The crimson thunderclouds deep within the ruins gradually dissipated. Following Yan Kuangtu's fall and Xiao Wuchen's successful achievement of 'half-step Core Formation', the 'Gate of Guidance' connecting the Eastern Wilderness cultivation world finally roared open above the ruins.
Golden rays of light cascaded down like a waterfall, dispelling the original gloom. Xiao Wuchen suppressed the surging divine and demonic energies within him and straightened his tattered python robe. Although he had fallen into the demonic path, a sliver of obsession remained deep within him. He believed that if he could use this achievement to enter the righteous immortal sect, he might be able to completely rid himself of the curse brought about by his incomplete body. 'The Great Qian Ruins open once every hundred years; only survivors will emerge.'
Three figures slowly emerged from the golden light. The leading youth rode on flowing clouds, his robes billowing and his eyes faintly reflecting the stars. He came from the top sect in the Eastern Wilderness, the 'Heavenly Gang Sect', and had been sent to guide them.
Xiao Wuchen stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Xiao Wuchen, Director of Ceremonial Affairs of the Great Qian Dynasty, has quelled the chaos at the ruins and retrieved the Soul-Gathering Stone. I wish to use this as a guide to enter the Immortal Sect and cultivate the path to immortality.'
The half-step Golden Core within him radiated vibrant power, a testament to his talent and perseverance.
However, the three immortal envoys showed no sign of satisfaction. Instead, they looked at him as if he were a flawed, filthy product.
The guide frowned slightly as a divine sense swept over Xiao Wuchen's body, leaving a cold glint in its wake.
'Half-step Core Formation? In this barren lower realm, that's indeed rare.' The celestial guide's voice was as cold as spring water and utterly unwavering. 'However, the path of immortality values life, emphasising the harmony of yin and yang, and the perfection of creation. You are nothing but a crippled body with incomplete senses.'
Xiao Wuchen's fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles cracking from the force.
'You eunuchs, with your life force severed and your destiny flawed, cannot bear the true laws of Heaven, even with extraordinary talent. Forcing yourself to cultivate immortality is defying the heavens; you are a defective product, ultimately destined to become a demon.' The celestial guide waved his sleeve as if to sweep away the gloom before him. 'Go! The gates of immortality are wide open, but not for such deformed beings.'
Xiao Wuchen roared inwardly, 'System! Use merit points to offset the restrictions of my identity and force my way through!' "
[Ding! System emergency self-check in progress...] [Warning: Suppression of the laws of the righteous cultivation world (Heavenly Cycle) detected! Judgment result: The host's identity and rank are completely incompatible with 'righteous spiritual energy'. System prompt: Due to the host's incomplete physical body and grave transgressions, the path of righteousness has been completely blocked, rendering the 'merit points to spiritual energy conversion' function ineffective.
The despair was more intense than physical tearing.
Xiao Wuchen looked at the golden heavenly gate before him — the other shore he had longed for — which now seemed like a huge irony as it slowly closed in on him. The 'immortality' he sought was nothing more than a disgusting joke in the eyes of these noble-born immortals.
'Wait, envoy!' Xiao Wuchen cried out hoarsely. 'Is it only those who have achieved "perfection" who can ascend to heaven?'
'The Immortal Gate is not a benevolent place,' scoffed another Immortal Envoy, looking at him with contempt. 'A person like you is a desecration of the Immortal Qi. If you persist, you will be wiped out from these ruins.'
The Heavenly Gate trembled and the golden light began to fade.
Xiao Wuchen stood on the edge of that sliver of hope, watching the Immortal Masters depart with arrogance and disdain. Suddenly, he understood the despair in Bixie's eyes before he died — it was the deathly stillness of someone who had seen through the hypocrisy of the Heavenly Dao.
Xiao Wuchen lowered his head, his silver hair obscuring his face. In the shadows, his eyes gradually changed from clear to completely black.
'Since the Immortal Dao does not tolerate me...'
He slowly drew the 'Sword of Life and Death'. The dark golden blade sensed its master's overwhelming rage and was instantly covered by eerie black-purple demonic flames. 'Then I will storm this Heavenly Gate and drag all you self-proclaimed "perfect" immortals down from your pedestals!'
