Lin Chen fled frantically through the ruins and thick smoke.
The sounds of pursuit behind him clung like maggots to the bone; blade winds howled, and killing intent pierced to the bone.
The experts of Blackwind Academy chased relentlessly. Their auras were terrifying, far beyond the True Martial Realm, and every strike carried earth‑shattering power.
Relying on the warnings from Planet Perception and his familiarity with Canglan Academy's terrain, Lin Chen dodged and weaved through broken walls and rubble.
But he knew it was only temporary.
His opponents were far stronger. If caught, he would die without a doubt.
He did not dare look back, did not dare stop.
The final wails of his fellow disciples echoed in his ears, and the images of familiar faces dying flashed before his eyes.
Su Muxue's unwilling gaze, the sweeper's crushed skull, the outer mentor's splattered blood…
Each scene burned into his soul like a brand.
His heart felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain suffocating.
He was not a sentimental man.
He had always believed in the law of the jungle, and repaying kindness with kindness, vengeance with vengeance.
To him, Canglan Academy had meant the oppression of Elder Song and the humiliation of Zhao Kun—but also the sweeper's half‑dried ration, the outer mentor's brief guidance, and Su Muxue's unspoken kindness.
That warmth had been his only faint light in dark days.
Now the light was extinguished, leaving only endless blood.
"Ah—!"
A shrill scream came from behind.
From the corner of his eye, Lin Chen saw the last surviving outer disciple run through the chest by a blade, blood gushing out.
His steps faltered.
A wave of overwhelming hatred and powerlessness drowned him.
He wanted to turn back, to save lives, to tear the executioners into a thousand pieces.
But he could not.
If he turned back, they would all die together.
Dying was easy.
But if he died, who would avenge the fallen?
Who would destroy Blackwind Academy?
Who would collect this blood debt from the lofty Heavenly Fate Sect?
"Survive… I must survive!"
Lin Chen gritted his teeth until blood trickled from his lips. He spun sharply and sprinted toward the dense forest behind the academy.
It was Canglan's forbidden zone—and the only path to temporary escape.
Behind him, the pursuers' roars drew closer.
"Boy, stop running! You can't escape!"
"Surrender and die, and you might keep your whole corpse!"
Lin Chen ignored them, channeling all his internal energy into his legs, pushing his speed to the limit.
He darted through the woods; branches tore his skin, leaving bloody trails, but he felt nothing.
Pain had long been drowned out by hatred and cold resolve.
He ran for what felt like an eternity.
Only when the sounds of pursuit faded and his strength was completely exhausted did he collapse into a hidden valley.
Covered in wounds, his breath ragged.
Yet his eyes remained sharp as blades, burning with an unquenchable fire.
Staggering to his feet, he stared toward Canglan Academy.
Flames still raged into the sky, smoke covering half the heavens.
That had once been his home. Now it was a living hell.
"Blackwind Academy… Heavenly Fate Sect…"
Lin Chen whispered, each word dripping with bone‑chilling cold.
He slowly raised his hand, gathering a wisp of internal energy in his palm.
Deep within his dantian, the power of Planet's Blessing flowed gently, healing his wounds and strengthening his resolve.
"Today's hatred, I, Lin Chen, will remember."
"Today's blood, I will repay a hundredfold, a thousandfold!"
"From this day on, I have no more attachments."
"Whoever blocks me, dies!"
"Whoever wrongs me, perishes!"
"Blood debts must be repaid with blood!"
As his voice fell, the last trace of warmth in his eyes vanished, leaving only icy resolve and towering killing intent.
Canglan was destroyed, his old friends dead.
From now on, there was no longer a Canglan disciple named Lin Chen.
Only a lone avenger, burdened with a blood feud, fleeing for his life while climbing step by step toward the peak of power.
He slowly closed his eyes and began circulating his energy to heal.
In the dark valley, a lonely yet unyielding figure lay quietly beneath the blood‑red moonlight.
Waiting.
Waiting for the day of vengeance.