The sun broke through the soft mist covering the mountains. Step by step, a lone figure climbed the stone stairs carved into the ancient rock, each step echoing gently in the quiet air. The man dressed in plain yet refined robes moved slowly, as though he wanted to enjoy every moment of the ascent.
He climbed until he reached the peak, where the world opened into a stunning view. Before him stretched a vast, serene land with swaying trees and crystal-clear lakes sparkling under the sunlight—a paradise that could leave any ordinary person breathless.
At the center of the peak sat another figure, his back turned, hands gliding over the strings of an old guqin. The mournful notes floated through the air, both beautiful and sorrowful, as if the instrument itself grieved its solitude in this heavenly place.
The man stopped and took in the sight. For a moment, time seemed to freeze, until the musician finally turned, a small smirk breaking the calm on his face. "I knew you’d come," he said. "But I didn’t expect it to take so long to find me. The cultivators of the Immortal Path aren’t as capable as I thought."
The man scoffed. "Your tricks around the mountains misled them. I killed those who couldn’t see through the illusions," he replied, his voice sharp. The air grew heavy with tension at his words, as though bracing for the fight to come. "Now, it’s your choice: join them in death, or hand over the medallion. I prefer talking before a fight, but my patience is running out. Don’t waste my time, Silver Jade. Give me the medallion, and I’ll spare you. I don’t want to kill you now that you’ve retired."
Silver Jade laughed softly, shaking his head. "Two hundred years in solitude, and people think you’re retired,” he said, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I can’t give you the medallion. That’s why I hold it, not you. In your hands, it would destroy the world. I’m sorry, but my answer is no."
"I thought you’d say that," the intruder replied, his voice cold. "Looks like I have no choice but to fight you."
As he spoke, the air buzzed with energy, and his body began to change. Shadows curled around him, his skin darkened and cracked like old stone, and horns twisted grotesquely from his forehead, reaching toward the sky. In moments, the man was gone, replaced by a fearsome demonic figure, radiating power and ready to bring destruction to the once-peaceful peak.
Silver Jade didn't even flinch seeing the transformation. “Every time I see that face, Jun, it makes me sick,” he spat, his voice steady but laced with contempt. “I should’ve ended you three centuries ago. But your master saved you when you chose the demonic path. Today, that mistake will be corrected.”
Setting his guqin gently to the side, Silver Jade’s eyes narrowed in focus. A jade sword began to form in his hands, its crystalline surface shimmering under the sun, its razor edge promising swift death. Without another word, he lunged at Jun, his movements fluid and precise, the strike aimed straight at his opponent’s chest.
Jun dodged effortlessly, a sly grin spreading across his face as he soared upward, his mocking laughter ringing through the air. “Oh, is this all you’ve got? That swing couldn’t even touch me!” he jeered, his tone dripping with disdain.
Silver Jade refused to be baited, maintaining his composure as he launched another flurry of strikes, each more calculated than the last. The two clashed high above the ground, their figures blurring as they danced among the clouds. Jun’s every dodge seemed almost lazy, his smugness infuriating as he continued his taunts. “Have you truly fallen this far? Where’s the strength you once wielded? You’re making this far too easy.”
But then, Silver Jade’s blade found its mark. The sharp edge slashed across Jun’s shoulder, and for a brief moment, triumph flickered in Silver Jade’s eyes.
That moment was fleeting.
Dark flames erupted from the wound, racing up the blade toward Silver Jade’s hands. He recoiled, dropping the sword as pain seared through him. “The dark flames…” he whispered, realising dawning. “You… you killed one of the phoenixes to refine them!”
Jun’s laughter echoed once more, darker this time, almost melodic in its cruelty. “Clever, but not quite right. It wasn’t one of the elders—it was one of its hatchlings. A small price to pay for power.” He raised his hand, flames curling and twisting around it with an almost sentient hunger. “These flames don’t just burn, Silver Jade. They heal.”
To prove his point, Jun flexed his shoulder, and the flames consumed the wound, stitching it together as though it had never existed. His grin widened. “Watch closely now—this is the power you’ll never have!”
With a flourish, Jun unleashed a barrage of dark fireballs, each crackling with destructive energy as they sped toward Silver Jade.
Acting quickly, Silver Jade conjured massive jade shields to block the onslaught. The fireballs collided with the barriers, their impact sending shockwaves through the air. But the dark flames burned too fiercely, melting through the jade like it was paper, forcing Silver Jade to twist and dive, narrowly evading the molten destruction.
