QAs they stepped through the portal, an ominous wave of deathly aura swept over them. The sky above was shrouded in a heavy, oppressive gloom, casting an eerie pall across the land. This suffocating atmosphere seeped into their very souls, filling their hearts with an inescapable dread.
Even the Sacred Scions, paragons of strength and composure, could not entirely suppress the fear gnawing at their spirits. Though their outward expressions remained calm, exuding an air of unshakable dignity, an inner tempest raged within them. Their hearts churned with a chaotic unease, as if the harbinger of calamity itself was slowly taking form, looming ever closer.
---
After all the participants had stepped through the portal, a mysterious energy enveloped them, scattering them across the ruins of the Realm of Desolation.
Some were fortunate enough to find themselves in groups, while others were paired in twos or left entirely alone in this sprawling land of decay. The ruins stretched endlessly, whispering tales of long-forgotten civilizations and an ominous promise of danger.
Yet, fortune and peril were two sides of the same coin here. Scattered across the realm were treasures of unimaginable worth, artifacts capable of saving lives, and rare resources that could elevate one's cultivation. These riches sparkled with allure, igniting the greed buried within their hearts, momentarily overshadowing the grim reality of the life-threatening dangers lurking in the shadows.
Some groups stumbled upon high-grade spirit stones buried beneath the ruins. They dug feverishly, consumed by avarice, their frantic actions blinding them to the deadly perils of this cursed realm.
The Sacred Scions, however, bore expressions of deeper unease. Unlike the others, they had been privy to ancient records and secrets about this desolate realm. They knew its true nature far surpassed the dangers outlined by the Elder Overseers. The Realm of Desolation was not merely a trial—it was a deathtrap, a graveyard where countless had perished in pursuit of enlightenment and power.
---
Meanwhile, Xiao Tian opened his eyes, finding himself in an unfamiliar and tranquil place.
Towering trees surrounded him, their verdant leaves whispering in the breeze. Around him stood a circle of massive mountains, their heights reaching far into the heavens, forming a natural enclosure. The landscape was stunning, teeming with life, brimming with a deceptive serenity that painted an idyllic picture of untouched nature.
But Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed with caution. He knew better than to trust the beauty of this place. In the Realm of Desolation, appearances were lies, and anything that seemed peaceful masked a deadly intent.
With deliberate movements, he began to survey his surroundings, every step taken with vigilance. His sharp senses remained on edge, scanning for the faintest sign of danger.
Then, a sudden chill pierced through the air. The aura of death surged, thick and suffocating, racing toward him with terrifying speed. Instinctively, Xiao Tian turned, his body tensing as the oppressive energy closed in like an unstoppable tide.
---
Xiao Tian swiftly summoned the Heavenly Will within him, forming an invisible barrier of divine energy to intercept the surging aura of death.
The attack was barely deflected, yet the strain caused cracks to appear in the foundation of his will. The shattering impact reverberated through his mind, inflicting excruciating pain as it siphoned away a portion of his Heavenly Will to sustain the defense. Without such a sacrifice, he knew he would have been utterly consumed.
"What... What kind of terrifying power is this?!" Xiao Tian muttered through gritted teeth, his heart pounding. "I must find the source of this attack before it strikes again!"
As he extended his Heavenly Will to scan his surroundings, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. A commanding figure descended from the skies, exuding a sense of regal dominance. The man's posture was perfect, his movements fluid and deliberate. Hovering approximately fifty meters ahead, the stranger locked eyes with Xiao Tian, his gaze unrelenting and filled with disdain.
The sheer pressure radiating from this figure froze Xiao Tian in place. Then recognition struck him like a thunderclap.
"What?! It... It can't be... The First Sacred Scion?!"
His voice trembled with disbelief. He could scarcely accept that he was face-to-face with the strongest of the Ten Sacred Scions—a cultivator unparalleled in power across the Ten Divine Domains. How had such a fateful encounter occurred? The randomness of this realm seemed cruel, and Xiao Tian's luck appeared to have run entirely dry.
"Could this be the work of the Heavenly Will?" Xiao Tian thought, his mind racing. Memories of his past trials surfaced, especially the battle on the Thunder Beast Mountain. The moment he slew the celestial thunderbird—a creature tied to the laws of the heavens—came to mind. Was this meeting some form of karmic retribution?
He clenched his fists as a sense of foreboding washed over him. "So, it seems the Heavenly Will hasn't forgotten… It's been silently orchestrating my downfall all along." His thoughts darkened as he pondered the ill fortune that seemed to plague him.
