The air above the Crimson Abyss shimmered like blood boiling under moonlight. It wasn't a place known for mercy—only madness. Spirit beasts howled endlessly below its jagged cliffs, and ancient seals flickered along its border like dying stars.
Li Xuan stood on the precipice.
Behind him were dozens of other outer disciples from various sects, all gathered for the same reason: the Intersect Dimensional Trial. A chaos-ridden zone filled with relics, danger, and glory. The Academy had sent them in waves—hoping a few would survive and return stronger. Most wouldn't.
But unlike the others, Li Xuan wasn't trembling.
He'd received a mission.
System Notification:
—Mission Generated: Crimson Abyss Reconnaissance and Slaughter—
—Objectives:
• Locate the Bone-Drowned Altar (0/1)
• Slay 50 Spirit Beasts (13/50)
• Recover Ancient Relic (0/1)
• Optional: Slay Rival Cultivators (Reward Multiplier x1.3)
—Rewards: LCP, System EXP, Unlock Fragmented Warlord Memory—
—Penalty for Failure: System Suppression (24 hours), Loss of Shop Access—
System (Long Chen):
["A proper warzone. About time. Don't disappoint me, brat. And remember—dead enemies don't whine."]
Li Xuan leapt into the abyss.
—
The terrain below wasn't solid ground—it was war incarnate.
Jagged peaks rose from red mist. Cracked altars floated midair, and mutated spirit beasts stalked the wreckage of forgotten battles. Cultivators from other sects fought across this madness—some desperately, others as predators.
Li Xuan stalked silently through the chaos.
His movements blurred as he split the skull of a raging flame wolf with a reverse saber draw. With Phantom Step and Predator's Pressure active, his very presence was a threat—one that weaker foes couldn't even look at directly.
He didn't waste motion.
A pack of crimson-scale jaguars lunged—he parried one, redirected its fang into the neck of another, and spun Executioner upward to bisect the third.
Blood mist painted the wind.
System:
—+9 Beast Kills. EXP +41. LCP +28—
—Progress: 22/50 Spirit Beasts—
—EXP: 588 / 600—
—Level Up Pending—
Li Xuan exhaled slowly, muscles twitching with killing intent.
That's when he sensed it—a presence watching him.
A shadow detached itself from a floating stone altar nearby. A boy his age. Smiling. His cultivation was masked, but Li Xuan's instincts screamed danger.
"Another scavenger?" the boy asked. His voice was gentle, too gentle.
Li Xuan didn't answer.
He just raised Executioner.
System:
—Hostile Intent Detected—
—Name: Mo Yuan (Inner Disciple – Blood Spirit Sect)
—Status: Bloodline Awakening Phase
—Power Rating: Above Host—
—Recommendation: Caution. Strategic Engagement Preferred—
Mo Yuan chuckled. "So serious. Fine. Let's play."
The moment he moved, the space around him cracked. Blood Qi surged outward, forming talons. He didn't fight with weapons—he was the weapon.
Li Xuan's feet shifted.
The first exchange was a blur of flashes and shockwaves. Mo Yuan's strikes were cruelly efficient, targeting tendons and weak points. But Li Xuan wasn't some academy lamb.
He blocked. Dodged. Countered.
His perception flared—he read the footwork, redirected attacks. Blood sprayed as he caught a glancing strike on the ribs, but his retaliation carved a deep gash across Mo Yuan's back.
Mo Yuan laughed as blood spilled. "Oh, good. You're fun."
They fought across the sky—leaping from ruined altars, crashing through stone, clashing in air mid-strike. Neither gave ground.
System:
—EXP Overflow Triggered—
—Level Up! EXP Reset to 0/800—
—Skill Efficiency Increased +4%—
—Trait Evolved: Predator's Pressure (Advanced) – Minor Fear upgraded to Combat Delay on weaker foes—
But Li Xuan was running calculations in real time.
Mo Yuan had the edge in power, but he was arrogant.
That was fatal.
He baited Mo Yuan into an aggressive charge, feigned a retreat—and triggered the Face-Slapping Divine Art.
As Mo Yuan monologued mid-leap, a counterstrike flashed.
Crack.
Executioner met bone.
Blood spurted.
Li Xuan vanished, reappearing above him—then kicked him downward like thunder splitting the sky.
Boom.
Mo Yuan slammed into the ruins below, coughing blood.
"Get up," Li Xuan growled. "That can't be all."
Mo Yuan's smile was gone. "You'll regret that."
He tore open his own palm, activating some kind of forbidden blood seal. His aura doubled. Then tripled.
System (Long Chen):
["Oh, lovely. He's one of those psychos. Alright brat, time for a new toy. Try Split the Skies—I just put it on discount."]
Li Xuan opened the shop midair.
System Shop:
—Skill: Split the Skies – 120 LCP
—Balance: 165 LCP—
—Purchase? [Y/N]—
He hit [Y].
Information flowed into his veins like molten lightning.
He dove.
Executioner gleamed white-hot.
As Mo Yuan screamed and launched a final attack, Li Xuan's saber moved—not fast, but absolute.
One strike. A crack in the air. Like the sky itself had been cut.
Silence followed.
Then Mo Yuan's body fell in two.
System:
—Enemy Killed: Mo Yuan (Inner Disciple – Blood Spirit Sect)
—EXP +132. LCP +89. Memory Fragment Recovered—
Li Xuan landed, panting.
The altar behind Mo Yuan's corpse pulsed. The Bone-Drowned Altar.
System:
—Objective Complete: Bone-Drowned Altar Located—
—Progress: Mission 2/3 Complete—
As he approached the altar, a glowing shard rose into the air.
Another warlord memory.
System:
—Memory Fragment Absorbed: Crimson Reaver Warlord—
—New Shop Items Available—
Shop Update:
• Crimson Bone Art – 220 LCP
• Blood Resilience Tempering – 180 LCP
• Reaver Mark (Passive Aura) – 250 LCP
Li Xuan turned his gaze to the mist.
"Bring me more."
His voice didn't tremble.
It commanded.
—
Current Stats
• Cultivation: Foundation Establishment – Early (0 / 800 EXP)
• LCP: 134
• Skills: Phantom Step, Predator's Pressure (Advanced), Face-Slapping Divine Art, Split the Skies
• New Access: Warlord Memories (2/?)
• Simulation Room: Available
• Mission Status: 2/3 Complete
• Consequences for Failure: Active