Clang.

  The knife dropped to the floor, its sound echoing through Jin Yu's ear like a distant drumbeat.

  His hand hung limply beside him, face and eyes blank, like a brain that had suddenly lost its control system. He looked around the haze slowly, his emotionless face moving back and forth without reaction.

  In his body, the Red thread that had taken root deep within him twitched slightly and detached from his body in a slow, refined manner.

  As if it suddenly realized another purpose.

  It's glow faded from his skin as it retracted into his body and went towards his chest.

  It latched onto the bone deep wound on his chest, the skin around there twitched and started wriggling towards each other, closing up bit by bit.

  The blood that soaked his robe pulled back into his body as if obeying an unspoken will.

  The wound closed up completely, leaving his body clean.

  The only testimony of him ever being hurt was the hole in his robe.

  Again, a thunderous ding resounded at the depth of his mind, but it wasn't just his mind this time, his soul also received a jolt that sent electric shock to every muscle in his body, snapping him to his senses.

  DING!

  BREAKTHROUGH ACHIEVED

  Physique: Beginning Nascent Soul stage reached.

  The red hue in his eyes dimmed in colour until it totally disappeared.

  His black pupils bloomed back to life and his blank expression vanished, replaced by a frown.

  "What just happened?" He muttered under his breath as he looked at the dead bodies sprawled around him.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  He didn't overthink it. With a thought, the Silver Mist disappeared,

  The view that greeted his eyes made him frown in displeasure.

  "Thrashing my beast?" He asked, voice deadly cold.

  The girl and the unholy lady froze mid-attack.

  But that was a costly mistake, as it exposed an opening in the lady's defense to Alpha.

  He slashed at her with an unnatural burst of speed, as if he had been saving it for such perfect moment.

  His claw drove into the unholy Cultivator’s gut, shredding through flesh and bone in one savage thrust.

  She barely had time to scream before he tore her apart, viscera, blood, and meat splattering in a sickening rain.

  The young girl’s expression shifted, and she instantly retreated tens of meters from the scene. Her gaze locked on Jin Yu. Spite, fear, and caution swirling in her eyes.

  The other three weren’t brave either. They fell back even farther, a lingering dread clawing at their hearts.

  Jin Yu’s eyes didn’t follow them. They remained fixed on the girl, who stared back, stubbornly.

  He narrowed his gaze, then turned to Alpha, who stepped forward and rubbed its massive head against his shoulder.

  “If only your fighting skills matched that pretty fac.,” he muttered, giving its head a dismissive poke.

  Alpha vanished in a flash of light, recalled back to Velkharra.

  Now Jin Yu turned his attention to the other three Cultivators, grin curling across his lips.

  Dread hit them like a wave. They scrambled to raise their defenses but it was too late.

  Or rather, Jin Yu was too fast.

  His form flickered briefly, yet somehow, he was still standing in place, as though he hadn’t moved at all.

  The three raised their barriers a heartbeat later… then froze.

  Their eyes widened. Hands touched their throats.

  A thin red line traced each neck like a thread of fate.

  Then— BURST.

  Their heads shot into the air, soaring five meters high before crashing down with a wet thud. Blood sprayed from their necks in a geyser, staining the platform in crimson.

  Their bodies collapsed like puppets with cut strings.

  Jin Yu pursed his lips in mock pity, eyes glinting with amusement.

  He turned to the girl who was now trembling, inching backward in small, pathetic steps. His grin widened.

  “Won’t you cry for them too?” he asked sweetly, voice dripping with derision.

  She didn’t respond. Her knees wobbled, and tears slipped from her eyes before she even realized they’d fallen.

  Jin Yu chuckled. “Good girl." he said, nodding with cruel satisfaction.

  Then, hands clasped behind his back, he turned his attention to the crimson dome ahead, as though peering through its surface, like he could see the coward trembling behind it.

  “Old dog,” he drawled, voice raised just enough, “I’ve slaughtered your precious lambs. Isn’t it time your so-called ‘divinity’ came out to bark for itself? Or will you keep pissing on your master’s name like the mutt you are?”

  A smirk curled his lips, but the venom in his voice only thickened.

  “Your shithole declared, ‘I’ve destroyed legions for less. You think this Lord fears you?’” Jin Yu mimicked mockingly, pitch rising in theatrical parody. “So tell me now, Old Butt, after everything this Young Master has done... where’s that wrath? Hm? Why haven’t you done a damn thing? All bark, no teeth. So shameful!.”

  He stepped closer to the dome, tone growing colder.

  “Even a rabid dog knows to bite when provoked. But you?” He tilted his head, feigning thought. “I can’t even insult you properly, there’s nothing low enough to compare you to without disgracing the filth itself.”

  "You promised them heavens, and yet when they bled, you didn’t even blink. Some god. If you were a father, I’d say your children died to escape the shame.”

  He glanced at the girl.

  “Still here? Brave. Or maybe stupid. You’ve got that hollow look, like a sheep still waiting to be led to slaughter. Guess stupidity runs deep in your bloodline.”

  He tapped a finger against the red barrier while picturing the man's head.

  “This your grand defense? A bubble? I’ve seen toddlers with more spine. Why don’t you crawl out and die with some dignity?”

  In a red blee room, a man in black stood in front of a red film displaying Jin Yu's figure, the mockery and disdain in Jin Yu's yes seemed even more magnified.

  The man's eyes were so murderous they could spit fire.