Heavenly Rebellion: The Human Race's Rise to Prominence

Feng dashed forward, his gray eyes glittering with ferocity.

Darksilver energy pulsed along his sharp claws as he slashed at Ren's waist.

Ren reacted with precision, sidestepping the attack and countering with a swift slash of Crimson Fang.

The blade bit into Feng's arm, and blood sprayed out in a vivid arc.

Feng grimaced, pain shooting through his body.

He clenched his teeth as he noticed something unusual—his wounds didn't feel like they were healing at all.

Ren's lips curled into a sinister grin as he licked them, savoring Feng's realization.

"Ah, so you've noticed," Ren drawled. "Crimson Fang isn't just any Heaven's Pact.

It has the unique ability to slow down the healing of any wounds it inflicts.

Of course, since I'm only at the Qi Condensation stage, its effect is limited. But…" His eyes gleamed.

"When I breakthrough, I'll be able to leave injuries that never heal—unless, of course, someone stronger intervenes to save you."

Feng's heart raced, his anxiety mounting. Blood seeped steadily from his wounds, sapping his strength with each passing moment.

Even his Blackwood Alpha Wolf transformation, which gave him a much stronger physical body, couldn't stem the tide of his weakening.

"Damn it," he muttered, his breath ragged. "I need to finish this quickly. If this keeps up, I'll bleed out before he even has to land the final blow."

Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Feng lunged through the red rain.

His gray eyes burned with determination as he closed the distance between them, his claws slashing at Ren in a desperate bid to end the fight.

Ren was unrelenting. Crimson energy surged around him as he summoned multiple energy blades, each one slicing through the air toward Feng.

This time, Feng didn't bother to dodge.

He pushed forward, enduring the searing pain of the strikes, and at the last moment, ducked low.

With a powerful twist of his body, he lashed out with his tail, sending Ren flying into a nearby rock formation.

"Ugh!" Ren grunted as his body collided with the jagged surface.

Blood spurted from his mouth, and his vision blurred from the impact.

Before he could catch his breath, Feng uprooted a nearby tree with a guttural roar and hurled it toward him.

"AHHH!" Ren screamed, forcing his battered body to roll to the side.

The massive tree slammed into the ground with an earth-shaking crash, shattering rocks and scattering debris in every direction.

Though his body screamed in protest, Ren refused to surrender.

Channeling his remaining spiritual energy, he formed intricate hand seals, and the air around him grew heavy with power.

"Raincloud Art:—Rainstorm!" he shouted.

A storm of crimson energy blades erupted, swirling violently around Feng.

Cuts and wounds multiplied on his body as the relentless barrage tore into him.

Blood drenched the ground beneath his feet.

"Not yet!" Feng roared, defying the pain as he tried to escape the deadly storm.

But before he could react, a red flash appeared at the edge of his vision.

In an instant, Ren was in front of him, his blade carving through Feng's chest with ruthless precision.

Blood sprayed from the deep gash, yet Feng's gray eyes remained fierce.

Defying expectation, he lunged forward, sinking his teeth into Ren's shoulder with a savage growl.

"ARGH!" Ren screamed, stumbling back as he clutched his bleeding shoulder. "Are you insane?!" he spat, his voice tinged with terror. "You… you actually bit me?"

Feng didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on Ren, unrelenting and filled with murderous intent.

Despite the blood pouring from his wounds, he advanced steadily, closing the distance between them.

"You… you can't kill me!" Ren stammered, his bravado cracking under the pressure.

"The village won't let you off! Do you know who I am? I'm a once-in-a-generation genius!

I'm supposed to attend Brightshore Academy! If you dare kill me, you'll die too!"

Feng said nothing. His steps quickened, and his aura grew more oppressive with each stride.

Ren's panic turned to anger as he slashed his wrist, summoning the last of his strength. "Raincloud Art: Unique Technique—"

But before he could complete the incantation, Feng surged forward, his claws closing around Ren's throat. With a savage twist, he ripped it out.

Blood gushed in torrents as Ren collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

For a moment, Feng stood there, his breath coming in heavy gasps.

His entire body trembled as he stared at his blood-soaked hands.

The adrenaline faded, leaving only the crushing weight of realization.

"I killed him," Feng whispered, his voice barely audible. "I killed a person. I'm… a murderer."

A shiver ran through him, but he forced himself to confront the truth. If he hadn't killed Ren, he would have been the one lying dead on the ground.

Ren would have shown him no mercy, and no one would have mourned his death.

Gritting his teeth, Feng turned his gaze forward.

He had no time to waste.

His wounds were severe, and the fight had left him dangerously weak.

He needed to find a place to recover.

Just as he took a step, a sudden surge of energy coursed through his body.

Warmth spread from his core, mending his wounds and rejuvenating his strength.

[Absorbing spiritual energy…]

[Absorption complete.]

[Current Cultivation Level: Fifth Level of Qi Condensation.]

Feng's eyes widened in shock as the system's notifications echoed in his mind.

His body felt invigorated, the pain from his injuries fading slightly.

"So I was able to absorb his spiritual energy," Feng muttered. His surprise quickly turned to curiosity.

"System, can I absorb Ren's Heaven's Pact as well?"

[Negative. You can only absorb one Heaven's Pact per major cultivation level.]

Though disappointed, Feng couldn't ignore the benefits the system gave him.

The ability to absorb the spiritual energy and Heaven's Pact of other cultivators would give him a major advantage in his path to becoming strong.

Feng looked at his injuries, especially the one on his chest.

Despite his breakthrough providing some semblance of healing, it didn't do much for the deep wound. He grimaced.

"I need to get out of here. If people figure out that I was the one who killed Ren, Elder Zhou may just come around and kill me for revenge,"

Feng thought as he forced himself to move, searching for a new shelter where he could recuperate from his injuries.