Senior Sister Jin let out an embarrassed squeak before the surprise caused her to start coughing again.
"Why are—" cough cough"— why are you two here?! And why are you naked?!"
“Why are you naked?” Brother Dai countered without a hint of shame, casually moving beside her to thump the woman’s back without a care for propriety or their mutual nudity. Feng opted to stand further away, as the acrid stench proved a little too much for him to handle.
Th...
2025-04-14 12:31:45 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Though a land of fading mysteries and meagre gains, should a man find themselves blessed with a body capable of learning Heaven’s fallen Arts, he may choose one of four Paths to walk within the 103rd Outer Province.
Head to the Four Mountains that stand in the centre of the state, and upon those hallow peaks, choose:
Should they crave valour in bloodshed, or otherwise possess martial skill in the staff or glaive, a man may seek the Beheaded Phoeni...
2025-04-14 12:27:51 +0000 UTC
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Feng did not immediately recognise the female's voice, although it did sound vaguely familiar. Brother Dai, however, had reacted immediately. His face darkened, and his qi immediately spiked, despite the vulnerable state he was in.
The Young Master turned towards the newcomer, while Dai stepped forth towards them. It took Feng a moment to realise his Senior Brother was subtly trying to shield him.
“Attend to your own matters, whore. This does not concern you.” Feng wa...
2025-04-14 12:25:09 +0000 UTC
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“You held back in the arena,” Feng accused as he sat up. Like Brother Dai, he had been resurrected without a stitch of clothing on his person. The vaulted robes of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect were completely consumed in the fire; a negligible loss, considering their ruined state after their battle anyway.
“Did I?” Brother Dai scratched his chin with feigned confusion. “I would say the savage wounds you incurred were quite real, Young Master.”
“And yet, I won our fight....
2025-04-14 12:22:12 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Once is fine. Twice is dangerous. Three times in the same day, however, and you deserve to lose your head.”
— A popular proverb within the Beheaded Phoenix Sect, in regard to the limitations of the [Headless Impure Resurrection] Divine Art
----------------------
It was always a curious sight to witness.
No matter how many times he had seen it himself, no matter how many times he had experienced it himself.
A cultivator...
2025-04-14 12:18:26 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Once, long ago, there existed a Divine roost built atop a mighty Crimson Fusang Tree.
“It was a nest that housed the Ten Fledgling Suns of Heaven, renowned as the precious children of the Three-Legged Golden Crow — She who ensured the timely arrival of Dawn and Dusk.
“Infant Stars one and all, those fledgling chicks eagerly awaited the day they might roam the firmament with their Sovereign Mother, bringing Heaven’s light to the world belo...
2025-04-14 12:10:47 +0000 UTC
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The Young Master frowned. Something was afoot. Brother Dai would never suggest something so outrageous, at least not without good reason. Feng carefully studied his Senior Brother’s expression, before looking pointedly at his glaive. “I am unarmed, while you are not. And you still wish for me to fight you regardless?”
Despite his brash demeanour and physical stature, the Core Disciple was not a fool. If anything, Feng has learnt that the man possessed a particularly lethal cunning...
2025-04-14 12:03:54 +0000 UTC
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The smoke and fire surged to life, weaving together into a sudden ball of pyroclastic matter. It grew rapidly as more of the surrounding flames were sucked in, clearing the arena of its oceanic flames.
Waves of heat and ash piled into the orb. It pulsed like a living heart, each beat expanding its size until it matured to the bulk of a merchant wagon.
Within that enormous embryonic sac, a monstrous figure began to take form. Its germinal shape sprouted legs and claws. Limbs and to...
2025-04-14 12:00:13 +0000 UTC
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“Junior Brother,” Brother Dai greeted. “I must admit, I did not expect to see you today.”
Feng raised an eyebrow.
“Disciple Dai,” he addressed neutrally. “You appear to have erred. Surely you meant to greet me as the ‘Young Master’, rather than something as disrespectful as ‘Junior’, did you?”
“Ah, a mere mistake.” The large cultivator waved his hand, his expression unbothered. “It is natural for a mountain to miss the fleeting imprints of ants....
2025-04-14 11:54:21 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“The more blood spilt, the greater the glory. May your arena be soaked in crimson. May your jaws glut on the flesh of foes. And may your fire for battle never be quenched — until the final moment comes that you must sever your very head.”
— Creed of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect’s Sparring Halls
----------------------
The Sparring Hall resembled an enormous tower, featuring nine levels interconnected by a maze of platforms, ramparts...
