The moon hung low in the night sky, casting an ethereal glow on the sleeping city below.

Ziven stared down the young girl before him. He had spent months on the run worried her master would send cultivators after him. He finally got some news that one of the old man’s disciples were in the city, he couldn’t pass up on such an opportunity.

I’ll send ‘him’ her head, Ziven sneered, releasing his Peak Core Formation cultivation base.

Amelia met his gaze unflinchingly, completely unintimidated. She let out an unladylike burp as a similar aura of Peak Core Formation erupted from her slender body, pushing back Ziven’s oppressive aura.

Amelia wasn't sure why this handsome stranger had decided to attack her, but if he wished to offer up his soul, who was she to refuse such a gift?

After all, master had made it clear that self-defence was fair game. And anyone stupid enough to pick a fight with me deserved what they got.

Amelia's lips curved into a wicked smirk as her beautiful features morphed into an inhuman, ghoul-like countenance - skin growing paler, dark veins surfacing across her face, eyes hollowing into glowing blue sockets.

Ziven's scowl deepened at the sight of the girl's transformation, she was a monster, just like her master.

"You have your master to thank for your death today, demon," Ziven spat, his emerald eyes flashing blood-red. "Did you think I would ever forget how he cut down my brother Xander?"

The image of his best friend Xander's vacant eyes staring lifelessly up at the sky flashed through Ziven's mind. His hands curled into fists, nails biting into his palms.

"We were like brothers. He was the only family I had left in this world after bandits slaughtered my parents. Even if he joined the bandits, I could have made him understand! I could have saved him!"

The young man's speech was cut off abruptly as a blade of soul energy came slicing through the air towards his head, forcing him to jerk to the side.

The attack left a burning gash across his cheek.

“A Soul cultivator!” Ziven's spat as he felt his soul recoil in pain.

The one thing Ziven hated more than demonic cultivators were demonic cultivators who messed with souls. That was unforgiveable.

Amelia let out an exaggerated yawn, clearly unimpressed by the young man's tragic backstory.

"I don't really care why you're so eager to let me have your soul," she drawled, idly examining her nails. "Now are you going to keep whining, or are we going to have some fun?"

To emphasize her point, Amelia launched two more blades of condensed soul energy toward Ziven.

Ziven dove and rolled, avoiding the attacks by a hair's breadth. He came up in a crouch, lips peeled back in a disgusted sneer. How dare this monster interrupt his righteous quest for vengeance against her master? She would pay for such insolence.

Directing the wind qi to his hands, Ziven sent a volley of wind blades slicing through the air towards Amelia.

But the pale girl merely threw back her head and laughed, purple wings unfurling from her back. With a powerful flap, she took to the air, evading the wind strikes with ease.

Hovering midair, Amelia peered down at Ziven's dumbfounded expression with a smug grin. After her close call with the Nascent Soul cultivator, she had worked tirelessly to develop this Soul Wing technique.

Now nothing could touch her!

Craning his neck to glare up at the hovering girl, Ziven grit his teeth in frustration. Fighting an aerial battle was not his forte - his mastery over the wind element was not yet advanced enough to engage her at range. He would need to get creative to bring her back down to his level.

That is a weakness I need to fix after dealing with this wretch, Ziven thought as he gathered his qi towards his palms and then thrust them upwards.

A spiralling column of wind erupted towards Amelia, catching her off-guard and slamming her violently back down to earth. She crashed into an old oak, the trunk splintering under the impact.

Not wasting a second, Ziven appeared before Amelia, a claw of wind wrapped around his hand as he stabbed down towards her chest.

At the last instant, Amelia managed to twist aside. The wind claw only grazed her left shoulder instead of piercing through her heart.

Hissing in pain, Amelia stumbled back, clutching the injury.

To Ziven's disgust, rather than show any distress, a look of pleasure crossed her face as she lifted her bloodied hand to her lips and took a long, slow lick.

"Mmmm, now this is starting to get fun," she purred, flashing her blood-stained teeth in a wicked grin.