[Ding! System functions are being reorganised...] ['Righteous Path Merit' has been reset to zero; 'Demonic Path Evil Deeds' system fully awakened!] [Host's main quest updated: Shatter the Heavenly Gate and slaughter the Guide!]
Behind Xiao Wuchen, the originally pure spiritual pressure instantly turned black — a 'demonic aura' deeper than hell itself.
The golden light above the ruins was slowly fading. The three envoys from the Heavenly Gate had turned away, leaving Xiao Wuchen facing only their cold, unapproachable backs.
'You lowly beings, how dare you look up to the Upper Realm?'
The leading envoy sensed the faint sword intent behind him but didn't even bother to turn his head. Casually, he flicked back a wave of spiritual energy as radiant as moonlight. In his mind, this strike would be enough to obliterate this arrogant "defective product" of a mortal.
However, instead of the sound of flesh shattering, he heard a crisp, mirror-like explosion. 'Did I grant you permission to leave?'
Xiao Wuchen's voice had become extremely deep, like that of a demon emerging from the depths of hell. His tattered python robe danced wildly in the surge of demonic energy and his waist-length silver hair instantly turned an eerie purple.
'Divine Demon Form 1—Burial of Immortals in the Yellow Springs!'
The Life and Death Sword drew a pure black arc. The moonlit spiritual wave was instantly corroded and disintegrated upon touching the black sword energy, as if stained with ink.
'What?!'
The Golden Core stage guide whirled around, his pupils shrinking as he watched helplessly. The black light tore through the golden light's defences like a venomous snake, aiming straight for his throat.
*Ding!* The system function 'Devouring Heaven' mode is now fully activated! High-purity 'Immortal Realm Spiritual Pressure' has been detected and is severing the energy source connected to the Heavenly Gate. Warning: This action will cause the Heavenly Gate to collapse and result in dimensional rejection from the upper realm for the host!
'Get down here!'
Xiao Wuchen shouted sharply, his left hand reaching out into the void. Blessed by 'Celestial Transformation', the half-step Golden Core within his body emitted an immense suction force, pulling the descending golden light towards his dantian with great force.
The previously stable Heavenly Gate began to tremble violently and the golden runes shattered one by one.
'Madman! You dare destroy the interdimensional formation!' cried out another immortal envoy in terror, hurriedly summoning a jade-like longsword in an attempt to sever Xiao Wuchen's pull.
Xiao Wuchen's figure flashed, moving so quickly that not even divine sense could catch him.
He left a black afterimage in mid-air as he dodged the edge of the jade sword, appearing directly in front of the arrogant envoy.
"The 'defective product' in your eyes will now take your life."
The Life and Death Sword pierced the envoy's chest and the life-and-death energy coiling around its blade instantly shredded his internal organs and dimmed his proud golden core.
Bright red blood splattered onto Xiao Wuchen's pale face, bringing a burning warmth.
'So even immortals' blood is red and can be cold.' Xiao Wuchen stuck out his tongue and gently licked the blood from his lips. A crazed smile appeared in his eyes.
'Senior Brother Zhao!'
The remaining two immortal envoys were horrified by the bloody scene; they had never witnessed a mortal martial artist kill a Golden Core cultivator so cruelly and directly.
Xiao Wuchen suddenly drew his longsword and swiftly kicked the lifeless envoy into the void.
[Ding! Successfully killed the 'Guide' (Early Golden Core Stage)! Rewards: 1 Immortal Realm Spiritual Energy Crystal and 1 'Tiangang Sect' Identity Token! The host's Demonic Nature Value surged, and their Divine Demon Golden Core evolution level reached 65%.
V. The Final Echo: The First Step Towards the Abyss
The Heavenly Gate, having lost its energy support, collapsed with a deafening roar, shattering into countless golden fragments.
Xiao Wuchen stood in mid-air, his feet resting on piles of white bones, with a closing crack above his head. He held his blood-dripping longsword and looked at the two remaining, trembling immortal envoys.
'Go back and tell your elders at the Heavenly Gang Sect.'
Casually crushing the spiritual energy crystal in his hand, he let the pure power wash over his mangled body.
'I will not only go to the Eastern Wilderness, I will also flatten your immortal mountains and dig out your spiritual roots. This sword strike is merely the first payment I'm collecting."