2025-04-14 11:49:26 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Lingyu watched Hei Feng’s back as he left, cheeks flushing as she secretly hoped he would give her one last glance before leaving the alcove.
He didn’t, of course; the Young Master remained as oblivious as ever.
The Young Miss sighed, taking another sip of her elixir to comfort herself. She was not so naive as to believe that he understood the true meaning of her words in their exchange. Even now, after spending so many years meeting with his Fiancée, Feng still cou...
2025-04-14 11:45:32 +0000 UTC
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The Young Master released his grip on Lingyu’s hand, though he had to grab hold of her shoulders as the Young Miss collapsed against him. One of the foreign Disciples appeared before them in an instant, glaring meaningfully at Feng before he passed Lingyu over to her.
“That was excessive,” the bodyguard admonished him as she looked over her Mistress’s wounds. The Young Miss sighed.
“Be at ease, Senior Sister Jin. It’s nothing worse than what I usually get when I spar w...
2025-04-14 08:39:11 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Do not let the comely appearance of those foreign disciples fool you, Juniors! Beneath the alluring veneer of their jade-white skin and midnight hair, lies a monster far beyond your worst nightmares!”
— The well-meaning, but ultimately ignored advice of a disciple who knows better
----------------------
Lingyu charged forth, her legs kicking off with enough force that the ground erupted from beneath her feet. A flurry of slashes an...
2025-04-14 08:32:41 +0000 UTC
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The two of them were quiet for a while after, silently observing the raging battles around them.
Feng’s thoughts were troubled. The disciples' ferocity was disquieting. The Sect did not allow for cultivators to shy away from violence — if anything, the Beheaded Phoenix Sect pushed for its disciples to engage in duels more often than the other three Sects on the mountains — but neither did it encourage such fanatical levels of bloodlust.
The disciples within those battlegroun...
2025-04-14 08:29:40 +0000 UTC
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“Your kindness was wasted, by the way.”
Feng blinked at the sudden statement. His attention shifted away from the blood-soaked battlefield and back to the Young Miss. “What?”
The girl glared at him with knowing eyes. When he raised a confused eyebrow in return, she sighed.
“Those two Inner Disciples just now,” she elaborated. “When I greeted you earlier, I mentioned that it was kind of you to help them. But your kindness was wasted on those sycophants.”
2025-04-14 08:25:29 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“I remember when the first delegation came back from the Beheaded Phoenix Sect about a decade ago, during the early days of our alliance. Winter had settled in fully, the Sun was gone, and our Sect Sisters starved, as was the norm. The Seniors hunted for every morsel of Yang flesh they could find within the monastery compound, and when that was gone, they sated themselves on the innocence of their younger disciples instead.
Of the ten that went with the...
2025-04-14 08:21:17 +0000 UTC
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Secluded far from the main compounds of the Beheaded Phoenix Monastery, a few hours before the Young Master visits the Sparring Halls…
~~~
The weather was nice.
Disciple Shao closed her eyes and smiled as she basked in the day’s warmth. The sun-drenched rock she chose to lie on was perfect — A slab of flat stone, secluded far from the main pathways of the foreign Sect and with not a shade in sight. It allowed her to peacefully enjoy the first ...
2025-04-14 08:17:20 +0000 UTC
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The first thing anyone would notice was the noise.
The cadence of violence intensified with every step Feng took towards the Sparring Halls’ entrance. It was a symphony that began long before the first of the morning rays graced the Sect Compound, and did not end even after the shattered moon rose high in the sky during the late evenings.
Shockwaves pounded against the Young Master’s eardrums as the disciples inside clashed against each other with impossible force and speed. T...
2025-04-14 07:56:28 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Did you hear? Brother Ku had to be rushed to the Medical Pavilion and be beheaded again last night.”
“What? Don’t be ridiculous, he’s an Inner Disciple of the Armoury, and I just saw him yesterday in the compound! No one here is dumb enough to mess with the group that maintains our weapons, who would want to hurt him?”
“Well… you know that older girl from the other Sect he was always bragging to us about? The one he claimed...
2025-04-14 07:51:49 +0000 UTC
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“I beg the Honoured Young Master, please forgive this worthless wretch for showing you such an unsightly display.”
The old woman immediately prostrated herself before him, despite the pain such an act would surely bring to her ageing knees.
“This one is but a lowly servant,” she continued, eyes low and voice trembling. “Surely someone of your greatness would be willing to overlook—”
“Enough.”
Feng interrupts her halfway. Sensing the anger in his voice...
