The scorching sun baked the earth, a stifling heat permeating the air.
In the western part of Northern Jade City stood a large building, its walls painted in a red and green pattern. The fiery sun illuminated the place, from which the foul smell of decay wafted out. Above the entrance hung a board that spelled in large golden letters: Floating Red Courtyard. A crudely red flower made from cloth hung above the board.
With loud creaking sounds the door opened as a youngster walked out, his face all smiles. His clothes were roughly put together, but especially the many dirty stains would make anyone turn away in disgust. Were they ever washed?!
He pushed his arm behind him, slowly closing the door. As his fingers lay spread out on the wood, one could see his beautiful, crimson dyed nails.
After taking several more steps away from the Floating Red Courtyard, the young man scratched his nose. His bright face, previously full of joy, turned gloomy.
"I'll get my revenge within a decade! This old, goddamned bastard! He cheated me out of 100 red crystals again! When I'm rich, I'll buy this stupid place and force that old bastard to entertain 100 brawny guys every day—for the rest of his life!"
This aggrieved youngster was Ling Xiao. Losing his parents early on, he was forced to survive on his own. He spent his days begging until he turned 14, when by a stroke of fate, he learned how to concoct a unique pill that was especially useful for older men. From that point onwards, Ling Xiao went in business with the Floating Red Courtyard.
Ling Xiao walked home, feeling depressed. When he reached the main street of Northern Jade City, he realised it was a lot more crowded than when he left to sell his pills.
"Isn't that fattie wearing the blue clothes the Celestial Soul Master from the Northern Jade Sect located atop the mountain north of the city? Why isn't he cocky like his usual self? And why does he treat those men with such reverence? They must be Celestial Soul Masters far more powerful than his entire Northern Jade Sect!" Ling Xiao mumbled to himself.
As he watched the fat man fawning over the soul masters, Ling Xiao thought to himself, When I'm a powerful Celestial Soul Master, I'll make him wash my feet!
Celestial Soul Masters and Demonic Soul Masters were collectively known as Chain Soul Masters. They were the powerhouses of this world. Standing far above the ordinary people, they governed over them like the insignificant ants they perceived them as.
Ling Xiao had heard rumours that a high ranked Chain Soul Master could cut down a mountain, and empty the sea of all its water with but a wave of their hand.
Celestial Soul Masters saw themselves as saviors, humanity's guardian angels, and wouldn't forget to remind everyone of this. In stark contrast to them stood the Demonic Soul Masters. With countless lives having fallen victim to their evil ways, they were the butchers of humanity, the devil himself even!
A long and vigorous voice resounded through the sky, "Residents of Northern Jade City, listen to me. A demon has hidden itself within the confines of your city. Please, evacuate! If you don't comply, we can't ensure your safety."
Ling Xiao listened, while a single thought ran through his mind, What a stuck-up and condescending bastard! But his expression quickly changed when he heard the message. There's a demon? I have to leave the city? Ling Xiao immediately thought of the things he'd hidden beneath his bed. He watched as scared people screamed and yelled while pushing and shoving anyone in their way in a frenzy to leave the city. He gritted his teeth and started sprinting towards his house.
Floating far above Northern Jade City were countless Celestial Soul Masters. They dotted the sky, surrounding a boulder with a surface that resembled a dried, wrinkly tree bark. Beams of yellow, azure, and green shot out from the gems looped around their necklaces, striking the boulder.
The boulder kept absorbing the rays of light, after which it rapidly began changing.
Onomm. The dry, wrinkly layers surrounding the boulder fell off to reveal an enormous eye. It exuded a huge beam of light which was the colour of the sun. Soundlessly, it spilled over everyone heading out of the city.
Bang! Ling Xiao kicked in the tattered door to his house and rushed in. He didn't even have time to gasp for air. But before he could take another step, he felt as though someone had stabbed him in the head with a knife. Howling in pain, he grabbed for his head.
