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Leaving a note—"Went to scout ahead. Be back soon."—he set off toward the Moonshadow Lotus.

Using Mystic Wind Movement, he traversed the forest swiftly. The Shadowbane Amulet concealed his presence, ensuring he moved undetected.

Arriving at a tranquil pond bathed in moonlight, he spotted the Moonshadow Lotus floating serenely.

"As expected."

But as he reached for it, the water rippled violently. A serpentine creature emerged—a Water Serpent, its scales reflecting the moonlight.

"Another guardian."

The serpent lunged, water swirling around it like whips.

Aric activated Phantom Strike, dodging the attacks with ease. He countered with the Shadowwind Fan.

"Wind Blade!"

A sharp gust sliced through the air, striking the serpent. It recoiled but quickly recovered.

"Persistent."

He decided to use his new skill.

"Chaos Storm Technique!"

A tempest of wind and shadows enveloped the serpent, the combined forces overwhelming it. With a final screech, the creature dissolved into the water.

He retrieved the Moonshadow Lotus, feeling its energy pulsing.

"Another advantage secured."

Returning to the ruins, he found Su Ling radiating with newfound power.

"I\'ve advanced to Nascent Soul Fourth Stage!" she exclaimed joyfully.

He smiled. "Congratulations. Your hard work is paying off."

She noticed the lotus. "Is that the Moonshadow Lotus?"

He nodded. "It enhances shadow abilities."

"Impressive.", She said.

Soon, they set up camp for the night. As they sat by the fire, Su Ling shared her excitement about their discoveries.

"Senior Brother," Su Ling said suddenly. "Thank you for everything today."

He met her gaze. "We\'re a team. We look out for each other."

"Rest well," he told her. "Tomorrow holds more opportunities."

"Good night," she replied softly.

The next morning. As the sun started to rise, Aric and Su Ling Got ready.

Today, Aric\'s target was a hidden library containing an ancient techniques which is located to the west.

"I need to get there first.", Aric thought.

He turned to Su Ling. "I need to check something out. Will you be okay on your own for a bit?"

She nodded confidently. "I\'ll be fine. Thanks to you, I feel stronger than ever."

"Great. I\'ll be back soon.", Aric continued.

Aric made his way westward, moving swiftly with the help of the Shadowwind Fan. Along the way, he couldn\'t shake the feeling that someone was watching him.

"Probably just my imagination," he thought.

"Who\'s there?" a voice called out—a voice that tried to sound confident but wavered slightly.

Aric slipped into the shadows, watching as Ye Chen stumbled into the clearing. The young man looked disheveled, his clothes torn and a leaf comically stuck in his hair.

"This must be the place," Ye Chen muttered, oblivious to his ridiculous appearance as he squinted at the stone door.

"Well, well," Aric thought, suppressing a grin. "Look who decided to crash the party."

Ye Chen approached the door, rubbing his hands together. "Alright, ancient door. Open sesame!" He pressed his hands against it, but nothing happened. Frowning, he tried pushing, pulling, even giving it a light kick.

"Maybe it\'s voice-activated?" he pondered aloud. Clearing his throat, he declared, "I, the mighty Ye Chen, command you to open!"

Silence.

Aric had to bite his lip to keep from laughing out loud.

Undeterred, Ye Chen began poking at the symbols. "Hmm, maybe if I press this one..." A sudden spark jolted him, and he yelped, jumping back and shaking his hand. "Ow! Rude!"

Deciding he\'d had enough entertainment, Aric stepped out of the shadows. "Need a hand there?"

Ye Chen spun around, startled. "Who are you?"

"Just a fellow explorer," Aric said smoothly. "I couldn\'t help but notice you\'re having a bit of trouble."

Aric chuckled. "We\'ve crossed paths before, though perhaps not formally. Name\'s Aric."

Ye Chen eyed him suspiciously. "I had it under control."

"Of course," Aric replied, nodding seriously. "I especially liked the part where you tried to negotiate with the door."

Ye Chen flushed slightly. "Well, do you know how to open it?"

Ye Chen stood up, his interest piqued despite himself. "If you know something, tell me."

Aric smiled. "Now, why would I do that for free?"

Ye Chen clenched his fists. "What do you want?"

"Nothing much," Aric said smoothly. "A friendly spar. Winner takes the knowledge."

Ye Chen hesitated. He\'d faced numerous challenges recently—rumors tarnishing his reputation, unexpected setbacks, and a humiliating defeat at the hands of Long Tianyun. But this could be his chance to turn things around.

"Fine," he agreed, determination hardening his features. "But don\'t blame me if you get hurt."

Aric chuckled. "Wouldn\'t dream of it."

They moved to the center of the clearing, the atmosphere thick with tension. The surrounding forest seemed to hold its breath.

Ye Chen drew his sword, the blade glinting in the fading light. "Prepare yourself!"

Without warning, he launched forward, his movements swift but lacking refinement. "Azure Flame Slash!"

A wave of blue fire surged toward Aric.

Aric sidestepped effortlessly, the flames licking harmlessly past him. "You\'ll have to do better than that."