2025-04-14 07:47:25 +0000 UTC
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“I… I think I have a Heart Devil, Uncle.”
“... I see,” his Uncle solemnly replied. “In that case, we will have no choice but to quarantine you, Young Master. For the good of the Sect.”
“I… I understand, Uncle.” Feng bowed his head, lips trembling. “If it’s for the Sect, then I will do my duty as Young Master. Even if Father must seal me away, I will not shy from my responsibilities, and—!”
Hei Nan could not hold back...
2025-04-14 07:24:48 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Cruel? You complain that the Sect is cruel? That my treatment of you is cruel? How naive you are! Of course, the world is cruel! When the exploitation of your fellow men reaps such great rewards, how is it the fault of anyone who pursues the Path by dominating and devouring others? To do anything less is insanity! Only a child would lament over the useless nuances of ‘fairness’. And you call yourself a Cultivator? Better to simp...
2025-04-13 15:15:49 +0000 UTC
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~~~
The following is a brief Chronology of Mankind’s history, crafted by the official Imperial Ministry of Historical Truths. Though no records may ever be entirely accurate — for the tyranny of the Divines and the subsequent War Against Heaven saw much of Humanity’s history lost to the void — the timeline presented before you is the culmination of centuries of effort by the most dutiful of Imperial Chroniclers. You may be reassured of their unbiased and honest nature.<...
2025-04-13 15:04:48 +0000 UTC
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“Ah, Young Master! You have returned! And just in time for feeding. Did that horse give you any trouble?”
Feng tiredly guided the horse into the stable, shaking his head. “The horse was very well-behaved, as usual. You have trained her well, Stablemaster Geng.”
The large man chuckled, patting the flaming equine as he checked her over. “I think the Fire-Wheels have taken a liking to you, Young Lord! Not many disciples often take our mares for riding. Most either prefer th...
2025-04-13 14:52:11 +0000 UTC
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“B-blessed Cultivator! You honour us with your presence! How may this humble chief aid you?”
Feng’s arrival in the village was hardly subtle, nor was his status as a cultivator something that could be hidden. If the two-metre-tall flaming horse at his side or his expensive robes did not give his prestige away immediately, his qi certainly did.
Even the unawakened mortals of this sleepy village could tell when a powerful cultivation was among them.
His status as Young M...
2025-04-13 14:35:11 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“There are three wisdoms a cultivator must adhere to if they wish to live a long life.
First, never argue against the words or demands of a stronger cultivator. To do so invites discourse, which may then swiftly devolve into an honour duel where one’s position is wholly disadvantageous. Better to simply agree for now, and then flee later should the situation become untenable.
Second, never earn the ire of a stronger cultivator. Their st...
2025-04-13 14:24:54 +0000 UTC
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The walk back to the main compound was filled with inane topics. Both were eager to distract themselves from the awkward emotions that arose from their conversation earlier. Having known each other for years, the two quickly fell into a comfortable banter, soon forgetting their inept attempts at flirtation and romance mere moments ago.
“How’s your little sister’s cultivation coming along? I heard she had recently undergone her breakthrough,” the Young Master asked.
“Ling...
2025-04-13 14:21:25 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“All is Cultivation. We are currently living in the greatest era of human history. The very Heavens themselves have fallen before our feet, allowing us to feast upon their flesh and secrets. Now is the time to hunger with every ounce of your soul. Gorge upon any morsel of flesh that you can lay your hands upon, be they belonging to your Gods, kin, or foes. Consume all. Devour all. To deny yourself this is to reject the very purpose of your existence.”
2025-04-13 14:17:23 +0000 UTC
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The Young Master sighed. As expected, his opponent knew him too well to fall for his tricks.
“It wasn’t like I had many other options,” Feng said, wincing as he straightened his back. The young cultivator cycled his qi once more — his spiritual energies cannibalised to heal bruises and broken bones — before facing the speaker.
She was tall — taller than most men, taller than even his Father, whose visage stood like a pillar among lesser cultivators. Her hair was the sh...
2025-04-13 14:11:29 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“The Gods are dead! The Jade King is slain!
“Hear me, children of Man! Hear your new Emperor, and rejoice! For I declare the beginning of an age — the birth of a grand Dynasty for Mortals and Mortals alone!
“The Eternal Banquet has begun, and the means of cultivation are now within your hands! Feast upon your Gods! Feast upon your kin! Feast upon your foes! Feast upon the very flesh of Mount Tai until nought but bones and skin remai...
2025-04-13 14:05:04 +0000 UTC
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