Millions of years have passed, and the events of the distant past have long been forgotten. However, east of Yan Luo City lies a mysterious and foreboding land—the Tomb of Divines. This vast expanse is shrouded in a perpetual black fog, covering millions of kilometers. For a mortal, crossing this expanse on foot would take a hundred lifetimes, even if they were blessed with good fortune. The tomb is home to countless ferocious beasts, their roars echoing through the fog, though no one knows from where this dark mist originates.
Yet, there is one exception. On nights of the full moon, the cacophony of howls and the ominous noises of the tomb fall eerily silent. The air becomes still, and the oppressive atmosphere gives way to an unsettling calm. On such nights, mortal hunters dare to venture close to the tomb's edges, seeking to hunt the low-level beasts that stray from the deeper recesses.
One such night had come, the sun had set, and the moon ascended into a milky sky dotted with countless stars. Under the pale moonlight, a group of six mortal hunters approached the edge of the black fog. Among them was a middle-aged man, his expression wary as he glanced around.
"Brother Yan-Shan," one of the hunters spoke, a grin tugging at his lips. "You're quite lucky. Last time, you found two beasts fighting each other. You waited until one of them died and then took the spoils."
Yan-Shan smiled slightly, opening his mouth to reply, but before he could, Li-wan, the leader of their group, interrupted, his voice tense. "Brothers, something feels off tonight," he said, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "The fog is thinner than usual. I remember this area being completely engulfed last time."
One of the hunters, a man with a hardened face, nodded in agreement. "I've noticed the same thing. Last time I was here with two friends, we experienced something similar. As we went deeper, we came across many dead beasts, their bodies drained of blood and life. When one of my friends touched a carcass, it turned to ash right before our eyes."
He paused, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Further in, we found more beasts. They were alive, but barely. It was as if they were paralyzed by fear, lying on the ground, unable to move. We ended up killing a few of them, easy prey. It was the easiest hunt we'd ever had."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the gravity of his words sinking in. Shock and a flicker of greed gleamed in their eyes, but fear was also evident. Despite their trepidation, the thought of returning to the city empty-handed never crossed their minds.
Li-wan suddenly laughed, his voice tinged with excitement and avarice. "Brothers, this is our chance to get rich. Why not seize it?" His eyes gleamed with greed, so intense that saliva dripped from his mouth.
Yan-Shan, the cautious one, spoke slowly, "Brothers, this might not be as easy as it seems. There's a reason these beasts are dying. It could be very risky." His words were laced with warning, but his voice was ignored. The others were already consumed by the prospect of easy wealth, too enthralled by Li-wan's plan to heed any caution.
Yan-Shan sighed, recognizing the futility of his words. He had seen the madness of greed before, and he knew it well. The group had already made up their minds, and in their haste to follow Li-wan, they had all but forgotten about him. He could have turned back, but the burden of his responsibilities weighed heavily on him. He could not afford to return empty-handed.
At 21, Yan-Shan had been married to Yun-Wai, the daughter of his father's old friend. Their early years had been happy, but a decade had passed without a son, casting a shadow over their lives. Even as he worried about his family, survival remained his priority. Thus, despite his misgivings, Yan-Shan followed Li-wan, his steps heavy with uncertainty.
As they ventured deeper into the fog, the terrain grew more treacherous, and an ominous feeling settled over the group. After traversing about 15-20 kilometers, they began to see the carcasses of countless beasts strewn across the ground. The lifeless bodies were eerie, their once-mighty forms now reduced to husks, devoid of blood and energy. The hunters hesitated, fear gnawing at their resolve, but their greed spurred them forward.
Soon, they stumbled upon a terrifying sight—a large number of beasts, still alive, but lying motionless on the ground. Their eyes were wide with terror, as if they were begging for mercy from an unseen force. The hunters felt their hearts race, a cold sweat breaking out on their skin.
Li-wan, usually the most brazen of the group, felt his legs tremble. It was as if an immense, malevolent presence weighed down on him, making him feel like an unwelcome intruder in a sacred place.
Suddenly, the air was pierced by blood-curdling screams. The hunters had no time to react as their bodies exploded in a gruesome spectacle, blood and gore splattering the ground.
Yan-Shan, who had been trailing behind, heard the horrifying cries of his comrades. Terror seized him, his body trembling uncontrollably. His hair stood on end as he watched a golden light shoot up into the sky. The sight was so overwhelming that he fainted on the spot, his consciousness slipping away.
As his body lay motionless, a surge of power erupted from the ground, entering him and threatening to tear him apart. Just when it seemed he would be consumed by the force, it transformed into a calming white light, soothing his frayed nerves.
An ancient voice then whispered softly, "Ohh, the thread of karma."
The voice was ethereal, neither male nor female, young nor old. It was as if time itself had spoken, a whisper from the void, carrying the weight of countless ages.