The Rise of an Evil Sect Leader

The grand hall buzzed with lingering disbelief. Ye Tian's unexpected victory over Zhang Wei had shattered everyone's perceptions of him. The so-called "crippled" young master had proven himself far from useless—his calm, ruthless display of skill still echoed in the minds of those who had witnessed it.

The Jade Serpent Sect envoy, his expression one of veiled intrigue, stepped closer to Ye Tian. "We leave for the Jade Serpent Sect at dawn," he declared. "Make your preparations. Do not delay."

With a swish of his jade-green robe, the envoy turned on his heels and strode out, his entourage trailing behind him like shadows. Zhang Wei shot Ye Tian a venomous glare as he passed, cradling his injured body, but Ye Tian didn't spare him a glance.

"Dawn it is," Ye Tian murmured, his voice calm but filled with an icy edge.

The Ye Family's Fear

The crowd began to disperse, whispering among themselves.

"Did you see that? How could Young Master Ye Tian defeat someone at the Fourth Layer?"

"He must've been hiding his strength!"

"Hiding it all these years? That doesn't make sense."

The elders, however, exchanged uneasy looks. Ye Tian's sudden display of power had upended their assumptions. If he wasn't truly crippled, if he was indeed cultivating in secret… then he could become a threat.

Ye Lin stood apart, his face pale and drenched in sweat. Fear gripped his heart as he watched Ye Tian's cold and calculating eyes sweep over the hall. Gone was the weak, humiliated brother he had tormented for years. This Ye Tian was something else entirely—someone dangerous.

Ye Tian's gaze locked onto Ye Lin, and a cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Without a word, he began to walk toward his second brother, each step echoing ominously in the now-silent hall.

Ye Lin instinctively stepped back, his trembling voice betraying his panic. "W-What are you doing, Brother? I didn't mean—"

Before he could finish, Ye Tian's hand shot out like a viper, grabbing Ye Lin by the collar and yanking him forward. The hall gasped in unison as Ye Tian's cold, unrelenting voice rang out.

"You dare speak to me? After plotting to kill me, you still have the audacity to show your face and demand respect?"

Ye Lin struggled weakly, but Ye Tian's grip was like iron. With a sudden, brutal motion, Ye Tian slammed Ye Lin's head onto the cold marble floor.

Bang!

The sound reverberated through the hall as blood splattered across the polished stone. Ye Lin cried out in pain, but Ye Tian was far from finished.

Bang!

Ye Tian lifted his brother's head again and smashed it down once more, this time harder. The once-proud and arrogant face of Ye Lin was now battered and bloodied, his features unrecognizable.

"Humiliated you?" Ye Tian hissed, his voice icy and dripping with disdain. "You should consider yourself lucky I don't end you here. This is nothing compared to what you deserve."

The onlookers were frozen, horrified. Even the elders, who usually held authority over family disputes, remained silent. The sheer dominance Ye Tian exuded kept them rooted in place, unable to muster the courage to intervene.

Ye Tian finally released Ye Lin, letting his bloodied and broken form collapse onto the floor. Ye Lin coughed weakly, trying to crawl away, but the strength in his limbs had already given out.

Ye Tian crouched beside him, his voice low and venomous. "Listen well, Second Brother. Speak out of turn again, or scheme against me, and I will ensure your next punishment makes this look merciful. You've already disgraced the family. Don't make me disgrace it further by carrying your corpse out of here."

Ye Lin whimpered, too weak and terrified to respond.

Ye Tian stood, brushing off his sleeves as if nothing had happened. He looked around the hall, his eyes sweeping over the pale, trembling faces of the elders and servants. "Anyone else have something to say?"

The hall was deathly silent.

Satisfied, Ye Tian turned his back on his fallen brother and began to walk away. Behind him, servants rushed forward to drag Ye Lin's unconscious body out of the hall.

The patriarch of the Ye family, Ye Zheng, watched his son leave, his face a mix of shock and something bordering on fear. For years, Ye Tian had been a source of shame, a disappointment. But now…

This was someone he didn't recognize.

As Ye Tian exited the grand hall, his thoughts were calm and deliberate. "Those who have wronged me will face far worse."

