his Spirit Points to ensure success. He couldn't stop it now.
Before his widening eyes, the crimson light condensed into the form of a youth clad in flowing red robes, his expression calm, almost leisurely. His pupils glowed like twin rubies, carrying an unfathomable depth.
The silver-haired old man stared in shock.
"Who are you, you bastard!? How dare you interfere with this seat's possession!?"
The crimson youth tilted his head slightly, as though examining some curious insect.
"Possession, is it? So that's what this is." His voice was tranquil, yet it carried a strange weight that made the silver light waver.
"Hmph! Pretending to be mysterious," the old man snarled, panic seeping into his arrogance. "State your name! Who are you!?"
The youth smiled faintly.
"It doesn't matter who you are… or who I am," he said softly. "What matters is what we will become."
Then—
BOOM!
The crimson radiance flared like a rising sun, flooding the consciousness sea. The silver light was pushed back violently, its intricate possession runes unraveling.
The old man's expression twisted in disbelief. He gathered the last remnants of his power, roaring, "Impossible! How can a remnant soul overpower—"