Ziven tensed, a chill running down his spine at the sight of the unhinged glee in her eyes. He had to end this, fast.

But before Ziven could make another move, Amelia's blue eyes flashed brightly. An overwhelming pressure seized Ziven's mind, leaving him momentarily stunned.

Capitalizing on her opponent's confusion, Amelia shot forward with incredible speed.

Move! Ziven mentally screamed but his body refused to obey him.

In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance and grasped him by the throat and, with terrifying strength, slammed Ziven's head viciously against the pavement. The cobblestones cracked under the impact, pain exploding through Ziven's skull.

Standing over Ziven, Amelia grinned down at him, revealing a long, snakelike tongue that flicked excitedly.

"I bet you have a delicious soul, handsome.” She purred, taking a deep breath. “The self-righteous ones always do.”

An irresistible pull tugged at Ziven's spiritual core, slowly extracting his soul from his body. Mind still reeling from the pain and disorientation of Amelia's attack, Ziven struggled to resist the soul-draining force. As his soul slipped further away, panic threatened to overwhelm him.

N-no! It can’t end here, not before I get my revenge!

Just before his soul detached fully from his body, a black marble shot out from within Ziven's chest. It slammed into Amelia with an explosive burst of energy, sending her flying into the air. Her body reverted to its normal delicate appearance as she crashed to the ground dozens of feet away.

Dazed, she pushed herself up from the rubble and debris. Blinking in confusion, Amelia scanned the street only to find no trace of the righteous fool.

That coward talked so boldly of vengeance but fled like a dog with his tail between his legs at the first sign of real danger, Amelia punched the ground in frustration.

Why did they always run away?

Unbeknownst to the seething girl, ten figures hid in the shadows, watching the entire exchange unfold. These were the Nascent Soul elders, assigned by the Slifer to keep an eye on Amelia during her mission. They had been ordered not to interfere unless her life was in imminent danger.

When it became clear the black pearl would be whisking Ziven away to safety, the elders had briefly considered moving to prevent his escape. But before they could act, Ziven had vanished.

One elder shook his head in amazement. "Those two are really only at the Core Formation Realm? Their battle seemed more appropriate for those at the Nascent Soul realm like ourselves."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

His companion nodded in agreement. "The youngest generation always seems to eclipse us. It won't be long before this pair leave us completely in the dust."

----------------------------------------

The Seventh Heaven stretched as far as the eye could see, an endless expanse of wispy white clouds.

Astrid tapped her foot impatiently, arms crossed as she sat on a thick, golden-hued cloud. The black and white stripes of a tigress adorned her robes, she was the Supreme Elder of the White Tiger Sect. With her stern face framed by two tight buns, she looked ready to discipline any fool who dared to test her patience.

"That oaf Malachar is late yet again," Astrid grumbled. "Have they no concept of punctuality in the Black Rose Sect?"

Beside her, Leontius, the Supreme Elder of the Pure Soul Sect gave a sympathetic smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling.

"It appears the Black Rose Sect Master has secluded himself in closed-door cultivation.” He said gently. “The newly ascended Supreme Elder will be attending in his stead."

Astrid harrumphed. "More likely lazing about. In my sect, such disregard for others' time would be met with ten nights in the pits of Azaras."

"You're too harsh," Leontius clasped his hands together. "We all journey at our own pace."

On a nearby red cloud, Zofia, the Supreme Elder of the Heaven’s Light Sect, let out a derisive laugh. With her ornate blue and gold robes, she appeared almost delicate, but the enormous broadsword across her knees dispelled that notion immediately.

"You're too soft as always, Leontius," Zofia said, not pausing as she sharpened her sword. "When that demonic scum finally shows up, I'll be sure to give him an appropriate…reward." A vicious gleam entered her eyes at the thought.

Leontius frowned. "There is no need for conflict. We are all cultivators seeking the same destination, though our paths may differ."

"Hah!" Astrid barked. "Don't waste your breath on sentimentality, old man. The strong flourish, and the weak perish. That is the way of cultivation." She gave an approving nod at Zofia.

