Thunder cracked over the Molten Sky Mountains, a volatile chain of peaks riddled with volcanic energy and long abandoned by civilization. Rivers of molten lava flowed through ravines, casting a crimson glow upon jagged rocks and sulfuric mists. The air shimmered with heat, suffocating and oppressive, yet atop one such peak stood a lone figure—Wen Wuxing, his black robes fluttering against the ash-filled wind.
His gaze was fixed upon a distant crevice, from which the low rumble of an ancient force echoed. Beneath those stones lay the Ruins of Ignis, and within, the Molten Serpent—a beast long thought myth, whose core promised a leap in power strong enough to shatter his bottleneck.
The Ashen Blade in his hand pulsed with anticipation, its runes glowing faintly in resonance with the mountain's energy.
Ding!
System Notification: Host nearing mission zone. Environmental hazard level: High.
Estimated Time to Contact: 1 hour.
Side Objective Available: Extract rare minerals from Molten Ravine (+Minor Reward).
Wuxing narrowed his eyes. He had not come for side objectives. Every second spent here was a second away from his clan's growth. Yet, he would not rush blindly.
Activating Voidstep, his figure flickered through space, crossing dangerous terrain as if walking upon air. He descended swiftly, each step calculated, every movement fluid. Beneath him, lava surged, and ash clouds billowed skyward, hiding his approach.
At the heart of the Ruins of Ignis, he finally paused before a colossal stone gate, its surface etched with archaic flame sigils. The gate pulsed with ancient sealing energy, barring entry.
Wuxing raised the Ashen Blade and slashed forward.
The air cracked. A rift of sword energy struck the seal. Flames erupted, but the sigils shattered, the gate creaking open to reveal a cavern suffused with blinding light and oppressive heat.
Inside, the Molten Serpent coiled, its scales like molten iron, eyes glowing with primal fury.
It reared its head, letting out a guttural roar.
Ding!
Boss Encounter Initiated: Molten Serpent – Rank: High Nascent Soul Beast.
Warning: Power exceeds Host's by one major realm.
Tactical Advantage Required: Utilize terrain, system-enhanced items.
Combat Initiation: Confirmed.
Wuxing's lips curled slightly.
"I didn't come here to retreat."
He darted forward, Voidstep activating once again, allowing him to bypass the first sweeping strike of the serpent's tail. With one motion, he hurled a Firebane Talisman—an artifact rewarded from a past mission—into the beast's open maw.
It exploded with chilling force, stunning the serpent momentarily.
Wuxing followed up with a barrage of strikes, the Ashen Blade cleaving through the beast's scales, sending molten blood spraying across the cavern. Yet the serpent recovered fast, lunging with a ferocious bite. Wuxing leapt aside, though his robes singed and spiritual energy wavered under the beast's raw might.
The battle raged for hours.
He burned through system items—Soul Suppression Pills, Rejuvenation Elixirs, and Flameguard Totems. Finally, with one final surge of power, he channeled the Ashen Blade into its ultimate form, striking the serpent's skull.
It let out a final shriek, body writhing before collapsing into a pool of molten gore.
Ding!
Boss Defeated: Molten Serpent – Core Intact.
Patriarch Reward: +1 Major Breakthrough Token, +1 Essence Condensation Elixir.
Clan Reward: +1 Guardian Beast Slot, Tier 4 Medicine Field Expansion (Pending Placement).
New System Option: Summon Guardian Beast from Egg (Initiate Now or Store).
Panting, Wuxing retrieved the serpent's core—a blazing orb of condensed flame essence. As he absorbed the reward items, he felt his cultivation shift. The bottleneck shattered, spiritual energy surging within him.
He had advanced to Mid Nascent Soul Realm.
Not far from the ruins, Wuxing sat in quiet meditation for several days, consolidating his gains, while messages from the Veil of Shadows Pavilion filtered through his system interface.
Ding!
Veil of Shadows Pavilion Report:
1. Recruitment for Heaven's Veil Pavilion completed: 300 disciples enrolled.
2. Sect Treasury Income (Week 1): 1,200 Spirit Stones.
3. Secret Sale – Black Jade Pavilion transaction successful. +10% Influence Boost.
4. Clan Descendant Birth – Wen Yunliang's son. Minor Reward to Patriarch: 15 Spirit Stones, 1 Mortal Tier Pill Blueprint.
He smiled. Even during his absence, the clan flourished.
Days later, Wen Wuxing returned to the Wen Clan.
Within the Patriarch Hall, elders knelt in greeting, their faces glowing with reverence. They could not sense his new realm, yet his presence alone told them all they needed to know—he had grown stronger again.
In private, Wen Tianhai updated him on developments.
"The Heaven's Veil Pavilion has drawn attention. Some sects suspect its origins, but none dare challenge it yet. Our own ranks have increased. The medicine fields await your placement orders."
Wuxing nodded. "Expand Windhowl Peak's field. They've completed two high-level missions. Reward is deserved."
The clan now possessed five major peaks, each housing prominent figures.
Wuxing's own Patriarch's Peak remained the pinnacle—its rewards and security unparalleled. Now, with his breakthrough, he could begin creating sub-formations, embedding protective runes and enhancing cultivation chambers for key descendants.
Later, within the Hall of Blessings, Wuxing received news of another guardian beast egg hatching. The creature—a Shadowflame Direwolf—was fiercely loyal, system-bound, and two minor realms above the clan average.
It would guard the central gate, visible to all who entered. A symbol of power.
That evening, standing atop his peak, Wen Wuxing watched the setting sun, eyes gleaming.
The Grand Sect Tournament loomed ever closer. Sects gathered strength, alliances formed in secret.
But the Wen Clan had no need for fear.
Because in the shadows, Wen Wuxing moved all pieces. Behind the rise of geniuses, the growth of power, the gathering of wealth, stood one man.
Unseen.
Unstoppable.