The Grand Competition's aftermath brought fame and resources.
Xiao Chen received personal guidance from Sect Master Yun on chaos law comprehension, a quasi-spirit treasure chaos blade forged by Elder Chaos himself, and enough pills and stones to support cultivation for decades.
Qing Lian, reaching top four in inner division, was accepted as direct disciple by Alchemy Peak Master Mu Qingwan — officially becoming Mu Xiaoxiao's junior sister.
The three often gathered in Alchemy Peak's herb gardens: Xiaoxiao teasing, Qing Lian blushing, Xiao Chen smiling helplessly.
Life seemed perfect.
But perfect never lasted on the path of defiance.
One autumn night, as Xiao Chen cultivated in Chaos Peak's deepest cave, the Primordial Chaos Bead suddenly trembled violently.
A warning from its deepest fragment: Hunter approaches.
He opened his eyes, aura surging.
At the same moment, Azure Cloud Sect's grand protective formation rippled.
An uninvited guest had torn through the outer void barrier.
On Main Peak, Sect Master Yun Tianhe and all Peak Masters assembled, faces grave.
A black-robed man stood in mid-air above the sect — early Dao Soul cultivation, far beyond Nascent Soul, aura ancient and cold.
His robe bore an emblem: a purple eye within a shattered star — symbol of the ancient Tianji Clan from Nine Heavenly Domains.
The man's voice echoed like heavenly decree.
"Azure Cloud Sect. Hand over the bearer of the Primordial Chaos Bead fragment. Resist, and your sect will be erased from the realm."
Yun Tianhe stepped forward, aura exploding to peak Dao Soul.
"This is lower realm territory. Your Tianji Clan has no jurisdiction here. Leave, or face consequences."
The hunter smiled coldly.
"I am Tianji Ying, third hunter. The bead is a relic from the destroyed Third Era. Its rebirth threatens cosmic order. The ancestors have decreed: seize or destroy."
Battle erupted instantly.
Yun Tianhe and five Peak Masters attacked together — sword light, formations, alchemy flames, chaos shadows.
Tianji Ying waved a divination mirror.
Laws reversed.
Attacks reflected back, wounding two Peak Masters instantly.
He stepped forward, pressure crushing half the main peak.
"Too weak."
Elder Chaos appeared before Xiao Chen's cave, shadowy form tense.
"Boy, he's here for you. Your bead is awakening memories in higher realms. Run — I'll buy time."
Xiao Chen gripped his chaos blade.
"No, Master. I'll face him."
He flew out.
Qing Lian sensed the battle and rushed from Alchemy Peak, Mu Xiaoxiao and Master Mu following.
The entire sect watched as Xiao Chen landed before the hunter.
Tianji Ying's purple eyes locked on him.
"So young… yet the fragment has merged deeply. Hand it over willingly, and I'll grant quick death."
Xiao Chen's voice was calm ice.
"The bead chose me. Come take it if you can."
Battle exploded.
Tianji Ying flicked a finger — divination chain of fate shot out, trying to bind Xiao Chen's destiny.
Righteous Avatar manifested fully — golden phantom shattering the chain.
Chaos blade slashed, black mist devouring space.
Tianji Ying's mirror blocked, but cracks appeared.
"Good… but still ant."
He unleashed true power — Dao Soul domain: Tianji Reversal Domain.
All attacks reversed, time fragments assaulted Xiao Chen.
Blood sprayed.
Bones shattered.
Qing Lian screamed from afar. "Chen-ge!"
Mu Qingwan held her back. "He's buying us time to activate the sect's ancient array!"
Xiao Chen's wounds healed rapidly via the bead, but the gap was too vast.
Dao Soul versus Golden Core — even with chaos root, he was outmatched.
The Dark seed in his dantian roared.
Let me out… I'll massacre him…
For the first time, Xiao Chen felt control slipping.
Tianji Ying's killing move descended: Heavenly Eye Annihilation Ray.
A purple beam that erased souls.
No escape.
Life-death crisis.
In that instant, Xiao Chen's suppression shattered.
Black mist exploded from his body like endless abyss.
His eyes turned pure black — no whites, no pupils.
A second figure stepped out from his back — identical, yet hair flowing like living night, aura of absolute evil.
The Dark Avatar had awakened for the first time.
Tianji Ying's expression changed dramatically.
"This aura… Devil God of the Third Era? Impossible — he was erased!"
The Dark Avatar smiled — a smile that froze blood.
Voice like grinding hell:
"Little diviner… you dare hunt my reincarnation?"
It moved.
Not cultivation technique.
Pure slaughter.
One step — space collapsed.
One palm — the Tianji Mirror shattered.
Tianji Ying spat blood, domain crumbling.
He turned to flee, terror in his eyes.
The Dark Avatar grabbed his neck.
"Die."
Crunch.
Tianji Ying's Dao Soul was torn out, devoured in one bite.
Body exploded into blood mist.
The purple eye emblem screamed as it tried to escape — crushed like insect.
Entire process: three breaths.
The sect fell deathly silent.
Qing Lian stared in horror and awe.
Elder Chaos's shadowy form trembled.
"The Dark Avatar… true Devil God pressure."
The Dark Avatar turned, gazing at Xiao Chen's original body with cruel amusement.
"Host… you finally called me."
Then, before anyone could react, it merged back — forced by the art's seal.
Xiao Chen collapsed, blood pouring, consciousness fading.
But the bead spun wildly, refining the devoured Dao Soul.
His cultivation skyrocketed.
Late Golden Core… Peak… Half-step Nascent Soul in moments.
He woke hours later in Chaos Peak cave, Qing Lian holding his hand, tears on her face.
"You… what was that?"
He pulled her close, voice hoarse.
"My darkness. It saved us… but it's dangerous."
She held him tighter.
"No matter light or dark… you're still my Chen-ge."
In the distant Nine Heavenly Domains, Tianji Clan's ancestral ground shook.
A supreme ancestor opened eyes that had been closed for epochs.
"Third hunter slain… the Devil God has partially awakened."
His voice echoed through void.
"Send the Heaven Severing Team. Erase him before full reincarnation."
Above Azure Cloud Realm, tribulation clouds gathered thicker than ever.
Heaven itself trembled.
The true storm had only begun.