The night had surrendered to dawn, yet sunlight offered little comfort as it seeped weakly across Yun Luo City. The pale light barely touched the desolate streets, casting long shadows that seemed to cling to the bloodstains like dark memories. Normally bustling with life, the city now lay in a deathly silence as if it held its breath, caught in a nightmare unable to end. Streets that were once lively markets were littered with pools of blood, sinister and stagnant, marking where lives had been violently ended. Strangely, no bodies remained, only the echoes of lives now lost. And amidst it all, a lone figure stood, silent and still.
"Child, flee from here… he will kill everyone… run!" The voice, urgent yet soft, came as if carried on the breeze. Yan Lin froze. The words were familiar, voices laden with love and desperation. His parents' voices, strained with a fear he had never heard before. As he turned toward the sound, he saw them—his father and mother—faces pale, eyes wide, seized in the monstrous grip of a blood-red shadow. Its massive hands closed around their heads with cruel precision, and Yan Lin could only watch in terror as the creature's clawed fingers sank into their flesh.
He wanted to scream, to run, to do anything to help them, but his body refused to move. Helpless, he watched as the creature fed off his parents, their bodies dissolving into a mist of blood. It inhaled the crimson fog, its sinister eyes glinting with satisfaction as it absorbed every last drop, leaving nothing behind. Yan Lin's pulse thundered in his ears, the horror rooting him to the spot, leaving him drenched in cold sweat. In that moment, he was trapped—silent, paralyzed, his mind a storm of terror.
With a start, he awoke, heart racing, his body drenched in sweat and his lungs heaving for air.
Even awake, the nightmare didn't fade.
Blinking, he took in his surroundings. His hands and feet were coated in blood, and as he looked around, his heart sank. The home he had known, filled with warmth and laughter, was now a scene of horror. The walls were streaked with blood, the courtyard transformed into a lake of crimson. He wanted to scream, but the sound caught in his throat. The weight of terror pressed on him, his teeth chattering uncontrollably. He tried calling out for his parents, but his voice seemed sealed away, locked in some hidden place within him. Overwhelmed by the horror, he collapsed, fainting in the blood-soaked hall.
The tale of Yun Luo City's slaughter spread like a shadow across the nearby villages. "Everyone in Yun Luo City… killed. Blood stains the whole city," people whispered, afraid to speak too loudly, as if the terror might somehow hear them. For the common folk, the massacre was beyond comprehension—a true nightmare that struck too close to home. Even cultivators, accustomed to dangers and death, found themselves chilled by the brutality. Yun Luo City was a small, unassuming town, only about 20 or 30 kilometers in size, yet its destruction felt like a warning to all.
Yun Luo City lay within the borders of WenZong, a country ruled by powerful sects. The Mystic Pill Sect, Blood Moon Sect, Holy Spirit Sect, and Five Peaks Sect held sway over WenZong's lands, each governing with ancient authority. While Yun Luo City fell under the Five Peaks Sect's jurisdiction, the sect had yet to act, leaving the people in fearful suspense.
Far from the city, high atop a mountain shrouded in mist, lay the heart of the Five Peaks Sect. Majestic stone steps climbed the peak, filled with the sect's disciples—some in training, others soaring through the skies on flying swords, symbols of their skill and discipline. Three figures descended from the eastern sky on their swords, landing with quiet grace on the stone plaza.
Soon after, two more figures, both women, arrived, their robes fluttering like the wings of dark birds. One of the young men stepped forward, greeting the newcomers with a respectful bow. "Junior Sister Shi Xiao, it has been too long."
Shi Xiao acknowledged him with a nod. "Indeed, Senior Brother Meng, it has been a while."
The middle-aged cultivator who accompanied them chuckled, shaking his head at their formality. Addressing the two women, he said, "Junior Sisters, I see you've both accepted the mission to investigate Yun Luo City."
