Mingyin scratched his chin and let out a low sigh, his gaze fixed on the mountain ahead. Soul-forced energy swirled around its peaks, a dangerous aura that seemed to pulse with life.
He had never imagined stepping into the mountain. It was far too dangerous. Yet hesitation was a luxury he could not afford.
Mingyin's mind raced. He had no time to dwell on fear or caution. Awakening his soul-force energy was essential—he needed it to survive. After all, he was the only mortal here. Around him were immortals whose strength alone could terrify even the most seasoned cultivators.
He had to act quickly. Food was a necessity, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time. Now, with peak-level artists appearing in the area, Mingyin had to stay even more alert than before.
Despite the danger, Mingyin allowed himself a small smile. With careful planning and cunning, he could maneuver through this. But countless greedy cultivators swarmed the mountain, and the six realms within it were far deadlier than anything outside.
He would need strategy, deception, and patience to survive. For now, he relied on a carefully faked aura, manipulating his presence to appear harmless. In truth, if a true battle erupted, he would stand no chance.
Mingyin pressed a hand to his chest, acknowledging the truth he rarely admitted even to himself: humans fear failure, and he was no different, even with billions of regressions at his disposal.
Sitting down on a patch of grass, he roasted a carp fish he had caught, devouring it hungrily while sipping water from his gourd. Once his meal was finished, he stood, wiping his mouth, his mind already turning toward his next goal.
"Now that I'm mortal," he muttered to himself, "I need to find a treasure core… but the mountain is full of dangerous traps and carnivorous beasts. When will this miserable life turn in my favor?"
Even with the fear gnawing at him, he accepted the path he had chosen. There could be no regrets, not now.
.
.
Two days later, a scream cut through the quiet of the forest.
"Ahhhhhh! Ahhhh! Ahhh!"
Magman's voice rang out, raw and desperate, as he jolted awake from a nightmare. His body shook with the aftershocks of his fear, the memory of the dream leaving him unsettled.
He was inside a treehouse, the wooden structure creaking around him. Two companions were nearby—one, the future overlord's trusted right-hand man, a battle-hardened twin warrior; the other, an infamous woman known for her deadly speed.
The overlord of the continent had ordered them to claim the mountain. "Team up," he had commanded. "Forget your past, suppress your greed, and work together."
Magman exhaled heavily, a mixture of frustration and resignation darkening his expression. He rose from where he had been sitting and stepped outside, the treehouse entrance closing behind him.
A pool of water glistened in the morning light, and Magman washed himself, his reflection disturbed only by the carp fish sleeping quietly beneath the surface. The momentary calm did little to ease his thoughts.
"If the future overlord hadn't dominated me…" he muttered to himself, jaw tight. "If I'd just used the Sin Artifact…" His frustration was sharp, but the risk had been too great.
Magman froze as a shadow moved above him. A young man, deceptively handsome, landed silently nearby. Shadows clung to him, but there was something undeniably terrifying in his presence.
"Who's there?" Magman demanded, tension tightening his voice.
"It's me," the figure said, stepping into the light. "Mingyin, you fool."
Magman's anger flared, though he did not dare rebuke him. "You almost scared me, Mingyin."
Mingyin inhaled the fresh air, calm but deliberate. "Relax," he said lightly. "I was only playing with you."
Magman turned away, walking past him, but Mingyin reached out, grabbing his shoulder. Magman's eyes turned cold as he faced him.
"What?" he said, voice low, almost hesitant. In front of a sage-level cultivator, even he felt fragile.
Mingyin smiled, leaning slightly closer. "I want your help finding the first treasure core. The future overlord claims he will be the first, the one to decide who gets it—but with your help…" His grin widened, wicked and sharp. "We could beat him at his own game."
Magman looked away, expression unreadable. "Go. Forget it. I don't even know what techniques you use, or how your soul-core formation works."
Mingyin's smile twisted into a snarl. "Don't you have the Sin Artifact?"
Magman froze, then turned away. Mingyin stepped closer, calm but calculating. "I need to eliminate the future overlord's power. He's too dangerous. He thinks he can hide his identity, but I've already caught him."
Magman's voice was chilling. "Do I know why you want to be the first to get the treasure core?"
Mingyin raised a finger, his eyes glinting. "Because the more benefits we claim, the better our chances of surviving the Black Mountain."
