In a far distant country from the country of Fengyu, was a small country called Yuexian State. The day began like any other in the small city under the Yun family's rule. Citizens went about their business—merchants bartering, children playing in narrow alleyways, and vendors shouting their prices to entice buyers. The air was peaceful, heavy with the scent of spices and freshly baked bread.
Until the commotion began.
The sound of hooves pounding against the cobblestones echoed through the district, accompanied by the sharp cries of men in pursuit. The citizens, accustomed to such scenes, barely looked up from their tasks. A single girl ran through the crowded streets, her breaths labored, her eyes wide with desperation. Behind her, a group of armed men on horses closed in.
The citizens were powerless as well, because of the Yun family's tyrannical nature. With the Yun family being the only cultivators in this city, the citizens being normal mortals.
"Out of the way!" one of them bellowed, his voice laced with authority. The crowd parted like a wave, unwilling to risk the ire of the Yun family.
The girl stumbled, her legs faltering as exhaustion threatened to consume her. Just as she tripped over a loose stone, a figure stepped out from the shadows, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his voice calm yet indifferent.
The girl looked up, her heart pounding for more reasons than her pursuers. Snow-white hair framed a face too striking to belong to an ordinary man, and his piercing purple eyes seemed to see straight through her.
"Y-Yes," she stammered, struggling to find her footing.
The men chasing her halted a few steps away, their expressions a mix of confusion and irritation. One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, pointed a finger at the stranger. "Hand over the girl, if you know what's good for you!"
The girl clutched the man's sleeve. "Please," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Help me."
The man glanced down at her, his expression unreadable. "Why should I help you and get myself into trouble?"
One of the pursuers sneered. "He's right, girl. No one's going to stick their neck out for a stranger, especially against the Yun family."
Desperation flickered in her eyes. "Please! I'll... I'll give you my body if you save me!"
The man's expression didn't change. "Not interested," he said bluntly, his tone colder than the wind that swept through the streets.
Her face flushed with embarrassment, but before she could pull away, he added, "If you have something that can help with cultivation, however, I might consider it."
Her eyes lit up with sudden hope. "I do! I have something they're after—a token to the World Devouring Dragon's Tomb!"
The man's gaze sharpened. "The World Devouring Dragon's Tomb?"
She nodded frantically. "It's one of only a hundred tokens that grants access to the tomb. The Yun family wants it for themselves, but I managed to steal it before they could take it."
The explanation was enough to spark genuine interest in the stranger. He had read about the tomb before—a realm created by the death of a dragon so massive its body spanned galaxies. Its bones and innate power had transformed the surrounding sea into a hidden world, accessible only once every four hundred years. No one who entered had ever claimed the dragon's remains or its power, though treasures and spirit beasts were often brought back.
His lips curved into a faint smile. "All right. I'll help you."
The girl blinked, clearly surprised by his sudden change in demeanor. She introduced herself hastily. "My name is Xiang Xiaoli. I was a disciple of the Yun family before I defected."
"And I," he said, turning to face the Yun cultivators, "am Shen Yuan."
The name alone sent a ripple of unease through the group, though they quickly masked their fear with bravado.
The scarred man at the front sneered, pointing his blade toward Shen Yuan. "Shen Yuan? Never heard of you. Step aside, unless you want the Yun family to crush you underfoot."
One of the men behind him furrowed his brow, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "Wait... Shen Yuan... That name..."
The scarred man turned to him with a scowl. "What are you mumbling about now?"
"I-I think I've heard it before," the man stammered, his voice tinged with unease. "There's an old story, nearly 300 years ago... In a distant country on the other side of the planet, a boy was said to have started a rebellion against the elders of his sect. They called him Devil Shen. He was said to be ruthless, unyielding... but in the end, he was defeated and killed."
The scarred man rolled his eyes, his voice dripping with skepticism. "Devil Shen? Hah! You're going to compare this brat to some dusty old bedtime story? Don't let your nerves get the better of you."
The others murmured in agreement, but their voices were less certain. Shen Yuan's lips curled into a faint smirk, his violet eyes glinting with intrigue as he thought. "So... my story's spread this far? Across the planet, in a land where even the air feels foreign to me? Fascinating."
The scarred man raised his blade again, stepping forward. "Enough with the old kids' tales! Brat, this is your last warning. Hand over the girl or—"
He didn't get to finish.
In the blink of an eye, Shen Yuan's aura erupted like a tidal wave, pressing down on them with suffocating force. Nine luminous halos flared into existence behind him, radiating an ethereal, divine light that made the very air shimmer.
The scarred man froze, his bravado crumbling. His knees buckled as he stared at the halos in disbelief. "N-Nine halos... Ninth Stage of the Heaven Path Realm..."
The man who had spoken about the rumor paled, his lips trembling. "Could it... Could it really be him?"
The others dropped their weapons in terror, their earlier confidence dissolving into pure panic.
"Senior," the scarred man stammered, lowering his head in submission. "We didn't realize who you were. Please, forgive us!"
Shen Yuan tilted his head slightly, his gaze cold and unyielding. "Forgiveness? If you truly knew who I was, you wouldn't dare beg. No, you're my golden ducks. And what do we do with ducks?"
He raised a hand, his lips curving into a cruel smile. "We grill them."
With a flick of his fingers, the temperature in the air surged. The men screamed as their bodies began to boil from the inside out, steam rising from their skin. Their cries echoed through the district as their forms melted into a viscous, bubbling mess.
The crowd that had gathered to watch stood frozen, their faces pale with horror. No one dared to speak or even breathe too loudly.
Shen Yuan turned back to Xiang Xiaoli, his expression as calm as if he had just stepped out for a morning stroll. "Lead the way to the tomb," he said, his tone devoid of emotion.
Xiang Xiaoli hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. For a moment, she wondered if she had made a grave mistake. But there was no turning back now. She nodded. "It's in the hills outside the city. Follow me."
The journey was silent at first, the forest around them alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls. Finally, Xiang Xiaoli broke the silence.
"What does death mean to you?" she asked, her voice soft.
Shen Yuan paused, his expression contemplative. "Death," he said slowly, "is the end of one's self. It doesn't matter who cares for you or who doesn't. In the end, when you die, you'll fade into nothing more than a fleeting memory—a shadow of the past, forgotten in days."
She stared at him, her brow furrowed. "Have you ever wanted to die?"
His reply came after a long pause. "Yes. But in the end, it's just a matter of choice. Whether you live and fight for something, or die and fade away—that's up to you."
Xiang Xiaoli didn't fully understand his words, but she could sense the weight of his experiences. She didn't ask anything else, and the two of them continued their journey toward the World Devouring Dragon's Tomb.
As they walked, Shen Yuan's smirk lingered as he thought. "Devil Shen…. 300 years? So it's been 300 years since that old man killed me… damn. No matter, my current focus should be on getting powerful enough and reaching the Elysian realm, once I reach that stage… I will return, Old Tian Xu and that would be your death day. So, enjoy your days as much as you can!"