The forest was silent except for the dripping of water from his robes and the soft rustle of leaves in the cool night breeze. As the mysterious being walked away from the riverbank, each step left a faint imprint of black qi that seeped briefly into the earth before fading. Shadows parted around him, as if fearful of his presence.
Moonlight spilled through the ancient pine branches above, illuminating the muddy path that wound deeper into the forest. The air was thick with mist rising from the river, curling around the roots and stones like ghostly serpents. He walked slowly, every breath tasting of moss, earth, and decay. His long black hair clung to his damp robes, framing a pale face devoid of warmth or life.
Though his body felt weak, his senses sharpened with every passing moment. He could hear the flutter of distant owl wings, the scuttling of insects under rotting logs, and the distant echo of running water. More importantly, he felt life forces flickering further ahead, one of them faint and erratic, as if on the verge of extinguishing.
He followed it without hesitation, stepping silently across wet roots and fallen leaves until the forest opened into a small clearing by the river's bend. Moonlight bathed the area in silver light, revealing the figure of a young man kneeling by the water's edge.
The youth wore simple blue robes, soaked and torn. His black hair was tied into a rough topknot, though strands fell loosely across his forehead, plastered with sweat. His chest rose and fell in ragged gasps as he pressed his hands against a wound in his side. Blood stained his robes dark, mixing with the mud beneath him.
Near him lay a long, slender sword. Its blade was chipped near the tip, and its hilt was carved with the faded character 'Jian'.
The mysterious being tilted his head slightly, observing the youth with indifferent curiosity. But before he could take another step forward, the river behind them erupted in a deafening roar.
A massive shadow surged from the water, sending waves crashing against the shore. Moonlight gleamed off green-black scales as the creature rose into the air, twisting its long serpentine body with savage grace. Two twisted horns curved back from its skull, framing eyes that burned gold like twin lanterns in the darkness. Its jaws opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth as it let out a thunderous roar that shook the trees.
A Flood Dragon.
Even half-awake, the being recognised its aura – an ancient river spirit that had devoured countless living beings to refine its physical form over centuries. Though only a tier five beast, its power was equal to a cultivator at the Earth Descending Realm, more than enough to terrify any ordinary sect disciple or wandering martial artist.
The young man forced himself to stand, gripping his sword despite trembling fingers. His pale lips parted as he gasped for breath, sweat dripping down his jaw.
"I… I won't die here…"
He raised his sword, the blade trembling in the moonlight as the Flood Dragon coiled above, its massive body stirring up waves that surged onto the bank. Its golden eyes fixed upon him, filled with contemptuous hunger. With a furious roar, it lunged downward, jaws wide enough to swallow the youth whole.
But before its teeth could close around him, a dark figure blurred through the moonlight. The young man blinked in confusion as he saw a shadow slip between him and the dragon, moving with unnatural speed and grace.
The mysterious being raised his right hand, palm open, and thrust it forward in a simple, almost casual motion.
BOOM.
The dragon's head jerked violently to the side as an invisible force slammed into its skull. Its horns cracked against a massive boulder, sending shards of stone spraying into the air. The creature roared in pain and rage, thrashing its body to coil around the intruder. Its tail whipped through the trees, snapping trunks like reeds as it tried to crush its prey.
But the being only stood there, robes billowing in the dragon's furious wind. His pale eyes narrowed faintly as he raised his hand again. Black qi flickered along his fingertips, crackling like silent lightning before disappearing into the dark.
The dragon lunged once more, fangs gleaming in the moonlight. But this time, it halted mid-strike. Its golden eyes widened in confusion as it felt something cold and corrosive spread through its skull. Its mouth hung open, dripping foul saliva into the mud.
The young man stared in disbelief as dark lines spread across the dragon's scales, like veins of black frost. The creature let out a strangled roar that turned into a gurgling hiss as its massive body began to convulse. Scales cracked open, revealing rotting flesh beneath as black qi invaded its spiritual core, dissolving its life force into nothingness.
With one final shuddering scream, the dragon collapsed to the ground. Its coils writhed weakly for a moment before falling still, steam rising from between its scales as the corrupted qi dissolved its spiritual essence entirely.
Silence returned to the clearing, broken only by the distant chirping of insects.
