I still can't believe it ended like this.
Everything I fought for... reduced to ashes.
And by my own hand.
Immortality leads only to ruin.
Now I float in the endless void, surrounded by nothing but the shell of the most powerful mecha in existence.
In my despair, I summon a colossal sword of qi so massive it could rival a star.
The Stella Sword.
I drive it into the core of my soul.
And as the blade pierces through me, my heart stops, and my consciousness fades
"Rén Jié! Are you okay?!"
A voice shouted in front of me.
I opened my eyes… and saw her.
Xiāo Méi, my fellow disciple from the Celestial Slash Sect.
Wait... Rén Jié?
That's the name of that loser... the disgrace of the sect.
Did I reincarnate into him?
Is the old me… still here?
"Xiāo Méi, where are we?"
I asked without thinking. She tilted her head in confusion.
"You got hit really hard... I hate how they treat you. It's not your fault you were born without the talent to cultivate your mecha!"
She flailed her arms in frustration.
So now I'm the worthless Rén Jié the man I once looked down on.
Can I still cultivate my mecha with the same potential I had in my past life?
More importantly... can I stop all the tragedies that are about to unfold?
I left Xiāo Méi in a rush, heading toward the Tao Mountains a sacred place of meditation for our sect. It was empty.
I sat in lotus position and tried to cultivate my qi. I needed to see if I could form a connection with this body's mecha.
But my qi was abysmally low… even worse than average.
I stayed there for four hours.
Then, footsteps.
"Well, well… look at the useless Rén Jié trying to cultivate like it'll actually change something."
"He's a disgrace to the sect. He should be expelled already."
A couple of other disciples sneered as they walked past.
Is this… what it feels like to be an outcast?
They kept rambling. I tried to ignore them, but they wouldn't leave.
So I stood up and left.
That's when I saw him far away, a silhouette radiating with mystic energy. His qi made the air tremble.
There he was.
My old self.
Calm. Serene. As if he had already reached enlightenment.
Now I see how I conquered the world.
I was born with immense talent for mecha cultivation. My mecha outclassed all others.
And because of its uniqueness, the ancient parts needed for upgrades always found their way to me.
I never knew what it meant to be weak.
Until now.
His presence was overwhelming. He glanced at me... then simply walked past.
He sat in lotus position, and within seconds, summoned his mecha. His composed face turned into a towering titan of steel, equally as majestic as its master.
A sacred beast of steel its head shaped like a tiger, glowing in white with black pearl patterns.
I couldn't look away.
"You're amazing, Gāng Wú."
One of the disciples near him said in awe.
It was clear his power and mine were light-years apart.
Still, I refused to be discouraged.
I resumed my cultivation. I had to compete with him.
I couldn't quit. I wouldn't let despair consume me.
I focused harder, pushed my qi beyond the limit.
It hurt.
My entire body ached.
But I wouldn't let things end like they did before.
At one point… I coughed up blood.
I looked at my hand, soaked in red.
My palm was now covered by a faint red armor.
Is this all this weak body can manage?
Still… I wouldn't stop.
Before I could continue, a bell rang across the sect.
"Brothers of the sect, we are gathered for the trial of a traitor."
One of the masters of the Gāng Sect spoke, and everyone followed him.
So did I.
We arrived in the main courtyard. The entire sect had assembled.
At the center… a girl, her red hair matted with blood, arms bound.
Barely breathing.
"The cultivator Xiāo Méi stands accused of treason.
She is charged with selling sacred artifacts of the Gāng Sect to the rival Dào Sect, and conspiring with them.
Due to her lack of discipline, the High Elders will now decide her punishment."
I remembered Xiāo Méi was executed for treason.
I never knew if the charges were true. I didn't care, back then.
But now…
Something feels off.
Is she really a traitor?
I didn't know.
But somehow, my mecha-hand activated again.
"She deserves this for refusing to sleep with me. Doesn't she know her place?
Outer sect disciples don't get to say no to inner sect masters."
I heard one of the cultivators whisper.
"Agreed, Master. She should've accepted your generous offer. Now she'll pay for her defiance."
I clenched my fists.
Xiāo Méi was innocent.
My blood boiled.
I wanted to save her… but with my current power, could I?
"She should be beheaded for her insolence," said one elder.
The rest roared in agreement.
"Very well. Then let Xiāo Méi be executed here and now."
I couldn't watch this happen.
I had to act.
Even as I hesitated, the executioner approached, his axe gleaming.
She sobbed quietly.
I have to go.
I have to help her.
I need to protect her.
At any cost.
"I didn't do it! I swear I didn't!"
She screamed, tears streaming down her face like a storm of agony.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I shoved the elders aside and dashed toward the executioner.
"Leave her alone!"
I shouted as I struck him down.
The entire sect froze, eyes locked on me.
Then the sky roared.
A crimson figure rose behind me, howling like a dragon from the heavens.
Its armor glowed like molten metal, its eyes burned like embers.
It had returned.
The Northern Crimson Dragon...
My mecha.
"Wait… is that the legendary Northern Crimson Dragon?"
I heard someone whisper.
"Rén Jié, what the hell is the meaning of this?!"
"We've got another traitor—this time, it's the worthless Rén Jié. Who knew he had a mecha like that?"
"What a shame. That power is wasted on garbage like him."
I didn't listen.
I grabbed Xiāo Méi and lifted her into my arms.
And ran.
"Don't let him escape!"
Someone shouted.
The rest unleashed their mechas.
"R-Rén Jié..."
Xiāo Méi whimpered softly through her tears.
With her in my arms, I couldn't fight.
I could only run.
Energy blasts rained down on us from all sides.
Except from Gāng Wú.
He just stood there, watching.
The sect fell into chaos.
Everything around us was reduced to rubble.
One blast hit me dislocating my arm.
I screamed…
But didn't stop.
I had to save her.
Even if it meant betraying my own sect.
We escaped, fleeing toward the mountains.
Now, I'm branded a traitor.
And I'll be hunted by one of the strongest sects in the world.