Chapter 1: Shadows of the Abyss
Deep within the jagged peaks of Mount Tianxu, where the mountains rose like the fangs of an ancient dragon, the air hung heavy with the metallic tang of blood and the distant rumble of thunder. Lin Feng lay sprawled on the cold cavern floor, his frail body riddled with wounds that throbbed like cruel reminders of betrayal. He had been the prodigy of the Celestial Clouds Sect, the disciple who soared through the realms of cultivation at a pace that inspired awe. At just eighteen, he'd reached the Spiritual Foundation stage, the pride of his master and the envy of his fellow sect members.
But now, it all crumbled to dust. His fiancée, Mei Ling—the sect's blooming flower with eyes like polished black jade—had conspired with his rival, Zhao Wei, heir to the Eternal Shadows Sect. They'd ambushed him during a hunt for rare spiritual herbs. "You're too powerful, Lin Feng," Mei Ling had whispered as she plunged the poisoned dagger into his chest. "Your strength threatens us. Rest in peace, and we'll claim your legacy."
The venom gnawed at his veins, dissolving his dantian—the core of his spiritual essence. Lin Feng felt his cultivation slipping away, years of grueling training vanishing like mist under the sun. His eyes fluttered shut, and the world faded into blackness. "Is this how it ends?" he thought bitterly. "A life of triumph, snuffed out by greed?"
In the void that followed, a voice resonated—not a human whisper, but the growl of a primordial chasm. *Welcome to the Eternal Devourer System. Host detected: Lin Feng. Condition: Critical. Initiating rebirth protocol.*
Lin Feng blinked—or at least, it felt like he did. Was he not dead? His consciousness drifted in an endless black expanse, dotted with stars that watched like vigilant eyes. A translucent interface materialized before him, unfolding like an ancient scroll in the air.
**[Eternal Devourer System]**
**Host: Lin Feng**
**Level: 0 (Novice)**
**Essence Devoured: 0/100**
**Initial Skills: Soul Devour (Level 1), Primordial Regeneration (Level 1)**
**Unique Trait: The Devourer doesn't just consume essence; it turns weaknesses into strengths. Every betrayal endured multiplies growth potential.**
Lin Feng frowned, his mind racing. Cultivation systems weren't unheard of in old legends—tales of divine artifacts granting power to the chosen. But this... this was something else. It wasn't a benevolent gift from the heavens, like those in forbidden scrolls he'd studied. This felt ravenous, predatory. "Soul Devour? What does that entail?"
The voice answered, as if peering into his thoughts: *The Eternal Devourer lets you absorb the essence of defeated foes—not just their qi, but their souls, memories, and talents. Beware: each devouring carries a risk. Take in too much, and the abyss might swallow you whole.*
A chill rippled through his ethereal form. This wasn't a heavenly boon; it was a curse wrapped in opportunity. Lin Feng let out a low, bitter chuckle that echoed in the void. "So, I've been reborn as a monster? How fitting. But if it gives me the power to avenge this betrayal... so be it."
Suddenly, a surge of primal energy flooded his being. Back in the cavern, his physical body convulsed. Wounds sealed with a hissing sound, flesh knitting together in moments. His shattered dantian reformed, larger and more resilient, like a vortex hungry for the world. Lin Feng's eyes snapped open—not the ones from before, but eyes gleaming with an inky glow, like bottomless pits.
He rose, the air around him crackling with pure qi. The poison that had killed him now coursed through his veins like an elixir, bolstering him. "Primordial Regeneration," he murmured, testing it. A self-inflicted cut on his arm healed instantly, leaving a scar that pulsed with dark energy.
But the system pressed on. *Initial Quest: Survive the Ambush. Reward: Level Boost + Extra Skill.*
Lin Feng caught voices echoing through the cavern. Mei Ling and Zhao Wei were returning, no doubt to confirm his death and loot his treasures. He melted into the shadows, his movements now fluid and silent as a specter.
Zhao Wei entered first, his sword aglow with fiery qi. Tall and imposing, with black hair tied in a flawless topknot, he embodied the noble cultivator. "His body should be cold by now. Grab the Spatial Ring and let's vanish before the sect notices."
Mei Ling followed, her ethereal beauty clashing with the poison in her soul. "He was a fool to trust me. With his essence, I'll break through to Golden Core in months."
A cold fury stirred in Lin Feng—not just anger, but hunger. The system whispered: *Target detected: Zhao Wei, Advanced Spiritual Foundation stage. Devourable Essence: High.*
He struck like a living shadow. His hand shot out, not with a familiar martial art, but with Soul Devour. Fingers pierced Zhao Wei's chest before he could react. A black vortex erupted, draining the man's qi like a storm.
Zhao Wei screamed, eyes bulging in horror. "What... this can't be! You were dead!"
Mei Ling froze, her dagger trembling. "Lin Feng? How..."
Zhao Wei's essence poured into Lin Feng—a torrent of fire and memories. Flashes revealed past betrayals, secrets of the Eternal Shadows Sect, forbidden techniques. His level surged.
**[Level Increased: 1]**
**Essence Devoured: 50/200**
**New Skill Unlocked: Engulfing Shadow (Level 1) – Wield shadows for unseen strikes.**
Zhao Wei withered like a dried leaf, his soul dissolving into Lin Feng's abyss. The husk collapsed, empty.
Mei Ling bolted, but Lin Feng intercepted her with unnatural speed. "Why?" he demanded, his voice thundering like divine judgment.
She sobbed, feigning remorse. "It was for power! You get it, right? Join us!"
Lin Feng smiled—a cold curve that never reached his eyes. "I do. And now, you'll learn the cost."
He invoked Soul Devour again, but sparingly—not to kill yet. He siphoned part of her essence, leaving her weakened but alive. Her memories flooded him: schemes to conquer neighboring sects, an ancient artifact hidden in Mount Tianxu.
**[Essence Devoured: 100/200]**
**Quest Complete. Reward: Unique Technique – Abyss Echo (Echo devoured souls' voices for mental manipulation).**
Mei Ling slumped, her cultivation reduced to scraps. Lin Feng bound her with spiritual vines, leaving her as bait for more traitors.
Emerging from the cavern, the setting sun bathed the mountain in bloody hues. Lin Feng saw the world anew—vast, teeming with prey. The system throbbed in his mind: *Next Quest: Infiltrate the Eternal Shadows Sect. Reward: Full Ascension to Spiritual Foundation Peak.*
He gazed toward the horizon, where the enemy sect's towers loomed. "This is just the start," he muttered. "I'm no longer the betrayed genius. I'm the Devourer. And the whole world is my hunt."
Yet deep in his mind, a whisper of doubt lingered: How long before the abyss claims me? He shook it off. For now, revenge tasted sweet enough.
As he descended the mountain, a hooded figure watched from the shadows, eyes alight with intrigue. "Fascinating... a reborn devourer. This changes everything."
Lin Feng remained unaware, but fate was already weaving its web around him.