The skies were clear and sunny that day, enveloping the cave where I was with warmth.

My nose twitched as I inhaled a lungful of musty air, heightened by the moistness of the cave. There was no light source in the cave, except for a few sunlight streaks that passed through the cracks here and there. The cave wasn't that accommodating but it proved to be a great spot for cultivation due to its tranquil atmosphere. It's probably the same feeling of a snail when it retracts itself back in its shell.

As I opened my eyes, it quickly adjusted to the darkness. I've been staying inside the cave for too long, after all. Just a moment ago, I was in a half-sleeping state while I focused on my breathing.

But something happened that made me completely wake up and got me distracted from my cultivation.

That's right, screams.

Just beneath the layer of the cave where I resided, a shrilly muffled scream kept echoing all around, disregarding the calmness of the cave. If it were a normal day, I'd have put it at the back of my mind but! this was a day of utmost importance. I was so close to getting the breakthrough I needed to reach the highest realm a person could attain— the Transcendence Realm.

I clenched my fists in anger, barely holding in the explosive power that wanted to erupt from my body. If I were to allow it, I would've diminished this cave to nothing but rubble. Still, my anger was unquenchable!

"Just a little more and I would've split my Qi Core into ten pieces to form the portal that would let me step into the Transcendence Realm! And they just had to shout?!" I exclaimed.

It took me a few minutes before I regained my composure. When I thought I was calm enough, I slowly dragged myself towards the huge boulder that blocked the entrance to the cave. It weighed more than a ton but I moved it with such ease because I was already in the Dao Realm. In my mind, the only thought that existed was why they were all shouting outside when I specifically told them to remain silent before I started cultivating.

Sighing, I finally removed the huge boulder and the prickling sun greeted me straight in the face. Sweltering heat encompassed me but I didn't sweat at all. That's because I carefully regulated the Qi Core Energy in my body to shield me from the heat.

At first, I thought maybe there was a party going on or some sort of festival. It would be quite surprising if a marriage announcement or a literal marriage was going on but that's quite normal. Unlike all the other sects, I don't bind my disciples with strict rules such as celibacy or not drinking wine. We only have one life and being a disciple doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy your life to the fullest.

No one could truly be happy when he's bound to a sect, right?

I mean, think about it, how many cultivation novels have you read where the protagonist joins a sect? Not much, right? And that's because of the strict rules and whatnot. It's just a pain to talk about it since every sect has different rules and regulations.

With these thoughts going through my head, I decided to keep my composure and observe why everyone was screaming. The heat didn't even bother them as they screamed their hearts out, making me feel like I was in some sort of cult instead of a sect.

When I got out of my cave, I was greeted by a foul stench that seemed to waft everywhere. It was horribly disgusting that I had to cover my nose and mouth since my tongue could even taste the air that wafted around us. Having heightened senses is one of the many disadvantages of reaching the Dao Realm— meaning to say, smelling something so abominable would be multiplied more than a thousand times once it enters your nose.

"What's that? Did someone not take a bath? Ugh~"

To my surprise, no one heard my comment nor looked in my direction. I didn't even receive a proper welcome even though I've been cultivating for the past few months.

And to top it all off, everyone looked like they were in some sort of craze! On one side, a few of my disciples were running amok, being chased by another group of my disciples who were trying to bite them by the neck! It was all too weird that I couldn't believe what was going on at first. For a few moments, I just stared at them as they went through the process of chasing and biting.

But who am I to ask? I've been in a cave for the past few months that I don't even know which craze or trend is going on lately. Still, even if the latest fad involves biting around people, why were they doing it as if they were enjoying it so much?

I mean, how could anyone find the pleasure in biting someone too deep that they bleed to death?

On one hand, some of my disciples were even firing off element techniques and a few of them were even engaging in combat using martial arts to defeat those that wanted a bite from them. "Just let them bite you, it's not like you'll die from it." I shrugged, wondering why they were too afraid to be bitten.

