Pain did not fade.
It changed.
---
It sank deeper.
---
What had once been a burning sensation now became something colder—something sharper.
---
Not destruction.
---
Transformation.
---
Shen Luo stood in the darkness within the gate, his body trembling uncontrollably.
---
Not from fear.
---
But from something trying to rewrite him.
---
> "Inheritance Synchronization: 17%… 23%… 31%…"
---
His breathing grew uneven.
---
"…Too fast," he thought.
---
His vision flickered.
---
Not blacking out—
---
Splitting.
---
Fragments of something else layered over reality.
---
### **Memories That Weren't His**
A sky filled with cracks.
A world collapsing inward.
Figures kneeling.
Screaming.
Begging.
---
And above them—
Something watching.
---
Not a person.
---
Not a god.
---
Something beyond both.
---
"…Stop," Shen Luo whispered.
---
The images didn't stop.
---
They intensified.
---
### **Outside — The Ruins React**
The gate trembled.
---
Cracks spread across itts surface.
---
The ground beneath the ruins began to collapse inward.
---
The guardian—
Froze.
---
Then—
For the first time—
It knelt.
---
### **Inside — The Breaking Point**
Shen Luo fell to one knee.
---
His hands pressed against the ground.
---
"…This isn't power," he muttered.
---
Blood dripped from his lips.
---
"…This is erosion."
---
### **The System Intervenes**
> "Warning: Host consciousness destabilizing"
> "Emergency Stabilization Required"
---
The system flickered violently.
---
For the first time—
Unstable.
---
> "Override Protocol Initiated"
---
### **The Clash Within**
Two forces collided inside him.
---
The inheritance—
Ancient.
Absolute.
---
And the system—
Cold.
Artificial.
---
Precise.
---
Shen Luo felt both.
---
Tearing him apart.
---
"…Good," he whispered hoarsely.
---
If they were fighting—
---
He had space.
---
### **The Decision**
"…Neither of you decides for me."
---
His fingers dug into the ground.
---
"…I take what I want."
---
### **The Control**
Instead of resisting—
---
He guided.
---
Pulled.
---
Redirected.
---
The violent surge of power—
Didn't disappear.
---
It narrowed.
---
Condensed.
---
### **The Result**
> "Synchronization Stabilized: 42%"
> "New Ability Formed: Void Grasp (Incomplete)"
---
The pain lessened.
---
Not gone—
---
But bearable.
---
### **The Awakening**
Shen Luo slowly stood.
---
His body—
Different.
---
Subtle.
---
But real.
---
The black veins beneath his skin pulsed faintly.
---
His eyes—
Darker.
---
Deeper.
---
"…So this is the price," he murmured.
---
### **The Exit**
The darkness began to collapse.
---
The space inside the gate—
Folding.
---
Breaking.
---
Shen Luo stepped back.
---
Out.
---
### **The Ruins Collapse**
The moment he exited—
---
The gate shattered.
---
Completely.
---
Turning to dust.
---
The ruins trembled violently.
---
Stone cracked.
Ground split.
---
Everything began to fall apart.
---
### **The Guardian's End**
The guardian remained kneeling.
---
Its form flickered.
---
Cracked.
---
Then—
Collapsed.
---
Gone.
---
### **Silence Returns**
Dust settled.
---
The ruins—
No longer ruins.
---
Just empty land.
---
As if nothing had ever existed.
---
### **Above — The Elder Reacts**
High in the sky—
The elder's eyes widened.
---
"…That fluctuation…"
---
His calm expression broke.
---
"…This is not something from the Mortal Realm."
---
For the first time—
He moved.
---
### **Below — The Change is Not Over**
Shen Luo stood still.
---
But something—
Was wrong.
---
### **The Side Effect**
His hand trembled.
---
Uncontrollably.
---
Then—
The air around it distorted.
---
### **Void Grasp**
Space bent slightly.
---
As if being pulled inward.
---
Compressed.
---
Unstable.
---
Shen Luo's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Not controlled yet."
---
### **The Danger**
The distortion grew stronger.
---
Too strong.
---
His arm strained.
---
Cracks formed in the air itself.
---
### **The Loss of Control**
"…Stop."
---
It didn't.
---
The energy surged.
---
Exploded outward.
---
### **Impact**
A section of the forest—
Collapsed.
---
Trees twisted.
---
Ground folded inward.
---
Like something had crushed reality itself.
---
### **Aftermath**
Silence.
---
Shen Luo stood there.
---
Breathing slowly.
---
His hand—
Still trembling.
---
"…So this is what I took."
---
No excitement.
---
No pride.
---
Only understanding.
---
### **The Cost**
"…And this is what it will take from me."
---
He lowered his hand.
---
The distortion faded.
---
Slowly.
---
### **The New Threat**
The system flickered again.
---
> "Warning: External Presence Approaching"
> "Threat Level: Extremely High"
---
Shen Luo didn't look up.
---
He didn't need to.
---
"…The one watching," he murmured.
---
### **The Choice Again**
Fight?
---
Impossible.
---
Run?
---
Unlikely.
---
Hide?
---
Necessary.
---
### **The Decision**
Shen Luo exhaled slowly.
---
His expression—
Returned to normal.
---
Calm.
---
Unremarkable.
---
Weak.
---
"…Then I survive."
---
He turned.
---
And walked.
---
Not fast.
---
Not slow.
---
Just—
Normal.
---
As if nothing had changed.
---
As if he were still the same useless disciple.
---
### **End of Chapter 13**