Morning arrived under dark clouds.
The Azure Cloud Sect mission hall buzzed with activity as disciples gathered to receive their assigned tasks. Wooden boards filled with mission scrolls covered the walls, and elders sat behind long desks reviewing requests.
Lin Ye walked in lazily, stretching his arms.
"…Too early."
Gu Chen, already waiting near the mission board, glanced at him.
"You look suspiciously calm."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"I slept well."
That was a lie.
All night, the system notification had hovered in his mind.
[Mission: Kill or Be Killed]
Lin Ye rubbed his chin.
"…Not exactly subtle."
An elder called out loudly.
"Spirit Beast Hunting Mission!"
Several disciples stepped forward.
The elder continued,
"Target location — Fallen Spirit Valley."
Lin Ye's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…There it is."
The elder scanned the list in his hand.
"Participants…"
"Zhao Ming."
"Han Qiu."
"…Lin Ye."
The crowd murmured immediately.
"That newcomer?"
"Fallen Spirit Valley is dangerous…"
Gu Chen frowned.
"That mission is unusually risky."
Lin Ye shrugged.
"…Guess I'm popular."
But deep down—
He knew.
This wasn't coincidence.
This was a trap.
And someone had arranged it.
Across the mission hall entrance, Wu Shan stood quietly with several Black Fang members.
Their eyes met briefly.
Wu Shan smiled faintly.
Lin Ye smirked.
"…Yep."
"Definitely a trap."
Journey to Fallen Spirit Valley
Several hours later, a group of disciples stood at the edge of a massive forest valley.
Dark cliffs surrounded the area, and thick mist covered the ground below. The spiritual energy inside the valley felt unstable and wild.
This was Fallen Spirit Valley.
One disciple shivered.
"I heard this place used to be a battlefield…"
Another whispered,
"They say demons died here."
Lin Ye looked down the valley path.
"…Nice vacation spot."
The group leader spoke.
"We hunt spirit beasts and gather materials."
"Stay together."
Lin Ye nodded politely.
Then five minutes later—
He wandered off alone.
"…Together is overrated."
Inside his mind, the system flickered again.
[Mission Zone Entered]
[Warning: Hostile cultivators nearby]
Lin Ye sighed.
"…Right on schedule."
The forest grew darker as he walked deeper into the valley.
Then—
A voice echoed from the trees.
"Lin Ye."
Lin Ye stopped.
"…Hello, Black Fang."
Several figures stepped out from the shadows.
Liu Feng.
And five other disciples.
Their expressions were cold.
Liu Feng cracked his knuckles.
"You walked right into it."
Lin Ye looked around casually.
"…Ambush in a creepy forest."
"Classic."
One disciple sneered.
"You won't leave this valley alive."
Lin Ye stretched his arms slowly.
"…You guys really underestimate me."
Liu Feng's aura surged.
"This time you won't escape."
The disciples attacked simultaneously.
Spiritual energy erupted across the forest clearing.
Lin Ye's instincts exploded.
Blood Shadow Step.
His body vanished.
Two attacks smashed into the ground where he had stood.
Lin Ye reappeared behind one attacker.
CRACK.
His fist slammed into the disciple's ribs.
The man flew into a tree.
But the others attacked instantly.
Four blades cut through the air toward him.
Lin Ye's demonic bloodline stirred violently.
His eyes flashed red.
Demonic Phantom Step.
Crimson afterimages appeared across the battlefield.
The attackers hesitated for a split second.
That was enough.
Lin Ye struck again.
THUD.
Another disciple collapsed.
The battle became chaotic.
Energy blasts tore through trees.
Branches shattered.
The forest trembled.
Liu Feng roared and charged directly toward Lin Ye.
"Die!"
Lin Ye's expression hardened.
For the first time—
He didn't hold back.
His fist drove forward.
BOOM.
The punch slammed into Liu Feng's chest with terrifying force.
The man crashed into the ground violently.
Silence filled the clearing.
One of the remaining attackers tried to flee.
But Lin Ye moved instantly.
Blood Shadow Step.
His palm struck the man's back.
The disciple collapsed.
Dead.
Lin Ye stood there quietly.
Breathing slowly.
Because something had changed.
This was the first time—
He had killed another Inner Sect disciple.
The system flashed violently.
[Enemy Eliminated]
[EXP +3200]
[Bloodline Awakening Increased]
Lin Ye's eyes widened.
Inside his body—
The demonic power surged.
[Bloodline Awakening: 99%]
Crimson energy exploded around him.
The remaining Black Fang disciple froze in terror.
"…Monster."
Lin Ye's voice was calm.
"You started this."
He stepped forward.
The man turned to run—
But Lin Ye appeared instantly in front of him.
THUD.
Another body hit the ground.
Silence returned to the valley.
Lin Ye stood in the clearing surrounded by fallen enemies.
His breathing grew heavier as the demonic energy surged through his veins.
[Bloodline Awakening: 99%]
[Final Evolution Approaching]
Lin Ye clenched his fists.
"…Not now."
But the power continued rising.
Watching everything from a distant ridge—
A white figure stood silently.
Su Qingyue.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes carried deep concern.
"…You're getting closer."
She had followed him secretly.
Because she knew the mission was a trap.
But seeing the bodies in the clearing—
She realized something else.
Lin Ye wasn't just surviving.
He was becoming something far more dangerous.
Back in the clearing, Lin Ye exhaled slowly.
"…Black Fang."
He looked deeper into the valley.
"…If you want a war."
His eyes glowed faintly red.
"…you're getting one."
And somewhere deep inside Fallen Spirit Valley—
Someone else had been watching the entire battle.
Wu Shan.
His smile slowly widened.
"…Good."
Because this was only the beginning of the trap.