"Huh, you didn't die?" A surprised voice sounded out from a corner of the room.
Ling Xiao was sweating, his face pale. The stabbing pain from just now caused him to lose all strength in his body. With the little power he had left, he forced his head up and glanced in the direction the voice came from.
A wizened man draped in a black robe and covered in fresh blood was staring curiously at him. Ling Xiao was shocked to find numerous wounds on the man's body, all of them closely packed together.
Even if he was twice the fool, Ling Xiao realized who this old man was. It could only be him. That terrifying pain from just a moment ago only supported his beliefs this was the man the Celestial Soul Masters were after. Ling Xiao couldn't help but quietly grumble, Really? Really? The demon is really in my house? Out of all houses… Why am I, Ling Xiao, not so lucky when I'm gambling?!
While Ling Xiao was still caught up in his own misfortune, the old man mumbled to himself, "A twin soul, huh? So that's why he has such strong mental strength. And here I was wondering how he survived. No wonder…"
Although he couldn't quite make out the old man's mumbling, Ling Xiao's eyes remained firmly fixed on him. He was like a wounded beast looking at the hunter.
The old man seemed to have felt Ling Xiao's gaze on him for he raised his head and looked back. Those deep-set eyes resembled sharp swords, seemingly wanting to pierce Ling Xiao's heart. "Little boy, everyone has already fled the city. Why are you still here?"
Even if his heart was filled with fear, trepidation, and resentment, Ling Xiao still squeezed out a most radiant smile. "I heard a demon entered the city. I am but a poor man, just barely scraping by. After many long days and nights, I even saved up a little! I couldn't leave all that behind. But old man, who are you? Why are you in my house? Did you come hide here from the demon because your feet were too weak to carry you to safety?"
The old man clasped the wounds on his chest, which were only an inch from his heart. He closed his eyes and moaned, "Get me a bowl of water, hurry!"
Ling Xiao rubbed his nose with his finger. He got up and walked to the side of the table. Picking up the kettle with one hand and a broken bowl with the other, Ling Xiao poured the water into the bowl. With his thumb tightly hooked around the mouth of the bowl, he handed it over to the old man. "Old man, here. Drink up."
The old man slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Ling Xiao with a deadpan face before accepting the bowl.
Ling Xiao stared at the old man with unwavering attention. He licked his lips and swallowed a mouthful of saliva with much difficulty, causing his Adam's apple to move a little.
The old man fell silent, then downed the water in a single gulp. Ling Xiao felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He rubbed the sweat on his forehead with his filthy sleeve before he received the bowl back.
"This poison is quite well concocted, young man. Did you brew it yourself?" The old man suddenly asked with a smile of admiration on his face.
In Ling Xiao's eyes, this smile looked like a demon's. His hands trembled and he instinctively grabbed for the bowl that almost fell out of his hands. "Old man, what are you talking about?"
Ling Xiao looked at the old man, perfectly executing a look of innocence. If it had been anyone else, they would've fallen victim to this little display and felt embarrassed by their false accusation.
Unfortunately, this old man wasn't just anyone.
A sarcastic smile formed on the old man's face as he retorted, "Young man, don't play stupid! I'll give you two options. The first is death."
Sensing the fierce, murderous aura emanating from the old man, Ling Xiao promptly shouted, "I choose the second option!"
A smile that didn't reach his eyes formed on the old man's face. It was as though there was never any doubt in his heart which option Ling Xiao would pick.
A cold shiver ran down Ling Xiao's spine as realization dawned on him. He had been duped! He was tricked by this old man and had chosen a path of no return! Feeling a little timid, he trembled in fear and asked, "W-what's the second option?"
The old man indifferently replied, "You'll be Ancestor Qi Mo's disciple and seek vengeance in my name."
Ling Xiao furiously roared out in his heart, Crap! Why is this demon making me his disciple? Won't those Celestial Soul Masters outside slice and dice me into tiny little pieces? You're going to die anyway, just do it alone and in peace, please! Why do you have to drag me down with you?!
