The sky was weeping blood.
Dark crimson clouds churned above the shattered mountain range as thunder rumbled like the drums of an impending war. Amid the carnage stood a figure, bloodied, half his robes torn to shreds, but his back was straight, and his gaze—burning.
Vạn Thiên Phong had survived. Again.
Around him lay the remains of the Soul Reaping Sect's ambush: elite assassins, their lifeless bodies littering the ground like broken dolls. He had been cornered, outnumbered, poisoned, and nearly shattered… yet here he stood, breathing heavily, sword dragging behind him, its blade chipped but still thirsty for blood.
"They sent twelve Heaven Ascension cultivators… just to kill me?" he muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. "I'm flattered."
A soft laugh echoed behind him.
From the shadows, Bạch Tiêu Nhiên stepped forward, her expression unreadable, eyes glowing like twin frost moons. Her white robes were untouched by the chaos, pristine as ever. But Vạn Thiên Phong knew better—she had watched the entire fight.
"You're bleeding," she said quietly.
"I'm always bleeding," he replied with a smirk. "But not dead. Yet."
She approached, extended a hand. He thought it was to help him stand, but instead, she reached into her sleeve and pulled out a jade vial. "Drink. You look like hell."
He raised an eyebrow but accepted it. The elixir tasted like fire and metal, burning down his throat, but immediately, his wounds began to knit together, and strength returned to his limbs.
"Thanks," he said. "Though, you could've helped. You know, during the part where they were trying to gut me."
"You said you didn't need help."
"I lied."
"I know. But now you've proven you can survive even that. You needed this fight. To grow."
Vạn Thiên Phong stared at her. "You're cruel."
"You chose this path, remember? The path of the villain. The world won't show you mercy—why should I?"
He chuckled, despite the pain. "Remind me again why I'm not killing you?"
She leaned in, eyes dangerously close. "Because you can't decide if you want to kill me or kiss me."
His heartbeat skipped.
Before he could reply, a golden light burst from the sky. Both of them turned. In the distance, beyond the mountains, a pillar of divine light erupted, piercing the heavens.
Vạn Thiên Phong's eyes narrowed. "That's… the Celestial Tomb. It's opened."
"So soon?" Bạch Tiêu Nhiên frowned. "That's months ahead of schedule."
"Which means… fate is shifting again."
He tightened his grip on the sword.
The tomb was rumored to hold the legacy of an ancient Immortal Emperor—his true past. Secrets. Power. Maybe even the truth about why the heavens themselves seemed determined to erase him.
He turned to Bạch Tiêu Nhiên. "We're going. Now."
She nodded. "And what if others get there first? The Four Sacred Clans won't sit idle."
He smirked, blood still dripping from his chin. "Then I'll just have to kill faster."
As they disappeared into the wind, heading toward the tomb, the skies crackled louder—as if the world sensed the storm about to descend.
—End of Chapter 21—