Jin Zhen stood silently at the peak of Blackcloud Mountain, the wind howling against his robes like the voices of spirits. Below, the Crimson Eclipse Sect buzzed with activity — disciples training, spirit beasts tamed, and farms brimming with vitality. Yet his gaze wasn't on them. It pierced the distance, toward the rising smoke beyond the Verdant River.
Another village had been attacked.
Not by demonic beasts.
Not by bandits.
But by cultivators.
"The Silver Moon Pavilion grows bolder," he muttered, hands behind his back.
[System Notification: Threat proximity detected – Tier 3 Organization within 200 miles.]
[SP Recommendation: Upgrade Sect Defense Arrays – Cost: 400 SP.]
He smirked. "No need. I have something better."
[SP Used – 250 SP: Summoning Ritual – Crimson Obsidian Golem Initiated.]
With a faint shimmer in the air, a massive blood-red magic circle formed behind him. The sky dimmed, and the mountain trembled. From the ground, cracks spread as something clawed its way up — a towering golem, its body forged from obsidian laced with crimson veins that pulsed with malevolent energy.
"Guard the eastern border. Kill anything not bearing my mark," he ordered.
The golem bowed with mechanical precision before leaping down the cliff, shaking the earth with each step.
Down in the valley, Elder Yao approached hurriedly, sweat trailing down his bald head. "Sect Master! Urgent report from our outer disciples!"
"Speak."
"A scouting team near the Weeping Willow Forest encountered an envoy from the Pavilion. They left a message… carved into one of our disciples."
Jin Zhen's eyes narrowed.
"What did it say?"
Elder Yao hesitated, then recited with a grim tone, "'The moon always eclipses the sun.'"
For a moment, silence.
Then, Jin Zhen chuckled.
"Cute."
---
Elsewhere, within a lavish palace adorned with silver silk banners and moonstone floors, a woman draped in white robes sat on a crystal throne. Her hair flowed like moonlight, and her eyes gleamed with cold detachment.
"Has the Crimson Overlord responded yet?" she asked, voice like ice.
One of her retainers bowed. "We believe he summoned a Tier 5 Obsidian Construct. It decimated our spy nests in the Greenblight region."
She frowned. "He moves fast. But let's see how long he dances before the moonlight."
---
Back in the Crimson Eclipse Sect, Jin Zhen walked through the flourishing fields. Villagers now cultivated spiritual grains, and the new irrigation arrays tripled their harvests. Children ran past him, bowing awkwardly.
"Young Lord Jin!" cried one, holding a glowing radish. "It's shining again!"
"That means it's full of Qi. Good work," Jin Zhen said, patting the boy's head.
A nearby cultivator-in-training watched in awe. "Isn't he… a dark cultivator?"
Jin Zhen overheard and turned, smiling faintly.
"I'm many things," he said. "A farmer when needed, a tyrant when provoked."
---
Inside the Hall of Shadows, Jin Zhen gathered his inner circle: Elder Yao, Lin Yue (his now overpowered assistant and former village girl), and Wu Rong — his most bloodthirsty enforcer.
"The Silver Moon Pavilion wants war. We'll give them one," he declared, snapping open a map.
"Yue, how are our spiritual crops?"
"Better than expected. We have a surplus. I suggest trading it to neutral sects. Spread influence, and sow doubt."
He nodded. "Do it. Yao, what's the state of our formations?"
"We upgraded to the Dual Serpent Array. Can hold against Core Formation invaders now."
Wu Rong grunted. "Why wait? Let's burn their border village to ash."
"Tempting," Jin Zhen mused. "But we'll play the long game. Let's break them with kindness, strangle them with generosity."
They all looked confused.
He continued, "We'll send supplies to their 'allied' sects. Offer healing pills. Cultivation manuals. Overwhelm them with our benevolence."
Yue clapped in delight. "So evil… in the most righteous way!"
---
Later that night, under the crimson moon, Jin Zhen stood alone in the sect's Forbidden Chamber — the place where his System had first awakened.
He extended his hand.
[Status Check: Jin Zhen]
– Cultivation Realm: Late Nascent Soul
– Body Constitution: Crimson Tyrant Vessel (Unique – 100% Sync)
– Talent Level: Heaven Defying (9-Star)
– SP: 4,800
– Cultivation Techniques: Crimson Hell Scripture, Demonic Lotus Rebirth
– Special Items: Blood Monarch Ring, Forbidden Heaven Slab (Sealed)
– Sect Influence: Regional Dominance – Tier B
– Followers: 243 Disciples (32 Elite, 4 Core)
– Assets: 680,000 Spirit Stones, 7 Rare Artifacts, 1 Tier-5 Spiritual Mine
"Time to spend some points…"
[SP Used – 2,000 SP: Skill Acquisition – Shadow Clone Arts (Advanced Version).]
[SP Used – 300 SP: Sect Upgrade – Spirit Beast Taming Yard (Auto-Functioning).]
[SP Remaining: 2,500.]
His body shuddered as the new technique integrated into his soul. Shadows split from him, forming mirror images with 70% of his power.
"Oh… this will be fun."
He clenched his fist, and the shadows vanished into smoke.
---
At dawn, while standing at the eastern gate, he saw them — a caravan of cloaked figures escorted by armored cultivators.
Jin Zhen's voice boomed, "Visitors to my sect. State your purpose."
The lead figure raised her hood. "We come with offerings and a proposal."
She was beautiful, eyes burning with silver fire — an emissary of the Pavilion?
Or bait?
Jin Zhen raised an eyebrow, lips curling into a grin.
"Then come. But beware… every proposal has a price."