In the Azure Wind Continent, strength was law.
Mortals farmed.
Warriors ruled.
Cultivators became legends.
And at the bottom of it all stood Lin Kai — the boy with a broken spirit root.
The Spirit Testing Stone glowed beneath the Elder's palm.
One by one, disciples stepped forward.
"Earth-grade spirit root!"
"High mortal rank!"
"Dual-element affinity!"
Excited whispers filled the courtyard of the Rising Sun Sect.
Then it was Lin Kai's turn.
He stepped forward in worn-out robes. Some disciples snickered.
"That trash is up next."
"He should've stayed in the outer servant hall."
Lin Kai placed his hand on the Spirit Stone.
For a moment…
Nothing happened.
Then—
Crack.
A faint fracture line appeared across the stone.
The Elder's expression darkened.
"Defective spirit root," he announced coldly. "Energy flow unstable. Nearly shattered."
The courtyard erupted in laughter.
"A cripple!"
"Even the stone rejected him!"
Lin Kai lowered his hand. His jaw tightened, but he didn't speak.
He was used to this.
Three years in the sect. Three years of mockery. Three years of failed breakthroughs.
While others entered Qi Refining Stage 3… he was still stuck at Stage 1.
The weakest of the weak.
"Lin Kai," the Elder said, turning away, "you may continue as a servant. Cultivation is a waste of resources for you."
Those words struck harder than any blade.
But Lin Kai only bowed.
"I understand."
That night, under the pale moonlight, Lin Kai climbed Spirit Cliff alone.
The wind howled around him.
"I refuse to accept this," he whispered.
He sat cross-legged and circulated his Qi.
As always—
The energy within his dantian trembled violently.
Pain tore through his meridians.
Why?
Why was his spirit root cracked?
Why did his Qi feel… different?
Suddenly—
A deep voice echoed in his mind.
"So… you are the one who awakened me."
Lin Kai's eyes snapped open.
Before him, floating in the air, was a pitch-black bead covered in ancient golden runes.
"I… awakened you?"
The bead pulsed.
"Heaven judges by talent. I judge by will."
A flood of memories slammed into Lin Kai's mind.
A forbidden cultivation technique.
Heaven Devouring Art.
Not absorbing Qi from the air.
Not relying on spirit roots.
But devouring the essence of heaven and earth directly.
The cost?
Unimaginable pain.
Possible death.
Certain persecution.
The bead's voice whispered:
"Your spirit root is not broken."
"It is sealed."
Lightning split the sky.
Lin Kai clenched his fists.
"If the heavens sealed me…"
His eyes burned with determination.
"…then I will devour the heavens."
The black bead sank into his chest.
Agony erupted.
His meridians shattered.
Reformed.
Shattered again.
A vortex of dark energy spiraled around Spirit Cliff.
Far below, an Elder suddenly looked toward the mountain.
"…What is that aura?"
Back on the cliff—
Lin Kai screamed into the storm.
And in that scream—
A monster was born.