Chapter 1: Beneath the Moonlit Peak

  In the vast southwestern reaches of the Eastern Jin-Yuan Continent, there stood an ancient spiritual mountain known as Moonshadow Peak.

  Thanks to its existence, the surrounding hundred-mile radius brimmed with spiritual energy. Locals revered the area as the Moonshadow Spirit Domain.

  Perched atop the thousand-zhang-tall peak was the ethereal Misty Sword Sect, shrouded year-round in swirling spiritual mist.

  Besides the main peak, seven other spiritual peaks stood in protective formation, echoing the arrangement of the Big Dipper. They were named Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang.

  Each of these seven surrounding peaks was ruled by a powerful Peak Master. These outer peaks housed the outer sect disciples of Misty Sword Sect.

  Only those with exceptional talent would be summoned to the main peak—Moonshadow Peak itself—to be nurtured as true inner sect disciples.

  ...

  At the foot of Moonshadow Peak lay a dense bamboo grove of emerald stalks.

  There, Lin Tian sat cross-legged, his head tilted to the sky in dazed silence. Once again, he had failed to break through to the Body Tempering Realm.

  In these ten years, he had lost count of how many times he'd failed. And each failure brought with it a deeper sense of despair.

  He had watched countless juniors who had entered the sect later than him surpass him with ease, stepping into the path of cultivation while he remained stuck in place.

  No matter how hard he tried, he simply couldn’t take that first crucial step.

  Because of this, Lin Tian had long become the laughingstock of Moonshadow Peak.

  "Why?" he muttered, fists clenched tight. "Why can’t I break through? Is it really because I have no talent? If I can't become a cultivator... then who will avenge us?!"

  His voice trembled, wavering between a cry and a roar. "Who will bring justice to those who wronged us?!"

  With sudden ferocity, he grabbed the heavy sword lying beside him and began to swing.

  Sword shadows filled the grove. Despite its towering size, the heavy blade moved as though weightless in his hands.

  When it struck the jade-like bamboo, metallic clangs rang out and sparks flew. White gashes marred the previously unblemished stalks.

  "Tch. Thought it was a beast making a racket. Turns out it’s just you again, trash."

  Lin Tian froze. He turned to see three disciples in moon-white robes standing at the edge of the grove, sneering.

  Two were around his age; the third, a girl, looked slightly younger. Their robes fit neatly, their postures proud. The arrogance of sect disciples clung to them like a second skin.

  "Senior Brother Wang... isn't that a bit harsh?" the girl said softly, glancing at Lin Tian with faint concern.

  Senior Brother Wang chuckled coldly. "Junior Sister Dou, you’re new, so you might not know. This guy’s been in the sect ten years and still hasn't stepped into the Body Tempering Realm. What a disgrace."

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  Another youth added, "More than a disgrace! He's dead weight. If Elder Xiaoyao hadn’t brought him back all those years ago, this loser wouldn’t even qualify to clean latrines in the outer sect."

  The girl’s eyes widened. "Ten years and still not a single breakthrough..."

  She looked at Lin Tian again, this time with unconcealed pity.

  Lin Tian didn’t respond. His face remained cold and still as he continued practicing his sword.

  Over the years, he’d heard all the insults. From initial rage, to resignation, to numb indifference—ten years of humiliation had forged a maturity far beyond his age.

  "Heh. Who would've thought? Even Elder Xiaoyao, one of our four great elders, has moments of poor judgment. Maybe age really dulls the mind."

  That last jab crossed a line.

  Lin Tian's blade froze in midair.

  His voice was quiet, emotionless. "What did you say?"

  "I said Elder Xiaoyao was blind to take you in."

  Before the words had fully left Wang's mouth, a sharp gust swept toward his neck—a killing intent as chilling as death itself.

  His face turned pale. He stumbled back, heart pounding.

  "Lin Tian! You dare attack me?!"

  The killing aura radiating from Lin Tian made Wang feel as if death loomed inches away. The other two disciples went rigid, their faces drained of color.

  They had forgotten.

  Lin Tian wasn’t just a failed cultivator.

  He was the sole survivor of a village slaughtered by rogue cultivators.

  He had watched his parents and friends die, helpless to stop it. Even when memories of a past life awoke in his soul, the despair remained.

  And at the heart of that nightmare, burned into his bones, were three words: Heavenly Nether Sect.

  The one who had saved him from the brink of death was none other than Elder Xiaoyao.

  Thanks to him, Lin Tian had found a place in the Misty Sword Sect.

  To mock Elder Xiaoyao was to spit on everything Lin Tian owed him.

  Ten years of scorn and childhood trauma had turned Lin Tian’s despair into something darker—a murderous intent no peer could understand.

  Even in a righteous sect like Misty Sword Sect, such a bloodlust marked him as an outsider.

  "Not only will I strike... I’ll kill you!"

  Lin Tian charged. His blade howled as it tore through the air.

  Though Wang had reached the third layer of Body Tempering and outclassed Lin Tian in cultivation, that sheer killing intent unbalanced him.

  He panicked.

  He forgot to draw his sword.

  All he could do was dodge.

  "You’re asking for death!"

  The other male disciple finally drew his weapon and lunged.

  A silver glow lit up his blade as it clashed against Lin Tian's.

  The impact sent Lin Tian crashing into a bamboo stalk.

  "You dare attack sect members?! Trash like you deserves to die!"

  Wang, now free, drew his sword with fury. But the moment he stepped forward, a tsunami of murderous aura surged from Lin Tian's body.

  It froze Wang in his tracks.

  "Hahaha... splendid! Such killing intent! It’s been years since I’ve seen a gem like this."

  An aged voice rang out. From the shadows of the bamboo grove, an old man appeared.

  He was around sixty, his back slightly hunched, his robe filthy and stained. His white hair was tied loosely, his eyes cloudy yet terrifyingly sharp.

  His skin was pale like bleached bark, yet his hands were oddly smooth—a contrast that hinted at hidden depth.

  To Lin Tian, this elder wasn't a man.

  He was a sword.

  A naked blade wrapped in flesh.

  Even without releasing a trace of spiritual pressure, the stench of blood clung to him.

  "Who are you?! This is Moonshadow Peak. Outsiders aren’t allowed here!"

  Wang shouted.

  The old man didn’t even look his way.

  "Scram."

  He exhaled gently.

  Wang flew backward like he’d been hit by a hammer. The other two disciples collapsed in fright.

  "You see that? That’s one way to use killing intent."

  The old man straightened his back slightly.

  A tidal wave of murderous aura exploded outward.

  The last two disciples fainted instantly.

  Lin Tian, struggling to stay on his feet, asked hoarsely, "Who... are you?"

  The elder grinned. "I knew my eyes weren’t mistaken. You have potential. Your killing intent makes you perfect for my cultivation method."

  "You’ve failed to break through for so long because your heart is full of rage and bloodlust. Misty Sword Sect teaches peace and harmony. With such a heart, how could you ever break through with their path?"

  "But my foundation technique feeds on killing intent. The stronger your desire to kill, the faster you advance. If you leave Misty Sword Sect and follow me, I’ll pass it on to you. You’ll reach the Body Tempering Realm in no time."

  Lin Tian bowed stiffly, teeth clenched. "Thank you for your offer, Senior. But I am a disciple of the Misty Sword Sect. I will not betray it. Even if my heart is different, I will use my will to overcome it."

  The elder raised an eyebrow.

  Then he laughed, loud and wild, as the bamboo leaves rustled like rain.

  "Very well, boy. Let’s see if your will is sharp enough to carve your path in blood."