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Lowly Ascent

Within a desolate realm, where discarded worlds were stitched together, a rupture tore open, releasing a small child into this fragmented expanse. Above him, the sky revealed three eerie moons, while an ominous black mass loomed ominously in their wake. Disoriented and engulfed by a putrid stench, the child awakened amidst a swamp, its twisted trees groaning under an oppressive haze. In the distance, the echoing caws of crows intensified the sense of foreboding. To the child's bewilderment, a haunting figure emerged, laboring behind a cart laden with lifeless bodies. Fear and confusion grip the child's heart as he began to grapple with the enigma of his own existence. Who was he, and what dire fate led him to this grim landscape? The grinning figure drew closer, exacerbating the boy's terror. Unbeknownst to him, his journey would unveil a profound transformation—an ascent to become the embodiment of fear itself, or perhaps... a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. ----------------------- Chapters release Mon-Fri All Rights Reserved

AdOtherwise · Fantasy
Not enough ratings
315 Chs

Jilin Academy

Kang Wan spoke, his smile hiding a hidden intention.

"Fellow cultivator, I am a part of the City's Jilin Academy. I can get you in there if you can help me with some problems! It's the perfect place for anyone to cultivate!"

Cain grinned. 'Smart kid. He doesn't know if I can help him but either use a free sacrificial pawn or find out the pawn is useful and befriend him, right?'

Chuckling, he responded. "Sure, anything you need and I can help!"

...

Two guards stood on either end of the entrance into Jilin Academy. The academy was named after the city, its headmaster was the brother of the city Lord. Throughout the region, this was the best place to learn and cultivate the Dao.

From the streets, two figures escaped the crowd and neared the Academy's entrance. The guards didn't know who one of the figures was, but they knew the other.

"Kang Wan? What are you doing back here? You were expelled, you have no Mystical Soul! You are no better than a mortal beyond some paltry tricks!" The guard to the right hollered.

"I'm back to take what's mine!" Kang Wan announced as he slowed his steps so Cain could walk in front of him.

Still dirty and looking like a vagrant, Cain snickered at Kang Wan's actions, finding it amusing.

'A smart lad, but only slightly. Hah, from what I can remember this is only a small city on the edge of the Dominion, even the city lord should only be in the late growth stage at most, I'm free to act however I wish.'

Cain was no fool, he understood his limitations and knew he could only face growth stage experts, and that was only if he relied on Bloodletter. If there were Enlightenment cultivators in Jilin City, he would have never risked helping Kang Wan.

With his memories disappearing like smoke, Cain was going to have to take a cold and ruthless approach, but he wasn't against it to begin with. His mind has been changing, albeit slowly.

Before the guards could respond, Cain waved his finger and a blue and white arch escaped its tip, decapitating the two. The gate behind them wasn't spared either and fell apart to soak in the blood gushing from the headless corpses.

Kang Wan witnessed this sight and his heart tightened. Fear surged within him but with it came excitement. 'Haha! I might have a shot at getting everything that was stolen from me! This guy is strong!'

With nothing left, Kang Wan had nothing left, whether Cain could help him or not didn't matter. That was until his wager worked and Cain killed the two guards.

'If this vagrant could have distracted the guards, that would have been fine. But this is so much better, I hit the jackpot, this person must be some strange senior. This is all my great fortune!'

Going through the entrance, a courtyard soon came into view. Not knowing where to go, Cain looked to Kang Wan.

As a prior student, Kang Wan nodded and led Cain to the administration building. This was where the teachers and headmaster resided. It was also where students get their classes and sign up for clubs or extracurriculars.

Students who were walking the school grounds saw Cain and Kang Wan, many noticing who Kang Wan was. Whispers followed where the two went, Cain paid it no head, his only goal was procuring himself a place to cultivate.

It was strange, a vagrant was being led respectfully by an ex-student. In all the history of the Academy, this was by far the most bizarre thing that has ever happened.

No one stopped them and it wasn't long before Cain was standing before the administration building. Everything was in tip-top condition, the grounds were swept daily, and only the clean pristine tiles were seen.

Inside, one of the teachers immediately saw Kang Wan and hurried over.

"Kang Wan! What are you doing here? You were expelled and you dare return! Why did the guards grant you entrance into the academy, did you sneak in?! And who is this? A vagrant!?"

There were no words for how shameful Kang Wan felt. This was one of the only teachers on his side who tried to protect him.

She warned him over and over about Fan Gen but he never listened, when he was finally beaten, the teacher turned her back to him. She gave him help and so many chances but he threw them all away, it was only right for her to treat him this way.

Head lowered, Kang Wan said nothing. Only Cain looked at the teacher coldly, this caught her eye.

"Who are you looking at?! You disgusting vagrant!" She quickly became offended.

Vagrants were looked down upon by all, and they were people who failed to live normally, whether it was their fault or not. They were shunned by society and now one of those very same vagrants looked at her with such coldness she couldn't help but act!

But that was the last time she would ever act again. As her fist collected Spiritual Qi, Cain's finger swiped across her forehead, creating a thin bloody line. The teacher paused, she stood still for what felt like minutes before collapsing.

When her body hit the floor, the top of her skull slid off to reveal the perfectly cut brain.

"Teacher Tang!" Kang Wan screamed in alarm and almost kneeled beside her, but his body froze, she was already dead. The dread in his heart towards Cain only increased.

The commotion didn't go unnoticed, teachers who were on breaks came out of their cultivation rooms to see a bloody mess in the main hall.

"You dare kill a teacher of our Academy?! Die!"

A few came at Cain, but all of them were diced to pieces by his finger. His face was apathetic in the slaughter, his heart didn't sway and his mind was as sharp as his Innate Spell. Screams and gasps were all that was left. No one dared to step forward after 4 more corpses joined Teacher Tang.

"What is going on here!?" A powerful aura came from above as a young and handsome man came down the stairs. He wore a purple robe sewn with many sparkling lights. He was also wearing some necklaces that radiated Spiritual Qi.

The headmaster already noticed the bodies from his office, he only came down now to make a scene.

"Hmmm....this. Fellow Cultivator, are you perhaps the one who recently advanced into the Growth Stage?"

The headmaster's words caused many whispers.

"Growth Stage?!"

"Of course! That's why all the teachers died!"

Cain stood still, his face slowly creeping into a smile.

The Headmaster frowned at this action. "Hmf! So what? Although you are in the same stage as me, I will not take this disrespect! Come on then, let's see just how powerful you are!"

Cain spoke for the first time since he got here, only uttering one word, "Gladly!"