Pushing aside his despair, Xiao Tian focused his sharp gaze on the First Sacred Scion. He couldn't fathom what he might have done to incur the wrath of such a being. Why had he been attacked? What enmity could exist between them?
Xiao Tian's heart burned with both frustration and curiosity. His voice trembled inwardly as he resolved to uncover the truth. The Scion's disdainful expression only deepened Xiao Tian's confusion.
"Why… Why would someone of your stature target me?" he thought, his mind desperately searching for answers.
Suddenly, the First Sacred Scion spoke, his voice filled with contempt and disdain. Despite his outward appearance of elegance and composure—a figure admired by many as the pinnacle of refinement—his words betrayed the envy and malice festering within.
"You!" he spat venomously. "What trickery did you employ? Speak!"
His voice rose to a roar, filled with indignation. "Why?! Why was it not me? Why was I not the one chosen?!" His tone grew hoarse, seething with hatred. "You, a mere nobody, not even ranked among the top ten Sacred Scions. How dare you draw their gaze instead of me?!"
The intensity of his voice reverberated across the desolate land, carrying his wrath to the very heavens. He coughed violently, his anger boiling over as he glared at Xiao Tian with murderous intent.
Xiao Tian's face twisted in disgust. He could not fathom what he had done to incur such boundless hatred from the First Sacred Scion. The sheer intensity of his ire made it seem as though Xiao Tian had slain his parents and wiped out his clan.
"What in the world are you rambling about?" Xiao Tian shouted, his voice tinged with both anger and confusion. "What could I possibly have done to offend you, First Sacred Scion Long Tian? Do you feel no shame, targeting someone weaker than yourself? If you won't explain yourself clearly, even as a Sacred Scion, you have no right to act so absurdly. If they didn't choose you, then perhaps it's because they saw something greater in me!"
His words were like oil poured onto a raging fire. Long Tian's expression contorted with unbridled fury, his jealousy now laid bare.
"You dare!" Long Tian roared. "It's you who caught the eye of Elder Wen Tong! How? How did you manage to draw his favor? He wishes to take you as his disciple, yet he rejected me!"
Xiao Tian was momentarily stunned. "Elder Wen Dong?" he muttered under his breath, the name unfamiliar to him.
Seeing Xiao Tian's apparent ignorance, Long Tian's rage only deepened. "Don't feign innocence with me! Even though I am the First Sacred Scion, even with my unmatched talent, he dismissed me—me! Rejected three times because I 'lacked the qualifications.' Yet he deems you worthy? A nobody with no lineage or sacred domain to his name? This is an injustice beyond measure!"
Xiao Tian's mind raced as he processed the Scion's words. It dawned on him that Long Tian was consumed by a madness born of jealousy, his reason eclipsed by the unfairness he perceived.
"He's insane," Xiao Tian thought, a chill running down his spine. "In a perilous place like this, shouting like that will only attract high-level spirit beasts. This lunatic is going to get us both killed!"
With that, Xiao Tian made his decision. He had to escape. The moment Long Tian noticed the shift in Xiao Tian's stance, his voice thundered again.
"Dream on if you think you can escape! You'll die here, Xiao Tian! And once you're gone, I'll claim my rightful place as Elder Wen Tong's disciple!" Long Tian's laughter echoed, maniacal and unrestrained.
Xiao Tian's injuries were severe, the strain on his Will of Heaven and the loss of blood leaving him weak. Yet his resolve burned brighter than ever. Mobilizing every ounce of strength he had left, he activated a movement technique that harmonized his presence with the natural world. His body blurred, and he fled with all the speed he could muster, enhancing his physical and spiritual power by drawing upon the very essence of his origin.
He ran as though his life depended on it—because it did. There was no room for hesitation, no time for second thoughts. The gap between him and Long Tian wasn't just a difference of one cultivation realm but a chasm of foundational strength. Long Tian, who had cultivated for over thirty years, stood leagues ahead of Xiao Tian, whose journey had only spanned two decades.
For three grueling hours, Xiao Tian pushed his limits, weaving through the desolate landscape with unparalleled speed. Finally, he managed to shake off Long Tian. The First Sacred Scion's inability to sense Xiao Tian's presence left him fuming.
"Damn it!" Long Tian bellowed, his fury boiling over. His power erupted uncontrollably, devastating the surrounding area in a futile attempt to locate Xiao Tian. But no sign of life remained within a 300-meter radius.
His frustrated roar reverberated for miles, a cry of helpless rage. However, his reckless outburst soon attracted the attention of a Heaven-tier demonic beast—a Celestial Serpent of the Seventh Rank.