Magman scratched his head, a rare smile flickering across his face. "So you're saying…"
Mingyin's expression turned cruel, a wicked smile that promised nothing but trouble. "Everyone I meet will fall."
Magman froze, hand covering his mouth as he struggled between disbelief and amusement. Then he laughed, sharp and booming, shaking his head.
"Ahahaha… what are you saying?"
Mingyin's face hardened, serious now. Magman's eyes narrowed. "You're just a mortal, aren't you?"
Sweat prickled along Mingyin's temple, but he kept his aura hidden, trying to mask the truth.
"I know you're mortal, Mingyin," Magman said, calm but firm. "Don't try to hide it. If you weren't, you would be fighting us outright, dominating the battlefield."
Mingyin's calm demeanor faltered slightly, a sliver of fear piercing his thoughts. Someone had already guessed his secret. What would he need to scheme next?
"If I'm mortal," he said, testing the waters, "why haven't you killed me yet?"
Magman's eyes flicked sharply toward him. Killing Mingyin outright was too dangerous—too many variables. The supreme elder had promised that no one would die while they worked together, and the immortals in dispute did not care enough about Mingyin to intervene.
Mingyin smiled, peering into Magman's eyes. "I know you have the Sin Artifact. That's why I want to ally with you."
Magman froze at the statement, then looked away, speechless. "Why would you want to work with someone as weak as me? Compared to the future overlord, you're not even top ten."
Mingyin's grin widened. "I know what it feels like to be weak. But right now… being a sage artist feels good."
Their eyes locked, an unspoken challenge sparking between them.
"Let me see if I understand," Magman said, voice measured. "You want to get the first treasure core, so we gain recognition. But if the future overlord claims it first, the continent could collapse in just over three weeks… and you're just a mortal."
Mingyin picked up a branch, swinging it at Magman with precise force. Magman caught it effortlessly with a single finger, holding it inches from his face.
"If that's the best you can do," Magman said, lips curling, "and you just revealed yourself, mortal, perhaps you should give up."
Before he could finish, Mingyin's foot kicked the tree behind him. A small fruit fell from above. Magman lunged to catch it—but Mingyin was already in front of him.
His movements were impossibly fast. And exceedingly surpass magman expectations Magman's hand reached through where Mingyin had been, only to grasp empty air. Then, as if mocking him, the Mingyin behind the illusion Mingyin caught the fruit with ease.
Without being noticed at all as magman saw the illusion dissolving
"I was far faster than you, Magman," Mingyin said, voice calm. "You're slow."
Magman's eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and admiration. "Wait… that was a clones?"
Mingyin shook his head. "What are you talking about? I was right here. You were looking somewhere else."
Magman snorted, frustrated but impressed. "You're clearly playing with me."
Mingyin smiled, holding the fruit aloft. "It's just a common fruit. You couldn't catch it… in the dark. What kind of mortal can see it?"
Magman's expression grew complicated, his ruthless eyes glinting. "You're quite smart … for a mortal. I might just… your up with no good ."
Mingyin froze, a grin spreading across his face. If Magman already considered him mortal, he had to tread carefully—but the game had just begun.
"Then give me any test you want," Mingyin said, cheerful yet calculating.with his eye lit up with light
Magman smiled, extending his hand and summoning the Sin Artifact. "If you're truly a sage artist, then reform this."
Mingyin blinked, pretending to consider. As he show one finger happily
"No… I can't reform anything. My soul-core formation is intelligence-based. I might be smarter than Any peak artists."
Magman's eyes flashed with fury flame boiling in his eyes . "
Mingyin ! I make the rules! Strength matters more than intelligence. Even a mortal can outsmart an immortal, but it won't save you!"
Here anymore
Mingyin grinned. "Then let's see, Magman. If you fear my intelligence, prove it in the test. Or is being outsmarted by a mortal too natural for you?"
Magman's ruthless gaze sharpened. To the point bleeding Suddenly, an idea formed. "Then we'll gamble. Our lives.
We are playing Dead Smoke Game."here
A chill ran through Mingyin, as he try taking a step back
But magman
Close his eyes as he summon another artifact made of small light but magman smile as Mingyin froze as he held the artifact tightly as both of them dissolved into white light .