Early morning.
Ye Fan returned to the academy as usual.
He walked through the gates calmly.
Just like before.
But inside…
Everything had changed.
"Hey, look. It's still the same useless guy."
"Nothing's changed."
The mocking voices continued.
Ye Fan didn't react.
Not even slightly.
Let them talk.
Inside the training hall, students gathered again.
Zhao Tian stood at the center, surrounded by admirers.
Lightning flickered faintly around him.
Lin Xue stood nearby.
Cold and distant as always.
Ye Fan glanced at them briefly.
Then looked away.
Not yet…
He clenched his fist slightly.
A faint trace of wind energy moved within his body.
But soon.
The Dark Emperor's voice echoed softly.
"You have taken your first step."
Ye Fan's eyes darkened.
"This world respects only strength…"
His gaze became firm.
"Then I will become the strongest."
From that moment on…
Ye Fan was no longer walking the path of a normal cultivator.
He had chosen a forbidden road.
A path filled with danger.
A path stained with blood.
The path of Devour.
And one day…
He would stand above everyone who once looked down on him.