The wind carried the scent of wet stone and decay. The Twilight Shadow Sect, once a cradle of martial promise, now stood as a mausoleum of lost ambition. But within its heart, two souls stirred fate anew.
Han Li gawked at his master—his posture regal, his gaze cold, his aura… terrifying.
"This… this isn't the same Master Shen Mo."
Before the boy could speak further, Shen Mo suddenly clutched his head.
A surge of unbearable pain shot through his skull.
"Argh!"
Memories and foreign energy clashed within him—then a cold mechanical voice echoed inside his mind:
[Demonic Sovereign Sect System Binding… Complete.][Welcome, Host: Vareth the Eternal Night.][Objective: Rebuild the Supreme Sect and Dominate the Nine Heavens.][Current Sect Rank: F- (Dying)][Current Members: 2 (1 Sect Master, 1 Mortal Disciple)][Available Functions: Disciple Recruitment | Sect Construction | Inheritance Vault | Mission Hall | World Domination Roadmap (Locked)]
Shen Mo's lips curled into a sinister smile.
"A system, is it? The heavens truly fear my return."
In his previous life, he carved an empire with nothing but his own blood and soul. Now, the world had handed him a divine tool to accelerate his conquest.
"Very well… Let us begin the rise."
The system spoke again:
[Quest Unlocked: First Flame]"Train Han Li to Foundation Establishment Realm within 30 days."Reward: Sect Contribution Points x100, Inheritance Slot Unlock, Basic Sect Expansion Blueprint.
Shen Mo turned to Han Li.
"How long have you been stuck at Body Refining stage one?"
"T-Two years, Master... I just can't seem to circulate Qi past the first meridian…"
Shen Mo placed a hand on the boy's back. Han Li froze—then screamed as a wave of demonic Qi invaded his meridians, tearing through blockages like wildfire.
"Stop whining. Weakness doesn't deserve pity. You want to become strong?"
"Y-Yes…!"
"Then survive this."
The boy collapsed, convulsing—but the system chimed again:
[Han Li has broken through to Body Refining Stage Three.]
Han Li gasped, blinking through the tears. Strength surged in his veins for the first time in years. His eyes widened with awe.
"M-Master…!"
"I merely lit the spark. You will stoke your own fire." Shen Mo turned away. "We begin training tomorrow at dawn. Prepare yourself to crawl through the abyss."
Han Li nodded furiously, joy battling fear in his heart.
Shen Mo raised his hand, and a black flame coiled around his fingers. He looked toward the broken training ground and the shattered spirit well.
"I need resources. Followers. Talent."
He opened the system panel.
[Disciple Recruitment Initiated.][Searching for Destined Talents…][Scanning Region: Azure Sky Continent – Outer Provinces…]
"Array Master… Alchemy Master… Beast Tamer… Dual Sword Genius… One by one, I will find you. You will kneel before me. And together, we shall shake the heavens."
As darkness fell, a strange phenomenon swept through the mortal lands—certain cultivators, hermits, and misfits across the continent suddenly felt a subtle pull in their hearts, as though something ancient and terrible had begun to stir.
Some would ignore it.
Some would seek it.
And some would be dragged to it.