The ground trembled as the serpent's massive form began its approach, drawn by the echoes of Long Tian's wrath.
It wasn't long before Long Tian realized he was now completely surrounded by Celestial Serpents. Two were low-tier, while one was a mid-tier beast. Yet, he paid them no mind.
Consumed by wrath and a burning desire to vent his rage, Long Tian charged at the three Celestial Serpents without an ounce of fear.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The deafening sounds of explosions echoed across the land. Entire mountains trembled and crumbled under the shockwaves of their battle.
With both hands, Long Tian seized one of the low-tier Celestial Serpents and, with a furious roar, tore its body apart. His golden eyes burned with unbridled fury, and a golden aura enveloped his figure-an unmistakable sign of the Divine Aura.
This was the blessing of the Sacred Domain, granted to all Sacred Scions. But as the First Sacred Scion, Long Tian's Divine Aura was unparalleled, bolstering his will and physical strength far beyond the norm.
The tide of battle swiftly turned in his favor. Even the mid-tier Celestial Serpent could no longer pose a threat. Long Tian grabbed the massive beast and hurled it toward a towering mountain with devastating force.
Crash!
The serpent collided with the mountain, causing a landslide that buried it under tons of rubble. Yet, the mid-tier serpent was far from defeated. It slithered free with surprising speed, hissing in fury as it activated its innate beast technique-Venom Cascade.
A torrent of venom poured from the serpent's gaping maw, cascading like a poisonous waterfall. This venom was so potent it could corrode even high-tier formations.
The venom splashed onto Long Tian, disintegrating his garments into ash. But when it touched his skin, the serpent's eyes widened in shock. Not a single mark marred Long Tian's body.
It hesitated, utterly bewildered.
In that fleeting moment of hesitation, Long Tian appeared before it in an instant, his movements so swift they defied perception. His golden aura intensified as he infused it into his fist.
"Die."
With a single punch, he obliterated the mid-tier serpent's head, reducing it to nothing but a bloodied mist.
As the battle concluded, Long Tian descended slowly from the air, his golden aura radiating an oppressive majesty. His eyes glinted with cold malice as he murmured, "This time, you were lucky, Xiao Tian. But next time, there will be no escape for you."
He smirked cruelly and continued, "Once this trial ends, if I cannot deal with you here, I'll report this matter to the Sacred Domain. They will cleanse your entire clan, your sect, and every last one of your allies. None shall be spared!"
His voice was devoid of mercy, carrying the weight of a sinister promise. Then, his laughter echoed across the battlefield, wicked and unrestrained.
"Hahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!"
...
.....
....
After that...
Huff… Huff… Huff…
"Ah… I finally made it out alive…"
Xiao Tian spoke with a hoarse and exhausted voice. His body trembled from the strain of forcibly tapping into fragments of intent and origin power that he had yet to fully comprehend or control. The backlash was severe, leaving his will fractured and his internal injuries grave. For a moment, he had truly believed his life would end.
"To think that I would cross paths with the First Sacred Scion—someone so utterly deranged—it's beyond belief. Are all Sacred Scions this unhinged?"
His body ached, his wounds unbearable. "These injuries… I must focus on healing my internal damage first. The restoration of my intent can wait. At best, it will take me seven full days of recovery before I can even begin mending my fractured will."
He clenched his fists, determination flickering in his eyes. "I must master every technique I've ever studied. Without reaching true proficiency, I won't survive this ruthless Realm of Ruin."
Xiao Tian sat cross-legged and began consuming an array of elixirs, treasures, and spiritual herbs. Their potent energies flowed through his veins, strengthening his body and stabilizing his soul. Even as he focused on recovery, his mind drifted into the ethereal plane of intent, where he tirelessly refined his understanding of the myriad paths of Dao.
Understanding the countless Daos of this world, and even those beyond, was the key to unraveling the secrets of the multiverse. Only by grasping these truths could he ascend to a realm of enlightenment where his potential would be limitless.
And yet, his burden was immense. He sought to comprehend not just one or two Daos but all 3,000 paths simultaneously. The weight of such a monumental task bore down on him, but he refused to falter.
"This is nothing like the trials I faced in the Thunder Beast Mountain Range," he muttered to himself. "This calamity… it's not just a disaster. It's a predator. It hunts me, and if I fall, it will destroy not only me but also my sect and my family. The Sacred Scion's words were not idle threats."
A heavy sense of dread settled over Xiao Tian. The thought of his loved ones and allies being wiped out by the Sacred Domain filled him with despair. If such a fate were to come to pass, he would carry the weight of that guilt for eternity.
