After the Trials, silence gripped the Hollow Bone Sect like a suffocating fog. Not even the birds dared chirp atop the scorched arena walls.
Kael Draven, once literal trash, had rewritten the hierarchy.
From slave to ranked #1—without spiritual energy, without technique, without allies. No one understood how.
But everyone felt it:
A storm had entered their world.
And he wore no mask.
Invitation to Madness
Kael stood before the gates of the Inner Sect Pavilion, where a new robe was shoved into his hands by a trembling attendant.
"Y-Your uniform, s-senior disciple."
Kael examined it—a pristine black and gold set, marked with the elite dragon-bone insignia of the inner circle.
"Hm. Fancy. For worms."
He tossed it over one shoulder and walked shirtless through the gates.
Whispers followed him like shadowy ghosts:
"He doesn't even wear the robe properly…"
"Did you hear? He crushed Zhou Min with a single move!"
"How can he rank #1 with no cultivation?"
"He looked at me and I forgot my sect technique…"
Kael didn't care.
The path to power wasn't about rules.
It was about rewriting them.
Welcome Banquet of Hidden Knives
That night, the Inner Sect Hall glittered with jade lanterns and polished spirit wine. Elders sat in observation while senior disciples boasted, flattered, and plotted. Women wore sheer silks. Men flashed their techniques.
Kael sat alone.
Drinking water.
Staring.
Saying nothing.
That made him the most terrifying person in the room.
"Brother Kael!" a honeyed voice chimed.
Enter Yu Meilin, the #2 disciple. Her curves were carefully accentuated, her smile tailored to disarm.
She poured Kael wine.
"You must be tired. Let this humble sister offer—"
"You're plotting to poison me within three moves."
She froze.
Kael took the wine, poured it on the floor, and crushed the cup beneath his boot.
"Try again. But prettier."
Gasps.
Yu Meilin flushed. Then giggled.
"So cold. I like that."
Meanwhile: Elder Han's Chambers
"His presence destabilized the spirit array…"
"Even the artifact core trembled when he entered."
Elder Han stared into the fire.
"We need to test him. Subtly. If he's a demon… he'll devour pressure."
"What if he's something worse?"
Elder Han's wife entered the room with a tray of wine.
She placed it gently beside her husband.
Then lingered.
"You're staring too hard at flames," she said. "Maybe you should study shadows."
Next Morning: Inner Sect Arena
Kael was challenged four times before breakfast.
He accepted all of them.
Won every fight.
The arena had to be reinforced.
The fourth challenger, a dual elementalist, was crushed under Kael's boot—his two elements forcibly fused until his veins exploded.
"This is absurd," whispered one elder.
"He doesn't cultivate. But he evolves mid-combat. He learns your moves as you make them."
[Chaos Trait: Adaptive Reflection - Lv. 2 unlocked.]
Kael left the arena yawning.
Elder's Secret Summons
That evening, a scroll was slipped under his door.
Golden ink. Ancient seal.
"You are summoned by Elder Mo. Midnight. Hall of Withering Jade."
Kael smirked.
"Let's dance."
Midnight: Hall of Withering Jade
Candles floated like ghosts above the jade floor.
Elder Mo stood tall, flanked by four veiled female disciples and two array masters.
"Kael Draven. You are too dangerous to leave untested."
"Then test me."
The array activated. A massive illusion formed—Kael's own death scene at the hands of Elandra, Empress of Time.
He watched himself die.
Then grinned.
"This memory? Cute. Here's a revision."
[Chaos Pulse: Illusion Rewrite Initiated.]
In the illusion, Kael caught the blade of time. Ripped it apart. Shoved it down Elandra's throat.
The illusion exploded.
The female disciples fainted.
The array masters bled from their eyes.
Elder Mo took one step back.
"What… are you?"
Kael approached.
"I'm what happens when you exile the future into a trash heap."
"I'm what your ancestors warned you about."
He stopped inches from the elder.
"And I haven't even started yet."
Back at His Quarters
[New Title Unlocked: Inner Sect Demon]
[Effect: All enemies below your level lose 10% combat accuracy within 10 meters.]
[Chaos Points: 47. System Upgrade Available.]
[Do you wish to upgrade your core trait? Y/N]
Kael: "Yes."
[Upgrading… Adaptive Reflection → Predatory Insight Lv. 1]
New Effect: Your body memorizes all techniques seen once and develops counters automatically.]
Kael looked out the window.
Clouds churned above the sect.
"Let's see how long it takes… before the whole world adapts to me."