Seeing Ling Xiao hesitate, Ancestor Qi Mo coldly snorted. "What? Are you refusing?"
Why did my poison not work on this old bastard?! Ling Xiao was beside himself. He cursed the old demon before him and his entire family, sparing no one.
Naturally, even if he was unwilling a thousand times over, Ling Xiao wouldn't show it. He hastily formed the brightest smile he could as he proclaimed, "Me? Refusing? For such a powerful senior like master to take me in as his disciple, it's a dream come true! I only felt confused, for I'm but a simple, young boy. I can't understand what you could possibly see in me!"
Ancestor Qi Mo laughed, a mischievous yet hollow sound. "To accept you as my disciple, I have four main criteria. You have to be shameless, vicious, hypocritical, and treacherous!"
In his heart, Ling Xiao rolled his eyes countless times. Am I really that deplorable? If I really am, isn't it because an old monster like you pushed me over the edge?
But since this old bastard put so much effort into his persuasion, Ling Xiao felt it only reasonable for him to show some common courtesy. Falling to his knees, he kowtowed three times. "Disciple pays his respects to master."
As he was paying his respects to Ancestor Qi Mo, Ling Xiao started planning his next moves. Forget it. I'll just follow his wishes for now. If I don't, he'll kill me; if I do, he won't. Every second I can breathe is precious. Once this old bastard kicks the bucket, I'll confess everything to those Celestial Soul Masters outside and say I was forced. In all likelihood, they won't bother with a simpleton like me.
As Ling Xiao was pondering, a green light flashed across Ancestor Qi Mo's palm. He struck out with his palm, hitting Ling Xiao on his head.
Ling Xiao only felt dizziness wash over him as a strange power entered his body. Originating from Ancestor Qi Mo's hand, a steady flow of it filled every part of his body.
"Aahhhhhh!" It felt as if a knife was cutting into his flesh. As the excruciating pain tormented Ling Xiao, he suddenly found himself at death's door.
The lingering pain slowly settled, after which Ling Xiao felt something hanging around his neck. It was a necklace! Seven gems emitting dull gray hues of light were strung together, a thick, black smoke whirling around them.
Ling Xiao's mind jolted as a strange space revealed itself in his mind. In this dark red space, he found all kind of items he recognised, like gems, medicinal ingredients, and books. There were also several strange items Ling Xiao couldn't quite place.
Ling Xiao was shocked. Even if he sold medicine for several lifetimes, he still wouldn't make half of the fortune gathered in here.
There were also large amounts of medicinal ingredients he recognized from a medicine refining book he had read before. But back then, he believed the concoctions to be but a fairytale, their ingredients the wild imagination of the author!
Ling Xiao fiercely swallowed a mouthful of saliva. His first response was to take out an orange gem worth 100 red gems. Without any sort of warning, he was holding the orange gem in his hand.
A horse won't get fat if it doesn't feast on grass at night, just like how a person won't get rich without shady gains.
"Oh. My. God…" Ling Xiao couldn't believe what he was seeing. Convinced he was just dreaming, he ruthlessly pinched his thigh. But after hearing his howl that resembled a pig being slaughtered, he knew this wasn't a dream.
After a short burst of ecstasy, Ling Xiao recalled the old man who gave him everything. "Master, this is…"
Ancestor Qi Mo's eyes, originally full of vigour, were now slightly squinted. Although there was no visible change, Ling Xiao was well aware this old man's vitality was quickly crumbling down.
I actually have such sharp senses! Ling Xiao was inwardly amazed. The necklace was actually on his body, yet invisible from the outside. In the short span of a few seconds, this necklace increased his physical and mental strength by who knows how many folds!
Ancestor Qi Mo said in a cold tone, "It doesn't matter. You like this Demonic Seven Souls Necklace, right? Alright, there's not much time. I need to tell you, as my disciple, there's something you have to take care of."