The world was shrouded in gray mist so thick that even the sun's faint light could barely be seen. The air smelled of decay and iron and the land was uneven and littered with broken weapons, shattered armor, and lifeless bodies.
Blood of many shades were soaking the land that formed small streams. Faint cries of pain and triumphant roars could be heard in the distance. These cries sounded more like a haunting melody of survival.
Amid this desolation, a figure hovered in mid-air. He was wearing dark robes trimmed with beautiful silver lines, which fluttered slightly even though there was no wind. His face was youthful but cold as though he had seen countless lifetimes pass before him. His sharp features gave him a regal yet distant air, making him seem untouchable.
His red hair was like a demonic waterfall. There were two massive red wings on his back. These wings were not soft or comforting but sharp and metallic that glinted faintly as if reflecting an invisible light. Anyone who saw him instinctively knew to lower their gaze, lest they invite trouble or his wrath.
His eyes were as dark as the abyss, and they were locked on the land below, which was filled with corpses.
Suddenly, a loud voice broke the silence.
"Mo Yushan, are you not afraid that karma will hunt you down? Why? Why did you destroy my entire family?"
This voice came from a man standing on the broken ground. He was clad in a blood-stained robe and held a sword in his trembling hands. His face was pale but his eyes were burning with anger and pain.
He was Li Tianji, the head of the Li Family that was now destroyed.
The man in the air was Mo Yushan.
Mo Yushan looked at the man below and laughed loudly. His laughter was cold and cruel. It was clear to anyone that he was reveling in pleasure at the man's suffering.
"Karma? Do you think I fear karma, Li Tianji?"
Mo Yushan's voice was sharp and filled with mockery. His dark eyes flashed with demonic light as he snorted coldly: "Your Li Family was nothing but a nest of ants under my feet. Since you dared to oppose me, this is the end you deserve."
"You..."
Li Tianji pointed at Mo Yushan in anger. His body was trembling, however, he was too exhausted to do something.
A young man standing beside Li Tianji. He appeared ordinary. He had no aura or presence. His name was Li Xuan, and he was Li Tianji's only son.
Li Xuan was born with a forbidden physique called Absolute Mortal Body.
The Absolute Mortal Body is an extremely rare physique even among forbidden ones. People born with this body can never cultivate no matter how hard they try. Cultivation techniques, treasures, or medicinal herbs are all useless for them.
This body is called "absolute" because it completely blocks any connection to spiritual energy or any power needed for cultivation. The Heavenly Dao seems to reject them, making it impossible for them to cultivate.
Those born with this physique are often treated as weak and useless. Many believe their existence brings bad luck and disaster, causing them to be mocked, bullied, or abandoned.
Unable to cultivate, those born with the Absolute Mortal Body live lives filled with hardship, and most meet tragic ends.
It is said that in each era, only one person is born with this physique. Since they are unable to cultivate, they remain mortal until death claims them.
Their bodies reject all forms of spiritual energy, preventing them from absorbing the power of medicinal herbs, vitality fruits, or life-extending treasures. As a result, none have ever surpassed the limits of ordinary mortals. The longest recorded lifespan of someone born with the Absolute Mortal Physique was only one hundred years.
Unfortunately, Li Xuan was that person in this era. Because of his constitution, he remained a mere mortal despite being the only son of Heavenly Monarch Li Tianji.
He watched helplessly as his family was destroyed. His loving mother and sister were slaughtered before his eyes. He could only stand there as Mo Yushan cruelly refined several elders of the Li Family into living puppets on the spot.
Despite being a mere mortal and powerless to resist, there was not a trace of fear in his eyes. Instead, they burned with boundless hatred and fury for Mo Yushan. If looks could kill, Mo Yushan would have died a thousand times over.
Mo Yushan clearly felt that gaze. He glanced at Li Xuan and sneered coldly. "You are nothing but a mortal cursed with the Absolute Mortal Body. How dare you look at me like that? Your existence is worth less than an ant."
Mo Yushan was about to continue when Li Tianji suddenly stepped forward while lifting his sword. A powerful aura surged from his body, but it was no longer the imposing presence of a Heavenly Monarch. This aura carried only exhaustion and despair.
Even so, he aimed his blade at Mo Yushan. "Leave my son alone, Mo Yushan! You've already destroyed everything. Isn't that enough?!"
"Heh… hehehe…" Mo Yushan's face twisted into a sinister smile.
"Enough? No, Li Tianji. This is merely the first step."
Then his gaze flickered, as though he had sensed something beyond the battlefield. His voice dropped to a murmur, "There's no time. I have to end this now."
Mo Yushan raised his hand and the air around him shattered like broken glass. In that instant, a terrifying force shot toward Li Tianji. The power was so great that the space around them seemed to collapse.
"Father!"
Li Xuan screamed in panic at the sight. A dreadful premonition surged through his heart. He felt as though he was about to lose his father.
He wanted to move, wanted to do something, but he was powerless. And it was already too late.
Bang!
The attack struck Li Tianji. His body stiffened for a brief moment before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
A Heavenly Monarch had fallen just like that.
Li Xuan's eyes turned bloodshot as he watched his father collapse. Tears streamed down his face as he rushed forward, catching the lifeless body in his arms. But no matter how tightly he held him, there was nothing he could do.
He lifted his head and glared at Mo Yushan. Anyone could see hatred blazing in his eyes.
"Why? Why did you destroy my family? Why did you kill everyone?!"
"And my father… what crime did he commit?! Was it wrong for him to protect his family?! Was it wrong for us to live?!"
Tears mixed with blood on Li Xuan's face as he shouted: "Tell me, Mo Yushan! What did we do to deserve this?!"
Mo Yushan's figure blurred and, in the next instant, he appeared before Li Xuan. He looked down at him with cold disdain and snorted coldly, "Why? A dying mortal like you doesn't deserve to know."
With that, he raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
In an instant, Li Xuan's body shattered into countless fragments. The boy who had no power to resist vanished just like that.
It was also at this time, the gray mist surged and thickened, covering the entire battlefield.
Mo Yushan threw his head back and laughed. The sound rolled across the battlefield like a cruel storm, cold and merciless, sending chills down the spines of all who heard it.
After a long time, when he stopped laughing, a yearning expression appeared on his face. Then he muttered under his breath, "This is only the first step toward the true throne. I have yet to take the second step."
"No worries. Sooner or later, I'll take that second step as well. After all, this world doesn't lack ants like Li Tianji."
Mo Yushan looked at Li Tianji's corpse for a few seconds before speaking in a deep voice, "Li Tianji, don't blame me. Weakness has no place in this world. Even the heavens bow to strength. Those who don't... simply disappear."
"You were weak. And your death benefits me. Why would I hesitate?"
Shaking his head, he looked up at the sky with a trace of longing in his eyes before disappearing into the mist.
His words sounded simple, yet they carried a deeper meaning. Unfortunately, there was no one left alive to hear them.