Gritting his teeth, Ye Chen pressed on. "Wind Shadow Steps!" He blurred into motion, circling Aric at high speed before darting in with a thrust aimed at Aric\'s chest.

Aric met the attack head-on, raising a single finger to block the blade. The metal screeched against his skin, but didn\'t penetrate.

Ye Chen\'s eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you?"

"Someone who\'s grown tired of your antics," Aric replied coldly.

He flicked his finger, sending Ye Chen stumbling backward. Regaining his footing, Ye Chen\'s frustration turned to anger. "Don\'t mock me!"

He channeled his inner energy, golden scales appearing briefly on his skin—a manifestation of his Heavenly Dragon Physique. "Dragon\'s Wrath Fist!"

Charging forward, he aimed a powerful punch at Aric, the air crackling with energy.

Aric decided it was time to show a glimpse of his true power. Activating the Eclipsing Shadow Blade, he summoned a blade formed of shadows, its edge shimmering ominously.

Their attacks collided, but the outcome was one-sided. Ye Chen was thrown back violently, crashing into a tree with a thud. He coughed, struggling to stand.

"How... how can you be this strong?" he gasped.

Aric approached slowly, his eyes devoid of emotion. "Did you really think you stood a chance?"

Ye Chen\'s mind raced. Nothing was making sense. "Who are you?"

"I\'m the one who\'s been pulling your strings," Aric revealed, his voice dripping with disdain. "All those misfortunes you\'ve faced—the rumors branding you a demonic cultivator, the humiliations, the setbacks—they were all orchestrated by me."

Ye Chen\'s face paled. "You\'re lying!"

Aric laughed—a chilling sound that sent shivers down Ye Chen\'s spine. "Think about it. Who spread the whispers that tarnished your name? Who led Long Tianyun to cross paths with you at just the wrong moment?"

Realization dawned on Ye Chen, horror etched into his features. "It was you... all along."

"Precisely," Aric confirmed. "You were so easy to manipulate. So desperate for recognition, so hungry for power."

Rage overtook Ye Chen\'s fear. "Why? Why target me?"

"Because you were in my way," Aric stated simply. "And now, I\'m removing the last obstacle."

Summoning the last of his strength, Ye Chen roared. "I won\'t let you!"

He unleashed his ultimate technique. "Heavenly Dragon Ascension!"

A spectral dragon materialized above him, its roar echoing through the forest. It lunged at Aric, jaws wide.

Aric remained unfazed. "Pathetic."

He raised his hand, and the Heavenly Jade Sword reappeared. With a single, fluid motion, he unleashed the Eclipse Shadow Blade, a swirling vortex of wind and shadow that engulfed the dragon.

The dragon\'s form disintegrated within the tempest, its energy dissipating like mist.

Ye Chen fell to his knees, utterly spent. "This can\'t be happening..."

Aric stood over him, gazing down with cold eyes. "Any last words?"

Ye Chen looked up, a mix of despair and defiance in his eyes. "The heavens won\'t forgive you."

Aric smirked. "The heavens? They\'ve turned a blind eye. Your so-called destiny ends here."

He conjured a blade of pure shadow, raising it above Ye Chen. "Goodbye."

Aric decided it was time to end the charade.

He raised his hand, and shadows began to swirl around him. "Void Soul Assimilation Technique," he intoned, the air crackling with dark energy.

Ye Chen hesitated, sensing the sudden shift in power. "What are you doing?"

"Absorbing what I need," Aric replied.

He unleashed the technique, tendrils of shadowy energy lashing out and wrapping around Ye Chen. The young man struggled, but the more he fought, the tighter the shadows bound him.

"Let me go!" Ye Chen shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

Aric approached slowly. "You have something I want—your Heavenly Dragon Physique and bloodline."

Ye Chen\'s eyes widened in horror. "You can\'t!"

"Watch me."

As the Void Soul Assimilation Technique took hold, Aric began siphoning Ye Chen\'s essence. The golden glow of the Heavenly Dragon Physique flowed through the shadowy tendrils, transferring into Aric.

Ye Chen screamed, the sound echoing through the forest. "Stop! Please!"

But Aric\'s expression remained impassive. "This is the end for you."

Memories flashed before Ye Chen\'s eyes—his training, his dreams, the friends he\'d made. All of it slipping away.

With a final surge of energy, he tried to break free. "I won\'t... let you win!"

Aric sighed. "Such persistence."

He intensified the technique, and Ye Chen\'s struggles weakened. The golden scales faded from his skin, the light in his eyes dimming.

As the last of Ye Chen\'s strength ebbed away, Aric leaned in close. "Weak"

Ye Chen\'s gaze hardened one last time. "Someone... will stop you."

Aric smirked. "Doubtful."

With that, Ye Chen collapsed, the life drained from his body.

Silence settled over the clearing, broken only by the distant call of a nightbird.

Aric took a deep breath, feeling a surge of energy flow into him—a transfer of what remained of Ye Chen\'s destiny.

"All too easy," Aric thought, satisfied.