Preparing for Departure

Back in his small courtyard, Ye Tian sat cross-legged on a simple wooden mat, the moonlight casting silver streaks across his face.

His mind wandered as he reflected on the duel. While his body had allowed him to display some martial skills, it was still frail—too frail.

I need to strengthen this body.

The golden energy within him—ancient, mysterious, and wild—stirred faintly in response to his thoughts. It had helped him open his first meridian, but it was merely the beginning. Cultivation required discipline, resources, and, above all, time.

"Time is a luxury I can't afford," Ye Tian muttered, clenching his fists. "If I'm to survive the Jade Serpent Sect, I must get stronger—fast."

The Gift of Shadow

Just then, a flicker of light appeared before him—a golden strand of energy, faintly pulsing. It hovered in the air for a moment before sinking into Ye Tian's chest. His body stiffened, and his mind was pulled into a dark void.

When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in an endless black expanse.

"What is this place?"

A low voice rumbled, ancient and oppressive.

"You… are not like the others."

Ye Tian's expression remained calm. He turned toward the source of the voice. In the darkness, a colossal shadow loomed—a figure with burning golden eyes that pierced the void. Its form shifted constantly, as though it were both real and unreal.

"Who are you?" Ye Tian asked, his tone steady.

"I am the Shadow of the Golden Sovereign. You are my chosen vessel, boy. Rejoice, for you carry my power within you. The thing that you feel is called Heavenly Soul Relic"

Shadow of the Golden Sovereign? Ye Tian's sharp mind pieced it together instantly. "The golden energy in my body—it's your power."

"Correct." The shadow's voice echoed like thunder. "But power alone means nothing without the will to wield it. I slumbered for centuries, waiting for a worthy soul. You are ruthless. Ambitious. You will become my inheritor, but only if you survive the trials ahead."

Ye Tian smirked faintly. "Trials? I've survived far worse. If you're giving me power, don't hold back."

The shadow's laugh boomed across the void. "Very well. Let this be your first test."

Suddenly, the void trembled, and chains of black energy erupted from the darkness, whipping toward Ye Tian like vipers. His instincts screamed danger, but he didn't falter.

The First Trial

The chains came fast, but Ye Tian's movements were faster. Though his body in the real world was weak, here—within the void—he felt light, powerful, as if he'd returned to his peak.

Is this… my soul's strength?

He dodged and weaved through the onslaught, his sharp eyes analyzing the patterns of the chains. Each strike became more ferocious, but Ye Tian remained calm, waiting.

Finally, he saw his opportunity.

There!

Ye Tian lunged forward, grabbing one of the chains mid-strike. The black energy flared as it tried to resist, but Ye Tian's grip was unrelenting. With a roar, he pulled the chain toward him, snapping it in half.

The shadow's golden eyes gleamed with approval.

"Well done. You are stronger than I thought. Take this as your reward."

From the broken chain, a surge of dark energy flowed into Ye Tian's chest. His body trembled as the power integrated into his soul, and knowledge flooded his mind—the Shadowstep Technique, a movement skill that allowed one to shift like a ghost, leaving no trace.

Ye Tian's eyes snapped open in the real world, his breath heavy. Power surged through his veins, and he clenched his fists, feeling the change.

"So this is the first step…" he whispered.

He rose to his feet, the moonlight catching the cold gleam in his eyes. With the Shadowstep Technique, his speed would rival that of cultivators far stronger than him. Combined with his martial instincts, it was a deadly advantage.

The Journey Begins

When dawn broke, Ye Tian stood at the gates of the Ye family estate. Dressed in a simple black robe, he carried no weapons, only a calm, implacable presence that seemed to chill the air around him.

The Jade Serpent Sect envoy waited, flanked by his men. Zhang Wei stood beside him, his face twisted with resentment.

"You're on time," the envoy said, eyeing Ye Tian.

Ye Tian nodded. "Let's go."

As the group departed, Ye Lin watched from a distance, hatred burning in his eyes. Enjoy your glory while it lasts, Brother. When you fail, I'll be there to crush you.

Ye Tian, however, didn't look back. His thoughts were already focused on what lay ahead.

The Jade Serpent Sect will be my first step… but not my last.

The path to power was paved with blood and ambition. And Ye Tian—Luo Chen reborn—would walk it without hesitation.