That's why, when a disciple of mine rushed at me with her mouth wide open, I didn't react too violently.

This certain disciple was someone I knew all too well. She's got skin as white as the pearl and it shone like jade, making her look divine. Adding to that, her figure was perfect for her height and she's got well-placed curves. If I'd say so myself, she's the most beautiful disciple I could ever hope for and she's got a strong element as a bonus!

I meant the other way around! She's got a strong element and her looks are a bonus! She's one of my most favorite disciples due to her great talent in the ice element. Talent and Beauty is her very definition and none could tell otherwise.

"Oh, Natalia! How are you faring?" I greeted but she didn't greet me back. Instead, she gave me a bite on the neck as she hugged me tightly.

"Hey! Why are you being aggressive? We shouldn't do it here?" I take my words back. Now I know why they find pleasure in biting someone and being bitten by someone.

I let out a soft chuckle as I hugged Natalia back. In response, she hugged me even tighter. Her teeth dug too deep into my neck that I started to feel blood trickling from my neck down to my back.

But she didn't stop there!

She clawed my back and bit me even deeper. She seemed to enjoy it but at this rate, she'd be leaving a Scar instead of a simple love bite. I attempted to gently shove her away but she dug her teeth into my neck even deeper. The bite might've been out of line but that's alright. I could always heal it again later since I'm already in the Dao Realm.

Plus points to here though! She's passionate, I'd give her that.

Natalia was going too far that I think our endearment was quickly progressing. So instead of removing Natalia from her intense embrace, I left her there as I approached one of my disciples who were fending off one of his brothers. Quite unsurprisingly enough, his brother was struggling to bite him as well.

"Rong! Quite a party you got there!" I greeted blissfully.

Rong's pupil's shrunk as if he had just seen a ghost. He shakily pointed a finger and alternated it to Natalia, and then to me. "M-m-master! W-w-w... " Rong stammered.

"Oh, this? I reckon she just missed me too much." I lackadaisically responded as I gently patted Natalia in the back. "Never mind that, tell me what's going on here? What's this new trend of biting someone in the neck and chasing everybody? Is this the new 'in' now?"

Before my disciple could answer, his brother launched itself to him once again but instead of letting him do so, he shot a Fire Arrow towards his brother and beheaded him.

I also noticed that he was profusely sweating and it looked quite abnormal for me. That's because as a cultivator, the higher the realm you attain, the more energized you'll feel since your Qi Core would be more stable. And also, once you reached the Spirit Realm and up, it's definitely impossible for you to experience sweating.

Rong here has reached the Spirit Realm as far as I remember, it's unfeasible for him to sweat too much.

And why did... OH, HE KILLED HIS BROTHER!

"What's wrong with you, Rong?! You just killed your brother!" I snapped at him. "Did I, as the Master of the Tang Sect, teach you that you should kill your fellow disciples?"

"No master, I didn't kill him!" Rong vehemently denied, much to my disappointment. "He was already dead!"

"Yeah, obviously, Because you killed him, you spineless maggot!"

"And you'll be dead soon too." Rong continued, not even minding that I was shouting at him.

Before I could shout back at him, He pulled back his sleeves and showed me a bite-mark on his arm. It was probably one of the bite marks that his living brother gave him. "I've been bitten a minute ago. Anytime now and I'll be turning into one of them." Rong wiped a tear off his cheek and wiped off the sweat on his forehead.

"Just what are you talking about?"

"You've been bitten too, Master. It won't be long now."

Rong's body jerked as soon as he finished speaking and his appendages began twisting crazily. He was turning around on the ground, making weird sounds with his throat.

I never knew that my disciple was this flexible... but still, that won't make me forgive him for killing his own kin.

Nevertheless, I watched him with great enthusiasm since his performance was truly mind-blowing. I've never seen anything quite like it and to be honest, it was mesmerizing. The way he twisted his body like some possessed being made me wonder if it was real or not.