"No," he growled, his weak voice trembling with resolve. "I must grow stronger. I must gain mastery over the 3,000 Daos and unlock the true potential of every technique I've learned. Without this, I'll never escape the unrelenting dangers of this Realm of Ruin!"
His words, though soft and frail, radiated an unyielding determination. Xiao Tian could hardly believe the arduousness of the path he now walked. Though he had read countless tales of cultivators overcoming insurmountable odds in his previous life, experiencing it firsthand was something entirely different.
"The life of a cultivator…" he murmured, his gaze distant, "…is far more grueling than I could have ever imagined."
Yet, within his heart burned a steadfast resolve. This was his path, and no matter how treacherous, he would walk it to the end.
In this Realm of Ruin, nothing resembled the familiar order of other realms.
It was vast, unending, and directionless. The sky was void of sunlight, shrouded in eternal night, illuminated only by countless stars scattered like shards of a broken cosmos. Darkness prevailed, an oppressive gloom where not even a sliver of light could pierce through.
At the edges of this forsaken realm, four figures moved cautiously, their senses sharp as blades. They were none other than Xiao Tian's fellow sect members, led by Zhang Dalei.
The group consisted of Zhang Dalei, Xiao Hanyan, Xiao Shan, and Zhang Bai. Together, they traversed the shadowy terrain without the aid of torches. To wield light here would be to invite disaster, for the glow would act as a beacon, drawing the attention of the realm's demonic beasts and other predators lurking in the darkness.
"We must remain vigilant," Zhang Dalei whispered. "Even the weakest of demonic beasts here is at least at the seventh rank. With our meager cultivation at the sixth boundary of supernatural control, we're no match for even the frailest among them. If we encounter anything unusual, we retreat immediately."
The group nodded in agreement, their movements silent and deliberate.
After some time, their caution bore fruit—or peril. Before them lay a slumbering beast, towering at 2.5 meters tall. Its massive frame resembled that of a bear, yet its aura was far more menacing. Solitary and without a mate, the beast lay unguarded, presenting an opportunity too tempting to ignore.
"This is it," Zhang Dalei said, his voice a hushed command. "We strike together with all our might. Aim for the head. Focus your spiritual energy and physical power into a single blow. Understood?"
His companions nodded, their faces tense with determination. Zhang Dalei raised three fingers, lowering them one by one until none remained. At that moment, the four cultivators sprang into action, their attacks converging on the beast's head in a synchronized burst of overwhelming force.
Boom!
The resulting explosion shook the ground, the shockwave rippling outward. When the dust settled, the bear's head was obliterated, its massive body collapsing lifelessly.
Zhang Bai, catching sight of the gruesome aftermath, turned pale. Covering his mouth, he fought the nausea rising in his stomach but ultimately failed, retching before the group.
"Ugh… I can't…!"
Xiao Shan smirked, shaking his head. "Seriously? Just this much and you're already throwing up? How did you even survive the earlier trials? You're a disgrace to the sect."
Zhang Bai shot him a glare, though he refrained from arguing, knowing Xiao Shan meant no real harm.
The group quickly harvested the beast's valuable parts, carving away the edible flesh and storing it in their spatial rings. Zhang Dalei urged them to move swiftly. "We've drawn too much attention. If we linger, the other beasts will converge here, and we'll stand no chance against them."
As they departed, shadows stirred in the distance, and the lingering echoes of their battle faded into the void.
________
Elsewhere within the Realm of Ruin, the scene was strikingly different. Two young women sat by a campfire, chatting and laughing as if oblivious to the perils around them.
They were none other than the Ninth and Tenth Sacred Scions—Lan Xin and Mei Hua.
Unlike Zhang Dalei's group, these two showed no fear of attracting attention. They roasted beast meat over open flames, their expressions relaxed, savoring their meal.
"Hey," Mei Hua teased, "where did you learn such an incredible technique? Your cultivation base seems so much more stable now compared to the last time we met. Did you encounter some great fortune?"
Lan Xin smiled faintly. "I had the honor of meeting a benevolent individual who helped me refine my foundation. Without him, I wouldn't have achieved this stability. He's truly someone to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude."
Mei Hua raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "Oh? A benevolent individual, you say? What a shame it wasn't me! Tell me—was it a man?"
Lan Xin's cheeks reddened slightly. "From his voice, I believe he was a man. But I don't think of him in that way. He's simply my benefactor, nothing more."
Mei Hua laughed, her tone laced with mischief. "Oh, Lan Xin, could it be you've fallen for a mysterious stranger after just one encounter? My, how fast the heart moves!"
