Dawn broke with the system's chime, sharper and hungrier.
"Ding! Daily Ascension Quest 2: Destroy Blood Eclipse Sect (10 elders, God Realm leader). Hidden in the Crimson Mountains. Reward: 800,000 EXP. Sect territory claim. New demon bond. Time limit: 2 days. Fail: Blood curse on realm."
I gripped the throne arm, Yue Zhilan's spear humming instantly. Mo Han's flames roared in the courtyard. "More blood? Hellfire feasts!"
Lirael's dragons circled the skies eagerly. "My kin smell slaughter."
No hesitation. Lu Din marked maps: Crimson Mountains east—veins pulsing red qi, sect hoarding blood arts, sacrificing villages' tribute. Moon Shadows scouted the night before: 10 God Realm elders, leader Blood Sovereign Vexar (Peak God Realm), altar feeding on souls.
We struck midnight. Stealth raid—no armies. I, Yue Zhilan, and Mo Han are the vanguard. Lirael summoned 100 elite dragons for overwatch. Mist Eyes blinded the silent sect scouts.
Crimson halls dripped blood runes. Elders chanted dark, virgins chained altars. Vexar loomed central—skin vein-red, eyes madness.
"Intruders!" he roared, blood whips lashing void. Elders swarmed—God Realm palms crushing stone.
Yue Zhilan blurred, spear weaving moonlight—three elders pierced instantly, blood evaporating. Mo Han charged, Hellfire Legion (now Dao Refining), erupting shadows—halberds melting two more. Lirael's dragons breathed abyss fire from peaks, scales shattering.
I drew Eternal Sovereign's Fang, Dao Refining qi surging. Blade sang fate—the first elder lunged, palm blood-spear. Fang's severed arm, core exploding. +80k EXP.
Vexar laughed madly: "Taxless fool! My blood curses eternal!"
He summoned river crimson—tendrils devouring life. Moon Shadows struck unseen—Silent Hands' daggers poisoning veins. Illusion veils turned halls into mazes; elders were trapped, screaming.
Four final elders circled me, arrays pulsing heart-rip. Mortal ingenuity flashed—Frostveil thunder (new sect) sparked from the ring, paralysing. Fang swept an arc—fate's edge claiming all. +320k EXP total.
Vexar alone, altar blazing souls. "Kneel or drown red!"
Mo Han pinned left, Yue Zhilan right. Lirael breathed dragonfire binding. I plunged Fang heart-deep. Fate severed sovereign-core. Quest Complete! 800,000 EXP gained! Dao Refining Early → Saint Transformation Peak! Followers +1 realm!
Sect halls crumbled clean. Blood qi purified Elowen's vines later.
"Reward: Crimson Mountains territory unlocked. New demon bond activated."
Altar heart swirled shadow. Figure rose—tall, pale skin etched with crimson runes, eyes glowing hell-red. Blood Sovereign Kael, Peak God Realm (now Celestial Early post-boost). Claws dripped controlled ichor; aura, blood, and dominion were absolute.
Kael knelt deep. "Lord Ling Chen... redeemer."
"You know me?" Blood still steamed from the feet.
He nodded solemnly. "Ancient purge—heavenly gods sealed my blood realm, drowning kin in crimson. I wandered void, dying. You—soul through realms—shared your vein qi, anchoring me. Whispered, 'Blood serves, not slays.' I vowed, "Fate calls, crimson legions yours."
Mountains rumbled—thousands of blood demons rising, bowing silently.
"Loyalty: 94%. Innate: Crimson Legion Call (20,000 blood warriors). Techniques: Haemorrhage Dominion, Vitality Theft."
Mo Han clasped his forearm. "Brother flames!"
Yue Zhilan nodded respectfully. "Pantheon swells."
Villages freed cheered fleets dawn: "Sovereign ends blood nights!"
Lu Din marked maps: "Crimson Mountains—blood pills endless. Trade surges in medical."
Elowen purified green soil. Lirael dragons patrolled peaks.
System previewed tomorrow: "Ancient Frost Titan (Half-step Divine Lord). Monthly Boss."
Daily rise accelerated. Dragons, blood demons. EXP flooded endlessly.
Sovereign hunted Dawn Eternal. Territories claimed bloodlessly.
No mercy sects. Just fate's edge.
North breathed crimson-rich. Gods knelt daily.
Cultivation soared. Followers legionised.
Endless ascent began.