In the highest chamber of the Black Rain Sect, candles flickered despite the absence of wind. The room was silent—deadly silent.
Until the massive jade door creaked open.
A trembling elder knelt to the floor.
"Sect Master Zhao… he's back."
At first, no response came.
Zhao Tian sat cross-legged in meditation, a golden flame hovering between his hands, pulsing with sinister rhythm. His long, dark hair shimmered with spiritual energy. His expression… unreadable.
"Who?" he finally asked.
"Lin Fan," the elder whispered.
"He rode into the sect on a Shadowfang Leopard… crushed Senior Disciple Zhou Yang with a single blow."
Silence again.
Then—CRACK!
The floor beneath Zhao Tian splintered as his spiritual pressure erupted like a volcanic blast. The jade tiles hissed and cracked, unable to withstand the sudden rage.
"He was dead."
"We buried him ourselves."
The elder dared not lift his head. "Y-yes, but… something's changed. He's far stronger. He didn't even hide himself. He wanted us to know—he's back."
Zhao Tian stood. His eyes gleamed like molten obsidian.
"Then it's time we remind him… what happens to traitors."
Meanwhile, in the inner sanctum, another figure listened from the shadows—Mu Qing, the sect's top-ranked inner disciple and Zhao Tian's closed-door student.
Unlike his master, Mu Qing wasn't angry.
He was… curious.
"Rise from the dead, gain power from it… interesting."
"Lin Fan… what are you, really?"
At the same time, Lin Fan stood atop the mountain peak just outside the sect walls. The Shadowfang Leopard sat beside him, purring like a cat.
The wind blew his robes. His gaze pierced the horizon.
System Notification:
[Rebirth Cooldown: 2 days remaining]
[Next Death Bonus: 10x stat amplification + Skill Copy x1]
"Two more days…"
He clenched his fists.
"Then I'll kill myself again. And when I return—"
"Even Zhao Tian will kneel."