"There are grudges that need no reigniting. As long as you still draw breath, they will burn forever."
Southern Region – Borderlands of the Lâm Clan
At the peak of Vân Táng Peak, a figure clad in ash-gray robes slowly ascended.The wind swept through his long hair. His eyes—dark as the void—were silent, yet absolute.
Lâm Mạc… had returned.
None recognized him.
Not the boy once branded "crippled traitor."Not the one whose body was tossed into the abyss by his own kin.
He walked alone through the twilight winds.Each step, as though treading upon the blades of his past.
Suddenly—
"Halt! Who dares trespass on Lâm Clan territory?!"
A squad of red-armored disciples appeared, led by a sharp-eyed youth—Lâm Dực, trusted follower of Lâm Uyên.
He squinted at Lâm Mạc, then sneered.
"Who are you? Some beggar clawing out of a grave?"
Lâm Mạc said nothing. His gaze remained fixed on the Long Môn Stone Pillar—Once, his name had been etched there, marked "Fated Heaven's Successor."
Now, that name had been gouged out—Replaced by a gaudy golden inscription: Lâm Uyên.
A cold smile touched Lâm Mạc's lips.
"You've trampled a grave and built your shrine atop it.The Lâm Clan… truly excels at burying the living."
Laughter echoed from afar.
"Oh? I never thought a dead dog could find its way back."
Descending from the ceremonial platform came Lâm Uyên, clad in violet robes, spirit sword hanging at his waist.His eyes, filled with arrogant disdain—no different from the day he forced Lâm Mạc to kneel at the clan's altar.
"You… still live?"
"Yes," Lâm Mạc replied quietly,"Unfortunately, you're the first one to see me… after I returned."
The air turned cold.The world seemed to hold its breath.
Lâm Uyên frowned, eyes flashing with killing intent.He had no desire to let this cripple linger even a moment longer.
BOOM!!
A strike of Azure Flame Sword Intent burst forth, manifesting into a flaming dragon nine zhang long—Roaring toward Lâm Mạc.
All thought it would be his end.
But—
Ash rose.
A spiral of ashen runes appeared beneath his feet, twisting against the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth.Before the sword could strike, it unraveled—shredded by an invisible fracture in space.
Lâm Uyên's expression changed.
"What is that?! You… have no spiritual root!"
"I don't need one," Lâm Mạc lifted his gaze."I only need to remember… what you did."
Lâm Mạc didn't raise a hand.He only opened his eyes—and his will surged.
BOOM—!!
A massive spectral hand, forged from the Ashen Soul, descended upon Lâm Uyên—crushing him to his knees.
The entire Lâm Clan trembled.
"What… what are you?!" Lâm Uyên screamed."How can someone without a spiritual root…?"
"Because," Lâm Mạc's voice echoed through mountain and sky—"You cultivate by accepting the world.""But I… I cultivate by defying it."
Lâm Mạc turned away.He did not kill.
He simply left Lâm Uyên kneeling—as he himself had once been forced to kneel in the snow.
"This is not my true return.""The day I truly return… every drop of your bloodline will pay for what was taken from me."
With every step, ash stirred—drifting against the wind.
And from within that ash…a faint light bloomed deep within his soul—
The second stage of the Thái Sơ Sinh Đạohad begun to awaken.