Jun didn’t let go. A blade of dark fire formed in his hand, glowing ominously as he closed the distance between them. He pursued Silver Jade relentlessly, his strikes gaining speed and ferocity, flames trailing in his wake like a comet. Each clash of their weapons sent ripples of energy tearing through the sky, shaking the mountain below. Rocks crumbled, and the landscape buckled under the force of their battle.
Silver Jade, now pushed to his limits, could feel the strain bearing down on him. Jun’s relentless assault and the regenerative power of his flames tipped the scales heavily in his favor. For every strike Silver Jade managed to land, Jun’s dark flames restored him, erasing the damage and leaving Silver Jade struggling to keep up.
Realizing he was going to lose like this, Silver Jade gritted his teeth and decided to unleash his full power. He dodged another strike and shouted, “Jade Cage Domain!”
The world around them changed instantly. Large ripples of qi blasted out from the man, transforming the world around them. Jade crystals shot up from the ground, forming a glowing yet suffocating cage that surrounded Jun. Silver Jade smirked, confident that he had finally trapped his enemy. But as the jade crystals closed in, Jun’s face shifted. “Your domain is impressive, as always,” he admitted, even as he felt the danger growing closer.
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Then Jun raised his arms, flames bursting forth with a fierce energy. “But my domain is nothing to underestimate either,” he countered.
As his power surged, flames spiraled around him, shaping into a terrifying figure—a massive, grotesque phoenix made of dark fire.
The dark phoenix let out a roar, its fiery wings spreading wide as it devoured the jade, turning it to ash in a brilliant blaze that lit up the sky. It rushed toward Silver Jade, ready to engulf him in its fury. The battle’s balance shifted at that moment, their domains clashing to decide their fates and the future of the realms they sought to either protect—or destroy.
The phoenix screeched, its blazing wings scorching the air as it dove toward the jade barriers, its fiery talons tearing through the constructs like molten blades. Energy crackled through the air as Silver Jade summoned a massive green barrier, using the last of his qi reserves to form a glowing shield.
“Burn!” Jun’s voice rang out, triumphant, as the phoenix tore through the shield. Flames consumed the jade domain’s core, and shattered fragments rained down like a storm. Silver Jade fell through the sky. The jade-covered mountain below crumbled, burying the instrument that the man had been playing under piles of rubble.
Jun stepped forward, the phoenix shrinking into a wisp of flame that returned to his hand, taking the shape of a dark, fiery sword. He smiled slowly, his sharp grin full of confidence, as he surveyed the destruction. But as the smoke cleared, his amusement faded.
From the wreckage, Silver Jade rose, encased in a full suit of jade armor. The armor shimmered with a soft glow, power that had saved his life radiating off it.
Jun tilted his head, his blade humming with dark energy. “Still alive? I’ll give you credit—I didn’t expect that. But you must know, this armor of yours—” he gestured with his blade, “—only delays the inevitable.” He stepped closer, his every movement deliberate and heavy with intent.
Silver Jade’s voice broke the silence, strained yet unyielding. “Demon, you can kill me, but you’ll never get the medallion!”
Jun laughed, low and cruel, the sound curling through the air like smoke. “Why not?” He spread his arms, his flame sword hovering near Silver Jade’s throat. “I only want it because it’s holding me back. Progression is my sole purpose—the reason I get up every morning. To ascend. The feeling of reaching the next level of power, breaking past limits... It's the greatest pleasure in the world. Better than any drink. Better than any whore in my harem.” His eyes burned with hunger. “I’ve been starving for that feeling for so long. And now, I’m finally about to have it again. Your righteousness won’t stop me.”
Silver Jade scowled, his fingers twitching as he growled through gritted teeth, “Die!”
June moved to cut off his head, but froze mid-step, his eyes narrowing as he caught the subtle shift in the man’s expression and the power stored within them. Realization dawned on him. “A forbidden technique, is it?” he asked, amusement lacing his voice. “You’re planning to self-destruct. How noble.” He tilted his head mockingly, his grin returning. “But here’s the thing: I’ve got artifacts strong enough to survive it. And when you’re dead, I’ll go straight for your disciples—ah, yes, Lilan and Daomi, wasn’t it? Lovely names. I’ll make sure to hunt them down and kill them, one by one.”
Silver Jade flinched, his moment of hesitation betraying his resolve.
