Heaven Trampling Severance

The Bloody Claw Arena, a hidden duel pit beneath Stone-Gloom City's slums, seethed with thick tension. The air, once laden with old blood and stale alcohol, was now enveloped in a dense, grey mist, carrying the sweet, pungent odor of death. Amidst it all, Zhou Li, the arrogant youth with the Golden Fang Saber-Toothed Tiger Martial Soul, now knelt, his face pale, his eyes wide with absolute horror.

The spiraling, purplish-black energy disc, the fruit of the Half-Moon Bite technique, spun slowly on his chest, clinging like a ghostly leech. It was no longer an impacting strike, but a draining vortex. Every rotation of the disc siphoned Zhou Li's spiritual Qi, desiccating the blood in his veins, and slowly but surely plundering his essence. His body, once muscled and strong, now began to shrivel, his skin wrinkling, as if time had accelerated just for him.

"What... what is this?!"

Zhou Li coughed, his voice hoarse and desperate. The Golden Fang Saber-Toothed Tiger Martial Soul on his wrist flickered ever dimmer, its golden power fading like dying embers in a storm. He tried to fight back, swinging his now heavy greatsword, but his movements slowed, his coordination disrupted by the horrifying draining sensation.

He tried to summon his Qi, but every drop of energy he exerted seemed to be instantly sucked away by the dark disc on his chest.

The cold sensation creeping over his skin now pierced to his very bones, as if his life itself was being drawn out through a phantom straw. His arrogance, once burning like fire, now crumbled into cold dust of fear. He was a lamb slowly slaughtered, watching his own flesh drain away.

"Let me go, you demon! What technique is this?! I... I am from the Iron Dragon Sect!"

Zhou Li shrieked, his voice cracking, panic consuming him. Those words, once a guarantee of power, were now just empty whimpers before an indescribable terror.

Around the arena, the bloodthirsty spectators were now silent. Horror now filled the air, not cheers. Whispers of dread spread like a plague.

"Monster! That boy... he's not human!" a fat gambler stammered, his face as pale as a corpse.

"What kind of technique is that? He's draining him alive!" another whispered, his eyes fixed on the increasingly withered Zhou Li.

Some spectators tried to flee, panicking at this unexpected savagery. However, the cold-faced arena guards blocked their path. "No one leaves until the duel is finished!" one guard snapped, his sword gleaming under the dim light. They themselves, though trying to appear calm, could not hide the tremble in their hands. They had never witnessed such cruelty.

Elder Zhao, standing in a shadowed corner, narrowed his eyes, a sharp, cold glint within them. He was a second-step cultivator, a Martial Grandmaster far above ordinary Martial Adepts and Martial Masters, yet even he felt the shockwave from that technique. He showed no emotion, only pure analysis.

"Not merely Qi absorption... but also blood essence and soul," Elder Zhao murmured to himself, his voice hoarse.

"A truly vile technique. Not recorded in the Iron Dragon Sect's annals, nor even among the forbidden techniques I've read. The aura of his Martial Soul... the Three-Eyed Moon Wolf... so unique. And his spiritual Qi... carries a faint scent of ancient darkness."

He sensed a faint demonic aura emanating from Chen Tian's Martial Soul, an aura that should not exist in a human cultivator. Hidden admiration mingled with deep concern consumed him. This boy, a newly broken-through Martial Initiate, had shown terrifying potential. If left unchecked, he could become a major threat to the Iron Dragon Sect's dominance.

"Hah! Scream, arrogant brat! Scream until your lungs are empty! No one will come to save you from this little monster!" Hei Xuan's voice thundered within Chen Tian's mind, filled with brutal satisfaction.

"Absorb more! Taste his despair! Let him pay for every 'loser' he uttered to you! This is music to my ears, boy!"

Chen Tian did not reply. His cold eyes stared at Zhou Li, a thin, cruel smile etched on his lips. He felt a massive surge of energy from Zhou Li flowing into him, replenishing his Essence Bead, making the Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul on his wrist feel more alive, more solid, and its third eye flickered with a faint dark purple glow. Zhou Li had become perfect fertilizer.

