Liu Xin had not always been a predator. Once, he was just another ordinary disciple of the Primal Sacred Sect, trapped in a cycle of menial tasks, cultivation, and repaying spirit stone loans.
That changed with a single opportunity.
It began with a bounty posted by a True Disciple. The mission: explore an ancient cave dwelling. The reward was tempting. What the notice didn't mention was the need for cannon fodder to trigger traps.
By the time Liu Xin realized his role, it was too late. Forced into the cave by the True Disciple, he made a shocking discovery—the restrictions within held no power over him.
He walked through untouched and claimed his fortune.
Inside a golden case lay the Primordial Dao Scripture and the Primordial Qi Myriad Spirit Banner, accompanied by a letter from the cave's master, who called himself the "Primordial Wanderer."
The letter explained that the treasures were meant for a destined heir of the Sacred Sect whose name contained the character "Xin" (信).
But the Primordial Wanderer had refused to accept this fate.
In scathing words, he denounced the Sacred Sect's arrogance, accusing them of forcibly grafting his karmic legacy onto one of their True Disciples.
So, he twisted the threads of destiny. He gave the inheritance to Liu Xin instead.
The letter warned Liu Xin would face a mortal calamity after obtaining the treasures and offered a way out hidden within the cave.
In the original fate, the "false Xin" was merely a treasure courier for the "true Xin." But under the Wanderer's scheme, the outcome was reversed: Liu Xin seized the opportunity, overthrew the True Disciple, and took everything.
That night was one of terror.
At dawn, only Liu Xin emerged from the cave, forever changed. The Sacred Sect's True Disciple had vanished.
But Liu Xin did not kill him outright.
Using the contingency left by the Wanderer, he refined the True Disciple alive, turning him into the most powerful spirit within his banner.
The banner fluttered. A figure in black robes materialized. Instead of immediately engaging Lü Yang, he glanced around with a trace of nostalgia.
"The strong devour the weak. Disciples slaughter each other. The Sacred Sect… it seems some things never change."
"Senior Brother, how have you been?" Liu Xin clasped his hands respectfully.
"Useless fool. Encountered another tough opponent?" The black-robed figure's voice was laced with disdain. "Giving you the Primordial Dao Scripture was truly a waste."
"I cannot compare to you, Senior Brother." Liu Xin remained deferential, unangered. "This man is a sword cultivator who also practices the Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light. I am no match."
"Heavenly Demon Blood Transformation Divine Light?" The black-robed figure paused, his expression turning grave. He shook his head. "To master that art marks an extraordinary talent. A pity he's wasted it. According to our agreement, this is my third intervention."
"Your wisdom is clear, Senior Brother." Liu Xin nodded. "After this, I will release your soul to reincarnate. With your merits and foundation, you will surely tread the Dao again in your next life."
"Good."
The black-robed figure finally turned his gaze to Lü Yang.
Lü Yang and Xiao Shiye watched cautiously. But Fairy Qingchen's eyes widened in stunned recognition as the figure's aura fully manifested.
She was no fresh initiate.
At first, he seemed merely familiar. But when that unique, commanding pressure washed over her, she realized exactly who he was.
"It's Chen Xin'an! Senior Brother Chen!?"
The son of the Peak Master of Butian Peak, one of the four great inner peaks! The True Disciple who had vanished without a trace!
When Chen Xin'an disappeared, the Butian Peak Master had flown into a rage, personally investigating the cause to no avail. The incident had sent ripples through the sect.
She never imagined he would be here, a spirit under Senior Brother Liu's control.
In a flash, Fairy Qingchen's face paled as understanding dawned. She subconsciously took several steps back, putting distance between herself and Liu Xin.
Thud!
A blade pierced through her abdomen.
Fairy Qingchen's pretty face froze, her eyes vacant as she stared at the hand protruding from her stomach. Then her head lolled to the side, her breath ceasing.
Dead. Again.
"Now that you've seen this, I cannot let you live." Liu Xin's voice was cold.
With Fairy Qingchen's death, the surrounding formation trembled violently. But Liu Xin waved the Myriad Spirit Banner, and her body was instantly sucked into the fabric.
Moments later, an unharmed Fairy Qingchen emerged from the banner—now a spirit under its control. Though bound with new restrictions, she could still manipulate the formation, quickly stabilizing it.
At the same time, the black-robed True Disciple, Chen Xin'an, appeared before Lü Yang.