The Black Heart Sect Master, half-hidden in the shadows of a dark cloud, watched the exchange between the righteous sects in silence. A cruel smile played at his lips as he imagined the humiliation awaiting the Black Rose Sect's Supreme Elder. That fool Slifer had killed an Origin Realm elder and multiple Nascent Soul cultivators from his sect!

Let him suffer at the hands of the righteous hypocrites.

As a demonic cultivator himself, Kaelius knew Zofia's self-righteousness hid the same lust for power that drove him, she just hid it better.

Leontius means well, but his naivety will be his undoing. As for Astrid...Kaelius mentally acknowledged her uncompromising strength and felt a touch of kinship with the other Supreme Elder. In another life, perhaps they could have been allies.

A pulsating aura interrupted his thoughts as all four Ascendant beings sensed a foreign presence approaching. Their heads turned, following the qi signature.

In the distance, an arc-shaped vessel limped through the clouds, pieces breaking off and falling into the open sky below. It looked as if it had been pieced together from the scraps of a dozen other ships, metallic patches of varying sizes haphazardly welded over gaping holes in the hull. One of its three sails hung in tatters, barely clinging to the mast.

As it drew closer, the elders could make out the name engraved along its side: Divine Azerion Arc.

Zofia threw her head back and laughed. "This is humiliating enough! Is this wreck even capable of flight?"

"It seems not even the Heavens favour the Black Rose today," Kaelius sniggered.

Astrid wore a look of disgust. "Only a fool would rely on such garbage. I'd turn right back if I came in that heap."

Leontius furrowed his brow at the comments. "Come now, friends, let us reserve judgement until we meet them. Power lies also in perseverance."

The Arc suddenly veered left as a mangled engine on its right side sputtered, leaking smoke. The movement caused its broken left wing to finally tear free completely. The now useless slab of metal spun toward the clouds below.

As the elders watched the crippled ship desperately try to stay aloft, an ear-splitting roar resonated across the Seventh Heaven.

Their heads swivelled toward the sound.

Approaching rapidly from the north was a massive, winged beast covered in crackling electricity. Spanning over fifty meters from its three savage heads to the tip of its scorpion-like tail, the Ascendant-level lightning chimera emitted a crazed bloodlust. Each of its three heads sported a thick mane that flickered from white to blue to purple.

Leontius' eyes widened. "A Heavenly Beast? Here?"

Heavenly Beasts were creatures forged out of the natural elemental qi that accumulated in certain areas of the upper heavens.

Based on the chimera's aura, Leontius estimated it to be at the Late Ascendant Realm. A difficult opponent for any of the present cultivators to handle alone.

Yet the chimera ignored the elders, its gaze fixed on the damaged Arc sputtering through the clouds. Opening all three of its fanged maws, the beast released an earth-shaking roar and shot towards the ship like a bolt of lightning.

"It appears this will be over quickly," Astrid raised an eyebrow.

"That wreck is done for," Zofia grinned wildly.

Kaelius and Leontius remained silent as they watched the chimera rapidly close in on the crippled Arc.

Nothing good ever came from angering a Heavenly Beast. This chimera would never stop hunting the Arc until it or the cultivator was dead.

On the Arc's crumbling deck, Slifer's eyes widened at the sight of the monstrous chimera barrelling toward him, electricity cackling around its three sets of gnashing teeth.

"You have got to be kidding me," he groaned, staggering as the ship listed to one side.

He had spent almost all his credits on preparing to face the Ascendant beings, and now a crazed beast wanted him dead before he could even make it to the Meet?

Ding! Your Disciple Amelia Has Defeated The Son Of Heaven Your Luck Has Returned To Its Normal State Reward: 500 Karmic Credits

With my luck no longer being dog-shit, I can see if this card works!

It was time to show the overgrown kitten what true lightning was.

“A 99% chance of failure, what could possibly go wrong?” Slifer laughed as he crushed the card.