Jun’s smile widened, his blade flaring with dark fire as he prepared to strike. “So, tell me, hero—will you still throw your life away knowing I’ll rain hell on everything you’ve ever cared for?”
Jun’s blade hovered inches from Silver Jade’s throat, the dark flames licking the edges of the man’s shimmering armor. Silver Jade’s gaze hardened, his lips moving silently as if reciting a final prayer. Jun’s eyes narrowed, watching every twitch and flicker of emotion.
“Ah,” Jun said, his tone suddenly light, almost conversational. “You’re thinking of your disciples, aren’t you? Have you heard of them? You know Daomi, that little brat recently became a marquis. Got a shiny, new title, a wife and even have a daughter on the way. How charming.” Jun’s smile darkened. “Do you want me to go there and wreak havoc? Burn their estate, watch their lives crumble? I’m very confident I can escape before the other domain holders arrive.”
The latter’s expression shifted, the anger giving way to something else—fear. He clenched his fists, his armor dimming slightly as his aura faltered.
Jun took a step closer, his smile widening as if savoring the man’s torment. “Ah, even for someone as old as you, someone who has seen more death than most, your disciples are still precious, aren’t they? How dramatic. So, what’s it going to be?” He leaned in, his blade tilting to reflect Silver Jade’s face. “You know me well enough to know I’m fully capable of keeping my promises. Just give me the medallion... and die. You’ve got five seconds.”
Jun raised his hand, counting down with deliberate slowness. “Five... four... three...” He sang the numbers.
“Wait!” Silver Jade’s voice cracked. “I’ll give it to you.”
Jun stopped counting, his grin returning. “Good. A wise choice.”
Silver Jade’s trembling hands reached into his robes, pulling out a medallion that glowed faintly. It bore unique carvings, its energy palpable even at a distance. He extended it toward Jun, who snatched it eagerly.
Holding the medallion up to the light, Jun’s eyes gleamed with triumph. “Finally...” he murmured, his thumb tracing its surface.
“You don’t know what you’re doing, Jun,” Silver Jade said, his voice heavy with regret. “Your master picked you out when you were just a commoner, raised you to a position of power, and now you’ve betrayed everything he stood for—all for the sake of—”
Before the man could finish, Jun’s flaming blade swept through the air, cutting cleanly through his throat. Blood sprayed as Silver Jade’s body collapsed, the jade armor cracking and fading into dust.
“Immortality,” Jun said, finishing the man’s sentence with a smirk. He shook his head, muttering to himself, “I really need to stop killing everyone. My body count must be in the tens of thousands by now.” He chuckled darkly, his eyes returning to the medallion.
As he held it up, studying its patterns, a smile crept across his face. “Finally, I have one piece. Now, if only I can get the others fast enough...”
His words trailed off as a strange sensation washed over him. Jun’s eyes darted to his spatial ring, his smile fading slightly. Something was stirring inside.
With a flick of his wrist, he retrieved a small lantern from its depths. The artifact, made of dark metal and engraved with ancient runes, shimmered faintly in his palm. Inside, a tiny flame flickered, its light dimming with each passing second.
Jun frowned, holding the lantern up to his face as the flame sputtered, shrinking to a faint ember before vanishing completely. A sharp crack echoed through the air as the lantern’s surface split, thin fractures racing along its once-pristine surface.
His eyes widened slightly, his expression unreadable. “Well,” he muttered, his voice low, “that’s... surprising.” He turned the cracked lantern over in his hands, as if searching for answers. “Someone managed to kill Gu Tian and that old master of his. I didn’t expect that.”
Jun chuckled softly, the sound devoid of humor. “Guess you really do see something new every day, even at my age. But the question is...” He stared at the broken lantern, a spark of curiosity gleaming in his dark eyes. “Who could’ve managed it? A master cultivator, perhaps? Some wandering genius? Or...” His lips curled into a wicked grin. “The one who holds the medallion.”
His gaze fell to the lifeless body of Silver Jade, still sprawled on the ground amidst the shattered remnants of his armor. Jun’s voice dropped to a whisper, filled with quiet malice. “Well, whoever it is that holds that medallion... their fate will be the same as his.”
He stepped over the body, his flaming blade dissipating as he slid the medallion into his robes. The air around him grew heavy with his oppressive aura as he glanced toward the horizon, his thoughts already racing ahead to the next step in his pursuit.
***
A/N - You can read 30 chapters (15 Magus Reborn and 15 Dao of money) on my patreon. Annual subscription is now on too.