The wind howled through the desolate landscape of Cursed Peak, where Vạn Thiên Phong stood, overlooking the barren and lifeless terrain. Once a holy place where powerful cultivators ascended, the peak had now become a forsaken wasteland, forgotten by time. A relentless storm battered the mountain, and the clouds above seemed to mirror the chaos within the young cultivator's heart.
A few hours earlier, Vạn Thiên Phong had descended into the hidden depths of the mountain, into a chamber sealed for millennia. It was here he had uncovered the truth behind the original soul that inhabited this body—a weak, discarded cultivator who had been ruthlessly betrayed by his so-called sect brothers. The memories of this unfortunate soul flooded Phong's mind, filling him with bitterness and rage.
"How pathetic… You died without even knowing the true meaning of power. Now, I will use your body to exact revenge," Vạn Thiên Phong muttered under his breath, his voice cold and filled with disdain.
As he entered the deepest part of the chamber, an eerie red light bathed the surroundings, emanating from a floating orb that hovered in the center of the room—the Crimson Demon Core. The core was the source of untold power, a forbidden inheritance that had been sealed away by the ancestors of the sect to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. But now, it was within his reach.
"Who dares disturb my slumber?" a booming voice thundered from within the core. "State your name, mortal."
Vạn Thiên Phong's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I am Vạn Thiên Phong, and I am no mortal. I am the one who will claim this power for myself."
The core trembled, and then the voice spoke again, this time with a hint of amusement. "Arrogant. But very well. Let us see if you are worthy of the power you seek."
Without hesitation, Vạn Thiên Phong extended his hand and touched the core. The moment his skin made contact, a torrent of pain coursed through his body, like thousands of needles piercing every fiber of his being. His vision blurred as dark, ancient memories began to invade his mind—memories not his own, but those of a being far older and far more powerful than any mortal.
He saw the destruction of worlds, the fall of empires, and the rise of the Crimson Demon—an entity that thrived on chaos and bloodshed. The power surged within him, threatening to consume him, but Phong gritted his teeth and absorbed it. This was the price of power.
As the pain reached its peak, everything went dark.
---
When Vạn Thiên Phong awoke, the storm outside had intensified, as if the heavens themselves were reacting to the dark energy that now pulsed within him. He staggered to his feet, his body trembling with newfound strength. His hands glowed with a crimson hue as the demonic energy radiated from every pore.
"It's… done." He whispered to himself. "The power is mine."
The air around him crackled with energy, and the earth beneath his feet trembled. He could feel the very fabric of reality bending to his will. The Crimson Demon Core had granted him unimaginable strength, and now he was no longer the weak, discarded cultivator he had once been. He was reborn.
But there was no time to celebrate.
A presence approached—familiar, yet full of malice.
"Vạn Thiên Phong!" A voice called from behind him.
He turned to see Elder Mộc, one of the high-ranking elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect, emerging from the shadows, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Impossible. You should have been dead by now! How… How could you have survived the core's awakening?!"
Vạn Thiên Phong's eyes glowed with a blood-red light as he regarded the elder with disdain. "It seems your sect's judgment was flawed. I'm not dead. I'm stronger than ever."
"You insolent child!" Elder Mộc's face contorted with fury. "Do you think you can defy the will of the Heavenly Sword Sect? We will eradicate you and your demonic powers once and for all!"
With a swift motion, Elder Mộc raised his sword, channeling divine energy into the blade. The weapon shone with a radiant light, aiming directly at Phong's heart.
But Vạn Thiên Phong didn't move. Instead, a wicked smile spread across his face.
"Divine energy?" he sneered. "You still don't understand, do you? This power isn't something you can defeat with your petty light."
With a flick of his wrist, Phong unleashed a wave of crimson energy that crashed into Elder Mộc's sword, shattering it in an instant. The force sent the elder sprawling backward, crashing into the stone wall with a sickening thud.
"Impossible…" Elder Mộc gasped, his eyes wide with shock. "This… This can't be happening."
Vạn Thiên Phong walked toward him, his every step leaving behind a trail of dark energy. "It is happening. You were right about one thing, Elder. I'm no longer the weak disciple you once bullied and discarded. I am something more."
He raised his hand, and the air grew heavy, thick with demonic energy. "I will make you witness the fall of the Heavenly Sword Sect."
Elder Mộc struggled to his feet, his face pale. "You... You think you can destroy the entire sect? You are nothing but a monster!"
Vạn Thiên Phong's eyes burned with an unholy fire. "Yes, a monster. And I will be the one to rewrite the fate of this world."
With a final wave of his hand, the ground beneath them cracked open, releasing torrents of dark energy. Elder Mộc tried to shield himself, but it was too late. The power that Vạn Thiên Phong had absorbed from the Crimson Demon Core was overwhelming.
As the energy erupted around them, Elder Mộc was consumed by the darkness, his screams echoing into the night.
---
Far away, within the sacred halls of the Heavenly Sword Sect, a group of elders gathered in silence, staring at a mystical mirror that showed the scene unfolding on Cursed Peak. The leader, a masked figure known as the Grand Elder, clenched his fists in anger.
"We… we didn't expect this," he said through gritted teeth. "He has awakened the Crimson Demon power. We must act quickly."
Another elder stepped forward, her voice trembling with fear. "What if he's too strong? What if he truly becomes the demon of legend?"
The Grand Elder's expression was grim. "Then we prepare for war. The fate of the sect is at stake."
---
As the crimson energy continued to swirl around Cursed Peak, Vạn Thiên Phong stood at the center of the storm, a dark smile playing on his lips.
"Let the world burn. I will be the one to rise from the ashes."
[End of chapter 2]