The two envoys scrambled into the disappearing rift, their eyes filled with unprecedented terror. They knew that this monster, once deemed a 'defective product', had become the most unpredictable nightmare in the cultivation world of the Eastern Wilderness.
The collapse of the interdimensional gate triggered a terrifying spatial collapse. Golden fragments intertwined with the chaotic void, instantly levelling the ruins within a radius of a hundred miles.
Amidst the destructive aftershocks, Xiao Wuchen felt as if his body was being torn apart, but he desperately protected the newly formed Divine Demon Golden Core within his dantian. His consciousness plunged into darkness amidst excruciating pain. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dark red wasteland. The spiritual energy in the air was extremely violent; each breath felt like swallowing tiny steel needles.
Looking down, he saw that his once exquisite python robe was now in pieces. His silver hair, scorched by lightning in the chaotic currents, had transformed into a deep, dark black, like the night itself. Beneath his pale skin, dark purple demonic patterns flickered like dragons.
"System, where am I?"
[Ding!] [Space Jump Coordinates Confirmed: Northern Border of the Eastern Wilderness, Chaotic Star Plain]
[Current status: Meridians damaged by 30%; Divine Demon Golden Core stabilising.
[Warning: The host has been listed as a Level One Hunting Target by the 'Heavenly Gang Sect', and the aura of a cultivator has been detected within a hundred miles.'
Xiao Wuchen sneered, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. Casually tearing off a piece of red silk, he wrapped it around his longsword and walked alone towards the edge of the wilderness. At the edge stood Qingshi Town, a market town built of giant stones. It was a lawless place where rogue cultivators and low-level sect disciples exchanged goods, and the stench of blood and money hung in the air.
When Xiao Wuchen stepped into the market town, his worldly aura and eerie black hair immediately attracted attention.
'Look! Where did this stray dog come from? He isn't emanating any spiritual pressure, yet he's carrying a top-grade broken sword.' A rogue cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refining stage grinned maliciously as he blocked Xiao Wuchen's path, reaching out to grab the Life and Death Sword. Without even drawing his sword, Xiao Wuchen hit the opponent's chest hard with the hilt. The rogue cultivator didn't even have time to scream before his chest caved in and he was propelled a hundred metres away like a kite with a broken string, crashing into the counter of a spirit medicine shop.
'Robbery? I am the true master!'
Xiao Wuchen stepped into the shattered spirit herb shop, ignoring the terrified glances around him. With a wave of his sleeve, the 'Marrow Cleansing Grass' and 'Spirit Gathering Pill', which are considered sacred medicines in the mortal realm, were stored in his sea of consciousness.
'What kind of demon are you, daring to rob in broad daylight in Qing Shi Town?' The manager of the shop, who was at the Foundation Establishment stage, was filled with shock and anger. He summoned a small bronze cauldron.
Xiao Wuchen suddenly raised his head, his left eye black as ink and his right eye flashing purple light.
'Kneel!'
A tidal wave of demonic spiritual pressure swept out, causing the bronze cauldron to vibrate incessantly. The manager felt his soul shatter as though he were facing a ferocious beast awakened from an ancient abyss. His legs gave way and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.
[Ding! Plunder successful! Obtained: 500 low-grade spirit stones, 10 hundred-year-old blood ginsengs and several Qi Refining Pills. System notification: The demonic root is absorbing the medicinal power of these spiritual objects. Meridian repair progress: 50%.
IV. Declaration: The nightmare of the Eastern Wilderness has begun.
Xiao Wuchen had slaughtered most of the stalls in Qing Shi Town in just half an hour. He no longer hid or lay low. Since the righteous path would not tolerate him, he would become the most ruthless reaper of the Eastern Wilderness.
He stood on the stone tablet in the centre of the town, surrounded by piles of treasure and trembling cultivators.
"Tell those sects," said Xiao Wuchen, holding the Life and Death Sword upside down and letting his black hair dance wildly in the wind, "that I, Xiao Wuchen, am waiting for them to come and kill me in the Eastern Wilderness."
At that moment, several streaks of light appeared on the horizon — patrol teams from nearby sects who had received the distress signal.
Xiao Wuchen gave a cruel and excited smile.
'The first batch of nourishment has arrived.'