A shiver rippled through, Tian Mo it had a similar feeling, that resonated deep within dredging up memories of his village calm before its destruction…
Did the people come to finish their destruction, or is this where they live?
Xing Lin chest tightened, his fists clenched involuntarily, his gaze even flicked toward Tian Mo, with a mixture of anger and frustration. 'This boy...going to drag me down with him.'
While in thought slowly, a foreboding qi that approached, one that sent chills coursing through they spines.
Why now? Why here? I've stayed low, avoided unnecessary attention. Why does trouble always find me? Xing Lin, felt a thorn in his side.
The booming voice source, soon revealed itself, a middle-aged man, no older than forty-eight, stepped into their view.
His curly brown hair, streaked with gray, framed an unsettlingly symmetrical face. Beady gray eyes scrutinized them, his gaze sharp enough to flay their defenses, it's intensity made their skin crawl, his attire mirrored Xing Lin in style dark ash gray with faint crimson accents.
Notably, crimson lines traced the edges of his sleeves and collar. A larger, glowing green sect emblem adorned his left chest.
His wide, dark belt bore faint, intricate runic patterns. It was showing his rank in the sect.
Xing Lin stiffened, stepping forward, his fists cupped tightly. "Elder Pan Hai," he said through gritted teeth.
Elder Pan Hai's eyes narrowed, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smirk. He could smell the deceit, on Xing Lin like blood in the water.
This was something that something that Xing Lin didn't want happen, it would bring a storm replacing his he liked as outer dicple away from attention and grow on his own.
Xing Lin mind raced, Doubt gnawed at him. I've covered my tracks. No one should know about the resources I took from the other courtyard. Why is he here?
Behind him, Tian Mo trembled, he looked at Elder Pan Hai. His steps faltered as a wave of terror overcame him, making him stumbled backward. At the same time his gaze darted between Elde Pan Hai and Xing Lin.
'A demon…here already there both dressed the same…is Xing Lin a demon two' he wondered.
The Elder Pan Hai gaze pinned Tian Mo in place, sharp and dissecting, as though peeling away his thoughts and soul layer by layer. It baffled he never felt anything like this before. 'It's like he can see everything… Is this what demons do?'
There were many types of demons, each belonging to a vast and diverse race with countless variations in appearance. Some bore sharp horns and armor-like bodies.
These type they were they first in the world been the strongest and weakest multiple eras.
For instance, over time demons grew into a race as expansive as humanity, their influence woven deeply into the fabric of existence. Despite their fearsome origins, even the mightiest of Elders, like Pan Hai, could take on forms that were deceptively human.
Earlier, Elder Pan Hai moved through the courtyard, scanning the yard. Because complaints had reached his ears a disturbance that demanded his attention.
He started stroking his medium-length beard, flecked with silver, before finally speaking, his voice deep and laced with authority. "Human, what are you doing here?"
Tian Mo felt the elder's eyes bore into him, an invasive sensation like claws digging into his very essence. He shivered under the scrutiny, exposed and powerless.
Xing Lin remained silent. Any wrong word could spell disaster. He decided to wait for Eldr Pan Hai, to direct the conversation hoping to avoid unnecessary attention.
"Xing Lin, you know the rules. Outer disciples cannot create their own soul puppets."
Outer disciples were the lowest of all disciples in the soul sect so they can't do alot, still there divisions of what can be done. In fact dicples had the opportunity to help the sect handle it's external affairs, In contrast to the inner disciples.
In short, making your own soul puppets, doesn't start until you are a inner disciple.
Hearing his name Xing Lin felt inescapable. Panic flashed briefly in his eyes, he quickly masked it. "No, Elder, you've misunderstood. I found this boy in the sect," He had to find his way out to his won't get punished.
Elder Pan Hai began to close the distance between them, each step accompanied by a looming ominous jn the air. The oppressive air seemed to dim the light around them shrouding them in a crimson-tinged haze, Like a shadow passing through the mist.
"Boy," Elder Pan Hai hissed, his clawed hand extending toward Tian Mo, "you dare trespass into this sect? You seek death."
In a blur, Elder Pan Hai clawed hand gripped Tian Mo's neck, lifting him effortlessly. Tian Mo kicked and clawed, his vision blurring, but the elder's iron grip didn't budge.
As the results, memories of his village corpses, flames, and hollow-eyed monsters flooded his mind. Am I going to die like them?… Useless?
Elder Pan Hai leaned closer, his sharp black teeth glinted as he smirked. "Fascinating. You don't even know what you are, do you? A fragile human with a soul that burns like a dying ember."
Tian Mo struggled to speak. A overwhelming sense of dread overtake him. "Let me go… I'll leave."
Elder Pan Hai claws brushed Tian Mo temples, drawing a faint glimmers of qi that made him shudder. A chill seeped into him it felt alien and vile.
On the side, Xing Lin's breath hitched. Soul probing—a dangerous, invasive technique that could strip someone of their deepest secrets. It was a dangerous and invasive method.
He even took a step forward to help, then stopped. What can I even do? If I act, I'll just make it worse for both of us. The air grew thick with tension in his thought doubtgnawedat him. 'I brought him here. If he dies, it's my fault. Damn it all.'
He also felt it was to late for Tian Mo.
At that moment, Elder Han Pai wasn't done. He released Tian Mo abruptly, letting him collapse to the ground, gasping for breath.
He tried to run away, instead finding himself frozen in place, his heart loudly over his voice. "Stop… What are you doing to me?"
"Tell me, boy," Elder Pan Hai said, his tone quieter, but no less menacing, "Where did you come from? Who taught you to survive this long?"