The young man fell to his knees, sword clattering onto the stones. His eyes were wide with fear and awe as he stared at the dark figure before him. Moonlight illuminated the man's wet black hair, pale face, and long robes stained with river mud. Despite his ragged appearance, his presence radiated a suffocating aura of ancient, bottomless power.
"W-Who are you…?" the youth managed to whisper, his voice shaking.
The mysterious being did not answer immediately. He turned his gaze to the dead dragon, observing its rotting corpse without emotion. Steam and black mist still rose from its flesh, mingling with the river fog.
Slowly, he turned back to the youth. His eyes, dark and depthless, seemed to pierce through the boy's soul.
"Your name," he said, his voice a low rasp that carried effortlessly through the clearing.
The young man swallowed, forcing his trembling lips to form words.
"Jian Tian… disciple of Black Dragon Sect…"
He lowered his head, sweat dripping onto the mud. Fear gnawed at his chest like iron worms. The power this man displayed was beyond anything he had ever witnessed. Even the Grand Elders of his sect would struggle against a tier five beast like the Flood Dragon, yet this man killed it as if crushing an insect.
The being studied him silently for a long moment. His gaze flicked down to the boy's side, where blood still flowed freely from a deep gash.
"You are dying."
Jian Tian shivered at the cold indifference in his words. He clenched his fists, knuckles white.
"I… I know… but thank you, Senior, for saving me."
The mysterious being said nothing. Instead, he raised his left hand and pressed two fingers lightly against Jian Tian's wound.
The boy flinched, expecting pain, but instead felt a deep chill spreading through his flesh. The sensation was uncomfortable, like ice pouring into his veins, but the bleeding stopped almost immediately. The wound remained, raw and torn, but no longer threatened his life.
"I have sealed it temporarily," the being said, withdrawing his fingers. "Do not move unnecessarily until you receive proper healing."
Jian Tian looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes, though fear still lingered behind them.
"Why… did you save me, Senior?"
The being turned away, his long hair swaying softly in the river breeze. For a moment, he remained silent, staring at the moonlit waters where the dragon's body floated half-submerged.
"It's because fate that we meet," he said finally, his voice soft and distant.
He began walking away, each step silent as a drifting shadow.
Jian Tian struggled to his feet, clutching his sword as he stumbled after him.
"Wait! Senior… who are you…?"
The being paused. Without turning back, he replied:
"No one worth remembering… yet."
His silhouette dissolved into the mist as he walked deeper into the forest, leaving Jian Tian standing alone in the moonlit clearing. The young man shivered as he looked at the dead dragon's rotting corpse, feeling the black qi still lingering in the air like a poisonous miasma.
He tightened his grip on his sword and whispered to himself:
"What… what manner of existence is he…?"
The mysterious being walked silently through the forest, feeling the faint flicker of qi returning to his limbs with each breath. Though the seals in his meridians remained unbroken, fragments of his power still obeyed his will, enough to crush a tier five beast without effort.
But he felt no joy or satisfaction. His mind drifted back to the Primordial Wars, to the battlefield where Old Heaven shattered his true body and sealed his divine soul within countless layers of suppression, scattering his bones into the endless void.
If he had not prepared this backup vessel long before that final battle, even his remnants would have faded into nothingness.
"Old Heaven… you feared me to such a degree…"
A faint smile curled his lips, cold and without mirth. He could still taste the bitter betrayal of those ancient years, when allies turned against him, when his closest friends plotted his death to curry favour with the Immortal Thrones.
"But none of you cunning old friends witnessed my return. Not this time."
He raised his gaze to the moon, its silver light revealing his torn robes, pale skin, and black veins flickering beneath the flesh. His hair clung to his shoulders, framing eyes devoid of warmth or mercy.
"This world… will tremble again."
Somewhere in the darkness, an owl hooted softly. Leaves rustled in the night breeze as distant thunder rolled across the sky.
The being continued walking eastward, each step silent and deliberate. In the shadows behind him, Jian Tian staggered forward, torn between fear and a desperate desire to follow this man who moved like an ancient god reborn.
And thus began the journey of the one who crawled out from the black coffin of the Ancient Dragon Corpse Burial Ground – a being whose return would one day shake the heavens and shatter the earth beneath his feet.