Liang Feng stumbled through the smoldering remains of Qingfeng, each step heavy with grief and rage. The village that had nurtured him, that had been his home, was reduced to ash and blood. The stench of charred wood and iron filled his lungs, and yet, amid the horror, a new sensation thrummed inside him—a raw, searing power, like molten fire coursing through his veins.
He collapsed beside the ruins of his family's home, bloodied and exhausted, but the power in his chest would not let him rest. He could feel it: the Blood Qi.
"This… this is…" he muttered, clutching his chest as the crimson aura flared around him, illuminating the destruction like a dying sun. The aura pulsed with life, with the energy of all those who had perished. Pain and anger intertwined, giving birth to strength.
"You've survived…" a voice rasped from the shadows.
Liang Feng whipped around, dagger at the ready, only to see a frail, hunched figure emerging from the mist. The old man's robes were tattered, and his eyes burned with a fierce intelligence, sharp as a blade.
"Who… are you?" Liang Feng demanded, his voice hoarse, the dagger trembling slightly in his grip.
The old man smiled faintly. "I am Master Shen. I have been watching you." His gaze lingered on the red aura that swirled around Liang Feng. "Your Blood Qi… it is rare. Dangerous… but magnificent."
Liang Feng tightened his grip on his dagger, suspicion flooding his mind. "I don't need anyone. I can take care of myself."
Master Shen chuckled, though it was more a rasp than a sound of amusement. "You think your vengeance will sustain you? Do you understand what you are? What power sleeps inside your blood? Your rage has awakened a force most cannot even imagine. But uncontrolled… it will consume you."
Liang Feng's chest heaved. "I don't care! I will kill them all… the Blood Warlords… everyone who destroyed my village!"
"And you will," Master Shen said calmly. "But not like this. Not as a mere boy with a dagger and blind fury. You must learn to cultivate. To refine the Blood Qi, to harness it. Only then can you survive—and only then can you become a true threat to those who hunt you."
Liang Feng stared at him, conflicted. He wanted vengeance now, but something in the old man's gaze—a calm certainty amid the chaos—made him hesitate.
"Follow me," Master Shen continued. "If you wish to live, and to grow stronger than you've ever dreamed, you must come with me. The world you knew is gone. What remains… is a path of blood and power."
Liang Feng's eyes flickered toward the burning ruins one last time, the memories of his family and friends flashing like broken glass in his mind. The fire of his rage burned hotter, mingling with the strange warmth in his chest—the Blood Qi.
He clenched his fists. "Fine. I'll follow you. But make no mistake… my path begins with revenge, and it ends with blood."
Master Shen nodded approvingly. "Good. That fire… it is the first step. But beware, boy. In this world, strength is everything, and only the strongest survive. There are creatures you cannot imagine… cultivators whose names are whispered in fear… and beasts that drink blood like water. To walk this path is to court death at every turn."
Liang Feng's jaw tightened. "Let them come. I will not die… not until I have seen the last of those who wronged me fall."
For the first time, he felt the surge of possibility in his veins. This was not just survival. This was power. And soon, the world would tremble before the boy with Blood Qi.
Master Shen gestured to a narrow path leading into the misty mountains. "Then we begin. Your training starts at dawn, and your life… your very blood… will be your teacher."
Liang Feng took a deep breath, the scent of smoke and death filling his nostrils. He was young, untested, and alone—but he was alive. And for the first time, the fire inside him felt unstoppable.
As the two figures disappeared into the mist, a distant roar echoed through the valley. Liang Feng didn't flinch. Let the world come. He would meet it with blood and fury.
The Crimson Awakening had begun.