Lan Xin's face flushed deeper as she protested. "It's nothing like that! Don't be ridiculous!"
The two continued their banter, the firelight dancing in their eyes as laughter echoed through the darkness.
In this vast and boundless realm, known as the Realm of Ruin, lies a paradoxical beauty. Though it bears a name signifying decay, parts of the Realm still cradle lush forests, towering mountains, and flowing rivers, teeming with life that thrives just as humans do.
Yet, there are desolate lands where only peril reigns—a wilderness infested with ferocious demonic beasts of immense strength. Some regions are the dwelling places of Celestial Serpent Demons at the Intermediate and High Tier of the Seventh Realm, their sheer numbers staggering. As for the fabled Spirit Demon Deity, there has been no sign of its existence.
These beings are revered as the supreme entities of the realm of Ruin, the arbiters of life and death for all who dwell within its bounds. Only the unknowing outsiders remain untouched by their grasp. Sovereign and omnipotent, they see no worth in stooping to the affairs of lesser creatures under their dominion. They remain in seclusion, their abodes shrouded in mystery, said to be ancient relics from primordial times—so old that they predate even the birth of the Origin Universe itself.
Among the competitors, some choose to conceal themselves, hoping that mere survival might lead to an escape from this accursed realm. But such thoughts are the refuge of cowards. The sole path to liberation lies in comprehending the duality of existence within realm of Ruin. Without this understanding, they are doomed to eternal imprisonment within its confines.
Many have already fallen, and the number of participants, once 225, dwindles with each passing moment, their fates veiled in uncertainty.
The realm of Ruin is governed by three distinct epochs. The first, known as the Era of Cataclysm, is a time of nature's wrath and cosmic devastation. Tempests of unimaginable fury descend, and calamities from the infinite void of the starry heavens wreak havoc.
Thunderbolts of unparalleled destructive power crash down, annihilating any who have yet to ascend beyond the Seventh Realm of cultivation—a realm of supernatural mastery.
Even those at the Sixth Realm risk annihilation unless they possess divine physiques or bodies imbued with elemental resistance capable of enduring the wrath of the heavens. Occasionally, meteors rain down, adding to the chaos.
The second calamity is known as the Beast Calamity.
This disaster manifests through the hordes of Seventh Realm beasts, spanning from low-tier to high-tier, moving together in massive waves. These swarms, resembling an unstoppable tidal force, surge across the lands, consuming everything in their path. Beasts of all types—land, sea, and air—join this rampage, engaging in relentless battles that engulf entire regions. It is a grim tradition, a cycle of annihilation that repeats every hundred years, as if it were an unbreakable custom etched into the fabric of this realm.
The participants, initially numbering 225, were thrust into this world during the 96th year of the current cycle. Only four years remain until the next Beast Calamity descends. Should they fail to escape or comprehend the profound truths of duality within this kingdom, they will face an onslaught so merciless that survival itself will become an impossible dream.
The third calamity, however, is the most terrifying of all—a nightmare etched into the annals of the Kingdom of Ruin. Known as the Spirit Demon Deity Calamity, it heralds the arrival of the supreme entities of the realm.
These beings wield absolute dominion over life and death, altering the rules of existence itself to suit their will.
When they appear, the Spirit Demon Deities harvest the souls of the old to fuel their cultivation, siphoning the essence of countless beings. Despite their divine status, they too are cultivators—though their methods are far more brutal, incomprehensible, and alien compared to mortals. None can oppose them, for they stand at the pinnacle of power. Only two beings in the Intermediate Tier of the Eighth Realm remain active, tasked with overseeing these harrowing rituals. The true apex—those at the peak of the Eighth Realm—have not revealed themselves for countless eons, leading many to believe they have perished.
Survivors within the Realm of Ruin struggle desperately against this unrelenting tide of death. Some are devoured alive, their screams echoing through the desolation, yet no one dares to intervene. Treachery festers in the shadows as some resort to betrayal, killing their comrades to seize precious resources such as spiritual ores and veins of high-tier spirit stones. These treasures are vital for enhancing cultivation bases and deepening the comprehension of spiritual laws.
In this savage realm, betrayal and slaughter are not mere acts of desperation but raw expressions of human nature laid bare—a primal instinct no different from wild beasts.
As one year passes, then two, the cycle of bloodshed and treachery begins to wane, not out of mercy, but due to the dwindling number of survivors. The realm remains a theater of cruelty, its harsh trials grinding on with merciless indifference.
~~~
2 years and 4 months passed quickly...