Midnight draped the valley in silence, but the heavens raged above.
Thunder rippled across the sky, and six streaks of golden light tore through the clouds like divine blades falling from the heavens. Their radiance made night seem like dawn. Every disciple of the Crimson Demonic Sect looked skyward with awe—and dread.
The protective formation above the sect shimmered with crimson hues as it activated.
[Faction Defensive Barrier: "Dome of Malice" – Layer One Activated]
[Threat Level: High – Nascent Soul Presence Detected x6]
[Auto-countermeasures prepared: Blood Spike Array | Soul Sever Chains]
Inside the Crimson Pavilion's highest chamber, Jin Zhen stood unmoving before a vast jade mirror projecting the outer skies.
He watched the six cultivators descend with calm amusement.
"So they finally send the Swords of Judgment," he murmured.
Beside him, Bai Xuemei's hand trembled slightly. "Master… Those are…"
"Yes," Jin Zhen said coldly. "Heaven's Edge Sect's elite slaughter team."
The Six Swords of Judgment—each a Nascent Soul powerhouse, trained not just in sword arts but in soul-hunting techniques, aura tracking, and battlefield control. They weren't just here to fight.
They were here to cleanse.
To erase evil at the roots.
Jin Zhen's lips curled.
"Perfect."
The courtyard exploded in activity. Inner disciples scrambled to defensive positions. Formation specialists channeled spiritual energy into the Dome of Malice. Elder Duan activated a secondary array, and the ground vibrated as enormous chains of light coiled around the pavilion like a serpent of runes.
Then the Swords arrived.
Six figures cloaked in golden robes hovered high above the sect, faces concealed by bone-white masks etched with divine sigils. They exuded authority like emperors. The one in the center raised his sword—a simple black blade with glowing runes.
"Crimson Demonic Sect," he called, his voice infused with spiritual pressure. "Surrender your sect master, Jin Zhen, and submit to divine judgment. You are accused of soul devouring, mass corruption, and the harboring of demonic techniques banned by the Four Sacred Realms."
Jin Zhen yawned.
Then he jumped.
No wings. No sword flight.
Just a single leap that cracked the rooftop and sent a sonic boom across the valley.
He rose to meet them, his crimson robes rippling in the winds of pressure.
"You speak boldly," he said, floating midair at their level. "But you forget something."
The masked leader tilted his head.
"And what is that, Demon?"
Jin Zhen smiled slowly.
"I'm not the same man from three months ago."
[Crimson Overlord System Notification]
[SP Used: 1,000]
[Effect Activated: "Soul Dominion - Overdrive Form"]
[Effect: All stats x2 for 1 hour. Dark Qi conversion rate doubled. Access to Forbidden Arts unlocked.]
[Remaining SP: 2,950]
Dark energy exploded from his body, swirling into a vortex of red and black lightning. The sky churned, and the winds reversed. All six Swords staggered slightly as spiritual resistance increased.
Then Jin Zhen moved.
The first to fall was the Sword of Dawn. She never saw the blow.
One second she was preparing a formation seal. The next, Jin Zhen's palm was already pressed to her chest, a black flame leaping from his skin.
Her body convulsed, and her soul was ripped out, shrieking as it vanished into the void.
The second Sword screamed, launching a barrage of sword beams laced with thunder laws.
Jin Zhen opened his mouth and ate them.
Literally.
His body devoured the attacks like smoke.
"What… what monster is this!?"
They moved as one, activating a combined formation.
Six golden swords circled them, spinning faster and faster until they formed a barrier of light. From the center, a divine seal formed—a blade composed of celestial law meant to pierce through all evil.
Jin Zhen laughed.
"You think righteousness can overcome this?"
He raised his hand.
[System Skill Unlocked – Forbidden Arts: Crimson Cataclysm]
[Cost: 750 SP + 200 spirit stones]
[Effect: Area obliteration. Direct soul attack. Curse infusion. Cannot be blocked by defensive auras below Divine Origin tier.]
[Remaining SP: 2,200]
"Begone."
A crimson sigil formed above his palm, pulsing like a heartbeat. Then it cracked—and the sky fell.
Literally.
The formation of the Swords shattered. One by one, their defenses collapsed under the weight of Jin Zhen's spiritual fury. The divine blade dimmed, then blinked out entirely.
The Sword of Noon was the first to die—disintegrated.
The Sword of Dusk fell next—soul burned.
The remaining three tried to flee.
Only one made it to the edge of the valley.
And there, Bai Xuemei was waiting.
She drew her ice blade, eyes gleaming. "You came to judge our master. Allow me to judge you."
Her sword descended, and the last fleeing Sword was turned into a frozen statue—then shattered by a single flick of her fingers.
Back in the sky, Jin Zhen hovered alone, five corpses drifting slowly behind him. His aura was chaotic, but victorious.
The entire sect below was silent.
Then a single cheer erupted.
Then another.
Then dozens more.
"CRIMSON LORD!"
"SECT MASTER JIN!"
"DEATH TO THE RIGHTEOUS DOGS!"
Jin Zhen floated down calmly, his robes now soaked in golden blood. His breathing was steady. His face calm.
He walked back into the Pavilion, unbothered by the chaos.
Inside, he sat on the crimson throne recently installed at the highest chamber. The throne pulsed in sync with the sect's spiritual vein.
He closed his eyes.
[System Update: Threat Level Reduced – You have defeated a major force of the Heaven's Edge Sect. Infamy increased across all southern provinces.]
[New Title Unlocked: "Slayer of Heaven's Swords"]
[SP Reward: +1,500]
[Current SP: 3,700]
And then, softly:
[World Notification]
[The balance between good and evil has shifted.]
Jin Zhen smiled.
"Let it tip further."