(Part 1): Shadows from the South
Hell Valley fell silent once more. The wind ceased, and the sky gradually faded from fiery red to a somber, dark gray. Amidst the lingering destruction, still smoldering with smoke and blood, Ye Tian stood alone.
His body appeared calm, yet the aura around him still vibrated intensely, as if the world had not yet finished adjusting to the presence of the new power that had risen from within him.
But that tranquility did not last long.
From the south, light footsteps were heard, almost imperceptible, yet each step created ripples of spiritual waves. A thin mist rose from the ground—not ordinary mist, but soul-sealing mist. And within it, a figure in white robes stood, their face hidden behind a black mask carved with a one-eyed dragon.
Ye Tian did not turn, but his aura surged. "It has been a long time… the Southern Shadow Sect has not interfered in the affairs of the blood inheritance."
The figure did not immediately respond. They raised their hand, and a golden scroll descended from the sky, slowly unfolding. Ancient writing appeared in the air, radiating the aura of heavenly law.
"By order of the Southern Gate of the Celestial Empire, the celestial blood inheritance is declared a danger to the seven realms. Its heir… must be eliminated."
Ye Tian turned, staring directly at the figure in white robes. His gaze was unwavering, even calm, yet the pressure around him intensified, like the deepest abyss pressing against the heavens.
"Does Heaven truly fear something it once created itself?"
The masked figure replied flatly, "Heaven did not create you. You are a remnant of past mistakes."
"Then," Ye Tian said as he stepped forward, "let that mistake take revenge on its creators."
Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the ground cracked again.
The shadow from the South spoke no more. In their hand, a dark blue ice spear appeared, shrouded in a layer of spiritual mist. The ground they touched instantly froze, and the voices of the valley's spirits fell silent, as if afraid of their presence.
This next battle was not merely a clash of power. It was a meeting of two cursed inheritances—one shunned by Heaven, the other used as a tool to uphold Heaven's will.
And Ye Tian knew, this was the beginning of the true test.
(Part 2): Collision of Two Powers
The heavens roared. Below, two figures stood facing each other on the shattered earth—Ye Tian, the heir of the celestial blood, and the white-robed emissary from the Southern Shadow Sect, guardian of the empire's will.
Freezing mist encircled the dark blue spear in the emissary's hand. Each gust of aura from the weapon contained the power to seal spirits, as if it could silence the souls of the dead. Meanwhile, around Ye Tian, a vortex of dark blood spun slowly, creating pressure like an ocean holding thousands of cursed souls.
They did not speak.
There was no warning.
Two curses moved in a single breath.
The ice spear pierced the air faster than light. Space split, and the surrounding wind froze into sharp shards of crystal. But Ye Tian did not retreat. He planted his feet, and from his palm emerged a thin, crescent-shaped blade of blood, thrown as if it were merely a movement of the wind.
CLANG!
Two energies collided. A silent explosion erupted, and the ground beneath their feet shattered within a thirty-step radius. Dead trees exploded, giant rocks floated, and cursed spirits scattered from the bottom of the valley—witnessing a duel of two powers that even Heaven itself tried to avoid.
The emissary spun quickly, forming a three-layered spear formation. They plunged the tip into the ground and chanted a rapid incantation.
"Seven-Layered Soul Seal: Inheritance Bone Freezing!"
Seven circles of ice formed around Ye Tian in an instant, trapping him in transparent crystals like pearls. The temperature dropped drastically. Each breath Ye Tian took felt like slicing his lungs with thousands of cold needles.
But from within the seal, a soft chuckle was heard.
"Seals… only work on those who fear losing their souls."
With that voice, the blood symbol on Ye Tian's chest blazed wildly. A blood-fire seal exploded from his body, burning through the ice layers like paper. Black energy chains extended from his back, reaching for the sky and drawing lightning into his body.
Red lightning—the color of the cursed celestial blood.
BRAAKK!!
A powerful blow landed on the ice spear, and cracks spread like a spiderweb across the emissary's weapon. The white-robed figure was forced backward for the first time, blood dripping from behind their mask.
Ye Tian stepped forward, his voice now echoing in two tones:
"If you came bearing Heaven's commands, then return with a warning from Hell."
The emissary stopped. Their breath was heavy. Behind the mask, their eyes blazed coldly… but doubt began to creep into their soul.
(Part 3): A Destiny Cleaved by the Sword
The sky grew darker, as if hiding its face from the ongoing battle. The twilight no longer illuminated the earth. Amidst the ruins of the valley, two figures stood facing each other—one with heavy breathing and a cracked spear, the other standing calmly with the aura of celestial blood swirling around their body.
The emissary of the Southern Shadow Sect gripped their spear tightly. The cracks in their weapon spread across the entire shaft, and blood flowed from the gaps in their white robes. But their eyes were not extinguished. "You are indeed… the heir of the deepest curse," they murmured, almost acknowledging the truth they had long denied.
Ye Tian stepped slowly. Each step echoed, like the beat of a drum delivering a message to the entire world: this curse would no longer hide.
"I am not an inheritance," he said softly, yet firmly. "I am a reminder that even Heaven can be wrong."
From the air, a vortex of spirits began to gather behind Ye Tian. Translucent figures with wounded faces, incomplete bodies, and blazing red eyes. They were the souls that had been sacrificed, cursed, and forgotten. But this time, they did not curse Ye Tian.
They prostrated themselves.
"He… is the bearer of light behind the darkness…" whispered one spirit, its voice echoing from who knows how many millennia ago.
Ye Tian raised his hand. From the air, the celestial blood-sword formed, longer and denser than before. Black veins flowed along its blade, and a rumbling sound replaced the silence.
The emissary raised their spear for the last time. Their eyes were no longer filled with hatred, but… fear. Fear not of Ye Tian, but of the truth that had just been resurrected from the grave of the past.
ZRAAAAK!!
One slash.
One red line cleaved the air.
And the world fell silent again.
The spear fell first. Followed by the emissary's body, slowly collapsing to the ground, without a sound. Their mask cracked, revealing the face of a young man—not much older than Ye Tian—with eyes that looked at the sky for the last time.
Ye Tian approached, looking at him. Perhaps to pay respects. Perhaps to make sure. But he said nothing. For no words could atone for the war built on millennia of lies.
The final lightning struck far on the western horizon.
And with that, Hell Valley became silent once more.
But the whispers of the spirits still echoed:
"The heir has risen… Celestial Blood will reunite… The world will be changed… or destroyed."
---