Tian Mo hesitated, glaring at Elder Pan Hai. He knew he had no where to go now even if Elder Pan Hai was to go to the go village it probably was to destroyed. Right now he was wary of his release.
Why is he suddenly sparing me? He had a hint of doubt about him.
Despite the waves of fear he felt, he managed to push words past his trembling lips. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a villager… My home was destroyed, and I… I ended up here."
Elder Pan Hai's smirk widened. "A mere villager? Spare me the lies. No human stumbles into the Dark Demon Realm by accident. Your presence here… is no coincidence."
More precisely, is that everyone knew that it's almost impossible to enter the sect through walking because your souls will be destroyed by its power or be absorbed Into the molten lave of essence.
So to toy with Tian Mo and assert dominance, Elder Pan Hai unleashes a small portion of his power from his finger tips. The air around them grew heavy and spectral shapes of writhing souls writhed in the air.
"Do you see, boy? This is the power of the eternal soul sect you've trespassed upon. Now Tell me about your village. Tell me what happened before it burned. If you're useful, I might spare you or even grant you power beyond your wildest dreams."
Tian Mo's breathe steadied in place of conficlted, even tho power the elder showed was weaker than what cane from the god and demon who destroyed his village it was still scary and sure enough to kill him.
But what interested him was the.
Eternal Soul Sect…
The Soul Palace is one of the powers of the thirty-two Territories, a great power due to possessing a variety of Soul Cultivators.
That it's one of the three powers a first grade sect, being known for its powerful soul-based cultivator. He had heard rumors about the sect, about the demons that roamed these halls like kings.
Ultimately, now standing before one, feeling the weight of his presence, Tian Mo knew the stories were not just tales to scare children. During that time it was fairy tale he didn't think it would be real.
"You think I'd join monsters like you? I'd rather die."
Even right now I finally have a chance to fight a demon however I'm useless what was I thinking if to take revenge. He was still conflicted cause he thought he was out to die.
Elder Pan Hai chuckled. "Brave words for one so powerless. But I'm feeling generous today. Join our sect, or die. Think carefully, boy. Perhaps I'll even turn your corpse into a puppet to amuse myself."
Tian Mo's eyes darted back and forth between Elder Pan Hai and Xing Lin. 'I can't become a demon… the very thing that killed my family… But how will I get revenge? I'm powerless… against the strength of a demon's power,' he reflected. He knew all too well the destruction demon power could bring and how both demons and gods were universally despised in the world.
Elder Pan Hai could feel the internal struggle that waged within Tian Mo, and it thrilled him. So much conflict. So much weakness. His eyes gleamed as he watched Tian Mo's hesitation, knowing the boy was trapped in his own choices.
"To walk the path of the reaper." Tian Mo murmured, he felt a glimmer of hope.
Tian Mo realized what he really must do to have his revenge to become his killers he already thought of the side effects. Unlike regular cultivation practices which use of qi, stored in the Dantian of all species, demonic cultivation manipulates resentful energy.
Before, he knew what was cultivation and did want to do it because the only use is the process of improving health, increasing longevity, and growing powerful. Usually, the ultimate goal of cultivation is to become an immortal or attain godhood.
However, he didn't want that which is why he wanted to stay in the village. He decied to make choice that can bring, a battle for survival.
"Alright I'm willing to become a demon" Tian Mo said, disdain in his tone. This time it was different he needed it.
Elder Pan Hai grin was predatory. "Good…I hope you know what you just agreed to"
Xing Lin eyes widened in shock. He had expected resistance from Tian Mo, defiance even. But to see Tian Mo willingly embrace the sect's darkness… it unsettled him.
'He's just like them now… like I almost became.' He reflected, a flicker of regret crossing his face. He had once walked a similar path, tempted by power and survival, but he had managed to keep a part of himself untouched. He wondered. Would Tian Mo do the same, or would the sect's corruption consume him entirely?
Indeed, no humans really wants to be a demon, however there are always those who want it for power and not live like other humans.
'From now, his nature will change. Essence, energy, and soul were the three treasures that comprised a human being—the life vigor of an individual. Essence was vitality, the power of the bloodline, the very foundation of the mortal body… this demonic essence will slowly corrupt his body.' Xing Lin thought
Remembering how he too had once teetered on the edge of corruption. He had managed to remain normal for years, but there had been one moment when everything changed...
Not only...there were many danger. This was the road that cultivator had to take. Although it couldn't be said to be taking the entire world as an enemy, a cultivator would inevitably run into increasingly formidable adversaries. One had to step on their corpses to walk forwards, or otherwise be stepped on by them instead, dying and paving the road for them.
Tian Mo's fists clenched it was his body buring, and his soul screaming for revenge, yet a small voice deep inside him hesitated. Was this the path he was willing to walk? A path that would leave no room for mercy or compassion? A path that would reshape him into something... unrecognizable?
His shoulders slumped down. "Yes I know i thought about it…even I were to leave here I will very much quickly die without any stenght."
'What does it mean to be human? Is it the blood that runs through our veins, or is it the choices we make our convictions? If I become this thing, will I still recognize myself in the mirror, or will the reflection show a monster?'
Tian Mo experience it mutiple time slowly realized the bad he heard outside his village.
In this universe, it was the law of the jungle, the strong devour the weak. If one was weaker, than they would perish under a stronger breed. These were the cruel and callous rules of the world.
"Alright, from now your a member of the eternal soul sect you will have to stay here in the outer court yard until your strong enought to enter the inner." Elder Pan Hai announced.