The room was filled with the thick scent of blood.
The corpse lay on the ground, eyes wide open in disbelief, as if it still couldn't accept what had just happened.
Lin Ye stood motionless.
His chest rose and fell slowly, his grip tightening around the blood-stained wooden shard still lodged in his victim's throat.
Warm blood trickled over his fingers.
But his expression—
Was calm.
Too calm.
"Y-you… you really killed him…"
The two remaining disciples trembled, their faces pale as paper.
Moments ago, they were laughing.
Now, they were shaking like leaves in a storm.
Lin Ye slowly pulled the shard free.
Shk—
A spray of blood followed.
The sound echoed unnaturally loud in the cramped room.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes landing on the two men.
"You said… you'd take it in blood."
His voice was quiet.
Flat.
Emotionless.
The disciples instinctively stepped back.
"This… this is murder! The sect will punish you!"
"Yes! You're dead! You're finished!"
They clung to those words as if they were life-saving straws.
But Lin Ye simply smiled faintly.
"Then why…"
He took a step forward.
"…are you running?"
The moment he moved—
They broke.
"RUN!"
The two turned and bolted toward the door.
But Lin Ye's body felt different now.
Lighter.
Stronger.
Faster.
The world itself seemed to slow down.
He could see their movements clearly—
Too clearly.
[Ding!]
[Host Status Updated]
Level: 2
EXP: 20/200
Strength: 7
Speed: 8
Vitality: 6
"So this is what leveling up feels like…"
His lips curled slightly.
Then—
He moved.
WHOOSH!
In a blink, Lin Ye crossed the distance.
The first disciple hadn't even reached the door when a hand grabbed his shoulder.
"What—?!"
He turned—
Only to see Lin Ye's cold eyes.
"No need to hurry."
CRACK!
Lin Ye's fist slammed into his chest.
The sound of breaking ribs echoed.
The disciple's body flew backward, crashing into the wall before sliding down lifelessly.
[Ding!]
[Kill Confirmed]
[+80 EXP]
The last disciple froze at the doorway.
His legs refused to move.
His body shook uncontrollably.
"P-please… I was wrong… I won't do it again…"
He dropped to his knees.
"I'll give you spirit stones! I'll even serve you!"
Tears streamed down his face.
Fear had completely crushed his arrogance.
Lin Ye walked toward him slowly.
Step by step.
Each footstep felt like a death sentence.
"Serve me?"
He stopped in front of him.
"…What can you offer?"
"I-I know things! Hidden resources! I can help you survive in the sect!"
The disciple hurriedly spoke, desperate.
"People like us—we need each other!"
For a brief moment—
Lin Ye was silent.
The old him… might have hesitated.
Might have believed him.
But now—
Something inside him had changed.
"Unfortunately…"
His voice was soft.
"I don't need useless allies."
The disciple's eyes widened.
"No—WAIT—!"
THUD!
Lin Ye's hand pierced straight through his chest.
Blood spilled out instantly.
The disciple coughed, body twitching—
Then went still.
[Ding!]
[Kill Confirmed]
[+90 EXP]
[Level Up: 2 → 3]
[Strength +6 | Speed +6 | Vitality +5]
A powerful surge rushed through Lin Ye's body.
His muscles tightened.
His breathing stabilized.
Even his senses sharpened further.
He could hear—
The wind outside.
Distant footsteps.
The faint rustle of leaves.
Lin Ye slowly withdrew his bloodied hand.
Three corpses.
Three lives.
Taken in less than a minute.
He looked down at them.
No guilt.
No regret.
Only… clarity.
"So this is my path…"
He clenched his fist.
"A world where the weak are trampled…"
"…and only the strong survive."
[Ding!]
[New Feature Unlocked: Blood Absorption]
Lin Ye's eyes flickered.
"Blood… absorption?"
[Skill Activated]
[Absorb blood essence from slain targets to enhance cultivation]
Before he could question further—
The blood from the corpses began to move.
Thin streams of crimson lifted into the air, like threads pulled by an invisible force.
They drifted toward Lin Ye—
And entered his body.
"—!"
His pupils shrank.
A burning sensation spread through his veins.
But it wasn't painful.
It was…
Addictive.
Warm.
Powerful.
[Ding!]
[Blood Essence Absorbed]
[+30 EXP]
[Minor Body Enhancement]
Lin Ye exhaled slowly.
His entire body felt refreshed.
Stronger.
Sharper.
Alive.
"…So killing isn't just faster…"
"…it's necessary."
He glanced at the corpses again.
But this time—
They looked like resources.
Suddenly—
Voices echoed from outside.
"Did you hear something?"
"Yeah, it came from here!"
"Check it out!"
Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.
"Trouble…"
Three more disciples were approaching.
His gaze swept the room quickly.
Blood everywhere.
Bodies on the ground.
No time to clean.
Instead—
He smiled faintly.
"Good timing."
His grip tightened.
"If killing is the way to grow…"
"…then I won't stop."
The door creaked open.
A disciple stepped in—
And froze.
"What the—?!"
His eyes widened at the sight of the bodies.
"You—what did you—"
Lin Ye stepped forward.
Blood still dripping from his hands.
His eyes cold as death.
"Welcome."