The Spirit Core Vault's outer perimeter had collapsed into chaos.
Burned vegetation, shattered stone, and beast corpses littered the battlefield. The wind here no longer howled—it shrieked, carrying flecks of scorched bone dust that bit into skin like knives. A strange pressure saturated the area, one that made ordinary cultivators tremble just by breathing.
But Li Xuan stood in the heart of it, unbending.
His saber rested across his shoulder, half of its gleaming edge now darkened with dried blood. His robes were torn. Cuts lined his arms, and his body reeked of smoke, battle, and the weight of countless kills.
System:
—Spirit Core Vault Zone: 19% Explored—
—Danger Level: High—
—Detected: Three enemy cultivators (Inner Sect Rank) approaching—
—Warning: Spirit Beast "Bone Flayer Centipede" awakening below surface—
Li Xuan's lips curled faintly. "Can't I get a moment to breathe?"
A rumble shook the cracked stone beneath him, and in the same moment, a trio of disciples burst through the treeline—two men, one woman—all clad in blood-dyed sect robes. They were strong, fast, and confident—until they saw him.
The woman's expression twisted. "That's him…"
The taller of the two men drew a curved halberd. "Li Xuan. Demon of the Outer Circle."
"Wrong," Li Xuan said, stepping forward. "Protector of the damned."
—Combat Initiated—
The halberd roared through the air, imbued with Qi. Li Xuan didn't block. He twisted his frame, the blade grazing past, and struck with his elbow into the man's ribs. A crack echoed—the ribs fractured—and he followed with an upward slash.
Blood exploded skyward.
The second man came in harder, faster. A spear thrust aimed straight at Li Xuan's throat. This time, he blocked.
Steel clanged violently as Executioner met the spearhead. Sparks flew. The ground cracked beneath them.
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed—then he spun with the force, redirecting the impact, and ducked low. His knee shattered the man's shin. Another twist, and the saber cleaved through his shoulder.
Only the woman remained.
She didn't attack. She tried to run.
Li Xuan didn't chase her. Phantom Step surged, and he was already in front of her. She froze.
But instead of striking her down, he stopped—barely a foot away.
"I don't waste strength killing insects that flee," he said. "Next time, bring a real threat."
She collapsed to her knees, breathless.
System:
—+3 Human Kills. System EXP +22—
—Current EXP: 442 / 500—
Then the ground ruptured.
The Bone Flayer Centipede emerged.
Ten meters long. Dozens of blade-like legs. Bone-white carapace steaming with poison mist. Its roar was more vibration than sound—shaking the very marrow of his bones.
System:
—Spirit Beast Detected: Bone Flayer Centipede—
—Threat Level: Severe—
—Escape Probability: 18%—
—Survival Probability: 27%—
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed.
But instead of fear… he grinned.
"Let's dance."
—
The battle with the centipede was madness incarnate.
Its legs were faster than arrows. Its carapace deflected steel. Its tail lashed like a whip forged from metal.
Li Xuan ducked, rolled, spun.
He used terrain. Trees. Craters. Smoke from the earlier battle. His every strike aimed at joints and cracks in the armor. He pushed his perception to its peak, reading the beast's movement before it even twitched.
Still—it wasn't enough.
One leg slashed across his side. Blood flew.
The tail clipped his shoulder. Bone cracked.
The centipede reared up, preparing a final, crushing dive. But instead of retreating, Li Xuan hurled Executioner into the beast's jaw—and charged forward, jumping onto the creature.
He scaled it with raw strength and desperation, drawing his backup saber from his back, then rammed it into the softer neck-joint at the head.
The beast shrieked.
He screamed with it, pouring every drop of power he had into that thrust.
Then… silence.
The centipede spasmed. Then collapsed in a heap of steaming death.
System:
—Spirit Beast Killed: Bone Flayer Centipede—
—EXP +51 (High Threat Bonus Included)—
—Level Up! EXP: 0 / 600—
—New Trait Unlocked: Predator's Pressure (Passive)—
—All enemies below your cultivation suffer minor fear upon first clash.—
Li Xuan fell to one knee, gasping.
Covered in cuts. Breathing blood. But grinning.
He'd almost died—but he had won.
Again.
—
Later, as he bandaged himself beside a flickering spirit fire, another notification rang out.
System:
—Ancient Memory Fragment Absorbed—
—Source: Warlord Heiyun, Slayer of Kings—
—Memory Condensed: New Shop Items Unlocked—
Available for Purchase:
—Bone-Forging Tempering Method – 180 SP
—Battle Insight: Reactive Saber Flow – 220 SP
—Blood Resonance Technique – 300 SP
System Points: 113 / 600
Li Xuan exhaled slowly. "So even warlords are feeding me now."
He leaned against the stone, watching the sky.
"I won't rely on you forever, System. But I'll use every tool… until I surpass even the heavens."
He didn't notice the shadow approaching from behind until it spoke.
"You really don't know how to rest, do you?"
It was her again—the annoying girl from the Alchemy Palace, Yue Qingru.
"How did you find me?" he asked.
"I didn't. I just followed the blood."
He groaned.
"I'm not joining your legion," she added quickly. "But I might let you owe me a healing pill."
He ignored her, but didn't tell her to leave.
Some pests weren't worth the energy of swatting.
—
Cultivation Status: Late Qi Condensation – Peak (0 / 600 EXP)
System Points: 113 / 600
Techniques: Phantom Step, Kill Instinct (Passive), Predator's Pressure (Passive)
Weapon: Heaven-Shearing Executioner
New Trait: Predator's Pressure
Shop Update: Warlord Memory Unlocked
Companion: None (Yue Qingru Unofficially Following)
Legion Members: 3 (All Rejected Outer Circle Trash)
Reputation: Demon of the Outer Circle / Protector of the Broken
Academy Status: Outer Disciple (Under Watch)