Finally, with a last groan resembling a dying hiss, Zhou Li collapsed. His body did not turn to dust like the previous bandit—Half-Moon Bite was indeed designed for slower, "cleaner" absorption—but he was now a horrifying desiccated corpse, skin clinging tightly to bone, his face frozen in an expression of eternal terror. All life, all essence, had been sucked from him, leaving only a decaying hollow shell. The grey mist it produced spread, staining the already filthy arena floor.

The arena exploded into total chaos.

Panicked screams, hysterical pushes, and paralyzing despair. The guards tried to control the brutal crowd, but fear had overcome them.

Chen Tian felt a significant increase in Qi within his Qi ocean. Although Half-Moon Bite didn't drain him as completely as a full Moon-Eater Howl, he still felt slightly tired. However, a dark satisfaction and a sense of new power flooded him. He had proven himself again. He was no longer a rat. He was a predator.

Without wasting time, Chen Tian moved. He didn't care about the screams or horrified stares. He was a ghost among shadows, his tattered feet moving with strange speed and grace. He bolted out of the Bloody Claw Arena, leaving the pandemonium behind him. The grey mist still billowed from Zhou Li's prostrate body, a silent testament to the horror that had just transpired.

Chen Tian did not stop until he returned to his hiding place, a dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of the slums. Faint moonlight pierced through cracks in the roof, illuminating dust dancing in the air. He collapsed to the ground, trying to calm his still slightly ragged breath. Though tired, the Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul on his wrist radiated a much stronger aura, its spiral eyes flickered with clearer intensity, and he could feel the Essence Bead now feeling denser and more substantial.

"Hah! Not bad, boy. You didn't disgrace my name," Hei Xuan growled, his tone now filled with rare satisfaction.

"You've sunk your fangs into the neck of an Iron Dragon Sect's pet dog. That Zhou Li was nothing, just arrogant trash, but he had the sect's dirty blood. Now, they will hunt you more seriously."

Chen Tian could feel it. A different pressure in the air, like unseen eyes watching him. "They'll find out who I am," Chen Tian muttered.

"Of course, they'll find out, fool," Hei Xuan scoffed. "But that's good. That means you're a worthy threat to track. You'll become a more valuable fugitive. This is an opportunity, not a curse."

"Opportunity?" Chen Tian asked.

"Hah! Every danger is an opportunity, boy, if you're strong enough to claim it," Hei Xuan replied. "That Zhou Li was just a Martial Adept, his Essence Bead was probably only Rare Grade or Elite Grade at best. It's good for replenishment, but not enough for the Black Mist Auction ticket you seek. You need a Gold Grade Essence Bead."

Chen Tian sighed. Yes, he remembered the drunk gambler's words. Gold Grade. That meant a thousand-year-old Martial Soul Beast. A far greater challenge than anything he had faced before.

"Where can I find it?" Chen Tian asked.

"The drunk gambler gave you a hint, didn't he?" Hei Xuan reminded. "In Stone-Gloom City's Northern Swamps. There are rumors of a Poisonous Mist Serpent hiding there. An ancient Soul Beast that has devoured many foolish cultivators. That's your chance. If you can conquer it, you'll have your ticket."

Chen Tian nodded. The Northern Swamps. A dangerous, remote place, infamous for its poisonous creatures. But this was the only way. He had to go there. He had to get that Gold Grade Essence Bead. Without it, he would be trapped at the bottom of Stone-Gloom City forever.

He spent the rest of the night resting and recovering his Qi. Every breath, every flow of Qi through his meridians, felt stronger than before. Zhou Li's Essence Bead had given him a significant boost. He focused his mind, sharpening his instincts. He couldn't be careless. The next battle would be the most dangerous yet.

As dawn began to break, painting the mist with hues of purple and orange, Chen Tian left his dilapidated warehouse. He moved silently through the deserted back alleys, avoiding the city's commotion. The road to the Northern Swamps was a clear transition from urban decay to deadly wilderness.

