BaiShe sat in the room, legs crossed, palms open on his knees. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. The Qi flowed smoothly through his meridians, moving through every part of his body like a silent river. He took another moment to stabilize his energy before opening his eyes.
Today marked the opening of the Eternal Ruins.
He slowly stood up, stretching his numb limbs, and cracked his joints. The place was vast and teeming with dangers: monsters whose level nine was comparable to that of a Heavenly King, the Immortal Clan that scorned the ancestral families, traps, and his own family, which was just waiting for the slightest opportunity to eliminate him.
In short, the list of potential enemies was long.
If each were to take their turn trying to kill him, he would need patience. But the ruins remained open for only a hundred years, and this was undoubtedly the only place where he could find clues about the three transcendent treasures of the First Devourer. Not to mention the opportunity to absorb powerful essences and interesting laws.
The rest… treasures, elixirs? They were just superfluous. Once he regained his rightful place within the family, such things would not be lacking.
He walked to the mirror and observed his reflection. His bandaged arm contrasted with his pale skin. At the center of his chest, an inverted cross symbol marked his flesh. He brushed the mark with his fingertips.
It was the only thing left from his former life.
He opened the wardrobe and took out a completely black robe. The sober fabric absorbed the light, creating a contrast with his silver hair. He put on the garment with fluid movements.
On the bed, his gaze fell on the sword his master had given him. He only vaguely remembered it. The last time he had seen it, he was just ten years old. The memories of that time were blurry, like a dream erased by time, leaving only fragments.
He couldn't even recall his master's face. Only a silhouette, a distant voice, and the moment the sword was entrusted to him.
It was a simple-looking blade. Black, with bluish patterns, it seemed unremarkable at first glance.
His master had once told him that a true swordsman didn't even need a sword.
BaiShe smiled slightly at the thought. That woman was a mystery in herself. Of all the swordsmen he remembered, she was the only one who never used a weapon, yet she was undoubtedly the most formidable.
He grabbed the sword and made it disappear into his storage ring.
"You never know."
As he opened the door to leave, he abruptly stopped.
A woman stood right in front of him.
She wasn't a guard.
His gaze hardened immediately.
She wore a green dress that elegantly accentuated her curves. Her short black hair hid her forehead, partially concealing her face, but he could see the piercing gleam of her emerald eyes. She looked at him with almost insulting disinterest.
BaiShe chose to ignore her and continued walking, as if she didn't exist.
"So it's you?"
He stopped dead in his tracks.
"Me who?" he asked in a neutral tone.
"Silver hair. Bandaged arm. A residual aura of a monk." She raised an eyebrow, observing him from head to toe. "I suppose you're Hu BaiShe… The one who killed my idiot brother."
A flash of understanding crossed his mind.
Shen's older sister.
*'What is she doing here?'*
"I urge you to be careful with your words, Miss Xuan," he replied coldly, his expression remaining impassive.
She sketched a mocking smile.
"Oh? You're quite different from what I've heard. Calm. Confident. Without the slightest fear."
BaiShe turned slightly toward her, his dark gaze meeting hers.
"I'm sorry for what happened to your brother," he said slowly. "But I can't bring him back. I can only avenge him."
Daiyu remained silent for a moment.
Her gaze fell on his back as he walked away.
Her eyes, hidden under her fringe, darkened slightly.
"Well, well." Her voice was as soft as a blade grazing the skin. "I'll be eagerly waiting for you in the ruins."
BaiShe did not respond.
He didn't even turn around.
But he clenched his teeth.
Another person who wanted him dead.
***
BaiShe rose into the air, his black clothes fluttering slightly in the updraft. The air was charged with spiritual energy as he headed toward the fissure, the legendary place where the portal to the Eternal Ruins would soon appear. His gaze fell far away, on the mountainous plain where millions of cultivators were already gathered, watching the spatial anomaly that pulsed faintly at the center of the sky.
As soon as he arrived, he sensed the excitement and tension in the atmosphere. Murmurs ran through the crowd, animated discussions about what awaited them in the ruins. Everyone was aware that this place was not only an opportunity to obtain invaluable treasures but also an arena where only strength would determine who survived.
Then, a powerful tremor of air vibrated the space around him. One by one, enormous vessels emerged above the clouds, announcing the arrival of the most influential factions of the East Continent.
The first ship to catch his attention was that of the Immortal Tao Academy. Its appearance was majestic, carved from divine wood with golden reflections, inscriptions running along the hull. It was not just a means of transport but a living artifact, imbued with celestial laws that allowed it to float in the air, defying the very principles of this world.
Right after, fiery chariots appeared, tracing burning trails in the sky. On each of them, the symbol of a flaming phoenix stood proudly. The ancestral Feng family was making its entrance. Their presence created a respectful silence among the cultivators present. The Fengs were known for their mystical lineage, some even inheriting the purple flame of the phoenix.
Next, another vessel appeared, bearing the emblems of the ancestral Xuan family. It was an imposing structure, shaped from black jade, radiating a deep and unfathomable aura.
"Is this woman really going to hunt me down in the ruins?"
BaiShe clenched his teeth. He had enough problems, and someone of her level in the ruins was far too dangerous. Even using his Devourer mode, he couldn't escape.
Then, finally, came the moment when the ship of his own family, the Hu family, made its appearance. An imposing construction, forged from pearlescent metal and imbued with Void Qi. BaiShe couldn't help but sketch an ironic smile upon seeing the presence of certain figures he knew well: the White Tiger.