Shi Liu, the second female cultivator, smiled slightly. "Senior Brother Li, your perceptiveness hasn't faded."
Just then, a deep, commanding voice echoed from the hall. "The five of you, come see me."
Inside, the chamber was dim, the walls etched with symbols and figures of ancient power. The elder standing at the far end, robed in azure, radiated authority that seemed to resonate with the engravings on the walls. The disciples bowed in unison. "Disciple pays respect to Elder Sima."
Elder Sima turned, his gaze assessing. He handed each of them a jade slip. "This mission holds great rewards, but it is fraught with danger. You may face unknown forces beyond what you can prepare for. Proceed only if you accept the risk."
With solemn nods, they accepted the jade slips and, with a final bow, left the chamber. Outside, they summoned their flying treasures, each one a unique masterpiece, and ascended toward the skies, bound for Yun Luo City.
Fifteen days had passed since the massacre, and Yan Lin had slowly returned to consciousness. He wandered the city's deserted streets, his eyes taking in the now-familiar horror of bloodstained walls and ground. Hunger gnawed at him, forcing him to scavenge through the city's abandoned homes. He searched desperately for food, but everything he found tasted of blood. Yet he had no choice—he had to survive. And as days passed, he grew numb to the crimson reminders of the disaster. His first night wandering had been filled with grief, sobbing as he searched every corner, calling out for his parents, yet there was no response. And, curiously, the blood remained fresh, as if it clung to the memories of the massacre, refusing to fade.
Yan Lin saw five streaks of light approaching, and fear overtook him. He darted into a nearby house, hiding in the shadows. The five cultivators landed, surveying the destruction with grim expressions. Senior Brother Li gave a soft command, "Search the entire city for survivors." For two hours, they scoured the city, only to regroup with troubled expressions.
Shi Xiao voiced her unease, "Senior Brother Li, why does the blood on the ground look so fresh? It has been nearly a month."
He nodded thoughtfully, "This situation is unusual. We should report this immediately to the mission hall."
Then, Senior Brother Li's gaze shifted toward a half-destroyed house. Through his spiritual sense, he sensed a faint presence. When Yan Lin noticed the cultivator's gaze, his heart froze. And then, a voice drifted softly into his mind, "Hehehe, little brother, why don't you come out and see me?" Yan Lin's mind reeled; how was someone speaking directly to him?
Yet, something about the voice reassured him. Slowly, he emerged from his hiding place. The cultivators were shocked—a child had somehow evaded their spiritual senses. They saw a boy around ten or twelve years old, cloaked in a blood-streaked robe, his face almost obscured by grime and dried blood.
Senior Brother Li spoke gently, "Little brother, do you know what happened in this city?"
Yan Lin's eyes glinted red as he answered in a haunting tone, "They all died."
The words hung in the air, filled with sorrow and finality. Senior Brother Li's gaze softened, and he asked if anyone else had survived.
Yan Lin shook his head. "No one. I am the only one left."
Carefully, Senior Brother Li scanned Yan Lin's body and detected faint traces of spiritual energy. Curiously, Yan Lin had a spiritual root unlike any they had encountered—a purple light that defied categorization. While spiritual roots often manifested as defined symbols or animals, his was an amorphous purple sphere, suggesting something rare, even unique.
"Do you know about cultivators?" Senior Brother Li asked softly.
Yan Lin, clearly unfamiliar, shook his head.
Senior Brother Li continued, "We are from the Five Peaks Sect. If you're willing, you may come with us. We mean you no harm, and we can protect you."
Seeing Yan Lin's uncertain gaze, Senior Brother Li nodded to the others, who produced their flying treasures. Yan Lin's eyes widened, stepping back in awe and fear at the sight of the floating swords.
"Don't worry," Senior Brother Li assured him gently. "Come to me."
Gaining a flicker of courage, Yan Lin stepped onto the sword, clutching tightly as they ascended into the air, leaving behind the haunting remnants of Yun Luo City.