Dilapidated buildings grew sparse, replaced by wild vegetation, increasingly damp ground, and the strong smell of mud.

Occasionally, small-time bandits or herb gatherers trying to seek their fortune on the city's outskirts would be seen.

Chen Tian ignored them, or if they were too bothersome, he would dispatch them quickly and silently, using speed and shadows to disappear before anyone noticed. He just needed a warm-up, ensuring every muscle was ready for the true battle.

The deeper he ventured, the thicker the mist became. The city's scent faded, replaced by the aroma of wet earth, decaying plants, and something unfamiliar—a foul smell, yet also... sweet, like poison. This was the scent of the Northern Swamps, a place that seemed to reject life and only welcome death. Every step now felt heavier, the ground beneath his feet turning into sucking mud. The gurgle of water and the whisper of wind through ancient trees created a chilling atmosphere.

He had to prepare himself. This was the habitat of a thousand-year-old Soul Beast. He could not make even the smallest mistake. The Three-Eyed Moon Wolf eye on his wrist flickered brighter, as if the Martial Soul itself sensed the proximity of powerful prey.

"Prepare yourself, boy," Hei Xuan's voice growled, now devoid of playfulness.

"This swamp will try to swallow you. And that snake... it will suck your bones dry. Show me your true fangs."

Chen Tian only nodded inwardly. He would not retreat. He was a predator. And ahead, in the dense mist, awaited his next prey, his ticket to greater power.

The Northern Swamps. The name itself was a whisper of death in the ears of Stone-Gloom City's inhabitants. A vast expanse enveloped in eternal mist, where ancient trees loomed like silent ghosts, and black puddles reflected the ever-gloomy sky. The putrid smell of decaying vegetation mingled with a suffocatingly sweet aroma—poison, hovering in the air like an unseen cloak.

Every step Chen Tian took felt like a gamble. The ground beneath his feet was soggy and sucking, sometimes ankle-deep mud, sometimes black water puddles of unknown depth. He moved cautiously, his senses sharpened, every nerve taut. He knew that danger could come from anywhere: from behind the curtain of mist, from within the murky water, or even from the air itself.

"Hmph. This poisonous mist will only kill foolish low-level cultivators," Hei Xuan's voice growled within Chen Tian's mind, breaking the oppressive silence. There was a hint of admiration in his tone, as if he enjoyed this challenge. "However, it can weaken your senses if you're not careful. Focus your Qi around your breathing. Don't inhale too deeply."

Chen Tian obeyed. He channeled a small portion of his Qi, forming a thin protective layer around his nose and mouth. Although he no longer cared for his body's 'purity,' Hei Xuan had taught him that a healthy body was a better vessel for power.

"The snake," Chen Tian asked, his voice soft, just a murmur in his mind. "How does it work? Its poison?"

"The Poisonous Mist Serpent is not just a name. Its venom is the core of its power," Hei Xuan explained, his tone now focused on strategy. "The mist you see is part of its poison. It can release it from its body, forming a deadly barrier. A light touch is enough to paralyze a Martial Adept. Inhaling too much, and even a Martial Masters can die horribly."

"Its weakness?"

"Hah! Every creature has a weakness, even me," Hei Xuan scoffed. "That snake relies on its speed and its poison. Its scales are thick, but its underside, around its belly, is softer. And its eyes... that's the source of its poison. If you can blind it, you'll cripple half its power."

"Its poison also has a slow corrosive effect, targeting the enemy's spiritual Qi and rotting it from within. Your technique, Half-Moon Bite, can counter that. Its poison is energy, and its energy can be absorbed by you. However, you have to touch it. And touching that snake is suicide for most."

Chen Tian nodded. A clear strategy. He had to get close, avoid the deadly poison, and find an opening.

He continued his journey, leaping from one muddy mound to another, avoiding dark puddles where something might hide beneath. The gurgle of water and the whisper of wind through ancient trees created a chilling symphony, as if the swamp itself was alive and breathing, awaiting its next prey.

The Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul on his wrist flickered brighter, as if the Martial Soul itself sensed the proximity of powerful prey. Its dark purple third eye, though still in a faint form, felt more sensitive to the Qi fluctuations around it.

Several times, Chen Tian sensed the weak aura of Common Grade Soul Beasts hiding in the mud, like giant frogs or venomous insects. He ignored them. They were too weak to be a challenge, and their Essence Beads were not valuable enough. However, there was one instance where he sensed the aura of several bandits who had ventured too far into the swamp, perhaps searching for rare herbs or trying to hunt smaller Soul Beasts.

He found himself in a muddy hollow, where three disheveled bandits were trying to trap a Common Grade Soul Beast giant lizard. The lizard struggled, emitting weak Qi.

"Catch it! Good enough for dinner!" one bandit shouted. Chen Tian could have ignored them. However, Hei Xuan had other ideas.

"Hah! Boy! Look at those sheep. They're too stupid to survive here," Hei Xuan scoffed. "You need a warm-up, don't you? And a little Qi to ensure you don't waver later. These insects will be useful. Consider it light practice."

Chen Tian gave a thin smirk. Hei Xuan was right. A little warm-up wouldn't hurt.

He moved like a shadow, silently, from behind the moss-covered trees. The bandits were too focused on the struggling lizard, unaware of the approaching death.

In a flash, Chen Tian was behind one of the bandits. Without giving him time to react, his hand shot out, gripping the man's neck. A brief squeeze, and the man's Qi instantly drained, his eyes widening in shock before his body went limp, collapsing silently into the mud.

The other two bandits gasped, turning frantically.

"Who's that?!"

"Boy! You—!"

Before they could finish their sentence, Chen Tian moved again. He was a flash of blood-red amidst the mist. The other fell, his Qi drained, leaving a cold corpse. The third bandit, the toughest, tried to fight back, drawing a rusted knife. But Chen Tian was now much faster, much more brutal. He dodged, broke the bandit's arm, and with one swift pull, drained his Essence dry.

In a few seconds, three bandit corpses lay in the mud, their Essence fully absorbed by Chen Tian, though the amount was negligible. He didn't even bother taking anything from them. He merely tested his speed and brutality, replenishing the slightly depleted Qi. He was no longer a hesitant human. He was an efficient predator.

"Passable. A good warm-up," Hei Xuan snorted with satisfaction. "Now, focus on the snake. We don't have much time before the Iron Dragon Sect truly exerts its power to search for you."

Chen Tian nodded. He left the corpses in the swamp, as fertilizer for the brutal environment.

The deeper he ventured into the Northern Swamps, the denser the atmosphere became. The poisonous mist was now thick, limiting visibility to only a few meters. Sunlight barely penetrated, making the swamp like a dark underworld. Mysterious sounds from unseen creatures—rustling leaves, splashing water, whispering winds—echoed from every corner, creating the illusion that he was not alone.

Chen Tian could feel the Qi from his Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul throbbing, giving him a sort of radar for life around him. He sought a powerful aura, an aura radiating thousands of years of essence. He sought the Poisonous Mist Serpent.

The sweet, poisonous aroma grew stronger, pressing on his senses. He felt a faint tremor in the ground, as if something large was moving beneath the muddy surface. The heavy rustle of scales sounded from the distance, drawing closer. This was not the sound of a Common Grade Soul Beast. This was the sound of a much larger predator.

He stopped on a small island, slightly higher than the puddles of water. The surrounding trees appeared older, their trunks covered in glistening poisonous moss. Chen Tian felt intense Qi throbbing from the depths of the mist ahead. That was the aura he sought. The aura of a Gold Grade Soul Beast.

The third eye on his wrist flickered brighter, throbbing with greater intensity. He felt his Three-Eyed Moon Wolf Martial Soul responding, a primal predatory instinct. He was a wolf in a snake's den. And the true hunt was just about to begin.