"Hm?"
Lü Yang's eyes narrowed. The other's cultivation was identical to his own—seventh layer of Qi Refining—but the aura he exuded was fundamentally different.
Chen Xin'an appraised Lü Yang and sighed. "The Yin-Yang Great Joy Ode is a dual cultivation method. It requires harmonizing with three thousand women to reach its peak. Your Qi is impure and chaotic, clearly not refined through proper dual cultivation. What should be fifth-grade Yin-Yang Dragon-Tiger Qi is, at best, sixth-grade in you."
The criticism struck a nerve. Alarm bells rang in Lü Yang's mind.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Chen Xin'an. I am bound against my will. If you can escape and bring news of me to Butian Peak, my father will reward you handsomely."
Before he finished speaking, Chen Xin'an struck!
He raised his hand and pressed downward. His aura instantly merged with heaven and earth. Vast true energy roared forth, resonating with and attracting the surrounding spiritual energy!
In that moment, Lü Yang's pupils constricted.
Not because of Chen Xin'an's power, but because as the other moved, Lü Yang could palpably feel the flaws and incompleteness in his own true energy.
He understood instantly. "My Dragon-Tiger Union Yin-Yang Great Joy Ode is not the ultimate method. Butian Peak possesses an even superior art! This man must be a True Disciple of Butian Peak!"
He was right.
As the son of the Butian Peak Master, Chen Xin'an cultivated the Butian True Scripture—an evolved version of the Dragon-Tiger Union Yin-Yang Great Joy Ode.
Ordinary dual cultivation harmonized with another person, balancing Yin and Yang.
The Butian True Scripture practiced dual cultivation with Heaven and Earth itself, seeking union with the cosmos. The Butian True Qi refined through this method was ranked third-grade.
Thus, when Chen Xin'an's palm descended, even without employing any special technique, the sheer quality of his third-grade true Qi was enough to suppress Lü Yang completely.
Watching this, Liu Xin revealed a confident smirk.
No one understood Chen Xin'an's strength better than he did. In his view, even if Lü Yang were ten times stronger, victory was impossible.
I've won!
Liu Xin made his judgment, unaware that Xiao Shiye in the distance was observing him with a dark, pensive expression.
With his sharp mind, Xiao Shiye had already grasped the direness of their situation.
"I didn't want to use this… but you leave me no choice."
Xiao Shiye was keenly aware that his own cultivation was the weakest. He relied entirely on his arsenal of magical treasures. But now, it seemed even those might not be enough.
Having reached this conclusion, Xiao Shiye took a deep breath and opened his storage pouch.
A terrifying wave of spiritual power erupted from the opening, immediately seizing Liu Xin's attention. Even Chen Xin'an and Lü Yang, locked in combat, halted and turned to look.
From the pouch, a small pagoda flew out.
It was forged from gold, standing nine stories tall. A beam of spiritual light gathered at its peak, taking the form of a human silhouette, its features vivid and alive with intelligence.
"This is… a Spirit Treasure!?"
Before the less-experienced Lü Yang could react, Liu Xin and Chen Xin'an exclaimed in unison, their faces masks of shock.
When a cultivator refines a weapon, it emits treasure light, becoming a Magic Treasure. When that weapon develops its own spiritual consciousness, it ascends to become a Spirit Treasure!
Magic Treasures are graded low, middle, and high, their uses boundless. Yet even the most powerful Magic Treasure requires a master to wield its full potential.
A Spirit Treasure is different.
It possesses its own will. It can exert power independently. More crucially, it can cultivate and grow stronger on its own!
In the next instant, Xiao Shiye formed a hand seal. The Spirit Treasure Pagoda began to expand.
"Damn it!" Chen Xin'an was the first to curse, his earlier composure shattered. He realized Xiao Shiye's intention—to make the Spirit Treasure self-destruct!
On the other side, Liu Xin felt blood rush to his throat.
Such treasures, which embodied the very laws of heaven and earth, were usually only in the hands of Foundation Establishment experts. For Xiao Shiye to possess one was shocking enough. But to detonate it?
It was the most outrageous waste he had ever witnessed!
Even more infuriating was that the Spirit Treasure Pagoda offered no resistance. Instead, it actively cooperated, its expansion accelerating far too quickly for anyone to stop.
BOOM!
The next second, erupting flames devoured everything.